1815-1816] Harriet Drewe s Engagement 81 



the 60 from the Grange Estate, though he promised her 

 100 per an. to educate Frank when he was 14. She had 

 been thinking that with all her economy she could not live 

 at Exeter, and she had half finished this dismal letter 

 when in came Mr Gifford and laid himself and fortune at 

 Harriet's feet. You may guess the tone of the remainder 

 of the letter, for besides being one of the cleverest and 

 most agreeable men going, he makes by his profession 

 already between 2000 and 3000 per an., and has realized 

 12,000. Harriet was so frightened that she was near faint- 

 ing. He is now admitted as a declared lover, but nothing 

 is yet settled and we have not heard again. Charlotte 

 Drewe 1 is now as you may suppose very impatient to join 

 her sisters and I like her the better for it. She has a great 

 deal of affection about her, and her manners are simple. 

 I tried her temper upon one occasion, in which she took 

 what I said to her so well that I am convinced of her good 

 nature, for though it was only a question of manner it is a 

 ticklish thing to find fault with. Mary Havard is married, 

 and is come with her husband to take possession of the 

 Leopard at Burslem. Their master parted with them very 

 amicably and made her a present of one guinea, and to 

 Pepper, who had lived with him twenty years and had 

 served him in the capacity of butler, valet, and keeper, he 

 gave two pounds. See how good servants are rewarded 

 when they happen to meet with generous masters ! What 

 is become of W. Clifford, my dear Fanny 1 I mean his 

 person, not his heart, for if our friends are all right you 

 have the latter safe enough. The question I would ask is 

 whether you have been equally generous to him? and if so, 

 I don't know that there is anything to be said against it, 

 provided the income would not be too small. Tell me 

 how you spend your time, and how you find the society, 

 and above all whether you think you shall make out your 

 two years or not, and how you get on in conversation. . . . 



1 Charlotte Drewe was visiting at Maer. She, and Frank and 

 Louisa Drewe all died in early youth (1817-18). Mr Gifford, after 

 wards Lord Gifford, married Harriet Drewe in 1816. 



