Back Sir Charles Grandison
Chapters (10)
  1. SIR CHARLES GRANDISON
  2. PREFACE.
  3. NAMES OF THE PRINCIPAL PERSONS.
  4. VOLUME I.
  5. VOLUME II.
  6. VOLUME III.
  7. VOLUME IV.
  8. VOLUME V.
  9. VOLUME VI.
  10. VOLUME VII.

Her woman being near us, if there had been oc-casion for assistance, I insensibly led that way. She sat down on a seat over-against the great cascade; but she made no motion that gave me apprehen-sions. From this time she has been fonder of me than before. The day I obtained this liberty for her, she often clasped her arms about me, and laid her face in my bosom; and I could plainly see, it was in gratitude for restoring to her the use of her arms: but she cared not to speak.

Indeed she generally aiFects deep silence: yet, at times, I see her very soul is fretted. She moves to one place, is tired of that; shifts to another, and another, all round the room.

I am grieved at my heart for her: I never knew a more excellent young creature.

She is very fervent in her devotions, and as constant in them as she used to be: every good habit she preserves; yet, at other times, rambles nmch.

She is often for writing letters to you; but when what she writes is privately taken from her, she makes no enquiry about it, but takes a new sheet, and begins again.

Sometimes she draws: but her subjects are gene-rally, angels and saints. She often meditates in d map of the British dominions, and now-and-then wishes she were in England.

Lady Juliana de Sforza is earnest to have her with her at Urbino, or at Milan, where she has also a noble palace; but I hope it will not be granted. That lady professes to love her; but she cannot be persuaded out of her notion of harsh methods; which -will never do with Clementina.

I shall not be able to stay long with her. The discomposure of so excellent a young creature af-fects me deeply. Could I do her either good or pleasure, I should be willing to deny myself the so-ciety of my dear friends at Florence: but I am per — suaded, and have hinted as much, that one interview with you would do more to settle her mind, than all the methods they have taken.

I hope, Sir, to see you before you leave Italy. It must be at Florence, not at Bologna, I believe. It is generous of you to propose the latter. L L 2

I have now been here a week, without hope. The doctors they have consulted are all for severe me-thods, and low diet. The first, I think, is in com pliment to some of the family: she is so loth to take nourishment, and, when she does, is so very abste-mious, that the regimen is hardly necessary. She never, or but very seldom, used to drink any-thing but water.

She took it into her poor head several times this day, and perhaps it will hold, to sit in particular places, to put on attentive looks, as if she were lis-tening to somebody. She sometimes smiled, and seemed pleased; looked up, as if to somebody, and spoke English. I have no doubt, though I was not present when she assumed these airs, and talked English, but her disordered imagination brought before her her tutor instructing her in that tongue.