To Miss Fermor, at Silleri.
Clarges Street, July 25.
I am the only person here, my dear Bell, enough composed to tell you
Rivers is arrived in town. He stopped in his post chaise, at the end of
the street, and sent for me, that I might prepare my mother to see him,
and prevent a surprize which might have hurried her spirits too much.
I came back, and told her I had seen a gentleman, who had left him
at Dover, and that he would soon be here; he followed me in a few
minutes.
I am not painter enough to describe their meeting; though prepared,
it was with difficulty we kept my mother from fainting; she pressed
him in her arms, she attempted to speak, her voice faltered, tears
stole softly down her cheeks: nor was Rivers less affected, though in a
different manner; I never saw him look so handsome; the manly
tenderness, the filial respect, the lively joy, that were expressed in
his countenance, gave him a look to which it is impossible to do
justice: he hinted going down to Berkshire to-night; but my mother
seemed so hurt at the proposal, that he wrote to Emily, and told her
his reason for deferring it till to-morrow, when we are all to go in my
coach, and hope to bring her back with us to town.
You judge rightly, my dear Bell, that they were formed for each
other; never were two minds so similar; we must contrive some method of
making them happy: nothing but a too great delicacy in Rivers prevents
their being so to-morrow; were our situations changed, I should not
hesitate a moment to let him make me so.
Lucy has sent for me. Adieu!
Believe me,
Your faithful and devoted,
J. Temple.