speak of, manifest itself in your eyes, and your countenance. —Oh, sir! this was a sight of joy, of true joy! to one who loves you for your dear soul's sake, as well as for that of your person; and who looks forward to a companionship with you, beyond the term of this transitory life!

The dear gentleman looked down sometimes, and sometimes upon me, without offering to interrupt me; and when I had done speaking, I began to fear, by his silence, that I had offended him, remembering just then one of his former cautions to me,* not to throw a gloom upon his mind by my over-seriousness; and I said, putting my arms round his arm, as I sat, my fearful eye watching his, I fear, sir, I have been too serious! I have perhaps broken one of your injunctions! Have cast a gloominess over your mind! And if I have, dear sir, forgive me!

He clasped his arms around me: Oh, my beloved Pamela ! said he; thou dear confirmer of all my better purposes! how shall I acknowledge your inexpressible goodness to me? I see every day more and more, my dear love, what confidence I may repose in your generosity and discretion! You want no forgiveness: and my silence was owing to much. better motives than to those you were apprehensive of.

Judge ye, my honoured parents, what pleasure must overspread my heart, encouraged in a manner so agreeable to all my wishes, and at the hopeful prospect of a thorough reformation, which I had so often prayed for, and which so happily began to open to my delighted mind on this occasion.

Indeed I could not find words to express my joy, and so was obliged to silence in my turn, being only able to raise my swimming eyes to his encouraging ones, and to press his hand between both mine to my lips, which, by their quivering motion, showed their readiness to perform their part of speech, could my backwarder tongue have given utterance to my meanings.

He saw my grateful transport, and kindly said, Struggle not, my beloved Pamela, for words to express sentiments.

* See vol. i. p. 377.

which your eyes and your countenance much more significantly express than any words can do. Every day produces new instances of your affectionate concern for my future as well as present happiness: and I will endeavour to confirm to you all the hopes which the present occasion has given you of me, and which I see, by these transporting effects, are so desirable to you.

If, my dear Miss Darnford, you are not at present able to account for this speechless rapture, as I may call it, I am confident you will, if it should be your lot to marry such a gentleman as Mr. B-; one who is capable of generous and noble sentiments, and yet has not been so good as you could wish; whenever it shall happen, that the divine grace, and your unaffected piety, shall touch his heart, and he shall give hopes like those I have the pleasure to rejoice in hopes so charming, that they must, if confirmed, irradiate many a gloomy appearance, which, at times, will cast a shadow over the brightest and happiest prospects.

The chariot brought us home sooner than I wished, and Mr. Bhanded me into the parlour. Here, Mrs. Jervis, said he, meeting her in the passage, receive your angelic lady. I must take a little tour without you, Pamela, for I have had too much of your dear company; and must leave you, to descend again into myself; for you have raised me to such a height, that it is with pain I look down from it.

He kissed my hand, and went into his chariot again; for it was but half an hour after twelve; and said, he would be back by two at dinner. He left Mrs. Jervis wondering at his words, and at the solemn air with which he uttered them. But when I told that good friend the occasion, I had a new joy in the pleasure and gratulations of the dear good woman, on what had passed.

Were I, my dear friends, to recount to you every conversation that gives me delight, when we are alone (my Miss Darnford), as well as when we are in company, I should do nothing but write. Imagine the rest from what

I have (but as so many specimens of my felicity) informed you of; and then think, if there can possibly be a happier creature on earth than I am at present.

My next letter will be from London, and to you, my honoured parents; for to you, my dear, I shall not write again, expecting to see you soon. But I must now write seldomer, because I am to renew my correspondence with Lady Davers; with whom I cannot be so free, as I have been with Miss Darnford; and so I doubt, my dear father and mother, you cannot have the particulars of that correspondence; for I shall never find time to transcribe.

But every opportunity that offers, you may assure yourselves, shall be laid hold of by your ever dutiful daughter. And now, my dear Miss Darnford, as I inscribed this letter to you, let me conclude it with the assurance, that I am, and ever will be,

Your most affectionate friend and servant,

P. B—.

LETTER XLIII.

Mrs. B- to her Parents.

MY DEAR FATHER AND MOTHER,-I know you will be pleased to hear that we arrived safely in town last night. We found a stately, well-furnished, and convenient house; and I had my closet or library, and my withdrawing-room, all in complete order, which Mr. B- gave me possession of, in a manner the most obliging that can be imagined.

I am in a new world, as I may say, and see such vast piles of building everywhere, and such a concourse of people, and hear such a rattling of coaches in the day, that I hardly know what to make of it, as yet. Then the nightly watch, going their hourly rounds, disturbed me last night. But I shall soon be used to that, and sleep the sounder perhaps for the security it assures to us.

Mr. B is impatient to show me what is curious in and about this vast city; and to hear, as he is pleased to say, my observations upon what I shall see; and he has carried me through several of the fine streets this day, in his chariot: But at present I have too confused a notion of things to give any account of them; nor shall I trouble you with descriptions of that kind; for you being within a day's journey of London, I hope for the pleasure of seeing you oftener than I could expect before; and shall therefore leave these matters to your own observations, and what you'll hear from others.

I am impatient for the arrival of my dear Miss Darnford; whose company and conversation will reconcile me, in a great measure, to this new world.

Our family at present are, Colbrand, Jonathan, and six men-servants, including the coachman. The four maids are also with us.

But my good Mrs. Jervis was indisposed, so came not up with us; but we expect her and Mr. Longman in a day or two: for Mr. B has given her to my wishes: And as Mr. Longman's business will require him to be up and down frequently, Mrs. Jervis's care will be the better dispensed with; and I long to see the dear good woman, and shall be more in my element when I do.

Then I have, besides, my penitent Polly Barlow: but the poor girl has never held up her head since that deplorable instance of her weakness, which I mentioned to you and to Miss Darnford; yet am I as kind to her as if nothing had happened. I wish, however, some good husband would offer for her.

Mr. Adams, our worthy chaplain, is at present with Mr. Williams. He purposes to give us his company here till Christmas, when, probably, matters will be so adjusted, as that he may take possession of his living. Meantime, that we may not let fall a good custom, when perhaps we shall have most occasion for it, I make Jonathan, who is reverend by his years and silver hairs, supply his place, appointing him the prayers he is to read.

God preserve you both in health; and continue to me, I beseech you, your prayers and blessings, concludes me, Your ever dutiful daughter,

P. B

LETTER XLIV.

Mrs. B-to Lady Davers.

MY DEAREST LADY,—I must beg pardon, for having been in this great town more than a week, and not having found an opportunity to tender my devoirs to your ladyship. You know, dear madam, what hurries and fatigues must attend such a journey, to one in my way, and in an entire new settlement, in which a hundred things must be done, and attended to, with a preference to other occasions, however delightful. Yet, I must own, we found a stately, a well-ordered, and a convenient house: but although it is not far from the fields, and has an airy opening to its back part, and its front to a square, as it is called, yet I am not reconciled to it so entirely as to the beloved mansion. we left.

B

My dear Mr. B—— has been, and is, busily employed in ordering some few alterations, to make things still more commodious. He has furnished me out a little pretty library; and has allotted me very convenient apartments besides: And the furniture of every place is rich, as befits the mind and fortune of the generous owner. But I shall not offer at particulars, because we hope to have the honour of a visit from my good lord, and your ladyship, before the winter weather sets in, to make the roads too dirty and deep; but it is proper to mention, that the house is so large that we can make a great number of beds, the more conveniently to receive the honours your ladyship, and my lord, and Mr. B's other friends, will do us.