opportunity given her of atoning for some small slips and mistakes in her accounts, which she had made formerly, as she accuses herself; for she will have it that Mr Longman has been better to her than she deserved, in passing one account particularly,* to which he had, with too much reason, objected. Do, dear sir, if your future happy lady has no great dislike to the poor woman, be pleased to grant her request, except her own mind should alter, and she desire her dismission; and be pleased to present her with my little book of select devotions, with my notes in the inter-leaves. It is in the bottom drawer of the right hand, among my devotional miscellanies. Or rather, much rather, be pleased to order a copy of it to be made out for her, and to give the original, it being mostly in my own hand-writing, to my dear father. This is a better thought by much; for the dear good man will esteem it the more for that. I wonder I did not think of this before. To the other servants I have only to leave my thanks and best wishes, for their respectful love and dutiful behaviour to one, who, from being once hardly the equal to some of them, has been exalted to the honourable station of their mistress, by your superlative goodness and favour. No servants, my dear Mr B-, ever deserved a mistress's thanks, if yours do not; for they, every one of them, most cheerfully came into all my little schemes and regulations; and they have encouraged me, by their ready obedience and their respectful loves, to pursue the natural dictates of my own heart, and have made all assumings and pride as unnecessary, as they would have been grievous to me, and censurable by every one else; for, was it not my high concern so to behave myself to all, low as well as high, that my best beloved benefactor should not, by my arrogance or inattention, have censures of him, added to enviers of me, for the step he had taken so derogatory to his own honour, and to that of his ancient and splendid family? To the favour of the best of masters I therefore leave them, with this testimony of their merits, and of my kind regard to them, which makes me venture to call them, without one exception, from my silver-haired Jonathan, to the lowest menial, the best set of servants that any gentleman ever had. Nor, by Miss Darnford's account of the behaviour of those at the Hall, do I find them at all unworthy of being classed with these here, in the happy character. And let me say, my dearest Mr B! that I have been not a little attentive to their respective behaviours, and have taken Mrs Jervis's observations, as a help to my own, in this particular, because I thought it my duty to do so, as well in justice to your dear self, as to them. As to Polly Barlow, to whom I was willing to behave with an eye to my dear good lady's kindness to myself, I have nothing to say, by way of distinction, from the rest, having hinted to Mrs Jervis to give her her advice, from time to time, and that, if an honest husband should offer, she should advise the poor girl not to decline it. Forgive me, dearest sir, for thus mentioning to you, in this solemn letter, so particularly, your servants. But the pleasure which their regularity and worthiness have given me, together with the knowledge I have of their fidelity and affectionate duty to you, methinks call for this testimony of my satisfaction in them, and for my recommendation of them to your favour. And now, what have I farther to say, but to beg of God to shower down his most precious blessings upon you, my dearest, my first, my last, and my only love! and to return to you an hundred-fold, the benefits which you have conferred upon me and mine, and upon so many poor souls, as you have blessed through my hands! And that you may, in your next choice, be happy with a lady who may have every thing I want, and who may love and honour you with the same affectionate duty which has been my delight and my glory to pay you. For in this, I am sure, no one can exceed me! And, after having given you long life, prosperity, and increase of honour, translate you into a blessed eternity, where, through the merits of our common Redeemer, I hope I shall be allowed a place, and be permitted (O let me indulge that pleasing, that consolatory thought!)-to receive and rejoice in my restored spouse, for ever and ever, are the prayers, the last prayers, if it so please God! of, my dearest dear Mr B Your dutiful and affectionate wife, LETTER LX. MISS DARNFORD TO LADY DARNFORD. MY HONOURED MAMMA, You cannot conceive how you and my dear papa have delighted the heart of my good Mrs B- and obliged her Mr B-, by the permission you have given me to attend her till the important hour shall be over with her; for the dear lady is exceedingly apprehensive, and one can hardly blame her, since there is hardly such another happy couple in the world. I am glad to hear that the ceremony is over, so much to both your satisfactions. May this matrimony be but a tenth part as happy as that I am witness to here; and Mr and Mrs Murray * See, for a hint of this, p. 43. VOL. VI. 2 c will have that to boast of, which few married people have, even among those we call happy! For my part, I believe I shall never care to marry at all; for though I cannot be so deserving as Mrs B- -, yet I shall not bear to think of a husband much less excellent than hers. Nay, by what I see in her apprehensions, and conceive of the condition she hourly expects to be in, I don't think a lady can be requited with a less worthy one, for all she is likely to suffer on a husband's account, and for the sake of his family and name. Mrs Andrews, a discreet worthy soul as ever I knew, and who, in her aspect and behaviour, is far from being a disgrace even to Mr B's lady, is with her dear daughter, to her no small satisfaction, as you may suppose, who now and then says, What a foolish creature, my dear mother, have you for a daughter! You did not behave so weakly as I do, when you were in the same circumstances, I dare say; and yet you had a dear good husband, though not a rich one, to hope to live for! But, come, I will have a good heart, to make myself as worthy of the company and cheerings of three such friends, as I am blessed with in ny mother, my Miss Darnford, and Mrs Jervis. Mr B- asked my advice yesterday about having in the house a midwife, to be at hand at a moment's warning. I told him I feared the sight of such a person would terrify her; and so he instantly started an expedient, of which her mother, Mrs Jervis, and myself approved, and have put into practice; for this day Mrs Harris, a distant relation of mine, though not of yours, sir, and madam, is arrived from Essex to make me a visit; and Mr B- has been so good as to prevail upon her, in compliment to me, as he pretended, to accept of her board in his house, while she stays in town, which, she says, will be about a week. Now, you must know, that this Mrs Harris, being a discreet, modest, matron-like person, Mrs B took a liking to her at first sight, and is already very familiar with her; and understanding that she is a gentlewoman who was a doctor of physic's lady, and takes as much delight in administering to the health of her own sex, as her husband used to do to that of both, Mrs B says, it is very fortunate that she has so experienced a lady to consult, as she is such a novice in her own case. Mr B- however, to carry on the honest imposture better, just now, in presence of Mrs Harris, and Mrs Andrews, and me, asked the former, If it was not necessary to have in the house the good woman? This frightened Mrs B- who turned pale, and said she could not bear the thoughts of it. Mrs Harris said, It was highly necessary that Mrs B, if she would not permit the gentlewoman to be in the house, should see her; and that then, she apprehended, there would be no necessity, as she supposed she did not live far off, to have her in the house, since Mrs B was so uneasy upon that account. This pleased Mrs B—— much, and Mrs Thomas was admitted to attend her. Now, you must know, that this is the assistant of my new relation; and she being apprized of the matter, came; but never did I see so much shyness and apprehension as Mrs B— shewed all the time Mrs Thomas was with her, holding sometimes her mother, sometimes Mrs Harris, by the hand, and being ready to sweat with terror. Mrs Harris scraped acquaintance with Mrs Thomas, who, pretending to recollect her, gave Mrs Harris great praises; which increased Mrs B-'s confidence in her: And she undertakes to govern the whole so, that the dreaded Mrs Thomas need not come till the very moment; which is no small pleasure to the over-nice lady. And she seems every hour to be better pleased with Mrs Harris, who, by her prudent talk, will more and more familiarize her to the circumstance, unawares to herself in a manner. But, notwithstanding this precaution of a midwife in the house, Mr B- intends to have a gentleman of the profession in readiness, for fear of the worst. I tell Mr B. he is very happy in this stratagem; but that, I suppose, he has been more used to contrivances of this sort than he ought to have been; and was so free as to add, that I presumed his lady is hardly the first he has cheated into a child. And, indeed, I think Mrs B's merit to the rest of her sex, is very great, were it only in reforming such an uncommonly agreeable and manly rake as this; for no doubt he has done, and would have done, a world of mischief among the thoughtless and indiscreet in upper life; for, it seems, when he was at the worst, he never made the vulgar the subjects of his vile attempts. Mrs B has written a letter, and the superscription following will tell you to whom it is directed: "To the ever-honoured and everdear Mr B, with prayers for his health, honour, and prosperity in this world, and everlasting felicity in that to come. P. B." It is sealed with black wax, and she gave it me this moment, on her being taken ill, to give to Mr Bif she dies. But GoD, of his mercy, avert that! and preserve the dear lady, for the honour of her sex, and the happiness of all who know her, and particularly for that of your Polly Darnford; for I cannot have a greater loss, I am sure, while my honoured papa and mamma are living: And may that be for many, very inany, happy years! I will not close this letter till all is over: Happily, as I hope!—Mrs B- is better again, and has, occasionally, made some fine reflections, directing herself to me, but designed for the benefit of her Polly, on the subject of the inconsideration of some of our sex, with regard to the circumstances she is in; inferring, that if such are her apprehensions, though a lawful wife, and such the danger attending this case, how must it leave a poor creature destitute of all spiritual consolation, (as well as of the assistance and comfortings of the nearest friends, and of a kind husband,) when she has sacrificed her honour, and cannot think of any thing so probable, as the moment approaches, but that GOD will punish her in kind, as she called it; that is to say, added she, by the very sufferings, which are the natural consequences of the sin she has so wickedly committed! I knew what her design was, and said, Ay, Polly, let you and I, and every single young body, bear these reflections in mind, pronounced by so excellent a lady, in moments so arduous as these! The girl wept, and very movingly fell down by the door, on her knees, praying to GOD to preserve her dear lady, and she should be happy for ever!-That, as Mrs B- so often prettily writes, was her word. Mrs B- is exceedingly pleased with my new relation, Mrs Harris, as we call her, who behaves with so much prudence, that she suspects nothing, and told Mrs Jervis, she wished nobody else was to come near her. And as she goes out (being a person of eminence in her way) two or three times a-day, and last night staid out late, Mrs B- said, she hoped she would not be abroad when she should wish her to be at home. I have the pleasure, the very great pleasure, my dear papa and mamma, to acquaint you, and I know you will rejoice with me upon it, that just half an hour ago, my dear Mrs B- was brought to-bed of a fine boy. I We are all out of our wits for joy almost. ran down to Mr B-myself, who received me with trembling impatience. A boy! a fine boy! dear Mr B-! said I: A son and heir, indeed! But how does my Pamela? Is she safe? Is she like to do well?-We hope so, said I ; or I had not come down to you, I'll assure you. He folded me in his arms, in a joyful rapture! How happy you make me, dearest Miss Darnford! If my Pamela is safe, the boy is welcome, welcome indeed!--But when may I go up to thank my jewel? Mrs Andrews is so overjoyed and so thankful, that there's no getting her from her knees. A man and horse is dispatched already to Lady Davers; and another ordered to Kent, to the good old man. Mrs Jervis, when I went up, said, she must go down, and release the good folks from their knees; for, half an hour before, they declared they would not stir from that posture till they heard how it went with their lady; and when the happy news was brought them of her safety, and of a young master, they were quite ecstatic, she says, in their joy, and not a dry eye among them, shaking hands, and congratulating one another, men and maids: Which must make it one of the most affecting sights that can be imagined. And Mr Longman, who had no power to leave the house for three days past, (though business required his presence in Bedfordshire,) hasted to congratulate his worthy principal; and never was so much moving joy seen, as this honest-hearted steward ran over with. I cannot draw these affecting scenes of joy, as Mrs B- could have done, had she been in my case. Let me only say, I never saw such a family-joy in my life: And who would care for royalty, or any of its pageantry, when virtue can thus interest every body in its concerns, and, on such an occasion as this, give that general and sincere joy to all within its circle, which could fill a nation on the birth of a first-born prince from sovereigns the most beloved? I did a foolish thing in my joy-I gave Mr B the letter designed for him, had an unhappy event followed; and he won't give it me again; but says, he will obtain Mrs B--'s leave, when she is better, to open it; and the happier turn will augment his thankfulness to God, and love to her, when he shall, by this means, be blest with sentiments so different from what the other case would have afforded. But I will get it from him, if I can, and give it her back; for one knows not what it may contain; yet her innocence and purity make one less apprehensive a good deal; for, I dare say, she has no excuses to make for failings he knows nothing of. Mrs B- had a very sharp time. Never more, my dear рара, talk of a husband to me. Indeed, in the mind I am in, I will never be married.-Place all your expectations on Nancy! Not one of these men, that I have yet seen, Mr B- excepted, (and you know what a chance it was that he would be so good,) is worth running these risks for! But his endearments and tenderness to his lady, his thankful and manly gratitude and politeness, when he was admitted to pay his respects to her, and his behaviour to Mrs Andrews, and to us all, though but for a visit of ten minutes, was alone worthy of all her risk. I would give you a description of it, had I Mrs B's pen, and of twenty agreeable scenes and conversations besides: But, for want of that, must conclude, with my humble duty, as becomes, honoured sir and madam, Your ever-grateful POLLY DARNFORD. I have been three days writing this letter, piece by piece. LETTER LXI. MISS DARNFORD TO HER PARENTS. MY HONOURED PAPA AND MAMMA, We have nothing but joy and festivity in this house; and it would be endless to tell you the congratulations the happy family receives, every you day, from tenants and friends. Mr Bknow, was always deemed one of the kindest landlords in England; and his tenants are overjoyed at the happy event which has given them a young landlord of his name: For all those who live in that large part of the estate, which came by Mrs B- his mother, were much afraid of having any of Sir Jacob Swynford's family for their landlord, who, they say, are all made up of pride and cruelty, and would have racked them to death: Insomuch, that they had a voluntary meeting of about twenty of the principal of them, to rejoice on the occasion; and it was unanimously agreed to make a present of a piece of plate, to serve as a basin for the christening, to the value of one hundred guineas; on which is to be engraven the follow ing inscription: In acknowledgment of the humanity and generosity of the best of landlords, and as a token of his tenants' joy on the happy birth of a son and heir, who will, it is hoped, inherit his father's generosity, and his mother's virtues, -this piece of plate is, with all due gratitude, presented, as a christening basin, to all the children that shall proceed from such worthy parents, and their descendants, to the end of time. By the obliged and joyful tenants of the maternal estate in Bedfordshire and Gloucestershire, the initials of whose names are under engraven, viz. at the christening; and you cannot conceive how greatly my Lady Davers is transported with joy, to have a son and heir to the estate. She is, every hour almost, thanking her dear sister for him; and reads in the child all the great qualities she forms to herself in him. 'Tis, indeed, a charming boy, and has a great deal (if one may judge of a child so very young) of his father's manly aspect. The dear lady herself is still but weak; but the joy of all around her, and her spouse's tenderness and politeness, give her cheerful and free spirits; and she is all se renity, ease, and thankfulness. Mrs B- -, as soon as the danger was over, asked me for her letter with the black seal. I had been very earnest to get it from Mr B——, but to no purpose: So I was forced to tell her who had it. She said, but very composedly, she was sorry for it, and hoped he had not opened it. He came into her chamber soon after, and I demanded it before her. He said, he had designed to ask her leave to break the seal, which he had not yet done; nor would without her consent. You will see nothing in it, sir, said the dear lady, but a grateful heart, a faithful love, and my prayers, that God will be as good to you, as you have been to me. Will you give me leave, my dear, said he, to break the seal?—If you do, sir, let it not be in my presence: but it is too serious.-Not, my dear, now the apprehension is so happily over: It may now add to my joy and my thankfulness on that account.-Then do as you please, sir: would not. you but I had rather Then here it is, Miss Darnford; I had it from you: It was put into your hands; there I place it again.-That's something like, said I, considering the gentleman. Mrs B, I hope we shall bring him into good order between us in time. and So I returned it to the dear writer; who lifted up her eyes, and her lips moving, shewed a Then are to follow the first letters of each thankful ejaculation, that she was spared to reperson's christian and surname. What an honour is this to a landlord! In my opinion far, very far, surpassing the misnomered free-gifts which we read of in some kingdoms on extraordinary occasions, some of them like this! For here it is all truly spontaneous-A free-gift indeed! and Mr B took it very kindly, and has put off the christening for a week, to give time for its being completed and inscribed as above. Such good tenants, such a good wife, such blessings from Heaven following him, nobody, I tell Mr B--, has so much encouragement to be good as he has: and if hereafter he should swerve, he would not have the least excuse, and would be the ungratefullest man breathing. The Earl and Countess of C- and Lord and Lady Davers, are here, to stand in person ceive it back again; and put it into her bosom. I related to Lady Davers, when she came, this circumstance; and she, I believe, has got leave to take it with her. She is very proud of all opportunities now of justifying her brother's choice, and doing honour to his wife, with Lady Betty C, who is her great favourite, and who delights to read Mrs B sance that if -'s letters. can. you way, how You desire to know, my honoured papa, Mr B- passes his time, and whether it be in his lady's chamber: No, indeed! Catch gentlemen, the best of them, in too great a complaiWhat then, does he pass his time with you, Polly? you are pleased to ask. What a disadvantage a man lies under, who has been once a rake! But I am so generally with Mrs B, that when I tell you, sir, that his visits to her are pretty much of the polite form, I believe I answer all you mean by your questions; and especially when I remind you, sir, that Lord and Lady Davers, and the Earl and Countess of C, and your unworthy daughter, are at dinner and supper time generally together; for Mrs Andrews, who is not yet gone back to Kent, breakfasts, dines, and sups with her beloved daughter, and is hardly ever out of her room. Then, sir, Mr B, and the Earl, and Lord Davers, give pretty constant attendance to the business of parliament, and now and then sup abroad-So, sir, we are all upon honour; and I could wish, (only that your facetiousness always gives me pleasure, as it is a token that you have your much desired health and freedom of spirits,) that, even in jest, my mamma's daughter might pass unquestioned. But I know why you do it; it is only to put me out of heart to ask to stay longer. Yet I wish ;-but I know you won't permit me to go through the whole winter here. Will my dear papa grant it, do you think, my honoured mamma, if you were to lay the highest obligation upon your dutiful daughter, and petition for me? And should you care to try? I dare not hope it myself, you see, madam; but when one sees a gentleman here, who denies his lady nothing that she asks, it makes one be ready to wish, methinks, that Lady Darnford was as happy in that particular as Mrs B. Your indulgence for this winter, this one winter, or rather this small remainder of winter, I make not so much doubt of, you see, madam. I know you'll call me a bold girl: but then you always, when you do, condescend to grant my request. And I will be as good as ever I can be afterwards. I will fetch up all the lost time; rise an hour sooner in the morning, go to bed an hour later at night; flower my papa any thing he pleases; read him to sleep when he pleases; put his gout into good humour, when it will be soothed; and Mrs B, to crown all, will come down with me, by permission of her sovereign lord, who will attend her, you may be sure. And will not all this do to procure me a month or two more? If it won't, why then I will thank you for your past goodness to me, and with all duty and cheerfulness bid adieu to this dear London, this dear family, and attend a still dearer papa and mamma, whose dutiful daughter I will ever be, whilst POLLY DARNnford. LETTER LXII. MISS DARNFORD TO HER PARENTS. MY HONOURED PAPA AND MAMMA, I HAVE received your joint commands, and intend to set out on Wednesday next week. I hope I shall find my papa in better health than he is at present, and in better humour too; for I am very sorry he is displeased with my petitioning for a little longer time in London. It is very severe to impute to me want of duty and affection to you both, which would, if deserved, make me very unworthy of your favour to me. Mr B and his lady are resolved to accompany me in their coach, till your chariot meets me, if you will be pleased to permit it so to do; and even set me down at your gate, if it do not; but he vows that he will not alight at your house, nor let his lady neither. But I say that this is a misplaced resentment, because I ought to think it a favour that you have indulged me so much as you have done. And yet even this is likewise a favour on their side to me, because it is an instance of their fondness for your unworthy daughter's company. Mrs B is, if possible, more lovely since her lying-in than before. She has so much delight in her nursery, that I fear it will take her off from her pen, which will be a great loss to all whom she used to oblige with her correspondence. Indeed, this new object of her care is a charming child; and she is exceedingly pleased with her nurse; for she is not permitted, as she very much desired, to suckle it herself. She makes a great proficiency in the French and Italian languages; and well she may, for she has the best schoolmaster in the world, and one whom she loves better than lady ever loved a tutor. He is lofty, and will not be disputed with; but I never saw a more polite and tender husband, for all that; and well may a lady, blessed as she is, bear with a little imperiousness sometimes; which, however, she nips in the bud by her sweetness of temper and ready compliance. But then he is a man of sense: and a lady need be the less concerned to yield a point to a man of sense and generosity, as he is; who is incapable of treating her the worse for her resignation and complacency. Whenever I marry, it shall be to a man of sense, and a generous man, against the world; for such an one cannot treat a woman ill, as Mrs B- often observes. We had a splendid christening, exceedingly well ordered; and every body was highly delighted at it. The quality gossips went away but on Tuesday: and my Lady Davers took leave of her charming sister with all the blessings, and all the kindness and affectionate fondness, that could be expressed. Mr Andrews, that worthy old man, came up to see his grandson yesterday, and in order to attend his wife down. You would never have forgotten the good man's behaviour (had you seen it) to his daughter, and to the charming child. I wish I could describe it to you; but I am apt to think Mrs B— will take notice of it to Lady Davers; and if she enters into the description of it while I stay, I will beg a copy of it to bring down with me, because I know you were pleased with the sensible, plain, good |