We are going this morning to see Burleigh: when we return, I shall
announce Colonel Willmott to Emily, and introduce them properly to each
other; they are to go in the same chaise; she at present only knows him
as a friend of mine, and he her as his _belle paisanne_.
Adieu! I am summoned.
Your faithful
Ed. Rivers.
I should have told you, I acquainted Colonel Willmott with my
sister's marriage before I took him to Temple-house, and found an
opportunity of introducing him to Temple unobserved.
Emily is the only one here to whom he is a stranger: I will caution
him not to mention to her his past generous design in my favor. Adieu!
LETTER 223.
To Mrs. Fitzgerald.
Temple-house, Thursday morning.
Your Emily was happy beyond words last night: amongst a crowd of
beauties, her Rivers's eyes continually followed her; he seemed to see
no other object: he would scarce let me wait till supper to unmask.
But you will call me a foolish romantic girl; therefore I will only
say, I had the delight to see him pleased with my dress, and charmed
with the complaisance which was shewed me by others.
There was a gentleman who came with Rivers, who was particularly
attentive to me; he is not young, but extremely amiable: has a very
fine person, with a commanding air; great politeness, and, as far as
one can judge by a few hours conversation, an excellent understanding.
I never in my life met with a man for whom I felt such a partiality
at first sight, except Rivers, who tells me, I have made a conquest of
his friend.
He is to be my cavalier this morning to Burleigh.
It has this moment struck me, that Rivers never introduced his
friend and me to each other, but as masks; I never thought of this
before: I suppose he forgot it in the hurry of the masquerade.
I do not even know this agreable stranger's name; I only found out
by his conversation he had served in the army.
There is no saying how beautiful Lucy looked last night; her dress
was rich, elegantly fancied, and particularly becoming to her graceful
form, which I never saw look so graceful before.
All who attempted to be fine figures, shrunk into nothing before her.
Lucy carries her head, you know, remarkably well; which, with the
advantage of her height, the perfect standard of women, her fine
proportion, the native dignity of her air, the majestic flow of her
robe, and the blaze of her diamonds, gave her a look of infinite
superiority; a superiority which some of the company seemed to feel in
a manner, which rather, I will own, gave me pain.
In a place consecrated to joy, I hate to see any thing like an
uneasy sensation; yet, whilst human passions are what they are, it is
difficult to avoid them.
There were four or five other sultanas, who seemed only the slaves
of her train.
In short,
"She look'd a goddess, and she mov'd a queen."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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