Miss Rawlins, it seems, who was applied to upon it, dissuaded her from
it.
Mrs. Moore also, though she did not own that Will. lay in the house, (or
rather set up in it, courting,) set before her the difficulties, which,
in her opinion, she would have to get clear off, without my knowledge;
assuring her, that she could be no where more safe than with her, till
she had fixed whither to go. And the lady herself recollected, that if
she went, she might miss the expected letter from her dear friend Miss
Howe! which, as she owned, was to direct her future steps.
She must also surely have some curiosity to know what her uncle's friend
had to say to her from her uncle, contemptuously as she yesterday treated
a man of his importance. Nor could she, I should think, be absolutely
determined to put herself out of the way of receiving the visits of two
of the principal ladies of my family, and to break entirely with me in
the face of them all.--Besides, whither could she have gone?--Moreover,
Miss Howe's letter coming (after her elopement) so safely to her hands,
must surely put her into a more confiding temper with me, and with every
one else, though she would not immediately own it.
But these good folks have so little charity!--Are such severe censurers!
--Yet who is absolutely perfect?--It were to be wished, however, that
they would be so modest as to doubt themselves sometimes: then would they
allow for others, as others (excellent as they imagine themselves to be)
must for them.