Part 1 (2/2)
_Mrs. Jenkings!_--never shall I forget her humanity. She flew to the chaise the instant it stopp'd, receiv'd me with open arms, and conducted me to the parlour, pouring out ten thousand welcomes, intermingled with fond embraces.--She is, I perceive, one of those worthy creatures, who make it a point to consider their husbands friends as their own; in my opinion, the highest mark of conjugal happiness.
Plac'd in a great chair next the fire, every one was busied in something or other for my refreshment.--One soul,--one voice,--one manner, to be seen in the father,--mother,--son:--they look not on each other but with a smile of secret satisfaction. _To me_ their hearts speak the same expressive language;--their house,--their dress,--their words, plainly elegant.--Envy never stops at such a dwelling;--nothing there is fit for her service:--no pomp,--no grandeur,--no ostentation.--I slept sweetly the whole night;--sweetly!--not one disagreeable idea intruded on my slumbers.
Coming down in the morning, I found breakfast on the table, linen white as snow, a large fire,--every thing that speaks cleanliness, content, and plenty.--The first thing in a house which attracts my notice is the fire;--I conclude from that, if the hearts of the inhabitants are warm or cold.--Our conversation was interesting;--it might have lasted, for aught I know, till dinner, had it not been interrupted by the entrance of Sir James and Lady Powis.--I knew Mr. Jenkings was their steward, but never expected they came to his house with such easy freedom.--We arose as they entered:--I was surprised to see Mr. and Mrs. Jenkings appear confused;--in my opinion, their visitors accosted them more like _equals_ than _dependants_.
Your Ladys.h.i.+p cannot imagine how greatly I was prepossessed in their favour even before they spoke.--In their manner was something that struck me excessively;--few--very few--can express the nameless beauties of grace,--never to be seen but in a carriage sweetly humble.
Lady Powis seated herself opposite to me.--We called, said she, addressing Mr. Jenkings, to inquire what was become of you, fearing your Oxfords.h.i.+re friends had stolen you from us;--but you have made up for your long absence, if this is the young lady, bowing to me, your wife told us was to return with you.--A politeness so unexpected,--so deliver'd,--visibly affected me:--I sat silent, listening for the reply Mr. Jenkings would make.
Pardon me, my Lady! pardon me, Miss Warley! said the good man,--I am a stranger to punctilio;--I see my error:--I should have acquainted your Ladys.h.i.+p before with the name of this dear young Lady; I should have said she is an honour to her friends.--Need I tell Miss Warley, Sir James and Lady Powis are present:--I hope the deportment of their _servant_ has confirmed it;--I hope it has.
Sir James kindly took his hand, and, turning to me, said, Don't believe him, Madam, he is not our servant;--he has been our _friend_ forty years; we flatter ourselves he deems not _that_ servitude.
Not your _servant!_--not your _dependant!_--not your _servant_, Sir James!--and was running on when her Ladys.h.i.+p interrupted him.
Don't make me angry, Jenkings;--don't pain me;--hear the favour I have to ask, and be my advocate:--it is with Miss Warley I want you to be my advocate.--Then addressing herself to me, Will you, Madam, give me the pleasure of your company often at the Abbey?--I mean, will you come there as if it was your home?--Mr. and Mrs. Jenkings have comforts, I have not,--at least that I can enjoy.--Here she sigh'd deeply;--so deep, that I declare it pierced through my heart;--I felt as if turn'd into stone;--what I suppose I was a true emblem of.--The silent friends that trickled down my cheeks brought me back from that inanimate state,--and I found myself in the embraces of Lady Powis, tenderly affectionate, as when in the arms of Mrs. Whitmore.--Judge not, Madam, said I, from my present stupidity, that I am so wanting in my head or heart, to be insensible of this undeserv'd goodness.--With Mr. and Mrs. Jenkings's permission, I am devoted to your Ladys.h.i.+p's service.--_Our_ approbation!
Miss Warley, return'd the former;--_yes, that_ you have:--her Ladys.h.i.+p cannot conceive how happy she has made us.--Sir James seconded his Lady with a warmth perfectly condescending:--no excuse would be taken; I must spend the next day at the Abbey; their coach was to attend me.
Our amiable guests did not move till summoned by the dinner-bell, which is plainly to be heard there.--I thought I should have shed tears to see them going.--I long'd to walk part of the way, but was afraid to propose it, lest I should appear presumptuous.--Her Ladys.h.i.+p perceiv'd my inclinations,--look'd delighted,--and requested my company; on which Mr.
Jenkings offer'd his service to escort me back.
How was I surpris'd at ascending the hill!--My feet seem'd leading me to the first garden--the sweet abode of innocence!--Ten thousand beauties broke on my sight;--ten thousand pleasures, before unknown, danced through my heart.--Behold me on the summit;--behold me full of surprise,--full of admiration!--How enchanting the park! how clear the river that winds through it!--What taste,--what elegance, in the plantations!--How charmingly are Nature's beauties rang'd by art!--The trees,--the shrubs,--the flowers,--hold up their heads, as if proud of the spot they grow on!--Then the n.o.ble old structure,--the magnificent mansion of this ancient family, how does it fire the beholder with veneration and delight! The very walls seem'd to speak; at least there was something that inform'd _me_, native dignity, and virtues hereditary, dwelt within them.
The sight of a chaise and four, standing at the entrance, hurried me from the charming pair of this paradise, after many good days ecchoed to me, and thanks respectful return'd them by the same messenger.
Mr. Jenkings, in our return, entertain'd me with an account of the family for a century past. A few foibles excepted in the character of Sir James, I find he possesses all the good qualities of his ancestors.
Nothing could be more pleasing than the encomiums bestow'd on Lady Powis; but she is not exempt from trouble: the _good_ and the _bad_ the _great_ and the _little_, at some time or other, feel Misfortune's touch. Happy such a rod hangs over us! Were we to glide on smoothly, our affections would be fixed here, and here only.
I could love Lady Powis with a warmth not to be express'd;--but--forgive me, my dear lady--I pine to know why _your_ intimacy was interrupted.--Of _Lady Mary's_ steadiness and integrity I am convinc'd;--of _Lady Powis_ I have had only a transitory view.--Heaven forbid she should be like such people as from my heart I despise, whose regards are agueis.h.!.+ Appearances promise the reverse;--but what is appearance? For the generality a mere cheat, a gaudy curtain.
Pardon me, dear Lady Powis--I am distress'd,--I am perplex'd; but I do not think ill of you;--indeed I cannot,--unless I find--_No_, I cannot find it neither;--something tells me _Lady Mary_, my dear honour'd Lady Mary, will acquit you.
We were receiv'd by Mrs. Jenkings, at our return, with a chearful countenance, and conducted to the dining-parlour, where, during our comfortable, meal, nothing was talk'd of but Sir James and Lady Powis:--the kind notice taken of your f.a.n.n.y mentioned with transport.
Thus honour'd,--thus belov'd,--dare I repine?--Why look on past enjoyments with such a wistful eye!--Mrs. Whitmore, my dear maternal Mrs. Whitmore, cannot be recall'd!--Strange perversenss!--why let that which would give me pleasure fleet away!--why pursue that which I cannot overtake!--No grat.i.tude to heaven!--Grat.i.tude to you, my dearest Lady, shall conquer this perverseness;--even now my heart overflows like a swoln river.
Good night, good night, dear Madam; I am going to repose on the very bed where, for many years, rested the most deserving of men!--The housekeeper has been relating many of his virtues;--so many, that I long to see him, _though only in a dream_.
Was it not before Mr. Powis went abroad, that your ladys.h.i.+p visited at the Abbey?--Yet, if so, I think I should have heard you mention him.--Merit like his could never pa.s.s unnotic'd in a breast so similar--Here I drop my pen, lest I grow impertinent.--Once again, good night,--my more than parent:--to-morrow, at an early hour, I will begin the recital to your Ladys.h.i.+p of this day's transactions--I go to implore every blessing on your head, the only return that can be offer'd by
F. WARLEY.
LETTER III.
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