of it: and
there is a dark one; but I will endeavour to see it only with the eye of
prudence, that I may not be involved by it at unawares. Who that is not
reproached by his own heart, and is blessed with health, can grieve for
inevitable evils; evils that can be only evils as we make them so?
Forgive my seriousness: my dear friends, you make me grave. Favour me, I
beseech you, my good Miss Byron, with one lesson: we shall be too much
engaged, perhaps, by and by.

He led me (I thought it was with a cheerful air; but my cousins both say,
his eyes glistened) to the harpsichord: He sung unasked, but with a low
voice; and my mind was calmed. O, Lucy! How can I part with such a man?
How can I take my leave of him?--But perhaps he has taken his leave of me
already, as to the solemnity of it, in the manner I have recited.

LETTER XXVII

MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
SATURDAY MORNING, APRIL 15.

O, Lucy, Sir Charles Grandison is gone! Gone indeed! He set out at
three this morning; on purpose, no doubt, to spare his sisters, and
friends, as well as himself, concern.

We broke not up till after two. Were I in the writing humour which I
have never known to fail me till now, I could dwell upon a hundred
things, some of which I can now only briefly mention.

Dinner-time yesterday passed with tolerable cheerfulness: every one tried
to be cheerful. O what pain attends loving too well, and being too well
beloved! He must have pain, as well as we.

Lady Olivia was the most thoughtful, at dinnertime; yet poor Emily! Ah,
the poor Emily! she went out four or five times to weep; though only I
perceived it.

Nobody was cheerful after dinner but Sir Charles. He seemed to exert
himself to be so. He prevailed on me to give them a lesson on the
harpsichord. Lady L---- played: Lady G---- played: we tried to play, I
should rather say. He himself took the violin, and afterwards sat down
to the harpsichord, for one short lesson. He was not known to be such a
master: but he was long in Italy. Lady Olivia indeed knew him to be so.
She was induced to play upon the harpsichord: she surpassed every body.
Italy is the land of harmony.

About seven at night he singled me out, and surprised me greatly by what
he said. He told me, that Lady D---- had made him a visit. I was before
low: I was then ready to sink. She has asked me questions, madam.

Sir, sir! was all I could say.

He himself trembled as he spoke.--Alas! my dear, he surely lov