So in spite of all your severity towards me—unhappy girl—well I will go & see you when I go to L—— & if your spirits are low, I will say kind things to you—if not, I shall be glad to see it, & will praise your truly almost inimitable beauty—such color has been seldom worn in the dull looking world, & such a complexion has been seldom seen since the days of Cleopatra. I should suppose this P. girl might also tremble, lest she should meet with a second misfortune of the same kind, as she is engaged to a brother of M. A.’s sweetheart—he is going away to France—the same reasons too will naturally operate in this case as in the other—which can be nothing more than want of fortune & her want of family places her a step farther than M. A. from a connection with a L. Engagements are dangerous affairs—“reason” & love keep little company together now-a-days—Love easily takes possession of a man, but an engagement connected with delay is apt to cool it & when the passion is moderated, it is easily ousted by reason—& often too by something which ought to have less effect than reason—It is probably the interference of friends who have caused the mishap in this case—it can be nothing else but avarice & that is a very dishonorable reason considering his already monstrous estate—if I was an Emperor I would hang such a man. But perhaps there is a better side to his story, I hope so. I remember when he first went to L [Litchfield] I was in his room[56] opposite M. A.’s door—we were looking out & saw them, she & the amiable Hannah—L—— remarked “I suppose these young ladies i.e.: the ladies of this village—depend upon law students for their husbands—I will be very careful they do not ensnare me”—within three weeks he was engaged to M. A. & talked to me of Father W. I will write to Fred Whittlesey & inform him of this cruel affair—I know he will feel for the charming girl. It has been reported that L. says “he will go to Europe with a light heart.” _Sept. 3._ (Sunday the 17^{th} anniversary of my mother’s death.) She was buried on Sunday.[57] After so long & so cruel a separation how sweet t’will be to meet the spirits of our dear friends in another world! Death is the greatest of blessings! * * * * * _Sept. 5^{th}_ A delightful ride to D. with my dear M. She looked sweet, modest, interesting & good—They all appeared pleased with her which gratified me of course. M. enjoyed the visit also. Henry & Lucy Sheldon came there & said that H. L. had disappointed 6 ladies before M. A. W. if so—the wretch ought to be prosecuted says Judge Reeve—Mrs. Pyncheon told me yesterday also that Mr. L. had himself been twice disappointed—M. A.’s feelings may be nice upon the point but her delicacy ought not to prevent his punishment especially since her family is not rich.