Methought my Lord looked a little uneasy, but Lord Saville kept his usual sneering composure. The latter gallant favored me with a low reverence—I suppose in the usual Court mode, but I would not so much as let him know that I saw him. His very look is an insult. I made my reverence to Lady Jemima, in passing, but did not speak to her, nor she to me. I have tried hard to forgive her, and I hope I have done so, in some measure, for I would not, as Mr. Penrose would say, bring sword and dagger into God's sanctuary. I thought of the sermon all the evening. Surely if a very awful, 'tis also a marvellous comforting thought—that abiding of the Spirit in our hearts! Mistress Parnell walked up with Mr. Penrose, and was loud in his praises afterwards, when we were at supper together in Mrs. Judith's room, saying, with tears, that he was like a son or younger brother to her, constantly seeking what he may do to please her, and studying her comfort in every way. "Ah, Margaret, Margaret!" said the old lady. "I doubt you are throwing away what can never be gotten back again." "I don't know but I am, but there is no help for it." If I had never seen anybody else—but that 'if' is as wide as the ocean. There is no ship to cross it. Betty, dear child, is as good and loving as a child can be. She has taken double pains with her learning of late, and makes wonderful progress. This day, after sitting long and silent over her sewing—she is making an apron for Goody Yoe—she said to me: "Margaret, you know Latin, don't you?" I told her I did know some Latin, and one day I would read her some pretty tales out of Virgil, his "Aeneid." "Will you teach me Latin?" she asked, wistfully. "That must be as my Lady says," I answered. "But, my love, why do you wish to learn Latin?" "Because," said she, "My little brother will have to learn it some day, I suppose, and if I know it, I can teach it to him." "Suppose your little brother should turn out a little sister?" said I, smiling. "Oh, but I hope he will not!" she answered. "You know papa likes boys best!" Betty rarely shows a spark of her old heat or perverseness, and if she does, it makes her very unhappy, and she will not rest until she has asked and received forgiveness. I sometimes think her character is ripening too fast, and that such deep feelings in a child forebode an early death. And yet, why should I say fear? 'Twould be a blessed thing for her. Her life is not like to be a happy one. _August 21._ Another explosion, and by my means, though not by my fault. I only wish all the consequences had fallen on myself. I should find it easier to forgive the author than I do now.