October 31.—
Once more returned
to London in very good spirits, after a
stay of little more than two months in
Essex, in which time so material and unexpected
a change has been made in my
condition.
Lady Grimston took a most affectionate
leave of my mother, and asked her, with
more tenderness than I thought her capable
of, How many ages it would be
before they should meet again? As for
Mr. Arnold and me, she considers us as
her neighbours. The Dean pleases himself
with that expectation too; and the
dear Mrs. Vere, who shed tears at bidding
me adieu, promises herself the happiness
(as she kindly expressed herself) of spending
many delightful days with me next
summer. She set out on her return to
her own house, at the same time that we
left ours to go to town.
My bother is still in Wiltshire; but I
find he did not leave town at the time
he mentioned in his letter to my mother,
nor for some days after. This Patty
learnt from the servants; but I hope it
will not come to my mother's ears, for
she would take it extremely ill of him.
Mr. Arnold, for the first time, mentioned,
that he was very much disappointed in
not having had the honour of seeing Sir
George at his house in the country; but
he hoped, when he came to town, his
brother and he should make up for this,
by being the more together. I wish Sir
George may behave as he ought to this deserving
brother. Mr. Arnold little imagines
how much he was an enemy to the
match, and much less his reason for it.
I should be very sorry Mr. Arnold were
to know how near I was being married to
another man; it might give a delicate
mind pain, lest there should remain any
traces of this former attachment in the
breast of a woman he loves; but I
hope there is no danger of his hearing of
it; certainly no one would be so indiscreet
as to mention it to him. Mr. Arnold
has lived chiefly in the country, and may
never have heard of Mr. Faulkland, as
he was so short a time returned from his
travels, on which he had been absent
more than five years; and as he is now
out of the kingdom, probably he will
not be spoken of. I have begged of my
mother, who is naturally communicative,
never to name Mr. Faulkland to Mr.
Arnold, and have given my reasons for
desiring this. She says, she thinks it
would be better to tell him the whole affair
at once; but I cannot agree with her
in that opinion; and have at last prevailed
on her to promise me she will not speak
of it.
