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.

Such an archness in every motion! Such a turn of the eye to me on my Lord G.‘s assiduities! Such a fear in him of her correcting glance! Such a half-tiinid, half-free parade when he had done any thing that he intended to be obliging, and now and then an aiming at raillery, as if he were not very mueh afraid of her, and dared to speak his mind even to her! On her part, on those occasions, such an air, as if she had a learner before her; and was ready to rap his knuckles, had nobody been present to medi-ate for him; that though I could not but love her for her very archness, yet in my mind, I could for their sakes, but more for her own, have severely chidden her.

She is a charming woman; and every thing she says and does becomes her. But I am so much afraid of what may be the case, when the lover is changed into the husband, that I wish to myself now-and-then, when I see her so lively, that she would re — member that there was once such a man as Captain Anderson. But she makes it a rule, she says, to remember nothing that will vex her.

Is not my memory (said she once) given me for my benefit, and shall I make it my torment? No, Harriet, I will leave that to be done by you wise ones, and see what good you will get by it.

Why this, Charlotte, replied I, the wise ones may have a chance to get by it They will very probably, by remembering past mistakes, avoid many incon-veniences into which forgetfulness will run you lively ones.

Well, well, returned she, we are not all of us born to equal honour. Some of us are to be set up for warnings, some for examples: and the first are ge-nerally of greater use to the world than the other. Now, Charlotte, said I, do you destroy the force of your own argument. Can the person who is singled out for the warning) be near so happy as the that is set up for the example?

You are right, as far as I know, Harriet: but I obey the present impulse, and try to find an excuse afterwards for what that puts me upon: and all the difference is this, as to the reward, I have a joy: you a comfort: but comfort is a poor word; and I can’t bear it.

So Biddy in the Tender Husband would have said, Charlotte. But poor as the word is with you and her, give me comfort rather than joy, if they must be separated. But I see not but that a woman of my Charlotte’s happy turn may have both.

She tapped my cheek Take that, Harriet, for making a Biddy of me. I believe, if you have not joy, you have comfort, in your severity.