But, first, I should tell you, that I had a visit from Lady Olivia and
Lady Maffei. Our conversation was in Italian and French. Lady Olivia
and I had a quarter of an hour's discourse in private: you may guess at
our subject. She is not without that tenderness of heart which is the
indispensable characteristic of a woman. She lamented the violence of
her temper, in a manner so affecting, that I cannot help pitying her,
though at the instant I had in my head a certain attempt, that makes me
shudder whenever I think of it. She regrets my going to Northamptonshire
so soon. I have promised to return her visit to-morrow in the afternoon.
She sets out on Friday next for Oxford. She wished I could accompany
her. She resolves to see all that is worth seeing in the western
circuit, as I may call it. She observes, she says, that Sir Charles
Grandison's sisters, and their lords, are very particularly engaged at
present; and are in expectation of a call to Windsor, to attend Lord
W----'s nuptials: she will therefore, having attendants enough, and two
men of consideration in her train, one of whom is not unacquainted with
England, take cursory tours over the kingdom; having a taste for
travelling, and finding it a great relief to her spirits: and when Lady
L---- and Lady G---- are more disengaged, will review the seats and
places which she shall think worthy of a second visit, in their company.
She professed to like the people here, and the face of the country; and
talked favourably of the religion of it: but, poor woman! she likes all
those the better, I doubt not, for the sake of one Englishman. Love,
Lucy, gilds every object which bears a relation to the person beloved.
Lady Maffei was very free in blaming her niece for this excursion. She
took her chiding patiently; but yet, like a person that thought it too
much in her power to gratify the person blaming her, to pay much regard
to what she said.
I took a chair to Lady G----'s. Emily ran to meet me in the hall. She
threw her arms about me: I rejoice you are come, said she. Did you not
meet the house in the square?--What means my Emily?--Why, it has been
flung out of the windows, as the saying is. Ah madam! we are all to
pieces. One so careless, the other so passionate!--But, hush! Here
comes Lady G----.
Take, Lucy, in the dialogue-way, particulars.
LADY G. Then you are come, at last, Harriet. You wrote, that you
would not come near me.
HAR. I did; but I could not stay away. Ah, Lady G----, you will
destroy your own happiness!
LADY G. So you wrote. Not one word, on the subject you hint at, that
you have ever said or written before. I hate repetitions, child.
HAR. Then I must be silent upon it.
LADY G. Not of necessity. You can say new things upon old subjects.--
But hush! Here comes the man.--She ran to her harpsichord--Is this it,
Harriet? and touched the keys--repeating
"Softly sweet, in Lydian measures,
Soon she sooth'd---- ----"