9 [ p.7 ]

smiles imported that she meant to take the visit to herself. — He was persuaded withoutmuch difficulty to throw off his great coat,& drink tea with them."For Whether he dined at 8or 9as, he observed, was a matter of very littleconsequence." — and took without seeming toHe did not seem to avoid theseek, he did notturn away fromavoid the chair nearclose1 toseat by Margaret which she was aſsiduousin providing him. — She hadthus secured himfrom her Sisters — but it was not immediatelyin her power to preserve him from her Brother’sclaims, for as he came avowedly from London,& had left it only 4. hours [.]ago2,back, the last cur::rent report as to public news, & the generalopinion of the day must be understood,enquired into, beforeRobert could let yeild his attention be yeildedto the leſs national, or&3 important demandsmore domestic enquiriesof the Women. — At last however he was at liber::ty to hear Margaret’s soft addreſs, as she spokefearedher fears of his havinghe must have had a most terrible, cold, darkdreadful Journey. — "Indeed you should not haveset out so late. —" "I could not be earlier, he replied.I was detained chatting at the Horse guards Bedford, by a friend.4of Lord Osbornes — All hours are alike to me. —How long have you been in the CountryMiſs Margt .Margaret?" "Ho We came only this verymorng .morning – My kind Brother & Sister brought mehome this very morng .morning — 'Tis singular is not it?"

Footnotes

1.
'close' written over an earlier word, possibly 'near'.Back to context...
2.
'ag' written over unclear letter.Back to context...
3.
Ampersand an inline insertion, made following the deletion of 'or'.Back to context...
4.
Full stop an inline insertion made after deletion of 'of Lord Osbornes'.Back to context...
Image for page: b9-7 of manuscript: qmwats