I think you might have found time to let us know of your nuptials being
actually solemnized. I might have expected this piece of civility from
you. But perhaps the ceremony was performed at the very time that you
asked me to be your lady's father--but I should be angry if I proceed in
my guesses--and little said is soon amended.
But I can tell you, that Lady Betty Lawrance, whatever Lady Sarah does,
will not so soon forgive you, as I have done. Women resent slights
longer than men. You that know so much of the sex (I speak it not,
however, to your praise) might have known that. But never was you before
acquainted with a lady of such an amiable character. I hope there will
be but one soul between you. I have before now said, that I will
disinherit you, and settle all I can upon her, if you prove not a good
husband to her.
May this marriage be crowned with a great many fine boys (I desire no
girls) to build up again a family so antient! The first boy shall take
my surname by act of parliament. That is my will.
Lady Betty and niece Charlotte will be in town about business before you
know where you are. They long to pay their compliments to your fair
bride. I suppose you will hardly be at The Lawn when they get to town;
because Greme informs me, you have sent no orders there for your lady's
accommodation.
Pritchard has all things in readiness for signing. I will take no
advantage of your slights. Indeed I am too much used to them--more
praise to my patience than to your complaisance, however.
One reason for Lady Betty's going up, as I may tell you under the rose,
is, to buy some suitable presents for Lady Sarah and all of us to make
on this agreeable occasion.
We would have blazed it away, could we have had timely notice, and
thought it would have been agreeable to all round. The like occasions
don't happen every day.
My most affectionate compliments and congratulations to my new niece,
conclude me, for the present, in violent pain, that with all your
heroicalness would make you mad,
Your truly affectionate uncle,
M.
***
This letter clench'd the nail. Not but that, Miss Rawlins said, she saw
I had been a wild gentleman; and, truly she thought so the moment she
beheld me.
They began to intercede for my spouse, (so nicely had I turned the
tables;) and that I would not go abroad and disappoint a reconciliation
so much wished for on one side, and such desirable prospects on the other
in my own family.
Who knows, thought I to myself, but more may come of this plot, than I
had even promised myself? What a happy man shall I be, if these women
can be brought to join to carry my marriage into consummation!
Ladies, you are exceedingly good to us both. I should have some hopes,
if my unhappily nice spouse could be brought to dispense with the
unnatural oath she has laid me under. You see what my case is. Do you
think I may not insist upon her absolving me from this abominable oath?
Will you be so good as to give your advice, that one apartment may serve
for a man and his wife at the hour of retirement?--[Modestly put,
Belford!--And let me here observe, that few rakes would find a language
so decent as to engage modest women to talk with him in, upon such
subjects.]
They both simpered, and looked upon one another.
These subjects always make women simper, at least. No need but of the
most delicate hints to them. A man who is gross in a woman's company,
ought to be knocked down with a club: for, like so many musical
instruments, touch but a single wire, and the dear souls are sensible
all over.
To be sure, Miss Rawlins learnedly said, playing with her fan, a casuist
would give it, that the matrimonial vow ought to supercede any other
obligation.
Mrs. Moore, for her part, was of opinion, that, if the lady owned herself
to be a wife, she ought to behave like one.
Whatever be my luck, thought I, with this all-eyed fair-one, any other
woman in the world, from fifteen to five-and-twenty, would be mine upon
my own terms before the morning.
And now, that I may be at hand to take all advantages, I will endeavour,
said I to myself, to make sure of good quarters.
I am your lodger, Mrs. Moore, in virtue of the earnest I have given you
for these apartments, and for any one you can spare above for my
servants. Indeed for all you have to spare--For who knows what my
spouse's brother may attempt? I will pay you to your own demand; and
that for a month or two certain, (board included,) as I shall or shall
not be your hindrance. Take that as a pledge; or in part of payment--
offering her a thirty pound bank note.
She declined taking it; desiring she might consult the lady first;
adding, that she doubted not my honour; and that she would not let her
apartments to any other person, whom she knew not something of, while I
and the lady were here.
The Lady! The Lady! from both women's mouth's continually (which still
implied a doubt in their hearts): and not Your Spouse, and Your Lady,
Sir.
I never met with such women, thought I:--so thoroughly convinced but this
moment, yet already doubting--I am afraid I have a couple of skeptics to
deal with.
I knew no reason, I said, for my wife to object to my lodging in the same
house with her here, any more than in town, at Mrs. Sinclair's. But were
she to make such objection, I would not quit possession since it was not
unlikely that the same freakish disorder which brought her to Hampstead,
might carry her absolutely out of my knowledge.
They both seemed embarrassed; and looked upon one another; yet with such
an air, as if they thought there was reason in what I said. And I
declared myself her boarder, as well as lodger; and dinner-time
approaching, was not denied to be the former.