Part 25 (1/2)

LETTER XLIV.

Miss DELVES to the same.

_Barford Abbey_.

Lost my heart _again!_--Be not surpriz'd, Madam; I lose and find it ten times a day;--yet it never strays from Barford Abbey.--The last account you had from me it was b.u.t.ton'd inside Mr. Morgan's hunting-frock:--since that, it has been G.o.d knows with whom:--sometimes wrapt in a red coat;--sometimes in a blue;--sometimes in a green:--but finding many compet.i.tors flew to black, where it now lies snug, warm, and easy.--Restless creature! I will never take it home again.

What think you, Madam, of a _Dean_ for a son-in-law?

What do I think? you say.--Why the gentlemen of the church have too much sense and gravity to take my madcap off my hands.--Well, Madam, but suppose the Dean of H---- now you look pleas'd.--Oh, the Dean of _H----!_ What the _Dean_, Bessy, that Lady Mary used to talk of:--the _Dean_ that married Mr. and Mrs. Powis.

As sure as I live, Madam, the _very_ man:--and _to-morrow,--to-morrow at ten_, he is to unite their lovely daughter with Lord Darcey.--Am I not _very_ good,--_extremely_ good, _indeed_, to sit down and write,--when every person below is solacing themselves on the approach of this happy festival?

I would suffer s.h.i.+pwreck ten times;--ten times would I be drove on uninhabited islands, for such a husband as Lord Darcey.--Miss Powis's danger was only imaginary, yet _she_ must be _so_ rewarded.--Well, she _shall_ be rewarded:--she _ought_ to be rewarded:--Lord Darcey shall reward her.

But is it not _very_ hard upon your _poor_ girl, that _all_ the young smarts we brought down, and _that_ which we found _here_, should have dispos'd of their hearts?--_All_;--even Lord Hallum,--_he_ who used to boast so much of freedom,--now owns he has dispos'd of his.--

But to whom?--Aye: that's a question.--

They think, perhaps, the _old_ stuff will do well enough for poor me!--Thanks to my genius, I can set my cap at any thing.

Why there's something tolerable in the sound of a Dean's Lady--Let me see if it will do.--”The _Deans's_ coach;--the _Dean's_ servants.”--Something better this than a plain _Mr._

Here comes Miss Powis. Now shall I be forc'd to huddle this into my pocket.--I am resolv'd she shall not see the preferment I have chalk'd out for myself.--No, no; I must be secret, or I shall have it taken from me.

_This_ Miss Powis,--_this_ very dutiful young Lady, that I used to have set up for a pattern,--_now_ tells me that I _must_ write no more; _that_ you will not expect to hear from me 'till the next post.--If I _must_ take Miss Powis's advice in everything;--if I _must_ be guided by _her_;--you know _who_ said this, Madam;--why then there is an end of my scribbling for this night.--But remember it is not _my_ fault.--No, indeed, I was sat down as sober sedate as could be.--Quite fit for a Dean's Lady?--Yes;--quite fit, indeed.--Now comes Lady Elizabeth and Lady Sophia.--Well, it is impossible, I find, to be dutiful in this house.

Thursday, twelve o'clock at noon.

Bless my soul! one would think I was the bride by my shaking and quaking! Miss Powis is--Lady Darcey.--Down drops my letter:--Yes, dear Madam, I see you drop it to run and tell my father.

I may write on _now_;--I may do what I will;--Lord and Lady Darcey are _every_ thing with _every_ body Well as I love them, I was not present at the ceremony:--I don't know why neither.--Not a soul but attended, except your poor foolish girl--At the window I stood to see them go, and never stirr'd a step 'till they return'd.--Mr. Molesworth gave her away.--I vow I thought near as handsome as the bridegroom.--But what signifies my thinking him handsome?--I'll ask Lady Elizabeth by and bye what she thinks.--Now for a little about it, before I ature myself with implements of destruction.--The Dean is not quite dead yet; but if he live out this day,--I say, he is invulnerable.

Let us hear no more of yourself:--tell us of Lord and Lady Darcey

Have patience, Madam, and I will,

Well, _their_ dress?--Why _their_ faces were dress'd in smiles of love:--Nature's charms should always take place of art.--You see with what order I proceed.

Lord Darcey was dress'd in white richly lac'd with gold;--Lady Darcey in a white lutestring negligee nounc'd deep with a silver net;--no cap, a diamond sprig; her hair without powder; a diamond necklace and sleeve-knots;--bracelets set round with diamonds; and let me tell you, her jewels are a present from my first Adorable;--on the knowledge of which I discarded him.--No, no, Mr. Morgan; you are not a _jewel_ of yourself neither.--Lady Darcey would have wore quite a morning dishabille, if the vain old Gentleman had not requested the contrary:--so forsooth, to humour him, we must be all put out of our way.

There they are on the lawn, as I hope to live, going to invite in Caesar.--Only an old dog, Madam, that lives betwixt this house and the steward's.

Lady Elizabeth and Mr. Molesworth, Lady Sophia and Captain Risby,--Oh, I long to be with you!--throw no more gravel to my window.--I _will_ be dutiful;--in spite of your allurements, I _will_.