Her letter has excited in my daughter, Mrs. Mirvan, a strong desire to be informed of the motives which induced Madame Duval to abandon the unfortunate Lady Belmont at a time when a mother’s protection was peculiarly necessary for her peace and reputation, and I cannot satisfy Mrs. Mirvan otherwise than by applying to you.

MR. VILLARS TO LADY HOWARD

Your ladyship did but too well foresee the perplexity and uneasiness of which Madame Duval’s letter has been productive.  In regard to my answer I most humbly request your ladyship to write to this effect:  “That I would not upon any account intentionally offend Madame Duval, but that I have unanswerable reasons for detaining her granddaughter at present in England.”

Complying with the request of Mrs. Mirvan, I would say that I had the honour to accompany Mr. Evelyn, the grandfather of my young charge, when upon his travels, in the capacity of a tutor.  His unhappy marriage, immediately upon his return to England, with Madame Duval, then a waiting-girl at a tavern, contrary to the entreaties of his friends, induced him to fix his abode in France.  He survived the ill-judged marriage but two years.

Mr. Evelyn left me the sole guardianship of his daughter’s person till her eighteenth year, but in regard to fortune he left her wholly dependent on her mother.  Miss Evelyn was brought up under my care, and, except when at school, under my roof.  In her eighteenth year, her mother, then married to Monsieur Duval, sent for her to Paris, and at the instigation of her husband tyrannically endeavoured to effect a union between Miss Evelyn and one of his nephews.  Miss Evelyn soon grew weary of such usage, and rashly, and without a witness, consented to a private marriage with Sir John Belmont, a very profligate young man, who had but too successfully found means to insinuate himself into her favour.  He promised to conduct her to England—­he did.  O madam, you know the rest!  Disappointed of the fortune he expected by the inexcusable rancour of the Duvals, he infamously burnt the certificate of their marriage and denied that they had ever been united!

She flew to my protection, and the moment that gave birth to her infant put an end at once to the sorrows and the life of its mother.  That child, madam, shall never know the loss she has sustained.  Not only my affection, but my humanity recoils at the barbarous idea of deserting the sacred trust reposed in me.

II.—­A Visit to Town

LADY HOWARD TO MR. VILLARS

Your last letter gave me infinite pleasure.  Do you think you could bear to part with your young companion for two or three months?  Mrs. Mirvan proposes to spend the ensuing spring in London, whither for the first time my grandchild will accompany her, and it is their earnest wish that your amiable ward may share equally with her own daughter the care and attention of Mrs. Mirvan.  What do you say to our scheme?