To Colonel Bellville.
Thursday Evening.
O Ciel! Une avanture! Making use
of the sweet liberty of Belmont,
which has no rule but that of the Thelemites,
"Do what thou wilt," I left them
after dinner to settle family affairs, and ordered
my chariot to take a solitary airing:
an old cat, however, arriving just as it
came to the door, who is a famous proficient
in scandal, a treat I am absolutely deprived
of at Belmont; I changed my mind,
and asked her to accompany me, that I
might be amused with the secret history of
all the neighbourhood.
She had torn to pieces half a dozen of
the prettiest women about us, when, passing
through a little village about six miles from
Belmont, I was struck with the extreme
neatness of a small house and garden near
the road; there was an elegant plainness
in the air of it, which pleased me so much
that I pulled the string, and ordered the
coachman to stop, that I might examine it
more at leisure. I was going to bid him
drive on, when two women came out of an
arbor, one of whom instantly engaged all
my attention.
Imagine to yourself in such a place all
that is graceful and lovely in woman; an
elegance of form and habit; a dignity of
deportment; an air of delicate languor
and sensibility, which won the heart at a
look; a complexion inclining to pale; the
finest dark eyes; with a countenance in
which a modest sorrow and dignified dejection
gave the strongest indications of suffering
merit.
My companion, seeing the apparent partiality
with which I beheld this amiable
object, began to give me the history of her,
embittered by all the virulence of malice;
which, however, amounted to no more,
than that she was a stronger, and that, as
nobody knew who she was, they generously
concluded she was one whose interest it was
not to be known.
They now drew nearer to us; and the
charming creature, raising her eyes, and
then first seeing us, exclaimed, Good Heaven!
Lady Anne Wilmot! Is it possible!
I now regarded her more attentively; and,
though greatly changed since I saw her,
knew her to be Bell Hastings, Mr. Wilmot's
niece, whom I had been long endeavouring
to find. I sprung from the chariot to meet
her, and need not tell you my transport at
so unexpected a rencounter.
After the common enquiries on meeting,
I expressed my surprize at finding her
there, with a gentle reproach at her unkindness
in being in England without letting
me know it. She blushed, and seemed
embarrassed at what I said; on which I
changed the subject, and pressed her to accompany
me immediately to Belmont, the
place on earth where merit like hers was
most sure of finding its best reward, esteem.
She declined this proposal in a manner
which convinced me she had some particular
reason for refusing, which I doubted
not her taking a proper time to explain,
and therefore gave it up for the present.
I insisted, however, on her promising to go
with me to town; and that nothing but a
matrimonial engagement should separate
her from. There is no describing the
excess of her gratitude; tears of tender
sensibility shone in her eyes; and I could
see her bosom swell with sensations to which
she could not give utterance.
An hour passed without my having
thought of my meagre companion at the
gate. I was not sorry for having accidentally
mortified the envious wretch for her
spite to poor Bell. However, as I would
not designedly be shocking, I sent to her,
and apologized for my neglect, which I
excused from my joy at meeting unexpectedly
with a relation for whom I had the
tenderest friendship. The creature alighted
at my request; and, to make amends for
the picture she had drawn of my amiable
niece, overwhelmed her with civilities and
expressions of esteem, which would have
encreased my contempt for her, if any
thing in nature could.
After tea we returned, when I related
my adventure, and, though so late, could
scarce prevail on Lady Belmont to defer
her visit to Bell till to-morrow. She hopes
to be able to prevail on her to accompany
us back to Belmont.
Adio, caro.
