You were mistaken, my dear Alicia, in supposing me fixed at this place for the restof the winter: it grieves me to say how greatly you were mistaken, for I have seldomspent three months more agreeably than those which have just flown away. Atpresent, nothing goes smoothly; the females of the family are united against me.You foretold how it would be when I first came to Langford, and Mainwaring is souncommonly pleasing that I was not without apprehensions for myself. I remembersaying to myself, as I drove to the house, "I like this man, pray Heaven no harmcome of it!" But I was determined to be discreet, to bear in mind my being only fourmonths a widow, and to be as quiet as possible: and I have been so, my dearcreature; I have admitted no one's attentions but Mainwaring's. I have avoided allgeneral flirtation whatever; I have distinguished no creature besides, of all thenumbers resorting hither, except Sir James Martin, on whom I bestowed a littlenotice, in order to detach him from Miss Mainwaring; but, if the world could knowmy motive THERE they would honour me. I have been called an unkind mother, butit was the sacred impulse of maternal affection, it was the advantage of mydaughter that led me on; and if that daughter were not the greatest simpleton onearth, I might have been rewarded for my exertions as I ought.