To Colonel Bellville.
Wednesday Morning.
THIS joy is a prodigious enemy to
sleep. Lady Julia rose this morning
with the sun; I dare say she never thought
he looked so bright; before he sets, she will
see the most charming of mankind. My Lord
yesterday sent an express to Lord T — 's,
with orders to follow Harry wherever he
was, and bring him this evening to Belmont:
Lady Mary is to have the pleasure
of making him acquainted with his happiness:
the discovery was only delayed, till
convinced of their passion for each other.
Colonel Mandeville is in town, directing
the drawing of the writings; and comes
down in a few days to have them executed.
I have had a second letter from Lord
Melvin, as respectful as the pride of woman
can desire: a postscript from Lord
Rochdale having satisfied me in point of decorum,
I allow his son to visit here when
he pleases. My niece and Emily Howard
come this evening; Lady Julia is now
with them; I suppose we shall see Lord
Melvin to-morrow: if he is very pressing,
they may, perhaps, be married with Lady
Julia.
Heavens! Bellville! What a change in
all our affairs! The matrimonial star prevails;
it would be strange if I should be
betrayed into the party: and yet, Lady
Mary has drawn so bewitching a plan of a
wedding-day, as might seduce a more determined
coquette. If one could be married
for that day only — Or if one was
sure of pleasing for ever like Lady Belmont
–'Dear madam, said I, if your Ladyship
would lend one your Cestus.' "You are
already possessed of it, my dear Lady
Anne; the delicacy and purity of a
bride will always give you the charms of
one."
I believe her Ladyship may be in the
right; it is not the state, but the foolish
conduct of people who enter into it, that
makes it unhappy.
If you should come down with Colonel
Mandeville, it is impossible to say what
may happen.
Absolutely, Bellville, if I do condescend,
which is yet extremely doubtful, we will
live in the style of lovers; I hate the dull
road of common marriages: no impertinent
presuming on the name of husband; no
saucy freedoms; I will continue to be courted,
and shall expect as much flattery, and give
myself as many scornful airs, as if I had never
honored you with my hand.
I give you warning, I shall make a most
intolerable wife; but that is your business,
not mine.
This very day se'nnight, which is Lady
Julia's birth-day, is intended for her marriage;
the house is to be full of company,
invited to celebrate the day, without knowing
on what further account; nobody is
even to suspect them to be lovers; they
are to go privately out of Lady Mary's
apartment into the chapel, where my Lord
chuses the ceremony should be performed.
We are to have a masquerade in a grand
open pavilion, on Corinthian pillars, built
for this happy occasion in the garden, opposite
the house, which is to be in view finely
illuminated: the intermediate space is to
be adorned with lamps, intermixed with
festoons of flowers in the trees, round
which are to be seats for the villagers, who
are never forgot on these days of annual
rejoicings.
Lady Mary, who is mistress of the ceremonies,
and who insists on joining all
our hands that day, has engaged yo for
the ball to Lady Julia, Harry to Bell
Hastings, and Lord Melvin to me: our
situation is to be kept secret for a week,
which is to be filled up with various scenes
of festivity; after which, we are to go to
town to be presented; and from thence on
a tour of six months to Italy. This is her
scheme; but it depends on Bell Hastings
and me whether it shall be executed in full:
ten thousand to one but our cruelty spoils
the prettiest mysterious plan of a wedding
that can be. Absolutely Lady Mary has a
kind of an idea of things–I cannot conceive
how she came by it–Not the least
symptom of an old main in this plan–Something
so fanciful and like a love affair!–It
is a thousand pities her Ladyship would not
be of the party herself. Do you know
never a sprightly old courtier of the Queen's
time?
My Lord is so pleased with the thought
of seeing us all happy, that he has given
orders for building a temple to Love and
Friendship, at a little villa which the Colonel
has given him, and which is almost centrical
in respect to all our houses; here we
are to meet once a week, and exclude the
rest of the world.
Harry and Lady Julia are to live at Lady
Mary's seat, about ten miles from hence; and
I have fixed on a house, which is to be sold,
at about the same distance.
And now, Bellville, to be very serious,
I should be the happiest creature in the
world in this prospect, if I was not afraid
of my own conduct. I am volatile, light,
extravagant, and capricious; qualities ill
suited to a matrimonial life. I know my
faults, but am not able to mend them: I
see the beauty of order in the moral world,
yet doat to excess on irregularity.
Call on Colonel Mandeville, and concert
your journey together. Heaven and earth!
What have I not said in that permission?
With all my affection for you, there is a solemnity
in the idea–Oh! Bellville! should I
ever become less dear to you! should coldness,
should indifference ever take place of that
lively endearing tenderness–I will throw
away the pen for a moment––
The most amiable of men will forgive
the too anxious fears of excessive love: I
with transport make him the arbiter of my
future days. Lady Julia is come back, and
has brought me the enclosed bond, by
which Bell Hastings engages to pay you
thirty thousand pounds on the day of my
marriage. Her letter to you will explain
this further.
Twelve o'Clock.
Ah! cor mio! son confuso! Yes, I blush
at saying in express words what I have already
said by deduction. Your uncle insists
on a positive "I will": How can the
dear old man be so cruel? Tell him, if he
is not satisfied with this letter, he shall dictate
the form of consent himself.
One condition, however, I shall not
dispense with; that he comes down to
Belmont, and opens the ball with Lady
Mary.
Adio!
