But she would not hear me further; and her sudden breaking from me
occasioned a hurry to some mean listener; as the slipping of a foot from
the landing-place on the stairs discovered to me.
I had scarcely recovered myself from this attack, when up came
Betty--Miss, said she, your company is desired below-stairs in your own
parlour.
By whom, Betty?
How can I tell, Miss?--perhaps by your sister, perhaps by your
brother--I know they wont' come up stairs to your apartment again.
Is Mr. Solmes gone, Betty?
I believe he is, Miss--Would you have him sent for back? said the bold
creature.
Down I went: and to whom should I be sent for, but to my brother and Mr.
Solmes! the latter standing sneaking behind the door, so that I saw him
not, till I was mockingly led by the hand into the room by my brother.
And then I started as if I had beheld a ghost.
You are to sit down, Clary.
And what then, Brother?
Why then, you are to put off that scornful look, and hear what Mr.
Solmes has to say to you.
Sent down for to be baited again, thought I!
Madam, said Mr. Solmes, as if in haste to speak, lest he should not have
an opportunity given him, [and indeed he judged right,] Mr. Lovelace is
a declared marriage hater, and has a design upon your honour, if ever--
Base accuser! said I, in a passion, snatching my hand from my brother,
who was insolently motioning to give it to Mr. Solmes; he has not!--he
dares not!--But you have, if endeavouring to force a free mind be to
dishonour it!
O thou violent creature! said my brother--but not gone yet--for I was
rushing away.
What mean you, Sir, [struggling vehemently to get away,] to detain me
thus against my will?
You shall not go, Violence; clasping his unbrotherly arms about me.
Then let not Mr. Solmes stay.--Why hold you me thus? he shall not for
your own sake, if I can help it, see how barbarously a brother can treat
a sister who deserves not evil treatment.
And I struggled so vehemently to get from him, that he was forced to
quit my hand; which he did with these words--Begone then, Fury!--how
strong is will!--there is no holding her.
And up I flew to my chamber, and locked myself in, trembling and out of
breath.
In less than a quarter of an hour, up came Betty. I let her in upon her
tapping, and asking (half out of breath too) for admittance.
The Lord have mercy upon us! said she.--What a confusion of a house is
this! [hurrying up and down, fanning herself with her handkerchief,]
Such angry masters and mistresses!--such an obstinate young lady!--such
a humble lover!--such enraged uncles!--such--O dear!--dear! what a
topsy-turvy house is this!--And all for what, trow?--only because a
young lady may be happy, and will not?--only because a young lady will
have a husband, and will not have a husband? What hurlyburlies are here,
where all used to be peace and quietness!
Thus she ran on to herself; while I sat as patiently as I could (being
assured that her errand was not designed to be a welcome one to me) to
observe when her soliloquy would end.
At last, turning to me--I must do as I am bid. I can't help it--don't
be angry with me, Miss. But I must carry down your pen and ink: and that
this moment.
By whose order?
By your papa's and mamma's.
How shall I know that?
She offered to go to my closet: I stept in before her: touch it, if you
dare.
Up came my cousin Dolly--Madam!--Madam! said the poor weeping,
good natured creature, in broken sentences--you must--indeed you
must--deliver to Betty--or to me--your pen and ink.
Must I, my sweet Cousin? then I will to you; but not to this bold body.
And so I gave my standish to her.
I am sorry, very sorry, said she, Miss, to be the messenger: but your
papa will not have you in the same house with him: he is resolved you
shall be carried away to-morrow, or Saturday at farthest. And therefore
your pen and ink are taken away, that you may give nobody notice of it.
And away went the dear girl, very sorrowful, carrying down with her my
standish, and all its furniture, and a little parcel of pens beside,
which having been seen when the great search was made, she was bid to
ask for.
As it happened, I had not diminished it, having hid half a dozen crow
quills in as many different places. It was lucky; for I doubt not they
had numbered how many were in the parcel.
Betty ran on, telling me, that my mother was now as much incensed
against me as any body--that my doom was fixed--that my violent
behaviour had not left one to plead for me--that Mr. Solmes bit his lip,
and muttered, and seemed to have more in his head, than could come out
at his mouth; that was her phrase.
And yet she also hinted to me, that the cruel wretch took pleasure
in seeing me; although so much to my disgust--and so wanted to see me
again.--Must he not be a savage, my dear?
The wench went on--that my uncle Harlowe said, That now he gave me
up--that he pitied Mr. Solmes--yet hoped he would not think of this
to my detriment hereafter: that my uncle Antony was of opinion, that
I ought to smart for it: and, for her part--and then, as one of the
family, she gave her opinion of the same side.
As I have no other way of hearing any thing that is said or intended
below, I bear sometimes more patiently than I otherwise should do with
her impertinence. And indeed she seems to be in all my brother's and
sister's counsels.
Miss Hervey came up again, and demanded an half-pint ink-bottle which
they had seen in my closet.