A fine husband for your Harriet would this half madman make!  Drawn in by his professions of love, and by L8,000 a year, I might have married him; and when too late found myself miserable, yoked with a tyrant and madman for the remainder of my life.

VI.—­Mr. Reeves to George Selby, Esq.

Friday, February 17.  No one, at present, but yourself, must see the contents of what I am going to write.

You must not be too much surprised.  But how shall I tell you the news; the dreadful news!

O, my cousin Selby!  We know not what has become of our dearest Miss Byron.

We were last night at the masked ball in the Hay-market.

Between two and three we all agreed to go home.  The dear creature was fatigued with the notice everybody took of her.  Everybody admired her.

I waited on her to her chair, and saw her in it, before I attended Lady Betty and my wife to theirs.

I saw that neither the chair, nor the chairmen were those who brought her.  I asked the meaning and was told that the chairmen we had engaged had been inveigled away to drink somewhere.  She hurried into it because of her dress, and being warm; no less than four gentlemen followed her to the very chair.

I ordered Wilson, my, cousin’s servant, to bid the chairmen stop, when they had got out of the crowd till Lady Betty’s chair and mine, and my wife’s joined them.

I saw her chair move, and Wilson, with his lighted flambeaux, before it, and the four masks who followed her to the chair return into the house.

When our servants could not find that her chair had stopped, we supposed that, in the hurry, the fellow heard not my orders; and directed our chairmen to proceed, not doubting but that we should find her got home before us.

But what was our consternation at finding her not arrived, and that Lady Betty (to whose house we thought she might have been carried) had not either seen or heard of her!

I had half a suspicion of Sir Hargrave, as well from the character given us of him by a friend, as because of his impolite behaviour to the dear creature on her rejecting him; and sent to his house in Cavendish Square to know if he were at home:  and if he were, at what time he returned from the ball.

Answer was brought that he was in bed, and they supposed would not be stirring till dinner-time; and that he returned from the ball between four and five this morning.

* * * * *

O, my dear Mr. Selby!  We have tidings!  The dear creature is living and in honourable hands.  Read the enclosed letter, directed to me.

“Sir,—­Miss Byron is in safe hands.  She has been cruelly treated, and was many hours speechless.  But don’t frighten yourselves; her fits, though not less frequent, are weaker and weaker.  The bearer will acquaint you who my brother is; to whom you owe the preservation and safety of the loveliest woman in England, and he will direct you to a house where you will be welcome, with your lady (for Miss Byron cannot be removed) to convince yourself that all possible care is taken of her by your humble servant,