Her father wrote at length all the excellent moral and religious essay
which had stuck in his throat at the parting; neither was Betty's
letter deficient in good advice, though she let it appear that the
family were much amused at Lady Belamour's affliction in her triad
of daughters, the secret having been hitherto so carefully kept that
they supposed her to have only one.
"It will be your Charge," wrote Betty, "so far as in you lies, to
render them not merely the Graces, as my Father terms them, but the
true and faithful Guardian to these Infant Spirits. Though their
Mother has shown no Care or heed in entrusting them to you, yet
remember that it is truly the good Providence of their Heavenly
Father that has put these little Children of His in your Charge, to
receive from you the first Principles of Religion and Morals which
may mould their whole Lives; and I trust that you will do the Work
faithfully and successfully. It may be dull and tedious at Bowstead,
but I had much rather hear of you thus than exposed to the Glare of
My Lady's Saloon in London. No doubt Harriet has write to you of
the Visit of young Sir Amyas, the Sunday after your departure. We
have since heard that his expedition to Monmouthshire was with a View
to his marriage to Lady Aresfield's Daughter, and this may well be,
so that if he fall in your way, you will be warned against putting
any misconstruction on any Civil Attentions he may pay to you.
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