Excellent Dr. Bartlett!—­How worthy of himself is this advice!  But think you not, my Lucy, that the doctor has in it a particular view to your poor Harriet?  A generous one, meaning consolation and instruction to her?  I will endeavour to profit by it.  Let me have your prayers, my dear friends, that I may be enabled to succeed in my humble endeavours.

It will be no wonder to us now, that Sir Charles was not solicitous to make known a situation so embarrassing to himself, and so much involved in clouds and uncertainty:  but whatever may be the event of this affair, you, Lucy, and all my friends, will hardly ever know me by any other name than that of

Harriet Byron.

LETTER V

Miss Harriet Byron, to miss Lucy Selby
Friday, March 31.

You now, my dear friends, have before you this affecting story, as far as Dr. Bartlett can give it.  My cousins express a good deal of concern for your Harriet:  so does Miss Grandison:  so doth my Lord and Lady L——­:  and the more, as I seem to carry off the matter with assumed bravery.  This their kind concern for me looks, however, as if they thought me a hypocrite; and I suppose, therefore, that I act my part very awkwardly.

But, my dear, as this case is one of those few in which a woman can shew a bravery of spirit, I think an endeavour after it is laudable; and the rather, as in my conduct I aim at giving a tacit example to Miss Jervois.

The doctor has whisper’d to me, that Lady Olivia is actually on her way to England; and that the intelligence Sir Charles received of her intention, was one of the things that disturbed him, as the news of his beloved Signor Jeronymo’s dangerous condition was another.

Lady Anne S——­, it seems, has not yet given up her hopes of Sir Charles.  The two sisters, who once favoured her above all the women they knew, have not been able to bring themselves to acquaint a lady of her rank, merit, and fortune, that there can be no hopes; and they are still more loath to say, that their brother thinks himself under some obligation to a foreign lady.  Yet you know that this was always what we were afraid of:  but, who, now, will say afraid, that knows the merit of Clementina?

I wish, methinks, that this man were proud, vain, arrogant, and a boaster.  How easily then might one throw off one’s shackles!

Lord G——­ is very diligent in his court to Miss Grandison.  His father and aunt are to visit her this afternoon.  She behaves whimsically to my lord:  yet I cannot think that she greatly dislikes him.

The Earl of D——­ and the Countess Dowager are both in town.  The Countess made a visit to my cousin Reeves last Tuesday:  she spoke of me very kindly:  she says that my lord has heard so much of me, that he is very desirous of seeing me:  but she was pleased to say, that, since my heart was not disengaged, she should be afraid of the consequences of his visit to himself.