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
When I went to St. James's-square, Sir Charles and Lady L---- were gone
in his coach to bring the two ladies.
Lady G---- met me on the stairs-head, leading into her dressing-room.
Not a word, said she, of the man's sullens: He repents: A fine figure, as
I told him, of a bridegroom, would he make in the eyes of foreign ladies,
at dinner, were he to retain his gloomy airs. He has begged my pardon;
as good as promised amendment; and I have forgiven him.
Poor Lord G----, said I.
Hush, hush! He is within: he will hear you: and then perhaps repent of
his repentance.
She led me in: my lord had a glow in his cheeks, and looked as if he had
been nettled; and was but just recovering a smile, to help to carry off
the petulance. O how saucily did her eyes look! Well, my lord, said
she, I hope--But you say, I misunderstood--No more, madam, no more, I
beseech you--
Well, sir, not a word more, since you are--
Pray, madam--
Well, well, give me your hand--You must leave Harriet and me together.
She humorously courtesied to him as he bowed to me, taking the compliment
as to herself. She nodded her head to him, as he turned back his when he
was at the door; and when he was gone, If I can but make this man
orderly, said she, I shall not quarrel with my brother for hurrying me,
as he has done.
You are wrong, excessively wrong, Charlotte: you call my lord a silly
man, but can have no proof that he is so, but by his bearing this
treatment from you.
None of your grave airs, my dear. The man is a good sort of man, and
will be so, if you and Lady L---- don't spoil him. I have a vast deal of
roguery, but no ill-nature, in my heart. There is luxury in jesting with
a solemn man, who wants to assume airs of privilege, and thinks he has a
right to be impertinent. I'll tell you how I will manage--I believe I
shall often try his patience, and when I am conscious that I have gone
too far, I will be patient if he is angry with me; so we shall be quits.
Then I'll begin again: he will resent: and if I find his aspect very
solemn--Come, come, no glouting, friend, I will say, and perhaps smile in
his face: I'll play you a tune, or sing you a song--Which, which! Speak
in a moment, or the humour will be off.
If he was ready to cry before, he will laugh then, though against his
will: and as he admires my finger, and my voice, shall we not be
instantly friends?
It signified nothing to rave at her: she will have her way. Poor Lord
G----! At my first knowledge of her, I thought her very lively; but
imagined not that she was indiscreetly so.
Lord G----'s fondness for his saucy bride was, as I have reason to
believe, his fault: I dared not to ask for particulars of their quarrel:
and if I had, and found it so, could not, with such a rallying creature,
have entered into his defence, or censured her.
I went down a few moments before her. Lord G---- whispered me, that he
should be the happiest man in the world, if I, who had such an influence
over her, would stand his friend.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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