tty's child is dead, and your godson grows a lovely
boy, and will, I hope, talk to you when he sees you: which I
should be glad to do now.

4. From Martha Wesley (Patty) to her brother John.

Feb. 7th, 1727.

I must confess you had a better opinion of me than I deserved:
for jealousy did indeed suggest that you had very small kindness
for me. When you sent the parcel to my sister Lambert, and
wrote to her and sister Emme, and not to me, I was much worse
grieved than before. Though I cannot possibly be so vain as to
think that I do for my own personal merits deserve more love
than my sisters, yet can you blame me if I sometimes wish I had
been so happy as to have the first place in your heart?

Sister Emme is gone to Lincoln again, of which I'm very glad for
her own sake; for she is weak and our misfortunes daily impair
her health. Sister Kezzy, too, will have a fair chance of
going. I believe if sister Molly stays long at home it will be
because she can't get away. It is likely in a few years' time
our family may be lessened--perhaps none left but your poor
sister Martha, for whose welfare few are concerned.

My father has been at Louth to see sister Wright, who by good
providence was brought to bed two days before he got thither;
which perhaps might prevent his saying what he otherwise might
have said to her; for none that deserves the name of man would
say anything to grieve a woman in a condition where grief is
often present death to them. I fancy you have heard before now
that her child is dead.

Of these letters but a faint echo reached Hetty as she lay in her bed
at Louth--a few words transcribed by Charles from the one (No. 2)
received by him, and sent with his affectionate inquiries. He added
that Molly had also written to Jack, but to what effect he knew not;
only that Jack, after reading it in his presence, had 'pish'd' and
pocketed it in a huff.

She lay in a darkened room, with her own hopes at their darkest--or
rather, their blankest. She had journeyed to Wroote, and from her
humble lodging there had written an honest letter to her father,
begging only to see her mother or Molly, promising to hold no
communication with them if he refused. He had refused, in a curt
note of three lines. From Wroote she returned to Louth, to face her