Betty was with me just now. She tells me, that your cousin Morden is so
much displeased with them all, that he has refused to lodge any more at
your uncle Antony's; and has even taken up with inconvenient lodgings,
till he is provided with others to his mind. This very much concerns
them; and they repent their violent treatment of him: and the more, as he
is resolved, he says, to make you his sole executrix, and heir to all his
fortune.
What noble fortunes still, my dearest young lady, await you! I am
thoroughly convinced, if it please God to preserve your life and your
health, that every body will soon be reconciled to you, and that you will
see many happy days.
Your mother wished me not to attend you as yet, because she hopes that I
may give myself that pleasure soon with every body's good liking, and
even at their desire. Your cousin Morden's reconciliation with them,
which they are very desirous of, I am ready to hope will include theirs
with you.
But if that should happen which I so much dread, and I not with you, I
should never forgive myself. Let me, therefore, my dearest young lady,
desire you to command my attendance, if you find any danger, and if you
wish me peace of mind; and no consideration shall withhold me.
I hear that Miss Howe has obtained leave from her mother to see you; and
intends next week to go to town for that purpose; and (as it is believed)
to buy clothes for her approaching nuptials.
Mr. Hickman's mother-in-law is lately dead. Her jointure of 600£. a-year
is fallen to him; and she has, moreover, as an acknowledgement of his
good behaviour to her, left him all she was worth, which was very
considerable, a few legacies excepted to her own relations.
These good men are uniformly good: indeed could not else be good; and
never fare the worse for being so. All the world agrees he will make
that fine young lady an excellent husband: and I am sorry they are not as
much agreed in her making him an excellent wife. But I hope a woman of
her principles would not encourage his address, if, whether she at
present love him or not, she thought she could not love him; or if she
preferred any other man to him.
Mr. Pocock undertakes to deliver this; but fears it will be Saturday
night first, if not Sunday morning.
May the Almighty protect and bless you!--I long to see you--my dearest
young lady, I long to see you; and to fold you once more to my fond
heart. I dare to say happy days are coming. Be but cheerful. Give way
to hope.
Whether for this world, or the other, you must be happy. Wish to live,
however, were it only because you are so well fitted in mind to make
every one happy who has the honour to know you. What signifies this
transitory eclipse? You are as near perfection, by all I have heard,
as any creature in this world can be: for here is your glory--you are
brightened and purified, as I may say, by your sufferings!--How I long to
hear your whole sad, yet instructive story, from your own lips!
For Miss Howe's sake, who, in her new engagements will so much want you;
for your cousin Morden's sake, for your mother's sake, if I must go on
farther in your family; and yet I can say, for all their sakes; and for
my sake, my dearest Miss Clary; let your resumed and accustomed
magnanimity bear you up. You have many things to do which I know not the
person who will do if you leave us.
Join your prayers then to mine, that God will spare you to a world that
wants you and your example; and, although your days may seem to have been
numbered, who knows but that, with the good King Hezekiah, you may have
them prolonged? Which God grant, if it be his blessed will, to the
prayers of
Your
JUDITH NORTON