That Lady Austen's behaviour to Mrs.Unwin was in the highest degree affectionate, Cowper has himself assured us.

Whatever the cause may have been, this bird of paradise, having alighted for a moment in Olney, took wing and was seen no more.
Her place, as a companion, was supplied, and more than supplied, by Lady Hesketh, like her a woman of the world, and almost as bright and vivacious, but with more sense and stability of character, and who, moreover, could be treated as a sister without any danger of, misunderstanding.

The renewal of the intercourse between Cowper and the merry and affectionate play-fellow of his early days, had been one of the best fruits borne to him by _The Task_, or perhaps we should rather say by _John Gilpin_, for on reading that ballad she first became aware that her cousin had emerged from the dark seclusion of his truly Christian happiness, and might again be capable of intercourse with her sunny nature.

Full of real happiness for Cowper were her visits to Olney; the announcement of her coming threw him into a trepidation of delight.

And how was this new rival received by Mrs.
Unwin.