C—HOUSE.

‘Tis a pleasing idea, Harriet, that tho’ distance separates the persons of friends, it has not power to deprive them of the enjoyment of intellectual intercourse with each other. – Happiness must be communicated, or it cannot be complete; scarce, indeed, can it be properly felt: and were I deprived of the pleasure of imparting mine to you, the delightful sensations I experience, at this moment,/ would be changed into repining at the severity of my fate. This preface tells you I am about to be the herald of some pleasing event; I will, therefore, keep you no longer in suspence.

This letter informs you that I am now in that dear mansion, where first our friendship grew. I came hither three days ago, purposing to stay a week; Mrs. Martinius having, on that condition, promised to indulge me by permitting Miss Delaporte to return, and spend a few weeks with me in town. Of that pleasure, however, I am, for the present, disappointed. – Providence has disposed of our friend in a different way – a way far more agreeable and advantageous to herself. You, my Harriet, love Louisa; she is as dear to you, as to me; consequently, you will be equally interested in her story; the particulars of which she was not acquainted with herself, till this day. You know that she was placed at the school, some time before either of us; but how she came hither, by whom brought, or to whom she belonged, were matters into which we did not speculate; nor do I recollect ever having made/ particular observation of her remaining constantly at school during the vacations; nor of her never being visited there by her relations or friends, as the rest of us were. These two latter circumstances happened, I know not how, to occur at once to my ideas, as we were sitting together yesterday evening; and without waiting to consider the propriety of my speech, I inadvertently said,

‘I imagine, my dear Louisa, that both your parents died when you were very young, – too young to be sensible of their loss: – for I do not remember having ever once heard you mention either of them’.