I always had reason to think myself greatly obliged to my friends and neighbours all around us; but never, till my return, after these few months absence, knew how much.  So many kind visitors; such unaffected expressions of joy on my return; that had I not a very great counterbalance on my heart, would be enough to make me proud.

My grandmamma went to Shirley-manor on Saturday; on Monday I was with her all day:  but she would have it that I should be melancholy if I staid with her.  And she is so self-denyingly careful of her Harriet!  There never was a more noble heart in woman.  But her solitary moments, as my uncle calls them, are her moments of joy.  And why?  Because she then divests herself of all that is either painful or pleasurable to her in this life:  for she says, that her cares for her Harriet, and especially now, are at least a balance for the delight she takes in her.

You command me to acquaint you with what passes between me and the gentlemen in my neighbourhood; in your style, my fellows.

Mr. Fenwick invited himself to breakfast with my aunt Selby yesterday morning.  I would not avoid him.

I will not trouble you with the particulars:  you know well enough what men will say on the subject upon which you will suppose he wanted to talk to me.  He was extremely earnest.  I besought him to accept my thanks for his good opinion of me, as all the return I could make him for it; and this in so very serious a manner, that my heart was fretted, when he declared, with warmth, his determined perseverance.

Mr. Greville made us a tea-visit in the afternoon.  My uncle and he joined to rally us poor women, as usual.  I left the defence of the sex to my aunt and Lucy.  How poor appears to me every conversation now with these men!—­But hold, saucy Harriet, was not your uncle Selby one of the raillers?—­But he does not believe all he says; and therefore cannot wish to be so much regarded, on this topic, as he ought to be by me, on others.

After the run of raillery was over, in which Mr. Greville made exceptions favourable to the women present, he applied to every one for their interest with me, and to me to countenance his address.  He set forth his pretensions very pompously, and mentioned a very considerable increase of his fortune; which before was a very handsome one.  He offered our own terms.  He declared his love for me above all women, and made his happiness in the next world, as well as in this, depend upon my favour to him.

It was easy to answer all he said; and is equally so for you to guess in what manner I answered him:  And he, finding me determined, began to grow vehement, and even affrontive.  He hinted to me, that he knew what had made me so very resolute.  He threw out threatenings against the man, be he whom he would, that should stand in the way of his success with me; at the same time intimating saucily, as I may say, (for his manner had insult in it,) that it was impossible a certain event could ever take place.