"By the obliged and joyful tenants of the maternal estate in Bedfordshire and Gloucestershire, the initials of whose names are under engraven, viz.”

Then are to follow the first letters of each person’s Christian and surname.

What an honour is this to a landlord!  In my opinion very far surpassing the mis-nomer’d free gifts which we read of in some kingdoms on extraordinary occasions, some of them like this!  For here it is all truly spontaneous—­A free gift indeed! and Mr. B. took it very kindly, and has put off the christening for a week, to give time for its being completed and inscribed as above.

The Earl and Countess of C. and Lord and Lady Davers, are here, to stand in person at the christening; and you cannot conceive how greatly my Lady Davers is transported with joy, to have a son and heir to the estate:  she is every hour, almost, thanking her dear sister for him; and reads in the child all the great qualities she forms to herself in him.  ’Tis indeed a charming boy, and has a great deal (if one may judge of a child so very young) of his father’s manly aspect.  The dear lady herself is still but weak; but the joy of all around her, and her spouse’s tenderness and politeness, give her cheerful and free spirits; and she is all serenity, ease, and thankfulness.

Mrs. B., as soon as the danger was over, asked me for her letter with the black seal.  I had been very earnest to get it from Mr. B. but to no purpose; so I was forced to tell who had it.  She said, but very composedly, she was sorry for it, and hoped he had not opened it.

He came into her chamber soon after, and I demanded it before her.  He said he had designed to ask her leave to break the seal, which he had not yet done; nor would without her consent.

“Will you give me leave, my dear,” said he, “to break the seal?”—­“If you do, Sir, let it not be in my presence; but it is too serious.”—­“Not, my dear, now the apprehension is so happily over:  it may now add to my joy and my thankfulness on that account.”—­“Then, do as you please, Sir; but I had rather you would not.”

“Then here it is, Miss Darnford:  it was put into your hands, and there I place it again.”—­“That’s something like,” said I, “considering the gentleman.  Mrs. B., I hope we shall bring him into good order between us in time.”  So I returned it to the dear writer; who put it into her bosom.

I related to Lady Davers, when she came, this circumstance; and she, I believe, has leave to take it with her.  She is very proud of all opportunities now of justifying her brother’s choice, and doing honour to his wife, with Lady Betty C., who is her great favourite, and who delights to read Mrs. B.’s letters.