October 30.—
A lady of our acquaintance,
who happened to see me at church,
came to pay me a visit to-day. It seems,
she is intimate with the widow Arnold,
who told her, very lately, that she was
impatient for the commencement of term,
as she then expected the cause depending
between her and us would be brought to
a final issue, and determined intirely in
her child's favour. This account alarmed
my poor mother so much, that she could
not be easy till she sent for our lawyer,
who was so obliging as to come upon
the first summons. She acquainted him
with the cause of her apprehensions;
and asked him, whether there was any
likelihood of the widow's succeeding. He
laughed at my mother's fears, and at
our antagonist's flourishes, as he called
them; and said, he would not give a
best six-pence to insure Mr. Arnold's
estate to him, which the ensuing term,
he says, will put out of the reach of
doubt. This assurance has quieted our
anxiety on that head. The loss of our
suit would indeed be a dreadful blow, as
we should have nothing then remaining
but my small jointure, for the support of
Mr. Arnold, myself, and our two children;
not to mention Mrs. Gerrarde,
who, I have reason to believe, has been
no inconsiderable sharer in Mr. Arnold's
fortune.
