Part 15 (2/2)
She says if I go, it will, end in the destruction of us all.--What can she mean by an _important event?_--Perhaps Lord Darcey--but no matter; nothing, my dear Lady, shall with-hold me from you.--The good woman is now more calm. I have a.s.sured her it is uncertain how long we may be in London: it is only that has calm'd her.--She says, she is _certain_ I shall return;--she is _certain_, when Mr. Powis and his Lady arrives, _I must_ return.--Next Thursday they are expected:--already are they arrived at Falmouth:--but, notwithstanding what I have told Mrs.
Jenkings, to soften her pains at parting, I shall by Thursday be on my voyage;--for Mr. Smith tells me the Packet will sail immediately.--Perhaps I may be the messenger of my own letters:--but I am determin'd to write on 'till I see you;--that when I look them over, my memory may receive some a.s.sistance.--Good night, my dearest Lady; Mrs. Jenkings and Mr. Smith expects me.
F. Warley.
LETTER XXVI.
Lord DARCEY to Sir JAMES POWIS.
London.
Even whilst I write, I see before me the image of my expiring father;--I hear the words that issued from his death-like lips;--my soul feels the weight of his injunctions;--_again_ in my imagination I seal the sacred promise on his livid hand;--and my heart bows before Sir James with all that duty which is indispensable from a child to a parent.
Happiness is within my reach, yet without _your_ sanction I _will_ not, _dare_ not, bid it welcome;--I _will_ not hold out my hand to receive _it_.--Yes, Sir, I love Miss Warley; I can no longer disguise my sentiments.--On the terrace I should not have disguis'd them, if your warmth had not made me tremble for the consequence.--You remember my arguments _then_; suffer me now to reurge _them_.
I allow it would be convenient to have my fortune augmented by alliance; but then it is not _absolutely_ necessary I should make the purchase with my felicity.--A thousand chances may put me in possession of riches;--one event only can put me in possession of content.--Without _it_, what is a fine equipage?--what a splendid retinue?--what a table spread with variety of dishes?
Judge for me, Sir James; _you_ who _know_, who _love_ Miss Warley, judge for me.--Is it possible for a man of my turn to see her, to talk with her, to know her thousand _virtues_, and not wish to be united to them?--It is to your candour I appeal.--_Say_ I _am_ to be happy, _say_ it only in one line, I come immediately to the Abbey, full of reverence, of esteem, of grat.i.tude.
Think, dear Sir James, of Lady Powis;--think of the satisfaction you hourly enjoy with that charming woman; then will you complete the felicity of
DARCEY.
LETTER XXVII.
Sir JAMES POWIS to Lord DARCEY.
_Barford Abbey_.
I am not much surpris'd at the contents of your Lords.h.i.+p's letter, it is _what_ Lady Powis and I have long conjectur'd; yet I must tell, you, my Lord, notwithstanding Miss Warley's great merit, I should have been much better pleas'd to have found myself mistaken.
I claim no right to controul your inclinations: the strict observance you pay your father's last request, tempts me to give my opinion very opposite to what I should otherwise have done.--Duty like yours ought to be rewarded.--If you will content yourself with an inc.u.mber'd estate rather than a clear one, why--why--why--faith you shall not have my approbation 'till you come to the Abbey. Should you see the little bewitching Gipsy before I talk with you, who knows but you may be wise enough to make a larger jointure than you can afford?
I am glad your Lords.h.i.+p push'd the matter no farther on the terrace: I did not then know how well I lov'd our dear girl.--My wife is _so_ pleas'd,--_so_ happy,--_so_ overjoy'd,--at what she calls your n.o.ble disinterested regard for her f.a.n.n.y, that one would think she had quite forgot the value of _money_.--I expect my son to-morrow.--Let me have the happiness of embracing you at the same time;--you are both my children, &c. &c.:
J. Powis.
LETTER XXVIII.
Lord DARCEY to the Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH.
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