love and freindship-第2章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


s；　either　of　Consequence　or　concern　to　me。　　Tell　me　Augusta　with　sincerity；　did　you　ever　know　me　consult　his　inclinations　or　follow　his　Advice　in　the　least　trifling　Particular　since　the　age　of　fifteen？〃

〃Edward　（replied　she）　you　are　surely　too　diffident　in　your　own　praise。　　Since　you　were　fifteen　only！　　My　Dear　Brother　since　you　were　five　years　old；　I　entirely　acquit　you　of　ever　having　willingly　contributed　to　the　satisfaction　of　your　Father。　　But　still　I　am　not　without　apprehensions　of　your　being　shortly　obliged　to　degrade　yourself　in　your　own　eyes　by　seeking　a　support　for　your　wife　in　the　Generosity　of　Sir　Edward。〃

〃Never；　never　Augusta　will　I　so　demean　myself。　　（said　Edward）。　Support！　　What　support　will　Laura　want　which　she　can　receive　from　him？〃

〃Only　those　very　insignificant　ones　of　Victuals　and　Drink。〃　（answered　she。）

〃Victuals　and　Drink！　　（replied　my　Husband　in　a　most　nobly　contemptuous　Manner）　and　dost　thou　then　imagine　that　there　is　no　other　support　for　an　exalted　mind　（such　as　is　my　Laura's）　than　the　mean　and　indelicate　employment　of　Eating　and　Drinking？〃

〃None　that　I　know　of；　so　efficacious。〃　（returned　Augusta）。

〃And　did　you　then　never　feel　the　pleasing　Pangs　of　Love；　Augusta？　（replied　my　Edward）。　　Does　it　appear　impossible　to　your　vile　and　corrupted　Palate；　to　exist　on　Love？　　Can　you　not　conceive　the　Luxury　of　living　in　every　distress　that　Poverty　can　inflict；　with　the　object　of　your　tenderest　affection？〃

〃You　are　too　ridiculous　（said　Augusta）　to　argue　with；　perhaps　however　you　may　in　time　be　convinced　that　。。。〃

Here　I　was　prevented　from　hearing　the　remainder　of　her　speech；　by　the　appearance　of　a　very　Handsome　young　Woman；　who　was　ushured　into　the　Room　at　the　Door　of　which　I　had　been　listening。　　On　hearing　her　announced　by　the　Name　of　〃Lady　Dorothea；〃　I　instantly　quitted　my　Post　and　followed　her　into　the　Parlour；　for　I　well　remembered　that　she　was　the　Lady；　proposed　as　a　Wife　for　my　Edward　by　the　Cruel　and　Unrelenting　Baronet。

Altho'　Lady　Dorothea's　visit　was　nominally　to　Philippa　and　Augusta；　yet　I　have　some　reason　to　imagine　that　（acquainted　with　the　Marriage　and　arrival　of　Edward）　to　see　me　was　a　principal　motive　to　it。

I　soon　perceived　that　tho'　Lovely　and　Elegant　in　her　Person　and　tho'　Easy　and　Polite　in　her　Address；　she　was　of　that　inferior　order　of　Beings　with　regard　to　Delicate　Feeling；　tender　Sentiments；　and　refined　Sensibility；　of　which　Augusta　was　one。

She　staid　but　half　an　hour　and　neither　in　the　Course　of　her　Visit；　confided　to　me　any　of　her　secret　thoughts；　nor　requested　me　to　confide　in　her；　any　of　Mine。　　You　will　easily　imagine　therefore　my　Dear　Marianne　that　I　could　not　feel　any　ardent　affection　or　very　sincere　Attachment　for　Lady　Dorothea。　Adeiu　Laura。



LETTER　8th　LAURA　to　MARIANNE；　in　continuation

Lady　Dorothea　had　not　left　us　long　before　another　visitor　as　unexpected　a　one　as　her　Ladyship；　was　announced。　　It　was　Sir　Edward；　who　informed　by　Augusta　of　her　Brother's　marriage；　came　doubtless　to　reproach　him　for　having　dared　to　unite　himself　to　me　without　his　Knowledge。　　But　Edward　foreseeing　his　design；　approached　him　with　heroic　fortitude　as　soon　as　he　entered　the　Room；　and　addressed　him　in　the　following　Manner。

〃Sir　Edward；　I　know　the　motive　of　your　Journey　hereYou　come　with　the　base　Design　of　reproaching　me　for　having　entered　into　an　indissoluble　engagement　with　my　Laura　without　your　Consent。　　But　Sir；　I　glory　in　the　Act。　　It　is　my　greatest　boast　that　I　have　incurred　the　displeasure　of　my　Father！〃

So　saying；　he　took　my　hand　and　whilst　Sir　Edward；　Philippa；　and　Augusta　were　doubtless　reflecting　with　admiration　on　his　undaunted　Bravery；　led　me　from　the　Parlour　to　his　Father's　Carriage　which　yet　remained　at　the　Door　and　in　which　we　were　instantly　conveyed　from　the　pursuit　of　Sir　Edward。

The　Postilions　had　at　first　received　orders　only　to　take　the　London　road；　as　soon　as　we　had　sufficiently　reflected　However；　we　ordered　them　to　Drive　to　M。　the　seat　of　Edward's　most　particular　freind；　which　was　but　a　few　miles　distant。

At　M。　　we　arrived　in　a　few　hours；　and　on　sending　in　our　names　were　immediately　admitted　to　Sophia；　the　Wife　of　Edward's　freind。　After　having　been　deprived　during　the　course　of　3　weeks　of　a　real　freind　（for　such　I　term　your　Mother）　imagine　my　transports　at　beholding　one；　most　truly　worthy　of　the　Name。　　Sophia　was　rather　above　the　middle　size；　most　elegantly　formed。　　A　soft　languor　spread　over　her　lovely　features；　but　increased　their　Beauty。　It　was　the　Charectarestic　of　her　Mind。　　She　was　all　sensibility　and　Feeling。　　We　flew　into　each　others　arms　and　after　having　exchanged　vows　of　mutual　Freindship　for　the　rest　of　our　Lives；　instantly　unfolded　to　each　other　the　most　inward　secrets　of　our　Hearts。　　We　were　interrupted　in　the　delightfull　Employment　by　the　entrance　of　Augustus；　（Edward's　freind）　who　was　just　returned　from　a　solitary　ramble。

Never　did　I　see　such　an　affecting　Scene　as　was　the　meeting　of　Edward　and　Augustus。

〃My　Life！　　my　Soul！〃　　（exclaimed　the　former）　〃My　adorable　angel！〃　（replied　the　latter）　as　they　flew　into　each　other's　arms。　　It　was　too　pathetic　for　the　feelings　of　Sophia　and　myselfWe　fainted　alternately　on　a　sofa。　Adeiu　Laura。



LETTER　the　9th　From　the　same　to　the　same

Towards　the　close　of　the　day　we　received　the　following　Letter　from　Philippa。

〃Sir　Edward　is　greatly　incensed　by　your　abrupt　departure；　he　has　taken　back　Augusta　to　Bedfordshire。　　Much　as　I　wish　to　enjoy　again　your　charming　society；　I　cannot　determine　to　snatch　you　from　that；　of　such　dear　and　deserving　FreindsWhen　your　Visit　to　them　is　terminated；　I　trust　you　will　return　to　the　arms　of　your〃　〃Philippa。〃

We　returned　a　suitable　answer　to　this　affectionate　Note　and　after　thanking　her　for　her　kind　invitation　assured　her　that　we　would　certainly　avail　ourselves　of　it；　whenever　we　might　have　no　other　place　to　go　to。　　Tho'　certainly　nothing　could　to　any　reasonable　Being；　have　appeared　more　satisfactory；　than　so　gratefull　a　reply　to　her　invitation；　yet　I　know　not　how　it　was；　but　she　was　certainly　capricious　enough　to　be　displeased　with　our　behaviour　and　in　a　few　weeks　after；　either　to　revenge　our　Conduct；　or　releive　her　own　solitude；　married　a　young　and　illiterate　Fortune…　hunter。　　This　imprudent　step　（tho'　we　were　sensible　that　it　would　probably　deprive　us　of　that　fortune　which　Philippa　had　ever　taught　us　to　expect）　could　not　on　our　own　accounts；　excite　from　our　exalted　minds　a　single　sigh；　yet　fearfull　lest　it　might　prove　a　source　of　endless　misery　to　the　deluded　Bride；　our　trembling　Sensibility　was　greatly　affected　when　we　were　first　informed　of　the　Event。The　affectionate　Entreaties　of　Augustus　and　Sophia　that　we　would　for　ever　consider　their　House　as　our　Home；　easily　prevailed　on　us　to　determine　never　more　to　leave　them；　In　the　society　of　my　Edward　and　this　Amiable　Pair；　I　passed　the　happiest　moments　of　my　Life；　Our　time　was　most　delightfully　spent；　in　mutual　Protestations　of　Freindship；　and　in　vows　of　unalterable　Love；　in　which　we　were　secure　from　being　interrupted；　by　intruding　and　disagreable　Visitors；　as　Augustus　and　Sophia　had　on　their　first　Entrance　in　the　Neighbourhood；　taken　due　care　to　inform　the　surrounding　Families；　that　as　their　happiness　centered　wholly　in　themselves；　they　wished　for　no　other　society。　　But　alas！　　my　Dear　Marianne　such　Happiness　as　I　then　enjoyed　was　too　perfect　to　be　lasting。　　A　most　severe　and　unexpected　Blow　at　once　destroyed　every　sensation　of　Pleasure。　　Convinced　as　you　must　be　from　what　I　have　already　told　you　concerning　Augustus　and　Sophia；　that　there　never　were　a　happier　Couple；　I　need　not　I　imagine；　inform　you　that　their　union　had　been　contrary　to　the　inclinations　of　their　Cruel　and　Mercenery　Parents；　who　had　vainly　endeavoured　with　obstinate　Perseverance　to　force　them　into　a　Marriage　with　those　whom　they　had　ever　abhorred；　but　with　a　Heroic　Fortitude　worthy　to　be　related　and　admired；　they　had　both；　constantly　refused　to　submit　to　such　despotic　Power。

After　having　so　nobly　disentangled　themselves　from　the　shackles　of　Parental　Authority；　by　a　Clandestine　Marriage；　they　were　determined　never　to　forfeit　the　good　opinion　they　had　gained　in　the　World；　in　so　doing；　by　accepting　any　proposals　of　reconciliation　that　might　be　offered　them　by　their　Fathersto　this　farther　tryal　of　their　noble　independance　however　they　never　were　exposed。

They　had　been　married　but　a　few　months　when　our　visit　to　them　commenced　during　which　time　they　had　been　amply　supported　by　a　considerable　sum　of　money　which　Augustus　had　gracefully　purloined　from　his　unworthy　father's　Escritoire；　a　few　days　before　his　union　with　Sophia。

By　our　arrival　their　Expenses　were　considerably　encreased　tho'　their　means　for　supplying　them　were　then　nearly　exhausted。　　But　they；　Exalted　Creatures！　　scorned　to　reflect　a　moment　on　their　pecuniary　Distresses　and　would　have　blushed　at　the　idea　of　paying　their　Debts。Alas！　　what　was　their　Reward　for　such　disinterested　Behaviour！　　The　beautifull　Augustus　was　arrested　and　we　were　all　undone。　　Such　perfidious　Treachery　in　the　merciless　perpetrators　of　the　Deed　will　shock　your　gentle　nature　Dearest　Marianne　as　much　as　it　then　affected　the　Delicate　sensibility　of　Edward；　Sophia；　your　Laura；　and　of　Augustus　himself。　　To　compleat　such　unparalelled　Barbarity　we　were　informed　that　an　Execution　in　the　House　would　shortly　take　place。　　Ah！　　what　could　we　do　but　what　we　did！　　We　sighed　and　fainted　on　the　sofa。　Adeiu　Laura。



LETTER　10th　LAURA　in　continuation

When　we　were　somewhat　recovered　from　the　overpowering　Effusions　of　our　grief；　Edward　desired　that　we　would　consider　what　was　the　most　prudent　step　to　be　taken　in　our　unhappy　situation　while　he　repaired　to　his　imprisoned　freind　to　lament　over　his　misfortunes。　We　promised　that　we　would；　and　he　set　forwards　on　his　journey　to　Town。　　During　his　absence　we　faithfully　complied　with　his　Desire　and　after　the　most　mature　Deliberation；　at　length　agreed　that　the　best　thing　we　could　do　was　to　leave　the　House；　of　which　we　every　moment　expected　the　officers　of　Justice　to　take　possession。　　We　waited　therefore　with　the　greatest　impatience；　for　the　return　of　Edward　in　order　to　impart　to　him　the　result　of　our　Deliberations。　But　no　Edward　appeared。　　In　vain　did　we　count　the　tedious　moments　of　his　absencein　vain　did　we　weepin　vain　even　did　we　sighno　Edward　returned。　　This　was　too　cruel；　too　unexpected　a　Blow　to　our　Gentle　Sensibilitywe　could　not　support　itwe　could　only　faint。　　At　length　collecting　all　the　Resolution　I　was　Mistress　of；　I　arose　and　after　packing　up　some　necessary　apparel　for　Sophia　and　myself；　I　dragged　her　to　a　Carriage　I　had　ordered　and　we　instantly　set　out　for　London。　　As　the　Habitation　of　Augustus　was　within　twelve　miles　of　Town；　it　was　not　long　e'er　we　arrived　there；　and　no　sooner　had　we　entered　Holboun　than　letting　down　one　of　the　Front　Glasses　I　enquired　of　every　decent…looking　Person　that　we　passed　〃If　they　had　seen　my　Edward？〃

But　as　we　drove　too　rapidly　to　allow　them　to　answer　my　repeated　Enquiries；　I　gained　little；　or　indeed；　no　information　concerning　him。　　〃Where　am　I　to　drive？〃　　said　the　Postilion。　　〃To　Newgate　Gentle　Youth　（replied　I）；　to　see　Augustus。〃　　〃Oh！　　no；　no；　（exclaimed　Sophia）　I　cannot　go　to　Newgate；　I　shall　not　be　able　to　support　the　sight　of　my　Augustus