You, my dear, left us tolcrabh/ happy. But now we are almost f-tolerably so. I had begun to re-cover my spirits, depressed, as they had been, for near a month before, on finding myself, like any common woman, confined to my chamber, while every other mouth sang O be joyful; and one was preparing, another had set out, and half a score more were actually got to dear Grandison-hall. I bit my lip, and raved at the wretch to whom I at-tributed my durance: when, yesterday (after a series indeed of the most obliging and most grateful behaviour, that a man ever expressed for a present made him, which he holds invaluable) he entered my chamber; and surprised me, as I did him (for I intended that he should know nothing of the mat-ter, nor that I would ever be so condescending); surprised me, as how? Ah, Harriet! in an act that confessed the mother, the tvko/e mother! Little Harriet at my breast; or, at my ncc/:, I believe I should say should I not?

The nurse, the nursery-maids, knowing that I would not for the world have been so caught by my nimble lord (who is in twenty places in a minute) were more affrighted than Diana’s nymphs, when the goddess was surprised by Acteon; and each, instead of surrounding me in order to hide my blushes, was for running a different way; not so much as attempting to relieve me from the brat.

I was ready to let the little creature drop from my arms O wretch! screamed I Begone! begone! Whence the boldness of this intrusion?

Never was man in a greater rapture. For Lady Gertrude had taught him to wish that a mother would be a mother: he threw himself at my feet, clasping me and the little varlet together in his arms. Brute! said I, will you smother my Harriet I was half-ashamed of my tenderness Dcar-est, dear-est, dear-est Lady G. shaking his head, between every dear and est, every muscle of his face working how you transport me! Never, never, never, saw 1 so delightful a sight! Let me, let me, let me (every emphatic word repeated three times at least) behold again the dear sight. Let me see you clasp the precious gilt, (our Harriet’s Harriet too!) to that lovely bosom The wretch (trembling however) pulled aside ray handkerchief. I tried to scold; but was forced to press the little thing to me, to supply the place of the handkerchief Do you think, 1 could not have killed him? To be sure, I was not half angry enough. I knew not what I did, you may well think for I bowed my face on the smiling infant, who seemed to crow to the pressure of my lip.

Begone, Lord G. said I See! see! how shall I hold the little marmouset, if you devour first one of my hands, then the other?