love and freindship-第16章

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〃Oh　Lady　Scudamore；　said　I　wiping　my　eyes；　that　such　a　sweet　Creature　should　talk　of　dieing！〃

〃It　is　an　affecting　Circumstance　indeed；　replied　Lady　Scudamore。〃　〃When　I　am　dead　said　he；　let　me　be　carried　and　lain　at　her　feet；　and　perhaps　she　may　not　disdain　to　drop　a　pitying　tear　on　my　poor　remains。〃

〃Dear　Lady　Scudamore　interrupted　I；　say　no　more　on　this　affecting　subject。　　I　cannot　bear　it。〃

〃Oh！　　how　I　admire　the　sweet　sensibility　of　your　Soul；　and　as　I　would　not　for　Worlds　wound　it　too　deeply；　I　will　be　silent。〃

〃Pray　go　on。〃　said　I。　　She　did　so。

〃And　then　added　he；　Ah！　　Cousin　imagine　what　my　transports　will　be　when　I　feel　the　dear　precious　drops　trickle　on　my　face！　　Who　would　not　die　to　haste　such　extacy！　　And　when　I　am　interred；　may　the　divine　Henrietta　bless　some　happier　Youth　with　her　affection；　May　he　be　as　tenderly　attached　to　her　as　the　hapless　Musgrove　and　while　HE　crumbles　to　dust；　May　they　live　an　example　of　Felicity　in　the　Conjugal　state！〃

Did　you　ever　hear　any　thing　so　pathetic？　　What　a　charming　wish；　to　be　lain　at　my　feet　when　he　was　dead！　　Oh！　what　an　exalted　mind　he　must　have　to　be　capable　of　such　a　wish！　　Lady　Scudamore　went　on。

〃Ah！　　my　dear　Cousin　replied　I　to　him；　such　noble　behaviour　as　this；　must　melt　the　heart　of　any　woman　however　obdurate　it　may　naturally　be；　and　could　the　divine　Henrietta　but　hear　your　generous　wishes　for　her　happiness；　all　gentle　as　is　her　mind；　I　have　not　a　doubt　but　that　she　would　pity　your　affection　and　endeavour　to　return　it。〃　　〃Oh！　　Cousin　answered　he；　do　not　endeavour　to　raise　my　hopes　by　such　flattering　assurances。　　No；　I　cannot　hope　to　please　this　angel　of　a　Woman；　and　the　only　thing　which　remains　for　me　to　do；　is　to　die。〃　　〃True　Love　is　ever　desponding　replied　I；　but　I　my　dear　Tom　will　give　you　even　greater　hopes　of　conquering　this　fair　one's　heart；　than　I　have　yet　given　you；　by　assuring　you　that　I　watched　her　with　the　strictest　attention　during　the　whole　day；　and　could　plainly　discover　that　she　cherishes　in　her　bosom　though　unknown　to　herself；　a　most　tender　affection　for　you。〃

〃Dear　Lady　Scudamore　cried　I；　This　is　more　than　I　ever　knew！〃

〃Did　not　I　say　that　it　was　unknown　to　yourself？　　I　did　not；　continued　I　to　him；　encourage　you　by　saying　this　at　first；　that　surprise　might　render　the　pleasure　still　Greater。〃　　〃No　Cousin　replied　he　in　a　languid　voice；　nothing　will　convince　me　that　I　can　have　touched　the　heart　of　Henrietta　Halton；　and　if　you　are　deceived　yourself；　do　not　attempt　deceiving　me。〃　　〃In　short　my　Love　it　was　the　work　of　some　hours　for　me　to　Persuade　the　poor　despairing　Youth　that　you　had　really　a　preference　for　him；　but　when　at　last　he　could　no　longer　deny　the　force　of　my　arguments；　or　discredit　what　I　told　him；　his　transports；　his　Raptures；　his　Extacies　are　beyond　my　power　to　describe。〃

〃Oh！　　the　dear　Creature；　cried　I；　how　passionately　he　loves　me！　But　dear　Lady　Scudamore　did　you　tell　him　that　I　was　totally　dependant　on　my　Uncle　and　Aunt？〃

〃Yes；　I　told　him　every　thing。〃

〃And　what　did　he　say。〃

〃He　exclaimed　with　virulence　against　Uncles　and　Aunts；　Accused　the　laws　of　England　for　allowing　them　to　Possess　their　Estates　when　wanted　by　their　Nephews　or　Neices；　and　wished　HE　were　in　the　House　of　Commons；　that　he　might　reform　the　Legislature；　and　rectify　all　its　abuses。〃

〃Oh！　　the　sweet　Man！　　What　a　spirit　he　has！〃　said　I。

〃He　could　not　flatter　himself　he　added；　that　the　adorable　Henrietta　would　condescend　for　his　sake　to　resign　those　Luxuries　and　that　splendor　to　which　she　had　been　used；　and　accept　only　in　exchange　the　Comforts　and　Elegancies　which　his　limited　Income　could　afford　her；　even　supposing　that　his　house　were　in　Readiness　to　receive　her。　　I　told　him　that　it　could　not　be　expected　that　she　would；　it　would　be　doing　her　an　injustice　to　suppose　her　capable　of　giving　up　the　power　she　now　possesses　and　so　nobly　uses　of　doing　such　extensive　Good　to　the　poorer　part　of　her　fellow　Creatures；　merely　for　the　gratification　of　you　and　herself。〃

〃To　be　sure　said　I；　I　AM　very　Charitable　every　now　and　then。　　And　what　did　Mr　Musgrove　say　to　this？〃

〃He　replied　that　he　was　under　a　melancholy　necessity　of　owning　the　truth　of　what　I　said；　and　that　therefore　if　he　should　be　the　happy　Creature　destined　to　be　the　Husband　of　the　Beautiful　Henrietta　he　must　bring　himself　to　wait；　however　impatiently；　for　the　fortunate　day；　when　she　might　be　freed　from　the　power　of　worthless　Relations　and　able　to　bestow　herself　on　him。〃

What　a　noble　Creature　he　is！　　Oh！　　Matilda　what　a　fortunate　one　I　am；　who　am　to　be　his　Wife！　　　My　Aunt　is　calling　me　to　come　and　make　the　pies；　so　adeiu　my　dear　freind；　and　beleive　me　yours　etc　H。　Halton。

Finis。



*

SCRAPS


To　Miss　FANNY　CATHERINE　AUSTEN

MY　Dear　Neice　As　I　am　prevented　by　the　great　distance　between　Rowling　and　Steventon　from　superintending　your　Education　myself；　the　care　of　which　will　probably　on　that　account　devolve　on　your　Father　and　Mother；　I　think　it　is　my　particular　Duty　to　Prevent　your　feeling　as　much　as　possible　the　want　of　my　personal　instructions；　by　addressing　to　you　on　paper　my　Opinions　and　Admonitions　on　the　conduct　of　Young　Women；　which　you　will　find　expressed　in　the　following　pages。　I　am　my　dear　Neice　Your　affectionate　Aunt　The　Author。



THE　FEMALE　PHILOSOPHER

A　LETTER

My　Dear　Louisa　Your　friend　Mr　Millar　called　upon　us　yesterday　in　his　way　to　Bath；　whither　he　is　going　for　his　health；　two　of　his　daughters　were　with　him；　but　the　eldest　and　the　three　Boys　are　with　their　Mother　in　Sussex。　　Though　you　have　often　told　me　that　Miss　Millar　was　remarkably　handsome；　you　never　mentioned　anything　of　her　Sisters'　beauty；　yet　they　are　certainly　extremely　pretty。　　I'll　give　you　their　description。Julia　is　eighteen；　with　a　countenance　in　which　Modesty；　Sense　and　Dignity　are　happily　blended；　she　has　a　form　which　at　once　presents　you　with　Grace；　Elegance　and　Symmetry。　　Charlotte　who　is　just　sixteen　is　shorter　than　her　Sister；　and　though　her　figure　cannot　boast　the　easy　dignity　of　Julia's；　yet　it　has　a　pleasing　plumpness　which　is　in　a　different　way　as　estimable。　　She　is　fair　and　her　face　is　expressive　sometimes　of　softness　the　most　bewitching；　and　at　others　of　Vivacity　the　most　striking。　　She　appears　to　have　infinite　Wit　and　a　good　humour　unalterable；　her　conversation　during　the　half　hour　they　set　with　us；　was　replete　with　humourous　sallies；　Bonmots　and　repartees；　while　the　sensible；　the　amiable　Julia　uttered　sentiments　of　Morality　worthy　of　a　heart　like　her　own。　　Mr　Millar　appeared　to　answer　the　character　I　had　always　received　of　him。　　My　Father　met　him　with　that　look　of　Love；　that　social　Shake；　and　cordial　kiss　which　marked　his　gladness　at　beholding　an　old　and　valued　freind　from　whom　thro'　various　circumstances　he　had　been　separated　nearly　twenty　years。　　Mr　Millar　observed　（and　very　justly　too）　that　many　events　had　befallen　each　during　that　interval　of　time；　which　gave　occasion　to　the　lovely　Julia　for　making　most　sensible　reflections　on　the　many　changes　in　their　situation　which　so　long　a　period　had　occasioned；　on　the　advantages　of　some；　and　the　disadvantages　of　others。　　From　this　subject　she　made　a　short　digression　to　the　instability　of　human　pleasures　and　the　uncertainty　of　their　duration；　which　led　her　to　observe　that　all　earthly　Joys　must　be　imperfect。　She　was　proceeding　to　illustrate　this　doctrine　by　examples　from　the　Lives　of　great　Men　when　the　Carriage　came　to　the　Door　and　the　amiable　Moralist　with　her　Father　and　Sister　was　obliged　to　depart；　but　not　without　a　promise　of　spending　five　or　six　months　with　us　on　their　return。　　We　of　course　mentioned　you；　and　I　assure　you　that　ample　Justice　was　done　to　your　Merits　by　all。　　〃Louisa　Clarke　（said　I）　is　in　general　a　very　pleasant　Girl；　yet　sometimes　her　good　humour　is　clouded　by　Peevishness；　Envy　and　Spite。　　She　neither　wants　Understanding　or　is　without　some　pretensions　to　Beauty；　but　these　are　so　very　trifling；　that　the　value　she　sets　on　her　personal　charms；　and　the　adoration　she　expects　them　to　be　offered　are　at　once　a　striking　example　of　her　vanity；　her　pride；　and　her　folly。〃　So　said　I；　and　to　my　opinion　everyone　added　weight　by　the　concurrence　of　their　own。　Your　affectionate　Arabella　Smythe。



THE　FIRST　ACT　OF　A　COMEDY

CHARACTERS　Popgun　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Maria　Charles　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Pistolletta　Postilion　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Hostess　Chorus　of　ploughboys　　　　　Cook　　and　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　and　Strephon　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chloe

SCENEAN　INN

ENTER　Hostess；　Charles；　Maria；　and　Cook。

Hostess　to　Maria）　If　the　gentry　in　the　Lion　should　want　beds；　shew　them　number　9。

Maria）　Yes　Mistress。　EXIT　Maria

Hostess　to　Cook）　If　their　Honours　in　the　Moon　ask　for　the　bill　of　fare；　give　it　them。

Cook）　I　wull；　I　wull。　　EXIT　Cook。

Hostess　to　Charles）　If　their　Ladyships　in　the　Sun　ring　their　Bellanswerit。

Charles）　Yes　Madam。　　EXEUNT　Severally。


SCENE　CHANGES　TO　THE　MOON；　and　discovers　Popgun　and　Pistoletta。

Pistoletta）　Pray　papa　how　far　is　it　to　London？

Popgun）　My　Girl；　my　Darling；　my　favourite　of　all　my　Children；　who　art　the　picture　of　thy　poor　Mother　who　died　two　months　ago；　with　whom　I　am　going　to　Town　to　marry　to　Strephon；　and　to　whom　I　mean　to　bequeath　my　whole　Estate；　it　wants　seven　Miles。


SCENE　CHANGES　TO　THE　SUN

ENTER　Chloe　and　a　chorus　of　ploughboys。

Chloe）　Where　am　I？　　At　Hounslow。Where　go　I？　　To　London。　　What　to　do？　To　be　married。　　Unto　whom？　　Unto　Strephon。　　Who　is　he？　A　Youth。　Then　I　will　sing　a　song。

SONG　I　go　to　Town　And　when　I　come　down；　I　shall　be　married　to　Streephon*　＇*Note　the　two　e's＇　And　that　to　me　will　be　fun。

Chorus）　Be　fun；　be　fun；　be　fun；　And　that　to　me　will　be　fun。

ENTER　Cook　Cook）　Here　is　the　bill　of　fare。

Chloe　reads）　2　Ducks；　a　leg　of　beef；　a　stinking　partridge；　and　a　tart。I　will　have　the　leg　of　beef　and　the　partridge。　EXIT　Cook。　And　now　I　will　sing　another　song。

SONG　I　am　going　to　have　my　dinner；　After　which　I　shan't　be　thinner；　I　wish　I　had　here　Strephon　For　he　would　carve　the　partridge　if　it　should　be　a　tough　one。

Chorus）　Tough　one；　tough　one；　tough　one　For　he　would　carve　the　partridge　if　it　Should　be　a　tough　one。　EXIT　Chloe　and　Chorus。

SCENE　CHANGES　TO　THE　INSIDE　OF　THE　LION。

Enter　Strephon　and　Postilion。　Streph：）　You　drove　me　from　Staines　to　this　place；　from　whence　I　mean　to　go　to　Town　to　marry　Chloe。　　How　much　is　your　due？

Post：）　Eighteen　pence。　Streph：）　Alas；　my　freind；　I　have　but　a　bad　guinea　with　which　I　mean　to　support　myself　in　Town。　　But　I　will　pawn　to　you　an　undirected　Letter　that　I　received　from　Chloe。

Post：）　Sir；　I　accept　your　offer。

END　OF　THE　FIRST　ACT。



A　LETTER　from　a　YOUNG　LADY；　whose　feelings　being　too　strong　for　her　Judgement　led　her　into　the　commission　of　Errors　which　her　Heart　disapproved。

Many　have　been　the　cares　and　vicissitudes　of　my　past　life；　my　beloved　Ellinor；　and　the　only　consolation　I　feel　for　their　bitterness　is　that　on　a　close　examination　of　my　conduct；　I　am　convinced　that　I　have　strictly　deserved　them。　　I　murdered　my　father　at　a　very　early　period　of　my　Life；　I　have　since　murdered　my　Mother；　and　I　am　now　going　to　murder　my　Sister。　　I　have　changed　my　religion　so　often　that　at　present　I　have　not　an　idea　of　any　left。　I　have　been　a　perjured　witness　in　every　public　tryal　for　these　last　twelve　years；　and　I　have　forged　my