Chapter 27

Sir JAMES POWIS to Lord DARCEY.

_Barford Abbey_.

I am not much surpris'd at the contents of your Lordship's letter, it is _what_ Lady Powis and I have long conjectur'd; yet I must tell, you, my Lord, notwithstanding Miss Warley's great merit, I should have been much better pleas'd to have found myself mistaken.

I claim no right to controul your inclinations: the strict observance you pay your father's last request, tempts me to give my opinion very opposite to what I should otherwise have done.--Duty like yours ought to be rewarded.--If you will content yourself with an incumber'd estate rather than a clear one, why--why--why--faith you shall not have my approbation 'till you come to the Abbey. Should you see the little bewitching Gipsy before I talk with you, who knows but you may be wise enough to make a larger jointure than you can afford?

I am glad your Lordship push'd the matter no farther on the terrace: I did not then know how well I lov'd our dear girl.--My wife is _so_ pleas'd,--_so_ happy,--_so_ overjoy'd,--at what she calls your noble disinterested regard for her Fanny, that one would think she had quite forgot the value of _money_.--I expect my son to-morrow.--Let me have the happiness of embracing you at the same time;--you are both my children, &c. &c.:

J. Powis.