He told us, that he should set out on Friday early for Windsor, in order to attend Lord W——­ in his first visit to Mansfield-house.  You, Lady L——­, will have the trouble given you, said he, of procuring to be new-set the jewels of the late Lady W——­ for a present to the future bride.  My lord shewed them to me (among a great number of other valuable trinkets of his late wife’s) in my last return from the Hall.  They are rich, and will do credit to his quality.  You, my Lord L——­, you, my sisters, will be charmed with your new aunt, and her whole family.  I have joy on the happiness in prospect that will gild the latter days of my mother’s brother; and at the same time be a means of freeing from oppression an ancient and worthy family.

Tears were in every eye.  There now, thought I, sits this princely man, rejoicing every one who sees him, and hears him speak:  But where will he be nine days hence?  And whose this day twelvemonth?

He talked with particular pleasure of the expected arrival of his Beauchamp.  He pleased himself, that he should leave behind him a man who would delight every body, and supply to his friends his absence.—­What a character did he give, and Dr. Bartlett confirm, of that amiable friend of his!

How did the Earl and Lady Gertrude dwell upon all he said!  They prided themselves on the relation they were likely so soon to stand in to so valuable a man.

In your last letter, you tell me, Lucy, that Mr. Greville has the confidence to throw out menaces against this excellent man—­Sorry wretch!  —­How my heart rises against him!—­He—­But no more of such an earth-born creature.

LETTER XV

Miss Byron.—­In continuation
Thursday morning, April 6.

Miss Grandison, accompanied by Miss Jervois, has just left us.  Lady L——­ has undertaken, she says, to set all hands at work, to have things in tolerable order, early as the day is, for Tuesday next.  Miss Grandison (would you believe it?) owns, that she wants spirits to order anything.  What must be the solemnity of that circumstance, when near, that shall make Charlotte Grandison want spirits?

She withdrew with me to my apartment.  She threw herself into a chair:  ’Tis a folly to deny it, Harriet, but I am very low, and very silly:  I don’t like next Tuesday by any means.

Is your objection only to the day, my dear?

I do not like the man.

Is there any man whom you like better?

I can’t say that neither.  But this brother of mine makes me think contemptibly of all other men.  I would compound for a man but half so good—­Tender, kind, humane, polite, and even cheerful in affliction!—­O, Harriet! where is there such another man?

No where.—­But you don’t by marriage lose, on the contrary, you further engage and secure, the affection of this brother.  You will have a good-natured worthy man for your husband; a man who loves you, and you will have your brother besides.