Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 1. No 1, June 1850Various
General
Harper's New Monthly Magazine, Vol. 1. No 1, June 1850
Various
American literature -- Periodicals; Civilization -- Periodicals; Culture -- Periodicals
And so when she went in the evening to carry her answer to Mrs. Danvers,
who had conveyed to her Catherine's proposal, Lettice said, "that she
should have liked exceedingly to accept Catherine's offer, and was sure
she should have been very happy herself, and would have done every thing
in her power to make Mrs. Melwyn happy, but that it was impossible to
leave her sister."
"If that is your only difficulty, my dear, don't make yourself uneasy
about that. I have found a place for your sister which I think she will
like very well. It is with Mrs. Fisher, the great milliner in
Dover-street, where she will be taken care of, and may be very
comfortable. Mrs. Fisher is a most excellent person, and very anxious,
not only about the health and comfort of those she employs, but about
their good behavior and their security from evil temptation. Such a
beautiful girl as your sister is, lives in perpetual danger, exposed as
she is without protection in this great town."
"But Myra has such an abhorrence of servitude, as she calls it--such an
independent high spirit--I fear she will never like it."
"It will be very good for her, whether she likes it or not. Indeed, my
dear, to speak sincerely, the placing your sister out of danger in the
house of Mrs. Fisher ought to be a decisive reason with you for
accepting Catherine's proposal--even did you dislike it much more than
you seem to do."
"Oh! to tell the truth, I should like the plan very much indeed--much
more than I have wished to say, on account of Myra: but she never, never
will submit to be ruled, I fear, and make herself happy where, of
course, she must obey orders and follow regulations, whether she likes
them or not. Unfortunately, poor dear, she has been so little accustomed
to be contradicted."
"Well, then, it is high time she should begin; for contradicted, sooner
or later, we all of us are certain to be. Seriously, again, my dear,
good Lettice--I must call you Lettice--your innocence of heart prevents
you from knowing what snares surround a beautiful young woman like your
sister. I like you best, I own; but I have thought much more of her fate
than yours, upon that account. Such a situation as is offered to you she
evidently is quite unfit to fill: but I went--the very day Catherine and
I came to your lodgings and saw you both--to my good friend Mrs. Fisher,
and, with great difficulty, have persuaded her at last to take your
sister. She disliked the idea very much; but she's an excellent woman:
and when I represented to her the peculiar circumstances of the case,
she promised she would consider the matter. She took a week to consider
of it--for she is a very cautious person is Mrs. Fisher; and some people
call her very cold and severe. However, she has decided in our favor, as
I expected she would. Her compassion always gets the better of her
prudence, when the two are at issue. And so you would not dislike to go
to Mrs. Melwyn's?"
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