Page:Lady Anne Granard 2.pdf/136

134 told us, i. e., Louisa, Mrs. Gooch, and me, she formed an acquaintance with a Mrs. Clare, his friend, a good-natured, benevolent, elderly lady, somewhat eccentric in manners, but of fine taste, extensive reading, and such unbounded kindness, that she would have been ruined if a kind friend had not guarded her from herself. Lady Sarah, during this friend's absence, discovered that Mrs. Clare had been receiving rents one day, and actually at the time had about seven hundred pounds in her pocket: she immediately made up a very pitiable story, which the loan of seven hundred pounds would relieve, and which could be soon gratefully repaid. Mrs. Clare produced the seven hundred pounds, and was overwhelmed with thanks, Lady Sarah hastening away on the instant, on which Mrs. Clare wrote to her, saying, 'that in her hurry she had forgotten to give the necessary acknowledgment.' What do you think Lady Sarah did?" "What could she do, but return, and give the proper papers?" "No such thing; she wrote a fine flummery letter, saying 'she knew her dear Mrs. Clare intended to present her with the money, therefore, she would never offend her generosity by offering legal acknowledgment for her gift, which she accepted in the same kind spirit in which it was offered.'" "And what did Mrs. Clare do, then?" She protested against the conclusion, so did her friend, declaring that such a gift was beyond her