Mr. B. was so kind as to tell me, when he came home, with a whisper, that Miss Goodwin presented her duty to me.

I have got a multitude of fine things for the dear little creature, and Mr. B. promises to give me a dairy-house breakfast, when our guests are gone.

I enclose the history of this little charmer, by Mr. B.’s consent, since you are to do us the honour, as he (as well as I) pleases himself, to be one of our family—­but keep it to yourself, whatever you do.  I am guarantee that you will; and have put it in a separate paper, that you may burn it when read.  For I may want your advice on this subject, having a great desire to get this child in my possession; and yet Lady Davers has given a hint, that dwells a little with me.  When I have the pleasure I hope for, I will lay all before you, and be determined, and proceed, as far as I have power, by you.  You, my good father and mother, have seen the story in my former papers.

TUESDAY.

You must know, I pass over the days thus swiftly, not that I could not fill them up with writing, as amply as I have done the former; but intending only to give you a general idea of our way of life and conversation; and having gone through a whole week and more, you will be able, from what I have recited, to form a judgment how it is with us, one day with another.  As for example, now and then neighbourly visits received and paid—­Needlework between whiles—­Music—­Cards sometimes, though I don’t love them—­One more benevolent round—­Improving conversations with my dear Mr. B. and my two good ladies—­A lesson from him, when alone, either in French or Latin—­A new pauper case or two—­A visit from the good dean—­Mr. Williams’s departure, in order to put the new projected alteration in force, which is to deprive me of my chaplain—­(By the way, the dean is highly pleased with this affair, and the motives to it, Mr. Adams being a favourite of his, and a distant relation of his lady)—­Mr. H.’s and Polly’s mutual endeavour to avoid one another—­My lessons to the poor girl, and cautions, as if she were my sister—­

These, my dear Miss Darnford, and my honoured parents, are the pleasant employments of our time; so far as we females are concerned:  for the gentlemen hunt, ride out, and divert themselves in their way, and bring us home the news and occurrences they meet with abroad, and now-and-then a straggling gentleman they pick up in their diversions.  And so I shall not enlarge upon these articles, after the tedious specimens I have already given.

WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY.

Could you ever have thought, my dear, that husbands have a dispensing power over their wives, which kings are not allowed over the laws?  I have had a smart debate with Mr. B., and I fear it will not be the only one upon this subject.  Can you believe, that if a wife thinks a thing her duty to do, which her husband does not approve, he can dispense with her performing it, and no sin shall lie at her door?