Volume V Part 51 (2/2)
Might she be a.s.sured, she asked him, that her brother, with Singleton and Solmes, were actually in quest of her?
* Vol. IV. Letter XLIV.
He averred that they were.
She asked, if he thought I had hopes of prevailing on her to go back to town?
He was sure I had not.
Was he really of opinion that Lady Betty would pay her a visit?
He had no doubt of it.
But, Sir; but, Captain Tomlinson--[impatiently turning from him, and again to him] I know not what to do--but were I your daughter, Sir--were you my own father--Alas! Sir, I have neither father nor mother!
He turned from her and wiped his eyes.
O Sir! you have humanity! [She wept too.] There are some men in the world, thank Heaven, that can be moved. O Sir, I have met with hard- hearted men--in my own family too--or I could not have been so unhappy as I am--but I make every body unhappy!
His eyes no doubt ran over.--
Dearest Madam! Heavenly Lady!--Who can--who can--hesitated and blubbered the dog, as he owned. And indeed I heard some part of what pa.s.sed, though they both talked lower than I wished; for, from the nature of their conversation, there was no room for alt.i.tudes.
THEM, and BOTH, and THEY!--How it goes against me to include this angel of a creature, and any man on earth but myself, in one world!
Capt. Who can forbear being affected?--But, Madam, you can be no other man's.
Cl. Nor would I be. But he is so sunk with me!--To fire the house!--An artifice so vile!--contrived for the worst of purposes!--Would you have a daughter of your's--But what would I say?--Yet you see that I have n.o.body in whom I can confide!--Mr. Lovelace is a vindictive man!--He could not love the creature whom he could insult as he has insulted me!
She paused. And then resuming--in short, I never, never can forgive him, nor he me.--Do you think, Sir, I never would have gone so far as I have gone, if I had intended ever to draw with him in one yoke?--I left behind me such a letter--
You know, Madam, he has acknowledged the justice of your resentment--
O Sir, he can acknowledge, and he can retract, fifty times a day--but do not think I am trifling with myself and you, and want to be persuaded to forgive him, and to be his. There is not a creature of my s.e.x, who would have been more explicit, and more frank, than I would have been, from the moment I intended to be his, had I a heart like my own to deal with. I was always above reserve, Sir, I will presume to say, where I had no cause of doubt. Mr. Lovelace's conduct has made me appear, perhaps, over-nice, when my heart wanted to be encouraged and a.s.sured! and when, if it had been so, my whole behaviour would have been governed by it.
She stopt; her handkerchief at her eyes.
I inquired after the minutest part of her behaviour, as well as after her words. I love, thou knowest, to trace human nature, and more particularly female nature, through its most secret recesses.
The pitiful fellow was lost in silent admiration of her. And thus the n.o.ble creature proceeded.
It is the fate in unequal unions, that tolerable creatures, through them, frequently incur censure, when more happily yoked they might be ent.i.tled to praise. And shall I not shun a union with a man, that might lead into errors a creature who flatters herself that she is blest with an inclination to be good; and who wishes to make every one happy with whom she has any connection, even to her very servants?
She paused, taking a turn about the room--the fellow, devil fetch him, a mummy all the time:--Then proceeded.
Formerly, indeed, I hoped to be an humble mean of reforming him. But, when I have no such hope, is it right [you are a serious man, Sir] to make a venture that shall endanger my own morals?
Still silent was the varlet. If my advocate had nothing to say for me, what hope of carrying my cause?
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