ther Lady Anne would have forwarded it so readily, had she known its contents; but, taking it for granted, from the letter of Lady Rotheles, that they would be of a mortifying nature, she lost no time in sending it to its destination. But Lord Rotheles was in complete ignorance of the tenour of his wife's epistle, who simply told him that she had written to Lady Anne, to remonstrate on the folly of her opposing a respectable connexion. The earl was too indolent and too poorly to do any one an active service, but he really liked his pretty nieces; and, knowing that his wife encouraged no generosity that had not herself for its object, wrote the following note, without consulting her upon the subject:
"My dear niece,
"I regret much to hear that Lady Anne is opposed to your marriage; but your forming great matches has ever been her weak point. I see no reason why you should all become old maids while waiting for dukes. I congratulate Mr. Penrhyn, and would have given you away myself, but am too weak to travel so soon after my illness. Pray accept the accompanying trifles, with the best wishes of your affectionate uncle,
Rotheles."
The purple morocco cases accompanying the latter contained a handsome set of gold ornaments. Louisa was deeply gratified, even more on Charles's account than on her own; it was such injustice on the part of her family to treat him with such insolence as Lady Anne and Lady Rotheles displayed. It was with the
