had you been there! Is it, that
your heart is weakened with your present situation? I hope not. No, you
are a good creature! And I see that the mention of a behaviour greatly
generous, however slightly made, will have its force upon a heart so
truly benevolent as yours. You must be Lady Grandison, my dear: indeed
you must.--Well, but I must be gone. You dine with us to-morrow, my
brother says?

He did ask me; and desired me to engage my cousins. But he repeated not
the invitation when he went away.

He depends upon your coming: and so do we. He is to talk to me before
you, it seems: I can't tell about what: but by his hurrying on every
thing, it is plain he is preparing to leave us.

He is, madam.

'He is, madam!' And with that dejected air, and mendicant voice--Speak
up like a woman!--The sooner he sets out, if he must go, the sooner he
will return. Come, come, Harriet, you shall be Lady Grandison still--Ah!
and that sigh too! These love-sick folks have a language that nobody
else can talk to them in: and then she affectedly sighed--Is that right,
Harriet?--She sighed again--No, it is not: I never knew what a sigh was,
but when my father vexed my sister; and that was more for fear he should
one day be as cruel to me, than for her sake. We can be very generous
for others, Harriet, when we apprehend that one day we may want the same
pity ourselves. Our best passions, my dear, have their mixtures of
self-love.

You have drawn a picture of human nature, Charlotte, that I don't like.

It is a likeness for all that.

She arose, snatched my hand, hurried to the door--Be with us, Harriet,
and cousin Reeves, and cousin Reeves, as soon as you can to-morrow. I
want to talk to you, my dear (to me) of an hundred thousand things before
dinner. Remember we dine early.

Away she fluttered--Happy Miss Grandison! What charming spirits she has!

LETTER XIII

MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 5.

Miss Jervois came to me this morning by six; impatient, as she said, to
communicate good news to me. I was in my closet writing. I could not
sleep.

I have seen my mother, said she; and we are good friends. Was she ever
unkind to me, madam?

Dear creature! said I, and clasped her to my bosom, you are a sweet girl!
Oblige me with the particulars.

Let me, Lucy, give you, as near as I can recollect, the amiable young
creature's words and actions on this occasion.

Sit down, my love, said I.--What! When I am ta