I will not be denied. The world reports misunderstandings between you
and Mr. Beauchamp. That busy world that will be meddling, knows your
power, and his dependence. You must not let it charge you with an ill
use of that power: if you do, you will have its blame, when you might
have its praise: he will have its pity.
What, sir, do you think your fine letters, and smooth words, will avail
in favour of a young fellow who has treated me with disrespect?
You are misinformed, madam.--I am willing to have a greater dependence
upon your justice, upon your good-nature, than upon any thing I can urge
either by letter or speech. Don't let it be said, that you are not to be
prevailed on--A woman not to be prevailed on to join in an act of
justice, of kindness; for the honour of the sex, let it not be said.
Honour of the sex, sir!--Fine talking!--Don't I know, that were I to
consent to his coming over, the first thing would be to have his annuity
augmented out of my fortune? He and his father would be in a party
against me. Am I not already a sufferer through him in his father's
love?--You don't know, sir, what has passed between Sir Harry and me
within this half-hour--But don't talk to me: I won't hear of it: the
young man hates me: I hate him; and ever will.
She made a motion to go.
With a respectful air, I told her, she must not leave me. My motive
deserved not, I said, that both she and Sir Harry should leave me in
displeasure.
You know but too well, resumed she, how acceptable your officiousness (I
must call it so) is to Sir Harry.
And does Sir Harry, madam, favour his son's suit? You rejoice me: let
not Mr. Beauchamp know that he does: and do you, my dear Lady Beauchamp,
take the whole merit of it to yourself. How will he revere you for your
goodness to him! And what an obligation, if, as you say, Sir Harry is
inclined to favour him, will you, by your generous first motion, lay upon
Sir Harry!
Obligation upon Sir Harry! Yes, Sir Charles Grandison, I have laid too
many obligations already upon him, for his gratitude.
Lay this one more. You own you have had a misunderstanding this morning:
Sir Harry is withdrawn, I suppose, with his heart full: let me, I beseech
you, make up the misunderstanding. I have been happy in this way--Thus
we will order it--We will desire him to walk in. I will beg your
interest with him in favour of the contents of the letter I sent. His
compliance will follow as an act of obligingness to you. The grace of
the action will be yours. I will be answerable for Mr. Beauchamp's
gratitude.--Dear madam, hesitate not. The young gentleman must come over
one day: let the favour of its being an early one, be owing entirely to
you.
You are a strange man, sir: I don't like you at all: you would persuade
me out of my reason.
Let us, madam, as Mr. Beauchamp and I are already the dearest of friends,
begin a family understanding. Let St. James's-square, and
Berkley-square, when you come to town, be a next-door neighbourhood.
Give me the consideration of being the bondsman for the duty of Mr.
Beauchamp to you, as well as to his father.
She was silent: but looked vexed and irresolute.
My sisters, madam, are amiable women. You will be pleased with them.
Lord L---- is a man worthy of Sir Harry's acquaintance. We shall want
nothing, if you would think so, but Mr. Beauchamp's presence among us.
What! I suppose you design your maiden sister for the young fellow--But
if you do, sir, you must ask me for--There she stopt.
Indeed I do not. He is not at present disposed to marry. He never will
without his father's approbation, and let me say--yours. My sister is
addressed to by Lord G----, and I hope will soon be married to him.
And do you say so, Sir Charles Grandison?--Why then you are a more
disinterested man, than I thought you in this application to Sir Harry.
I had no doubt but the young fellow was to be brought over to marry Miss
Grandison; and that he was to be made worthy of her at my expense.
She enjoyed, as it seemed, by her manner of pronouncing the words young
fellow, that designed contempt, which was a tacit confession of the
consequence he once was of to her.
I do assure you, madam, that I know not his heart, if he has at present
any thoughts of marriage.
She seemed pleased at this assurance.
I repeated my wishes, that she would take to herself the merit of
allowing Mr. Beauchamp to return to his native country: and that she
would let me see her hand in Sir Harry's, before I left them.
And pray, sir, as to his place of residence, were he to come: do you
think he should live under the same roof with me?
You shall govern that point, madam, as you approve or disapprove of his
behaviour to you.
His behaviour to me, sir!--One house cannot, shall not, hold him and me.
I think, madam, that you should direct in this article. I hope, after a
little while, so to order my affairs, as constantly to reside in England.
I should think myself very happy if I could prevail upon Mr. Beauchamp to
live with me.
But I must see him, I suppose?
Not, madam, unless you shall think it right, for the sake of the world's
opinion, that you should.