_From the same to the same._
Your confession, my dear Lucy, with my own, shall be placed aside; but
within our reach, in order to be useful when we are again so absurd as
to yield to the despondency of anticipated evils. Your brother is well;
Lord William gaining ground; and we will be cheerful and contented. Mr.
Hardcastle’s letter agrees with mine; and whether the physician’s hopes
be or be not well grounded, we will be thankful, that the interesting
patient is relieved from a portion of his suffering, and Horace from
the immediate pangs of seeing him expire.
I am just returned from inspecting the contents of two large boxes sent
from town, by order of Jeremiah Serge, Esq. “To Sir Murdoch Maclairn,
at Tarefield-Hall.” A short note from his lady specified, that having
recollected that the tea equipage which she had seen at Tarefield was
the property of Miss Flint, she had presumed to hope, that the one
which gratitude had signed with the initials J. L. S. would find favour
at the Hall, and be received by Sir Murdoch and Lady Maclairn, as a
mark of their love, and as a tribute of their sense of the kindnesses
they had met with under their hospitable roof. Caroline’s style was
obvious in this note.
All that fashion and wealth have suggested as an appendage to the tea
table, successively appeared in plain but highly-finished plate. The
other box contained a superb set of Derbyshire china; each piece so
accurately painted with views taken from the romantic scenery with
which that part of England abounds, that I conceive it to be an outrage
on taste to use them, as they would embellish the first cabinet in
Europe. Sir Murdoch, as I fancied, looked more oppressed than delighted
by this munificent proof of Mr. Serge’s gratitude; for surveying the
costly urn, &c. &c. he gravely observed, that _wealth_ had made Mr.
Serge _profuse_, if such were the common returns he made for common
civilities. A small parcel directed to Malcolm diverted his attention
from pursuing this train of thought; for with an elegant gold watch,
and a chain loaded with trinkets, were letters from the family; and the
one addressed to the baronet, which was somewhat in the _onion_ form,
being produced, he retired with his share of the present.
In my next you shall see our joint labours; for we have conquered our
reluctance to receiving the offerings of pure good will and kindness;
or rather these are forgotten in our admiration of a being whose good
will is more gratifying. Mrs. Allen has already begun her share of
copying the letters from Putney. So peace be with you! I am going _to
be good_, and supply her absence in Miss Flint’s room.