John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. II.Cumberland, Richard
General
John de Lancaster: a novel; vol. II.
Cumberland, Richard
Wales, North -- Fiction
What I have said is true: I have full cause to love you: such as you are
in every early excellence of mind and person, it would be out of nature
if I did not. I can well believe it to be against rule for a young girl
like me to make this frank confession: It seems so; and perhaps it was
not quite in rule for me to suffer you to embrace me, whilst you uttered
those emphatic, tender words; I could not help it: you embraced me once
before; I could not help it then. The arms of no man since my father
died ever embraced me, yours alone excepted. The delight, which those
endearments gave me in both cases, I am not ashamed to own; for it was
pure: but I should be sorry to indulge in that delight, however pure,
which cannot be permanent; and would not wish to hear those fond
rapturous words repeated, to which if I affixed a serious meaning, I
must be the vainest and the weakest of all human beings. In one word, my
dear sir, you, who are destined to so high a lot, must show some pity
for a lowly creature that looks up to you with love and admiration, and
must absolutely promise me to fill up your time at Glen Morgan, whilst I
in obedience to Mr. De Lancaster’s commands pay a short visit of respect
at Kray Castle.
If you think that I ought to be at Glen Morgan when you are at Kray
Castle, John replied, I much doubt if I ought to be where I am at this
moment; but why my lovely Amelia should mistrust either her own power,
or my principle, I cannot tell.
You must not disappoint the expectation of your friends; you must not do
what is unbecoming of your situation.
That’s true, my sweet Amelia; that is very true: I must not disgrace
myself by any mean and infamous action: you would not like me if I did
that; would you, Amelia?
Surely not.
I must not, for instance, make vehement protestations to an ingenuous,
honourable, accomplished girl, draw her on to confess that I am not
disagreeable to her, prevail upon her to endure my hypocritical
caresses, and then turn my back upon her, and forsake her; would not
that be scandalous?
It would not be right.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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