my imparting the subject of it to you.


* See Letter II. of this volume.


Indeed, my dear, you must not hesitate. You must oblige them. The
alliance is splendid and honourable. Very few will know any thing of his
brutal baseness to you. All must end, in a little while, in a general
reconciliation; and you will be able to resume your course of doing the
good to every deserving object, which procured you blessings wherever you
set your foot.

I am concerned to find, that your father's inhuman curse affects you so
much as it does. Yet you are a noble creature to put it, as you put it--
I hope you are indeed more solicitous to get it revoked for their sakes
than for your own. It is for them to be penitent, who hurried you into
evils you could not well avoid. You are apt to judge by the unhappy
event, rather than upon the true merits of your case. Upon my honour, I
think you faultless almost in every step you have taken. What has not
that vilely-insolent and ambitious, yet stupid, brother of your's to
answer for?--that spiteful thing your sister too!

But come, since what is past cannot be helped, let us look forward. You
have now happy prospects opening to you: a family, already noble,
prepared to receive you with open arms and joyful heart; and who, by
their love to you, will teach another family (who know not what an
excellence they have confederated to persecute) how to value you. Your
prudence, your piety, will crown all. You will reclaim a wretch that,
for an hundred sakes more than for his own, one would wish to be