Chapters (10)
I fear nothing but Charlotte’s whimsies: Have you, madam, any reason to apprehend that she is averse to an alliance with Lord G.? His father and aunt are very importunate for an early cele-bration.
None at all, Sir.
Then I shall depend much upon yours, and Lord and Lady L.‘s influence over her.
He besought my excuse for detaining my attention so long. Upon his motion to go, my two cou — sins came in. He took even a solemn leave of me, and a very respectful one of them.
I had kept up my spirits to their utmost stretch: I desired my cousins to excuse me for a few minutes: his departure from me was too solemn; and I hurried up to my closet; and after a few involuntary sobs, a flood of tears relieved me. I besought, on my knees, peace to the disturbed mind of the excellent Cle-mentina, calmness and resignation to my own, and safety to Sir Charles. And then, drying my eyes at the glass, I went down stairs to my cousins; and on
SIK CHARLES GRANDISON. 71 their enquiries (with looks of deep concern) after the occasion of my red eyes, I said, All is over! All is over! my dear cousins. I cannot blame him: he is all that is noble and good I can say no more just now. The particulars you shall have from my pen.
I went up stairs to write: and except for one half hour at dinner, and another at tea, 1 stopt not till I had done.
And here, quite tired, uneasy, vexed with myself, yet hardly knowing why, I lay down my pen. Take what 1 have written, my dear cousin Reeves: if you can read it, do: and then dispatch it to my Lucy.
But, on second thoughts, 1 will shew it to the two ladies, and Lord L. before it is sent away. They will be curious to know what passed in a conversation, where the critical circumstances both of us were in, required a delicacy which I am not sure was so well observed on my side, as on his.
I shall, I know, have their pity; but let nobody who pities not the noble Clementina, shew any for
HARRIET BYRON.
Letter VIII.
Miss Byron. In Continuation.
Tuesday night, April 4. Miss Grandison came to me just as we had sup-ped. She longed, she said, to see me; but was pre vented coining before, and desired to know what had passed between her brother and me this morning, I gave her the letter, which I had but a little while before concluded. lie had owned, she said, that he had breakfasted with me; and spoke of me to her, and Lord and Lady L. with an ardour that gave them pleasure. She put my letter into her bosom. I may, I hope, Harriet If you please, madam, said I.