May I ask, Sir Charles?-said my cousin Reeves, and stopt.

The conversation was too tedious, and too various, to be minutely related, Mr. Reeves. But Sir Hargrave had, by Mr. Bagenhall's desire, got his short-hand writer in a closet; and that unknown to me, till all was over. I am to have a copy of what passed. You shall see it, if you please, when it is sent me. Mean time, what think you of

a compromise at your expense, Miss Byron?

I dare abide by every thing that Sir Charles Grandison has stipulated for me.

It would be cruelty to keep a lady in suspence, where doubt will give her pain, and cannot end in pleasure. Sir Hargrave is resolved to wait upon you: Are you willing to see him?

If, sir, you will advise me to see him.

I advise nothing, madam. Pursue your inclinations. Mr. Reeves is at liberty to admit whom he pleases into his house Miss Byron to see in it, or wheresoever she is, whom she pleases. I told him my mind very freely: but I left him determined to wait on you. I have reason to believe he will behave very well. I shall be surprised, if he does not in the humblest manner ask your pardon; and yours, Mr. Reeves, and your lady's. But if you have any apprehensions, madam, (to me,) I will be ready to attend. you at five minutes' notice, before he shall be admitted to your presence.

It is very good, sir, said Mr. Reeves, to be ready to favour Miss Byron with your countenance, on such an occasion. But I hope we need not give you that trouble in this house.

Sir Charles went away soon after; and Mr. Reeves has been accusing himself ever since, with answering him too

abruptly, though he meant nothing but the truest respect. And yet, as I have written it, on re-perusal, I don't above half like Mr. Reeves's answer. But where high respect is entertained, grateful hearts will always, I believe, be accusing themselves of imperfections, which none other see, or can charge them with.

As Sir Charles is safe, and I have now nothing to apprehend but Sir Hargrave's visit, I will despatch this letter, with assurances that I am, my dear Lucy,

Your ever affectionate

HARRIET BYRON.

LETTER IV.

MISS HARRIET BYRON, TO MISS LUCY SELBY.

Friday, one o'clock, March 5. SIR CHARLES has just sent the impatiently expected paper, transcribed by the short-hand writer from his minutes of the conversation that passed on Sir Charles's intrepid visit at Sir Hargrave's. Intrepid, I call it: but had I known of it, as Mr. Reeves did, before the event, in some measure, justified the rashness, I should have called it rash, and been for proposing to send peace-officers to Cavendish Square, or taking some method to know whether he were safe in his person; especially when three o'clock approached; and his dinner-time is earlier than that of most other people of fashion.

Mr. Reeves has been so good as to undertake to transcribe this long paper for me, that I may have time to

give you an account of three particular visits which I have received. I asked Mr. Reeves, if it were not a strange way of proceeding in this Bagenhall to have his short-hand writer, and now turned listener, always with him? He answered, it was not an usual way; but, in cases of this nature, where murder, and a trial, were expected to follow the rashness, in a court of justice, he thought it carried with it, though a face of premeditation, yet a look of fairness; and there was no doubt but the man had been in bad scrapes before now, and was willing to use every precaution for the future.

THE PAPER.

On Thursday morning, March the 2d, 17. I Henry Cotes, according to notice given me the preceding evening, went to the house of Sir Hargrave Pollexfen, baronet, in Cavendish Square, about half an hour after eight in the morning, in order to take minutes, in short-hand, of a conversation that was expected to be held between the said Hargrave Pollexfen, and Sir Charles Grandison, baronet, upon a debate between the said gentlemen; on which I had once before attended James Bagenhall, esquire, at the house of the said Sir Charles Grandison in St. James's Square; and from which consequences were apprehended, that might make an exact account of what passed of great importance.

I was admitted, about nine o'clock, into the withdrawingroom; where were present the said Sir Hargrave, the said James Bagenhall, Solomon Merceda, esquire, and John Jordan, esquire: and they were in full conversation about the reception that was to be given to the said Sir Charles Grandison; which not being a part of

my orders or business, I had no command to take down; but the contrary.

And that I might, with the less interruption, take minutes of the expected conversation, I was ordered to place myself in a large closet adjoining to the said withdrawingroom, from which it was separated by a thin wainscot partition: but, lest the said Sir Charles should object to the taking of the said minutes, I was directed to conceal myself there till called forth; but to take the said minutes fairly and truly, as, upon occasion, I would make oath to the truth thereof.

About half an hour after nine o'clock, I heard Mr. Bagenhall, with an oath, that denoted, by the voice, eagerness and surprise, say, Sir Charles was come. And immediately a footman entered, and said, ' Sir Charles Grandison!' Then three or four of the gentlemen spoke together pretty loud and high; but what they said I thought not in my orders to note down. But this is not improper to note: Sir Hargrave said, Give me that pair of pistols, and let him follow me into the garden. By G— he shall take one! No, no! I heard Mr. Merceda say; who, being a foreigner, I knew his voice from the rest-No, no! That must not be.

And another voice, I believe, by the lisp, it was Mr. Jordan's, say, Let us, Sir Hargrave, hear what a man so gallant has to say for himself. Occasions may arise afterwards. Mr. Bagenhall, whose voice I well knew, said, D—n his blood, if a hair of Sir Charles Grandison's head should be hurt on this visit!

Do I, d-n ye all, said Sir Hargrave, offer any thing unfair, when I would give him the choice of the pistols? What! in your own garden! drops! said Mr. Merceda.

A pretty story, whichsoever
The devil's in it, if he may

not be forced now to give you the satisfaction of a gentleman elsewhere.

Desire Sir Charles (d-n his blood, said Sir Hargrave) to come in. And then [as I saw through a knot-hole, that I just then, hunting for a crack in the wainscot-partition, discovered] Sir Charles entered; and I saw, that he looked very sedate and cheerful; and he had his sword by his side, though in a morning-dress. And then the conversation began, as follows:

SIR CH. Your servant, Sir Hargrave. Mr. Bagenhall, yours. Your servant, gentlemen.

MR. BAG. Yours, Sir Charles. You are a man of your word. This gentleman is Mr. Jordan, Sir Charles. This gentleman is Mr. Merceda.

SIR CH. Mr. Merceda!-I have heard of Mr. Merceda. -I have been very free, Sir Hargrave, to invite myself to breakfast with you.

SIR HAR. Yes, by G-! And so you have before now. Have you any body with you, sir?-If you have, let them walk in.

SIR CH. Nobody, sir.

SIR HAR. These are gentlemen, sir. They are men of honour. They are my friends.

SIR CH. They look like gentlemen. I suppose every man a man of honour, till I find him otherwise.

SIR HAR. But don't think I have them here to intimidate

SIR CH. Intimidate, Sir Hargrave! I know not what it is to be intimidated. You say, the gentlemen are your friends. I come with a view to increase, and not diminish, the number of your friends.

SIR HAR. Increase the number of my friends!'What! with one who robbed me of the only woman on