The History of Sir Charles Grandison, Volume 4 (of 7)Richardson, Samuel
General
The History of Sir Charles Grandison, Volume 4 (of 7)
Richardson, Samuel
England -- Social life and customs -- 18th century -- Fiction; Epistolary fiction
Your lordship oppresses me with your goodness to your niece, said Lord
L----. May health, long-life, and happiness, attend you in your own
nuptials!
There, there, said Lord W----, pointing to Sir Charles, (who had
withdrawn, and then entered), make your acknowledgment: his noble spirit
has awakened mine; it was only asleep. My late sister's brother wanted
but the force of such an example. That son is all his mother.
Sir Charles joining them, having heard only the last words--If I am
thought a son not unworthy of the most excellent of mothers, said he, and
by her brother, I am happy.
Then you are happy, replied my lord.
Her memory, resumed Sir Charles, I cherish; and when I have been tempted
to forget myself, that memory has been a means of keeping me steady in my
duty. Her precepts, my lord, were the guide of my early youth. Had I
not kept them in mind, how much more blamable than most young men had I
been!--My Charlotte! Have that mother in your memory, on this great
change of your condition! You will not be called to her trials.--His
eyes glistened. Tender be our remembrance of my father.--Charlotte, be
worthy of your mother.
He withdrew with an air so noble!--But soon returning, with a cheerful
look, he was told what Lord W---- had done--Your lordship was before,
said he, entitled to our duty, by the ties of blood: but what is the
relation of body to that of mind? You have bound me for my sisters, and
that still more by the manner, than by the act, in a bond of gratitude
that never can be broken!
Thank yourself, thank yourself, my noble nephew.
Encourage, my lord, a family intimacy between your lady, and her nieces
and nephews. You will be delighted, my sisters, with Miss Mansfield; but
when she obliges my lord with her hand, you will reverence your aunt. I
shall have a pleasure, when I am far distant, in contemplating the family
union. Your lordship must let me know your Day in time; and I will be
joyful upon it, whatever, of a contrary nature, I may have to struggle
with on my own account.
My lord wept--My lord wept, did I say?--Not one of us had a dry eye!--
This was a solemn scene, you will say, for a wedding day: but how
delightfully do such scenes dilate the heart!
The day, however, was not forgotten as a day of festivity. Sir Charles
himself, by his vivacity and openness of countenance, made every one
joyful: and, except that now and then a sigh, which could not be checked,
stole from some of us, to think that he would so soon be in another
country, (far distant from the friends he now made happy,) and engaged in
difficulties; perhaps in dangers; every heart was present to the occasion
of the day.
O, Charlotte! Dear Lady G----! Hitherto, it is in your power, to make
every future day, worthy of this!--'Have your mother, your noble mother,
in your memory, my dear:' and give credit to the approbation of such a
brother.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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