This, my lord, I will take upon me to answer for, that she is a woman of
principle: she will not give your lordship her hand, if she thinks she
cannot make you a wife worthy of your utmost kindness: and now, my lord,
I will tell you who she is, that you may make what other inquiries you
think proper.
And then I named her to him, and gave him pretty near the account of the
family, and the circumstances and affairs of it, that I shall by and by
give you; though you are not quite a stranger to the unhappy case.
My lord was in raptures: he knew something, he said, of the lady's
father, and enough of the family, by hearsay, to confirm all I had said
of them; and besought me to do my utmost to bring the affair to a speedy
conclusion.
Sir Thomas Mansfield was a very good man; and much respected in his
neighbourhood. He was once possessed of a large estate; but his father
left him involved in a law-suit to support his title to more than one
half of it.
After it had been depending several years, it was at last, to the deep
regret of all who knew him, by the chicanery of the lawyers of the
opposite side, and the remissness of his own, carried against him; and
his expenses having been very great in supporting for years his
possession, he found himself reduced from an estate of near three
thousand pounds a year, to little more than five hundred. He had six
children: four sons, and two daughters. His eldest son died of grief in
two months after the loss of the cause. The second, now the eldest, is a
melancholy man. The third is a cornet of horse. The fourth is
unprovided for; but all three are men of worthy minds, and deserve better
fortune.
The daughters are remarkable for their piety, patience, good economy, and
prudence. They are the most dutiful of children, and most affectionate
of sisters. They were for three years the support of their father's
spirits, and have always been the consolation of their mother. They lost
their father about four years ago: and it is even edifying to observe,
how elegantly they support the family reputation in their fine old
mansion-house by the prudent management of their little income; for the
mother leaves every household care to them; and they make it a rule to
conclude the year with discharging every demand that can be made upon
them, and to commence the new year absolutely clear of the world, and
with some cash in hand; yet were brought up in affluence, and to the
expectation of handsome fortunes; for, besides that they could have no
thought of losing their cause, they had very great and reasonable
prospects from Mr. Calvert, an uncle by their mother's side; who was rich
in money, and had besides an estate in land of 1500£. a year. He always
declared, that, for the sake of his sister's children, he would continue
a single man; and kept his word till he was upwards of seventy; when,
being very infirm in health, and defective even to dotage in his
understanding, Bolton, his steward, who had always stood in the way of
his inclination to have his eldest niece for his companion and manager,
at last contrived to get him married to a young creature under twenty,
one of the servants in the house; who brought him a child in seven
months; and was with child again at the old man's death, which happened
in eighteen months after his marriage: and then a will was provided, in
which he gave all he had to his wife and her children born, and to be
born, within a year after his demise. This steward and woman now live
together as man and wife.
A worthy clergyman, who hoped it might be in my power to procure them
redress, either in the one case or in the other, gave me the above
particulars; and upon inquiry, finding every thing to be as represented,
I made myself acquainted with the widow lady and her sons: and it was
impossible to see them at their own house, and not respect the daughters
for their amiable qualities.
I desired them, when I was last down, to put into my hands their titles,
deeds, and papers; which they have done; and they have been laid before
counsel, who give a very hopeful account of them.
Being fully authorized by my lord, I took leave of him over-night, and
set out early in the morning, directly for Mansfield-house. I arrived
there soon after their breakfast was over, and was received by Lady
Mansfield, her sons, (who happened to be all at home,) and her two
daughters, with politeness.
After some general conversation, I took Lady Mansfield aside; and making
an apology for my freedom, asked her, If Miss Mansfield were, to her
knowledge, engaged in her affections?
She answered, she was sure she was not: Ah, sir, said she, a man of your
observation must know, that the daughters of a decayed family of some
note in the world, do not easily get husbands. Men of great fortunes
look higher: men of small must look out for wives to enlarge them; and
men of genteel businesses are afraid of young women better born than
portioned. Every body knows not that my girls can bend to their
condition; and they must be contented to live single all their lives; and
so they will choose to do, rather than not marry creditably, and with
some prospect.
I then opened my mind fully to her. She was agreeably surprised: but
who, sir, said she, would expect such a proposal from the next heir to
Lord W----?
I made known to her how much in earnest I was in this proposal, as well
for my lord's sake, as for the young lady's. I will take care, madam,
said I, that Miss Mansfield, if she will consent to make Lord W----
happy, shall have very handsome settlements, and such an allowance for
pin-money, as shall enable her to gratify every moderate, every
reasonable, wish of her heart.
Was it possible, she asked, for such an affair to be brought about?
Would my lord--There she stopt.
I said, I would be answerable for him: and desired her to break the
matter to her daughter directly.
I left Lady Mansfield, and joined the brothers, who were with their two
sisters; and soon after Miss Mansfield was sent for by her mother.
After they had been a little while together, my Lady Mansfield sent to
speak with me. They were both silent when I came in. The mother was at
a loss what to say: the daughter was in still greater confusion.
I addressed myself to the mother. You have, I perceive, madam,
acquainted Miss Mansfield with the proposal I made to you. I am fully
authorized to make it. Propitious be your silence! There never was,
proceeded I, a treaty of marriage set on foot, that had not its
conveniencies and inconveniencies. My lord is greatly afflicted with the
gout: there is too great a disparity in years. These are the
inconveniencies which are to be considered of for the lady.
On the other hand, if Miss Mansfield can give into the proposal, she will
be received by my lord as a blessing; as one whose acceptance of him will
lay him under an obligation to her. If this proposal could not have been
made with dignity and honour to the lady, it had not come from me.
The conveniencies to yourselves will more properly fall under the
consideration of yourselves and family. One thing only I will suggest,
that an alliance with so rich a man as Lord W----, will make, perhaps,
some people tremble, who now think themselves secure.
But, madam, to the still silent daughter, let not a regard for me bias
you: your family may be sure of my best services, whether my proposal be
received or rejected.
My lord (I must deal sincerely with you) has lived a life of error. He
thinks so himself. I am earnest to have him see the difference, and to
have an opportunity to rejoice with him upon it.
I stopt: but both being still silent, the mother looking on the daughter,
the daughter glancing now and then her conscious eye on the mother, If,
madam, said I, you can give your hand to Lord W----, I will take care,
that settlements shall exceed your expectation. What I have observed as
well as heard of Miss Mansfield's temper and goodness, is the principal
motive of my application to her, in preference to all the women I know.
But permit me to say, that were your affections engaged to the lowest
honest man on earth, I would not wish for your favour to my Lord W----.
And, further, if, madam, you think you should have but the shadow of a
hope, to induce your compliance, that my Lord's death would be more
agreeable to you than his life, then would I not, for your morality's
sake, wish you to engage. In a word, I address myself to you, Miss
Mansfield, as to a woman of honour and conscience: if your conscience
bids you doubt, reject the proposal; and this not only for my lord's
sake, but for your own.
Consider, if, without too great a force upon your inclinations, you can
behave with that condescension and indulgence to a man who has hastened
advanced age upon himself, which I have thought from your temper I might
hope.
I have said a great deal, because you, ladies, were silent; and because
explicitness in every case becomes the proposer. Give me leave to
withdraw for a few moments.
I withdrew, accordingly, to the brothers and sister. I did not think I
ought to mention to them the proposal I had made: it might perhaps have
engaged them all in its favour, as it was of such evident advantage to
the whole family; and that might have imposed a difficulty on the lady,
that neither for her own sake, nor my lord's, it would have been just to
lay upon her.
Lady Mansfield came out to me, and said, I presume, sir, as we are a
family which misfortune as well as love, has closely bound together, you
will allow it to be mentioned--
To the whole family, madam!--By all means. I wanted only first to know,
whether Miss Mansfield's affections were disengaged: and now you shall
give me leave to attend Miss Mansfield. I am a party for my Lord W----:
Miss Mansfield is a party: your debates will be the more free in our
absence. If I find her averse, believe me, madam, I will not endeavour
to persuade her. On the contrary, if she declare against accepting the
proposal, I will be her advocate, though every one else should vote in
its favour.
The brothers and sister looked upon one another: I left the mother to
propose it to them; and stept into the inner parlour to Miss Mansfield.
She was sitting with her back to the door, in a meditating posture. She
started at my entrance.
I talked of indifferent subjects, in order to divert her from the
important one, that had taken up her whole attention.
It would have been a degree of oppression to her to have entered with her
upon a subject of so much consequence to her while we were alone; and
when her not having given a negative, was to be taken as a modest
affirmative.
Lady Mansfield soon joined us--My dear daughter, said she, we are all
unanimous. We have agreed to leave every thing to Sir Charles Grandison:
and we hope you will.
She was silent. I will only ask you, madam, said I, to her, if you have
any wish to take time to consider of the matter? Do you think you shall
be easier in your mind, if you take time?--She was silent.
I will not at this time, my good Miss Mansfield, urge you further. I
will make my report to Lord W----, and you shall be sure of his joyful
approbation of the steps I have taken, before your final consent shall be
asked for. But that I may not be employed in a doubtful cause, let me be
commissioned to tell my lord, that you are disengaged; and that you
wholly resign yourself to your mother's advice.
She bowed her head.
And that you, madam, to Lady Mansfield, are not averse to enter into
treaty upon this important subject.
Averse, sir! said the mother, bowing, and gratefully smiling.
I will write the particulars of our conversation to Lord W----, and my
opinion of settlements, and advise him (if I am not forbid) to make a
visit at Mansfield House. [I stopt: they were both silent.] If
possible, I will attend my lord in his first visit. I hope, madam, to
Miss Mansfield, you will not dislike him; I am sure he will be charmed
with you: he is far from being disagreeable in his person: his temper is
not bad. Your goodness will make him good. I dare say that he will
engage your gratitude; and I defy a good mind to separate love from
gratitude.
We returned to company. I had all their blessings pronounced at once, as
from one mouth. The melancholy brother was enlivened: who knows but the
consequence of this alliance may illuminate his mind? I could see by the
pleasure they all had, in beholding him capable of joy on the occasion,
that they hoped it would. The unhappy situation of the family affairs,
as it broke the heart of the eldest brother, fixed a gloom on the temper
of this gentleman.
I was prevailed upon to dine with them. In the conversation we had at
and after dinner, their minds opened, and their characters rose upon me.
Lord W---- will be charmed with Miss Mansfield. I am delighted to think,
that my mother's brother will be happy, in the latter part of his life,
with a wife of so much prudence and goodness, as I am sure this lady will
make him. On one instance of her very obliging behaviour to me, I
whispered her sister, Pray, Miss Fanny, tell Miss Mansfield, but not till
I am gone, that she knows not the inconveniencies she is bringing upon
herself: I may, perhaps, hereafter, have the boldness, to look for the
same favour from my aunt, that I meet with from Miss Mansfield.
If my sister, returned she, should ever misbehave to her benefactor, I
will deny my relation to her.
You will soon have another letter from me, with an account of the success
of my visit to Sir Harry Beauchamp and his lady. We must have our
Beauchamp among us, my dear friend: I should rather say, you must among
you; for I shall not be long in England. He will supply to you, my dear
Dr. Bartlett, the absence (it will not, I hope, be a long one) of your