Indeed, Mr. Lovelace, his worthy heart is wrapt up in you.  I wish you loved yourself but half as well.  But I believe too, that if all the family loved you less, you would love yourself more.

His Lordship has been very busy, at the times he could not write, in consulting Pritchard about those estates which he proposes to transfer to you on the happy occasion, that he may answer your letter in the most acceptable manner; and show, by effects, how kindly he takes your invitation.  I assure you he is mighty proud of it.

As for myself, I am not at all well, and have not been for some weeks past, with my old stomach-disorder.  I had certainly else before now have done myself the honour you wonder I have not done myself.  Lady Betty, who would have accompanied me, (for we have laid it all out,) has been exceedingly busy in her law-affair; her antagonist, who is actually on the spot, having been making proposals for an accommodation.  But you may assure yourself, that when our dear relation-elect shall be entered upon the new habitation you tell me of, we will do ourselves the honour of visiting her; and if any delay arises from the dear lady’s want of courage, (which considering her man, let me tell you, may very well be,) we will endeavour to inspire her with it, and be sponsors for you;—­for, cousin, I believe you have need to be christened over again before you are entitled to so great a blessing.  What think you?

Just now, my Lord tells me, he will dispatch a man on purpose with his letter to-morrow:  so I needed not to have written.  But now I have, let it go; and by Empson, who sets out directly on his return to town.

My best compliments, and sister’s, to the most deserving lady in the world [you will need no other direction to the person meant] conclude me

Your affectionate cousin and servant,
CHARL.  Montague.

***

Thou seest how seasonably this letter comes.  I hope my Lord will write nothing but what I may show to my beloved.  I have actually sent her up this letter of Charlotte’s, and hope for happy effects from it.

R.L.

***

[The Lady, in her next letter, gives Miss Howe an account of what passed
   between Mr. Lovelace and herself.  She resents his behaviour with her
   usual dignity.  But when she comes to mention Mr. Mennell’s letter,
   she re-urges Miss Howe to perfect her scheme for her deliverance;
   being resolved to leave him.  But, dating again, on his sending up to
   her Miss Montague’s letter, she alters her mind, and desires her to
   suspend for the present her application to Mrs. Townsend.]

I had begun, says she, to suspect all he had said of Mrs. Fretchville and her house; and even Mr. Mennell himself, though so well-appearing a man.  But now that I find Mr. Lovelace has apprized his relations of his intent to take it, and had engaged some of the ladies to visit me there, I could hardly forbear blaming myself for censuring him as capable of so vile an imposture.  But may he not thank himself for acting so very unaccountably, and taking such needlessly-awry steps, as he had done, embarrassing, as I told him, his own meanings, if they were good?