Young Mr. Harlowe is resolved to find this out, and to come at his sister’s speech likewise:  and for that purpose sets out to-morrow, as I am well informed, with a large attendance armed; and Mr. Solmes is to be of the party.  And what makes him the more earnest to find it out is this:—­Mr. John Harlowe has told the whole family that he will alter, and new-settle his will.  Mr. Antony Harlowe is resolved to do the same by his; for, it seems, he has now given over all thoughts of changing his condition, having lately been disappointed in a view he had of that sort with Mrs. Howe.  These two brothers generally act in concert; and Mr. James Harlowe dreads (and let me tell you, that he has reason for it, on my Mr. Harlowe’s account) that his younger sister will be, at last, more benefited than he wishes for, by the alteration intended.  He has already been endeavouring to sound his uncle Harlowe on this subject; and wanted to know whether any new application had been made to him on his sister’s part.  Mr. Harlowe avoided a direct answer, and expressed his wishes for a general reconciliation, and his hopes that his niece were married.  This offended the furious young man, and he reminded his uncle of engagements they had all entered into at his sister’s going away, not to be reconciled but by general consent.

Mr. John Harlowe complains to me often of the uncontroulableness of his nephew; and says, that now that the young man has not any body of whose superior sense he stands in awe, he observes not decency in his behaviour to any of them, and this makes my Mr. Harlowe still more desirous than ever of bringing his younger niece into favour again.  I will not say all I might of this young man’s extraordinary rapaciousness:—­but one would think, that these grasping men expect to live for ever!

’I took the liberty but within these two hours to propose to set on foot (and offered my cover to) a correspondence between my friend and his daughter-niece, as she still sometimes fondly calls her.  She was mistress of so much prudence, I said, that I was sure she could better direct every thing to its desirable end, than any body else could.  But he said, he did not think himself entirely at liberty to take such a step at present; and that it was best that he should have it in his power to say, occasionally, that he had not any correspondence with her, or letter from her.

’You will see, Sir, from all this, the necessity of keeping our treaty an absolute secret; and if the lady has mentioned it to her worthy friend Miss Howe, I hope it is in confidence.’

[And now, Sir, a few lines in answer to your’s of Monday last.]

[Mr. Harlowe was very well pleased with your readiness to come into his proposal.  But as to what you both desire, that he will be present at the ceremony, he said, that his nephew watched all his steps so narrowly, that he thought it was not practicable (if he were inclinable) to oblige you:  but that he consented, with all his heart, that I should be the person whom he had stipulated should be privately present at the ceremony on his part.]