Although I am obliged to be in town to-morrow, or next day at farthest,
yet I would not dispense with writing to you, by one of my servants,
(whom I send up before upon a particular occasion,) in order to advertise
you, that it is probable you will hear from some of your own relations on
your [supposed*] nuptials. One of the persons, (Mr. Lilburne by name,)
to whom I hinted my belief of your marriage, happens to be acquainted
with Mr. Spurrier, Lady Betty Lawrance's steward, and (not being under
any restriction) mentioned it to Mr. Spurrier, and he to Lady Betty, as a
thing certain; and this, (though I have not the honour to be personally
known to her Ladyship,) brought on an inquiry from her Ladyship to me by
her gentleman; who coming to me in company with Mr. Lilburne, I had no
way but to confirm the report.--And I understand, that Lady Betty takes
it amiss that she was not acquainted with so desirable a piece of news
from yourself.
* What is between hooks [ ] thou mayest suppose, Jack, I sunk upon the
women, in the account I gave them of the contents of this letter.
Her Ladyship, it seems, has business that calls her to town [and you will
possibly choose to put her right. If you do, it will, I presume, be in
confidence; that nothing may transpire from your own family to contradict
what I have given out.]
[I have ever been of opinion, That truth ought to be strictly adhered to
on all occasions: and am concerned that I have, (though with so good a
view,) departed from my old maxim. But my dear friend Mr. John Harlowe
would have it so. Yet I never knew a departure of this kind a single
departure. But, to make the best of it now, allow me, Sir, once more to
beg the lady, as soon as possible, to authenticate the report given out.]
When both you and the lady join in the acknowledgement of your marriage,
it will be impertinent in any one to be inquisitive as to the day or
week. [And if as privately celebrated as you intend, (while the
gentlewomen with whom you lodge are properly instructed, as you say they
are, and who shall actually believe you were married long ago,) who shall
be able to give a contradiction to my report?]
And yet it is very probable, that minute inquiries will be made; and this
is what renders precaution necessary; for Mr. James Harlowe will not
believe that you are married; and is sure, he says, that you both lived
together when Mr. Hickman's application was made to Mr. John Harlowe: and
if you lived together any time unmarried, he infers from your character,
Mr. Lovelace, that it is not probable that you would ever marry. And he
leaves it to his two uncles to decide, if you even should be married,
whether there be not room to believe, that his sister was first
dishonoured; and if so, to judge of the title she will have to their
favour, or to the forgiveness of any of her family.--I believe, Sir, this
part of my letter had best be kept from the lady.
Young Mr. Harlowe is resolved to find this out, and to come at his
sister's speech likewise: and for that purpose sets out to-morrow, as I
am well informed, with a large attendance armed; and Mr. Solmes is to be
of the party. And what makes him the more earnest to find it out is
this:--Mr. John Harlowe has told the whole family that he will alter, and
new-settle his will. Mr. Antony Harlowe is resolved to do the same by
his; for, it seems, he has now given over all thoughts of changing his
condition, having lately been disappointed in a view he had of that sort
with Mrs. Howe. These two brothers generally act in concert; and Mr.
James Harlowe dreads (and let me tell you, that he has reason for it, on
my Mr. Harlowe's account) that his younger sister will be, at last, more
benefited than he wishes for, by the alteration intended. He has already
been endeavouring to sound his uncle Harlowe on this subject; and wanted
to know whether any new application had been made to him on his sister's
part. Mr. Harlowe avoided a direct answer, and expressed his wishes for
a general reconciliation, and his hopes that his niece were married.
This offended the furious young man, and he reminded his uncle of
engagements they had all entered into at his sister's going away, not to
be reconciled but by general consent.
Mr. John Harlowe complains to me often of the uncontroulableness of his
nephew; and says, that now that the young man has not any body of whose
superior sense he stands in awe, he observes not decency in his behaviour
to any of them, and this makes my Mr. Harlowe still more desirous than
ever of bringing his younger niece into favour again. I will not say all
I might of this young man's extraordinary rapaciousness:--but one would
think, that these grasping men expect to live for ever!
'I took the liberty but within these two hours to propose to set on foot
(and offered my cover to) a correspondence between my friend and his
daughter-niece, as she still sometimes fondly calls her. She was
mistress of so much prudence, I said, that I was sure she could better
direct every thing to its desirable end, than any body else could. But
he said, he did not think himself entirely at liberty to take such a step
at present; and that it was best that he should have it in his power to
say, occasionally, that he had not any correspondence with her, or letter
from her.
'You will see, Sir, from all this, the necessity of keeping our treaty an
absolute secret; and if the lady has mentioned it to her worthy friend
Miss Howe, I hope it is in confidence.'
[And now, Sir, a few lines in answer to your's of Monday last.]
[Mr. Harlowe was very well pleased with your readiness to come into his
proposal. But as to what you both desire, that he will be present at the
ceremony, he said, that his nephew watched all his steps so narrowly,
that he thought it was not practicable (if he were inclinable) to oblige
you: but that he consented, with all his heart, that I should be the
person whom he had stipulated should be privately present at the ceremony
on his part.]
[However, I think, I have an expedient for this, if your lady continues
to be very desirous of her uncle's presence (except he should be more
determined than his answer to me seemed to import); of which I shall
acquaint you, and perhaps of what he says to it, when I have the pleasure
to see you in town. But, indeed, I think you have no time to lose. Mr.
Harlowe is impatient to hear, that you are actually one; and I hope I may
carry him down word, when I leave you next, that I saw the ceremony
performed.]
[If any obstacle arises from the lady, (from you it cannot,) I shall be
tempted to think a little hardly of her punctilio.]
Mr. Harlowe hopes, Sir, that you will rather take pains to avoid, than to
meet, this violent young man. He has the better opinion of you, let me
tell you, Sir, from the account I gave him of your moderation and
politeness; neither of which are qualities with his nephew. But we have
all of us something to amend.
You cannot imagine how dearly my friend still loves this excellent niece
of his.--I will give you an instance of it, which affected me a good
deal---'If once more, said he, (the last time but one we were together,)
I can but see this sweet child gracing the upper end of my table, as
mistress of my house, in my allotted month; all the rest of my family
present but as her guests; for so I formerly would have it; and had her
mother's consent for it--' There he stopt; for he was forced to turn his
reverend face from me. Tears ran down his cheeks. Fain would he have
hid them: but he could not--'Yet--yet, said he--how--how--' [poor
gentleman, he perfectly sobbed,] 'how shall I be able to bear the first
meeting!'
I bless God I am no hard-hearted man, Mr. Lovelace: my eyes showed to my
worthy friend, that he had no reason to be ashamed of his humanity before
me.
I will put an end to this long epistle. Be pleased to make my
compliments acceptable to the most excellent of women; as well as believe
me to be,
Dear Sir,
Your faithful friend, and humble servant,
ANTONY TOMLINSON.
***
During the conversation between me and the women, I had planted myself at
the farthest end of the apartment we were in, over against the door,
which was open; and opposite to the lady's chamber-door, which was shut.
I spoke so low that it was impossible for her, at that distance, to hear
what we said; and in this situation I could see if her door was opened.
I told the women, that what I had mentioned to my spouse of Lady Betty's
coming to town with her niece Montague, and of their intention to visit
my beloved, whom they had never seen, nor she them, was real; and that I
expected news of their arrival every hour. I then showed them copies of
the other two letters, which I had left with her; the one from Lady
Betty, the other from my cousin Montague.--And here thou mayest read them
if thou wilt.
Eternally reproaching, eternally upbraiding me, are my impertinent
relations. But they are fond of occasions to find fault with me. Their
love, their love, Jack, and their dependence on my known good humour, are
their inducements.
TO ROBERT LOVELACE, ESQ.
WED. MORN. JUNE 7.