 sister instead of being received from her hands.
While we remain in this uncertainty, in order to guard against curiosity, I have requested Mr. Howard to conceal our real situation and connections except from his brother's family, to whom he promises to enjoin secresy.
Mr. Howard's letter to Lady Linrose, briefly stating our situation and requesting her mediation with Lord Belmont, was sent off by this day's post. He tells her Ladyship that we are at present in London, where the accident of Mr. Benseley's death leaves us (in our grand father's absence) entirely dependant on her Ladyship, whose countenance we venture

to entreat, since we are unconscious of having in any way forfeited our right to the protection of our family; and whose good offices our friendless state leads us to solicit, as well from her benevolence and humanity as from the ties of consanguinity which subsist between us. It is directed to Northamptonshire, and we anxiously wait her Ladyship's reply.
Mrs. Hindon was so kind as to breakfast with us this morning, accompanied by her husband. She is a little plump woman, between thirty and forty, whose countenance is by no means plain, but whose address is far from possessing either polish or grace. What her manners wanted in elegance was however fully made up by kindness and attention. She overwhelmed both Fanny and me with expressions of civility and offers of friendship, and told us that she insisted on our becoming her guests, and making her

house our own as long as we should find it agreeable. She regretted extremely, she said, that a country cousin, who how ever would be otherwise disposed of in a few days, at present occupied the apartment, which afterwards would be heartily and entirely at our service: but as soon as she could get her trumpery removed, and things were put in proper order, she hoped we would favour her so far as to take immediate possession of it.
This hospitality, though rather rudely expressed, was so extremely benevolent, and so happily timed for our difficulties, that I knew not how to express in terms sufficiently fervent the gratitude it inspired.
Mrs. Hindon then carried us an airing in her coach, through several of the principal streets of the city, and appeared so kindly solicitous for our entertainment, that during our ride she was continually planning different parties of pleasure, or

describing different places of amusement, to which she promised to accompany us; and she regretted much that the morning was too far advanced to admit of our seeing any of the sights and curiosities which
