But might I not expect, from such a profession of friendship in Sir Charles, an offer of correspondence in absence?  And if he made the offer, ought I to decline it?  Would it not indicate too much on my side, were I to do so?—­And does it not on his, if he make not the offer?  He corresponds with Mrs. Beaumont:  nobody thinks that any thing can be meant by that correspondence on either side; because Mrs. Beaumont must be at least forty; Sir Charles but six or seven and twenty:  but if he makes not the request to Harriet, who is but little more than twenty; what, after such professions of a friendship so tender, will be inferred from his forbearance?

But I shall puzzle myself, and you too, Lucy, if I go on with this sort of reasoning; because I shall not know how to put all I mean into words.  Have I not already puzzled you?  I think my expression is weak and perplexed—­But this offered and accepted friendship between two persons not indelicate, must be perplexing; since he is the only young man in the world, from whom a woman has no dishonour to fear.—­Ah, Lucy!—­It would be vanity in me, would it not? to suppose that he had more to fear from Harriet, than she has from him; as the virtue of either, I hope, is not questionable?  But the event of his Italian visit will explain and reconcile every thing.

I will encourage a drowsy fit that seems to be stealing upon me.  If I have not written with the perspicuity I always aim at, allow, Lucy, for the time of night; for spirits not high; and for the subject, that having its delicacies, as well as uncertainties, I am not able to write clearly upon it.

LETTER XIX

Miss Byron.—­In continuation
Saturday night, April 9.

Sir Charles is already returned:  he arrived at Windsor on Friday morning; but found that Lord W——­ had set out the afternoon of the day before, for the house of his friend Sir Joseph Lawrence, which is but fifteen miles from Mansfield-house.

Upon this intelligence, Sir Charles, wanting to return to town as soon as he could, followed him to the knight’s:  and having time enough himself to reach Mansfield-house that night, he, by his uncle’s consent, pursued his journey thither; to the great joy of the family; who wished for his personal introduction of my lord to Miss Mansfield.

My lord arrived by breakfast-time, unfatigued, and in high spirits:  staid at Mansfield-house all day; and promised so to manage, as to be in town to-morrow, in order to be present at his niece’s nuptials on Tuesday.