Louisa! my dearest girl! who do you think I have met with?--No other than Lady Melford! I saw her this day in the drawing-room. I instantly recognized her ladyship, and, catching her eye, made my obeisance to her. She returned my salute, in a manner which seemed to say, "I don't know you; but I wish to recollect you."--As often as I looked up, I found I engaged her attention. When their majesties were withdrawn, I was sitting in one of the windows with Lady Anne Parker, and some other folks about me.--I then saw Lady Melford moving towards me. I rose, and pressed her to take my place. "You are very obliging," said she: "I will, if you please, accept part of it, as I wish informed who it is that is so polite as to pay such civility to an old woman." Lady Anne, finding we were entering on conversation, wished me a good day, and went off. "I am perfectly well acquainted with your features," said her ladyship; "but I cannot call to my memory what is your name." "Have you then quite forgot Julia Grenville, to whom you was so kind while she was on a visit with your grandfather at L.?" "Julia Grenville! Aye, so it is; but, my dear, how came I to meet you in the drawing-room at St. James's, whom I thought still an inmate of the mountains? Has your father rescinded his resolution of spending his life there? and where is your sister?" "My father," I replied, "is still in his favourite retreat; my sister resides with him.--I have been in town some time, and am at present an inhabitant of it." "To whose protection could your father confide you, my dear?" "To the best protector in the world, madam," I answered, smiling--"to an husband." "A husband!" she repeated, quite astonished, "What, child, are you married? And who, my dear, is this husband that your father could part with you to?" "That gentleman in the blue and silver velvet, across the room,--Sir William Stanley. Does your ladyship know him?" "By name and character only," she answered. "You are very young, my dear, to be thus initiated in the world. Has Sir William any relations, female ones I mean, who are fit companions for you?--This is a dangerous place for young inexperienced girls to be left to their own guidance." I mentioned the ladies to whom I had been introduced. "I don't know them," said Lady Melford; "no doubt they are women of character, as they are the friends of your husband. I am, however, glad to see you, and hope you are happily married. My meeting you here is owing to having attended a lady who was introduced; I came to town from D. for that purpose." I asked her ladyship, if she would permit me to wait on her while she remained in town. She obligingly said, "she took it very kind in a young person shewing such attention to her, and should always be glad of my company."