ABSTRACT
Notwithstanding I am likely to see you so soon at Scarborough, yet I cannot forego the pleasure of informing you, that our party there will be enlarged by the pleasing addition of the Fitzallan family. ey have been passing a few weeks at Matlock; their house being now ready for their reception, they came to it three days ago; and, yesterday morning, Louisa surprised me with her presence/ here. – She came to request our company home with her, to spend the day; a request which Mrs. Horton and I readily complied with. In our way thither, I remarked, to Louisa, that she appeared more grave than usual; in return to which, she said, that her happiness was but half complete till the arrival of her father. is, I think very natural; but, entre nous, my dear Rhoda, I thought she appeared exceedingly disappointed at the absence of Sir Edward: nay, I may say, I am certain she was so; for Mrs. Horton made the same observation, and spoke of it to me a erwards. – is is a circumstance which does not, in the least, excite my wonder; since my partiality to my brother leads me to think it next to an impossibility, that an amiable young woman like our friend, whose a ections are perfectly disengaged, should be, for the space of a fortnight, constantly in his company, and yet remain insensible to his merits – to his numerous attractions, both personal and mental. To you he is a stranger; but I atter myself, that when you are acquainted with him, your opinion will coincide with/ mine. At present, I am half tempted to wish he were less amiable – less agreeable; or, rather, that he had been absent from home when Louisa was here before; as the idea of her being attached to him lls me with much concern: not because such an alliance would not be highly pleasing to me, but because I fear that my brother’s a ections are too rmly xed on the memory of his adored Matilda ever to admit of his making a second choice; and, therefore, I fear for the happiness of my friend. – But I will not meet trouble, it is always swi enough in its approach.
