ciety, you fhall be just to prior "claims. I fhall not be wretched, I "mean dull, without you. I will fit "under my favourite beeches, and me"ditate on that fair portrait of connu"bial happiness which you and your He has been fortunes and How fhall I Henry will prefent. "long depreffed in his "croffed in his hopes. rejoice in the idea of his being at "laft poffeffed of the independence that "he fo well deferves, and of the hap 66 pinefs which his difpaffionate judg"ment beft approves! You too, my "Lucy, rich in every domestic excel"lence! my heart rejoices at the profpect of your virtues expanding in a "larger sphere; of your fortitude and quiet heroifm receiving its merited "reward. I will not be the means of "c delaying this aufpicious union a single " hour." "But "But as my fwain fays nothing upon "the score of an early day, or fond "impatience, am I to give him a hint "that I expect fuch flourishes? No in"deed; I think I have been quite frank "enough already, and fet him more at "eafe than any lover (I mean except "himself) ought to be. His father's "death is very recent; and I know his fenfe of propriety will prevent " him from propofing marriage at pre"fent. Let me then, by fhowing that "I do not expect it, convince him that <<< I can imitate the virtues I revere. "What! but one faint fmile, Geral"dine, at that declaration? I expected "to have heard fome pretty allufion "to fir Charles Grandifon, or to "the Phoenix, that fole bird.' Can"not you recollect fome little fhade in Henry's character? his purple coat, " for instance, which diverted you fo " much C "much two years ago. But perhaps 66 you trust to time to abate the ro❝mance of my fentiments, or mentally quote the answer to your own "conundrum, why marriage is like a < because it discovers "microscope?' "It is happy," faid the countefs, "when there are only little blemishes "to discover. I will no longer refuse your fociety, my dear playful friend; "but I accept it upon one condition, "that I may put a poftfcript to your "letter to Henry." << "If you will promife to fay nothing "as coming from me." 4 The countess gave her word to the contrary, and then added the following lines: "I have confented to take your "dearer felf to Scotland, in hopes that "the ftrong attraction will compel you ❝ to "to give us the additional pleasure of "your company. I would tell you how "I rejoice at your proposals to my "Lucy, but words are fo inadequate to my feelings that I muft refer you to "your knowledge of my character to "eftimate the fincerity of my tranf ports. May you be as happy as your "mutual virtues deferve, bleffed with "health, peace, and every worldly com. "fort! There is an event (O how my "filial heart abjures the impending " evil!) which will enable me to give my valued friend stronger marks of "efteem and gratitude than ineffectual "wishes, by fulfilling a promise ever "facred to 66 " GERALDINE MONTEITH," CHAP. XXXV. -Is aught fo fair In all the dewy landscapes of the spring, AKENSIDE. No event happened immediately after |
