THE HEROINE, OR ADVENTURES OF A FAIR ROMANCE READER, BY EATON STANNARD BARRETT, ESQ. "L'Histoire d'une femme est toujours un Roman.” IN THREE VOLUMES. VOL. II. LONDON: PRINTED FOR HENRY COLBURN, English 4-30-28 THE HEROINE. LETTER XVIII. Ar dinner, yesterday, I bespoke his lordship as an escort to the masquerade; and we then held a council of dress. It was resolved, that I should appear in the character of Sterne's Maria, and his lordship as Corporal Trim. This morning, just as I had finished reading the closet-scene, in the Children of the Abbey, Betterton and the landlady came into my room; and in a short time, I perceived the purport of their visit; as they began requesting that I would not take either Stuart or Montmorenci with me to the mas querade. "The fact is, Miss," said the landlady, "that I have heard your real story. Mr. Grundy is not your cousin at all, and your name is Wilkinson, not Donald. Howsomever, as I believe you meant no harm, in this deception, I am willing, at the solicitations of this excellent gentleman, to let you remain in my house, provided you promise not to receive any more visits from that Stuart, who is the greatest villain unhanged; or from Mr. Grundy, who has certainly bad designs on you; though he made proposals of marriage to myself, no longer ago than yesterday." A tapping at my door prevented me from expressing my total disbelief in her latter assertion. It struck me that should the person prove to be his lord |