4. CHAPTER IV.
By which it will appear how dangerous an advocate a lady is when she
applies her eloquence to an ill purpose
When Lady Bellaston heard the young lord's scruples, she treated
them with the same disdain with which one of those sages of the law,
called Newgate solicitors, treats the qualms of conscience in a
young witness. "My dear lord," said she, "you certainly want a
cordial. I must send to Lady Edgely for one of her best drams. Fie
upon it! have more resolution. Are you frightened by the word rape? Or
are you apprehensive--? Well! if the story of Helen was modern, I
should think it unnatural. I mean the behaviour of Paris, not the
fondness of the lady; for all women love a man of spirit. There is
another story of the Sabine ladies- and that too, I thank heaven, is
very antient. Your lordship, perhaps, will admire my reading; but I
think Mr. Hook tells us, they made tolerable good wives afterwards.
I fancy few of my married acquaintance were ravished by their
husbands." "Nay, dear Lady Bellaston," cried he, "don't ridicule me in
this manner." "Why, my good lord," answered she, "do you think woman
in England would not laugh at you in her heart, whatever prudery she
might wear in her countenance?-- You force me to use a strange kind of
language, and to betray my sex most abominably; but I am contented
with knowing my intentions are good, and that I am endeavouring to
serve my cousin; for I think you will make her a husband
notwithstanding this; or, upon my soul, I would not even persuade
her to fling herself away upon an empty title. She should not
upbraid me hereafter with having lost a man of spirit; for that his
enemies allow this poor young fellow to be."
Let those who have had the satisfaction of hearing reflections of
this kind from a wife or a mistress, declare whether they are at all
sweetened by coming from a female tongue. Certain it is, they sunk
deeper into his lordship than anything which Demosthenes or Cicero
could have said on the occasion.
Lady Bellaston, perceiving she had fired the young lord's pride,
began now, like a true orator, to rouse other passions to its
assistance. "My Lord," says she, in a graver voice, "you will be
pleased to remember, you mentioned this matter to me first; for I
would not appear to you in the light of one who is endeavouring to put
off my cousin upon you. Fourscore thousand pounds do not stand in need
of an advocate to recommend them." "Nor doth Miss Western," said he,
"require any recommendation from her fortune; for, in my opinion, no
woman ever had half her charms." "Yes, yes, my lord," replied the
lady, looking in the glass, "there have been women with more than
half her charms, I assure you; not that I need lessen her on that
account: she is a most delicious girl, that's certain; and within
these few hours she will be in the arms of one, who surely doth not
deserve her, though I will give him his due, I believe he is truly a
man of spirit."
"I hope so, madam," said my lord; "though I must own he doth not
deserve her; for, unless heaven or your ladyship disappoint me, she
shall within that time be in mine."
"Well spoken, my lord," answered the lady; "I promise you no
disappointment shall happen from my side; and within this week I am
convinced I shall call your lordship my cousin in public."
The remainder of this scene consisted entirely of raptures, excuses,
and compliments, very pleasant to have heard from the parties; but
rather dull when related at second hand. Here, therefore, shall put an
end to this dialogue, and hasten to the fatal hour when everything was
prepared for the destruction of poor Sophia.
But this being the most tragical matter in our whole history, we
shall treat it in a chapter by itself.