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
A good hint for you, Lady L----. I hope you will take this for a
warning, and be good.
When I behave as you do, Charlotte--
I understand you, Lady L----, you need not speak out--Every one in their
way.
You would not behave thus, were my brother--
Perhaps not.
Dear Charlotte, you are excessively wrong.
So I think, returned she.
Why then do you not--
Mend, Lady L----? All in good time.
Her woman came in with a message, expressing her lord's desire to see
her.--The deuce is in these men! They will neither be satisfied with us,
nor without us. But I am all obedience: no vow will I break--And out she
went.
Lord G---- not returning presently, and Lord and Lady L----'s chariot
being come, they both took this opportunity, in order to shew their
displeasure, to go away without taking leave of their sister. Dr.
Bartlett retired to his apartment. And when Lady G---- came down, she
was surprised, and a little vexed, to find only Emily there. Lord G----
came in at another door--Upon my word, my Lord, this is strange behaviour
in you: you fright away, with your husband-like airs, all one's company.
Good God!--I am astonished at you, madam.
What signifies your astonishment?--when you have scared every body out of
the house.
I, madam!
You, sir! Yes, you!--Did you not lord it over me in my dressing-room?--
To be easy and quiet, did I not fly to our company in the drawing-room?
Did you not follow me there--with looks--very pretty looks for a
new-married man, I assure you! Then did you not want to take me aside--
Would not anybody have supposed it was to express your sorrow for your
odd behaviour? Was I not all obedience?--Did you not, with very mannish
airs, slight me for my compliance, and fly out of the room? All the
company could witness the calmness with which I returned to them, that
they might not be grieved for me; nor think our misunderstanding a deep
one. Well, then, when your stomach came down, as I supposed, you sent
for me out: no doubt, thought I, to express his concern now.--I was all
obedience again.
And did I not beseech you, madam--
Beseech me, my lord!--Yes--But with such looks!--I married, sir, let me
tell you, a man with another face--See, see, Emily--He is gone again.--
My lord flew out of the room in a rage.--O these men, my dear! said she
to Emily.
I know, said Emily, what I could have answered, if I dared: but it is ill
meddling, as I have heard say, between man and wife.
Emily says, the quarrel was not made up; but was carried higher still in
the morning.
She had but just finished her tale, when the following billet was brought
me, from Lady G----:
***
TUESDAY MORNING.
Harriet,
If you love me, if you pity me, come hither this instant: I have great
need of your counsel. I am resolved to be unmarried; and therefore
subscribe myself by the beloved name of
CHARLOTTE GRANDISON.
***
I instantly dispatched the following:
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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