“With a heart fully sensible of the merit of the object
I presume to address, how is it possible but I must also
be sensible of the fear of offending her? pardon me,
dear young Lady, if almost unacquainted with the
thousand little delicacies expected by your sex from
those of ours, who venture to offer their friendship and
assistance to innocence and beauty; pardon me, I say,
if my expressions are not sufficiently denotive of my respect
and esteem, while I venture to ask if the situation
my sister offers you is perfectly consonant with your
expectations and wishes; yet I ought to know the modesty,
the humility of your mind, will lead you to tell
me it is.
“But, alas! I too well know the disposition of
Lady Ossiter to imagine a heart, like your's, replete
with sensibility, can enjoy any tolerable degree of tranquillity,
when subject to her caprice and ill humour: I
must therefore entreat my lovely friend to accept not
from me, but as a legacy from my mother (for I am
sensible she designed it, though the sudden stroke that
deprived us of her prevented her putting her designs in
execution) the enclosed two thousand pounds, which
will, at least, place you above dependance on the weak
and unworthy.
“Permit me also to assure you, dear amiable Miss
Littleton, that, in every future period of my life, I
shall be happy to convince you how much I am interested
in your welfare, and that nothing would give me more
sincere pleasure, than being allowed to devote my life
and fortune to the promotion of your felicity.
“I am, with every token of esteem and respect,
your friend,
