Letter XXI

Summary

From Miss Darnford to Lady Darnford.

My honoured Mamma,

You cannot conceive how you and my dear Papa have delighted the Heart of my good Mrs. B. and obliged her Mr. B. by the Permission you have given me to attend her till the important Hour shall be over with her; for the dear Lady is exceedingly apprehensive, and one can hardly blame her; for I don't believe there is such a happy Couple in the World.

I am glad to hear, that the Ceremony is over, so much to both your Satisfactions: May this Matrimony be but a Tenth Part as happy, as that I am Witness to; and Mr. and Mrs. Murray will have that to boast of, which few married People have, even among those we call happy!

For my Part, I believe I shall never care to marry at all; for tho’ I cannot be so deserving, yet I shall not bear to think of an Husband much less excellent than Mr. B. And by what I see in her Apprehensions, and by what I can conceive of the Circumstance, I don't think a young Lady can be requited with a less worthy one, for all she suffers on an Husband's Account, and for the sake of his Family and Name.

Mrs. Andrews, a discreet worthy Soul, as ever I knew, and who in her Aspect and Behaviour, is far from being a Disgrace even to Mr. B.'s Lady, is with her dear Daughter, to her no small Satisfaction, as you may suppose; who now-and-then says, What a foolish Creature, my dear Mother, have you for a Daughter!—You did not behave so weakly as I do, when you were in the same Circumstances, I dare say; and yet you had a dear good Husband, tho’ not a rich one, to hope to live for!——But, come, I will have a good Heart, to make myself as worthy of the Company and Chearings of Three such Friends, as I ambless’d with, in my Mother,my Miss Darnford, and Mrs. Jervis!

Mr. B. ask’d my Advice Yesterday, about having in the House a Midwife, to be at hand, at a Moment's Warning.