A few passages taken from Miss J.'s Diary at this time are interesting as displaying the intimate friendship that at this period existed between her and the Duke. On the 6th of September she writes:—
"I have been here (in London,) nearly a fortnight, yet have seen the Duke only twice, but receive letters daily,—and last night a particularly kind one. I have been expecting him, but he comes not, being so occupied with his Parliamentary business. What can I say to such things but this,—'Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?' and, 'Has HE not a right to do what HE will with His own?'
"September 10th. I wrote to the Duke to-day and hope the Lord will permit him to receive and answer it kindly. The Subject on which I addressed him was on Christ becoming sin for us and bearing the wrath of the Father. O Lord, I pray Thee, have mercy upon his precious soul!
"September 14th. I shall have been here three weeks to morrow, during which I have seen the Duke four times, and will just allude to the subjects introduced during each visit.
"The first brought with it remarks on true Nobility, obliging me to declare it is to be found only in Christ and His Righteousness in man. I mentioned what St. Paul said when contrasting the Bereans with the Thessalonians, namely, 'These were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the Scriptures daily, whether these things were so.'
"During the second visit, I read to him the 49th Psalm and particularly called his attention to the last verse thereof thus written—'Man that is in honour and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish,' reminding him they were God's Words.
"During his third visit I told him I should like to be hated of all men for Christ's sake! and during his fourth and last that he did not believe Christ to be The Son of God! since which I have written to him daily and the first reply I receive is one calculated to produce another check to my feelings, all of which I give up entirely to the Lord, imploring Him to govern and actuate them just as HE sees His own honor and glory require, causing me to make nothing a consideration in comparison therewith."
One can hardly imagine the Iron Duke, the conqueror of Napoleon, the representative of the nation in foreign councils, the ex-Prime Minister, the man upon whom his country delighted to heap honors, hearkening meekly to these homilies from pretty lips upon what constituted true nobility. It is impossible to believe that his secret feelings were not those of amusement, however respectful his outward semblance. Nor is there much room for question as to whether he would have listened with as commendable patience had his lecturer been a man or a plain-faced woman advanced in years.
CHAPTER V.