With any body, Sir, that is accused anonymously, and from interested
motives.
He began to read; and there seemed to be a heavy load of charges in this
letter against the poor criminal: but I stopped the reading of it,
and said, It will not be my fault, if this vilified man be not as
indifferent to me, as one whom I never saw. If he be otherwise at
present, which I neither own, nor deny, it proceed from the strange
methods taken to prevent it. Do not let one cause unite him and me, and
we shall not be united. If my offer to live single be accepted, he shall
be no more to me than this gentleman.
Still--Proceed, Mr. Solmes--Hear it out, Niece, was my uncle's cry.
But to what purpose, Sir! said I--Had not Mr. Solmes a view in this?
And, besides, can any thing worse be said of Mr. Lovelace, than I have
heard said for several months past?
But this, said my uncle, and what Mr. Solmes can tell you besides,
amounts to the fullest proof--
Was the unhappy man, then, so freely treated in his character before,
without full proof? I beseech you, Sir, give me not too good an opinion
of Mr. Lovelace; as I may have, if such pains be taken to make him
guilty, by one who means not his reformation by it; nor to do good, if I
may presume to say so in this case, to any body but himself.
I see very plainly, girl, said my uncle, your prepossession, your fond
prepossession, for the person of a man without morals.
Indeed, my dear, said my aunt, you too much justify all your
apprehension. Surprising! that a young creature of virtue and honour
should thus esteem a man of a quite opposite character!
Dear Madam, do not conclude against me too hastily. I believe Mr.
Lovelace is far from being so good as he ought to be: but if every man's
private life was searched into by prejudiced people, set on for that
purpose, I know not whose reputation would be safe. I love a virtuous
character, as much in man as in woman. I think it is requisite, and as
meritorious, in the one as in the other. And, if left to myself, I would
prefer a person of such a character to royalty without it.