But now for a word or two about Miss Jervois. I could not but take notice to our Miss Byron, of the greediness with which she eats and drinks the praises given her guardian; of the glow that overspreads her cheeks, and of a sigh that now-and-then seems to escape even her own observation, when he is spoken of [so like a niece of mine, who drew herself in, and was afterwards unhappy]; and by these symp-toms I conclude, that this young creature is certainly giving way to love. She has a very great fortune, is a pretty girl, and an improving beauty. She is tall and womanly. I thought her sixteen or seven-teen; but it seems she is hardly fourteen. There is as much difference in girls as in fruits, as to their maturing as I may say. My mother, I remember, once said of an early bloom in a niece of hers, that such were born to woe. I hope it won’t be so with this; for she certainly is a good young creature, but has not had great opportunities of knowing either the world, or herself. Brought up in a confined man-ner in her father’s house at Leghorn, till twelve or thirteen; what opportunities could she have? No mother’s wings to be sheltered under; her mother’s wickedness giving occasion the more to straighten her education, and at a time of life so young, and in so restraining a country as Italy, for girls and young

SIU CHARLES GRANDISON. 47 maidens; and, since brought over, put to board with a retired country gentlewoman What can she know, poor thing? She has been but a little while with Miss Grandison, and that but as a guest: so that the world before her is all new to her: and, indeed, there seems to be in her pretty wonder, and honest declarations of her whole heart, a sim-plicity that sometimes borders upon childishness, though at other times a kind of womanly prudence. I am not afraid of her on our Harriet’s account; and yet Harriet (lover-like, perhaps) was alarmed at my hinting it to. her: but I am on her oxun. I wish, as I said before. Sir Charles was more among them: he would soon discover whose love is fit to be discountenanced, and whose to be encouraged; and, by that means, give ease to twenty hearts. For I cannot believe, that such a man as this would he guilt 1/ (1 will call it) of reserve to such a young lady as ours, were he but to have the shadow of a thought that he has an interest in her heart.

My affairs are more untoward than I expected: but on my return to Peterborough I will call at Shirley-manor and Selby-house and then (as I hope to see Sir Charles again, either in London, or at Colnebrook) I will talk to you of all these matters. Mean time believe me to be

Your affectionate and faithful humble servant, THOMAS DEANE.