Mr. Hickman: for, Sir, I must tell you, I do not as yet think it
the same thing as only seeing it myself.

Mr. Hickman, like the rest of his sex, would grow upon indulgence. One
distinction from me would make him pay two to himself. Insolent
creepers, or encroachers all of you! To show any of you a favour to-day,
you would expect it as a right to-morrow.

I am, as you see, very open and sincere with you; and design in another
letter to be still more so, in answer to your call, and Colonel Morden's
call, upon me, in a point that concerns me to explain myself upon to my
beloved creature's executor, and to the Colonel, as her only tender and
only worthy relation.

I cannot but highly applaud Colonel Morden for his generosity to Miss
Dolly Hervey.

O that he had arrived time enough to save my inimitable friend from the
machinations of the vilest of men, and from the envy and malice of the
most selfish and implacable of brothers and sisters!

ANNA HOWE.

LETTER XLIX

MISS HOWE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.
MONDAY, OCT. 2.

When you question me, Sir, as you do, and on a subject so affecting to
me, in the character of the representative of my best beloved friend,
and have in every particular hitherto acted up to that character, you are
entitled to my regard: especially as you are joined in your questioning
of me by a gentleman whom I look upon as the dearest and nearest (because
worthiest) relation of my dear friend: and who, it seems, has been so
severe a censurer of my conduct, that your politeness will not permit you
to send me his letter, with others of his; but a copy only, in which the
passages reflecting upon me are omitted.

I presume, however, that what is meant by this alarming freedom of the
Colonel is no more than what you both have already hinted to me. As if
you thought I were not inclined to pay so much regard to my beloved
creature's last will, in my own case, as I would have others pay to it.
A charge that I ought not to be quite silent under.

You have observed, no doubt, that I have seemed to value myself upon the
freedom I take in declaring my sentiments without reserve upon every
subject that I pretend to touch upon: and I can hardly question that I
have, or shall, in your opinion, by my unceremonious treatment of you
upon so short an acquaintance, run into the error of those, who, wanting
to be thought above hypocrisy and flattery, fall into rusticity, if not
ill-manners; a common fault wi