her; and had sent him, who was engaged to perform the divine rite, that Signora Diana might resign her to his care without any difficulty.  The young damsel was called for, who entreated she might be permitted the company of another priest with whom she was acquainted:  this was readily granted; and she sent for a young man that visits me very often, being remarkable for his sobriety and learning.  Meanwhile, a valet-de-chambre presented her with a box, in which was a complete genteel undress for a lady.  Her laced linen and fine nightgown were soon put on, and away they marched, leaving the family in a surprise not to be described.

“Signor Aurelio came to drink coffee with me next morning:  his first words were, he had brought me the history of Pamela.  I said, laughing, I had been tired with it long since.  He explained himself by relating this story, mixed with great resentment for Octavia’s conduct.  Count Jeronimo’s father had been his ancient friend and patron; and this escape from his house (he said) would lay him under a suspicion of having abetted the young man’s folly, and perhaps expose him to the anger of all his relations, for contriving an action he would rather have died than suffered, if he had known how to prevent it.  I easily believed him, there appearing a latent jealousy under his affliction, that showed me he envied the bridegroom’s happiness, at the same time he condemned his extravagance.

“Yesterday noon, being Saturday, Don Joseph returned, who has got the name of Parson Williams by this expedition:  he relates, that when the bark which carried the coach and train arrived, they found the amorous count waiting for his bride on the bank of the lake:  he would have proceeded immediately to the church; but she utterly refused it, till they had each of them been at confession; after which the happy knot was tied by the parish priest.  They continued their journey, and came to their palace at Bergamo in a few hours, where everything was prepared for their reception.  They received the communion next morning, and the count declares that the lovely Octavia has brought him an inestimable portion, since he owes to her the salvation of his soul.  He has renounced play, at which he had lost a great deal of time and money.  She has already retrenched several superfluous servants, and put his family into an exact method of economy, preserving all the splendour necessary to his rank.  He has sent a letter in his own hand to her mother, inviting her to reside with them, and subscribing himself her dutiful son:  but the countess has sent another privately by Don Joseph, in which she advises the old woman to stay at Lovere, promising to take care she shall want nothing, accompanied with a token of twenty sequins, which is at least nineteen more than ever she saw in her life.

“I forgot to tell you that from Octavia’s first serving the old lady, there came frequent charities in her name to her poor parent, which nobody was surprised at, the lady being celebrated for pious works, and Octavia known to be a great favourite with her.  It is now discovered that they were all sent by the generous lover, who has presented Don Joseph very handsomely, but he has brought neither letter nor message to the house of Ardinghi, which affords much speculation.”