Adieu, my Lucy.

LETTER XXVIII

Miss Byron.—­In continuation
Sunday, April 16.

O, what a blank, my dear!—­but I need not say what I was going to say. 
Poor Emily!—­But, to mention her grief, is to paint my own.

Lord W——­ went to Windsor yesterday.

A very odd behaviour of Lady Olivia.  Mr. Beauchamp went yesterday, and offered to attend her to any of the public places, at her pleasure; in pursuance of Sir Charles’s reference to him, to do all in his power to make England agreeable to her:  and she thought fit to tell him before her aunt, that she thanked him for his civility; but she should not trouble him during her stay in England.  She had gentlemen in her train; and one of them had been in England before—­

He left her in disgust.

Lady L——­ making her a visit in the evening, she told her of Mr. Beauchamp’s offer, and of her answer.  The gentleman, said she, is a polite and very agreeable man; and this made me treat his kind offer with abruptness:  for I can hardly doubt your brother’s view in it.  I scorn his view:  and if I were sure of it, perhaps I should find a way to make him repent of the indignity.  Lady L——­ was sure, she said, that neither her brother, nor Mr. Beauchamp, had any other views than to make England as agreeable to her as possible.

Be this as it may, madam, said she, I have no service for Mr. Beauchamp:  but if your Ladyship, your sister, and your two lords, will allow me to cultivate your friendship, you will do me honour.  Dr. Bartlett’s company will be very agreeable to me likewise, as often as he will give it me.  To Miss Jervois I lay some little claim.  I would have had her for my companion in Italy; but your cruel brother—­No more, however, of him.  Your English beauty too, I admire her:  but, poor young creature, I admire her the more, because I can pity her.  I should think myself very happy to be better acquainted with her.

Lady L——­ made her a very polite answer for herself and her sister, and their lords:  but told her, that I was very soon to set out for my own abode in Northamptonshire; and that Dr. Bartlett had some commissions, which would oblige him, in a day or two, to go to Sir Charles’s seat in the country.  She herself offered to attend her to Windsor, and to every other place, at her command.

Lady L——­ took notice of her wrist being bound round with a broad black ribband, and asked, If it were hurt?  A kind of sprain, said she.  But you little imagine how it came; and must not ask.

This made Lady L——­ curious.  And Olivia requesting that Emily might be allowed to breakfast with her as this morning; she has bid the dear girl endeavour to know how it came, if it fell in her way:  for Olivia reddened, and looked up, with a kind of consciousness, to Lady L——­, when she told her that she must not ask questions about it.