I arose from my seat. Whither, my dear?--I have done, if I oppress you. I moved my chair behind hers, but so close to hers, that I leaned on the back of it, my face hid, and my eyes running over. She stood up. Sit down again, madam, said I, and proceed--Pray proceed. You have excited my curiosity. Only let me sit here, unheeded, behind you. Pray, madam, said Mrs. Reeves, (burning also with curiosity, as she has since owned,) go on; and indulge my cousin in her present seat. What answer did Sir Charles return? My dear love, said the countess, (sitting down, as I had requested,) let me first be answered one question. I would not do mischief. You cannot do mischief, madam, replied I. What is your ladyship's question? Has Sir Charles Grandison ever directly made his addresses to you, my dear? Never, madam. It is not for want of love, I dare aver, that he has not. But thus he answered my question: 'I should have thought myself the unworthiest of men, knowing the difficulties of my own situation, how great soever were the temptation from Miss Byron's merit if I had sought to engage her affections.' [O, Lucy! How nobly is his whole conduct towards me justified!] 'She has, madam,' (proceeded the countess, in his words,) 'a prudence that I never knew equalled in a woman so young. With a frankness of mind, to which hardly ever young lady before her had pretensions, she has such a command of her affections, that no man, I dare say, will ever have a share in them, till he has courted her favour by assiduities which shall convince her that he has no heart but for her.' O my Lucy! What an honour to me would these sentiments be, if I deserved them! And can Sir Charles Grandison think I do?--I hope so. But if he does, how much am I indebted to his favourable, his generous opinion! Who knows but I have reason to rejoice, rather than to regret, as I used to do, his frequent absences from Colnebrook? The countess proceeded. Then, sir, you will not take it amiss, if my son, by his assiduities, can prevail upon Miss Byron to think that he has merit, and that his heart is wholly devoted to her. 'Amiss, madam!--No!--In justice, in honour, I cannot. May Miss Byron be, as she deserves to be, one of the happiest women on earth in her nuptials. I have heard a great character of Lord D----. He has a very large estate. He may boast of his mother--God forbid, that I, a man divided in myself, not knowing what I can do, hardly sometimes what I ought to do, should seek to involve in my own uncertainties the friend I revere; the woman I so greatly admire: her beauty so attracting; so proper therefore for her to engage a generous protector in the married state.' Generous man! thought I. O how my tears ran down my cheeks, as I hid my face behind the countess's chair! But will you allow me, sir, proceeded the countess, to ask you, were you freed from all your uncertainties--