ite, because you enjoin me to do so. Love you still!--How can I
help it, if I would? You may believe how I stand aghast, your letter
communicating the first news--Good God of Heaven and Earth!--But what
shall I say?--I am all impatient for particulars.

Lord have mercy upon me!--But can it be?

My mother will indeed be astonished!--How can I tell it her!--It was
but last night (upon some jealousies put into her head by your foolish
uncle) that I assured her, and this upon the strength of your own
assurances, that neither man nor devil would be able to induce you to
take a step that was in the least derogatory to the most punctilious
honour.

But, once more, can it be? What woman at this rate!--But, God preserve
you!

Let nothing escape you in your letters. Direct them for me, however, to
Mrs. Knolly's, till further notice.

*****

Observe, my dear, that I don't blame you by all this--Your relations
only are in fault!--Yet how you came to change your mind is the
surprising thing.

How to break it to my mother, I know not. Yet if she hear it first
from any other, and find I knew it before, she will believe it to be my
connivance!--Yet, as I hope to live, I know not how to break it to her.

But this is teasing you.--I am sure, without intention.

Let me now repeat my former advice--If you are not married by this time,
be sure delay not the ceremony. Since things are as they are, I wish it
were thought that you were privately married before you went away. If
these men plead AUTHORITY to our pain, when we are theirs--Why should we
not, in such a case as this, make some good out of the hated word, for
our reputation, when we are induced to violate a more natural one?

Your brother and sister [that vexes me almost as much as any thing!]
have now their ends. Now, I suppose, will go forward alterations of
wills, and such-like spiteful doings.

*****

Miss Lloyd and Miss Biddulph this moment send up their names. They
are out of breath, Kitty says, to speak to me--easy to guess their
errand;--I must see my mother, before I see them. I have no way but to
shew her your letter to clear myself. I shall not be able to say a
word, till she has run herself out of her first breath.--Forgive me, my
dear--surprise makes me write thus. If your messenger did not wait, and
were not those young ladies below, I could write it over again, for fear
of afflicting you.

I send what you write for. If there be any thing else y