ABSTRACT
The unexpected arrival of some particular friends of my father’s, from Jamaica,13 obliged me, my dear Harriet, to leave Mrs. Martinius the day a er I wrote to you last; and to the necessary attention which the laws of hospitality give our visitants a right to expect, must be attributed my breach of promise, in su ering two posts to pass, without transmitting to you the continuation of our friend Louisa’s history; for which, I doubt not, you are become very impatient. To enjoy the pleasure of gratifying your wishes, I have declined joining a party to a masquerade, at the Opera-house,14 this evening. Do not, however, imagine yourself under any obligation on that account, since I can assure you, very sincerely, that I am not making any sacri ce; masquerades being by no means my favorite amusements. But to return to the subject of my last. –/
When the rst e usions of joy were over, and some degree of composure restored, I had leisure to observe Mrs. Fitzallan, who appears to me to be near y years of age. When I add that Louisa is a striking resemblance of her, both in form and face, I need say no more to convince you that she is an elegant, lovely woman. Mr. Henry Fitzallan, so strongly resembles them both, that it is totally unnecessary for him to tell the world that he is son to the one, or brother to the other. At the request of Mrs. Martinius, they spent the rest of the day at Chouse. When dinner was over, and the attendants withdrawn, Mrs. Fitzallan, taking Mrs. Martinius a ectionately by the hand, said,
‘It is impossible, my dear madam, for words to express the sense I entertain of your benevolence, in having, thro’ so many years, extended such unremitting maternal tenderness to my beloved daughter. – My gratitude to you can only end with my existence; but as both Mr. Fitzallan and myself, must, undoubtedly have su ered much in your good opinion, from the ambiguous circumstances/ which attended her being placed with you; and also from the last nine years apparent neglect of her; – permit me to account for the whole, in a brief history of our circumstances and situation; a er which, I think you will readily acquit us.
