As for Sir Charles, he made the Mansfield family happy in his company the whole Friday evening; inquiring into their affairs relating to the oppression they lay under; pointing out measures for redress; encouraging Miss Mansfield; and informing the brothers, that the lawyers he had consulted on their deeds, told him, that a new trial might be hoped for; the result of which, probably, would be a means to do them justice, so powerfully protected and assisted as they would now be; for new lights had broke in upon them, and they wanted but to recover a deed, which they understood was in the hands of two gentlemen, named Hartley, who were but lately returned from the Indies.  Thus prepared, the Mansfields also were in high spirits, the next morning; and looked, Sir Charles said, on each other, when they met, as if they wanted to tell each other their agreeable dreams.

Sir Charles, in his way, had looked in upon Sir Harry Beauchamp, and his lady.  He found Sir Harry in high spirits, expecting the arrival of his son; who was actually landed from Calais, having met there his father’s letter, allowing him to return to England, and wishing in his own, and in Lady Beauchamp’s name, his speedy arrival.

Sir Charles’s impatience to see his friend, permitted him only to breakfast with my lord and the Mansfields; and to know the opinion each party formed of the other, on this first interview; and then he set out to Sir Harry Beauchamp’s.  What an activity!—­Heaven reward him with the grant of his own wishes, whatever they be, and make him the happiest of men!

My lord is greatly taken with the lady, and her whole family.  Well he may, Sir Charles says.  He blessed him, and called himself blessed in his sister’s son, for his recommendation of each to the other.  The lady thinks better of him, as her mother owned to Sir Charles, than she thought she should, from report.

I begin to think, Lucy, that those who set out for happiness are most likely to find it, when they live single till the age of fancy is over.  Those who marry while it lasts, are often disappointed of that which they propose so largely to themselves:  while those who wed for convenience, and deal with tolerable honesty by each other, are at a greater certainty.  Tolerable, I repeat, since, it seems, we are to expect that both parties will turn the best side of the old garment outward.  Hence arises consolation to old maidens, and cautions against precipitation—­ Expatiate, my dear, on this fruitful subject:  I would, were I at leisure.

Sir Charles says that he doubts not, but Lord W——­ will be as happy a man as he wishes to be, in less than a month.

The deuse is in this brother of mine, whispered Miss Grandison, to me, for huddling up of marriages!  He don’t consider, that there may be two chances for one, that his honest folks may in half a year’s time, bless him the contrary way.

Sir Charles told us, that he had desired Lord W——­ to give out every where (that the adversaries of the Mansfield family might know it) his intended alliance; and that he and his nephew were both determined to procure a retrospection of all former proceedings.