MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
TUESDAY NIGHT, | APRIL 11, 12.
WEDNESDAY MORNING,|
Miss Grandison is no longer to be called by that name. She is Lady
G----. May she make Lord G---- as happy as I dare say he will make her,
if it be not her own fault!
I was early with her, according to promise. I found her more affected
than she was even last night with her approaching change of condition.
Her brother had been talking to her, she said; and had laid down the
duties of the state she was about to enter into, in such a serious
manner, and made the performance of them of so much importance to her
happiness both here and hereafter, that she was terrified at the thoughts
of what she was about to undertake. She had never considered matrimony
in that formidable light before. He had told her, that he was afraid of
her vivacity; yet was loath to discourage her cheerfulness, or to say
any thing that should lower her spirits. All he besought of her was, to
regard times, tempers, and occasions; and then it would be impossible but
her lively humour must give delight not only to the man whom she favoured
with her hand, but to every one who had the pleasure of approaching her.
If, Charlotte, said he, you would have the world around you respect your
husband, you must set the example. While the wife gives the least room
to suspect, that she despises her husband, she will find that she
subjects him to double contempt, if he resents it not; and if he does,
can you be happy? Aggressors lay themselves open to severe reprisals.
If you differ, you will be apt to make by-standers judges over you. They
will remember, when you are willing to forget; and your fame will be the
sport of those beneath you, as well in understanding as degree.
She believed, she told me, that Lord G---- had been making some
complaints of her. If he had--
Hush, my dear, said I--Not one word of threatening: are you more
solicitous to conceal your fault, than to amend it?
No--But you know, Harriet, for a man, before he has experienced what sort
of a wife I shall make, to complain against me for foibles in courtship,
when he can help himself if he will, has something so very little--
Your conscience, Charlotte, tells you, that he had reason for complaint;
and therefore you think he has complained. Think the best of Lord G----
for your own reputation's sake, since you thought fit to go thus far with
him. You have borne nothing from him: he has borne a great deal from
you.
I am fretful, Harriet; I won't be chidden: I will be comforted by you:
you shall sooth me: are you not my sister? She threw her arms round me,
and kissed my cheek.
I ventured to rally her, though I was afraid of her retort, and met with
it: but I thought it would divert her. I am glad, my dear, said I, that
you are capable of this tenderness of temper: you blustering girls--But
fear, I believe, will make cowards loving.
Harriet, said she, and flung from me to the window, remember this: may I
soon see you in the same situation! I will then have no mercy upon you.
The subject, which Sir Charles led to at breakfast, was the three
weddings of Thursday last. He spoke honourably of marriage, and made
some just compliments to Lord and Lady L----; concluding them with
wishes, that his sister Charlotte and Lord G---- might be neither more
nor less happy than they were. Then turning to Lord W----, he said, he
questioned not his lordship's happiness with the lady he had so lately
seen; for I cannot doubt, said he, of your lordship's affectionate
gratitude to her, if she behaves, as I am sure she will.
My lord had tears in his eyes. Never man had such a nephew as I have,
said he. All the joy of my present prospects, all the comforts of my
future life, are and will be owing to you.
Here had he stopt, it would have been well: but turning to me, he
unexpectedly said, Would to God, madam, that you could reward him! I
cannot; and nobody else can.
All were alarmed for me; every eye was upon me. A sickishness came over
my heart--I know not how to describe it. My head sunk upon my bosom. I
could hardly sit; yet was less able to rise.
Sir Charles's face was overspread with blushes. He bowed to my lord.
May the man, said he, who shall have the honour to call Miss Byron his,
be, if possible, as deserving as she is! Then will they live together
the life of angels.
He gracefully looked down; not at me; and I got a little courage to look
up: yet Lady L---- was concerned for me: so was Lord L----: Emily's eye
dropt a tear upon her blushing cheek.
Was it not, Lucy, a severe trial?--Indeed it was.
My Lord, to mend the matter, lamented very pathetically, that Sir Charles
was under an obligation to go abroad; and still more, that he could not
stay to be present at the celebration of his nuptials with Miss
Mansfield.
The Earl, Lord G----, Lady Gertrude, and the doctor, were to meet the
bride and us at church. Lord and Lady L----, Sir Charles, and Emily,
went in one coach: Miss Grandison and I in another.
As we went, I don't like this affair at all, Harriet, said she. My
brother has long made all other men indifferent to me. Such an infinite
difference!
Can any body be happier than Lord and Lady L----, Charlotte? Yet Lady
L---- admires her brother as much as you can do.
They happy!--And so they are. But Lady L----, soft soul! fell in love
with Lord L---- before my brother came over. So the foundation was laid:
and it being a first flame with her, she, in compliment to herself, could
not but persevere. But the sorry creature Anderson, proving a sorry
creature, made me despise the sex: and my brother's perfections
contributed to my contempt of all other men.
Indeed, my dear, you are wrong. Lord G---- loves you: but were Sir
Charles not your brother, it is not very certain, that he would have
returned your love.
Why, that's true. I believe he would not, in that case, have chosen me.
I am sure he would not, if he had known you: but for the man one loves,
one can do any thing, be every thing, that he would wish one to be.
Do you think you cannot love Lord G----? For Heaven's sake, Charlotte,
though you are now almost within sight of the church, do not think of
giving your hand, if you cannot resolve to make Lord G---- as happy, as I
have no doubt he will make you, if it be not your own fault.