Our conversation would have lasted till leave-taking, but for our being
interrupted by Miss Miller, a most beautiful little girl of ten years
old. Miss W-- begged her to sing us a French song. She coquetted, but
Mrs. Riggs came to us, and said if I wished it I did her grand-daughter
great honour, and she insisted upon her obedience. The little girl
laughed and complied, and we went into another room to hear her,
followed by the Misses Caldwell. She sung in a pretty childish manner
enough.
When we became more intimate, she said,
“Ma'am, I have a great favour to request of you, if you please!”
I begged to know what it was, and assured her I would grant it; and to
be out of the way of these misses, I led her to the window.
“Ma'am,” said the little girl, “will you then be so good as to tell me
where Evelina is now?”
I was a little surprised at the question, and told her I had not heard
lately.
“Oh, ma'am, but I am sure you know!” cried she, “for you know you
wrote it; and mamma was so good as to let me hear her read it; and pray,
ma'am, do tell me where she is? and whether Miss Branghton and Miss
Polly went to see her when she was married to Lord Orville?”