Page:English laws for women in the nineteenth century.djvu/83

71 ''miss your society and conversation every day at the hours at which I was accustomed to enjoy them, and when you say that your place can he easily supplied, you indulge in a little vanity and self-conceit. You know well enough that there is nobody who can fill your place. I have been reading 'The Wife,' and have finished the second volume. It is full of most excellent things. 'Lionel' is too dd a beast, and 'Mary' makes a great deal too much sacrifice for him; but it is not unnatural. Many people have acted as amiably, as romantically, and as foolishly. I think, in order to take advantage of what you have observed in other people's characters, you have put into his, what did not belong to it. For instance, his being so disagreeable upon the journey, calculating the currency and admiring nothing fine or beautiful either in Nature or Art, is what has struck you in others, and you have grafted it upon him; in whom, being a man of genius and feeling, it is not natural''.

"I saw Brinsley and his wife the other night at Lord Hertford's. I thought him rather cold. None of them seem really glad to see me, except Charlie. But there is no reason they should be. If they went upon my principle (or rather my practice') of disliking those who cause me trouble, uneasiness, vexation, without considering why they do it, they certainly would not rejoice in my presence.

"You are quite right, and it shows your good sense, to bear in mind that it may be of permanent disadvantage to your children to he Separated and estranged from their father's family, upon whom they must principally depend. I expect that some day or another you will have them all thrown upon you,—Adieu, " Yours, Melbourne

"South street, January 7th, 1837. &hellip;&hellip; "Do you know tells me, that from all he can hear, he believes that Norton has really got three thousand a year; and ten thousand pounds down." &hellip;&hellip;