“. . . . I would wish to write you a long letter, to atone for my former offences, but I feel so languid that I am afraid wishing is all I can do. . . . . .
“We cannot come to see you this summer. Nor do I think it advisable to come and incommode you, when you for the same expense could come to us. . . . I wish it was not such a long, expensive journey, then you could come backwards and forwards every month or two.
“I am very sorry you still hear nothing from Mr. White. I am afraid that is all at an end. What do you intend to do about Mr. Turner?
“William Hazlitt, the brother of him you know,* is in town. I believe you have heard us say we like him.
* Miss Lamb seems to have forgotten that William Hazlitt had been in correspondence with her friend a long time, and that she had mentioned him in some of her former letters as being so. |
| 138 | WILLIAM HAZLITT IN TOWN. |
“What is Mr. Turner? and what is likely to come of him? and how do you like him? and what do you intend about it? I almost wish you to remain single till your mother dies, and then come and live with us; and we would either get you a husband, or teach you how to live comfortably without. I think I should like to have you always, to the end of our lives, living with us; and I do not know any reason why that should not be, except for the great fancy you seem to have for marrying, which, after all, is but a hazardous kind of affair; but, however, do as you like, every man knows best what pleases himself best
“I say we shall not come to see you, and I feel sure we shall not; but if some sudden freak was to come into our wayward heads, could you at all manage?
