I can’t find that Sir Charles has heard from the exasperated man, since Mr. Bagenhall left him yesterday.

I hope nothing will happen to overcloud tomorrow. I propose to myself as happy a day, as, in the present situation of things, can be given to your

HARRIET BYRON.

VOLUME II.

Letter I.

Miss Harriet Byron to Miss Lucy Selby.

Wednesday night, March 1. Mr. Fowler set out yesterday for Gloucestershire, where he has an estate. He proposes to go from thence to Caermarthen, to the worthy Sir Rowland. He paid a visit to Mr. Reeves, and desired him to present to me his best wishes and respects. He declared that he could not possibly take leave of me, though he doubted not but I would receive him with goodness, as he called it. But it was that which cut him to the heart: so kind, and so cruel, he said, he could not bear it.

I hope, poor Mr. Fowler will be more happy than I could make him. Methinks, I could have been half-glad to have seen him before he went: and yet but half-glad: since, had he shewn much concern, I should have been pained. vol. x. b

Take now, my dear, an account of what passed this day in St. James’s Square.

There were at Sir Charle6 Grandison’s, besides Lord and Lady L. the young Lord G. one of Miss Grandison’s humble servants; Mr. Everard Grandison; Miss Emily Jervois, a young lady of about fourteen, a ward of Sir Charles; and Dr. Bartlett, a divine; of whom more by-and-by.

Sir Charles conducted us into the drawing-room adjoining to the dining-room; where only were his two sisters. They received my cousins and me with looks of love.

I will tell you, said Sir Charles, your company, before I present them to you. Lord L. is a good man. I honour him as such; and love him as my sister’s husband.

Lady L. bowed, and looked round her, as if she took pride in her brother’s approbation of her lord.

Mr. Everard Grandison, proceeded he, is a sprightly man. He is prepared to admire you, Miss Byron. You will not believe, perhaps, half the handsome things he will say to you; but yet, will be the only person who hears them, that will not.

Lord G. is a modest young man: he is genteel, well-bred; but is so much in love with a certain young lady, that he does not appear with that dignity in her eye [Why blushes my Charlotte?] that otherwise perhaps he might.

Are notyow, Sir Charles, a modest man?

*No comparisons, Charlotte. Where there is a double prepossession; no comparisons! But Lord G. Miss Byron, is a good kind of young man. You’ll not dislike him, though my sister is pleased to think

No comparisons, Sir Charles. That’s fair, Charlotte. 1 will leave Lord G. to the judgment of Miss Byron. Ladies can better account for the approbation and dislikes of ladies than we men can.