till his return. He calls
himself Lord G----'s guest and mine: so you can have no punctilio about
it. Besides, Lord W---- will set out to-morrow morning for Windsor. He
dotes upon you: and perhaps it is in your power to make a new-married man
penitent and polite.

So you must come.

Hang me, if I sign by any other name, while this man is in fits, than
that of

CHARLOTTE GRANDISON.

LETTER XXIV

MISS BYRON, TO MISS SELBY
THURSDAY, APRIL 13.

I send you enclosed a letter I received this morning from Lady G----. I
will suppose you have read it.

Emily says, that the meeting between Sir Charles and the lady mentioned
in it, was very polite on both sides: but more cold on his than on hers.
She made some difficulty, however, of dining at his house; and her aunt,
Lady Maffei, more. But on Sir Charles's telling them, that he would
bring his elder sister to attend them thither, they complied.

When I went to St. James's-square, Sir Charles and Lady L---- were gone
in his coach to bring the two ladies.

Lady G---- met me on the stairs-head, leading into her dressing-room.
Not a word, said she, of the man's sullens: He repents: A fine figure, as
I told him, of a bridegroom, would he make in the eyes of foreign ladies,
at dinner, were he to retain his gloomy airs. He has begged my pardon;
as good as promised amendment; and I have forgiven him.

Poor Lord G----, said I.

Hush, hush! He is within: he will hear you: and then perhaps repent of
his repentance.

She led me in: my lord had a glow in his cheeks, and looked as if he had
been nettled; and was but just recovering a smile, to help to carry off
the petulance. O how saucily did her eyes look! Well, my lord, said
she, I hope--But you say, I misunderstood--No more, madam, no more, I
beseech you--

Well, sir, not a word more, since you are--

Pray, madam--

Well, well, give me your hand--You must leave Harriet and me together.

She humorously courtesied to him as he bowed to me, taking the compliment
as to herself. She nodded her head to him, as he turned back his when he
was at the door; and when he was gone, If I can but make this man
orderly, said she, I shall not quarrel with my brother for hurrying me,
as he has done.

You are wrong, excessively wrong, Charlotte: you call my lord a silly
man, but can have no proof that he is so, but by his bearing this
treatment from you.

None of your grave airs, my dear. The man is a good sort of man, and
wi