University of Virginia Library

[Louise Lintot to Florence Weldon.]

`What a noble heart has Henry! How his very defects, themselves,
reveal qualities, that badly directed, have led to the gravest of faults,
but well directed would have made a wife happy. All that is wanting
in him to make him the best of husbands is decision! It is already
clear to me that he has been impelled to this inconceivable negative by
an excess of loyalty and frankness.—Foolish notions have inspired him
with fear of matrimony, fear which he knows not how to shake off. He
loves me: I am sure that he loves me with all his heart. Without me
his life will be miserable and desolate; but through the effect of habit
that word matrimony inspires him with fear, and he does not wish to
consign to me a heart where I reign, because this feeling of doubt
exists, though only in his imagination. Only that marriage is necessary,
he would live at my side as a husband most tender and loving
but matrimony exists!

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12

It were certainly a deed of charity to cure him, as much on his own
account, as he will always be miserable, as for his father's sake whom
I love as if he were my own. Mr. Howard has hinted to me that if I
desire I can easily tie the knot broken once by the imprudence of Harry.
— I see that this may be possible: but the difficulty is in
undertaking it. As with you, Florence, I am frank, I confess to you
that the will is not wanting on my part; and if Henry should say to
me to-day:

`Forget the past, pardon my faults and give me an opportunity to
repair them,' perhaps, from friendship to his father, through charity to
him, I would let him conduct me anew to the presence of the clergyman.
But this he has not yet done; and for reasons I pointed out at
the beginning of this letter, I think will not do! He cannot find
happiness without marrying me; but he is not yet reconciled to me,
and if he were, he might not so soon be with the idea of matrimony.
It is a rare case; but it is as you see! His letters are as expansive, as
loving as I could desire; but he does not explain himself categorically;
nor does he propose anything. Now you see how peculiar my
situation is, wishing to act without the power! I will meditate upon
the matter; for it would be so gratifying to me to do a favor to that
good Mr. Howard, his father.'