love and freindship-第3章

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；　（exclaimed　Sophia）　I　cannot　go　to　Newgate；　I　shall　not　be　able　to　support　the　sight　of　my　Augustus　in　so　cruel　a　confinementmy　feelings　are　sufficiently　shocked　by　the　RECITAL；　of　his　Distress；　but　to　behold　it　will　overpower　my　Sensibility。〃　As　I　perfectly　agreed　with　her　in　the　Justice　of　her　Sentiments　the　Postilion　was　instantly　directed　to　return　into　the　Country。　　You　may　perhaps　have　been　somewhat　surprised　my　Dearest　Marianne；　that　in　the　Distress　I　then　endured；　destitute　of　any　support；　and　unprovided　with　any　Habitation；　I　should　never　once　have　remembered　my　Father　and　Mother　or　my　paternal　Cottage　in　the　Vale　of　Uske。　　To　account　for　this　seeming　forgetfullness　I　must　inform　you　of　a　trifling　circumstance　concerning　them　which　I　have　as　yet　never　mentioned。　The　death　of　my　Parents　a　few　weeks　after　my　Departure；　is　the　circumstance　I　allude　to。　　By　their　decease　I　became　the　lawfull　Inheritress　of　their　House　and　Fortune。　　But　alas！　　the　House　had　never　been　their　own　and　their　Fortune　had　only　been　an　Annuity　on　their　own　Lives。　　Such　is　the　Depravity　of　the　World！　　To　your　Mother　I　should　have　returned　with　Pleasure；　should　have　been　happy　to　have　introduced　to　her；　my　charming　Sophia　and　should　with　Chearfullness　have　passed　the　remainder　of　my　Life　in　their　dear　Society　in　the　Vale　of　Uske；　had　not　one　obstacle　to　the　execution　of　so　agreable　a　scheme；　intervened；　which　was　the　Marriage　and　Removal　of　your　Mother　to　a　distant　part　of　Ireland。　Adeiu　Laura。



LETTER　11th　LAURA　in　continuation

〃I　have　a　Relation　in　Scotland　（said　Sophia　to　me　as　we　left　London）　who　I　am　certain　would　not　hesitate　in　receiving　me。〃　〃Shall　I　order　the　Boy　to　drive　there？〃　said　Ibut　instantly　recollecting　myself；　exclaimed；　〃Alas　I　fear　it　will　be　too　long　a　Journey　for　the　Horses。〃　Unwilling　however　to　act　only　from　my　own　inadequate　Knowledge　of　the　Strength　and　Abilities　of　Horses；　I　consulted　the　Postilion；　who　was　entirely　of　my　Opinion　concerning　the　Affair。　　We　therefore　determined　to　change　Horses　at　the　next　Town　and　to　travel　Post　the　remainder　of　the　Journey　。　　When　we　arrived　at　the　last　Inn　we　were　to　stop　at；　which　was　but　a　few　miles　from　the　House　of　Sophia's　Relation；　unwilling　to　intrude　our　Society　on　him　unexpected　and　unthought　of；　we　wrote　a　very　elegant　and　well　penned　Note　to　him　containing　an　account　of　our　Destitute　and　melancholy　Situation；　and　of　our　intention　to　spend　some　months　with　him　in　Scotland。　As　soon　as　we　had　dispatched　this　Letter；　we　immediately　prepared　to　follow　it　in　person　and　were　stepping　into　the　Carriage　for　that　Purpose　when　our　attention　was　attracted　by　the　Entrance　of　a　coroneted　Coach　and　4　into　the　Inn…yard。　　A　Gentleman　considerably　advanced　in　years　descended　from　it。　　At　his　first　Appearance　my　Sensibility　was　wonderfully　affected　and　e'er　I　had　gazed　at　him　a　2d　time；　an　instinctive　sympathy　whispered　to　my　Heart；　that　he　was　my　Grandfather。　　Convinced　that　I　could　not　be　mistaken　in　my　conjecture　I　instantly　sprang　from　the　Carriage　I　had　just　entered；　and　following　the　Venerable　Stranger　into　the　Room　he　had　been　shewn　to；　I　threw　myself　on　my　knees　before　him　and　besought　him　to　acknowledge　me　as　his　Grand　Child。　　He　started；　and　having　attentively　examined　my　features；　raised　me　from　the　Ground　and　throwing　his　Grand…fatherly　arms　around　my　Neck；　exclaimed；　〃Acknowledge　thee！　　Yes　dear　resemblance　of　my　Laurina　and　Laurina's　Daughter；　sweet　image　of　my　Claudia　and　my　Claudia's　Mother；　I　do　acknowledge　thee　as　the　Daughter　of　the　one　and　the　Grandaughter　of　the　other。〃　While　he　was　thus　tenderly　embracing　me；　Sophia　astonished　at　my　precipitate　Departure；　entered　the　Room　in　search　of　me。　　No　sooner　had　she　caught　the　eye　of　the　venerable　Peer；　than　he　exclaimed　with　every　mark　of　Astonishment　〃Another　Grandaughter！　　Yes；　yes；　I　see　you　are　the　Daughter　of　my　Laurina's　eldest　Girl；　your　resemblance　to　the　beauteous　Matilda　sufficiently　proclaims　it。　〃Oh！〃　replied　Sophia；　〃when　I　first　beheld　you　the　instinct　of　Nature　whispered　me　that　we　were　in　some　degree　relatedBut　whether　Grandfathers；　or　Grandmothers；　I　could　not　pretend　to　determine。〃　He　folded　her　in　his　arms；　and　whilst　they　were　tenderly　embracing；　the　Door　of　the　Apartment　opened　and　a　most　beautifull　young　Man　appeared。　　On　perceiving　him　Lord　St。　Clair　started　and　retreating　back　a　few　paces；　with　uplifted　Hands；　said；　〃Another　Grand…child！　　What　an　unexpected　Happiness　is　this！　　to　discover　in　the　space　of　3　minutes；　as　many　of　my　Descendants！　　This　I　am　certain　is　Philander　the　son　of　my　Laurina's　3d　girl　the　amiable　Bertha；　there　wants　now　but　the　presence　of　Gustavus　to　compleat　the　Union　of　my　Laurina's　Grand…　Children。〃

〃And　here　he　is；　（said　a　Gracefull　Youth　who　that　instant　entered　the　room）　here　is　the　Gustavus　you　desire　to　see。　　I　am　the　son　of　Agatha　your　Laurina's　4th　and　youngest　Daughter；〃　〃I　see　you　are　indeed；　replied　Lord　St。　ClairBut　tell　me　（continued　he　looking　fearfully　towards　the　Door）　tell　me；　have　I　any　other　Grand…children　in　the　House。〃　〃None　my　Lord。〃　〃Then　I　will　provide　for　you　all　without　farther　delayHere　are　4　Banknotes　of　50L　eachTake　them　and　remember　I　have　done　the　Duty　of　a　Grandfather。〃　He　instantly　left　the　Room　and　immediately　afterwards　the　House。　Adeiu；　Laura。



LETTER　the　12th　LAURA　in　continuation

You　may　imagine　how　greatly　we　were　surprised　by　the　sudden　departure　of　Lord　St　Clair。　　〃Ignoble　Grand…sire！〃　　exclaimed　Sophia。　　〃Unworthy　Grandfather！〃　said　I；　and　instantly　fainted　in　each　other's　arms。　　How　long　we　remained　in　this　situation　I　know　not；　but　when　we　recovered　we　found　ourselves　alone；　without　either　Gustavus；　Philander；　or　the　Banknotes。　　As　we　were　deploring　our　unhappy　fate；　the　Door　of　the　Apartment　opened　and　〃Macdonald〃　was　announced。　　He　was　Sophia's　cousin。　　The　haste　with　which　he　came　to　our　releif　so　soon　after　the　receipt　of　our　Note；　spoke　so　greatly　in　his　favour　that　I　hesitated　not　to　pronounce　him　at　first　sight；　a　tender　and　simpathetic　Freind。　Alas！　　he　little　deserved　the　namefor　though　he　told　us　that　he　was　much　concerned　at　our　Misfortunes；　yet　by　his　own　account　it　appeared　that　the　perusal　of　them；　had　neither　drawn　from　him　a　single　sigh；　nor　induced　him　to　bestow　one　curse　on　our　vindictive　stars。　　He　told　Sophia　that　his　Daughter　depended　on　her　returning　with　him　to　Macdonald…Hall；　and　that　as　his　Cousin's　freind　he　should　be　happy　to　see　me　there　also。　　To　Macdonald…Hall；　therefore　we　went；　and　were　received　with　great　kindness　by　Janetta　the　Daughter　of　Macdonald；　and　the　Mistress　of　the　Mansion。　　Janetta　was　then　only　fifteen；　naturally　well　disposed；　endowed　with　a　susceptible　Heart；　and　a　simpathetic　Disposition；　she　might；　had　these　amiable　qualities　been　properly　encouraged；　have　been　an　ornament　to　human　Nature；　but　unfortunately　her　Father　possessed　not　a　soul　sufficiently　exalted　to　admire　so　promising　a　Disposition；　and　had　endeavoured　by　every　means　on　his　power　to　prevent　it　encreasing　with　her　Years。　　He　had　actually　so　far　extinguished　the　natural　noble　Sensibility　of　her　Heart；　as　to　prevail　on　her　to　accept　an　offer　from　a　young　Man　of　his　Recommendation。　　They　were　to　be　married　in　a　few　months；　and　Graham；　was　in　the　House　when　we　arrived。　WE　soon　saw　through　his　character。　　He　was　just　such　a　Man　as　one　might　have　expected　to　be　the　choice　of　Macdonald。　　They　said　he　was　Sensible；　well…informed；　and　Agreable；　we　did　not　pretend　to　Judge　of　such　trifles；　but　as　we　were　convinced　he　had　no　soul；　that　he　had　never　read　the　sorrows　of　Werter；　and　that　his　Hair　bore　not　the　least　resemblance　to　auburn；　we　were　certain　that　Janetta　could　feel　no　affection　for　him；　or　at　least　that　she　ought　to　feel　none。　　The　very　circumstance　of　his　being　her　father's　choice　too；　was　so　much　in　his　disfavour；　that　had　he　been　deserving　her；　in　every　other　respect　yet　THAT　of　itself　ought　to　have　been　a　sufficient　reason　in　the　Eyes　of　Janetta　for　rejecting　him。　　These　considerations　we　were　determined　to　represent　to　her　in　their　proper　light　and　doubted　not　of　meeting　with　the　desired　success　from　one　naturally　so　well　disposed；　whose　errors　in　the　affair　had　only　arisen　from　a　want　of　proper　confidence　in　her　own　opinion；　and　a　suitable　contempt　of　her　father's。　　We　found　her　indeed　all　that　our　warmest　wishes　could　have　hoped　for；　we　had　no　difficulty　to　convince　her　that　it　was　impossible　she　could　love　Graham；　or　that　it　was　her　Duty　to　disobey　her　Father；　the　only　thing　at　which　she　rather　seemed　to　hesitate　was　our　assertion　that　she　must　be　attached　to　some　other　Person。　　For　some　time；　she　persevered　in　declaring　that　she　knew　no　other　young　man　for　whom　she　had　the　the　smallest　Affection；　but　upon　explaining　the　impossibility　of　such　a　thing　she　said　that　she　beleived　she　DID　LIKE　Captain　M'Kenrie　better　than　any　one　she　knew　besides。　　This　confession　satisfied　us　and　after　having　enumerated　the　good　Qualities　of　M'Kenrie　and　assured　her　that　she　was　violently　in　love　with　him；　we　desired　to　know　whether　he　had　ever　in　any　wise　declared　his　affection　to　her。

〃So　far　from　having　ever　declared　it；　I　have　no　reason　to　imagine　that　he　has　ever　felt　any　for　me。〃　said　Janetta。　　〃That　he　certainly　adores　you　（replied　Sophia）　there　can　be　no　doubt。　The　Attachment　must　be　reciprocal。　　Did　he　never　gaze　on　you　with　admirationtenderly　press　your　handdrop　an　involantary　tear　and　leave　the　room　abruptly？〃　〃Never　（replied　she）　that　I　rememberhe　has　always　left　the　room　indeed　when　his　visit　has　been　ended；　but　has　never　gone　away　particularly　abruptly　or　without　making　a　bow。〃　Indeed　my　Love　（said　I）　you　must　be　mistakenfor　it　is　absolutely　impossible　that　he　should　ever　have　left　you　but　with　Confusion；　Despair；　and　Precipitation。　Consider　but　for　a　moment　Janetta；　and　you　must　be　convinced　how　absurd　it　is　to　suppose　that　he　could　ever　make　a　Bow；　or　behave　like　any　other　Person。〃　Having　settled　this　Point　to　our　satisfaction；　the　next　we　took　into　consideration　was；　to　determine　in　what　manner　we　should　inform　M'Kenrie　of　the　favourable　Opinion　Janetta　entertained　of　him。　。　。　。　　We　at　length　agreed　to　acquaint　him　with　it　by　an　anonymous　Letter　which　Sophia　drew　up　in　the　following　manner。

〃Oh！　　happy　Lover　of　the　beautifull　Janetta；　oh！　　amiable　Possessor　of　HER　Heart　whose　hand　is　destined　to　another；　why　do　you　thus　delay　a　confession　of　your　attachment　to　the　amiable　Object　of　it？　　Oh！　　consider　that　a　few　weeks　will　at　once　put　an　end　to　every　flattering　Hope　that　you　may　now　entertain；　by　uniting　the　unfortunate　Victim　of　her　father's　Cruelty　to　the　execrable　and　detested　Graham。〃

〃Alas！　　why　do　you　thus　so　cruelly　connive　at　the　projected　Misery　of　her　and　of　yourself　by　delaying　to　communicate　that　scheme　which　had　doubtless　long　possessed　your　imagination？　　A　secret　Union　will　at　once　secure　the　felicity　of　both。〃

The　amiable　M'Kenrie；　whose　modesty　as　he　afterwards　assured　us　had　been　the　only　reason　of　his　having　so　long　concealed　the　violence　of　his　affection　for　Janetta；　on　receiving　this　Billet　flew　on　the　wings　of　Love　to　Macdonald…Hall；　and　so　powerfully　pleaded　his　Attachment　to　her　who　inspired　it；　that　after　a　few　more　private　interveiws；　Sophia　and　I　experienced　the　satisfaction　of　seeing　the