He besought my excuse for detaining my attention so long. Upon his motion to go, my two cousins came in. He took even a solemn leave of me, and a very respectful one of them. I had kept up my spirits to their utmost stretch: I besought my cousins to excuse me for a few minutes. His departure from me was too solemn; and I hurried up to my closet; and after a few involuntary sobs, a flood of tears relieved me. I besought, on my knees, peace to the disturbed mind of the excellent Clementina, calmness and resignation to my own, and safety to Sir Charles. And then, drying my eyes at the glass, I went down stairs to my cousins; and on their inquiries (with looks of deep concern) after the occasion of my red eyes, I said, All is over! All is over! my dear cousins. I cannot blame him: he is all that is noble and good--I can say no more just now. The particulars you shall have from my pen. I went up stairs to write: and except for one half hour at dinner, and another at tea, I stopt not till I had done. And here, quite tired, uneasy, vexed with myself, yet hardly knowing why, I lay down my pen.--Take what I have written, cousin Reeves: if you can read it, do: and then dispatch it to my Lucy. But, on second thoughts, I will shew it to the two ladies, and Lord L----, before it is sent away. They will be curious to know what passed in a conversation, where the critical circumstances both of us were in, required a delicacy which I am not sure was so well observed on my side, as on his. I shall, I know, have their pity: but let nobody who pities not the noble Clementina shew any for HARRIET BYRON. LETTER XII MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION TUESDAY NIGHT, APRIL 4. Miss Grandison came to me just as we had supped. She longed, she said, to see me; but was prevented coming before, and desired to know what had passed between her brother and me this morning. I gave her the letter, which I had but a little while before concluded. He had owned, she said, that he had breakfasted with me, and spoke of me to her, and Lord and Lady L---- with an ardor, that gave them pleasure. She put my letter into her bosom. I may, I hope, Harriet--If you please, madam, said I. If you please, madam, repeated she; and with that do-lo-rous accent too, my Harriet!--My sister and I have been in tears this morning: Lord L---- had much ado to forbear. Sir Charles will soon leave us. It can't be helped, Charlotte. Did you dine to-day in St. James's-square? No, indeed!--My brother had a certain tribe with him; and the woman also. It is very difficult, I believe, Harriet, for good people to forbear doing sometimes more than goodness requires of them. Could you not, Charlotte, have sat at table with them for one hour or two? My brother did not ask me. He did not expect it. He gives every body their choice, you know. He told me last night who were to dine with him to-day, and supposed I would choose to dine with Lady L----, or with you, he was so free as to say.