Lord Munster walked away with Sir Harry Bingley, and shewed him, on one
of the back grounds a cottage similar to that represented in the temple
above-mentioned. They advanced, and saw Miss Harris, and her lovely
boy playing at her feet. Sir Harry fixed his eyes, and with a peculiar
wildness exclaimed, Sport not, my friend, with my sorrows!--Lord
Munster assured him of the reality; but he almost swooned away at
the discovery, and was perfectly enchanted with his lovely boy. Every
explanation taking place to their mutual satisfaction, Mr Burt being
in the secret, and some more friends, the ceremony was immediately
performed, and Miss Harris was introduced that very evening, as Lady
Bingley, to the family at Munster-house.
Lord Munster, leaving this happy pair, joined Lord Sombre; two ladies
passed by them, one in a habit similar to that Mademoiselle de Querci
had wore at the masquerade at Venice: the other had assumed the figure
of Diana. Struck with their majestic appearance, they followed them. The
mask of the latter dropped, as if ashamed to conceal so much beauty.
Lord Sombre stooping, instantly restored to her the _unfaithful_
guardian of her charms. The lady, covered with that agreeable confusion
inherent to the sex, apologized for the trouble she had given him! He
replied, he could not but acknowledge that it was a trouble to him to be
the instrument of depriving the company of the sight of so much beauty.
That, Sir, replied she, may be your opinion; but my intention is to see,
and _not be seen_. But a lady, replied his lordship, who represents
Diana, would appear more in character if she could consent not _to be
concealed_, nor to hide those beams of brightness which were designed
to be the light of the world. Sir, said she, if I must support my
character, it is not at all the less in my power because my mask is on,
being still the moon though in eclipse--but my intention of appearing in
the character of Diana, was to keep Actæon at a distance.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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