But Emily, poor girl! sees only Sir Charles Grandison with eyes of love.
Mr. Beauchamp is, however, greatly pleased with Emily. He told Lady G----
that he thought her a fine young creature; and that her mind was still
more amiable than her person. But his behaviour to her is extremely
prudent. He says finer things of her, than to her: yet surely I am
mistaken if he meditates not in her his future wife.
Mr. Beauchamp will be one of my escort.
Emily, at her own request, is to go to Colnebrook with Lady L---- after I
am gone.
Mr. Reeves will ride. Lord L---- and Lord G---- will also oblige me with
their company on horseback.
Mrs. Reeves is forbidden to venture; but Lady L---- and Lady G---- will
not be denied coming with me.
I shall take leave of Lady Olivia and Lady Maffei to-morrow morning; when
they will set out for their projected tour. To-morrow we and the whole
Grandison family are to dine together at Lord L----'s, for the last time.
It will be a mournful dining-time, on that account.
Lady Betty Williams, her daughter, and Miss Clements, supped with us this
night, and took leave of me in the tenderest manner. They greatly regret
my going down so soon, as they call it.
As to the public diversions, which they wish me to stay and give into, to
be sure I should have been glad to have been better qualified to have
entertained you with the performances of this or that actor, this or that
musician, and the like: but, frightened by the vile plot upon me at a
masquerade, I was thrown out of that course of diversion, and indeed into
more affecting, more interesting engagements; into the knowledge of a
family that had no need to look out of itself for entertainments: and,
besides, are not all the company we see, as visiters or guests, full of
these things? I have seen the principal performers, in every way, often
enough to give me a notion of their performances, though I have not
troubled you with such common things as revolve every season.
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