with their usual goodness to me, cheerfully complied.

Sir Charles set out this morning to attend the triple marriages; dressed
charmingly, his sister says. I have made Miss Grandison promise to give
me an account of such particulars, as, by the help of Saunders, and Sir
Charles's own relation, she can pick up. All we single girls, I believe,
are pretty attentive to such subjects as these; as what one day may be
our own concern.

LETTER XVI

MISS GRANDISON, TO MISS BYRON
THURSDAY NIGHT.

Unreasonable, wicked, cruel Byron! To expect a poor creature, so near
her execution, to write an account of other people's behaviour in the
same tremendous circumstances! The matrimonial noose has hung over my
head for some time past; and now it is actually fitted to my devoted
neck.--Almost choaked, my dear!--This moment done hearing read, the
firsts, seconds, thirds, fourths, to near a dozen of them--Lord be
merciful to us!--And the villanous lawyer rearing up to me his spectacled
nose, as if to see how I bore it! Lord G---- insulting me, as I thought,
by his odious leers: Lady Gertrude simpering; little Emily ready to bless
herself--How will the dear Harriet bear these abominable recitatives?--
But I am now up stairs from them all, in order to recover my breath, and
obey my Byron.

Well, but what am I now to say about the Danbys? Richard has made his
report; Sir Charles has told us some things: yet I will only give you
heads: make out the rest.

In the first place, my brother went to Mrs. Harrington's (Miss Danby's
aunt:) she did every thing but worship him. She had with her two young
ladies, relations of her late husband, dainty damsels of the city, who
had procured themselves to be invited, that they might see the man, whom
they called, a wonder of generosity and goodness. Richard heard one of
them say to the other, Ah, sister, this is a king of a man! What pity
there are not many such! But, Harriet, if there were a hundred of them,
we would not let one of them go into the city for a wife; would we, my
dear?

Sir Charles praised Miss Danby. She was full of gratitude; and of
humility, I suppose. Meek, modest, and humble, are qualities of which
men are mighty fond in women. But matrimony, and a sense of obligation,
are equally great humblers even of spirits prouder than that of Miss
Danby; as your poor Charlotte can testify.

The young gentlemen, with the rest, were to meet Sir Charles, the bride,
and these ladies, a