The case of entanglement, on the side of ELLA, alluded to in the former
chapter, was this:—Her limited fortune, notwithstanding her high and
proud connections, made it expedient for herself and sister, to live
with an elderly lady, who had also other female boarders. An officer,
who had been wounded in the service of his country in a distant climate,
with a constitution apparently broken, made application to be received
into the family, of which our heroine was a member. The circumstance
excited great alarm, and occasioned much serious debate. At length, after
many sage discussions, and beds of justice, it was resolved, _nemine
contradicente_, that a wounded officer, somewhat advanced in life, and
with an impaired constitution, was not an object to awaken the scruples,
or alarm the fears of the sisterhood. Things, however, turned out quite
contrary. “Love (as it is said) laughs at locksmiths;” and such a
dart was shot from ELLA’S bright eyes through the thorax of the Major,
where, by the way, there was a ball lodged already, which no medical
skill could extract, that he surrendered at discretion. It is a little
whimsical, that this catastrophe was maliciously predicted to the Lady by
our Sexagenarian; but the prophecy was at first received with something
like indignation. “Could it be supposed that a worn-out soldier, of no
family, fortune, or pretensions, could excite any other emotion than
pity?” Pity, however, it is well known, is next a kin to love, and so
it proved in this instance. The final issue may be narrated in a few
words. Application was made to ELLA’S great and noble friends, for their
consent to this ill-suited union, to which the Horatian adage might
strictly be applied; most certainly might they be termed “_impares formas
atque animos_,” and the _jugum_, had it been worn, would have been truly
_aheneum_.
These mighty people, however, whose generosity never extended beyond
giving their relative an occasional dinner, wrapped themselves in their
magnificence, and in stately terms, forbade the banns. What was to be
done in this dilemma? After due deliberation, it was determined that
they should consider themselves as solemnly pledged, and wait for a
favourable change of circumstances. Month, however, succeeded month,
and year followed year, and no such change took place. At length,
the gentleman’s health appeared to be growing worse and worse, and
it was deemed indispensably necessary for his convalescence, that he
should remove to Bath. Upon this occasion, the lady behaved with a
characteristic nobleness of mind. She thought her friend and lover would
return no more, and that the circumstances in which he was placed, with
respect to herself, might induce him to make a will in her favour. As
soon, therefore, as he had arrived at the place of his destination, she
wrote to inform him, that, after duly considering the little probability
there existed of their ever being happily united, she thought it best for
both, that the engagement should be dissolved, and the connection at an
end. Under this impression, therefore, she was determined positively to
decline any favourable intention he might retain towards her, if induced
to make his will. She added the strongest recommendation in favour of
his nephew, whom he had materially assisted in life, and who had also
experienced many solid benefits from her friendship.
Negotii sibi qui volet vim parare, navem et mulierem,
Hæc duo sibi comparato.