LETTER 170

CHARLES LAMB TO MATILDA BETHAM

Dear Miss Betham,--I am very sorry, but I was pre-engaged for this evening when Eliza communicated the contents of your letter. She herself also is gone to Walworth to pass some days with Miss Hays--

"G-d forbid I should pass my days with Miss H--ys"

but that is neither here nor there. We will both atone for this accident by calling upon you as early as possible.

I am setting out to engage Mr. Dyer to your Party, but what the issue of my adventure will be, cannot be known, till the wafer has closed up this note for ever.

Yours truly, C. LAMB.

Friday.

[We have already met Miss Hayes. Miss Betham was a friend of Dyer, as we shall see.]