se engaged. She settled for a time in
London, at 3 Orchard Street, and there it must be supposed her one
child--a little boy--was born in the autumn, to be named Hastings after
her own godfather. The Comte, who was himself detained by business in
France, had, for some unexplained reason, desired that their child might
be born in England. Whether she went again to Steventon at Christmas is
uncertain, for her next letter is dated April 9, 1787. Eliza was then in
town and expecting a visit from her cousin, Henry Austen--by this time a
youth of sixteen about to go into residence at Oxford. She had been
indulging in such gaieties as London had to offer her.

As to me, I have been for some time past the
greatest rake imaginable, and really wonder how
such a meagre creature as I am can support so much
fatigue, of which the history of one day will give
you some idea, for I only stood from two to four
in the drawing-room and of course loaded with a
great hoop of no inconsiderable weight, went to
the Duchess of Cumberland's in the evening and
from thence to Almack's, where I staid till five
in the morning: all this I did not many days ago,
and am yet alive to tell you of it. I believe
tho', I should not be able to support London
hours, and all the racketing of a London life for
a year together. You are very good in your
enquiries after my little boy who is in perfect
health, but has got no teeth yet, which somewhat
mortifies his two Mamas.

Eliza's domestic cares and her gaieties must still have left her some
time to think with anxiety and apprehension of the impeachment of her
godfather and benefactor, Hastings. We have a glimpse of this in a
letter of Phila Walter, who was staying with her aunt and cousin in
Orchard Street, in April 1788. They went to the trial one day 'and sat
from ten till four, completely tired; but I had the satisfaction of
hearing all the celebrated orators--Sheridan, Burke, and Fox. The first
was so low we could not hear him, the second so hot and hasty we could
not understand, the third was highly superior to either, as we could
distinguish every word, but not to our satisfaction, as he is so much
against Mr. Hastings whom we all wish so well.'

In August 1788, Eliza writes:--

What has contributed to hurry me and take up