MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
MONDAY NIGHT.
My cousins and I, by invitation, supped with Lady G---- this evening.
Lord and Lady L---- were there; Lady Olivia also, and Lady Maffei.
I have set them all into a consternation, as they expressed themselves,
by my declaration of leaving London on my return home early on Friday
morning next. I knew, that were I to pass the whole summer here, I must
be peremptory at last. The two sisters vow, that I shall not go so soon.
They say, that I have seen so few of the town diversions--Town
diversions, Lucy!--I have had diversion enough, of one sort!--But in your
arms, my dear friends, I shall have consolation--And I want it.
I have great regrets, and shall have hourly more, as the day approaches,
on the leaving of such dear and obliging friends: but I am determined.
My cousin's coach will convey me to Dunstable; and there, I know, I shall
meet with my indulgent uncle, or your brother. I would not have it
publicly known, because of the officious gentlemen in the neighbourhood.
Dr. Bartlett intended to set out for Grandison-hall to-morrow: but from
the natural kindness of his heart he has suspended his journey to
Thursday next. No consideration, therefore, shall detain me, if I am
well.
My cousins are grieved: they did not expect that I would be a word and a
blow, as they phrase it.
Lady Olivia expressed herself concerned, that she, in particular, was to
lose me. She had proposed great pleasure, she said, in the parties she
should make in my company. But, after what Emily told me, she appears to
me as a Medusa; and were I to be thought by her a formidable rival, I
might have as much reason to be afraid of the potion, as the man she
loves of the poniard. Emily has kept the secret from every body but me.
And I rely on the inviolable secrecy of all you, my friends.
Lord and Lady L---- had designed to go to Colnebrook to-morrow, or at my
day, having hopes of getting me with them: but now, they say, they will
stay in town till they can see whether I am to be prevailed upon, or will
be obdurate.
Lady Olivia inquired after the distance of Northamptonshire. She will
make the tour of England, she says, and visit me there. I was obliged to
say I should take her visit as an honour.
Wicked politeness! Of how many falsehoods dost thou make the people, who
are called polite, guilty!
But there is one man in the world, who is remarkable for his truth, yet
is unquestionably polite. He censures not others for complying with
fashions established by custom; but he gives not in to them. He never
perverts the meaning of words. He never, for instance, suffers his
servants to deny him, when he is at home. If he is busy, he just finds
time to say he is, to unexpected visiters; and if they will stay, he
turns them over to his sisters, to Dr. Bartlett, to Emily, till he can
attend them. But then he has always done so. Every one knows that he
lives to his own heart, and they expect it of him; and when they can have
his company, they have double joy in the ease and cheerfulness that
attend his leisure: they then have him wholly. And he can be the more
polite, as the company then is all his business.
Sir Charles might the better do so, as he came over so few months ago,
after so long an absence; and his reputation for politeness was so well
established, that people rather looked for rules from him, than a
conformity to theirs.
His denials of complimenting Lady Olivia (though she was but just arrived
in his native country, where she never was before) with the suspending of
his departure for one week, or but for one day--Who but he could have
given them? But he was convinced, that it was right to hasten away, for
the sake of Clementina and his Jeronymo; and that it would have been
wrong to shew Olivia, even for her own sake, that in such a competition
she had consequence with him; and all her entreaties, all her menaces,
the detested poniard in her hand, could not shake his steady soul, and
make him delay his well-settled purpose.