LETTER173

letter173

marylambtosarahstoddart

[p.m.march16,1808.]

mydearsarah,—donotbeveryangrythatihavenotwrittentoyou.ihavepromisedyourbrothertobeatyourwedding,andthatfavoryoumustacceptasanatonementformyoffences—youhavebeeninnowantofcorrespondencelately,andiwishedtoleaveyoubothtoyourowninventions.

theborderyouareworkingformeiprizeataveryhighratebecauseiconsideritasthelastworkyoucandoforme,thetimesofastapproachingwhenyoumustnolongerworkforyourfriends.yetmyoldfaultofgivingawaypresentshasnotleftme,andiamdesirousofevengivingawaythisyourlastgift.ihadintendedtohavegivenitawaywithoutyourknowledge,butihaveintrustedmysecrettohazlitt,andisupposeitwillnotremainasecretlong,soicondescendtoconsultyou.itistomisshazlitt,towhosesuperiorclaimiwishtogiveupmyrighttothispreciousworkedborder.herbrotherwilliamishergreatfavorite,andshewouldbepleasedtopossesshisbride'slastwork.areyounottogivethefellow-bordertoonesister-in-law,andthereforehasshenotajustclaimtoit?—ineverheardintheannalsofweddings(sincethedaysofnausicaa,andsheonlywashedheroldgownsforthatpurpose)thatthebrideseverfurnishedtheappareloftheirmaids.besides,icanbecompletelycladinyourworkwithoutit,forthespottedmuslinwillservebothforcapandhat(notabene,myhatisthesameasyours)andthegownyouedformehasneverbeenmadeup,thereforeicanwearthat—or,ifyoulikebetter,iwillmakeupanewsilkwhichmanninghassentmefromchina.manningwouldliketoheariworeitforthefirsttimeatyourwedding.itisaveryprettylightcolour,butthereisanobjection(besidesnotbeingyourworkandthatisaveryseriousobjection)andthatis,mrs.hazlitttellsmethatallwinterslowwouldbeinanuproarifthebridemaidwastobedressedinanythingbutwhite,andalthoughitisaverylightcolouriconfesswecannotcallitwhite,beingasortofadead-whiteish-bloomcolour;thensilk,perhaps,inamorningisnotsoproper,thoughtheoccasion,sojoyful,mightjustifyafulldress.determineformeinthisperplexitybetweenthesprigandthechina-manningsilk.butdonotcontradictmywhimaboutmisshazlitthavingtheborder,forihavesetmyheartuponthematter:ifyouagreewithmeinthisishallthinkyouhaveforgivenmeforgivingawayyourpin;andthatwasamadtrick,butihadmanyobligationsandnomoney.irepentmeofthedeed,wishingihaditnowtosendtomissh.withtheborder,andicannot,willnot,giveherthedoctor'spin,forhavingneverhadanypresentsfromgentlemeninmyyoungdays,ihighlyprizealltheynowgiveme,thinkingmylatterdaysarebetterthanmyformer.

youmustsendthissameborderinyourownnametomisshazlitt,whichwillsavemethedisgraceofgivingawayyourgift,andmakeitamountmerelytoacivilrefusal.

ishallhavenopresenttogiveyouonyourmarriage,nordoiexpectthatishallberichenoughtogiveanythingtobabyatthefirstchristening,butatthesecond,orthirdchild'sihopetohaveacoralorsotospareoutofmyownearnings.donotaskmetobegodmother,forihaveanobjectiontothat—butthereisibelieve,noseriousdutiesattachedtoabride'smaid,thereforeicomewithawillingmind,bringingnothingwithmebutmanywishes,andnotafewhopes,andaverylittleoffearsofhappyyearstocome.

iamdearsarah

yoursevermostaffectionately

m.lamb.

whathascharlesdonethatnobodyinviteshimtothewedding?

[theweddingwasonmay1,1808.originallyitwasintendedtoperformtheceremonyatwinterslow,butlondonwasactuallytheplace:st.andrew's,holborn.marylambwasabridesmaidandcharleslambwaspresent.hetoldsoutheyinalettersomeyearsafter:"iwasathazlitt'smarriage,andhadliketohavebeenturnedoutseveraltimesduringtheceremony.anythingawfulmakesmelaugh."

theepisodeofnausicaa,towhichmarylambrefers,hadjustbeenrewrittenbycharleslambintheadventuresofulysses.]