Averse, sir! said the mother, bowing, and gratefully smiling.

I will write the particulars of our conversation to Lord W——­, and my opinion of settlements, and advise him (if I am not forbid) to make a visit at Mansfield House. [I stopt:  they were both silent.] If possible, I will attend my lord in his first visit.  I hope, madam, to Miss Mansfield, you will not dislike him; I am sure he will be charmed with you:  he is far from being disagreeable in his person:  his temper is not bad.  Your goodness will make him good.  I dare say that he will engage your gratitude; and I defy a good mind to separate love from gratitude.

We returned to company.  I had all their blessings pronounced at once, as from one mouth.  The melancholy brother was enlivened:  who knows but the consequence of this alliance may illuminate his mind?  I could see by the pleasure they all had, in beholding him capable of joy on the occasion, that they hoped it would.  The unhappy situation of the family affairs, as it broke the heart of the eldest brother, fixed a gloom on the temper of this gentleman.

I was prevailed upon to dine with them.  In the conversation we had at and after dinner, their minds opened, and their characters rose upon me.  Lord W——­ will be charmed with Miss Mansfield.  I am delighted to think, that my mother’s brother will be happy, in the latter part of his life, with a wife of so much prudence and goodness, as I am sure this lady will make him.  On one instance of her very obliging behaviour to me, I whispered her sister, Pray, Miss Fanny, tell Miss Mansfield, but not till I am gone, that she knows not the inconveniencies she is bringing upon herself:  I may, perhaps, hereafter, have the boldness, to look for the same favour from my aunt, that I meet with from Miss Mansfield.

If my sister, returned she, should ever misbehave to her benefactor, I will deny my relation to her.

You will soon have another letter from me, with an account of the success of my visit to Sir Harry Beauchamp and his lady.  We must have our Beauchamp among us, my dear friend:  I should rather say, you must among you; for I shall not be long in England.  He will supply to you, my dear Dr. Bartlett, the absence (it will not, I hope, be a long one) of your

Charles Grandison.

Sir Charles, I remember, as the doctor read, mentions getting leave for his Beauchamp to come over, who, he says, will supply his absence to him —­But, ah, Lucy!  Who, let me have the boldness to ask, shall supply it to your Harriet?  Time, my dear, will do nothing for me, except I could hear something very much amiss of this man.

I have a great suspicion, that the first part of the letter enclosed was about me.  The doctor looked so earnestly at me, when he skipt two sides of it; and, as I thought, with so much compassion!—­To be sure, it was about me.

What would I give to know as much of his mind as Dr. Bartlett knows!  If I thought he pitied the poor Harriet—­I should scorn myself.  I am, I will be, above his pity, Lucy.  In this believe your