’As for me, I never will, I never can, marry—­that I will not take a few liberties, and that I will not try to start some of my former game, I won’t promise—­habits are not so easily shaken off—­but they shall be by way of wearing.  So return and reform shall go together.

‘And now, thou sorrowful monkey, what aileth thee?’ I do love him, my Lord.

’Adieu!—­And once more adieu!’—­embracing me.  ’And when thou thinkest thou hast made thyself an interest out yonder (looking up) then put in a word for thy Lovelace.’

Joining company, he recommended to me to write often; and promised to let me hear quickly from him; and that he would write to your Lordship, and to all his family round; for he said, that you had all been more kind to him than he had deserved.

And so we parted.

I hope, my Lord, for all your noble family’s sake, that we shall see him soon return, and reform, as he promises.

I return your Lordship my humble thanks for the honour of your invitation to M. Hall.  The first letter I receive from Mr. Lovelace shall give me the opportunity of embracing it.  I am, my Lord,

Your most faithful and obedient servant,
J. Belford.

LETTER LIV

Mr. Belford, to Lord M.
Thursday morning, Oct. 5.

It may be some satisfaction to your Lordship, to have a brief account of what has just now passed between Colonel Morden and me.

We had a good deal of discourse about the Harlowe family, and those parts of the lady’s will which still remain unexecuted; after which the Colonel addressed himself to me in a manner which gave me some surprise.

He flattered himself, he said, from my present happy turn, and from my good constitution, that I should live a great many years.  It was therefore his request, that I would consent to be his executor; since it was impossible for him to make a better choice, or pursue a better example, than his cousin had set.

His heart, he said was in it:  there were some things in his cousin’s will and his analogous:  and he had named one person to me, with whom he was sure I would not refuse to be joined:  and to whom he intended to apply for his consent, when he had obtained mine.* [Intimating, as far as I could gather, that it was Mr. Hickman, son of Sir Charles Hickman; to whom I know your Lordship is not a stranger:  for he said, Every one who was dear to his beloved cousin, must be so to him:  and he knew that the gentleman who he had thoughts of, would have, besides my advice and assistance, the advice of one of the most sensible ladies in England.]

* What is between crotchets, thus [ ], Mr. Belford omitted in the transcription of this Letter to Miss Howe.