alted
creature!) that I might think the better of her friends, although at her
own expense. I am, dear Sir,

Your faithful and obedient servant,
WM. MORDEN.

LETTER XXVII

COLONEL MORDEN
[IN CONTINUATION.]

When the unhappy mourners were all retired, I directed the lid of the
coffin to be unscrewed, and caused some fresh aromatics and flowers to
be put into it.

The corpse was very little altered, notwithstanding the journey. The
sweet smile remained.

The maids who brought the flowers were ambitious of strewing them about
it: they poured forth fresh lamentations over her; each wishing she had
been so happy as to have been allowed to attend her in London. One of
them particularly, who is, it seems, my cousin Arabella's personal
servant, was more clamorous in her grief than any of the rest; and the
moment she turned her back, all the others allowed she had reason for it.
I inquired afterwards about her, and found, that this creature was set
over my dear cousin, when she was confined to her chamber by indiscreet
severity.

Good Heaven! that they should treat, and suffer thus to be treated, a
young lady, who was qualified to give laws to all her family!

When my cousins were told that the lid was unscrewed, they pressed in
again, all but the mournful father and mother, as if by consent. Mrs.
Hervey kissed her pale lips. Flower of the world! was all she could say;
and gave place to Miss Arabella; who kissing the forehead of her whom she
had so cruelly treated, could only say, to my cousin James, (looking upon
the corpse, and upon him,) O Brother!--While he, taking the fair,
lifeless hand, kissed it, and retreated with precipitation.

Her two uncles were speechless. They seemed to wait each other's
example, whether to look upon the corpse, or not. I ordered the lid to
be replaced; and then they pressed forward, as the others again did, to
take a last farewell of the casket which so lately contained so rich a
jewel.

Then it was that the grief of each found fluent expression; and the fair
corpse was addressed to, with all the tenderness that the sincerest love
and warmest admiration could inspire; each according to their different
degrees of relationship, as if none of them had before looked upon her.
She was their very niece, both uncles said! The injured saint, her uncle
Harlowe! The same smiling sister, Arabella!--The dear creature, all of
them!--The same benignity of countenance! The same sw