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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/10318-0.txt b/10318-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..79736d3 --- /dev/null +++ b/10318-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,2877 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10318 *** + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA: + +A TALE. + +--NEQUE SEMPER ARCUM +TENDIT APOLLO. HOR. + +LONDON: +PRINTED FOR T. HOOKHAM, AT HIS CIRCULATING +LIBRARY, NEW BOND-STEET, CORNER +OF BRUTON-STREET. +M,DCC,LXXXIV. + + +CONTENTS + + +PART the FIRST. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Containing introductory Matter._ + + +CHAPTER II. + +_A Ball_ + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Ghost._ + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_A love Scene._ + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Man of Humour._ + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Containing some Specimens of Heroism._ + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing that with which the Reader will be acquainted when he has +read it._ + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Two Persons of Fashion._ + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_A tragical Resolution._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +PART the SECOND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_In which the Story begins over again_. + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The History of Mr. Godfrey_. + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Misanthrope_. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Much ado about nothing_. + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Woman of learning_. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A Catastrophe_. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing what will terrify the Reader_. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_A Denouement_. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Which dismisses the Reader_. + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + + +PART the FIRST. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Containing introductory matter_. + + +The races at Southampton have, for time immemorial, constituted a scene of +rivalship, war, and envy. All the passions incident to the human frame +have here assumed as true a scope, as in the more noisy and more tragical +contentions of statesmen and warriors. Here nature has displayed her most +hidden attractions, and art has furnished out the artillery of beauty. +Here the coquet has surprised, and the love-sick nymph has sapped the +heart of the unwary swain. The scene has been equally sought by the bolder +and more haughty, as by the timid sex. Here the foxhunter has sought a new +subject of his boast in the _nonchalance_ of _dishabille_; the +peer has played off the dazzling charms of a coronet and a star; and the +_petit maĆ®tre_ has employed the anxious niceties of dress. + +Of all the beauties in this brilliant circle, she, who was incomparably +the most celebrated, was the graceful Delia. Her person, though not +absolutely tall, had an air of dignity. Her form was bewitching, and her +neck was alabaster. Her cheeks glowed with the lovely vermilion of nature, +her mouth was small and pouting, her lips were coral, and her teeth whiter +than the driven snow. Her forehead was bold, high, and polished, her +eyebrows were arched, and from beneath them her fine blue eyes shone with +intelligence, and sparkled with heedless gaiety. Her hair was of the +brightest auburn, it was in the greatest abundance, and when, unfettered +by the ligaments of fashion, it flowed about her shoulders and her lovely +neck, it presented the most ravishing object that can possibly be +imagined. + +With all this beauty, it Cannot be supposed but that Delia was followed by +a train of admirers. The celebrated Mr. Prattle, for whom a thousand fair +ones cracked their fans and tore their caps, was one of the first to +enlist himself among her adorers. Squire Savage, the fox-hunter, who, like +Hippolitus of old, chased the wily fox and timid hare, and had never yet +acknowledged the empire of beauty, was subdued by the artless sweetness of +Delia. Nay, it has been reported, that the incomparable lord Martin, a +peer of ten thousand pounds a year, had made advances to her father. It is +true, his lordship was scarcely four feet three inches in stature, his +belly was prominent, one leg was half a foot shorter, and one shoulder +half a foot higher than the other. His temper was as crooked as his shape; +the sight of a happy human being would give him the spleen; and no mortal +man could long reside under the same roof with him. But in spite of these +trifling imperfections, it has been confidently affirmed, that some of the +haughtiest beauties of Hampshire would have been proud of his alliance. + +Thus assailed with all the temptations that human nature could furnish, it +might naturally be supposed, that Delia had long since resigned her heart. +But in this conjecture, however natural, the reader will find himself +mistaken. She seemed as coy as Daphne, and as cold as Diana. She diverted +herself indeed with the insignificant loquaciousness of Mr. Prattle, and +the aukward gallantry of the Squire; but she never bestowed upon either a +serious thought. And for lord Martin, who was indisputably allowed to be +the best match in the county, she could not bear to hear him named with +patience, and she always turned pale at the sight of him. + +But Delia was not destined always to laugh at the darts of Cupid. Mrs. +Bridget her waiting maid, delighted to run over the list of her adorers, +and she was much more eloquent and more copious upon the subject than we +have been. When her mistress received the mention of each with gay +indifference, Mrs. Bridget would close the dialogue, and with a sagacious +look, and a shake of her head, would tell the lovely Delia, that the +longer it was before her time came, the more surely and the more deeply +she would be caught at last. And to say truth, the wisest philosopher +might have joined in the verdict of the sage Bridget. There was a softness +in the temper of Delia, that seemed particularly formed for the tender +passion. The voice of misery never assailed her ear in vain. Her purse was +always open to the orphan, the maimed, and the sick. After reading a +tender tale of love, the intricacies of the Princess of Cleves, the soft +distress of Sophia Western, or the more modern story of the Sorrows of +Werter, her gentle breast would heave with sighs, and her eye, suffused +with tears, confess a congenial spirit. + +The father of Delia--let the reader drop a tear over this blot in our +little narrative--had once been a tradesman. He was naturally phlegmatic, +methodical, and avaricious. His ear was formed to relish better the hoarse +voice of an exchange broker, than the finest tones of Handel's organ. He +found something much more agreeable and interesting in the perusal of his +ledger and his day book, than in the scenes of Shakespeare, or the +elegance of Addison. With this disposition, he had notwithstanding, when +age had chilled the vigour of his limbs, and scattered her snow over those +hairs which had escaped the hands of the barber, resigned his shop, and +retired to enjoy the fruits of his industry. It is as natural for a +tradesman in modern times to desire to die in the tranquillity of a +gentleman, as it was for the Saxon kings of the Heptarchy to act the same +inevitable scene amidst the severities of a cloister. + +The old gentleman however found, and it is not impossible that some of his +brethren may have found it before him, when the great transaction was +irretrievably over, that retirement and indolence did not constitute the +situation for which either nature or habit had fitted him. It has been +observed by some of those philosophers who have made the human mind the +object of their study, that idleness is often the mother of love. It might +indeed have been supposed, that Mr. Hartley, for that was his name, by +having attained the age of sixty, might have outlived every danger of this +kind. But opportunity and temptation supplied that, which might have been +deficient on the side of nature. + +Within a little mile of the mansion in which he had taken up his retreat, +resided two ancient maiden ladies. Under cover of the venerable age to +which they had attained, they had laid aside many of those modes which +coyness and modesty have prescribed to their sex. The visits of a man were +avowedly as welcome to them, and indeed much more so, than those of a +woman. Their want of attractions either external or mental, had indeed +hindered the circle of their acquaintance from being very extensive; but +there were some, as well as Mr. Hartley, who preferred the company of +ugliness, censoriousness and ill nature to solitude. + +Such were the Miss Cranley's, the name of the elder of whom was Amelia, +and that of the younger Sophia. Miss Amelia was nominally forty, and her +sister thirty years of age. Perhaps if we stated the matter more +accurately, we should rate the elder at fifty-six, and the younger +somewhere about fifty. They both of them were masculine in their +behaviour, and studious in their disposition. Miss Amelia, delighted in +the study of theology; she disputed with the curate, maintained a godly +correspondence with a neighbouring cobler, and was even said to be +preparing a pamphlet in defence of the dogmas of Mr. Whitfield. Miss +Sophia, who will make a much more considerable figure in this history, was +altogether as indefatigable in the study of politics, as her sister was in +that of theology. She adhered indeed to none of our political parties, for +she suspected and despised them all. My lord North she treated as stupid, +sleepy, and void of personal principle. Mr. Fox was a brawling gamester, +devoid of all attachments but that of ambition, and who treated the mob +with flattery and contempt. Mr. Burke was a Jesuit in disguise, who under +the most specious professions, was capable of the blackest and meanest +actions. For her own part she was a steady republican. That couplet of Dr. +Garth was continually in her mouth, + + + _From my very soul I hate, + All kings and ministers of state._ + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_A Ball._ + + +Thus much it was necessary to premise, in order to acquaint the reader +with the situation of our heroine, and that of some other personages in +this history. Having discharged this task, we will return to the point +from which we set out. + +It was at one of the balls at the races at Southampton--the company was +already assembled. The card tables were set, and our maiden ladies, +together with many other venerable pieces of antiquity, were assembled +around them. In another and more spacious room, appeared all that +Southampton could boast of youth and beauty. The squire and his sister, +Mr. Prattle, and lord Martin, formed a part of the company. The first +bustle was nearly composed, when Damon entered the assembly. + +He appeared to be a stranger to every body present. And, as he is equally +a stranger to our readers, we will now announce him in proper form. Damon +appeared to be about twenty years of age. His person was tall, and his +limbs slender and well formed. His dress was elegance itself. His coat was +ornamented with a profusion of lace, and the diamond sparkled in his shoe. +His countenance was manly and erect. There appeared in it a noble +confidence, which the spectator would at first sight ascribe to dignity of +birth, and a perfect familiarity with whatever is elegant and polite. This +confidence however had not the least alloy of _hauteur_, his eye +expressed the most open sensibility and the kindest sympathy. + +There is something undescribably interesting in the figure we have +delineated. The moment our hero entered the room, the attention of every +person present was fixed upon him. The master of the ceremonies +immediately advanced, and escorted him to the most honourable seat that +yet remained vacant. While Damon examined with an eager eye the gay +parterre of beauty that appeared before him, a general whisper was excited +upon his account. "Who is he?" "Who is he?" echoed from every corner of +the room. But while curiosity was busy in his enquiries, there was not an +individual capable of satisfying them. + +The business of every one was now the choice of a partner. But as one +object had engrossed the attention of all, they were willing to see the +election he would make, though every one feared to lose the partner he had +destined for himself. Damon was therefore, however unwilling to +distinguish himself in so particular a manner, constrained to advance the +foremost. He passed slightly along before a considerable number, who sat +in expectation. At length he approached the seat of Delia. He bowed to her +in the most graceful manner, and intreated to be honoured with her hand. +She smiled assent, and they crossed the room among a croud of envious +rivals. Besides the lovers we had mentioned, there were four others, who +had secretly determined to dance with Delia. + +But if the gentlemen were disappointed, to whose eyes the beauty of Delia, +however unrivalled, was familiar, the disappointment and envy of the fair +sex upon the loss of Damon, whose external and natural recommendations had +beside the grace of novelty, were inexpressible. The daughter of Mr. +Griskin, an eminent butcher in Clare-market, who had indeed from nature, +the grace of being cross-eyed, now looked in ten thousand more various +directions than she ever did before. Miss Prim, agitated in every limb, +cracked her fan into twenty pieces. Miss Gawky, who had unfortunately been +initiated by the chamber maid in the art of snuff-taking, plied her box +with more zeal than ever. Miss Languish actually fainted, and was with +some difficulty conveyed into the air. Such was the confusion occasioned +in the ball at Southampton, by the election of Damon. + +Affairs being now somewhat adjusted, the dances began. Damon at every +interval addressed himself to his lovely partner in the easiest and most +elegant conversation. He talked with fluency, and his air and manner gave +a grace and dignity to the most trifling topics. The heart of Delia, +acknowledged the charms of youthful beauty and graceful deportment, and +secretly confessed that it had never before encountered so formidable an +enemy. + +When the usual topics of conversation had been exhausted, the behaviour of +Damon became insensibly more particular, he pressed her hand with the most +melting ardour, and a sigh ever and anon escaped from his breast. He paid +her several very elegant compliments, though they were all of them +confined within the limits of decorum. Delia, on the other hand, though +she apparently received them with the most gay indifference, in reality +drank deep of the poison of love, and the words of Damon made an +impression upon her heart, that was not easily to be erased. + +But however delicious was the scene in which they were engaged, it +necessarily drew to a conclusion. The drowsy clocks now announced the hour +of three in the morning. The dances broke up, and the company separated. +Delia leaped into the chariot that was waiting, and quickly arrived at the +parental mansion. Fatigued with the various objects that had passed before +her, she immediately retired to rest. For some time however a busy train +of thoughts detained her from the empire of sleep. "How lovely a stranger! +How elegant his manners, and how brilliant his wit! How soft and engaging +the whole of his behaviour! But ah! was this the fruit of reverence and +admiration? Might it not be no more than general gallantry? Oh that I were +mistress of his heart! That he would lay his person at my feet! What a +contrast between him and my former admirers! How doubly hateful does lord +Martin, the lover favoured by my father now appear! But ah! who is this +Damon? What is his fortune, and what his pretensions? His dress surely +bespoke him a man of rank. His elegant manners could have been learned in +no vulgar circle. How sweet, methinks is suspence! How delightful the +uncertainty that hangs about him! And yet, how glad should I be to have my +doubts resolved." + +Soothed with these and similar reflections, the lovely maid fell asleep. +But even in sleep she did not forget the impressions she had received. She +imagined that Damon now approached her pillow. But how unlike the Damon +she had seen! His eyes had something in them superior to a mortal. His +shoulders were adorned with wings, and a vest of celestial azure flowed +around him. He smiled upon her with the most bewitching grace. But the +gentle maid involuntarily stretched out her arms towards him, and the +pleasing vision vanished from her sight. + +Again she closed her eyes, and again she endeavoured to regain her former +object. Damon indeed appeared, but in how different a manner! his +countenance was impressed with every mark of horror, and he seemed to fly +before some who inveterately pursued him. They appeared with the +countenances of furies, and the snakes hissed around their temples. Delia +looked earnestly upon them, and presently recollected the features of the +admirers we have already celebrated. The noble peer under the figure of +Tisiphone, led the troop. Damon stumbled and fell. Sudden as lightning +Tisiphone reached the spot, and plunged a dagger in his heart. She drew it +forth reeking with blood, and the lovely youth appeared in the agonies of +death. Terrified beyond measure, Delia screamed with horror and awoke. + +In the midst of reveries like these, now agitated with apprehension, and +now soothed with pleasure, Delia passed the night. The sun appeared, her +gold repeater informed her that it was twelve, and, assisted by the fair +hands of Mrs. Bridget, she began to rise. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Ghost._ + + +Mr. Hartley had breakfasted and walked out in the fields, before Delia +appeared. She had scarcely begun her morning repast, ere Miss Fletcher, +the favourite companion and confidante of Delia, entered the room. "My +dearest creature," cried the visitor, "how do you do? Had not we not a +most charming evening? I vow I was fatigued to death: and then, lord +Martin, I think he never appeared to so much advantage. Why he was quite +covered with diamonds, spangles, and frogs." "Ah!" cried Delia, "but the +young stranger." "True," answered Miss Fletcher, "I liked him of all +things; so tall, so genteel, and so sweetly perfumed.--I cannot think who +he is. I called upon Miss Griskin, and I called upon Miss Savage, nobody +knows. He is some great man." "When did he come to town?" said Delia, +"Where does he lodge?" "My dear, he came to town yesterday in the evening, +and went away again as soon as the ball was over. But do not you think +that Mr. Prattle's new suit of scarlet sattin was vastly becoming? I vow I +could have fallen in love with him. He is so gay and so trifling, and so +fond of hearing himself talk. Why, does not he say a number of smart +things?" "It is exessively strange," said Delia. (She was thinking of the +stranger.) But Miss Fletcher went on--"Not at all, my life. Upon my word I +think he is always very entertaining. He cuts out paper so prettily, and he +has drawn me the sweetest pattern for an apron. I vow, I think, I never +showed you it." "What can be his name?" said Delia; "His name, my dear; +law, child, you do not hear a word one says to you. But of all things, +give me the green coat and pink breeches of Mr. Savage. But did you ever +hear the like? There will be a terrible to do--Lord Martin is in such a +quandary--He has sent people far and near." "I wish they may find him," +exclaimed Delia. "Nay, if they do, I would not be in his shoes for the +world. My lord vows revenge. He says he is his rival. Why, child, the +stranger did not make love to you, did he?" "Mercy on us," cried Delia, +"then my dream is out." "Oh, bless us," said Miss Fletcher, "what dream, +my dear?" Her curiosity then prevailed upon her to be silent for a few +moments, while Delia related that with which the reader is already +acquainted. + +In return, Delia requested of her friend to explain to her more +intelligibly what she hinted of the anger of lord Martin. "Why, my dear, +his lordship has been employed all this morning in writing challenges. +They say he has not writ less than a dozen, and has sent them by as many +messengers, like a hue and cry, all over the county--my lord is a little +man--but what of that--he is as stout as Hercules, and as brave as +what-d'ye call'um, that you and I read of in Pope's Homer. He is in such a +vengeance of a passion, that he cannot contain himself. He tells it to +every body he sees; and his mother and sister run about the house +screaming and fainting like so many mad things." + +Delia, as we have already said, was endowed with a competent share of +natural understanding. She therefore easily perceived, that from an anger +so boisterous and so public, no very fatal effects were to be apprehended. +This reflection quieted the terrors that her dream had excited, and which +the young partiality she began to feel for the amiable stranger would +otherwise have confirmed. Her breast being thus calmed, she made about +half a dozen morning visits, among which, one to Miss Griskin, and another +to Miss Languish, were included. The conversation every where turned upon +the outrageousness of lord Martin. All but the gentle Delia, were full of +anxiety and expectation. The females were broken into parties respecting +the event of the duel. Many trembled for the fate of lord Martin, so +splendid, so rich, and consequently, in their opinion, so amiable and so +witty. Others, guided by the unadulterated sentiments of nature, poured +forth all their vows for the courteous unknown. "May those active limbs +remain without a wound! May his elegant blue and silver never be stained +with blood! Ah, what a pity, that eyes so bright, and teeth so white, +should be shrowded in the darkness of the grave." + +The dinner, a vulgar meal, that passed exactly in the same manner as fifty +dinners had before it, shall be consigned to silence. The evening was +bright and calm. It was in the close of autumn; and every thing tempted +our lovely fair one to take the air. By the way she called upon her +inseparable friend and companion. They directed their course towards the +sea side. + +Here they had not advanced far, before they entered a grove, a spot +particularly the favourite of Delia. In a little opening there was a bank +embroidered with daisies and butter-cups; a little row of willows bending +their heads forward, formed a kind of canopy; and directly before it, +there was a vista through the trees, which afforded a distant prospect of +the sea, with every here and there a vessel passing along, and the beams +of the setting sun quivered on the waves. + +Delia and her companion advanced towards the well known spot. The mellow +voice of the thrush, and the clear pipe of the blackbird, diversified at +intervals with the tender notes of the nightingale, formed the most +agreable natural concert. The breast of Delia, framed for softness and +melancholy, was filled with sensations responsive to the objects around +her, and even the eternal clack of Miss Fletcher was still. + +Presently, however, a new and unexpected object claimed their attention. A +note, stronger and sweeter than that of any of the native choristers of +the grove, swelled upon the air, and floated towards them. Having +approached a few paces, they stood still to listen. It seemed to proceed +from a flute, played upon by a human voice. The air was melancholy, but +the skill was divine. + +The native curiosity of Miss Fletcher was not upon this occasion a match +for the sympathetic spirit of Delia. She pressed forward with an eager and +uncertain step, and looking through an interstice formed by two venerable +oaks, she perceived the figure of a young man sitting in her favourite +alcove. His back was turned towards the side upon which she was. Having +finished the air, he threw his flute carelesly from him, and folded his +arms in a posture the most disconsolate that can be imagined. He rose and +advanced a little with an irregular step. "Ah lovely mistress of my soul," +cried he, "thou little regardest the anguish that must for ever be an +inmate of this breast! While I am a prey to a thousand tormenting +imaginations, thou riotest in the empire of beauty, heedless of the wounds +thou inflicted, and the slaves thou chainest to thy chariot. Wretch that I +am, what is to be done? But I must think no more." Saying this he snatched +up his flute, and thrusting it into his bosom, hurried out of the grove. + +While he spoke, Delia imagined that the voice was one that she had heard +before though she knew not where. Her heart whispered her something more +than her understanding could disentangle. But as he stooped to take his +flute from the ground his profile was necessarily turned towards the inner +part of the grove. Delia started and trembled. Damon stood confessed. But +she scarcely recollected his features before he rushed away swifter than +the winged hawk, and was immediately out of sight. + +Delia was too full of a thousand reflections upon this unexpected +rencounter to be able to utter a word. But Miss Fletcher immediately +began. "God bless us," cried she, "did you ever see the like? Why it is my +belief it is a ghost or a wizard. I never heard any thing so pretty--I +vow, I am terribly frightened." + +Delia now caught hold of her arm. "For heaven's sake, let us quit the +grove. I do not know what is the matter--but I feel myself quite sick." +"Good God! good heavens! Well, I do not wonder you are all in a +tremble--But suppose now it should be nothing but Mr. Prattle--He is +always somewhere or other--And then he plays _God save the king_, and +_Darby and Joan_, like any thing." "Oh," said the lovely, trembling +nymph, "they were the sweetest notes!" "Ah," said her companion, "he is a +fine man. And then he is so modest--He will play at one and thirty, and +ride upon a stick with little Tommy all day long. But sure it could not be +Mr. Prattle--He always wears his hair in a queue you know--but the ghost +had a bag and solitaire." "Well," cried Delia, "let us think no more of +it. But did we hear anything?"--"Law, child, why he played the nicest +glee--and then he made such a speech, for all the world like Mr. Button, +that I like so to see in Hamlet." "True," said Delia,--"but what he said +was more like the soft complainings of my dear Castalio. Did not he +complain of a false mistress?" "Why he did say something of that kind.--If +it be neither a ghost nor Mr. Prattle. I hope in God he is going to appear +upon the Southampton stage. I do so love to see a fine young man come on +for the first time with + + _May this alspishus day be ever sacred!_ +Or, + _I am thy father's spirit._" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_A Love Scene._ + + +In such conversation the moments passed till they reached the habitation +of Mr. Hartley. Miss Fletcher now took her leave. And after a supper as +dull, and much more tedious to Delia, than the dinner, she retired to her +chamber. + +She retired indeed, but not to rest. Her brain was filled with a croud of +uneasy thoughts. "Alas," said she, "how short has been the illusion!--But +yesterday, I was flushed with all the pride of conquest, and busily framed +a thousand schemes of ideal happiness--Where are they now?--The lovely +youth, the only man I ever saw in whose favour my heart was prepossessed, +and with whom I should have felt no repugnance to have engaged in the +tenderest ties, is nothing to me--He loves another. He too complains of +slighted passion, and ill-fated love. Ah, had he made his happiness depend +on me, what would not I have done to reward him! Carefully I would have +soothed every anguish, and taught his heart to bound with joy. But what am +I saying?--Where am I going?--Am I that Delia that bad defiance to the art +of men,--that saw with indifference the havock that my charms had made! +With every opening morn I smiled. Each hour was sped with joy, and my +heart was light and frolic. And shall I dwindle into a pensive, melancholy +maid, the sacrifice of one that heeds me not, whose sighs no answering +sighs encounter!--let it not be said. I have hitherto asserted the +independence of my sex, I will continue to do so. Too amiable unknown, I +give thee to the winds! Propitious fate, I thank thee that thou hast so +soon discovered how much my partiality was misplaced. I will abjure it +before it be too late. I will tear the little intruder from my heart +before the mischief is become irretrievable." + +The following evening Delia repaired again by a kind of irresistible +impulse to the grove. She asked not the company of her friend. She dared +alone hazard the encounter of that object, at which she had trembled so +much the preceding day. Unknown to herself she still imaged a kind of +uncertainty in her fate which would not permit her to lay aside all +thought of Damon. She determined at all events, to have her doubts +resolved. "When there is no longer," said she to herself, "any room for +mistake, I shall then know what to do." + +As she drew near the alcove, she perceived the same figure stretched along +the bank, and with his eyes immoveably fixed upon a little fountain that +rose in a corner of the scene. He seemed lost in thought. Delia approached +doubtfully, but he heard her not. Advanced near to her object, she +reclined forward in a posture of wonder and attention. At this moment a +sigh burst from the heart of Damon, and he raised himself upon the seat. + +His eyes caught the figure of Delia.------"Ah," said he, starting from his +trance, "what do I see? Art thou, lovely intruder, a mere vision, an +aerial being that shuns the touch?" "I beg ten thousand pardons. I meaned +not, sir, to interrupt you. I will be gone." "No, go not." Answered he. +"Thou art welcome to my troubled thoughts. I could gaze for ever." + +Saying this he rose and advancing towards her, seized her hand. "Be not +afraid," said he, "gentle fair one, my breast is a stranger to violence +and rudeness. I have felt the dart of love. Unhappy myself, I learn to +feel for others. But you are happy." As he said this, a tear unbidden +stole into the eye of Delia, and she wiped it away with the hand which was +disengaged from his. "And dost thou pity me," said he. "And does such +softness dwell within thy breast? If you knew the story of my woes, you +would have reason to pity me. I am in love to destraction, but I dare not +disclose my passion. I am banished from the presence of her I love. Ah, +cruel fate, I am entangled, inextricably entangled." "And how, sir," said +Delia, "can I serve you?" "Alas," said he, in no way. My case is hopeless +and irretrievable. And what am I doing? Why do I talk, when the season +calls for action? Oh, I am lost." + +"Dear Sir," answered Delia, "you terrify me to death." "Oh, no. I would +not for the world give you an uneasy moment. Let me be unhappy--but may +misfortune never disturb your tranquility. I return to seek her whose fate +is surely destined to mix with mine. Pardon, loveliest of thy sex, the +distraction in which I have appeared. I would ask you to forget me--I +would ask you to remember me--I know not what I am, or what to think." + +With these words he took the hand which he still held in one of his, and +raising it to his lips, kissed it with the utmost fervour. Immediately he +caught up his hat, which lay beside him on the ground, and began to +advance along the path that led out of the grove on the side furthest from +the town. But his eyes were still fixed upon Delia. He heeded not the path +by which he went; and scarcely had he gone twenty paces, ere he changed +his mind and returned. Delia was seated on the bank and seemed lost in +reverie. Damon threw himself upon his knees before her. + +"Ah, why," said he, "am I constrained to depart!--Why must I talk in +riddles! Perhaps we may never see each other more. Perhaps the time will +come when I shall be able to clear up the obscurity that at present I am +obliged to preserve. But no, it cannot be. I never was happy but for two +poor hours that I enjoyed your smiles, and, drinking in the poison of your +charms, I forgot myself. The time too soon arrived for bitter +recollection. My mistress calls, the mistress of my fate. I must be +gone--Farewel--for ever." + +Saying this, he heaved a sigh that seemed almost to tear his breast +asunder, and with the utmost apparent violence he tore himself away, and +rushed along the path with incredible velocity. + +Delia was now alone. But instead, as she had flattered herself of having +her doubts resolved, she was more uncertain, more perplexed than ever. +"What" cried she, "can all this mean? How strange, and how inexplicable! +Is it a real person that I have seen, or is it a vision that mocks my +fancy? Am I loved, or am I hated? Oh, foolish question! Oh, fond illusion! +Are we not parted for ever! Is he not gone to seek the mistress of his +soul! Alas, he views me not, but with that general complacency, which +youth, and the small pretensions I have to beauty are calculated to +excite! He had nothing to relate that concerned myself, he merely intended +to make me the confidante of his passion for another. Too surely he is +unhappy. His heart seemed ready to burst with sorrow. Probably in this +situation there is no greater or more immediate relief, than to disclose +the subject of our distress, and to receive into our bosom the sympathetic +tear of a simple and a generous heart. His behaviour today corresponds but +too well with the suspicions that yesterday excited. Oh, Delia! then," +added she, "be firm. Thou shalt see the conqueror no more. Think of him no +more." + +In spite however of all the resolution she could muster, Delia repaired +day after day, sometimes alone, and sometimes in company with her friend, +to that spot which, by the umbrage of melancholy it wore, was become more +interesting than ever. Miss Fletcher, could scarcely at first be persuaded +to direct her course that way, lest she should again see the ghost. But +she need not have terrified herself. No ghost appeared. + +Disappointed and baffled on this side, Delia by the strictest enquiries +endeavoured to find out who the unknown person was, in whose fate she had +become so greatly interested. The result of these enquiries, however +diligent, was not entirely satisfactory. She learned that he had been for +a few days upon a visit to a Mr. Moreland, a gentleman who lived about +three miles from Southampton. + +Mr. Moreland was a person of a very singular character. He had the +reputation in the neighbourhood of being a cynic, a misanthrope, and a +madman. He kept very little company, and was even seldom seen but by +night. He had a garden sufficiently spacious, which was carefully rendered +impervious to every human eye. And to this and his house he entirely +confined himself in the day-time. The persons he saw were not the +gentlemen of the neighbourhood. He had no toleration for characters that +did not interest him. When he first came down to his present residence, he +was visited by Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, squire Savage, lord Martin, and +all the most admired personages in the country. But their visits had never +been returned. Mr. Prattle pronounced him a scoundrel; squire Savage said +he was a nincompoop; and lord Martin was near sending him a challenge. But +the censures of the former, and the threats of the latter, had never +reached his ears. His domestics were numerous, but they were hired from a +distance, and were permitted as little communication as possible with the +powdered lacquies of Southampton. Of consequence, however much the +unaccommodating conduct of Mr. Moreland disposed his neighbours to +calumniate him, scandal was deprived of that daily food which is requisite +for her subsistence, and the name of that gentleman was scarcely ever +heard. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Man of Humour._ + + +We will now return to lord Martin. All his messengers, from what cruel +fate we cannot exactly ascertain, miscarried; and it was not till Damon +had left the country, that he learned that he had been a visitor at the +house of Mr. Moreland. Finding that he had missed his expected vengeance, +he discharged his anger in unavailing curses, and for three days he +breathed nothing but daggers, death, and damnation. Having thus vapoured +away the paroxysm of his fury, he became tolerably composed. + +But adverse fate had decreed a short duration to the tranquility of his +lordship. Scarcely had the field been cleared from the enemy he so greatly +dreaded, ere a new rival came upon the stage, to whose arms, though +without any great foundation, the whole town of Southampton had consigned +the charming Delia. + +The name of this gentleman was Prettyman. He was just returned from his +travels, and was reckoned perfectly accomplished. He was six foot high, +his shoulders were broad, his legs brawny, and his whole person athletic. +The habits however he had formed to himself in foreign countries, will not +perhaps be allowed exactly to correspond with the figure which nature had +bestowed upon him. He generally spent two hours every morning at his +toilette. His face was painted and patched, his whole person strongly +perfumed, and he had continually in his hand a gold snuff-box set with +diamonds. His voice was naturally hoarse and loud, but with infinite +industry he had brought himself to a pronunciation shrill, piping, and +effeminate. His conversion was larded with foreign phrases and foreign +oaths, and every thing he said was accompanied with a significant shrug. + +The same period which had introduced this new pretender to the heart of +Delia, had been distinguished by the arrival of a Sir William Twyford, who +paid his addresses to Miss Fletcher. Sir William was exactly the reverse +of Mr. Prettyman. With a genteel person, and an open and agreable +phisiognomy, his manners were perfectly careless and unstudied. A +predominant feature in his character was good nature. But this was not his +ruling passion. He had an infinite fund of wit and humour, and he never +was so happy as when he was able to place the foibles of affectation in a +whimsical and ridiculous light. + +As it was vanity alone, that had induced Mr. Prettyman to pay his +addresses to the lady, who was universally allowed to surpass in beauty +and every elegant accomplishment in the place in which he was, he would +have been less pleased that his amour should have terminated in a +marriage, than that by his affectation and coquetry he might break the +heart of the simple fair one. Accordingly, it was his business to make the +affair as public as possible. + +Lord Martin, had been sufficiently irritated by the pretensions of Damon. +The new intruder had wrought up his passion to the highest pitch. In the +mean time he had renewed an acquaintance which he had formerly made with +sir William Twyford. Sir William, upon all occasions, cultivated the +intimacy of such, as, by any striking peculiarities, seemed to furnish a +proper subject for his humour. He now contributed every thing in his power +to inflame his lordship against Mr. Prettyman. He offered to become the +bearer of a challenge, and to be his lordship's second in any future +combat. + +Lord Martin broke off the conversation somewhat abruptly, and began to +reflect with himself upon what had passed. He had hitherto contrived, by +some means or other, though he dealt very largely in challenges, never to +have come to actual battle. But he had too much reason to think, that if +he made sir William his messenger, he should not be able with any degree +of honour to contrive an evasion. "It is true," said he, "I am in a most +confounded passion, but a wise general never proceeds to action without +having first deliberated. Zounds, blood and fire! would I could put an end +to the existence of so presumptuous a villain! But then it must be +considered that Mr. Prettyman is six foot high, and I am not five. He is +as athletic as Ajax, but to me nature has been unfavourable. It is true I +understand cart and terce, parry and thrust, but I have heard that +Prettyman studied under Olivier. Many a man has outlived the passage of a +bullet, or the thrust of a sword through him. But my constitution is so +delicate! Curse blast it, death and the devil, I do not know what to do." + +Sir William, as soon as he had left lord Martin, repaired to the lodgings +of Mr. Prettyman. After a short general conversation, he began, "My dear +friend, here has happened the unluckiest thing in nature. You have made +some advances, you know, to the charming Delia." "True," cried Prettyman, +"I have bestowed upon her a few condescending glances. _C'est une +charmante fille_." "Well," added sir William, "and the whole town gives +her to you." "_Parbleu!_ the town is very impertinent. There will go +two words to that bargain." "My lord Martin, you know, has enlisted +himself amongst her admirers." "Pox take the blockhead, I suppose he would +marry her. _Bien_. After I have led her a dance, he shall do what he +pleases with her." "But," said sir William, "my lord intends to call you +to an account." "_Morbleu_," cried Prettyman, "I thought I had +been in a land of liberty." "But let me tell you, my lord is very +absolute. He has fought some half a dozen duels in his time, and every +body is afraid of him." "_J'en suis excĆØdĆØ_. 'Pon honour, the girl is +not worth fighting for." "Oh," said the malicious wit, "but if you give +her up for a few threats, your reputation will be ruined for ever." +"_Mon Dieu!_ this reputation is a very expensive thing. _Je +crois_ that every girl is a Helen, never so happy as when people are +murdering one another, and towns are fired for her sake. Is this same +_milord_ absolutely inexorable?" + +"I cannot tell," said sir William, "what may be done. If you were to fly, +he would pursue you to the ends of the earth. But suppose now you were +upon your knees, to retract your pretensions to this silly girl." +"_Pardi_" answered Prettyman, "that is damned hard! are you sure his +lordship is so compleat a master of the science of defence?" "Nay," +replied sir William, "I cannot tell. I believe indeed he never received a +wound, but I think I remember to have heard of one duel he fought, in +which his antagonist came off with his life." "Ah, _diable +l'emporte!_ That will not do neither. These bullets are the aukwardest +things in the world. Do you think you could not prevail with his Lordship +to use only powder?" "Powder," cried sir William, "that is an excellent +jest. My lord always loads with six small slugs." "Six slugs! ah the +bloody minded villain! It is confounded hard that a gentleman cannot pass +through life, without being _degoutĆØ_ with these unpolished Vandals. +_Ah, mon cher ami_, I will put the affair entirely into your hands: +do, _pour i'amour de Dieu_, bring me out of this scrape as well as +you can." "Well my dear Prettyman, I will exert myself on your account; +but, upon my soul, I had rather have an affair with half a regiment of +commissioned officers fresh imported from America." + +Sir William Twyford, having thus brought the affair to some degree of +forwardness, now waited on his lordship. "My dear lord Martin," said he, +"what have you resolved upon? The affair is briefly thus--you must either +give up Delia, or fight Mr. Prettyman." "Give up Delia!" exclaimed the +little lord; "by all that is sacred I will sooner spill the last drop of +my blood. But," added he, "what necessity is there for the alternative you +propose? True, I fear no man. But to be continually engaged in quarrels +would acquire me the character of a desperado." "Indeed," said sir +William, "you have been somewhat lavish in those sort of affairs, but I do +not see how you can be off in the present instance. Prettyman has heard of +the bustle you made about the fellow at the ball, that tricked you of your +partner; and he will never pardon the affront, if you pay less attention +to him." "Pox take the blockhead, he is mighty nice, methinks, in his +temper. I have a great mind not to gratify him." "Oh," cried sir William, +"you never had such an opportunity to establish your character for ever. +And the fellow I believe is no better than a coward at bottom." + +It would be endless to relate all the stratagems of sir William to bring +the business to the conclusion he wished. How he terrified the brawny +_petit maĆ®tre_, and anon he animated the little peer. His lordship +felt the force of his friend's eloquence, but even his highest flights of +heroism were qualified with temporary misgivings. For poor Mr. Prettyman, +he feared to stay, and dared not fly. If he could have forgotten the +danger he apprehended, his good natured friend by the studied +exaggerations in which he was continually clothing it, would have +perfectly succeed in refreshing his memory. But in reality it was never +absent from his thoughts. His slumbers were short and disturbed. And he +could scarcely close his eyes, ere the enraged lord Martin, with his sword +drawn, and his countenance flaming with inexorable fury, presented himself +to his affrighted imagination. + +At length sir William by his generous interposition affected a compromise. +It was agreed that Mr. Prettyman should fall upon his knees before lord +Martin in the public room in the presence of Delia, and, asking his +pardon, put a small cane into his hand. "My lord," said sir William to the +beau, "is as generous as he is brave. He will not make an improper use of +the advantage you put into his hands. He will raise you from the humble +posture you will have assumed, and, embracing you cordially, all that is +past will be forgotten. As his lordship will take you under his +protection, not an individual will dare to reflect upon you." "Mr. +Prettyman," said sir William to lord Martin, "unites the heart of a +chicken to the most absolute skill in the small sword that ever I saw. I +have been only capable of restraining him by representing your lordship as +the most furious and impracticable of mankind. If he once suspect that I +have misrepresented you, a duel, in which I am afraid your lordship would +be overmatched, must be the inevitable consequence. Might I therefore +presume to advise, your lordship should make use of the advantage I have +gained you without mercy." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Containing some Specimens of Heroism._ + + +The evening now approached, in which the scene sir William Twyford had +with so much pains prepared, was to be acted. An imperfect rumour had +spread that something extraordinary was to pass in the public room. Miss +Prim was of opinion that a duel would be fought. "I shall be frightened +out of my wits," said she. "But I must go, for one loves any thing new, +and I believe there is nothing in it that a modest woman may not see." +Miss Gawky thought it would be a boxing match. "Bless us, my dear lord +Martin could stand no chance with that great lubberly macaroni." But Miss +Griskin, with a look of more than common sagacity, assured the ladies that +she had penetrated to the very bottom of the matter. "Mr. Prettyman and +lord Martin have ordered two large rounds of beef to be set upon the table +at supper, and they mean to lay about them for a wager." + +In this manner every one made her own conjecture, which she preferred to +that of all the rest. Curiosity was wrought up to the highest pitch, and +the uncertainty that prevailed upon the subject, rendered the affair still +more interesting. The rooms were early filled with an uncommon number of +spectators. About nine o'clock Mr. Prettyman entered, but instead of +exerting himself with his usual vivacity, he retired to one corner of the +room, and sat in a sheepish and melancholy posture. Not long after, sir +William Twyford and lord Martin came in, arm in arm. + +The peer strutted immediately to the upper end of the room. Delia stood +near him. "My lovely girl," said he, with an air of vulgar familiarity, "I +am rejoiced to see you. I hope I shall one day prove myself worthy of your +favour." + +While this passed Mr. Prettyman was by no means in an enviable condition. +From the operation of fear and vexation he perspired very profusely. +Vanity, as we have said, might almost be termed his ruling passion, and he +would never have sacrificed it so publicly to any consideration less +immediate than that of personal safety. Ardently did he long to have the +terrible scene concluded. But he had neither strength nor spirits to +advance a step, or even to rise from his seat. + +Sir William Twyford now came up to him, and took hold of his hand. "My +dear friend," said he, "be not dispirited. It is no more than a flea-bite, +and it will be over in a moment. You will acquire the friendship of the +first personage in the county, and far from losing any thing in the public +esteem, you will be more respected than ever." "_Morbleu_," cried the +beau, "my shoulders ake for it already. But, _mon trĆØs cher & trĆØs +excellent ami_, do not desert me, and remind the peer of the generosity +you talked of." + +Sir William now raised him from his seat, and led him to the middle of the +room. Lord Martin, with a stately air, advanced a few steps. In spite +however of all the heroism he could assume, as the important affair drew +towards a crisis, he began to tremble. Mr. Prettyman fell upon his knees, +and sir William put a cane into his hand. But in this posture the beau +remained still somewhat taller than his antagonist. "Most worthy lord," +cried he in a tremulous voice, "I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding +that has happened, and I am filled with the most ardent"----While he was +yet speaking he advanced the cane in the attitude of presenting it. +"Villain," said lord Martin, who between fear and rage could no longer +contain himself, and snatched it from his hand. But he could scarcely +reach beyond the shoulder of his enemy, and blinded with emotion and +exertion, instead of directing his blows as he ought to have done, he +struck him two or three very severe strokes on the head and face. The beau +bore it as long as he could. But at length bellowing out, "_Mon DĆ®eu, je +suis meurtriĆØ_, I am beaten to a jelly," he rose from his knees. His +antagonist being between him and the door, he fairly threw him upon his +back, and flying out of the room he stopped not till he arrived at the +inn, where, ordering his phaeton and six, he ascended without a moment's +pause, and drove off for London. + +In the mean time, every thing in the public room was in confusion and +disorder. Sir William flew to support the discomfited hero, who had +received a grievous contusion in his shoulder. Miss Griskin giggled, the +other ladies screamed, and Miss Languish, as usual, fainted away. "Bless +me," cried Miss Fletcher, "it is the queerest affair"--"By my troth," said +Miss Gawky, "it is vastly fine." "But not half so fine," cried Miss +Griskin, "as the buttocks of beef." + +By this time lord Martin had raised himself in a sitting posture and +uttered a deep groan. "Best of friends," said he, pressing the hand of sir +William, "tell me truly, am I victorious, or am I defeated?" "Oh +_victoria_!" cried sir William; "never heed a slight skin wound that +you received in the combat." His lordship stood up. "Damnation, pox +confound it!" said he, a little recovering himself, "what is become of the +rascal? I have not given him half what he deserved. But, ladies," added he +flourishing his cane, "it is my maxim, as I am strong to be merciful." + +Saying this, he advanced towards Delia, and, with a flourish of importance +and conceit, laid the weapon, which he had so roundly employed, at her +feet. "Loveliest of women," said he, "to your shrine I devote myself. Upon +your altar, I lay the insignia of my prowess. Deign, gentlest of thy sex, +to accept thus publicly of those sighs which I have long poured forth upon +thy account." + +Delia, though the native modesty of her character caused her whole face to +be suffused with blushes at having the eyes of the whole company thus +turned upon her, regarded the peer with a look of ineffable disdain, and +turned from him in silence. + +Such were the transactions of an evening, which will doubtless long be +remembered by such as had the good fortune to be spectators. The natural +impertinence and insolence of lord Martin were swelled by the event to ten +times their natural pitch. He crowed like a cock, and cackled like a +goose. The vulgar of the other sex, who are constantly the admirers of +success, however unmerited, and conceit, however unfounded, thought his +lordship the greatest man in the world. The inequality of his legs was +removed by the proof he had exhibited of his prowess. The inequality of +his shoulders was hid under a rent-roll of ten thousand a year. And the +narrowness of his intellects, the optics of these connoisseurs were not +calculated to discern. + +The peer, as we have already hinted, was the suitor most favoured by the +father of our heroine. The principal passion of the old gentleman was the +love of money. But at the same time he was not absolutely incapable of +relishing the inferior charms of a venerable title and a splendid +reputation. Perceiving that his client continually rose in the public +opinion, he was more eager than ever to have the match concluded. Lord +Martin, though his organs were not formed to delight in beauty at the +first hand, was yet tickled with the conceit of carrying off so fair a +prize from the midst of a thousand gaping expectants. + +It will naturally be imagined that the situation of Delia at this moment +was by no means an enviable one. She was caught in the snares of love. And +the more she struggled to get free, she was only the more limed and +entangled. The recollection of the hopelessness of her love by no means +sufficed to destroy it. The recollection of her former carelessness and +gaiety was not able to restore her to present ease. In vain she summoned +pride and maiden dignity to support her. In vain she formed resolutions, +which were broken as soon as made. Every where she was haunted by the +image of her dear unknown. Her nights were sleepless and uneasy. The fire +and brightness of her eyes were tarnished. _She pined in green and +yellow melancholy._ + +The more dear were the ideal image that accompanied her, the more did she +execrate and detest her persecutor. "No," cried she, "I will never be his. +Never shall the sacred tie, which should only unite congenial spirits, be +violated by two souls, distant as the poles, jarring as contending +elements. My father may kill me. Alas, of what value is life to me! It is +a long scene of unvaried misfortune. It is a dreary vista of despair. He +may kill me, but never, never shall he force me to a deed my soul abhors." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing that with which the reader will be acquainted when he has +read it_. + + +The cup of misfortune, by which it was decreed that the virtue and the +constancy of our heroine should be tried, was not yet ended. The +disposition of a melancholy lover is in the utmost degree variable. Now +the fair Delia studiously sought to plunge herself in impervious solitude; +and now, worn with a train of gloomy reflections, she with equal eagerness +solicited the society of her favourite companion. + +By this time sir William Twyford and Miss Fletcher were become in a manner +inseparable. Of consequence the company of the one necessarily involved +that of the other. And the gaiety and good humour of sir William, tempered +as they were by an excellent understanding, and an unaffected vein of +sportive wit, were the sweetest medicine to the wounded heart of Delia. +When she had first chosen Miss Fletcher for her intimate friend, her own +faculties had not yet reached their maturity; and habit frequently renders +the most insipid amusements pleasurable and interesting. Southampton +itself did not afford the largest scope for selection. And however our +readers may decide respecting the merit of the easy, the voluble and the +good humoured Miss Fletcher, they will scarcely be disposed to deny that +of all the female characters we have hitherto exhibited, she was the most +amiable. + +One evening, as these three friends were sitting together, sir William +took occasion to lament the necessity that was laid upon him to quit +Southampton for a few days, though he hoped very speedily to be able to +return. His inamorata, as usual, was very inquisitive to learn the +business that was to deprive her for a time of the presence of a lover, of +whom she was not a little ostentatious. Sir William answered that he was +under an engagement to be present at the marriage of one of his college +friends, and that he should set out in company with Mr. Moreland. + +At that name our tender and apprehensive fair one involuntarily started. +"Mr. Moreland!" said she to herself, "Ah, it was at his house that my +unknown resided. It is very seldom that Mr. Moreland undertakes a journey. +Surely there must be something particularly interesting to him in the +affair. The strange combination of circumstances terrifies and perplexes +me. Would I were delivered from this state of uncertainty! Would to God I +were dead!" + +The uncertainty which afflicted her was however of a very short duration. +Miss Fletcher, by an inexhaustible train of interrogatories, led sir +William to relate by degrees every thing he knew of the affair. The young +gentleman his friend was the nephew and heir of Mr. Moreland. The present +match had been long upon the carpet, and was a very considerable one in +point of fortune. "Did the nephew ever visit Mr. Moreland?" "Very +frequently," said sir William. "And he is visited" interposed Delia, "by +other young gentlemen from the university?" "No," answered sir William. +"Mr. Moreland, who is an old batchelor, full of oddities and sensibility, +has a general dislike of young collegians. He thinks them pert, dissolute, +arrogant, and pedantic. He therefore never receives any but his nephew, +for whom he has the most ardent affection, and sometimes by particular +grace myself who am his intimate friend." "And how long is it since the +young gentleman paid a visit to his uncle?" Sir William looked a little +surprized at so particular a question, but answered: "He was here not +above a fortnight ago to invite his uncle to the wedding. But he is rather +serious and thoughtful in his temper, so that he is seldom seen in +public." + +It was now but too certain that the friend of sir William, and the amiable +unknown, who had made a conquest of the heart of Delia, were the same +person. The surprise at which she was taken, and the unwelcome manner in +which her doubts were now at once resolved, were too much for the delicate +frame of our heroine. She sat for a moment gazing with an eager and +unmeaning stare upon the face of sir William. But she presently +recollected herself, and, bursting out of the room, flew to her chamber in +the same instant, and was relieved by a flood of tears. + +Sir William was inexpressibly surprised at this incident. Delia, he was +sure, did not even know the name of his friend, and he could scarcely +imagine that she had ever seen him. Miss Fletcher, though considerably +astonished herself, gave sir William an account of so many particulars of +what had passed between his friend and our heroine, as were perfectly +sufficient to solve the difficulty. In return the baronet explained to her +the exact situation of the affair of Damon, told her that he did not +believe the day was yet fixed, and assured her that Mr. Moreland and +himself waited for a farther summons, though it must be confessed that it +was expected every hour. + +These particulars, when communicated to Delia by the indefatigable +assiduity of Miss Fletcher, afforded her but a very slender consolation. +"What avails it me," said she, "that the day is not fixed? Every +considerable circumstance, there is reason to believe, is determined. He +marries, with the approbation of all his friends, a lady, my superior in +rank and fortune, and who is probably every way worthy of him. Ah, why am +I thus selfish and envious? No, let me pine away in obscurity, let me be +forgotten. But may he live long and happy. Did he not tell me, that he +went to seek the _mistress of his fate_?--And yet," interrupted she, +"he accompanied the information with words of such sweet import, with so +much tenderness and gentleness, as will never be erased from my mind. Ah +foolish girl, wilt thou for ever delude thyself, wilt thou be for ever +extracting comfort from despair? No! Long enough hast thou been misguided +by the meteor of hope. Long enough hast thou been cheated by the visions +of youthful fancy. There is now no remedy left. Let me die." + +There were two passions that predominated in the breast of sir William +Twyford. The first was that of a humourist, and to this almost every other +object was occasionally sacrificed. But he had likewise a large fund of +good nature. He perceived, that in two successive instances, however +unintentionally, his conduct had been the source of unhappiness to the +most amiable of her sex. The victory of lord Martin had put it more than +ever in his power to harrass Delia. She was incessantly importuned, now by +her father, and now by her inamorato. And her distress, if it had wanted +any addition, was rendered compleat by the expected marriage of one, whose +personal accomplishments had caught her unwary heart. He lamented the +undeserved misfortune of youth and beauty. His heart bled for her. + +Thus circumstanced, his active benevolence determined him not to lose a +moment, in endeavouring to repair the mischief of which he had so +unfortunately been the author. He had never cordially approved of the +intended union between his friend and Miss Frampton. She was of the first +order of coquettes, and it might have puzzled even an anatomist to +determine, whether she had a heart. Descartes informs us that the soul +usually resides in the pineal gland, but the soul of this lady seemed to +inhabit in her eyes. She had been caught with the figure of Damon. And had +a figure more perfectly beautiful, if that had been possible, or an +equipage more brilliant, presented itself, he did not doubt but that it +would carry away the prize. + +Miss Frampton was heiress to a fortune of fifty thousand pounds. The +father of Damon, whose soul, in union with some amiable qualities, which +served him for a disguise, had the misfortune to be exceedingly mercenary +at the bottom, had proposed the match to his son. Damon, who had never in +his life been guilty of an act of disobedience, received the +recommendation of his father with a prejudice in its favour. He waited +upon the young lady and found her beautiful, high spirited, accomplished, +and incensed by a thousand worshippers. Her disposition was not indeed +congenial to his own. But he was prejudiced by filial duty, dazzled by her +charms, and led on insensibly by the mildness and pliableness of his +character. In a word, every thing had been concluded, and the wedding was +daily expected to take place. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Two Persons of Fashion_. + + +In pursuance of the determination he had formed, sir William immediately +set out for Oxford, where his friend still resided. As he had lived with +him upon terms of the most unreserved familiarity, he made use of the +liberty of an intimate, and, without being announced, abruptly entered his +chamber. Damon was sitting in a melancholy posture, his countenance +dejected, and his eye languid. Upon the entrance of the baronet he looked +up, and struck with the sudden appearance of one to whom he was so +ardently attached, his visage for a moment assumed an air of gaiety and +pleasure. + +"Ha," cried sir William, with his wonted spriteliness of accent, "methinks +the countenance of my Damon does not bespeak the sentiments that become a +bridegroom." "I am afraid not," answered Damon. "But tell me to what am I +indebted for this agreeable and unexpected visit?" "We will talk of that +another time. But when did you see my play-fellow, Miss Frampton?" "I have +not seen her," replied our hero with a sigh half uttered, and half +suppressed, "these ten days." "What" cried the baronet, "no +misunderstanding, eh?" "Not absolutely that. I saw her, I fear, without +all the rapture that becomes a lover, and she resented it with a coldness +that did not introduce an immediate explanation. Since that time I have +been somewhat indisposed, or probably affairs would now have been +settled." "And what," said sir William, "must we apply the old maxim, that +the falling out of lovers is the consolidating of love?" + +Damon from the entrance of his friend had appeared a good deal agitated. +He was no longer able to contain himself. He eagerly seized the hand of +sir William and clasped it between both of his. "My dear baronet, I have +never concealed from you a thought of my heart. But my present situation +is so peculiarly delicate and distressing, that I can scarcely form any +sentiment of it, or even dare trust myself to recollect it. I have seen," +continued he, "ah, that I could forget it! a woman, beauteous as the day, +before whom the charms of Miss Frampton disappear, as, before the rising +sun, each little star _hides its diminish'd head_. Her features, full +of sensibility, her voice such as to thrill the soul and all she says, +pervaded with wit and good sense." "And where," cried the baronet, in a +lively tone, "resides this peerless she?" + +"Alas," answered the disconsolate Damon, "it matters not. I shall see her +no more. Virtue, honour, every thing forbids it. I may be unhappy, but I +will never deserve to be so. Miss Frampton has my vows. Filial duty calls +on me to fulfil them. Obstacles without number, Alps on Alps arise, to +impede my prosecution of a fond and unlicensed inclination. The struggle +has cost me something, but it is over. I have recovered my health, I have +formed my resolution. This very day, (you, my good friend, will accept the +apology) I had determined to repair to Beaufort Place. Doubt and +uncertainty nourish the lingering distemper that would undo me. I will +come to a decision." + +Sir William was not of a temper to abdicate any affair in which he had +embarked, before success appeared absolutely unattainable. Like Caesar, it +was enough for him that the thing appeared possible to be done, to engage +him to persevere. He therefore begged leave to accompany his friend, and +they set out together that very afternoon. + +Beaufort Place, the habitation of Miss Frampton, was only six miles from +Oxford. And, as he knew that Sir Harry Eustace, the son of that lady's +mother by a second husband, was now upon a visit to his sister, sir +William Twyford made no scruple of proceeding with his friend immediately +to the house. + +After a short general conversation, sir William drew the young baronet +into the garden. In the mean time sir Harry's chariot was preparing, as he +had fixed the conclusion of his visit for that evening. After an interval +of half an hour the servant brought word that the carriage was ready. Sir +Harry, who was a young man of little ceremony, bowed _en passant_ +before the parlour window, and immediately hurried away. + +Sir William stood for some time at the door of the house after sir Harry +had driven away. Presently he observed another carriage advancing by the +opposite road. The liveries were flaunting and the attendants numerous. +They drew nearer, and he perceived that it was the equipage of lord +Osborne. Since therefore the lovers were to be so soon interrupted by the +entrance of a new visitant, he thought proper immediately to enter the +parlour. + +He had only time to remark the air and countenance of Damon and the young +lady. They appeared mutually cold and embarassed. He could trace in his +friend the aukwardness and timidity of one who was unused to act a studied +part. Miss Frampton, with a countenance uninterested and inattentive, +affected the carriage of a person who thought herself insulted. + +Lord Osborne was now announced. He was a young nobleman, that had spent a +considerable part of his fortune upon the continent. With a narrow +understanding and a contracted heart, he had been able by habitual cunning +and invincible effrontery, to acquire the reputation of a man of parts. +Courage was the only respectable quality, his possession of which could +not be questioned. He was a debauchee and a gamester. There was no +meanness he had not practised, there was no villainy of which he could not +boast. With this character, he was universally respected and courted by +all such as wished to acquire the reputation of men of gaiety and spirit. +The ladies were all dying for him, as for a man who had ruined more +innocence, and occasioned a greater consumption of misery, than any other +man in the kingdom. + +The face of Miss Frampton visibly brightened the moment his name was +articulated. She was all spirits and agitation, though she seemed to feel +something aukward in her situation. When he entered the room, she flew +half way to meet him, but, suddenly recollecting herself, stopt short. "My +dear Miss Frampton," said his lordship, with a familiar and indifferent +air, "I cannot stop a moment. I am mortified to death. The most +unfortunate man! But I could not live a whole day without seeing you. +Believe me to be more impassioned, more ardent than ever." Saying this be +directed a slight glance and a half bow towards our two friends. "Farewel, +my charmer, my adorable!" said he, and kissed her hand. Miss Frampton +struck him a slight blow with her fan, and crying, with an easy wink, +"Remember!" she dropt him a profound curtesey and his lordship departed. + +For a moment the whole company was silent. "By my soul," exclaimed sir +William, "this is the most singular affair!" "Oh, nothing at all," +answered the young lady. "It is all _Ć la mode de Paris_. In France +no man of fashion can presume to accost a lady, whether young or old, but +in the language of love. But it means no more, than when a minister of +state says to his first clerk, _your humble servant_, or to the widow +of a poor seaman, _your devoted slave_." "Oh," cried sir William, "that +is all. And by my faith, it is mighty pretty. What think you Damon? I +hope, when you are married, you will have no objection to lord Osborne, or +any other person of fashion making love to your wife before your face." +"What an indelicate question!" said Miss Frampton. "I declare, baronet, +you are grown an absolute boor. Nobody ever talks of marriage now. A woman +of fashion blushes to hear it mentioned before a third person." "Why, to +say the truth, madam, I have been honoured with so great an intimacy by +Damon, that I thought that might excuse the impropriety. And now, pray +your ladyship, must I wait till we are alone, before I ask my friend +whether his happy day be fixed?" "Since you will talk," said Miss +Frampton, "of the odious subject, I believe I may tell you that it is not. +We are in no such hurry." "My dear sweet play-fellow," said the baronet, +"I must tell you once for all that I am no adept in French fashions. So +that you will give me leave to use the unceremonious language of an +Englishman. My friend here, you know, is a little sheepish, but I have +words at will. I thought matters had been nearer a termination." "And +pray, my good sir, let the gentleman speak for himself. If he is not +dissatisfied, why should you be in such haste?" "Indeed, madam," +interposed Damon, "I am not perfectly satisfied. Perhaps indeed a lover +ought to think himself happy enough in being permitted to dance attendance +upon a lady of your charms. But I once thought, madam, that we had +advanced somewhat farther." "I cannot tell," answered the lady with an air +of levity. "Just as you please. But I cannot see why we should put +ourselves to any inconvenience. Lord Osborne"--"Lord Osborne!" interrupted +sir William with some warmth, "and pray what has his lordship to do with +the matter?" "Really sir William," replied Miss Frampton, "you are very +free. But his lordship is my friend, and I hope Damon has no objection to +his continuing so." "Look you," answered sir William, "I would neither +have lord Osborne for the rival of Damon now, nor for your +_chichisbee_ hereafter." "And yet I am not sure," cried she, "that he +may not be both." "Is there then," said the baronet, "no engagement +subsisting between you and Damon?" "I believe," cried Miss Frampton, a +little hesitating, "there may be something of the kind. But we may change +our minds you know, and I do not think that I shall prosecute upon it. Ha! +ha! ha!" "To say the truth," replied sir William, "I believe lord Osborne +is not only the rival of Damon, but a very formidable one too. But let me +tell you, Bella, a character so respectable as that of my friend, and so +true an Englishman, must not be allowed to dance attendance." "As he +pleases. I believe we understand one another. And to say the truth at +once, perhaps some time hence I may have no aversion to lord Osborne." + +The reader will not suppose that the conversation continued much longer. +Damon and the young lady came to a perfect understanding, and parted +without any very ungovernable desire of seeing each other again. And thus +by the gay humour and active friendship of sir William Twyford, an affair +was happily terminated, which, from the timidity and gentleness of our +hero, might otherwise have lingered several months to the mutual +dissatisfaction of both parties. Damon quitted the house in raptures, and +was no sooner seated in the chariot, than he pressed his friend repeatedly +to his breast, and committed a thousand extravagancies of joy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_A tragical Resolution._ + + +Damon and his friend spent the evening together in the chambers of our +hero. They now discussed a variety of those subjects, which naturally +arise between friends who have been for any time separated. Damon threw +aside that reserve which the consciousness of a fault had hitherto +involuntarily imposed upon him, and related more explicitly who the lady +was of whom he was so much enamoured, and in what manner he had first seen +her. Recollecting that the baronet was just returned from the environs of +Southampton, he eagerly enquired into the health and situation of his +mistress. + +Sir William related to him the adventure of Mr. Prettyman, as we have +already stated it to our readers, and deeply lamented the persecution to +which Delia was subjected from the haughty victor. "And is there," cried +Damon eagerly, "no prospect of his lordship's success?" "I believe," +answered sir William, "that he is of all men her mortal aversion." "And is +there no happy lover in all her train, that she regards with a partial +eye?" "None," replied the baronet, "she is chaste as snow, and firm as +mountain oaks." "Propitious coldness!" exclaimed Damon, "for that may +heaven send down a thousand blessings on her head!" + +"But you talked," added he, "of some occasion of your journey which you +deferred relating to me." "The occasion," answered sir William, determined +to preserve inviolate the secret of Delia, "is already fulfilled. I heard +from young Eustace of the appearance and addresses of Osborne, and +suspecting the rest, I determined to deliver you from the clutches of a +girl whom I always thought unworthy of you. And now" added he cheerfully, +"free as the winds, we can pursue uncontrolled the devices of our own +hearts." + +The next morning the two friends proceeded to the house of lord Thomas +Villiers, the father of Damon. He had already learned something of the +visits of lord Osborne at Beaufort Place. He was not therefore much +surprised to hear of the scene, which had passed between his son and the +lady of that mansion. But there was something more to be done, in order to +gain the approbation of the father to the new project, in the prosecution +of which both these friends were equally sanguine. + +Lord Thomas Villiers was, as we have already said, avaricious. He was not +therefore much pleased with the proposal of a match with a lady, whose +fortune was not the half of that of Miss Frampton. He was tinctured with +the pride of family, and he could not patiently think for a moment, of +marrying his only son to the daughter of a tradesman. Sir William employed +all his eloquence, and accommodated himself with infinite dexterity to the +humours of the person with whom he had to deal. Damon indeed said but +little, but his looks expressed more, than the baronet, with all his +abilities, and all his friendship, was able to suggest. In spite of both, +the father continued inexorable. + +The mind of Damon was impressed with the most exalted ideas upon the +subject of filial duty. Had his heart been pre-engaged, before the affair +of Miss Frampton was proposed to him, he might not perhaps have carried +his complaisance so far, as to have married the indifferent person, in +spite of all his views and all his prepossessions. But in his estimate, +the actual entering into a connection for life in opposition to the will +of a parent, was a mode of conduct very different from, and far more +exceptionable than the refusing to unite oneself with a person in whose +society one had not the smallest reason to look for happiness. + +There was another inducement that had much weight with Damon, and even +with his more sanguine friend, sir William Twyford. The fortune neither of +Damon nor Delia was independent. Lord Thomas Villiers was filled with too +many prepossessions and too much pride, easily to retract an opinion he +had once adopted, or to forgive an opposition to his judgment. The narrow +education of a tradesman it was natural to suppose had rendered the mind +of Mr. Hartley still more tenacious, and unmanageable. And neither would +sir William have been willing to see his friend, nor would the lover +readily have involved his mistress in circumstances of pecuniary distress. + +The resolution of Damon was therefore speedily taken. Every motive that +could have weight, served to counteract the bias of his inclination. He by +no means wanted either firmness or spirit. He resolved to struggle, nor to +cease his efforts till he had conquered. With this design he entreated, +and, after some difficulties, obtained of his father leave to enter +himself in the army, and to make a campaign in America. + +The character of his heart seemed particularly formed for military +pursuits. He was grave and thoughtful, he was generous and humane. To a +mind contemplative and full of sensibility, he united a temper, frank, +open, and undisguised. He was usually mild, gentle and pliant. But in a +situation, that called for determination and spirit, it was impossible to +appear more bold and manly, more cool and decided,--Affectionate was the +farewel of his father, and still more affectionate that of his friend. +Damon, though he endeavoured to summon all his resolution, could not +restrain a sigh when he considered himself as about to sail for distant +climates, and recollected, that probably, before his return, his beloved +mistress, _dearer than life and all its joys_, would be united, +irrevocably united to another. But here we must take leave of our hero, +and return to his fair inamorata. + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + + + +PART the SECOND. + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + +PART the SECOND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_In which the Story begins over again_. + + +Sir William Twyford had taken care to inform Miss Fletcher, and by her +means Delia herself, of every circumstance as it occurred. Delia was +indeed flattered by the breach that had taken place with Miss Frampton, +and the perfect elucidation, which the story of this lady afforded to the +most enigmatical expressions of Damon, in the interesting scene that had +passed between them in the alcove. She no longer doubted of the reality of +his attachment. Her heart was soothed, and her pride secretly flattered, +in recollecting that she had not suffered herself to be caught by one who +was perfectly indifferent to her. + +But the information that stifled all her hopes, and gave her the prospect +of so long, and, too probably, an eternal absence, sat heavy upon her +spirits, and preyed upon her delicate constitution. From the persecutions +of lord Martin she had no respite. Her eye grew languid, the colour faded +in her damask cheek, and her health visibly decayed. + +At this time Miss Fletcher proposed a journey to Windsor and other places, +and intreated to have her friend to accompany her. Mr. Hartley, with all +his foibles, was much attached to his only child, and deeply afflicted +with the alteration he perceived in her. He readily therefore gave his +consent to the proposed jaunt. "When she returns, it will be time enough," +said he to lord Martin, "to bring things to the conclusion, so much +desired by both of us. I will not put my darling into your hands, but with +that health and gaiety, which have so long been the solace of my old age, +and which cannot fail to make any man happy that deserves her." + +Delia set out without any other inclination, than to escape from +intreaties that were become in the highest degree disagreeable to her. She +was addressed no longer upon a topic, of which she wished never to hear. +Her eye was no longer wounded with the sight of her insolent admirer. This +had an immediate and a favourable effect upon her. The conversation of +Miss Fletcher was lively and unflagging, and the simplicity of her remarks +proved an inexhaustible source of entertainment to our heroine. + +They travelled leisurely and visited a variety of parks and seats of +noblemen which lay in their way. The taste of Delia was delicate and +refined. A continual succession of objects; gardens, architecture, +pictures and statues soothed her spirits, and gradually restored her to +that gaiety and easiness of temper, which had long rendered her the most +lovely and engaging of her sex. + +At length they arrived at Windsor. The simple dignity of the castle, its +commanding situation, and the beautiful effects of the river from below, +rendered it infinitely the most charming spot our heroine had yet seen. +Her spirits were on the wing, she was all life and conversation, and the +most constant heart, that nature had ever produced, for a moment, forgot +her hopes, her fears, her inclinations, and her Damon. + +She was now standing at a window that commanded the terrace. The evening +was beautiful, and the walk crouded. There were assembled persons of all +sexes and of different ranks. All appeared gaiety and splendour. The +supple courtier and the haughty country gentleman seemed equally at their +ease. There was thoughtless youth and narrative old age. The company +passed along, and object succeeded object without intermission. + +One of the last that caught the eye of Delia, was that of two gentlemen +walking arm in arm, and seeming more grave than the rest of the company. +They were both tall and well shaped; but one of them had somewhat more +graceful and unembarrassed in his manner than the other. The latter was +dressed in black, the former in colours, with much propriety and elegance. + +As they turned at the end of the walk the eye of Delia caught in the +latter the figure of Damon. She was inexpressibly astonished, she trembled +in every limb, and could scarcely support herself to a seat. Miss Fletcher +had caught the same object at the same moment, and, though she probably +might not otherwise have been clear in her recollection, the disorder of +Delia put her conjecture out of doubt. She therefore, before our heroine +had time to recollect herself, dispatched her brother, who had attended +them in their journey, to inform Damon that a lady in the castle was +desirous to speak with him. + +In an instant our hero and his companion, escorted by young Fletcher, +entered the room. The astonishment of Damon, at being so suddenly +introduced to a person, whom he had never expected to see again, was +immeasurable. He rushed forward with a kind of rapture; he suddenly +recollected himself; but at length advanced with hesitation. There was no +one present beside those we have already named. The castle was probably +familiar to every person except Delia and her companions. Every one beside +was therefore assembled upon the terrace. + +Our heroine now gradually recovered from the disorder into which the +unexpected sight of Damon had thrown her. She was much surprised at +looking up to find him in her presence. "How is this," cried she, "how +came you hither?" "The meeting," said our hero, "is equally unexpected to +us both. But, ah, my charmer, whence this disorder? Why did you tremble, +why look so pale?" "Oh goodness," cried Miss Fletcher, "what should it be? +Why it was nothing in all the world, but her seeing you just now from the +window." "And were you," cried Damon eagerly, "so kind as to summon me to +your presence?" "No, no, my good sir," said the lively lady, "you must +thank me for that". "How then at least," said the lover, "must I interpret +your disorder?" + +Delia was inexpressibly confused at the inconsiderate language of her +companion. "I cannot tell," said she, "you must not ask me. You must +forget it." "And can I," cried Damon with transport, "ever forget a +disorder so propitious, so flattering? Can I hope that the heart of my +charmer is not indifferent to her Damon!" "Oh sir, be silent. Do not use a +language like this." "Alas," cried he, "too long has my passion been +suppressed. Too long have I been obliged to act a studied part, and employ +a language foreign to my heart." "I thought," answered Delia, with +hesitation, "that you were going to leave the kingdom." "And did my fair +one condescend to employ a thought upon me? Did she interest herself in my +concern and enquire after my welfare? And how so soon could she have +learned my intention?" + +This question, joined with the preceding circumstances, completed the +confusion of Delia. She blushed, stammered, and was silent. Damon, during +this interval, gazed upon her with unmingled rapture. Every symptom she +betrayed of confusion, was to him a symptom of something inexpressibly +soothing. "Ah," whispered he to himself, "I am beloved, and can I then +leave the kingdom? Can I quit this inestimable treasure? Can I slight so +pure a friendship, and throw away the jewel upon which all my future +happiness depends?" + +The conversation, from the peculiar circumstances of the lovers, had so +immediately become interesting, that the gentlemen had not had an +opportunity of quitting them. During the short silence that prevailed the +friend of Damon took young Fletcher by the hand, and led him into the +garden. The lovers were now under less restraint. Delia, perceiving that +she could no longer conceal her sentiments, confessed them with ingenuous +modesty. Damon on the other hand was ravished at so unexpected a +discovery, and in a few minutes had lived an age in love. + +He now began to recollect himself. "Where," said he, "are all my +resolutions? What are become of all the plans I had formed, and the +designs in which I had embarked? What an unexpected revolution? No," said +he, addressing himself to Delia, "I will never quit you. Do thou but +smile, and let all the world beside abandon me. Can you forgive the +sacrilegious intention of deserting you, of flying from you to the +extremities of the globe? Oh, had I known a thought of Damon had harboured +in one corner of your heart, I would sooner have died." "And do you +think," cried Delia, "that I will tempt you to disobedience? No. Obey the +precepts of your father and your own better thoughts. Heaven designed us +not for each other. Neither your friends nor mine can ever be reconciled +to the union. Go then and forget me. Go and be happy. May your sails be +swelled with propitious gales! May victory and renown attend your steps!" +"Ah cruel Delia, and do you wish to banish me? Do you enjoin upon me the +impracticable talk, to forget all that my heart holds dear? And will my +Delia resign herself to the arms of a more favoured lover?" "Never," cried +she with warmth. "I will not disobey my father. I will not marry contrary +to his inclinations. But even the authority of a parent shall not drag me +to the altar with a man my soul detests." "Propitious sounds! Generous +engagements! Thus let me thank thee."--And he kissed her hand with +fervour. "Thus far," cried Delia, "I can advance. I employ no disguise. I +confess to you all my weakness. Perhaps I ought to blush. But never will I +have this reason to blush, for that my love has injured the object it +aspires to bless. Go in the path of fortune. Deserve success and happiness +by the exemplariness of your duty. And may heaven shower down blessings +without number!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The History of Mr. Godfrey_. + + +In expostulations like these our lovers spent their time without coming to +any conclusion, till the evening and Miss Fletcher warned them that it was +time to depart. Damon was to proceed for London early the next morning. He +therefore intreated of Delia to permit his friend Mr. Godfrey, who was +obliged to continue in the place some days longer, to wait upon her with +his last commands. He informed himself of the time when she was to return +to Southampton, and he trusted to be there not long after her. In the mean +time, as his situation was at present very precarious, he prevailed upon +her to permit him to write to her from time to time, and to promise to +communicate to him in return any thing of consequence that might happen to +herself. + +During the remainder of the evening Miss Fletcher made several ingenious +observations upon what had passed. Delia gently blamed her for having so +strangely occasioned the interview, though in reality she was by no means +displeased by the event it had produced. "Bless us, child, you are as +captious as any thing. Why I would not but have seen it for ever so much. +Well, he is a sweet dear man, and so kind, and so polite, for all the +world I think him just such another as Mr. Prattle. But then he is grave, +and makes such fine speeches, it does one's heart good to hear him. I vow +I wish I had such a lover. Sir William never says any thing half so +pretty. Bless us, my dear, _he_ talks about love, just as if he were +talking about any thing else." + +The next morning after breakfast, Mr. Godfrey appeared. He brought from +Damon a thousand vows full of passion and constancy. He had parted, he +said, more determined not to leave England, more resolute to prosecute his +love than ever. + +Having discharged his commission, he offered his service to escort the +ladies in any party they might propose for the present day. He said, that +being perfectly acquainted with Windsor and its environs, he flattered +himself he might be able to contribute to their entertainment. The very +gallant manner in which this offer was made, determined Miss Fletcher, as +something singular and interesting in the appearance of Mr. Godfrey did +our heroine, cheerfully to close with the proposal. + +The person of Mr. Godfrey as we have already said was tall and genteel. +There was a diffidence in his manner, that seemed to prove that he had not +possessed the most extensive acquaintance with high life; but he had a +natural politeness that amply compensated for the polish and forms of +society. His air was serious and somewhat melancholy; but there was a fire +and animation in his eye that was in the highest degree striking. + +Delia engaged him to talk of the character and qualities of Damon. Upon +this subject, Mr. Godfrey spoke with the warmth of an honest friendship. +He represented Damon as of a disposition perfectly singular and +unaccommodated to what he stiled "the debauched and unfeeling manners of +the age." He acknowledged with readiness and gratitude, that he owed to +him the most important obligations. By degrees Delia collected from him +several circumstances of a story, which she before apprehended to be +interesting. She observed, that, as he shook off the embarrassment of a +first introduction, his language became fluent, elegant, pointed, and even +sometimes poetical. Since however he related his own story imperfectly and +by piece meal, we shall beg leave to state it in our own manner. And we +the rather do it, as we apprehend it to be interesting in itself, and as +we foresee that he will make a second appearance in the course of this +narrative. We will not however deprive our readers of the reflections he +threw out upon the several situations in which he had been placed. We will +give them without pretending to decide how far they may be considered as +just and well-founded. + +Mr. Godfrey was not born to affluent circumstances. At a proper age he had +been placed at the university of Oxford, and here it was that he commenced +his acquaintance with Damon. At Oxford his abilities had been universally +admired. His public exercises, though public exercises by their very +nature ought to be dull, had in them many of those sallies, by which his +disposition was characterised, and much of that superiority, which he +indisputably possessed above his contemporaries. But though admired, he +was not courted. In our public places of education, a wide distance is +studiously preserved between young men of fortune, and young men that have +none. But Mr. Godfrey had a stiffness and unpliableness of temper, that +did not easily bend to the submission that was expected of him. He could +neither flatter a blockhead, nor pimp for a peer. He loved his friend +indeed with unbounded warmth, and it was impossible to surpass him in +generousness and liberality. But he had a proud integrity, that whispered +him, with, a language not to be controled, that he was the inferior of no +man. + +He was destined for the profession of a divine, and, having finished his +studies, retired upon a curacy of forty pounds a year. His ambition was +grievously mortified at the obscurity in which he was plunged; and his +great talents, in spite of real modesty, forcibly convinced him, that this +was not the station for which nature had formed him. But he had an +enthusiasm of virtue, that led him for a time to overlook these +disadvantages. "I am going," said he, "to dwell among scenes of unvitiated +nature. I will form the peasant to generosity and sentiment. I will teach +laborious industry to look without envy and without asperity upon those +above them. I will be the friend and the father of the meanest of my +flock. I will give sweetness and beauty to the most rugged scenes. The +man, that banishes envy and introduces contentment; the man, that converts +the little circle in which he dwells into a terrestrial paradise, that +renders men innocent here, and happy for ever, may be obscure, may be +despised by the superciliousness of luxury; but it shall never be said +that he has been a blank in creation. The Supreme Being will regard him +with a complacency, which he will deny to kings, that oppress, and +conquerors, that destroy the work of his hands." + +Such were the suggestions of youthful imagination. But Mr. Godfrey +presently found the truth of that maxim, as paradoxical as it is +indisputable, that the heart of man is naturally hard and unamiable. He +conducted himself in his new situation with the most unexceptionable +propriety, and the most generous benevolence. But there were men in his +audience, men who loved better to criticise, than to be amended; and +women, who felt more complacency in scandal, than eulogium. He displeased +the one by disappointing them; it was impossible to disappoint the other. +He laboured unremittedly, but his labours returned to him void. "And is it +for this," said he, "that I have sacrificed ambition, and buried talents? +Is humility to be rewarded only with mortification? Is obscurity and +retirement the favourite scene of uneasiness, ingratitude, and +impertinence? They shall be no longer my torment. In no scene can I meet +with a more scanty success." + +He now obtained a recommendation to be private tutor to the children of a +nobleman. This nobleman was celebrated for the politeness of his manners +and the elegance of his taste. It was his boast and his ambition to be +considered as the patron of men of letters. With his prospect therefore in +this connection, Mr. Godfrey was perfectly satisfied. "I shall no longer," +said he, "be the slave of ignorance, and the victim of insensibility. My +talents perhaps point me a step higher than to the business of forming the +minds of youth. But, at least, the youth under my care are destined to +fill the most conspicuous stations in future life. If propitious fortune +might have raised me to the character of a statesman; depressed by +adversity, I may yet have the honour of moulding the mind, and infusing +generosity into the heart, of a future statesman. I have heard the second +son of my patron celebrated for the early promises of capacity. To unfold +the springing germs of genius, to direct them in the path of general +happiness, is an employment by no means unworthy of a philosopher." + +In this situation Mr. Godfrey however once more looked for pleasure, and +found disappointment. The nobleman had more the affectation of a patron, +than any real enthusiasm in the cause of literature. The abilities of Mr. +Godfrey were universally acknowledged. And so long as the novelty +remained, he was caressed, honoured, and distinguished. In a short time +however, he was completely forgotten by the patron, in the hurry of +dissipation, and the pursuits of an unbounded ambition. His eldest care +was universally confessed stupid and impracticable. And in the younger he +found nothing but the prating forwardness of a boy who had been flattered, +without sentiment, and without meaning. Her ladyship treated Mr. Godfrey +with superciliousness, as an intruder at her lord's table. The servants +caught the example, and showed him a distinction of neglect, which the +exquisiteness of his sensibility would not permit him to despise. + +Mortified, irritated, depressed, he now quitted his task half finished and +threw himself upon the world. "The present age," said he, "is not an age +in which talents are overlooked, and genius depressed." He had heard much +of the affluence of writers, a Churchil, a Smollet, and a Goldsmith, who +had depended upon that only for their support. He saw the celebrated Dr. +Johnson caressed by all parties, and acknowledged to be second to no man, +whatever were his rank, however conspicuous his station. Full of these +ideas, he soon completed a production, fraught with the fire and +originality of genius, pointed in its remarks, and elegant in its style. +He had now to experience vexations, of which he had before entertained no +idea. He carried his work from bookseller to bookseller, and was every +where refused. His performance was not seasoned to the times, he was a +person that nobody knew, and he had no man of rank, by his importunities +and eloquence, to force him into the ranks of fashion. At length he found +a bookseller foolish enough to undertake it. But he presently perceived +that the gentlemen at the head of that profession were wiser than he. All +the motives they had mentioned, and one more, operated against him. The +monarchs of the critic realm scouted him with one voice, because his work, +was not written in the same cold, phlegmatic insupportable manner as their +own. + +He had now advanced however too far to retreat. He had too much spirit to +resume either of those professions, which for reasons so cogent in his +opinion, he had already quitted. He wrote essays, squibs, and pamphlets +for an extemporary support. But though these were finished with infinite +rapidity, he found that they constituted a very precarious means of +subsistence. The time of dinner often came, before the production that was +to purchase it was completed; and when completed, it was frequently +several days before it could find a purchaser. And his copy money and his +taylor's bill were too little proportioned to one another. + +He now recollected, what in the gaiety of hope he had forgotten, that +_many a flower_ only blows, with its sweetness to refresh the _air +of a desert_. He recollected many instances of works, raised by the +breath of fashion to the very pinnacle of reputation, that sunk as soon +again. He recollected instances scarcely fewer, of works, exquisite in +their composition, pregnant with beauties almost divine, that had passed +from the press without notice. Many had been revived by the cooler and +more deliberate judgment of a future age; and more had been lost for ever. +The instance of Chatterton, as a proof that the universal patronage of +genius was by no means the virtue of his contemporaries, flashed in his +face. And he looked forward to the same fate at no great distance, as his +own. + +To Mr. Godfrey however, fortune was in one degree more propitious. Damon +was among the few whose judgment was not guided by the dictate of fashion. +Having met accidentally with the performance we have mentioned, he was +struck with its beauties. As he had heard nothing of it in the politest +circles, he concluded, with his usual penetration, that the author of it +was in obscure and narrow circumstances. _Open as day to sweet +humanity_, interested warmly in the fortune of the writer of so amiable +a performance, he flew to his bookseller's with the usual enquiries. The +bookseller stared, and had it not been for the splendour of his dress, and +his gilded chariot, would have been tempted to smile at so unfashionable +and absurd a question. He soon however obtained the information he +desired. And his eagerness was increased, when the name of Godfrey, and +the recollection of the talents by which he had been so eminently +distinguished, led him to apprehend that he was one, to whose abilities +and character he had been greatly attached. + +He found some difficulty to obtain admission. But this was quickly +removed, as, from the dignity of his appearance, it was not probable that +he was a person, from whom Mr. Godfrey had any thing to apprehend. He +found him in a wretched apartment, his hair dishevelled and his dress +threadbare and neglected. Mr. Godfrey was unspeakably surprised at his +appearance. And it was with much difficulty that Damon prevailed upon him +to accept of an assistance, that he assured him should be but temporary, +if it were in the power of him, or any of his connections, to render him +respectable and independent, in such a situation as himself should chuse. + +Disappointment and misfortune are calculated to inspire asperity into the +gentlest heart. Mr. Godfrey inveighed with warmth, and sometimes with +partiality, against the coldness and narrowness of the age. He said, "that +men of genius, in conspicuous stations, had no feeling for those whom +nature had made their brothers; and that those who had risen from +obscurity themselves, forgot the mortifications of their earlier life, and +did not imitate the generous justice which had enabled them to fulfil the +destination of nature." But though misfortune had taught him asperity upon +certain subjects, it had not corrupted his manners, debauched his +integrity, or narrowed his heart. He had still the same warmth in the +cause of virtue, as in days of the most unexperienced simplicity. He still +dreaded an oath, and reverenced the divinity of innocence. He still +believed in a God, and was sincerely attached to his honour, though he had +often been told, that this was a prejudice, unworthy of his comprehension +of thinking upon all other subjects. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Misanthrope._ + + +Such was the story, in its most essential circumstances, that Mr. Godfrey +related. Delia was exceedingly interested in the gaiety of his +imagination, the cruelty of his disappointments, and the acuteness, and +goodness of heart that appeared in his reflections. Miss Fletcher listened +to the whole with gaping wonder. But as soon as he was gone, she began +with her usual observations. "Well," said she, "I never saw an author +before. I could not have thought that he could have looked like a +gentleman. Why, I vow, I could sometimes have taken him for a beau. Ay, +but then he talked for all the world as if it had been written in a book. +Well, by my troth, it was a mighty pretty story. But I should have liked +it better, if there had been a sighing nymph, or a duel or two in it. But +do you think it was all of his own making?" + +We will not trouble the reader to accompany our ladies from stage to stage +during the remainder of their journey. Nothing more remarkable happened, +and in ten days they arrived again at Southampton. + +Damon met Mr. Moreland in London, and, with that simplicity and candour by +which he was distinguished, related to him every circumstance of his +story. Mr. Moreland had no predilection in favour of lord Thomas Villiers. +His sister, whom he esteemed in all respects an amiable woman, had by no +means lived happily with her husband. Avarice and pride of rank were the +farthest in the world from being the foibles of Mr. Moreland, and the +sensibility of his disposition did not permit him to treat the faults, to +which himself was a stranger, with much indulgence. He therefore +encouraged Damon to persevere in the pursuit of his inclination, and +invited him to return with him into the country. He promised himself to +propose the match to Mr. Hartley, and assured his nephew, that he should +never feel any narrowness in his circumstances, in case of his father's +displeasure, while it was in his power to render them affluent. + +In pursuit of this plan, Damon, Mr. Moreland, and sir William Twyford, +whom they found in London, and whose goodness of humour led him heartily +to approve of the alteration in the plan of his friend, arrived, almost as +soon as our travellers, in the neighbourhood of Southampton. Sir William +and Damon, soon waited upon their respective mistresses, and in company so +mutually acceptable, time sped with a greater velocity than was usual to +him, and days appeared no more than hours. + +It was impossible that such a connexion should pass long unnoticed. It +must be confessed however that it met with no interruption from lord +Martin. Perhaps it might have escaped his notice, though it escaped that +of no other person. Perhaps he was satiated with the glory he had +acquired, and having conquered one beau, would not, like Alexander, have +sighed, if there had remained no other beau to conquer. Perhaps the +countenance of Mr. Hartley, of which he considered himself as securer than +ever, led him, like a wise general, to reflect, that in staking his life +against that of a lover, whose chance of success was almost wholly +precluded, he mould make a very unfair and unequal combat. + +Be this as it will, Mr. Hartley had no such motives to overlook this new +occurrence. Just however as he had begun to take it into his mature +consideration, he received the compliments of Mr. Moreland, with an +intimation of his design to make him a visit that very afternoon. + +At this message Mr. Hartley was a good deal surprised. Mr. Moreland he had +never but once seen, and in that visit, he thought he had had reason to be +offended with him. If that gentleman treated the company of Mr. Prattle +and lord Martin, persons universally admired, as not good enough for him, +it seemed unaccountable that he should have recourse to him. He was +neither distinguished by the elegance of his accomplishments, nor did he +much pride himself in the attainments of literature. After many +conjectures, he at length determined with infinite sagacity, to suspend +his judgement, till Mr. Moreland mould solve the enigma. + +This determination was scarcely made before his visitor arrived. That +gentleman, who, though full of sensibility and benevolence, was not a man +of empty ceremony, immediately opened his business. Mr. Hartley, drew +himself up in his chair, and, with the dignity of a citizen of London, who +thinks that the first character in the world, cried, "Well, sir, and who +is this nephew of yours? I think I never heard of him." "He is the son," +answered Mr. Moreland, "of lord Thomas Villiers." "Lord Thomas Villiers! +Then I suppose he is a great man. And pray now, sir, if this great man has +a mind that his son should marry my daughter, why does he not come and +tell me so himself?" "Why in truth," said the other, "lord Thomas Villiers +has no mind. But my nephew is his only son, and therefore cannot be +deprived of the principal part of his estate after his death. In the mean +time, I will take care that he shall have an income perfectly equal to the +fortune of Miss Hartley." "You will sir! And so in the first place, this +young spark would have me encourage him in disobedience, which is the +greatest crime upon God's earth, and in the second, he thinks that I, Bob +Hartley, as I sit here, will marry my daughter into any family that is too +proud to own us." "As to that, sir," said Moreland, "you must judge for +yourself. The young gentleman is an unexceptionable match, and I, sir, +whose fortune and character I flatter myself are not inferior to that of +any gentleman in the county, shall always be proud to own and receive the +young lady." "Why as to that, to be sure, you may be in the right for +_auft_ that I know. But _howsomdever_, my daughter, do you see, +is already engaged to lord Martin." "I should have thought," replied +Moreland, "that objection might have been stated in the first instance, +without any reflexions upon the conduct and family of the young gentleman. +But are you sure that lord Martin is the man of your daughter's choice?" +"I cannot say that I ever _axed_ her, for I do not see what that has +to do with the matter. Lord Martin, do you see, is a fine young man, and a +fine fortune. And Delia is my own daughter, and if she should boggle about +having him, I would cut her off with a shilling." "Sir," answered +Moreland, with much indignation, "that is a conduct that would deserve to +be execrated. My nephew, without any sinister means, is master of your +daughter's affection; and lord Martin, I have authority to tell you, is +her aversion." "Oh, ho! is it so. Well then, sir, I will tell you what I +shall do. Your nephew shall never have my daughter, though she had but a +rag to her tail. And as for her affections and her aversion, I will lock +her up, and keep her upon bread and water, till she knows, that she ought +to have neither, before her own father has told her _what is what_." +Mr. Moreland, all of whose nerves were irritated into a fever by so much +vulgarity, and such brutal insensibility, could retain his seat no longer. +He started up, and regarding his entertainer with a look of ineffable +indignation, flung the door in his face, and retreated to his chariot. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Much ado about nothing_. + + +Damon was inexpressibly afflicted at the success of his uncle's embassy. +When Mr. Moreland related to him the particulars of his visit, Damon +recollected the opposite tempers of the two gentlemen, and blamed himself +for not having foreseen the event. Mr. Hartley was infinitely exasperated +at the cavalierness with which he had been treated. He now discovered the +true cause of his daughter's pertinacity, and proceeded with more vigour +than ever. + +"And so," cried he, "you have dared to engage your affections without my +privity, have you? A pretty story truly. And you would disgrace me for +ever, by marrying into the family of a lord, that despises us, and an old +fellow, that for half a word would knock your father's brains out." +"Indeed sir," replied Delia, "I never thought of marrying without your +consent. I only gave the young gentleman leave to ask it of you." "You +gave him leave! And pray who are you? And so you was in league with him to +send this fellow to abuse me?" "Upon my word, I was not. And I am very +sorry if Mr. Moreland has behaved improperly." "_If_ Mr. Moreland! +and so you pretend to doubt of it! But, let me tell you, I have provided +you a husband, worth fifty of this young prig, and I will make you think +so." "Indeed sir, I can never think so." "You cannot. And pray who told +you to object, before I have named the man. Why, child, lord Martin has +ten thousand pounds a year, and is a peer, and is not ashamed of us one +bit in all the world." "Alas, sir, I can never have lord Martin. Do not +mention him. I am in no hurry. I will live single as long as you please." +"Yes, and when you have persuaded me to that, you will jump out at window +the next day to this ungracious rascal." "Oh pray sir do not speak so. He +is good and gentle." "Why, hussey, am I not master in my own house? I +shall have a fine time of it indeed, if I must give you an account of my +words." "Sir," said Delia, "I will never marry without your consent." +"That is a good girl, no more you shall. And I will lock you up upon bread +and water, if you do not consent to marry who I please." + +The despotic temper of Mr. Hartley led him to treat his daughter with +considerable severity. He suffered her to go very little abroad, and +employed every precaution in his power, to prevent any interview between +her and her lover. He tried every instrument in turn, threats, promises, +intreaties, blustering, to bend her to his will. And when he found that by +all these means he made no progress; as his last resource, he fixed a day +at no great distance, when he assured her he would be disappointed no +longer, and she should either voluntarily or by force yield her hand to +lord Martin. + +During these transactions, the communication between Delia and her lover +was, with no great difficulty, kept open by the instrumentality of their +two friends. They scarcely dared indeed to think of seeing each other, as +in case this were discovered, Delia would be subject to still greater +restraint, and the intercourse, between her and Miss Fletcher, be rendered +more difficult. In one instance however, this lady ventured to procure the +interview so ardently desired by both parties. + +Damon made use of this opportunity to persuade his mistress to an +elopement. "You have already carried," said he, "your obedience to the +utmost exremity. You have tried every means to bend the inflexible will of +your father. If not for my sake then, at least for your own, avoid the +crisis that is preparing for you. You detect the husband that your father +designs you. If united to him, you confess you must be miserable. But who +can tell, in the midst of persons inflexibly bent upon your ruin, no +friend at hand to support you, your Damon banished and at a distance, what +may be the event? You will hesitate and tremble, your father will +endeavour to terrify you into submission, the odious peer will force from +you your hand. If, in that moment, your heart should misgive you, if one +faultering accent belie the sentiments you have so generously avowed for +me, what, ah, what! may be the consequence? No, my fair one, fly, +instantly fly. No duty forbids. You have done all that the most rigid +moralist could demand of you. Put yourself into my protection. I will not +betray your confidence. You shall be as much mistress as ever of all your +actions. If you distrust me, at least chuse our common friends sir William +Twyford. Chuse any protector among the numerous friends, that your beauty +and your worth have raised you. I had rather sacrifice my own prospects of +felicity forever, than see the smallest chance that you should be +unhappy." + +Such were the arguments, which, with all the eloquence of a friend, and +all the ardour of a lover, our hero urged upon his mistress. But the +gentleness of Delia was not yet sufficiently roused by the injuries she +had received, to induce her, to cast off all the ties which education and +custom had imposed upon her, and determine upon so decisive a step. +"Surely," said she, "there is some secret reward, some unexpected +deliverance in reserve, for filial simplicity. Oh, how harsh, how bold, +how questionable a step, is that to which you would persuade me! +Circumstanced in this manner, the fairest reputation might provoke the +tongue of scandal, and the most spotless innocence open a door to the +blast of calumny. I will not say that such a step may not be sometimes +justifiable. I will not say to what I may myself be urged. But oh, how +unmingled the triumph, how sincere the joy if, by persevering in a +conduct, in which the path of duty is too palpable to be mistaken, +propitious fate may rather grant me the happiness after which I aspire, +than I be forced, as it were, myself to wrest it from the hands of +providence!" + +Such was the result of this last and decisive interview. Delia could not +be moved from that line of conduct, upon which she had so virtuously +resolved. And Damon having in vain exerted all the rhetoric of which he +was master, now gave way to the gloomy suggestions of despair, and now +flattered himself with the gleams of hope. He sometimes thought, that +Delia might yet be induced to adopt the plan he had proposed; and +sometimes he gave way to the serene confidence she expressed, and indulged +the pleasing expectation, that virtue would not always remain without its +reward. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Woman of Learning_. + + +We are now brought, in the course of our story, to the memorable scene at +Miss Cranley's. "Miss Cranley's!" exclaims one of our readers, in a tone +of admiration. "Miss Cranley's!" cries another, "and pray who is she?" + +I distribute my readers into two classes, the indolent and the +supercilious, and shall accordingly address them upon the present +occasion. To the former I have nothing more to say, than to refer them +back to the latter part of Chapter I., Part I. where, my dear ladies, you +will find an accurate account of the character of two personages, who it +seems you have totally forgotten. + +To the supercilious I have a very different story to tell. Most learned +sirs, I kiss your hands. I acknowledge my error, and throw myself upon +your clemency. You see however, gentlemen, that you were somewhat +mistaken, when you imagined that I, like my fair patrons, the indolent, +had quite lost these characters from my memory. + +To speak ingenuously, I did indeed suppose, as far as I could calculate +the events of this important narrative beforehand, that the Miss Cranleys +would have come in earlier, and have made a more conspicuous figure, than +they now seem to have any chance of doing. Having thus settled accounts +with my readers; I take up again the thread of my story, and thus I +proceed. + +Mr. Hartley being now, as he believed, upon the point of disposing of his +daughter in marriage, began seriously to consider that he should want a +female companion to manage, his family, to nurse his ailments, and to +repair the breaches, that the hand of wintry time had made in his spirits +and his constitution. The reader will be pleased to recollect, that he had +already laid siege to the heart of the gentle Sophia. He now prosecuted +his affair with more alacrity than ever. + +Alas, my dear readers! while we have been junketting along from +Southampton to Oxford, from Oxford to Windsor, and from Windsor to +Southampton back again, such is the miserable fate of human kind! Miss +Amelia Wilhelmina Cranley, the most pious of her sex, the flower of Mr. +Whitfield's converts, the wonder and admiration of Roger the cobler, has +given up the ghost. You will please then, in what follows, to represent to +yourselves the charms of Sophia as decked and burnished with a suit of +sables. Her exterior indeed was sable and gloomy, but her heart was far +superior to the attacks of wayward fate. She sat aloft in the region of +philosophy. She steeled her heart with the dignity of republicanism; for +her to drop one tear of sorrow would have been an eternal disgrace. + +About this time--it was perhaps in reality a manoeuvre to forward the +affair, to which she had no aversion at bottom, with the father of +Delia--that Miss Cranley gave a grand entertainment, at which were present +Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, sir William Twyford, lord Martin, most of the +ladies we have already commemorated, and many others. + +The repast was conducted with much solemnity. The masculine character of +the mind of Sophia had rendered her particularly attached to the grace of +action. When she drank the health of any of her guests, she accompanied it +with a most profound _congĆØ_. When she invited them to partake of any +dish, she pointed towards it with her hand. This action might have served +to display a graceful arm, but, alas! upon hers the hand of time had been +making depredations, and it appeared somewhat coarse and discoloured. + +After dinner, the lady of the house, as usual, turned the conversation +upon the subject of politics. She inveighed with much warmth against the +effeminacy and depravity of the modern times. We were slaves, and we +deserved to be so. In almost every country there now appeared a king, that +puppet pageant, that monster in creation, miserable itself, a combination +of every vice, and invented for the curse of human kind. "Where now," she +asked, "was the sternness and inflexibility of ancient story? Where was +that Junius, that stood and gazed in triumph upon the execution of his +sons? Where that Fabricius, that turned up his nose under the snout of an +elephant? Where was that Marcus Brutus, who sent his dagger to the heart +of CƦsar? For her part, she believed, and she would not give the snap of +her fingers for him if it were otherwise, that he was in reality, as sage +historians have reported, the son of Julius." + +In the very paroxysm of her oratory she chanced to cast her eyes upon Mr. +Prattle. With the character of Mr. Prattle, the reader is already partly +acquainted. But he does not yet know, for it was not necessary for our +story he should do so, that the honourable Mr. Prattle was a commoner and +a placeman. Good God, sir, represent to yourself with what a flame of +indignation our amazon surveyed him! She rose from her seat, and, taking +him by the hand, very familiarly turned him round in the middle of the +company. "This," said she, "is one of our Fabiuses, one of our Decii. +Good God, my friend, what would you do, if a brother officer shook a cane +over your shoulders as he did over those of the divine Themistocles? What +would you do, if the brutal lull of an Appius ravished from your arms an +only daughter? But I beg your pardon, sir. You are a placeman, mutually +disgracing and disgraced. You sell your constituents to the vilest +ministers, that ever came forward the champions of despotism. And those +ministers show us what is their insignificance, their impotence, their +want of discernment, in giving such a thing as you are, places of so great +importance, offices of so high emolument." + +Mr. Prattle, unused to be treated so cavalierly, and arraigned before so +large a company, trembled in every limb: "My dear madam, my sweet Miss +Sophia, pray do not pinch quite so hard;" and the water stood in his eyes. +Unable however to elude her grasp he fell down upon his knees. "For God's +sake! Oh dear! Oh lack a daisy! Why, Miss, sure you are mad." Miss +Cranley, unheedful of his exclamations, was however just going to begin +with more vehemence than ever, when a sudden accident put a stop to the +torrent of her oratory. But this event cannot be properly related without +going back a little in our narrative, and acquainting the reader with some +of those circumstances by which it was produced. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A Catastrophe_. + + +Sir William Twyford had gained great credit with lord Martin by his +conduct in the affair of Mr. Prettyman. He now imagined that he saw an +opening for the exercise of his humour, which he was never able to refill. +He communicated his plan to lord Martin. By his assistance he procured +that implement, which school-boys have denominated a cracker. This his +lordship found an opportunity of attaching to the skirt of Miss Cranley's +sack. At the moment we have described, when she was again going to enter +into the stream of her rhetoric, which, great as it naturally was, was now +somewhat improved with copious draughts of claret, the cracker was set on +fire. + +Poor Sophia now started in great agitation. "Bounce, bounce," went the +cracker. Sophia skipped and danced from one end of the room to the other. +"Great gods of Rome," exclaimed she, "Jupiter, Minerva, and all the +celestial and infernal deities!" The force of the cracker was now somewhat +spent. "Ye boys of Britain, that bear not one mark of manhood about you! +Would Leonidas have fastened a squib to the robe of the Spartan mother? +Would Cimber have so unworthily used Portia, the wife of Brutus? Would +Corbulo thus have interrupted the heroic fortitude of Arria, the spouse of +Thrasea Paetus?" + +"My dear madam," exclaimed lord Martin, his eyes glistening with triumph, +"with all submission, Corbulo I believe had been assassinated, before +Arria so gloriously put an end to her existence." "Thou thing," cried Miss +Cranky, "and hast thou escaped the torrent of my invective! Thou eternal +blot to the list, in which are inserted the names of a Faulkland, a +Shaftesbury, a Somers, and above all, that Leicester, who so bravely threw +the lie in the face of his sovereign!" "He! he!" cried lord Martin, who +could no longer refrain from boasting of his great atchievement. If I have +escaped your vengeance, let me tell you, madam, you have not escaped +"mine." "And was it thee, thou nincompoop? Hence, thou wretch! Avaunt! +Begone, or thou shalt feel my fury!" Saying this, she clenched her fist, +and closed her teeth, with so threatening an aspect, that the little peer +was very much terrified. He flew back several paces. "My dear Miss +Griskin," said he, "protect me! This barbarous woman does not understand +wit,"--and he precipitately burst out of the room. The lady too was so +much discomposed, that she thought proper to retire, assuring the company +that she would attend them again in a moment. + +"Well," cried Miss Griskin, as soon as she had disappeared, "this was the +nicest fun!" "I was afraid," said Miss Prim, "it would have discomposed +Miss Cranley's petticoats." "Law, my dear!" said Miss Gawky, "by my +so, I like the music of a cracker, better than all the concerts in the +varsal world." We need not inform our readers, that Miss Languish, in the +very height and altitude of the confusion, had been obliged to retire. + +Lord Martin, in the midst of his triumph and exultation, had not leisure +to recollect, nor perhaps penetration to perceive, the effect that this +little sally might have upon his interests. Despotic and boorish as was +the genius of Mr. Hartley, it cowred under that of Sophia with the most +abject servility. And that lady now vowed eternal war against the heroical +peer. + +"Mr. Hartley," said she, in their next _tĆŖte a tĆŖte_, "let me tell +you, lord Martin, must never have Miss Delia." "My dearest life," said the +old gentleman, "consider, the day is fixed, my word is passed, and it is +too late to revoke now. Beside, lord Martin has ten thousand pounds a +year." "Ten thousand figs," said she, "do not tell me, it is never too +late to be wife. Lord Martin is a venal senator, and a little sniveling +fellow." "My dear," said Hartley, "I never differed from you before: do +let me have my mind now." "Have your mind, sir! Men should have no minds. +Tyrants that they are! And now I think of it, Miss Delia does not like +lord Martin." "Pooh," said Mr. Hartley, recovering spirit at such an +objection, "that is all stuff and nonsense." "Nonsense! Let me tell you, +sir, women are not _born to be controled_. They are queens of the +creation, and if they had their way, and the government of the world was +in their hands, things would go much better than they do." "I know they +would," replied her admirer, "if they were all as wise as you." "Child," +returned Sophia, turning up her nose, "that is neither here nor there. The +matter in short is this. Damon loves Delia, and Delia loves Damon. And if +your daughter be not Mrs. Villiers, I will never be Mrs. Hartley." + +From a decision like this there could be no appeal. Mr. Hartley told lord +Martin, the next time he came to his house to pay his devoirs to his +mistress, that he had altered his mind. His lordship was too much +surprised at this manoeuvre to make any immediate answer; so turned upon +his heel, and decamped. + +The happy revolution, by the intervention of Miss Fletcher, was soon made +known to sir William and his friend. Damon now paid his addresses in form. +A reconciliation took place between Mr. Moreland and the father of our +heroine. The marriage was publicly talked of, the day was fixed, and every +thing prepared for the nuptials. + +It is impossible to describe the happiness of our lovers, when they saw +every obstacle thus unexpectedly removed. Damon was beside himself with +surprise and congratulation. Delia, at intervals, rubbed her eyes, and +could scarcely be persuaded that it was not a dream. They saw each other +at least once every day. Together they wandered along the margin of the +ocean, and together they sought that delicious alcove, which now appeared +ten times more beautiful, from the recollection it suggested of the +sufferings they had passed. + +Lord Martin was in the mean time most grievously disappointed. "The devil +damn the fellow!" said he, "he crosses me like my evil genius. I have a +month's mind to send him a challenge. He is a tall, big looking fellow to +be sure. But then if I could contrive to kill him. Ah, me! but fortune +does not always favour the brave. My reputation is established. I do not +want a duel for that. And for any other purpose, it is all a lottery. Fire +and furies, death and destruction! something must be done. Let me +think--_About my brain_." + +But lord Martin was not the only one whose hopes were disappointed, by the +expected marriage of Delia. He loved her not, he felt not one flutter of +complacency about his heart. It was vanity that first prompted him to +address her. It was disappointed pride that now stung him. Even Mr. +Prattle viewed her with a more generous affection. His genius was not +indeed a daring one, but it was active and indefatigable. Squire Savage +did not feel the less, though he did not spend many words about it. He was +a blustering hector. He had the reputation of fearing nothing, and caring +for nothing, that stood in his way. There were also other lovers beside +these, _whom the muse knows not, nor desires to know_. + +In this manner gins and snares seemed, on every side, to surround our +happy and heedless lovers. They sported on the brink. They sighed, and +smiled, and sang, and talked again. At length the eve of the day, from +which their future happiness was to be dated, arrived. They had but one +drawback, the continued averseness of lord Thomas Villiers. Damon was +however now obliged, together with Mr. Hartley, to attend the lawyers at +Mr. Moreland's, in order to complete the previous formalities. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing what will terrify the reader._ + + +At such a moment as this, a mind of delicacy and sensibility is fond of +solitude. Delia told Mrs. Bridget, that she would take her usual walk, and +be home time enough to superintend the oeconomy of supper, at which the +company of Damon and sir William Twyford was expected. + +They accordingly arrived before nine o'clock. Mrs. Bridget expected her +mistress every moment. Damon and his friend would have gone out to meet +her, but they were not willing to leave Mr. Hartley alone. The clock +however struck ten, and no Delia appeared. Every one now began to be +seriously uneasy. Damon and sir William went in both her most favourite +walks to find her, but in vain. Messengers were dispatched twenty +different ways. The lover repaired to the mansion of Lord Martin. The +baronet immediately set out for the house of Mr. Savage. + +Mr. Hartley, who, with the external of a bear, and the heart of a miser, +was not destitute of the feelings of a parent, was now exceedingly +agitated. He strided up and down the room with incredible velocity. He bit +his fingers with anxiety, and threw his wig into the fire. "As I am a good +man," said he, "Mr. Prattle lives but almost next door, and I will go to +him." Mr. Prattle was at home, and having heard his story, condoled with +him upon it with much apparent sincerity. + +Damon met with the same success. Lord Martin received him with perfect +serenity. "Bless us," cried he, "and is Miss Delia gone? I never was more +astonished in my life. I do not know what to do," and he took a pinch of +snuff. "Mr. Villiers," said he, with the utmost gravity, "I have all +possible respect for you. Blast me! if I am not willing to forget all our +former rivalship. Tell me, sir, can I do you any service?" Damon had every +reason to be satisfied with his behaviour, and flew out of the house in a +moment. + +Sir William Twyford did not however meet with the person he went in quest +of. Miss Savage informed him, that her brother, not two hours ago, had +received a letter, and immediately, without informing her of his design, +which indeed he very seldom did, ordered his best hunter out of the +stable. She added, that she had imagined, that he had received a summons +to a fox-chace early the next morning. + +Such was the account brought by sir William to the anxious and distracted +Damon. "Alas," cried he, "it is but too plain? She is by this time in the +hands of that insensible boor. Oh, who can bear to think of it! He is +perhaps, at this moment, tormenting her with his nauseous familiarities, +and griping her soft and tender limbs! Oh, why was I born! Why was I ever +cheated with the phantom of happiness! Wretch, wretch that I am!" + +With these words he burst out of the house, and flew along with surprising +rapidity. Sir William, having hastily ordered everything to be prepared +for a pursuit, immediately followed him. He found him, wafted, spent, and +almost insensible, lying beside a little brook that crossed the road. The +baronet raised him in his arms, and, with the gentlest accents that +friendship ever poured into a mortal ear, recovered him to life and +perception. + +"Where am I?" said the disconsolate lover. "Who are you? ah, my friend, my +best, my tried friend! I know you now. How came I here? Has any thing +unfortunate happened? Where is my Delia?" "Let us seek her, my Villiers," +said the baronet. "Seek her! What! is she lost? Oh, yes, I recollect it +now; she is gone, snatched from my arms. Let us pursue her! Let us +overtake her Oh that it may not be too late." + +He now leaned upon the shoulder of his friend, and returned with painful +and irregular steps. His disorder was so great, that sir William thought +it best to have him immediately conveyed to a chamber. He was so much +exhausted, that this was easily accomplished, without his being perfectly +sensible what was done. The baronet, with three servants mounted on +horseback, immediately pursued the road towards London.--Having thus +related the confusion and grief that were occasioned by her sudden +disappearance, we will now return to our heroine. + +She had advanced, according to the intention she had hinted to her +servant, towards the grove, where she had so often wandered with her +beloved. She was wrapped up and lost in the contemplation of her +approaching felicity. "And is every difficulty surmounted, and shall at +last my fate be twined with Damon's? Sure, it is too much, it cannot be! +Fate does not deal so partially with mortals. To bestow so vast a +happiness on one, while thousands pine in helpless misery. But let me not +be incredulous. Let me not be ungrateful. No, since heaven has thus +accumulated its favours on me, my future days shall all be spent in +raising the oppressed, and cheering the disconsolate. I will remember that +I also have tasted the cup of woe, that I have looked forward to +disappointment and despair. _Taught by the hand that pities me,_ I +will learn to pity others." + +She was thus musing with herself, she was thus full of piety and virtuous +resolution, when, on a sudden, a trampling of horses behind her, roused +her from her reverie. Two persons advanced. But before she had time to +examine their features, or even to remove out of the path, by which they +seemed to be coming, the foremost of them leaping hastily upon the ground, +seized her by the waist, arid, in spite of all her struggling, placed her +on the front of the saddle, and instantly mounted with the utmost agility. +Cries and tears were vain. They were in a solitary path, little beaten by +the careful husbandman, or the gay votaries of fashion. She was now +hurried along, and generally at full speed, through a thousand bye paths, +that seemed capable of puzzling the most assiduous pursuit. + +They had scarcely advanced two little miles, ere they arrived at a large +and broad highway. Here they found a chariot ready waiting for them, into +which Delia was immediately thrust. She now for the first time lifted up +her eyes. The first object to which she attended was the faces of her +ravishers. Of him who had been the most active, she had not the smallest +recollection. The other who was in a livery, she imagined she had seen +somewhere, though, in the present confusion of her mind, she could not fix +upon the place. She next looked round her with wildness and eagerness, as +far as her eye could reach, to see if there were no protector, no +deliverance near. But she looked in vain. All was solitude and stilness. +The murmurs, the activity of the day were past. And now, the silver moon +in radiant majesty shed a solemn serenity ever the whole scene. Serenity, +alas! to the heart at ease, but nothing could bring serenity to the +troubled breast of Delia. + +As her last resource, she appealed to those who by brutal force had +carried her away. "Oh, if you have any hearts, any thing human that dwells +about you, pity a poor, forlorn, and helpless maid! Alas, in what have I +injured you? What would you do to me?" "Oh, pray, Miss, do not be +frightened," said the first ravisher with an accent of familiar vulgarity, +"we will do you no harm, we mean nothing but your good. You will make your +fortune. You never had such luck in your life. You will have reason to +thank us the longest day you can ever know." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_A Denouement_. + + +At this moment, Delia with infinite transport, heard the sound of horses +at a distance. Every thing was quiet. Our heroine listened with eager +expectation, and those who guarded her looked out to see who it was that +approached. Suspense was not long on either side. The horsemen were up +with them in a moment. "Oh, whoever you are," cried Delia, in an agony of +distress, "pity and relieve the most miserable woman'"----She received no +answer, but the horses stopped, and lord Martin was in a moment at the +door of the carriage. "Oh, my lord," cried Delia, "is it you? Thanks, +eternal thanks, for this fortunate incident. If you had not come, heaven +knows what would have become of me! Those brutes, those wretches--But +conduct me, my lord, to my father's house. Without doubt, they must by +this time be in a terrible fright." + +"Do not be uneasy," cried his lordship, endeavouring to assume an +harmonious, but missing his point, he spoke in the shrillest and most +squeaking accent that can be imagined. "Do not be uneasy, my charmer. You +are in the hands of a man, that loves you, as never woman was loved +before. But I will be with you in a minute," said he. And withdrawing +behind the carriage, he beckoned to the person who had conducted the +business of the rape. "Why, you incorrigible blockhead," said lord Martin, +"you have neglected half your instructions. Why, her hands are at +liberty." "I beg your honour's pardon," replied the pimp, "I had indeed +forgotten, but it shall be remedied in a moment." And saying this, he +pulled a strong ribband out of his pocket, and getting into the chariot, +fastened the soft and lily hands of our heroine behind her. She screamed, +and invoked the name of his lordship a thousand times. Her hair became +disentangled from its ligaments, and flowed in waving ringlets about her +snowy, panting bosom. Exhausted with continual agitation, and particularly +with the last struggle, she seemed ready to faint, but was quickly +restored by the assiduity of these sordid grooms. + +Before she had completely recovered her recollection, lord Martin had +seated himself in the carriage, and was drawing up some of the blinds. +"Drive on," said he to the coachman, who was by this time mounted into the +box, "Drive, as if the devil was behind you." The cavalcade accordingly +went forward. There was a servant on each side of the carriage, beside the +commander in chief, who occasionally advanced in the front, and +occasionally brought up the rear. + +"And whither," said the affrighted Delia, "whither are we going? This +cannot be the way to Southampton. What do you mean? But ah, it is too +plain! Why else this impotence of insult?" endeavouring to disengage her +hands. And she turned from him in a rage of indignation. "Ah," cried his +lordship, "do not avert those brilliant eyes! Turn them towards me, and +they will outshine the lustre of the morn, and I shall perceive nothing of +the sun, even when he gains his meridian height." "And thou despicable +wretch, is this thy shallow plan? And what dost thou think to do with me? +Mountains shall sooner bend their lofty summits to the earth, than I will +ever waste a thought on thee." "Do with thee, my fairest!" cried the peer, +"why, marry thee. Dost thou think that the paltry Damon shall get the +better of my eagle genius? No. Fortune now unfurls my standard, and I +drive the _frighted fates_ before me." "Boastful, empty coward! Thou +darest not even brave a woman's rage. If my hands were at liberty, I would +tear out those insolent eyes." "_Go on_, thou gentlest of thy sex, +_and charm me with that angel voice_! For though thou dealest in +threats, abuse, and proud defiance, _it is heaven to hear thee_." + +Such was the courtship that passed between our heroine and her triumphant +admirer. They had new proceeded twenty miles, and the midnight bell had +tolled near half an hour. They had passed through one turnpike, and Delia +had endeavoured by cries and prayers to obtain some assistance. But the +person who opened to them was alone, and though ever so desirous, could +not have resisted such a cavalcade. Beside this, the pimp told him a +plausible story of a wanton wife, and an injured husband, with the +particulars of which we do not think it necessary to trouble our readers. +They had also seen one foot passenger, and two horsemen. But they were +eluded and amused by a repetition of the same stratagem. + +Delia, having exhausted her first rage and astonishment, had now remained +for some time silent. She revolved in her mind all the particulars of her +situation. She had at first considered her ravisher in no other light than +as hateful and despicable, but she was now compelled to regard this +venomous little animal, as the arbiter of her fate, and the master of her +fortunes. She reflected with horror, how much she was in his power, what +ill usage he might inflict, and to what extremities he might reduce her. +She now seriously thought of exerting herself to melt him into pity, and +to persuade him, by every argument she could invent, to spare and to +release her. "Ah, where," thought she, "is my Damon? Why does not he +appear to succour me? Alas, what distresses, what agonies may he not even +now endure!" + +Full of these, and a thousand other tormenting reflections, she burst into +a flood of tears. Lord Martin drew from his pocket a clean cambric +handkerchief, and, carefully unfolding it, wiped away the drops as they +fell. "Loveliest of creatures," said he, "by the murmuring of thy voice, +the heaving of thy bosom, the distraction of thy looks, and by these +tears, I should imagine thou wert uneasy." "Ah," cried Delia unheedful of +his words, "what shall I say to move him?" "Oh, talk for ever," replied +his lordship. "The winds shall forget to whistle, and the seas to roar. +Noisy mobs shall cease their huzzas, and the din of war be still; for +there is music in thy voice." "Oh," exclaimed our heroine, "let one touch +of compassion approach thy soul. Indeed, my lord, I can never have you. +Release me, and I will forgive what is past, and Damon shall never notice +it." "Zounds and fire!" cried the peer, "dost thou think to prevail with +me by the motives of a coward? But why dost thou talk of Damon? Look on +me. Behold this purple coat, and fine _toupĆØe_. Think on my estate, +and think on my title." + +But at this moment the oratory of his lordship ceased to be heard. At a +small distance there appeared two persons, the one on foot, and whose air, +so far as it could be perceived by the imperfect light, was genteel, and +the other on horseback, engaged in earnest conference. As the carriage +drew towards them, Delia exclaimed, in a piercing, but pathetic voice, +"Help! help! for God's sake! Rape! Murder! Help!" The voice immediately +caught the young gentleman on foot, who approached the carriage.--But +before we proceed any farther we will inform our readers who these persons +were. + +The gentleman on foot, was Mr. Godfrey. He was on a visit to a sister, who +lived very near the spot upon which he now stood. She was married to a +substantial yeoman, who rented an estate in this place, the property of +lord Thomas Villiers. The beautiful scenes of nature were particularly +congenial to the elegant said contemplative mind of Mr. Godfrey. And he +had now, as was frequently his custom, strolled out to enjoy the calm +serenity, and the splendid beauty, of a midnight scene. The man on +horse-back was a thief taker, who, just before the carriage had driven up, +had, without ceremony, accosted Mr. Godfrey with his enquiries, and a +description of the person of whom he was in pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Which dismisses the Reader._ + + +Mr. Godfrey, in a resolute tone, called out to the coachman to stop, and +not contented with a verbal mandate, he rushed before the horses, and +brandishing a club he held in his hand, bid the driver proceed at his +peril. "Drive on," said lord Martin, thrusting his head out at the +window--"Drive on, and be damned to you!" At this moment the pimp rode up. +"It is nothing," said he, "but a poor gentleman, who has just forced his +wife from the arms of a gallant." "Oh no!" cried Delia. "I am not his +wife. I am an innocent woman, whom he has forced from her father and her +lover." + +The thief taker out of curiosity rode forward. "That," said he, fixing his +eye upon the pimp, "that is the very rascal I am in search of." The pimp, +who had only been borrowed by lord Martin of one of his more experienced +acquaintance, no sooner heard the sound, than, accounting for it with +infinite facility and readiness of mind, he turned about his horse, and +attempted to fly. One of the footmen, naturally a coward, and terrified at +these incidents, with the meaning of which he was unacquainted, imitated +his example. The other came forward to the assistance of his master, and +was laid prostrate upon the ground, by Mr. Godfrey with one blow. The +thief taker had the start of the pimp, and overtook him in a moment. + +Mr. Godfrey now opened the door of the carriage. But the little peer was +prepared for this incident, and having his sword drawn, made a sudden pass +at our generous knight-errant. The latter, with infinite agility, leaped +aside, and lifting up his club, shivered the sword into a thousand pieces. + +"Death and the devil! Pox confound you!" said lord Martin, and endeavoured +to draw a pistol from his pocket. But the unsuccessful pass he had made +had thrown him somewhat off his bias, and though he had employed more than +one effort, he had not been able to recover himself. At this instant, Mr. +Godfrey seized him by the collar, and with a sudden-whirl, threw him into +the middle of the road. "Fire and"--his lordship had not time to finish +his exclamation. The part of the road in which he fell was exceeding +dirty. The workmen had been employed the preceding day, in scraping the +mud together into a heap against the bank, and his lordship, unable to +overcome the velocity with which he trundled along, rolled into the midst +of it in an instant. He was entirely lost in this soft receptacle. The +colour of his purple coat, and his lily white _toupĆØe_, could no +longer be distinguished. + +The coachman, perceiving the disaster of his lord, now leaped from the +box. Mr. Godfrey had scarcely had time to reduce this new antagonist to a +state of inactivity, before the footman, upon whom he had first displayed +his prowess, began to discover some signs of life. He might have been yet +overpowered in spite of all his valour and presence of mind, if the house +of his brother-in-law, had not fortunately been so near, that the shrieks +of Delia, and the altercation of her ravishers reached it. The honest +farmer was at the window in a moment, and perceiving that his brother was +engaged in the affray, he huddled on his clothes with all expedition, and +now appeared in the highway. + +The victory was immediately decided. The footman perceiving this new +reinforcement, did not dare to act upon the offensive, and Mr. Godfrey +mounted into the chariot to assist our heroine. He now first perceived +that her hands were manacled. From this restraint however, he suddenly +disengaged her, and taking her in his arms out of the carriage, he +delivered her to his sister, who advanced at this moment. + +The footman, assisted by the humanity of the farmer, was now employed in +raising his master. His lordship made the most pitiable figure that can be +imagined. His features, as well as his dress, wore an appearance perfectly +uniform. "Whither would you convey him?" said Mr. Godfrey, who was now +returned. "What shall we do with him?" "Oh, and please you, sir," said the +footman, "his lordship has a house about half a mile off." Lord Martin now +first discovered some marks of sensibility, and _shook his goary +locks_. "His lordship!" exclaimed the yeoman. "Sure it cannot be--yet +it is--by my soul I cannot tell whether it be lord Martin or no." The +coachman now rose from the ground, and began with a profound bow to his +master. "And please your honour," said he, "we have made a sad day's work +of it. Your worship makes but a pitiful figure. Faugh! I think as how, if +I dared say so much, begging your honour's pardon, that your lordship +stinks." "Put him into the carriage," cried Mr. Godfrey, "and drive him +home." Lord Martin, now first recovered his tongue, and wiping away the +mud from his eyes, "And so it was you, sir, I suppose," cried he, "to whom +I am obliged for this catastrophe. But pox take me, if you shall not hear +of it. Ten thousand curses on my wayward fate! The devil take it! Death +and damnation!" During this soliloquy, the servants were employed in +placing their lord in the chariot. The coachman mounted the box, and by +this time they were out of hearing. + +Mr. Godfrey and his brother now entered the house. Delia was seated in a +chair, her hair dishevelled, her features disordered, and her dress in the +most bewitching confusion. But how much were both the deliverer and the +heroine surprised, when they mutually recognised each others features! Mr. +Godfrey made Delia a very polite compliment upon her escape, and +congratulated himself, in the warmest language, for having been the +fortunate instrument. + +They now retired to rest. The next morning, Delia was much better +recovered from her terror and fatigue, than could have been expected. Mr. +Godfrey however had not thought it adviseable that she should be removed +that day, and had therefore set off early in the morning for Southampton, +that he might himself be the messenger of these happy tidings. + +"I hope Miss," said Mrs. Wilson, who attended our heroine, "that you will +dress yourself as well as you can." "And why" cried Delia, "do you desire +that? I can see nobody, I can think of nothing, but my absent and anxious +Damon." "Let us hope," replied the other, "that he is very well. But, +Miss, we expect lord Thomas Villiers by dinner time." "Lord Thomas +Villiers!" exclaimed Delia, in the extremest surprise. "Yes," cried Mrs. +Wilson. "He is our landlord, and he always comes over once about this time +of the year." "Alas," said Delia, "I can see nobody. But I had rather meet +any person at this time, than lord Thomas Villiers." "Bless me, Miss! why +I am sure he is a very good sort of a gentleman." "I dare say he is," +cried Delia. "But indeed, and indeed, Mrs. Wilson, I cannot see him. Pray +oblige me in this." "Law, well I cannot think what objection you can have! +There must be something very particular in it." + +Such were the hints that Mrs. Wilson threw out for the satisfying of her +curiosity, but Delia was not disposed to be more communicative. The good +woman however, with the error of our heroine before her eyes, was +determined not to commit a similar fault. Lord Thomas was therefore +scarcely arrived, before she set open the flood gates of her eloquence, in +describing the rescue, and the unrivalled beauty of the lady under her +roof. + +His lordship had long had a misunderstanding with lord Martin upon the +subject of their contiguous estates. As his temper was not the most +gentle, nor his memory upon these subjects the most treacherous, he +expressed his triumph in loud shouts, and repeated horse laughs, upon the +recent defeat of his antagonist. Nothing however would content him but a +sight of the lady. "That," said Mrs. Wilson, "my guess is too nice to +consent to. You must know, she has a particular dislike to your lordship." +"A dislike to me!" said the old gentleman, whose curiosity was now more +inflamed than even "Will you be contented," said his kind hostess, "with a +peep through the key hole!" and without waiting for an answer, she took +him by the hand, and led him up stairs. "By my foul!" said his lordship, +"she is the finest woman in the world. Devil take me, if I can contain +myself," and he burst into the room. + +Lord Thomas advanced a few steps, and then stopping, clasped his hands; +"Why she is an angel of a woman! And did Martin, that dirty scoundrel, +think he could run away with you? Impudent, pot-bellied spider! Ah, if my +son had fallen in love with such a woman as you, I could forgive him any +thing." And seizing her hand he pressed it to his lips. "Forgive me, +charmer," cried he, "I am an old fellow. I will do you no harm." + +Delia, though pleased with the behaviour of her intended father-in-law, +dared not yet discover herself to him. In the afternoon, Mr. Godfrey, and +Sir William Twyford, arrived. Damon, agitated as he was by the most +dreadful images that a troubled fancy could suggest, appeared in the +morning in a high fever. Instead of being able to hasten to the mistress +of his soul, he was confined to his bed, and attended by physicians. + +"Ha," cried lord Thomas, as soon as he saw the baronet, "and who sent for +you? What do you want? I think, Sir, you are the gentleman to whom I am +obliged for telling my son, that duty to parents is a baby prejudice, that +obstinacy is a heroic virtue, and that fortune, fame, and friends, are all +to be sacrificed to the whining passion, which, I think, you call love." +"My lord," replied the baronet, "I have done nothing, of which I feel any +reason to be ashamed. But a subject more pressing calls for my immediate +attention." Then turning to Delia, "Give me leave to congratulate you, +madam, and heaven can tell how heartily I do it, upon the generous and +happy interposition of Mr. Godfrey." "And pray," interrupted lord Thomas, +"how came you acquainted with that lady?" "Oh, tell me," cried Delia, with +an impatience not to be restrained by modes and forms, "tell me, how does +my Damon? Why is he not here? Alas, I fear"--"Fear nothing," cried the +baronet. "He is safe. He is at your father's house, and impatient to see +you." "And is this the lady," cried lord Thomas, "of whom my son is +enamoured? But he shall not disobey me. I will never permit it. Sir, if +this be the lady, I will give her to him with my own hand. But where is +the ungracious rascal? Why does not he appear?" "Nothing, be assured," +said the baronet, "but reasons of the last importance, could have kept him +back in so interesting a moment." "Alas, I fear," cried Delia, "since you +endeavour to conceal them from me, they are reasons of the most afflicting +nature." "It is in vain," replied Sir William, "to endeavour at +concealment." "Your son," turning to lord Thomas Villiers, "is confined to +his bed. The anxiety and fatigue that he suffered, in consequence of the +extraordinary step of lord Martin, have thrown him into a fever. But be +not uneasy, my Delia," taking her hand, "there is no danger. One sigh, one +look from you will restore him." "Ten thousand curses," exclaimed the +father, "upon the head of the contemptible, misbegotten ravisher! But let +us make haste. I am glad however that my rogue of a son is a little +punished for his impertinence. Let us make haste." + +Saying this, he ordered the horses to his chariot, and the whole company +prepared to set out for Southampton immediately. The only business which +remained, was the dispatching a message, which was done by one of sir +William's servants, from Mr. Godfrey to lord Martin, announcing his name, +and informing his lordship, that he was to be met with any time in the +ensuing week at Mr. Moreland's. + +Lord Martin was a good deal bruised and enfeebled with the adventure of +the preceding evening. He had been obliged to undergo a lustration of near +an hour, before he could be put to bed. He was just risen, when the +message was delivered. "Zounds!" cried the peer, "he is, is he? And so +this fellow, whom nobody knows, has the impudence to snub me! By my title, +and all the blood of my ancestors, he is not worthy of my sword. I will +have him assassinated. I will hire some blackguards to seize him, and bind +him in my presence, and I will bastinado him with my own hand. Furies and +curses! I do not know what to do. Oh, this confounded vanity! Not +contented with one disgrace, I have brought upon myself another, ten times +more mortifying than the first. By Tartarus, and all the infernal gods, I +believe I had better let it rest where it is! Wretch, wretch, that I am!" +And he threw himself on the bed in an agony of despair. + +Damon had slept little the preceding night, and his slumbers had been +disturbed with a thousand horrible imaginations. The first person who +appeared in his chamber the next morning he addressed with "Where, where +is she? Where is my Delia? My life, my soul, the mistress of my fate? Ah, +why do you look so haggard, so unconsoling. You have heard nothing of her? +Give me my clothes. I will pursue her to the world's end. I will find her, +though she be hid deep as the centre." "Sir, be pacified," said the +servant, "she is safe." "Safe," cried our lover, "why then does she not +appear to comfort me? But haste, I will fly to her. I will clasp, I will +lock her, in my arms. No, nothing, not all the powers on earth, shall ever +part us more." "Sir, she is not in the house." "Not in the house," cried +Damon starting, "Ha! say. I will not be cheated. On thy life do not trifle +with my impatience." + +At this moment Mr. Godfrey entered the room. "Who is there?" cried Damon, +starting at every whisper. "It is your friend," said Godfrey. "A friend +that owes you much, and would willingly pay you something back again." "I +do not understand you," replied our hero. "I can talk of nothing but my +Delia. Oh Delia! Delia! I will teach thy name to all the echoes. I will +send it with every wind to heaven. Ever, ever, shall it dwell upon my +lips." "Delia," replied the other, "is in safety. I have been so happy as +to rescue her." "Ha! sayest thou? let me look upon thee well. I am +somewhat disordered, but I think thy name is Godfrey. Thou shouldst not +deceive me. Thou art not old in falsehood." "I do not deceive thee. On my +life I do not!" exclaimed Godfrey, with emotion. "Compose thyself for a +few hours. Or ever thou shalt see the setting sun, I will put thy Delia +into thy arms again." + +Damon was somewhat composed by these assurances. No voice like that of +Godfrey had power to sooth his mind to serenity. But though he sought to +restrain himself, he listened to every noise. He started at the sound of +every foot, and the rattle of a carriage in the street agitated his soul +almost to frenzy. + +"Why does not she come? What can delay her? I have counted every moment. +I have waited whole ages. I see, I see, that every thing conspires to +cheat, and to distract me. Damon has not one friend left to whisper in his +ear--to whisper what? That Delia is no more? That all her beauties are +defaced, by some sacrilegious hand? That all her heaven of charms have +been rifled? Oh, no. I must not think of that. But hark! I thought I heard +a sound, but it is delirium all. Sure, sure it comes this way. I will +listen but this once." + +The door of the chamber now flew open. But oh, what object caught the +raptured eye of Damon! He was just risen. "It is, it is my Delia!" and +they flew into each others arms. But having embraced for a moment, Damon +took hold of her hand, and held her from him. "Let me look at thee. And is +it Delia? And art thou safe, unhurt? I would not be mistaken." "Yes, I am +she, and ten times more my Damon's than ever." "It is enough. I am +contented. But hark! who comes there? Sure it is not the brutal ravisher? +No," cried he, in a voice of surprise, "it is my father." + +Lord Thomas Villiers, who had been a witness of this scene, could restrain +himself no longer. "Come to my arms, thy father's arms," cried he, "and +let me bless thee." "Stay, stay," cried Damon. "Yes I know thee well. But +I will never be separated from her any more. I will laugh at the authority +of a parent. Tyranny and tortures shall not rend me from her." "The +authority of a parent," replied lord Thomas, "shall never more be employed +to counteract thy wishes. I myself will join your hands." + +The constitution of Damon was so full of sensibility, that it was some +days before he was completely recovered. In the mean time, the amours of +Sir William Twyford, and Mr. Hartley, continually ripened, and it was +proposed, that the three parties should be united in the same day. + +"And now," said Damon, "I have but one care more, one additional exertion, +to set my mind at ease. My Godfrey, I owe thee more than kingdoms can +repay. Tell me, instruct me, what can I do to serve you? Damon must be the +most contemptible of villains, if he could think his felicity complete, +when his Godfrey was unhappy." + +"Think not of me," said Godfrey, "I am happy in the way that nature +intended, beyond even the power of Damon to make me. Since I saw you, a +favourable change has taken place in my circumstances. In spite of various +obstacles, I have brought a tragedy upon the stage, and it has met with +distinguished success. My former crosses and mortifications are all +forgotten. Philosophers may tell us, that reputation, and the immortality +of a name, are all but an airy shadow. Enough for me, that nature, from my +earliest infancy, led me to place my first delight in these. I envy not +kings their sceptres. I envy not statesmen their power. I envy not Damon +his love, and his Delia. Next to the pursuits of honour and truth, my soul +is conscious to but one wish, that of having my name enrolled, in however +inferior a rank, with a Homer, and a Horace, a Livy, and a Cicero." + +The next day the proposed weddings took place. It is natural perhaps, at +the conclusion of such a narrative as this, to represent them all as +happy. But we are bound to adhere to nature and truth. Mr. Hartley and his +politician for some time struggled for superiority, but, in the end, the +eagle genius of Sophia soared aloft. Sir William, though he married a +woman, good natured, and destitute of vice, found something more insipid +in marriage, than he had previously apprehended. For Damon and his Delia, +they were amiable, and constant. Though their hearts were in the highest +degree susceptible and affectionate, the first ebullition of passion could +not last for ever. But it was succeeded by _the feast of reason, and the +flow of soul_. Their hours were sped with the calmness of tranquility. +When they saw each other no longer with transport, they saw each other +with complacency. And so long as they live, they will doubtless afford the +most striking demonstration, that marriage, when it unites two gentle +souls, and meaned by nature for each other, when it is blest of heaven, +and accompanied with reason and discretion, is the sweetest, and the +fairest of all the bands of society. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Damon and Delia, by William Godwin + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10318 *** diff --git a/10318-h/10318-h.htm b/10318-h/10318-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fa418e9 --- /dev/null +++ b/10318-h/10318-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,2897 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=UTF-8"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of TITLE, by AUTHOR. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { text-indent: 1em; + margin-top: .75em; + font-size: 12pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + // --> + </style> + </head> +<body> +<div>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10318 ***</div> + +<p>DAMON</p> +<br> +<p>AND</p> +<br> +<p>DELIA:</p> +<br> +<p>A TALE.</p> +<br> +<p>--NEQUE SEMPER ARCUM<br> +TENDIT APOLLO. HOR.</p> + +<p>LONDON: +PRINTED FOR T. HOOKHAM, AT HIS CIRCULATING<br> +LIBRARY, NEW BOND-STEET, CORNER<br> +OF BRUTON-STREET.<br> +M,DCC,LXXXIV.</p> +<br> + +<p>CONTENTS</p> +<br> + +<p>PART the FIRST.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER I.</p> + +<p><i>Containing introductory Matter.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER II.</p> + +<p><i>A Ball</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER III.</p> + +<p><i>A Ghost.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IV.</p> + +<p><i>A love Scene.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER V.</p> + +<p><i>A Man of Humour.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VI.</p> + +<p><i>Containing some Specimens of Heroism.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VII.</p> + +<p><i>Containing that with which the Reader will be acquainted when he has +read it.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VIII.</p> + +<p><i>Two Persons of Fashion.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IX.</p> + +<p><i>A tragical Resolution.</i></p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<br> + +<p>PART the SECOND.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER I.</p> + +<p><i>In which the Story begins over again</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER II.</p> + +<p><i>The History of Mr. Godfrey</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER III.</p> + +<p><i>A Misanthrope</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IV.</p> + +<p><i>Much ado about nothing</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER V.</p> + +<p><i>A Woman of learning</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VI.</p> + +<p><i>A Catastrophe</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VII.</p> + +<p><i>Containing what will terrify the Reader</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VIII.</p> + +<p><i>A Denouement</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IX.</p> + +<p><i>Which dismisses the Reader</i>.</p> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>DAMON</h2> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h2>DELIA.</h2> +<br> + +<h3>PART the FIRST.</h3> +<br> + +<h2>CHAP. I.</h2> + +<p><i>Containing introductory matter</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>The races at Southampton have, for time immemorial, constituted a scene of +rivalship, war, and envy. All the passions incident to the human frame +have here assumed as true a scope, as in the more noisy and more tragical +contentions of statesmen and warriors. Here nature has displayed her most +hidden attractions, and art has furnished out the artillery of beauty. +Here the coquet has surprised, and the love-sick nymph has sapped the +heart of the unwary swain. The scene has been equally sought by the bolder +and more haughty, as by the timid sex. Here the foxhunter has sought a new +subject of his boast in the <i>nonchalance</i> of <i>dishabille</i>; the +peer has played off the dazzling charms of a coronet and a star; and the +<i>petit maître</i> has employed the anxious niceties of dress.</p> + +<p>Of all the beauties in this brilliant circle, she, who was incomparably +the most celebrated, was the graceful Delia. Her person, though not +absolutely tall, had an air of dignity. Her form was bewitching, and her +neck was alabaster. Her cheeks glowed with the lovely vermilion of nature, +her mouth was small and pouting, her lips were coral, and her teeth whiter +than the driven snow. Her forehead was bold, high, and polished, her +eyebrows were arched, and from beneath them her fine blue eyes shone with +intelligence, and sparkled with heedless gaiety. Her hair was of the +brightest auburn, it was in the greatest abundance, and when, unfettered +by the ligaments of fashion, it flowed about her shoulders and her lovely +neck, it presented the most ravishing object that can possibly be +imagined.</p> + +<p>With all this beauty, it Cannot be supposed but that Delia was followed by +a train of admirers. The celebrated Mr. Prattle, for whom a thousand fair +ones cracked their fans and tore their caps, was one of the first to +enlist himself among her adorers. Squire Savage, the fox-hunter, who, like +Hippolitus of old, chased the wily fox and timid hare, and had never yet +acknowledged the empire of beauty, was subdued by the artless sweetness of +Delia. Nay, it has been reported, that the incomparable lord Martin, a +peer of ten thousand pounds a year, had made advances to her father. It is +true, his lordship was scarcely four feet three inches in stature, his +belly was prominent, one leg was half a foot shorter, and one shoulder +half a foot higher than the other. His temper was as crooked as his shape; +the sight of a happy human being would give him the spleen; and no mortal +man could long reside under the same roof with him. But in spite of these +trifling imperfections, it has been confidently affirmed, that some of the +haughtiest beauties of Hampshire would have been proud of his alliance.</p> + +<p>Thus assailed with all the temptations that human nature could furnish, it +might naturally be supposed, that Delia had long since resigned her heart. +But in this conjecture, however natural, the reader will find himself +mistaken. She seemed as coy as Daphne, and as cold as Diana. She diverted +herself indeed with the insignificant loquaciousness of Mr. Prattle, and +the aukward gallantry of the Squire; but she never bestowed upon either a +serious thought. And for lord Martin, who was indisputably allowed to be +the best match in the county, she could not bear to hear him named with +patience, and she always turned pale at the sight of him.</p> + +<p>But Delia was not destined always to laugh at the darts of Cupid. Mrs. +Bridget her waiting maid, delighted to run over the list of her adorers, +and she was much more eloquent and more copious upon the subject than we +have been. When her mistress received the mention of each with gay +indifference, Mrs. Bridget would close the dialogue, and with a sagacious +look, and a shake of her head, would tell the lovely Delia, that the +longer it was before her time came, the more surely and the more deeply +she would be caught at last. And to say truth, the wisest philosopher +might have joined in the verdict of the sage Bridget. There was a softness +in the temper of Delia, that seemed particularly formed for the tender +passion. The voice of misery never assailed her ear in vain. Her purse was +always open to the orphan, the maimed, and the sick. After reading a +tender tale of love, the intricacies of the Princess of Cleves, the soft +distress of Sophia Western, or the more modern story of the Sorrows of +Werter, her gentle breast would heave with sighs, and her eye, suffused +with tears, confess a congenial spirit.</p> + +<p>The father of Delia--let the reader drop a tear over this blot in our +little narrative--had once been a tradesman. He was naturally phlegmatic, +methodical, and avaricious. His ear was formed to relish better the hoarse +voice of an exchange broker, than the finest tones of Handel's organ. He +found something much more agreeable and interesting in the perusal of his +ledger and his day book, than in the scenes of Shakespeare, or the +elegance of Addison. With this disposition, he had notwithstanding, when +age had chilled the vigour of his limbs, and scattered her snow over those +hairs which had escaped the hands of the barber, resigned his shop, and +retired to enjoy the fruits of his industry. It is as natural for a +tradesman in modern times to desire to die in the tranquillity of a +gentleman, as it was for the Saxon kings of the Heptarchy to act the same +inevitable scene amidst the severities of a cloister.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman however found, and it is not impossible that some of his +brethren may have found it before him, when the great transaction was +irretrievably over, that retirement and indolence did not constitute the +situation for which either nature or habit had fitted him. It has been +observed by some of those philosophers who have made the human mind the +object of their study, that idleness is often the mother of love. It might +indeed have been supposed, that Mr. Hartley, for that was his name, by +having attained the age of sixty, might have outlived every danger of this +kind. But opportunity and temptation supplied that, which might have been +deficient on the side of nature.</p> + +<p>Within a little mile of the mansion in which he had taken up his retreat, +resided two ancient maiden ladies. Under cover of the venerable age to +which they had attained, they had laid aside many of those modes which +coyness and modesty have prescribed to their sex. The visits of a man were +avowedly as welcome to them, and indeed much more so, than those of a +woman. Their want of attractions either external or mental, had indeed +hindered the circle of their acquaintance from being very extensive; but +there were some, as well as Mr. Hartley, who preferred the company of +ugliness, censoriousness and ill nature to solitude.</p> + +<p>Such were the Miss Cranley's, the name of the elder of whom was Amelia, +and that of the younger Sophia. Miss Amelia was nominally forty, and her +sister thirty years of age. Perhaps if we stated the matter more +accurately, we should rate the elder at fifty-six, and the younger +somewhere about fifty. They both of them were masculine in their +behaviour, and studious in their disposition. Miss Amelia, delighted in +the study of theology; she disputed with the curate, maintained a godly +correspondence with a neighbouring cobler, and was even said to be +preparing a pamphlet in defence of the dogmas of Mr. Whitfield. Miss +Sophia, who will make a much more considerable figure in this history, was +altogether as indefatigable in the study of politics, as her sister was in +that of theology. She adhered indeed to none of our political parties, for +she suspected and despised them all. My lord North she treated as stupid, +sleepy, and void of personal principle. Mr. Fox was a brawling gamester, +devoid of all attachments but that of ambition, and who treated the mob +with flattery and contempt. Mr. Burke was a Jesuit in disguise, who under +the most specious professions, was capable of the blackest and meanest +actions. For her own part she was a steady republican. That couplet of Dr. +Garth was continually in her mouth,</p> + +<p><i>From my very soul I hate,<br> +All kings and ministers of state.</i></P> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Ball.</i></p> + +<p>Thus much it was necessary to premise, in order to acquaint the reader +with the situation of our heroine, and that of some other personages in +this history. Having discharged this task, we will return to the point +from which we set out.</p> + +<p>It was at one of the balls at the races at Southampton--the company was +already assembled. The card tables were set, and our maiden ladies, +together with many other venerable pieces of antiquity, were assembled +around them. In another and more spacious room, appeared all that +Southampton could boast of youth and beauty. The squire and his sister, +Mr. Prattle, and lord Martin, formed a part of the company. The first +bustle was nearly composed, when Damon entered the assembly.</p> + +<p>He appeared to be a stranger to every body present. And, as he is equally +a stranger to our readers, we will now announce him in proper form. Damon +appeared to be about twenty years of age. His person was tall, and his +limbs slender and well formed. His dress was elegance itself. His coat was +ornamented with a profusion of lace, and the diamond sparkled in his shoe. +His countenance was manly and erect. There appeared in it a noble +confidence, which the spectator would at first sight ascribe to dignity of +birth, and a perfect familiarity with whatever is elegant and polite. This +confidence however had not the least alloy of <i>hauteur</i>, his eye +expressed the most open sensibility and the kindest sympathy.</p> + +<p>There is something undescribably interesting in the figure we have +delineated. The moment our hero entered the room, the attention of every +person present was fixed upon him. The master of the ceremonies +immediately advanced, and escorted him to the most honourable seat that +yet remained vacant. While Damon examined with an eager eye the gay +parterre of beauty that appeared before him, a general whisper was excited +upon his account. "Who is he?" "Who is he?" echoed from every corner of +the room. But while curiosity was busy in his enquiries, there was not an +individual capable of satisfying them.</p> + +<p>The business of every one was now the choice of a partner. But as one +object had engrossed the attention of all, they were willing to see the +election he would make, though every one feared to lose the partner he had +destined for himself. Damon was therefore, however unwilling to +distinguish himself in so particular a manner, constrained to advance the +foremost. He passed slightly along before a considerable number, who sat +in expectation. At length he approached the seat of Delia. He bowed to her +in the most graceful manner, and intreated to be honoured with her hand. +She smiled assent, and they crossed the room among a croud of envious +rivals. Besides the lovers we had mentioned, there were four others, who +had secretly determined to dance with Delia.</p> + +<p>But if the gentlemen were disappointed, to whose eyes the beauty of Delia, +however unrivalled, was familiar, the disappointment and envy of the fair +sex upon the loss of Damon, whose external and natural recommendations had +beside the grace of novelty, were inexpressible. The daughter of Mr. +Griskin, an eminent butcher in Clare-market, who had indeed from nature, +the grace of being cross-eyed, now looked in ten thousand more various +directions than she ever did before. Miss Prim, agitated in every limb, +cracked her fan into twenty pieces. Miss Gawky, who had unfortunately been +initiated by the chamber maid in the art of snuff-taking, plied her box +with more zeal than ever. Miss Languish actually fainted, and was with +some difficulty conveyed into the air. Such was the confusion occasioned +in the ball at Southampton, by the election of Damon.</p> + +<p>Affairs being now somewhat adjusted, the dances began. Damon at every +interval addressed himself to his lovely partner in the easiest and most +elegant conversation. He talked with fluency, and his air and manner gave +a grace and dignity to the most trifling topics. The heart of Delia, +acknowledged the charms of youthful beauty and graceful deportment, and +secretly confessed that it had never before encountered so formidable an +enemy.</p> + +<p>When the usual topics of conversation had been exhausted, the behaviour of +Damon became insensibly more particular, he pressed her hand with the most +melting ardour, and a sigh ever and anon escaped from his breast. He paid +her several very elegant compliments, though they were all of them +confined within the limits of decorum. Delia, on the other hand, though +she apparently received them with the most gay indifference, in reality +drank deep of the poison of love, and the words of Damon made an +impression upon her heart, that was not easily to be erased.</p> + +<p>But however delicious was the scene in which they were engaged, it +necessarily drew to a conclusion. The drowsy clocks now announced the hour +of three in the morning. The dances broke up, and the company separated. +Delia leaped into the chariot that was waiting, and quickly arrived at the +parental mansion. Fatigued with the various objects that had passed before +her, she immediately retired to rest. For some time however a busy train +of thoughts detained her from the empire of sleep. "How lovely a stranger! +How elegant his manners, and how brilliant his wit! How soft and engaging +the whole of his behaviour! But ah! was this the fruit of reverence and +admiration? Might it not be no more than general gallantry? Oh that I were +mistress of his heart! That he would lay his person at my feet! What a +contrast between him and my former admirers! How doubly hateful does lord +Martin, the lover favoured by my father now appear! But ah! who is this +Damon? What is his fortune, and what his pretensions? His dress surely +bespoke him a man of rank. His elegant manners could have been learned in +no vulgar circle. How sweet, methinks is suspence! How delightful the +uncertainty that hangs about him! And yet, how glad should I be to have my +doubts resolved."</p> + +<p>Soothed with these and similar reflections, the lovely maid fell asleep. +But even in sleep she did not forget the impressions she had received. She +imagined that Damon now approached her pillow. But how unlike the Damon +she had seen! His eyes had something in them superior to a mortal. His +shoulders were adorned with wings, and a vest of celestial azure flowed +around him. He smiled upon her with the most bewitching grace. But the +gentle maid involuntarily stretched out her arms towards him, and the +pleasing vision vanished from her sight.</p> + +<p>Again she closed her eyes, and again she endeavoured to regain her former +object. Damon indeed appeared, but in how different a manner! his +countenance was impressed with every mark of horror, and he seemed to fly +before some who inveterately pursued him. They appeared with the +countenances of furies, and the snakes hissed around their temples. Delia +looked earnestly upon them, and presently recollected the features of the +admirers we have already celebrated. The noble peer under the figure of +Tisiphone, led the troop. Damon stumbled and fell. Sudden as lightning +Tisiphone reached the spot, and plunged a dagger in his heart. She drew it +forth reeking with blood, and the lovely youth appeared in the agonies of +death. Terrified beyond measure, Delia screamed with horror and awoke.</p> + +<p>In the midst of reveries like these, now agitated with apprehension, and +now soothed with pleasure, Delia passed the night. The sun appeared, her +gold repeater informed her that it was twelve, and, assisted by the fair +hands of Mrs. Bridget, she began to rise.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Ghost.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Hartley had breakfasted and walked out in the fields, before Delia +appeared. She had scarcely begun her morning repast, ere Miss Fletcher, +the favourite companion and confidante of Delia, entered the room. "My +dearest creature," cried the visitor, "how do you do? Had not we not a most +charming evening? I vow I was fatigued to death: and then, lord Martin, I +think he never appeared to so much advantage. Why he was quite covered +with diamonds, spangles, and frogs." "Ah!" cried Delia, "but the young +stranger." "True," answered Miss Fletcher, "I liked him of all things; so +tall, so genteel, and so sweetly perfumed.--I cannot think who he is. I +called upon Miss Griskin, and I called upon Miss Savage, nobody knows. He +is some great man." "When did he come to town?" said Delia, "Where does +he lodge?" "My dear, he came to town yesterday in the evening, and went +away again as soon as the ball was over. But do not you think that Mr. +Prattle's new suit of scarlet sattin was vastly becoming? I vow I could +have fallen in love with him. He is so gay and so trifling, and so fond of +hearing himself talk. Why, does not he say a number of smart things?" "It +is exessively strange," said Delia. (She was thinking of the stranger.) +But Miss Fletcher went on--"Not at all, my life. Upon my word I think he +is always very entertaining. He cuts out paper so prettily, and he has +drawn me the sweetest pattern for an apron. I vow, I think, I never showed +you it." "What can be his name?" said Delia; "His name, my dear; law, +child, you do not hear a word one says to you. But of all things, give me +the green coat and pink breeches of Mr. Savage. But did you ever hear the +like? There will be a terrible to do--Lord Martin is in such a +quandary--He has sent people far and near." "I wish they may find him," +exclaimed Delia. "Nay, if they do, I would not be in his shoes for the +world. My lord vows revenge. He says he is his rival. Why, child, the +stranger did not make love to you, did he?" "Mercy on us," cried Delia, +"then my dream is out." "Oh, bless us," said Miss Fletcher, "what dream, +my dear?" Her curiosity then prevailed upon her to be silent for a few +moments, while Delia related that with which the reader is already +acquainted.</p> + +<p>In return, Delia requested of her friend to explain to her more +intelligibly what she hinted of the anger of lord Martin. "Why, my dear, +his lordship has been employed all this morning in writing challenges. +They say he has not writ less than a dozen, and has sent them by as many +messengers, like a hue and cry, all over the county--my lord is a little +man--but what of that--he is as stout as Hercules, and as brave as +what-d'ye call'um, that you and I read of in Pope's Homer. He is in such a +vengeance of a passion, that he cannot contain himself. He tells it to +every body he sees; and his mother and sister run about the house +screaming and fainting like so many mad things."</p> + +<p>Delia, as we have already said, was endowed with a competent share of +natural understanding. She therefore easily perceived, that from an anger +so boisterous and so public, no very fatal effects were to be apprehended. +This reflection quieted the terrors that her dream had excited, and which +the young partiality she began to feel for the amiable stranger would +otherwise have confirmed. Her breast being thus calmed, she made about +half a dozen morning visits, among which, one to Miss Griskin, and another +to Miss Languish, were included. The conversation every where turned upon +the outrageousness of lord Martin. All but the gentle Delia, were full of +anxiety and expectation. The females were broken into parties respecting +the event of the duel. Many trembled for the fate of lord Martin, so +splendid, so rich, and consequently, in their opinion, so amiable and so +witty. Others, guided by the unadulterated sentiments of nature, poured +forth all their vows for the courteous unknown. "May those active limbs +remain without a wound! May his elegant blue and silver never be stained +with blood! Ah, what a pity, that eyes so bright, and teeth so white, +should be shrowded in the darkness of the grave."</p> + +<p>The dinner, a vulgar meal, that passed exactly in the same manner as fifty +dinners had before it, shall be consigned to silence. The evening was +bright and calm. It was in the close of autumn; and every thing tempted +our lovely fair one to take the air. By the way she called upon her +inseparable friend and companion. They directed their course towards the +sea side.</p> + +<p>Here they had not advanced far, before they entered a grove, a spot +particularly the favourite of Delia. In a little opening there was a bank +embroidered with daisies and butter-cups; a little row of willows bending +their heads forward, formed a kind of canopy; and directly before it, +there was a vista through the trees, which afforded a distant prospect of +the sea, with every here and there a vessel passing along, and the beams +of the setting sun quivered on the waves.</p> + +<p>Delia and her companion advanced towards the well known spot. The mellow +voice of the thrush, and the clear pipe of the blackbird, diversified at +intervals with the tender notes of the nightingale, formed the most +agreable natural concert. The breast of Delia, framed for softness and +melancholy, was filled with sensations responsive to the objects around +her, and even the eternal clack of Miss Fletcher was still.</p> + +<p>Presently, however, a new and unexpected object claimed their attention. A +note, stronger and sweeter than that of any of the native choristers of +the grove, swelled upon the air, and floated towards them. Having +approached a few paces, they stood still to listen. It seemed to proceed +from a flute, played upon by a human voice. The air was melancholy, but +the skill was divine.</p> + +<p>The native curiosity of Miss Fletcher was not upon this occasion a match +for the sympathetic spirit of Delia. She pressed forward with an eager and +uncertain step, and looking through an interstice formed by two venerable +oaks, she perceived the figure of a young man sitting in her favourite +alcove. His back was turned towards the side upon which she was. Having +finished the air, he threw his flute carelesly from him, and folded his +arms in a posture the most disconsolate that can be imagined. He rose and +advanced a little with an irregular step. "Ah lovely mistress of my soul," +cried he, "thou little regardest the anguish that must for ever be an +inmate of this breast! While I am a prey to a thousand tormenting +imaginations, thou riotest in the empire of beauty, heedless of the wounds +thou inflicted, and the slaves thou chainest to thy chariot. Wretch that I +am, what is to be done? But I must think no more." Saying this he snatched +up his flute, and thrusting it into his bosom, hurried out of the grove.</p> + +<p>While he spoke, Delia imagined that the voice was one that she had heard +before though she knew not where. Her heart whispered her something more +than her understanding could disentangle. But as he stooped to take his +flute from the ground his profile was necessarily turned towards the inner +part of the grove. Delia started and trembled. Damon stood confessed. But +she scarcely recollected his features before he rushed away swifter than +the winged hawk, and was immediately out of sight.</p> + +<p>Delia was too full of a thousand reflections upon this unexpected +rencounter to be able to utter a word. But Miss Fletcher immediately +began. "God bless us," cried she, "did you ever see the like? Why it is my +belief it is a ghost or a wizard. I never heard any thing so pretty--I +vow, I am terribly frightened."</p> + +<p>Delia now caught hold of her arm. "For heaven's sake, let us quit the +grove. I do not know what is the matter--but I feel myself quite sick." +"Good God! good heavens! Well, I do not wonder you are all in a +tremble--But suppose now it should be nothing but Mr. Prattle--He is +always somewhere or other--And then he plays <i>God save the king</i>, and +<i>Darby and Joan</i>, like any thing." "Oh," said the lovely, trembling +nymph, "they were the sweetest notes!" "Ah," said her companion, "he is a +fine man. And then he is so modest--He will play at one and thirty, and +ride upon a stick with little Tommy all day long. But sure it could not be +Mr. Prattle--He always wears his hair in a queue you know--but the ghost +had a bag and solitaire." "Well," cried Delia, "let us think no more of +it. But did we hear anything?"--"Law, child, why he played the nicest +glee--and then he made such a speech, for all the world like Mr. Button, +that I like so to see in Hamlet." "True," said Delia,--"but what he said +was more like the soft complainings of my dear Castalio. Did not he +complain of a false mistress?" "Why he did say something of that kind.--If +it be neither a ghost nor Mr. Prattle. I hope in God he is going to appear +upon the Southampton stage. I do so love to see a fine young man come on +for the first time with +<i>May this alspishus day be ever sacred!</i><br> +Or,<br> +<i>I am thy father's spirit.</i>"<br> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Love Scene.</i></p> + +<p>In such conversation the moments passed till they reached the habitation +of Mr. Hartley. Miss Fletcher now took her leave. And after a supper as +dull, and much more tedious to Delia, than the dinner, she retired to her +chamber.</p> + +<p>She retired indeed, but not to rest. Her brain was filled with a croud of +uneasy thoughts. "Alas," said she, "how short has been the illusion!--But +yesterday, I was flushed with all the pride of conquest, and busily framed +a thousand schemes of ideal happiness--Where are they now?--The lovely +youth, the only man I ever saw in whose favour my heart was prepossessed, +and with whom I should have felt no repugnance to have engaged in the +tenderest ties, is nothing to me--He loves another. He too complains of +slighted passion, and ill-fated love. Ah, had he made his happiness depend +on me, what would not I have done to reward him! Carefully I would have +soothed every anguish, and taught his heart to bound with joy. But what am +I saying?--Where am I going?--Am I that Delia that bad defiance to the art +of men,--that saw with indifference the havock that my charms had made! +With every opening morn I smiled. Each hour was sped with joy, and my +heart was light and frolic. And shall I dwindle into a pensive, melancholy +maid, the sacrifice of one that heeds me not, whose sighs no answering +sighs encounter!--let it not be said. I have hitherto asserted the +independence of my sex, I will continue to do so. Too amiable unknown, I +give thee to the winds! Propitious fate, I thank thee that thou hast so +soon discovered how much my partiality was misplaced. I will abjure it +before it be too late. I will tear the little intruder from my heart +before the mischief is become irretrievable."</p> + +<p>The following evening Delia repaired again by a kind of irresistible +impulse to the grove. She asked not the company of her friend. She dared +alone hazard the encounter of that object, at which she had trembled so +much the preceding day. Unknown to herself she still imaged a kind of +uncertainty in her fate which would not permit her to lay aside all +thought of Damon. She determined at all events, to have her doubts +resolved. "When there is no longer," said she to herself, "any room for +mistake, I shall then know what to do."</p> + +<p>As she drew near the alcove, she perceived the same figure stretched along +the bank, and with his eyes immoveably fixed upon a little fountain that +rose in a corner of the scene. He seemed lost in thought. Delia approached +doubtfully, but he heard her not. Advanced near to her object, she +reclined forward in a posture of wonder and attention. At this moment a +sigh burst from the heart of Damon, and he raised himself upon the seat.</p> + +<p>His eyes caught the figure of Delia.------"Ah," said he, starting from his +trance, "what do I see? Art thou, lovely intruder, a mere vision, an +aerial being that shuns the touch?" "I beg ten thousand pardons. I meaned +not, sir, to interrupt you. I will be gone." "No, go not." Answered he. +"Thou art welcome to my troubled thoughts. I could gaze for ever."</p> + +<p>Saying this he rose and advancing towards her, seized her hand. "Be not +afraid," said he, "gentle fair one, my breast is a stranger to violence +and rudeness. I have felt the dart of love. Unhappy myself, I learn to +feel for others. But you are happy." As he said this, a tear unbidden +stole into the eye of Delia, and she wiped it away with the hand which was +disengaged from his. "And dost thou pity me," said he. "And does such +softness dwell within thy breast? If you knew the story of my woes, you +would have reason to pity me. I am in love to destraction, but I dare not +disclose my passion. I am banished from the presence of her I love. Ah, +cruel fate, I am entangled, inextricably entangled." "And how, sir," said +Delia, "can I serve you?" "Alas," said he, in no way. My case is hopeless +and irretrievable. And what am I doing? Why do I talk, when the season +calls for action? Oh, I am lost."</p> + +<p>"Dear Sir," answered Delia, "you terrify me to death." "Oh, no. I would +not for the world give you an uneasy moment. Let me be unhappy--but may +misfortune never disturb your tranquility. I return to seek her whose fate +is surely destined to mix with mine. Pardon, loveliest of thy sex, the +distraction in which I have appeared. I would ask you to forget me--I +would ask you to remember me--I know not what I am, or what to think."</p> + +<p>With these words he took the hand which he still held in one of his, and +raising it to his lips, kissed it with the utmost fervour. Immediately he +caught up his hat, which lay beside him on the ground, and began to +advance along the path that led out of the grove on the side furthest from +the town. But his eyes were still fixed upon Delia. He heeded not the path +by which he went; and scarcely had he gone twenty paces, ere he changed +his mind and returned. Delia was seated on the bank and seemed lost in +reverie. Damon threw himself upon his knees before her.</p> + +<p>"Ah, why," said he, "am I constrained to depart!--Why must I talk in +riddles! Perhaps we may never see each other more. Perhaps the time will +come when I shall be able to clear up the obscurity that at present I am +obliged to preserve. But no, it cannot be. I never was happy but for two +poor hours that I enjoyed your smiles, and, drinking in the poison of your +charms, I forgot myself. The time too soon arrived for bitter +recollection. My mistress calls, the mistress of my fate. I must be +gone--Farewel--for ever."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he heaved a sigh that seemed almost to tear his breast +asunder, and with the utmost apparent violence he tore himself away, and +rushed along the path with incredible velocity.</p> + +<p>Delia was now alone. But instead, as she had flattered herself of having +her doubts resolved, she was more uncertain, more perplexed than ever. +"What" cried she, "can all this mean? How strange, and how inexplicable! +Is it a real person that I have seen, or is it a vision that mocks my +fancy? Am I loved, or am I hated? Oh, foolish question! Oh, fond illusion! +Are we not parted for ever! Is he not gone to seek the mistress of his +soul! Alas, he views me not, but with that general complacency, which +youth, and the small pretensions I have to beauty are calculated to +excite! He had nothing to relate that concerned myself, he merely intended +to make me the confidante of his passion for another. Too surely he is +unhappy. His heart seemed ready to burst with sorrow. Probably in this +situation there is no greater or more immediate relief, than to disclose +the subject of our distress, and to receive into our bosom the sympathetic +tear of a simple and a generous heart. His behaviour today corresponds but +too well with the suspicions that yesterday excited. Oh, Delia! then," +added she, "be firm. Thou shalt see the conqueror no more. Think of him no +more."</p> + +<p>In spite however of all the resolution she could muster, Delia repaired +day after day, sometimes alone, and sometimes in company with her friend, +to that spot which, by the umbrage of melancholy it wore, was become more +interesting than ever. Miss Fletcher, could scarcely at first be persuaded +to direct her course that way, lest she should again see the ghost. But +she need not have terrified herself. No ghost appeared.</p> + +<p>Disappointed and baffled on this side, Delia by the strictest enquiries +endeavoured to find out who the unknown person was, in whose fate she had +become so greatly interested. The result of these enquiries, however +diligent, was not entirely satisfactory. She learned that he had been for +a few days upon a visit to a Mr. Moreland, a gentleman who lived about +three miles from Southampton.</p> + +<p>Mr. Moreland was a person of a very singular character. He had the +reputation in the neighbourhood of being a cynic, a misanthrope, and a +madman. He kept very little company, and was even seldom seen but by +night. He had a garden sufficiently spacious, which was carefully rendered +impervious to every human eye. And to this and his house he entirely +confined himself in the day-time. The persons he saw were not the +gentlemen of the neighbourhood. He had no toleration for characters that +did not interest him. When he first came down to his present residence, he +was visited by Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, squire Savage, lord Martin, and +all the most admired personages in the country. But their visits had never +been returned. Mr. Prattle pronounced him a scoundrel; squire Savage said +he was a nincompoop; and lord Martin was near sending him a challenge. But +the censures of the former, and the threats of the latter, had never +reached his ears. His domestics were numerous, but they were hired from a +distance, and were permitted as little communication as possible with the +powdered lacquies of Southampton. Of consequence, however much the +unaccommodating conduct of Mr. Moreland disposed his neighbours to +calumniate him, scandal was deprived of that daily food which is requisite +for her subsistence, and the name of that gentleman was scarcely ever +heard.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Man of Humour.</i></p> + +<p>We will now return to lord Martin. All his messengers, from what cruel +fate we cannot exactly ascertain, miscarried; and it was not till Damon +had left the country, that he learned that he had been a visitor at the +house of Mr. Moreland. Finding that he had missed his expected vengeance, +he discharged his anger in unavailing curses, and for three days he +breathed nothing but daggers, death, and damnation. Having thus vapoured +away the paroxysm of his fury, he became tolerably composed.</p> + +<p>But adverse fate had decreed a short duration to the tranquility of his +lordship. Scarcely had the field been cleared from the enemy he so greatly +dreaded, ere a new rival came upon the stage, to whose arms, though +without any great foundation, the whole town of Southampton had consigned +the charming Delia.</p> + +<p>The name of this gentleman was Prettyman. He was just returned from his +travels, and was reckoned perfectly accomplished. He was six foot high, +his shoulders were broad, his legs brawny, and his whole person athletic. +The habits however he had formed to himself in foreign countries, will not +perhaps be allowed exactly to correspond with the figure which nature had +bestowed upon him. He generally spent two hours every morning at his +toilette. His face was painted and patched, his whole person strongly +perfumed, and he had continually in his hand a gold snuff-box set with +diamonds. His voice was naturally hoarse and loud, but with infinite +industry he had brought himself to a pronunciation shrill, piping, and +effeminate. His conversion was larded with foreign phrases and foreign +oaths, and every thing he said was accompanied with a significant shrug.</p> + +<p>The same period which had introduced this new pretender to the heart of +Delia, had been distinguished by the arrival of a Sir William Twyford, who +paid his addresses to Miss Fletcher. Sir William was exactly the reverse +of Mr. Prettyman. With a genteel person, and an open and agreable +phisiognomy, his manners were perfectly careless and unstudied. A +predominant feature in his character was good nature. But this was not his +ruling passion. He had an infinite fund of wit and humour, and he never +was so happy as when he was able to place the foibles of affectation in a +whimsical and ridiculous light.</p> + +<p>As it was vanity alone, that had induced Mr. Prettyman to pay his +addresses to the lady, who was universally allowed to surpass in beauty +and every elegant accomplishment in the place in which he was, he would +have been less pleased that his amour should have terminated in a +marriage, than that by his affectation and coquetry he might break the +heart of the simple fair one. Accordingly, it was his business to make the +affair as public as possible.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin, had been sufficiently irritated by the pretensions of Damon. +The new intruder had wrought up his passion to the highest pitch. In the +mean time he had renewed an acquaintance which he had formerly made with +sir William Twyford. Sir William, upon all occasions, cultivated the +intimacy of such, as, by any striking peculiarities, seemed to furnish a +proper subject for his humour. He now contributed every thing in his power +to inflame his lordship against Mr. Prettyman. He offered to become the +bearer of a challenge, and to be his lordship's second in any future +combat.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin broke off the conversation somewhat abruptly, and began to +reflect with himself upon what had passed. He had hitherto contrived, by +some means or other, though he dealt very largely in challenges, never to +have come to actual battle. But he had too much reason to think, that if +he made sir William his messenger, he should not be able with any degree +of honour to contrive an evasion. "It is true," said he, "I am in a most +confounded passion, but a wise general never proceeds to action without +having first deliberated. Zounds, blood and fire! would I could put an end +to the existence of so presumptuous a villain! But then it must be +considered that Mr. Prettyman is six foot high, and I am not five. He is +as athletic as Ajax, but to me nature has been unfavourable. It is true I +understand cart and terce, parry and thrust, but I have heard that +Prettyman studied under Olivier. Many a man has outlived the passage of a +bullet, or the thrust of a sword through him. But my constitution is so +delicate! Curse blast it, death and the devil, I do not know what to do."</p> + +<p>Sir William, as soon as he had left lord Martin, repaired to the lodgings +of Mr. Prettyman. After a short general conversation, he began, "My dear +friend, here has happened the unluckiest thing in nature. You have made +some advances, you know, to the charming Delia." "True," cried Prettyman, +"I have bestowed upon her a few condescending glances. <i>C'est une +charmante fille</i>." "Well," added sir William, "and the whole town gives +her to you." "<i>Parbleu!</i> the town is very impertinent. There will go +two words to that bargain." "My lord Martin, you know, has enlisted +himself amongst her admirers." "Pox take the blockhead, I suppose he would +marry her. <i>Bien</i>. After I have led her a dance, he shall do what he +pleases with her." "But," said sir William, "my lord intends to call you +to an account." "<i>Morbleu</i>," cried Prettyman, "I thought I had +been in a land of liberty." "But let me tell you, my lord is very +absolute. He has fought some half a dozen duels in his time, and every +body is afraid of him." "<i>J'en suis excèdè</i>. 'Pon honour, the girl is +not worth fighting for." "Oh," said the malicious wit, "but if you give +her up for a few threats, your reputation will be ruined for ever." +"<i>Mon Dieu!</i> this reputation is a very expensive thing. <i>Je +crois</i> that every girl is a Helen, never so happy as when people are +murdering one another, and towns are fired for her sake. Is this same +<i>milord</i> absolutely inexorable?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell," said sir William, "what may be done. If you were to fly, +he would pursue you to the ends of the earth. But suppose now you were +upon your knees, to retract your pretensions to this silly girl." +"<i>Pardi</i>" answered Prettyman, "that is damned hard! are you sure his +lordship is so compleat a master of the science of defence?" "Nay," +replied sir William, "I cannot tell. I believe indeed he never received a +wound, but I think I remember to have heard of one duel he fought, in +which his antagonist came off with his life." "Ah, <i>diable +l'emporte!</i> That will not do neither. These bullets are the aukwardest +things in the world. Do you think you could not prevail with his Lordship +to use only powder?" "Powder," cried sir William, "that is an excellent +jest. My lord always loads with six small slugs." "Six slugs! ah the +bloody minded villain! It is confounded hard that a gentleman cannot pass +through life, without being <i>degoutè</i> with these unpolished Vandals. +<i>Ah, mon cher ami</i>, I will put the affair entirely into your hands: +do, <i>pour i'amour de Dieu</i>, bring me out of this scrape as well as +you can." "Well my dear Prettyman, I will exert myself on your account; +but, upon my soul, I had rather have an affair with half a regiment of +commissioned officers fresh imported from America."</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford, having thus brought the affair to some degree of +forwardness, now waited on his lordship. "My dear lord Martin," said he, +"what have you resolved upon? The affair is briefly thus--you must either +give up Delia, or fight Mr. Prettyman." "Give up Delia!" exclaimed the +little lord; "by all that is sacred I will sooner spill the last drop of +my blood. But," added he, "what necessity is there for the alternative you +propose? True, I fear no man. But to be continually engaged in quarrels +would acquire me the character of a desperado." "Indeed," said sir +William, "you have been somewhat lavish in those sort of affairs, but I do +not see how you can be off in the present instance. Prettyman has heard of +the bustle you made about the fellow at the ball, that tricked you of your +partner; and he will never pardon the affront, if you pay less attention +to him." "Pox take the blockhead, he is mighty nice, methinks, in his +temper. I have a great mind not to gratify him." "Oh," cried sir William, +"you never had such an opportunity to establish your character for ever. +And the fellow I believe is no better than a coward at bottom."</p> + +<p>It would be endless to relate all the stratagems of sir William to bring +the business to the conclusion he wished. How he terrified the brawny +<i>petit maítre</i>, and anon he animated the little peer. His lordship +felt the force of his friend's eloquence, but even his highest flights of +heroism were qualified with temporary misgivings. For poor Mr. Prettyman, +he feared to stay, and dared not fly. If he could have forgotten the +danger he apprehended, his good natured friend by the studied +exaggerations in which he was continually clothing it, would have +perfectly succeed in refreshing his memory. But in reality it was never +absent from his thoughts. His slumbers were short and disturbed. And he +could scarcely close his eyes, ere the enraged lord Martin, with his sword +drawn, and his countenance flaming with inexorable fury, presented himself +to his affrighted imagination.</p> + +<p>At length sir William by his generous interposition affected a compromise. +It was agreed that Mr. Prettyman should fall upon his knees before lord +Martin in the public room in the presence of Delia, and, asking his +pardon, put a small cane into his hand. "My lord," said sir William to the +beau, "is as generous as he is brave. He will not make an improper use of +the advantage you put into his hands. He will raise you from the humble +posture you will have assumed, and, embracing you cordially, all that is +past will be forgotten. As his lordship will take you under his +protection, not an individual will dare to reflect upon you." "Mr. +Prettyman," said sir William to lord Martin, "unites the heart of a +chicken to the most absolute skill in the small sword that ever I saw. I +have been only capable of restraining him by representing your lordship as +the most furious and impracticable of mankind. If he once suspect that I +have misrepresented you, a duel, in which I am afraid your lordship would +be overmatched, must be the inevitable consequence. Might I therefore +presume to advise, your lordship should make use of the advantage I have +gained you without mercy."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p><i>Containing some Specimens of Heroism.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>The evening now approached, in which the scene sir William Twyford had +with so much pains prepared, was to be acted. An imperfect rumour had +spread that something extraordinary was to pass in the public room. Miss +Prim was of opinion that a duel would be fought. "I shall be frightened +out of my wits," said she. "But I must go, for one loves any thing new, +and I believe there is nothing in it that a modest woman may not see." +Miss Gawky thought it would be a boxing match. "Bless us, my dear lord +Martin could stand no chance with that great lubberly macaroni." But Miss +Griskin, with a look of more than common sagacity, assured the ladies that +she had penetrated to the very bottom of the matter. "Mr. Prettyman and +lord Martin have ordered two large rounds of beef to be set upon the table +at supper, and they mean to lay about them for a wager."</p> + +<p>In this manner every one made her own conjecture, which she preferred to +that of all the rest. Curiosity was wrought up to the highest pitch, and +the uncertainty that prevailed upon the subject, rendered the affair still +more interesting. The rooms were early filled with an uncommon number of +spectators. About nine o'clock Mr. Prettyman entered, but instead of +exerting himself with his usual vivacity, he retired to one corner of the +room, and sat in a sheepish and melancholy posture. Not long after, sir +William Twyford and lord Martin came in, arm in arm.</p> + +<p>The peer strutted immediately to the upper end of the room. Delia stood +near him. "My lovely girl," said he, with an air of vulgar familiarity, "I +am rejoiced to see you. I hope I shall one day prove myself worthy of your +favour."</p> + +<p>While this passed Mr. Prettyman was by no means in an enviable condition. +From the operation of fear and vexation he perspired very profusely. +Vanity, as we have said, might almost be termed his ruling passion, and he +would never have sacrificed it so publicly to any consideration less +immediate than that of personal safety. Ardently did he long to have the +terrible scene concluded. But he had neither strength nor spirits to +advance a step, or even to rise from his seat.</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford now came up to him, and took hold of his hand. "My +dear friend," said he, "be not dispirited. It is no more than a flea-bite, +and it will be over in a moment. You will acquire the friendship of the +first personage in the county, and far from losing any thing in the public +esteem, you will be more respected than ever." "<i>Morbleu</i>," cried the +beau, "my shoulders ake for it already. But, <i>mon très cher & très +excellent ami</i>, do not desert me, and remind the peer of the generosity +you talked of."</p> + +<p>Sir William now raised him from his seat, and led him to the middle of the +room. Lord Martin, with a stately air, advanced a few steps. In spite +however of all the heroism he could assume, as the important affair drew +towards a crisis, he began to tremble. Mr. Prettyman fell upon his knees, +and sir William put a cane into his hand. But in this posture the beau +remained still somewhat taller than his antagonist. "Most worthy lord," +cried he in a tremulous voice, "I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding +that has happened, and I am filled with the most ardent"----While he was +yet speaking he advanced the cane in the attitude of presenting it. +"Villain," said lord Martin, who between fear and rage could no longer +contain himself, and snatched it from his hand. But he could scarcely +reach beyond the shoulder of his enemy, and blinded with emotion and +exertion, instead of directing his blows as he ought to have done, he +struck him two or three very severe strokes on the head and face. The beau +bore it as long as he could. But at length bellowing out, "<i>Mon Dîeu, je +suis meurtriè</i>, I am beaten to a jelly," he rose from his knees. His +antagonist being between him and the door, he fairly threw him upon his +back, and flying out of the room he stopped not till he arrived at the +inn, where, ordering his phaeton and six, he ascended without a moment's +pause, and drove off for London.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, every thing in the public room was in confusion and +disorder. Sir William flew to support the discomfited hero, who had +received a grievous contusion in his shoulder. Miss Griskin giggled, the +other ladies screamed, and Miss Languish, as usual, fainted away. "Bless +me," cried Miss Fletcher, "it is the queerest affair"--"By my troth," said +Miss Gawky, "it is vastly fine." "But not half so fine," cried Miss +Griskin, "as the buttocks of beef."</p> + +<p>By this time lord Martin had raised himself in a sitting posture and +uttered a deep groan. "Best of friends," said he, pressing the hand of sir +William, "tell me truly, am I victorious, or am I defeated?" "Oh +<i>victoria</i>!" cried sir William; "never heed a slight skin wound that +you received in the combat." His lordship stood up. "Damnation, pox +confound it!" said he, a little recovering himself, "what is become of the +rascal? I have not given him half what he deserved. But, ladies," added he +flourishing his cane, "it is my maxim, as I am strong to be merciful."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he advanced towards Delia, and, with a flourish of importance +and conceit, laid the weapon, which he had so roundly employed, at her +feet. "Loveliest of women," said he, "to your shrine I devote myself. Upon +your altar, I lay the insignia of my prowess. Deign, gentlest of thy sex, +to accept thus publicly of those sighs which I have long poured forth upon +thy account."</p> + +<p>Delia, though the native modesty of her character caused her whole face to +be suffused with blushes at having the eyes of the whole company thus +turned upon her, regarded the peer with a look of ineffable disdain, and +turned from him in silence.</p> + +<p>Such were the transactions of an evening, which will doubtless long be +remembered by such as had the good fortune to be spectators. The natural +impertinence and insolence of lord Martin were swelled by the event to ten +times their natural pitch. He crowed like a cock, and cackled like a +goose. The vulgar of the other sex, who are constantly the admirers of +success, however unmerited, and conceit, however unfounded, thought his +lordship the greatest man in the world. The inequality of his legs was +removed by the proof he had exhibited of his prowess. The inequality of +his shoulders was hid under a rent-roll of ten thousand a year. And the +narrowness of his intellects, the optics of these connoisseurs were not +calculated to discern.</p> + +<p>The peer, as we have already hinted, was the suitor most favoured by the +father of our heroine. The principal passion of the old gentleman was the +love of money. But at the same time he was not absolutely incapable of +relishing the inferior charms of a venerable title and a splendid +reputation. Perceiving that his client continually rose in the public +opinion, he was more eager than ever to have the match concluded. Lord +Martin, though his organs were not formed to delight in beauty at the +first hand, was yet tickled with the conceit of carrying off so fair a +prize from the midst of a thousand gaping expectants.</p> + +<p>It will naturally be imagined that the situation of Delia at this moment +was by no means an enviable one. She was caught in the snares of love. And +the more she struggled to get free, she was only the more limed and +entangled. The recollection of the hopelessness of her love by no means +sufficed to destroy it. The recollection of her former carelessness and +gaiety was not able to restore her to present ease. In vain she summoned +pride and maiden dignity to support her. In vain she formed resolutions, +which were broken as soon as made. Every where she was haunted by the +image of her dear unknown. Her nights were sleepless and uneasy. The fire +and brightness of her eyes were tarnished. <i>She pined in green and +yellow melancholy.</i></p> + +<p>The more dear were the ideal image that accompanied her, the more did she +execrate and detest her persecutor. "No," cried she, "I will never be his. +Never shall the sacred tie, which should only unite congenial spirits, be +violated by two souls, distant as the poles, jarring as contending +elements. My father may kill me. Alas, of what value is life to me! It is +a long scene of unvaried misfortune. It is a dreary vista of despair. He +may kill me, but never, never shall he force me to a deed my soul abhors."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p><i>Containing that with which the reader will be acquainted when he has +read it</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>The cup of misfortune, by which it was decreed that the virtue and the +constancy of our heroine should be tried, was not yet ended. The +disposition of a melancholy lover is in the utmost degree variable. Now +the fair Delia studiously sought to plunge herself in impervious solitude; +and now, worn with a train of gloomy reflections, she with equal eagerness +solicited the society of her favourite companion.</p> + +<p>By this time sir William Twyford and Miss Fletcher were become in a manner +inseparable. Of consequence the company of the one necessarily involved +that of the other. And the gaiety and good humour of sir William, tempered +as they were by an excellent understanding, and an unaffected vein of +sportive wit, were the sweetest medicine to the wounded heart of Delia. +When she had first chosen Miss Fletcher for her intimate friend, her own +faculties had not yet reached their maturity; and habit frequently renders +the most insipid amusements pleasurable and interesting. Southampton +itself did not afford the largest scope for selection. And however our +readers may decide respecting the merit of the easy, the voluble and the +good humoured Miss Fletcher, they will scarcely be disposed to deny that +of all the female characters we have hitherto exhibited, she was the most +amiable.</p> + +<p>One evening, as these three friends were sitting together, sir William +took occasion to lament the necessity that was laid upon him to quit +Southampton for a few days, though he hoped very speedily to be able to +return. His inamorata, as usual, was very inquisitive to learn the +business that was to deprive her for a time of the presence of a lover, of +whom she was not a little ostentatious. Sir William answered that he was +under an engagement to be present at the marriage of one of his college +friends, and that he should set out in company with Mr. Moreland.</p> + +<p>At that name our tender and apprehensive fair one involuntarily started. +"Mr. Moreland!" said she to herself, "Ah, it was at his house that my +unknown resided. It is very seldom that Mr. Moreland undertakes a journey. +Surely there must be something particularly interesting to him in the +affair. The strange combination of circumstances terrifies and perplexes +me. Would I were delivered from this state of uncertainty! Would to God I +were dead!"</p> + +<p>The uncertainty which afflicted her was however of a very short duration. +Miss Fletcher, by an inexhaustible train of interrogatories, led sir +William to relate by degrees every thing he knew of the affair. The young +gentleman his friend was the nephew and heir of Mr. Moreland. The present +match had been long upon the carpet, and was a very considerable one in +point of fortune. "Did the nephew ever visit Mr. Moreland?" "Very +frequently," said sir William. "And he is visited" interposed Delia, "by +other young gentlemen from the university?" "No," answered sir William. +"Mr. Moreland, who is an old batchelor, full of oddities and sensibility, +has a general dislike of young collegians. He thinks them pert, dissolute, +arrogant, and pedantic. He therefore never receives any but his nephew, +for whom he has the most ardent affection, and sometimes by particular +grace myself who am his intimate friend." "And how long is it since the +young gentleman paid a visit to his uncle?" Sir William looked a little +surprized at so particular a question, but answered: "He was here not +above a fortnight ago to invite his uncle to the wedding. But he is rather +serious and thoughtful in his temper, so that he is seldom seen in +public."</p> + +<p>It was now but too certain that the friend of sir William, and the amiable +unknown, who had made a conquest of the heart of Delia, were the same +person. The surprise at which she was taken, and the unwelcome manner in +which her doubts were now at once resolved, were too much for the delicate +frame of our heroine. She sat for a moment gazing with an eager and +unmeaning stare upon the face of sir William. But she presently +recollected herself, and, bursting out of the room, flew to her chamber in +the same instant, and was relieved by a flood of tears.</p> + +<p>Sir William was inexpressibly surprised at this incident. Delia, he was +sure, did not even know the name of his friend, and he could scarcely +imagine that she had ever seen him. Miss Fletcher, though considerably +astonished herself, gave sir William an account of so many particulars of +what had passed between his friend and our heroine, as were perfectly +sufficient to solve the difficulty. In return the baronet explained to her +the exact situation of the affair of Damon, told her that he did not +believe the day was yet fixed, and assured her that Mr. Moreland and +himself waited for a farther summons, though it must be confessed that it +was expected every hour.</p> + +<p>These particulars, when communicated to Delia by the indefatigable +assiduity of Miss Fletcher, afforded her but a very slender consolation. +"What avails it me," said she, "that the day is not fixed? Every +considerable circumstance, there is reason to believe, is determined. He +marries, with the approbation of all his friends, a lady, my superior in +rank and fortune, and who is probably every way worthy of him. Ah, why am +I thus selfish and envious? No, let me pine away in obscurity, let me be +forgotten. But may he live long and happy. Did he not tell me, that he +went to seek the <i>mistress of his fate</i>?--And yet," interrupted she, +"he accompanied the information with words of such sweet import, with so +much tenderness and gentleness, as will never be erased from my mind. Ah +foolish girl, wilt thou for ever delude thyself, wilt thou be for ever +extracting comfort from despair? No! Long enough hast thou been misguided +by the meteor of hope. Long enough hast thou been cheated by the visions +of youthful fancy. There is now no remedy left. Let me die."</p> + +<p>There were two passions that predominated in the breast of sir William +Twyford. The first was that of a humourist, and to this almost every other +object was occasionally sacrificed. But he had likewise a large fund of +good nature. He perceived, that in two successive instances, however +unintentionally, his conduct had been the source of unhappiness to the +most amiable of her sex. The victory of lord Martin had put it more than +ever in his power to harrass Delia. She was incessantly importuned, now by +her father, and now by her inamorato. And her distress, if it had wanted +any addition, was rendered compleat by the expected marriage of one, whose +personal accomplishments had caught her unwary heart. He lamented the +undeserved misfortune of youth and beauty. His heart bled for her.</p> + +<p>Thus circumstanced, his active benevolence determined him not to lose a +moment, in endeavouring to repair the mischief of which he had so +unfortunately been the author. He had never cordially approved of the +intended union between his friend and Miss Frampton. She was of the first +order of coquettes, and it might have puzzled even an anatomist to +determine, whether she had a heart. Descartes informs us that the soul +usually resides in the pineal gland, but the soul of this lady seemed to +inhabit in her eyes. She had been caught with the figure of Damon. And had +a figure more perfectly beautiful, if that had been possible, or an +equipage more brilliant, presented itself, he did not doubt but that it +would carry away the prize.</p> + +<p>Miss Frampton was heiress to a fortune of fifty thousand pounds. The +father of Damon, whose soul, in union with some amiable qualities, which +served him for a disguise, had the misfortune to be exceedingly mercenary +at the bottom, had proposed the match to his son. Damon, who had never in +his life been guilty of an act of disobedience, received the +recommendation of his father with a prejudice in its favour. He waited +upon the young lady and found her beautiful, high spirited, accomplished, +and incensed by a thousand worshippers. Her disposition was not indeed +congenial to his own. But he was prejudiced by filial duty, dazzled by her +charms, and led on insensibly by the mildness and pliableness of his +character. In a word, every thing had been concluded, and the wedding was +daily expected to take place.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Two Persons of Fashion</i>.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of the determination he had formed, sir William immediately +set out for Oxford, where his friend still resided. As he had lived with +him upon terms of the most unreserved familiarity, he made use of the +liberty of an intimate, and, without being announced, abruptly entered his +chamber. Damon was sitting in a melancholy posture, his countenance +dejected, and his eye languid. Upon the entrance of the baronet he looked +up, and struck with the sudden appearance of one to whom he was so +ardently attached, his visage for a moment assumed an air of gaiety and +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Ha," cried sir William, with his wonted spriteliness of accent, "methinks +the countenance of my Damon does not bespeak the sentiments that become a +bridegroom." "I am afraid not," answered Damon. "But tell me to what am I +indebted for this agreeable and unexpected visit?" "We will talk of that +another time. But when did you see my play-fellow, Miss Frampton?" "I have +not seen her," replied our hero with a sigh half uttered, and half +suppressed, "these ten days." "What" cried the baronet, "no +misunderstanding, eh?" "Not absolutely that. I saw her, I fear, without +all the rapture that becomes a lover, and she resented it with a coldness +that did not introduce an immediate explanation. Since that time I have +been somewhat indisposed, or probably affairs would now have been +settled." "And what," said sir William, "must we apply the old maxim, that +the falling out of lovers is the consolidating of love?"</p> + +<p>Damon from the entrance of his friend had appeared a good deal agitated. +He was no longer able to contain himself. He eagerly seized the hand of +sir William and clasped it between both of his. "My dear baronet, I have +never concealed from you a thought of my heart. But my present situation +is so peculiarly delicate and distressing, that I can scarcely form any +sentiment of it, or even dare trust myself to recollect it. I have seen," +continued he, "ah, that I could forget it! a woman, beauteous as the day, +before whom the charms of Miss Frampton disappear, as, before the rising +sun, each little star <i>hides its diminish'd head</i>. Her features, full +of sensibility, her voice such as to thrill the soul and all she says, +pervaded with wit and good sense." "And where," cried the baronet, in a +lively tone, "resides this peerless she?"</p> + +<p>"Alas," answered the disconsolate Damon, "it matters not. I shall see her +no more. Virtue, honour, every thing forbids it. I may be unhappy, but I +will never deserve to be so. Miss Frampton has my vows. Filial duty calls +on me to fulfil them. Obstacles without number, Alps on Alps arise, to +impede my prosecution of a fond and unlicensed inclination. The struggle +has cost me something, but it is over. I have recovered my health, I have +formed my resolution. This very day, (you, my good friend, will accept the +apology) I had determined to repair to Beaufort Place. Doubt and +uncertainty nourish the lingering distemper that would undo me. I will +come to a decision."</p> + +<p>Sir William was not of a temper to abdicate any affair in which he had +embarked, before success appeared absolutely unattainable. Like Caesar, it +was enough for him that the thing appeared possible to be done, to engage +him to persevere. He therefore begged leave to accompany his friend, and +they set out together that very afternoon.</p> + +<p>Beaufort Place, the habitation of Miss Frampton, was only six miles from +Oxford. And, as he knew that Sir Harry Eustace, the son of that lady's +mother by a second husband, was now upon a visit to his sister, sir +William Twyford made no scruple of proceeding with his friend immediately +to the house.</p> + +<p>After a short general conversation, sir William drew the young baronet +into the garden. In the mean time sir Harry's chariot was preparing, as he +had fixed the conclusion of his visit for that evening. After an interval +of half an hour the servant brought word that the carriage was ready. Sir +Harry, who was a young man of little ceremony, bowed <i>en passant</i> +before the parlour window, and immediately hurried away.</p> + +<p>Sir William stood for some time at the door of the house after sir Harry +had driven away. Presently he observed another carriage advancing by the +opposite road. The liveries were flaunting and the attendants numerous. +They drew nearer, and he perceived that it was the equipage of lord +Osborne. Since therefore the lovers were to be so soon interrupted by the +entrance of a new visitant, he thought proper immediately to enter the +parlour.</p> + +<p>He had only time to remark the air and countenance of Damon and the young +lady. They appeared mutually cold and embarassed. He could trace in his +friend the aukwardness and timidity of one who was unused to act a studied +part. Miss Frampton, with a countenance uninterested and inattentive, +affected the carriage of a person who thought herself insulted.</p> + +<p>Lord Osborne was now announced. He was a young nobleman, that had spent a +considerable part of his fortune upon the continent. With a narrow +understanding and a contracted heart, he had been able by habitual cunning +and invincible effrontery, to acquire the reputation of a man of parts. +Courage was the only respectable quality, his possession of which could +not be questioned. He was a debauchee and a gamester. There was no +meanness he had not practised, there was no villainy of which he could not +boast. With this character, he was universally respected and courted by +all such as wished to acquire the reputation of men of gaiety and spirit. +The ladies were all dying for him, as for a man who had ruined more +innocence, and occasioned a greater consumption of misery, than any other +man in the kingdom.</p> + +<p>The face of Miss Frampton visibly brightened the moment his name was +articulated. She was all spirits and agitation, though she seemed to feel +something aukward in her situation. When he entered the room, she flew +half way to meet him, but, suddenly recollecting herself, stopt short. "My +dear Miss Frampton," said his lordship, with a familiar and indifferent +air, "I cannot stop a moment. I am mortified to death. The most +unfortunate man! But I could not live a whole day without seeing you. +Believe me to be more impassioned, more ardent than ever." Saying this be +directed a slight glance and a half bow towards our two friends. "Farewel, +my charmer, my adorable!" said he, and kissed her hand. Miss Frampton +struck him a slight blow with her fan, and crying, with an easy wink, +"Remember!" she dropt him a profound curtesey and his lordship departed.</p> + +<p>For a moment the whole company was silent. "By my soul," exclaimed sir +William, "this is the most singular affair!" "Oh, nothing at all," +answered the young lady. "It is all <i>à la mode de Paris</i>. In France +no man of fashion can presume to accost a lady, whether young or old, but +in the language of love. But it means no more, than when a minister of +state says to his first clerk, <i>your humble servant</i>, or to the widow +of a poor seaman, <i>your devoted slave</i>." "Oh," cried sir William, "that +is all. And by my faith, it is mighty pretty. What think you Damon? I +hope, when you are married, you will have no objection to lord Osborne, or +any other person of fashion making love to your wife before your face." +"What an indelicate question!" said Miss Frampton. "I declare, baronet, +you are grown an absolute boor. Nobody ever talks of marriage now. A woman +of fashion blushes to hear it mentioned before a third person." "Why, to +say the truth, madam, I have been honoured with so great an intimacy by +Damon, that I thought that might excuse the impropriety. And now, pray +your ladyship, must I wait till we are alone, before I ask my friend +whether his happy day be fixed?" "Since you will talk," said Miss +Frampton, "of the odious subject, I believe I may tell you that it is not. +We are in no such hurry." "My dear sweet play-fellow," said the baronet, +"I must tell you once for all that I am no adept in French fashions. So +that you will give me leave to use the unceremonious language of an +Englishman. My friend here, you know, is a little sheepish, but I have +words at will. I thought matters had been nearer a termination." "And +pray, my good sir, let the gentleman speak for himself. If he is not +dissatisfied, why should you be in such haste?" "Indeed, madam," +interposed Damon, "I am not perfectly satisfied. Perhaps indeed a lover +ought to think himself happy enough in being permitted to dance attendance +upon a lady of your charms. But I once thought, madam, that we had +advanced somewhat farther." "I cannot tell," answered the lady with an air +of levity. "Just as you please. But I cannot see why we should put +ourselves to any inconvenience. Lord Osborne"--"Lord Osborne!" interrupted +sir William with some warmth, "and pray what has his lordship to do with +the matter?" "Really sir William," replied Miss Frampton, "you are very +free. But his lordship is my friend, and I hope Damon has no objection to +his continuing so." "Look you," answered sir William, "I would neither +have lord Osborne for the rival of Damon now, nor for your +<i>chichisbee</i> hereafter." "And yet I am not sure," cried she, "that he +may not be both." "Is there then," said the baronet, "no engagement +subsisting between you and Damon?" "I believe," cried Miss Frampton, a +little hesitating, "there may be something of the kind. But we may change +our minds you know, and I do not think that I shall prosecute upon it. Ha! +ha! ha!" "To say the truth," replied sir William, "I believe lord Osborne +is not only the rival of Damon, but a very formidable one too. But let me +tell you, Bella, a character so respectable as that of my friend, and so +true an Englishman, must not be allowed to dance attendance." "As he +pleases. I believe we understand one another. And to say the truth at +once, perhaps some time hence I may have no aversion to lord Osborne."</p> + +<p>The reader will not suppose that the conversation continued much longer. +Damon and the young lady came to a perfect understanding, and parted +without any very ungovernable desire of seeing each other again. And thus +by the gay humour and active friendship of sir William Twyford, an affair +was happily terminated, which, from the timidity and gentleness of our +hero, might otherwise have lingered several months to the mutual +dissatisfaction of both parties. Damon quitted the house in raptures, and +was no sooner seated in the chariot, than he pressed his friend repeatedly +to his breast, and committed a thousand extravagancies of joy.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A tragical Resolution.</i></p> + +<p>Damon and his friend spent the evening together in the chambers of our +hero. They now discussed a variety of those subjects, which naturally +arise between friends who have been for any time separated. Damon threw +aside that reserve which the consciousness of a fault had hitherto +involuntarily imposed upon him, and related more explicitly who the lady +was of whom he was so much enamoured, and in what manner he had first seen +her. Recollecting that the baronet was just returned from the environs of +Southampton, he eagerly enquired into the health and situation of his +mistress.</p> + +<p>Sir William related to him the adventure of Mr. Prettyman, as we have +already stated it to our readers, and deeply lamented the persecution to +which Delia was subjected from the haughty victor. "And is there," cried +Damon eagerly, "no prospect of his lordship's success?" "I believe," +answered sir William, "that he is of all men her mortal aversion." "And is +there no happy lover in all her train, that she regards with a partial +eye?" "None," replied the baronet, "she is chaste as snow, and firm as +mountain oaks." "Propitious coldness!" exclaimed Damon, "for that may +heaven send down a thousand blessings on her head!"</p> + +<p>"But you talked," added he, "of some occasion of your journey which you +deferred relating to me." "The occasion," answered sir William, determined +to preserve inviolate the secret of Delia, "is already fulfilled. I heard +from young Eustace of the appearance and addresses of Osborne, and +suspecting the rest, I determined to deliver you from the clutches of a +girl whom I always thought unworthy of you. And now" added he cheerfully, +"free as the winds, we can pursue uncontrolled the devices of our own +hearts."</p> + +<p>The next morning the two friends proceeded to the house of lord Thomas +Villiers, the father of Damon. He had already learned something of the +visits of lord Osborne at Beaufort Place. He was not therefore much +surprised to hear of the scene, which had passed between his son and the +lady of that mansion. But there was something more to be done, in order to +gain the approbation of the father to the new project, in the prosecution +of which both these friends were equally sanguine.</p> + +<p>Lord Thomas Villiers was, as we have already said, avaricious. He was not +therefore much pleased with the proposal of a match with a lady, whose +fortune was not the half of that of Miss Frampton. He was tinctured with +the pride of family, and he could not patiently think for a moment, of +marrying his only son to the daughter of a tradesman. Sir William employed +all his eloquence, and accommodated himself with infinite dexterity to the +humours of the person with whom he had to deal. Damon indeed said but +little, but his looks expressed more, than the baronet, with all his +abilities, and all his friendship, was able to suggest. In spite of both, +the father continued inexorable.</p> + +<p>The mind of Damon was impressed with the most exalted ideas upon the +subject of filial duty. Had his heart been pre-engaged, before the affair +of Miss Frampton was proposed to him, he might not perhaps have carried +his complaisance so far, as to have married the indifferent person, in +spite of all his views and all his prepossessions. But in his estimate, +the actual entering into a connection for life in opposition to the will +of a parent, was a mode of conduct very different from, and far more +exceptionable than the refusing to unite oneself with a person in whose +society one had not the smallest reason to look for happiness.</p> + +<p>There was another inducement that had much weight with Damon, and even +with his more sanguine friend, sir William Twyford. The fortune neither of +Damon nor Delia was independent. Lord Thomas Villiers was filled with too +many prepossessions and too much pride, easily to retract an opinion he +had once adopted, or to forgive an opposition to his judgment. The narrow +education of a tradesman it was natural to suppose had rendered the mind +of Mr. Hartley still more tenacious, and unmanageable. And neither would +sir William have been willing to see his friend, nor would the lover +readily have involved his mistress in circumstances of pecuniary distress.</p> + +<p>The resolution of Damon was therefore speedily taken. Every motive that +could have weight, served to counteract the bias of his inclination. He by +no means wanted either firmness or spirit. He resolved to struggle, nor to +cease his efforts till he had conquered. With this design he entreated, +and, after some difficulties, obtained of his father leave to enter +himself in the army, and to make a campaign in America.</p> + +<p>The character of his heart seemed particularly formed for military +pursuits. He was grave and thoughtful, he was generous and humane. To a +mind contemplative and full of sensibility, he united a temper, frank, +open, and undisguised. He was usually mild, gentle and pliant. But in a +situation, that called for determination and spirit, it was impossible to +appear more bold and manly, more cool and decided,--Affectionate was the +farewel of his father, and still more affectionate that of his friend. +Damon, though he endeavoured to summon all his resolution, could not +restrain a sigh when he considered himself as about to sail for distant +climates, and recollected, that probably, before his return, his beloved +mistress, <i>dearer than life and all its joys</i>, would be united, +irrevocably united to another. But here we must take leave of our hero, +and return to his fair inamorata.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>DAMON</h2> +<br><br> +<h2>AND</h2> +<br><br> +<h2>DELIA.</h2> + + +<br><br> +<h2>PART the SECOND.</h2> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>DAMON</h2> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h2>DELIA.</h2> + +<h3>PART the SECOND.</h3> +<br> + +<h2>CHAP. I.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>In which the Story begins over again</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>Sir William Twyford had taken care to inform Miss Fletcher, and by her +means Delia herself, of every circumstance as it occurred. Delia was +indeed flattered by the breach that had taken place with Miss Frampton, +and the perfect elucidation, which the story of this lady afforded to the +most enigmatical expressions of Damon, in the interesting scene that had +passed between them in the alcove. She no longer doubted of the reality of +his attachment. Her heart was soothed, and her pride secretly flattered, +in recollecting that she had not suffered herself to be caught by one who +was perfectly indifferent to her.</p> + +<p>But the information that stifled all her hopes, and gave her the prospect +of so long, and, too probably, an eternal absence, sat heavy upon her +spirits, and preyed upon her delicate constitution. From the persecutions +of lord Martin she had no respite. Her eye grew languid, the colour faded +in her damask cheek, and her health visibly decayed.</p> + +<p>At this time Miss Fletcher proposed a journey to Windsor and other places, +and intreated to have her friend to accompany her. Mr. Hartley, with all +his foibles, was much attached to his only child, and deeply afflicted +with the alteration he perceived in her. He readily therefore gave his +consent to the proposed jaunt. "When she returns, it will be time enough," +said he to lord Martin, "to bring things to the conclusion, so much +desired by both of us. I will not put my darling into your hands, but with +that health and gaiety, which have so long been the solace of my old age, +and which cannot fail to make any man happy that deserves her."</p> + +<p>Delia set out without any other inclination, than to escape from +intreaties that were become in the highest degree disagreeable to her. She +was addressed no longer upon a topic, of which she wished never to hear. +Her eye was no longer wounded with the sight of her insolent admirer. This +had an immediate and a favourable effect upon her. The conversation of +Miss Fletcher was lively and unflagging, and the simplicity of her remarks +proved an inexhaustible source of entertainment to our heroine.</p> + +<p>They travelled leisurely and visited a variety of parks and seats of +noblemen which lay in their way. The taste of Delia was delicate and +refined. A continual succession of objects; gardens, architecture, +pictures and statues soothed her spirits, and gradually restored her to +that gaiety and easiness of temper, which had long rendered her the most +lovely and engaging of her sex.</p> + +<p>At length they arrived at Windsor. The simple dignity of the castle, its +commanding situation, and the beautiful effects of the river from below, +rendered it infinitely the most charming spot our heroine had yet seen. +Her spirits were on the wing, she was all life and conversation, and the +most constant heart, that nature had ever produced, for a moment, forgot +her hopes, her fears, her inclinations, and her Damon.</p> + +<p>She was now standing at a window that commanded the terrace. The evening +was beautiful, and the walk crouded. There were assembled persons of all +sexes and of different ranks. All appeared gaiety and splendour. The +supple courtier and the haughty country gentleman seemed equally at their +ease. There was thoughtless youth and narrative old age. The company +passed along, and object succeeded object without intermission.</p> + +<p>One of the last that caught the eye of Delia, was that of two gentlemen +walking arm in arm, and seeming more grave than the rest of the company. +They were both tall and well shaped; but one of them had somewhat more +graceful and unembarrassed in his manner than the other. The latter was +dressed in black, the former in colours, with much propriety and elegance.</p> + +<p>As they turned at the end of the walk the eye of Delia caught in the +latter the figure of Damon. She was inexpressibly astonished, she trembled +in every limb, and could scarcely support herself to a seat. Miss Fletcher +had caught the same object at the same moment, and, though she probably +might not otherwise have been clear in her recollection, the disorder of +Delia put her conjecture out of doubt. She therefore, before our heroine +had time to recollect herself, dispatched her brother, who had attended +them in their journey, to inform Damon that a lady in the castle was +desirous to speak with him.</p> + +<p>In an instant our hero and his companion, escorted by young Fletcher, +entered the room. The astonishment of Damon, at being so suddenly +introduced to a person, whom he had never expected to see again, was +immeasurable. He rushed forward with a kind of rapture; he suddenly +recollected himself; but at length advanced with hesitation. There was no +one present beside those we have already named. The castle was probably +familiar to every person except Delia and her companions. Every one beside +was therefore assembled upon the terrace.</p> + +<p>Our heroine now gradually recovered from the disorder into which the +unexpected sight of Damon had thrown her. She was much surprised at +looking up to find him in her presence. "How is this," cried she, "how +came you hither?" "The meeting," said our hero, "is equally unexpected to +us both. But, ah, my charmer, whence this disorder? Why did you tremble, +why look so pale?" "Oh goodness," cried Miss Fletcher, "what should it be? +Why it was nothing in all the world, but her seeing you just now from the +window." "And were you," cried Damon eagerly, "so kind as to summon me to +your presence?" "No, no, my good sir," said the lively lady, "you must +thank me for that". "How then at least," said the lover, "must I interpret +your disorder?"</p> + +<p>Delia was inexpressibly confused at the inconsiderate language of her +companion. "I cannot tell," said she, "you must not ask me. You must +forget it." "And can I," cried Damon with transport, "ever forget a +disorder so propitious, so flattering? Can I hope that the heart of my +charmer is not indifferent to her Damon!" "Oh sir, be silent. Do not use a +language like this." "Alas," cried he, "too long has my passion been +suppressed. Too long have I been obliged to act a studied part, and employ +a language foreign to my heart." "I thought," answered Delia, with +hesitation, "that you were going to leave the kingdom." "And did my fair +one condescend to employ a thought upon me? Did she interest herself in my +concern and enquire after my welfare? And how so soon could she have +learned my intention?"</p> + +<p>This question, joined with the preceding circumstances, completed the +confusion of Delia. She blushed, stammered, and was silent. Damon, during +this interval, gazed upon her with unmingled rapture. Every symptom she +betrayed of confusion, was to him a symptom of something inexpressibly +soothing. "Ah," whispered he to himself, "I am beloved, and can I then +leave the kingdom? Can I quit this inestimable treasure? Can I slight so +pure a friendship, and throw away the jewel upon which all my future +happiness depends?"</p> + +<p>The conversation, from the peculiar circumstances of the lovers, had so +immediately become interesting, that the gentlemen had not had an +opportunity of quitting them. During the short silence that prevailed the +friend of Damon took young Fletcher by the hand, and led him into the +garden. The lovers were now under less restraint. Delia, perceiving that +she could no longer conceal her sentiments, confessed them with ingenuous +modesty. Damon on the other hand was ravished at so unexpected a +discovery, and in a few minutes had lived an age in love.</p> + +<p>He now began to recollect himself. "Where," said he, "are all my +resolutions? What are become of all the plans I had formed, and the +designs in which I had embarked? What an unexpected revolution? No," said +he, addressing himself to Delia, "I will never quit you. Do thou but +smile, and let all the world beside abandon me. Can you forgive the +sacrilegious intention of deserting you, of flying from you to the +extremities of the globe? Oh, had I known a thought of Damon had harboured +in one corner of your heart, I would sooner have died." "And do you +think," cried Delia, "that I will tempt you to disobedience? No. Obey the +precepts of your father and your own better thoughts. Heaven designed us +not for each other. Neither your friends nor mine can ever be reconciled +to the union. Go then and forget me. Go and be happy. May your sails be +swelled with propitious gales! May victory and renown attend your steps!" +"Ah cruel Delia, and do you wish to banish me? Do you enjoin upon me the +impracticable talk, to forget all that my heart holds dear? And will my +Delia resign herself to the arms of a more favoured lover?" "Never," cried +she with warmth. "I will not disobey my father. I will not marry contrary +to his inclinations. But even the authority of a parent shall not drag me +to the altar with a man my soul detests." "Propitious sounds! Generous +engagements! Thus let me thank thee."--And he kissed her hand with +fervour. "Thus far," cried Delia, "I can advance. I employ no disguise. I +confess to you all my weakness. Perhaps I ought to blush. But never will I +have this reason to blush, for that my love has injured the object it +aspires to bless. Go in the path of fortune. Deserve success and happiness +by the exemplariness of your duty. And may heaven shower down blessings +without number!"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>The History of Mr. Godfrey</i>.</p> + +<p>In expostulations like these our lovers spent their time without coming to +any conclusion, till the evening and Miss Fletcher warned them that it was +time to depart. Damon was to proceed for London early the next morning. He +therefore intreated of Delia to permit his friend Mr. Godfrey, who was +obliged to continue in the place some days longer, to wait upon her with +his last commands. He informed himself of the time when she was to return +to Southampton, and he trusted to be there not long after her. In the mean +time, as his situation was at present very precarious, he prevailed upon +her to permit him to write to her from time to time, and to promise to +communicate to him in return any thing of consequence that might happen to +herself.</p> + +<p>During the remainder of the evening Miss Fletcher made several ingenious +observations upon what had passed. Delia gently blamed her for having so +strangely occasioned the interview, though in reality she was by no means +displeased by the event it had produced. "Bless us, child, you are as +captious as any thing. Why I would not but have seen it for ever so much. +Well, he is a sweet dear man, and so kind, and so polite, for all the +world I think him just such another as Mr. Prattle. But then he is grave, +and makes such fine speeches, it does one's heart good to hear him. I vow +I wish I had such a lover. Sir William never says any thing half so +pretty. Bless us, my dear, <i>he</i> talks about love, just as if he were +talking about any thing else."</p> + +<p>The next morning after breakfast, Mr. Godfrey appeared. He brought from +Damon a thousand vows full of passion and constancy. He had parted, he +said, more determined not to leave England, more resolute to prosecute his +love than ever.</p> + +<p>Having discharged his commission, he offered his service to escort the +ladies in any party they might propose for the present day. He said, that +being perfectly acquainted with Windsor and its environs, he flattered +himself he might be able to contribute to their entertainment. The very +gallant manner in which this offer was made, determined Miss Fletcher, as +something singular and interesting in the appearance of Mr. Godfrey did +our heroine, cheerfully to close with the proposal.</p> + +<p>The person of Mr. Godfrey as we have already said was tall and genteel. +There was a diffidence in his manner, that seemed to prove that he had not +possessed the most extensive acquaintance with high life; but he had a +natural politeness that amply compensated for the polish and forms of +society. His air was serious and somewhat melancholy; but there was a fire +and animation in his eye that was in the highest degree striking.</p> + +<p>Delia engaged him to talk of the character and qualities of Damon. Upon +this subject, Mr. Godfrey spoke with the warmth of an honest friendship. +He represented Damon as of a disposition perfectly singular and +unaccommodated to what he stiled "the debauched and unfeeling manners of +the age." He acknowledged with readiness and gratitude, that he owed to +him the most important obligations. By degrees Delia collected from him +several circumstances of a story, which she before apprehended to be +interesting. She observed, that, as he shook off the embarrassment of a +first introduction, his language became fluent, elegant, pointed, and even +sometimes poetical. Since however he related his own story imperfectly and +by piece meal, we shall beg leave to state it in our own manner. And we +the rather do it, as we apprehend it to be interesting in itself, and as +we foresee that he will make a second appearance in the course of this +narrative. We will not however deprive our readers of the reflections he +threw out upon the several situations in which he had been placed. We will +give them without pretending to decide how far they may be considered as +just and well-founded.</p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey was not born to affluent circumstances. At a proper age he had +been placed at the university of Oxford, and here it was that he commenced +his acquaintance with Damon. At Oxford his abilities had been universally +admired. His public exercises, though public exercises by their very +nature ought to be dull, had in them many of those sallies, by which his +disposition was characterised, and much of that superiority, which he +indisputably possessed above his contemporaries. But though admired, he +was not courted. In our public places of education, a wide distance is +studiously preserved between young men of fortune, and young men that have +none. But Mr. Godfrey had a stiffness and unpliableness of temper, that +did not easily bend to the submission that was expected of him. He could +neither flatter a blockhead, nor pimp for a peer. He loved his friend +indeed with unbounded warmth, and it was impossible to surpass him in +generousness and liberality. But he had a proud integrity, that whispered +him, with, a language not to be controled, that he was the inferior of no +man.</p> + +<p>He was destined for the profession of a divine, and, having finished his +studies, retired upon a curacy of forty pounds a year. His ambition was +grievously mortified at the obscurity in which he was plunged; and his +great talents, in spite of real modesty, forcibly convinced him, that this +was not the station for which nature had formed him. But he had an +enthusiasm of virtue, that led him for a time to overlook these +disadvantages. "I am going," said he, "to dwell among scenes of unvitiated +nature. I will form the peasant to generosity and sentiment. I will teach +laborious industry to look without envy and without asperity upon those +above them. I will be the friend and the father of the meanest of my +flock. I will give sweetness and beauty to the most rugged scenes. The +man, that banishes envy and introduces contentment; the man, that converts +the little circle in which he dwells into a terrestrial paradise, that +renders men innocent here, and happy for ever, may be obscure, may be +despised by the superciliousness of luxury; but it shall never be said +that he has been a blank in creation. The Supreme Being will regard him +with a complacency, which he will deny to kings, that oppress, and +conquerors, that destroy the work of his hands."</p> + +<p>Such were the suggestions of youthful imagination. But Mr. Godfrey +presently found the truth of that maxim, as paradoxical as it is +indisputable, that the heart of man is naturally hard and unamiable. He +conducted himself in his new situation with the most unexceptionable +propriety, and the most generous benevolence. But there were men in his +audience, men who loved better to criticise, than to be amended; and +women, who felt more complacency in scandal, than eulogium. He displeased +the one by disappointing them; it was impossible to disappoint the other. +He laboured unremittedly, but his labours returned to him void. "And is it +for this," said he, "that I have sacrificed ambition, and buried talents? +Is humility to be rewarded only with mortification? Is obscurity and +retirement the favourite scene of uneasiness, ingratitude, and +impertinence? They shall be no longer my torment. In no scene can I meet +with a more scanty success."</p> + +<p>He now obtained a recommendation to be private tutor to the children of a +nobleman. This nobleman was celebrated for the politeness of his manners +and the elegance of his taste. It was his boast and his ambition to be +considered as the patron of men of letters. With his prospect therefore in +this connection, Mr. Godfrey was perfectly satisfied. "I shall no longer," +said he, "be the slave of ignorance, and the victim of insensibility. My +talents perhaps point me a step higher than to the business of forming the +minds of youth. But, at least, the youth under my care are destined to +fill the most conspicuous stations in future life. If propitious fortune +might have raised me to the character of a statesman; depressed by +adversity, I may yet have the honour of moulding the mind, and infusing +generosity into the heart, of a future statesman. I have heard the second +son of my patron celebrated for the early promises of capacity. To unfold +the springing germs of genius, to direct them in the path of general +happiness, is an employment by no means unworthy of a philosopher."</p> + +<p>In this situation Mr. Godfrey however once more looked for pleasure, and +found disappointment. The nobleman had more the affectation of a patron, +than any real enthusiasm in the cause of literature. The abilities of Mr. +Godfrey were universally acknowledged. And so long as the novelty +remained, he was caressed, honoured, and distinguished. In a short time +however, he was completely forgotten by the patron, in the hurry of +dissipation, and the pursuits of an unbounded ambition. His eldest care +was universally confessed stupid and impracticable. And in the younger he +found nothing but the prating forwardness of a boy who had been flattered, +without sentiment, and without meaning. Her ladyship treated Mr. Godfrey +with superciliousness, as an intruder at her lord's table. The servants +caught the example, and showed him a distinction of neglect, which the +exquisiteness of his sensibility would not permit him to despise.</p> + +<p>Mortified, irritated, depressed, he now quitted his task half finished and +threw himself upon the world. "The present age," said he, "is not an age +in which talents are overlooked, and genius depressed." He had heard much +of the affluence of writers, a Churchil, a Smollet, and a Goldsmith, who +had depended upon that only for their support. He saw the celebrated Dr. +Johnson caressed by all parties, and acknowledged to be second to no man, +whatever were his rank, however conspicuous his station. Full of these +ideas, he soon completed a production, fraught with the fire and +originality of genius, pointed in its remarks, and elegant in its style. +He had now to experience vexations, of which he had before entertained no +idea. He carried his work from bookseller to bookseller, and was every +where refused. His performance was not seasoned to the times, he was a +person that nobody knew, and he had no man of rank, by his importunities +and eloquence, to force him into the ranks of fashion. At length he found +a bookseller foolish enough to undertake it. But he presently perceived +that the gentlemen at the head of that profession were wiser than he. All +the motives they had mentioned, and one more, operated against him. The +monarchs of the critic realm scouted him with one voice, because his work, +was not written in the same cold, phlegmatic insupportable manner as their +own.</p> + +<p>He had now advanced however too far to retreat. He had too much spirit to +resume either of those professions, which for reasons so cogent in his +opinion, he had already quitted. He wrote essays, squibs, and pamphlets +for an extemporary support. But though these were finished with infinite +rapidity, he found that they constituted a very precarious means of +subsistence. The time of dinner often came, before the production that was +to purchase it was completed; and when completed, it was frequently +several days before it could find a purchaser. And his copy money and his +taylor's bill were too little proportioned to one another.</p> + +<p>He now recollected, what in the gaiety of hope he had forgotten, that +<i>many a flower</i> only blows, with its sweetness to refresh the <i>air +of a desert</i>. He recollected many instances of works, raised by the +breath of fashion to the very pinnacle of reputation, that sunk as soon +again. He recollected instances scarcely fewer, of works, exquisite in +their composition, pregnant with beauties almost divine, that had passed +from the press without notice. Many had been revived by the cooler and +more deliberate judgment of a future age; and more had been lost for ever. +The instance of Chatterton, as a proof that the universal patronage of +genius was by no means the virtue of his contemporaries, flashed in his +face. And he looked forward to the same fate at no great distance, as his +own.</p> + +<p>To Mr. Godfrey however, fortune was in one degree more propitious. Damon +was among the few whose judgment was not guided by the dictate of fashion. +Having met accidentally with the performance we have mentioned, he was +struck with its beauties. As he had heard nothing of it in the politest +circles, he concluded, with his usual penetration, that the author of it +was in obscure and narrow circumstances. <i>Open as day to sweet +humanity</i>, interested warmly in the fortune of the writer of so amiable +a performance, he flew to his bookseller's with the usual enquiries. The +bookseller stared, and had it not been for the splendour of his dress, and +his gilded chariot, would have been tempted to smile at so unfashionable +and absurd a question. He soon however obtained the information he +desired. And his eagerness was increased, when the name of Godfrey, and +the recollection of the talents by which he had been so eminently +distinguished, led him to apprehend that he was one, to whose abilities +and character he had been greatly attached.</p> + +<p>He found some difficulty to obtain admission. But this was quickly +removed, as, from the dignity of his appearance, it was not probable that +he was a person, from whom Mr. Godfrey had any thing to apprehend. He +found him in a wretched apartment, his hair dishevelled and his dress +threadbare and neglected. Mr. Godfrey was unspeakably surprised at his +appearance. And it was with much difficulty that Damon prevailed upon him +to accept of an assistance, that he assured him should be but temporary, +if it were in the power of him, or any of his connections, to render him +respectable and independent, in such a situation as himself should chuse.</p> + +<p>Disappointment and misfortune are calculated to inspire asperity into the +gentlest heart. Mr. Godfrey inveighed with warmth, and sometimes with +partiality, against the coldness and narrowness of the age. He said, "that +men of genius, in conspicuous stations, had no feeling for those whom +nature had made their brothers; and that those who had risen from +obscurity themselves, forgot the mortifications of their earlier life, and +did not imitate the generous justice which had enabled them to fulfil the +destination of nature." But though misfortune had taught him asperity upon +certain subjects, it had not corrupted his manners, debauched his +integrity, or narrowed his heart. He had still the same warmth in the +cause of virtue, as in days of the most unexperienced simplicity. He still +dreaded an oath, and reverenced the divinity of innocence. He still +believed in a God, and was sincerely attached to his honour, though he had +often been told, that this was a prejudice, unworthy of his comprehension +of thinking upon all other subjects.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Misanthrope</i>.</p> + +<p>Such was the story, in its most essential circumstances, that Mr. Godfrey +related. Delia was exceedingly interested in the gaiety of his +imagination, the cruelty of his disappointments, and the acuteness, and +goodness of heart that appeared in his reflections. Miss Fletcher listened +to the whole with gaping wonder. But as soon as he was gone, she began +with her usual observations. "Well," said she, "I never saw an author +before. I could not have thought that he could have looked like a +gentleman. Why, I vow, I could sometimes have taken him for a beau. Ay, +but then he talked for all the world as if it had been written in a book. +Well, by my troth, it was a mighty pretty story. But I should have liked +it better, if there had been a sighing nymph, or a duel or two in it. But +do you think it was all of his own making?"</p> + +<p>We will not trouble the reader to accompany our ladies from stage to stage +during the remainder of their journey. Nothing more remarkable happened, +and in ten days they arrived again at Southampton.</p> + +<p>Damon met Mr. Moreland in London, and, with that simplicity and candour by +which he was distinguished, related to him every circumstance of his +story. Mr. Moreland had no predilection in favour of lord Thomas Villiers. +His sister, whom he esteemed in all respects an amiable woman, had by no +means lived happily with her husband. Avarice and pride of rank were the +farthest in the world from being the foibles of Mr. Moreland, and the +sensibility of his disposition did not permit him to treat the faults, to +which himself was a stranger, with much indulgence. He therefore +encouraged Damon to persevere in the pursuit of his inclination, and +invited him to return with him into the country. He promised himself to +propose the match to Mr. Hartley, and assured his nephew, that he should +never feel any narrowness in his circumstances, in case of his father's +displeasure, while it was in his power to render them affluent.</p> + +<p>In pursuit of this plan, Damon, Mr. Moreland, and sir William Twyford, +whom they found in London, and whose goodness of humour led him heartily +to approve of the alteration in the plan of his friend, arrived, almost as +soon as our travellers, in the neighbourhood of Southampton. Sir William +and Damon, soon waited upon their respective mistresses, and in company so +mutually acceptable, time sped with a greater velocity than was usual to +him, and days appeared no more than hours.</p> + +<p>It was impossible that such a connexion should pass long unnoticed. It +must be confessed however that it met with no interruption from lord +Martin. Perhaps it might have escaped his notice, though it escaped that +of no other person. Perhaps he was satiated with the glory he had +acquired, and having conquered one beau, would not, like Alexander, have +sighed, if there had remained no other beau to conquer. Perhaps the +countenance of Mr. Hartley, of which he considered himself as securer than +ever, led him, like a wise general, to reflect, that in staking his life +against that of a lover, whose chance of success was almost wholly +precluded, he mould make a very unfair and unequal combat.</p> + +<p>Be this as it will, Mr. Hartley had no such motives to overlook this new +occurrence. Just however as he had begun to take it into his mature +consideration, he received the compliments of Mr. Moreland, with an +intimation of his design to make him a visit that very afternoon.</p> + +<p>At this message Mr. Hartley was a good deal surprised. Mr. Moreland he had +never but once seen, and in that visit, he thought he had had reason to be +offended with him. If that gentleman treated the company of Mr. Prattle +and lord Martin, persons universally admired, as not good enough for him, +it seemed unaccountable that he should have recourse to him. He was +neither distinguished by the elegance of his accomplishments, nor did he +much pride himself in the attainments of literature. After many +conjectures, he at length determined with infinite sagacity, to suspend +his judgement, till Mr. Moreland mould solve the enigma.</p> + +<p>This determination was scarcely made before his visitor arrived. That +gentleman, who, though full of sensibility and benevolence, was not a man +of empty ceremony, immediately opened his business. Mr. Hartley, drew +himself up in his chair, and, with the dignity of a citizen of London, who +thinks that the first character in the world, cried, "Well, sir, and who +is this nephew of yours? I think I never heard of him." "He is the son," +answered Mr. Moreland, "of lord Thomas Villiers." "Lord Thomas Villiers! +Then I suppose he is a great man. And pray now, sir, if this great man has +a mind that his son should marry my daughter, why does he not come and +tell me so himself?" "Why in truth," said the other, "lord Thomas Villiers +has no mind. But my nephew is his only son, and therefore cannot be +deprived of the principal part of his estate after his death. In the mean +time, I will take care that he shall have an income perfectly equal to the +fortune of Miss Hartley." "You will sir! And so in the first place, this +young spark would have me encourage him in disobedience, which is the +greatest crime upon God's earth, and in the second, he thinks that I, Bob +Hartley, as I sit here, will marry my daughter into any family that is too +proud to own us." "As to that, sir," said Moreland, "you must judge for +yourself. The young gentleman is an unexceptionable match, and I, sir, +whose fortune and character I flatter myself are not inferior to that of +any gentleman in the county, shall always be proud to own and receive the +young lady." "Why as to that, to be sure, you may be in the right for +<i>auft</i> that I know. But <i>howsomdever</i>, my daughter, do you see, +is already engaged to lord Martin." "I should have thought," replied +Moreland, that objection might have been stated in the first instance, +without any reflexions upon the conduct and family of the young gentleman. +But are you sure that lord Martin is the man of your daughter's choice?" +"I cannot say that I ever <i>axed</i> her, for I do not see what that has +to do with the matter. Lord Martin, do you see, is a fine young man, and a +fine fortune. And Delia is my own daughter, and if she should boggle about +having him, I would cut her off with a shilling." "Sir," answered +Moreland, with much indignation, "that is a conduct that would deserve to +be execrated. My nephew, without any sinister means, is master of your +daughter's affection; and lord Martin, I have authority to tell you, is +her aversion." "Oh, ho! is it so. Well then, sir, I will tell you what I +shall do. Your nephew shall never have my daughter, though she had but a +rag to her tail. And as for her affections and her aversion, I will lock +her up, and keep her upon bread and water, till she knows, that she ought +to have neither, before her own father has told her <i>what is what</i>." +Mr. Moreland, all of whose nerves were irritated into a fever by so much +vulgarity, and such brutal insensibility, could retain his seat no longer. +He started up, and regarding his entertainer with a look of ineffable +indignation, flung the door in his face, and retreated to his chariot.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Much ado about nothing</i>.</p> + +<p>Damon was inexpressibly afflicted at the success of his uncle's embassy. +When Mr. Moreland related to him the particulars of his visit, Damon +recollected the opposite tempers of the two gentlemen, and blamed himself +for not having foreseen the event. Mr. Hartley was infinitely exasperated +at the cavalierness with which he had been treated. He now discovered the +true cause of his daughter's pertinacity, and proceeded with more vigour +than ever.</p> + +<p>"And so," cried he, "you have dared to engage your affections without my +privity, have you? A pretty story truly. And you would disgrace me for +ever, by marrying into the family of a lord, that despises us, and an old +fellow, that for half a word would knock your father's brains out." +"Indeed sir," replied Delia, "I never thought of marrying without your +consent. I only gave the young gentleman leave to ask it of you." "You +gave him leave! And pray who are you? And so you was in league with him to +send this fellow to abuse me?" "Upon my word, I was not. And I am very +sorry if Mr. Moreland has behaved improperly." "<i>If</i> Mr. Moreland! +and so you pretend to doubt of it! But, let me tell you, I have provided +you a husband, worth fifty of this young prig, and I will make you think +so." "Indeed sir, I can never think so." "You cannot. And pray who told +you to object, before I have named the man. Why, child, lord Martin has +ten thousand pounds a year, and is a peer, and is not ashamed of us one +bit in all the world." "Alas, sir, I can never have lord Martin. Do not +mention him. I am in no hurry. I will live single as long as you please." +"Yes, and when you have persuaded me to that, you will jump out at window +the next day to this ungracious rascal." "Oh pray sir do not speak so. He +is good and gentle." "Why, hussey, am I not master in my own house? I +shall have a fine time of it indeed, if I must give you an account of my +words." "Sir," said Delia, "I will never marry without your consent." +"That is a good girl, no more you shall. And I will lock you up upon bread +and water, if you do not consent to marry who I please."</p> + +<p>The despotic temper of Mr. Hartley led him to treat his daughter with +considerable severity. He suffered her to go very little abroad, and +employed every precaution in his power, to prevent any interview between +her and her lover. He tried every instrument in turn, threats, promises, +intreaties, blustering, to bend her to his will. And when he found that by +all these means he made no progress; as his last resource, he fixed a day +at no great distance, when he assured her he would be disappointed no +longer, and she should either voluntarily or by force yield her hand to +lord Martin.</p> + +<p>During these transactions, the communication between Delia and her lover +was, with no great difficulty, kept open by the instrumentality of their +two friends. They scarcely dared indeed to think of seeing each other, as +in case this were discovered, Delia would be subject to still greater +restraint, and the intercourse, between her and Miss Fletcher, be rendered +more difficult. In one instance however, this lady ventured to procure the +interview so ardently desired by both parties.</p> + +<p>Damon made use of this opportunity to persuade his mistress to an +elopement. "You have already carried," said he, "your obedience to the +utmost exremity. You have tried every means to bend the inflexible will of +your father. If not for my sake then, at least for your own, avoid the +crisis that is preparing for you. You detect the husband that your father +designs you. If united to him, you confess you must be miserable. But who +can tell, in the midst of persons inflexibly bent upon your ruin, no +friend at hand to support you, your Damon banished and at a distance, what +may be the event? You will hesitate and tremble, your father will +endeavour to terrify you into submission, the odious peer will force from +you your hand. If, in that moment, your heart should misgive you, if one +faultering accent belie the sentiments you have so generously avowed for +me, what, ah, what! may be the consequence? No, my fair one, fly, +instantly fly. No duty forbids. You have done all that the most rigid +moralist could demand of you. Put yourself into my protection. I will not +betray your confidence. You shall be as much mistress as ever of all your +actions. If you distrust me, at least chuse our common friends sir William +Twyford. Chuse any protector among the numerous friends, that your beauty +and your worth have raised you. I had rather sacrifice my own prospects of +felicity forever, than see the smallest chance that you should be +unhappy."</p> + +<p>Such were the arguments, which, with all the eloquence of a friend, and +all the ardour of a lover, our hero urged upon his mistress. But the +gentleness of Delia was not yet sufficiently roused by the injuries she +had received, to induce her, to cast off all the ties which education and +custom had imposed upon her, and determine upon so decisive a step. +"Surely," said she, "there is some secret reward, some unexpected +deliverance in reserve, for filial simplicity. Oh, how harsh, how bold, +how questionable a step, is that to which you would persuade me! +Circumstanced in this manner, the fairest reputation might provoke the +tongue of scandal, and the most spotless innocence open a door to the +blast of calumny. I will not say that such a step may not be sometimes +justifiable. I will not say to what I may myself be urged. But oh, how +unmingled the triumph, how sincere the joy if, by persevering in a +conduct, in which the path of duty is too palpable to be mistaken, +propitious fate may rather grant me the happiness after which I aspire, +than I be forced, as it were, myself to wrest it from the hands of +providence!"</p> + +<p>Such was the result of this last and decisive interview. Delia could not +be moved from that line of conduct, upon which she had so virtuously +resolved. And Damon having in vain exerted all the rhetoric of which he +was master, now gave way to the gloomy suggestions of despair, and now +flattered himself with the gleams of hope. He sometimes thought, that +Delia might yet be induced to adopt the plan he had proposed; and +sometimes he gave way to the serene confidence she expressed, and indulged +the pleasing expectation, that virtue would not always remain without its +reward.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Woman of Learning</i>.</p> + +<p>We are now brought, in the course of our story, to the memorable scene at +Miss Cranley's. "Miss Cranley's!" exclaims one of our readers, in a tone +of admiration. "Miss Cranley's!" cries another, "and pray who is she?"</p> + +<p>I distribute my readers into two classes, the indolent and the +supercilious, and shall accordingly address them upon the present +occasion. To the former I have nothing more to say, than to refer them +back to the latter part of Chapter I., Part I. where, my dear ladies, you +will find an accurate account of the character of two personages, who it +seems you have totally forgotten.</p> + +<p>To the supercilious I have a very different story to tell. Most learned +sirs, I kiss your hands. I acknowledge my error, and throw myself upon +your clemency. You see however, gentlemen, that you were somewhat +mistaken, when you imagined that I, like my fair patrons, the indolent, +had quite lost these characters from my memory.</p> + +<p>To speak ingenuously, I did indeed suppose, as far as I could calculate +the events of this important narrative beforehand, that the Miss Cranleys +would have come in earlier, and have made a more conspicuous figure, than +they now seem to have any chance of doing. Having thus settled accounts +with my readers; I take up again the thread of my story, and thus I +proceed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hartley being now, as he believed, upon the point of disposing of his +daughter in marriage, began seriously to consider that he should want a +female companion to manage, his family, to nurse his ailments, and to +repair the breaches, that the hand of wintry time had made in his spirits +and his constitution. The reader will be pleased to recollect, that he had +already laid siege to the heart of the gentle Sophia. He now prosecuted +his affair with more alacrity than ever.</p> + +<p>Alas, my dear readers! while we have been junketting along from +Southampton to Oxford, from Oxford to Windsor, and from Windsor to +Southampton back again, such is the miserable fate of human kind! Miss +Amelia Wilhelmina Cranley, the most pious of her sex, the flower of Mr. +Whitfield's converts, the wonder and admiration of Roger the cobler, has +given up the ghost. You will please then, in what follows, to represent to +yourselves the charms of Sophia as decked and burnished with a suit of +sables. Her exterior indeed was sable and gloomy, but her heart was far +superior to the attacks of wayward fate. She sat aloft in the region of +philosophy. She steeled her heart with the dignity of republicanism; for +her to drop one tear of sorrow would have been an eternal disgrace.</p> + +<p>About this time--it was perhaps in reality a manoeuvre to forward the +affair, to which she had no aversion at bottom, with the father of +Delia--that Miss Cranley gave a grand entertainment, at which were present +Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, sir William Twyford, lord Martin, most of the +ladies we have already commemorated, and many others.</p> + +<p>The repast was conducted with much solemnity. The masculine character of +the mind of Sophia had rendered her particularly attached to the grace of +action. When she drank the health of any of her guests, she accompanied it +with a most profound <i>congè</i>. When she invited them to partake of any +dish, she pointed towards it with her hand. This action might have served +to display a graceful arm, but, alas! upon hers the hand of time had been +making depredations, and it appeared somewhat coarse and discoloured.</p> + +<p>After dinner, the lady of the house, as usual, turned the conversation +upon the subject of politics. She inveighed with much warmth against the +effeminacy and depravity of the modern times. We were slaves, and we +deserved to be so. In almost every country there now appeared a king, that +puppet pageant, that monster in creation, miserable itself, a combination +of every vice, and invented for the curse of human kind. "Where now," she +asked, "was the sternness and inflexibility of ancient story? Where was +that Junius, that stood and gazed in triumph upon the execution of his +sons? Where that Fabricius, that turned up his nose under the snout of an +elephant? Where was that Marcus Brutus, who sent his dagger to the heart +of Cæsar? For her part, she believed, and she would not give the snap of +her fingers for him if it were otherwise, that he was in reality, as sage +historians have reported, the son of Julius."</p> + +<p>In the very paroxysm of her oratory she chanced to cast her eyes upon Mr. +Prattle. With the character of Mr. Prattle, the reader is already partly +acquainted. But he does not yet know, for it was not necessary for our +story he should do so, that the honourable Mr. Prattle was a commoner and +a placeman. Good God, sir, represent to yourself with what a flame of +indignation our amazon surveyed him! She rose from her seat, and, taking +him by the hand, very familiarly turned him round in the middle of the +company. "This," said she, "is one of our Fabiuses, one of our Decii. +Good God, my friend, what would you do, if a brother officer shook a cane +over your shoulders as he did over those of the divine Themistocles? What +would you do, if the brutal lull of an Appius ravished from your arms an +only daughter? But I beg your pardon, sir. You are a placeman, mutually +disgracing and disgraced. You sell your constituents to the vilest +ministers, that ever came forward the champions of despotism. And those +ministers show us what is their insignificance, their impotence, their +want of discernment, in giving such a thing as you are, places of so great +importance, offices of so high emolument."</p> + +<p>Mr. Prattle, unused to be treated so cavalierly, and arraigned before so +large a company, trembled in every limb: "My dear madam, my sweet Miss +Sophia, pray do not pinch quite so hard;" and the water stood in his eyes. +Unable however to elude her grasp he fell down upon his knees. "For God's +sake! Oh dear! Oh lack a daisy! Why, Miss, sure you are mad." Miss +Cranley, unheedful of his exclamations, was however just going to begin +with more vehemence than ever, when a sudden accident put a stop to the +torrent of her oratory. But this event cannot be properly related without +going back a little in our narrative, and acquainting the reader with some +of those circumstances by which it was produced.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Catastrophe</i>.</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford had gained great credit with lord Martin by his +conduct in the affair of Mr. Prettyman. He now imagined that he saw an +opening for the exercise of his humour, which he was never able to refill. +He communicated his plan to lord Martin. By his assistance he procured +that implement, which school-boys have denominated a cracker. This his +lordship found an opportunity of attaching to the skirt of Miss Cranley's +sack. At the moment we have described, when she was again going to enter +into the stream of her rhetoric, which, great as it naturally was, was now +somewhat improved with copious draughts of claret, the cracker was set on +fire.</p> + +<p>Poor Sophia now started in great agitation. "Bounce, bounce," went the +cracker. Sophia skipped and danced from one end of the room to the other. +"Great gods of Rome," exclaimed she, "Jupiter, Minerva, and all the +celestial and infernal deities!" The force of the cracker was now somewhat +spent. "Ye boys of Britain, that bear not one mark of manhood about you! +Would Leonidas have fastened a squib to the robe of the Spartan mother? +Would Cimber have so unworthily used Portia, the wife of Brutus? Would +Corbulo thus have interrupted the heroic fortitude of Arria, the spouse of +Thrasea Paetus?"</p> + +<p>"My dear madam," exclaimed lord Martin, his eyes glistening with triumph, +"with all submission, Corbulo I believe had been assassinated, before +Arria so gloriously put an end to her existence." "Thou thing," cried Miss +Cranky, "and hast thou escaped the torrent of my invective! Thou eternal +blot to the list, in which are inserted the names of a Faulkland, a +Shaftesbury, a Somers, and above all, that Leicester, who so bravely threw +the lie in the face of his sovereign!" "He! he!" cried lord Martin, who +could no longer refrain from boasting of his great atchievement. If I have +escaped your vengeance, let me tell you, madam, you have not escaped +"mine." "And was it thee, thou nincompoop? Hence, thou wretch! Avaunt! +Begone, or thou shalt feel my fury!" Saying this, she clenched her fist, +and closed her teeth, with so threatening an aspect, that the little peer +was very much terrified. He flew back several paces. "My dear Miss +Griskin," said he, "protect me! This barbarous woman does not understand +wit,"--and he precipitately burst out of the room. The lady too was so +much discomposed, that she thought proper to retire, assuring the company +that she would attend them again in a moment.</p> + +<p>"Well," cried Miss Griskin, as soon as she had disappeared, "this was the +nicest fun!" "I was afraid," said Miss Prim, "it would have discomposed +Miss Cranley's petticoats." "Law, my dear!" said Miss Gawky, "by my +so, I like the music of a cracker, better than all the concerts in the +varsal world." We need not inform our readers, that Miss Languish, in the +very height and altitude of the confusion, had been obliged to retire.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin, in the midst of his triumph and exultation, had not leisure +to recollect, nor perhaps penetration to perceive, the effect that this +little sally might have upon his interests. Despotic and boorish as was +the genius of Mr. Hartley, it cowred under that of Sophia with the most +abject servility. And that lady now vowed eternal war against the heroical +peer.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hartley," said she, in their next <i>tête a tête</i>, "let me tell +you, lord Martin, must never have Miss Delia." "My dearest life," said the +old gentleman, "consider, the day is fixed, my word is passed, and it is +too late to revoke now. Beside, lord Martin has ten thousand pounds a +year." "Ten thousand figs," said she, "do not tell me, it is never too +late to be wife. Lord Martin is a venal senator, and a little sniveling +fellow." "My dear," said Hartley, "I never differed from you before: do +let me have my mind now." "Have your mind, sir! Men should have no minds. +Tyrants that they are! And now I think of it, Miss Delia does not like +lord Martin." "Pooh," said Mr. Hartley, recovering spirit at such an +objection, "that is all stuff and nonsense." "Nonsense! Let me tell you, +sir, women are not <i>born to be controled</i>. They are queens of the +creation, and if they had their way, and the government of the world was +in their hands, things would go much better than they do." "I know they +would," replied her admirer, "if they were all as wise as you." "Child," +returned Sophia, turning up her nose, "that is neither here nor there. The +matter in short is this. Damon loves Delia, and Delia loves Damon. And if +your daughter be not Mrs. Villiers, I will never be Mrs. Hartley."</p> + +<p>From a decision like this there could be no appeal. Mr. Hartley told lord +Martin, the next time he came to his house to pay his devoirs to his +mistress, that he had altered his mind. His lordship was too much +surprised at this manoeuvre to make any immediate answer; so turned upon +his heel, and decamped.</p> + +<p>The happy revolution, by the intervention of Miss Fletcher, was soon made +known to sir William and his friend. Damon now paid his addresses in form. +A reconciliation took place between Mr. Moreland and the father of our +heroine. The marriage was publicly talked of, the day was fixed, and every +thing prepared for the nuptials.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to describe the happiness of our lovers, when they saw +every obstacle thus unexpectedly removed. Damon was beside himself with +surprise and congratulation. Delia, at intervals, rubbed her eyes, and +could scarcely be persuaded that it was not a dream. They saw each other +at least once every day. Together they wandered along the margin of the +ocean, and together they sought that delicious alcove, which now appeared +ten times more beautiful, from the recollection it suggested of the +sufferings they had passed.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin was in the mean time most grievously disappointed. "The devil +damn the fellow!" said he, "he crosses me like my evil genius. I have a +month's mind to send him a challenge. He is a tall, big looking fellow to +be sure. But then if I could contrive to kill him. Ah, me! but fortune +does not always favour the brave. My reputation is established. I do not +want a duel for that. And for any other purpose, it is all a lottery. Fire +and furies, death and destruction! something must be done. Let me +think--<i>About my brain</i>."</p> + +<p>But lord Martin was not the only one whose hopes were disappointed, by the +expected marriage of Delia. He loved her not, he felt not one flutter of +complacency about his heart. It was vanity that first prompted him to +address her. It was disappointed pride that now stung him. Even Mr. +Prattle viewed her with a more generous affection. His genius was not +indeed a daring one, but it was active and indefatigable. Squire Savage +did not feel the less, though he did not spend many words about it. He was +a blustering hector. He had the reputation of fearing nothing, and caring +for nothing, that stood in his way. There were also other lovers beside +these, <i>whom the muse knows not, nor desires to know</i>.</p> + +<p>In this manner gins and snares seemed, on every side, to surround our +happy and heedless lovers. They sported on the brink. They sighed, and +smiled, and sang, and talked again. At length the eve of the day, from +which their future happiness was to be dated, arrived. They had but one +drawback, the continued averseness of lord Thomas Villiers. Damon was +however now obliged, together with Mr. Hartley, to attend the lawyers at +Mr. Moreland's, in order to complete the previous formalities.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Containing what will terrify the reader.</i></p> + +<p>At such a moment as this, a mind of delicacy and sensibility is fond of +solitude. Delia told Mrs. Bridget, that she would take her usual walk, and +be home time enough to superintend the oeconomy of supper, at which the +company of Damon and sir William Twyford was expected.</p> + +<p>They accordingly arrived before nine o'clock. Mrs. Bridget expected her +mistress every moment. Damon and his friend would have gone out to meet +her, but they were not willing to leave Mr. Hartley alone. The clock +however struck ten, and no Delia appeared. Every one now began to be +seriously uneasy. Damon and sir William went in both her most favourite +walks to find her, but in vain. Messengers were dispatched twenty +different ways. The lover repaired to the mansion of Lord Martin. The +baronet immediately set out for the house of Mr. Savage.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hartley, who, with the external of a bear, and the heart of a miser, +was not destitute of the feelings of a parent, was now exceedingly +agitated. He strided up and down the room with incredible velocity. He bit +his fingers with anxiety, and threw his wig into the fire. "As I am a good +man," said he, "Mr. Prattle lives but almost next door, and I will go to +him." Mr. Prattle was at home, and having heard his story, condoled with +him upon it with much apparent sincerity.</p> + +<p>Damon met with the same success. Lord Martin received him with perfect +serenity. "Bless us," cried he, "and is Miss Delia gone? I never was more +astonished in my life. I do not know what to do," and he took a pinch of +snuff. "Mr. Villiers," said he, with the utmost gravity, "I have all +possible respect for you. Blast me! if I am not willing to forget all our +former rivalship. Tell me, sir, can I do you any service?" Damon had every +reason to be satisfied with his behaviour, and flew out of the house in a +moment.</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford did not however meet with the person he went in quest +of. Miss Savage informed him, that her brother, not two hours ago, had +received a letter, and immediately, without informing her of his design, +which indeed he very seldom did, ordered his best hunter out of the +stable. She added, that she had imagined, that he had received a summons +to a fox-chace early the next morning.</p> + +<p>Such was the account brought by sir William to the anxious and distracted +Damon. "Alas," cried he, "it is but too plain? She is by this time in the +hands of that insensible boor. Oh, who can bear to think of it! He is +perhaps, at this moment, tormenting her with his nauseous familiarities, +and griping her soft and tender limbs! Oh, why was I born! Why was I ever +cheated with the phantom of happiness! Wretch, wretch that I am!"</p> + +<p>With these words he burst out of the house, and flew along with surprising +rapidity. Sir William, having hastily ordered everything to be prepared +for a pursuit, immediately followed him. He found him, wafted, spent, and +almost insensible, lying beside a little brook that crossed the road. The +baronet raised him in his arms, and, with the gentlest accents that +friendship ever poured into a mortal ear, recovered him to life and +perception.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?" said the disconsolate lover. "Who are you? ah, my friend, my +best, my tried friend! I know you now. How came I here? Has any thing +unfortunate happened? Where is my Delia?" "Let us seek her, my Villiers," +said the baronet. "Seek her! What! is she lost? Oh, yes, I recollect it +now; she is gone, snatched from my arms. Let us pursue her! Let us +overtake her Oh that it may not be too late."</p> + +<p>He now leaned upon the shoulder of his friend, and returned with painful +and irregular steps. His disorder was so great, that sir William thought +it best to have him immediately conveyed to a chamber. He was so much +exhausted, that this was easily accomplished, without his being perfectly +sensible what was done. The baronet, with three servants mounted on +horseback, immediately pursued the road towards London.--Having thus +related the confusion and grief that were occasioned by her sudden +disappearance, we will now return to our heroine.</p> + +<p>She had advanced, according to the intention she had hinted to her +servant, towards the grove, where she had so often wandered with her +beloved. She was wrapped up and lost in the contemplation of her +approaching felicity. "And is every difficulty surmounted, and shall at +last my fate be twined with Damon's? Sure, it is too much, it cannot be! +Fate does not deal so partially with mortals. To bestow so vast a +happiness on one, while thousands pine in helpless misery. But let me not +be incredulous. Let me not be ungrateful. No, since heaven has thus +accumulated its favours on me, my future days shall all be spent in +raising the oppressed, and cheering the disconsolate. I will remember that +I also have tasted the cup of woe, that I have looked forward to +disappointment and despair. <i>Taught by the hand that pities me,</i> I +will learn to pity others."</p> + +<p>She was thus musing with herself, she was thus full of piety and virtuous +resolution, when, on a sudden, a trampling of horses behind her, roused +her from her reverie. Two persons advanced. But before she had time to +examine their features, or even to remove out of the path, by which they +seemed to be coming, the foremost of them leaping hastily upon the ground, +seized her by the waist, arid, in spite of all her struggling, placed her +on the front of the saddle, and instantly mounted with the utmost agility. +Cries and tears were vain. They were in a solitary path, little beaten by +the careful husbandman, or the gay votaries of fashion. She was now +hurried along, and generally at full speed, through a thousand bye paths, +that seemed capable of puzzling the most assiduous pursuit.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely advanced two little miles, ere they arrived at a large +and broad highway. Here they found a chariot ready waiting for them, into +which Delia was immediately thrust. She now for the first time lifted up +her eyes. The first object to which she attended was the faces of her +ravishers. Of him who had been the most active, she had not the smallest +recollection. The other who was in a livery, she imagined she had seen +somewhere, though, in the present confusion of her mind, she could not fix +upon the place. She next looked round her with wildness and eagerness, as +far as her eye could reach, to see if there were no protector, no +deliverance near. But she looked in vain. All was solitude and stilness. +The murmurs, the activity of the day were past. And now, the silver moon +in radiant majesty shed a solemn serenity ever the whole scene. Serenity, +alas! to the heart at ease, but nothing could bring serenity to the +troubled breast of Delia.</p> + +<p>As her last resource, she appealed to those who by brutal force had +carried her away. "Oh, if you have any hearts, any thing human that dwells +about you, pity a poor, forlorn, and helpless maid! Alas, in what have I +injured you? What would you do to me?" "Oh, pray, Miss, do not be +frightened," said the first ravisher with an accent of familiar vulgarity, +"we will do you no harm, we mean nothing but your good. You will make your +fortune. You never had such luck in your life. You will have reason to +thank us the longest day you can ever know."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Denouement</i>.</p> + +<p>At this moment, Delia with infinite transport, heard the sound of horses +at a distance. Every thing was quiet. Our heroine listened with eager +expectation, and those who guarded her looked out to see who it was that +approached. Suspense was not long on either side. The horsemen were up +with them in a moment. "Oh, whoever you are," cried Delia, in an agony of +distress, "pity and relieve the most miserable woman'"----She received no +answer, but the horses stopped, and lord Martin was in a moment at the +door of the carriage. "Oh, my lord," cried Delia, "is it you? Thanks, +eternal thanks, for this fortunate incident. If you had not come, heaven +knows what would have become of me! Those brutes, those wretches--But +conduct me, my lord, to my father's house. Without doubt, they must by +this time be in a terrible fright."</p> + +<p>"Do not be uneasy," cried his lordship, endeavouring to assume an +harmonious, but missing his point, he spoke in the shrillest and most +squeaking accent that can be imagined. "Do not be uneasy, my charmer. You +are in the hands of a man, that loves you, as never woman was loved +before. But I will be with you in a minute," said he. And withdrawing +behind the carriage, he beckoned to the person who had conducted the +business of the rape. "Why, you incorrigible blockhead," said lord Martin, +"you have neglected half your instructions. Why, her hands are at +liberty." "I beg your honour's pardon," replied the pimp, "I had indeed +forgotten, but it shall be remedied in a moment." And saying this, he +pulled a strong ribband out of his pocket, and getting into the chariot, +fastened the soft and lily hands of our heroine behind her. She screamed, +and invoked the name of his lordship a thousand times. Her hair became +disentangled from its ligaments, and flowed in waving ringlets about her +snowy, panting bosom. Exhausted with continual agitation, and particularly +with the last struggle, she seemed ready to faint, but was quickly +restored by the assiduity of these sordid grooms.</p> + +<p>Before she had completely recovered her recollection, lord Martin had +seated himself in the carriage, and was drawing up some of the blinds. +"Drive on," said he to the coachman, who was by this time mounted into the +box, "Drive, as if the devil was behind you." The cavalcade accordingly +went forward. There was a servant on each side of the carriage, beside the +commander in chief, who occasionally advanced in the front, and +occasionally brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>"And whither," said the affrighted Delia, "whither are we going? This +cannot be the way to Southampton. What do you mean? But ah, it is too +plain! Why else this impotence of insult?" endeavouring to disengage her +hands. And she turned from him in a rage of indignation. "Ah," cried his +lordship, "do not avert those brilliant eyes! Turn them towards me, and +they will outshine the lustre of the morn, and I shall perceive nothing of +the sun, even when he gains his meridian height." "And thou despicable +wretch, is this thy shallow plan? And what dost thou think to do with me? +Mountains shall sooner bend their lofty summits to the earth, than I will +ever waste a thought on thee." "Do with thee, my fairest!" cried the peer, +"why, marry thee. Dost thou think that the paltry Damon shall get the +better of my eagle genius? No. Fortune now unfurls my standard, and I +drive the <i>frighted fates</i> before me." "Boastful, empty coward! Thou +darest not even brave a woman's rage. If my hands were at liberty, I would +tear out those insolent eyes." "<i>Go on</i>, thou gentlest of thy sex, +<i>and charm me with that angel voice</i>! For though thou dealest in +threats, abuse, and proud defiance, <i>it is heaven to hear thee</i>."</p> + +<p>Such was the courtship that passed between our heroine and her triumphant +admirer. They had new proceeded twenty miles, and the midnight bell had +tolled near half an hour. They had passed through one turnpike, and Delia +had endeavoured by cries and prayers to obtain some assistance. But the +person who opened to them was alone, and though ever so desirous, could +not have resisted such a cavalcade. Beside this, the pimp told him a +plausible story of a wanton wife, and an injured husband, with the +particulars of which we do not think it necessary to trouble our readers. +They had also seen one foot passenger, and two horsemen. But they were +eluded and amused by a repetition of the same stratagem.</p> + +<p>Delia, having exhausted her first rage and astonishment, had now remained +for some time silent. She revolved in her mind all the particulars of her +situation. She had at first considered her ravisher in no other light than +as hateful and despicable, but she was now compelled to regard this +venomous little animal, as the arbiter of her fate, and the master of her +fortunes. She reflected with horror, how much she was in his power, what +ill usage he might inflict, and to what extremities he might reduce her. +She now seriously thought of exerting herself to melt him into pity, and +to persuade him, by every argument she could invent, to spare and to +release her. "Ah, where," thought she, "is my Damon? Why does not he +appear to succour me? Alas, what distresses, what agonies may he not even +now endure!"</p> + +<p>Full of these, and a thousand other tormenting reflections, she burst into +a flood of tears. Lord Martin drew from his pocket a clean cambric +handkerchief, and, carefully unfolding it, wiped away the drops as they +fell. "Loveliest of creatures," said he, "by the murmuring of thy voice, +the heaving of thy bosom, the distraction of thy looks, and by these +tears, I should imagine thou wert uneasy." "Ah," cried Delia unheedful of +his words, "what shall I say to move him?" "Oh, talk for ever," replied +his lordship. "The winds shall forget to whistle, and the seas to roar. +Noisy mobs shall cease their huzzas, and the din of war be still; for +there is music in thy voice." "Oh," exclaimed our heroine, "let one touch +of compassion approach thy soul. Indeed, my lord, I can never have you. +Release me, and I will forgive what is past, and Damon shall never notice +it." "Zounds and fire!" cried the peer, "dost thou think to prevail with +me by the motives of a coward? But why dost thou talk of Damon? Look on +me. Behold this purple coat, and fine <i>toupèe</i>. Think on my estate, +and think on my title."</p> + +<p>But at this moment the oratory of his lordship ceased to be heard. At a +small distance there appeared two persons, the one on foot, and whose air, +so far as it could be perceived by the imperfect light, was genteel, and +the other on horseback, engaged in earnest conference. As the carriage +drew towards them, Delia exclaimed, in a piercing, but pathetic voice, +"Help! help! for God's sake! Rape! Murder! Help!" The voice immediately +caught the young gentleman on foot, who approached the carriage.--But +before we proceed any farther we will inform our readers who these persons +were.</p> + +<p>The gentleman on foot, was Mr. Godfrey. He was on a visit to a sister, who +lived very near the spot upon which he now stood. She was married to a +substantial yeoman, who rented an estate in this place, the property of +lord Thomas Villiers. The beautiful scenes of nature were particularly +congenial to the elegant said contemplative mind of Mr. Godfrey. And he +had now, as was frequently his custom, strolled out to enjoy the calm +serenity, and the splendid beauty, of a midnight scene. The man on +horse-back was a thief taker, who, just before the carriage had driven up, +had, without ceremony, accosted Mr. Godfrey with his enquiries, and a +description of the person of whom he was in pursuit.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Which dismisses the Reader.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey, in a resolute tone, called out to the coachman to stop, and +not contented with a verbal mandate, he rushed before the horses, and +brandishing a club he held in his hand, bid the driver proceed at his +peril. "Drive on," said lord Martin, thrusting his head out at the +window--"Drive on, and be damned to you!" At this moment the pimp rode up. +"It is nothing," said he, "but a poor gentleman, who has just forced his +wife from the arms of a gallant." "Oh no!" cried Delia. "I am not his +wife. I am an innocent woman, whom he has forced from her father and her +lover."</p> + +<p>The thief taker out of curiosity rode forward. "That," said he, fixing his +eye upon the pimp, "that is the very rascal I am in search of." The pimp, +who had only been borrowed by lord Martin of one of his more experienced +acquaintance, no sooner heard the sound, than, accounting for it with +infinite facility and readiness of mind, he turned about his horse, and +attempted to fly. One of the footmen, naturally a coward, and terrified at +these incidents, with the meaning of which he was unacquainted, imitated +his example. The other came forward to the assistance of his master, and +was laid prostrate upon the ground, by Mr. Godfrey with one blow. The +thief taker had the start of the pimp, and overtook him in a moment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey now opened the door of the carriage. But the little peer was +prepared for this incident, and having his sword drawn, made a sudden pass +at our generous knight-errant. The latter, with infinite agility, leaped +aside, and lifting up his club, shivered the sword into a thousand pieces.</p> + +<p>"Death and the devil! Pox confound you!" said lord Martin, and endeavoured +to draw a pistol from his pocket. But the unsuccessful pass he had made +had thrown him somewhat off his bias, and though he had employed more than +one effort, he had not been able to recover himself. At this instant, Mr. +Godfrey seized him by the collar, and with a sudden-whirl, threw him into +the middle of the road. "Fire and"--his lordship had not time to finish +his exclamation. The part of the road in which he fell was exceeding +dirty. The workmen had been employed the preceding day, in scraping the +mud together into a heap against the bank, and his lordship, unable to +overcome the velocity with which he trundled along, rolled into the midst +of it in an instant. He was entirely lost in this soft receptacle. The +colour of his purple coat, and his lily white <i>toupèe</i>, could no +longer be distinguished.</p> + +<p>The coachman, perceiving the disaster of his lord, now leaped from the +box. Mr. Godfrey had scarcely had time to reduce this new antagonist to a +state of inactivity, before the footman, upon whom he had first displayed +his prowess, began to discover some signs of life. He might have been yet +overpowered in spite of all his valour and presence of mind, if the house +of his brother-in-law, had not fortunately been so near, that the shrieks +of Delia, and the altercation of her ravishers reached it. The honest +farmer was at the window in a moment, and perceiving that his brother was +engaged in the affray, he huddled on his clothes with all expedition, and +now appeared in the highway.</p> + +<p>The victory was immediately decided. The footman perceiving this new +reinforcement, did not dare to act upon the offensive, and Mr. Godfrey +mounted into the chariot to assist our heroine. He now first perceived +that her hands were manacled. From this restraint however, he suddenly +disengaged her, and taking her in his arms out of the carriage, he +delivered her to his sister, who advanced at this moment.</p> + +<p>The footman, assisted by the humanity of the farmer, was now employed in +raising his master. His lordship made the most pitiable figure that can be +imagined. His features, as well as his dress, wore an appearance perfectly +uniform. "Whither would you convey him?" said Mr. Godfrey, who was now +returned. "What shall we do with him?" "Oh, and please you, sir," said the +footman, "his lordship has a house about half a mile off." Lord Martin now +first discovered some marks of sensibility, and <i>shook his goary +locks</i>. "His lordship!" exclaimed the yeoman. "Sure it cannot be--yet +it is--by my soul I cannot tell whether it be lord Martin or no." The +coachman now rose from the ground, and began with a profound bow to his +master. "And please your honour," said he, "we have made a sad day's work +of it. Your worship makes but a pitiful figure. Faugh! I think as how, if +I dared say so much, begging your honour's pardon, that your lordship +stinks." "Put him into the carriage," cried Mr. Godfrey, "and drive him +home." Lord Martin, now first recovered his tongue, and wiping away the +mud from his eyes, "And so it was you, sir, I suppose," cried he, "to whom +I am obliged for this catastrophe. But pox take me, if you shall not hear +of it. Ten thousand curses on my wayward fate! The devil take it! Death +and damnation!" During this soliloquy, the servants were employed in +placing their lord in the chariot. The coachman mounted the box, and by +this time they were out of hearing.</p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey and his brother now entered the house. Delia was seated in a +chair, her hair dishevelled, her features disordered, and her dress in the +most bewitching confusion. But how much were both the deliverer and the +heroine surprised, when they mutually recognised each others features! Mr. +Godfrey made Delia a very polite compliment upon her escape, and +congratulated himself, in the warmest language, for having been the +fortunate instrument.</p> + +<p>They now retired to rest. The next morning, Delia was much better +recovered from her terror and fatigue, than could have been expected. Mr. +Godfrey however had not thought it adviseable that she should be removed +that day, and had therefore set off early in the morning for Southampton, +that he might himself be the messenger of these happy tidings.</p> + +<p>"I hope Miss," said Mrs. Wilson, who attended our heroine, "that you will +dress yourself as well as you can." "And why" cried Delia, "do you desire +that? I can see nobody, I can think of nothing, but my absent and anxious +Damon." "Let us hope," replied the other, "that he is very well. But, +Miss, we expect lord Thomas Villiers by dinner time." "Lord Thomas +Villiers!" exclaimed Delia, in the extremest surprise. "Yes," cried Mrs. +Wilson. "He is our landlord, and he always comes over once about this time +of the year." "Alas," said Delia, "I can see nobody. But I had rather meet +any person at this time, than lord Thomas Villiers." "Bless me, Miss! why +I am sure he is a very good sort of a gentleman." "I dare say he is," +cried Delia. "But indeed, and indeed, Mrs. Wilson, I cannot see him. Pray +oblige me in this." "Law, well I cannot think what objection you can have! +There must be something very particular in it."</p> + +<p>Such were the hints that Mrs. Wilson threw out for the satisfying of her +curiosity, but Delia was not disposed to be more communicative. The good +woman however, with the error of our heroine before her eyes, was +determined not to commit a similar fault. Lord Thomas was therefore +scarcely arrived, before she set open the flood gates of her eloquence, in +describing the rescue, and the unrivalled beauty of the lady under her +roof.</p> + +<p>His lordship had long had a misunderstanding with lord Martin upon the +subject of their contiguous estates. As his temper was not the most +gentle, nor his memory upon these subjects the most treacherous, he +expressed his triumph in loud shouts, and repeated horse laughs, upon the +recent defeat of his antagonist. Nothing however would content him but a +sight of the lady. "That," said Mrs. Wilson, "my guess is too nice to +consent to. You must know, she has a particular dislike to your lordship." +"A dislike to me!" said the old gentleman, whose curiosity was now more +inflamed than even "Will you be contented," said his kind hostess, "with a +peep through the key hole!" and without waiting for an answer, she took +him by the hand, and led him up stairs. "By my foul!" said his lordship, +"she is the finest woman in the world. Devil take me, if I can contain +myself," and he burst into the room.</p> + +<p>Lord Thomas advanced a few steps, and then stopping, clasped his hands; +"Why she is an angel of a woman! And did Martin, that dirty scoundrel, +think he could run away with you? Impudent, pot-bellied spider! Ah, if my +son had fallen in love with such a woman as you, I could forgive him any +thing." And seizing her hand he pressed it to his lips. "Forgive me, +charmer," cried he, "I am an old fellow. I will do you no harm."</p> + +<p>Delia, though pleased with the behaviour of her intended father-in-law, +dared not yet discover herself to him. In the afternoon, Mr. Godfrey, and +Sir William Twyford, arrived. Damon, agitated as he was by the most +dreadful images that a troubled fancy could suggest, appeared in the +morning in a high fever. Instead of being able to hasten to the mistress +of his soul, he was confined to his bed, and attended by physicians.</p> + +<p>"Ha," cried lord Thomas, as soon as he saw the baronet, "and who sent for +you? What do you want? I think, Sir, you are the gentleman to whom I am +obliged for telling my son, that duty to parents is a baby prejudice, that +obstinacy is a heroic virtue, and that fortune, fame, and friends, are all +to be sacrificed to the whining passion, which, I think, you call love." +"My lord," replied the baronet, "I have done nothing, of which I feel any +reason to be ashamed. But a subject more pressing calls for my immediate +attention." Then turning to Delia, "Give me leave to congratulate you, +madam, and heaven can tell how heartily I do it, upon the generous and +happy interposition of Mr. Godfrey." "And pray," interrupted lord Thomas, +"how came you acquainted with that lady?" "Oh, tell me," cried Delia, with +an impatience not to be restrained by modes and forms, "tell me, how does +my Damon? Why is he not here? Alas, I fear"--"Fear nothing," cried the +baronet. "He is safe. He is at your father's house, and impatient to see +you." "And is this the lady," cried lord Thomas, "of whom my son is +enamoured? But he shall not disobey me. I will never permit it. Sir, if +this be the lady, I will give her to him with my own hand. But where is +the ungracious rascal? Why does not he appear?" "Nothing, be assured," +said the baronet, "but reasons of the last importance, could have kept him +back in so interesting a moment." "Alas, I fear," cried Delia, "since you +endeavour to conceal them from me, they are reasons of the most afflicting +nature." "It is in vain," replied Sir William, "to endeavour at +concealment." "Your son," turning to lord Thomas Villiers, "is confined to +his bed. The anxiety and fatigue that he suffered, in consequence of the +extraordinary step of lord Martin, have thrown him into a fever. But be +not uneasy, my Delia," taking her hand, "there is no danger. One sigh, one +look from you will restore him." "Ten thousand curses," exclaimed the +father, "upon the head of the contemptible, misbegotten ravisher! But let +us make haste. I am glad however that my rogue of a son is a little +punished for his impertinence. Let us make haste."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he ordered the horses to his chariot, and the whole company +prepared to set out for Southampton immediately. The only business which +remained, was the dispatching a message, which was done by one of sir +William's servants, from Mr. Godfrey to lord Martin, announcing his name, +and informing his lordship, that he was to be met with any time in the +ensuing week at Mr. Moreland's.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin was a good deal bruised and enfeebled with the adventure of +the preceding evening. He had been obliged to undergo a lustration of near +an hour, before he could be put to bed. He was just risen, when the +message was delivered. "Zounds!" cried the peer, "he is, is he? And so +this fellow, whom nobody knows, has the impudence to snub me! By my title, +and all the blood of my ancestors, he is not worthy of my sword. I will +have him assassinated. I will hire some blackguards to seize him, and bind +him in my presence, and I will bastinado him with my own hand. Furies and +curses! I do not know what to do. Oh, this confounded vanity! Not +contented with one disgrace, I have brought upon myself another, ten times +more mortifying than the first. By Tartarus, and all the infernal gods, I +believe I had better let it rest where it is! Wretch, wretch, that I am!" +And he threw himself on the bed in an agony of despair.</p> + +<p>Damon had slept little the preceding night, and his slumbers had been +disturbed with a thousand horrible imaginations. The first person who +appeared in his chamber the next morning he addressed with "Where, where +is she? Where is my Delia? My life, my soul, the mistress of my fate? Ah, +why do you look so haggard, so unconsoling. You have heard nothing of her? +Give me my clothes. I will pursue her to the world's end. I will find her, +though she be hid deep as the centre." "Sir, be pacified," said the +servant, "she is safe." "Safe," cried our lover, "why then does she not +appear to comfort me? But haste, I will fly to her. I will clasp, I will +lock her, in my arms. No, nothing, not all the powers on earth, shall ever +part us more." "Sir, she is not in the house." "Not in the house," cried +Damon starting, "Ha! say. I will not be cheated. On thy life do not trifle +with my impatience."</p> + +<p>At this moment Mr. Godfrey entered the room. "Who is there?" cried Damon, +starting at every whisper. "It is your friend," said Godfrey. "A friend +that owes you much, and would willingly pay you something back again." "I +do not understand you," replied our hero. "I can talk of nothing but my +Delia. Oh Delia! Delia! I will teach thy name to all the echoes. I will +send it with every wind to heaven. Ever, ever, shall it dwell upon my +lips." "Delia," replied the other, "is in safety. I have been so happy as +to rescue her." "Ha! sayest thou? let me look upon thee well. I am +somewhat disordered, but I think thy name is Godfrey. Thou shouldst not +deceive me. Thou art not old in falsehood." "I do not deceive thee. On my +life I do not!" exclaimed Godfrey, with emotion. "Compose thyself for a +few hours. Or ever thou shalt see the setting sun, I will put thy Delia +into thy arms again."</p> + +<p>Damon was somewhat composed by these assurances. No voice like that of +Godfrey had power to sooth his mind to serenity. But though he sought to +restrain himself, he listened to every noise. He started at the sound of +every foot, and the rattle of a carriage in the street agitated his soul +almost to frenzy.</p> + +<p>"Why does not she come? What can delay her? I have counted every moment. +I have waited whole ages. I see, I see, that every thing conspires to +cheat, and to distract me. Damon has not one friend left to whisper in his +ear--to whisper what? That Delia is no more? That all her beauties are +defaced, by some sacrilegious hand? That all her heaven of charms have +been rifled? Oh, no. I must not think of that. But hark! I thought I heard +a sound, but it is delirium all. Sure, sure it comes this way. I will +listen but this once."</p> + +<p>The door of the chamber now flew open. But oh, what object caught the +raptured eye of Damon! He was just risen. "It is, it is my Delia!" and +they flew into each others arms. But having embraced for a moment, Damon +took hold of her hand, and held her from him. "Let me look at thee. And is +it Delia? And art thou safe, unhurt? I would not be mistaken." "Yes, I am +she, and ten times more my Damon's than ever." "It is enough. I am +contented. But hark! who comes there? Sure it is not the brutal ravisher? +No," cried he, in a voice of surprise, "it is my father."</p> + +<p>Lord Thomas Villiers, who had been a witness of this scene, could restrain +himself no longer. "Come to my arms, thy father's arms," cried he, "and +let me bless thee." "Stay, stay," cried Damon. "Yes I know thee well. But +I will never be separated from her any more. I will laugh at the authority +of a parent. Tyranny and tortures shall not rend me from her." "The +authority of a parent," replied lord Thomas, "shall never more be employed +to counteract thy wishes. I myself will join your hands."</p> + +<p>The constitution of Damon was so full of sensibility, that it was some +days before he was completely recovered. In the mean time, the amours of +Sir William Twyford, and Mr. Hartley, continually ripened, and it was +proposed, that the three parties should be united in the same day.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Damon, "I have but one care more, one additional exertion, +to set my mind at ease. My Godfrey, I owe thee more than kingdoms can +repay. Tell me, instruct me, what can I do to serve you? Damon must be the +most contemptible of villains, if he could think his felicity complete, +when his Godfrey was unhappy."</p> + +<p>"Think not of me," said Godfrey, "I am happy in the way that nature +intended, beyond even the power of Damon to make me. Since I saw you, a +favourable change has taken place in my circumstances. In spite of various +obstacles, I have brought a tragedy upon the stage, and it has met with +distinguished success. My former crosses and mortifications are all +forgotten. Philosophers may tell us, that reputation, and the immortality +of a name, are all but an airy shadow. Enough for me, that nature, from my +earliest infancy, led me to place my first delight in these. I envy not +kings their sceptres. I envy not statesmen their power. I envy not Damon +his love, and his Delia. Next to the pursuits of honour and truth, my soul +is conscious to but one wish, that of having my name enrolled, in however +inferior a rank, with a Homer, and a Horace, a Livy, and a Cicero."</p> + +<p>The next day the proposed weddings took place. It is natural perhaps, at +the conclusion of such a narrative as this, to represent them all as +happy. But we are bound to adhere to nature and truth. Mr. Hartley and his +politician for some time struggled for superiority, but, in the end, the +eagle genius of Sophia soared aloft. Sir William, though he married a +woman, good natured, and destitute of vice, found something more insipid +in marriage, than he had previously apprehended. For Damon and his Delia, +they were amiable, and constant. Though their hearts were in the highest +degree susceptible and affectionate, the first ebullition of passion could +not last for ever. But it was succeeded by <i>the feast of reason, and the +flow of soul</i>. Their hours were sped with the calmness of tranquility. +When they saw each other no longer with transport, they saw each other +with complacency. And so long as they live, they will doubtless afford the +most striking demonstration, that marriage, when it unites two gentle +souls, and meaned by nature for each other, when it is blest of heaven, +and accompanied with reason and discretion, is the sweetest, and the +fairest of all the bands of society.</p> +<br> + +<p>THE END.</p> + +<div>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 10318 ***</div> +</body> +</html> + diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..baec556 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #10318 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/10318) diff --git a/old/10318-8.txt b/old/10318-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..e82a8a1 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10318-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3301 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Damon and Delia, by William Godwin + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Damon and Delia + A Tale + +Author: William Godwin + +Release Date: November 27, 2003 [EBook #10318] +Last updated: January 21, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAMON AND DELIA *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Sheila Vogtmann and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA: + +A TALE. + +--NEQUE SEMPER ARCUM +TENDIT APOLLO. HOR. + +LONDON: +PRINTED FOR T. HOOKHAM, AT HIS CIRCULATING +LIBRARY, NEW BOND-STEET, CORNER +OF BRUTON-STREET. +M,DCC,LXXXIV. + + +CONTENTS + + +PART the FIRST. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Containing introductory Matter._ + + +CHAPTER II. + +_A Ball_ + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Ghost._ + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_A love Scene._ + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Man of Humour._ + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Containing some Specimens of Heroism._ + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing that with which the Reader will be acquainted when he has +read it._ + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Two Persons of Fashion._ + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_A tragical Resolution._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +PART the SECOND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_In which the Story begins over again_. + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The History of Mr. Godfrey_. + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Misanthrope_. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Much ado about nothing_. + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Woman of learning_. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A Catastrophe_. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing what will terrify the Reader_. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_A Denouement_. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Which dismisses the Reader_. + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + + +PART the FIRST. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Containing introductory matter_. + + +The races at Southampton have, for time immemorial, constituted a scene of +rivalship, war, and envy. All the passions incident to the human frame +have here assumed as true a scope, as in the more noisy and more tragical +contentions of statesmen and warriors. Here nature has displayed her most +hidden attractions, and art has furnished out the artillery of beauty. +Here the coquet has surprised, and the love-sick nymph has sapped the +heart of the unwary swain. The scene has been equally sought by the bolder +and more haughty, as by the timid sex. Here the foxhunter has sought a new +subject of his boast in the _nonchalance_ of _dishabille_; the +peer has played off the dazzling charms of a coronet and a star; and the +_petit maītre_ has employed the anxious niceties of dress. + +Of all the beauties in this brilliant circle, she, who was incomparably +the most celebrated, was the graceful Delia. Her person, though not +absolutely tall, had an air of dignity. Her form was bewitching, and her +neck was alabaster. Her cheeks glowed with the lovely vermilion of nature, +her mouth was small and pouting, her lips were coral, and her teeth whiter +than the driven snow. Her forehead was bold, high, and polished, her +eyebrows were arched, and from beneath them her fine blue eyes shone with +intelligence, and sparkled with heedless gaiety. Her hair was of the +brightest auburn, it was in the greatest abundance, and when, unfettered +by the ligaments of fashion, it flowed about her shoulders and her lovely +neck, it presented the most ravishing object that can possibly be +imagined. + +With all this beauty, it Cannot be supposed but that Delia was followed by +a train of admirers. The celebrated Mr. Prattle, for whom a thousand fair +ones cracked their fans and tore their caps, was one of the first to +enlist himself among her adorers. Squire Savage, the fox-hunter, who, like +Hippolitus of old, chased the wily fox and timid hare, and had never yet +acknowledged the empire of beauty, was subdued by the artless sweetness of +Delia. Nay, it has been reported, that the incomparable lord Martin, a +peer of ten thousand pounds a year, had made advances to her father. It is +true, his lordship was scarcely four feet three inches in stature, his +belly was prominent, one leg was half a foot shorter, and one shoulder +half a foot higher than the other. His temper was as crooked as his shape; +the sight of a happy human being would give him the spleen; and no mortal +man could long reside under the same roof with him. But in spite of these +trifling imperfections, it has been confidently affirmed, that some of the +haughtiest beauties of Hampshire would have been proud of his alliance. + +Thus assailed with all the temptations that human nature could furnish, it +might naturally be supposed, that Delia had long since resigned her heart. +But in this conjecture, however natural, the reader will find himself +mistaken. She seemed as coy as Daphne, and as cold as Diana. She diverted +herself indeed with the insignificant loquaciousness of Mr. Prattle, and +the aukward gallantry of the Squire; but she never bestowed upon either a +serious thought. And for lord Martin, who was indisputably allowed to be +the best match in the county, she could not bear to hear him named with +patience, and she always turned pale at the sight of him. + +But Delia was not destined always to laugh at the darts of Cupid. Mrs. +Bridget her waiting maid, delighted to run over the list of her adorers, +and she was much more eloquent and more copious upon the subject than we +have been. When her mistress received the mention of each with gay +indifference, Mrs. Bridget would close the dialogue, and with a sagacious +look, and a shake of her head, would tell the lovely Delia, that the +longer it was before her time came, the more surely and the more deeply +she would be caught at last. And to say truth, the wisest philosopher +might have joined in the verdict of the sage Bridget. There was a softness +in the temper of Delia, that seemed particularly formed for the tender +passion. The voice of misery never assailed her ear in vain. Her purse was +always open to the orphan, the maimed, and the sick. After reading a +tender tale of love, the intricacies of the Princess of Cleves, the soft +distress of Sophia Western, or the more modern story of the Sorrows of +Werter, her gentle breast would heave with sighs, and her eye, suffused +with tears, confess a congenial spirit. + +The father of Delia--let the reader drop a tear over this blot in our +little narrative--had once been a tradesman. He was naturally phlegmatic, +methodical, and avaricious. His ear was formed to relish better the hoarse +voice of an exchange broker, than the finest tones of Handel's organ. He +found something much more agreeable and interesting in the perusal of his +ledger and his day book, than in the scenes of Shakespeare, or the +elegance of Addison. With this disposition, he had notwithstanding, when +age had chilled the vigour of his limbs, and scattered her snow over those +hairs which had escaped the hands of the barber, resigned his shop, and +retired to enjoy the fruits of his industry. It is as natural for a +tradesman in modern times to desire to die in the tranquillity of a +gentleman, as it was for the Saxon kings of the Heptarchy to act the same +inevitable scene amidst the severities of a cloister. + +The old gentleman however found, and it is not impossible that some of his +brethren may have found it before him, when the great transaction was +irretrievably over, that retirement and indolence did not constitute the +situation for which either nature or habit had fitted him. It has been +observed by some of those philosophers who have made the human mind the +object of their study, that idleness is often the mother of love. It might +indeed have been supposed, that Mr. Hartley, for that was his name, by +having attained the age of sixty, might have outlived every danger of this +kind. But opportunity and temptation supplied that, which might have been +deficient on the side of nature. + +Within a little mile of the mansion in which he had taken up his retreat, +resided two ancient maiden ladies. Under cover of the venerable age to +which they had attained, they had laid aside many of those modes which +coyness and modesty have prescribed to their sex. The visits of a man were +avowedly as welcome to them, and indeed much more so, than those of a +woman. Their want of attractions either external or mental, had indeed +hindered the circle of their acquaintance from being very extensive; but +there were some, as well as Mr. Hartley, who preferred the company of +ugliness, censoriousness and ill nature to solitude. + +Such were the Miss Cranley's, the name of the elder of whom was Amelia, +and that of the younger Sophia. Miss Amelia was nominally forty, and her +sister thirty years of age. Perhaps if we stated the matter more +accurately, we should rate the elder at fifty-six, and the younger +somewhere about fifty. They both of them were masculine in their +behaviour, and studious in their disposition. Miss Amelia, delighted in +the study of theology; she disputed with the curate, maintained a godly +correspondence with a neighbouring cobler, and was even said to be +preparing a pamphlet in defence of the dogmas of Mr. Whitfield. Miss +Sophia, who will make a much more considerable figure in this history, was +altogether as indefatigable in the study of politics, as her sister was in +that of theology. She adhered indeed to none of our political parties, for +she suspected and despised them all. My lord North she treated as stupid, +sleepy, and void of personal principle. Mr. Fox was a brawling gamester, +devoid of all attachments but that of ambition, and who treated the mob +with flattery and contempt. Mr. Burke was a Jesuit in disguise, who under +the most specious professions, was capable of the blackest and meanest +actions. For her own part she was a steady republican. That couplet of Dr. +Garth was continually in her mouth, + + + _From my very soul I hate, + All kings and ministers of state._ + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_A Ball._ + + +Thus much it was necessary to premise, in order to acquaint the reader +with the situation of our heroine, and that of some other personages in +this history. Having discharged this task, we will return to the point +from which we set out. + +It was at one of the balls at the races at Southampton--the company was +already assembled. The card tables were set, and our maiden ladies, +together with many other venerable pieces of antiquity, were assembled +around them. In another and more spacious room, appeared all that +Southampton could boast of youth and beauty. The squire and his sister, +Mr. Prattle, and lord Martin, formed a part of the company. The first +bustle was nearly composed, when Damon entered the assembly. + +He appeared to be a stranger to every body present. And, as he is equally +a stranger to our readers, we will now announce him in proper form. Damon +appeared to be about twenty years of age. His person was tall, and his +limbs slender and well formed. His dress was elegance itself. His coat was +ornamented with a profusion of lace, and the diamond sparkled in his shoe. +His countenance was manly and erect. There appeared in it a noble +confidence, which the spectator would at first sight ascribe to dignity of +birth, and a perfect familiarity with whatever is elegant and polite. This +confidence however had not the least alloy of _hauteur_, his eye +expressed the most open sensibility and the kindest sympathy. + +There is something undescribably interesting in the figure we have +delineated. The moment our hero entered the room, the attention of every +person present was fixed upon him. The master of the ceremonies +immediately advanced, and escorted him to the most honourable seat that +yet remained vacant. While Damon examined with an eager eye the gay +parterre of beauty that appeared before him, a general whisper was excited +upon his account. "Who is he?" "Who is he?" echoed from every corner of +the room. But while curiosity was busy in his enquiries, there was not an +individual capable of satisfying them. + +The business of every one was now the choice of a partner. But as one +object had engrossed the attention of all, they were willing to see the +election he would make, though every one feared to lose the partner he had +destined for himself. Damon was therefore, however unwilling to +distinguish himself in so particular a manner, constrained to advance the +foremost. He passed slightly along before a considerable number, who sat +in expectation. At length he approached the seat of Delia. He bowed to her +in the most graceful manner, and intreated to be honoured with her hand. +She smiled assent, and they crossed the room among a croud of envious +rivals. Besides the lovers we had mentioned, there were four others, who +had secretly determined to dance with Delia. + +But if the gentlemen were disappointed, to whose eyes the beauty of Delia, +however unrivalled, was familiar, the disappointment and envy of the fair +sex upon the loss of Damon, whose external and natural recommendations had +beside the grace of novelty, were inexpressible. The daughter of Mr. +Griskin, an eminent butcher in Clare-market, who had indeed from nature, +the grace of being cross-eyed, now looked in ten thousand more various +directions than she ever did before. Miss Prim, agitated in every limb, +cracked her fan into twenty pieces. Miss Gawky, who had unfortunately been +initiated by the chamber maid in the art of snuff-taking, plied her box +with more zeal than ever. Miss Languish actually fainted, and was with +some difficulty conveyed into the air. Such was the confusion occasioned +in the ball at Southampton, by the election of Damon. + +Affairs being now somewhat adjusted, the dances began. Damon at every +interval addressed himself to his lovely partner in the easiest and most +elegant conversation. He talked with fluency, and his air and manner gave +a grace and dignity to the most trifling topics. The heart of Delia, +acknowledged the charms of youthful beauty and graceful deportment, and +secretly confessed that it had never before encountered so formidable an +enemy. + +When the usual topics of conversation had been exhausted, the behaviour of +Damon became insensibly more particular, he pressed her hand with the most +melting ardour, and a sigh ever and anon escaped from his breast. He paid +her several very elegant compliments, though they were all of them +confined within the limits of decorum. Delia, on the other hand, though +she apparently received them with the most gay indifference, in reality +drank deep of the poison of love, and the words of Damon made an +impression upon her heart, that was not easily to be erased. + +But however delicious was the scene in which they were engaged, it +necessarily drew to a conclusion. The drowsy clocks now announced the hour +of three in the morning. The dances broke up, and the company separated. +Delia leaped into the chariot that was waiting, and quickly arrived at the +parental mansion. Fatigued with the various objects that had passed before +her, she immediately retired to rest. For some time however a busy train +of thoughts detained her from the empire of sleep. "How lovely a stranger! +How elegant his manners, and how brilliant his wit! How soft and engaging +the whole of his behaviour! But ah! was this the fruit of reverence and +admiration? Might it not be no more than general gallantry? Oh that I were +mistress of his heart! That he would lay his person at my feet! What a +contrast between him and my former admirers! How doubly hateful does lord +Martin, the lover favoured by my father now appear! But ah! who is this +Damon? What is his fortune, and what his pretensions? His dress surely +bespoke him a man of rank. His elegant manners could have been learned in +no vulgar circle. How sweet, methinks is suspence! How delightful the +uncertainty that hangs about him! And yet, how glad should I be to have my +doubts resolved." + +Soothed with these and similar reflections, the lovely maid fell asleep. +But even in sleep she did not forget the impressions she had received. She +imagined that Damon now approached her pillow. But how unlike the Damon +she had seen! His eyes had something in them superior to a mortal. His +shoulders were adorned with wings, and a vest of celestial azure flowed +around him. He smiled upon her with the most bewitching grace. But the +gentle maid involuntarily stretched out her arms towards him, and the +pleasing vision vanished from her sight. + +Again she closed her eyes, and again she endeavoured to regain her former +object. Damon indeed appeared, but in how different a manner! his +countenance was impressed with every mark of horror, and he seemed to fly +before some who inveterately pursued him. They appeared with the +countenances of furies, and the snakes hissed around their temples. Delia +looked earnestly upon them, and presently recollected the features of the +admirers we have already celebrated. The noble peer under the figure of +Tisiphone, led the troop. Damon stumbled and fell. Sudden as lightning +Tisiphone reached the spot, and plunged a dagger in his heart. She drew it +forth reeking with blood, and the lovely youth appeared in the agonies of +death. Terrified beyond measure, Delia screamed with horror and awoke. + +In the midst of reveries like these, now agitated with apprehension, and +now soothed with pleasure, Delia passed the night. The sun appeared, her +gold repeater informed her that it was twelve, and, assisted by the fair +hands of Mrs. Bridget, she began to rise. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Ghost._ + + +Mr. Hartley had breakfasted and walked out in the fields, before Delia +appeared. She had scarcely begun her morning repast, ere Miss Fletcher, +the favourite companion and confidante of Delia, entered the room. "My +dearest creature," cried the visitor, "how do you do? Had not we not a +most charming evening? I vow I was fatigued to death: and then, lord +Martin, I think he never appeared to so much advantage. Why he was quite +covered with diamonds, spangles, and frogs." "Ah!" cried Delia, "but the +young stranger." "True," answered Miss Fletcher, "I liked him of all +things; so tall, so genteel, and so sweetly perfumed.--I cannot think who +he is. I called upon Miss Griskin, and I called upon Miss Savage, nobody +knows. He is some great man." "When did he come to town?" said Delia, +"Where does he lodge?" "My dear, he came to town yesterday in the evening, +and went away again as soon as the ball was over. But do not you think +that Mr. Prattle's new suit of scarlet sattin was vastly becoming? I vow I +could have fallen in love with him. He is so gay and so trifling, and so +fond of hearing himself talk. Why, does not he say a number of smart +things?" "It is exessively strange," said Delia. (She was thinking of the +stranger.) But Miss Fletcher went on--"Not at all, my life. Upon my word I +think he is always very entertaining. He cuts out paper so prettily, and he +has drawn me the sweetest pattern for an apron. I vow, I think, I never +showed you it." "What can be his name?" said Delia; "His name, my dear; +law, child, you do not hear a word one says to you. But of all things, +give me the green coat and pink breeches of Mr. Savage. But did you ever +hear the like? There will be a terrible to do--Lord Martin is in such a +quandary--He has sent people far and near." "I wish they may find him," +exclaimed Delia. "Nay, if they do, I would not be in his shoes for the +world. My lord vows revenge. He says he is his rival. Why, child, the +stranger did not make love to you, did he?" "Mercy on us," cried Delia, +"then my dream is out." "Oh, bless us," said Miss Fletcher, "what dream, +my dear?" Her curiosity then prevailed upon her to be silent for a few +moments, while Delia related that with which the reader is already +acquainted. + +In return, Delia requested of her friend to explain to her more +intelligibly what she hinted of the anger of lord Martin. "Why, my dear, +his lordship has been employed all this morning in writing challenges. +They say he has not writ less than a dozen, and has sent them by as many +messengers, like a hue and cry, all over the county--my lord is a little +man--but what of that--he is as stout as Hercules, and as brave as +what-d'ye call'um, that you and I read of in Pope's Homer. He is in such a +vengeance of a passion, that he cannot contain himself. He tells it to +every body he sees; and his mother and sister run about the house +screaming and fainting like so many mad things." + +Delia, as we have already said, was endowed with a competent share of +natural understanding. She therefore easily perceived, that from an anger +so boisterous and so public, no very fatal effects were to be apprehended. +This reflection quieted the terrors that her dream had excited, and which +the young partiality she began to feel for the amiable stranger would +otherwise have confirmed. Her breast being thus calmed, she made about +half a dozen morning visits, among which, one to Miss Griskin, and another +to Miss Languish, were included. The conversation every where turned upon +the outrageousness of lord Martin. All but the gentle Delia, were full of +anxiety and expectation. The females were broken into parties respecting +the event of the duel. Many trembled for the fate of lord Martin, so +splendid, so rich, and consequently, in their opinion, so amiable and so +witty. Others, guided by the unadulterated sentiments of nature, poured +forth all their vows for the courteous unknown. "May those active limbs +remain without a wound! May his elegant blue and silver never be stained +with blood! Ah, what a pity, that eyes so bright, and teeth so white, +should be shrowded in the darkness of the grave." + +The dinner, a vulgar meal, that passed exactly in the same manner as fifty +dinners had before it, shall be consigned to silence. The evening was +bright and calm. It was in the close of autumn; and every thing tempted +our lovely fair one to take the air. By the way she called upon her +inseparable friend and companion. They directed their course towards the +sea side. + +Here they had not advanced far, before they entered a grove, a spot +particularly the favourite of Delia. In a little opening there was a bank +embroidered with daisies and butter-cups; a little row of willows bending +their heads forward, formed a kind of canopy; and directly before it, +there was a vista through the trees, which afforded a distant prospect of +the sea, with every here and there a vessel passing along, and the beams +of the setting sun quivered on the waves. + +Delia and her companion advanced towards the well known spot. The mellow +voice of the thrush, and the clear pipe of the blackbird, diversified at +intervals with the tender notes of the nightingale, formed the most +agreable natural concert. The breast of Delia, framed for softness and +melancholy, was filled with sensations responsive to the objects around +her, and even the eternal clack of Miss Fletcher was still. + +Presently, however, a new and unexpected object claimed their attention. A +note, stronger and sweeter than that of any of the native choristers of +the grove, swelled upon the air, and floated towards them. Having +approached a few paces, they stood still to listen. It seemed to proceed +from a flute, played upon by a human voice. The air was melancholy, but +the skill was divine. + +The native curiosity of Miss Fletcher was not upon this occasion a match +for the sympathetic spirit of Delia. She pressed forward with an eager and +uncertain step, and looking through an interstice formed by two venerable +oaks, she perceived the figure of a young man sitting in her favourite +alcove. His back was turned towards the side upon which she was. Having +finished the air, he threw his flute carelesly from him, and folded his +arms in a posture the most disconsolate that can be imagined. He rose and +advanced a little with an irregular step. "Ah lovely mistress of my soul," +cried he, "thou little regardest the anguish that must for ever be an +inmate of this breast! While I am a prey to a thousand tormenting +imaginations, thou riotest in the empire of beauty, heedless of the wounds +thou inflicted, and the slaves thou chainest to thy chariot. Wretch that I +am, what is to be done? But I must think no more." Saying this he snatched +up his flute, and thrusting it into his bosom, hurried out of the grove. + +While he spoke, Delia imagined that the voice was one that she had heard +before though she knew not where. Her heart whispered her something more +than her understanding could disentangle. But as he stooped to take his +flute from the ground his profile was necessarily turned towards the inner +part of the grove. Delia started and trembled. Damon stood confessed. But +she scarcely recollected his features before he rushed away swifter than +the winged hawk, and was immediately out of sight. + +Delia was too full of a thousand reflections upon this unexpected +rencounter to be able to utter a word. But Miss Fletcher immediately +began. "God bless us," cried she, "did you ever see the like? Why it is my +belief it is a ghost or a wizard. I never heard any thing so pretty--I +vow, I am terribly frightened." + +Delia now caught hold of her arm. "For heaven's sake, let us quit the +grove. I do not know what is the matter--but I feel myself quite sick." +"Good God! good heavens! Well, I do not wonder you are all in a +tremble--But suppose now it should be nothing but Mr. Prattle--He is +always somewhere or other--And then he plays _God save the king_, and +_Darby and Joan_, like any thing." "Oh," said the lovely, trembling +nymph, "they were the sweetest notes!" "Ah," said her companion, "he is a +fine man. And then he is so modest--He will play at one and thirty, and +ride upon a stick with little Tommy all day long. But sure it could not be +Mr. Prattle--He always wears his hair in a queue you know--but the ghost +had a bag and solitaire." "Well," cried Delia, "let us think no more of +it. But did we hear anything?"--"Law, child, why he played the nicest +glee--and then he made such a speech, for all the world like Mr. Button, +that I like so to see in Hamlet." "True," said Delia,--"but what he said +was more like the soft complainings of my dear Castalio. Did not he +complain of a false mistress?" "Why he did say something of that kind.--If +it be neither a ghost nor Mr. Prattle. I hope in God he is going to appear +upon the Southampton stage. I do so love to see a fine young man come on +for the first time with + + _May this alspishus day be ever sacred!_ +Or, + _I am thy father's spirit._" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_A Love Scene._ + + +In such conversation the moments passed till they reached the habitation +of Mr. Hartley. Miss Fletcher now took her leave. And after a supper as +dull, and much more tedious to Delia, than the dinner, she retired to her +chamber. + +She retired indeed, but not to rest. Her brain was filled with a croud of +uneasy thoughts. "Alas," said she, "how short has been the illusion!--But +yesterday, I was flushed with all the pride of conquest, and busily framed +a thousand schemes of ideal happiness--Where are they now?--The lovely +youth, the only man I ever saw in whose favour my heart was prepossessed, +and with whom I should have felt no repugnance to have engaged in the +tenderest ties, is nothing to me--He loves another. He too complains of +slighted passion, and ill-fated love. Ah, had he made his happiness depend +on me, what would not I have done to reward him! Carefully I would have +soothed every anguish, and taught his heart to bound with joy. But what am +I saying?--Where am I going?--Am I that Delia that bad defiance to the art +of men,--that saw with indifference the havock that my charms had made! +With every opening morn I smiled. Each hour was sped with joy, and my +heart was light and frolic. And shall I dwindle into a pensive, melancholy +maid, the sacrifice of one that heeds me not, whose sighs no answering +sighs encounter!--let it not be said. I have hitherto asserted the +independence of my sex, I will continue to do so. Too amiable unknown, I +give thee to the winds! Propitious fate, I thank thee that thou hast so +soon discovered how much my partiality was misplaced. I will abjure it +before it be too late. I will tear the little intruder from my heart +before the mischief is become irretrievable." + +The following evening Delia repaired again by a kind of irresistible +impulse to the grove. She asked not the company of her friend. She dared +alone hazard the encounter of that object, at which she had trembled so +much the preceding day. Unknown to herself she still imaged a kind of +uncertainty in her fate which would not permit her to lay aside all +thought of Damon. She determined at all events, to have her doubts +resolved. "When there is no longer," said she to herself, "any room for +mistake, I shall then know what to do." + +As she drew near the alcove, she perceived the same figure stretched along +the bank, and with his eyes immoveably fixed upon a little fountain that +rose in a corner of the scene. He seemed lost in thought. Delia approached +doubtfully, but he heard her not. Advanced near to her object, she +reclined forward in a posture of wonder and attention. At this moment a +sigh burst from the heart of Damon, and he raised himself upon the seat. + +His eyes caught the figure of Delia.------"Ah," said he, starting from his +trance, "what do I see? Art thou, lovely intruder, a mere vision, an +aerial being that shuns the touch?" "I beg ten thousand pardons. I meaned +not, sir, to interrupt you. I will be gone." "No, go not." Answered he. +"Thou art welcome to my troubled thoughts. I could gaze for ever." + +Saying this he rose and advancing towards her, seized her hand. "Be not +afraid," said he, "gentle fair one, my breast is a stranger to violence +and rudeness. I have felt the dart of love. Unhappy myself, I learn to +feel for others. But you are happy." As he said this, a tear unbidden +stole into the eye of Delia, and she wiped it away with the hand which was +disengaged from his. "And dost thou pity me," said he. "And does such +softness dwell within thy breast? If you knew the story of my woes, you +would have reason to pity me. I am in love to destraction, but I dare not +disclose my passion. I am banished from the presence of her I love. Ah, +cruel fate, I am entangled, inextricably entangled." "And how, sir," said +Delia, "can I serve you?" "Alas," said he, in no way. My case is hopeless +and irretrievable. And what am I doing? Why do I talk, when the season +calls for action? Oh, I am lost." + +"Dear Sir," answered Delia, "you terrify me to death." "Oh, no. I would +not for the world give you an uneasy moment. Let me be unhappy--but may +misfortune never disturb your tranquility. I return to seek her whose fate +is surely destined to mix with mine. Pardon, loveliest of thy sex, the +distraction in which I have appeared. I would ask you to forget me--I +would ask you to remember me--I know not what I am, or what to think." + +With these words he took the hand which he still held in one of his, and +raising it to his lips, kissed it with the utmost fervour. Immediately he +caught up his hat, which lay beside him on the ground, and began to +advance along the path that led out of the grove on the side furthest from +the town. But his eyes were still fixed upon Delia. He heeded not the path +by which he went; and scarcely had he gone twenty paces, ere he changed +his mind and returned. Delia was seated on the bank and seemed lost in +reverie. Damon threw himself upon his knees before her. + +"Ah, why," said he, "am I constrained to depart!--Why must I talk in +riddles! Perhaps we may never see each other more. Perhaps the time will +come when I shall be able to clear up the obscurity that at present I am +obliged to preserve. But no, it cannot be. I never was happy but for two +poor hours that I enjoyed your smiles, and, drinking in the poison of your +charms, I forgot myself. The time too soon arrived for bitter +recollection. My mistress calls, the mistress of my fate. I must be +gone--Farewel--for ever." + +Saying this, he heaved a sigh that seemed almost to tear his breast +asunder, and with the utmost apparent violence he tore himself away, and +rushed along the path with incredible velocity. + +Delia was now alone. But instead, as she had flattered herself of having +her doubts resolved, she was more uncertain, more perplexed than ever. +"What" cried she, "can all this mean? How strange, and how inexplicable! +Is it a real person that I have seen, or is it a vision that mocks my +fancy? Am I loved, or am I hated? Oh, foolish question! Oh, fond illusion! +Are we not parted for ever! Is he not gone to seek the mistress of his +soul! Alas, he views me not, but with that general complacency, which +youth, and the small pretensions I have to beauty are calculated to +excite! He had nothing to relate that concerned myself, he merely intended +to make me the confidante of his passion for another. Too surely he is +unhappy. His heart seemed ready to burst with sorrow. Probably in this +situation there is no greater or more immediate relief, than to disclose +the subject of our distress, and to receive into our bosom the sympathetic +tear of a simple and a generous heart. His behaviour today corresponds but +too well with the suspicions that yesterday excited. Oh, Delia! then," +added she, "be firm. Thou shalt see the conqueror no more. Think of him no +more." + +In spite however of all the resolution she could muster, Delia repaired +day after day, sometimes alone, and sometimes in company with her friend, +to that spot which, by the umbrage of melancholy it wore, was become more +interesting than ever. Miss Fletcher, could scarcely at first be persuaded +to direct her course that way, lest she should again see the ghost. But +she need not have terrified herself. No ghost appeared. + +Disappointed and baffled on this side, Delia by the strictest enquiries +endeavoured to find out who the unknown person was, in whose fate she had +become so greatly interested. The result of these enquiries, however +diligent, was not entirely satisfactory. She learned that he had been for +a few days upon a visit to a Mr. Moreland, a gentleman who lived about +three miles from Southampton. + +Mr. Moreland was a person of a very singular character. He had the +reputation in the neighbourhood of being a cynic, a misanthrope, and a +madman. He kept very little company, and was even seldom seen but by +night. He had a garden sufficiently spacious, which was carefully rendered +impervious to every human eye. And to this and his house he entirely +confined himself in the day-time. The persons he saw were not the +gentlemen of the neighbourhood. He had no toleration for characters that +did not interest him. When he first came down to his present residence, he +was visited by Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, squire Savage, lord Martin, and +all the most admired personages in the country. But their visits had never +been returned. Mr. Prattle pronounced him a scoundrel; squire Savage said +he was a nincompoop; and lord Martin was near sending him a challenge. But +the censures of the former, and the threats of the latter, had never +reached his ears. His domestics were numerous, but they were hired from a +distance, and were permitted as little communication as possible with the +powdered lacquies of Southampton. Of consequence, however much the +unaccommodating conduct of Mr. Moreland disposed his neighbours to +calumniate him, scandal was deprived of that daily food which is requisite +for her subsistence, and the name of that gentleman was scarcely ever +heard. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Man of Humour._ + + +We will now return to lord Martin. All his messengers, from what cruel +fate we cannot exactly ascertain, miscarried; and it was not till Damon +had left the country, that he learned that he had been a visitor at the +house of Mr. Moreland. Finding that he had missed his expected vengeance, +he discharged his anger in unavailing curses, and for three days he +breathed nothing but daggers, death, and damnation. Having thus vapoured +away the paroxysm of his fury, he became tolerably composed. + +But adverse fate had decreed a short duration to the tranquility of his +lordship. Scarcely had the field been cleared from the enemy he so greatly +dreaded, ere a new rival came upon the stage, to whose arms, though +without any great foundation, the whole town of Southampton had consigned +the charming Delia. + +The name of this gentleman was Prettyman. He was just returned from his +travels, and was reckoned perfectly accomplished. He was six foot high, +his shoulders were broad, his legs brawny, and his whole person athletic. +The habits however he had formed to himself in foreign countries, will not +perhaps be allowed exactly to correspond with the figure which nature had +bestowed upon him. He generally spent two hours every morning at his +toilette. His face was painted and patched, his whole person strongly +perfumed, and he had continually in his hand a gold snuff-box set with +diamonds. His voice was naturally hoarse and loud, but with infinite +industry he had brought himself to a pronunciation shrill, piping, and +effeminate. His conversion was larded with foreign phrases and foreign +oaths, and every thing he said was accompanied with a significant shrug. + +The same period which had introduced this new pretender to the heart of +Delia, had been distinguished by the arrival of a Sir William Twyford, who +paid his addresses to Miss Fletcher. Sir William was exactly the reverse +of Mr. Prettyman. With a genteel person, and an open and agreable +phisiognomy, his manners were perfectly careless and unstudied. A +predominant feature in his character was good nature. But this was not his +ruling passion. He had an infinite fund of wit and humour, and he never +was so happy as when he was able to place the foibles of affectation in a +whimsical and ridiculous light. + +As it was vanity alone, that had induced Mr. Prettyman to pay his +addresses to the lady, who was universally allowed to surpass in beauty +and every elegant accomplishment in the place in which he was, he would +have been less pleased that his amour should have terminated in a +marriage, than that by his affectation and coquetry he might break the +heart of the simple fair one. Accordingly, it was his business to make the +affair as public as possible. + +Lord Martin, had been sufficiently irritated by the pretensions of Damon. +The new intruder had wrought up his passion to the highest pitch. In the +mean time he had renewed an acquaintance which he had formerly made with +sir William Twyford. Sir William, upon all occasions, cultivated the +intimacy of such, as, by any striking peculiarities, seemed to furnish a +proper subject for his humour. He now contributed every thing in his power +to inflame his lordship against Mr. Prettyman. He offered to become the +bearer of a challenge, and to be his lordship's second in any future +combat. + +Lord Martin broke off the conversation somewhat abruptly, and began to +reflect with himself upon what had passed. He had hitherto contrived, by +some means or other, though he dealt very largely in challenges, never to +have come to actual battle. But he had too much reason to think, that if +he made sir William his messenger, he should not be able with any degree +of honour to contrive an evasion. "It is true," said he, "I am in a most +confounded passion, but a wise general never proceeds to action without +having first deliberated. Zounds, blood and fire! would I could put an end +to the existence of so presumptuous a villain! But then it must be +considered that Mr. Prettyman is six foot high, and I am not five. He is +as athletic as Ajax, but to me nature has been unfavourable. It is true I +understand cart and terce, parry and thrust, but I have heard that +Prettyman studied under Olivier. Many a man has outlived the passage of a +bullet, or the thrust of a sword through him. But my constitution is so +delicate! Curse blast it, death and the devil, I do not know what to do." + +Sir William, as soon as he had left lord Martin, repaired to the lodgings +of Mr. Prettyman. After a short general conversation, he began, "My dear +friend, here has happened the unluckiest thing in nature. You have made +some advances, you know, to the charming Delia." "True," cried Prettyman, +"I have bestowed upon her a few condescending glances. _C'est une +charmante fille_." "Well," added sir William, "and the whole town gives +her to you." "_Parbleu!_ the town is very impertinent. There will go +two words to that bargain." "My lord Martin, you know, has enlisted +himself amongst her admirers." "Pox take the blockhead, I suppose he would +marry her. _Bien_. After I have led her a dance, he shall do what he +pleases with her." "But," said sir William, "my lord intends to call you +to an account." "_Morbleu_," cried Prettyman, "I thought I had +been in a land of liberty." "But let me tell you, my lord is very +absolute. He has fought some half a dozen duels in his time, and every +body is afraid of him." "_J'en suis excčdč_. 'Pon honour, the girl is +not worth fighting for." "Oh," said the malicious wit, "but if you give +her up for a few threats, your reputation will be ruined for ever." +"_Mon Dieu!_ this reputation is a very expensive thing. _Je +crois_ that every girl is a Helen, never so happy as when people are +murdering one another, and towns are fired for her sake. Is this same +_milord_ absolutely inexorable?" + +"I cannot tell," said sir William, "what may be done. If you were to fly, +he would pursue you to the ends of the earth. But suppose now you were +upon your knees, to retract your pretensions to this silly girl." +"_Pardi_" answered Prettyman, "that is damned hard! are you sure his +lordship is so compleat a master of the science of defence?" "Nay," +replied sir William, "I cannot tell. I believe indeed he never received a +wound, but I think I remember to have heard of one duel he fought, in +which his antagonist came off with his life." "Ah, _diable +l'emporte!_ That will not do neither. These bullets are the aukwardest +things in the world. Do you think you could not prevail with his Lordship +to use only powder?" "Powder," cried sir William, "that is an excellent +jest. My lord always loads with six small slugs." "Six slugs! ah the +bloody minded villain! It is confounded hard that a gentleman cannot pass +through life, without being _degoutč_ with these unpolished Vandals. +_Ah, mon cher ami_, I will put the affair entirely into your hands: +do, _pour i'amour de Dieu_, bring me out of this scrape as well as +you can." "Well my dear Prettyman, I will exert myself on your account; +but, upon my soul, I had rather have an affair with half a regiment of +commissioned officers fresh imported from America." + +Sir William Twyford, having thus brought the affair to some degree of +forwardness, now waited on his lordship. "My dear lord Martin," said he, +"what have you resolved upon? The affair is briefly thus--you must either +give up Delia, or fight Mr. Prettyman." "Give up Delia!" exclaimed the +little lord; "by all that is sacred I will sooner spill the last drop of +my blood. But," added he, "what necessity is there for the alternative you +propose? True, I fear no man. But to be continually engaged in quarrels +would acquire me the character of a desperado." "Indeed," said sir +William, "you have been somewhat lavish in those sort of affairs, but I do +not see how you can be off in the present instance. Prettyman has heard of +the bustle you made about the fellow at the ball, that tricked you of your +partner; and he will never pardon the affront, if you pay less attention +to him." "Pox take the blockhead, he is mighty nice, methinks, in his +temper. I have a great mind not to gratify him." "Oh," cried sir William, +"you never had such an opportunity to establish your character for ever. +And the fellow I believe is no better than a coward at bottom." + +It would be endless to relate all the stratagems of sir William to bring +the business to the conclusion he wished. How he terrified the brawny +_petit maītre_, and anon he animated the little peer. His lordship +felt the force of his friend's eloquence, but even his highest flights of +heroism were qualified with temporary misgivings. For poor Mr. Prettyman, +he feared to stay, and dared not fly. If he could have forgotten the +danger he apprehended, his good natured friend by the studied +exaggerations in which he was continually clothing it, would have +perfectly succeed in refreshing his memory. But in reality it was never +absent from his thoughts. His slumbers were short and disturbed. And he +could scarcely close his eyes, ere the enraged lord Martin, with his sword +drawn, and his countenance flaming with inexorable fury, presented himself +to his affrighted imagination. + +At length sir William by his generous interposition affected a compromise. +It was agreed that Mr. Prettyman should fall upon his knees before lord +Martin in the public room in the presence of Delia, and, asking his +pardon, put a small cane into his hand. "My lord," said sir William to the +beau, "is as generous as he is brave. He will not make an improper use of +the advantage you put into his hands. He will raise you from the humble +posture you will have assumed, and, embracing you cordially, all that is +past will be forgotten. As his lordship will take you under his +protection, not an individual will dare to reflect upon you." "Mr. +Prettyman," said sir William to lord Martin, "unites the heart of a +chicken to the most absolute skill in the small sword that ever I saw. I +have been only capable of restraining him by representing your lordship as +the most furious and impracticable of mankind. If he once suspect that I +have misrepresented you, a duel, in which I am afraid your lordship would +be overmatched, must be the inevitable consequence. Might I therefore +presume to advise, your lordship should make use of the advantage I have +gained you without mercy." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Containing some Specimens of Heroism._ + + +The evening now approached, in which the scene sir William Twyford had +with so much pains prepared, was to be acted. An imperfect rumour had +spread that something extraordinary was to pass in the public room. Miss +Prim was of opinion that a duel would be fought. "I shall be frightened +out of my wits," said she. "But I must go, for one loves any thing new, +and I believe there is nothing in it that a modest woman may not see." +Miss Gawky thought it would be a boxing match. "Bless us, my dear lord +Martin could stand no chance with that great lubberly macaroni." But Miss +Griskin, with a look of more than common sagacity, assured the ladies that +she had penetrated to the very bottom of the matter. "Mr. Prettyman and +lord Martin have ordered two large rounds of beef to be set upon the table +at supper, and they mean to lay about them for a wager." + +In this manner every one made her own conjecture, which she preferred to +that of all the rest. Curiosity was wrought up to the highest pitch, and +the uncertainty that prevailed upon the subject, rendered the affair still +more interesting. The rooms were early filled with an uncommon number of +spectators. About nine o'clock Mr. Prettyman entered, but instead of +exerting himself with his usual vivacity, he retired to one corner of the +room, and sat in a sheepish and melancholy posture. Not long after, sir +William Twyford and lord Martin came in, arm in arm. + +The peer strutted immediately to the upper end of the room. Delia stood +near him. "My lovely girl," said he, with an air of vulgar familiarity, "I +am rejoiced to see you. I hope I shall one day prove myself worthy of your +favour." + +While this passed Mr. Prettyman was by no means in an enviable condition. +From the operation of fear and vexation he perspired very profusely. +Vanity, as we have said, might almost be termed his ruling passion, and he +would never have sacrificed it so publicly to any consideration less +immediate than that of personal safety. Ardently did he long to have the +terrible scene concluded. But he had neither strength nor spirits to +advance a step, or even to rise from his seat. + +Sir William Twyford now came up to him, and took hold of his hand. "My +dear friend," said he, "be not dispirited. It is no more than a flea-bite, +and it will be over in a moment. You will acquire the friendship of the +first personage in the county, and far from losing any thing in the public +esteem, you will be more respected than ever." "_Morbleu_," cried the +beau, "my shoulders ake for it already. But, _mon trčs cher & trčs +excellent ami_, do not desert me, and remind the peer of the generosity +you talked of." + +Sir William now raised him from his seat, and led him to the middle of the +room. Lord Martin, with a stately air, advanced a few steps. In spite +however of all the heroism he could assume, as the important affair drew +towards a crisis, he began to tremble. Mr. Prettyman fell upon his knees, +and sir William put a cane into his hand. But in this posture the beau +remained still somewhat taller than his antagonist. "Most worthy lord," +cried he in a tremulous voice, "I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding +that has happened, and I am filled with the most ardent"----While he was +yet speaking he advanced the cane in the attitude of presenting it. +"Villain," said lord Martin, who between fear and rage could no longer +contain himself, and snatched it from his hand. But he could scarcely +reach beyond the shoulder of his enemy, and blinded with emotion and +exertion, instead of directing his blows as he ought to have done, he +struck him two or three very severe strokes on the head and face. The beau +bore it as long as he could. But at length bellowing out, "_Mon Dīeu, je +suis meurtrič_, I am beaten to a jelly," he rose from his knees. His +antagonist being between him and the door, he fairly threw him upon his +back, and flying out of the room he stopped not till he arrived at the +inn, where, ordering his phaeton and six, he ascended without a moment's +pause, and drove off for London. + +In the mean time, every thing in the public room was in confusion and +disorder. Sir William flew to support the discomfited hero, who had +received a grievous contusion in his shoulder. Miss Griskin giggled, the +other ladies screamed, and Miss Languish, as usual, fainted away. "Bless +me," cried Miss Fletcher, "it is the queerest affair"--"By my troth," said +Miss Gawky, "it is vastly fine." "But not half so fine," cried Miss +Griskin, "as the buttocks of beef." + +By this time lord Martin had raised himself in a sitting posture and +uttered a deep groan. "Best of friends," said he, pressing the hand of sir +William, "tell me truly, am I victorious, or am I defeated?" "Oh +_victoria_!" cried sir William; "never heed a slight skin wound that +you received in the combat." His lordship stood up. "Damnation, pox +confound it!" said he, a little recovering himself, "what is become of the +rascal? I have not given him half what he deserved. But, ladies," added he +flourishing his cane, "it is my maxim, as I am strong to be merciful." + +Saying this, he advanced towards Delia, and, with a flourish of importance +and conceit, laid the weapon, which he had so roundly employed, at her +feet. "Loveliest of women," said he, "to your shrine I devote myself. Upon +your altar, I lay the insignia of my prowess. Deign, gentlest of thy sex, +to accept thus publicly of those sighs which I have long poured forth upon +thy account." + +Delia, though the native modesty of her character caused her whole face to +be suffused with blushes at having the eyes of the whole company thus +turned upon her, regarded the peer with a look of ineffable disdain, and +turned from him in silence. + +Such were the transactions of an evening, which will doubtless long be +remembered by such as had the good fortune to be spectators. The natural +impertinence and insolence of lord Martin were swelled by the event to ten +times their natural pitch. He crowed like a cock, and cackled like a +goose. The vulgar of the other sex, who are constantly the admirers of +success, however unmerited, and conceit, however unfounded, thought his +lordship the greatest man in the world. The inequality of his legs was +removed by the proof he had exhibited of his prowess. The inequality of +his shoulders was hid under a rent-roll of ten thousand a year. And the +narrowness of his intellects, the optics of these connoisseurs were not +calculated to discern. + +The peer, as we have already hinted, was the suitor most favoured by the +father of our heroine. The principal passion of the old gentleman was the +love of money. But at the same time he was not absolutely incapable of +relishing the inferior charms of a venerable title and a splendid +reputation. Perceiving that his client continually rose in the public +opinion, he was more eager than ever to have the match concluded. Lord +Martin, though his organs were not formed to delight in beauty at the +first hand, was yet tickled with the conceit of carrying off so fair a +prize from the midst of a thousand gaping expectants. + +It will naturally be imagined that the situation of Delia at this moment +was by no means an enviable one. She was caught in the snares of love. And +the more she struggled to get free, she was only the more limed and +entangled. The recollection of the hopelessness of her love by no means +sufficed to destroy it. The recollection of her former carelessness and +gaiety was not able to restore her to present ease. In vain she summoned +pride and maiden dignity to support her. In vain she formed resolutions, +which were broken as soon as made. Every where she was haunted by the +image of her dear unknown. Her nights were sleepless and uneasy. The fire +and brightness of her eyes were tarnished. _She pined in green and +yellow melancholy._ + +The more dear were the ideal image that accompanied her, the more did she +execrate and detest her persecutor. "No," cried she, "I will never be his. +Never shall the sacred tie, which should only unite congenial spirits, be +violated by two souls, distant as the poles, jarring as contending +elements. My father may kill me. Alas, of what value is life to me! It is +a long scene of unvaried misfortune. It is a dreary vista of despair. He +may kill me, but never, never shall he force me to a deed my soul abhors." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing that with which the reader will be acquainted when he has +read it_. + + +The cup of misfortune, by which it was decreed that the virtue and the +constancy of our heroine should be tried, was not yet ended. The +disposition of a melancholy lover is in the utmost degree variable. Now +the fair Delia studiously sought to plunge herself in impervious solitude; +and now, worn with a train of gloomy reflections, she with equal eagerness +solicited the society of her favourite companion. + +By this time sir William Twyford and Miss Fletcher were become in a manner +inseparable. Of consequence the company of the one necessarily involved +that of the other. And the gaiety and good humour of sir William, tempered +as they were by an excellent understanding, and an unaffected vein of +sportive wit, were the sweetest medicine to the wounded heart of Delia. +When she had first chosen Miss Fletcher for her intimate friend, her own +faculties had not yet reached their maturity; and habit frequently renders +the most insipid amusements pleasurable and interesting. Southampton +itself did not afford the largest scope for selection. And however our +readers may decide respecting the merit of the easy, the voluble and the +good humoured Miss Fletcher, they will scarcely be disposed to deny that +of all the female characters we have hitherto exhibited, she was the most +amiable. + +One evening, as these three friends were sitting together, sir William +took occasion to lament the necessity that was laid upon him to quit +Southampton for a few days, though he hoped very speedily to be able to +return. His inamorata, as usual, was very inquisitive to learn the +business that was to deprive her for a time of the presence of a lover, of +whom she was not a little ostentatious. Sir William answered that he was +under an engagement to be present at the marriage of one of his college +friends, and that he should set out in company with Mr. Moreland. + +At that name our tender and apprehensive fair one involuntarily started. +"Mr. Moreland!" said she to herself, "Ah, it was at his house that my +unknown resided. It is very seldom that Mr. Moreland undertakes a journey. +Surely there must be something particularly interesting to him in the +affair. The strange combination of circumstances terrifies and perplexes +me. Would I were delivered from this state of uncertainty! Would to God I +were dead!" + +The uncertainty which afflicted her was however of a very short duration. +Miss Fletcher, by an inexhaustible train of interrogatories, led sir +William to relate by degrees every thing he knew of the affair. The young +gentleman his friend was the nephew and heir of Mr. Moreland. The present +match had been long upon the carpet, and was a very considerable one in +point of fortune. "Did the nephew ever visit Mr. Moreland?" "Very +frequently," said sir William. "And he is visited" interposed Delia, "by +other young gentlemen from the university?" "No," answered sir William. +"Mr. Moreland, who is an old batchelor, full of oddities and sensibility, +has a general dislike of young collegians. He thinks them pert, dissolute, +arrogant, and pedantic. He therefore never receives any but his nephew, +for whom he has the most ardent affection, and sometimes by particular +grace myself who am his intimate friend." "And how long is it since the +young gentleman paid a visit to his uncle?" Sir William looked a little +surprized at so particular a question, but answered: "He was here not +above a fortnight ago to invite his uncle to the wedding. But he is rather +serious and thoughtful in his temper, so that he is seldom seen in +public." + +It was now but too certain that the friend of sir William, and the amiable +unknown, who had made a conquest of the heart of Delia, were the same +person. The surprise at which she was taken, and the unwelcome manner in +which her doubts were now at once resolved, were too much for the delicate +frame of our heroine. She sat for a moment gazing with an eager and +unmeaning stare upon the face of sir William. But she presently +recollected herself, and, bursting out of the room, flew to her chamber in +the same instant, and was relieved by a flood of tears. + +Sir William was inexpressibly surprised at this incident. Delia, he was +sure, did not even know the name of his friend, and he could scarcely +imagine that she had ever seen him. Miss Fletcher, though considerably +astonished herself, gave sir William an account of so many particulars of +what had passed between his friend and our heroine, as were perfectly +sufficient to solve the difficulty. In return the baronet explained to her +the exact situation of the affair of Damon, told her that he did not +believe the day was yet fixed, and assured her that Mr. Moreland and +himself waited for a farther summons, though it must be confessed that it +was expected every hour. + +These particulars, when communicated to Delia by the indefatigable +assiduity of Miss Fletcher, afforded her but a very slender consolation. +"What avails it me," said she, "that the day is not fixed? Every +considerable circumstance, there is reason to believe, is determined. He +marries, with the approbation of all his friends, a lady, my superior in +rank and fortune, and who is probably every way worthy of him. Ah, why am +I thus selfish and envious? No, let me pine away in obscurity, let me be +forgotten. But may he live long and happy. Did he not tell me, that he +went to seek the _mistress of his fate_?--And yet," interrupted she, +"he accompanied the information with words of such sweet import, with so +much tenderness and gentleness, as will never be erased from my mind. Ah +foolish girl, wilt thou for ever delude thyself, wilt thou be for ever +extracting comfort from despair? No! Long enough hast thou been misguided +by the meteor of hope. Long enough hast thou been cheated by the visions +of youthful fancy. There is now no remedy left. Let me die." + +There were two passions that predominated in the breast of sir William +Twyford. The first was that of a humourist, and to this almost every other +object was occasionally sacrificed. But he had likewise a large fund of +good nature. He perceived, that in two successive instances, however +unintentionally, his conduct had been the source of unhappiness to the +most amiable of her sex. The victory of lord Martin had put it more than +ever in his power to harrass Delia. She was incessantly importuned, now by +her father, and now by her inamorato. And her distress, if it had wanted +any addition, was rendered compleat by the expected marriage of one, whose +personal accomplishments had caught her unwary heart. He lamented the +undeserved misfortune of youth and beauty. His heart bled for her. + +Thus circumstanced, his active benevolence determined him not to lose a +moment, in endeavouring to repair the mischief of which he had so +unfortunately been the author. He had never cordially approved of the +intended union between his friend and Miss Frampton. She was of the first +order of coquettes, and it might have puzzled even an anatomist to +determine, whether she had a heart. Descartes informs us that the soul +usually resides in the pineal gland, but the soul of this lady seemed to +inhabit in her eyes. She had been caught with the figure of Damon. And had +a figure more perfectly beautiful, if that had been possible, or an +equipage more brilliant, presented itself, he did not doubt but that it +would carry away the prize. + +Miss Frampton was heiress to a fortune of fifty thousand pounds. The +father of Damon, whose soul, in union with some amiable qualities, which +served him for a disguise, had the misfortune to be exceedingly mercenary +at the bottom, had proposed the match to his son. Damon, who had never in +his life been guilty of an act of disobedience, received the +recommendation of his father with a prejudice in its favour. He waited +upon the young lady and found her beautiful, high spirited, accomplished, +and incensed by a thousand worshippers. Her disposition was not indeed +congenial to his own. But he was prejudiced by filial duty, dazzled by her +charms, and led on insensibly by the mildness and pliableness of his +character. In a word, every thing had been concluded, and the wedding was +daily expected to take place. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Two Persons of Fashion_. + + +In pursuance of the determination he had formed, sir William immediately +set out for Oxford, where his friend still resided. As he had lived with +him upon terms of the most unreserved familiarity, he made use of the +liberty of an intimate, and, without being announced, abruptly entered his +chamber. Damon was sitting in a melancholy posture, his countenance +dejected, and his eye languid. Upon the entrance of the baronet he looked +up, and struck with the sudden appearance of one to whom he was so +ardently attached, his visage for a moment assumed an air of gaiety and +pleasure. + +"Ha," cried sir William, with his wonted spriteliness of accent, "methinks +the countenance of my Damon does not bespeak the sentiments that become a +bridegroom." "I am afraid not," answered Damon. "But tell me to what am I +indebted for this agreeable and unexpected visit?" "We will talk of that +another time. But when did you see my play-fellow, Miss Frampton?" "I have +not seen her," replied our hero with a sigh half uttered, and half +suppressed, "these ten days." "What" cried the baronet, "no +misunderstanding, eh?" "Not absolutely that. I saw her, I fear, without +all the rapture that becomes a lover, and she resented it with a coldness +that did not introduce an immediate explanation. Since that time I have +been somewhat indisposed, or probably affairs would now have been +settled." "And what," said sir William, "must we apply the old maxim, that +the falling out of lovers is the consolidating of love?" + +Damon from the entrance of his friend had appeared a good deal agitated. +He was no longer able to contain himself. He eagerly seized the hand of +sir William and clasped it between both of his. "My dear baronet, I have +never concealed from you a thought of my heart. But my present situation +is so peculiarly delicate and distressing, that I can scarcely form any +sentiment of it, or even dare trust myself to recollect it. I have seen," +continued he, "ah, that I could forget it! a woman, beauteous as the day, +before whom the charms of Miss Frampton disappear, as, before the rising +sun, each little star _hides its diminish'd head_. Her features, full +of sensibility, her voice such as to thrill the soul and all she says, +pervaded with wit and good sense." "And where," cried the baronet, in a +lively tone, "resides this peerless she?" + +"Alas," answered the disconsolate Damon, "it matters not. I shall see her +no more. Virtue, honour, every thing forbids it. I may be unhappy, but I +will never deserve to be so. Miss Frampton has my vows. Filial duty calls +on me to fulfil them. Obstacles without number, Alps on Alps arise, to +impede my prosecution of a fond and unlicensed inclination. The struggle +has cost me something, but it is over. I have recovered my health, I have +formed my resolution. This very day, (you, my good friend, will accept the +apology) I had determined to repair to Beaufort Place. Doubt and +uncertainty nourish the lingering distemper that would undo me. I will +come to a decision." + +Sir William was not of a temper to abdicate any affair in which he had +embarked, before success appeared absolutely unattainable. Like Caesar, it +was enough for him that the thing appeared possible to be done, to engage +him to persevere. He therefore begged leave to accompany his friend, and +they set out together that very afternoon. + +Beaufort Place, the habitation of Miss Frampton, was only six miles from +Oxford. And, as he knew that Sir Harry Eustace, the son of that lady's +mother by a second husband, was now upon a visit to his sister, sir +William Twyford made no scruple of proceeding with his friend immediately +to the house. + +After a short general conversation, sir William drew the young baronet +into the garden. In the mean time sir Harry's chariot was preparing, as he +had fixed the conclusion of his visit for that evening. After an interval +of half an hour the servant brought word that the carriage was ready. Sir +Harry, who was a young man of little ceremony, bowed _en passant_ +before the parlour window, and immediately hurried away. + +Sir William stood for some time at the door of the house after sir Harry +had driven away. Presently he observed another carriage advancing by the +opposite road. The liveries were flaunting and the attendants numerous. +They drew nearer, and he perceived that it was the equipage of lord +Osborne. Since therefore the lovers were to be so soon interrupted by the +entrance of a new visitant, he thought proper immediately to enter the +parlour. + +He had only time to remark the air and countenance of Damon and the young +lady. They appeared mutually cold and embarassed. He could trace in his +friend the aukwardness and timidity of one who was unused to act a studied +part. Miss Frampton, with a countenance uninterested and inattentive, +affected the carriage of a person who thought herself insulted. + +Lord Osborne was now announced. He was a young nobleman, that had spent a +considerable part of his fortune upon the continent. With a narrow +understanding and a contracted heart, he had been able by habitual cunning +and invincible effrontery, to acquire the reputation of a man of parts. +Courage was the only respectable quality, his possession of which could +not be questioned. He was a debauchee and a gamester. There was no +meanness he had not practised, there was no villainy of which he could not +boast. With this character, he was universally respected and courted by +all such as wished to acquire the reputation of men of gaiety and spirit. +The ladies were all dying for him, as for a man who had ruined more +innocence, and occasioned a greater consumption of misery, than any other +man in the kingdom. + +The face of Miss Frampton visibly brightened the moment his name was +articulated. She was all spirits and agitation, though she seemed to feel +something aukward in her situation. When he entered the room, she flew +half way to meet him, but, suddenly recollecting herself, stopt short. "My +dear Miss Frampton," said his lordship, with a familiar and indifferent +air, "I cannot stop a moment. I am mortified to death. The most +unfortunate man! But I could not live a whole day without seeing you. +Believe me to be more impassioned, more ardent than ever." Saying this be +directed a slight glance and a half bow towards our two friends. "Farewel, +my charmer, my adorable!" said he, and kissed her hand. Miss Frampton +struck him a slight blow with her fan, and crying, with an easy wink, +"Remember!" she dropt him a profound curtesey and his lordship departed. + +For a moment the whole company was silent. "By my soul," exclaimed sir +William, "this is the most singular affair!" "Oh, nothing at all," +answered the young lady. "It is all _ą la mode de Paris_. In France +no man of fashion can presume to accost a lady, whether young or old, but +in the language of love. But it means no more, than when a minister of +state says to his first clerk, _your humble servant_, or to the widow +of a poor seaman, _your devoted slave_." "Oh," cried sir William, "that +is all. And by my faith, it is mighty pretty. What think you Damon? I +hope, when you are married, you will have no objection to lord Osborne, or +any other person of fashion making love to your wife before your face." +"What an indelicate question!" said Miss Frampton. "I declare, baronet, +you are grown an absolute boor. Nobody ever talks of marriage now. A woman +of fashion blushes to hear it mentioned before a third person." "Why, to +say the truth, madam, I have been honoured with so great an intimacy by +Damon, that I thought that might excuse the impropriety. And now, pray +your ladyship, must I wait till we are alone, before I ask my friend +whether his happy day be fixed?" "Since you will talk," said Miss +Frampton, "of the odious subject, I believe I may tell you that it is not. +We are in no such hurry." "My dear sweet play-fellow," said the baronet, +"I must tell you once for all that I am no adept in French fashions. So +that you will give me leave to use the unceremonious language of an +Englishman. My friend here, you know, is a little sheepish, but I have +words at will. I thought matters had been nearer a termination." "And +pray, my good sir, let the gentleman speak for himself. If he is not +dissatisfied, why should you be in such haste?" "Indeed, madam," +interposed Damon, "I am not perfectly satisfied. Perhaps indeed a lover +ought to think himself happy enough in being permitted to dance attendance +upon a lady of your charms. But I once thought, madam, that we had +advanced somewhat farther." "I cannot tell," answered the lady with an air +of levity. "Just as you please. But I cannot see why we should put +ourselves to any inconvenience. Lord Osborne"--"Lord Osborne!" interrupted +sir William with some warmth, "and pray what has his lordship to do with +the matter?" "Really sir William," replied Miss Frampton, "you are very +free. But his lordship is my friend, and I hope Damon has no objection to +his continuing so." "Look you," answered sir William, "I would neither +have lord Osborne for the rival of Damon now, nor for your +_chichisbee_ hereafter." "And yet I am not sure," cried she, "that he +may not be both." "Is there then," said the baronet, "no engagement +subsisting between you and Damon?" "I believe," cried Miss Frampton, a +little hesitating, "there may be something of the kind. But we may change +our minds you know, and I do not think that I shall prosecute upon it. Ha! +ha! ha!" "To say the truth," replied sir William, "I believe lord Osborne +is not only the rival of Damon, but a very formidable one too. But let me +tell you, Bella, a character so respectable as that of my friend, and so +true an Englishman, must not be allowed to dance attendance." "As he +pleases. I believe we understand one another. And to say the truth at +once, perhaps some time hence I may have no aversion to lord Osborne." + +The reader will not suppose that the conversation continued much longer. +Damon and the young lady came to a perfect understanding, and parted +without any very ungovernable desire of seeing each other again. And thus +by the gay humour and active friendship of sir William Twyford, an affair +was happily terminated, which, from the timidity and gentleness of our +hero, might otherwise have lingered several months to the mutual +dissatisfaction of both parties. Damon quitted the house in raptures, and +was no sooner seated in the chariot, than he pressed his friend repeatedly +to his breast, and committed a thousand extravagancies of joy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_A tragical Resolution._ + + +Damon and his friend spent the evening together in the chambers of our +hero. They now discussed a variety of those subjects, which naturally +arise between friends who have been for any time separated. Damon threw +aside that reserve which the consciousness of a fault had hitherto +involuntarily imposed upon him, and related more explicitly who the lady +was of whom he was so much enamoured, and in what manner he had first seen +her. Recollecting that the baronet was just returned from the environs of +Southampton, he eagerly enquired into the health and situation of his +mistress. + +Sir William related to him the adventure of Mr. Prettyman, as we have +already stated it to our readers, and deeply lamented the persecution to +which Delia was subjected from the haughty victor. "And is there," cried +Damon eagerly, "no prospect of his lordship's success?" "I believe," +answered sir William, "that he is of all men her mortal aversion." "And is +there no happy lover in all her train, that she regards with a partial +eye?" "None," replied the baronet, "she is chaste as snow, and firm as +mountain oaks." "Propitious coldness!" exclaimed Damon, "for that may +heaven send down a thousand blessings on her head!" + +"But you talked," added he, "of some occasion of your journey which you +deferred relating to me." "The occasion," answered sir William, determined +to preserve inviolate the secret of Delia, "is already fulfilled. I heard +from young Eustace of the appearance and addresses of Osborne, and +suspecting the rest, I determined to deliver you from the clutches of a +girl whom I always thought unworthy of you. And now" added he cheerfully, +"free as the winds, we can pursue uncontrolled the devices of our own +hearts." + +The next morning the two friends proceeded to the house of lord Thomas +Villiers, the father of Damon. He had already learned something of the +visits of lord Osborne at Beaufort Place. He was not therefore much +surprised to hear of the scene, which had passed between his son and the +lady of that mansion. But there was something more to be done, in order to +gain the approbation of the father to the new project, in the prosecution +of which both these friends were equally sanguine. + +Lord Thomas Villiers was, as we have already said, avaricious. He was not +therefore much pleased with the proposal of a match with a lady, whose +fortune was not the half of that of Miss Frampton. He was tinctured with +the pride of family, and he could not patiently think for a moment, of +marrying his only son to the daughter of a tradesman. Sir William employed +all his eloquence, and accommodated himself with infinite dexterity to the +humours of the person with whom he had to deal. Damon indeed said but +little, but his looks expressed more, than the baronet, with all his +abilities, and all his friendship, was able to suggest. In spite of both, +the father continued inexorable. + +The mind of Damon was impressed with the most exalted ideas upon the +subject of filial duty. Had his heart been pre-engaged, before the affair +of Miss Frampton was proposed to him, he might not perhaps have carried +his complaisance so far, as to have married the indifferent person, in +spite of all his views and all his prepossessions. But in his estimate, +the actual entering into a connection for life in opposition to the will +of a parent, was a mode of conduct very different from, and far more +exceptionable than the refusing to unite oneself with a person in whose +society one had not the smallest reason to look for happiness. + +There was another inducement that had much weight with Damon, and even +with his more sanguine friend, sir William Twyford. The fortune neither of +Damon nor Delia was independent. Lord Thomas Villiers was filled with too +many prepossessions and too much pride, easily to retract an opinion he +had once adopted, or to forgive an opposition to his judgment. The narrow +education of a tradesman it was natural to suppose had rendered the mind +of Mr. Hartley still more tenacious, and unmanageable. And neither would +sir William have been willing to see his friend, nor would the lover +readily have involved his mistress in circumstances of pecuniary distress. + +The resolution of Damon was therefore speedily taken. Every motive that +could have weight, served to counteract the bias of his inclination. He by +no means wanted either firmness or spirit. He resolved to struggle, nor to +cease his efforts till he had conquered. With this design he entreated, +and, after some difficulties, obtained of his father leave to enter +himself in the army, and to make a campaign in America. + +The character of his heart seemed particularly formed for military +pursuits. He was grave and thoughtful, he was generous and humane. To a +mind contemplative and full of sensibility, he united a temper, frank, +open, and undisguised. He was usually mild, gentle and pliant. But in a +situation, that called for determination and spirit, it was impossible to +appear more bold and manly, more cool and decided,--Affectionate was the +farewel of his father, and still more affectionate that of his friend. +Damon, though he endeavoured to summon all his resolution, could not +restrain a sigh when he considered himself as about to sail for distant +climates, and recollected, that probably, before his return, his beloved +mistress, _dearer than life and all its joys_, would be united, +irrevocably united to another. But here we must take leave of our hero, +and return to his fair inamorata. + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + + + +PART the SECOND. + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + +PART the SECOND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_In which the Story begins over again_. + + +Sir William Twyford had taken care to inform Miss Fletcher, and by her +means Delia herself, of every circumstance as it occurred. Delia was +indeed flattered by the breach that had taken place with Miss Frampton, +and the perfect elucidation, which the story of this lady afforded to the +most enigmatical expressions of Damon, in the interesting scene that had +passed between them in the alcove. She no longer doubted of the reality of +his attachment. Her heart was soothed, and her pride secretly flattered, +in recollecting that she had not suffered herself to be caught by one who +was perfectly indifferent to her. + +But the information that stifled all her hopes, and gave her the prospect +of so long, and, too probably, an eternal absence, sat heavy upon her +spirits, and preyed upon her delicate constitution. From the persecutions +of lord Martin she had no respite. Her eye grew languid, the colour faded +in her damask cheek, and her health visibly decayed. + +At this time Miss Fletcher proposed a journey to Windsor and other places, +and intreated to have her friend to accompany her. Mr. Hartley, with all +his foibles, was much attached to his only child, and deeply afflicted +with the alteration he perceived in her. He readily therefore gave his +consent to the proposed jaunt. "When she returns, it will be time enough," +said he to lord Martin, "to bring things to the conclusion, so much +desired by both of us. I will not put my darling into your hands, but with +that health and gaiety, which have so long been the solace of my old age, +and which cannot fail to make any man happy that deserves her." + +Delia set out without any other inclination, than to escape from +intreaties that were become in the highest degree disagreeable to her. She +was addressed no longer upon a topic, of which she wished never to hear. +Her eye was no longer wounded with the sight of her insolent admirer. This +had an immediate and a favourable effect upon her. The conversation of +Miss Fletcher was lively and unflagging, and the simplicity of her remarks +proved an inexhaustible source of entertainment to our heroine. + +They travelled leisurely and visited a variety of parks and seats of +noblemen which lay in their way. The taste of Delia was delicate and +refined. A continual succession of objects; gardens, architecture, +pictures and statues soothed her spirits, and gradually restored her to +that gaiety and easiness of temper, which had long rendered her the most +lovely and engaging of her sex. + +At length they arrived at Windsor. The simple dignity of the castle, its +commanding situation, and the beautiful effects of the river from below, +rendered it infinitely the most charming spot our heroine had yet seen. +Her spirits were on the wing, she was all life and conversation, and the +most constant heart, that nature had ever produced, for a moment, forgot +her hopes, her fears, her inclinations, and her Damon. + +She was now standing at a window that commanded the terrace. The evening +was beautiful, and the walk crouded. There were assembled persons of all +sexes and of different ranks. All appeared gaiety and splendour. The +supple courtier and the haughty country gentleman seemed equally at their +ease. There was thoughtless youth and narrative old age. The company +passed along, and object succeeded object without intermission. + +One of the last that caught the eye of Delia, was that of two gentlemen +walking arm in arm, and seeming more grave than the rest of the company. +They were both tall and well shaped; but one of them had somewhat more +graceful and unembarrassed in his manner than the other. The latter was +dressed in black, the former in colours, with much propriety and elegance. + +As they turned at the end of the walk the eye of Delia caught in the +latter the figure of Damon. She was inexpressibly astonished, she trembled +in every limb, and could scarcely support herself to a seat. Miss Fletcher +had caught the same object at the same moment, and, though she probably +might not otherwise have been clear in her recollection, the disorder of +Delia put her conjecture out of doubt. She therefore, before our heroine +had time to recollect herself, dispatched her brother, who had attended +them in their journey, to inform Damon that a lady in the castle was +desirous to speak with him. + +In an instant our hero and his companion, escorted by young Fletcher, +entered the room. The astonishment of Damon, at being so suddenly +introduced to a person, whom he had never expected to see again, was +immeasurable. He rushed forward with a kind of rapture; he suddenly +recollected himself; but at length advanced with hesitation. There was no +one present beside those we have already named. The castle was probably +familiar to every person except Delia and her companions. Every one beside +was therefore assembled upon the terrace. + +Our heroine now gradually recovered from the disorder into which the +unexpected sight of Damon had thrown her. She was much surprised at +looking up to find him in her presence. "How is this," cried she, "how +came you hither?" "The meeting," said our hero, "is equally unexpected to +us both. But, ah, my charmer, whence this disorder? Why did you tremble, +why look so pale?" "Oh goodness," cried Miss Fletcher, "what should it be? +Why it was nothing in all the world, but her seeing you just now from the +window." "And were you," cried Damon eagerly, "so kind as to summon me to +your presence?" "No, no, my good sir," said the lively lady, "you must +thank me for that". "How then at least," said the lover, "must I interpret +your disorder?" + +Delia was inexpressibly confused at the inconsiderate language of her +companion. "I cannot tell," said she, "you must not ask me. You must +forget it." "And can I," cried Damon with transport, "ever forget a +disorder so propitious, so flattering? Can I hope that the heart of my +charmer is not indifferent to her Damon!" "Oh sir, be silent. Do not use a +language like this." "Alas," cried he, "too long has my passion been +suppressed. Too long have I been obliged to act a studied part, and employ +a language foreign to my heart." "I thought," answered Delia, with +hesitation, "that you were going to leave the kingdom." "And did my fair +one condescend to employ a thought upon me? Did she interest herself in my +concern and enquire after my welfare? And how so soon could she have +learned my intention?" + +This question, joined with the preceding circumstances, completed the +confusion of Delia. She blushed, stammered, and was silent. Damon, during +this interval, gazed upon her with unmingled rapture. Every symptom she +betrayed of confusion, was to him a symptom of something inexpressibly +soothing. "Ah," whispered he to himself, "I am beloved, and can I then +leave the kingdom? Can I quit this inestimable treasure? Can I slight so +pure a friendship, and throw away the jewel upon which all my future +happiness depends?" + +The conversation, from the peculiar circumstances of the lovers, had so +immediately become interesting, that the gentlemen had not had an +opportunity of quitting them. During the short silence that prevailed the +friend of Damon took young Fletcher by the hand, and led him into the +garden. The lovers were now under less restraint. Delia, perceiving that +she could no longer conceal her sentiments, confessed them with ingenuous +modesty. Damon on the other hand was ravished at so unexpected a +discovery, and in a few minutes had lived an age in love. + +He now began to recollect himself. "Where," said he, "are all my +resolutions? What are become of all the plans I had formed, and the +designs in which I had embarked? What an unexpected revolution? No," said +he, addressing himself to Delia, "I will never quit you. Do thou but +smile, and let all the world beside abandon me. Can you forgive the +sacrilegious intention of deserting you, of flying from you to the +extremities of the globe? Oh, had I known a thought of Damon had harboured +in one corner of your heart, I would sooner have died." "And do you +think," cried Delia, "that I will tempt you to disobedience? No. Obey the +precepts of your father and your own better thoughts. Heaven designed us +not for each other. Neither your friends nor mine can ever be reconciled +to the union. Go then and forget me. Go and be happy. May your sails be +swelled with propitious gales! May victory and renown attend your steps!" +"Ah cruel Delia, and do you wish to banish me? Do you enjoin upon me the +impracticable talk, to forget all that my heart holds dear? And will my +Delia resign herself to the arms of a more favoured lover?" "Never," cried +she with warmth. "I will not disobey my father. I will not marry contrary +to his inclinations. But even the authority of a parent shall not drag me +to the altar with a man my soul detests." "Propitious sounds! Generous +engagements! Thus let me thank thee."--And he kissed her hand with +fervour. "Thus far," cried Delia, "I can advance. I employ no disguise. I +confess to you all my weakness. Perhaps I ought to blush. But never will I +have this reason to blush, for that my love has injured the object it +aspires to bless. Go in the path of fortune. Deserve success and happiness +by the exemplariness of your duty. And may heaven shower down blessings +without number!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The History of Mr. Godfrey_. + + +In expostulations like these our lovers spent their time without coming to +any conclusion, till the evening and Miss Fletcher warned them that it was +time to depart. Damon was to proceed for London early the next morning. He +therefore intreated of Delia to permit his friend Mr. Godfrey, who was +obliged to continue in the place some days longer, to wait upon her with +his last commands. He informed himself of the time when she was to return +to Southampton, and he trusted to be there not long after her. In the mean +time, as his situation was at present very precarious, he prevailed upon +her to permit him to write to her from time to time, and to promise to +communicate to him in return any thing of consequence that might happen to +herself. + +During the remainder of the evening Miss Fletcher made several ingenious +observations upon what had passed. Delia gently blamed her for having so +strangely occasioned the interview, though in reality she was by no means +displeased by the event it had produced. "Bless us, child, you are as +captious as any thing. Why I would not but have seen it for ever so much. +Well, he is a sweet dear man, and so kind, and so polite, for all the +world I think him just such another as Mr. Prattle. But then he is grave, +and makes such fine speeches, it does one's heart good to hear him. I vow +I wish I had such a lover. Sir William never says any thing half so +pretty. Bless us, my dear, _he_ talks about love, just as if he were +talking about any thing else." + +The next morning after breakfast, Mr. Godfrey appeared. He brought from +Damon a thousand vows full of passion and constancy. He had parted, he +said, more determined not to leave England, more resolute to prosecute his +love than ever. + +Having discharged his commission, he offered his service to escort the +ladies in any party they might propose for the present day. He said, that +being perfectly acquainted with Windsor and its environs, he flattered +himself he might be able to contribute to their entertainment. The very +gallant manner in which this offer was made, determined Miss Fletcher, as +something singular and interesting in the appearance of Mr. Godfrey did +our heroine, cheerfully to close with the proposal. + +The person of Mr. Godfrey as we have already said was tall and genteel. +There was a diffidence in his manner, that seemed to prove that he had not +possessed the most extensive acquaintance with high life; but he had a +natural politeness that amply compensated for the polish and forms of +society. His air was serious and somewhat melancholy; but there was a fire +and animation in his eye that was in the highest degree striking. + +Delia engaged him to talk of the character and qualities of Damon. Upon +this subject, Mr. Godfrey spoke with the warmth of an honest friendship. +He represented Damon as of a disposition perfectly singular and +unaccommodated to what he stiled "the debauched and unfeeling manners of +the age." He acknowledged with readiness and gratitude, that he owed to +him the most important obligations. By degrees Delia collected from him +several circumstances of a story, which she before apprehended to be +interesting. She observed, that, as he shook off the embarrassment of a +first introduction, his language became fluent, elegant, pointed, and even +sometimes poetical. Since however he related his own story imperfectly and +by piece meal, we shall beg leave to state it in our own manner. And we +the rather do it, as we apprehend it to be interesting in itself, and as +we foresee that he will make a second appearance in the course of this +narrative. We will not however deprive our readers of the reflections he +threw out upon the several situations in which he had been placed. We will +give them without pretending to decide how far they may be considered as +just and well-founded. + +Mr. Godfrey was not born to affluent circumstances. At a proper age he had +been placed at the university of Oxford, and here it was that he commenced +his acquaintance with Damon. At Oxford his abilities had been universally +admired. His public exercises, though public exercises by their very +nature ought to be dull, had in them many of those sallies, by which his +disposition was characterised, and much of that superiority, which he +indisputably possessed above his contemporaries. But though admired, he +was not courted. In our public places of education, a wide distance is +studiously preserved between young men of fortune, and young men that have +none. But Mr. Godfrey had a stiffness and unpliableness of temper, that +did not easily bend to the submission that was expected of him. He could +neither flatter a blockhead, nor pimp for a peer. He loved his friend +indeed with unbounded warmth, and it was impossible to surpass him in +generousness and liberality. But he had a proud integrity, that whispered +him, with, a language not to be controled, that he was the inferior of no +man. + +He was destined for the profession of a divine, and, having finished his +studies, retired upon a curacy of forty pounds a year. His ambition was +grievously mortified at the obscurity in which he was plunged; and his +great talents, in spite of real modesty, forcibly convinced him, that this +was not the station for which nature had formed him. But he had an +enthusiasm of virtue, that led him for a time to overlook these +disadvantages. "I am going," said he, "to dwell among scenes of unvitiated +nature. I will form the peasant to generosity and sentiment. I will teach +laborious industry to look without envy and without asperity upon those +above them. I will be the friend and the father of the meanest of my +flock. I will give sweetness and beauty to the most rugged scenes. The +man, that banishes envy and introduces contentment; the man, that converts +the little circle in which he dwells into a terrestrial paradise, that +renders men innocent here, and happy for ever, may be obscure, may be +despised by the superciliousness of luxury; but it shall never be said +that he has been a blank in creation. The Supreme Being will regard him +with a complacency, which he will deny to kings, that oppress, and +conquerors, that destroy the work of his hands." + +Such were the suggestions of youthful imagination. But Mr. Godfrey +presently found the truth of that maxim, as paradoxical as it is +indisputable, that the heart of man is naturally hard and unamiable. He +conducted himself in his new situation with the most unexceptionable +propriety, and the most generous benevolence. But there were men in his +audience, men who loved better to criticise, than to be amended; and +women, who felt more complacency in scandal, than eulogium. He displeased +the one by disappointing them; it was impossible to disappoint the other. +He laboured unremittedly, but his labours returned to him void. "And is it +for this," said he, "that I have sacrificed ambition, and buried talents? +Is humility to be rewarded only with mortification? Is obscurity and +retirement the favourite scene of uneasiness, ingratitude, and +impertinence? They shall be no longer my torment. In no scene can I meet +with a more scanty success." + +He now obtained a recommendation to be private tutor to the children of a +nobleman. This nobleman was celebrated for the politeness of his manners +and the elegance of his taste. It was his boast and his ambition to be +considered as the patron of men of letters. With his prospect therefore in +this connection, Mr. Godfrey was perfectly satisfied. "I shall no longer," +said he, "be the slave of ignorance, and the victim of insensibility. My +talents perhaps point me a step higher than to the business of forming the +minds of youth. But, at least, the youth under my care are destined to +fill the most conspicuous stations in future life. If propitious fortune +might have raised me to the character of a statesman; depressed by +adversity, I may yet have the honour of moulding the mind, and infusing +generosity into the heart, of a future statesman. I have heard the second +son of my patron celebrated for the early promises of capacity. To unfold +the springing germs of genius, to direct them in the path of general +happiness, is an employment by no means unworthy of a philosopher." + +In this situation Mr. Godfrey however once more looked for pleasure, and +found disappointment. The nobleman had more the affectation of a patron, +than any real enthusiasm in the cause of literature. The abilities of Mr. +Godfrey were universally acknowledged. And so long as the novelty +remained, he was caressed, honoured, and distinguished. In a short time +however, he was completely forgotten by the patron, in the hurry of +dissipation, and the pursuits of an unbounded ambition. His eldest care +was universally confessed stupid and impracticable. And in the younger he +found nothing but the prating forwardness of a boy who had been flattered, +without sentiment, and without meaning. Her ladyship treated Mr. Godfrey +with superciliousness, as an intruder at her lord's table. The servants +caught the example, and showed him a distinction of neglect, which the +exquisiteness of his sensibility would not permit him to despise. + +Mortified, irritated, depressed, he now quitted his task half finished and +threw himself upon the world. "The present age," said he, "is not an age +in which talents are overlooked, and genius depressed." He had heard much +of the affluence of writers, a Churchil, a Smollet, and a Goldsmith, who +had depended upon that only for their support. He saw the celebrated Dr. +Johnson caressed by all parties, and acknowledged to be second to no man, +whatever were his rank, however conspicuous his station. Full of these +ideas, he soon completed a production, fraught with the fire and +originality of genius, pointed in its remarks, and elegant in its style. +He had now to experience vexations, of which he had before entertained no +idea. He carried his work from bookseller to bookseller, and was every +where refused. His performance was not seasoned to the times, he was a +person that nobody knew, and he had no man of rank, by his importunities +and eloquence, to force him into the ranks of fashion. At length he found +a bookseller foolish enough to undertake it. But he presently perceived +that the gentlemen at the head of that profession were wiser than he. All +the motives they had mentioned, and one more, operated against him. The +monarchs of the critic realm scouted him with one voice, because his work, +was not written in the same cold, phlegmatic insupportable manner as their +own. + +He had now advanced however too far to retreat. He had too much spirit to +resume either of those professions, which for reasons so cogent in his +opinion, he had already quitted. He wrote essays, squibs, and pamphlets +for an extemporary support. But though these were finished with infinite +rapidity, he found that they constituted a very precarious means of +subsistence. The time of dinner often came, before the production that was +to purchase it was completed; and when completed, it was frequently +several days before it could find a purchaser. And his copy money and his +taylor's bill were too little proportioned to one another. + +He now recollected, what in the gaiety of hope he had forgotten, that +_many a flower_ only blows, with its sweetness to refresh the _air +of a desert_. He recollected many instances of works, raised by the +breath of fashion to the very pinnacle of reputation, that sunk as soon +again. He recollected instances scarcely fewer, of works, exquisite in +their composition, pregnant with beauties almost divine, that had passed +from the press without notice. Many had been revived by the cooler and +more deliberate judgment of a future age; and more had been lost for ever. +The instance of Chatterton, as a proof that the universal patronage of +genius was by no means the virtue of his contemporaries, flashed in his +face. And he looked forward to the same fate at no great distance, as his +own. + +To Mr. Godfrey however, fortune was in one degree more propitious. Damon +was among the few whose judgment was not guided by the dictate of fashion. +Having met accidentally with the performance we have mentioned, he was +struck with its beauties. As he had heard nothing of it in the politest +circles, he concluded, with his usual penetration, that the author of it +was in obscure and narrow circumstances. _Open as day to sweet +humanity_, interested warmly in the fortune of the writer of so amiable +a performance, he flew to his bookseller's with the usual enquiries. The +bookseller stared, and had it not been for the splendour of his dress, and +his gilded chariot, would have been tempted to smile at so unfashionable +and absurd a question. He soon however obtained the information he +desired. And his eagerness was increased, when the name of Godfrey, and +the recollection of the talents by which he had been so eminently +distinguished, led him to apprehend that he was one, to whose abilities +and character he had been greatly attached. + +He found some difficulty to obtain admission. But this was quickly +removed, as, from the dignity of his appearance, it was not probable that +he was a person, from whom Mr. Godfrey had any thing to apprehend. He +found him in a wretched apartment, his hair dishevelled and his dress +threadbare and neglected. Mr. Godfrey was unspeakably surprised at his +appearance. And it was with much difficulty that Damon prevailed upon him +to accept of an assistance, that he assured him should be but temporary, +if it were in the power of him, or any of his connections, to render him +respectable and independent, in such a situation as himself should chuse. + +Disappointment and misfortune are calculated to inspire asperity into the +gentlest heart. Mr. Godfrey inveighed with warmth, and sometimes with +partiality, against the coldness and narrowness of the age. He said, "that +men of genius, in conspicuous stations, had no feeling for those whom +nature had made their brothers; and that those who had risen from +obscurity themselves, forgot the mortifications of their earlier life, and +did not imitate the generous justice which had enabled them to fulfil the +destination of nature." But though misfortune had taught him asperity upon +certain subjects, it had not corrupted his manners, debauched his +integrity, or narrowed his heart. He had still the same warmth in the +cause of virtue, as in days of the most unexperienced simplicity. He still +dreaded an oath, and reverenced the divinity of innocence. He still +believed in a God, and was sincerely attached to his honour, though he had +often been told, that this was a prejudice, unworthy of his comprehension +of thinking upon all other subjects. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Misanthrope._ + + +Such was the story, in its most essential circumstances, that Mr. Godfrey +related. Delia was exceedingly interested in the gaiety of his +imagination, the cruelty of his disappointments, and the acuteness, and +goodness of heart that appeared in his reflections. Miss Fletcher listened +to the whole with gaping wonder. But as soon as he was gone, she began +with her usual observations. "Well," said she, "I never saw an author +before. I could not have thought that he could have looked like a +gentleman. Why, I vow, I could sometimes have taken him for a beau. Ay, +but then he talked for all the world as if it had been written in a book. +Well, by my troth, it was a mighty pretty story. But I should have liked +it better, if there had been a sighing nymph, or a duel or two in it. But +do you think it was all of his own making?" + +We will not trouble the reader to accompany our ladies from stage to stage +during the remainder of their journey. Nothing more remarkable happened, +and in ten days they arrived again at Southampton. + +Damon met Mr. Moreland in London, and, with that simplicity and candour by +which he was distinguished, related to him every circumstance of his +story. Mr. Moreland had no predilection in favour of lord Thomas Villiers. +His sister, whom he esteemed in all respects an amiable woman, had by no +means lived happily with her husband. Avarice and pride of rank were the +farthest in the world from being the foibles of Mr. Moreland, and the +sensibility of his disposition did not permit him to treat the faults, to +which himself was a stranger, with much indulgence. He therefore +encouraged Damon to persevere in the pursuit of his inclination, and +invited him to return with him into the country. He promised himself to +propose the match to Mr. Hartley, and assured his nephew, that he should +never feel any narrowness in his circumstances, in case of his father's +displeasure, while it was in his power to render them affluent. + +In pursuit of this plan, Damon, Mr. Moreland, and sir William Twyford, +whom they found in London, and whose goodness of humour led him heartily +to approve of the alteration in the plan of his friend, arrived, almost as +soon as our travellers, in the neighbourhood of Southampton. Sir William +and Damon, soon waited upon their respective mistresses, and in company so +mutually acceptable, time sped with a greater velocity than was usual to +him, and days appeared no more than hours. + +It was impossible that such a connexion should pass long unnoticed. It +must be confessed however that it met with no interruption from lord +Martin. Perhaps it might have escaped his notice, though it escaped that +of no other person. Perhaps he was satiated with the glory he had +acquired, and having conquered one beau, would not, like Alexander, have +sighed, if there had remained no other beau to conquer. Perhaps the +countenance of Mr. Hartley, of which he considered himself as securer than +ever, led him, like a wise general, to reflect, that in staking his life +against that of a lover, whose chance of success was almost wholly +precluded, he mould make a very unfair and unequal combat. + +Be this as it will, Mr. Hartley had no such motives to overlook this new +occurrence. Just however as he had begun to take it into his mature +consideration, he received the compliments of Mr. Moreland, with an +intimation of his design to make him a visit that very afternoon. + +At this message Mr. Hartley was a good deal surprised. Mr. Moreland he had +never but once seen, and in that visit, he thought he had had reason to be +offended with him. If that gentleman treated the company of Mr. Prattle +and lord Martin, persons universally admired, as not good enough for him, +it seemed unaccountable that he should have recourse to him. He was +neither distinguished by the elegance of his accomplishments, nor did he +much pride himself in the attainments of literature. After many +conjectures, he at length determined with infinite sagacity, to suspend +his judgement, till Mr. Moreland mould solve the enigma. + +This determination was scarcely made before his visitor arrived. That +gentleman, who, though full of sensibility and benevolence, was not a man +of empty ceremony, immediately opened his business. Mr. Hartley, drew +himself up in his chair, and, with the dignity of a citizen of London, who +thinks that the first character in the world, cried, "Well, sir, and who +is this nephew of yours? I think I never heard of him." "He is the son," +answered Mr. Moreland, "of lord Thomas Villiers." "Lord Thomas Villiers! +Then I suppose he is a great man. And pray now, sir, if this great man has +a mind that his son should marry my daughter, why does he not come and +tell me so himself?" "Why in truth," said the other, "lord Thomas Villiers +has no mind. But my nephew is his only son, and therefore cannot be +deprived of the principal part of his estate after his death. In the mean +time, I will take care that he shall have an income perfectly equal to the +fortune of Miss Hartley." "You will sir! And so in the first place, this +young spark would have me encourage him in disobedience, which is the +greatest crime upon God's earth, and in the second, he thinks that I, Bob +Hartley, as I sit here, will marry my daughter into any family that is too +proud to own us." "As to that, sir," said Moreland, "you must judge for +yourself. The young gentleman is an unexceptionable match, and I, sir, +whose fortune and character I flatter myself are not inferior to that of +any gentleman in the county, shall always be proud to own and receive the +young lady." "Why as to that, to be sure, you may be in the right for +_auft_ that I know. But _howsomdever_, my daughter, do you see, +is already engaged to lord Martin." "I should have thought," replied +Moreland, "that objection might have been stated in the first instance, +without any reflexions upon the conduct and family of the young gentleman. +But are you sure that lord Martin is the man of your daughter's choice?" +"I cannot say that I ever _axed_ her, for I do not see what that has +to do with the matter. Lord Martin, do you see, is a fine young man, and a +fine fortune. And Delia is my own daughter, and if she should boggle about +having him, I would cut her off with a shilling." "Sir," answered +Moreland, with much indignation, "that is a conduct that would deserve to +be execrated. My nephew, without any sinister means, is master of your +daughter's affection; and lord Martin, I have authority to tell you, is +her aversion." "Oh, ho! is it so. Well then, sir, I will tell you what I +shall do. Your nephew shall never have my daughter, though she had but a +rag to her tail. And as for her affections and her aversion, I will lock +her up, and keep her upon bread and water, till she knows, that she ought +to have neither, before her own father has told her _what is what_." +Mr. Moreland, all of whose nerves were irritated into a fever by so much +vulgarity, and such brutal insensibility, could retain his seat no longer. +He started up, and regarding his entertainer with a look of ineffable +indignation, flung the door in his face, and retreated to his chariot. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Much ado about nothing_. + + +Damon was inexpressibly afflicted at the success of his uncle's embassy. +When Mr. Moreland related to him the particulars of his visit, Damon +recollected the opposite tempers of the two gentlemen, and blamed himself +for not having foreseen the event. Mr. Hartley was infinitely exasperated +at the cavalierness with which he had been treated. He now discovered the +true cause of his daughter's pertinacity, and proceeded with more vigour +than ever. + +"And so," cried he, "you have dared to engage your affections without my +privity, have you? A pretty story truly. And you would disgrace me for +ever, by marrying into the family of a lord, that despises us, and an old +fellow, that for half a word would knock your father's brains out." +"Indeed sir," replied Delia, "I never thought of marrying without your +consent. I only gave the young gentleman leave to ask it of you." "You +gave him leave! And pray who are you? And so you was in league with him to +send this fellow to abuse me?" "Upon my word, I was not. And I am very +sorry if Mr. Moreland has behaved improperly." "_If_ Mr. Moreland! +and so you pretend to doubt of it! But, let me tell you, I have provided +you a husband, worth fifty of this young prig, and I will make you think +so." "Indeed sir, I can never think so." "You cannot. And pray who told +you to object, before I have named the man. Why, child, lord Martin has +ten thousand pounds a year, and is a peer, and is not ashamed of us one +bit in all the world." "Alas, sir, I can never have lord Martin. Do not +mention him. I am in no hurry. I will live single as long as you please." +"Yes, and when you have persuaded me to that, you will jump out at window +the next day to this ungracious rascal." "Oh pray sir do not speak so. He +is good and gentle." "Why, hussey, am I not master in my own house? I +shall have a fine time of it indeed, if I must give you an account of my +words." "Sir," said Delia, "I will never marry without your consent." +"That is a good girl, no more you shall. And I will lock you up upon bread +and water, if you do not consent to marry who I please." + +The despotic temper of Mr. Hartley led him to treat his daughter with +considerable severity. He suffered her to go very little abroad, and +employed every precaution in his power, to prevent any interview between +her and her lover. He tried every instrument in turn, threats, promises, +intreaties, blustering, to bend her to his will. And when he found that by +all these means he made no progress; as his last resource, he fixed a day +at no great distance, when he assured her he would be disappointed no +longer, and she should either voluntarily or by force yield her hand to +lord Martin. + +During these transactions, the communication between Delia and her lover +was, with no great difficulty, kept open by the instrumentality of their +two friends. They scarcely dared indeed to think of seeing each other, as +in case this were discovered, Delia would be subject to still greater +restraint, and the intercourse, between her and Miss Fletcher, be rendered +more difficult. In one instance however, this lady ventured to procure the +interview so ardently desired by both parties. + +Damon made use of this opportunity to persuade his mistress to an +elopement. "You have already carried," said he, "your obedience to the +utmost exremity. You have tried every means to bend the inflexible will of +your father. If not for my sake then, at least for your own, avoid the +crisis that is preparing for you. You detect the husband that your father +designs you. If united to him, you confess you must be miserable. But who +can tell, in the midst of persons inflexibly bent upon your ruin, no +friend at hand to support you, your Damon banished and at a distance, what +may be the event? You will hesitate and tremble, your father will +endeavour to terrify you into submission, the odious peer will force from +you your hand. If, in that moment, your heart should misgive you, if one +faultering accent belie the sentiments you have so generously avowed for +me, what, ah, what! may be the consequence? No, my fair one, fly, +instantly fly. No duty forbids. You have done all that the most rigid +moralist could demand of you. Put yourself into my protection. I will not +betray your confidence. You shall be as much mistress as ever of all your +actions. If you distrust me, at least chuse our common friends sir William +Twyford. Chuse any protector among the numerous friends, that your beauty +and your worth have raised you. I had rather sacrifice my own prospects of +felicity forever, than see the smallest chance that you should be +unhappy." + +Such were the arguments, which, with all the eloquence of a friend, and +all the ardour of a lover, our hero urged upon his mistress. But the +gentleness of Delia was not yet sufficiently roused by the injuries she +had received, to induce her, to cast off all the ties which education and +custom had imposed upon her, and determine upon so decisive a step. +"Surely," said she, "there is some secret reward, some unexpected +deliverance in reserve, for filial simplicity. Oh, how harsh, how bold, +how questionable a step, is that to which you would persuade me! +Circumstanced in this manner, the fairest reputation might provoke the +tongue of scandal, and the most spotless innocence open a door to the +blast of calumny. I will not say that such a step may not be sometimes +justifiable. I will not say to what I may myself be urged. But oh, how +unmingled the triumph, how sincere the joy if, by persevering in a +conduct, in which the path of duty is too palpable to be mistaken, +propitious fate may rather grant me the happiness after which I aspire, +than I be forced, as it were, myself to wrest it from the hands of +providence!" + +Such was the result of this last and decisive interview. Delia could not +be moved from that line of conduct, upon which she had so virtuously +resolved. And Damon having in vain exerted all the rhetoric of which he +was master, now gave way to the gloomy suggestions of despair, and now +flattered himself with the gleams of hope. He sometimes thought, that +Delia might yet be induced to adopt the plan he had proposed; and +sometimes he gave way to the serene confidence she expressed, and indulged +the pleasing expectation, that virtue would not always remain without its +reward. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Woman of Learning_. + + +We are now brought, in the course of our story, to the memorable scene at +Miss Cranley's. "Miss Cranley's!" exclaims one of our readers, in a tone +of admiration. "Miss Cranley's!" cries another, "and pray who is she?" + +I distribute my readers into two classes, the indolent and the +supercilious, and shall accordingly address them upon the present +occasion. To the former I have nothing more to say, than to refer them +back to the latter part of Chapter I., Part I. where, my dear ladies, you +will find an accurate account of the character of two personages, who it +seems you have totally forgotten. + +To the supercilious I have a very different story to tell. Most learned +sirs, I kiss your hands. I acknowledge my error, and throw myself upon +your clemency. You see however, gentlemen, that you were somewhat +mistaken, when you imagined that I, like my fair patrons, the indolent, +had quite lost these characters from my memory. + +To speak ingenuously, I did indeed suppose, as far as I could calculate +the events of this important narrative beforehand, that the Miss Cranleys +would have come in earlier, and have made a more conspicuous figure, than +they now seem to have any chance of doing. Having thus settled accounts +with my readers; I take up again the thread of my story, and thus I +proceed. + +Mr. Hartley being now, as he believed, upon the point of disposing of his +daughter in marriage, began seriously to consider that he should want a +female companion to manage, his family, to nurse his ailments, and to +repair the breaches, that the hand of wintry time had made in his spirits +and his constitution. The reader will be pleased to recollect, that he had +already laid siege to the heart of the gentle Sophia. He now prosecuted +his affair with more alacrity than ever. + +Alas, my dear readers! while we have been junketting along from +Southampton to Oxford, from Oxford to Windsor, and from Windsor to +Southampton back again, such is the miserable fate of human kind! Miss +Amelia Wilhelmina Cranley, the most pious of her sex, the flower of Mr. +Whitfield's converts, the wonder and admiration of Roger the cobler, has +given up the ghost. You will please then, in what follows, to represent to +yourselves the charms of Sophia as decked and burnished with a suit of +sables. Her exterior indeed was sable and gloomy, but her heart was far +superior to the attacks of wayward fate. She sat aloft in the region of +philosophy. She steeled her heart with the dignity of republicanism; for +her to drop one tear of sorrow would have been an eternal disgrace. + +About this time--it was perhaps in reality a manoeuvre to forward the +affair, to which she had no aversion at bottom, with the father of +Delia--that Miss Cranley gave a grand entertainment, at which were present +Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, sir William Twyford, lord Martin, most of the +ladies we have already commemorated, and many others. + +The repast was conducted with much solemnity. The masculine character of +the mind of Sophia had rendered her particularly attached to the grace of +action. When she drank the health of any of her guests, she accompanied it +with a most profound _congč_. When she invited them to partake of any +dish, she pointed towards it with her hand. This action might have served +to display a graceful arm, but, alas! upon hers the hand of time had been +making depredations, and it appeared somewhat coarse and discoloured. + +After dinner, the lady of the house, as usual, turned the conversation +upon the subject of politics. She inveighed with much warmth against the +effeminacy and depravity of the modern times. We were slaves, and we +deserved to be so. In almost every country there now appeared a king, that +puppet pageant, that monster in creation, miserable itself, a combination +of every vice, and invented for the curse of human kind. "Where now," she +asked, "was the sternness and inflexibility of ancient story? Where was +that Junius, that stood and gazed in triumph upon the execution of his +sons? Where that Fabricius, that turned up his nose under the snout of an +elephant? Where was that Marcus Brutus, who sent his dagger to the heart +of Cęsar? For her part, she believed, and she would not give the snap of +her fingers for him if it were otherwise, that he was in reality, as sage +historians have reported, the son of Julius." + +In the very paroxysm of her oratory she chanced to cast her eyes upon Mr. +Prattle. With the character of Mr. Prattle, the reader is already partly +acquainted. But he does not yet know, for it was not necessary for our +story he should do so, that the honourable Mr. Prattle was a commoner and +a placeman. Good God, sir, represent to yourself with what a flame of +indignation our amazon surveyed him! She rose from her seat, and, taking +him by the hand, very familiarly turned him round in the middle of the +company. "This," said she, "is one of our Fabiuses, one of our Decii. +Good God, my friend, what would you do, if a brother officer shook a cane +over your shoulders as he did over those of the divine Themistocles? What +would you do, if the brutal lull of an Appius ravished from your arms an +only daughter? But I beg your pardon, sir. You are a placeman, mutually +disgracing and disgraced. You sell your constituents to the vilest +ministers, that ever came forward the champions of despotism. And those +ministers show us what is their insignificance, their impotence, their +want of discernment, in giving such a thing as you are, places of so great +importance, offices of so high emolument." + +Mr. Prattle, unused to be treated so cavalierly, and arraigned before so +large a company, trembled in every limb: "My dear madam, my sweet Miss +Sophia, pray do not pinch quite so hard;" and the water stood in his eyes. +Unable however to elude her grasp he fell down upon his knees. "For God's +sake! Oh dear! Oh lack a daisy! Why, Miss, sure you are mad." Miss +Cranley, unheedful of his exclamations, was however just going to begin +with more vehemence than ever, when a sudden accident put a stop to the +torrent of her oratory. But this event cannot be properly related without +going back a little in our narrative, and acquainting the reader with some +of those circumstances by which it was produced. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A Catastrophe_. + + +Sir William Twyford had gained great credit with lord Martin by his +conduct in the affair of Mr. Prettyman. He now imagined that he saw an +opening for the exercise of his humour, which he was never able to refill. +He communicated his plan to lord Martin. By his assistance he procured +that implement, which school-boys have denominated a cracker. This his +lordship found an opportunity of attaching to the skirt of Miss Cranley's +sack. At the moment we have described, when she was again going to enter +into the stream of her rhetoric, which, great as it naturally was, was now +somewhat improved with copious draughts of claret, the cracker was set on +fire. + +Poor Sophia now started in great agitation. "Bounce, bounce," went the +cracker. Sophia skipped and danced from one end of the room to the other. +"Great gods of Rome," exclaimed she, "Jupiter, Minerva, and all the +celestial and infernal deities!" The force of the cracker was now somewhat +spent. "Ye boys of Britain, that bear not one mark of manhood about you! +Would Leonidas have fastened a squib to the robe of the Spartan mother? +Would Cimber have so unworthily used Portia, the wife of Brutus? Would +Corbulo thus have interrupted the heroic fortitude of Arria, the spouse of +Thrasea Paetus?" + +"My dear madam," exclaimed lord Martin, his eyes glistening with triumph, +"with all submission, Corbulo I believe had been assassinated, before +Arria so gloriously put an end to her existence." "Thou thing," cried Miss +Cranky, "and hast thou escaped the torrent of my invective! Thou eternal +blot to the list, in which are inserted the names of a Faulkland, a +Shaftesbury, a Somers, and above all, that Leicester, who so bravely threw +the lie in the face of his sovereign!" "He! he!" cried lord Martin, who +could no longer refrain from boasting of his great atchievement. If I have +escaped your vengeance, let me tell you, madam, you have not escaped +"mine." "And was it thee, thou nincompoop? Hence, thou wretch! Avaunt! +Begone, or thou shalt feel my fury!" Saying this, she clenched her fist, +and closed her teeth, with so threatening an aspect, that the little peer +was very much terrified. He flew back several paces. "My dear Miss +Griskin," said he, "protect me! This barbarous woman does not understand +wit,"--and he precipitately burst out of the room. The lady too was so +much discomposed, that she thought proper to retire, assuring the company +that she would attend them again in a moment. + +"Well," cried Miss Griskin, as soon as she had disappeared, "this was the +nicest fun!" "I was afraid," said Miss Prim, "it would have discomposed +Miss Cranley's petticoats." "Law, my dear!" said Miss Gawky, "by my +so, I like the music of a cracker, better than all the concerts in the +varsal world." We need not inform our readers, that Miss Languish, in the +very height and altitude of the confusion, had been obliged to retire. + +Lord Martin, in the midst of his triumph and exultation, had not leisure +to recollect, nor perhaps penetration to perceive, the effect that this +little sally might have upon his interests. Despotic and boorish as was +the genius of Mr. Hartley, it cowred under that of Sophia with the most +abject servility. And that lady now vowed eternal war against the heroical +peer. + +"Mr. Hartley," said she, in their next _tźte a tźte_, "let me tell +you, lord Martin, must never have Miss Delia." "My dearest life," said the +old gentleman, "consider, the day is fixed, my word is passed, and it is +too late to revoke now. Beside, lord Martin has ten thousand pounds a +year." "Ten thousand figs," said she, "do not tell me, it is never too +late to be wife. Lord Martin is a venal senator, and a little sniveling +fellow." "My dear," said Hartley, "I never differed from you before: do +let me have my mind now." "Have your mind, sir! Men should have no minds. +Tyrants that they are! And now I think of it, Miss Delia does not like +lord Martin." "Pooh," said Mr. Hartley, recovering spirit at such an +objection, "that is all stuff and nonsense." "Nonsense! Let me tell you, +sir, women are not _born to be controled_. They are queens of the +creation, and if they had their way, and the government of the world was +in their hands, things would go much better than they do." "I know they +would," replied her admirer, "if they were all as wise as you." "Child," +returned Sophia, turning up her nose, "that is neither here nor there. The +matter in short is this. Damon loves Delia, and Delia loves Damon. And if +your daughter be not Mrs. Villiers, I will never be Mrs. Hartley." + +From a decision like this there could be no appeal. Mr. Hartley told lord +Martin, the next time he came to his house to pay his devoirs to his +mistress, that he had altered his mind. His lordship was too much +surprised at this manoeuvre to make any immediate answer; so turned upon +his heel, and decamped. + +The happy revolution, by the intervention of Miss Fletcher, was soon made +known to sir William and his friend. Damon now paid his addresses in form. +A reconciliation took place between Mr. Moreland and the father of our +heroine. The marriage was publicly talked of, the day was fixed, and every +thing prepared for the nuptials. + +It is impossible to describe the happiness of our lovers, when they saw +every obstacle thus unexpectedly removed. Damon was beside himself with +surprise and congratulation. Delia, at intervals, rubbed her eyes, and +could scarcely be persuaded that it was not a dream. They saw each other +at least once every day. Together they wandered along the margin of the +ocean, and together they sought that delicious alcove, which now appeared +ten times more beautiful, from the recollection it suggested of the +sufferings they had passed. + +Lord Martin was in the mean time most grievously disappointed. "The devil +damn the fellow!" said he, "he crosses me like my evil genius. I have a +month's mind to send him a challenge. He is a tall, big looking fellow to +be sure. But then if I could contrive to kill him. Ah, me! but fortune +does not always favour the brave. My reputation is established. I do not +want a duel for that. And for any other purpose, it is all a lottery. Fire +and furies, death and destruction! something must be done. Let me +think--_About my brain_." + +But lord Martin was not the only one whose hopes were disappointed, by the +expected marriage of Delia. He loved her not, he felt not one flutter of +complacency about his heart. It was vanity that first prompted him to +address her. It was disappointed pride that now stung him. Even Mr. +Prattle viewed her with a more generous affection. His genius was not +indeed a daring one, but it was active and indefatigable. Squire Savage +did not feel the less, though he did not spend many words about it. He was +a blustering hector. He had the reputation of fearing nothing, and caring +for nothing, that stood in his way. There were also other lovers beside +these, _whom the muse knows not, nor desires to know_. + +In this manner gins and snares seemed, on every side, to surround our +happy and heedless lovers. They sported on the brink. They sighed, and +smiled, and sang, and talked again. At length the eve of the day, from +which their future happiness was to be dated, arrived. They had but one +drawback, the continued averseness of lord Thomas Villiers. Damon was +however now obliged, together with Mr. Hartley, to attend the lawyers at +Mr. Moreland's, in order to complete the previous formalities. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing what will terrify the reader._ + + +At such a moment as this, a mind of delicacy and sensibility is fond of +solitude. Delia told Mrs. Bridget, that she would take her usual walk, and +be home time enough to superintend the oeconomy of supper, at which the +company of Damon and sir William Twyford was expected. + +They accordingly arrived before nine o'clock. Mrs. Bridget expected her +mistress every moment. Damon and his friend would have gone out to meet +her, but they were not willing to leave Mr. Hartley alone. The clock +however struck ten, and no Delia appeared. Every one now began to be +seriously uneasy. Damon and sir William went in both her most favourite +walks to find her, but in vain. Messengers were dispatched twenty +different ways. The lover repaired to the mansion of Lord Martin. The +baronet immediately set out for the house of Mr. Savage. + +Mr. Hartley, who, with the external of a bear, and the heart of a miser, +was not destitute of the feelings of a parent, was now exceedingly +agitated. He strided up and down the room with incredible velocity. He bit +his fingers with anxiety, and threw his wig into the fire. "As I am a good +man," said he, "Mr. Prattle lives but almost next door, and I will go to +him." Mr. Prattle was at home, and having heard his story, condoled with +him upon it with much apparent sincerity. + +Damon met with the same success. Lord Martin received him with perfect +serenity. "Bless us," cried he, "and is Miss Delia gone? I never was more +astonished in my life. I do not know what to do," and he took a pinch of +snuff. "Mr. Villiers," said he, with the utmost gravity, "I have all +possible respect for you. Blast me! if I am not willing to forget all our +former rivalship. Tell me, sir, can I do you any service?" Damon had every +reason to be satisfied with his behaviour, and flew out of the house in a +moment. + +Sir William Twyford did not however meet with the person he went in quest +of. Miss Savage informed him, that her brother, not two hours ago, had +received a letter, and immediately, without informing her of his design, +which indeed he very seldom did, ordered his best hunter out of the +stable. She added, that she had imagined, that he had received a summons +to a fox-chace early the next morning. + +Such was the account brought by sir William to the anxious and distracted +Damon. "Alas," cried he, "it is but too plain? She is by this time in the +hands of that insensible boor. Oh, who can bear to think of it! He is +perhaps, at this moment, tormenting her with his nauseous familiarities, +and griping her soft and tender limbs! Oh, why was I born! Why was I ever +cheated with the phantom of happiness! Wretch, wretch that I am!" + +With these words he burst out of the house, and flew along with surprising +rapidity. Sir William, having hastily ordered everything to be prepared +for a pursuit, immediately followed him. He found him, wafted, spent, and +almost insensible, lying beside a little brook that crossed the road. The +baronet raised him in his arms, and, with the gentlest accents that +friendship ever poured into a mortal ear, recovered him to life and +perception. + +"Where am I?" said the disconsolate lover. "Who are you? ah, my friend, my +best, my tried friend! I know you now. How came I here? Has any thing +unfortunate happened? Where is my Delia?" "Let us seek her, my Villiers," +said the baronet. "Seek her! What! is she lost? Oh, yes, I recollect it +now; she is gone, snatched from my arms. Let us pursue her! Let us +overtake her Oh that it may not be too late." + +He now leaned upon the shoulder of his friend, and returned with painful +and irregular steps. His disorder was so great, that sir William thought +it best to have him immediately conveyed to a chamber. He was so much +exhausted, that this was easily accomplished, without his being perfectly +sensible what was done. The baronet, with three servants mounted on +horseback, immediately pursued the road towards London.--Having thus +related the confusion and grief that were occasioned by her sudden +disappearance, we will now return to our heroine. + +She had advanced, according to the intention she had hinted to her +servant, towards the grove, where she had so often wandered with her +beloved. She was wrapped up and lost in the contemplation of her +approaching felicity. "And is every difficulty surmounted, and shall at +last my fate be twined with Damon's? Sure, it is too much, it cannot be! +Fate does not deal so partially with mortals. To bestow so vast a +happiness on one, while thousands pine in helpless misery. But let me not +be incredulous. Let me not be ungrateful. No, since heaven has thus +accumulated its favours on me, my future days shall all be spent in +raising the oppressed, and cheering the disconsolate. I will remember that +I also have tasted the cup of woe, that I have looked forward to +disappointment and despair. _Taught by the hand that pities me,_ I +will learn to pity others." + +She was thus musing with herself, she was thus full of piety and virtuous +resolution, when, on a sudden, a trampling of horses behind her, roused +her from her reverie. Two persons advanced. But before she had time to +examine their features, or even to remove out of the path, by which they +seemed to be coming, the foremost of them leaping hastily upon the ground, +seized her by the waist, arid, in spite of all her struggling, placed her +on the front of the saddle, and instantly mounted with the utmost agility. +Cries and tears were vain. They were in a solitary path, little beaten by +the careful husbandman, or the gay votaries of fashion. She was now +hurried along, and generally at full speed, through a thousand bye paths, +that seemed capable of puzzling the most assiduous pursuit. + +They had scarcely advanced two little miles, ere they arrived at a large +and broad highway. Here they found a chariot ready waiting for them, into +which Delia was immediately thrust. She now for the first time lifted up +her eyes. The first object to which she attended was the faces of her +ravishers. Of him who had been the most active, she had not the smallest +recollection. The other who was in a livery, she imagined she had seen +somewhere, though, in the present confusion of her mind, she could not fix +upon the place. She next looked round her with wildness and eagerness, as +far as her eye could reach, to see if there were no protector, no +deliverance near. But she looked in vain. All was solitude and stilness. +The murmurs, the activity of the day were past. And now, the silver moon +in radiant majesty shed a solemn serenity ever the whole scene. Serenity, +alas! to the heart at ease, but nothing could bring serenity to the +troubled breast of Delia. + +As her last resource, she appealed to those who by brutal force had +carried her away. "Oh, if you have any hearts, any thing human that dwells +about you, pity a poor, forlorn, and helpless maid! Alas, in what have I +injured you? What would you do to me?" "Oh, pray, Miss, do not be +frightened," said the first ravisher with an accent of familiar vulgarity, +"we will do you no harm, we mean nothing but your good. You will make your +fortune. You never had such luck in your life. You will have reason to +thank us the longest day you can ever know." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_A Denouement_. + + +At this moment, Delia with infinite transport, heard the sound of horses +at a distance. Every thing was quiet. Our heroine listened with eager +expectation, and those who guarded her looked out to see who it was that +approached. Suspense was not long on either side. The horsemen were up +with them in a moment. "Oh, whoever you are," cried Delia, in an agony of +distress, "pity and relieve the most miserable woman'"----She received no +answer, but the horses stopped, and lord Martin was in a moment at the +door of the carriage. "Oh, my lord," cried Delia, "is it you? Thanks, +eternal thanks, for this fortunate incident. If you had not come, heaven +knows what would have become of me! Those brutes, those wretches--But +conduct me, my lord, to my father's house. Without doubt, they must by +this time be in a terrible fright." + +"Do not be uneasy," cried his lordship, endeavouring to assume an +harmonious, but missing his point, he spoke in the shrillest and most +squeaking accent that can be imagined. "Do not be uneasy, my charmer. You +are in the hands of a man, that loves you, as never woman was loved +before. But I will be with you in a minute," said he. And withdrawing +behind the carriage, he beckoned to the person who had conducted the +business of the rape. "Why, you incorrigible blockhead," said lord Martin, +"you have neglected half your instructions. Why, her hands are at +liberty." "I beg your honour's pardon," replied the pimp, "I had indeed +forgotten, but it shall be remedied in a moment." And saying this, he +pulled a strong ribband out of his pocket, and getting into the chariot, +fastened the soft and lily hands of our heroine behind her. She screamed, +and invoked the name of his lordship a thousand times. Her hair became +disentangled from its ligaments, and flowed in waving ringlets about her +snowy, panting bosom. Exhausted with continual agitation, and particularly +with the last struggle, she seemed ready to faint, but was quickly +restored by the assiduity of these sordid grooms. + +Before she had completely recovered her recollection, lord Martin had +seated himself in the carriage, and was drawing up some of the blinds. +"Drive on," said he to the coachman, who was by this time mounted into the +box, "Drive, as if the devil was behind you." The cavalcade accordingly +went forward. There was a servant on each side of the carriage, beside the +commander in chief, who occasionally advanced in the front, and +occasionally brought up the rear. + +"And whither," said the affrighted Delia, "whither are we going? This +cannot be the way to Southampton. What do you mean? But ah, it is too +plain! Why else this impotence of insult?" endeavouring to disengage her +hands. And she turned from him in a rage of indignation. "Ah," cried his +lordship, "do not avert those brilliant eyes! Turn them towards me, and +they will outshine the lustre of the morn, and I shall perceive nothing of +the sun, even when he gains his meridian height." "And thou despicable +wretch, is this thy shallow plan? And what dost thou think to do with me? +Mountains shall sooner bend their lofty summits to the earth, than I will +ever waste a thought on thee." "Do with thee, my fairest!" cried the peer, +"why, marry thee. Dost thou think that the paltry Damon shall get the +better of my eagle genius? No. Fortune now unfurls my standard, and I +drive the _frighted fates_ before me." "Boastful, empty coward! Thou +darest not even brave a woman's rage. If my hands were at liberty, I would +tear out those insolent eyes." "_Go on_, thou gentlest of thy sex, +_and charm me with that angel voice_! For though thou dealest in +threats, abuse, and proud defiance, _it is heaven to hear thee_." + +Such was the courtship that passed between our heroine and her triumphant +admirer. They had new proceeded twenty miles, and the midnight bell had +tolled near half an hour. They had passed through one turnpike, and Delia +had endeavoured by cries and prayers to obtain some assistance. But the +person who opened to them was alone, and though ever so desirous, could +not have resisted such a cavalcade. Beside this, the pimp told him a +plausible story of a wanton wife, and an injured husband, with the +particulars of which we do not think it necessary to trouble our readers. +They had also seen one foot passenger, and two horsemen. But they were +eluded and amused by a repetition of the same stratagem. + +Delia, having exhausted her first rage and astonishment, had now remained +for some time silent. She revolved in her mind all the particulars of her +situation. She had at first considered her ravisher in no other light than +as hateful and despicable, but she was now compelled to regard this +venomous little animal, as the arbiter of her fate, and the master of her +fortunes. She reflected with horror, how much she was in his power, what +ill usage he might inflict, and to what extremities he might reduce her. +She now seriously thought of exerting herself to melt him into pity, and +to persuade him, by every argument she could invent, to spare and to +release her. "Ah, where," thought she, "is my Damon? Why does not he +appear to succour me? Alas, what distresses, what agonies may he not even +now endure!" + +Full of these, and a thousand other tormenting reflections, she burst into +a flood of tears. Lord Martin drew from his pocket a clean cambric +handkerchief, and, carefully unfolding it, wiped away the drops as they +fell. "Loveliest of creatures," said he, "by the murmuring of thy voice, +the heaving of thy bosom, the distraction of thy looks, and by these +tears, I should imagine thou wert uneasy." "Ah," cried Delia unheedful of +his words, "what shall I say to move him?" "Oh, talk for ever," replied +his lordship. "The winds shall forget to whistle, and the seas to roar. +Noisy mobs shall cease their huzzas, and the din of war be still; for +there is music in thy voice." "Oh," exclaimed our heroine, "let one touch +of compassion approach thy soul. Indeed, my lord, I can never have you. +Release me, and I will forgive what is past, and Damon shall never notice +it." "Zounds and fire!" cried the peer, "dost thou think to prevail with +me by the motives of a coward? But why dost thou talk of Damon? Look on +me. Behold this purple coat, and fine _toupče_. Think on my estate, +and think on my title." + +But at this moment the oratory of his lordship ceased to be heard. At a +small distance there appeared two persons, the one on foot, and whose air, +so far as it could be perceived by the imperfect light, was genteel, and +the other on horseback, engaged in earnest conference. As the carriage +drew towards them, Delia exclaimed, in a piercing, but pathetic voice, +"Help! help! for God's sake! Rape! Murder! Help!" The voice immediately +caught the young gentleman on foot, who approached the carriage.--But +before we proceed any farther we will inform our readers who these persons +were. + +The gentleman on foot, was Mr. Godfrey. He was on a visit to a sister, who +lived very near the spot upon which he now stood. She was married to a +substantial yeoman, who rented an estate in this place, the property of +lord Thomas Villiers. The beautiful scenes of nature were particularly +congenial to the elegant said contemplative mind of Mr. Godfrey. And he +had now, as was frequently his custom, strolled out to enjoy the calm +serenity, and the splendid beauty, of a midnight scene. The man on +horse-back was a thief taker, who, just before the carriage had driven up, +had, without ceremony, accosted Mr. Godfrey with his enquiries, and a +description of the person of whom he was in pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Which dismisses the Reader._ + + +Mr. Godfrey, in a resolute tone, called out to the coachman to stop, and +not contented with a verbal mandate, he rushed before the horses, and +brandishing a club he held in his hand, bid the driver proceed at his +peril. "Drive on," said lord Martin, thrusting his head out at the +window--"Drive on, and be damned to you!" At this moment the pimp rode up. +"It is nothing," said he, "but a poor gentleman, who has just forced his +wife from the arms of a gallant." "Oh no!" cried Delia. "I am not his +wife. I am an innocent woman, whom he has forced from her father and her +lover." + +The thief taker out of curiosity rode forward. "That," said he, fixing his +eye upon the pimp, "that is the very rascal I am in search of." The pimp, +who had only been borrowed by lord Martin of one of his more experienced +acquaintance, no sooner heard the sound, than, accounting for it with +infinite facility and readiness of mind, he turned about his horse, and +attempted to fly. One of the footmen, naturally a coward, and terrified at +these incidents, with the meaning of which he was unacquainted, imitated +his example. The other came forward to the assistance of his master, and +was laid prostrate upon the ground, by Mr. Godfrey with one blow. The +thief taker had the start of the pimp, and overtook him in a moment. + +Mr. Godfrey now opened the door of the carriage. But the little peer was +prepared for this incident, and having his sword drawn, made a sudden pass +at our generous knight-errant. The latter, with infinite agility, leaped +aside, and lifting up his club, shivered the sword into a thousand pieces. + +"Death and the devil! Pox confound you!" said lord Martin, and endeavoured +to draw a pistol from his pocket. But the unsuccessful pass he had made +had thrown him somewhat off his bias, and though he had employed more than +one effort, he had not been able to recover himself. At this instant, Mr. +Godfrey seized him by the collar, and with a sudden-whirl, threw him into +the middle of the road. "Fire and"--his lordship had not time to finish +his exclamation. The part of the road in which he fell was exceeding +dirty. The workmen had been employed the preceding day, in scraping the +mud together into a heap against the bank, and his lordship, unable to +overcome the velocity with which he trundled along, rolled into the midst +of it in an instant. He was entirely lost in this soft receptacle. The +colour of his purple coat, and his lily white _toupče_, could no +longer be distinguished. + +The coachman, perceiving the disaster of his lord, now leaped from the +box. Mr. Godfrey had scarcely had time to reduce this new antagonist to a +state of inactivity, before the footman, upon whom he had first displayed +his prowess, began to discover some signs of life. He might have been yet +overpowered in spite of all his valour and presence of mind, if the house +of his brother-in-law, had not fortunately been so near, that the shrieks +of Delia, and the altercation of her ravishers reached it. The honest +farmer was at the window in a moment, and perceiving that his brother was +engaged in the affray, he huddled on his clothes with all expedition, and +now appeared in the highway. + +The victory was immediately decided. The footman perceiving this new +reinforcement, did not dare to act upon the offensive, and Mr. Godfrey +mounted into the chariot to assist our heroine. He now first perceived +that her hands were manacled. From this restraint however, he suddenly +disengaged her, and taking her in his arms out of the carriage, he +delivered her to his sister, who advanced at this moment. + +The footman, assisted by the humanity of the farmer, was now employed in +raising his master. His lordship made the most pitiable figure that can be +imagined. His features, as well as his dress, wore an appearance perfectly +uniform. "Whither would you convey him?" said Mr. Godfrey, who was now +returned. "What shall we do with him?" "Oh, and please you, sir," said the +footman, "his lordship has a house about half a mile off." Lord Martin now +first discovered some marks of sensibility, and _shook his goary +locks_. "His lordship!" exclaimed the yeoman. "Sure it cannot be--yet +it is--by my soul I cannot tell whether it be lord Martin or no." The +coachman now rose from the ground, and began with a profound bow to his +master. "And please your honour," said he, "we have made a sad day's work +of it. Your worship makes but a pitiful figure. Faugh! I think as how, if +I dared say so much, begging your honour's pardon, that your lordship +stinks." "Put him into the carriage," cried Mr. Godfrey, "and drive him +home." Lord Martin, now first recovered his tongue, and wiping away the +mud from his eyes, "And so it was you, sir, I suppose," cried he, "to whom +I am obliged for this catastrophe. But pox take me, if you shall not hear +of it. Ten thousand curses on my wayward fate! The devil take it! Death +and damnation!" During this soliloquy, the servants were employed in +placing their lord in the chariot. The coachman mounted the box, and by +this time they were out of hearing. + +Mr. Godfrey and his brother now entered the house. Delia was seated in a +chair, her hair dishevelled, her features disordered, and her dress in the +most bewitching confusion. But how much were both the deliverer and the +heroine surprised, when they mutually recognised each others features! Mr. +Godfrey made Delia a very polite compliment upon her escape, and +congratulated himself, in the warmest language, for having been the +fortunate instrument. + +They now retired to rest. The next morning, Delia was much better +recovered from her terror and fatigue, than could have been expected. Mr. +Godfrey however had not thought it adviseable that she should be removed +that day, and had therefore set off early in the morning for Southampton, +that he might himself be the messenger of these happy tidings. + +"I hope Miss," said Mrs. Wilson, who attended our heroine, "that you will +dress yourself as well as you can." "And why" cried Delia, "do you desire +that? I can see nobody, I can think of nothing, but my absent and anxious +Damon." "Let us hope," replied the other, "that he is very well. But, +Miss, we expect lord Thomas Villiers by dinner time." "Lord Thomas +Villiers!" exclaimed Delia, in the extremest surprise. "Yes," cried Mrs. +Wilson. "He is our landlord, and he always comes over once about this time +of the year." "Alas," said Delia, "I can see nobody. But I had rather meet +any person at this time, than lord Thomas Villiers." "Bless me, Miss! why +I am sure he is a very good sort of a gentleman." "I dare say he is," +cried Delia. "But indeed, and indeed, Mrs. Wilson, I cannot see him. Pray +oblige me in this." "Law, well I cannot think what objection you can have! +There must be something very particular in it." + +Such were the hints that Mrs. Wilson threw out for the satisfying of her +curiosity, but Delia was not disposed to be more communicative. The good +woman however, with the error of our heroine before her eyes, was +determined not to commit a similar fault. Lord Thomas was therefore +scarcely arrived, before she set open the flood gates of her eloquence, in +describing the rescue, and the unrivalled beauty of the lady under her +roof. + +His lordship had long had a misunderstanding with lord Martin upon the +subject of their contiguous estates. As his temper was not the most +gentle, nor his memory upon these subjects the most treacherous, he +expressed his triumph in loud shouts, and repeated horse laughs, upon the +recent defeat of his antagonist. Nothing however would content him but a +sight of the lady. "That," said Mrs. Wilson, "my guess is too nice to +consent to. You must know, she has a particular dislike to your lordship." +"A dislike to me!" said the old gentleman, whose curiosity was now more +inflamed than even "Will you be contented," said his kind hostess, "with a +peep through the key hole!" and without waiting for an answer, she took +him by the hand, and led him up stairs. "By my foul!" said his lordship, +"she is the finest woman in the world. Devil take me, if I can contain +myself," and he burst into the room. + +Lord Thomas advanced a few steps, and then stopping, clasped his hands; +"Why she is an angel of a woman! And did Martin, that dirty scoundrel, +think he could run away with you? Impudent, pot-bellied spider! Ah, if my +son had fallen in love with such a woman as you, I could forgive him any +thing." And seizing her hand he pressed it to his lips. "Forgive me, +charmer," cried he, "I am an old fellow. I will do you no harm." + +Delia, though pleased with the behaviour of her intended father-in-law, +dared not yet discover herself to him. In the afternoon, Mr. Godfrey, and +Sir William Twyford, arrived. Damon, agitated as he was by the most +dreadful images that a troubled fancy could suggest, appeared in the +morning in a high fever. Instead of being able to hasten to the mistress +of his soul, he was confined to his bed, and attended by physicians. + +"Ha," cried lord Thomas, as soon as he saw the baronet, "and who sent for +you? What do you want? I think, Sir, you are the gentleman to whom I am +obliged for telling my son, that duty to parents is a baby prejudice, that +obstinacy is a heroic virtue, and that fortune, fame, and friends, are all +to be sacrificed to the whining passion, which, I think, you call love." +"My lord," replied the baronet, "I have done nothing, of which I feel any +reason to be ashamed. But a subject more pressing calls for my immediate +attention." Then turning to Delia, "Give me leave to congratulate you, +madam, and heaven can tell how heartily I do it, upon the generous and +happy interposition of Mr. Godfrey." "And pray," interrupted lord Thomas, +"how came you acquainted with that lady?" "Oh, tell me," cried Delia, with +an impatience not to be restrained by modes and forms, "tell me, how does +my Damon? Why is he not here? Alas, I fear"--"Fear nothing," cried the +baronet. "He is safe. He is at your father's house, and impatient to see +you." "And is this the lady," cried lord Thomas, "of whom my son is +enamoured? But he shall not disobey me. I will never permit it. Sir, if +this be the lady, I will give her to him with my own hand. But where is +the ungracious rascal? Why does not he appear?" "Nothing, be assured," +said the baronet, "but reasons of the last importance, could have kept him +back in so interesting a moment." "Alas, I fear," cried Delia, "since you +endeavour to conceal them from me, they are reasons of the most afflicting +nature." "It is in vain," replied Sir William, "to endeavour at +concealment." "Your son," turning to lord Thomas Villiers, "is confined to +his bed. The anxiety and fatigue that he suffered, in consequence of the +extraordinary step of lord Martin, have thrown him into a fever. But be +not uneasy, my Delia," taking her hand, "there is no danger. One sigh, one +look from you will restore him." "Ten thousand curses," exclaimed the +father, "upon the head of the contemptible, misbegotten ravisher! But let +us make haste. I am glad however that my rogue of a son is a little +punished for his impertinence. Let us make haste." + +Saying this, he ordered the horses to his chariot, and the whole company +prepared to set out for Southampton immediately. The only business which +remained, was the dispatching a message, which was done by one of sir +William's servants, from Mr. Godfrey to lord Martin, announcing his name, +and informing his lordship, that he was to be met with any time in the +ensuing week at Mr. Moreland's. + +Lord Martin was a good deal bruised and enfeebled with the adventure of +the preceding evening. He had been obliged to undergo a lustration of near +an hour, before he could be put to bed. He was just risen, when the +message was delivered. "Zounds!" cried the peer, "he is, is he? And so +this fellow, whom nobody knows, has the impudence to snub me! By my title, +and all the blood of my ancestors, he is not worthy of my sword. I will +have him assassinated. I will hire some blackguards to seize him, and bind +him in my presence, and I will bastinado him with my own hand. Furies and +curses! I do not know what to do. Oh, this confounded vanity! Not +contented with one disgrace, I have brought upon myself another, ten times +more mortifying than the first. By Tartarus, and all the infernal gods, I +believe I had better let it rest where it is! Wretch, wretch, that I am!" +And he threw himself on the bed in an agony of despair. + +Damon had slept little the preceding night, and his slumbers had been +disturbed with a thousand horrible imaginations. The first person who +appeared in his chamber the next morning he addressed with "Where, where +is she? Where is my Delia? My life, my soul, the mistress of my fate? Ah, +why do you look so haggard, so unconsoling. You have heard nothing of her? +Give me my clothes. I will pursue her to the world's end. I will find her, +though she be hid deep as the centre." "Sir, be pacified," said the +servant, "she is safe." "Safe," cried our lover, "why then does she not +appear to comfort me? But haste, I will fly to her. I will clasp, I will +lock her, in my arms. No, nothing, not all the powers on earth, shall ever +part us more." "Sir, she is not in the house." "Not in the house," cried +Damon starting, "Ha! say. I will not be cheated. On thy life do not trifle +with my impatience." + +At this moment Mr. Godfrey entered the room. "Who is there?" cried Damon, +starting at every whisper. "It is your friend," said Godfrey. "A friend +that owes you much, and would willingly pay you something back again." "I +do not understand you," replied our hero. "I can talk of nothing but my +Delia. Oh Delia! Delia! I will teach thy name to all the echoes. I will +send it with every wind to heaven. Ever, ever, shall it dwell upon my +lips." "Delia," replied the other, "is in safety. I have been so happy as +to rescue her." "Ha! sayest thou? let me look upon thee well. I am +somewhat disordered, but I think thy name is Godfrey. Thou shouldst not +deceive me. Thou art not old in falsehood." "I do not deceive thee. On my +life I do not!" exclaimed Godfrey, with emotion. "Compose thyself for a +few hours. Or ever thou shalt see the setting sun, I will put thy Delia +into thy arms again." + +Damon was somewhat composed by these assurances. No voice like that of +Godfrey had power to sooth his mind to serenity. But though he sought to +restrain himself, he listened to every noise. He started at the sound of +every foot, and the rattle of a carriage in the street agitated his soul +almost to frenzy. + +"Why does not she come? What can delay her? I have counted every moment. +I have waited whole ages. I see, I see, that every thing conspires to +cheat, and to distract me. Damon has not one friend left to whisper in his +ear--to whisper what? That Delia is no more? That all her beauties are +defaced, by some sacrilegious hand? That all her heaven of charms have +been rifled? Oh, no. I must not think of that. But hark! I thought I heard +a sound, but it is delirium all. Sure, sure it comes this way. I will +listen but this once." + +The door of the chamber now flew open. But oh, what object caught the +raptured eye of Damon! He was just risen. "It is, it is my Delia!" and +they flew into each others arms. But having embraced for a moment, Damon +took hold of her hand, and held her from him. "Let me look at thee. And is +it Delia? And art thou safe, unhurt? I would not be mistaken." "Yes, I am +she, and ten times more my Damon's than ever." "It is enough. I am +contented. But hark! who comes there? Sure it is not the brutal ravisher? +No," cried he, in a voice of surprise, "it is my father." + +Lord Thomas Villiers, who had been a witness of this scene, could restrain +himself no longer. "Come to my arms, thy father's arms," cried he, "and +let me bless thee." "Stay, stay," cried Damon. "Yes I know thee well. But +I will never be separated from her any more. I will laugh at the authority +of a parent. Tyranny and tortures shall not rend me from her." "The +authority of a parent," replied lord Thomas, "shall never more be employed +to counteract thy wishes. I myself will join your hands." + +The constitution of Damon was so full of sensibility, that it was some +days before he was completely recovered. In the mean time, the amours of +Sir William Twyford, and Mr. Hartley, continually ripened, and it was +proposed, that the three parties should be united in the same day. + +"And now," said Damon, "I have but one care more, one additional exertion, +to set my mind at ease. My Godfrey, I owe thee more than kingdoms can +repay. Tell me, instruct me, what can I do to serve you? Damon must be the +most contemptible of villains, if he could think his felicity complete, +when his Godfrey was unhappy." + +"Think not of me," said Godfrey, "I am happy in the way that nature +intended, beyond even the power of Damon to make me. Since I saw you, a +favourable change has taken place in my circumstances. In spite of various +obstacles, I have brought a tragedy upon the stage, and it has met with +distinguished success. My former crosses and mortifications are all +forgotten. Philosophers may tell us, that reputation, and the immortality +of a name, are all but an airy shadow. Enough for me, that nature, from my +earliest infancy, led me to place my first delight in these. I envy not +kings their sceptres. I envy not statesmen their power. I envy not Damon +his love, and his Delia. Next to the pursuits of honour and truth, my soul +is conscious to but one wish, that of having my name enrolled, in however +inferior a rank, with a Homer, and a Horace, a Livy, and a Cicero." + +The next day the proposed weddings took place. It is natural perhaps, at +the conclusion of such a narrative as this, to represent them all as +happy. But we are bound to adhere to nature and truth. Mr. Hartley and his +politician for some time struggled for superiority, but, in the end, the +eagle genius of Sophia soared aloft. Sir William, though he married a +woman, good natured, and destitute of vice, found something more insipid +in marriage, than he had previously apprehended. For Damon and his Delia, +they were amiable, and constant. Though their hearts were in the highest +degree susceptible and affectionate, the first ebullition of passion could +not last for ever. But it was succeeded by _the feast of reason, and the +flow of soul_. Their hours were sped with the calmness of tranquility. +When they saw each other no longer with transport, they saw each other +with complacency. And so long as they live, they will doubtless afford the +most striking demonstration, that marriage, when it unites two gentle +souls, and meaned by nature for each other, when it is blest of heaven, +and accompanied with reason and discretion, is the sweetest, and the +fairest of all the bands of society. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Damon and Delia, by William Godwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAMON AND DELIA *** + +***** This file should be named 10318-8.txt or 10318-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/3/1/10318/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Sheila Vogtmann and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Damon and Delia + A Tale + +Author: William Godwin + +Release Date: November 27, 2003 [EBook #10318] +Last updated: January 21, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAMON AND DELIA *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Sheila Vogtmann and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + + +</pre> + +<p>DAMON</p> +<br> +<p>AND</p> +<br> +<p>DELIA:</p> +<br> +<p>A TALE.</p> +<br> +<p>--NEQUE SEMPER ARCUM<br> +TENDIT APOLLO. HOR.</p> + +<p>LONDON: +PRINTED FOR T. HOOKHAM, AT HIS CIRCULATING<br> +LIBRARY, NEW BOND-STEET, CORNER<br> +OF BRUTON-STREET.<br> +M,DCC,LXXXIV.</p> +<br> + +<p>CONTENTS</p> +<br> + +<p>PART the FIRST.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER I.</p> + +<p><i>Containing introductory Matter.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER II.</p> + +<p><i>A Ball</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER III.</p> + +<p><i>A Ghost.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IV.</p> + +<p><i>A love Scene.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER V.</p> + +<p><i>A Man of Humour.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VI.</p> + +<p><i>Containing some Specimens of Heroism.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VII.</p> + +<p><i>Containing that with which the Reader will be acquainted when he has +read it.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VIII.</p> + +<p><i>Two Persons of Fashion.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IX.</p> + +<p><i>A tragical Resolution.</i></p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> +<br> + +<p>PART the SECOND.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER I.</p> + +<p><i>In which the Story begins over again</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER II.</p> + +<p><i>The History of Mr. Godfrey</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER III.</p> + +<p><i>A Misanthrope</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IV.</p> + +<p><i>Much ado about nothing</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER V.</p> + +<p><i>A Woman of learning</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VI.</p> + +<p><i>A Catastrophe</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VII.</p> + +<p><i>Containing what will terrify the Reader</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER VIII.</p> + +<p><i>A Denouement</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>CHAPTER IX.</p> + +<p><i>Which dismisses the Reader</i>.</p> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>DAMON</h2> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h2>DELIA.</h2> +<br> + +<h3>PART the FIRST.</h3> +<br> + +<h2>CHAP. I.</h2> + +<p><i>Containing introductory matter</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>The races at Southampton have, for time immemorial, constituted a scene of +rivalship, war, and envy. All the passions incident to the human frame +have here assumed as true a scope, as in the more noisy and more tragical +contentions of statesmen and warriors. Here nature has displayed her most +hidden attractions, and art has furnished out the artillery of beauty. +Here the coquet has surprised, and the love-sick nymph has sapped the +heart of the unwary swain. The scene has been equally sought by the bolder +and more haughty, as by the timid sex. Here the foxhunter has sought a new +subject of his boast in the <i>nonchalance</i> of <i>dishabille</i>; the +peer has played off the dazzling charms of a coronet and a star; and the +<i>petit maître</i> has employed the anxious niceties of dress.</p> + +<p>Of all the beauties in this brilliant circle, she, who was incomparably +the most celebrated, was the graceful Delia. Her person, though not +absolutely tall, had an air of dignity. Her form was bewitching, and her +neck was alabaster. Her cheeks glowed with the lovely vermilion of nature, +her mouth was small and pouting, her lips were coral, and her teeth whiter +than the driven snow. Her forehead was bold, high, and polished, her +eyebrows were arched, and from beneath them her fine blue eyes shone with +intelligence, and sparkled with heedless gaiety. Her hair was of the +brightest auburn, it was in the greatest abundance, and when, unfettered +by the ligaments of fashion, it flowed about her shoulders and her lovely +neck, it presented the most ravishing object that can possibly be +imagined.</p> + +<p>With all this beauty, it Cannot be supposed but that Delia was followed by +a train of admirers. The celebrated Mr. Prattle, for whom a thousand fair +ones cracked their fans and tore their caps, was one of the first to +enlist himself among her adorers. Squire Savage, the fox-hunter, who, like +Hippolitus of old, chased the wily fox and timid hare, and had never yet +acknowledged the empire of beauty, was subdued by the artless sweetness of +Delia. Nay, it has been reported, that the incomparable lord Martin, a +peer of ten thousand pounds a year, had made advances to her father. It is +true, his lordship was scarcely four feet three inches in stature, his +belly was prominent, one leg was half a foot shorter, and one shoulder +half a foot higher than the other. His temper was as crooked as his shape; +the sight of a happy human being would give him the spleen; and no mortal +man could long reside under the same roof with him. But in spite of these +trifling imperfections, it has been confidently affirmed, that some of the +haughtiest beauties of Hampshire would have been proud of his alliance.</p> + +<p>Thus assailed with all the temptations that human nature could furnish, it +might naturally be supposed, that Delia had long since resigned her heart. +But in this conjecture, however natural, the reader will find himself +mistaken. She seemed as coy as Daphne, and as cold as Diana. She diverted +herself indeed with the insignificant loquaciousness of Mr. Prattle, and +the aukward gallantry of the Squire; but she never bestowed upon either a +serious thought. And for lord Martin, who was indisputably allowed to be +the best match in the county, she could not bear to hear him named with +patience, and she always turned pale at the sight of him.</p> + +<p>But Delia was not destined always to laugh at the darts of Cupid. Mrs. +Bridget her waiting maid, delighted to run over the list of her adorers, +and she was much more eloquent and more copious upon the subject than we +have been. When her mistress received the mention of each with gay +indifference, Mrs. Bridget would close the dialogue, and with a sagacious +look, and a shake of her head, would tell the lovely Delia, that the +longer it was before her time came, the more surely and the more deeply +she would be caught at last. And to say truth, the wisest philosopher +might have joined in the verdict of the sage Bridget. There was a softness +in the temper of Delia, that seemed particularly formed for the tender +passion. The voice of misery never assailed her ear in vain. Her purse was +always open to the orphan, the maimed, and the sick. After reading a +tender tale of love, the intricacies of the Princess of Cleves, the soft +distress of Sophia Western, or the more modern story of the Sorrows of +Werter, her gentle breast would heave with sighs, and her eye, suffused +with tears, confess a congenial spirit.</p> + +<p>The father of Delia--let the reader drop a tear over this blot in our +little narrative--had once been a tradesman. He was naturally phlegmatic, +methodical, and avaricious. His ear was formed to relish better the hoarse +voice of an exchange broker, than the finest tones of Handel's organ. He +found something much more agreeable and interesting in the perusal of his +ledger and his day book, than in the scenes of Shakespeare, or the +elegance of Addison. With this disposition, he had notwithstanding, when +age had chilled the vigour of his limbs, and scattered her snow over those +hairs which had escaped the hands of the barber, resigned his shop, and +retired to enjoy the fruits of his industry. It is as natural for a +tradesman in modern times to desire to die in the tranquillity of a +gentleman, as it was for the Saxon kings of the Heptarchy to act the same +inevitable scene amidst the severities of a cloister.</p> + +<p>The old gentleman however found, and it is not impossible that some of his +brethren may have found it before him, when the great transaction was +irretrievably over, that retirement and indolence did not constitute the +situation for which either nature or habit had fitted him. It has been +observed by some of those philosophers who have made the human mind the +object of their study, that idleness is often the mother of love. It might +indeed have been supposed, that Mr. Hartley, for that was his name, by +having attained the age of sixty, might have outlived every danger of this +kind. But opportunity and temptation supplied that, which might have been +deficient on the side of nature.</p> + +<p>Within a little mile of the mansion in which he had taken up his retreat, +resided two ancient maiden ladies. Under cover of the venerable age to +which they had attained, they had laid aside many of those modes which +coyness and modesty have prescribed to their sex. The visits of a man were +avowedly as welcome to them, and indeed much more so, than those of a +woman. Their want of attractions either external or mental, had indeed +hindered the circle of their acquaintance from being very extensive; but +there were some, as well as Mr. Hartley, who preferred the company of +ugliness, censoriousness and ill nature to solitude.</p> + +<p>Such were the Miss Cranley's, the name of the elder of whom was Amelia, +and that of the younger Sophia. Miss Amelia was nominally forty, and her +sister thirty years of age. Perhaps if we stated the matter more +accurately, we should rate the elder at fifty-six, and the younger +somewhere about fifty. They both of them were masculine in their +behaviour, and studious in their disposition. Miss Amelia, delighted in +the study of theology; she disputed with the curate, maintained a godly +correspondence with a neighbouring cobler, and was even said to be +preparing a pamphlet in defence of the dogmas of Mr. Whitfield. Miss +Sophia, who will make a much more considerable figure in this history, was +altogether as indefatigable in the study of politics, as her sister was in +that of theology. She adhered indeed to none of our political parties, for +she suspected and despised them all. My lord North she treated as stupid, +sleepy, and void of personal principle. Mr. Fox was a brawling gamester, +devoid of all attachments but that of ambition, and who treated the mob +with flattery and contempt. Mr. Burke was a Jesuit in disguise, who under +the most specious professions, was capable of the blackest and meanest +actions. For her own part she was a steady republican. That couplet of Dr. +Garth was continually in her mouth,</p> + +<p><i>From my very soul I hate,<br> +All kings and ministers of state.</i></P> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Ball.</i></p> + +<p>Thus much it was necessary to premise, in order to acquaint the reader +with the situation of our heroine, and that of some other personages in +this history. Having discharged this task, we will return to the point +from which we set out.</p> + +<p>It was at one of the balls at the races at Southampton--the company was +already assembled. The card tables were set, and our maiden ladies, +together with many other venerable pieces of antiquity, were assembled +around them. In another and more spacious room, appeared all that +Southampton could boast of youth and beauty. The squire and his sister, +Mr. Prattle, and lord Martin, formed a part of the company. The first +bustle was nearly composed, when Damon entered the assembly.</p> + +<p>He appeared to be a stranger to every body present. And, as he is equally +a stranger to our readers, we will now announce him in proper form. Damon +appeared to be about twenty years of age. His person was tall, and his +limbs slender and well formed. His dress was elegance itself. His coat was +ornamented with a profusion of lace, and the diamond sparkled in his shoe. +His countenance was manly and erect. There appeared in it a noble +confidence, which the spectator would at first sight ascribe to dignity of +birth, and a perfect familiarity with whatever is elegant and polite. This +confidence however had not the least alloy of <i>hauteur</i>, his eye +expressed the most open sensibility and the kindest sympathy.</p> + +<p>There is something undescribably interesting in the figure we have +delineated. The moment our hero entered the room, the attention of every +person present was fixed upon him. The master of the ceremonies +immediately advanced, and escorted him to the most honourable seat that +yet remained vacant. While Damon examined with an eager eye the gay +parterre of beauty that appeared before him, a general whisper was excited +upon his account. "Who is he?" "Who is he?" echoed from every corner of +the room. But while curiosity was busy in his enquiries, there was not an +individual capable of satisfying them.</p> + +<p>The business of every one was now the choice of a partner. But as one +object had engrossed the attention of all, they were willing to see the +election he would make, though every one feared to lose the partner he had +destined for himself. Damon was therefore, however unwilling to +distinguish himself in so particular a manner, constrained to advance the +foremost. He passed slightly along before a considerable number, who sat +in expectation. At length he approached the seat of Delia. He bowed to her +in the most graceful manner, and intreated to be honoured with her hand. +She smiled assent, and they crossed the room among a croud of envious +rivals. Besides the lovers we had mentioned, there were four others, who +had secretly determined to dance with Delia.</p> + +<p>But if the gentlemen were disappointed, to whose eyes the beauty of Delia, +however unrivalled, was familiar, the disappointment and envy of the fair +sex upon the loss of Damon, whose external and natural recommendations had +beside the grace of novelty, were inexpressible. The daughter of Mr. +Griskin, an eminent butcher in Clare-market, who had indeed from nature, +the grace of being cross-eyed, now looked in ten thousand more various +directions than she ever did before. Miss Prim, agitated in every limb, +cracked her fan into twenty pieces. Miss Gawky, who had unfortunately been +initiated by the chamber maid in the art of snuff-taking, plied her box +with more zeal than ever. Miss Languish actually fainted, and was with +some difficulty conveyed into the air. Such was the confusion occasioned +in the ball at Southampton, by the election of Damon.</p> + +<p>Affairs being now somewhat adjusted, the dances began. Damon at every +interval addressed himself to his lovely partner in the easiest and most +elegant conversation. He talked with fluency, and his air and manner gave +a grace and dignity to the most trifling topics. The heart of Delia, +acknowledged the charms of youthful beauty and graceful deportment, and +secretly confessed that it had never before encountered so formidable an +enemy.</p> + +<p>When the usual topics of conversation had been exhausted, the behaviour of +Damon became insensibly more particular, he pressed her hand with the most +melting ardour, and a sigh ever and anon escaped from his breast. He paid +her several very elegant compliments, though they were all of them +confined within the limits of decorum. Delia, on the other hand, though +she apparently received them with the most gay indifference, in reality +drank deep of the poison of love, and the words of Damon made an +impression upon her heart, that was not easily to be erased.</p> + +<p>But however delicious was the scene in which they were engaged, it +necessarily drew to a conclusion. The drowsy clocks now announced the hour +of three in the morning. The dances broke up, and the company separated. +Delia leaped into the chariot that was waiting, and quickly arrived at the +parental mansion. Fatigued with the various objects that had passed before +her, she immediately retired to rest. For some time however a busy train +of thoughts detained her from the empire of sleep. "How lovely a stranger! +How elegant his manners, and how brilliant his wit! How soft and engaging +the whole of his behaviour! But ah! was this the fruit of reverence and +admiration? Might it not be no more than general gallantry? Oh that I were +mistress of his heart! That he would lay his person at my feet! What a +contrast between him and my former admirers! How doubly hateful does lord +Martin, the lover favoured by my father now appear! But ah! who is this +Damon? What is his fortune, and what his pretensions? His dress surely +bespoke him a man of rank. His elegant manners could have been learned in +no vulgar circle. How sweet, methinks is suspence! How delightful the +uncertainty that hangs about him! And yet, how glad should I be to have my +doubts resolved."</p> + +<p>Soothed with these and similar reflections, the lovely maid fell asleep. +But even in sleep she did not forget the impressions she had received. She +imagined that Damon now approached her pillow. But how unlike the Damon +she had seen! His eyes had something in them superior to a mortal. His +shoulders were adorned with wings, and a vest of celestial azure flowed +around him. He smiled upon her with the most bewitching grace. But the +gentle maid involuntarily stretched out her arms towards him, and the +pleasing vision vanished from her sight.</p> + +<p>Again she closed her eyes, and again she endeavoured to regain her former +object. Damon indeed appeared, but in how different a manner! his +countenance was impressed with every mark of horror, and he seemed to fly +before some who inveterately pursued him. They appeared with the +countenances of furies, and the snakes hissed around their temples. Delia +looked earnestly upon them, and presently recollected the features of the +admirers we have already celebrated. The noble peer under the figure of +Tisiphone, led the troop. Damon stumbled and fell. Sudden as lightning +Tisiphone reached the spot, and plunged a dagger in his heart. She drew it +forth reeking with blood, and the lovely youth appeared in the agonies of +death. Terrified beyond measure, Delia screamed with horror and awoke.</p> + +<p>In the midst of reveries like these, now agitated with apprehension, and +now soothed with pleasure, Delia passed the night. The sun appeared, her +gold repeater informed her that it was twelve, and, assisted by the fair +hands of Mrs. Bridget, she began to rise.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Ghost.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Hartley had breakfasted and walked out in the fields, before Delia +appeared. She had scarcely begun her morning repast, ere Miss Fletcher, +the favourite companion and confidante of Delia, entered the room. "My +dearest creature," cried the visitor, "how do you do? Had not we not a most +charming evening? I vow I was fatigued to death: and then, lord Martin, I +think he never appeared to so much advantage. Why he was quite covered +with diamonds, spangles, and frogs." "Ah!" cried Delia, "but the young +stranger." "True," answered Miss Fletcher, "I liked him of all things; so +tall, so genteel, and so sweetly perfumed.--I cannot think who he is. I +called upon Miss Griskin, and I called upon Miss Savage, nobody knows. He +is some great man." "When did he come to town?" said Delia, "Where does +he lodge?" "My dear, he came to town yesterday in the evening, and went +away again as soon as the ball was over. But do not you think that Mr. +Prattle's new suit of scarlet sattin was vastly becoming? I vow I could +have fallen in love with him. He is so gay and so trifling, and so fond of +hearing himself talk. Why, does not he say a number of smart things?" "It +is exessively strange," said Delia. (She was thinking of the stranger.) +But Miss Fletcher went on--"Not at all, my life. Upon my word I think he +is always very entertaining. He cuts out paper so prettily, and he has +drawn me the sweetest pattern for an apron. I vow, I think, I never showed +you it." "What can be his name?" said Delia; "His name, my dear; law, +child, you do not hear a word one says to you. But of all things, give me +the green coat and pink breeches of Mr. Savage. But did you ever hear the +like? There will be a terrible to do--Lord Martin is in such a +quandary--He has sent people far and near." "I wish they may find him," +exclaimed Delia. "Nay, if they do, I would not be in his shoes for the +world. My lord vows revenge. He says he is his rival. Why, child, the +stranger did not make love to you, did he?" "Mercy on us," cried Delia, +"then my dream is out." "Oh, bless us," said Miss Fletcher, "what dream, +my dear?" Her curiosity then prevailed upon her to be silent for a few +moments, while Delia related that with which the reader is already +acquainted.</p> + +<p>In return, Delia requested of her friend to explain to her more +intelligibly what she hinted of the anger of lord Martin. "Why, my dear, +his lordship has been employed all this morning in writing challenges. +They say he has not writ less than a dozen, and has sent them by as many +messengers, like a hue and cry, all over the county--my lord is a little +man--but what of that--he is as stout as Hercules, and as brave as +what-d'ye call'um, that you and I read of in Pope's Homer. He is in such a +vengeance of a passion, that he cannot contain himself. He tells it to +every body he sees; and his mother and sister run about the house +screaming and fainting like so many mad things."</p> + +<p>Delia, as we have already said, was endowed with a competent share of +natural understanding. She therefore easily perceived, that from an anger +so boisterous and so public, no very fatal effects were to be apprehended. +This reflection quieted the terrors that her dream had excited, and which +the young partiality she began to feel for the amiable stranger would +otherwise have confirmed. Her breast being thus calmed, she made about +half a dozen morning visits, among which, one to Miss Griskin, and another +to Miss Languish, were included. The conversation every where turned upon +the outrageousness of lord Martin. All but the gentle Delia, were full of +anxiety and expectation. The females were broken into parties respecting +the event of the duel. Many trembled for the fate of lord Martin, so +splendid, so rich, and consequently, in their opinion, so amiable and so +witty. Others, guided by the unadulterated sentiments of nature, poured +forth all their vows for the courteous unknown. "May those active limbs +remain without a wound! May his elegant blue and silver never be stained +with blood! Ah, what a pity, that eyes so bright, and teeth so white, +should be shrowded in the darkness of the grave."</p> + +<p>The dinner, a vulgar meal, that passed exactly in the same manner as fifty +dinners had before it, shall be consigned to silence. The evening was +bright and calm. It was in the close of autumn; and every thing tempted +our lovely fair one to take the air. By the way she called upon her +inseparable friend and companion. They directed their course towards the +sea side.</p> + +<p>Here they had not advanced far, before they entered a grove, a spot +particularly the favourite of Delia. In a little opening there was a bank +embroidered with daisies and butter-cups; a little row of willows bending +their heads forward, formed a kind of canopy; and directly before it, +there was a vista through the trees, which afforded a distant prospect of +the sea, with every here and there a vessel passing along, and the beams +of the setting sun quivered on the waves.</p> + +<p>Delia and her companion advanced towards the well known spot. The mellow +voice of the thrush, and the clear pipe of the blackbird, diversified at +intervals with the tender notes of the nightingale, formed the most +agreable natural concert. The breast of Delia, framed for softness and +melancholy, was filled with sensations responsive to the objects around +her, and even the eternal clack of Miss Fletcher was still.</p> + +<p>Presently, however, a new and unexpected object claimed their attention. A +note, stronger and sweeter than that of any of the native choristers of +the grove, swelled upon the air, and floated towards them. Having +approached a few paces, they stood still to listen. It seemed to proceed +from a flute, played upon by a human voice. The air was melancholy, but +the skill was divine.</p> + +<p>The native curiosity of Miss Fletcher was not upon this occasion a match +for the sympathetic spirit of Delia. She pressed forward with an eager and +uncertain step, and looking through an interstice formed by two venerable +oaks, she perceived the figure of a young man sitting in her favourite +alcove. His back was turned towards the side upon which she was. Having +finished the air, he threw his flute carelesly from him, and folded his +arms in a posture the most disconsolate that can be imagined. He rose and +advanced a little with an irregular step. "Ah lovely mistress of my soul," +cried he, "thou little regardest the anguish that must for ever be an +inmate of this breast! While I am a prey to a thousand tormenting +imaginations, thou riotest in the empire of beauty, heedless of the wounds +thou inflicted, and the slaves thou chainest to thy chariot. Wretch that I +am, what is to be done? But I must think no more." Saying this he snatched +up his flute, and thrusting it into his bosom, hurried out of the grove.</p> + +<p>While he spoke, Delia imagined that the voice was one that she had heard +before though she knew not where. Her heart whispered her something more +than her understanding could disentangle. But as he stooped to take his +flute from the ground his profile was necessarily turned towards the inner +part of the grove. Delia started and trembled. Damon stood confessed. But +she scarcely recollected his features before he rushed away swifter than +the winged hawk, and was immediately out of sight.</p> + +<p>Delia was too full of a thousand reflections upon this unexpected +rencounter to be able to utter a word. But Miss Fletcher immediately +began. "God bless us," cried she, "did you ever see the like? Why it is my +belief it is a ghost or a wizard. I never heard any thing so pretty--I +vow, I am terribly frightened."</p> + +<p>Delia now caught hold of her arm. "For heaven's sake, let us quit the +grove. I do not know what is the matter--but I feel myself quite sick." +"Good God! good heavens! Well, I do not wonder you are all in a +tremble--But suppose now it should be nothing but Mr. Prattle--He is +always somewhere or other--And then he plays <i>God save the king</i>, and +<i>Darby and Joan</i>, like any thing." "Oh," said the lovely, trembling +nymph, "they were the sweetest notes!" "Ah," said her companion, "he is a +fine man. And then he is so modest--He will play at one and thirty, and +ride upon a stick with little Tommy all day long. But sure it could not be +Mr. Prattle--He always wears his hair in a queue you know--but the ghost +had a bag and solitaire." "Well," cried Delia, "let us think no more of +it. But did we hear anything?"--"Law, child, why he played the nicest +glee--and then he made such a speech, for all the world like Mr. Button, +that I like so to see in Hamlet." "True," said Delia,--"but what he said +was more like the soft complainings of my dear Castalio. Did not he +complain of a false mistress?" "Why he did say something of that kind.--If +it be neither a ghost nor Mr. Prattle. I hope in God he is going to appear +upon the Southampton stage. I do so love to see a fine young man come on +for the first time with +<i>May this alspishus day be ever sacred!</i><br> +Or,<br> +<i>I am thy father's spirit.</i>"<br> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Love Scene.</i></p> + +<p>In such conversation the moments passed till they reached the habitation +of Mr. Hartley. Miss Fletcher now took her leave. And after a supper as +dull, and much more tedious to Delia, than the dinner, she retired to her +chamber.</p> + +<p>She retired indeed, but not to rest. Her brain was filled with a croud of +uneasy thoughts. "Alas," said she, "how short has been the illusion!--But +yesterday, I was flushed with all the pride of conquest, and busily framed +a thousand schemes of ideal happiness--Where are they now?--The lovely +youth, the only man I ever saw in whose favour my heart was prepossessed, +and with whom I should have felt no repugnance to have engaged in the +tenderest ties, is nothing to me--He loves another. He too complains of +slighted passion, and ill-fated love. Ah, had he made his happiness depend +on me, what would not I have done to reward him! Carefully I would have +soothed every anguish, and taught his heart to bound with joy. But what am +I saying?--Where am I going?--Am I that Delia that bad defiance to the art +of men,--that saw with indifference the havock that my charms had made! +With every opening morn I smiled. Each hour was sped with joy, and my +heart was light and frolic. And shall I dwindle into a pensive, melancholy +maid, the sacrifice of one that heeds me not, whose sighs no answering +sighs encounter!--let it not be said. I have hitherto asserted the +independence of my sex, I will continue to do so. Too amiable unknown, I +give thee to the winds! Propitious fate, I thank thee that thou hast so +soon discovered how much my partiality was misplaced. I will abjure it +before it be too late. I will tear the little intruder from my heart +before the mischief is become irretrievable."</p> + +<p>The following evening Delia repaired again by a kind of irresistible +impulse to the grove. She asked not the company of her friend. She dared +alone hazard the encounter of that object, at which she had trembled so +much the preceding day. Unknown to herself she still imaged a kind of +uncertainty in her fate which would not permit her to lay aside all +thought of Damon. She determined at all events, to have her doubts +resolved. "When there is no longer," said she to herself, "any room for +mistake, I shall then know what to do."</p> + +<p>As she drew near the alcove, she perceived the same figure stretched along +the bank, and with his eyes immoveably fixed upon a little fountain that +rose in a corner of the scene. He seemed lost in thought. Delia approached +doubtfully, but he heard her not. Advanced near to her object, she +reclined forward in a posture of wonder and attention. At this moment a +sigh burst from the heart of Damon, and he raised himself upon the seat.</p> + +<p>His eyes caught the figure of Delia.------"Ah," said he, starting from his +trance, "what do I see? Art thou, lovely intruder, a mere vision, an +aerial being that shuns the touch?" "I beg ten thousand pardons. I meaned +not, sir, to interrupt you. I will be gone." "No, go not." Answered he. +"Thou art welcome to my troubled thoughts. I could gaze for ever."</p> + +<p>Saying this he rose and advancing towards her, seized her hand. "Be not +afraid," said he, "gentle fair one, my breast is a stranger to violence +and rudeness. I have felt the dart of love. Unhappy myself, I learn to +feel for others. But you are happy." As he said this, a tear unbidden +stole into the eye of Delia, and she wiped it away with the hand which was +disengaged from his. "And dost thou pity me," said he. "And does such +softness dwell within thy breast? If you knew the story of my woes, you +would have reason to pity me. I am in love to destraction, but I dare not +disclose my passion. I am banished from the presence of her I love. Ah, +cruel fate, I am entangled, inextricably entangled." "And how, sir," said +Delia, "can I serve you?" "Alas," said he, in no way. My case is hopeless +and irretrievable. And what am I doing? Why do I talk, when the season +calls for action? Oh, I am lost."</p> + +<p>"Dear Sir," answered Delia, "you terrify me to death." "Oh, no. I would +not for the world give you an uneasy moment. Let me be unhappy--but may +misfortune never disturb your tranquility. I return to seek her whose fate +is surely destined to mix with mine. Pardon, loveliest of thy sex, the +distraction in which I have appeared. I would ask you to forget me--I +would ask you to remember me--I know not what I am, or what to think."</p> + +<p>With these words he took the hand which he still held in one of his, and +raising it to his lips, kissed it with the utmost fervour. Immediately he +caught up his hat, which lay beside him on the ground, and began to +advance along the path that led out of the grove on the side furthest from +the town. But his eyes were still fixed upon Delia. He heeded not the path +by which he went; and scarcely had he gone twenty paces, ere he changed +his mind and returned. Delia was seated on the bank and seemed lost in +reverie. Damon threw himself upon his knees before her.</p> + +<p>"Ah, why," said he, "am I constrained to depart!--Why must I talk in +riddles! Perhaps we may never see each other more. Perhaps the time will +come when I shall be able to clear up the obscurity that at present I am +obliged to preserve. But no, it cannot be. I never was happy but for two +poor hours that I enjoyed your smiles, and, drinking in the poison of your +charms, I forgot myself. The time too soon arrived for bitter +recollection. My mistress calls, the mistress of my fate. I must be +gone--Farewel--for ever."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he heaved a sigh that seemed almost to tear his breast +asunder, and with the utmost apparent violence he tore himself away, and +rushed along the path with incredible velocity.</p> + +<p>Delia was now alone. But instead, as she had flattered herself of having +her doubts resolved, she was more uncertain, more perplexed than ever. +"What" cried she, "can all this mean? How strange, and how inexplicable! +Is it a real person that I have seen, or is it a vision that mocks my +fancy? Am I loved, or am I hated? Oh, foolish question! Oh, fond illusion! +Are we not parted for ever! Is he not gone to seek the mistress of his +soul! Alas, he views me not, but with that general complacency, which +youth, and the small pretensions I have to beauty are calculated to +excite! He had nothing to relate that concerned myself, he merely intended +to make me the confidante of his passion for another. Too surely he is +unhappy. His heart seemed ready to burst with sorrow. Probably in this +situation there is no greater or more immediate relief, than to disclose +the subject of our distress, and to receive into our bosom the sympathetic +tear of a simple and a generous heart. His behaviour today corresponds but +too well with the suspicions that yesterday excited. Oh, Delia! then," +added she, "be firm. Thou shalt see the conqueror no more. Think of him no +more."</p> + +<p>In spite however of all the resolution she could muster, Delia repaired +day after day, sometimes alone, and sometimes in company with her friend, +to that spot which, by the umbrage of melancholy it wore, was become more +interesting than ever. Miss Fletcher, could scarcely at first be persuaded +to direct her course that way, lest she should again see the ghost. But +she need not have terrified herself. No ghost appeared.</p> + +<p>Disappointed and baffled on this side, Delia by the strictest enquiries +endeavoured to find out who the unknown person was, in whose fate she had +become so greatly interested. The result of these enquiries, however +diligent, was not entirely satisfactory. She learned that he had been for +a few days upon a visit to a Mr. Moreland, a gentleman who lived about +three miles from Southampton.</p> + +<p>Mr. Moreland was a person of a very singular character. He had the +reputation in the neighbourhood of being a cynic, a misanthrope, and a +madman. He kept very little company, and was even seldom seen but by +night. He had a garden sufficiently spacious, which was carefully rendered +impervious to every human eye. And to this and his house he entirely +confined himself in the day-time. The persons he saw were not the +gentlemen of the neighbourhood. He had no toleration for characters that +did not interest him. When he first came down to his present residence, he +was visited by Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, squire Savage, lord Martin, and +all the most admired personages in the country. But their visits had never +been returned. Mr. Prattle pronounced him a scoundrel; squire Savage said +he was a nincompoop; and lord Martin was near sending him a challenge. But +the censures of the former, and the threats of the latter, had never +reached his ears. His domestics were numerous, but they were hired from a +distance, and were permitted as little communication as possible with the +powdered lacquies of Southampton. Of consequence, however much the +unaccommodating conduct of Mr. Moreland disposed his neighbours to +calumniate him, scandal was deprived of that daily food which is requisite +for her subsistence, and the name of that gentleman was scarcely ever +heard.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Man of Humour.</i></p> + +<p>We will now return to lord Martin. All his messengers, from what cruel +fate we cannot exactly ascertain, miscarried; and it was not till Damon +had left the country, that he learned that he had been a visitor at the +house of Mr. Moreland. Finding that he had missed his expected vengeance, +he discharged his anger in unavailing curses, and for three days he +breathed nothing but daggers, death, and damnation. Having thus vapoured +away the paroxysm of his fury, he became tolerably composed.</p> + +<p>But adverse fate had decreed a short duration to the tranquility of his +lordship. Scarcely had the field been cleared from the enemy he so greatly +dreaded, ere a new rival came upon the stage, to whose arms, though +without any great foundation, the whole town of Southampton had consigned +the charming Delia.</p> + +<p>The name of this gentleman was Prettyman. He was just returned from his +travels, and was reckoned perfectly accomplished. He was six foot high, +his shoulders were broad, his legs brawny, and his whole person athletic. +The habits however he had formed to himself in foreign countries, will not +perhaps be allowed exactly to correspond with the figure which nature had +bestowed upon him. He generally spent two hours every morning at his +toilette. His face was painted and patched, his whole person strongly +perfumed, and he had continually in his hand a gold snuff-box set with +diamonds. His voice was naturally hoarse and loud, but with infinite +industry he had brought himself to a pronunciation shrill, piping, and +effeminate. His conversion was larded with foreign phrases and foreign +oaths, and every thing he said was accompanied with a significant shrug.</p> + +<p>The same period which had introduced this new pretender to the heart of +Delia, had been distinguished by the arrival of a Sir William Twyford, who +paid his addresses to Miss Fletcher. Sir William was exactly the reverse +of Mr. Prettyman. With a genteel person, and an open and agreable +phisiognomy, his manners were perfectly careless and unstudied. A +predominant feature in his character was good nature. But this was not his +ruling passion. He had an infinite fund of wit and humour, and he never +was so happy as when he was able to place the foibles of affectation in a +whimsical and ridiculous light.</p> + +<p>As it was vanity alone, that had induced Mr. Prettyman to pay his +addresses to the lady, who was universally allowed to surpass in beauty +and every elegant accomplishment in the place in which he was, he would +have been less pleased that his amour should have terminated in a +marriage, than that by his affectation and coquetry he might break the +heart of the simple fair one. Accordingly, it was his business to make the +affair as public as possible.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin, had been sufficiently irritated by the pretensions of Damon. +The new intruder had wrought up his passion to the highest pitch. In the +mean time he had renewed an acquaintance which he had formerly made with +sir William Twyford. Sir William, upon all occasions, cultivated the +intimacy of such, as, by any striking peculiarities, seemed to furnish a +proper subject for his humour. He now contributed every thing in his power +to inflame his lordship against Mr. Prettyman. He offered to become the +bearer of a challenge, and to be his lordship's second in any future +combat.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin broke off the conversation somewhat abruptly, and began to +reflect with himself upon what had passed. He had hitherto contrived, by +some means or other, though he dealt very largely in challenges, never to +have come to actual battle. But he had too much reason to think, that if +he made sir William his messenger, he should not be able with any degree +of honour to contrive an evasion. "It is true," said he, "I am in a most +confounded passion, but a wise general never proceeds to action without +having first deliberated. Zounds, blood and fire! would I could put an end +to the existence of so presumptuous a villain! But then it must be +considered that Mr. Prettyman is six foot high, and I am not five. He is +as athletic as Ajax, but to me nature has been unfavourable. It is true I +understand cart and terce, parry and thrust, but I have heard that +Prettyman studied under Olivier. Many a man has outlived the passage of a +bullet, or the thrust of a sword through him. But my constitution is so +delicate! Curse blast it, death and the devil, I do not know what to do."</p> + +<p>Sir William, as soon as he had left lord Martin, repaired to the lodgings +of Mr. Prettyman. After a short general conversation, he began, "My dear +friend, here has happened the unluckiest thing in nature. You have made +some advances, you know, to the charming Delia." "True," cried Prettyman, +"I have bestowed upon her a few condescending glances. <i>C'est une +charmante fille</i>." "Well," added sir William, "and the whole town gives +her to you." "<i>Parbleu!</i> the town is very impertinent. There will go +two words to that bargain." "My lord Martin, you know, has enlisted +himself amongst her admirers." "Pox take the blockhead, I suppose he would +marry her. <i>Bien</i>. After I have led her a dance, he shall do what he +pleases with her." "But," said sir William, "my lord intends to call you +to an account." "<i>Morbleu</i>," cried Prettyman, "I thought I had +been in a land of liberty." "But let me tell you, my lord is very +absolute. He has fought some half a dozen duels in his time, and every +body is afraid of him." "<i>J'en suis excèdè</i>. 'Pon honour, the girl is +not worth fighting for." "Oh," said the malicious wit, "but if you give +her up for a few threats, your reputation will be ruined for ever." +"<i>Mon Dieu!</i> this reputation is a very expensive thing. <i>Je +crois</i> that every girl is a Helen, never so happy as when people are +murdering one another, and towns are fired for her sake. Is this same +<i>milord</i> absolutely inexorable?"</p> + +<p>"I cannot tell," said sir William, "what may be done. If you were to fly, +he would pursue you to the ends of the earth. But suppose now you were +upon your knees, to retract your pretensions to this silly girl." +"<i>Pardi</i>" answered Prettyman, "that is damned hard! are you sure his +lordship is so compleat a master of the science of defence?" "Nay," +replied sir William, "I cannot tell. I believe indeed he never received a +wound, but I think I remember to have heard of one duel he fought, in +which his antagonist came off with his life." "Ah, <i>diable +l'emporte!</i> That will not do neither. These bullets are the aukwardest +things in the world. Do you think you could not prevail with his Lordship +to use only powder?" "Powder," cried sir William, "that is an excellent +jest. My lord always loads with six small slugs." "Six slugs! ah the +bloody minded villain! It is confounded hard that a gentleman cannot pass +through life, without being <i>degoutè</i> with these unpolished Vandals. +<i>Ah, mon cher ami</i>, I will put the affair entirely into your hands: +do, <i>pour i'amour de Dieu</i>, bring me out of this scrape as well as +you can." "Well my dear Prettyman, I will exert myself on your account; +but, upon my soul, I had rather have an affair with half a regiment of +commissioned officers fresh imported from America."</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford, having thus brought the affair to some degree of +forwardness, now waited on his lordship. "My dear lord Martin," said he, +"what have you resolved upon? The affair is briefly thus--you must either +give up Delia, or fight Mr. Prettyman." "Give up Delia!" exclaimed the +little lord; "by all that is sacred I will sooner spill the last drop of +my blood. But," added he, "what necessity is there for the alternative you +propose? True, I fear no man. But to be continually engaged in quarrels +would acquire me the character of a desperado." "Indeed," said sir +William, "you have been somewhat lavish in those sort of affairs, but I do +not see how you can be off in the present instance. Prettyman has heard of +the bustle you made about the fellow at the ball, that tricked you of your +partner; and he will never pardon the affront, if you pay less attention +to him." "Pox take the blockhead, he is mighty nice, methinks, in his +temper. I have a great mind not to gratify him." "Oh," cried sir William, +"you never had such an opportunity to establish your character for ever. +And the fellow I believe is no better than a coward at bottom."</p> + +<p>It would be endless to relate all the stratagems of sir William to bring +the business to the conclusion he wished. How he terrified the brawny +<i>petit maítre</i>, and anon he animated the little peer. His lordship +felt the force of his friend's eloquence, but even his highest flights of +heroism were qualified with temporary misgivings. For poor Mr. Prettyman, +he feared to stay, and dared not fly. If he could have forgotten the +danger he apprehended, his good natured friend by the studied +exaggerations in which he was continually clothing it, would have +perfectly succeed in refreshing his memory. But in reality it was never +absent from his thoughts. His slumbers were short and disturbed. And he +could scarcely close his eyes, ere the enraged lord Martin, with his sword +drawn, and his countenance flaming with inexorable fury, presented himself +to his affrighted imagination.</p> + +<p>At length sir William by his generous interposition affected a compromise. +It was agreed that Mr. Prettyman should fall upon his knees before lord +Martin in the public room in the presence of Delia, and, asking his +pardon, put a small cane into his hand. "My lord," said sir William to the +beau, "is as generous as he is brave. He will not make an improper use of +the advantage you put into his hands. He will raise you from the humble +posture you will have assumed, and, embracing you cordially, all that is +past will be forgotten. As his lordship will take you under his +protection, not an individual will dare to reflect upon you." "Mr. +Prettyman," said sir William to lord Martin, "unites the heart of a +chicken to the most absolute skill in the small sword that ever I saw. I +have been only capable of restraining him by representing your lordship as +the most furious and impracticable of mankind. If he once suspect that I +have misrepresented you, a duel, in which I am afraid your lordship would +be overmatched, must be the inevitable consequence. Might I therefore +presume to advise, your lordship should make use of the advantage I have +gained you without mercy."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + +<p><i>Containing some Specimens of Heroism.</i></p> +<br> + +<p>The evening now approached, in which the scene sir William Twyford had +with so much pains prepared, was to be acted. An imperfect rumour had +spread that something extraordinary was to pass in the public room. Miss +Prim was of opinion that a duel would be fought. "I shall be frightened +out of my wits," said she. "But I must go, for one loves any thing new, +and I believe there is nothing in it that a modest woman may not see." +Miss Gawky thought it would be a boxing match. "Bless us, my dear lord +Martin could stand no chance with that great lubberly macaroni." But Miss +Griskin, with a look of more than common sagacity, assured the ladies that +she had penetrated to the very bottom of the matter. "Mr. Prettyman and +lord Martin have ordered two large rounds of beef to be set upon the table +at supper, and they mean to lay about them for a wager."</p> + +<p>In this manner every one made her own conjecture, which she preferred to +that of all the rest. Curiosity was wrought up to the highest pitch, and +the uncertainty that prevailed upon the subject, rendered the affair still +more interesting. The rooms were early filled with an uncommon number of +spectators. About nine o'clock Mr. Prettyman entered, but instead of +exerting himself with his usual vivacity, he retired to one corner of the +room, and sat in a sheepish and melancholy posture. Not long after, sir +William Twyford and lord Martin came in, arm in arm.</p> + +<p>The peer strutted immediately to the upper end of the room. Delia stood +near him. "My lovely girl," said he, with an air of vulgar familiarity, "I +am rejoiced to see you. I hope I shall one day prove myself worthy of your +favour."</p> + +<p>While this passed Mr. Prettyman was by no means in an enviable condition. +From the operation of fear and vexation he perspired very profusely. +Vanity, as we have said, might almost be termed his ruling passion, and he +would never have sacrificed it so publicly to any consideration less +immediate than that of personal safety. Ardently did he long to have the +terrible scene concluded. But he had neither strength nor spirits to +advance a step, or even to rise from his seat.</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford now came up to him, and took hold of his hand. "My +dear friend," said he, "be not dispirited. It is no more than a flea-bite, +and it will be over in a moment. You will acquire the friendship of the +first personage in the county, and far from losing any thing in the public +esteem, you will be more respected than ever." "<i>Morbleu</i>," cried the +beau, "my shoulders ake for it already. But, <i>mon très cher & très +excellent ami</i>, do not desert me, and remind the peer of the generosity +you talked of."</p> + +<p>Sir William now raised him from his seat, and led him to the middle of the +room. Lord Martin, with a stately air, advanced a few steps. In spite +however of all the heroism he could assume, as the important affair drew +towards a crisis, he began to tremble. Mr. Prettyman fell upon his knees, +and sir William put a cane into his hand. But in this posture the beau +remained still somewhat taller than his antagonist. "Most worthy lord," +cried he in a tremulous voice, "I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding +that has happened, and I am filled with the most ardent"----While he was +yet speaking he advanced the cane in the attitude of presenting it. +"Villain," said lord Martin, who between fear and rage could no longer +contain himself, and snatched it from his hand. But he could scarcely +reach beyond the shoulder of his enemy, and blinded with emotion and +exertion, instead of directing his blows as he ought to have done, he +struck him two or three very severe strokes on the head and face. The beau +bore it as long as he could. But at length bellowing out, "<i>Mon Dîeu, je +suis meurtriè</i>, I am beaten to a jelly," he rose from his knees. His +antagonist being between him and the door, he fairly threw him upon his +back, and flying out of the room he stopped not till he arrived at the +inn, where, ordering his phaeton and six, he ascended without a moment's +pause, and drove off for London.</p> + +<p>In the mean time, every thing in the public room was in confusion and +disorder. Sir William flew to support the discomfited hero, who had +received a grievous contusion in his shoulder. Miss Griskin giggled, the +other ladies screamed, and Miss Languish, as usual, fainted away. "Bless +me," cried Miss Fletcher, "it is the queerest affair"--"By my troth," said +Miss Gawky, "it is vastly fine." "But not half so fine," cried Miss +Griskin, "as the buttocks of beef."</p> + +<p>By this time lord Martin had raised himself in a sitting posture and +uttered a deep groan. "Best of friends," said he, pressing the hand of sir +William, "tell me truly, am I victorious, or am I defeated?" "Oh +<i>victoria</i>!" cried sir William; "never heed a slight skin wound that +you received in the combat." His lordship stood up. "Damnation, pox +confound it!" said he, a little recovering himself, "what is become of the +rascal? I have not given him half what he deserved. But, ladies," added he +flourishing his cane, "it is my maxim, as I am strong to be merciful."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he advanced towards Delia, and, with a flourish of importance +and conceit, laid the weapon, which he had so roundly employed, at her +feet. "Loveliest of women," said he, "to your shrine I devote myself. Upon +your altar, I lay the insignia of my prowess. Deign, gentlest of thy sex, +to accept thus publicly of those sighs which I have long poured forth upon +thy account."</p> + +<p>Delia, though the native modesty of her character caused her whole face to +be suffused with blushes at having the eyes of the whole company thus +turned upon her, regarded the peer with a look of ineffable disdain, and +turned from him in silence.</p> + +<p>Such were the transactions of an evening, which will doubtless long be +remembered by such as had the good fortune to be spectators. The natural +impertinence and insolence of lord Martin were swelled by the event to ten +times their natural pitch. He crowed like a cock, and cackled like a +goose. The vulgar of the other sex, who are constantly the admirers of +success, however unmerited, and conceit, however unfounded, thought his +lordship the greatest man in the world. The inequality of his legs was +removed by the proof he had exhibited of his prowess. The inequality of +his shoulders was hid under a rent-roll of ten thousand a year. And the +narrowness of his intellects, the optics of these connoisseurs were not +calculated to discern.</p> + +<p>The peer, as we have already hinted, was the suitor most favoured by the +father of our heroine. The principal passion of the old gentleman was the +love of money. But at the same time he was not absolutely incapable of +relishing the inferior charms of a venerable title and a splendid +reputation. Perceiving that his client continually rose in the public +opinion, he was more eager than ever to have the match concluded. Lord +Martin, though his organs were not formed to delight in beauty at the +first hand, was yet tickled with the conceit of carrying off so fair a +prize from the midst of a thousand gaping expectants.</p> + +<p>It will naturally be imagined that the situation of Delia at this moment +was by no means an enviable one. She was caught in the snares of love. And +the more she struggled to get free, she was only the more limed and +entangled. The recollection of the hopelessness of her love by no means +sufficed to destroy it. The recollection of her former carelessness and +gaiety was not able to restore her to present ease. In vain she summoned +pride and maiden dignity to support her. In vain she formed resolutions, +which were broken as soon as made. Every where she was haunted by the +image of her dear unknown. Her nights were sleepless and uneasy. The fire +and brightness of her eyes were tarnished. <i>She pined in green and +yellow melancholy.</i></p> + +<p>The more dear were the ideal image that accompanied her, the more did she +execrate and detest her persecutor. "No," cried she, "I will never be his. +Never shall the sacred tie, which should only unite congenial spirits, be +violated by two souls, distant as the poles, jarring as contending +elements. My father may kill me. Alas, of what value is life to me! It is +a long scene of unvaried misfortune. It is a dreary vista of despair. He +may kill me, but never, never shall he force me to a deed my soul abhors."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + +<p><i>Containing that with which the reader will be acquainted when he has +read it</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>The cup of misfortune, by which it was decreed that the virtue and the +constancy of our heroine should be tried, was not yet ended. The +disposition of a melancholy lover is in the utmost degree variable. Now +the fair Delia studiously sought to plunge herself in impervious solitude; +and now, worn with a train of gloomy reflections, she with equal eagerness +solicited the society of her favourite companion.</p> + +<p>By this time sir William Twyford and Miss Fletcher were become in a manner +inseparable. Of consequence the company of the one necessarily involved +that of the other. And the gaiety and good humour of sir William, tempered +as they were by an excellent understanding, and an unaffected vein of +sportive wit, were the sweetest medicine to the wounded heart of Delia. +When she had first chosen Miss Fletcher for her intimate friend, her own +faculties had not yet reached their maturity; and habit frequently renders +the most insipid amusements pleasurable and interesting. Southampton +itself did not afford the largest scope for selection. And however our +readers may decide respecting the merit of the easy, the voluble and the +good humoured Miss Fletcher, they will scarcely be disposed to deny that +of all the female characters we have hitherto exhibited, she was the most +amiable.</p> + +<p>One evening, as these three friends were sitting together, sir William +took occasion to lament the necessity that was laid upon him to quit +Southampton for a few days, though he hoped very speedily to be able to +return. His inamorata, as usual, was very inquisitive to learn the +business that was to deprive her for a time of the presence of a lover, of +whom she was not a little ostentatious. Sir William answered that he was +under an engagement to be present at the marriage of one of his college +friends, and that he should set out in company with Mr. Moreland.</p> + +<p>At that name our tender and apprehensive fair one involuntarily started. +"Mr. Moreland!" said she to herself, "Ah, it was at his house that my +unknown resided. It is very seldom that Mr. Moreland undertakes a journey. +Surely there must be something particularly interesting to him in the +affair. The strange combination of circumstances terrifies and perplexes +me. Would I were delivered from this state of uncertainty! Would to God I +were dead!"</p> + +<p>The uncertainty which afflicted her was however of a very short duration. +Miss Fletcher, by an inexhaustible train of interrogatories, led sir +William to relate by degrees every thing he knew of the affair. The young +gentleman his friend was the nephew and heir of Mr. Moreland. The present +match had been long upon the carpet, and was a very considerable one in +point of fortune. "Did the nephew ever visit Mr. Moreland?" "Very +frequently," said sir William. "And he is visited" interposed Delia, "by +other young gentlemen from the university?" "No," answered sir William. +"Mr. Moreland, who is an old batchelor, full of oddities and sensibility, +has a general dislike of young collegians. He thinks them pert, dissolute, +arrogant, and pedantic. He therefore never receives any but his nephew, +for whom he has the most ardent affection, and sometimes by particular +grace myself who am his intimate friend." "And how long is it since the +young gentleman paid a visit to his uncle?" Sir William looked a little +surprized at so particular a question, but answered: "He was here not +above a fortnight ago to invite his uncle to the wedding. But he is rather +serious and thoughtful in his temper, so that he is seldom seen in +public."</p> + +<p>It was now but too certain that the friend of sir William, and the amiable +unknown, who had made a conquest of the heart of Delia, were the same +person. The surprise at which she was taken, and the unwelcome manner in +which her doubts were now at once resolved, were too much for the delicate +frame of our heroine. She sat for a moment gazing with an eager and +unmeaning stare upon the face of sir William. But she presently +recollected herself, and, bursting out of the room, flew to her chamber in +the same instant, and was relieved by a flood of tears.</p> + +<p>Sir William was inexpressibly surprised at this incident. Delia, he was +sure, did not even know the name of his friend, and he could scarcely +imagine that she had ever seen him. Miss Fletcher, though considerably +astonished herself, gave sir William an account of so many particulars of +what had passed between his friend and our heroine, as were perfectly +sufficient to solve the difficulty. In return the baronet explained to her +the exact situation of the affair of Damon, told her that he did not +believe the day was yet fixed, and assured her that Mr. Moreland and +himself waited for a farther summons, though it must be confessed that it +was expected every hour.</p> + +<p>These particulars, when communicated to Delia by the indefatigable +assiduity of Miss Fletcher, afforded her but a very slender consolation. +"What avails it me," said she, "that the day is not fixed? Every +considerable circumstance, there is reason to believe, is determined. He +marries, with the approbation of all his friends, a lady, my superior in +rank and fortune, and who is probably every way worthy of him. Ah, why am +I thus selfish and envious? No, let me pine away in obscurity, let me be +forgotten. But may he live long and happy. Did he not tell me, that he +went to seek the <i>mistress of his fate</i>?--And yet," interrupted she, +"he accompanied the information with words of such sweet import, with so +much tenderness and gentleness, as will never be erased from my mind. Ah +foolish girl, wilt thou for ever delude thyself, wilt thou be for ever +extracting comfort from despair? No! Long enough hast thou been misguided +by the meteor of hope. Long enough hast thou been cheated by the visions +of youthful fancy. There is now no remedy left. Let me die."</p> + +<p>There were two passions that predominated in the breast of sir William +Twyford. The first was that of a humourist, and to this almost every other +object was occasionally sacrificed. But he had likewise a large fund of +good nature. He perceived, that in two successive instances, however +unintentionally, his conduct had been the source of unhappiness to the +most amiable of her sex. The victory of lord Martin had put it more than +ever in his power to harrass Delia. She was incessantly importuned, now by +her father, and now by her inamorato. And her distress, if it had wanted +any addition, was rendered compleat by the expected marriage of one, whose +personal accomplishments had caught her unwary heart. He lamented the +undeserved misfortune of youth and beauty. His heart bled for her.</p> + +<p>Thus circumstanced, his active benevolence determined him not to lose a +moment, in endeavouring to repair the mischief of which he had so +unfortunately been the author. He had never cordially approved of the +intended union between his friend and Miss Frampton. She was of the first +order of coquettes, and it might have puzzled even an anatomist to +determine, whether she had a heart. Descartes informs us that the soul +usually resides in the pineal gland, but the soul of this lady seemed to +inhabit in her eyes. She had been caught with the figure of Damon. And had +a figure more perfectly beautiful, if that had been possible, or an +equipage more brilliant, presented itself, he did not doubt but that it +would carry away the prize.</p> + +<p>Miss Frampton was heiress to a fortune of fifty thousand pounds. The +father of Damon, whose soul, in union with some amiable qualities, which +served him for a disguise, had the misfortune to be exceedingly mercenary +at the bottom, had proposed the match to his son. Damon, who had never in +his life been guilty of an act of disobedience, received the +recommendation of his father with a prejudice in its favour. He waited +upon the young lady and found her beautiful, high spirited, accomplished, +and incensed by a thousand worshippers. Her disposition was not indeed +congenial to his own. But he was prejudiced by filial duty, dazzled by her +charms, and led on insensibly by the mildness and pliableness of his +character. In a word, every thing had been concluded, and the wedding was +daily expected to take place.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Two Persons of Fashion</i>.</p> + +<p>In pursuance of the determination he had formed, sir William immediately +set out for Oxford, where his friend still resided. As he had lived with +him upon terms of the most unreserved familiarity, he made use of the +liberty of an intimate, and, without being announced, abruptly entered his +chamber. Damon was sitting in a melancholy posture, his countenance +dejected, and his eye languid. Upon the entrance of the baronet he looked +up, and struck with the sudden appearance of one to whom he was so +ardently attached, his visage for a moment assumed an air of gaiety and +pleasure.</p> + +<p>"Ha," cried sir William, with his wonted spriteliness of accent, "methinks +the countenance of my Damon does not bespeak the sentiments that become a +bridegroom." "I am afraid not," answered Damon. "But tell me to what am I +indebted for this agreeable and unexpected visit?" "We will talk of that +another time. But when did you see my play-fellow, Miss Frampton?" "I have +not seen her," replied our hero with a sigh half uttered, and half +suppressed, "these ten days." "What" cried the baronet, "no +misunderstanding, eh?" "Not absolutely that. I saw her, I fear, without +all the rapture that becomes a lover, and she resented it with a coldness +that did not introduce an immediate explanation. Since that time I have +been somewhat indisposed, or probably affairs would now have been +settled." "And what," said sir William, "must we apply the old maxim, that +the falling out of lovers is the consolidating of love?"</p> + +<p>Damon from the entrance of his friend had appeared a good deal agitated. +He was no longer able to contain himself. He eagerly seized the hand of +sir William and clasped it between both of his. "My dear baronet, I have +never concealed from you a thought of my heart. But my present situation +is so peculiarly delicate and distressing, that I can scarcely form any +sentiment of it, or even dare trust myself to recollect it. I have seen," +continued he, "ah, that I could forget it! a woman, beauteous as the day, +before whom the charms of Miss Frampton disappear, as, before the rising +sun, each little star <i>hides its diminish'd head</i>. Her features, full +of sensibility, her voice such as to thrill the soul and all she says, +pervaded with wit and good sense." "And where," cried the baronet, in a +lively tone, "resides this peerless she?"</p> + +<p>"Alas," answered the disconsolate Damon, "it matters not. I shall see her +no more. Virtue, honour, every thing forbids it. I may be unhappy, but I +will never deserve to be so. Miss Frampton has my vows. Filial duty calls +on me to fulfil them. Obstacles without number, Alps on Alps arise, to +impede my prosecution of a fond and unlicensed inclination. The struggle +has cost me something, but it is over. I have recovered my health, I have +formed my resolution. This very day, (you, my good friend, will accept the +apology) I had determined to repair to Beaufort Place. Doubt and +uncertainty nourish the lingering distemper that would undo me. I will +come to a decision."</p> + +<p>Sir William was not of a temper to abdicate any affair in which he had +embarked, before success appeared absolutely unattainable. Like Caesar, it +was enough for him that the thing appeared possible to be done, to engage +him to persevere. He therefore begged leave to accompany his friend, and +they set out together that very afternoon.</p> + +<p>Beaufort Place, the habitation of Miss Frampton, was only six miles from +Oxford. And, as he knew that Sir Harry Eustace, the son of that lady's +mother by a second husband, was now upon a visit to his sister, sir +William Twyford made no scruple of proceeding with his friend immediately +to the house.</p> + +<p>After a short general conversation, sir William drew the young baronet +into the garden. In the mean time sir Harry's chariot was preparing, as he +had fixed the conclusion of his visit for that evening. After an interval +of half an hour the servant brought word that the carriage was ready. Sir +Harry, who was a young man of little ceremony, bowed <i>en passant</i> +before the parlour window, and immediately hurried away.</p> + +<p>Sir William stood for some time at the door of the house after sir Harry +had driven away. Presently he observed another carriage advancing by the +opposite road. The liveries were flaunting and the attendants numerous. +They drew nearer, and he perceived that it was the equipage of lord +Osborne. Since therefore the lovers were to be so soon interrupted by the +entrance of a new visitant, he thought proper immediately to enter the +parlour.</p> + +<p>He had only time to remark the air and countenance of Damon and the young +lady. They appeared mutually cold and embarassed. He could trace in his +friend the aukwardness and timidity of one who was unused to act a studied +part. Miss Frampton, with a countenance uninterested and inattentive, +affected the carriage of a person who thought herself insulted.</p> + +<p>Lord Osborne was now announced. He was a young nobleman, that had spent a +considerable part of his fortune upon the continent. With a narrow +understanding and a contracted heart, he had been able by habitual cunning +and invincible effrontery, to acquire the reputation of a man of parts. +Courage was the only respectable quality, his possession of which could +not be questioned. He was a debauchee and a gamester. There was no +meanness he had not practised, there was no villainy of which he could not +boast. With this character, he was universally respected and courted by +all such as wished to acquire the reputation of men of gaiety and spirit. +The ladies were all dying for him, as for a man who had ruined more +innocence, and occasioned a greater consumption of misery, than any other +man in the kingdom.</p> + +<p>The face of Miss Frampton visibly brightened the moment his name was +articulated. She was all spirits and agitation, though she seemed to feel +something aukward in her situation. When he entered the room, she flew +half way to meet him, but, suddenly recollecting herself, stopt short. "My +dear Miss Frampton," said his lordship, with a familiar and indifferent +air, "I cannot stop a moment. I am mortified to death. The most +unfortunate man! But I could not live a whole day without seeing you. +Believe me to be more impassioned, more ardent than ever." Saying this be +directed a slight glance and a half bow towards our two friends. "Farewel, +my charmer, my adorable!" said he, and kissed her hand. Miss Frampton +struck him a slight blow with her fan, and crying, with an easy wink, +"Remember!" she dropt him a profound curtesey and his lordship departed.</p> + +<p>For a moment the whole company was silent. "By my soul," exclaimed sir +William, "this is the most singular affair!" "Oh, nothing at all," +answered the young lady. "It is all <i>à la mode de Paris</i>. In France +no man of fashion can presume to accost a lady, whether young or old, but +in the language of love. But it means no more, than when a minister of +state says to his first clerk, <i>your humble servant</i>, or to the widow +of a poor seaman, <i>your devoted slave</i>." "Oh," cried sir William, "that +is all. And by my faith, it is mighty pretty. What think you Damon? I +hope, when you are married, you will have no objection to lord Osborne, or +any other person of fashion making love to your wife before your face." +"What an indelicate question!" said Miss Frampton. "I declare, baronet, +you are grown an absolute boor. Nobody ever talks of marriage now. A woman +of fashion blushes to hear it mentioned before a third person." "Why, to +say the truth, madam, I have been honoured with so great an intimacy by +Damon, that I thought that might excuse the impropriety. And now, pray +your ladyship, must I wait till we are alone, before I ask my friend +whether his happy day be fixed?" "Since you will talk," said Miss +Frampton, "of the odious subject, I believe I may tell you that it is not. +We are in no such hurry." "My dear sweet play-fellow," said the baronet, +"I must tell you once for all that I am no adept in French fashions. So +that you will give me leave to use the unceremonious language of an +Englishman. My friend here, you know, is a little sheepish, but I have +words at will. I thought matters had been nearer a termination." "And +pray, my good sir, let the gentleman speak for himself. If he is not +dissatisfied, why should you be in such haste?" "Indeed, madam," +interposed Damon, "I am not perfectly satisfied. Perhaps indeed a lover +ought to think himself happy enough in being permitted to dance attendance +upon a lady of your charms. But I once thought, madam, that we had +advanced somewhat farther." "I cannot tell," answered the lady with an air +of levity. "Just as you please. But I cannot see why we should put +ourselves to any inconvenience. Lord Osborne"--"Lord Osborne!" interrupted +sir William with some warmth, "and pray what has his lordship to do with +the matter?" "Really sir William," replied Miss Frampton, "you are very +free. But his lordship is my friend, and I hope Damon has no objection to +his continuing so." "Look you," answered sir William, "I would neither +have lord Osborne for the rival of Damon now, nor for your +<i>chichisbee</i> hereafter." "And yet I am not sure," cried she, "that he +may not be both." "Is there then," said the baronet, "no engagement +subsisting between you and Damon?" "I believe," cried Miss Frampton, a +little hesitating, "there may be something of the kind. But we may change +our minds you know, and I do not think that I shall prosecute upon it. Ha! +ha! ha!" "To say the truth," replied sir William, "I believe lord Osborne +is not only the rival of Damon, but a very formidable one too. But let me +tell you, Bella, a character so respectable as that of my friend, and so +true an Englishman, must not be allowed to dance attendance." "As he +pleases. I believe we understand one another. And to say the truth at +once, perhaps some time hence I may have no aversion to lord Osborne."</p> + +<p>The reader will not suppose that the conversation continued much longer. +Damon and the young lady came to a perfect understanding, and parted +without any very ungovernable desire of seeing each other again. And thus +by the gay humour and active friendship of sir William Twyford, an affair +was happily terminated, which, from the timidity and gentleness of our +hero, might otherwise have lingered several months to the mutual +dissatisfaction of both parties. Damon quitted the house in raptures, and +was no sooner seated in the chariot, than he pressed his friend repeatedly +to his breast, and committed a thousand extravagancies of joy.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A tragical Resolution.</i></p> + +<p>Damon and his friend spent the evening together in the chambers of our +hero. They now discussed a variety of those subjects, which naturally +arise between friends who have been for any time separated. Damon threw +aside that reserve which the consciousness of a fault had hitherto +involuntarily imposed upon him, and related more explicitly who the lady +was of whom he was so much enamoured, and in what manner he had first seen +her. Recollecting that the baronet was just returned from the environs of +Southampton, he eagerly enquired into the health and situation of his +mistress.</p> + +<p>Sir William related to him the adventure of Mr. Prettyman, as we have +already stated it to our readers, and deeply lamented the persecution to +which Delia was subjected from the haughty victor. "And is there," cried +Damon eagerly, "no prospect of his lordship's success?" "I believe," +answered sir William, "that he is of all men her mortal aversion." "And is +there no happy lover in all her train, that she regards with a partial +eye?" "None," replied the baronet, "she is chaste as snow, and firm as +mountain oaks." "Propitious coldness!" exclaimed Damon, "for that may +heaven send down a thousand blessings on her head!"</p> + +<p>"But you talked," added he, "of some occasion of your journey which you +deferred relating to me." "The occasion," answered sir William, determined +to preserve inviolate the secret of Delia, "is already fulfilled. I heard +from young Eustace of the appearance and addresses of Osborne, and +suspecting the rest, I determined to deliver you from the clutches of a +girl whom I always thought unworthy of you. And now" added he cheerfully, +"free as the winds, we can pursue uncontrolled the devices of our own +hearts."</p> + +<p>The next morning the two friends proceeded to the house of lord Thomas +Villiers, the father of Damon. He had already learned something of the +visits of lord Osborne at Beaufort Place. He was not therefore much +surprised to hear of the scene, which had passed between his son and the +lady of that mansion. But there was something more to be done, in order to +gain the approbation of the father to the new project, in the prosecution +of which both these friends were equally sanguine.</p> + +<p>Lord Thomas Villiers was, as we have already said, avaricious. He was not +therefore much pleased with the proposal of a match with a lady, whose +fortune was not the half of that of Miss Frampton. He was tinctured with +the pride of family, and he could not patiently think for a moment, of +marrying his only son to the daughter of a tradesman. Sir William employed +all his eloquence, and accommodated himself with infinite dexterity to the +humours of the person with whom he had to deal. Damon indeed said but +little, but his looks expressed more, than the baronet, with all his +abilities, and all his friendship, was able to suggest. In spite of both, +the father continued inexorable.</p> + +<p>The mind of Damon was impressed with the most exalted ideas upon the +subject of filial duty. Had his heart been pre-engaged, before the affair +of Miss Frampton was proposed to him, he might not perhaps have carried +his complaisance so far, as to have married the indifferent person, in +spite of all his views and all his prepossessions. But in his estimate, +the actual entering into a connection for life in opposition to the will +of a parent, was a mode of conduct very different from, and far more +exceptionable than the refusing to unite oneself with a person in whose +society one had not the smallest reason to look for happiness.</p> + +<p>There was another inducement that had much weight with Damon, and even +with his more sanguine friend, sir William Twyford. The fortune neither of +Damon nor Delia was independent. Lord Thomas Villiers was filled with too +many prepossessions and too much pride, easily to retract an opinion he +had once adopted, or to forgive an opposition to his judgment. The narrow +education of a tradesman it was natural to suppose had rendered the mind +of Mr. Hartley still more tenacious, and unmanageable. And neither would +sir William have been willing to see his friend, nor would the lover +readily have involved his mistress in circumstances of pecuniary distress.</p> + +<p>The resolution of Damon was therefore speedily taken. Every motive that +could have weight, served to counteract the bias of his inclination. He by +no means wanted either firmness or spirit. He resolved to struggle, nor to +cease his efforts till he had conquered. With this design he entreated, +and, after some difficulties, obtained of his father leave to enter +himself in the army, and to make a campaign in America.</p> + +<p>The character of his heart seemed particularly formed for military +pursuits. He was grave and thoughtful, he was generous and humane. To a +mind contemplative and full of sensibility, he united a temper, frank, +open, and undisguised. He was usually mild, gentle and pliant. But in a +situation, that called for determination and spirit, it was impossible to +appear more bold and manly, more cool and decided,--Affectionate was the +farewel of his father, and still more affectionate that of his friend. +Damon, though he endeavoured to summon all his resolution, could not +restrain a sigh when he considered himself as about to sail for distant +climates, and recollected, that probably, before his return, his beloved +mistress, <i>dearer than life and all its joys</i>, would be united, +irrevocably united to another. But here we must take leave of our hero, +and return to his fair inamorata.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>DAMON</h2> +<br><br> +<h2>AND</h2> +<br><br> +<h2>DELIA.</h2> + + +<br><br> +<h2>PART the SECOND.</h2> + + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>DAMON</h2> + +<h3>AND</h3> + +<h2>DELIA.</h2> + +<h3>PART the SECOND.</h3> +<br> + +<h2>CHAP. I.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>In which the Story begins over again</i>.</p> +<br> + +<p>Sir William Twyford had taken care to inform Miss Fletcher, and by her +means Delia herself, of every circumstance as it occurred. Delia was +indeed flattered by the breach that had taken place with Miss Frampton, +and the perfect elucidation, which the story of this lady afforded to the +most enigmatical expressions of Damon, in the interesting scene that had +passed between them in the alcove. She no longer doubted of the reality of +his attachment. Her heart was soothed, and her pride secretly flattered, +in recollecting that she had not suffered herself to be caught by one who +was perfectly indifferent to her.</p> + +<p>But the information that stifled all her hopes, and gave her the prospect +of so long, and, too probably, an eternal absence, sat heavy upon her +spirits, and preyed upon her delicate constitution. From the persecutions +of lord Martin she had no respite. Her eye grew languid, the colour faded +in her damask cheek, and her health visibly decayed.</p> + +<p>At this time Miss Fletcher proposed a journey to Windsor and other places, +and intreated to have her friend to accompany her. Mr. Hartley, with all +his foibles, was much attached to his only child, and deeply afflicted +with the alteration he perceived in her. He readily therefore gave his +consent to the proposed jaunt. "When she returns, it will be time enough," +said he to lord Martin, "to bring things to the conclusion, so much +desired by both of us. I will not put my darling into your hands, but with +that health and gaiety, which have so long been the solace of my old age, +and which cannot fail to make any man happy that deserves her."</p> + +<p>Delia set out without any other inclination, than to escape from +intreaties that were become in the highest degree disagreeable to her. She +was addressed no longer upon a topic, of which she wished never to hear. +Her eye was no longer wounded with the sight of her insolent admirer. This +had an immediate and a favourable effect upon her. The conversation of +Miss Fletcher was lively and unflagging, and the simplicity of her remarks +proved an inexhaustible source of entertainment to our heroine.</p> + +<p>They travelled leisurely and visited a variety of parks and seats of +noblemen which lay in their way. The taste of Delia was delicate and +refined. A continual succession of objects; gardens, architecture, +pictures and statues soothed her spirits, and gradually restored her to +that gaiety and easiness of temper, which had long rendered her the most +lovely and engaging of her sex.</p> + +<p>At length they arrived at Windsor. The simple dignity of the castle, its +commanding situation, and the beautiful effects of the river from below, +rendered it infinitely the most charming spot our heroine had yet seen. +Her spirits were on the wing, she was all life and conversation, and the +most constant heart, that nature had ever produced, for a moment, forgot +her hopes, her fears, her inclinations, and her Damon.</p> + +<p>She was now standing at a window that commanded the terrace. The evening +was beautiful, and the walk crouded. There were assembled persons of all +sexes and of different ranks. All appeared gaiety and splendour. The +supple courtier and the haughty country gentleman seemed equally at their +ease. There was thoughtless youth and narrative old age. The company +passed along, and object succeeded object without intermission.</p> + +<p>One of the last that caught the eye of Delia, was that of two gentlemen +walking arm in arm, and seeming more grave than the rest of the company. +They were both tall and well shaped; but one of them had somewhat more +graceful and unembarrassed in his manner than the other. The latter was +dressed in black, the former in colours, with much propriety and elegance.</p> + +<p>As they turned at the end of the walk the eye of Delia caught in the +latter the figure of Damon. She was inexpressibly astonished, she trembled +in every limb, and could scarcely support herself to a seat. Miss Fletcher +had caught the same object at the same moment, and, though she probably +might not otherwise have been clear in her recollection, the disorder of +Delia put her conjecture out of doubt. She therefore, before our heroine +had time to recollect herself, dispatched her brother, who had attended +them in their journey, to inform Damon that a lady in the castle was +desirous to speak with him.</p> + +<p>In an instant our hero and his companion, escorted by young Fletcher, +entered the room. The astonishment of Damon, at being so suddenly +introduced to a person, whom he had never expected to see again, was +immeasurable. He rushed forward with a kind of rapture; he suddenly +recollected himself; but at length advanced with hesitation. There was no +one present beside those we have already named. The castle was probably +familiar to every person except Delia and her companions. Every one beside +was therefore assembled upon the terrace.</p> + +<p>Our heroine now gradually recovered from the disorder into which the +unexpected sight of Damon had thrown her. She was much surprised at +looking up to find him in her presence. "How is this," cried she, "how +came you hither?" "The meeting," said our hero, "is equally unexpected to +us both. But, ah, my charmer, whence this disorder? Why did you tremble, +why look so pale?" "Oh goodness," cried Miss Fletcher, "what should it be? +Why it was nothing in all the world, but her seeing you just now from the +window." "And were you," cried Damon eagerly, "so kind as to summon me to +your presence?" "No, no, my good sir," said the lively lady, "you must +thank me for that". "How then at least," said the lover, "must I interpret +your disorder?"</p> + +<p>Delia was inexpressibly confused at the inconsiderate language of her +companion. "I cannot tell," said she, "you must not ask me. You must +forget it." "And can I," cried Damon with transport, "ever forget a +disorder so propitious, so flattering? Can I hope that the heart of my +charmer is not indifferent to her Damon!" "Oh sir, be silent. Do not use a +language like this." "Alas," cried he, "too long has my passion been +suppressed. Too long have I been obliged to act a studied part, and employ +a language foreign to my heart." "I thought," answered Delia, with +hesitation, "that you were going to leave the kingdom." "And did my fair +one condescend to employ a thought upon me? Did she interest herself in my +concern and enquire after my welfare? And how so soon could she have +learned my intention?"</p> + +<p>This question, joined with the preceding circumstances, completed the +confusion of Delia. She blushed, stammered, and was silent. Damon, during +this interval, gazed upon her with unmingled rapture. Every symptom she +betrayed of confusion, was to him a symptom of something inexpressibly +soothing. "Ah," whispered he to himself, "I am beloved, and can I then +leave the kingdom? Can I quit this inestimable treasure? Can I slight so +pure a friendship, and throw away the jewel upon which all my future +happiness depends?"</p> + +<p>The conversation, from the peculiar circumstances of the lovers, had so +immediately become interesting, that the gentlemen had not had an +opportunity of quitting them. During the short silence that prevailed the +friend of Damon took young Fletcher by the hand, and led him into the +garden. The lovers were now under less restraint. Delia, perceiving that +she could no longer conceal her sentiments, confessed them with ingenuous +modesty. Damon on the other hand was ravished at so unexpected a +discovery, and in a few minutes had lived an age in love.</p> + +<p>He now began to recollect himself. "Where," said he, "are all my +resolutions? What are become of all the plans I had formed, and the +designs in which I had embarked? What an unexpected revolution? No," said +he, addressing himself to Delia, "I will never quit you. Do thou but +smile, and let all the world beside abandon me. Can you forgive the +sacrilegious intention of deserting you, of flying from you to the +extremities of the globe? Oh, had I known a thought of Damon had harboured +in one corner of your heart, I would sooner have died." "And do you +think," cried Delia, "that I will tempt you to disobedience? No. Obey the +precepts of your father and your own better thoughts. Heaven designed us +not for each other. Neither your friends nor mine can ever be reconciled +to the union. Go then and forget me. Go and be happy. May your sails be +swelled with propitious gales! May victory and renown attend your steps!" +"Ah cruel Delia, and do you wish to banish me? Do you enjoin upon me the +impracticable talk, to forget all that my heart holds dear? And will my +Delia resign herself to the arms of a more favoured lover?" "Never," cried +she with warmth. "I will not disobey my father. I will not marry contrary +to his inclinations. But even the authority of a parent shall not drag me +to the altar with a man my soul detests." "Propitious sounds! Generous +engagements! Thus let me thank thee."--And he kissed her hand with +fervour. "Thus far," cried Delia, "I can advance. I employ no disguise. I +confess to you all my weakness. Perhaps I ought to blush. But never will I +have this reason to blush, for that my love has injured the object it +aspires to bless. Go in the path of fortune. Deserve success and happiness +by the exemplariness of your duty. And may heaven shower down blessings +without number!"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER II.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>The History of Mr. Godfrey</i>.</p> + +<p>In expostulations like these our lovers spent their time without coming to +any conclusion, till the evening and Miss Fletcher warned them that it was +time to depart. Damon was to proceed for London early the next morning. He +therefore intreated of Delia to permit his friend Mr. Godfrey, who was +obliged to continue in the place some days longer, to wait upon her with +his last commands. He informed himself of the time when she was to return +to Southampton, and he trusted to be there not long after her. In the mean +time, as his situation was at present very precarious, he prevailed upon +her to permit him to write to her from time to time, and to promise to +communicate to him in return any thing of consequence that might happen to +herself.</p> + +<p>During the remainder of the evening Miss Fletcher made several ingenious +observations upon what had passed. Delia gently blamed her for having so +strangely occasioned the interview, though in reality she was by no means +displeased by the event it had produced. "Bless us, child, you are as +captious as any thing. Why I would not but have seen it for ever so much. +Well, he is a sweet dear man, and so kind, and so polite, for all the +world I think him just such another as Mr. Prattle. But then he is grave, +and makes such fine speeches, it does one's heart good to hear him. I vow +I wish I had such a lover. Sir William never says any thing half so +pretty. Bless us, my dear, <i>he</i> talks about love, just as if he were +talking about any thing else."</p> + +<p>The next morning after breakfast, Mr. Godfrey appeared. He brought from +Damon a thousand vows full of passion and constancy. He had parted, he +said, more determined not to leave England, more resolute to prosecute his +love than ever.</p> + +<p>Having discharged his commission, he offered his service to escort the +ladies in any party they might propose for the present day. He said, that +being perfectly acquainted with Windsor and its environs, he flattered +himself he might be able to contribute to their entertainment. The very +gallant manner in which this offer was made, determined Miss Fletcher, as +something singular and interesting in the appearance of Mr. Godfrey did +our heroine, cheerfully to close with the proposal.</p> + +<p>The person of Mr. Godfrey as we have already said was tall and genteel. +There was a diffidence in his manner, that seemed to prove that he had not +possessed the most extensive acquaintance with high life; but he had a +natural politeness that amply compensated for the polish and forms of +society. His air was serious and somewhat melancholy; but there was a fire +and animation in his eye that was in the highest degree striking.</p> + +<p>Delia engaged him to talk of the character and qualities of Damon. Upon +this subject, Mr. Godfrey spoke with the warmth of an honest friendship. +He represented Damon as of a disposition perfectly singular and +unaccommodated to what he stiled "the debauched and unfeeling manners of +the age." He acknowledged with readiness and gratitude, that he owed to +him the most important obligations. By degrees Delia collected from him +several circumstances of a story, which she before apprehended to be +interesting. She observed, that, as he shook off the embarrassment of a +first introduction, his language became fluent, elegant, pointed, and even +sometimes poetical. Since however he related his own story imperfectly and +by piece meal, we shall beg leave to state it in our own manner. And we +the rather do it, as we apprehend it to be interesting in itself, and as +we foresee that he will make a second appearance in the course of this +narrative. We will not however deprive our readers of the reflections he +threw out upon the several situations in which he had been placed. We will +give them without pretending to decide how far they may be considered as +just and well-founded.</p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey was not born to affluent circumstances. At a proper age he had +been placed at the university of Oxford, and here it was that he commenced +his acquaintance with Damon. At Oxford his abilities had been universally +admired. His public exercises, though public exercises by their very +nature ought to be dull, had in them many of those sallies, by which his +disposition was characterised, and much of that superiority, which he +indisputably possessed above his contemporaries. But though admired, he +was not courted. In our public places of education, a wide distance is +studiously preserved between young men of fortune, and young men that have +none. But Mr. Godfrey had a stiffness and unpliableness of temper, that +did not easily bend to the submission that was expected of him. He could +neither flatter a blockhead, nor pimp for a peer. He loved his friend +indeed with unbounded warmth, and it was impossible to surpass him in +generousness and liberality. But he had a proud integrity, that whispered +him, with, a language not to be controled, that he was the inferior of no +man.</p> + +<p>He was destined for the profession of a divine, and, having finished his +studies, retired upon a curacy of forty pounds a year. His ambition was +grievously mortified at the obscurity in which he was plunged; and his +great talents, in spite of real modesty, forcibly convinced him, that this +was not the station for which nature had formed him. But he had an +enthusiasm of virtue, that led him for a time to overlook these +disadvantages. "I am going," said he, "to dwell among scenes of unvitiated +nature. I will form the peasant to generosity and sentiment. I will teach +laborious industry to look without envy and without asperity upon those +above them. I will be the friend and the father of the meanest of my +flock. I will give sweetness and beauty to the most rugged scenes. The +man, that banishes envy and introduces contentment; the man, that converts +the little circle in which he dwells into a terrestrial paradise, that +renders men innocent here, and happy for ever, may be obscure, may be +despised by the superciliousness of luxury; but it shall never be said +that he has been a blank in creation. The Supreme Being will regard him +with a complacency, which he will deny to kings, that oppress, and +conquerors, that destroy the work of his hands."</p> + +<p>Such were the suggestions of youthful imagination. But Mr. Godfrey +presently found the truth of that maxim, as paradoxical as it is +indisputable, that the heart of man is naturally hard and unamiable. He +conducted himself in his new situation with the most unexceptionable +propriety, and the most generous benevolence. But there were men in his +audience, men who loved better to criticise, than to be amended; and +women, who felt more complacency in scandal, than eulogium. He displeased +the one by disappointing them; it was impossible to disappoint the other. +He laboured unremittedly, but his labours returned to him void. "And is it +for this," said he, "that I have sacrificed ambition, and buried talents? +Is humility to be rewarded only with mortification? Is obscurity and +retirement the favourite scene of uneasiness, ingratitude, and +impertinence? They shall be no longer my torment. In no scene can I meet +with a more scanty success."</p> + +<p>He now obtained a recommendation to be private tutor to the children of a +nobleman. This nobleman was celebrated for the politeness of his manners +and the elegance of his taste. It was his boast and his ambition to be +considered as the patron of men of letters. With his prospect therefore in +this connection, Mr. Godfrey was perfectly satisfied. "I shall no longer," +said he, "be the slave of ignorance, and the victim of insensibility. My +talents perhaps point me a step higher than to the business of forming the +minds of youth. But, at least, the youth under my care are destined to +fill the most conspicuous stations in future life. If propitious fortune +might have raised me to the character of a statesman; depressed by +adversity, I may yet have the honour of moulding the mind, and infusing +generosity into the heart, of a future statesman. I have heard the second +son of my patron celebrated for the early promises of capacity. To unfold +the springing germs of genius, to direct them in the path of general +happiness, is an employment by no means unworthy of a philosopher."</p> + +<p>In this situation Mr. Godfrey however once more looked for pleasure, and +found disappointment. The nobleman had more the affectation of a patron, +than any real enthusiasm in the cause of literature. The abilities of Mr. +Godfrey were universally acknowledged. And so long as the novelty +remained, he was caressed, honoured, and distinguished. In a short time +however, he was completely forgotten by the patron, in the hurry of +dissipation, and the pursuits of an unbounded ambition. His eldest care +was universally confessed stupid and impracticable. And in the younger he +found nothing but the prating forwardness of a boy who had been flattered, +without sentiment, and without meaning. Her ladyship treated Mr. Godfrey +with superciliousness, as an intruder at her lord's table. The servants +caught the example, and showed him a distinction of neglect, which the +exquisiteness of his sensibility would not permit him to despise.</p> + +<p>Mortified, irritated, depressed, he now quitted his task half finished and +threw himself upon the world. "The present age," said he, "is not an age +in which talents are overlooked, and genius depressed." He had heard much +of the affluence of writers, a Churchil, a Smollet, and a Goldsmith, who +had depended upon that only for their support. He saw the celebrated Dr. +Johnson caressed by all parties, and acknowledged to be second to no man, +whatever were his rank, however conspicuous his station. Full of these +ideas, he soon completed a production, fraught with the fire and +originality of genius, pointed in its remarks, and elegant in its style. +He had now to experience vexations, of which he had before entertained no +idea. He carried his work from bookseller to bookseller, and was every +where refused. His performance was not seasoned to the times, he was a +person that nobody knew, and he had no man of rank, by his importunities +and eloquence, to force him into the ranks of fashion. At length he found +a bookseller foolish enough to undertake it. But he presently perceived +that the gentlemen at the head of that profession were wiser than he. All +the motives they had mentioned, and one more, operated against him. The +monarchs of the critic realm scouted him with one voice, because his work, +was not written in the same cold, phlegmatic insupportable manner as their +own.</p> + +<p>He had now advanced however too far to retreat. He had too much spirit to +resume either of those professions, which for reasons so cogent in his +opinion, he had already quitted. He wrote essays, squibs, and pamphlets +for an extemporary support. But though these were finished with infinite +rapidity, he found that they constituted a very precarious means of +subsistence. The time of dinner often came, before the production that was +to purchase it was completed; and when completed, it was frequently +several days before it could find a purchaser. And his copy money and his +taylor's bill were too little proportioned to one another.</p> + +<p>He now recollected, what in the gaiety of hope he had forgotten, that +<i>many a flower</i> only blows, with its sweetness to refresh the <i>air +of a desert</i>. He recollected many instances of works, raised by the +breath of fashion to the very pinnacle of reputation, that sunk as soon +again. He recollected instances scarcely fewer, of works, exquisite in +their composition, pregnant with beauties almost divine, that had passed +from the press without notice. Many had been revived by the cooler and +more deliberate judgment of a future age; and more had been lost for ever. +The instance of Chatterton, as a proof that the universal patronage of +genius was by no means the virtue of his contemporaries, flashed in his +face. And he looked forward to the same fate at no great distance, as his +own.</p> + +<p>To Mr. Godfrey however, fortune was in one degree more propitious. Damon +was among the few whose judgment was not guided by the dictate of fashion. +Having met accidentally with the performance we have mentioned, he was +struck with its beauties. As he had heard nothing of it in the politest +circles, he concluded, with his usual penetration, that the author of it +was in obscure and narrow circumstances. <i>Open as day to sweet +humanity</i>, interested warmly in the fortune of the writer of so amiable +a performance, he flew to his bookseller's with the usual enquiries. The +bookseller stared, and had it not been for the splendour of his dress, and +his gilded chariot, would have been tempted to smile at so unfashionable +and absurd a question. He soon however obtained the information he +desired. And his eagerness was increased, when the name of Godfrey, and +the recollection of the talents by which he had been so eminently +distinguished, led him to apprehend that he was one, to whose abilities +and character he had been greatly attached.</p> + +<p>He found some difficulty to obtain admission. But this was quickly +removed, as, from the dignity of his appearance, it was not probable that +he was a person, from whom Mr. Godfrey had any thing to apprehend. He +found him in a wretched apartment, his hair dishevelled and his dress +threadbare and neglected. Mr. Godfrey was unspeakably surprised at his +appearance. And it was with much difficulty that Damon prevailed upon him +to accept of an assistance, that he assured him should be but temporary, +if it were in the power of him, or any of his connections, to render him +respectable and independent, in such a situation as himself should chuse.</p> + +<p>Disappointment and misfortune are calculated to inspire asperity into the +gentlest heart. Mr. Godfrey inveighed with warmth, and sometimes with +partiality, against the coldness and narrowness of the age. He said, "that +men of genius, in conspicuous stations, had no feeling for those whom +nature had made their brothers; and that those who had risen from +obscurity themselves, forgot the mortifications of their earlier life, and +did not imitate the generous justice which had enabled them to fulfil the +destination of nature." But though misfortune had taught him asperity upon +certain subjects, it had not corrupted his manners, debauched his +integrity, or narrowed his heart. He had still the same warmth in the +cause of virtue, as in days of the most unexperienced simplicity. He still +dreaded an oath, and reverenced the divinity of innocence. He still +believed in a God, and was sincerely attached to his honour, though he had +often been told, that this was a prejudice, unworthy of his comprehension +of thinking upon all other subjects.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER III.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Misanthrope</i>.</p> + +<p>Such was the story, in its most essential circumstances, that Mr. Godfrey +related. Delia was exceedingly interested in the gaiety of his +imagination, the cruelty of his disappointments, and the acuteness, and +goodness of heart that appeared in his reflections. Miss Fletcher listened +to the whole with gaping wonder. But as soon as he was gone, she began +with her usual observations. "Well," said she, "I never saw an author +before. I could not have thought that he could have looked like a +gentleman. Why, I vow, I could sometimes have taken him for a beau. Ay, +but then he talked for all the world as if it had been written in a book. +Well, by my troth, it was a mighty pretty story. But I should have liked +it better, if there had been a sighing nymph, or a duel or two in it. But +do you think it was all of his own making?"</p> + +<p>We will not trouble the reader to accompany our ladies from stage to stage +during the remainder of their journey. Nothing more remarkable happened, +and in ten days they arrived again at Southampton.</p> + +<p>Damon met Mr. Moreland in London, and, with that simplicity and candour by +which he was distinguished, related to him every circumstance of his +story. Mr. Moreland had no predilection in favour of lord Thomas Villiers. +His sister, whom he esteemed in all respects an amiable woman, had by no +means lived happily with her husband. Avarice and pride of rank were the +farthest in the world from being the foibles of Mr. Moreland, and the +sensibility of his disposition did not permit him to treat the faults, to +which himself was a stranger, with much indulgence. He therefore +encouraged Damon to persevere in the pursuit of his inclination, and +invited him to return with him into the country. He promised himself to +propose the match to Mr. Hartley, and assured his nephew, that he should +never feel any narrowness in his circumstances, in case of his father's +displeasure, while it was in his power to render them affluent.</p> + +<p>In pursuit of this plan, Damon, Mr. Moreland, and sir William Twyford, +whom they found in London, and whose goodness of humour led him heartily +to approve of the alteration in the plan of his friend, arrived, almost as +soon as our travellers, in the neighbourhood of Southampton. Sir William +and Damon, soon waited upon their respective mistresses, and in company so +mutually acceptable, time sped with a greater velocity than was usual to +him, and days appeared no more than hours.</p> + +<p>It was impossible that such a connexion should pass long unnoticed. It +must be confessed however that it met with no interruption from lord +Martin. Perhaps it might have escaped his notice, though it escaped that +of no other person. Perhaps he was satiated with the glory he had +acquired, and having conquered one beau, would not, like Alexander, have +sighed, if there had remained no other beau to conquer. Perhaps the +countenance of Mr. Hartley, of which he considered himself as securer than +ever, led him, like a wise general, to reflect, that in staking his life +against that of a lover, whose chance of success was almost wholly +precluded, he mould make a very unfair and unequal combat.</p> + +<p>Be this as it will, Mr. Hartley had no such motives to overlook this new +occurrence. Just however as he had begun to take it into his mature +consideration, he received the compliments of Mr. Moreland, with an +intimation of his design to make him a visit that very afternoon.</p> + +<p>At this message Mr. Hartley was a good deal surprised. Mr. Moreland he had +never but once seen, and in that visit, he thought he had had reason to be +offended with him. If that gentleman treated the company of Mr. Prattle +and lord Martin, persons universally admired, as not good enough for him, +it seemed unaccountable that he should have recourse to him. He was +neither distinguished by the elegance of his accomplishments, nor did he +much pride himself in the attainments of literature. After many +conjectures, he at length determined with infinite sagacity, to suspend +his judgement, till Mr. Moreland mould solve the enigma.</p> + +<p>This determination was scarcely made before his visitor arrived. That +gentleman, who, though full of sensibility and benevolence, was not a man +of empty ceremony, immediately opened his business. Mr. Hartley, drew +himself up in his chair, and, with the dignity of a citizen of London, who +thinks that the first character in the world, cried, "Well, sir, and who +is this nephew of yours? I think I never heard of him." "He is the son," +answered Mr. Moreland, "of lord Thomas Villiers." "Lord Thomas Villiers! +Then I suppose he is a great man. And pray now, sir, if this great man has +a mind that his son should marry my daughter, why does he not come and +tell me so himself?" "Why in truth," said the other, "lord Thomas Villiers +has no mind. But my nephew is his only son, and therefore cannot be +deprived of the principal part of his estate after his death. In the mean +time, I will take care that he shall have an income perfectly equal to the +fortune of Miss Hartley." "You will sir! And so in the first place, this +young spark would have me encourage him in disobedience, which is the +greatest crime upon God's earth, and in the second, he thinks that I, Bob +Hartley, as I sit here, will marry my daughter into any family that is too +proud to own us." "As to that, sir," said Moreland, "you must judge for +yourself. The young gentleman is an unexceptionable match, and I, sir, +whose fortune and character I flatter myself are not inferior to that of +any gentleman in the county, shall always be proud to own and receive the +young lady." "Why as to that, to be sure, you may be in the right for +<i>auft</i> that I know. But <i>howsomdever</i>, my daughter, do you see, +is already engaged to lord Martin." "I should have thought," replied +Moreland, that objection might have been stated in the first instance, +without any reflexions upon the conduct and family of the young gentleman. +But are you sure that lord Martin is the man of your daughter's choice?" +"I cannot say that I ever <i>axed</i> her, for I do not see what that has +to do with the matter. Lord Martin, do you see, is a fine young man, and a +fine fortune. And Delia is my own daughter, and if she should boggle about +having him, I would cut her off with a shilling." "Sir," answered +Moreland, with much indignation, "that is a conduct that would deserve to +be execrated. My nephew, without any sinister means, is master of your +daughter's affection; and lord Martin, I have authority to tell you, is +her aversion." "Oh, ho! is it so. Well then, sir, I will tell you what I +shall do. Your nephew shall never have my daughter, though she had but a +rag to her tail. And as for her affections and her aversion, I will lock +her up, and keep her upon bread and water, till she knows, that she ought +to have neither, before her own father has told her <i>what is what</i>." +Mr. Moreland, all of whose nerves were irritated into a fever by so much +vulgarity, and such brutal insensibility, could retain his seat no longer. +He started up, and regarding his entertainer with a look of ineffable +indignation, flung the door in his face, and retreated to his chariot.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IV.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Much ado about nothing</i>.</p> + +<p>Damon was inexpressibly afflicted at the success of his uncle's embassy. +When Mr. Moreland related to him the particulars of his visit, Damon +recollected the opposite tempers of the two gentlemen, and blamed himself +for not having foreseen the event. Mr. Hartley was infinitely exasperated +at the cavalierness with which he had been treated. He now discovered the +true cause of his daughter's pertinacity, and proceeded with more vigour +than ever.</p> + +<p>"And so," cried he, "you have dared to engage your affections without my +privity, have you? A pretty story truly. And you would disgrace me for +ever, by marrying into the family of a lord, that despises us, and an old +fellow, that for half a word would knock your father's brains out." +"Indeed sir," replied Delia, "I never thought of marrying without your +consent. I only gave the young gentleman leave to ask it of you." "You +gave him leave! And pray who are you? And so you was in league with him to +send this fellow to abuse me?" "Upon my word, I was not. And I am very +sorry if Mr. Moreland has behaved improperly." "<i>If</i> Mr. Moreland! +and so you pretend to doubt of it! But, let me tell you, I have provided +you a husband, worth fifty of this young prig, and I will make you think +so." "Indeed sir, I can never think so." "You cannot. And pray who told +you to object, before I have named the man. Why, child, lord Martin has +ten thousand pounds a year, and is a peer, and is not ashamed of us one +bit in all the world." "Alas, sir, I can never have lord Martin. Do not +mention him. I am in no hurry. I will live single as long as you please." +"Yes, and when you have persuaded me to that, you will jump out at window +the next day to this ungracious rascal." "Oh pray sir do not speak so. He +is good and gentle." "Why, hussey, am I not master in my own house? I +shall have a fine time of it indeed, if I must give you an account of my +words." "Sir," said Delia, "I will never marry without your consent." +"That is a good girl, no more you shall. And I will lock you up upon bread +and water, if you do not consent to marry who I please."</p> + +<p>The despotic temper of Mr. Hartley led him to treat his daughter with +considerable severity. He suffered her to go very little abroad, and +employed every precaution in his power, to prevent any interview between +her and her lover. He tried every instrument in turn, threats, promises, +intreaties, blustering, to bend her to his will. And when he found that by +all these means he made no progress; as his last resource, he fixed a day +at no great distance, when he assured her he would be disappointed no +longer, and she should either voluntarily or by force yield her hand to +lord Martin.</p> + +<p>During these transactions, the communication between Delia and her lover +was, with no great difficulty, kept open by the instrumentality of their +two friends. They scarcely dared indeed to think of seeing each other, as +in case this were discovered, Delia would be subject to still greater +restraint, and the intercourse, between her and Miss Fletcher, be rendered +more difficult. In one instance however, this lady ventured to procure the +interview so ardently desired by both parties.</p> + +<p>Damon made use of this opportunity to persuade his mistress to an +elopement. "You have already carried," said he, "your obedience to the +utmost exremity. You have tried every means to bend the inflexible will of +your father. If not for my sake then, at least for your own, avoid the +crisis that is preparing for you. You detect the husband that your father +designs you. If united to him, you confess you must be miserable. But who +can tell, in the midst of persons inflexibly bent upon your ruin, no +friend at hand to support you, your Damon banished and at a distance, what +may be the event? You will hesitate and tremble, your father will +endeavour to terrify you into submission, the odious peer will force from +you your hand. If, in that moment, your heart should misgive you, if one +faultering accent belie the sentiments you have so generously avowed for +me, what, ah, what! may be the consequence? No, my fair one, fly, +instantly fly. No duty forbids. You have done all that the most rigid +moralist could demand of you. Put yourself into my protection. I will not +betray your confidence. You shall be as much mistress as ever of all your +actions. If you distrust me, at least chuse our common friends sir William +Twyford. Chuse any protector among the numerous friends, that your beauty +and your worth have raised you. I had rather sacrifice my own prospects of +felicity forever, than see the smallest chance that you should be +unhappy."</p> + +<p>Such were the arguments, which, with all the eloquence of a friend, and +all the ardour of a lover, our hero urged upon his mistress. But the +gentleness of Delia was not yet sufficiently roused by the injuries she +had received, to induce her, to cast off all the ties which education and +custom had imposed upon her, and determine upon so decisive a step. +"Surely," said she, "there is some secret reward, some unexpected +deliverance in reserve, for filial simplicity. Oh, how harsh, how bold, +how questionable a step, is that to which you would persuade me! +Circumstanced in this manner, the fairest reputation might provoke the +tongue of scandal, and the most spotless innocence open a door to the +blast of calumny. I will not say that such a step may not be sometimes +justifiable. I will not say to what I may myself be urged. But oh, how +unmingled the triumph, how sincere the joy if, by persevering in a +conduct, in which the path of duty is too palpable to be mistaken, +propitious fate may rather grant me the happiness after which I aspire, +than I be forced, as it were, myself to wrest it from the hands of +providence!"</p> + +<p>Such was the result of this last and decisive interview. Delia could not +be moved from that line of conduct, upon which she had so virtuously +resolved. And Damon having in vain exerted all the rhetoric of which he +was master, now gave way to the gloomy suggestions of despair, and now +flattered himself with the gleams of hope. He sometimes thought, that +Delia might yet be induced to adopt the plan he had proposed; and +sometimes he gave way to the serene confidence she expressed, and indulged +the pleasing expectation, that virtue would not always remain without its +reward.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER V.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Woman of Learning</i>.</p> + +<p>We are now brought, in the course of our story, to the memorable scene at +Miss Cranley's. "Miss Cranley's!" exclaims one of our readers, in a tone +of admiration. "Miss Cranley's!" cries another, "and pray who is she?"</p> + +<p>I distribute my readers into two classes, the indolent and the +supercilious, and shall accordingly address them upon the present +occasion. To the former I have nothing more to say, than to refer them +back to the latter part of Chapter I., Part I. where, my dear ladies, you +will find an accurate account of the character of two personages, who it +seems you have totally forgotten.</p> + +<p>To the supercilious I have a very different story to tell. Most learned +sirs, I kiss your hands. I acknowledge my error, and throw myself upon +your clemency. You see however, gentlemen, that you were somewhat +mistaken, when you imagined that I, like my fair patrons, the indolent, +had quite lost these characters from my memory.</p> + +<p>To speak ingenuously, I did indeed suppose, as far as I could calculate +the events of this important narrative beforehand, that the Miss Cranleys +would have come in earlier, and have made a more conspicuous figure, than +they now seem to have any chance of doing. Having thus settled accounts +with my readers; I take up again the thread of my story, and thus I +proceed.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hartley being now, as he believed, upon the point of disposing of his +daughter in marriage, began seriously to consider that he should want a +female companion to manage, his family, to nurse his ailments, and to +repair the breaches, that the hand of wintry time had made in his spirits +and his constitution. The reader will be pleased to recollect, that he had +already laid siege to the heart of the gentle Sophia. He now prosecuted +his affair with more alacrity than ever.</p> + +<p>Alas, my dear readers! while we have been junketting along from +Southampton to Oxford, from Oxford to Windsor, and from Windsor to +Southampton back again, such is the miserable fate of human kind! Miss +Amelia Wilhelmina Cranley, the most pious of her sex, the flower of Mr. +Whitfield's converts, the wonder and admiration of Roger the cobler, has +given up the ghost. You will please then, in what follows, to represent to +yourselves the charms of Sophia as decked and burnished with a suit of +sables. Her exterior indeed was sable and gloomy, but her heart was far +superior to the attacks of wayward fate. She sat aloft in the region of +philosophy. She steeled her heart with the dignity of republicanism; for +her to drop one tear of sorrow would have been an eternal disgrace.</p> + +<p>About this time--it was perhaps in reality a manoeuvre to forward the +affair, to which she had no aversion at bottom, with the father of +Delia--that Miss Cranley gave a grand entertainment, at which were present +Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, sir William Twyford, lord Martin, most of the +ladies we have already commemorated, and many others.</p> + +<p>The repast was conducted with much solemnity. The masculine character of +the mind of Sophia had rendered her particularly attached to the grace of +action. When she drank the health of any of her guests, she accompanied it +with a most profound <i>congè</i>. When she invited them to partake of any +dish, she pointed towards it with her hand. This action might have served +to display a graceful arm, but, alas! upon hers the hand of time had been +making depredations, and it appeared somewhat coarse and discoloured.</p> + +<p>After dinner, the lady of the house, as usual, turned the conversation +upon the subject of politics. She inveighed with much warmth against the +effeminacy and depravity of the modern times. We were slaves, and we +deserved to be so. In almost every country there now appeared a king, that +puppet pageant, that monster in creation, miserable itself, a combination +of every vice, and invented for the curse of human kind. "Where now," she +asked, "was the sternness and inflexibility of ancient story? Where was +that Junius, that stood and gazed in triumph upon the execution of his +sons? Where that Fabricius, that turned up his nose under the snout of an +elephant? Where was that Marcus Brutus, who sent his dagger to the heart +of Cæsar? For her part, she believed, and she would not give the snap of +her fingers for him if it were otherwise, that he was in reality, as sage +historians have reported, the son of Julius."</p> + +<p>In the very paroxysm of her oratory she chanced to cast her eyes upon Mr. +Prattle. With the character of Mr. Prattle, the reader is already partly +acquainted. But he does not yet know, for it was not necessary for our +story he should do so, that the honourable Mr. Prattle was a commoner and +a placeman. Good God, sir, represent to yourself with what a flame of +indignation our amazon surveyed him! She rose from her seat, and, taking +him by the hand, very familiarly turned him round in the middle of the +company. "This," said she, "is one of our Fabiuses, one of our Decii. +Good God, my friend, what would you do, if a brother officer shook a cane +over your shoulders as he did over those of the divine Themistocles? What +would you do, if the brutal lull of an Appius ravished from your arms an +only daughter? But I beg your pardon, sir. You are a placeman, mutually +disgracing and disgraced. You sell your constituents to the vilest +ministers, that ever came forward the champions of despotism. And those +ministers show us what is their insignificance, their impotence, their +want of discernment, in giving such a thing as you are, places of so great +importance, offices of so high emolument."</p> + +<p>Mr. Prattle, unused to be treated so cavalierly, and arraigned before so +large a company, trembled in every limb: "My dear madam, my sweet Miss +Sophia, pray do not pinch quite so hard;" and the water stood in his eyes. +Unable however to elude her grasp he fell down upon his knees. "For God's +sake! Oh dear! Oh lack a daisy! Why, Miss, sure you are mad." Miss +Cranley, unheedful of his exclamations, was however just going to begin +with more vehemence than ever, when a sudden accident put a stop to the +torrent of her oratory. But this event cannot be properly related without +going back a little in our narrative, and acquainting the reader with some +of those circumstances by which it was produced.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VI.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Catastrophe</i>.</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford had gained great credit with lord Martin by his +conduct in the affair of Mr. Prettyman. He now imagined that he saw an +opening for the exercise of his humour, which he was never able to refill. +He communicated his plan to lord Martin. By his assistance he procured +that implement, which school-boys have denominated a cracker. This his +lordship found an opportunity of attaching to the skirt of Miss Cranley's +sack. At the moment we have described, when she was again going to enter +into the stream of her rhetoric, which, great as it naturally was, was now +somewhat improved with copious draughts of claret, the cracker was set on +fire.</p> + +<p>Poor Sophia now started in great agitation. "Bounce, bounce," went the +cracker. Sophia skipped and danced from one end of the room to the other. +"Great gods of Rome," exclaimed she, "Jupiter, Minerva, and all the +celestial and infernal deities!" The force of the cracker was now somewhat +spent. "Ye boys of Britain, that bear not one mark of manhood about you! +Would Leonidas have fastened a squib to the robe of the Spartan mother? +Would Cimber have so unworthily used Portia, the wife of Brutus? Would +Corbulo thus have interrupted the heroic fortitude of Arria, the spouse of +Thrasea Paetus?"</p> + +<p>"My dear madam," exclaimed lord Martin, his eyes glistening with triumph, +"with all submission, Corbulo I believe had been assassinated, before +Arria so gloriously put an end to her existence." "Thou thing," cried Miss +Cranky, "and hast thou escaped the torrent of my invective! Thou eternal +blot to the list, in which are inserted the names of a Faulkland, a +Shaftesbury, a Somers, and above all, that Leicester, who so bravely threw +the lie in the face of his sovereign!" "He! he!" cried lord Martin, who +could no longer refrain from boasting of his great atchievement. If I have +escaped your vengeance, let me tell you, madam, you have not escaped +"mine." "And was it thee, thou nincompoop? Hence, thou wretch! Avaunt! +Begone, or thou shalt feel my fury!" Saying this, she clenched her fist, +and closed her teeth, with so threatening an aspect, that the little peer +was very much terrified. He flew back several paces. "My dear Miss +Griskin," said he, "protect me! This barbarous woman does not understand +wit,"--and he precipitately burst out of the room. The lady too was so +much discomposed, that she thought proper to retire, assuring the company +that she would attend them again in a moment.</p> + +<p>"Well," cried Miss Griskin, as soon as she had disappeared, "this was the +nicest fun!" "I was afraid," said Miss Prim, "it would have discomposed +Miss Cranley's petticoats." "Law, my dear!" said Miss Gawky, "by my +so, I like the music of a cracker, better than all the concerts in the +varsal world." We need not inform our readers, that Miss Languish, in the +very height and altitude of the confusion, had been obliged to retire.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin, in the midst of his triumph and exultation, had not leisure +to recollect, nor perhaps penetration to perceive, the effect that this +little sally might have upon his interests. Despotic and boorish as was +the genius of Mr. Hartley, it cowred under that of Sophia with the most +abject servility. And that lady now vowed eternal war against the heroical +peer.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Hartley," said she, in their next <i>tête a tête</i>, "let me tell +you, lord Martin, must never have Miss Delia." "My dearest life," said the +old gentleman, "consider, the day is fixed, my word is passed, and it is +too late to revoke now. Beside, lord Martin has ten thousand pounds a +year." "Ten thousand figs," said she, "do not tell me, it is never too +late to be wife. Lord Martin is a venal senator, and a little sniveling +fellow." "My dear," said Hartley, "I never differed from you before: do +let me have my mind now." "Have your mind, sir! Men should have no minds. +Tyrants that they are! And now I think of it, Miss Delia does not like +lord Martin." "Pooh," said Mr. Hartley, recovering spirit at such an +objection, "that is all stuff and nonsense." "Nonsense! Let me tell you, +sir, women are not <i>born to be controled</i>. They are queens of the +creation, and if they had their way, and the government of the world was +in their hands, things would go much better than they do." "I know they +would," replied her admirer, "if they were all as wise as you." "Child," +returned Sophia, turning up her nose, "that is neither here nor there. The +matter in short is this. Damon loves Delia, and Delia loves Damon. And if +your daughter be not Mrs. Villiers, I will never be Mrs. Hartley."</p> + +<p>From a decision like this there could be no appeal. Mr. Hartley told lord +Martin, the next time he came to his house to pay his devoirs to his +mistress, that he had altered his mind. His lordship was too much +surprised at this manoeuvre to make any immediate answer; so turned upon +his heel, and decamped.</p> + +<p>The happy revolution, by the intervention of Miss Fletcher, was soon made +known to sir William and his friend. Damon now paid his addresses in form. +A reconciliation took place between Mr. Moreland and the father of our +heroine. The marriage was publicly talked of, the day was fixed, and every +thing prepared for the nuptials.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to describe the happiness of our lovers, when they saw +every obstacle thus unexpectedly removed. Damon was beside himself with +surprise and congratulation. Delia, at intervals, rubbed her eyes, and +could scarcely be persuaded that it was not a dream. They saw each other +at least once every day. Together they wandered along the margin of the +ocean, and together they sought that delicious alcove, which now appeared +ten times more beautiful, from the recollection it suggested of the +sufferings they had passed.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin was in the mean time most grievously disappointed. "The devil +damn the fellow!" said he, "he crosses me like my evil genius. I have a +month's mind to send him a challenge. He is a tall, big looking fellow to +be sure. But then if I could contrive to kill him. Ah, me! but fortune +does not always favour the brave. My reputation is established. I do not +want a duel for that. And for any other purpose, it is all a lottery. Fire +and furies, death and destruction! something must be done. Let me +think--<i>About my brain</i>."</p> + +<p>But lord Martin was not the only one whose hopes were disappointed, by the +expected marriage of Delia. He loved her not, he felt not one flutter of +complacency about his heart. It was vanity that first prompted him to +address her. It was disappointed pride that now stung him. Even Mr. +Prattle viewed her with a more generous affection. His genius was not +indeed a daring one, but it was active and indefatigable. Squire Savage +did not feel the less, though he did not spend many words about it. He was +a blustering hector. He had the reputation of fearing nothing, and caring +for nothing, that stood in his way. There were also other lovers beside +these, <i>whom the muse knows not, nor desires to know</i>.</p> + +<p>In this manner gins and snares seemed, on every side, to surround our +happy and heedless lovers. They sported on the brink. They sighed, and +smiled, and sang, and talked again. At length the eve of the day, from +which their future happiness was to be dated, arrived. They had but one +drawback, the continued averseness of lord Thomas Villiers. Damon was +however now obliged, together with Mr. Hartley, to attend the lawyers at +Mr. Moreland's, in order to complete the previous formalities.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VII.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Containing what will terrify the reader.</i></p> + +<p>At such a moment as this, a mind of delicacy and sensibility is fond of +solitude. Delia told Mrs. Bridget, that she would take her usual walk, and +be home time enough to superintend the oeconomy of supper, at which the +company of Damon and sir William Twyford was expected.</p> + +<p>They accordingly arrived before nine o'clock. Mrs. Bridget expected her +mistress every moment. Damon and his friend would have gone out to meet +her, but they were not willing to leave Mr. Hartley alone. The clock +however struck ten, and no Delia appeared. Every one now began to be +seriously uneasy. Damon and sir William went in both her most favourite +walks to find her, but in vain. Messengers were dispatched twenty +different ways. The lover repaired to the mansion of Lord Martin. The +baronet immediately set out for the house of Mr. Savage.</p> + +<p>Mr. Hartley, who, with the external of a bear, and the heart of a miser, +was not destitute of the feelings of a parent, was now exceedingly +agitated. He strided up and down the room with incredible velocity. He bit +his fingers with anxiety, and threw his wig into the fire. "As I am a good +man," said he, "Mr. Prattle lives but almost next door, and I will go to +him." Mr. Prattle was at home, and having heard his story, condoled with +him upon it with much apparent sincerity.</p> + +<p>Damon met with the same success. Lord Martin received him with perfect +serenity. "Bless us," cried he, "and is Miss Delia gone? I never was more +astonished in my life. I do not know what to do," and he took a pinch of +snuff. "Mr. Villiers," said he, with the utmost gravity, "I have all +possible respect for you. Blast me! if I am not willing to forget all our +former rivalship. Tell me, sir, can I do you any service?" Damon had every +reason to be satisfied with his behaviour, and flew out of the house in a +moment.</p> + +<p>Sir William Twyford did not however meet with the person he went in quest +of. Miss Savage informed him, that her brother, not two hours ago, had +received a letter, and immediately, without informing her of his design, +which indeed he very seldom did, ordered his best hunter out of the +stable. She added, that she had imagined, that he had received a summons +to a fox-chace early the next morning.</p> + +<p>Such was the account brought by sir William to the anxious and distracted +Damon. "Alas," cried he, "it is but too plain? She is by this time in the +hands of that insensible boor. Oh, who can bear to think of it! He is +perhaps, at this moment, tormenting her with his nauseous familiarities, +and griping her soft and tender limbs! Oh, why was I born! Why was I ever +cheated with the phantom of happiness! Wretch, wretch that I am!"</p> + +<p>With these words he burst out of the house, and flew along with surprising +rapidity. Sir William, having hastily ordered everything to be prepared +for a pursuit, immediately followed him. He found him, wafted, spent, and +almost insensible, lying beside a little brook that crossed the road. The +baronet raised him in his arms, and, with the gentlest accents that +friendship ever poured into a mortal ear, recovered him to life and +perception.</p> + +<p>"Where am I?" said the disconsolate lover. "Who are you? ah, my friend, my +best, my tried friend! I know you now. How came I here? Has any thing +unfortunate happened? Where is my Delia?" "Let us seek her, my Villiers," +said the baronet. "Seek her! What! is she lost? Oh, yes, I recollect it +now; she is gone, snatched from my arms. Let us pursue her! Let us +overtake her Oh that it may not be too late."</p> + +<p>He now leaned upon the shoulder of his friend, and returned with painful +and irregular steps. His disorder was so great, that sir William thought +it best to have him immediately conveyed to a chamber. He was so much +exhausted, that this was easily accomplished, without his being perfectly +sensible what was done. The baronet, with three servants mounted on +horseback, immediately pursued the road towards London.--Having thus +related the confusion and grief that were occasioned by her sudden +disappearance, we will now return to our heroine.</p> + +<p>She had advanced, according to the intention she had hinted to her +servant, towards the grove, where she had so often wandered with her +beloved. She was wrapped up and lost in the contemplation of her +approaching felicity. "And is every difficulty surmounted, and shall at +last my fate be twined with Damon's? Sure, it is too much, it cannot be! +Fate does not deal so partially with mortals. To bestow so vast a +happiness on one, while thousands pine in helpless misery. But let me not +be incredulous. Let me not be ungrateful. No, since heaven has thus +accumulated its favours on me, my future days shall all be spent in +raising the oppressed, and cheering the disconsolate. I will remember that +I also have tasted the cup of woe, that I have looked forward to +disappointment and despair. <i>Taught by the hand that pities me,</i> I +will learn to pity others."</p> + +<p>She was thus musing with herself, she was thus full of piety and virtuous +resolution, when, on a sudden, a trampling of horses behind her, roused +her from her reverie. Two persons advanced. But before she had time to +examine their features, or even to remove out of the path, by which they +seemed to be coming, the foremost of them leaping hastily upon the ground, +seized her by the waist, arid, in spite of all her struggling, placed her +on the front of the saddle, and instantly mounted with the utmost agility. +Cries and tears were vain. They were in a solitary path, little beaten by +the careful husbandman, or the gay votaries of fashion. She was now +hurried along, and generally at full speed, through a thousand bye paths, +that seemed capable of puzzling the most assiduous pursuit.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely advanced two little miles, ere they arrived at a large +and broad highway. Here they found a chariot ready waiting for them, into +which Delia was immediately thrust. She now for the first time lifted up +her eyes. The first object to which she attended was the faces of her +ravishers. Of him who had been the most active, she had not the smallest +recollection. The other who was in a livery, she imagined she had seen +somewhere, though, in the present confusion of her mind, she could not fix +upon the place. She next looked round her with wildness and eagerness, as +far as her eye could reach, to see if there were no protector, no +deliverance near. But she looked in vain. All was solitude and stilness. +The murmurs, the activity of the day were past. And now, the silver moon +in radiant majesty shed a solemn serenity ever the whole scene. Serenity, +alas! to the heart at ease, but nothing could bring serenity to the +troubled breast of Delia.</p> + +<p>As her last resource, she appealed to those who by brutal force had +carried her away. "Oh, if you have any hearts, any thing human that dwells +about you, pity a poor, forlorn, and helpless maid! Alas, in what have I +injured you? What would you do to me?" "Oh, pray, Miss, do not be +frightened," said the first ravisher with an accent of familiar vulgarity, +"we will do you no harm, we mean nothing but your good. You will make your +fortune. You never had such luck in your life. You will have reason to +thank us the longest day you can ever know."</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>A Denouement</i>.</p> + +<p>At this moment, Delia with infinite transport, heard the sound of horses +at a distance. Every thing was quiet. Our heroine listened with eager +expectation, and those who guarded her looked out to see who it was that +approached. Suspense was not long on either side. The horsemen were up +with them in a moment. "Oh, whoever you are," cried Delia, in an agony of +distress, "pity and relieve the most miserable woman'"----She received no +answer, but the horses stopped, and lord Martin was in a moment at the +door of the carriage. "Oh, my lord," cried Delia, "is it you? Thanks, +eternal thanks, for this fortunate incident. If you had not come, heaven +knows what would have become of me! Those brutes, those wretches--But +conduct me, my lord, to my father's house. Without doubt, they must by +this time be in a terrible fright."</p> + +<p>"Do not be uneasy," cried his lordship, endeavouring to assume an +harmonious, but missing his point, he spoke in the shrillest and most +squeaking accent that can be imagined. "Do not be uneasy, my charmer. You +are in the hands of a man, that loves you, as never woman was loved +before. But I will be with you in a minute," said he. And withdrawing +behind the carriage, he beckoned to the person who had conducted the +business of the rape. "Why, you incorrigible blockhead," said lord Martin, +"you have neglected half your instructions. Why, her hands are at +liberty." "I beg your honour's pardon," replied the pimp, "I had indeed +forgotten, but it shall be remedied in a moment." And saying this, he +pulled a strong ribband out of his pocket, and getting into the chariot, +fastened the soft and lily hands of our heroine behind her. She screamed, +and invoked the name of his lordship a thousand times. Her hair became +disentangled from its ligaments, and flowed in waving ringlets about her +snowy, panting bosom. Exhausted with continual agitation, and particularly +with the last struggle, she seemed ready to faint, but was quickly +restored by the assiduity of these sordid grooms.</p> + +<p>Before she had completely recovered her recollection, lord Martin had +seated himself in the carriage, and was drawing up some of the blinds. +"Drive on," said he to the coachman, who was by this time mounted into the +box, "Drive, as if the devil was behind you." The cavalcade accordingly +went forward. There was a servant on each side of the carriage, beside the +commander in chief, who occasionally advanced in the front, and +occasionally brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>"And whither," said the affrighted Delia, "whither are we going? This +cannot be the way to Southampton. What do you mean? But ah, it is too +plain! Why else this impotence of insult?" endeavouring to disengage her +hands. And she turned from him in a rage of indignation. "Ah," cried his +lordship, "do not avert those brilliant eyes! Turn them towards me, and +they will outshine the lustre of the morn, and I shall perceive nothing of +the sun, even when he gains his meridian height." "And thou despicable +wretch, is this thy shallow plan? And what dost thou think to do with me? +Mountains shall sooner bend their lofty summits to the earth, than I will +ever waste a thought on thee." "Do with thee, my fairest!" cried the peer, +"why, marry thee. Dost thou think that the paltry Damon shall get the +better of my eagle genius? No. Fortune now unfurls my standard, and I +drive the <i>frighted fates</i> before me." "Boastful, empty coward! Thou +darest not even brave a woman's rage. If my hands were at liberty, I would +tear out those insolent eyes." "<i>Go on</i>, thou gentlest of thy sex, +<i>and charm me with that angel voice</i>! For though thou dealest in +threats, abuse, and proud defiance, <i>it is heaven to hear thee</i>."</p> + +<p>Such was the courtship that passed between our heroine and her triumphant +admirer. They had new proceeded twenty miles, and the midnight bell had +tolled near half an hour. They had passed through one turnpike, and Delia +had endeavoured by cries and prayers to obtain some assistance. But the +person who opened to them was alone, and though ever so desirous, could +not have resisted such a cavalcade. Beside this, the pimp told him a +plausible story of a wanton wife, and an injured husband, with the +particulars of which we do not think it necessary to trouble our readers. +They had also seen one foot passenger, and two horsemen. But they were +eluded and amused by a repetition of the same stratagem.</p> + +<p>Delia, having exhausted her first rage and astonishment, had now remained +for some time silent. She revolved in her mind all the particulars of her +situation. She had at first considered her ravisher in no other light than +as hateful and despicable, but she was now compelled to regard this +venomous little animal, as the arbiter of her fate, and the master of her +fortunes. She reflected with horror, how much she was in his power, what +ill usage he might inflict, and to what extremities he might reduce her. +She now seriously thought of exerting herself to melt him into pity, and +to persuade him, by every argument she could invent, to spare and to +release her. "Ah, where," thought she, "is my Damon? Why does not he +appear to succour me? Alas, what distresses, what agonies may he not even +now endure!"</p> + +<p>Full of these, and a thousand other tormenting reflections, she burst into +a flood of tears. Lord Martin drew from his pocket a clean cambric +handkerchief, and, carefully unfolding it, wiped away the drops as they +fell. "Loveliest of creatures," said he, "by the murmuring of thy voice, +the heaving of thy bosom, the distraction of thy looks, and by these +tears, I should imagine thou wert uneasy." "Ah," cried Delia unheedful of +his words, "what shall I say to move him?" "Oh, talk for ever," replied +his lordship. "The winds shall forget to whistle, and the seas to roar. +Noisy mobs shall cease their huzzas, and the din of war be still; for +there is music in thy voice." "Oh," exclaimed our heroine, "let one touch +of compassion approach thy soul. Indeed, my lord, I can never have you. +Release me, and I will forgive what is past, and Damon shall never notice +it." "Zounds and fire!" cried the peer, "dost thou think to prevail with +me by the motives of a coward? But why dost thou talk of Damon? Look on +me. Behold this purple coat, and fine <i>toupèe</i>. Think on my estate, +and think on my title."</p> + +<p>But at this moment the oratory of his lordship ceased to be heard. At a +small distance there appeared two persons, the one on foot, and whose air, +so far as it could be perceived by the imperfect light, was genteel, and +the other on horseback, engaged in earnest conference. As the carriage +drew towards them, Delia exclaimed, in a piercing, but pathetic voice, +"Help! help! for God's sake! Rape! Murder! Help!" The voice immediately +caught the young gentleman on foot, who approached the carriage.--But +before we proceed any farther we will inform our readers who these persons +were.</p> + +<p>The gentleman on foot, was Mr. Godfrey. He was on a visit to a sister, who +lived very near the spot upon which he now stood. She was married to a +substantial yeoman, who rented an estate in this place, the property of +lord Thomas Villiers. The beautiful scenes of nature were particularly +congenial to the elegant said contemplative mind of Mr. Godfrey. And he +had now, as was frequently his custom, strolled out to enjoy the calm +serenity, and the splendid beauty, of a midnight scene. The man on +horse-back was a thief taker, who, just before the carriage had driven up, +had, without ceremony, accosted Mr. Godfrey with his enquiries, and a +description of the person of whom he was in pursuit.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CHAPTER IX.</h2> +<br> + +<p><i>Which dismisses the Reader.</i></p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey, in a resolute tone, called out to the coachman to stop, and +not contented with a verbal mandate, he rushed before the horses, and +brandishing a club he held in his hand, bid the driver proceed at his +peril. "Drive on," said lord Martin, thrusting his head out at the +window--"Drive on, and be damned to you!" At this moment the pimp rode up. +"It is nothing," said he, "but a poor gentleman, who has just forced his +wife from the arms of a gallant." "Oh no!" cried Delia. "I am not his +wife. I am an innocent woman, whom he has forced from her father and her +lover."</p> + +<p>The thief taker out of curiosity rode forward. "That," said he, fixing his +eye upon the pimp, "that is the very rascal I am in search of." The pimp, +who had only been borrowed by lord Martin of one of his more experienced +acquaintance, no sooner heard the sound, than, accounting for it with +infinite facility and readiness of mind, he turned about his horse, and +attempted to fly. One of the footmen, naturally a coward, and terrified at +these incidents, with the meaning of which he was unacquainted, imitated +his example. The other came forward to the assistance of his master, and +was laid prostrate upon the ground, by Mr. Godfrey with one blow. The +thief taker had the start of the pimp, and overtook him in a moment.</p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey now opened the door of the carriage. But the little peer was +prepared for this incident, and having his sword drawn, made a sudden pass +at our generous knight-errant. The latter, with infinite agility, leaped +aside, and lifting up his club, shivered the sword into a thousand pieces.</p> + +<p>"Death and the devil! Pox confound you!" said lord Martin, and endeavoured +to draw a pistol from his pocket. But the unsuccessful pass he had made +had thrown him somewhat off his bias, and though he had employed more than +one effort, he had not been able to recover himself. At this instant, Mr. +Godfrey seized him by the collar, and with a sudden-whirl, threw him into +the middle of the road. "Fire and"--his lordship had not time to finish +his exclamation. The part of the road in which he fell was exceeding +dirty. The workmen had been employed the preceding day, in scraping the +mud together into a heap against the bank, and his lordship, unable to +overcome the velocity with which he trundled along, rolled into the midst +of it in an instant. He was entirely lost in this soft receptacle. The +colour of his purple coat, and his lily white <i>toupèe</i>, could no +longer be distinguished.</p> + +<p>The coachman, perceiving the disaster of his lord, now leaped from the +box. Mr. Godfrey had scarcely had time to reduce this new antagonist to a +state of inactivity, before the footman, upon whom he had first displayed +his prowess, began to discover some signs of life. He might have been yet +overpowered in spite of all his valour and presence of mind, if the house +of his brother-in-law, had not fortunately been so near, that the shrieks +of Delia, and the altercation of her ravishers reached it. The honest +farmer was at the window in a moment, and perceiving that his brother was +engaged in the affray, he huddled on his clothes with all expedition, and +now appeared in the highway.</p> + +<p>The victory was immediately decided. The footman perceiving this new +reinforcement, did not dare to act upon the offensive, and Mr. Godfrey +mounted into the chariot to assist our heroine. He now first perceived +that her hands were manacled. From this restraint however, he suddenly +disengaged her, and taking her in his arms out of the carriage, he +delivered her to his sister, who advanced at this moment.</p> + +<p>The footman, assisted by the humanity of the farmer, was now employed in +raising his master. His lordship made the most pitiable figure that can be +imagined. His features, as well as his dress, wore an appearance perfectly +uniform. "Whither would you convey him?" said Mr. Godfrey, who was now +returned. "What shall we do with him?" "Oh, and please you, sir," said the +footman, "his lordship has a house about half a mile off." Lord Martin now +first discovered some marks of sensibility, and <i>shook his goary +locks</i>. "His lordship!" exclaimed the yeoman. "Sure it cannot be--yet +it is--by my soul I cannot tell whether it be lord Martin or no." The +coachman now rose from the ground, and began with a profound bow to his +master. "And please your honour," said he, "we have made a sad day's work +of it. Your worship makes but a pitiful figure. Faugh! I think as how, if +I dared say so much, begging your honour's pardon, that your lordship +stinks." "Put him into the carriage," cried Mr. Godfrey, "and drive him +home." Lord Martin, now first recovered his tongue, and wiping away the +mud from his eyes, "And so it was you, sir, I suppose," cried he, "to whom +I am obliged for this catastrophe. But pox take me, if you shall not hear +of it. Ten thousand curses on my wayward fate! The devil take it! Death +and damnation!" During this soliloquy, the servants were employed in +placing their lord in the chariot. The coachman mounted the box, and by +this time they were out of hearing.</p> + +<p>Mr. Godfrey and his brother now entered the house. Delia was seated in a +chair, her hair dishevelled, her features disordered, and her dress in the +most bewitching confusion. But how much were both the deliverer and the +heroine surprised, when they mutually recognised each others features! Mr. +Godfrey made Delia a very polite compliment upon her escape, and +congratulated himself, in the warmest language, for having been the +fortunate instrument.</p> + +<p>They now retired to rest. The next morning, Delia was much better +recovered from her terror and fatigue, than could have been expected. Mr. +Godfrey however had not thought it adviseable that she should be removed +that day, and had therefore set off early in the morning for Southampton, +that he might himself be the messenger of these happy tidings.</p> + +<p>"I hope Miss," said Mrs. Wilson, who attended our heroine, "that you will +dress yourself as well as you can." "And why" cried Delia, "do you desire +that? I can see nobody, I can think of nothing, but my absent and anxious +Damon." "Let us hope," replied the other, "that he is very well. But, +Miss, we expect lord Thomas Villiers by dinner time." "Lord Thomas +Villiers!" exclaimed Delia, in the extremest surprise. "Yes," cried Mrs. +Wilson. "He is our landlord, and he always comes over once about this time +of the year." "Alas," said Delia, "I can see nobody. But I had rather meet +any person at this time, than lord Thomas Villiers." "Bless me, Miss! why +I am sure he is a very good sort of a gentleman." "I dare say he is," +cried Delia. "But indeed, and indeed, Mrs. Wilson, I cannot see him. Pray +oblige me in this." "Law, well I cannot think what objection you can have! +There must be something very particular in it."</p> + +<p>Such were the hints that Mrs. Wilson threw out for the satisfying of her +curiosity, but Delia was not disposed to be more communicative. The good +woman however, with the error of our heroine before her eyes, was +determined not to commit a similar fault. Lord Thomas was therefore +scarcely arrived, before she set open the flood gates of her eloquence, in +describing the rescue, and the unrivalled beauty of the lady under her +roof.</p> + +<p>His lordship had long had a misunderstanding with lord Martin upon the +subject of their contiguous estates. As his temper was not the most +gentle, nor his memory upon these subjects the most treacherous, he +expressed his triumph in loud shouts, and repeated horse laughs, upon the +recent defeat of his antagonist. Nothing however would content him but a +sight of the lady. "That," said Mrs. Wilson, "my guess is too nice to +consent to. You must know, she has a particular dislike to your lordship." +"A dislike to me!" said the old gentleman, whose curiosity was now more +inflamed than even "Will you be contented," said his kind hostess, "with a +peep through the key hole!" and without waiting for an answer, she took +him by the hand, and led him up stairs. "By my foul!" said his lordship, +"she is the finest woman in the world. Devil take me, if I can contain +myself," and he burst into the room.</p> + +<p>Lord Thomas advanced a few steps, and then stopping, clasped his hands; +"Why she is an angel of a woman! And did Martin, that dirty scoundrel, +think he could run away with you? Impudent, pot-bellied spider! Ah, if my +son had fallen in love with such a woman as you, I could forgive him any +thing." And seizing her hand he pressed it to his lips. "Forgive me, +charmer," cried he, "I am an old fellow. I will do you no harm."</p> + +<p>Delia, though pleased with the behaviour of her intended father-in-law, +dared not yet discover herself to him. In the afternoon, Mr. Godfrey, and +Sir William Twyford, arrived. Damon, agitated as he was by the most +dreadful images that a troubled fancy could suggest, appeared in the +morning in a high fever. Instead of being able to hasten to the mistress +of his soul, he was confined to his bed, and attended by physicians.</p> + +<p>"Ha," cried lord Thomas, as soon as he saw the baronet, "and who sent for +you? What do you want? I think, Sir, you are the gentleman to whom I am +obliged for telling my son, that duty to parents is a baby prejudice, that +obstinacy is a heroic virtue, and that fortune, fame, and friends, are all +to be sacrificed to the whining passion, which, I think, you call love." +"My lord," replied the baronet, "I have done nothing, of which I feel any +reason to be ashamed. But a subject more pressing calls for my immediate +attention." Then turning to Delia, "Give me leave to congratulate you, +madam, and heaven can tell how heartily I do it, upon the generous and +happy interposition of Mr. Godfrey." "And pray," interrupted lord Thomas, +"how came you acquainted with that lady?" "Oh, tell me," cried Delia, with +an impatience not to be restrained by modes and forms, "tell me, how does +my Damon? Why is he not here? Alas, I fear"--"Fear nothing," cried the +baronet. "He is safe. He is at your father's house, and impatient to see +you." "And is this the lady," cried lord Thomas, "of whom my son is +enamoured? But he shall not disobey me. I will never permit it. Sir, if +this be the lady, I will give her to him with my own hand. But where is +the ungracious rascal? Why does not he appear?" "Nothing, be assured," +said the baronet, "but reasons of the last importance, could have kept him +back in so interesting a moment." "Alas, I fear," cried Delia, "since you +endeavour to conceal them from me, they are reasons of the most afflicting +nature." "It is in vain," replied Sir William, "to endeavour at +concealment." "Your son," turning to lord Thomas Villiers, "is confined to +his bed. The anxiety and fatigue that he suffered, in consequence of the +extraordinary step of lord Martin, have thrown him into a fever. But be +not uneasy, my Delia," taking her hand, "there is no danger. One sigh, one +look from you will restore him." "Ten thousand curses," exclaimed the +father, "upon the head of the contemptible, misbegotten ravisher! But let +us make haste. I am glad however that my rogue of a son is a little +punished for his impertinence. Let us make haste."</p> + +<p>Saying this, he ordered the horses to his chariot, and the whole company +prepared to set out for Southampton immediately. The only business which +remained, was the dispatching a message, which was done by one of sir +William's servants, from Mr. Godfrey to lord Martin, announcing his name, +and informing his lordship, that he was to be met with any time in the +ensuing week at Mr. Moreland's.</p> + +<p>Lord Martin was a good deal bruised and enfeebled with the adventure of +the preceding evening. He had been obliged to undergo a lustration of near +an hour, before he could be put to bed. He was just risen, when the +message was delivered. "Zounds!" cried the peer, "he is, is he? And so +this fellow, whom nobody knows, has the impudence to snub me! By my title, +and all the blood of my ancestors, he is not worthy of my sword. I will +have him assassinated. I will hire some blackguards to seize him, and bind +him in my presence, and I will bastinado him with my own hand. Furies and +curses! I do not know what to do. Oh, this confounded vanity! Not +contented with one disgrace, I have brought upon myself another, ten times +more mortifying than the first. By Tartarus, and all the infernal gods, I +believe I had better let it rest where it is! Wretch, wretch, that I am!" +And he threw himself on the bed in an agony of despair.</p> + +<p>Damon had slept little the preceding night, and his slumbers had been +disturbed with a thousand horrible imaginations. The first person who +appeared in his chamber the next morning he addressed with "Where, where +is she? Where is my Delia? My life, my soul, the mistress of my fate? Ah, +why do you look so haggard, so unconsoling. You have heard nothing of her? +Give me my clothes. I will pursue her to the world's end. I will find her, +though she be hid deep as the centre." "Sir, be pacified," said the +servant, "she is safe." "Safe," cried our lover, "why then does she not +appear to comfort me? But haste, I will fly to her. I will clasp, I will +lock her, in my arms. No, nothing, not all the powers on earth, shall ever +part us more." "Sir, she is not in the house." "Not in the house," cried +Damon starting, "Ha! say. I will not be cheated. On thy life do not trifle +with my impatience."</p> + +<p>At this moment Mr. Godfrey entered the room. "Who is there?" cried Damon, +starting at every whisper. "It is your friend," said Godfrey. "A friend +that owes you much, and would willingly pay you something back again." "I +do not understand you," replied our hero. "I can talk of nothing but my +Delia. Oh Delia! Delia! I will teach thy name to all the echoes. I will +send it with every wind to heaven. Ever, ever, shall it dwell upon my +lips." "Delia," replied the other, "is in safety. I have been so happy as +to rescue her." "Ha! sayest thou? let me look upon thee well. I am +somewhat disordered, but I think thy name is Godfrey. Thou shouldst not +deceive me. Thou art not old in falsehood." "I do not deceive thee. On my +life I do not!" exclaimed Godfrey, with emotion. "Compose thyself for a +few hours. Or ever thou shalt see the setting sun, I will put thy Delia +into thy arms again."</p> + +<p>Damon was somewhat composed by these assurances. No voice like that of +Godfrey had power to sooth his mind to serenity. But though he sought to +restrain himself, he listened to every noise. He started at the sound of +every foot, and the rattle of a carriage in the street agitated his soul +almost to frenzy.</p> + +<p>"Why does not she come? What can delay her? I have counted every moment. +I have waited whole ages. I see, I see, that every thing conspires to +cheat, and to distract me. Damon has not one friend left to whisper in his +ear--to whisper what? That Delia is no more? That all her beauties are +defaced, by some sacrilegious hand? That all her heaven of charms have +been rifled? Oh, no. I must not think of that. But hark! I thought I heard +a sound, but it is delirium all. Sure, sure it comes this way. I will +listen but this once."</p> + +<p>The door of the chamber now flew open. But oh, what object caught the +raptured eye of Damon! He was just risen. "It is, it is my Delia!" and +they flew into each others arms. But having embraced for a moment, Damon +took hold of her hand, and held her from him. "Let me look at thee. And is +it Delia? And art thou safe, unhurt? I would not be mistaken." "Yes, I am +she, and ten times more my Damon's than ever." "It is enough. I am +contented. But hark! who comes there? Sure it is not the brutal ravisher? +No," cried he, in a voice of surprise, "it is my father."</p> + +<p>Lord Thomas Villiers, who had been a witness of this scene, could restrain +himself no longer. "Come to my arms, thy father's arms," cried he, "and +let me bless thee." "Stay, stay," cried Damon. "Yes I know thee well. But +I will never be separated from her any more. I will laugh at the authority +of a parent. Tyranny and tortures shall not rend me from her." "The +authority of a parent," replied lord Thomas, "shall never more be employed +to counteract thy wishes. I myself will join your hands."</p> + +<p>The constitution of Damon was so full of sensibility, that it was some +days before he was completely recovered. In the mean time, the amours of +Sir William Twyford, and Mr. Hartley, continually ripened, and it was +proposed, that the three parties should be united in the same day.</p> + +<p>"And now," said Damon, "I have but one care more, one additional exertion, +to set my mind at ease. My Godfrey, I owe thee more than kingdoms can +repay. Tell me, instruct me, what can I do to serve you? Damon must be the +most contemptible of villains, if he could think his felicity complete, +when his Godfrey was unhappy."</p> + +<p>"Think not of me," said Godfrey, "I am happy in the way that nature +intended, beyond even the power of Damon to make me. Since I saw you, a +favourable change has taken place in my circumstances. In spite of various +obstacles, I have brought a tragedy upon the stage, and it has met with +distinguished success. My former crosses and mortifications are all +forgotten. Philosophers may tell us, that reputation, and the immortality +of a name, are all but an airy shadow. Enough for me, that nature, from my +earliest infancy, led me to place my first delight in these. I envy not +kings their sceptres. I envy not statesmen their power. I envy not Damon +his love, and his Delia. Next to the pursuits of honour and truth, my soul +is conscious to but one wish, that of having my name enrolled, in however +inferior a rank, with a Homer, and a Horace, a Livy, and a Cicero."</p> + +<p>The next day the proposed weddings took place. It is natural perhaps, at +the conclusion of such a narrative as this, to represent them all as +happy. But we are bound to adhere to nature and truth. Mr. Hartley and his +politician for some time struggled for superiority, but, in the end, the +eagle genius of Sophia soared aloft. Sir William, though he married a +woman, good natured, and destitute of vice, found something more insipid +in marriage, than he had previously apprehended. For Damon and his Delia, +they were amiable, and constant. Though their hearts were in the highest +degree susceptible and affectionate, the first ebullition of passion could +not last for ever. But it was succeeded by <i>the feast of reason, and the +flow of soul</i>. Their hours were sped with the calmness of tranquility. +When they saw each other no longer with transport, they saw each other +with complacency. And so long as they live, they will doubtless afford the +most striking demonstration, that marriage, when it unites two gentle +souls, and meaned by nature for each other, when it is blest of heaven, +and accompanied with reason and discretion, is the sweetest, and the +fairest of all the bands of society.</p> +<br> + +<p>THE END.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Damon and Delia, by William Godwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAMON AND DELIA *** + +***** This file should be named 10318-h.htm or 10318-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/3/1/10318/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Sheila Vogtmann and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Damon and Delia + A Tale + +Author: William Godwin + +Release Date: November 27, 2003 [EBook #10318] +Last updated: January 21, 2009 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAMON AND DELIA *** + + + + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Sheila Vogtmann and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA: + +A TALE. + +--NEQUE SEMPER ARCUM +TENDIT APOLLO. HOR. + +LONDON: +PRINTED FOR T. HOOKHAM, AT HIS CIRCULATING +LIBRARY, NEW BOND-STEET, CORNER +OF BRUTON-STREET. +M,DCC,LXXXIV. + + +CONTENTS + + +PART the FIRST. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Containing introductory Matter._ + + +CHAPTER II. + +_A Ball_ + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Ghost._ + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_A love Scene._ + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Man of Humour._ + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Containing some Specimens of Heroism._ + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing that with which the Reader will be acquainted when he has +read it._ + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Two Persons of Fashion._ + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_A tragical Resolution._ + + + + +CONTENTS. + + +PART the SECOND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_In which the Story begins over again_. + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The History of Mr. Godfrey_. + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Misanthrope_. + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Much ado about nothing_. + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Woman of learning_. + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A Catastrophe_. + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing what will terrify the Reader_. + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_A Denouement_. + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Which dismisses the Reader_. + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + + +PART the FIRST. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_Containing introductory matter_. + + +The races at Southampton have, for time immemorial, constituted a scene of +rivalship, war, and envy. All the passions incident to the human frame +have here assumed as true a scope, as in the more noisy and more tragical +contentions of statesmen and warriors. Here nature has displayed her most +hidden attractions, and art has furnished out the artillery of beauty. +Here the coquet has surprised, and the love-sick nymph has sapped the +heart of the unwary swain. The scene has been equally sought by the bolder +and more haughty, as by the timid sex. Here the foxhunter has sought a new +subject of his boast in the _nonchalance_ of _dishabille_; the +peer has played off the dazzling charms of a coronet and a star; and the +_petit maitre_ has employed the anxious niceties of dress. + +Of all the beauties in this brilliant circle, she, who was incomparably +the most celebrated, was the graceful Delia. Her person, though not +absolutely tall, had an air of dignity. Her form was bewitching, and her +neck was alabaster. Her cheeks glowed with the lovely vermilion of nature, +her mouth was small and pouting, her lips were coral, and her teeth whiter +than the driven snow. Her forehead was bold, high, and polished, her +eyebrows were arched, and from beneath them her fine blue eyes shone with +intelligence, and sparkled with heedless gaiety. Her hair was of the +brightest auburn, it was in the greatest abundance, and when, unfettered +by the ligaments of fashion, it flowed about her shoulders and her lovely +neck, it presented the most ravishing object that can possibly be +imagined. + +With all this beauty, it Cannot be supposed but that Delia was followed by +a train of admirers. The celebrated Mr. Prattle, for whom a thousand fair +ones cracked their fans and tore their caps, was one of the first to +enlist himself among her adorers. Squire Savage, the fox-hunter, who, like +Hippolitus of old, chased the wily fox and timid hare, and had never yet +acknowledged the empire of beauty, was subdued by the artless sweetness of +Delia. Nay, it has been reported, that the incomparable lord Martin, a +peer of ten thousand pounds a year, had made advances to her father. It is +true, his lordship was scarcely four feet three inches in stature, his +belly was prominent, one leg was half a foot shorter, and one shoulder +half a foot higher than the other. His temper was as crooked as his shape; +the sight of a happy human being would give him the spleen; and no mortal +man could long reside under the same roof with him. But in spite of these +trifling imperfections, it has been confidently affirmed, that some of the +haughtiest beauties of Hampshire would have been proud of his alliance. + +Thus assailed with all the temptations that human nature could furnish, it +might naturally be supposed, that Delia had long since resigned her heart. +But in this conjecture, however natural, the reader will find himself +mistaken. She seemed as coy as Daphne, and as cold as Diana. She diverted +herself indeed with the insignificant loquaciousness of Mr. Prattle, and +the aukward gallantry of the Squire; but she never bestowed upon either a +serious thought. And for lord Martin, who was indisputably allowed to be +the best match in the county, she could not bear to hear him named with +patience, and she always turned pale at the sight of him. + +But Delia was not destined always to laugh at the darts of Cupid. Mrs. +Bridget her waiting maid, delighted to run over the list of her adorers, +and she was much more eloquent and more copious upon the subject than we +have been. When her mistress received the mention of each with gay +indifference, Mrs. Bridget would close the dialogue, and with a sagacious +look, and a shake of her head, would tell the lovely Delia, that the +longer it was before her time came, the more surely and the more deeply +she would be caught at last. And to say truth, the wisest philosopher +might have joined in the verdict of the sage Bridget. There was a softness +in the temper of Delia, that seemed particularly formed for the tender +passion. The voice of misery never assailed her ear in vain. Her purse was +always open to the orphan, the maimed, and the sick. After reading a +tender tale of love, the intricacies of the Princess of Cleves, the soft +distress of Sophia Western, or the more modern story of the Sorrows of +Werter, her gentle breast would heave with sighs, and her eye, suffused +with tears, confess a congenial spirit. + +The father of Delia--let the reader drop a tear over this blot in our +little narrative--had once been a tradesman. He was naturally phlegmatic, +methodical, and avaricious. His ear was formed to relish better the hoarse +voice of an exchange broker, than the finest tones of Handel's organ. He +found something much more agreeable and interesting in the perusal of his +ledger and his day book, than in the scenes of Shakespeare, or the +elegance of Addison. With this disposition, he had notwithstanding, when +age had chilled the vigour of his limbs, and scattered her snow over those +hairs which had escaped the hands of the barber, resigned his shop, and +retired to enjoy the fruits of his industry. It is as natural for a +tradesman in modern times to desire to die in the tranquillity of a +gentleman, as it was for the Saxon kings of the Heptarchy to act the same +inevitable scene amidst the severities of a cloister. + +The old gentleman however found, and it is not impossible that some of his +brethren may have found it before him, when the great transaction was +irretrievably over, that retirement and indolence did not constitute the +situation for which either nature or habit had fitted him. It has been +observed by some of those philosophers who have made the human mind the +object of their study, that idleness is often the mother of love. It might +indeed have been supposed, that Mr. Hartley, for that was his name, by +having attained the age of sixty, might have outlived every danger of this +kind. But opportunity and temptation supplied that, which might have been +deficient on the side of nature. + +Within a little mile of the mansion in which he had taken up his retreat, +resided two ancient maiden ladies. Under cover of the venerable age to +which they had attained, they had laid aside many of those modes which +coyness and modesty have prescribed to their sex. The visits of a man were +avowedly as welcome to them, and indeed much more so, than those of a +woman. Their want of attractions either external or mental, had indeed +hindered the circle of their acquaintance from being very extensive; but +there were some, as well as Mr. Hartley, who preferred the company of +ugliness, censoriousness and ill nature to solitude. + +Such were the Miss Cranley's, the name of the elder of whom was Amelia, +and that of the younger Sophia. Miss Amelia was nominally forty, and her +sister thirty years of age. Perhaps if we stated the matter more +accurately, we should rate the elder at fifty-six, and the younger +somewhere about fifty. They both of them were masculine in their +behaviour, and studious in their disposition. Miss Amelia, delighted in +the study of theology; she disputed with the curate, maintained a godly +correspondence with a neighbouring cobler, and was even said to be +preparing a pamphlet in defence of the dogmas of Mr. Whitfield. Miss +Sophia, who will make a much more considerable figure in this history, was +altogether as indefatigable in the study of politics, as her sister was in +that of theology. She adhered indeed to none of our political parties, for +she suspected and despised them all. My lord North she treated as stupid, +sleepy, and void of personal principle. Mr. Fox was a brawling gamester, +devoid of all attachments but that of ambition, and who treated the mob +with flattery and contempt. Mr. Burke was a Jesuit in disguise, who under +the most specious professions, was capable of the blackest and meanest +actions. For her own part she was a steady republican. That couplet of Dr. +Garth was continually in her mouth, + + + _From my very soul I hate, + All kings and ministers of state._ + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_A Ball._ + + +Thus much it was necessary to premise, in order to acquaint the reader +with the situation of our heroine, and that of some other personages in +this history. Having discharged this task, we will return to the point +from which we set out. + +It was at one of the balls at the races at Southampton--the company was +already assembled. The card tables were set, and our maiden ladies, +together with many other venerable pieces of antiquity, were assembled +around them. In another and more spacious room, appeared all that +Southampton could boast of youth and beauty. The squire and his sister, +Mr. Prattle, and lord Martin, formed a part of the company. The first +bustle was nearly composed, when Damon entered the assembly. + +He appeared to be a stranger to every body present. And, as he is equally +a stranger to our readers, we will now announce him in proper form. Damon +appeared to be about twenty years of age. His person was tall, and his +limbs slender and well formed. His dress was elegance itself. His coat was +ornamented with a profusion of lace, and the diamond sparkled in his shoe. +His countenance was manly and erect. There appeared in it a noble +confidence, which the spectator would at first sight ascribe to dignity of +birth, and a perfect familiarity with whatever is elegant and polite. This +confidence however had not the least alloy of _hauteur_, his eye +expressed the most open sensibility and the kindest sympathy. + +There is something undescribably interesting in the figure we have +delineated. The moment our hero entered the room, the attention of every +person present was fixed upon him. The master of the ceremonies +immediately advanced, and escorted him to the most honourable seat that +yet remained vacant. While Damon examined with an eager eye the gay +parterre of beauty that appeared before him, a general whisper was excited +upon his account. "Who is he?" "Who is he?" echoed from every corner of +the room. But while curiosity was busy in his enquiries, there was not an +individual capable of satisfying them. + +The business of every one was now the choice of a partner. But as one +object had engrossed the attention of all, they were willing to see the +election he would make, though every one feared to lose the partner he had +destined for himself. Damon was therefore, however unwilling to +distinguish himself in so particular a manner, constrained to advance the +foremost. He passed slightly along before a considerable number, who sat +in expectation. At length he approached the seat of Delia. He bowed to her +in the most graceful manner, and intreated to be honoured with her hand. +She smiled assent, and they crossed the room among a croud of envious +rivals. Besides the lovers we had mentioned, there were four others, who +had secretly determined to dance with Delia. + +But if the gentlemen were disappointed, to whose eyes the beauty of Delia, +however unrivalled, was familiar, the disappointment and envy of the fair +sex upon the loss of Damon, whose external and natural recommendations had +beside the grace of novelty, were inexpressible. The daughter of Mr. +Griskin, an eminent butcher in Clare-market, who had indeed from nature, +the grace of being cross-eyed, now looked in ten thousand more various +directions than she ever did before. Miss Prim, agitated in every limb, +cracked her fan into twenty pieces. Miss Gawky, who had unfortunately been +initiated by the chamber maid in the art of snuff-taking, plied her box +with more zeal than ever. Miss Languish actually fainted, and was with +some difficulty conveyed into the air. Such was the confusion occasioned +in the ball at Southampton, by the election of Damon. + +Affairs being now somewhat adjusted, the dances began. Damon at every +interval addressed himself to his lovely partner in the easiest and most +elegant conversation. He talked with fluency, and his air and manner gave +a grace and dignity to the most trifling topics. The heart of Delia, +acknowledged the charms of youthful beauty and graceful deportment, and +secretly confessed that it had never before encountered so formidable an +enemy. + +When the usual topics of conversation had been exhausted, the behaviour of +Damon became insensibly more particular, he pressed her hand with the most +melting ardour, and a sigh ever and anon escaped from his breast. He paid +her several very elegant compliments, though they were all of them +confined within the limits of decorum. Delia, on the other hand, though +she apparently received them with the most gay indifference, in reality +drank deep of the poison of love, and the words of Damon made an +impression upon her heart, that was not easily to be erased. + +But however delicious was the scene in which they were engaged, it +necessarily drew to a conclusion. The drowsy clocks now announced the hour +of three in the morning. The dances broke up, and the company separated. +Delia leaped into the chariot that was waiting, and quickly arrived at the +parental mansion. Fatigued with the various objects that had passed before +her, she immediately retired to rest. For some time however a busy train +of thoughts detained her from the empire of sleep. "How lovely a stranger! +How elegant his manners, and how brilliant his wit! How soft and engaging +the whole of his behaviour! But ah! was this the fruit of reverence and +admiration? Might it not be no more than general gallantry? Oh that I were +mistress of his heart! That he would lay his person at my feet! What a +contrast between him and my former admirers! How doubly hateful does lord +Martin, the lover favoured by my father now appear! But ah! who is this +Damon? What is his fortune, and what his pretensions? His dress surely +bespoke him a man of rank. His elegant manners could have been learned in +no vulgar circle. How sweet, methinks is suspence! How delightful the +uncertainty that hangs about him! And yet, how glad should I be to have my +doubts resolved." + +Soothed with these and similar reflections, the lovely maid fell asleep. +But even in sleep she did not forget the impressions she had received. She +imagined that Damon now approached her pillow. But how unlike the Damon +she had seen! His eyes had something in them superior to a mortal. His +shoulders were adorned with wings, and a vest of celestial azure flowed +around him. He smiled upon her with the most bewitching grace. But the +gentle maid involuntarily stretched out her arms towards him, and the +pleasing vision vanished from her sight. + +Again she closed her eyes, and again she endeavoured to regain her former +object. Damon indeed appeared, but in how different a manner! his +countenance was impressed with every mark of horror, and he seemed to fly +before some who inveterately pursued him. They appeared with the +countenances of furies, and the snakes hissed around their temples. Delia +looked earnestly upon them, and presently recollected the features of the +admirers we have already celebrated. The noble peer under the figure of +Tisiphone, led the troop. Damon stumbled and fell. Sudden as lightning +Tisiphone reached the spot, and plunged a dagger in his heart. She drew it +forth reeking with blood, and the lovely youth appeared in the agonies of +death. Terrified beyond measure, Delia screamed with horror and awoke. + +In the midst of reveries like these, now agitated with apprehension, and +now soothed with pleasure, Delia passed the night. The sun appeared, her +gold repeater informed her that it was twelve, and, assisted by the fair +hands of Mrs. Bridget, she began to rise. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Ghost._ + + +Mr. Hartley had breakfasted and walked out in the fields, before Delia +appeared. She had scarcely begun her morning repast, ere Miss Fletcher, +the favourite companion and confidante of Delia, entered the room. "My +dearest creature," cried the visitor, "how do you do? Had not we not a +most charming evening? I vow I was fatigued to death: and then, lord +Martin, I think he never appeared to so much advantage. Why he was quite +covered with diamonds, spangles, and frogs." "Ah!" cried Delia, "but the +young stranger." "True," answered Miss Fletcher, "I liked him of all +things; so tall, so genteel, and so sweetly perfumed.--I cannot think who +he is. I called upon Miss Griskin, and I called upon Miss Savage, nobody +knows. He is some great man." "When did he come to town?" said Delia, +"Where does he lodge?" "My dear, he came to town yesterday in the evening, +and went away again as soon as the ball was over. But do not you think +that Mr. Prattle's new suit of scarlet sattin was vastly becoming? I vow I +could have fallen in love with him. He is so gay and so trifling, and so +fond of hearing himself talk. Why, does not he say a number of smart +things?" "It is exessively strange," said Delia. (She was thinking of the +stranger.) But Miss Fletcher went on--"Not at all, my life. Upon my word I +think he is always very entertaining. He cuts out paper so prettily, and he +has drawn me the sweetest pattern for an apron. I vow, I think, I never +showed you it." "What can be his name?" said Delia; "His name, my dear; +law, child, you do not hear a word one says to you. But of all things, +give me the green coat and pink breeches of Mr. Savage. But did you ever +hear the like? There will be a terrible to do--Lord Martin is in such a +quandary--He has sent people far and near." "I wish they may find him," +exclaimed Delia. "Nay, if they do, I would not be in his shoes for the +world. My lord vows revenge. He says he is his rival. Why, child, the +stranger did not make love to you, did he?" "Mercy on us," cried Delia, +"then my dream is out." "Oh, bless us," said Miss Fletcher, "what dream, +my dear?" Her curiosity then prevailed upon her to be silent for a few +moments, while Delia related that with which the reader is already +acquainted. + +In return, Delia requested of her friend to explain to her more +intelligibly what she hinted of the anger of lord Martin. "Why, my dear, +his lordship has been employed all this morning in writing challenges. +They say he has not writ less than a dozen, and has sent them by as many +messengers, like a hue and cry, all over the county--my lord is a little +man--but what of that--he is as stout as Hercules, and as brave as +what-d'ye call'um, that you and I read of in Pope's Homer. He is in such a +vengeance of a passion, that he cannot contain himself. He tells it to +every body he sees; and his mother and sister run about the house +screaming and fainting like so many mad things." + +Delia, as we have already said, was endowed with a competent share of +natural understanding. She therefore easily perceived, that from an anger +so boisterous and so public, no very fatal effects were to be apprehended. +This reflection quieted the terrors that her dream had excited, and which +the young partiality she began to feel for the amiable stranger would +otherwise have confirmed. Her breast being thus calmed, she made about +half a dozen morning visits, among which, one to Miss Griskin, and another +to Miss Languish, were included. The conversation every where turned upon +the outrageousness of lord Martin. All but the gentle Delia, were full of +anxiety and expectation. The females were broken into parties respecting +the event of the duel. Many trembled for the fate of lord Martin, so +splendid, so rich, and consequently, in their opinion, so amiable and so +witty. Others, guided by the unadulterated sentiments of nature, poured +forth all their vows for the courteous unknown. "May those active limbs +remain without a wound! May his elegant blue and silver never be stained +with blood! Ah, what a pity, that eyes so bright, and teeth so white, +should be shrowded in the darkness of the grave." + +The dinner, a vulgar meal, that passed exactly in the same manner as fifty +dinners had before it, shall be consigned to silence. The evening was +bright and calm. It was in the close of autumn; and every thing tempted +our lovely fair one to take the air. By the way she called upon her +inseparable friend and companion. They directed their course towards the +sea side. + +Here they had not advanced far, before they entered a grove, a spot +particularly the favourite of Delia. In a little opening there was a bank +embroidered with daisies and butter-cups; a little row of willows bending +their heads forward, formed a kind of canopy; and directly before it, +there was a vista through the trees, which afforded a distant prospect of +the sea, with every here and there a vessel passing along, and the beams +of the setting sun quivered on the waves. + +Delia and her companion advanced towards the well known spot. The mellow +voice of the thrush, and the clear pipe of the blackbird, diversified at +intervals with the tender notes of the nightingale, formed the most +agreable natural concert. The breast of Delia, framed for softness and +melancholy, was filled with sensations responsive to the objects around +her, and even the eternal clack of Miss Fletcher was still. + +Presently, however, a new and unexpected object claimed their attention. A +note, stronger and sweeter than that of any of the native choristers of +the grove, swelled upon the air, and floated towards them. Having +approached a few paces, they stood still to listen. It seemed to proceed +from a flute, played upon by a human voice. The air was melancholy, but +the skill was divine. + +The native curiosity of Miss Fletcher was not upon this occasion a match +for the sympathetic spirit of Delia. She pressed forward with an eager and +uncertain step, and looking through an interstice formed by two venerable +oaks, she perceived the figure of a young man sitting in her favourite +alcove. His back was turned towards the side upon which she was. Having +finished the air, he threw his flute carelesly from him, and folded his +arms in a posture the most disconsolate that can be imagined. He rose and +advanced a little with an irregular step. "Ah lovely mistress of my soul," +cried he, "thou little regardest the anguish that must for ever be an +inmate of this breast! While I am a prey to a thousand tormenting +imaginations, thou riotest in the empire of beauty, heedless of the wounds +thou inflicted, and the slaves thou chainest to thy chariot. Wretch that I +am, what is to be done? But I must think no more." Saying this he snatched +up his flute, and thrusting it into his bosom, hurried out of the grove. + +While he spoke, Delia imagined that the voice was one that she had heard +before though she knew not where. Her heart whispered her something more +than her understanding could disentangle. But as he stooped to take his +flute from the ground his profile was necessarily turned towards the inner +part of the grove. Delia started and trembled. Damon stood confessed. But +she scarcely recollected his features before he rushed away swifter than +the winged hawk, and was immediately out of sight. + +Delia was too full of a thousand reflections upon this unexpected +rencounter to be able to utter a word. But Miss Fletcher immediately +began. "God bless us," cried she, "did you ever see the like? Why it is my +belief it is a ghost or a wizard. I never heard any thing so pretty--I +vow, I am terribly frightened." + +Delia now caught hold of her arm. "For heaven's sake, let us quit the +grove. I do not know what is the matter--but I feel myself quite sick." +"Good God! good heavens! Well, I do not wonder you are all in a +tremble--But suppose now it should be nothing but Mr. Prattle--He is +always somewhere or other--And then he plays _God save the king_, and +_Darby and Joan_, like any thing." "Oh," said the lovely, trembling +nymph, "they were the sweetest notes!" "Ah," said her companion, "he is a +fine man. And then he is so modest--He will play at one and thirty, and +ride upon a stick with little Tommy all day long. But sure it could not be +Mr. Prattle--He always wears his hair in a queue you know--but the ghost +had a bag and solitaire." "Well," cried Delia, "let us think no more of +it. But did we hear anything?"--"Law, child, why he played the nicest +glee--and then he made such a speech, for all the world like Mr. Button, +that I like so to see in Hamlet." "True," said Delia,--"but what he said +was more like the soft complainings of my dear Castalio. Did not he +complain of a false mistress?" "Why he did say something of that kind.--If +it be neither a ghost nor Mr. Prattle. I hope in God he is going to appear +upon the Southampton stage. I do so love to see a fine young man come on +for the first time with + + _May this alspishus day be ever sacred!_ +Or, + _I am thy father's spirit._" + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_A Love Scene._ + + +In such conversation the moments passed till they reached the habitation +of Mr. Hartley. Miss Fletcher now took her leave. And after a supper as +dull, and much more tedious to Delia, than the dinner, she retired to her +chamber. + +She retired indeed, but not to rest. Her brain was filled with a croud of +uneasy thoughts. "Alas," said she, "how short has been the illusion!--But +yesterday, I was flushed with all the pride of conquest, and busily framed +a thousand schemes of ideal happiness--Where are they now?--The lovely +youth, the only man I ever saw in whose favour my heart was prepossessed, +and with whom I should have felt no repugnance to have engaged in the +tenderest ties, is nothing to me--He loves another. He too complains of +slighted passion, and ill-fated love. Ah, had he made his happiness depend +on me, what would not I have done to reward him! Carefully I would have +soothed every anguish, and taught his heart to bound with joy. But what am +I saying?--Where am I going?--Am I that Delia that bad defiance to the art +of men,--that saw with indifference the havock that my charms had made! +With every opening morn I smiled. Each hour was sped with joy, and my +heart was light and frolic. And shall I dwindle into a pensive, melancholy +maid, the sacrifice of one that heeds me not, whose sighs no answering +sighs encounter!--let it not be said. I have hitherto asserted the +independence of my sex, I will continue to do so. Too amiable unknown, I +give thee to the winds! Propitious fate, I thank thee that thou hast so +soon discovered how much my partiality was misplaced. I will abjure it +before it be too late. I will tear the little intruder from my heart +before the mischief is become irretrievable." + +The following evening Delia repaired again by a kind of irresistible +impulse to the grove. She asked not the company of her friend. She dared +alone hazard the encounter of that object, at which she had trembled so +much the preceding day. Unknown to herself she still imaged a kind of +uncertainty in her fate which would not permit her to lay aside all +thought of Damon. She determined at all events, to have her doubts +resolved. "When there is no longer," said she to herself, "any room for +mistake, I shall then know what to do." + +As she drew near the alcove, she perceived the same figure stretched along +the bank, and with his eyes immoveably fixed upon a little fountain that +rose in a corner of the scene. He seemed lost in thought. Delia approached +doubtfully, but he heard her not. Advanced near to her object, she +reclined forward in a posture of wonder and attention. At this moment a +sigh burst from the heart of Damon, and he raised himself upon the seat. + +His eyes caught the figure of Delia.------"Ah," said he, starting from his +trance, "what do I see? Art thou, lovely intruder, a mere vision, an +aerial being that shuns the touch?" "I beg ten thousand pardons. I meaned +not, sir, to interrupt you. I will be gone." "No, go not." Answered he. +"Thou art welcome to my troubled thoughts. I could gaze for ever." + +Saying this he rose and advancing towards her, seized her hand. "Be not +afraid," said he, "gentle fair one, my breast is a stranger to violence +and rudeness. I have felt the dart of love. Unhappy myself, I learn to +feel for others. But you are happy." As he said this, a tear unbidden +stole into the eye of Delia, and she wiped it away with the hand which was +disengaged from his. "And dost thou pity me," said he. "And does such +softness dwell within thy breast? If you knew the story of my woes, you +would have reason to pity me. I am in love to destraction, but I dare not +disclose my passion. I am banished from the presence of her I love. Ah, +cruel fate, I am entangled, inextricably entangled." "And how, sir," said +Delia, "can I serve you?" "Alas," said he, in no way. My case is hopeless +and irretrievable. And what am I doing? Why do I talk, when the season +calls for action? Oh, I am lost." + +"Dear Sir," answered Delia, "you terrify me to death." "Oh, no. I would +not for the world give you an uneasy moment. Let me be unhappy--but may +misfortune never disturb your tranquility. I return to seek her whose fate +is surely destined to mix with mine. Pardon, loveliest of thy sex, the +distraction in which I have appeared. I would ask you to forget me--I +would ask you to remember me--I know not what I am, or what to think." + +With these words he took the hand which he still held in one of his, and +raising it to his lips, kissed it with the utmost fervour. Immediately he +caught up his hat, which lay beside him on the ground, and began to +advance along the path that led out of the grove on the side furthest from +the town. But his eyes were still fixed upon Delia. He heeded not the path +by which he went; and scarcely had he gone twenty paces, ere he changed +his mind and returned. Delia was seated on the bank and seemed lost in +reverie. Damon threw himself upon his knees before her. + +"Ah, why," said he, "am I constrained to depart!--Why must I talk in +riddles! Perhaps we may never see each other more. Perhaps the time will +come when I shall be able to clear up the obscurity that at present I am +obliged to preserve. But no, it cannot be. I never was happy but for two +poor hours that I enjoyed your smiles, and, drinking in the poison of your +charms, I forgot myself. The time too soon arrived for bitter +recollection. My mistress calls, the mistress of my fate. I must be +gone--Farewel--for ever." + +Saying this, he heaved a sigh that seemed almost to tear his breast +asunder, and with the utmost apparent violence he tore himself away, and +rushed along the path with incredible velocity. + +Delia was now alone. But instead, as she had flattered herself of having +her doubts resolved, she was more uncertain, more perplexed than ever. +"What" cried she, "can all this mean? How strange, and how inexplicable! +Is it a real person that I have seen, or is it a vision that mocks my +fancy? Am I loved, or am I hated? Oh, foolish question! Oh, fond illusion! +Are we not parted for ever! Is he not gone to seek the mistress of his +soul! Alas, he views me not, but with that general complacency, which +youth, and the small pretensions I have to beauty are calculated to +excite! He had nothing to relate that concerned myself, he merely intended +to make me the confidante of his passion for another. Too surely he is +unhappy. His heart seemed ready to burst with sorrow. Probably in this +situation there is no greater or more immediate relief, than to disclose +the subject of our distress, and to receive into our bosom the sympathetic +tear of a simple and a generous heart. His behaviour today corresponds but +too well with the suspicions that yesterday excited. Oh, Delia! then," +added she, "be firm. Thou shalt see the conqueror no more. Think of him no +more." + +In spite however of all the resolution she could muster, Delia repaired +day after day, sometimes alone, and sometimes in company with her friend, +to that spot which, by the umbrage of melancholy it wore, was become more +interesting than ever. Miss Fletcher, could scarcely at first be persuaded +to direct her course that way, lest she should again see the ghost. But +she need not have terrified herself. No ghost appeared. + +Disappointed and baffled on this side, Delia by the strictest enquiries +endeavoured to find out who the unknown person was, in whose fate she had +become so greatly interested. The result of these enquiries, however +diligent, was not entirely satisfactory. She learned that he had been for +a few days upon a visit to a Mr. Moreland, a gentleman who lived about +three miles from Southampton. + +Mr. Moreland was a person of a very singular character. He had the +reputation in the neighbourhood of being a cynic, a misanthrope, and a +madman. He kept very little company, and was even seldom seen but by +night. He had a garden sufficiently spacious, which was carefully rendered +impervious to every human eye. And to this and his house he entirely +confined himself in the day-time. The persons he saw were not the +gentlemen of the neighbourhood. He had no toleration for characters that +did not interest him. When he first came down to his present residence, he +was visited by Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, squire Savage, lord Martin, and +all the most admired personages in the country. But their visits had never +been returned. Mr. Prattle pronounced him a scoundrel; squire Savage said +he was a nincompoop; and lord Martin was near sending him a challenge. But +the censures of the former, and the threats of the latter, had never +reached his ears. His domestics were numerous, but they were hired from a +distance, and were permitted as little communication as possible with the +powdered lacquies of Southampton. Of consequence, however much the +unaccommodating conduct of Mr. Moreland disposed his neighbours to +calumniate him, scandal was deprived of that daily food which is requisite +for her subsistence, and the name of that gentleman was scarcely ever +heard. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Man of Humour._ + + +We will now return to lord Martin. All his messengers, from what cruel +fate we cannot exactly ascertain, miscarried; and it was not till Damon +had left the country, that he learned that he had been a visitor at the +house of Mr. Moreland. Finding that he had missed his expected vengeance, +he discharged his anger in unavailing curses, and for three days he +breathed nothing but daggers, death, and damnation. Having thus vapoured +away the paroxysm of his fury, he became tolerably composed. + +But adverse fate had decreed a short duration to the tranquility of his +lordship. Scarcely had the field been cleared from the enemy he so greatly +dreaded, ere a new rival came upon the stage, to whose arms, though +without any great foundation, the whole town of Southampton had consigned +the charming Delia. + +The name of this gentleman was Prettyman. He was just returned from his +travels, and was reckoned perfectly accomplished. He was six foot high, +his shoulders were broad, his legs brawny, and his whole person athletic. +The habits however he had formed to himself in foreign countries, will not +perhaps be allowed exactly to correspond with the figure which nature had +bestowed upon him. He generally spent two hours every morning at his +toilette. His face was painted and patched, his whole person strongly +perfumed, and he had continually in his hand a gold snuff-box set with +diamonds. His voice was naturally hoarse and loud, but with infinite +industry he had brought himself to a pronunciation shrill, piping, and +effeminate. His conversion was larded with foreign phrases and foreign +oaths, and every thing he said was accompanied with a significant shrug. + +The same period which had introduced this new pretender to the heart of +Delia, had been distinguished by the arrival of a Sir William Twyford, who +paid his addresses to Miss Fletcher. Sir William was exactly the reverse +of Mr. Prettyman. With a genteel person, and an open and agreable +phisiognomy, his manners were perfectly careless and unstudied. A +predominant feature in his character was good nature. But this was not his +ruling passion. He had an infinite fund of wit and humour, and he never +was so happy as when he was able to place the foibles of affectation in a +whimsical and ridiculous light. + +As it was vanity alone, that had induced Mr. Prettyman to pay his +addresses to the lady, who was universally allowed to surpass in beauty +and every elegant accomplishment in the place in which he was, he would +have been less pleased that his amour should have terminated in a +marriage, than that by his affectation and coquetry he might break the +heart of the simple fair one. Accordingly, it was his business to make the +affair as public as possible. + +Lord Martin, had been sufficiently irritated by the pretensions of Damon. +The new intruder had wrought up his passion to the highest pitch. In the +mean time he had renewed an acquaintance which he had formerly made with +sir William Twyford. Sir William, upon all occasions, cultivated the +intimacy of such, as, by any striking peculiarities, seemed to furnish a +proper subject for his humour. He now contributed every thing in his power +to inflame his lordship against Mr. Prettyman. He offered to become the +bearer of a challenge, and to be his lordship's second in any future +combat. + +Lord Martin broke off the conversation somewhat abruptly, and began to +reflect with himself upon what had passed. He had hitherto contrived, by +some means or other, though he dealt very largely in challenges, never to +have come to actual battle. But he had too much reason to think, that if +he made sir William his messenger, he should not be able with any degree +of honour to contrive an evasion. "It is true," said he, "I am in a most +confounded passion, but a wise general never proceeds to action without +having first deliberated. Zounds, blood and fire! would I could put an end +to the existence of so presumptuous a villain! But then it must be +considered that Mr. Prettyman is six foot high, and I am not five. He is +as athletic as Ajax, but to me nature has been unfavourable. It is true I +understand cart and terce, parry and thrust, but I have heard that +Prettyman studied under Olivier. Many a man has outlived the passage of a +bullet, or the thrust of a sword through him. But my constitution is so +delicate! Curse blast it, death and the devil, I do not know what to do." + +Sir William, as soon as he had left lord Martin, repaired to the lodgings +of Mr. Prettyman. After a short general conversation, he began, "My dear +friend, here has happened the unluckiest thing in nature. You have made +some advances, you know, to the charming Delia." "True," cried Prettyman, +"I have bestowed upon her a few condescending glances. _C'est une +charmante fille_." "Well," added sir William, "and the whole town gives +her to you." "_Parbleu!_ the town is very impertinent. There will go +two words to that bargain." "My lord Martin, you know, has enlisted +himself amongst her admirers." "Pox take the blockhead, I suppose he would +marry her. _Bien_. After I have led her a dance, he shall do what he +pleases with her." "But," said sir William, "my lord intends to call you +to an account." "_Morbleu_," cried Prettyman, "I thought I had +been in a land of liberty." "But let me tell you, my lord is very +absolute. He has fought some half a dozen duels in his time, and every +body is afraid of him." "_J'en suis excede_. 'Pon honour, the girl is +not worth fighting for." "Oh," said the malicious wit, "but if you give +her up for a few threats, your reputation will be ruined for ever." +"_Mon Dieu!_ this reputation is a very expensive thing. _Je +crois_ that every girl is a Helen, never so happy as when people are +murdering one another, and towns are fired for her sake. Is this same +_milord_ absolutely inexorable?" + +"I cannot tell," said sir William, "what may be done. If you were to fly, +he would pursue you to the ends of the earth. But suppose now you were +upon your knees, to retract your pretensions to this silly girl." +"_Pardi_" answered Prettyman, "that is damned hard! are you sure his +lordship is so compleat a master of the science of defence?" "Nay," +replied sir William, "I cannot tell. I believe indeed he never received a +wound, but I think I remember to have heard of one duel he fought, in +which his antagonist came off with his life." "Ah, _diable +l'emporte!_ That will not do neither. These bullets are the aukwardest +things in the world. Do you think you could not prevail with his Lordship +to use only powder?" "Powder," cried sir William, "that is an excellent +jest. My lord always loads with six small slugs." "Six slugs! ah the +bloody minded villain! It is confounded hard that a gentleman cannot pass +through life, without being _degoute_ with these unpolished Vandals. +_Ah, mon cher ami_, I will put the affair entirely into your hands: +do, _pour i'amour de Dieu_, bring me out of this scrape as well as +you can." "Well my dear Prettyman, I will exert myself on your account; +but, upon my soul, I had rather have an affair with half a regiment of +commissioned officers fresh imported from America." + +Sir William Twyford, having thus brought the affair to some degree of +forwardness, now waited on his lordship. "My dear lord Martin," said he, +"what have you resolved upon? The affair is briefly thus--you must either +give up Delia, or fight Mr. Prettyman." "Give up Delia!" exclaimed the +little lord; "by all that is sacred I will sooner spill the last drop of +my blood. But," added he, "what necessity is there for the alternative you +propose? True, I fear no man. But to be continually engaged in quarrels +would acquire me the character of a desperado." "Indeed," said sir +William, "you have been somewhat lavish in those sort of affairs, but I do +not see how you can be off in the present instance. Prettyman has heard of +the bustle you made about the fellow at the ball, that tricked you of your +partner; and he will never pardon the affront, if you pay less attention +to him." "Pox take the blockhead, he is mighty nice, methinks, in his +temper. I have a great mind not to gratify him." "Oh," cried sir William, +"you never had such an opportunity to establish your character for ever. +And the fellow I believe is no better than a coward at bottom." + +It would be endless to relate all the stratagems of sir William to bring +the business to the conclusion he wished. How he terrified the brawny +_petit maitre_, and anon he animated the little peer. His lordship +felt the force of his friend's eloquence, but even his highest flights of +heroism were qualified with temporary misgivings. For poor Mr. Prettyman, +he feared to stay, and dared not fly. If he could have forgotten the +danger he apprehended, his good natured friend by the studied +exaggerations in which he was continually clothing it, would have +perfectly succeed in refreshing his memory. But in reality it was never +absent from his thoughts. His slumbers were short and disturbed. And he +could scarcely close his eyes, ere the enraged lord Martin, with his sword +drawn, and his countenance flaming with inexorable fury, presented himself +to his affrighted imagination. + +At length sir William by his generous interposition affected a compromise. +It was agreed that Mr. Prettyman should fall upon his knees before lord +Martin in the public room in the presence of Delia, and, asking his +pardon, put a small cane into his hand. "My lord," said sir William to the +beau, "is as generous as he is brave. He will not make an improper use of +the advantage you put into his hands. He will raise you from the humble +posture you will have assumed, and, embracing you cordially, all that is +past will be forgotten. As his lordship will take you under his +protection, not an individual will dare to reflect upon you." "Mr. +Prettyman," said sir William to lord Martin, "unites the heart of a +chicken to the most absolute skill in the small sword that ever I saw. I +have been only capable of restraining him by representing your lordship as +the most furious and impracticable of mankind. If he once suspect that I +have misrepresented you, a duel, in which I am afraid your lordship would +be overmatched, must be the inevitable consequence. Might I therefore +presume to advise, your lordship should make use of the advantage I have +gained you without mercy." + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_Containing some Specimens of Heroism._ + + +The evening now approached, in which the scene sir William Twyford had +with so much pains prepared, was to be acted. An imperfect rumour had +spread that something extraordinary was to pass in the public room. Miss +Prim was of opinion that a duel would be fought. "I shall be frightened +out of my wits," said she. "But I must go, for one loves any thing new, +and I believe there is nothing in it that a modest woman may not see." +Miss Gawky thought it would be a boxing match. "Bless us, my dear lord +Martin could stand no chance with that great lubberly macaroni." But Miss +Griskin, with a look of more than common sagacity, assured the ladies that +she had penetrated to the very bottom of the matter. "Mr. Prettyman and +lord Martin have ordered two large rounds of beef to be set upon the table +at supper, and they mean to lay about them for a wager." + +In this manner every one made her own conjecture, which she preferred to +that of all the rest. Curiosity was wrought up to the highest pitch, and +the uncertainty that prevailed upon the subject, rendered the affair still +more interesting. The rooms were early filled with an uncommon number of +spectators. About nine o'clock Mr. Prettyman entered, but instead of +exerting himself with his usual vivacity, he retired to one corner of the +room, and sat in a sheepish and melancholy posture. Not long after, sir +William Twyford and lord Martin came in, arm in arm. + +The peer strutted immediately to the upper end of the room. Delia stood +near him. "My lovely girl," said he, with an air of vulgar familiarity, "I +am rejoiced to see you. I hope I shall one day prove myself worthy of your +favour." + +While this passed Mr. Prettyman was by no means in an enviable condition. +From the operation of fear and vexation he perspired very profusely. +Vanity, as we have said, might almost be termed his ruling passion, and he +would never have sacrificed it so publicly to any consideration less +immediate than that of personal safety. Ardently did he long to have the +terrible scene concluded. But he had neither strength nor spirits to +advance a step, or even to rise from his seat. + +Sir William Twyford now came up to him, and took hold of his hand. "My +dear friend," said he, "be not dispirited. It is no more than a flea-bite, +and it will be over in a moment. You will acquire the friendship of the +first personage in the county, and far from losing any thing in the public +esteem, you will be more respected than ever." "_Morbleu_," cried the +beau, "my shoulders ake for it already. But, _mon tres cher & tres +excellent ami_, do not desert me, and remind the peer of the generosity +you talked of." + +Sir William now raised him from his seat, and led him to the middle of the +room. Lord Martin, with a stately air, advanced a few steps. In spite +however of all the heroism he could assume, as the important affair drew +towards a crisis, he began to tremble. Mr. Prettyman fell upon his knees, +and sir William put a cane into his hand. But in this posture the beau +remained still somewhat taller than his antagonist. "Most worthy lord," +cried he in a tremulous voice, "I am truly sorry for the misunderstanding +that has happened, and I am filled with the most ardent"----While he was +yet speaking he advanced the cane in the attitude of presenting it. +"Villain," said lord Martin, who between fear and rage could no longer +contain himself, and snatched it from his hand. But he could scarcely +reach beyond the shoulder of his enemy, and blinded with emotion and +exertion, instead of directing his blows as he ought to have done, he +struck him two or three very severe strokes on the head and face. The beau +bore it as long as he could. But at length bellowing out, "_Mon Dieu, je +suis meurtrie_, I am beaten to a jelly," he rose from his knees. His +antagonist being between him and the door, he fairly threw him upon his +back, and flying out of the room he stopped not till he arrived at the +inn, where, ordering his phaeton and six, he ascended without a moment's +pause, and drove off for London. + +In the mean time, every thing in the public room was in confusion and +disorder. Sir William flew to support the discomfited hero, who had +received a grievous contusion in his shoulder. Miss Griskin giggled, the +other ladies screamed, and Miss Languish, as usual, fainted away. "Bless +me," cried Miss Fletcher, "it is the queerest affair"--"By my troth," said +Miss Gawky, "it is vastly fine." "But not half so fine," cried Miss +Griskin, "as the buttocks of beef." + +By this time lord Martin had raised himself in a sitting posture and +uttered a deep groan. "Best of friends," said he, pressing the hand of sir +William, "tell me truly, am I victorious, or am I defeated?" "Oh +_victoria_!" cried sir William; "never heed a slight skin wound that +you received in the combat." His lordship stood up. "Damnation, pox +confound it!" said he, a little recovering himself, "what is become of the +rascal? I have not given him half what he deserved. But, ladies," added he +flourishing his cane, "it is my maxim, as I am strong to be merciful." + +Saying this, he advanced towards Delia, and, with a flourish of importance +and conceit, laid the weapon, which he had so roundly employed, at her +feet. "Loveliest of women," said he, "to your shrine I devote myself. Upon +your altar, I lay the insignia of my prowess. Deign, gentlest of thy sex, +to accept thus publicly of those sighs which I have long poured forth upon +thy account." + +Delia, though the native modesty of her character caused her whole face to +be suffused with blushes at having the eyes of the whole company thus +turned upon her, regarded the peer with a look of ineffable disdain, and +turned from him in silence. + +Such were the transactions of an evening, which will doubtless long be +remembered by such as had the good fortune to be spectators. The natural +impertinence and insolence of lord Martin were swelled by the event to ten +times their natural pitch. He crowed like a cock, and cackled like a +goose. The vulgar of the other sex, who are constantly the admirers of +success, however unmerited, and conceit, however unfounded, thought his +lordship the greatest man in the world. The inequality of his legs was +removed by the proof he had exhibited of his prowess. The inequality of +his shoulders was hid under a rent-roll of ten thousand a year. And the +narrowness of his intellects, the optics of these connoisseurs were not +calculated to discern. + +The peer, as we have already hinted, was the suitor most favoured by the +father of our heroine. The principal passion of the old gentleman was the +love of money. But at the same time he was not absolutely incapable of +relishing the inferior charms of a venerable title and a splendid +reputation. Perceiving that his client continually rose in the public +opinion, he was more eager than ever to have the match concluded. Lord +Martin, though his organs were not formed to delight in beauty at the +first hand, was yet tickled with the conceit of carrying off so fair a +prize from the midst of a thousand gaping expectants. + +It will naturally be imagined that the situation of Delia at this moment +was by no means an enviable one. She was caught in the snares of love. And +the more she struggled to get free, she was only the more limed and +entangled. The recollection of the hopelessness of her love by no means +sufficed to destroy it. The recollection of her former carelessness and +gaiety was not able to restore her to present ease. In vain she summoned +pride and maiden dignity to support her. In vain she formed resolutions, +which were broken as soon as made. Every where she was haunted by the +image of her dear unknown. Her nights were sleepless and uneasy. The fire +and brightness of her eyes were tarnished. _She pined in green and +yellow melancholy._ + +The more dear were the ideal image that accompanied her, the more did she +execrate and detest her persecutor. "No," cried she, "I will never be his. +Never shall the sacred tie, which should only unite congenial spirits, be +violated by two souls, distant as the poles, jarring as contending +elements. My father may kill me. Alas, of what value is life to me! It is +a long scene of unvaried misfortune. It is a dreary vista of despair. He +may kill me, but never, never shall he force me to a deed my soul abhors." + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing that with which the reader will be acquainted when he has +read it_. + + +The cup of misfortune, by which it was decreed that the virtue and the +constancy of our heroine should be tried, was not yet ended. The +disposition of a melancholy lover is in the utmost degree variable. Now +the fair Delia studiously sought to plunge herself in impervious solitude; +and now, worn with a train of gloomy reflections, she with equal eagerness +solicited the society of her favourite companion. + +By this time sir William Twyford and Miss Fletcher were become in a manner +inseparable. Of consequence the company of the one necessarily involved +that of the other. And the gaiety and good humour of sir William, tempered +as they were by an excellent understanding, and an unaffected vein of +sportive wit, were the sweetest medicine to the wounded heart of Delia. +When she had first chosen Miss Fletcher for her intimate friend, her own +faculties had not yet reached their maturity; and habit frequently renders +the most insipid amusements pleasurable and interesting. Southampton +itself did not afford the largest scope for selection. And however our +readers may decide respecting the merit of the easy, the voluble and the +good humoured Miss Fletcher, they will scarcely be disposed to deny that +of all the female characters we have hitherto exhibited, she was the most +amiable. + +One evening, as these three friends were sitting together, sir William +took occasion to lament the necessity that was laid upon him to quit +Southampton for a few days, though he hoped very speedily to be able to +return. His inamorata, as usual, was very inquisitive to learn the +business that was to deprive her for a time of the presence of a lover, of +whom she was not a little ostentatious. Sir William answered that he was +under an engagement to be present at the marriage of one of his college +friends, and that he should set out in company with Mr. Moreland. + +At that name our tender and apprehensive fair one involuntarily started. +"Mr. Moreland!" said she to herself, "Ah, it was at his house that my +unknown resided. It is very seldom that Mr. Moreland undertakes a journey. +Surely there must be something particularly interesting to him in the +affair. The strange combination of circumstances terrifies and perplexes +me. Would I were delivered from this state of uncertainty! Would to God I +were dead!" + +The uncertainty which afflicted her was however of a very short duration. +Miss Fletcher, by an inexhaustible train of interrogatories, led sir +William to relate by degrees every thing he knew of the affair. The young +gentleman his friend was the nephew and heir of Mr. Moreland. The present +match had been long upon the carpet, and was a very considerable one in +point of fortune. "Did the nephew ever visit Mr. Moreland?" "Very +frequently," said sir William. "And he is visited" interposed Delia, "by +other young gentlemen from the university?" "No," answered sir William. +"Mr. Moreland, who is an old batchelor, full of oddities and sensibility, +has a general dislike of young collegians. He thinks them pert, dissolute, +arrogant, and pedantic. He therefore never receives any but his nephew, +for whom he has the most ardent affection, and sometimes by particular +grace myself who am his intimate friend." "And how long is it since the +young gentleman paid a visit to his uncle?" Sir William looked a little +surprized at so particular a question, but answered: "He was here not +above a fortnight ago to invite his uncle to the wedding. But he is rather +serious and thoughtful in his temper, so that he is seldom seen in +public." + +It was now but too certain that the friend of sir William, and the amiable +unknown, who had made a conquest of the heart of Delia, were the same +person. The surprise at which she was taken, and the unwelcome manner in +which her doubts were now at once resolved, were too much for the delicate +frame of our heroine. She sat for a moment gazing with an eager and +unmeaning stare upon the face of sir William. But she presently +recollected herself, and, bursting out of the room, flew to her chamber in +the same instant, and was relieved by a flood of tears. + +Sir William was inexpressibly surprised at this incident. Delia, he was +sure, did not even know the name of his friend, and he could scarcely +imagine that she had ever seen him. Miss Fletcher, though considerably +astonished herself, gave sir William an account of so many particulars of +what had passed between his friend and our heroine, as were perfectly +sufficient to solve the difficulty. In return the baronet explained to her +the exact situation of the affair of Damon, told her that he did not +believe the day was yet fixed, and assured her that Mr. Moreland and +himself waited for a farther summons, though it must be confessed that it +was expected every hour. + +These particulars, when communicated to Delia by the indefatigable +assiduity of Miss Fletcher, afforded her but a very slender consolation. +"What avails it me," said she, "that the day is not fixed? Every +considerable circumstance, there is reason to believe, is determined. He +marries, with the approbation of all his friends, a lady, my superior in +rank and fortune, and who is probably every way worthy of him. Ah, why am +I thus selfish and envious? No, let me pine away in obscurity, let me be +forgotten. But may he live long and happy. Did he not tell me, that he +went to seek the _mistress of his fate_?--And yet," interrupted she, +"he accompanied the information with words of such sweet import, with so +much tenderness and gentleness, as will never be erased from my mind. Ah +foolish girl, wilt thou for ever delude thyself, wilt thou be for ever +extracting comfort from despair? No! Long enough hast thou been misguided +by the meteor of hope. Long enough hast thou been cheated by the visions +of youthful fancy. There is now no remedy left. Let me die." + +There were two passions that predominated in the breast of sir William +Twyford. The first was that of a humourist, and to this almost every other +object was occasionally sacrificed. But he had likewise a large fund of +good nature. He perceived, that in two successive instances, however +unintentionally, his conduct had been the source of unhappiness to the +most amiable of her sex. The victory of lord Martin had put it more than +ever in his power to harrass Delia. She was incessantly importuned, now by +her father, and now by her inamorato. And her distress, if it had wanted +any addition, was rendered compleat by the expected marriage of one, whose +personal accomplishments had caught her unwary heart. He lamented the +undeserved misfortune of youth and beauty. His heart bled for her. + +Thus circumstanced, his active benevolence determined him not to lose a +moment, in endeavouring to repair the mischief of which he had so +unfortunately been the author. He had never cordially approved of the +intended union between his friend and Miss Frampton. She was of the first +order of coquettes, and it might have puzzled even an anatomist to +determine, whether she had a heart. Descartes informs us that the soul +usually resides in the pineal gland, but the soul of this lady seemed to +inhabit in her eyes. She had been caught with the figure of Damon. And had +a figure more perfectly beautiful, if that had been possible, or an +equipage more brilliant, presented itself, he did not doubt but that it +would carry away the prize. + +Miss Frampton was heiress to a fortune of fifty thousand pounds. The +father of Damon, whose soul, in union with some amiable qualities, which +served him for a disguise, had the misfortune to be exceedingly mercenary +at the bottom, had proposed the match to his son. Damon, who had never in +his life been guilty of an act of disobedience, received the +recommendation of his father with a prejudice in its favour. He waited +upon the young lady and found her beautiful, high spirited, accomplished, +and incensed by a thousand worshippers. Her disposition was not indeed +congenial to his own. But he was prejudiced by filial duty, dazzled by her +charms, and led on insensibly by the mildness and pliableness of his +character. In a word, every thing had been concluded, and the wedding was +daily expected to take place. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_Two Persons of Fashion_. + + +In pursuance of the determination he had formed, sir William immediately +set out for Oxford, where his friend still resided. As he had lived with +him upon terms of the most unreserved familiarity, he made use of the +liberty of an intimate, and, without being announced, abruptly entered his +chamber. Damon was sitting in a melancholy posture, his countenance +dejected, and his eye languid. Upon the entrance of the baronet he looked +up, and struck with the sudden appearance of one to whom he was so +ardently attached, his visage for a moment assumed an air of gaiety and +pleasure. + +"Ha," cried sir William, with his wonted spriteliness of accent, "methinks +the countenance of my Damon does not bespeak the sentiments that become a +bridegroom." "I am afraid not," answered Damon. "But tell me to what am I +indebted for this agreeable and unexpected visit?" "We will talk of that +another time. But when did you see my play-fellow, Miss Frampton?" "I have +not seen her," replied our hero with a sigh half uttered, and half +suppressed, "these ten days." "What" cried the baronet, "no +misunderstanding, eh?" "Not absolutely that. I saw her, I fear, without +all the rapture that becomes a lover, and she resented it with a coldness +that did not introduce an immediate explanation. Since that time I have +been somewhat indisposed, or probably affairs would now have been +settled." "And what," said sir William, "must we apply the old maxim, that +the falling out of lovers is the consolidating of love?" + +Damon from the entrance of his friend had appeared a good deal agitated. +He was no longer able to contain himself. He eagerly seized the hand of +sir William and clasped it between both of his. "My dear baronet, I have +never concealed from you a thought of my heart. But my present situation +is so peculiarly delicate and distressing, that I can scarcely form any +sentiment of it, or even dare trust myself to recollect it. I have seen," +continued he, "ah, that I could forget it! a woman, beauteous as the day, +before whom the charms of Miss Frampton disappear, as, before the rising +sun, each little star _hides its diminish'd head_. Her features, full +of sensibility, her voice such as to thrill the soul and all she says, +pervaded with wit and good sense." "And where," cried the baronet, in a +lively tone, "resides this peerless she?" + +"Alas," answered the disconsolate Damon, "it matters not. I shall see her +no more. Virtue, honour, every thing forbids it. I may be unhappy, but I +will never deserve to be so. Miss Frampton has my vows. Filial duty calls +on me to fulfil them. Obstacles without number, Alps on Alps arise, to +impede my prosecution of a fond and unlicensed inclination. The struggle +has cost me something, but it is over. I have recovered my health, I have +formed my resolution. This very day, (you, my good friend, will accept the +apology) I had determined to repair to Beaufort Place. Doubt and +uncertainty nourish the lingering distemper that would undo me. I will +come to a decision." + +Sir William was not of a temper to abdicate any affair in which he had +embarked, before success appeared absolutely unattainable. Like Caesar, it +was enough for him that the thing appeared possible to be done, to engage +him to persevere. He therefore begged leave to accompany his friend, and +they set out together that very afternoon. + +Beaufort Place, the habitation of Miss Frampton, was only six miles from +Oxford. And, as he knew that Sir Harry Eustace, the son of that lady's +mother by a second husband, was now upon a visit to his sister, sir +William Twyford made no scruple of proceeding with his friend immediately +to the house. + +After a short general conversation, sir William drew the young baronet +into the garden. In the mean time sir Harry's chariot was preparing, as he +had fixed the conclusion of his visit for that evening. After an interval +of half an hour the servant brought word that the carriage was ready. Sir +Harry, who was a young man of little ceremony, bowed _en passant_ +before the parlour window, and immediately hurried away. + +Sir William stood for some time at the door of the house after sir Harry +had driven away. Presently he observed another carriage advancing by the +opposite road. The liveries were flaunting and the attendants numerous. +They drew nearer, and he perceived that it was the equipage of lord +Osborne. Since therefore the lovers were to be so soon interrupted by the +entrance of a new visitant, he thought proper immediately to enter the +parlour. + +He had only time to remark the air and countenance of Damon and the young +lady. They appeared mutually cold and embarassed. He could trace in his +friend the aukwardness and timidity of one who was unused to act a studied +part. Miss Frampton, with a countenance uninterested and inattentive, +affected the carriage of a person who thought herself insulted. + +Lord Osborne was now announced. He was a young nobleman, that had spent a +considerable part of his fortune upon the continent. With a narrow +understanding and a contracted heart, he had been able by habitual cunning +and invincible effrontery, to acquire the reputation of a man of parts. +Courage was the only respectable quality, his possession of which could +not be questioned. He was a debauchee and a gamester. There was no +meanness he had not practised, there was no villainy of which he could not +boast. With this character, he was universally respected and courted by +all such as wished to acquire the reputation of men of gaiety and spirit. +The ladies were all dying for him, as for a man who had ruined more +innocence, and occasioned a greater consumption of misery, than any other +man in the kingdom. + +The face of Miss Frampton visibly brightened the moment his name was +articulated. She was all spirits and agitation, though she seemed to feel +something aukward in her situation. When he entered the room, she flew +half way to meet him, but, suddenly recollecting herself, stopt short. "My +dear Miss Frampton," said his lordship, with a familiar and indifferent +air, "I cannot stop a moment. I am mortified to death. The most +unfortunate man! But I could not live a whole day without seeing you. +Believe me to be more impassioned, more ardent than ever." Saying this be +directed a slight glance and a half bow towards our two friends. "Farewel, +my charmer, my adorable!" said he, and kissed her hand. Miss Frampton +struck him a slight blow with her fan, and crying, with an easy wink, +"Remember!" she dropt him a profound curtesey and his lordship departed. + +For a moment the whole company was silent. "By my soul," exclaimed sir +William, "this is the most singular affair!" "Oh, nothing at all," +answered the young lady. "It is all _a la mode de Paris_. In France +no man of fashion can presume to accost a lady, whether young or old, but +in the language of love. But it means no more, than when a minister of +state says to his first clerk, _your humble servant_, or to the widow +of a poor seaman, _your devoted slave_." "Oh," cried sir William, "that +is all. And by my faith, it is mighty pretty. What think you Damon? I +hope, when you are married, you will have no objection to lord Osborne, or +any other person of fashion making love to your wife before your face." +"What an indelicate question!" said Miss Frampton. "I declare, baronet, +you are grown an absolute boor. Nobody ever talks of marriage now. A woman +of fashion blushes to hear it mentioned before a third person." "Why, to +say the truth, madam, I have been honoured with so great an intimacy by +Damon, that I thought that might excuse the impropriety. And now, pray +your ladyship, must I wait till we are alone, before I ask my friend +whether his happy day be fixed?" "Since you will talk," said Miss +Frampton, "of the odious subject, I believe I may tell you that it is not. +We are in no such hurry." "My dear sweet play-fellow," said the baronet, +"I must tell you once for all that I am no adept in French fashions. So +that you will give me leave to use the unceremonious language of an +Englishman. My friend here, you know, is a little sheepish, but I have +words at will. I thought matters had been nearer a termination." "And +pray, my good sir, let the gentleman speak for himself. If he is not +dissatisfied, why should you be in such haste?" "Indeed, madam," +interposed Damon, "I am not perfectly satisfied. Perhaps indeed a lover +ought to think himself happy enough in being permitted to dance attendance +upon a lady of your charms. But I once thought, madam, that we had +advanced somewhat farther." "I cannot tell," answered the lady with an air +of levity. "Just as you please. But I cannot see why we should put +ourselves to any inconvenience. Lord Osborne"--"Lord Osborne!" interrupted +sir William with some warmth, "and pray what has his lordship to do with +the matter?" "Really sir William," replied Miss Frampton, "you are very +free. But his lordship is my friend, and I hope Damon has no objection to +his continuing so." "Look you," answered sir William, "I would neither +have lord Osborne for the rival of Damon now, nor for your +_chichisbee_ hereafter." "And yet I am not sure," cried she, "that he +may not be both." "Is there then," said the baronet, "no engagement +subsisting between you and Damon?" "I believe," cried Miss Frampton, a +little hesitating, "there may be something of the kind. But we may change +our minds you know, and I do not think that I shall prosecute upon it. Ha! +ha! ha!" "To say the truth," replied sir William, "I believe lord Osborne +is not only the rival of Damon, but a very formidable one too. But let me +tell you, Bella, a character so respectable as that of my friend, and so +true an Englishman, must not be allowed to dance attendance." "As he +pleases. I believe we understand one another. And to say the truth at +once, perhaps some time hence I may have no aversion to lord Osborne." + +The reader will not suppose that the conversation continued much longer. +Damon and the young lady came to a perfect understanding, and parted +without any very ungovernable desire of seeing each other again. And thus +by the gay humour and active friendship of sir William Twyford, an affair +was happily terminated, which, from the timidity and gentleness of our +hero, might otherwise have lingered several months to the mutual +dissatisfaction of both parties. Damon quitted the house in raptures, and +was no sooner seated in the chariot, than he pressed his friend repeatedly +to his breast, and committed a thousand extravagancies of joy. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_A tragical Resolution._ + + +Damon and his friend spent the evening together in the chambers of our +hero. They now discussed a variety of those subjects, which naturally +arise between friends who have been for any time separated. Damon threw +aside that reserve which the consciousness of a fault had hitherto +involuntarily imposed upon him, and related more explicitly who the lady +was of whom he was so much enamoured, and in what manner he had first seen +her. Recollecting that the baronet was just returned from the environs of +Southampton, he eagerly enquired into the health and situation of his +mistress. + +Sir William related to him the adventure of Mr. Prettyman, as we have +already stated it to our readers, and deeply lamented the persecution to +which Delia was subjected from the haughty victor. "And is there," cried +Damon eagerly, "no prospect of his lordship's success?" "I believe," +answered sir William, "that he is of all men her mortal aversion." "And is +there no happy lover in all her train, that she regards with a partial +eye?" "None," replied the baronet, "she is chaste as snow, and firm as +mountain oaks." "Propitious coldness!" exclaimed Damon, "for that may +heaven send down a thousand blessings on her head!" + +"But you talked," added he, "of some occasion of your journey which you +deferred relating to me." "The occasion," answered sir William, determined +to preserve inviolate the secret of Delia, "is already fulfilled. I heard +from young Eustace of the appearance and addresses of Osborne, and +suspecting the rest, I determined to deliver you from the clutches of a +girl whom I always thought unworthy of you. And now" added he cheerfully, +"free as the winds, we can pursue uncontrolled the devices of our own +hearts." + +The next morning the two friends proceeded to the house of lord Thomas +Villiers, the father of Damon. He had already learned something of the +visits of lord Osborne at Beaufort Place. He was not therefore much +surprised to hear of the scene, which had passed between his son and the +lady of that mansion. But there was something more to be done, in order to +gain the approbation of the father to the new project, in the prosecution +of which both these friends were equally sanguine. + +Lord Thomas Villiers was, as we have already said, avaricious. He was not +therefore much pleased with the proposal of a match with a lady, whose +fortune was not the half of that of Miss Frampton. He was tinctured with +the pride of family, and he could not patiently think for a moment, of +marrying his only son to the daughter of a tradesman. Sir William employed +all his eloquence, and accommodated himself with infinite dexterity to the +humours of the person with whom he had to deal. Damon indeed said but +little, but his looks expressed more, than the baronet, with all his +abilities, and all his friendship, was able to suggest. In spite of both, +the father continued inexorable. + +The mind of Damon was impressed with the most exalted ideas upon the +subject of filial duty. Had his heart been pre-engaged, before the affair +of Miss Frampton was proposed to him, he might not perhaps have carried +his complaisance so far, as to have married the indifferent person, in +spite of all his views and all his prepossessions. But in his estimate, +the actual entering into a connection for life in opposition to the will +of a parent, was a mode of conduct very different from, and far more +exceptionable than the refusing to unite oneself with a person in whose +society one had not the smallest reason to look for happiness. + +There was another inducement that had much weight with Damon, and even +with his more sanguine friend, sir William Twyford. The fortune neither of +Damon nor Delia was independent. Lord Thomas Villiers was filled with too +many prepossessions and too much pride, easily to retract an opinion he +had once adopted, or to forgive an opposition to his judgment. The narrow +education of a tradesman it was natural to suppose had rendered the mind +of Mr. Hartley still more tenacious, and unmanageable. And neither would +sir William have been willing to see his friend, nor would the lover +readily have involved his mistress in circumstances of pecuniary distress. + +The resolution of Damon was therefore speedily taken. Every motive that +could have weight, served to counteract the bias of his inclination. He by +no means wanted either firmness or spirit. He resolved to struggle, nor to +cease his efforts till he had conquered. With this design he entreated, +and, after some difficulties, obtained of his father leave to enter +himself in the army, and to make a campaign in America. + +The character of his heart seemed particularly formed for military +pursuits. He was grave and thoughtful, he was generous and humane. To a +mind contemplative and full of sensibility, he united a temper, frank, +open, and undisguised. He was usually mild, gentle and pliant. But in a +situation, that called for determination and spirit, it was impossible to +appear more bold and manly, more cool and decided,--Affectionate was the +farewel of his father, and still more affectionate that of his friend. +Damon, though he endeavoured to summon all his resolution, could not +restrain a sigh when he considered himself as about to sail for distant +climates, and recollected, that probably, before his return, his beloved +mistress, _dearer than life and all its joys_, would be united, +irrevocably united to another. But here we must take leave of our hero, +and return to his fair inamorata. + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + + + +PART the SECOND. + + + + + +DAMON + +AND + +DELIA. + +PART the SECOND. + + +CHAPTER I. + +_In which the Story begins over again_. + + +Sir William Twyford had taken care to inform Miss Fletcher, and by her +means Delia herself, of every circumstance as it occurred. Delia was +indeed flattered by the breach that had taken place with Miss Frampton, +and the perfect elucidation, which the story of this lady afforded to the +most enigmatical expressions of Damon, in the interesting scene that had +passed between them in the alcove. She no longer doubted of the reality of +his attachment. Her heart was soothed, and her pride secretly flattered, +in recollecting that she had not suffered herself to be caught by one who +was perfectly indifferent to her. + +But the information that stifled all her hopes, and gave her the prospect +of so long, and, too probably, an eternal absence, sat heavy upon her +spirits, and preyed upon her delicate constitution. From the persecutions +of lord Martin she had no respite. Her eye grew languid, the colour faded +in her damask cheek, and her health visibly decayed. + +At this time Miss Fletcher proposed a journey to Windsor and other places, +and intreated to have her friend to accompany her. Mr. Hartley, with all +his foibles, was much attached to his only child, and deeply afflicted +with the alteration he perceived in her. He readily therefore gave his +consent to the proposed jaunt. "When she returns, it will be time enough," +said he to lord Martin, "to bring things to the conclusion, so much +desired by both of us. I will not put my darling into your hands, but with +that health and gaiety, which have so long been the solace of my old age, +and which cannot fail to make any man happy that deserves her." + +Delia set out without any other inclination, than to escape from +intreaties that were become in the highest degree disagreeable to her. She +was addressed no longer upon a topic, of which she wished never to hear. +Her eye was no longer wounded with the sight of her insolent admirer. This +had an immediate and a favourable effect upon her. The conversation of +Miss Fletcher was lively and unflagging, and the simplicity of her remarks +proved an inexhaustible source of entertainment to our heroine. + +They travelled leisurely and visited a variety of parks and seats of +noblemen which lay in their way. The taste of Delia was delicate and +refined. A continual succession of objects; gardens, architecture, +pictures and statues soothed her spirits, and gradually restored her to +that gaiety and easiness of temper, which had long rendered her the most +lovely and engaging of her sex. + +At length they arrived at Windsor. The simple dignity of the castle, its +commanding situation, and the beautiful effects of the river from below, +rendered it infinitely the most charming spot our heroine had yet seen. +Her spirits were on the wing, she was all life and conversation, and the +most constant heart, that nature had ever produced, for a moment, forgot +her hopes, her fears, her inclinations, and her Damon. + +She was now standing at a window that commanded the terrace. The evening +was beautiful, and the walk crouded. There were assembled persons of all +sexes and of different ranks. All appeared gaiety and splendour. The +supple courtier and the haughty country gentleman seemed equally at their +ease. There was thoughtless youth and narrative old age. The company +passed along, and object succeeded object without intermission. + +One of the last that caught the eye of Delia, was that of two gentlemen +walking arm in arm, and seeming more grave than the rest of the company. +They were both tall and well shaped; but one of them had somewhat more +graceful and unembarrassed in his manner than the other. The latter was +dressed in black, the former in colours, with much propriety and elegance. + +As they turned at the end of the walk the eye of Delia caught in the +latter the figure of Damon. She was inexpressibly astonished, she trembled +in every limb, and could scarcely support herself to a seat. Miss Fletcher +had caught the same object at the same moment, and, though she probably +might not otherwise have been clear in her recollection, the disorder of +Delia put her conjecture out of doubt. She therefore, before our heroine +had time to recollect herself, dispatched her brother, who had attended +them in their journey, to inform Damon that a lady in the castle was +desirous to speak with him. + +In an instant our hero and his companion, escorted by young Fletcher, +entered the room. The astonishment of Damon, at being so suddenly +introduced to a person, whom he had never expected to see again, was +immeasurable. He rushed forward with a kind of rapture; he suddenly +recollected himself; but at length advanced with hesitation. There was no +one present beside those we have already named. The castle was probably +familiar to every person except Delia and her companions. Every one beside +was therefore assembled upon the terrace. + +Our heroine now gradually recovered from the disorder into which the +unexpected sight of Damon had thrown her. She was much surprised at +looking up to find him in her presence. "How is this," cried she, "how +came you hither?" "The meeting," said our hero, "is equally unexpected to +us both. But, ah, my charmer, whence this disorder? Why did you tremble, +why look so pale?" "Oh goodness," cried Miss Fletcher, "what should it be? +Why it was nothing in all the world, but her seeing you just now from the +window." "And were you," cried Damon eagerly, "so kind as to summon me to +your presence?" "No, no, my good sir," said the lively lady, "you must +thank me for that". "How then at least," said the lover, "must I interpret +your disorder?" + +Delia was inexpressibly confused at the inconsiderate language of her +companion. "I cannot tell," said she, "you must not ask me. You must +forget it." "And can I," cried Damon with transport, "ever forget a +disorder so propitious, so flattering? Can I hope that the heart of my +charmer is not indifferent to her Damon!" "Oh sir, be silent. Do not use a +language like this." "Alas," cried he, "too long has my passion been +suppressed. Too long have I been obliged to act a studied part, and employ +a language foreign to my heart." "I thought," answered Delia, with +hesitation, "that you were going to leave the kingdom." "And did my fair +one condescend to employ a thought upon me? Did she interest herself in my +concern and enquire after my welfare? And how so soon could she have +learned my intention?" + +This question, joined with the preceding circumstances, completed the +confusion of Delia. She blushed, stammered, and was silent. Damon, during +this interval, gazed upon her with unmingled rapture. Every symptom she +betrayed of confusion, was to him a symptom of something inexpressibly +soothing. "Ah," whispered he to himself, "I am beloved, and can I then +leave the kingdom? Can I quit this inestimable treasure? Can I slight so +pure a friendship, and throw away the jewel upon which all my future +happiness depends?" + +The conversation, from the peculiar circumstances of the lovers, had so +immediately become interesting, that the gentlemen had not had an +opportunity of quitting them. During the short silence that prevailed the +friend of Damon took young Fletcher by the hand, and led him into the +garden. The lovers were now under less restraint. Delia, perceiving that +she could no longer conceal her sentiments, confessed them with ingenuous +modesty. Damon on the other hand was ravished at so unexpected a +discovery, and in a few minutes had lived an age in love. + +He now began to recollect himself. "Where," said he, "are all my +resolutions? What are become of all the plans I had formed, and the +designs in which I had embarked? What an unexpected revolution? No," said +he, addressing himself to Delia, "I will never quit you. Do thou but +smile, and let all the world beside abandon me. Can you forgive the +sacrilegious intention of deserting you, of flying from you to the +extremities of the globe? Oh, had I known a thought of Damon had harboured +in one corner of your heart, I would sooner have died." "And do you +think," cried Delia, "that I will tempt you to disobedience? No. Obey the +precepts of your father and your own better thoughts. Heaven designed us +not for each other. Neither your friends nor mine can ever be reconciled +to the union. Go then and forget me. Go and be happy. May your sails be +swelled with propitious gales! May victory and renown attend your steps!" +"Ah cruel Delia, and do you wish to banish me? Do you enjoin upon me the +impracticable talk, to forget all that my heart holds dear? And will my +Delia resign herself to the arms of a more favoured lover?" "Never," cried +she with warmth. "I will not disobey my father. I will not marry contrary +to his inclinations. But even the authority of a parent shall not drag me +to the altar with a man my soul detests." "Propitious sounds! Generous +engagements! Thus let me thank thee."--And he kissed her hand with +fervour. "Thus far," cried Delia, "I can advance. I employ no disguise. I +confess to you all my weakness. Perhaps I ought to blush. But never will I +have this reason to blush, for that my love has injured the object it +aspires to bless. Go in the path of fortune. Deserve success and happiness +by the exemplariness of your duty. And may heaven shower down blessings +without number!" + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +_The History of Mr. Godfrey_. + + +In expostulations like these our lovers spent their time without coming to +any conclusion, till the evening and Miss Fletcher warned them that it was +time to depart. Damon was to proceed for London early the next morning. He +therefore intreated of Delia to permit his friend Mr. Godfrey, who was +obliged to continue in the place some days longer, to wait upon her with +his last commands. He informed himself of the time when she was to return +to Southampton, and he trusted to be there not long after her. In the mean +time, as his situation was at present very precarious, he prevailed upon +her to permit him to write to her from time to time, and to promise to +communicate to him in return any thing of consequence that might happen to +herself. + +During the remainder of the evening Miss Fletcher made several ingenious +observations upon what had passed. Delia gently blamed her for having so +strangely occasioned the interview, though in reality she was by no means +displeased by the event it had produced. "Bless us, child, you are as +captious as any thing. Why I would not but have seen it for ever so much. +Well, he is a sweet dear man, and so kind, and so polite, for all the +world I think him just such another as Mr. Prattle. But then he is grave, +and makes such fine speeches, it does one's heart good to hear him. I vow +I wish I had such a lover. Sir William never says any thing half so +pretty. Bless us, my dear, _he_ talks about love, just as if he were +talking about any thing else." + +The next morning after breakfast, Mr. Godfrey appeared. He brought from +Damon a thousand vows full of passion and constancy. He had parted, he +said, more determined not to leave England, more resolute to prosecute his +love than ever. + +Having discharged his commission, he offered his service to escort the +ladies in any party they might propose for the present day. He said, that +being perfectly acquainted with Windsor and its environs, he flattered +himself he might be able to contribute to their entertainment. The very +gallant manner in which this offer was made, determined Miss Fletcher, as +something singular and interesting in the appearance of Mr. Godfrey did +our heroine, cheerfully to close with the proposal. + +The person of Mr. Godfrey as we have already said was tall and genteel. +There was a diffidence in his manner, that seemed to prove that he had not +possessed the most extensive acquaintance with high life; but he had a +natural politeness that amply compensated for the polish and forms of +society. His air was serious and somewhat melancholy; but there was a fire +and animation in his eye that was in the highest degree striking. + +Delia engaged him to talk of the character and qualities of Damon. Upon +this subject, Mr. Godfrey spoke with the warmth of an honest friendship. +He represented Damon as of a disposition perfectly singular and +unaccommodated to what he stiled "the debauched and unfeeling manners of +the age." He acknowledged with readiness and gratitude, that he owed to +him the most important obligations. By degrees Delia collected from him +several circumstances of a story, which she before apprehended to be +interesting. She observed, that, as he shook off the embarrassment of a +first introduction, his language became fluent, elegant, pointed, and even +sometimes poetical. Since however he related his own story imperfectly and +by piece meal, we shall beg leave to state it in our own manner. And we +the rather do it, as we apprehend it to be interesting in itself, and as +we foresee that he will make a second appearance in the course of this +narrative. We will not however deprive our readers of the reflections he +threw out upon the several situations in which he had been placed. We will +give them without pretending to decide how far they may be considered as +just and well-founded. + +Mr. Godfrey was not born to affluent circumstances. At a proper age he had +been placed at the university of Oxford, and here it was that he commenced +his acquaintance with Damon. At Oxford his abilities had been universally +admired. His public exercises, though public exercises by their very +nature ought to be dull, had in them many of those sallies, by which his +disposition was characterised, and much of that superiority, which he +indisputably possessed above his contemporaries. But though admired, he +was not courted. In our public places of education, a wide distance is +studiously preserved between young men of fortune, and young men that have +none. But Mr. Godfrey had a stiffness and unpliableness of temper, that +did not easily bend to the submission that was expected of him. He could +neither flatter a blockhead, nor pimp for a peer. He loved his friend +indeed with unbounded warmth, and it was impossible to surpass him in +generousness and liberality. But he had a proud integrity, that whispered +him, with, a language not to be controled, that he was the inferior of no +man. + +He was destined for the profession of a divine, and, having finished his +studies, retired upon a curacy of forty pounds a year. His ambition was +grievously mortified at the obscurity in which he was plunged; and his +great talents, in spite of real modesty, forcibly convinced him, that this +was not the station for which nature had formed him. But he had an +enthusiasm of virtue, that led him for a time to overlook these +disadvantages. "I am going," said he, "to dwell among scenes of unvitiated +nature. I will form the peasant to generosity and sentiment. I will teach +laborious industry to look without envy and without asperity upon those +above them. I will be the friend and the father of the meanest of my +flock. I will give sweetness and beauty to the most rugged scenes. The +man, that banishes envy and introduces contentment; the man, that converts +the little circle in which he dwells into a terrestrial paradise, that +renders men innocent here, and happy for ever, may be obscure, may be +despised by the superciliousness of luxury; but it shall never be said +that he has been a blank in creation. The Supreme Being will regard him +with a complacency, which he will deny to kings, that oppress, and +conquerors, that destroy the work of his hands." + +Such were the suggestions of youthful imagination. But Mr. Godfrey +presently found the truth of that maxim, as paradoxical as it is +indisputable, that the heart of man is naturally hard and unamiable. He +conducted himself in his new situation with the most unexceptionable +propriety, and the most generous benevolence. But there were men in his +audience, men who loved better to criticise, than to be amended; and +women, who felt more complacency in scandal, than eulogium. He displeased +the one by disappointing them; it was impossible to disappoint the other. +He laboured unremittedly, but his labours returned to him void. "And is it +for this," said he, "that I have sacrificed ambition, and buried talents? +Is humility to be rewarded only with mortification? Is obscurity and +retirement the favourite scene of uneasiness, ingratitude, and +impertinence? They shall be no longer my torment. In no scene can I meet +with a more scanty success." + +He now obtained a recommendation to be private tutor to the children of a +nobleman. This nobleman was celebrated for the politeness of his manners +and the elegance of his taste. It was his boast and his ambition to be +considered as the patron of men of letters. With his prospect therefore in +this connection, Mr. Godfrey was perfectly satisfied. "I shall no longer," +said he, "be the slave of ignorance, and the victim of insensibility. My +talents perhaps point me a step higher than to the business of forming the +minds of youth. But, at least, the youth under my care are destined to +fill the most conspicuous stations in future life. If propitious fortune +might have raised me to the character of a statesman; depressed by +adversity, I may yet have the honour of moulding the mind, and infusing +generosity into the heart, of a future statesman. I have heard the second +son of my patron celebrated for the early promises of capacity. To unfold +the springing germs of genius, to direct them in the path of general +happiness, is an employment by no means unworthy of a philosopher." + +In this situation Mr. Godfrey however once more looked for pleasure, and +found disappointment. The nobleman had more the affectation of a patron, +than any real enthusiasm in the cause of literature. The abilities of Mr. +Godfrey were universally acknowledged. And so long as the novelty +remained, he was caressed, honoured, and distinguished. In a short time +however, he was completely forgotten by the patron, in the hurry of +dissipation, and the pursuits of an unbounded ambition. His eldest care +was universally confessed stupid and impracticable. And in the younger he +found nothing but the prating forwardness of a boy who had been flattered, +without sentiment, and without meaning. Her ladyship treated Mr. Godfrey +with superciliousness, as an intruder at her lord's table. The servants +caught the example, and showed him a distinction of neglect, which the +exquisiteness of his sensibility would not permit him to despise. + +Mortified, irritated, depressed, he now quitted his task half finished and +threw himself upon the world. "The present age," said he, "is not an age +in which talents are overlooked, and genius depressed." He had heard much +of the affluence of writers, a Churchil, a Smollet, and a Goldsmith, who +had depended upon that only for their support. He saw the celebrated Dr. +Johnson caressed by all parties, and acknowledged to be second to no man, +whatever were his rank, however conspicuous his station. Full of these +ideas, he soon completed a production, fraught with the fire and +originality of genius, pointed in its remarks, and elegant in its style. +He had now to experience vexations, of which he had before entertained no +idea. He carried his work from bookseller to bookseller, and was every +where refused. His performance was not seasoned to the times, he was a +person that nobody knew, and he had no man of rank, by his importunities +and eloquence, to force him into the ranks of fashion. At length he found +a bookseller foolish enough to undertake it. But he presently perceived +that the gentlemen at the head of that profession were wiser than he. All +the motives they had mentioned, and one more, operated against him. The +monarchs of the critic realm scouted him with one voice, because his work, +was not written in the same cold, phlegmatic insupportable manner as their +own. + +He had now advanced however too far to retreat. He had too much spirit to +resume either of those professions, which for reasons so cogent in his +opinion, he had already quitted. He wrote essays, squibs, and pamphlets +for an extemporary support. But though these were finished with infinite +rapidity, he found that they constituted a very precarious means of +subsistence. The time of dinner often came, before the production that was +to purchase it was completed; and when completed, it was frequently +several days before it could find a purchaser. And his copy money and his +taylor's bill were too little proportioned to one another. + +He now recollected, what in the gaiety of hope he had forgotten, that +_many a flower_ only blows, with its sweetness to refresh the _air +of a desert_. He recollected many instances of works, raised by the +breath of fashion to the very pinnacle of reputation, that sunk as soon +again. He recollected instances scarcely fewer, of works, exquisite in +their composition, pregnant with beauties almost divine, that had passed +from the press without notice. Many had been revived by the cooler and +more deliberate judgment of a future age; and more had been lost for ever. +The instance of Chatterton, as a proof that the universal patronage of +genius was by no means the virtue of his contemporaries, flashed in his +face. And he looked forward to the same fate at no great distance, as his +own. + +To Mr. Godfrey however, fortune was in one degree more propitious. Damon +was among the few whose judgment was not guided by the dictate of fashion. +Having met accidentally with the performance we have mentioned, he was +struck with its beauties. As he had heard nothing of it in the politest +circles, he concluded, with his usual penetration, that the author of it +was in obscure and narrow circumstances. _Open as day to sweet +humanity_, interested warmly in the fortune of the writer of so amiable +a performance, he flew to his bookseller's with the usual enquiries. The +bookseller stared, and had it not been for the splendour of his dress, and +his gilded chariot, would have been tempted to smile at so unfashionable +and absurd a question. He soon however obtained the information he +desired. And his eagerness was increased, when the name of Godfrey, and +the recollection of the talents by which he had been so eminently +distinguished, led him to apprehend that he was one, to whose abilities +and character he had been greatly attached. + +He found some difficulty to obtain admission. But this was quickly +removed, as, from the dignity of his appearance, it was not probable that +he was a person, from whom Mr. Godfrey had any thing to apprehend. He +found him in a wretched apartment, his hair dishevelled and his dress +threadbare and neglected. Mr. Godfrey was unspeakably surprised at his +appearance. And it was with much difficulty that Damon prevailed upon him +to accept of an assistance, that he assured him should be but temporary, +if it were in the power of him, or any of his connections, to render him +respectable and independent, in such a situation as himself should chuse. + +Disappointment and misfortune are calculated to inspire asperity into the +gentlest heart. Mr. Godfrey inveighed with warmth, and sometimes with +partiality, against the coldness and narrowness of the age. He said, "that +men of genius, in conspicuous stations, had no feeling for those whom +nature had made their brothers; and that those who had risen from +obscurity themselves, forgot the mortifications of their earlier life, and +did not imitate the generous justice which had enabled them to fulfil the +destination of nature." But though misfortune had taught him asperity upon +certain subjects, it had not corrupted his manners, debauched his +integrity, or narrowed his heart. He had still the same warmth in the +cause of virtue, as in days of the most unexperienced simplicity. He still +dreaded an oath, and reverenced the divinity of innocence. He still +believed in a God, and was sincerely attached to his honour, though he had +often been told, that this was a prejudice, unworthy of his comprehension +of thinking upon all other subjects. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +_A Misanthrope._ + + +Such was the story, in its most essential circumstances, that Mr. Godfrey +related. Delia was exceedingly interested in the gaiety of his +imagination, the cruelty of his disappointments, and the acuteness, and +goodness of heart that appeared in his reflections. Miss Fletcher listened +to the whole with gaping wonder. But as soon as he was gone, she began +with her usual observations. "Well," said she, "I never saw an author +before. I could not have thought that he could have looked like a +gentleman. Why, I vow, I could sometimes have taken him for a beau. Ay, +but then he talked for all the world as if it had been written in a book. +Well, by my troth, it was a mighty pretty story. But I should have liked +it better, if there had been a sighing nymph, or a duel or two in it. But +do you think it was all of his own making?" + +We will not trouble the reader to accompany our ladies from stage to stage +during the remainder of their journey. Nothing more remarkable happened, +and in ten days they arrived again at Southampton. + +Damon met Mr. Moreland in London, and, with that simplicity and candour by +which he was distinguished, related to him every circumstance of his +story. Mr. Moreland had no predilection in favour of lord Thomas Villiers. +His sister, whom he esteemed in all respects an amiable woman, had by no +means lived happily with her husband. Avarice and pride of rank were the +farthest in the world from being the foibles of Mr. Moreland, and the +sensibility of his disposition did not permit him to treat the faults, to +which himself was a stranger, with much indulgence. He therefore +encouraged Damon to persevere in the pursuit of his inclination, and +invited him to return with him into the country. He promised himself to +propose the match to Mr. Hartley, and assured his nephew, that he should +never feel any narrowness in his circumstances, in case of his father's +displeasure, while it was in his power to render them affluent. + +In pursuit of this plan, Damon, Mr. Moreland, and sir William Twyford, +whom they found in London, and whose goodness of humour led him heartily +to approve of the alteration in the plan of his friend, arrived, almost as +soon as our travellers, in the neighbourhood of Southampton. Sir William +and Damon, soon waited upon their respective mistresses, and in company so +mutually acceptable, time sped with a greater velocity than was usual to +him, and days appeared no more than hours. + +It was impossible that such a connexion should pass long unnoticed. It +must be confessed however that it met with no interruption from lord +Martin. Perhaps it might have escaped his notice, though it escaped that +of no other person. Perhaps he was satiated with the glory he had +acquired, and having conquered one beau, would not, like Alexander, have +sighed, if there had remained no other beau to conquer. Perhaps the +countenance of Mr. Hartley, of which he considered himself as securer than +ever, led him, like a wise general, to reflect, that in staking his life +against that of a lover, whose chance of success was almost wholly +precluded, he mould make a very unfair and unequal combat. + +Be this as it will, Mr. Hartley had no such motives to overlook this new +occurrence. Just however as he had begun to take it into his mature +consideration, he received the compliments of Mr. Moreland, with an +intimation of his design to make him a visit that very afternoon. + +At this message Mr. Hartley was a good deal surprised. Mr. Moreland he had +never but once seen, and in that visit, he thought he had had reason to be +offended with him. If that gentleman treated the company of Mr. Prattle +and lord Martin, persons universally admired, as not good enough for him, +it seemed unaccountable that he should have recourse to him. He was +neither distinguished by the elegance of his accomplishments, nor did he +much pride himself in the attainments of literature. After many +conjectures, he at length determined with infinite sagacity, to suspend +his judgement, till Mr. Moreland mould solve the enigma. + +This determination was scarcely made before his visitor arrived. That +gentleman, who, though full of sensibility and benevolence, was not a man +of empty ceremony, immediately opened his business. Mr. Hartley, drew +himself up in his chair, and, with the dignity of a citizen of London, who +thinks that the first character in the world, cried, "Well, sir, and who +is this nephew of yours? I think I never heard of him." "He is the son," +answered Mr. Moreland, "of lord Thomas Villiers." "Lord Thomas Villiers! +Then I suppose he is a great man. And pray now, sir, if this great man has +a mind that his son should marry my daughter, why does he not come and +tell me so himself?" "Why in truth," said the other, "lord Thomas Villiers +has no mind. But my nephew is his only son, and therefore cannot be +deprived of the principal part of his estate after his death. In the mean +time, I will take care that he shall have an income perfectly equal to the +fortune of Miss Hartley." "You will sir! And so in the first place, this +young spark would have me encourage him in disobedience, which is the +greatest crime upon God's earth, and in the second, he thinks that I, Bob +Hartley, as I sit here, will marry my daughter into any family that is too +proud to own us." "As to that, sir," said Moreland, "you must judge for +yourself. The young gentleman is an unexceptionable match, and I, sir, +whose fortune and character I flatter myself are not inferior to that of +any gentleman in the county, shall always be proud to own and receive the +young lady." "Why as to that, to be sure, you may be in the right for +_auft_ that I know. But _howsomdever_, my daughter, do you see, +is already engaged to lord Martin." "I should have thought," replied +Moreland, "that objection might have been stated in the first instance, +without any reflexions upon the conduct and family of the young gentleman. +But are you sure that lord Martin is the man of your daughter's choice?" +"I cannot say that I ever _axed_ her, for I do not see what that has +to do with the matter. Lord Martin, do you see, is a fine young man, and a +fine fortune. And Delia is my own daughter, and if she should boggle about +having him, I would cut her off with a shilling." "Sir," answered +Moreland, with much indignation, "that is a conduct that would deserve to +be execrated. My nephew, without any sinister means, is master of your +daughter's affection; and lord Martin, I have authority to tell you, is +her aversion." "Oh, ho! is it so. Well then, sir, I will tell you what I +shall do. Your nephew shall never have my daughter, though she had but a +rag to her tail. And as for her affections and her aversion, I will lock +her up, and keep her upon bread and water, till she knows, that she ought +to have neither, before her own father has told her _what is what_." +Mr. Moreland, all of whose nerves were irritated into a fever by so much +vulgarity, and such brutal insensibility, could retain his seat no longer. +He started up, and regarding his entertainer with a look of ineffable +indignation, flung the door in his face, and retreated to his chariot. + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +_Much ado about nothing_. + + +Damon was inexpressibly afflicted at the success of his uncle's embassy. +When Mr. Moreland related to him the particulars of his visit, Damon +recollected the opposite tempers of the two gentlemen, and blamed himself +for not having foreseen the event. Mr. Hartley was infinitely exasperated +at the cavalierness with which he had been treated. He now discovered the +true cause of his daughter's pertinacity, and proceeded with more vigour +than ever. + +"And so," cried he, "you have dared to engage your affections without my +privity, have you? A pretty story truly. And you would disgrace me for +ever, by marrying into the family of a lord, that despises us, and an old +fellow, that for half a word would knock your father's brains out." +"Indeed sir," replied Delia, "I never thought of marrying without your +consent. I only gave the young gentleman leave to ask it of you." "You +gave him leave! And pray who are you? And so you was in league with him to +send this fellow to abuse me?" "Upon my word, I was not. And I am very +sorry if Mr. Moreland has behaved improperly." "_If_ Mr. Moreland! +and so you pretend to doubt of it! But, let me tell you, I have provided +you a husband, worth fifty of this young prig, and I will make you think +so." "Indeed sir, I can never think so." "You cannot. And pray who told +you to object, before I have named the man. Why, child, lord Martin has +ten thousand pounds a year, and is a peer, and is not ashamed of us one +bit in all the world." "Alas, sir, I can never have lord Martin. Do not +mention him. I am in no hurry. I will live single as long as you please." +"Yes, and when you have persuaded me to that, you will jump out at window +the next day to this ungracious rascal." "Oh pray sir do not speak so. He +is good and gentle." "Why, hussey, am I not master in my own house? I +shall have a fine time of it indeed, if I must give you an account of my +words." "Sir," said Delia, "I will never marry without your consent." +"That is a good girl, no more you shall. And I will lock you up upon bread +and water, if you do not consent to marry who I please." + +The despotic temper of Mr. Hartley led him to treat his daughter with +considerable severity. He suffered her to go very little abroad, and +employed every precaution in his power, to prevent any interview between +her and her lover. He tried every instrument in turn, threats, promises, +intreaties, blustering, to bend her to his will. And when he found that by +all these means he made no progress; as his last resource, he fixed a day +at no great distance, when he assured her he would be disappointed no +longer, and she should either voluntarily or by force yield her hand to +lord Martin. + +During these transactions, the communication between Delia and her lover +was, with no great difficulty, kept open by the instrumentality of their +two friends. They scarcely dared indeed to think of seeing each other, as +in case this were discovered, Delia would be subject to still greater +restraint, and the intercourse, between her and Miss Fletcher, be rendered +more difficult. In one instance however, this lady ventured to procure the +interview so ardently desired by both parties. + +Damon made use of this opportunity to persuade his mistress to an +elopement. "You have already carried," said he, "your obedience to the +utmost exremity. You have tried every means to bend the inflexible will of +your father. If not for my sake then, at least for your own, avoid the +crisis that is preparing for you. You detect the husband that your father +designs you. If united to him, you confess you must be miserable. But who +can tell, in the midst of persons inflexibly bent upon your ruin, no +friend at hand to support you, your Damon banished and at a distance, what +may be the event? You will hesitate and tremble, your father will +endeavour to terrify you into submission, the odious peer will force from +you your hand. If, in that moment, your heart should misgive you, if one +faultering accent belie the sentiments you have so generously avowed for +me, what, ah, what! may be the consequence? No, my fair one, fly, +instantly fly. No duty forbids. You have done all that the most rigid +moralist could demand of you. Put yourself into my protection. I will not +betray your confidence. You shall be as much mistress as ever of all your +actions. If you distrust me, at least chuse our common friends sir William +Twyford. Chuse any protector among the numerous friends, that your beauty +and your worth have raised you. I had rather sacrifice my own prospects of +felicity forever, than see the smallest chance that you should be +unhappy." + +Such were the arguments, which, with all the eloquence of a friend, and +all the ardour of a lover, our hero urged upon his mistress. But the +gentleness of Delia was not yet sufficiently roused by the injuries she +had received, to induce her, to cast off all the ties which education and +custom had imposed upon her, and determine upon so decisive a step. +"Surely," said she, "there is some secret reward, some unexpected +deliverance in reserve, for filial simplicity. Oh, how harsh, how bold, +how questionable a step, is that to which you would persuade me! +Circumstanced in this manner, the fairest reputation might provoke the +tongue of scandal, and the most spotless innocence open a door to the +blast of calumny. I will not say that such a step may not be sometimes +justifiable. I will not say to what I may myself be urged. But oh, how +unmingled the triumph, how sincere the joy if, by persevering in a +conduct, in which the path of duty is too palpable to be mistaken, +propitious fate may rather grant me the happiness after which I aspire, +than I be forced, as it were, myself to wrest it from the hands of +providence!" + +Such was the result of this last and decisive interview. Delia could not +be moved from that line of conduct, upon which she had so virtuously +resolved. And Damon having in vain exerted all the rhetoric of which he +was master, now gave way to the gloomy suggestions of despair, and now +flattered himself with the gleams of hope. He sometimes thought, that +Delia might yet be induced to adopt the plan he had proposed; and +sometimes he gave way to the serene confidence she expressed, and indulged +the pleasing expectation, that virtue would not always remain without its +reward. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +_A Woman of Learning_. + + +We are now brought, in the course of our story, to the memorable scene at +Miss Cranley's. "Miss Cranley's!" exclaims one of our readers, in a tone +of admiration. "Miss Cranley's!" cries another, "and pray who is she?" + +I distribute my readers into two classes, the indolent and the +supercilious, and shall accordingly address them upon the present +occasion. To the former I have nothing more to say, than to refer them +back to the latter part of Chapter I., Part I. where, my dear ladies, you +will find an accurate account of the character of two personages, who it +seems you have totally forgotten. + +To the supercilious I have a very different story to tell. Most learned +sirs, I kiss your hands. I acknowledge my error, and throw myself upon +your clemency. You see however, gentlemen, that you were somewhat +mistaken, when you imagined that I, like my fair patrons, the indolent, +had quite lost these characters from my memory. + +To speak ingenuously, I did indeed suppose, as far as I could calculate +the events of this important narrative beforehand, that the Miss Cranleys +would have come in earlier, and have made a more conspicuous figure, than +they now seem to have any chance of doing. Having thus settled accounts +with my readers; I take up again the thread of my story, and thus I +proceed. + +Mr. Hartley being now, as he believed, upon the point of disposing of his +daughter in marriage, began seriously to consider that he should want a +female companion to manage, his family, to nurse his ailments, and to +repair the breaches, that the hand of wintry time had made in his spirits +and his constitution. The reader will be pleased to recollect, that he had +already laid siege to the heart of the gentle Sophia. He now prosecuted +his affair with more alacrity than ever. + +Alas, my dear readers! while we have been junketting along from +Southampton to Oxford, from Oxford to Windsor, and from Windsor to +Southampton back again, such is the miserable fate of human kind! Miss +Amelia Wilhelmina Cranley, the most pious of her sex, the flower of Mr. +Whitfield's converts, the wonder and admiration of Roger the cobler, has +given up the ghost. You will please then, in what follows, to represent to +yourselves the charms of Sophia as decked and burnished with a suit of +sables. Her exterior indeed was sable and gloomy, but her heart was far +superior to the attacks of wayward fate. She sat aloft in the region of +philosophy. She steeled her heart with the dignity of republicanism; for +her to drop one tear of sorrow would have been an eternal disgrace. + +About this time--it was perhaps in reality a manoeuvre to forward the +affair, to which she had no aversion at bottom, with the father of +Delia--that Miss Cranley gave a grand entertainment, at which were present +Mr. Hartley, Mr. Prattle, sir William Twyford, lord Martin, most of the +ladies we have already commemorated, and many others. + +The repast was conducted with much solemnity. The masculine character of +the mind of Sophia had rendered her particularly attached to the grace of +action. When she drank the health of any of her guests, she accompanied it +with a most profound _conge_. When she invited them to partake of any +dish, she pointed towards it with her hand. This action might have served +to display a graceful arm, but, alas! upon hers the hand of time had been +making depredations, and it appeared somewhat coarse and discoloured. + +After dinner, the lady of the house, as usual, turned the conversation +upon the subject of politics. She inveighed with much warmth against the +effeminacy and depravity of the modern times. We were slaves, and we +deserved to be so. In almost every country there now appeared a king, that +puppet pageant, that monster in creation, miserable itself, a combination +of every vice, and invented for the curse of human kind. "Where now," she +asked, "was the sternness and inflexibility of ancient story? Where was +that Junius, that stood and gazed in triumph upon the execution of his +sons? Where that Fabricius, that turned up his nose under the snout of an +elephant? Where was that Marcus Brutus, who sent his dagger to the heart +of Caesar? For her part, she believed, and she would not give the snap of +her fingers for him if it were otherwise, that he was in reality, as sage +historians have reported, the son of Julius." + +In the very paroxysm of her oratory she chanced to cast her eyes upon Mr. +Prattle. With the character of Mr. Prattle, the reader is already partly +acquainted. But he does not yet know, for it was not necessary for our +story he should do so, that the honourable Mr. Prattle was a commoner and +a placeman. Good God, sir, represent to yourself with what a flame of +indignation our amazon surveyed him! She rose from her seat, and, taking +him by the hand, very familiarly turned him round in the middle of the +company. "This," said she, "is one of our Fabiuses, one of our Decii. +Good God, my friend, what would you do, if a brother officer shook a cane +over your shoulders as he did over those of the divine Themistocles? What +would you do, if the brutal lull of an Appius ravished from your arms an +only daughter? But I beg your pardon, sir. You are a placeman, mutually +disgracing and disgraced. You sell your constituents to the vilest +ministers, that ever came forward the champions of despotism. And those +ministers show us what is their insignificance, their impotence, their +want of discernment, in giving such a thing as you are, places of so great +importance, offices of so high emolument." + +Mr. Prattle, unused to be treated so cavalierly, and arraigned before so +large a company, trembled in every limb: "My dear madam, my sweet Miss +Sophia, pray do not pinch quite so hard;" and the water stood in his eyes. +Unable however to elude her grasp he fell down upon his knees. "For God's +sake! Oh dear! Oh lack a daisy! Why, Miss, sure you are mad." Miss +Cranley, unheedful of his exclamations, was however just going to begin +with more vehemence than ever, when a sudden accident put a stop to the +torrent of her oratory. But this event cannot be properly related without +going back a little in our narrative, and acquainting the reader with some +of those circumstances by which it was produced. + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +_A Catastrophe_. + + +Sir William Twyford had gained great credit with lord Martin by his +conduct in the affair of Mr. Prettyman. He now imagined that he saw an +opening for the exercise of his humour, which he was never able to refill. +He communicated his plan to lord Martin. By his assistance he procured +that implement, which school-boys have denominated a cracker. This his +lordship found an opportunity of attaching to the skirt of Miss Cranley's +sack. At the moment we have described, when she was again going to enter +into the stream of her rhetoric, which, great as it naturally was, was now +somewhat improved with copious draughts of claret, the cracker was set on +fire. + +Poor Sophia now started in great agitation. "Bounce, bounce," went the +cracker. Sophia skipped and danced from one end of the room to the other. +"Great gods of Rome," exclaimed she, "Jupiter, Minerva, and all the +celestial and infernal deities!" The force of the cracker was now somewhat +spent. "Ye boys of Britain, that bear not one mark of manhood about you! +Would Leonidas have fastened a squib to the robe of the Spartan mother? +Would Cimber have so unworthily used Portia, the wife of Brutus? Would +Corbulo thus have interrupted the heroic fortitude of Arria, the spouse of +Thrasea Paetus?" + +"My dear madam," exclaimed lord Martin, his eyes glistening with triumph, +"with all submission, Corbulo I believe had been assassinated, before +Arria so gloriously put an end to her existence." "Thou thing," cried Miss +Cranky, "and hast thou escaped the torrent of my invective! Thou eternal +blot to the list, in which are inserted the names of a Faulkland, a +Shaftesbury, a Somers, and above all, that Leicester, who so bravely threw +the lie in the face of his sovereign!" "He! he!" cried lord Martin, who +could no longer refrain from boasting of his great atchievement. If I have +escaped your vengeance, let me tell you, madam, you have not escaped +"mine." "And was it thee, thou nincompoop? Hence, thou wretch! Avaunt! +Begone, or thou shalt feel my fury!" Saying this, she clenched her fist, +and closed her teeth, with so threatening an aspect, that the little peer +was very much terrified. He flew back several paces. "My dear Miss +Griskin," said he, "protect me! This barbarous woman does not understand +wit,"--and he precipitately burst out of the room. The lady too was so +much discomposed, that she thought proper to retire, assuring the company +that she would attend them again in a moment. + +"Well," cried Miss Griskin, as soon as she had disappeared, "this was the +nicest fun!" "I was afraid," said Miss Prim, "it would have discomposed +Miss Cranley's petticoats." "Law, my dear!" said Miss Gawky, "by my +so, I like the music of a cracker, better than all the concerts in the +varsal world." We need not inform our readers, that Miss Languish, in the +very height and altitude of the confusion, had been obliged to retire. + +Lord Martin, in the midst of his triumph and exultation, had not leisure +to recollect, nor perhaps penetration to perceive, the effect that this +little sally might have upon his interests. Despotic and boorish as was +the genius of Mr. Hartley, it cowred under that of Sophia with the most +abject servility. And that lady now vowed eternal war against the heroical +peer. + +"Mr. Hartley," said she, in their next _tete a tete_, "let me tell +you, lord Martin, must never have Miss Delia." "My dearest life," said the +old gentleman, "consider, the day is fixed, my word is passed, and it is +too late to revoke now. Beside, lord Martin has ten thousand pounds a +year." "Ten thousand figs," said she, "do not tell me, it is never too +late to be wife. Lord Martin is a venal senator, and a little sniveling +fellow." "My dear," said Hartley, "I never differed from you before: do +let me have my mind now." "Have your mind, sir! Men should have no minds. +Tyrants that they are! And now I think of it, Miss Delia does not like +lord Martin." "Pooh," said Mr. Hartley, recovering spirit at such an +objection, "that is all stuff and nonsense." "Nonsense! Let me tell you, +sir, women are not _born to be controled_. They are queens of the +creation, and if they had their way, and the government of the world was +in their hands, things would go much better than they do." "I know they +would," replied her admirer, "if they were all as wise as you." "Child," +returned Sophia, turning up her nose, "that is neither here nor there. The +matter in short is this. Damon loves Delia, and Delia loves Damon. And if +your daughter be not Mrs. Villiers, I will never be Mrs. Hartley." + +From a decision like this there could be no appeal. Mr. Hartley told lord +Martin, the next time he came to his house to pay his devoirs to his +mistress, that he had altered his mind. His lordship was too much +surprised at this manoeuvre to make any immediate answer; so turned upon +his heel, and decamped. + +The happy revolution, by the intervention of Miss Fletcher, was soon made +known to sir William and his friend. Damon now paid his addresses in form. +A reconciliation took place between Mr. Moreland and the father of our +heroine. The marriage was publicly talked of, the day was fixed, and every +thing prepared for the nuptials. + +It is impossible to describe the happiness of our lovers, when they saw +every obstacle thus unexpectedly removed. Damon was beside himself with +surprise and congratulation. Delia, at intervals, rubbed her eyes, and +could scarcely be persuaded that it was not a dream. They saw each other +at least once every day. Together they wandered along the margin of the +ocean, and together they sought that delicious alcove, which now appeared +ten times more beautiful, from the recollection it suggested of the +sufferings they had passed. + +Lord Martin was in the mean time most grievously disappointed. "The devil +damn the fellow!" said he, "he crosses me like my evil genius. I have a +month's mind to send him a challenge. He is a tall, big looking fellow to +be sure. But then if I could contrive to kill him. Ah, me! but fortune +does not always favour the brave. My reputation is established. I do not +want a duel for that. And for any other purpose, it is all a lottery. Fire +and furies, death and destruction! something must be done. Let me +think--_About my brain_." + +But lord Martin was not the only one whose hopes were disappointed, by the +expected marriage of Delia. He loved her not, he felt not one flutter of +complacency about his heart. It was vanity that first prompted him to +address her. It was disappointed pride that now stung him. Even Mr. +Prattle viewed her with a more generous affection. His genius was not +indeed a daring one, but it was active and indefatigable. Squire Savage +did not feel the less, though he did not spend many words about it. He was +a blustering hector. He had the reputation of fearing nothing, and caring +for nothing, that stood in his way. There were also other lovers beside +these, _whom the muse knows not, nor desires to know_. + +In this manner gins and snares seemed, on every side, to surround our +happy and heedless lovers. They sported on the brink. They sighed, and +smiled, and sang, and talked again. At length the eve of the day, from +which their future happiness was to be dated, arrived. They had but one +drawback, the continued averseness of lord Thomas Villiers. Damon was +however now obliged, together with Mr. Hartley, to attend the lawyers at +Mr. Moreland's, in order to complete the previous formalities. + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +_Containing what will terrify the reader._ + + +At such a moment as this, a mind of delicacy and sensibility is fond of +solitude. Delia told Mrs. Bridget, that she would take her usual walk, and +be home time enough to superintend the oeconomy of supper, at which the +company of Damon and sir William Twyford was expected. + +They accordingly arrived before nine o'clock. Mrs. Bridget expected her +mistress every moment. Damon and his friend would have gone out to meet +her, but they were not willing to leave Mr. Hartley alone. The clock +however struck ten, and no Delia appeared. Every one now began to be +seriously uneasy. Damon and sir William went in both her most favourite +walks to find her, but in vain. Messengers were dispatched twenty +different ways. The lover repaired to the mansion of Lord Martin. The +baronet immediately set out for the house of Mr. Savage. + +Mr. Hartley, who, with the external of a bear, and the heart of a miser, +was not destitute of the feelings of a parent, was now exceedingly +agitated. He strided up and down the room with incredible velocity. He bit +his fingers with anxiety, and threw his wig into the fire. "As I am a good +man," said he, "Mr. Prattle lives but almost next door, and I will go to +him." Mr. Prattle was at home, and having heard his story, condoled with +him upon it with much apparent sincerity. + +Damon met with the same success. Lord Martin received him with perfect +serenity. "Bless us," cried he, "and is Miss Delia gone? I never was more +astonished in my life. I do not know what to do," and he took a pinch of +snuff. "Mr. Villiers," said he, with the utmost gravity, "I have all +possible respect for you. Blast me! if I am not willing to forget all our +former rivalship. Tell me, sir, can I do you any service?" Damon had every +reason to be satisfied with his behaviour, and flew out of the house in a +moment. + +Sir William Twyford did not however meet with the person he went in quest +of. Miss Savage informed him, that her brother, not two hours ago, had +received a letter, and immediately, without informing her of his design, +which indeed he very seldom did, ordered his best hunter out of the +stable. She added, that she had imagined, that he had received a summons +to a fox-chace early the next morning. + +Such was the account brought by sir William to the anxious and distracted +Damon. "Alas," cried he, "it is but too plain? She is by this time in the +hands of that insensible boor. Oh, who can bear to think of it! He is +perhaps, at this moment, tormenting her with his nauseous familiarities, +and griping her soft and tender limbs! Oh, why was I born! Why was I ever +cheated with the phantom of happiness! Wretch, wretch that I am!" + +With these words he burst out of the house, and flew along with surprising +rapidity. Sir William, having hastily ordered everything to be prepared +for a pursuit, immediately followed him. He found him, wafted, spent, and +almost insensible, lying beside a little brook that crossed the road. The +baronet raised him in his arms, and, with the gentlest accents that +friendship ever poured into a mortal ear, recovered him to life and +perception. + +"Where am I?" said the disconsolate lover. "Who are you? ah, my friend, my +best, my tried friend! I know you now. How came I here? Has any thing +unfortunate happened? Where is my Delia?" "Let us seek her, my Villiers," +said the baronet. "Seek her! What! is she lost? Oh, yes, I recollect it +now; she is gone, snatched from my arms. Let us pursue her! Let us +overtake her Oh that it may not be too late." + +He now leaned upon the shoulder of his friend, and returned with painful +and irregular steps. His disorder was so great, that sir William thought +it best to have him immediately conveyed to a chamber. He was so much +exhausted, that this was easily accomplished, without his being perfectly +sensible what was done. The baronet, with three servants mounted on +horseback, immediately pursued the road towards London.--Having thus +related the confusion and grief that were occasioned by her sudden +disappearance, we will now return to our heroine. + +She had advanced, according to the intention she had hinted to her +servant, towards the grove, where she had so often wandered with her +beloved. She was wrapped up and lost in the contemplation of her +approaching felicity. "And is every difficulty surmounted, and shall at +last my fate be twined with Damon's? Sure, it is too much, it cannot be! +Fate does not deal so partially with mortals. To bestow so vast a +happiness on one, while thousands pine in helpless misery. But let me not +be incredulous. Let me not be ungrateful. No, since heaven has thus +accumulated its favours on me, my future days shall all be spent in +raising the oppressed, and cheering the disconsolate. I will remember that +I also have tasted the cup of woe, that I have looked forward to +disappointment and despair. _Taught by the hand that pities me,_ I +will learn to pity others." + +She was thus musing with herself, she was thus full of piety and virtuous +resolution, when, on a sudden, a trampling of horses behind her, roused +her from her reverie. Two persons advanced. But before she had time to +examine their features, or even to remove out of the path, by which they +seemed to be coming, the foremost of them leaping hastily upon the ground, +seized her by the waist, arid, in spite of all her struggling, placed her +on the front of the saddle, and instantly mounted with the utmost agility. +Cries and tears were vain. They were in a solitary path, little beaten by +the careful husbandman, or the gay votaries of fashion. She was now +hurried along, and generally at full speed, through a thousand bye paths, +that seemed capable of puzzling the most assiduous pursuit. + +They had scarcely advanced two little miles, ere they arrived at a large +and broad highway. Here they found a chariot ready waiting for them, into +which Delia was immediately thrust. She now for the first time lifted up +her eyes. The first object to which she attended was the faces of her +ravishers. Of him who had been the most active, she had not the smallest +recollection. The other who was in a livery, she imagined she had seen +somewhere, though, in the present confusion of her mind, she could not fix +upon the place. She next looked round her with wildness and eagerness, as +far as her eye could reach, to see if there were no protector, no +deliverance near. But she looked in vain. All was solitude and stilness. +The murmurs, the activity of the day were past. And now, the silver moon +in radiant majesty shed a solemn serenity ever the whole scene. Serenity, +alas! to the heart at ease, but nothing could bring serenity to the +troubled breast of Delia. + +As her last resource, she appealed to those who by brutal force had +carried her away. "Oh, if you have any hearts, any thing human that dwells +about you, pity a poor, forlorn, and helpless maid! Alas, in what have I +injured you? What would you do to me?" "Oh, pray, Miss, do not be +frightened," said the first ravisher with an accent of familiar vulgarity, +"we will do you no harm, we mean nothing but your good. You will make your +fortune. You never had such luck in your life. You will have reason to +thank us the longest day you can ever know." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +_A Denouement_. + + +At this moment, Delia with infinite transport, heard the sound of horses +at a distance. Every thing was quiet. Our heroine listened with eager +expectation, and those who guarded her looked out to see who it was that +approached. Suspense was not long on either side. The horsemen were up +with them in a moment. "Oh, whoever you are," cried Delia, in an agony of +distress, "pity and relieve the most miserable woman'"----She received no +answer, but the horses stopped, and lord Martin was in a moment at the +door of the carriage. "Oh, my lord," cried Delia, "is it you? Thanks, +eternal thanks, for this fortunate incident. If you had not come, heaven +knows what would have become of me! Those brutes, those wretches--But +conduct me, my lord, to my father's house. Without doubt, they must by +this time be in a terrible fright." + +"Do not be uneasy," cried his lordship, endeavouring to assume an +harmonious, but missing his point, he spoke in the shrillest and most +squeaking accent that can be imagined. "Do not be uneasy, my charmer. You +are in the hands of a man, that loves you, as never woman was loved +before. But I will be with you in a minute," said he. And withdrawing +behind the carriage, he beckoned to the person who had conducted the +business of the rape. "Why, you incorrigible blockhead," said lord Martin, +"you have neglected half your instructions. Why, her hands are at +liberty." "I beg your honour's pardon," replied the pimp, "I had indeed +forgotten, but it shall be remedied in a moment." And saying this, he +pulled a strong ribband out of his pocket, and getting into the chariot, +fastened the soft and lily hands of our heroine behind her. She screamed, +and invoked the name of his lordship a thousand times. Her hair became +disentangled from its ligaments, and flowed in waving ringlets about her +snowy, panting bosom. Exhausted with continual agitation, and particularly +with the last struggle, she seemed ready to faint, but was quickly +restored by the assiduity of these sordid grooms. + +Before she had completely recovered her recollection, lord Martin had +seated himself in the carriage, and was drawing up some of the blinds. +"Drive on," said he to the coachman, who was by this time mounted into the +box, "Drive, as if the devil was behind you." The cavalcade accordingly +went forward. There was a servant on each side of the carriage, beside the +commander in chief, who occasionally advanced in the front, and +occasionally brought up the rear. + +"And whither," said the affrighted Delia, "whither are we going? This +cannot be the way to Southampton. What do you mean? But ah, it is too +plain! Why else this impotence of insult?" endeavouring to disengage her +hands. And she turned from him in a rage of indignation. "Ah," cried his +lordship, "do not avert those brilliant eyes! Turn them towards me, and +they will outshine the lustre of the morn, and I shall perceive nothing of +the sun, even when he gains his meridian height." "And thou despicable +wretch, is this thy shallow plan? And what dost thou think to do with me? +Mountains shall sooner bend their lofty summits to the earth, than I will +ever waste a thought on thee." "Do with thee, my fairest!" cried the peer, +"why, marry thee. Dost thou think that the paltry Damon shall get the +better of my eagle genius? No. Fortune now unfurls my standard, and I +drive the _frighted fates_ before me." "Boastful, empty coward! Thou +darest not even brave a woman's rage. If my hands were at liberty, I would +tear out those insolent eyes." "_Go on_, thou gentlest of thy sex, +_and charm me with that angel voice_! For though thou dealest in +threats, abuse, and proud defiance, _it is heaven to hear thee_." + +Such was the courtship that passed between our heroine and her triumphant +admirer. They had new proceeded twenty miles, and the midnight bell had +tolled near half an hour. They had passed through one turnpike, and Delia +had endeavoured by cries and prayers to obtain some assistance. But the +person who opened to them was alone, and though ever so desirous, could +not have resisted such a cavalcade. Beside this, the pimp told him a +plausible story of a wanton wife, and an injured husband, with the +particulars of which we do not think it necessary to trouble our readers. +They had also seen one foot passenger, and two horsemen. But they were +eluded and amused by a repetition of the same stratagem. + +Delia, having exhausted her first rage and astonishment, had now remained +for some time silent. She revolved in her mind all the particulars of her +situation. She had at first considered her ravisher in no other light than +as hateful and despicable, but she was now compelled to regard this +venomous little animal, as the arbiter of her fate, and the master of her +fortunes. She reflected with horror, how much she was in his power, what +ill usage he might inflict, and to what extremities he might reduce her. +She now seriously thought of exerting herself to melt him into pity, and +to persuade him, by every argument she could invent, to spare and to +release her. "Ah, where," thought she, "is my Damon? Why does not he +appear to succour me? Alas, what distresses, what agonies may he not even +now endure!" + +Full of these, and a thousand other tormenting reflections, she burst into +a flood of tears. Lord Martin drew from his pocket a clean cambric +handkerchief, and, carefully unfolding it, wiped away the drops as they +fell. "Loveliest of creatures," said he, "by the murmuring of thy voice, +the heaving of thy bosom, the distraction of thy looks, and by these +tears, I should imagine thou wert uneasy." "Ah," cried Delia unheedful of +his words, "what shall I say to move him?" "Oh, talk for ever," replied +his lordship. "The winds shall forget to whistle, and the seas to roar. +Noisy mobs shall cease their huzzas, and the din of war be still; for +there is music in thy voice." "Oh," exclaimed our heroine, "let one touch +of compassion approach thy soul. Indeed, my lord, I can never have you. +Release me, and I will forgive what is past, and Damon shall never notice +it." "Zounds and fire!" cried the peer, "dost thou think to prevail with +me by the motives of a coward? But why dost thou talk of Damon? Look on +me. Behold this purple coat, and fine _toupee_. Think on my estate, +and think on my title." + +But at this moment the oratory of his lordship ceased to be heard. At a +small distance there appeared two persons, the one on foot, and whose air, +so far as it could be perceived by the imperfect light, was genteel, and +the other on horseback, engaged in earnest conference. As the carriage +drew towards them, Delia exclaimed, in a piercing, but pathetic voice, +"Help! help! for God's sake! Rape! Murder! Help!" The voice immediately +caught the young gentleman on foot, who approached the carriage.--But +before we proceed any farther we will inform our readers who these persons +were. + +The gentleman on foot, was Mr. Godfrey. He was on a visit to a sister, who +lived very near the spot upon which he now stood. She was married to a +substantial yeoman, who rented an estate in this place, the property of +lord Thomas Villiers. The beautiful scenes of nature were particularly +congenial to the elegant said contemplative mind of Mr. Godfrey. And he +had now, as was frequently his custom, strolled out to enjoy the calm +serenity, and the splendid beauty, of a midnight scene. The man on +horse-back was a thief taker, who, just before the carriage had driven up, +had, without ceremony, accosted Mr. Godfrey with his enquiries, and a +description of the person of whom he was in pursuit. + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +_Which dismisses the Reader._ + + +Mr. Godfrey, in a resolute tone, called out to the coachman to stop, and +not contented with a verbal mandate, he rushed before the horses, and +brandishing a club he held in his hand, bid the driver proceed at his +peril. "Drive on," said lord Martin, thrusting his head out at the +window--"Drive on, and be damned to you!" At this moment the pimp rode up. +"It is nothing," said he, "but a poor gentleman, who has just forced his +wife from the arms of a gallant." "Oh no!" cried Delia. "I am not his +wife. I am an innocent woman, whom he has forced from her father and her +lover." + +The thief taker out of curiosity rode forward. "That," said he, fixing his +eye upon the pimp, "that is the very rascal I am in search of." The pimp, +who had only been borrowed by lord Martin of one of his more experienced +acquaintance, no sooner heard the sound, than, accounting for it with +infinite facility and readiness of mind, he turned about his horse, and +attempted to fly. One of the footmen, naturally a coward, and terrified at +these incidents, with the meaning of which he was unacquainted, imitated +his example. The other came forward to the assistance of his master, and +was laid prostrate upon the ground, by Mr. Godfrey with one blow. The +thief taker had the start of the pimp, and overtook him in a moment. + +Mr. Godfrey now opened the door of the carriage. But the little peer was +prepared for this incident, and having his sword drawn, made a sudden pass +at our generous knight-errant. The latter, with infinite agility, leaped +aside, and lifting up his club, shivered the sword into a thousand pieces. + +"Death and the devil! Pox confound you!" said lord Martin, and endeavoured +to draw a pistol from his pocket. But the unsuccessful pass he had made +had thrown him somewhat off his bias, and though he had employed more than +one effort, he had not been able to recover himself. At this instant, Mr. +Godfrey seized him by the collar, and with a sudden-whirl, threw him into +the middle of the road. "Fire and"--his lordship had not time to finish +his exclamation. The part of the road in which he fell was exceeding +dirty. The workmen had been employed the preceding day, in scraping the +mud together into a heap against the bank, and his lordship, unable to +overcome the velocity with which he trundled along, rolled into the midst +of it in an instant. He was entirely lost in this soft receptacle. The +colour of his purple coat, and his lily white _toupee_, could no +longer be distinguished. + +The coachman, perceiving the disaster of his lord, now leaped from the +box. Mr. Godfrey had scarcely had time to reduce this new antagonist to a +state of inactivity, before the footman, upon whom he had first displayed +his prowess, began to discover some signs of life. He might have been yet +overpowered in spite of all his valour and presence of mind, if the house +of his brother-in-law, had not fortunately been so near, that the shrieks +of Delia, and the altercation of her ravishers reached it. The honest +farmer was at the window in a moment, and perceiving that his brother was +engaged in the affray, he huddled on his clothes with all expedition, and +now appeared in the highway. + +The victory was immediately decided. The footman perceiving this new +reinforcement, did not dare to act upon the offensive, and Mr. Godfrey +mounted into the chariot to assist our heroine. He now first perceived +that her hands were manacled. From this restraint however, he suddenly +disengaged her, and taking her in his arms out of the carriage, he +delivered her to his sister, who advanced at this moment. + +The footman, assisted by the humanity of the farmer, was now employed in +raising his master. His lordship made the most pitiable figure that can be +imagined. His features, as well as his dress, wore an appearance perfectly +uniform. "Whither would you convey him?" said Mr. Godfrey, who was now +returned. "What shall we do with him?" "Oh, and please you, sir," said the +footman, "his lordship has a house about half a mile off." Lord Martin now +first discovered some marks of sensibility, and _shook his goary +locks_. "His lordship!" exclaimed the yeoman. "Sure it cannot be--yet +it is--by my soul I cannot tell whether it be lord Martin or no." The +coachman now rose from the ground, and began with a profound bow to his +master. "And please your honour," said he, "we have made a sad day's work +of it. Your worship makes but a pitiful figure. Faugh! I think as how, if +I dared say so much, begging your honour's pardon, that your lordship +stinks." "Put him into the carriage," cried Mr. Godfrey, "and drive him +home." Lord Martin, now first recovered his tongue, and wiping away the +mud from his eyes, "And so it was you, sir, I suppose," cried he, "to whom +I am obliged for this catastrophe. But pox take me, if you shall not hear +of it. Ten thousand curses on my wayward fate! The devil take it! Death +and damnation!" During this soliloquy, the servants were employed in +placing their lord in the chariot. The coachman mounted the box, and by +this time they were out of hearing. + +Mr. Godfrey and his brother now entered the house. Delia was seated in a +chair, her hair dishevelled, her features disordered, and her dress in the +most bewitching confusion. But how much were both the deliverer and the +heroine surprised, when they mutually recognised each others features! Mr. +Godfrey made Delia a very polite compliment upon her escape, and +congratulated himself, in the warmest language, for having been the +fortunate instrument. + +They now retired to rest. The next morning, Delia was much better +recovered from her terror and fatigue, than could have been expected. Mr. +Godfrey however had not thought it adviseable that she should be removed +that day, and had therefore set off early in the morning for Southampton, +that he might himself be the messenger of these happy tidings. + +"I hope Miss," said Mrs. Wilson, who attended our heroine, "that you will +dress yourself as well as you can." "And why" cried Delia, "do you desire +that? I can see nobody, I can think of nothing, but my absent and anxious +Damon." "Let us hope," replied the other, "that he is very well. But, +Miss, we expect lord Thomas Villiers by dinner time." "Lord Thomas +Villiers!" exclaimed Delia, in the extremest surprise. "Yes," cried Mrs. +Wilson. "He is our landlord, and he always comes over once about this time +of the year." "Alas," said Delia, "I can see nobody. But I had rather meet +any person at this time, than lord Thomas Villiers." "Bless me, Miss! why +I am sure he is a very good sort of a gentleman." "I dare say he is," +cried Delia. "But indeed, and indeed, Mrs. Wilson, I cannot see him. Pray +oblige me in this." "Law, well I cannot think what objection you can have! +There must be something very particular in it." + +Such were the hints that Mrs. Wilson threw out for the satisfying of her +curiosity, but Delia was not disposed to be more communicative. The good +woman however, with the error of our heroine before her eyes, was +determined not to commit a similar fault. Lord Thomas was therefore +scarcely arrived, before she set open the flood gates of her eloquence, in +describing the rescue, and the unrivalled beauty of the lady under her +roof. + +His lordship had long had a misunderstanding with lord Martin upon the +subject of their contiguous estates. As his temper was not the most +gentle, nor his memory upon these subjects the most treacherous, he +expressed his triumph in loud shouts, and repeated horse laughs, upon the +recent defeat of his antagonist. Nothing however would content him but a +sight of the lady. "That," said Mrs. Wilson, "my guess is too nice to +consent to. You must know, she has a particular dislike to your lordship." +"A dislike to me!" said the old gentleman, whose curiosity was now more +inflamed than even "Will you be contented," said his kind hostess, "with a +peep through the key hole!" and without waiting for an answer, she took +him by the hand, and led him up stairs. "By my foul!" said his lordship, +"she is the finest woman in the world. Devil take me, if I can contain +myself," and he burst into the room. + +Lord Thomas advanced a few steps, and then stopping, clasped his hands; +"Why she is an angel of a woman! And did Martin, that dirty scoundrel, +think he could run away with you? Impudent, pot-bellied spider! Ah, if my +son had fallen in love with such a woman as you, I could forgive him any +thing." And seizing her hand he pressed it to his lips. "Forgive me, +charmer," cried he, "I am an old fellow. I will do you no harm." + +Delia, though pleased with the behaviour of her intended father-in-law, +dared not yet discover herself to him. In the afternoon, Mr. Godfrey, and +Sir William Twyford, arrived. Damon, agitated as he was by the most +dreadful images that a troubled fancy could suggest, appeared in the +morning in a high fever. Instead of being able to hasten to the mistress +of his soul, he was confined to his bed, and attended by physicians. + +"Ha," cried lord Thomas, as soon as he saw the baronet, "and who sent for +you? What do you want? I think, Sir, you are the gentleman to whom I am +obliged for telling my son, that duty to parents is a baby prejudice, that +obstinacy is a heroic virtue, and that fortune, fame, and friends, are all +to be sacrificed to the whining passion, which, I think, you call love." +"My lord," replied the baronet, "I have done nothing, of which I feel any +reason to be ashamed. But a subject more pressing calls for my immediate +attention." Then turning to Delia, "Give me leave to congratulate you, +madam, and heaven can tell how heartily I do it, upon the generous and +happy interposition of Mr. Godfrey." "And pray," interrupted lord Thomas, +"how came you acquainted with that lady?" "Oh, tell me," cried Delia, with +an impatience not to be restrained by modes and forms, "tell me, how does +my Damon? Why is he not here? Alas, I fear"--"Fear nothing," cried the +baronet. "He is safe. He is at your father's house, and impatient to see +you." "And is this the lady," cried lord Thomas, "of whom my son is +enamoured? But he shall not disobey me. I will never permit it. Sir, if +this be the lady, I will give her to him with my own hand. But where is +the ungracious rascal? Why does not he appear?" "Nothing, be assured," +said the baronet, "but reasons of the last importance, could have kept him +back in so interesting a moment." "Alas, I fear," cried Delia, "since you +endeavour to conceal them from me, they are reasons of the most afflicting +nature." "It is in vain," replied Sir William, "to endeavour at +concealment." "Your son," turning to lord Thomas Villiers, "is confined to +his bed. The anxiety and fatigue that he suffered, in consequence of the +extraordinary step of lord Martin, have thrown him into a fever. But be +not uneasy, my Delia," taking her hand, "there is no danger. One sigh, one +look from you will restore him." "Ten thousand curses," exclaimed the +father, "upon the head of the contemptible, misbegotten ravisher! But let +us make haste. I am glad however that my rogue of a son is a little +punished for his impertinence. Let us make haste." + +Saying this, he ordered the horses to his chariot, and the whole company +prepared to set out for Southampton immediately. The only business which +remained, was the dispatching a message, which was done by one of sir +William's servants, from Mr. Godfrey to lord Martin, announcing his name, +and informing his lordship, that he was to be met with any time in the +ensuing week at Mr. Moreland's. + +Lord Martin was a good deal bruised and enfeebled with the adventure of +the preceding evening. He had been obliged to undergo a lustration of near +an hour, before he could be put to bed. He was just risen, when the +message was delivered. "Zounds!" cried the peer, "he is, is he? And so +this fellow, whom nobody knows, has the impudence to snub me! By my title, +and all the blood of my ancestors, he is not worthy of my sword. I will +have him assassinated. I will hire some blackguards to seize him, and bind +him in my presence, and I will bastinado him with my own hand. Furies and +curses! I do not know what to do. Oh, this confounded vanity! Not +contented with one disgrace, I have brought upon myself another, ten times +more mortifying than the first. By Tartarus, and all the infernal gods, I +believe I had better let it rest where it is! Wretch, wretch, that I am!" +And he threw himself on the bed in an agony of despair. + +Damon had slept little the preceding night, and his slumbers had been +disturbed with a thousand horrible imaginations. The first person who +appeared in his chamber the next morning he addressed with "Where, where +is she? Where is my Delia? My life, my soul, the mistress of my fate? Ah, +why do you look so haggard, so unconsoling. You have heard nothing of her? +Give me my clothes. I will pursue her to the world's end. I will find her, +though she be hid deep as the centre." "Sir, be pacified," said the +servant, "she is safe." "Safe," cried our lover, "why then does she not +appear to comfort me? But haste, I will fly to her. I will clasp, I will +lock her, in my arms. No, nothing, not all the powers on earth, shall ever +part us more." "Sir, she is not in the house." "Not in the house," cried +Damon starting, "Ha! say. I will not be cheated. On thy life do not trifle +with my impatience." + +At this moment Mr. Godfrey entered the room. "Who is there?" cried Damon, +starting at every whisper. "It is your friend," said Godfrey. "A friend +that owes you much, and would willingly pay you something back again." "I +do not understand you," replied our hero. "I can talk of nothing but my +Delia. Oh Delia! Delia! I will teach thy name to all the echoes. I will +send it with every wind to heaven. Ever, ever, shall it dwell upon my +lips." "Delia," replied the other, "is in safety. I have been so happy as +to rescue her." "Ha! sayest thou? let me look upon thee well. I am +somewhat disordered, but I think thy name is Godfrey. Thou shouldst not +deceive me. Thou art not old in falsehood." "I do not deceive thee. On my +life I do not!" exclaimed Godfrey, with emotion. "Compose thyself for a +few hours. Or ever thou shalt see the setting sun, I will put thy Delia +into thy arms again." + +Damon was somewhat composed by these assurances. No voice like that of +Godfrey had power to sooth his mind to serenity. But though he sought to +restrain himself, he listened to every noise. He started at the sound of +every foot, and the rattle of a carriage in the street agitated his soul +almost to frenzy. + +"Why does not she come? What can delay her? I have counted every moment. +I have waited whole ages. I see, I see, that every thing conspires to +cheat, and to distract me. Damon has not one friend left to whisper in his +ear--to whisper what? That Delia is no more? That all her beauties are +defaced, by some sacrilegious hand? That all her heaven of charms have +been rifled? Oh, no. I must not think of that. But hark! I thought I heard +a sound, but it is delirium all. Sure, sure it comes this way. I will +listen but this once." + +The door of the chamber now flew open. But oh, what object caught the +raptured eye of Damon! He was just risen. "It is, it is my Delia!" and +they flew into each others arms. But having embraced for a moment, Damon +took hold of her hand, and held her from him. "Let me look at thee. And is +it Delia? And art thou safe, unhurt? I would not be mistaken." "Yes, I am +she, and ten times more my Damon's than ever." "It is enough. I am +contented. But hark! who comes there? Sure it is not the brutal ravisher? +No," cried he, in a voice of surprise, "it is my father." + +Lord Thomas Villiers, who had been a witness of this scene, could restrain +himself no longer. "Come to my arms, thy father's arms," cried he, "and +let me bless thee." "Stay, stay," cried Damon. "Yes I know thee well. But +I will never be separated from her any more. I will laugh at the authority +of a parent. Tyranny and tortures shall not rend me from her." "The +authority of a parent," replied lord Thomas, "shall never more be employed +to counteract thy wishes. I myself will join your hands." + +The constitution of Damon was so full of sensibility, that it was some +days before he was completely recovered. In the mean time, the amours of +Sir William Twyford, and Mr. Hartley, continually ripened, and it was +proposed, that the three parties should be united in the same day. + +"And now," said Damon, "I have but one care more, one additional exertion, +to set my mind at ease. My Godfrey, I owe thee more than kingdoms can +repay. Tell me, instruct me, what can I do to serve you? Damon must be the +most contemptible of villains, if he could think his felicity complete, +when his Godfrey was unhappy." + +"Think not of me," said Godfrey, "I am happy in the way that nature +intended, beyond even the power of Damon to make me. Since I saw you, a +favourable change has taken place in my circumstances. In spite of various +obstacles, I have brought a tragedy upon the stage, and it has met with +distinguished success. My former crosses and mortifications are all +forgotten. Philosophers may tell us, that reputation, and the immortality +of a name, are all but an airy shadow. Enough for me, that nature, from my +earliest infancy, led me to place my first delight in these. I envy not +kings their sceptres. I envy not statesmen their power. I envy not Damon +his love, and his Delia. Next to the pursuits of honour and truth, my soul +is conscious to but one wish, that of having my name enrolled, in however +inferior a rank, with a Homer, and a Horace, a Livy, and a Cicero." + +The next day the proposed weddings took place. It is natural perhaps, at +the conclusion of such a narrative as this, to represent them all as +happy. But we are bound to adhere to nature and truth. Mr. Hartley and his +politician for some time struggled for superiority, but, in the end, the +eagle genius of Sophia soared aloft. Sir William, though he married a +woman, good natured, and destitute of vice, found something more insipid +in marriage, than he had previously apprehended. For Damon and his Delia, +they were amiable, and constant. Though their hearts were in the highest +degree susceptible and affectionate, the first ebullition of passion could +not last for ever. But it was succeeded by _the feast of reason, and the +flow of soul_. Their hours were sped with the calmness of tranquility. +When they saw each other no longer with transport, they saw each other +with complacency. And so long as they live, they will doubtless afford the +most striking demonstration, that marriage, when it unites two gentle +souls, and meaned by nature for each other, when it is blest of heaven, +and accompanied with reason and discretion, is the sweetest, and the +fairest of all the bands of society. + + +THE END. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Damon and Delia, by William Godwin + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DAMON AND DELIA *** + +***** This file should be named 10318.txt or 10318.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/3/1/10318/ + +Produced by Jonathan Ingram, Sheila Vogtmann and PG Distributed +Proofreaders + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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