England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Epistolary fiction; Essays
Drawer) how darest thou to accuse me of an Act, of which the bare idea
makes me blush?” The base wretch was still unconvinced and continued to
upbraid the justly-offended Sophia in such opprobious Language, that at
length he so greatly provoked the gentle sweetness of her Nature, as to
induce her to revenge herself on him by informing him of Janetta’s
Elopement, and of the active Part we had both taken in the affair. At
this period of their Quarrel I entered the Library and was as you may
imagine equally offended as Sophia at the ill-grounded accusations of
the malevolent and contemptible Macdonald. “Base Miscreant! (cried I)
how canst thou thus undauntedly endeavour to sully the spotless
reputation of such bright Excellence? Why dost thou not suspect _my_
innocence as soon?” “Be satisfied Madam (replied he) I _do_ suspect it,
and therefore must desire that you will both leave this House in less
than half an hour.”
“We shall go willingly; (answered Sophia) our hearts have long detested
thee, and nothing but our freindship for thy Daughter could have
induced us to remain so long beneath thy roof.”
“Your Freindship for my Daughter has indeed been most powerfully
exerted by throwing her into the arms of an unprincipled
Fortune-hunter.” (replied he)
“Yes, (exclaimed I) amidst every misfortune, it will afford us some
consolation to reflect that by this one act of Freindship to Janetta,
we have amply discharged every obligation that we have received from
her father.”
“It must indeed be a most gratefull reflection, to your exalted minds.”
(said he.)
As soon as we had packed up our wardrobe and valuables, we left
Macdonald Hall, and after having walked about a mile and a half we sate
down by the side of a clear limpid stream to refresh our exhausted
limbs. The place was suited to meditation. A grove of full-grown Elms
sheltered us from the East—. A Bed of full-grown Nettles from the
West—. Before us ran the murmuring brook and behind us ran the
turn-pike road. We were in a mood for contemplation and in a
Disposition to enjoy so beautifull a spot. A mutual silence which had
for some time reigned between us, was at length broke by my
exclaiming—“What a lovely scene! Alas why are not Edward and Augustus
here to enjoy its Beauties with us?”
“Ah! my beloved Laura (cried Sophia) for pity’s sake forbear recalling
to my remembrance the unhappy situation of my imprisoned Husband. Alas,
what would I not give to learn the fate of my Augustus! to know if he
is still in Newgate, or if he is yet hung. But never shall I be able so
far to conquer my tender sensibility as to enquire after him. Oh! do
not I beseech you ever let me again hear you repeat his beloved name—.
It affects me too deeply—. I cannot bear to hear him mentioned it
wounds my feelings.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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