HAMILTON and Maria, Mortimer and Charlotte, danced together the first
two dances. A gentleman, who had for some time regarded Miss Mortimer
with fervent admiration, now requested the honour of her hand. This
was a very graceful and elegant person;--Sir Edward Hamden, a man
about seven and twenty. Having danced with Miss Mortimer, he sat by
her during the remainder of the evening; paid her compliments at once
very warm and appropriate, while his countenance expressed the ardour
of passion. Hamilton, at this time, had been accosted by the Countess
of Cockatrice, who whispered him,--“Why do not you ask me to dance
with you?” Hamilton observed, “Not having the honour of being in
public known to your ladyship, I have foreborne an application that I
did not know would have been well received.” She archly answered, “No
application that so handsome a youth can make, can be ill received by
a lady of any sensibility.” Our hero thus challenged, could not avoid
acceptance, and the attention that politeness required, necessarily
compelled his absence from Maria. As he danced down, all the ladies
of her own circle tittered, and whispered, “Cockatrice, as usual, has
taken care to provide herself with one of the handsomest beaus which
the place affords.” Indeed the fair of the age, who united the bloom
of youth with the graces of beauty, were exceeded by this middle-aged
matron in the efficacy and effect of attractions. At forty she could
distance the most charming girl of twenty; for her age had not
impaired the force of charms so much, as experience improved skilful
and efficacious direction. Having both the soar, and the eye of an
eagle, while in pursuit of the very highest game, she would pounce upon
lower, and having succeeded, resume the chace. Her desire of conquest,
like Cæsar’s, combined emulation with ambition; to supplant another was
the second wish of her soul. She had seen at the Grove our hero and his
fair companion, was struck with the manly gracefulness of his figure,
the dignified beauty of his countenance, and also readily perceived
that the young lady that was with him entertained a similar opinion.
Thoroughly acquainted with the various channels of intelligence, and
having, in the worthy hostess of North-street and her no less worthy
spouse, and many others, agents for every purpose either of truth or
falsehood that she chose to discover or disseminate, she the following
day had learned more particulars than she had conjectured. The desire
of embroiling a couple of lovers added spurs to other motives for
courting the acquaintance of our hero. To be sure he was far removed
beneath the rank of one object that the Cockatrice wished to fascinate,
but he was a gentleman destined, she understood, to be a counsellor;
and though the good humour of her lord precluded any apprehensions that
she could have occasion for the professional efforts of a legal orator
in justificatory eloquence, she might have occasion for a champion
that might conduct offensive efforts against the insolent assailants
of a right honourable reputation. These, however, were distant
considerations. Our hero was a very handsome finely proportioned young
fellow. The bearer of such accomplishments, whatever his rank and
condition might be, carried with him a passport to the Cockatrice’s
favour. She used every effort in her power to convey to Miss Mortimer
an idea that our hero was paying his devoirs to herself. She so
contrived her positions, that Maria might see her face without seeing
Hamilton’s. When he spoke on the most common topics of the evening,
she assumed the expression of a downcast blushing girl, receiving the
soft declarations of a man whom she loved, but afraid to discover her
tenderness. Poor Maria, though far superior to the Cockatrice in real
ability and comprehensive penetration, yet as far inferior to her in
the labyrinths of artifice, was actually persuaded that her lover was
caught by the enchantress. She could not herself attend to either time
or figure, but with difficulty making her way down the dance, hastily
retired to her seat. That dance being over, Hamilton was flying
to his Maria, but stopped by Captain Mortimer, who was conversing
with a middle-sized slender gentleman, of a very bold and animated
countenance. Hamilton soon found him to be a naval officer, who, though
scarcely thirty years of age, had already highly distinguished himself,
and was looked on as one of the most promising hopes of the British
navy. Mortimer having introduced Hamilton and this gentleman to each
other, said, “Hamilton, this is as brave an officer as ever stepped
between stem and stern. You, they tell me, are a fine writer; who knows
but you may yet have to celebrate his atchievements when an admiral? By
the Lord, I have no doubt but my friend here, if he live and have an
opportunity, will equal your Rodney, Hawke, Russel, or any other of his
country.” The captain, not recollecting that, highly deserved as his
eulogia might be, they were not altogether seasonable in the presence
of their subject, persevered in illustrating them by particulars. His
brother captain took the first opportunity of leaving Mortimer, and
our hero was obliged to listen while the captain proceeded. Meanwhile
the countess had directed her steps to the spot where Sir Edward
Hamden sat with Miss Mortimer. Perfectly acquainted with the baronet,
“Pray,” she said, “Hamden, do you know who that charming youth is that
danced with me?” “I understand his name is Hamilton,” replied Hamden.
“What a graceful figure, what a bewitching countenance, what eyes,
and such a look as he has with him: it is well for me that I am past
my teens, and not a susceptible romantic girl.” “That you are out of
your teens,” said my Lord Bayleaf, who had come to reconnoitre Miss
Mortimer, “and past romantic love, we most readily admit; but that
you are also out of your susceptibility, I should rather be disposed
to doubt.” “Hamden,” said her ladyship, “Do you know that Bayleaf, as
he finds age growing on, and former amusements gone off, is going to
set up for a wit. He was hard at it last Friday, and has since been in
training; he only ventures twice a week yet, perhaps as he improves he
may get on to thrice. But,” proceeded the lady, “he applies his old
tastes to his jokes, he takes them at second hand.” “In the subject,
does your ladyship mean?” says Bayleaf. “No,” says she, “but in the
execution.” But here, his lordship being called aside to give judgment
on the genealogy of a horse, the countess resumed the praises of
Hamilton; and particularly celebrated the turn of his aspect towards an
agreeable woman. “Your ladyship’s attractions,” said Hamden, “would
soften the looks of any man.” “Really, I have not the vanity to think
that my ladyship’s attractions had entirely engrossed him, he seems
to have a habit of making love, and conveyed stolen glances at two or
three others. I think Miss Louisa Primrose, and that forward young
pout, Lady Betty Ogle, will pull caps about him. I am told he is a
young man of small fortune. Primrose is mistress of a plumb, so indeed
I told Hamilton. With so very pretty a girl it would be a God-send.”
“What,” said Hamden, “is your ladyship going to turn match-maker?” “Oh
no,” said she, “but I have taken a great fancy to this young man, and
intend to make him a protegée, and I think I could not do better for
him.” The very young lady in question, with her mother, now accosted
Captain Mortimer, who had formerly been captain in Admiral Primrose’s
own ship, and was well known to his widow, and also acquainted with
the daughter; and Mortimer, who was extremely fond of Hamilton, and
desirous of extending his acquaintance and connections, introduced him
to Louisa; and as the last dance of the second set was now ending,
Hamilton could not avoid asking the young lady to be his partner in the
two next. Politeness having compelled our hero to remain a few minutes
with his new acquaintance, he found on going to look for Maria, that
she had left the room, and before her return, the dance was called.
It being Miss Primrose’s dance, the first object that struck Maria on
re-entering the room was, Hamilton leading a pretty, sweet, interesting
girl through the mazes of a strathspey country dance, to the enlivening
strains of Lucy Campbell. By her uncle, who now joined her, she was
told, that the young lady dancing with Mr. Hamilton was the only
daughter of his old friend Admiral Primrose. This intelligence,
combined with what Lady Cockatrice had said, by no means tended to
relieve the anxieties of the evening. Miss Primrose, an agreeable
and engaging girl, joined with a delicate face and figure, had a
simplicity of aspect and manner, that added an impressive interest to
her other charms. She was pleased with the music, the dance, and above
all, the attention of her partner; and blue eyes, beaming softness,
glistened with delight. Though only eighteen, she had repeated offers
of marriage, but from none that made any impression on her heart. She
was struck with the elegance of Hamilton; and though not altogether
tinder, instantaneously to catch the fire of love, she could not help
regarding him with great complacency; which the vigilant eyes of Maria
observed, and her imagination exaggerated. Nor were doubts concerning
the man whom she loved, the only disagreeable sensations Maria had that
evening to experience. She was obliged to hear overtures to addresses
from a man that she did not love, and indeed, till that evening, had
never seen. This was Sir Edward Hamden,--in person and manners equal
to most men, in conversation intelligent, animated, and engaging. But
his various accomplishments were little regarded by Maria, whose heart
was totally occupied by another object. Though he did not professedly
make love, yet the language of his tongue, and much more of his eyes,
was infinitely too warm from a stranger to an occasional partner for
the evening, unless he intended farther acquaintance. She also observed
that he had found out her father, uncle, and brother, and paid them
respectively great attention; and, her fancy ranging into the probable
motives of the baronet’s conduct, and the probable consequences, she
foreboded unhappiness. At length our hero was able to rejoin his Maria,
and observing an expression of uneasiness, he endeavoured to learn
its cause. He enquired with such a manifestation of tender concern,
as gradually lessened the effect, and she became convinced that his
absence from her, and attention to others, were merely the effects of
unavoidable incidents, and resumed her usual cheerfulness. At supper,
Sir Edward Hamden found means to place himself in the party of the
Mortimers, which the captain also prevailed on Mrs. Primrose and her
fair daughter to join. While they enjoyed themselves, a waiter who knew
Hamilton, said, “there is a gentleman, sir, enquiring, at which table
you are supping.” “Who is it,” said Hamilton. “I do not know, sir, I
rather fancy he is a physician, but here he is, sir,” when Hamilton
turning about, beheld a little figure in black, with a large bag wig,
and a sword hanging by his side; and it was almost a minute before he
recollected him to be Dr. Scribble. “Doctor,” says he in surprise,
“What is the meaning of all this metamorphose?” Maria, at this address,
turning to survey the doctor, burst out into a fit of laughter which
soon pervaded the whole company. The face, naturally diminutive, was
half covered by the wig which came down to his cheek bones, the bag
overspreading his slender back and shoulders, rendered their flimsy
contexture more visible: the coat having very large flaps, made that
part of the person which these peculiarly affected, form a striking
contrast with the short and tiny limbs, from the close grasp of the
silks, smaller, if possible, in appearance than reality. Offended at
a mirth of which he himself was so evidently the object, he, with much
solemnity, opened a speech, in which he expressed his confidence that
there was nothing ludicrous and ridiculous in his appearance, that he
trusted both his dress and deportment would be uniformly such, as was
most compatible with the dignity to which he was now elevated. “My
appearance, I will be bold to say, befits my character.” “Character,”
said Captain Mortimer, “I do not know what the devil character it
befits, unless it be Captain Mirvan’s full-dressed monkey in Evelina.”
But our hero and young Mortimer, to prevent the doctor from attending
to this remark upon his archetype, made some little motion and bustle
to procure him room at table; and, while, the company were conversing
upon the occurrences of the evening, the doctor thought it a good
opportunity of delivering a dissertation upon the nature and tendency
of the ancient dances, and in the course of his illustrations, entered
upon the Ionicos motus of the lyric bard. The baronet, who before had
enjoyed the lectures of this spontaneous instructor, now joined with
the other gentlemen in traversing this part of the elucidation. Before
the doctor would take the hint, the company broke up for the night.
The next day, Hamilton went early to enquire for his Maria, and
after he had sat half an hour with the family, Sir Edward Hamden was
announced, who having paid his respects to Maria, and the rest of
the company, entered into an easy conversation with the gentlemen,
cautiously adapting its range to the inclinations of the persons whom
he addressed. With the captain he discoursed upon naval history;
with the squire, upon agriculture, and country sports; with the
young gentlemen, on moral science and literature; with the ladies,
on taste, belle-lettres, music, painting, fashionable manners and
diversions; and, Dr. Wentbridge making his appearance, he spoke of the
question between the church and the dissenters. After he had taken
his leave, all the company agreed that he was a very pleasing man.
Wentbridge, who knew something of his connections, informed them he
was a gentleman of great fortune, and much esteemed for his abilities
and character. Captain Mortimer now reminded Hamilton, that out of
politeness, he ought to ask for his fair partner Miss Primrose. Maria
could have wished that her uncle had spared this admonition, but no
objection could possibly be started by her, or indeed by any other,
and accordingly he went to pay his respects. The mother, he found,
was gone abroad, but that the young lady was at home. Miss Primrose
had been deeply impressed by the charms of our hero, and had not
discovered his attachment to another. On hearing his name announced,
fallacious hope, in its usual way, following wish, she ascribed
his early enquiries to a more potent motive than mere fashionable
politeness. Under these impressions, she descended to the drawing-room
with more haste, and received him with more animation than a stranger
could have excited merely as her partner at a ball. Our hero entered
into conversation with her, and found a great portion of good sense,
united with amiable dispositions, and thought her a very engaging and
interesting girl. Soon after his departure, meeting Captain Mortimer,
he expressed himself in terms of great approbation and esteem on
the subject of Miss Primrose, which the captain misunderstanding,
conceived that Hamilton was enamoured of the lady in question;
and knowing that in point of pecuniary emolument, it would be very
advantageous to him, he resolved to promote it to the utmost of his
power. The following day, repairing to Mrs. Primrose’s house, he,
after spending some time in conversation on other subjects, found
means to turn the discourse upon Hamilton, his great abilities and
accomplishments, and the prospects of aggrandizement which these
afforded, and took occasion to mention the high terms in which he had
spoken of Miss Primrose. In this interference the old captain’s motives
were honourable and pure. He knew nothing of the mutual affection
that subsisted between Hamilton and Maria. He thought highly of our
hero’s character and prospects. Fortune thus obtained, would enable
him, he thought, to rise to great consideration and importance in the
state. On the other hand, his virtues and accomplishments rendered him
worthy of Miss Primrose, and the happiness of both parties would, he
conceived, be thus promoted by an union. Captain Mortimer was a man of
an ardent mind, and whatever he desired, he strongly desired. On his
friend’s account he was as anxious for the completion of this project,
as if he himself had been to derive from it the highest benefit; and
in his zeal he made his advances without communicating with Hamilton
himself. The great point, he concluded, was to gain Miss Primrose, as
Hamilton could not fail, in the captain’s opinion, to accede with joy
to a scheme which would make his fortune. Mrs. Primrose and the captain
reciprocally dined at each other’s houses. Miss Primrose became daily
fonder of our hero, cultivated a close intercourse with his sister,
and also with her friend Miss Mortimer, whom she repeatedly saw in
company with Hamilton, without suspecting their mutual love. This
absence of apprehensions on that subject, was not entirely owing to the
simple naïvete of Louisa’s character, but also to other circumstances.
Within a few days after the ball, Sir Edward Hamden publicly made his
addresses to Maria Mortimer, and both her father and uncle thinking her
affections unengaged, with much pleasure expressed their approbation
of the offer, and rather too hastily announced their conviction, that
it could not fail to be agreeable to Miss Mortimer. Maria, though
unalterably resolved to be either the wife of Hamilton, or of none; yet
apprehending as both her father and uncle were very positive, and even
violent in their opinions and resolutions, a very disagreeable contest
with those whom she most highly valued, did not peremptorily avow her
sentiments. When the proposition was made, she declared her very high
opinion of the proposer’s merit, but that she never would marry a
man upon so short an acquaintance, and without being more thoroughly
acquainted with his character. Her uncle and father regarded these
declarations as the mere effects of coyness and coquetry, which they
supposed would soon give away to the accomplishments of the baronet, to
interest and to ambition. They both, therefore, the captain especially,
encouraged the baronet to perseverance, and assured him of success.
These girls, the captain would remark, do stand so shilly shally, and
will pretend to object to what they have most a mind to. Hypolita,
whom we saw the other evening at the play, is the picture of the
larger half of them; but you see she comes after her lover at last.
Hamilton immediately informed by Maria of the offer that was made,
after an interchange of the most solemn love and constancy, proposed to
declare his passion publicly; but Maria, alarmed at the consequences
which such a proceeding might produce, prevailed on him to forbear
it for the present, at the same time agreed to abide by it should
urgency arise to violence. Her purpose at present was to work on the
honour and generosity of the baronet, of whom she entertained a very
high opinion, and to induce him to desist from an application which
would be fruitless. Hamilton, finding her heart completely his own,
and that he was the ultimate end of her conduct, agreed to the means
which she proposed, though not altogether the same which he himself
would have chosen. John Mortimer, though sufficiently desirous of
the aggrandizement of his sister, if attainable consistently with her
happiness, yet had either observed or learned the state of her heart
and affections so fully, as to be convinced that her happiness depended
upon his friend Hamilton. But knowing the eagerness of his father
and uncle that Maria should become lady Hamden, he observed a strict
neutrality, determined to let the matter take its course, and perfectly
aware what course it would most probably take.--Captain Mortimer not
suspecting any difficulty, considered the affair as entirely settled,
and described it as such in various places, especially at Mrs.
Primrose’s. He also continued his high commendations of his friend
Hamilton, and thereby so fanned the passion of poor Louisa, that her
heart was gone before she suspected any danger. Meanwhile the baronet
was very urgent in his addresses. Maria firmly and decisively told
him, that she never could be his; but as she always deported herself
with her habitual politeness, and with the respectful attention due
to his character, he contrary to his usual discernment, drew from
her manners inferences concerning intentions, and, misapprehending
her dispositions, supposed that she affected the rejection in order
to enhance the value of acceptance, or, that pride contributed its
share to her professed determination of refusal, and that she forebore
immediately yielding, least it might be imputed, either by him or
by the world, to his rank and fortune. As he farther knew her, he
discovered the vigour of her understanding, and the independence of
her soul; that she was not to be obtained by wealth or distinction,
and that she was not to be bought, but to be won. His own person and
accomplishments were such as afforded him a fair prospect of success
with any woman that was unengaged; and not having discovered the state
of Maria’s heart, he trusted that he would be ultimately successful. He
was extremely struck with Hamilton, whose genius and erudition, his own
enabled him to appreciate, and whose knowledge and conversation might
be useful to him in his parliamentary exertions. Hamilton, too proud
to court rank in the baronet, respected talents, the appearance and
reputation of honour and patriotism, and did not reject his advances;
and increasing his esteem, as his acquaintance grew towards intimacy,
he, as a man of honour, resolved to seek a favourable opportunity of
opening the situation of his own and Maria’s affections.