disappoint our expectation of such a pleasant visit as we used to
have, and had now promised ourselves. Nor could my father have any
opportunity, by a private conference with them, to understand the
ground or occasion of this change, there being some other strangers
with them (related to Isaac Penington), who came that morning from
London to visit them also.

For my part I sought and at length found means to cast myself into
the company of the daughter, whom I found gathering some flowers in
the garden, attended by her maid, who was also a Quaker. But when I
addressed myself to her after my accustomed manner, with intention
to engage her in some discourse which might introduce conversation
on the footing of our former acquaintance, though she treated me
with a courteous mien, yet, as young as she was, the gravity of her
look and behaviour struck such an awe upon me, that I found myself
not so much master of myself as to pursue any further converse with
her. Wherefore, asking pardon for my boldness in having intruded
myself into her private walks, I withdrew, not without some disorder
(as I thought at least) of mind.

We stayed dinner, which was very handsome, and lacked nothing to
recommend it to me but the want of mirth and pleasant discourse,
which we could neither have with them, nor by reason of them, with
one another amongst ourselves; the weightiness that was upon their
spirits and countenances keeping down the lightness that would have
been up in us. We stayed, notwithstanding, till the rest of the
company took leave of them, and then we also, doing the same,
returned, not greatly satisfied with our journey, nor knowing what
in particular to find fault with.