Chapters (10)
Sir Charles embraced her. She was all his sister, he said. Let the alteration now begin. Lord G. would rejoice in it, and consider ail that had passed, as trials only of his love for her. The obliging wife would banish from his remembrance the petulant mistress. And now allow me, my dear sister, to present you to the earl and Lady Gertrude.
He led her in to them. Lady L. and I followed. Charlotte, my lord yields to yours and Lady Gertrude’s importunities. Next Tuesday will give the two families a near and tender relation to each other.
The earl saluted her in a very affectionate man-ner: so did Lady Gertrude; who afterwards ran out for her nephew; and presented him to Miss Grandison.
She had just time to whisper me, as he approached her; Ah, Harriet! now comes the worst part of the shew. He kneeled on one knee, kissed her hand; but was too much overjoyed to speak; for Lady Gertrude had told him, that Tuesday was to be his happy day.
It is impossible, Lucy, but Sir Charles Grandison must carry every point he sets his heart upon. When he shall appear before the family of Porretta in Italv, ivfio will be able to withstand him! Is not his consequence doubled, more, than doubled, since he was with them? The man whose absence they wished for, they now invite to come among them. They have tried every experiment to restore their Clementina: he has a noble estate now in possession. The fame of his goodness is gone out to distant countries. O my dear! All opposition must fly before him. And if it be the will of heaven to restore Clementina, all her friends must concur in giving her to him upon the terms he has proposed; and from which, having himself proposed them, Sir Charles Grandison cannot recede.
His heart, it is evident, is at Bologna. Well, and so it ought to be. And yet I could not forbear being sensibly touched by the following words, which I overheard him say to Lord L. in answer to something my lord said to him:
‘ I am impatient to be abroad. Had I not waited for Mr. Lowther, the last letters I received from Italy should have been answered in person.
But as honour, compassion, love, friendship (still nobler than love!) have demands upon him, let him obey the call. He has set me high in his esteem. Let me be Worthy of his friendship. Pangs 1 shall occasionally feel; but who that values one person above the rest of the world, does not?
Sir Charles, as we sat at tea, mentioned! his cousin Grandison to Lord L: It is strange, my lord, said he, that we hear nothing of our cousin Everard, since he was seen at White’s. But whenever he emerges, Charlotte, if I am absent, receive him with-out reproaches: yet I should be glad that he could have rejoiced with us. Must I leave England, and not see him?