“Oh! What a sweet way replied I, of declaring his Passion! To make such
a couple of charming lines about me! What a pity it is that they are
not in rhime!”
“I am very glad you like it answered she; To be sure there was a great
deal of Taste in it. And are you in love with her, Cousin? said I. I am
very sorry for it, for unexceptionable as you are in every respect,
with a pretty Estate capable of Great improvements, and an excellent
House tho’ somewhat out of repair, yet who can hope to aspire with
success to the adorable Henrietta who has had an offer from a Colonel
and been toasted by a Baronet”—“_That_ I have—” cried I. Lady Scudamore
continued. “Ah dear Cousin replied he, I am so well convinced of the
little Chance I can have of winning her who is adored by thousands,
that I need no assurances of yours to make me more thoroughly so. Yet
surely neither you or the fair Henrietta herself will deny me the
exquisite Gratification of dieing for her, of falling a victim to her
Charms. And when I am dead”—continued her—
“Oh Lady Scudamore, said I wiping my eyes, that such a sweet Creature
should talk of dieing!”
“It is an affecting Circumstance indeed, replied Lady Scudamore.” “When
I am dead said he, let me be carried and lain at her feet, and perhaps
she may not disdain to drop a pitying tear on my poor remains.”
“Dear Lady Scudamore interrupted I, say no more on this affecting
subject. I cannot bear it.”
“Oh! how I admire the sweet sensibility of your Soul, and as I would
not for Worlds wound it too deeply, I will be silent.”
“Pray go on.” said I. She did so.
“And then added he, Ah! Cousin imagine what my transports will be when
I feel the dear precious drops trickle on my face! Who would not die to
haste such extacy! And when I am interred, may the divine Henrietta
bless some happier Youth with her affection, May he be as tenderly
attached to her as the hapless Musgrove and while _he_ crumbles to
dust, May they live an example of Felicity in the Conjugal state!”
Did you ever hear any thing so pathetic? What a charming wish, to be
lain at my feet when he was dead! Oh! what an exalted mind he must have
to be capable of such a wish! Lady Scudamore went on.
“Ah! my dear Cousin replied I to him, such noble behaviour as this,
must melt the heart of any woman however obdurate it may naturally be;
and could the divine Henrietta but hear your generous wishes for her
happiness, all gentle as is her mind, I have not a doubt but that she
would pity your affection and endeavour to return it.” “Oh! Cousin
answered he, do not endeavour to raise my hopes by such flattering
assurances. No, I cannot hope to please this angel of a Woman, and the
only thing which remains for me to do, is to die.” “True Love is ever
desponding replied I, but _I_ my dear Tom will give you even greater
hopes of conquering this fair one’s heart, than I have yet given you,
by assuring you that I watched her with the strictest attention during
the whole day, and could plainly discover that she cherishes in her
bosom though unknown to herself, a most tender affection for you.”
“Dear Lady Scudamore cried I, This is more than I ever knew!”
“Did not I say that it was unknown to yourself? I did not, continued I
to him, encourage you by saying this at first, that surprise might
render the pleasure still Greater.” “No Cousin replied he in a languid
voice, nothing will convince me that _I_ can have touched the heart of
Henrietta Halton, and if you are deceived yourself, do not attempt
deceiving me.” “In short my Love it was the work of some hours for me
to Persuade the poor despairing Youth that you had really a preference
for him; but when at last he could no longer deny the force of my
arguments, or discredit what I told him, his transports, his Raptures,
his Extacies are beyond my power to describe.”
“Oh! the dear Creature, cried I, how passionately he loves me! But dear
Lady Scudamore did you tell him that I was totally dependant on my
Uncle and Aunt?”
“Yes, I told him every thing.”
“And what did he say.”
“He exclaimed with virulence against Uncles and Aunts; Accused the laws
of England for allowing them to Possess their Estates when wanted by
their Nephews or Neices, and wished _he_ were in the House of Commons,
that he might reform the Legislature, and rectify all its abuses.”
“Oh! the sweet Man! What a spirit he has!” said I.
“He could not flatter himself he added, that the adorable Henrietta
would condescend for his sake to resign those Luxuries and that
splendor to which she had been used, and accept only in exchange the
Comforts and Elegancies which his limited Income could afford her, even
supposing that his house were in Readiness to receive her. I told him
that it could not be expected that she would; it would be doing her an
injustice to suppose her capable of giving up the power she now
possesses and so nobly uses of doing such extensive Good to the poorer
part of her fellow Creatures, merely for the gratification of you and
herself.”
“To be sure said I, I _am_ very Charitable every now and then. And what
did Mr Musgrove say to this?”
“He replied that he was under a melancholy necessity of owning the
truth of what I said, and that therefore if he should be the happy
Creature destined to be the Husband of the Beautiful Henrietta he must
bring himself to wait, however impatiently, for the fortunate day, when
she might be freed from the power of worthless Relations and able to
bestow herself on him.”
What a noble Creature he is! Oh! Matilda what a fortunate one I am, who
am to be his Wife! My Aunt is calling me to come and make the pies, so
adeiu my dear freind, and beleive me yours etc—
H. Halton.
Finis.