Letter XI.

Miss Byron. In Continuation.

Thursday morning, April 6.

Miss Grandison, accompanied by Miss Jervois, has just left us. Lady L. has undertaken, she says, to set all hands at work, to have things in tolerable order, early as the day is, for Tuesday next. Miss Grandison (would you believe it?) owns, that she wants spirits to order any-thing. What must be the solemnity of that circumstance, when near, that shall make Charlotte Grandison want spirits?

She withdrew with me to my apartment. She threw herself into a chair: ’Tis a folly to deny it, Harriet, but I am very low, and very silly: I don’t like next Tuesday by any means.

Is your objection only to the day, my dear?

I do not like the man.

Is there any man whom you like better?

I can’t say that neither. But this brother of mine makes me think contemptibly of all other men. I would compound for a man but half so good Ten-der, kind, humane, polite, and even cheerful in affliction! Harriet! where is there such another man?

No-where. But you don’t by marriage lose, on the contrary, you further engage and secure, the affection of this brother. You will have a good-na-tured, worthy man for your husband, a man who loves you; and you will have your brother besides.

Do you think I can be happy with Lord G.?

I am sure you may, if it be not your own fault.

That’s the thing: I may perhaps bear with the man; but I cannot honour him.

Then don’t voiv to honour him. Don’t meet him at the altar.

Yet I must. But I believe I think too much: and consideration is no friend to wedlock Would to heaven that the same hour that my hand and Lord G.‘s were joined, yours and my brother’s were also united!

Ah, Miss Grandison! If you love me, try to wean me; and not to encourage hopes of what never, never can be.

Dear creature! You will be greater than Clemen-tina, and that is greater than the greatest, if you can conquer a passion, which overturned her reason.

Do not, my Charlotte, make comparisons in which the conscience of your Harriet tells her she must be a sufferer. There is no occasion for me to despise my-self, in order to hold myself inferior to Clementina.

Well, you are a noble creature! But, the ap-proaching Tuesday I cannot bear to think of it.

Dear Charlotte!

And dear Harriet too! But the officiousness, the assiduities of this trifling man, are disgustful to me.

You don’t hate him?

Hate him True I don’t hate him But! I have been so much accustomed to treat him like a fool, that I can’t help thinking him one. He should not have been so tame to such a spirit as mine. He should have been angry when I played upon him. I have got a knack of it, and shall never leave it off, that’s certain.