ings to
do that it may be four or five days before she
can. This is quite her own message, spoken in
rather a desponding tone. Your letter gave
pleasure to all of us; we had all the reading of
it of course, I _three times_, as I undertook, to
the great relief of Lizzie, to read it to
Sackree,[268] and afterwards to Louisa.

* * * * *

Mrs. ---- called here on Saturday. I never saw her
before. She is a large, ungenteel woman, with
self-satisfied and would-be elegant manners.

* * * * *

On Thursday, Mr. Lushington,[269] M.P. for
Canterbury, and manager of the Lodge Hounds, dines
here, and stays the night. He is chiefly young
Edward's acquaintance. If I can I will get a frank
from him, and write to you all the sooner. I
suppose the Ashford ball will furnish something.

* * * * *

I am looking over _Self-Control_ again, and my
opinion is confirmed of its being an
excellently-meant, elegantly-written work, without
anything of nature or probability in it. I
declare I do not know whether Laura's passage down
the American river is not the most natural,
possible, everyday thing she ever does.

* * * * *

_Tuesday._--I admire the sagacity and taste of
Charlotte Williams. Those large dark eyes always
judge well. I will compliment her by naming a
heroine after her.

* * * * *

Southey's _Life of Nelson_: I am tired of _Lives
of Nelson_, being that I never read any. I will
read this, however, if Frank is mentioned in it.

[October 14, 1813.]

Now I will prepare for Mr. Lushington, and as it
will be wisest also to prepare for his not coming,
or my not getting a frank, I shall write very
close from the first, and even leave room for the
seal in the proper place. When I have followed up
my last with this I shall feel somewhat less
unworthy of you than the state of our
correspondence now requires.

* * * * *