from what M. says, would be as eligible a place as any.  When do you set off?  Arrange all these things according to your convenience; I shall start no objections.  The idea of seeing the sea—­of being near it—­watching its changes by sunrise, sunset, moonlight, and noon-day—­in calm, perhaps in storm—­fills and satisfies my mind.  I shall be discontented at nothing.  And then I am not to be with a set of people with whom I have nothing in common—­who would be nuisances and bores:  but with you, whom I like and know, and who knows me.

“I have an odd circumstance to relate to you:  prepare for a hearty laugh!  The other day, Mr. —–­, a vicar, came to spend the day with us, bringing with him his own curate.  The latter gentleman, by name Mr. B., is a young Irish clergyman, fresh from Dublin University.  It was the first time we had any of us seen him, but, however, after the manner of his countrymen, he soon made himself at home.  His character quickly appeared in his conversation; witty, lively, ardent, clever too; but deficient in the dignity and discretion of an Englishman.  At home, you know, I talk with ease, and am never shy—­never weighed down and oppressed by that miserable mauvaise honte which torments and constrains me elsewhere.  So I conversed with this Irishman, and laughed at his jests; and, though I saw faults in his character, excused them because of the amusement his originality afforded.  I cooled a little, indeed, and drew in towards the latter part of the evening, because he began to season his conversation with something of Hibernian flattery, which I did not quite relish.  However, they went away, and no more was thought about them.  A few days after, I got a letter, the direction of which puzzled me, it being in a hand I was not accustomed to see.  Evidently, it was neither from you nor Mary, my only correspondents.  Having opened and read it, it proved to be a declaration of attachment and proposal of matrimony, expressed in the ardent language of the sapient young Irishman!  I hope you are laughing heartily.  This is not like one of my adventures, is it?  It more nearly resembles Martha’s.  I am certainly doomed to be an old maid.  Never mind.  I made up my mind to that fate ever since I was twelve years old.

   “Well! thought I, I have heard of love at first sight, but this beats
   all!  I leave you to guess what my answer would be, convinced that you
   will not do me the injustice of guessing wrong.”

On the 14th of August she still writes from Haworth:—­

“I have in vain packed my box, and prepared everything for our anticipated journey.  It so happens that I can get no conveyance this week or the next.  The only gig let out to hire in Haworth, is at Harrowgate, and likely to remain there, for aught I can hear.  Papa decidedly objects to my going by the coach, and walking to B., though I am sure I could manage it.  Aunt