Streatham, May.
Miss Owen and I arrived here without incident, which, in a journey of
six or seven miles, was really marvellous. Mrs. Thrale came from the
Borough with two of the executors, Dr. Johnson and Mr Crutchley soon
after us. She had been sadly worried, and in the evening frightened us
all by again fainting away. Dear creature! she is all agitation of mind
and of body: but she is now wonderfully recovered though in continual
fevers about her affairs, which are mighty difficult and complicate
indeed. Yet the behaviour of all the executors is exactly to her wish.
Mr. Crutchley, in particular, was he a darling son or only brother could
not possibly be more truly devoted to her. Indeed., I am very happy in
the revolution in my own mind in favour of this young man, whom
formerly I so little liked; for I now see so much of him, business and
inclination uniting to bring him hither continually, that if he were
disagreeable to me, I should spend my time in a most comfortless manner.
On the contrary, I both respect and esteem him very highly; for his
whole conduct manifests so much goodness of heart and excellence of
principle, that he is Un homme comme ill y en a peu; and that first
appearance of coldness, pride, reserve, and sneering, all wears off
upon further acquaintance, and leaves behind nothing but good-humour and
good-will. And this you must allow to be very candid, when I tell you
that, but yesterday, he affronted me so much by a piece Of impertinence
that I had a very serious quarrel with im.
Sunday morning nobody went to church but Mr. Crutchley, Miss Thrale, and
myself; and some time after, when I was sauntering upon the lawn before
the house, Mr. Crutchley joined me. We were returning together into
the house, when, Mrs. Thrale, popping her head out of her dressing-room
window, called out,
“How nicely these men domesticate among us, Miss Burney! Why, they take
to us as natural as life!”
“Well, well,” cried Mr. Crutchley, “I have sent for my horse, and I
shall release you early to-morrow morning, I think yonder comes Sir
Philip.”[136]
“Oh! you'll have enough to do with him,” cried she, laughing; “he is
well prepared to plague you, I assure you.”
“Is he?--and what about?”
“Why, about Miss Burney. He asked me the other day what was my present
establishment. 'Mr. Crutchley and Miss Burney,' I answered. 'How well
those two names go together,' cried he; 'I think they can't do better
than make a match of it: I will consent, I am sure,' he added; and
to-day, I dare say, you will hear enough of it.”
I leave you to judge if I was pleased at this stuff thus communicated;
but Mrs. Thrale, with all her excellence, can give up no occasion of
making sport, however unseasonable, or even painful.
“I am very much obliged to him, indeed,” cried I, dryly; and Mr.
Crutchley called out, “Thank him!--thank him!” in a voice of pride and
of pique that spoke him mortally angry.
I instantly came into the house, leaving him to talk it out with Mrs.
Thrale, to whom I heard him add, “So this is Sir Philip's kindness!” and
her answer, “I wish you no worse luck!”
Now, what think you of this? was it not highly insolent?--and from a man
who has behaved to me hitherto with the utmost deference, good-nature,
and civility, and given me a thousand reasons, by every possible
opportunity, to think myself very high indeed in his good opinion and
good graces? But these rich men think themselves the constant prey of
all portionless girls, and are always upon their guard, and suspicious
of some design to take them in. This sort of disposition I had very
early observed in Mr. Crutchley, and therefore I had been more distant
and cold with him than with anybody I ever met with; but latterly his
character had risen so much in my mind, and his behaviour was so much
improved, that I had let things take their own course, and no more
shunned than I sought him; for I evidently saw his doubts concerning me
and my plots were all at an end, and his civility and attentions were
daily increasing, so that I had become very comfortable with him, and
well pleased with his society.
I need not, I think, add that I determined to see as little of this most
fearful and haughty gentleman in future as was in my power, since no
good qualities can compensate for such arrogance of suspicion; and,
therefore, as I had reason enough to suppose he would, in haste, resume
his own reserve, I resolved, without much effort, to be beforehand with
him in resuming mine.