chooses, she naturally retires as soon as it grows displeasing to her,
and does not return till she is prompted by inclination, and
consequently well disposed to amuse and be amused. They live in the very
strict practice of all religious duties; and it is not to be imagined
how much good they have done in the neighbourhood; how much by their
care the manners of the poorer people are reformed, and their
necessities relieved, though without the distribution of much money; I
say much, because, small as their incomes are, there are many who impart
out of that little to those who have much less.
'Their visits to us are frequent, and we are on such a footing that they
never impede any of our employments. My friends always insisted when
they waited on the community, that not one of the sisterhood should
discontinue whatever they found her engaged in; this gave them the hint
to do the same by us, and it is a rule that no book is thrown aside, no
pen laid down at their entrance. There are always some of us manually
employed, who are at leisure to converse, and if the visit is not very
short, part of it is generally spent in hearing one of the girls read
aloud, who take it by turns through a great part of the day; the only
difference made for this addition to the company is a change of books,
that they may not hear only part of a subject, and begin by a broken
thread. Thus they give no interruption, and therefore neither trouble
us, nor are themselves scrupulous about coming, so that few days pass
without our seeing some of them, though frequently only time enough to
accompany us in our walks, or partake of our music.'
'Have you not,' said Lamont, 'been obliged to expel many from the
community? Since you do not allow petulancy of temper, nor any lightness
of conduct, I should expect a continual revolution.'
'By no means,' answered Mrs Maynard, 'since the establishment of the
community there has been but one expelled; and one finding she was in
danger of incurring the same sentence, and I believe inwardly disgusted
with a country life, retired of her own free choice. Some more have
rendered themselves so disagreeable, that the question has been put to
the ballot; but the fear of being dismissed made them so diligent to get
the majority on their side, before the hour appointed for decision
arrived, that it has been determined in their favour, and the earnest
desire not to be brought into the same hazard again has induced them to
mend their tempers, and some of these are now the most amiable people in
the whole community.
'As for levity of conduct they are pretty well secured from it, by being
exposed to few temptations in this retired place.
'Some, as in the course of nature must happen, have died, and most of
them bequeathed what little they had towards constituting a fund for the
continuation of the community. More of them have married; some to
persons who knew them before, others to gentlemen in the neighbourhood,
or such as happened to come into it; to whom their admirable conduct
recommended them.'
I could not help exclaiming, 'In what a heaven do you live, thus
surrounded by people who owe all their happiness to your goodness! This
is, indeed, imitating your Creator, and in such proportion as your
faculties will admit, partaking of his felicity, since you can no where
cast your eyes without beholding numbers who derive every earthly good
from your bounty and are indebted to your care and example for a
reasonable hope of eternal happiness.'
'I will not,' said Mrs Maynard, 'give up my share of the felicity you so
justly imagine these ladies must enjoy, though I have no part in what
occasions it. When I reflect on all the blessings they impart, and see
how happiness flows, as it were, in an uninterrupted current from their
hands and lips, I am overwhelmed with gratitude to the Almighty disposer
of my fate, for having so mercifully thrown me into such a scene of
felicity, where every hour yields true heart-felt joy, and fills me with
thanksgiving to him who enables them thus to dispense innumerable
blessings, and so greatly rewards them already by the joyful
consciousness of having obeyed him.'
The ladies at this time were at too great a distance to hear our
conversation, for not choosing to be present while their actions were
the subjects of discourse, they had gradually strayed from us. Upon
enquiring of my cousin whether the persons in the large community we had
been talking of brought any fortunes with them, she told me that most of
them had a trifle, some not more than a hundred pounds. That in general
the ladies chose to admit those who had least, as their necessities were
greatest, except where some particular circumstances rendered protection
more requisite to others. That the house not being large enough to
contain more than were already established in it, they have been obliged
to refuse admission to many, and especially some young women of near two
thousand pounds fortune, the expensive turn of the world now being such
that no gentlewoman can live genteelly on the interest of that sum, and
they prefer this society to a retirement in a country town. Some who
wished to board, have likewise been refused. As the expenses of the
first community fall so far short of their expectation, and the sums
appropriated for that purpose, they determined to hazard another of the
same kind, and have just concluded a treaty for a still larger mansion,
at about three miles distance, and by the persons now waiting for it,
they have reason to believe it will not be less successful than the
other, nor more expensive, but should they be mistaken in that
particular, they have laid aside a fund sufficient to discharge it.
Their scheme I find is to have some of the ladies down to Millenium Hall
as soon as they have made the purchase, and there they are to remain,
while the necessary repairs and additions are making to the house
designed for their habitation, which they imagine will not be completed
in less than half a year. They hope, by having the first admitted part
of the community thus in the house with them for so long a time, to
compensate, in a good degree, for the disadvantages of being settled so
much farther from them. The sisterhood of the other society, likewise,
in pity to those who are exposed to the same sufferings from which they
have been delivered, have offered to crowd themselves for a few months,
to leave vacant rooms for some who are destined to the other house, till
they can be there accommodated. These also will be fitted for their new
way of life, and taught to aim at the happiness enjoyed in this
community, by the same means that they have attained to it.
Our subject ended with our walk. Supper was served as soon as we entered
the house, and general conversation concluded the evening.
Had I not been led by several facts to repeat already so many
conversations, I should be induced not to bury all that passed at this
time in silence; but though I have taken the liberty, when the relation
of facts naturally led to it, to communicate such discourses as were
pertinent to the subject, it would be presuming too far on your time to
repeat conversations which did not serve to illustrate any particular
actions, however worthy they maybe of recollection. I shall therefore
only say that it was not with less reluctance I retired to my chamber,
at the hour of bed-time, than the night before.
The next morning proved rainy, which prevented me from making any early
excursion. But as it cleared up about eleven o'clock, Lamont and I went
into the garden, to enjoy the fragrance which every herb and flower
exhales at this time of the year, after the desirable refreshment of
gentle showers. I conducted him to the flower garden, which had so much
delighted me the morning before; and we had not paid due admiration to
all the vegetable beauties there exhibited to our view when Mrs Maynard
joined us.
I told her it was but a poor compliment to her conversation to say I
longed for her company, since now my curiosity might occasion that
impatience, which I should nevertheless have felt, had I not been left
in painful suspense by the interruption we had received the day before,
in the midst of her narrative.
'It would be unnatural,' said she, 'for a woman to quarrel with
curiosity; so far from complaining of yours, I am come merely with a
design to gratify it, and only expect you will judge of my desire to
oblige you by my readiness in obeying your commands; were I myself the
subject, the motive for my obedience might be equivocal.'
The History of Miss Mancel and Mrs Morgan continued
I think, continued Mrs Maynard, we left Miss Melvyn requiring to be
confronted by her accuser, a request which her step-mother was not
inclined to grant; for though in her dealings with young Simon she had
perceived such a degree of solicitude for his own interest, and such
flagrant proofs of want of integrity, that she did not doubt but that by
promising him the farm on rather better terms than she had yet consented
to he might be prevailed with to join so far in her scheme as to assert
any thing to Sir Charles, yet she dared not venture to produce him face
to face to Miss Melvyn, fearing lest his assurance should fail him on
so severe a trial.
She replied, therefore, that the proofs were too strong to admit of
doubt, but she could not think of exposing Miss Melvyn to the
mortification of hearing her depravity witnessed by, perhaps, the last
person whom she expected should acknowledge it. Besides, that by such an
eclat the disgrace must infallibly become public, and she be deprived of
the only means left her of rescuing her reputation from that infamy, to
which, in a very short time, it must have been irrecoverably condemned;
for it could not be supposed that Mr Morgan would accept as his wife a
woman with a sullied character.
Miss Melvyn was almost distracted, at being both so injuriously accused
and denied the liberty of defending herself; she begged, she intreated,
on her knees, that Sir Charles would not suffer her to fall a prey to
such undeserved malice. She asserted her innocence in the strongest and
most persuasive terms, and insisted so warmly on her demand of being
confronted with her accusers, that her father grew inclined to grant her
just request. Lady Melvyn, perceiving he began to comply, repeated her
refusal in the most peremptory manner, and declaring to Miss Melvyn that
she had no other choice left her but either to resolve to marry Mr
Morgan or to be exposed to shame in being publicly disclaimed by her
parents, who would no longer suffer her to remain in their house, led
Sir Charles out of the room; and he, though reluctant, dared not refuse
to accompany her.
Miss Melvyn was now left to reflect on this dreadful alternative. Filled
with horror at the shocking conduct of her step-mother, terrified with
her threats, and sensible there was no villainy she was not capable of
perpetrating rather than give up a point she was thus determined to
carry, she was incapable of forming any resolution. She ran to her
friend, to seek from her that advice and consolation which her own
distracted thoughts could not afford her.
Miss Mancel was so struck with the terror and amazement which was still
impressed on Miss Melvyn's countenance, that she had not for some time
courage to ask the cause. Trembling with fears of she knew not what,
she embraced her distressed friend with an air of such tender, though
silent sympathy, as softened the horror of Miss Melvyn's mind, and
brought a shower of tears to her relief, which at length enabled her to
relate all that had passed between her and her parents. Louisa found it
much easier to join in her friend's grief than to administer
consolation. She knew not what to advise; two artless, virtuous young
women were ill qualified to contend with Lady Melvyn, especially in an
affair which could not be rendered public without hazarding Miss
Melvyn's character; for reputation is so delicate a thing that the least
surmise casts a blemish on it; the woman who is suspected is disgraced;
and though Lady Melvyn did not stand high in the public opinion, yet it
was scarcely possible for any one to believe she could be guilty of such
flagrant wickedness.
Miss Melvyn had a very strong dislike to Mr Morgan, whose disposition
appeared as ill suited to hers as his age; to enter into wedlock without
any prospect of social happiness seemed to her one of the greatest
misfortunes in life; but what was still of more weight in her
estimation, she thought it the highest injustice to marry a man whom she
could not love, as well as a very criminal mockery of the most solemn
vows. On the other side she considered that to preserve her reputation
was not only necessary to her own happiness, but a duty to society. 'It
is true,' said she, 'I am not placed in a very conspicuous sphere of
life, but I am far from being of a rank so obscure that my actions will
affect no one but myself; nor indeed do I know any so low, but they have
their equals who may copy after them, if they have no inferiors. The
care of our virtue we owe to ourselves, the preservation of our
characters is due to the world, and both are required by him who
commands us to preserve ourself pure and unpolluted, and to contribute
as far as we are able to the well-being of all his creatures. Example is
the means given universally to all whereby to benefit society. I
therefore look on it as one of our principal duties to avoid every
imputation of evil; for vice appears more or less hateful as it becomes
more or less familiar. Every vicious person abates the horror which it
should naturally excite in a virtuous mind. There is nothing so odious
to which custom will not in some degree reconcile us; can we expect
then, that vice, which is not without its allurements, should alone
retain all its deformity, when we are familiarized to its appearance. I
should never therefore esteem myself innocent, however pure my actions,
if I incurred the reputation of being otherwise, when it was in my power
to avoid it. With this way of thinking, my Louisa, you may imagine that
I might be brought to believe it my duty to sacrifice my ease of mind,
to the preservation of my character, but in my case, there is no choice;
I must either add to the contamination of a very profligate world, or,
in the face of Heaven, enter into the most solemn vows to love a man,
whom the most I can do is not to hate. This is wilful perjury. In such
an alternative duty cannot direct me, and misery must follow my
decision, let me determine as I will.'
In this irresolution, Miss Melvyn left her friend, but the vent she had
given to her grief had greatly calmed her spirits and restored her to
the power of reflection. At her entrance into the house, she met Lady
Melvyn, who with a very stern countenance ordered her to go and
entertain Mr Morgan, who waited for her in the parlour. She found him
alone, and as he began to renew his addresses, which a repulse from her
had not discouraged, since he hoped to succeed by the influence her
parents had over her, she immediately formed the resolution of
endeavouring to make him relinquish his pretensions, in hopes that if
the refusal came from him, he might become the object of her mother's
indignation, and her persecution might drop, at least for a time. She
therefore frankly told him, that tho' her affections were entirely
disengaged, yet he was so very repugnant to them that it was impossible
she should ever feel that regard for him which he had a right to expect
from his wife; and therefore intreated him, in consideration of his own
happiness, if hers were indifferent to him, not to persist in a pursuit
which, if successful, could not answer his hopes, nor reduce her to
render herself wretched by becoming his wife, or to exasperate her
parents by refusing him. She then added all her heart could suggest to
flatter him into compliance with this request.
Mr Morgan's foible was not an excess of delicacy; he told her plainly,
he admired her eloquence prodigiously, but that there was more rhetoric
in her beauty than any composition of words could contain; which
pleading in direct contradiction to all she had said, she must excuse
him, if he was influenced by the more powerful oratory of her charms;
and her good sense and unexceptionable conduct convinced him, that when
it became her duty to love him, she would no longer remain indifferent.
All Miss Melvyn could urge to shew him this was but a very poor
dependence, had no sort of weight, and he parted from her only more
determined to hasten the conclusion of their marriage.
Lady Melvyn had not been idle all this time; she had prevailed on young
Simon to acquiesce in the questions she put to him before Sir Charles,
either by giving short answers, or by down cast eyes, which signified
assent. With this Sir Charles acquainted Miss Melvyn, and insisted on
her not thinking of exposing herself to the indignity of having the
whole affair discussed in her presence. All the indignation that
undeserved calumny can excite in an innocent mind could not have enabled
Miss Melvyn to bear being charged before so low a creature, with a
passion for him, and still less to have heard the suborned wretch
pretend to confess it. She therefore found no difficulty in obeying her
father in that particular, and rather chose to submit to the imputation
than to undergo the shame which she must have suffered in endeavouring
to confute it. She attempted to persuade Sir Charles to permit her to
stay in the house under what restrictions he and his lady should think
proper, till her conduct should sufficiently convince him of her
innocence, and not to force her into a hated marriage, or unjustly
expose her to disgrace and infamy. Her tears and intreaties would soon
have softened his heart; and as far as he dared he shewed an inclination
to comply with so reasonable a proposal; but his lady easily obliged him
to retract and to deprive Miss Melvyn of all hopes of any mitigation of
the sentence already pronounced against her.
Could she without the loss of reputation have fled to a remote part of
the kingdom, and have hid herself in some obscure cottage, though
reduced to labour for a subsistence, she would have thought it a state
far more eligible than becoming Mr Morgan's wife; but if she thus turned
fugitive and wanderer, in what light could she expect to be seen by the
world; especially as Lady Melvyn would infallibly, to remove any blame
from herself, be liberal in her aspersions? Where she should be unknown,
whatever disgrace might be affixed to her name, she herself might escape
censure; but yet she would not be less guilty of a violation of her duty
to society, since she must appear very culpable to those who knew her,
and contribute to the depravity of others, as far as was in her power,
by an example which, her motives being unknown, would appear a very bad
one.
This consideration determined her to sacrifice her peace to her
character; for by having told Mr Morgan the true state of her heart, she
had acquitted herself from any charge of attempting, by the gift of her
hand, to deceive him into a belief that he was the object of her
affections. She still had scruples about entering into the matrimonial
state, on motives so different from those which ought to influence every
one in a union of that kind: these were not to be removed, but she
imagined this might in some measure be excused as the least culpable
part she could act; and since man was herein neither her judge nor
accuser, she hoped the integrity of her mind would be received as some
alleviation of a fault she was thus forced to commit, since she was
determined in the strictest manner to adhere to every duty of her
station.
Having formed this resolution, she went to consult her friend upon it,
who as a person less perplexed, though scarcely less concerned, as their
affections were so strongly united, that one could not suffer without
the other's feeling equal pain, might possibly be a calmer judge in so
delicate a point. Louisa subscribed to her friend's sentiments on the
occasion, only desired her to consider well, whether she should be able
to bear all the trials she might meet with in the married state when she
was entirely indifferent to her husband.
'My prospect,' said Miss Melvyn, 'I am sensible is extremely melancholy.
All inclination must now be laid aside, and duty must become my sole
guide and director. Happiness is beyond my view; I cannot even hope for
ease, since I must keep a constant restraint on my very thoughts.
Indifference will become criminal; and if I cannot conquer it, to
conceal it at least will be a duty. I have learnt to suffer, but was
never yet taught disguise and hypocrisy; herein will consist my greatest
difficulty; I abhor deceit, and yet must not shew the real sentiments of
my heart. Linked in society with a man I cannot love, the world can
afford me no pleasure, indeed no comfort, for I am insensible to all joy
but what arises from the social affections. The grave, I confess,
appears to me far more eligible than this marriage, for I might there
hope to be at peace. Mr Morgan's fortune is large, but his mind is
narrow and ungenerous, and his temper plainly not good. If he really
loved me, he could not suffer me to be forced into a marriage which he
well knows I detest: a knowledge which will not mend my fate, most
certainly.
'Could I enjoy the pleasures of self-approbation, it would be impossible
to be very wretched, but the most exact performance of my duty will not
yield me that gratification, since I cannot be perfectly satisfied that
I do right in marrying a man so very disagreeable to me. I fear the
pride of reputation influences me more than I imagine, and though it is
as justifiable as any pride, yet still it is certainly no virtue.'
'When I reflect,' said she afterwards, 'on the step I am going to take,
my terrors are inexpressible; how dreadful is it at my age, when nature
seems to promise me so many years of life, to doom myself to a state of
wretchedness which death alone can terminate, and wherein I must bury
all my sorrows in silence, without even the melancholy relief of pouring
them forth in the bosom of my friend, and seeking, from her tender
participation, the only consolation I could receive! For after this
dreaded union is completed, duty will forbid me to make my distresses
known, even to my Louisa; I must not then expose the faults of him whose
slightest failings I ought to conceal. One only hope remains, that you,
my first and dearest friend, will not abandon me; that whatever cloud of
melancholy may hang over my mind, yet you will still bear with me, and
remove your abode to a place where I may have the consolation of your
company. If it be in my power to make my house a comfortable habitation
to my Louisa, I cannot be entirely wretched.'
Miss Mancel gave her the tenderest assurances of fixing at least in her
neighbourhood, since a second paradise could not recompense her for the
loss of her society; and that on no terms could she prevail on herself
to continue in a house where she must see that wretched Simon, who had
been a vile instrument in reducing her friend to that distressful
situation. This gleam of comfort was a very seasonable relief to Miss
Melvyn's dejected spirits, and gave some respite to her tears.
As soon as she returned home, she acquainted Sir Charles and Lady Melvyn
with her resolution, who soon communicated it to Mr Morgan; and nothing
was now thought of but hastening the wedding as much as possible.
'I wonder,' interrupted Lamont, 'how Miss Melvyn could bring herself to
let her step-mother have such an opportunity of exulting in the success
of her detestable arts.'
'That,' replied Mrs Maynard, 'was a consideration which had no weight
with her, nor should it indeed be any mortification to our pride that
deceit and cunning have triumphed over us. Wickedness serves itself by
weapons which we would not use, and if we are wounded with them, we have
no more reason to be mortified than a man would have to think his
courage disgraced because when he lay sleeping in his bed he was taken
prisoner by a body of armed men. To be circumvented by cunning must ever
be the fate, but never the disgrace, of the artless.'
As Miss Melvyn's compliance procured her a greater degree of favour at
home than she had ever before enjoyed, Miss Mancel was suffered to come
to the house, and met with an obliging reception from the whole family.
Her continual presence there was a great support to her friend in her
very disagreeable situation, and after indulging her sorrow in their
private conversation, and mingling their sympathetic tears, she was the
better able to endure the restraint which she was obliged to undergo
when any other person was present.