Camilla; or, A Picture of Youth

John Stuart Mill · en
'Well, sir!' she cried, proudly, 'you may now see if I judged right as
to taking the young ladies a little into the world. Please to look at
this letter, sir:'

     _To Miss_ Margland, _at Sir_ Hugh Tyrold'_s_, _Bart._ Cleves,
     Hampshire.

     MADAM,

     With the most profound respect I presume to address you, though
     only upon the strength of that marked politeness which shines forth
     in your deportment. I have the highest ambition to offer a few
     lines to the perusal of Miss Eugenia Tyrold, previous to presenting
     myself to Sir Hugh. My reasons will be contained in the letter
     which I take the liberty to put into your hands. It is only under
     your protection, madam, I can aim at approaching that young lady,
     as all that I have either seen or heard convinces me of her
     extraordinary happiness in being under your direction. Your
     influence, madam, I should therefore esteem as an honour, and I
     leave it wholly to your own choice, whether to read what I have
     addressed to that young lady before or after she has deigned to
     cast an eye upon it herself. I remain, with the most profound
     respect,

     Madam,
     your most obedient,
     and obliged servant,
     ALPHONSO BELLAMY.

     I shall take the liberty to send my servant for an answer tomorrow
     evening.

'This, sir,' continued Miss Margland, when Sir Hugh had read the letter;
'this is the exact conduct of a gentleman; all open, all respectful. No
attempt at any clandestine intercourse. All is addressed where it ought
to be, to the person most proper to superintend such an affair. This is
that very same gentleman whose politeness I mentioned to you, and who
danced with Miss Eugenia at Northwick, when nobody else took any notice
of her. This is--'

'Why then this is one of the most untoward things,' cried Sir Hugh, who,
vainly waiting for a pause, began to speak without one, 'that has ever
come to bear; for where's the use of Eugenia's making poor young fellows
fall in love with her for nothing? which I hold to be a pity, provided
it's sincere, which I take for granted.'

'As to that, sir, I can't say I see the reason why Miss Eugenia should
not be allowed to look about her, and have some choice; especially as
the young gentleman abroad has no fortune; at least none answerable to
her expectations.'

'But that's the very reason for my marrying them together. For as he has
not had the small-pox himself, that is, not in the natural way; which,
Lord help me! I thought the best, owing to my want of knowledge; why
he'll the more readily excuse her face not being one of the prettiest,
for her kindness in putting up with his having so little money; being a
thing some people think a good deal of.'

'But, sir, won't it be very hard upon poor Miss Eugenia, if a better
offer should come, that she must not listen to it, only because of a
person she has never seen, though he has no estate?'