_Anna Wenbourne St. Ives to Louisa Clifton_
_London, Grosvenor Street_
Abimelech is come up to town. I am obliged very respectfully to call
him Mr. Henley when Sir Arthur hears me, in compliance to his feelings:
and he has hinted that hereafter, when his name is written, it must be
tagged with an esquire.
The old miser [Well, Louisa, let it be the old gentleman] is so eager
in pursuit of his project that he can take no rest, and is unwilling
Sir Arthur should take any. He has a prodigious quantity of cunning!
Whatever he may know of the theory of the passions as a general
subject, no person certainly knows better how to work upon the passions
of Sir Arthur: at least no person who will condescend to take such an
advantage. His discourse is such a continued mixture of Wenbourne-Hill,
his money, mortgages, grottos, groves, the wherewithals, and the young
gentleman his son, that laughter scarcely can hold to hear him. Were
the thing practicable, he would render Frank Henley himself ridiculous.
It is pleasant to remark what a check the presence of this favourite
son is upon his loquacity. He never suspects the possibility of there
being a mortal superior to himself at other times; whereas he has then
a latent consciousness of his own ridicule. The effect which the
absence of Frank has produced, with the favour he is in with me, and
the resolute manner in which he conquered his father when he last went
down to Wenbourne-Hill, have made a total change in the old man's
behaviour to this formerly neglected but now half adored son. Were
habits so inveterate capable of being eradicated, Frank would yet teach
him virtue; but the task is too difficult.
He is certainly in a most delicious trance. His son to be married to
the daughter of his master! That master a baronet! And the estates of
that baronet to be his own, as he supposes, to all eternity. For the
avaricious dreams of selfishness are satisfied with nothing less. These
are joys that swell and enlarge even his narrow heart, into something
that endeavours to mimic urbanity.
Whenever Sir Arthur mentions Lord Fitz-Allen, or the family consent,
honest Aby in a moment conjures up Wenbourne-Hill, a hermitage, and a
wilderness; and for the first day, if he found that dose not strong
enough to produce its effect, foreclosures were added to the mixture.
Your own heart, Louisa, will tell you what Frank's feelings were at
such a mean menace; and, though to stop his garrulity entirely was not
in the power of man, he determined to silence him on that subject. But
the cunning Abimelech turned even this incident to advantage, by taking
care to inform Sir Arthur of Frank's generosity.
Thus, Louisa, things are at present in a train which some months ago I
should indeed very little have expected. But such are the energies of
virtue! How changed at present do all surrounding objects seem! To me
they were never dark; but they were not always pleasant. They are now
all cheerfulness and perspicacity. We have the most charming walks and
the most delightful conversations, Louisa; and on subjects so
expansive, so sublime--! Often do I say--'Why is my friend not with us?
Why does she not come and bear her part in discussion? She whose mind
is so penetrating and whose thoughts are so grand?' But we shall meet!
Days and years of happiness are before us! The prospect is rapture!
Yes, Louisa, we shall meet, and I hope quickly!