Love and Freindship [sic]
Augusta, the sister of Edward was on a visit to her when we arrived. I
found her exactly what her Brother had described her to be—of the
middle size. She received me with equal surprise though not with equal
Cordiality, as Philippa. There was a disagreable coldness and
Forbidding Reserve in her reception of me which was equally distressing
and Unexpected. None of that interesting Sensibility or amiable
simpathy in her manners and Address to me when we first met which
should have distinguished our introduction to each other. Her Language
was neither warm, nor affectionate, her expressions of regard were
neither animated nor cordial; her arms were not opened to receive me to
her Heart, tho’ my own were extended to press her to mine.
A short Conversation between Augusta and her Brother, which I
accidentally overheard encreased my dislike to her, and convinced me
that her Heart was no more formed for the soft ties of Love than for
the endearing intercourse of Freindship.
“But do you think that my Father will ever be reconciled to this
imprudent connection?” (said Augusta.)
“Augusta (replied the noble Youth) I thought you had a better opinion
of me, than to imagine I would so abjectly degrade myself as to
consider my Father’s Concurrence in any of my affairs, 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 here—You 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 myself—We 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 Freinds—When 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 Fathers—to 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 absence—in vain did we weep—in vain
even did we sigh—no Edward returned—. This was too cruel, too
unexpected a Blow to our Gentle Sensibility—we could not support it—we