Part 12 (1/2)

You and I differ much, my Lord.--Your father left his estate enc.u.mbered; it is not yet clear; you are of age, my Lord: pray, spare yourself the trouble of consulting me, if you do not think of _fortune_.

Duty to the memory of my rever'd father, the affection and grat.i.tude I owe you, Sir James, calls for my obedience:--without _your_ sanction, Sir, never shall my hand be given.

He seem'd pleas'd: I saw tears starting to his eyes; but still he was resolv'd to distress me.

Look about you, my child; look about you, Darcey;--there's Lady Jane Marshly, Miss Beaden, or--and was going on.

Pardon me, Sir James, for interrupting you; but really, I cannot take any Lady on recommendation: I am very difficult, perhaps _perverse_ in this point; my first attachment must be merely accidental.

Ah! these are the notions that ruin half the young fellows of this age.--_Accidental likings_--_First love_,--and the devil knows what, runs away with half the old family estates.--Why, the least thing men ought to expect, even if they marry for _love_, is six-pence for a s.h.i.+lling.--Once for all, my Lord, I must tell you, your _interest_ is to be consulted before your _inclinations_.

_Don't_ be ruffled, Sir James; _don't_ let us talk warmly of a matter which perhaps is at a great distance.

I wish it may be at a _great distance_, my Lord.--_If what I conjecture is true_--Here he paus'd, and look'd so sternly, that I expected all would out.

What do you _conjecture_, Sir?--Yes, I ask'd him what.--

Your Lords.h.i.+p must excuse my answering that question. _I hope_ I am wrong;--_I hope_ such a thing never enter'd your thoughts:--if it has--and he mutter'd something I could not understand; only I heard distinctly the words _unlucky_,--_imprudent_,--_unforeseen_.--I knew enough of their meaning to silence me.--Shaking him by the hand, I said, Well, Sir James, if you please, we will drop this subject for the present.--On which the conversation ended.

What a deal of patience and philosophy am I master of, to be here at my pen, whilst two old men are sucking in the honey which I should lay up for a winter's store?--Like Time, nothing can stand before her:--she mows down all ages.--Even Morgan, that man who us'd to look on a fine woman with more indifference than a horse or dog,--is now new-moulded;--not one oath in the s.p.a.ce where I have known twenty escape him:--instead of following his dogs the whole morning, he is eternally with the ladies.

If he rides out with my angel, for he's determin'd, he says, to make her a complete horsewoman, I must not presume to give the least direction, or _even_ touch the bridle.

I honour him for the tender regard he shews her:--yes, I go further; _he_ and _Mr. Watson_ may _love_ her;--they do _love_ her, and glory in declaring it.--I _love_ them in return;--but they are the only two, of all the race of batchelors within my knowledge, that should make _such_ a declaration with impunity.

Let me see: I shall be in London Sat.u.r.day evening;--Sunday, no post;--Monday, _then_ I determine to write to Sir James;--Wednesday, I may have an answer;--_Thursday_,--who knows but _Thursday!_--nothing is impossible; who knows but _Thursday_ I may return to all my hopes?--How much I resemble a shuttlec.o.c.k! how am I thrown from side to side by hope and fear; now up, now down; no sooner mounted by one hand than lower'd by another!

This moment a gleam of comfort steals sweetly through my heart;--but it is gone even before I could bid it welcome.--Why so fast!--to what spot is it fled?--Can there be a wretch more in need, who calls louder for its charitable ray than

DARCEY.

LETTER XXII.

Miss WARLEY to Lady MARY SUTTON

_From Mr. Jenkings's_

Now, my dear Lady, the time is absolutely fix'd for our embarkation; the 22d, without fail.--Mr. Smith intends coming himself, to accompany me to London.--How very good and obliging this!--I shall say nothing of it to Lady Powis, till Lord Darcey is gone, which will be Sat.u.r.day:--_he_ may go to France, if he pleases, but not with _me_.--

When I received Mrs. Smith's letter, he was mighty curious to know who it was from:--I found him examining the seal, as it lay on the table in Mr. Jenkings's parlour.--Here is a letter for you, Miss Warley, a good deal confus'd.--So I see, my Lord: I suppose from Lady Mary Sutton.

I fancy not;--it does not appear to be directed in the same hand with that my servant brought you last from the post-office.--I broke the seal; it was easy to perceive the contents gave me pleasure.

There is something, Miss Warley, which gives you particular satisfaction.

You are right, my Lord, I never was better pleas'd.

Then it is from Lady Mary?