MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
SUNDAY, APRIL 16.
O, what a blank, my dear!--but I need not say what I was going to say.
Poor Emily!--But, to mention her grief, is to paint my own.
Lord W---- went to Windsor yesterday.
A very odd behaviour of Lady Olivia. Mr. Beauchamp went yesterday, and
offered to attend her to any of the public places, at her pleasure; in
pursuance of Sir Charles's reference to him, to do all in his power to
make England agreeable to her: and she thought fit to tell him before her
aunt, that she thanked him for his civility; but she should not trouble
him during her stay in England. She had gentlemen in her train; and one
of them had been in England before--
He left her in disgust.
Lady L---- making her a visit in the evening, she told her of Mr.
Beauchamp's offer, and of her answer. The gentleman, said she, is a
polite and very agreeable man; and this made me treat his kind offer with
abruptness: for I can hardly doubt your brother's view in it. I scorn
his view: and if I were sure of it, perhaps I should find a way to make
him repent of the indignity. Lady L---- was sure, she said, that neither
her brother, nor Mr. Beauchamp, had any other views than to make England
as agreeable to her as possible.
Be this as it may, madam, said she, I have no service for Mr. Beauchamp:
but if your Ladyship, your sister, and your two lords, will allow me to
cultivate your friendship, you will do me honour. Dr. Bartlett's company
will be very agreeable to me likewise, as often as he will give it me.
To Miss Jervois I lay some little claim. I would have had her for my
companion in Italy; but your cruel brother--No more, however, of him.
Your English beauty too, I admire her: but, poor young creature, I admire
her the more, because I can pity her. I should think myself very happy
to be better acquainted with her.
Lady L---- made her a very polite answer for herself and her sister, and
their lords: but told her, that I was very soon to set out for my own
abode in Northamptonshire; and that Dr. Bartlett had some commissions,
which would oblige him, in a day or two, to go to Sir Charles's seat in
the country. She herself offered to attend her to Windsor, and to every
other place, at her command.
Lady L---- took notice of her wrist being bound round with a broad black
ribband, and asked, If it were hurt? A kind of sprain, said she. But
you little imagine how it came; and must not ask.
This made Lady L---- curious. And Olivia requesting that Emily might be
allowed to breakfast with her as this morning; she has bid the dear girl
endeavour to know how it came, if it fell in her way: for Olivia
reddened, and looked up, with a kind of consciousness, to Lady L----,
when she told her that she must not ask questions about it.
Lady G---- is very earnest with me to give into the town diversions for a
month to come: but I have now no desire in my heart so strong, as to
throw myself at the feet of my grandmamma and aunt; and to be embraced by
my Lucy and Nancy, and all my Northamptonshire friends.
I am only afraid of my uncle. He will rally his Harriet; yet only, I
know, in hopes to divert her, and us all: but my jesting days are over:
my situation will not bear it. Yet if it will divert himself, let him
rally.
I shall be so much importuned to stay longer than I ought, or will stay,
that I may as well fix a peremptory day at once. Will you, my ever
indulgent friends, allow me to set out for Selby-house on Friday
next? Not on a Sunday, as Lady Betty Williams advises, for fear of the
odious waggons. But I have been in a different school. Sir Charles
Grandison, I find, makes it a tacit rule with him, Never to begin a
journey on a Sunday; nor, except when in pursuit of works of mercy or
necessity, to travel in time of divine service. And this rule he
observed last Sunday, though he reached us here in the evening. O my
grandmamma! How much is he, what you all are, and ever have been!--But
he is now pursuing a work of mercy. God succeed to him the end of his
pursuit!
But why tacit? you will ask. Is Sir Charles Grandison ashamed to make an
open appearance in behalf of his Christian duties? He is not. For
instance; I have never seen him sit down at his own table, in the absence
of Dr. Bartlett, or some other clergyman, but he himself says grace; and
that with such an easy dignity, as commands every one's reverence; and
which is succeeded by a cheerfulness that looks as if he were the better
pleased for having shewn a thankful heart.
Dr. Bartlett has also told me, that he begins and ends every day, either
in his chamber, or in his study, in a manner worthy of one who is in
earnest in his Christian profession. But he never frights gay company
with grave maxims. I remember, one day, Mr. Grandison asked him, in his
absurd way, Why he did not preach to his company now and then? Faith,
Sir Charles, said he, if you did, you would reform many a poor ignorant
sinner of us; since you could do it with more weight, and more certainty
of attention, than any parson in Christendom.
It would be an affront, said Sir Charles, to the understanding, as well
as education, of a man who took rank above a peasant, in such a country
as this, to seem to question whether he knew his general duties, or not,
and the necessity of practising what he knew of them. If he should be at
a loss, he may once a week be reminded, and his heart kept warm. Let you
and me, cousin Everard, shew our conviction by our practice; and not
invade the clergyman's province.
I remember that Mr. Grandison shewed his conviction by his blushes; and
by repeating the three little words, You and me! Sir Charles.
***