To Miss Rivers, Clarges Street.
Silleri, March 20.
I have been telling Fitzgerald I am jealous of his prodigious
attention to Emily, whose cecisbeo he has been the last ten days: the
simpleton took me seriously, and began to vindicate himself, by
explaining the nature of his regard for her, pleading her late
indisposition as an excuse for shewing her some extraordinary
civilities.
I let him harangue ten minutes, then stops me him short, puts on my
poetical face, and repeats,
"When sweet Emily complains,
I have sense of all her pains;
But for little Bella, I
Do not only grieve, but die."
He smiled, kissed my hand, praised my amazing penetration, and was
going to take this opportunity of saying a thousand civil things, when
my divine Rivers appeared on the side of the hill; I flew to meet him,
and left my love to finish the conversation alone.
Twelve o'clock.
I am the happiest of all possible women; Fitzgerald is in the
sullens about your brother; surely there is no pleasure in nature equal
to that of plaguing a fellow who really loves one, especially if he has
as much merit as Fitzgerald, for otherwise he would not be worth
tormenting. He had better not pout with me: I believe I know who will
be tired first.
Eight in the evening.
I have passed a most delicious day: Fitzgerald took it into his wise
head to endeavor to make me jealous of a little pert French-woman, the
wife of a Croix de St. Louis, who I know he despises; I then thought
myself at full liberty to play off all my airs, which I did with
ineffable success, and have sent him home in a humor to hang himself.
Your brother stays the evening, so does a very handsome fellow I have
been flirting with all the day: Fitz was engaged here too, but I told
him it was impossible for him not to attend Madame La Brosse to Quebec;
he looked at me with a spite in his countenance which charmed me to the
soul, and handed the fair lady to his carriole.
I'll teach him to coquet, Lucy; let him take his Madame La Brosse:
indeed, as her husband is at Montreal, I don't see how he can avoid
pursuing his conquest: I am delighted, because I know she is his
aversion.
Emily calls me to cards. Adieu! my dear little Lucy.
Yours,
A. Fermor.