ou. I have two reasons for not being able to come
before. I wish so to arrange my visit as to spend some days with you
after your mother's return. In the 1st place, that I may have the
pleasure of seeing her, and in the 2nd, that I may have a better
chance of bringing you back with me. Your promise in my favour was
not quite absolute, but if your will is not perverse, you and I will
do all in our power to overcome your scruples of conscience. I hope
we shall meet next week to talk all this over, till we have tired
ourselves with the very idea of my visit before my visit begins. Our
invitations for the 19th are arrived, and very curiously are they
worded. {65} Mary mentioned to you yesterday poor Earle's unfortunate
accident, I dare say. He does not seem to be going on very well. The
two or three last posts have brought less and less favourable accounts
of him. John Harwood has gone to Gosport again to-day. We have two
families of friends now who are in a most anxious state; for though by
a note from Catherine this morning there seems now to be a revival of
hope at Manydown, its continuance may be too reasonably doubted. Mr.
Heathcote, {66a} however, who has broken the small bone of his leg, is
so good as to be going on very well. It would be really too much to
have three people to care for.

'You distress me cruelly by your request about books. I cannot think
of any to bring with me, nor have I any idea of our wanting them. I
come to you to be talked to, not to read or hear reading; I can do
that at home; and indeed I am now laying in a stock of intelligence to
pour out on you as my share of the conversation. I am reading Henry's
History of England, which I will repeat to you in any manner you may
prefer, either in a loose, desultory, unconnected stream, or dividing
my recital, as the historian divides it himself, into seven parts:--The
Civil and Military: Religion: Constitution: Learning and Learned Men:
Arts and Sciences: Commerce, Coins, and Shipping: and Manners. So
that for every evening in the week there will be a different subject.
The Friday's lot--Commerce, Coins, and Shipping--you will find the
least entertaining; but the next evening's portion will make amends.
With such a provision on my part, if you will do yours by repeating
the French Grammar, and Mrs. Stent {66b} will now and then ejaculat