so seconded, so supported, so instigated, too pro-
bably, as he has been!—­That native dignity, that
heroism, I will call it, which has, on all proper
occasions, exerted itself in its full lustre, unmingled
>>> with that charming obligingness and condescending
     sweetness, which is evermore the softener of that
     dignity, when your mind is free and unapprehen-
     sive!

>>> Let me stop to admire, and to bless my beloved
     friend, who, unhappily for herself, at an age so
     tender, unacquainted as she was with the world, and
     with the vile arts of libertines, having been called
     upon to sustain the hardest and most shocking trials,
     from persecuting relations on one hand, and from
     a villanous lover on the other, has been enabled to
     give such an illustrious example of fortitude and
     prudence as never woman gave before her; and
     who, as I have heretofore observed,* has made a
     far greater figure in adversity, than she possibly
     could have made, had all her shining qualities been
     exerted in their full force and power, by the con-
>>> tinuance of that prosperous run of fortune which
     attended her for eighteen years of life out of
     nineteen.

* See Vol.  IV.  Letters XXIV.

***

>>> But now, my dear, do I apprehend, that you
     are in greater danger than ever yet you have been
     in; if you are not married in a week; and yet stay
     in this abominable house.  For were you out of it,
     I own I should not be much afraid for you.

         These are my thoughts, on the most deliberate
>>> consideration:  ’That he is now convinced, that
     he has not been able to draw you off your guard: 
     that therefore, if he can obtain no new advantage
     over you as he goes along, he is resolved to do you
     all the poor justice that it is in the power of such a
     wretch as he to do you.  He is the rather induced to
     this, as he sees that all his own family have warmly
     engaged themselves in your cause:  and that it is
>>> his highest interest to be just to you.  Then the
     horrid wretch loves you (as well he may) above all
     women.  I have no doubt of this:  with such a love
>>> as such a wretch is capable of:  with such a love as
     Herod loved his Marianne.  He is now therefore,
     very probably, at last, in earnest.’

I took time for inquiries of different natures, as
I knew, by the train you are in, that whatever his
designs are, they cannot ripen either for good or
>>> evil till something shall result from this device
of his about Tomlinson and your uncle.

Device I have no doubt that it is, whatever this
dark, this impenetrable spirit intends by it.