“I have deferred answering your last letter, in hopes
of being able to give you some intelligence that might be useful to you, for I
every day expected that Hazlitt or you
would communicate the affair to your brother; but as the Doctor is silent on the subject I conclude he
yet knows nothing of the matter. You desire my advice, and therefore I tell you
I think you ought to tell your brother as soon as possible; for at present he
is on very friendly visiting terms with
| 146 | THE CHOSEN LOVER. |
“If you obtain your brother’s approbation, he might assist you, either by lending or otherwise. I have a great opinion of his generosity, where he thinks it will be useful.
“Hazlitt’s brother is mightily pleased with the match, but he says that you must have furniture, and be clear in the world at first setting out, or you will be always behindhand. He also said he would give you what furniture he could spare. I am afraid you can bring but few things away from your own house. What a pity that you have laid out so much money on your cottage; that money would have just done.
“I most heartily congratulate you on having so well
got over your first difficulties, and now that it is quite settled, let us have
no more fears. I now mean, not
| HIS NEGLIGENCE COMPLAINED OF. | 147 |
“Do not tease yourself about coming to town. When your brother learns how things are going, we will consult him about meetings and so forth, but at present any hasty step of that kind would not answer, I know. If Hazlitt were to go down to Salisbury, or you were to come up here without consulting your brother, you know it would never do.
“Charles is just come in to dinner; he desires his love and best wishes.
