is private
circumstances: and to a hint given in the January following by Lady
Bradshaigh, of her intention to visit London before she is a year older,
when she "shall long to see" Mr. Richardson, and "perhaps may contrive
_that_, though unknown to him," he replies,--

"But do not, my dear correspondent (still let me call you so) say,
that you will see me, _unknown to myself_, when you come to town.
Permit me to hope, that you will not be personally a stranger to me
then."

This is followed by an acknowledgment from Madame Belfour, that she is
not his "Devonshire lady," having but very little knowledge of the place,
though she has a friend there; observing archly, "_Lancashire_, if you
please;" adding an invitation, if he is inclined to take a journey of two
hundred miles, with the promise of "a most friendly reception from two
persons, who have great reason to esteem" him "a very valuable
acquaintance."

Richardson responded to this invitation by another--

"But I will readily come into any proposal you shall make, to answer
the purpose of your question; and if you will be so cruel as to keep
yourself still incognito, will acquiesce. I wish you would accept of
our invitation on your coming to town. _But three little miles from
Hyde Park Corner_. I keep no vehicle."

(This was before the age of omnibuses.)

--"but one should be at yours, and at your dear man's command, as
long as you should both honour us with your presence. You shall be
only the sister, the cousin, the niece--the what you please of my
incognito, and I will never address you as other than what you choose
to pass for. If you knew, Madam, you would not question that I am in
earnest on this occasion; the less question it, as that at my little
habitation near Hammersmith, I have common conveniences, though not
splendid ones, to make my offer good."

Richardson, in the letter from which this passage has been extracted, is
again led away by his vanity into a description of his person, and very
plainly hints at a meeting in the Park, through which he goes "once or
twice a week to" his "little retirement." He describes himself as

"Short, rather plump than emaciated, about five foot five inches;
fair wig; lightish cloth coat, all black besides; one hand generally
in his bosom, the other a cane in it, which he leans upon under the
skirts of his coat usually, that i