Well, but breakfast-time is come, while I am busy in self-debatings.  I will go down, that I may not seem to affect parade.  I will endeavour to see with indifference, him that we have all been admiring and studying for this last fortnight, in such a variety of lights.  The christian:  the hero:  the friend:—­Ah, Lucy! the lover of Clementina:  the generous kinsman of Lord W——­:  the modest and delicate benefactor of the Mansfields:  the free, gay, raillier of Lady Beauchamp; and, in her, of all our sex’s foibles!

But he is come!  While I am prating to you with my pen, he is come—­Why, Lucy, would you detain me?—­Now must the fool go down in a kind of hurry:  Yet stay till she is sent for.—­And that is now.

LETTER XI

MISS BYRON.—­IN CONTINUATION

O Lucy, I have such a conversation to relate to you!—­But let me lead to it.

Sir Charles met me at the opening of the door.  He was all himself.  Such an unaffected modesty and politeness; yet such an ease and freedom!

I thought, by his address, that he would have taken my hand; and both hands were so emulatively passive—­How does he manage it to be so free in a first address, yet so respectful, that a princess could not blame him!

After breakfast, my cousins being sent for out to attend Sir John Allestree and his Niece, Sir Charles and I were left alone:  and then, with an air equally solemn and free, he addressed himself to me.

The last time I had the honour of being alone with my good Miss Byron, I told her a very tender tale.  I was sure it would raise in such a heart as hers generous compassion for the noblest lady on the continent; and I presumed, as my difficulties were not owing either to rashness or indiscretion, that she would also pity the relater.

The story did indeed affect you; yet, for my own sake, as well as yours, I referred you to Dr. Bartlett, for the particulars of some parts of it, upon which I could not expatiate.

The doctor, madam, has let me know the particulars which he communicated to you.  I remember with pain the pain I gave to your generous heart in Lord L——­’s study.  I am sure you must have suffered still more from the same compassionate goodness on the communications he made you.  May I, madam, however, add a few particulars to the same subject, which he then could not give you?  Now you have been let into so considerable a part of my story, I am desirous to acquaint you, and that rather than any woman in the world, with all that I know myself of this arduous affair.

He ceased speaking.  I was in tremors.  Sir, sir—­The story, I must own, is a most affecting one.  How much is the unhappy lady to be pitied!  You will do me honour in acquainting me with further particulars of it.

Dr. Bartlett has told you, madam, that the Bishop of Nocera, second brother to Lady Clementina, has very lately written to me, requesting that I will make one more visit to Bologna—­I have the letter.  You read Italian, madam.  Shall I—­Or will you—­He held it to me.