room while his hair was being dressed in order to tell him which to
place _nearest to his heart_.

In the course of the evening he told a lady a wondrous story, and upon
her looking surprised, he said vehemently--"Upon my honour, Madam, it
is true!"--adding gently--"When I say 'Upon my honour' Madam, _never
believe me_."

Adieu, and at least believe me, Your affectionate sister, M. A. S. S.


Mr George Vernon, indeed, appears to have been of a somewhat
impressionable temperament, for a few years later his sister-in-law, Lady
Granville, writing from Trentham to announce her departure for Texel,
remarks, "I must take Mr Vernon away to flirt with my beauties there. It
will not be dangerous for Lady Harriet, and Corise bears a charmed life.
_He will be proud beyond measure and fancy both are in love with him._"
Yet with the dawning of 1806, the mention made by the Stanhopes of these
friends comes in sad contrast to the lively tales respecting them in which
they were wont to indulge.

As January drew to a close Walter Stanhope received an intimation that the
illness of William Pitt was likely to have a fatal termination. He
hastened up to town, and was in time to take a last farewell of his
friend. [28] His family followed more leisurely, and on the 27th, from
Grosvenor Square, Mrs Stanhope wrote:--


I cannot say how shocked I was with the melancholy intelligence of
Edward Vernon's death, and of the dangerous illness of George. I hear