love and freindship-第7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！


ng　my　poor　Sister　fall　down　to　appearance　Lifeless　upon　one　of　the　Chests；　where　we　keep　our　Table　linen。　I　immediately　called　my　Mother　and　the　Maids；　and　at　last　we　brought　her　to　herself　again；　as　soon　as　ever　she　was　sensible；　she　expressed　a　determination　of　going　instantly　to　Henry；　and　was　so　wildly　bent　on　this　Scheme；　that　we　had　the　greatest　Difficulty　in　the　World　to　prevent　her　putting　it　in　execution；　at　last　however　more　by　Force　than　Entreaty　we　prevailed　on　her　to　go　into　her　room；　we　laid　her　upon　the　Bed；　and　she　continued　for　some　Hours　in　the　most　dreadful　Convulsions。　My　Mother　and　I　continued　in　the　room　with　her；　and　when　any　intervals　of　tolerable　Composure　in　Eloisa　would　allow　us；　we　joined　in　heartfelt　lamentations　on　the　dreadful　Waste　in　our　provisions　which　this　Event　must　occasion；　and　in　concerting　some　plan　for　getting　rid　of　them。　　We　agreed　that　the　best　thing　we　could　do　was　to　begin　eating　them　immediately；　and　accordingly　we　ordered　up　the　cold　Ham　and　Fowls；　and　instantly　began　our　Devouring　Plan　on　them　with　great　Alacrity。　　We　would　have　persuaded　Eloisa　to　have　taken　a　Wing　of　a　Chicken；　but　she　would　not　be　persuaded。　She　was　however　much　quieter　than　she　had　been；　the　convulsions　she　had　before　suffered　having　given　way　to　an　almost　perfect　Insensibility。　　We　endeavoured　to　rouse　her　by　every　means　in　our　power；　but　to　no　purpose。　　I　talked　to　her　of　Henry。　　〃Dear　Eloisa　（said　I）　there's　no　occasion　for　your　crying　so　much　about　such　a　trifle。　　（for　I　was　willing　to　make　light　of　it　in　order　to　comfort　her）　I　beg　you　would　not　mind　itYou　see　it　does　not　vex　me　in　the　least；　though　perhaps　I　may　suffer　most　from　it　after　all；　for　I　shall　not　only　be　obliged　to　eat　up　all　the　Victuals　I　have　dressed　already；　but　must　if　Henry　should　recover　（which　however　is　not　very　likely）　dress　as　much　for　you　again；　or　should　he　die　（as　I　suppose　he　will）　I　shall　still　have　to　prepare　a　Dinner　for　you　whenever　you　marry　any　one　else。　　So　you　see　that　tho'　perhaps　for　the　present　it　may　afflict　you　to　think　of　Henry's　sufferings；　Yet　I　dare　say　he'll　die　soon；　and　then　his　pain　will　be　over　and　you　will　be　easy；　whereas　my　Trouble　will　last　much　longer　for　work　as　hard　as　I　may；　I　am　certain　that　the　pantry　cannot　be　cleared　in　less　than　a　fortnight。〃　　Thus　I　did　all　in　my　power　to　console　her；　but　without　any　effect；　and　at　last　as　I　saw　that　she　did　not　seem　to　listen　to　me；　I　said　no　more；　but　leaving　her　with　my　Mother　I　took　down　the　remains　of　The　Ham　and　Chicken；　and　sent　William　to　ask　how　Henry　did。　　He　was　not　expected　to　live　many　Hours；　he　died　the　same　day。　　We　took　all　possible　care　to　break　the　melancholy　Event　to　Eloisa　in　the　tenderest　manner；　yet　in　spite　of　every　precaution；　her　sufferings　on　hearing　it　were　too　violent　for　her　reason；　and　she　continued　for　many　hours　in　a　high　Delirium。　　She　is　still　extremely　ill；　and　her　Physicians　are　greatly　afraid　of　her　going　into　a　Decline。　　We　are　therefore　preparing　for　Bristol；　where　we　mean　to　be　in　the　course　of　the　next　week。　　And　now　my　dear　Margaret　let　me　talk　a　little　of　your　affairs；　and　in　the　first　place　I　must　inform　you　that　it　is　confidently　reported；　your　Father　is　going　to　be　married；　I　am　very　unwilling　to　beleive　so　unpleasing　a　report；　and　at　the　same　time　cannot　wholly　discredit　it。　　I　have　written　to　my　freind　Susan　Fitzgerald；　for　information　concerning　it；　which　as　she　is　at　present　in　Town；　she　will　be　very　able　to　give　me。　　I　know　not　who　is　the　Lady。　　I　think　your　Brother　is　extremely　right　in　the　resolution　he　has　taken　of　travelling；　as　it　will　perhaps　contribute　to　obliterate　from　his　remembrance；　those　disagreable　Events；　which　have　lately　so　much　afflicted　him　I　am　happy　to　find　that　tho'　secluded　from　all　the　World；　neither　you　nor　Matilda　are　dull　or　unhappy　that　you　may　never　know　what　it　is　to；　be　either　is　the　wish　of　your　sincerely　affectionate　C。L。

P。　S。　　I　have　this　instant　received　an　answer　from　my　freind　Susan；　which　I　enclose　to　you；　and　on　which　you　will　make　your　own　reflections。

The　enclosed　LETTER

My　dear　CHARLOTTE　You　could　not　have　applied　for　information　concerning　the　report　of　Sir　George　Lesleys　Marriage；　to　any　one　better　able　to　give　it　you　than　I　am。　　Sir　George　is　certainly　married；　I　was　myself　present　at　the　Ceremony；　which　you　will　not　be　surprised　at　when　I　subscribe　myself　your　Affectionate　Susan　Lesley



LETTER　the　THIRD　From　Miss　MARGARET　LESLEY　to　Miss　C。　LUTTERELL　Lesley　Castle　　　　　February　the　16th

I　have　made　my　own　reflections　on　the　letter　you　enclosed　to　me；　my　Dear　Charlotte　and　I　will　now　tell　you　what　those　reflections　were。　　I　reflected　that　if　by　this　second　Marriage　Sir　George　should　have　a　second　family；　our　fortunes　must　be　considerably　diminushedthat　if　his　Wife　should　be　of　an　extravagant　turn；　she　would　encourage　him　to　persevere　in　that　gay　and　Dissipated　way　of　Life　to　which　little　encouragement　would　be　necessary；　and　which　has　I　fear　already　proved　but　too　detrimental　to　his　health　and　fortunethat　she　would　now　become　Mistress　of　those　Jewels　which　once　adorned　our　Mother；　and　which　Sir　George　had　always　promised　usthat　if　they　did　not　come　into　Perthshire　I　should　not　be　able　to　gratify　my　curiosity　of　beholding　my　Mother…in…law　and　that　if　they　did；　Matilda　would　no　longer　sit　at　the　head　of　her　Father's　table。　　These　my　dear　Charlotte　were　the　melancholy　reflections　which　crowded　into　my　imagination　after　perusing　Susan's　letter　to　you；　and　which　instantly　occurred　to　Matilda　when　she　had　perused　it　likewise。　　The　same　ideas；　the　same　fears；　immediately　occupied　her　Mind；　and　I　know　not　which　reflection　distressed　her　most；　whether　the　probable　Diminution　of　our　Fortunes；　or　her　own　Consequence。　　We　both　wish　very　much　to　know　whether　Lady　Lesley　is　handsome　and　what　is　your　opinion　of　her；　as　you　honour　her　with　the　appellation　of　your　freind；　we　flatter　ourselves　that　she　must　be　amiable。　　My　Brother　is　already　in　Paris。　　He　intends　to　quit　it　in　a　few　Days；　and　to　begin　his　route　to　Italy。　　He　writes　in　a　most　chearfull　manner；　says　that　the　air　of　France　has　greatly　recovered　both　his　Health　and　Spirits；　that　he　has　now　entirely　ceased　to　think　of　Louisa　with　any　degree　either　of　Pity　or　Affection；　that　he　even　feels　himself　obliged　to　her　for　her　Elopement；　as　he　thinks　it　very　good　fun　to　be　single　again。　　By　this；　you　may　perceive　that　he　has　entirely　regained　that　chearful　Gaiety；　and　sprightly　Wit；　for　which　he　was　once　so　remarkable。　　When　he　first　became　acquainted　with　Louisa　which　was　little　more　than　three　years　ago；　he　was　one　of　the　most　lively；　the　most　agreable　young　Men　of　the　age。　　I　beleive　you　never　yet　heard　the　particulars　of　his　first　acquaintance　with　her。　　It　commenced　at　our　cousin　Colonel　Drummond's；　at　whose　house　in　Cumberland　he　spent　the　Christmas；　in　which　he　attained　the　age　of　two　and　twenty。　Louisa　Burton　was　the　Daughter　of　a　distant　Relation　of　Mrs。　Drummond；　who　dieing　a　few　Months　before　in　extreme　poverty；　left　his　only　Child　then　about　eighteen　to　the　protection　of　any　of　his　Relations　who　would　protect　her。　　Mrs。　Drummond　was　the　only　one　who　found　herself　so　disposedLouisa　was　therefore　removed　from　a　miserable　Cottage　in　Yorkshire　to　an　elegant　Mansion　in　Cumberland；　and　from　every　pecuniary　Distress　that　Poverty　could　inflict；　to　every　elegant　Enjoyment　that　Money　could　purchase。　Louisa　was　naturally　ill…tempered　and　Cunning；　but　she　had　been　taught　to　disguise　her　real　Disposition；　under　the　appearance　of　insinuating　Sweetness；　by　a　father　who　but　too　well　knew；　that　to　be　married；　would　be　the　only　chance　she　would　have　of　not　being　starved；　and　who　flattered　himself　that　with　such　an　extroidinary　share　of　personal　beauty；　joined　to　a　gentleness　of　Manners；　and　an　engaging　address；　she　might　stand　a　good　chance　of　pleasing　some　young　Man　who　might　afford　to　marry　a　girl　without　a　Shilling。　　Louisa　perfectly　entered　into　her　father's　schemes　and　was　determined　to　forward　them　with　all　her　care　and　attention。　By　dint　of　Perseverance　and　Application；　she　had　at　length　so　thoroughly　disguised　her　natural　disposition　under　the　mask　of　Innocence；　and　Softness；　as　to　impose　upon　every　one　who　had　not　by　a　long　and　constant　intimacy　with　her　discovered　her　real　Character。　　Such　was　Louisa　when　the　hapless　Lesley　first　beheld　her　at　Drummond…house。　　His　heart　which　（to　use　your　favourite　comparison）　was　as　delicate　as　sweet　and　as　tender　as　a　Whipt…　syllabub；　could　not　resist　her　attractions。　　In　a　very　few　Days；　he　was　falling　in　love；　shortly　after　actually　fell；　and　before　he　had　known　her　a　Month；　he　had　married　her。　　My　Father　was　at　first　highly　displeased　at　so　hasty　and　imprudent　a　connection；　but　when　he　found　that　they　did　not　mind　it；　he　soon　became　perfectly　reconciled　to　the　match。　　The　Estate　near　Aberdeen　which　my　brother　possesses　by　the　bounty　of　his　great　Uncle　independant　of　Sir　George；　was　entirely　sufficient　to　support　him　and　my　Sister　in　Elegance　and　Ease。　　For　the　first　twelvemonth；　no　one　could　be　happier　than　Lesley；　and　no　one　more　amiable　to　appearance　than　Louisa；　and　so　plausibly　did　she　act　and　so　cautiously　behave　that　tho'　Matilda　and　I　often　spent　several　weeks　together　with　them；　yet　we　neither　of　us　had　any　suspicion　of　her　real　Disposition。　　After　the　birth　of　Louisa　however；　which　one　would　have　thought　would　have　strengthened　her　regard　for　Lesley；　the　mask　she　had　so　long　supported　was　by　degrees　thrown　aside；　and　as　probably　she　then　thought　herself　secure　in　the　affection　of　her　Husband　（which　did　indeed　appear　if　possible　augmented　by　the　birth　of　his　Child）　she　seemed　to　take　no　pains　to　prevent　that　affection　from　ever　diminushing。　　Our　visits　therefore　to　Dunbeath；　were　now　less　frequent　and　by　far　less　agreable　than　they　used　to　be。　　Our　absence　was　however　never　either　mentioned　or　lamented　by　Louisa　who　in　the　society　of　young　Danvers　with　whom　she　became　acquainted　at　Aberdeen　（he　was　at　one　of　the　Universities　there；）　felt　infinitely　happier　than　in　that　of　Matilda　and　your　freind；　tho'　there　certainly　never　were　pleasanter　girls　than　we　are。　You　know　the　sad　end　of　all　Lesleys　connubial　happiness；　I　will　not　repeat　it。　　Adeiu　my　dear　Charlotte；　although　I　have　not　yet　mentioned　anything　of　the　matter；　I　hope　you　will　do　me　the　justice　to　beleive　that　I　THINK　and　FEEL；　a　great　deal　for　your　Sisters　affliction。　　I　do　not　doubt　but　that　the　healthy　air　of　the　Bristol　downs　will　intirely　remove　it；　by　erasing　from　her　Mind　the　remembrance　of　Henry。　　I　am　my　dear　Charlotte　yrs　ever　M。　L。



LETTER　the　FOURTH　From　Miss　C。　LUTTERELL　to　Miss　M。　LESLEY　Bristol　　　　　　February　27th

My　Dear　Peggy　I　have　but　just　received　your　letter；　which　being　directed　to　Sussex　while　I　was　at　Bristol　was　obliged　to　be　forwarded　to　me　here；　and　from　some　unaccountable　Delay；　has　but　this　instant　reached　me。　　I　return　you　many　thanks　for　the　account　it　contains　of　Lesley's　acquaintance；　Love　and　Marriage　with　Louisa；　which　has　not　the　less　entertained　me　for　having　often　been　repeated　to　me　before。

I　have　the　satisfaction　of　informing　you　that　we　have　every　reason　to　imagine　our　pantry　is　by　this　time　nearly　cleared；　as　we　left　Particular　orders　with　the　servants　to　eat　as　hard　as　t