The history of Lady Julia Mandeville | ||
To Colonel Bellville.
Monday.
"WILL you marry me, my dear Ally Croaker?" For ever this question, Bellville? And yet really you seem to be not at all in the secret. "Respect, submission"–I thought you had known the sex better: How should a modest woman ever be prevailed on by a respectful submissive lover? You would not surely have us––
Oh! Heavens! A billet. Some despairing inamorato: Indeed? Lord Melvin? He is not going to make love to me sure.
Very well; things are in a fine train. He writes me here as pretty an heroic epistle as one would desire, setting forth his passion for Bell Hastings, whom he has just
"Almost prevailed on." Really these are pretty airs. I shall write him an extremely stately answer, and let him know, if he expects Miss Hastings to do him the honor, his address must be in quite another style: Miss Hastings! in blood, in merit, in education, in every thing truly valuable, and in fortune too, if I please, his equal! I wish the foolish girl was not so madly in love with him, for I long to torture his proud heart: I cannot resist teazing him a little; but, as I know her weakness, and that we must come to at last, I shall be forced to leave a door of mercy open: I shall, however, insist on his family's seeking the match, and on Lord Rochdale's asking her of me in form; I will not yield a scruple of our dignity on this occasion.
But I must carry this Letter to Bell. Adieu!
As to your foolish question, I may perhaps allow you to visit at Belmont; I will promise no more at present.
Did I tell you we all spent yesterday with my niece? She has the honor to please Lady Mary, who, on seeing her at a little distance with Lady Julia and me (no ill group certainly) insisted on our sitting next winter for a picture of the Graces dancing.
Or suppose, Madam, said I, the three Goddesses on mount Ida, with Harry Mandeville for our Paris?
Poor little Emily, being equally under size for a Grace or a Goddess, must be content to be a Hebe in a single piece.
Adio! Yours,
A. Wilmot.
The history of Lady Julia Mandeville | ||