LETTER V
MISS HARRIET BYRON, TO MISS LUCY SELBY
FRIDAY, MARCH 31.
You now, my dear friends, have before you this affecting story, as far as
Dr. Bartlett can give it. My cousins express a good deal of concern for
your Harriet: so does Miss Grandison: so doth my Lord and Lady L----: and
the more, as I seem to carry off the matter with assumed bravery. This
their kind concern for me looks, however, as if they thought me a
hypocrite; and I suppose, therefore, that I act my part very awkwardly.
But, my dear, as this case is one of those few in which a woman can shew
a bravery of spirit, I think an endeavour after it is laudable; and the
rather, as in my conduct I aim at giving a tacit example to Miss Jervois.
The doctor has whisper'd to me, that Lady Olivia is actually on her way
to England; and that the intelligence Sir Charles received of her
intention, was one of the things that disturbed him, as the news of his
beloved Signor Jeronymo's dangerous condition was another.
Lady Anne S----, it seems, has not yet given up her hopes of Sir Charles.
The two sisters, who once favoured her above all the women they knew,
have not been able to bring themselves to acquaint a lady of her rank,
merit, and fortune, that there can be no hopes; and they are still more
loath to say, that their brother thinks himself under some obligation to
a foreign lady.
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