might be
so; but you will find, that women now have as many ways to divert
themselves abroad as the men. Have you not observed this yourself in one
of your letters to Lucy? Ah! my dear! we can every hour of the
twenty-four be up with our monarchs, if they are undutiful.

But Charlotte Grandison will not, cannot--

Why that's true, my dear--But I shall not then be a Grandison. Yet the
man will have some security from my brother's goodness. He is not only
good himself, but he makes every one related to him, either from fear or
shame, good likewise. But I think that when one week or fortnight is
happily over, and my spirits are got up again from the depression into
which this abominable hurry puts them, I could fall upon some inventions
that would make every-one laugh, except the person who might take it into
his head that he may be a sufferer by them: and who can laugh, and be
angry, in the same moment?

You should not marry, Charlotte, till this wicked vein of humour and
raillery is stopt.

I hope it will hold me till fifty.

Don't say so, Charlotte--Say rather that you hope it will hold you so
long only as it may be thought innocent or inoffensive, by the man whom
it will be your duty to oblige, and so long as it will bring no discredit
to yourself.

Your servant, Goody Gravity!--But what must be, must. The man is bound
to see it. It will be all his own seeking. He will sin with his eyes
open. I think he has seen enough of me to take warning. All that I am
concerned about is for the next week or fortnight. He will be king all
that time--Yet, perhaps not quite all neither. And I shall be his
sovereign ever after, or I am mistaken. What a deuse, shall a woman
marry a man of talents not superior to her own, and forget to reward
herself for her condescension?--But, high-ho!--There's a sigh, Harriet.
Were I at home, I would either sing you a song, or play you a tune, in
order to raise my own heart.

She besought me then, with great earnestness, to give her my company till
the day arrived, and on the day. You see, said she, that my brother has
engagements till Monday. Dear creature! support, comfort me--Don't you
see my heart beat through my stays?--If you love me, come to me to-morrow
to breakfast; and leave me not for the whole time--Are you not my sister,
and the friend of my heart? I will give you a month for it, upon demand.
Come, let us go down; I will ask the consent of both your cousins.

She did: and they,