“Well observed, my dear:  this is like your generous and deep way of thinking.”

“But, dear Sir, proceed—­Your reconciliation is now effected; a friendship quadripartite is commenced.  And the Viscountess and I are to find cement for the erecting of an edifice, that is to be devoted to Platonic love.  What, may I ask, came next?  And what did you design should come of it?”

“The Oxford journey, my dear, followed next; and it was my fault you were not a party in it, both ladies being very desirous of your company:  but it was the time you were not going abroad, after your lying-in, so I excused you to them.  Yet they both longed to see you:  especially as by this time, you may believe, they knew all your story:  and besides, whenever you were mentioned, I did justice, as well to your mind, as to your person.”

“Well, Sir, to be sure this was very kind; and little was I disposed (knowing what I did,) to pass so favourable a construction in your generosity to me.”

“My question to her ladyship at going away, whether you were not the charmingest girl in the world, which seeing you both together, rich as she was drest, and plain as you, gave me the double pleasure (a pleasure she said afterwards I exulted in,) of deciding in your favour; my readiness to explain to you what we both said, and her not ungenerous answer, I thought entitled me to a better return than a flood of tears; which confirmed me that your past uneasiness was a jealousy I was not willing to allow in you:  though I should have been more indulgent to it had I known the grounds you thought you had for it:  and for this reason I left you so abruptly as I did.”

Here, Madam, Mr. B. broke off, referring to another time the conclusion of his narrative.  I will here close this letter (though possibly I may not send it, till I send the conclusion of this story in my next,) with the assurance that I am your ladyship’s obliged sister and servant,

P.B.

LETTER LXXVIII

My dear lady,

Now I will proceed with my former subject:  and with the greater pleasure, as what follows makes still more in favour of the Countess’s character, than what went before, although that set it in a better light than it had once appeared to me in.  I began as follows: 

“Will you be pleased, Sir, to favour me with the continuation of our last subject?”—­“I will, my dear.”—­“You left off, Sir, with acquitting me for breaking out into that flood of tears, which occasioned your abrupt departure.  But, dear Sir, will you be pleased, to satisfy me about that affecting information, of your intention and my lady’s to live at Tunbridge together?”

“’Tis absolute malice and falsehood.  Our intimacy had not proceeded so far; and, thoughtless as my sister’s letters suppose the lady, she would have spurned at such a proposal, I dare say.”

“Well, but then, Sir, as to the expression to her uncle, that she had rather have been a certain gentleman’s second wife?”