love and freindship-第19部分

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〃Nay　my　Love　replied　she；　now　you　confirm　my　suspicions。　But　why　Henrietta　should　you　be　ashamed　to　own　a　well…placed　Love；　or　why　refuse　to　confide　in　me？〃

〃I　am　not　ashamed　to　own　it；　said　I　taking　Courage。　　I　do　not　refuse　to　confide　in　you　or　blush　to　say　that　I　do　love　your　cousin　Mr　Musgrove；　that　I　am　sincerely　attached　to　him；　for　it　is　no　disgrace　to　love　a　handsome　Man。　　If　he　were　plain　indeed　I　might　have　had　reason　to　be　ashamed　of　a　passion　which　must　have　been　mean　since　the　object　would　have　been　unworthy。　　But　with　such　a　figure　and　face；　and　such　beautiful　hair　as　your　Cousin　has；　why　should　I　blush　to　own　that　such　superior　merit　has　made　an　impression　on　me。〃

〃My　sweet　Girl　（said　Lady　Scudamore　embracing　me　with　great　affection）　what　a　delicate　way　of　thinking　you　have　in　these　matters；　and　what　a　quick　discernment　for　one　of　your　years！　　Oh！　how　I　honour　you　for　such　Noble　Sentiments！〃

〃Do　you　Ma'am　said　I；　You　are　vastly　obliging。　　But　pray　Lady　Scudamore　did　your　Cousin　himself　tell　you　of　his　affection　for　me　I　shall　like　him　the　better　if　he　did；　for　what　is　a　Lover　without　a　Confidante？〃

〃Oh！　　my　Love　replied　she；　you　were　born　for　each　other。　Every　word　you　say　more　deeply　convinces　me　that　your　Minds　are　actuated　by　the　invisible　power　of　simpathy；　for　your　opinions　and　sentiments　so　exactly　coincide。　　Nay；　the　colour　of　your　Hair　is　not　very　different。　　Yes　my　dear　Girl；　the　poor　despairing　Musgrove　did　reveal　to　me　the　story　of　his　Love。　　Nor　was　I　surprised　at　itI　know　not　how　it　was；　but　I　had　a　kind　of　presentiment　that　he　would　be　in　love　with　you。〃

〃Well；　but　how　did　he　break　it　to　you？〃

〃It　was　not　till　after　supper。　　We　were　sitting　round　the　fire　together　talking　on　indifferent　subjects；　though　to　say　the　truth　the　Conversation　was　cheifly　on　my　side　for　he　was　thoughtful　and　silent；　when　on　a　sudden　he　interrupted　me　in　the　midst　of　something　I　was　saying；　by　exclaiming　in　a　most　Theatrical　tone

Yes　I'm　in　love　I　feel　it　now　And　Henrietta　Halton　has　undone　me

〃Oh！　　What　a　sweet　way　replied　I；　of　declaring　his　Passion！　　To　make　such　a　couple　of　charming　lines　about　me！　　What　a　pity　it　is　that　they　are　not　in　rhime！〃

〃I　am　very　glad　you　like　it　answered　she；　To　be　sure　there　was　a　great　deal　of　Taste　in　it。　　And　are　you　in　love　with　her；　Cousin？　said　I。　　I　am　very　sorry　for　it；　for　unexceptionable　as　you　are　in　every　respect；　with　a　pretty　Estate　capable　of　Great　improvements；　and　an　excellent　House　tho'　somewhat　out　of　repair；　yet　who　can　hope　to　aspire　with　success　to　the　adorable　Henrietta　who　has　had　an　offer　from　a　Colonel　and　been　toasted　by　a　Baronet〃〃THAT　I　have〃　cried　I。　　Lady　Scudamore　continued。　〃Ah　dear　Cousin　replied　he；　I　am　so　well　convinced　of　the　little　Chance　I　can　have　of　winning　her　who　is　adored　by　thousands；　that　I　need　no　assurances　of　yours　to　make　me　more　thoroughly　so。　　Yet　surely　neither　you　or　the　fair　Henrietta　herself　will　deny　me　the　exquisite　Gratification　of　dieing　for　her；　of　falling　a　victim　to　her　Charms。　　And　when　I　am　dead〃continued　her

〃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