tion which formerly passed between herself, several of the neighbour- ing ladies, and the dean, with Miss STAPYLTON, Miss COPE, Miss SUTTON, and Miss L, four young ladies, of different tempers and inclinations who (admiring her story, but not knowing the design of their friends in this visit) were brought to receive benefit from her conversation which therefore (being apprised of the intention) she adapts to their respective characters and tastes and which is at- Mrs. B to Lady G-Sends her a specimen of her NURSERY. TALES, calculated for the instruction of her attentive little ones. In which she comprises, in a very brief and intelligent manner, the principal DUTIES of CHILDREN from INFANCY to MANHOOD, and the rewards which attend the good, as well as the punishments that follow the bad. After which, at Miss Goodwin's request for a WOMAN'S STORY, she gives her the histories and characters of four young ladies, whom she calls COQUETILLA, PRUDIANA, PROfu- SIANA, and PRUDENTIA ; interspersed with such cautions and instructions as deserve the attention of every young lady. Miss Goodwin, greatly affected with the story, hopes to imitate the Containing a brief narrative of facts which happened after the period of PAMELA; OR, VIRTUE REWARDED. LETTER XXXVIII. Mrs. B to Miss Darnford. [In answer to Letters XXXV. and XXXVI.] MY DEAR MISS DARNFORD, I skip over the little transactions of several days, to let you know how much you rejoice me, in telling me* Sir Simon has been so kind as to comply with my wishes. Both your most agreeable letters came to my hand together, and I thank you a hundred times for them; and I thank your dear mamma, and Sir Simon too, for the pleasure they have given me in this obliging permission. How happy shall we be together!— But how long will you be permitted to stay, though? All the winter, I hope:-And then, when that is over, let us set out together, if God shall spare us, directly for Lincolnshire and so pass most of the summer likewise in each other's company. What a sweet thought is this! Let me indulge it a little while. Mr. Bread your letters, and says, You are a charming young lady, and surpass yourself in every letter. I told See vol. ii. p. 456. VOL. III. A him that he was more interested in the pleasure I took in this favour of Sir Simon than he imagined. As how, my dear? said he. A plain case, sir, replied I: For endeavouring to improve myself by Miss Darnford's conversation and behaviour, I shall every day be more worthy of your favour. He kindly would have it that nobody, no, not Miss Darnford herself, excelled me. should think 'Tis right, you know, miss, that Mr. B so; though I must know nothing at all, if I was not sensible how inferior I am to my dear Miss Darnford and yet when I look abroad now and then, I could be a proud slut, if I would, and not yield the palm to many others.—But don't let everybody know how vain I am. Yet they may, too, if they take in, at the same time, the grounds of my vanity; for they must then allow, that I have no small reason to be proud, in having so happily won the favour of two such judges as Mr. B and Miss Darnford; and have the good fortune, likewise, to rejoice in that of Lady Davers and the Countess of C Well, my dear miss, Sunday Is past and gone, as happily as the last; the two ladies, and, at their earnest request, Sir Jacob bearing us company in the evening part. My Polly was there morning and evening, with her heart broken almost, poor girl!-I put her in a corner of my closet, because her concern should not be minded. Mrs. Jervis gives me great hopes of her: -And she seems to abhor the thoughts of Mr. HBut as there proves to be so little of real love in her heart. (though even, if there had, she would have been without excuse), is she not the wickeder by half for that, miss? To consent, and take earnest, as I may say, to live with a man who did not pretend to marry her!-How inexcusable this! -What a frailty!-Yet so honestly descended, so modest in appearance, and an example so much better-forgive me to say-before her-Dear, dear, how could it be! Sir Jacob was much pleased with our family order, and said, 'Twas no wonder I kept so good myself, that was his word, and made others so; and he was of opinion that the four rakes (for he run on how much they admired me) would be converted, if they saw how well I passed my time, and how cheerful and easy every one, as well as myself, was under it. He said, when he came home, he thought he must take such a method himself in his family; for he believed it would make not only better masters and mistresses, but better children, and better servants too. But, poor gentleman! he has, I doubt, a great deal to mend in himself, before he can begin such a practice with efficacy in his family. Monday. In the afternoon, Sir Jacob took his leave of us, highly satisfied with us both, and particularly-so he said—with me; and promised that my two cousins, as he called his daughters, and his sister, an old maiden lady, if they went to town this winter, should visit me, and be improved by me; that was his word. Mr. B accompanied him some miles on his journey; and the two ladies, and Lord Davers and I, took an airing in the coach. 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 dairyhouse 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 as soon as you have read it.-For I shall want your advice, it may be, on this subject, having a great *See vol. ii. p. 131, et seq. |