Bartlett, to Emily, till he can
attend them. But then he has always done so. Every one knows that he
lives to his own heart, and they expect it of him; and when they can have
his company, they have double joy in the ease and cheerfulness that
attend his leisure: they then have him wholly. And he can be the more
polite, as the company then is all his business.
Sir Charles might the better do so, as he came over so few months ago,
after so long an absence; and his reputation for politeness was so well
established, that people rather looked for rules from him, than a
conformity to theirs.
His denials of complimenting Lady Olivia (though she was but just arrived
in his native country, where she never was before) with the suspending of
his departure for one week, or but for one day--Who but he could have
given them? But he was convinced, that it was right to hasten away, for
the sake of Clementina and his Jeronymo; and that it would have been
wrong to shew Olivia, even for her own sake, that in such a competition
she had consequence with him; and all her entreaties, all her menaces,
the detested poniard in her hand, could not shake his steady soul, and
make him delay his well-settled purpose.
LETTER XXXI
MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
TUESDAY MORNING, APRIL 18.
This naughty Lady G----! She is excessively to blame. Lord L---- is out
of patience with her.
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