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Love and Friendship · Love and Friendship

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Letter, the first from Isabel to Laura. How often, in answer to
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my repeated entreaties that you would give my daughter a regular detail of the misfortunes
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and adventures of your life, have you said no, my friend, Never
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will I comply with your request till I may be no longer in danger of
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again experiencing such dreadful ones. Surely that time is now at hand. You
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are this day fifty five. If a woman may ever be said to be
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in safety from the determined perseverance of disagreeable lovers and the cruel persecutions of obstinate
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fathers, surely it must be at such a time of life. Isabel letter.
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Second Laura to Isabel. Although I cannot agree with you in supposing that
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I shall never again be exposed to misfortunes as unmerited as those I have already
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experienced, yet to avoid the imputation of obstinacy or ill nature, I will
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gratify the curiosity of your daughter, and may the fortitude with which I have
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suffered the many afflictions of my past life proved to her a useful lesson for
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the support of those which may befall her in her own. Laura Letter,
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third Laura to Mary Anne. As the daughter of my most intimate friend,
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I think you entitled to that knowledge of my unhappy story which your mother has
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so often solicited me to give you. My father was a native of Ireland
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and an inhabitant of Wales. My mother was the natural daughter of a Scotch
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peer by an Italian opera girl. I was born in Spain and received my
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education at a convent in France. When I had reached my eighteenth year,
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I was recalled by my parents to my paternal roof in Wales. Our mansion
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was situated in one of the most romantic parts of the Veil of Usk.
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Though my charms are now considerably softened and somewhat impaired by the misfortunes I have
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undergone, I was once beautiful, but lovely as I was, the graces
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of my person were the least of my perfections, of every accomplishment accustomary to
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my sex, I was mistress when in the convent my progress had always exceeded
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my instructions. My acquirements had been wonderful for my age, and I had
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shortly surpassed my master's. In my mind. Every virtue that could adorn it
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was centered. It was the rendezvous of every good quality, and of every
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noble sentiment, a sensibility too tremblingly alive. To every affliction of my friends
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my acquaintance, and particularly to every affliction of my own, was my only
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fault. If a fault, it could be called alas how altered now though
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indeed my own misfortunes do not make less impression on me than they ever did.
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Yet now I never feel for those of another. My accomplishments too begin
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to fade. I can neither sing so well nor dance so gracefully as I
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once did, And I have entirely forgotten the minuet de la cour adieu.
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Laura, letter forth, Laura to Mary Anne. Our neighborhood was small,
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for it consisted only of your mother. She may probably have already told you
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that, being left by her parents in indigenous circumstances, she had retired into
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Wales on economical motives. There it was our friendship first commenced. Isabel was
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then one and twenty. Though pleasing both in her person and manners between ourselves,
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she never possessed the hundredth part of my beauty or accomplishments. Isabel had
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seen the world. She had passed two years at one of the first boarding
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schools in London, had spent a fortnight in Bath, and had supped one
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night in Southampton. Beware, my Laura, she would often say, Beware
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of the insipid vanities and idle dissipations of the metropolis of England. Beware of
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the unmeaning luxuries of Bath, and of the stinking fish of Southampton. Alas
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exclaimed, I, how am I to avoid those evils? I shall never
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be exposed to What probability is there of my ever tasting the dissipations of London,
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the luxuries of Bath, or the stinking fish of Southampton. I who
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am doomed to waste my days of youth and beauty in a humble cottage in
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the Vale of usk Ah. Little did I then think I was ordained so
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soon to quit that humble cottage for the deceitful pleasures of the world. Adieu,
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Laura. Letter fifth Laura to Mary Anne. One evening in December,
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as my father, my mother and myself were arranged in social converse round our
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fireside, we were on a sudden greatly astonished by hearing a violent knocking on
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the outward door of our rustic cot. My father started, What noise is
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that? Said he? It sounds like a loud rapping at the door,
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replied my mother. It does, indeed, cried I. I am of
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your opinion, said my father. It certainly does appear to proceed from some
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uncommon violence exerted against our unoffending door. Yes, exclaimed I. I cannot
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help thinking it must be somebody who knocks for admittance. That is another point,
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replied he. We must not pretend to determine on what motive the person
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may knock, though, that some one does rap at the door, I
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am partly convinced. Here A second tremendous rap, interrupted my father in his
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speech, and somewhat alarmed my mother and me. Had we better not go
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and see who it is? Said she? The servants are out, I
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think we had, replied I certainly, added my father. By all means,
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shall we go now, said my mother. The sooner the better,
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answered he. Oh, let no time be lost, cried I. A
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third, more violent rap than ever again assaulted our ears. I am certain
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there is somebody knocking at the door, said my mother. I think there
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must, replied my father. I fancy the servants are returned, said I
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I think I hear Mary going to the door. I am glad of it,
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cried my father, for I long to know who it is. I
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was right in my conjecture, for Mary, instantly entering the room, informed
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us that a young gentleman and his servant were at the door, who had
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lost their way, were very cold, and begged leave to warm themselves by
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our fire. Won't you admit them? Said I. You have no objection,
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my dear, said my father. None in the world, replied my
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mother. Mary, without waiting for any further commands, immediately left the room
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and quickly returned, introducing the most beauteous and amiable youth I had ever beheld.
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The servant, she kept to herself. My natural sensibility had already been
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greatly affected by the sufferings of the unfortunate stranger, and no sooner did I
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first behold him than I felt that on him the happiness or misery of my
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future life must depend. Adieu Laura, Letter sixth Laura to Mary Anne.
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The noble youth informed us that his name was Lindsey. For particular reasons.
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However, I shall conceal it under that of Talbot. He told us,
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that he was the son of an English baronet, that his mother had been
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for many years no more, and that he had a sister of the middle
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size. My father, he continued, is a mean and mercenary wretch.
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It is only to such particular friends as this dear party, that I would
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thus betray his failings, your virtues, my amiable Polydor, addressing himself to
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my father, yours, dear Claudia, and yours, my charming Laura,
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call on me to repose in you my confidence. We bowed. My father,
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seduced by the false glare of fortune and the deluding pomp of title,
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insisted on my giving my hand to Lady Dorothea. No, never exclaimed I.
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Lady Dorothea is lovely and engaging. I prefer no woman to her.
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But know sir, that I scorn to marry her in compliance with your wishes.
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No, never shall it be said that I obliged my father. We
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all admired the noble manliness of his reply, he continued, Sir Edward was
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surprised he had perhaps little expected to meet with so spirited an opposition to his
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will. Where Edward, in the name of Wonder, said he did you
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pick up this unmeaning Gibberish, who have been studying novels I suspect, I
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scorned to answer, it would have been beneath my dignity. I mounted my
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horse, and, followed by my faithful William, set forth for my aunt's.
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My father's house is situated in Bedfordshire, my aunt's in Middlesex. And
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though I flatter myself with being a tolerable proficient in geography, I know not
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how it happened. But I found myself entering this beautiful vale, which I
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find as in South Wales, when I had expected to have reached my aunt's,
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After having wandered some time on the banks of the usk, without knowing
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which way to go, I began to lament my cruel destiny in the bitterest
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and most pathetic manner. It was now perfectly dark. Not a single star
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was there to direct my steps, and I know not what might have befallen
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me had I not at length discerned, through the solemn gloom that surrounded me,
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a distant light, which, as I approached it, I discovered to
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be the cheerful blaze of your fire, impelled by the combination of misfortunes under
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which I labored, namely fear, cold and hunger. I hesitated not to
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ask admittance, which at length I have gained. And now my adorable Laura
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continued, he taking my hand. When may I hope to receive that reward
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of all the painful sufferings I have undergone during the course of my attachment to
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you, to which I have ever aspired? Oh? When will you reward
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me with yourself? This instant, dear and amiable Edward replied I. We
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were immediately united by my father, who, though he had never taken orders,
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had been bred to the church. Adieu, Lura, letter seventh do
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to Mary Anne. We remained but a few days after our marriage in the
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Vale of Usk. After taking an affecting farewell of my father, my mother
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and my Isabel, I accompanied Edward to his aunt's in Middlesex. Philippa received
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us both with every expression of affectionate love. My arrival was indeed a most
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agreeable surprise to her, as she had not only been totally ignorant of my
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marriage with her nephew, but had never even had the slightest idea of there
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being such a person in the world. Augusta, the sister of Edward,
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was on a visit to her. When we arrived, I found her exactly
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what her brother had described her to be, of the middle size. She
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received me with equal surprise, though not with equal cordiality as Philippa. There
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was a disagreeable coldness and forbidding reserve in her reception of me, which was
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equally distressing and unexpected. None of that interesting sensibility or amiable sympathy in her
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manners and addressed to me when we first met, which should have distinguished our
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introduction to each other. Her language was neither warm nor affectionate. Her expressions
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of regard were neither animated nor cordial. Her arms were not opened to receive
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me to her heart, though my own were extended to press her to mine.
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A short conversation between Augusta and her brother, which I accidentally overheard,
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increased my dislike to her, and convinced me that her heart was no more
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formed for the soft ties of love than for the endearing intercourse of friendship.
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But do you think that my father will ever be reconciled to this imprudent connection,
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said Augusta. Augusta replied, the noble youth, I thought you had
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a better opinion of me than to imagine I would so abjectly degrade myself as
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to consider my father's concurrence in any of my affairs, either of consequence or
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concern to me. Tell me, Augusta, with sincere did you ever know
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me to consult his inclinations or follow his advice in the least trifling particular since
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the age of fifteen? Edward replied she. You are surely too diffident in
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your own praise, since you are fifteen, Only my dear brother, since
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you were five years old, I entirely acquit you of ever having willingly contributed
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to the satisfaction of your father. But still I am not without apprehensions of
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your being shortly obliged to degrade yourself in your own eyes by seeking a support
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for your wife in the generosity of Sir Edward. Never, never, Augusta,
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will I so demean myself, said Edward. Support What support will Laura
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want which she can receive from him? Only those very insignificant ones are Victuals
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and Drink, answered she. Victuals and drink, replied my husband in a
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most nobly contemptuous manner. And dost thou then imagine that there is no other
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support taught for an exalted mind such as is my Laura's than the mean and
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indelicate employment of eating and drinking, None that I know of so efficacious,
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returned Augusta. And did you then never feel the pleasing pangs of love?
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Augusta replied my Edward. Does it appear impossible to your vile and corrupted Pallette
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to exist on love? Can you not conceive the luxury of living in every
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distress that poverty can inflict with the object of your tenderest affection. You are
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too ridiculous, said Augusta to argue with Perhaps, however, you may in
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time be convinced that Here I was prevented from hearing the remainder of her speech
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by the appearance of a very handsome young woman who was ushered into the room
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at the door of which I had been listening. On hearing her announced by
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the name of Lady Dorothea, I instantly quitted my post and followed her into
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the parlor, for I well remember that she was the lady proposed as a
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wife for my Edward by the cruel and unrelenting Baronet. Although Lady Dorothea's visit
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was nominally to Philippa and Augusta. Yet I have some reason to imagine that
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acquainted with the marriage and arrival of Edward to see me was a principal motive
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to it. I soon perceived that, though lovely and elegant in her person,
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and though easy and polite in her address, she was of that inferior
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order of beings with regard to delicate feeling, tender sentiments, and refined sensibility,
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of which Augusta was one. She stayed but half an hour, and
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neither, in the course of her visit, confided to me any of her
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secret thoughts, nor requested me to confide in her any of mine. You
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will easily imagine, therefore, my dear mary Anne, that I could not
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feel any ardent affection or very sincere attachment for Lady Dorothea. Adieu Laura,
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Letter eight Laura to mary Anne. In continuation, Lady Dorothea had not left
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us long before another visitor, as unexpected a one as her ladyship was announced.
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It was Sir Edward, who, informed by Augusta of her brother's marriage,
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came doubtless to reproach him for having dared to unite himself to me without
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his knowledge but Edward, for seeing his design, approached him with heroic fortitude
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as soon as he entered the room, and addressed him in the following manner,
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Sir Edward, I know the motive of your journey. Here you come
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with the base design of reproaching me for having entered into a dissoluble engagement with
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my Laura without your consent. But Sir, I glory in the act.
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It is my greatest boast that I have incurred the displeasure of my father.
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So saying, he took my hand, and whilst Sir Edward, Philippa and
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Augusta were doubtless reflecting with admiration on his undaunted brave led me from the parlor
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to his father's carriage, which yet remained at the door, and in which
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we were instantly conveyed from the pursuit of Sir Edward. The Postilions had at
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first received orders only to take the London road. As soon as we had
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sufficiently reflected, however, we ordered them to drive to Mum, the seat
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of Edward's most particular friend, which was but a few miles distant. Ad
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Mum we arrived in a few hours, and, on sending in our names
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were immediately admitted to Sophia, the wife of Edward's friend, after having been
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deprived during the course of three weeks of a real friend. For such I
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term your mother, imagine my transports had beholding one most truly worthy of the
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name. Sophia was rather above the middle size, most elegantly formed a soft
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languor spread over her lovely features, but increased their beauty. It was the
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characteristic of her mind. She was all sensibility and feeling. We flew into
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each other's arms, and, after having exchanged vows of mutual friendship for the
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rest of our lives, instantly unfolded to each other the most inward secrets of
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our hearts. We were interrupted in the delightful employment by the entrance of Augustus,
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Edward's friend, who was just returned from a solitary ramble. Never did
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I see such an affecting scene as was the meeting of Edward and Augustus.
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My life, my soul, exclaimed the former, My adorable angel, replied
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the latter, as they flew into each other's arms. It was too pathetic
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for the feelings of Sophia and myself. We fainted alternately on a sofa Adieu
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Laura. Letter the ninth from the same to the same. Towards the close
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of day, we received the following letter from Philippa. Sir Edward is greatly
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incensed by your abrupt departure. He has taken back Augusta to Bedfordshire. Much
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as I wish to enjoy again your charming society, I cannot determine to snatch
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you from that of such dear and deserving friends. When your visit to them
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is terminated, I trust you will return to the arms of your Philippa.
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We returned a suitable answer to this affectionate note, and, after thanking her
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for her kind invitation, assured her that we would certainly avail ourselves of it
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whenever we might have no other place to go to. Though certainly nothing could
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to any reasonable being have appeared more satisfactory than so grateful a reply to her
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invitation. Yet I know not how it was, but she was certainly capricious
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enough to be displeased with our behavior, and in a few weeks after,
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either to revenge our conduct or relieve her own solitude, married a young and
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illiterate fortune hunter. This imprudent step, though we were sensible that it would
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be probably deprive us of that fortune which Philippa had ever taught us to expect,
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could not, on our own accounts, excite from our exalted minds a
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single sigh, Yet fearful lest it might prove a source of endless misery to
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the deluded bride, Our trembling sensibility was greatly affected when we were first informed
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of the event. The affectionate entreaties of Augustus and Sophia that we would forever
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consider their house as our home easily prevailed on us to determine never more to
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leave them. In the society of my Edward and this amiable pair I passed
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the happiest moments of my life. Our time was most delightfully spent in mutual
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protestations of friendship and in vows of unalterable love, in which we were secure
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from being interrupted by intruding and disagreeable visitors. As Augustus and Sophia had,
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on their first entrance in the neighborhood, taken due care to inform the surrounding
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families that, as their happiness centered wholly in themselves, they wished for no
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other society but alas my dear Marianne such happiness, as I then enjoyed,
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was too perfect to be lasting. A most severe and unexpected blow at once
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destroyed every sensation of pleasure. Convinced, as you must be from what I
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have already told you concerning Augustus and Sophia, that there never were a happier
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couple, I need not, I imagine, inform you that their union had
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been contrary to the inclinations of their cruel and mercenary parents, who had vainly
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endeavored, with obstinate perseverance, to force them into a marriage with those whom
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they had ever abhorred. But with a heroic fortitude worthy to be related and
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admired, they had both constantly refused to submit to such despotic power. After
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having so nobly disentangled themselves from the shackles of parental authority by a clandestine marriage,
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they were determined never to forfeit the good opinion they had gained in the
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world in so doing, by accepting any proposals of reconciliation that might be offered
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them by their fathers. To this further trial of their noble independence. However,
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they were never exposed. They had been married but a few months when
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our visit to them commenced, during which time they had been amply supported by
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a considerable sum of money which Augustus had gracefully purloined from his unworthy father's escritoire.
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A few days before his union with Sofia. By our arrival, their
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expenses were considerably increased, though their means for supplying them were then nearly exhausted.
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But they exalted creatures scorned to reflect a moment on their pecuniary distresses,
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and would have blushed at the idea of paying their debts. Alas what was
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their reward for such disinterested behavior. The beautiful Augustus was arrested, and we
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were all undone such perfidious treachery in the merciless perpetrators of the deed. Will
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she shock your gentle nature, dearest Mary Anne, as much as it then
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affected the delicate sensibility of Edward Sophia, your Laura, and of Augustus himself.
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To complete such unparalleled barbarity, we were informed that an execution in the
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house would shortly take place. Ah, what can we do? But what
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we did? We sighed and fainted on the sofa, Adieu Laura, Letter
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ten Laura In continuation, when we were somewhat recovered from the overpowering effusions of
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our grief. Edward desired that we would consider what was the most prudent step
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to be taken in our unhappy situation, while he repaired to his imprisoned friend
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to lament over his misfortunes. We promised that we would, and he set
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forwards on his journey to town. During his absence, we faithfully complied with
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his desire, and, after the most mature deliberation, at length agreed that
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the best thing we could do was to leave the house of which we every
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moment expected the office of Justice to take possession. We waited, therefore,
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with the greatest impatience for the return of Edward, in order to impart to
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him the result of our deliberations. But no Edward appeared in vain. Did
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we count the tedious moments of his absence in vain? Did we weep in
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vain? Even did we sigh? No Edward returned. This was too cruel,
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too unexpected, a blow to our gentle sensibility. We could not support
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it. We could only faint at length, collecting all the resolution I was
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mistress of, I arose and after packing up some necessary apparel for Sophia and
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myself. I dragged her to a carriage I had ordered, and we instantly
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set out for London. As the habitation of Augustus was within twelve miles of
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town. It was not long ere we arrived there, and no sooner had
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we entered Hoburn than letting down one of the front glasses. I inquired of
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every decent looking person that we passed if they had seen my Edward. But
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as we drove too rapidly to allow them to answer my repeated inquiries, I
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gained little, or indeed no information concerning him. Where am I to drive,
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said the postilion, to Newgate? Gentle youth, replied, I to
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see Augustus. Oh no, no, exclaimed Sophia. I cannot go to
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Newgate. I shall not be able to support the sight of my Augustus in
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so cruel a confinement. My feelings are sufficiently shocked by the recital of his
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distress, but to behold it will overpower my sensibility. As I perfectly agreed
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with her in the justice of her sentiments, the postilion was instantly directed to
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return into the country. You may perhaps have been somewhat surprised my dearest mari
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Anne, that in the distress I then endured, destitute of any support,
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an unprovided with any habitation, I should never once have remembered my father and
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mother, or my paternal cottage in the Veil of Usk. To account for
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this seeming forgetfulness, I must inform you of a trifling circumstance concerning them,
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which I have as yet never mentioned. The death of my parents a few
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weeks after my departure is the circumstance I allude to. By their decease,
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I became the lawful inheritress of their house and fortune, but alas the house
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had never been their own, and their fortune had only been an annuity on
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their own lives. Such is the depravity of the world to your mother.
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I should have returned with pleasure, should have been happy to have introduced to
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her my charming Sophia, and should with cheerfulness have passed the remainder of my
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life in their dear society in the Veil of Usk had not one obstacle to
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the execution of so agreeable a scheme intervened, which was the marriage and removal
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of your mother to a distant part of Ice. Adieu, Laura, end
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of Part one, Part two, Letter eleventh Laura in continuation, I have
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a relation in Scotland, said Sofia to me as we left London, who
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I am certain would not hesitate in receiving me. Shall I order the boy
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to drive there? Said I, but instantly recollecting myself, exclaimed, alas
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I fear it will be too long a journey for the horses. Unwilling,
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however, to act only for my own inadequate knowledge of the strengths and abilities
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of horses, I consulted the postilion, who was entirely of my opinion concerning
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the affair. We therefore determined to change horses at the next town and to
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travel post to the remainder of the journey. When we arrived at the last
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inn we were to stop at, which was but a few miles from the
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house of Sofia's relation. Unwilling to intrude our society on him unexpected and una
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thought of, we wrote a very elegant and well penned note to him,
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containing an account of our destitute and melancholy situation, and of our intention to
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spend some months with him in Scotland. As soon as we had dispatched this
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letter. We immediately prepared to follow it in person, and was stepping into
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the carriage for that purpose when our attention was attracted by the entrance of a
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coroneted coach and four into the inn yard. A gentleman considerably advanced in years,
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descended from it. At his first appearance, my sensibility was wonderfully affected,
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and ere I had gazed at him a second time, an instinctive sympathy
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whispered to my heart that he was my grandfather. Convinced that I could not
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be mistaken in my conjecture, I instantly sprang from the carriage I had just
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entered, and following the venerable stranger into the room he had been shown to,
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I threw myself on my knees before him and besought him to acknowledge me
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as his grandchild. He started, and, having attentively examined my features,
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raised me from the ground, and, throwing his grandfatherly arms around my neck,
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exclaimed acknowledge thee yes dear resemblance of my Loreena and Lorena's daughter, sweet
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image of my Claudia and my Claudia's mother. I do acknowledge thee as the
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daughter of one and the granddaughter of the other. While he was thus tenderly
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embracing me, Sophia, astonished at my precipitate departure, entered the room in
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search of me. No sooner had she caught the eye of the venerable peer
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than he exclaimed, with every mark of astonishment, another grand daughter. Yes,
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Yes, I see you are the daughter of my Lorena's eldest girl.
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Your resemblance to the beauteous Matilda sufficiently proclaims it, Oh, replied Sophia.
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When I first beheld you, the instinct of nature whispered me that we were
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in some degree related, But whether grandfather's or grandmother's I could not pretend to
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determine. He folded her in his arms, and while they were tenderly embracing,
30:00
the door of the apartment opened, and a most beautiful young man appeared.
30:06
On perceiving him, Lord Sinclair started and retreating back a few paces with
30:11
uplifted hands, said another grandchild, What an unexpected happiness is this to discover
30:17
in a space of three minutes, as many of my descendants, This,
30:21
I am certain is Falander, the son of my Loreena's third girl, the
30:25
amiable Bertha. There wants now but the presence of Gustavus to complete the union
30:30
of my Lorena's grandchildren. And here he is, said a graceful youth,
30:34
who that instant entered the room. Here is the Gustavus you desire to see.
30:40
I am the son of Agatha, your Lorena's fourth and youngest daughter.
30:44
I see you are, indeed, replied Lord Sinclair. But tell me,
30:48
continued he, looking fearfully towards the door. Tell me, have I any
30:52
other grandchildren in the house? None, my lord, Then I will provide
30:57
for you all without further delay. Here are four bank notes of fifty pounds
31:03
each. Take them, and remember I have done the duty of a grandfather.
31:07
He instantly left the room, and immediately afterwards the house. Adieu,
31:12
Laura letter the twelfth Laura. In continuation, you may imagine how greatly we
31:22
were surprised by the sudden departure of Lord Sainclair. Ignoble grandsire, exclaimed Sophia,
31:29
unworthy grandfather, said I, and instantly fainted in each other's arms.
31:34
How long we remained in this situation I know not, But when we recovered,
31:38
we found ourselves alone without either Gustavus Phalander or the bank notes. As
31:47
we were deploring our unhappy fate, the door of the apartment opened and MacDonald
31:52
was announced. He was Sofia's cousin. The haste with which he came to
31:57
our relief so soon after the resisted of our note spoke so greatly in his
32:01
favor that I hesitated not to pronounce him at first sight a tender and sympathetic
32:07
friend, alas he little deserved the name. For though he told us that
32:12
he was much concerned at our misfortunes, yet by his own account it appeared
32:16
that the perusal of them had neither drawn from him a single sigh nor induced
32:21
him to bestow one curse on our vindictive stars. He told Sophia that his
32:27
daughter depended on her returning with him to McDonald Hall, and that as his
32:30
cousin's friend, he should be happy to see me there also to McDonald Hall.
32:36
Therefore we went, and were received with great kindness by Janetta, the
32:39
daughter of MacDonald and the mistress of the mansion. Jeannetta was then only fifteen,
32:45
naturally well disposed, endowed with a susceptible heart and a sympathetic disposition.
32:51
She might, had these amiable qualities been properly encouraged, have been an ornament
32:55
to human nature. But unfortunately her father possessed not a soul sufficiently exalted to
33:01
admire so promising a disposition, and had endeavored by every means on his power
33:07
to prevent it. Increasing with her years, he had actually so far extinguished
33:12
the natural noble sensibility of her heart as to prevail on her to accept an
33:16
offer from a young man of his recommendation. They were to be married in
33:21
a few months, and Graham was in the house when we arrived. We
33:25
soon saw through his character he was just such a man as one might have
33:30
expected to be the choice of MacDonald. They said he was sensible, well
33:35
informed, and agreeable. We did not pretend to judge of such trifles.
33:38
But as we were convinced he had no soul, that he had never read
33:43
the sorrows of weather, and that his hair born not the least resemblance to
33:45
auburn, we were certain that Jeannetta could feel no affection for him, or
33:51
at least that she ought to feel none. The very circumstance of his being
33:54
her father's choice, too, was so much in his disfavor that had he
34:00
been deserving her in every other respect, Yet that of itself ought to have
34:05
been a sufficient reason in the eyes of Janetta for rejecting him. These considerations
34:12
we were determined to represent to her in their proper light, and doubted not
34:15
of meeting with the desired success from one naturally so well disposed, whose errors
34:21
in the affair had only arisen from a want of proper confidence in her own
34:24
opinion and a suitable contempt of her father's. We found her, indeed,
34:30
all that our warmest wishes could have hoped for. We had no difficulty to
34:34
convince her that it was impossible she could love Graham, or that it was
34:37
her duty to disobey her father. The only thing at which she rather seemed
34:42
to hesitate was our assertion that she must be attached to some other person.
34:47
For some time she persevered in declaring that she knew no other young man for
34:52
whom she had the smallest affection, But on explaining the impossibility of such a
34:57
thing, she said that she believed she did like Captain mc kenry better than
35:00
any one she knew. Besides, this confession satisfied us, and, after
35:07
having enumerated the good qualities of mc kenry and assured her that she was violently
35:10
in love with him. We desired to know whether he had in any wise
35:15
declared his affection to her. So far from having ever declared it, I
35:20
have no reason to imagine that he has ever felt any for me, said
35:23
Janetta. That he certainly adores you, replied Sophia, there can be no
35:30
doubt the attachment must be reciprocal. Did he never gaze on you with admiration,
35:36
tenderly press your hand, drop an involuntary tear, and leave the room
35:39
abruptly? Never, replied she that I remember he has always left the room,
35:45
indeed when his visit has been ended, but has never gone away particularly
35:50
abruptly or without making a bow. Indeed, my love, said I,
35:54
you must be mistaken, for it is absolutely impossible that he should ever have
36:00
left you. But with confusion, despair, and precipitation, consider but for
36:05
a moment, Janetta, and you must be convinced how absurd it is to
36:08
suppose that he could ever make a bow or behave like any other person.
36:14
Having settled this point to our satisfaction, the next we took into consideration was
36:19
to determine what manner we should inform mc kenry of the favorable opinion Jeannetta entertained
36:22
of him, We at length agreed to acquaint him with it by an anonymous
36:28
letter, which Sophia drew up in the following manner, Oh, happy lover
36:32
of the beautiful Janetta, Oh, amiable possessor of her heart, whose hand
36:37
is destined to another, Why do you thus delay a confession of your attachment
36:43
to the amiable object of it? Oh? Consider that a few weeks will
36:46
at once put an end to every flattering hope that you may now entertain by
36:52
uniting the unfortunate victim of her father's cruelty to the execrable and detested Graham.
36:59
Alas, why do you thus so cruelly connive at the projected misery of her
37:04
and of yourself by delaying to communicate that scheme which had doubtless long possessed your
37:08
imagination? A secret union will at once secure the felicity of both The amiable
37:15
mcchenery, whose modesty, as he afterwards assured us, had been the only
37:20
reason of his having so long concealed the violence of his affection for Janetta.
37:24
On receiving this billet, flew on the wings of love to MacDonald Hall,
37:30
and so powerfully pleaded his attachment to her, who inspired it that, after
37:34
a few more private interviews, Sofia and I experienced the satisfaction of seeing them
37:38
depart for Gretna Green, which they chose for the celebration of their nuptials in
37:43
preference to any other place, although it was at a considerable distance from McDonald
37:47
Hall Adieu Laura Letter the thirteenth Laura in continuation, They had been gone nearly
38:00
a couple of hours before either MacDonald or Graham had entertained any suspicion of the
38:04
affair, and they might not even then have suspected it but for the following
38:08
little accident. Sophia, happening one day to open a private drawer in MacDonald's
38:15
library with one of her own keys, discovered that it was the place where
38:19
he kept his papers of consequence, and amongst them some bank notes of considerable
38:22
amount. This discovery she imparted to me, and, having agreed together that
38:29
it would be a proper treatment of so vile a wretch as McDonald to deprive
38:32
him of money, perhaps dishonestly gained, it was determined that the next time
38:37
we should either of us happen to go that way, we would take one
38:40
or more of the bank notes from the drawer. This well meant plan we
38:45
had often successfully put in execution, but alas on the very day of Janetta's
38:52
escape, as Sophia was majestically removing the fifth bank note from the drawer to
38:55
her own purse, she was most impertinently interrupted in her employer by the entrance
39:00
of mc donald himself in a most abrupt and precipitate manner. Sophia, who
39:07
though naturally all winning sweetness, could, when occasions demanded it, call forth
39:12
the dignity of her sex, instantly put on a most forbidding look, and
39:15
darting an angry frown on the undaunted culprit demanded in a haughty tone of voice.
39:22
Wherefore her retirement was thus insolently broken in on the unblushing MacDonald, without
39:28
even endeavoring to exculpate himself from the crime he was charged with meanly endeavored to
39:32
reproach Sophia with ignobly defrauding him of his money. The dignity of Sophia was
39:38
wounded, wretch, exclaimed she hastily replacing the bank note in the drawer.
39:45
How dareest thou to accuse me of an act of which the bare idea makes
39:49
me blush. The base wretch was still unconvinced, and continued to upbraid the
39:54
justly offended Sophia in such approbrious language that at length he so greatly provoked the
40:00
gentle sweetness of her nature as to induce her to revenge herself on him by
40:05
informing him of Jeanetta's elopement and of the active part we had both taken in
40:09
the affair at this period of their quarrel. I entered the library and was,
40:15
as you may imagine, equally offended as Sophia at the ill grounded accusations
40:20
of the malevolent and contemptible MacDonald. Base miscreant cried, I, how canst
40:25
thou thus undauntedly endeavor to sully the spotless reputation of such bright excellence? Why
40:30
dost thou not suspect my innocence? As soon be satisfied, madam replied he,
40:37
I do suspect it, and therefore must desire that you will both leave
40:40
this house in less than half an hour. We shall go, willingly,
40:45
answered Sophia. Our hearts have long detested thee and nothing but our friendship for
40:51
thy daughter could have induced us to remain so long beneath thy roof your friendship,
40:57
For my daughter has indeed been most powerfully exert by throwing her into the
41:00
arms of an unprincipled fortune. Hunter replied He Yes, exclaimed, I amidst
41:07
every misfortune. It will afford us some consolation to reflect that, by this
41:12
one act of friendship to Janetta, we have amply discharged every obligation that we
41:16
have received from her father. It must indeed be a grateful reflection to your
41:22
exalted minds, said he As soon as we had packed up our wardrobe and
41:28
valuables, we left MacDonald Hall, and after having walked about a mile and
41:32
a half, we sat down by the side of a clear, limpid stream
41:36
to refresh our exhausted limbs. The place was suited to meditation. A grove
41:42
of full grown elms sheltered us from the east, a bed of full grown
41:45
nettles from the west. Before us ran the Murmuring Brook, and behind us
41:50
ran the Turnpike Road. We were in a mood for contemplation and in a
41:54
disposition to enjoy so beautiful a spot. Rtual silence, which had for some
42:01
time reigned between us, was at length broke by my exclaiming, what a
42:06
lovely scene. Alas, why are not Edward and Augustus here to enjoy its
42:10
beauties with us? Ah, my beloved Laura, cried Sophia, for pity's
42:16
sake, forbear, recalling to my remembrance the unhappy situation of my imprisoned husband.
42:22
Alas, what would I not give to learn the fate of my Augustus,
42:25
to know if he is still in Newgate, or if he is yet
42:29
hung? But never shall I be able so far to conquer my tender sensibility
42:34
as to inquire after him. Oh, do not I beseech you ever let
42:38
me again hear you repeat his beloved name. It affects me too deeply.
42:44
I cannot bear to hear him mentioned. It wounds my feelings. Excuse me,
42:49
my Sophia, for having thus unwillingly offended, you replied I, and,
42:52
then, changing the conversation, desired her to admire the noble grandeur of
42:58
the Elms which sheltered us from the Eastern zephyr. Alas, my Laura returned,
43:04
she avoid so melancholy a subject. I entreat you do not again wound
43:08
my sensibility by observations on those elms. They remind me of Augustus. He
43:14
was like them, tall, majestic, He possessed that noble grandeur which you
43:20
admire in them. I was silent, fearful lest I might any more unwillingly
43:25
distress her by fixing on any other subject of conversation which might again remind her
43:30
of Augustus. Why do you not speak, my Laura, said she,
43:36
after a short pause. I cannot support this silence. You must not leave
43:39
me to my own reflections they ever recur to Augustus. What a beautiful sky?
43:46
Said I. How charmingly is the azure varied by those delicate streaks of
43:51
white? Oh, my Laura, replied she hastily, withdrawing her eyes from
43:57
a momentary glance at the sky. Do not not thus distress me by calling
44:00
my attention to an object which so cruelly reminds me of my Augustus's blue satin
44:06
waistcoat striped in white. In pity to your unhappy friend, avoid a subject
44:12
so distressing. What could I do? The feelings of Sophia were at that
44:16
time so exquisite, and the tenderness she felt for Augustus so poignant, that
44:22
I had not power to start any other topic, justly, fearing that it
44:25
might, in some unforeseen manner again awaken all her sensibility by directing her thoughts
44:31
to her husband. Yet to be silent would be cruel. She had entreated
44:36
me to talk. From this dilemma, I was most fortunately relieved by an
44:42
accident truly apropos It was the lucky overturning of a gentleman's fight on on the
44:46
road, which ran murmuring behind us. It was a most fortunate accident,
44:52
as it diverted the attention of Sophia from the melancholy reflections which she had been
44:57
before indulging. We instantly quitted our seats and ran to the rescue of those
45:02
who, but a few moments before, had been in so elevated a situation
45:07
as a fashionably high fight on, but who were now laid low and sprawling
45:12
in the dust. What an ample subject for reflection on the uncertain enjoyments of
45:16
this world, would not that fight on and the life of Cardinal Wolsey afford
45:21
A thinking mind, said I to Sophia, as we were hastening to the
45:24
field of action. She had not time to answer me, for every thought
45:29
was now engaged by the horrid spectacle before us. Two gentlemen, most elegantly
45:35
attired, but weltering in their blood, was what first struck our eyes we
45:39
approached. They were Edward and Augustus. Yes, dearest mari Anne, they
45:46
were our husbands. Sophia shrieked and fainted on the ground. I screamed and
45:52
instantly ran mad. We remained thus mutually deprived of our senses some minutes,
46:00
and on regaining them, were deprived of them again for an hour and a
46:02
quarter. Did we continue in this unfortunate situation, Sophia fainting every moment and
46:08
I running mad as often at length? A groan from the hapless Edward,
46:15
who alone retained any share of life, restored us to ourselves. Had we
46:21
indeed before imagined that either of them lived, we should have been more sparing
46:24
of our grief. But as we had supposed when we first beheld them,
46:28
that they were no more, we knew that nothing could remain to be done.
46:31
But what we were about. No sooner did we therefore hear my Edward's
46:36
groan. Than postponing our lamentations for the present, we hastily ran to the
46:40
dear youth, and, kneeling on each side of him, implored him not
46:45
to die. Laura said, he, fixing his now languid eyes on me.
46:51
I fear I have been overturned. I was overjoyed to find him,
46:55
yet sensible. Oh tell me, Edward said, tell me, I beseech
47:00
you before you die. What has befallen you since that unhappy day in which
47:05
Augustus was arrested and we were separated? I will, said he, and,
47:10
instantly, fetching a deep sigh, expired. Sofia immediately sank again into
47:16
a swoon. My grief was more audible, my voice faltered, my eyes
47:22
assumed a vacant stare, My face became as pale as death, and my
47:28
senses were considerably impaired. Talk not to me, of phytons, said I,
47:32
raving in a frantic, incoherent manner. Give me a violin. I'll
47:37
play to him and soothe him in his melancholy hours. Beware, ye,
47:42
gentle nymphs of Cupid's thunderbolts, avoid the piercing shafts of Jupiter. Look at
47:47
that grove of firs, I see a leg of mutton. They told me
47:52
Edward was not dead, but they deceived me. They took him for a
47:54
cucumber. Thus, I continued wildly, exclaiming on my Edward's death for two
48:00
hours did I rave thus madly? And should not then have left off?
48:05
As I was not in the least fatigued. Had not. Sophia, who
48:07
was just recovered from her swoon, entreated me to consider that night was now
48:12
approaching, and that the damps began to fall. And whither shall we go,
48:17
said I, to shelter us from either to that white cottage, replied
48:22
she, pointing to a neat building which rose up amidst the grove of elms,
48:27
and which I had not before observed. I agreed, and we instantly
48:30
walked to it. We knocked at the door, it was opened by an
48:35
old woman. On being requested to afford us a night's lodging, she informed
48:38
us that her house was but small, that she had only two bedrooms,
48:44
but that however, we should be welcome to one of them. We were
48:46
satisfied and followed the good woman into the house, where we were greatly cheered
48:52
by the sight of a comfortable fire. She was a widow and had only
48:57
one daughter, who was then just seventeen, one of the best of ages.
49:01
But alas she was very plain, and her name was bridget Nothing therefore
49:07
could be expected from her. She could not be supposed to possess either exalted
49:10
ideas, delicate feelings, or refined sensibilities. She was nothing more than a
49:16
mere, good tempered, civil and obliging young woman. As such, we
49:21
could scarcely dislike her. She was only an object of contempt. Adieu,
49:27
Laura, end of Part two, Part three, Letter the fourteenth Laura,
49:35
in continuation, arm yourself, my amiable young friend, with all the philosophy
49:42
you are mistress of, summon up all the fortitude you possess, for alas
49:47
in the perusal of the following pages, your sensibility will be most severely tried.
49:53
Ah, What were the misfortunes I had before experienced, and which I
49:59
have already related to you, to the one I am now going to inform
50:01
you of the death of my father, and my mother and my husband,
50:07
though almost more than my gentle nature could support, were trifles in comparison to
50:12
the misfortune I am now proceeding to relate. The morning after our arrival at
50:19
the cottage, Sophia complained of a violent pain in her delicate limbs, accompanied
50:23
with a disagreeable headache. She attributed it to a cold caught by her continued
50:28
faintings in the open air as the dew was falling the evening before this,
50:32
I feared was but too probably the case, since how could it otherwise be
50:37
accounted for that I should have escaped the same indisposition. But by supposing that
50:42
the bodily exertions I had undergone in my repeated fits of phrenzy had so effectively
50:46
circulated and warmed my blood as to make me proof against the chilling damps of
50:52
night, whereas Sophia, lying totally inactive on the ground, must have been
50:58
exposed to all their severence. I was most seriously alarmed by her illness,
51:04
which, trifling as it may appear to you, a certain instinctive sensibility,
51:08
whispered me, would in the end be fatal to her. Alas my fears
51:15
were but too fully justified, she grew gradually worse, and I daily became
51:21
more alarmed for her. At length she was obliged to confine herself solely to
51:25
the bed allotted us by our worthy landlady. Her disorder turned to a galloping
51:31
consumption, and in a few days carried her off amidst all my lamentations for
51:37
her, and violent you may suppose they were. I yet received some consolation
51:43
in the reflection of my having paid every attention to her that could be offered
51:46
in her illness. I had wept over her every day, had bathed her
51:52
sweet face with my tears, and had pressed her fair hands continually in mine,
51:58
My beloved Laura, said she a few hours before she died. Take
52:02
warning from my unhappy end, and avoid the imprudent conduct which had occasioned it.
52:08
Beware of fainting fits, though at the time they may be refreshing and
52:12
agreeable. Yet believe me, they will, in the end, if too
52:15
often repeated and at in proper seasons, prove destructive to your constitution. My
52:22
fate will teach you this. I die a martyr to my grief for the
52:25
loss of Augustus. One fatal swoon has cost me my life. Beware of
52:31
swoons, dear Laura. A frenzy fit is not one quarter so pernicious.
52:36
It is an exercise to the body, and, if not too violent,
52:39
is I dare say, conducive to health in its consequences. Run mad as
52:45
often as you choose, but do not faint. These were the last words
52:51
she ever addressed to me. It was her dying advice to her afflicted Laura,
52:55
who has ever most faithfully adhered to it. After having attended my lamented
53:01
friend to her early grave, I immediately, though late at night, left
53:07
the detested village in which she died, and near which had expired my husband
53:12
and Augustus. I had not walked many yards from it before I was overtaken
53:17
by a stage coach, in which I instantly took a place, determined to
53:22
proceed in it to Edinburgh, where I hoped to find some kind, some
53:25
pitying friend, who would receive and comfort me in my afflictions. It was
53:30
so dark when I entered the coach that I could not distinguish the number of
53:35
my fellow travelers. I could only perceive that they were many. Regardless,
53:39
however, of anything concerning them, I gave myself up to my own sad
53:44
reflections. A general silence prevailed, a silence which was by nothing interrupted but
53:51
by the loud and repeated snores of one of the party. What an illiterate
53:57
villain must that man be, thought I to myself, What a total want
54:00
of delicate refinement must he have, who can thus shock our senses by such
54:05
a brutal noise, He must, I am certain, be capable of every
54:09
bad action. There is no crime too black for such a character. Thus
54:15
reasoned I within myself, and doubtless such were the reflections of my fellow travelers
54:21
at length. Returning day enabled me to behold the unprincipled scoundrel who had so
54:25
violently disturbed my feelings. It was, Sir Edward, the father of my
54:30
deceased husband. By his side sat Augusta, And on the same seat with
54:36
me were your mother and Lady Dorothea. Imagine my surprise at finding myself thus
54:42
seated amongst my old acquaintance. Great as was my astonishment, it was yet
54:46
increased when, on looking out of windows I beheld the husband of Philippa,
54:52
with Philippa by his side, on the coach box, and when on looking
54:55
behind I beheld Philander and Gustavs in the basket. Oh heavens, exclaimed I
55:02
is it possible that I should so unexpectedly be surrounded by my nearest relations and
55:07
connections. These words roused the rest of the party, and every eye was
55:13
directed to the corner in which I sat. Oh my Isabel, continued,
55:19
I, throwing myself across Lady Dorothea into her arms, receive once more to
55:23
your bosom, the unfortunate Laura. Alas when last we parted in a veil
55:29
of usk, I was happy in being united to the best of Edward's I
55:32
had then a father and a mother, and had never known misfortunes, but
55:37
now deprived of every friend. But you, what, interrupted Augusta. Is
55:44
my brother dead, then tell us, I entreat you what is become of
55:47
him? Yes, cold and insensible Nymph replied I that, luckless Swain,
55:53
your brother is no more, and you may now glory in being the heiress
55:58
of Sir Edward's fortune. Although I had always despised her from the day I
56:04
had overheard her conversation with my Edward, yet in civility I complied with hers
56:08
and Sir Edward's entreaties that I would inform them of the whole melancholy affair.
56:14
They were greatly shocked. Even the obdurate heart of Sir Edward and the insensible
56:19
one of Augusta were touched with sorrow by the unhappy tale. At the request
56:23
of your mother, I related to them every other misfortune which had befallen me
56:28
since we parted of the imprisonment of Augustus and the absence of Edward, of
56:34
our arrival in Scotland, of our unexpected meeting with our grandfather and our cousins,
56:38
of our visit to MacDonald Hall, of the singular service we there performed
56:44
towards Janetta, of her father's ingratitude for it, of his inhuman behavior,
56:49
unaccountable suspicions and barbarous treatment of us in obliging us to leave the house,
56:54
of our lamentations on the loss of Edward and Augustus, and finally of the
57:00
melancholy death of my beloved companion. Pity and surprise was strongly depictured in your
57:08
mother's countenance during the whole of my narration. But I am sorry to say
57:15
that the eternal reproach of her sensibility the latter infinitely predominated, nay faultless.
57:22
As my conduct had certainly been during the whole course of my late misfortunes and
57:25
adventures, she pretended to find fault with my behavior in many of the situations
57:31
in which I had been placed, As I was sensible myself that I had
57:36
always behaved in a manner which reflected honor on my feelings and refinement. I
57:40
paid little attention to what she said, and desired her to satisfy my curiosity
57:45
by informing me how she came there, instead of wounding my spotless reputation with
57:50
unjustifiable reproaches. As soon as she had complied with my wishes in this particular
57:55
and had given me an accurate detail of everything that had befallen her since our
58:00
separation, the particulars of which, if you were not already acquainted with your
58:05
mother, will give you, I applied to Augusta for the same information,
58:08
respecting herself, Sir Edward and Lady Dorothea. She told me that, having
58:15
a considerable taste for the beauties of nature, her curiosity to behold the wonderful
58:20
scenes it exhibited in that part of the world had been so much raised by
58:23
Gilpin's tour to the Highlands that she had prevailed on her father to undertake a
58:29
tour to Scotland, and had persuaded Lady Dorothea to accompany them. That they
58:34
had arrived at Edinburgh a few days before, and from thence had made daily
58:38
excursions into the country around in the stage coach they were then in from one
58:43
of which excursions they were at that time returning. My next inquiries were concerning
58:50
Philippa and her husband, the latter of whom I learned, having spent all
58:53
her fortune, had recourse for subsistence to the talent in which he had always
58:59
most excelled, namely driving, and that, having sold everything which belonged to
59:05
them except their coach, had converted it into a stage, and, in
59:08
order to be removed from any of his former acquaintance, had driven it to
59:13
Edinburgh, from whence he went to Sterling every other day. That Philippa,
59:17
still retaining her affection for her ungrateful husband, had followed him to Scotland and
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generally accompanied him in his little excursions to Sterling. It has only been to
59:28
throw a little money into their pockets, continued Augusta, that my father has
59:31
always traveled in their coach to view the beauties of the country since our arrival
59:35
in Scotland. For it would certainly have been much more agreeable to us to
59:39
visit the Highlands in a post chaise than merely to travel from Edinburgh to Sterling
59:44
and from Sterling to Edinburgh every other day in a crowded and uncomfortable stage.
59:50
I perfectly agreed with her in her sentiments on the affair, and secretly blamed
59:53
Sir Edward for thus sacrificing his daughter's pleasure for the sake of a ridiculous old
59:59
woman, whose folly in marrying so young a man ought to be punished.
1:00:02
His behavior, however, was entirely of a piece with his general character.
1:00:07
For what could be expected from a man who possessed not the smallest atom of
1:00:10
sensibility, who scarcely knew the meaning of sympathy, and who actually snored?
1:00:17
Adieu, Laura Letter the fifteenth Laura in continuation. When we arrived at the
1:00:29
town where we were to breakfast, I was determined to speak with Filander and
1:00:32
Gustavus, and to that purpose, as soon as I left the carriage,
1:00:37
I went to the basket and tenderly inquired after their health, expressing my fears
1:00:40
of the uneasiness of their situation. At first, they seemed rather confused at
1:00:45
my appearance, dreading no doubt that I might call them to account for the
1:00:50
money which our grandfather had left me and which they had unjustly deprived me of,
1:00:54
But finding that I mentioned nothing of the matter, they desired me to
1:00:58
step into the basket, as we might there converse with greater ease. Accordingly
1:01:05
I entered, and whilst the rest of the party were devouring green tea and
1:01:08
buttered toast, we feasted ourselves in a more refined and sentimental manner. By
1:01:13
a confidential conversation. I informed them of everything which had befallen me during the
1:01:19
course of my life, and at my request, they related to me every
1:01:22
incident of theirs. We are the sons, as you already know, of
1:01:29
the two youngest daughters which Lord Sainclair had by Lorena, an Italian opera girl,
1:01:34
our mothers could neither of them exactly ascertain who were our father though it
1:01:37
is generally believed that Fialander is the son of one Philip Jones, a bricklayer,
1:01:42
and that my father was one Gregory Staves, a staymaker of Edinburgh.
1:01:46
This is, however, of little consequence, for as our mothers were certainly
1:01:51
never married to either of them, it reflects no dishonor on our blood,
1:01:54
which is of a most ancient and unpolluted kind. Bertha, the mother of
1:02:00
Philander, and Agatha, my own mother, always lived together. They were
1:02:05
neither of them very rich. Their united fortunes had originally amounted to nine thousand
1:02:09
pounds, but as they had always lived on the principle of it, when
1:02:14
we were fifteen, it was diminished to nine hundred. This nine hundred they
1:02:19
always kept in a drawer in one of the tables which stood in our common
1:02:22
sitting parlor, for the convenience of having it always at hand. Whether it
1:02:28
was from this circumstance of its being easily taken, or from a wish of
1:02:31
being independent, or from an excess of sensibility, for which we were always
1:02:36
remarkable, I cannot now determine. But certain it is that, when we
1:02:40
had reached our fifteenth year, we took the nine hundred pounds and ran away.
1:02:45
Having obtained this prize, we were determined to manage it with economy,
1:02:50
and not to spend it with either folly or extravagance. To this purpose,
1:02:54
we therefore divided it into nine parcels, one of which we devoted to victory
1:03:00
us, the second to drink, the third to housekeeping, the fourth to
1:03:04
carriages, the fifth to horses, the sixth to servants, the seventh to
1:03:07
amusements, the eighth to clothes, and the ninth to silver. Buckles.
1:03:14
Having thus arranged our expenses for two months, for we expected to make the
1:03:17
nine hundred pounds last as long we hastened to London, and had the good
1:03:22
luck to spend it in seven weeks in a day, which was six days
1:03:24
sooner than we had intended. As soon as we had thus happily disencumbered ourselves
1:03:30
from the weight of so much money, we began to think of returning to
1:03:34
our mothers, but accidentally, hearing that they were both starved to death,
1:03:38
we gave over the design and determined to engage ourselves to some strolling company of
1:03:43
players, as we had always had a turn for the stage. Accordingly,
1:03:49
we offered our services to one, and were accepted. Our company was indeed
1:03:52
rather small, as it consisted only of the manager, his wife, and
1:03:57
ourselves, but there were fewer to pay, and the only inconvenience attending it
1:04:00
was a scarcity of plays, which, for want of people to fill the
1:04:03
characters, we could perform. We did not mind trifles. However. One
1:04:09
of our most admired performances was Macbeth, in which we were truly great.
1:04:14
The manager always played Banquot himself, his wife my Lady Macbeth, I did
1:04:18
the three witches, and Flander acted all the rest. To say the truth,
1:04:25
This tragedy was not only the best but the only play that we ever
1:04:28
performed. And after having acceed it all over England and Wales, we came
1:04:32
to Scotland to exhibit it over the remainder of Great Britain. We happened to
1:04:38
be quartered in that very town where you came and met your grandfather. We
1:04:43
were in the inn yard when his carriage entered, and perceiving by the arms
1:04:45
to whom it belonged, and knowing that Lord Saintclao was our grandfather, we
1:04:49
agreed to endeavor to get something from him by discovering the relationship. You know
1:04:55
how well it succeeded. Having obtained the two hundred pounds, we instantly left
1:05:00
the town, leaving our manager and his wife to act Macbeth by themselves,
1:05:04
and took the road to Sterling, where we spent our little fortune with greater
1:05:09
clas we are now returning to Edinburgh in order to get some preferment in the
1:05:14
acting way. And such, my dear cousin, is our history. I
1:05:20
thanked the amiable youth for his entertaining narration, and after expressing my wishes for
1:05:25
their welfare and happiness, left them in their little habitation, and returned to
1:05:30
my other friends, who impatiently expected me. My adventures are now drawing to
1:05:34
a close, my dearest mary Anne, at least for the present. When
1:05:40
we arrived at Edinburgh, Sir Edward told me that, as the widow of
1:05:43
his son, he desired I would accept from his hands of four hundred a
1:05:46
year. I graciously promised that I would, but could not help observing that
1:05:51
the unsympathetic baronet offered it more on account of my being the widow of Edward
1:05:56
than in being the refined and amiable Laura. I took up my residence in
1:06:01
a romantic village in the highlands of Scotland, where I have ever since continued,
1:06:06
and where I can, uninterrupted by unmeaning visits, indulge in a melancholy
1:06:12
solitude my unceasing lamentations for the death of my father, my mother, my
1:06:16
husband, and my friend. Augusta has been for several years united a Graham,
1:06:24
the man of all others most suited to her. She became acquainted with
1:06:28
him during her stay in Scotland. Sir Edward, in hopes of gaining an
1:06:32
heir to his title and estate, at the same time married Lady Dorothea.
1:06:36
His wishes have been answered. Philander and Gustavus, after having raised their reputation
1:06:44
by their performances in the theatrical line at Edinburgh, removed to Covent Garden,
1:06:48
where they still exhibit under the assumed names of Leuvis and Quick. Philippa has
1:06:55
long paid the debt of nature. Her husband, however, still continues to
1:06:59
try of the stage coach from Edinburgh to Sterling. Adieu, my dearest Marie
1:07:04
Anne Laura Finney June thirteenth, seventeen ninety End of Part three and End of
1:07:15
Love and Friendship by Jane Austen