Part 7 (1/2)

He perceived I was distress'd, and whisper'd me as I mounted my horse,--You see how it is, Molesworth; breeding women _must_ not be contradicted.--

_I do, I do_ see how it is, return'd I; and could not for my soul forbear saying, I shall rejoice to hear of a _delivery_.

This is the day when the important affairs of the m----y are to be settled; the papers will inform you; but can a man in love have any relish for politics?--Pray, divest yourself of that plague, when you attend the house.--I should drop to hear you say you espouse _this_ or _that_ cause, for the love of _Miss Warley_, instead of your _country_.

_Next Friday!_--Well, I long to see you after a dreadful, dreadful absence of _eight days_.--There is something confounded ridiculous in all this stuff; nor can I scarce credit that man should pine, fret, and make himself unhappy, because he is loosed from the ap.r.o.n-strings of his Phillida for a few days.--I see you shrug;--but my fate is not dependent on your prognostications.--Was it so, I know where I should be,--down amongst the _dead_ men;--down amongst the _dead_ men.--

However, I would consent to be rank'd in the number of Cupid's slain, could I be hit by just such a dart as pierc'd you.

Vulcan certainly has none ready made that will do, unless he sharpens the points of those which have already recoiled.

But hold; I must descend from the clouds, to regale myself on a fine turtle at the Duke of R----d's. What an _epicure!_ Talk of feasting my palate, when my eyes are to meet delicacies of a far more inviting nature!--There _was_ a time I should have been envy'd _such_ a repast:--_that_ time is fled;--_you_ are no longer a monopolizer of beauty;--can sing but of _one_,--talk but of _one_--dream but of _one_,--and, what is still more extraordinary, love but _one_.--

Give _me_ a heart at large;--such confin'd notions are not for

MOLESWORTH.

LETTER XV.

Lord DARCEY to the Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH.

_Barford Abbey_.

I envy not the greatest monarch on earth!--She is return'd with my peace;--my joy;--my very soul.--Had you seen her restorative smiles!

they spoke more than my pen can describe!--She bestow'd them on me, even before she ran to the arms of Sir James and Lady Powis.--Sweet condescension!--Her hand held out to meet mine, which, trembling, stopt half way.--What checks,--what restraint, did I inflict on myself!--Yes, that would have been the decisive moment, had I not perceiv'd the eyes of Argus planted _before, behind_, on _every side_ of Sir James.--G.o.d!

how he star'd.--I suppose my looks made some discovery.--Once more I must take thee up, uneasy dress of hypocrisy;--though it will be as hard to girt on, as the tight waistcoat on a lunatic.

Never has a day appear'd to me so long as _this_.--_Full_ of expectation, _full_ of impatience!--All stuff again.--No matter; it is not the groans of a sick man, that can convey his pain to another:--to feel greatly, you must have been afflicted with the same malady.

I suppose you would laugh to hear how often I have opened and shut the door;--how often look'd out at the window,--or the multiplicity of times examined my watch since ten this morning!--Needless would it likewise be to recount the impatient steps I have taken by the road-side, attentive to the false winds, which would frequently cheat me into a belief, that my heart's treasure was approaching.--Hark! I should say, that must be wheels;--stop and pause;--walk forwards;--stop again, till every sound have died upon my ear.

Harra.s.s'd by expectation, I saunter'd a back way to Jenkings's;--enquired of Mrs. Jenkings, what time she thought her husband might be home; and taking Edmund with me to my former walk, determined to sound _his_ inclinations.--I waved mentioning Miss Warley's name till we had gone near a quarter of a mile from the house; still expecting he would begin the subject, which at this juncture I suppose particularly engaged his attention; but perceiving he led to things quite opposite, I drew him out in the following manner.

So you really think, Edmund, your father will not be out after it is dark?

I have not known, my Lord, that he has for many years; rather than venture, I believe, he would stop the night at Oxford. Very composedly he said this, for I watched his looks narrowly.--

Edmund, confess, confess _frankly_, said I; has not _this_ day been the longest you ever knew?

The longest I ever knew! Faith your Lords.h.i.+p was never more out: far from thinking so, I am startled to find how fast the hours have flown; and want the addition of at least three, to answer letters which my father's business requires.

Business, _Edmund!_ and does _business_ really engross so much of your attention, when you know _who_ is expected in the evening? Ah! _Edmund_, you are a sly fellow: never tell me, you want to lengthen out the tedious hours of _absence_.

_Tedious hours of absence!_ Ho! ho! my Lord, I see _now_ what you are at; your Lords.h.i.+p can never suppose me _such_ a fool as to--