CHAP. VI.] PBOKHAM SCHOOL AND GRUB STREET.
fell out as desired; tlie letter was seized, read, and secreted 1757.
by its supposed owner; and though nothing was said of its 3ft. 29.
contents to anybody, the fact of something having happened
as plainly revealed itself in William's increased air of
importance, as formerly was shadowed forth, in the silent
excitement which Mr. Bickerstaffe observed in his servant-
maid, the fact afterwards discovered of her having put
011 a new pair of garters. Nevertheless, for the rest of the
clay, Goldsmith let the potion work which was to effect the
cure ; and not till night did he disturb it by the startling
question, addressed to the servant-man on his walking into
the kitchen, " So, William, you have had a letter from York-
" shire ? Well, what does she say to you ? Come, now,
" tell me all about it." William recovered his surprise, con-
fessed the letter, but would say nothing more. "Yes,"
nodding his head; " but I shall not tell you, Mr. Goldsmith,
"anything about it; no, no, that will never do." "What,
"nothing?" No. "Not if she says she'll marry you?"
No. " Not if she has married anybody else ? " No. " Well
" then," says Goldsmith, " suppose, William, I tell you
"what the contents of the letter are. Come," he added,
looking at a newspaper he held in his hand,." I will read you
" your letter just as I find it here;" and he read it accord-
ingly, word for word, to his amazed listener, who at last cried
out very angrily, " You use rne very ill, Mr. Goldsmith ! you
" have opened my letter." The sequel was a full explanation
by the good-natured usher, and such kindly advice not in
future to expect any letter more real than that which had
been written to cure him of his folly, that, according to
Miss Milner, "poor William was then induced to believe
" it the wisest way."
This anecdote sufficiently implies that poor William had.