Let me know every thing how and about your fellows, too.  Ah!  Harriet, you make not the use of power that I would have done in your situation.  I was half-sorry when my hurrying brother made me dismiss Sir Walter; and yet, to have but two danglers after one, are poor doings for a fine lady.  Poorer still, to have but one!

Here’s a letter as long as my arm.  Adieu.  I was loath to come to the name:  but defer it ever so long, I must subscribe, at last,

Charlotte G——.

LETTER XXXVIII

Miss Jervois, to miss Byron*
Monday, may 1.

* The letter to which this is an answer, as well as those written by Miss Byron to her cousin Reeves, Lady L——­, &c., and theirs in return, are omitted.

O my dearest, my honoured Miss Byron, how you have shamed your Emily by sending a letter to her; such a sweet letter too! before I have paid my duty to you, in a letter of thanks for all your love to me, and for all your kind instructions.  But I began once, twice, and thrice, and wrote a great deal each time, but could not please myself:  you, madam, are such a writer, and I am such a poor thing at my pen!—­But I know you will accept the heart.  And so my very diffidence shews pride; since it cannot be expected from me to be a fine writer:  and yet this very letter, I foresee, will be the worse for my diffidence, and not the better:  for I don’t like this beginning, neither.—­But come, it shall go.  Am I not used to your goodness?  And do you not bid me prattle to you, in my letters, as I used to do in your dressing-room?  O what sweet advice have you, and do you return for my silly prate!  And so I will begin.

And was you grieved at parting with your Emily on Saturday morning?  I am sure I was very much concerned at parting with you.  I could not help crying all the way to town; and Lady G——­ shed tears as well as I, and so did Lady L——­ several times; and said, You were the loveliest, best young lady in the world.  And we all praised likewise your aunt, your cousin Lucy, and young Mr. Selby.  How good are all your relations!  They must be good!  And Lord L——­, and Lord G——­, for men, were as much concerned as we, at parting with you.  Mr. Reeves was so dull all the way!—­Poor Mr. Reeves, he was very dull.  And Mr. Beauchamp, he praised you to the very skies; and in such a pretty manner too!  Next to my guardian, I think Mr. Beauchamp is a very agreeable man.  I fancy these noble sisters, if the truth were known, don’t like him so well as their brother does:  perhaps that may be the reason, out of jealousy, as I may say, if there be any thing in my observation.  But they are vastly civil to him, nevertheless; yet they never praise him when his back is turned; as they do others, who can’t say half the good things that he says.

Well, but enough of Mr. Beauchamp.  My guardian! my gracious, my kind, my indulgent guardian! who, that thinks of him, can praise any body else?