November 15.—
Thank my stars! I
have got over the fatigue of receiving
and paying a second round of bridal
visits, and I am really so tired of it, that
uninviting as the season is, I could wish
myself in quiet at Arnold-Abbey; but I
cannot think of leaving London while
my mother continues in it, and she is now
resolved to do so till Miss Burchell, or
rather, on this occasion, Mrs. Jefferis, is
brought to-bed. You can't imagine how
solicitous she is about her; every time
she sees her she seems more and more
pleased with her. I am very glad it has
happened so, for the poor young woman's
sake; my mother is as warm in her attachments
as in her resentments. She visits
her almost every second day; for the poor
thing it seems is ill at present, and can't
leave her chamber. She tells me she is
extremely melancholy, and seems much
to dread the approaching hour. I greatly
honour my good mother for her humanity
towards her: in her terrifying situation,
she must want the tenderness of a
well bred as well as a sensible friend; for
it must be a melancholy thing, in such
circumstances, to have no one about her
but servants, and those strangers too.
She told my mother, that her altered
looks, and frequent sicknesses, gave her
aunt (who was privy to the cause of it
all) a pretence for asking her uncle's permission
for miss to go to Bath, which
she told him would do her more good
than any thing. He consented, and supposed
she was actually gone thither under
the care of a lady, whom her aunt
named, who was really going there in order
to settle for life, and to whose house
she went for a day or two to give a colour
to this story. Her aunt contrived that
she should not take any servant with her;
giving it for a reason, that as she might
be as well attended by the lady's servants
with whom she lodged, and be considered
by her as one of the family, a
maid would only be an unnecessary incumbrance.
She added, that her uncle
was so afflicted with the gout, that he
never stirred abroad, and saw very little
company, so that it was not likely he
should ever be undeceived.
