The History of Miss Betsy ThoughtlessHaywood, Eliza Fowler
General
The History of Miss Betsy Thoughtless
Haywood, Eliza Fowler
Abused wives -- Fiction; Bildungsromans; Didactic fiction; England -- Fiction; Married women -- Fiction
With these suggestions did she please herself whenever he came into her
mind: but, indeed, she had but little room for meditation on his
account; not only Mr. Munden plied her close with presents, treats, fine
speeches, and all the tokens of impatient love, but she had also another
conquest of a more late, and consequently, to a young lady of her
humour, a more pleasing æra.
She had been one day at her mantua-maker's, to consult on some matters
relating to her dress, and was a little surprized to see the woman come
the next morning, before she was out of bed, to her lodgings. 'Hey day,
Mrs. Modely!' cried she; 'what brings you here thus early?'--'Indeed,
Madam,' answered she, 'I could not well come out; I have eight or nine
gowns in the house now, which should all have been finished and sent
home today; the ladies will tear me to pieces about them: but I left all
my business, and run away to acquaint you with a thing you little dream
of. Ah, Miss Betsy! such a fine gentleman! such a vast estate! but it is
no wonder,' continued she, 'you are so pretty, that you make all the men
die for you.'--'What is it you are talking of?' cried Miss Betsy;
'pr'ythee, dear Modely, explain.'--'Lord!' replied the other, 'I am so
transported that I know not how to contain myself! But I will tell you:
you were yesterday at my house; Sir Frederick Fineer, who lodges in my
first floor--the sweetest and most generous gentleman that ever lived,
to be sure! (but that is nothing to the purpose) he saw you from his
dining-room window when you came out of your chair; and, would you
believe it! was so struck, that he immediately fell down in a swoon: you
were but just gone when his valet de chambre (for he keeps three
servants, two in livery, and one out) came down to me, and fetched me to
his master. "Oh, Mrs. Modely!" said he to me, "what angel have you got
below?--Tell me who she is? If she is not already married, I will give
my whole estate to obtain her. I ask not what her fortune is; if I could
once call that divine creature my wife, she should command all I am
worth!"
'Indeed, Madam,' continued she, 'I was so much amazed, that I had not
the power of speaking; and he, I suppose, interpreting my silence as a
refusal of answering his demands, fell into such distractions, such
ravings, as frighted me almost out of my wits; and, at last, to quiet
him, I told him (I hope you will forgive me) your name, and where you
lived, and that you were not married: on this he seemed pretty easy, and
I left him; but, about two hours after, he sent for me again--desired I
would go directly to you--make you a declaration of love in his name,
and beg you would give him leave to visit you in person.'
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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