CHARLES GRANDISON.

Letter V.

Miss Byron to Miss Selby.

Colnebrook, Sunday eveniii^t Poor Emily! her heart is almost broken. This ig-noble passion, what a mean spirited creature had it like to have made me! Be quiet, be quiet, Lucy! I will call it ignoble. Did you ever know me before so little? And had it not like to have put me upon being hard-hearted, envious, and I can’t tell what, to a poor fatherless girl, just starting into woman, and therefore into more danger than she ever was in before; wantingtobeprotected from whom? From a mother. Dreadful circumstance! Yet 1 was ready to grudge the poor girl her guardian, and her inno-cent prattle! But let me be despised by the man I love, if I do not conquer this new-discovered envy, jealousy, littleness, at least with regard to this unhappy girl, whose calamity endears her to me.

Dear child, sweet Emily; you shall go down with me, if it be proposed. My grandmamma, and uncle, and aunt, will permit me to carry you with me. They are generous; they have no little passion to mislead their beneficence: they are what I hope to be, now I have found myself out And what if her gratitude should make her heart overflow into love, has she not excuse for it, if Harriet has any?

Well, but to the occasion of the poor Emily’s distress. About twelve this day, soon after Lord L. and the two sisters and I, came from church (for Emily happened not to go) a coach and four stopped at the gate, and a servant in a sorry livery, alighting from behind it, enquired for Lord L. Two gentle-men, who by their dress and appearance were mili — tary men, and one lady, were in it.

My lord ordered them to be invited to alight, and received them w^ith his usual politeness.

Don’t let me call this unhappy woman Emily’s mother; O’Hara is the name she owns.

She addressed herself to my lord: I am the mo-ther of Emily Jervois, my lord: this gentleman, Major O’Hara, is my husband.

“The major bowed, strutted, and acknowledged her for his wife: And this gentleman, my lord, is Captain Salmonet, a very brave man: he is in fo-reign service. His lady is my own sister.

My lord took notice of each.

I understand, my lord, that my daughter is here. I desire to see her.

One of my lord’s servants, at that time passing by the door which was open. Pray, Sir, said she to him, let Miss Jervois know, that her mamma is come to see her. Desire her to come to me.

Major. I long to see my new daughter; I hear ghe is a charming young lady, she may depend upon the kindness of a father from me.

Capt. De man of honour and good nature be my broder’s general cha-rac^-er, I do assure your lordship.

He spoke English as a Frenchman, my lord says; but pronounced the word character as an Irishman.