him the better if he did, for what is a Lover without a Confidante?”
“Oh! my Love replied she, you were born for each other. Every word
you say more deeply convinces me that your Minds are actuated by the
invisible power of simpathy, for your opinions and sentiments so exactly
coincide. Nay, the colour of your Hair is not very different. Yes my
dear Girl, the poor despairing Musgrove did reveal to me the story of
his Love--. Nor was I surprised at it--I know not how it was, but I had
a kind of presentiment that he would be in love with you.”
“Well, but how did he break it to you?”
“It was not till after supper. We were sitting round the fire
together talking on indifferent subjects, though to say the truth the
Conversation was cheifly on my side for he was thoughtful and silent,
when on a sudden he interrupted me in the midst of something I was
saying, by exclaiming in a most Theatrical tone--
Yes I'm in love I feel it now And Henrietta Halton has undone me
“Oh! What a sweet way replied I, of declaring his Passion! To make such
a couple of charming lines about me! What a pity it is that they are not
in rhime!”
“I am very glad you like it answered she; To be sure there was a great
deal of Taste in it. And are you in love with her, Cousin? said I. I am
very sorry for it, for unexceptionable as you are in every respect, with
a pretty Estate capable of Great improvements, and an excellent House
tho' somewhat out of repair, yet who can hope to aspire with success
to the adorable Henrietta who has had an offer from a Colonel and
been toasted by a Baronet”--“THAT I have--” cried I. Lady Scudamore
continued. “Ah dear Cousin replied he, I am so well convinced of the
little Chance I can have of winning her who is adored by thousands, that
I need no assurances of yours to make me more thoroughly so. Yet surely
neither you or the fair Henrietta herself will deny me the exquisite
Gratification of dieing for her, of falling a victim to her Charms. And
when I am dead”--continued her--
“Oh Lady Scudamore, said I wiping my eyes, that such a sweet Creature
should talk of dieing!”
“It is an affecting Circumstance indeed, replied Lady Scudamore.” “When
I am dead said he, let me be carried and lain at her feet, and perhaps
she may not disdain to drop a pitying tear on my poor remains.”
“Dear Lady Scudamore interrupted I, say no more on this affecting
subject. I cannot bear it.”
“Oh! how I admire the sweet sensibility of your Soul, and as I would not
for Worlds wound it too deeply, I will be silent.”
“Pray go on.” said I. She did so.
“And then added he, Ah! Cousin imagine what my transports will be when
I feel the dear precious drops trickle on my face! Who would not die
to haste such extacy! And when I am interred, may the divine Henrietta
bless some happier Youth with her affection, May he be as tenderly
attached to her as the hapless Musgrove and while HE crumbles to dust,
May they live an example of Felicity in the Conjugal state!”
Did you ever hear any thing so pathetic? What a charming wish, to be
lain at my feet when he was dead! Oh! what an exalted mind he must have
to be capable of such a wish! Lady Scudamore went on.
“Ah! my dear Cousin replied I to him, such noble behaviour as this, must
melt the heart of any woman however obdurate it may naturally be;
and could the divine Henrietta but hear your generous wishes for her
happiness, all gentle as is her mind, I have not a doubt but that she
would pity your affection and endeavour to return it.” “Oh! Cousin
answered he, do not endeavour to raise my hopes by such flattering
assurances. No, I cannot hope to please this angel of a Woman, and the
only thing which remains for me to do, is to die.” “True Love is ever
desponding replied I, but I my dear Tom will give you even greater
hopes of conquering this fair one's heart, than I have yet given you, by
assuring you that I watched her with the strictest attention during the
whole day, and could plainly discover that she cherishes in her bosom
though unknown to herself, a most tender affection for you.”
“Dear Lady Scudamore cried I, This is more than I ever knew!”
“Did not I say that it was unknown to yourself? I did not, continued
I to him, encourage you by saying this at first, that surprise might
render the pleasure still Greater.” “No Cousin replied he in a languid
voice, nothing will convince me that I can have touched the heart of
Henrietta Halton, and if you are deceived yourself, do not attempt
deceiving me.” “In short my Love it was the work of some hours for me to
Persuade the poor despairing Youth that you had really a preference for
him; but when at last he could no longer deny the force of my arguments,
or discredit what I told him, his transports, his Raptures, his Extacies
are beyond my power to describe.”
“Oh! the dear Creature, cried I, how passionately he loves me! But dear
Lady Scudamore did you tell him that I was totally dependant on my Uncle
and Aunt?”
“Yes, I told him every thing.”
“And what did he say.”
“He exclaimed with virulence against Uncles and Aunts; Accused the laws
of England for allowing them to Possess their Estates when wanted by
their Nephews or Neices, and wished HE were in the House of Commons,
that he might reform the Legislature, and rectify all its abuses.”
“Oh! the sweet Man! What a spirit he has!” said I.
“He could not flatter himself he added, that the adorable Henrietta
would condescend for his sake to resign those Luxuries and that splendor
to which she had been used, and accept only in exchange the Comforts
and Elegancies which his limited Income could afford her, even supposing
that his house were in Readiness to receive her. I told him that it
could not be expected that she would; it would be doing her an injustice
to suppose her capable of giving up the power she now possesses and so
nobly uses of doing such extensive Good to the poorer part of her fellow
Creatures, merely for the gratification of you and herself.”
“To be sure said I, I AM very Charitable every now and then. And what
did Mr Musgrove say to this?”
“He replied that he was under a melancholy necessity of owning the truth
of what I said, and that therefore if he should be the happy Creature
destined to be the Husband of the Beautiful Henrietta he must bring
himself to wait, however impatiently, for the fortunate day, when she
might be freed from the power of worthless Relations and able to bestow
herself on him.”
What a noble Creature he is! Oh! Matilda what a fortunate one I am, who
am to be his Wife! My Aunt is calling me to come and make the pies, so
adeiu my dear freind, and beleive me yours etc--H. Halton.
Finis.
*****
SCRAPS
To Miss FANNY CATHERINE AUSTEN
MY Dear Neice As I am prevented by the great distance between Rowling
and Steventon from superintending your Education myself, the care of
which will probably on that account devolve on your Father and Mother,
I think it is my particular Duty to Prevent your feeling as much as
possible the want of my personal instructions, by addressing to you on
paper my Opinions and Admonitions on the conduct of Young Women, which
you will find expressed in the following pages.--I am my dear Neice Your
affectionate Aunt The Author.
THE FEMALE PHILOSOPHER
A LETTER
My Dear Louisa Your friend Mr Millar called upon us yesterday in his way
to Bath, whither he is going for his health; two of his daughters were
with him, but the eldest and the three Boys are with their Mother in
Sussex. Though you have often told me that Miss Millar was remarkably
handsome, you never mentioned anything of her Sisters' beauty; yet they
are certainly extremely pretty. I'll give you their description.--Julia
is eighteen; with a countenance in which Modesty, Sense and Dignity are
happily blended, she has a form which at once presents you with Grace,
Elegance and Symmetry. Charlotte who is just sixteen is shorter than her
Sister, and though her figure cannot boast the easy dignity of
Julia's, yet it has a pleasing plumpness which is in a different way as
estimable. She is fair and her face is expressive sometimes of softness
the most bewitching, and at others of Vivacity the most striking.
She appears to have infinite Wit and a good humour unalterable; her
conversation during the half hour they set with us, was replete with
humourous sallies, Bonmots and repartees; while the sensible, the
amiable Julia uttered sentiments of Morality worthy of a heart like her
own. Mr Millar appeared to answer the character I had always received
of him. My Father met him with that look of Love, that social Shake, and
cordial kiss which marked his gladness at beholding an old and valued
freind from whom thro' various circumstances he had been separated
nearly twenty years. Mr Millar observed (and very justly too) that
many events had befallen each during that interval of time, which gave
occasion to the lovely Julia for making most sensible reflections on the
many changes in their situation which so long a period had occasioned,
on the advantages of some, and the disadvantages of others. From
this subject she made a short digression to the instability of human
pleasures and the uncertainty of their duration, which led her to
observe that all earthly Joys must be imperfect. She was proceeding to
illustrate this doctrine by examples from the Lives of great Men when
the Carriage came to the Door and the amiable Moralist with her Father
and Sister was obliged to depart; but not without a promise of spending
five or six months with us on their return. We of course mentioned you,
and I assure you that ample Justice was done to your Merits by all.
“Louisa Clarke (said I) is in general a very pleasant Girl, yet
sometimes her good humour is clouded by Peevishness, Envy and Spite. She
neither wants Understanding or is without some pretensions to Beauty,
but these are so very trifling, that the value she sets on her personal
charms, and the adoration she expects them to be offered are at once a
striking example of her vanity, her pride, and her folly.” So said I,
and to my opinion everyone added weight by the concurrence of their own.
Your affectionate Arabella Smythe.
THE FIRST ACT OF A COMEDY
CHARACTERS Popgun Maria Charles Pistolletta Postilion Hostess Chorus of
ploughboys Cook and and
Strephon Chloe
SCENE--AN INN
ENTER Hostess, Charles, Maria, and Cook.
Hostess to Maria) If the gentry in the Lion should want beds, shew them
number 9.
Maria) Yes Mistress.--EXIT Maria
Hostess to Cook) If their Honours in the Moon ask for the bill of fare,
give it them.
Cook) I wull, I wull. EXIT Cook.
Hostess to Charles) If their Ladyships in the Sun ring their
Bell--answerit.
Charles) Yes Madam. EXEUNT Severally.
SCENE CHANGES TO THE MOON, and discovers Popgun and Pistoletta.
Pistoletta) Pray papa how far is it to London?
Popgun) My Girl, my Darling, my favourite of all my Children, who art
the picture of thy poor Mother who died two months ago, with whom I am
going to Town to marry to Strephon, and to whom I mean to bequeath my
whole Estate, it wants seven Miles.
SCENE CHANGES TO THE SUN--
ENTER Chloe and a chorus of ploughboys.
Chloe) Where am I? At Hounslow.--Where go I? To London--. What to do? To
be married--. Unto whom? Unto Strephon. Who is he? A Youth. Then I will
sing a song.
SONG I go to Town And when I come down, I shall be married to Streephon *
[*Note the two e's] And that to me will be fun.
Chorus) Be fun, be fun, be fun, And that to me will be fun.
ENTER Cook--Cook) Here is the bill of fare.
Chloe reads) 2 Ducks, a leg of beef, a stinking partridge, and a
tart.--I will have the leg of beef and the partridge. EXIT Cook. And now
I will sing another song.
SONG--I am going to have my dinner, After which I shan't be thinner, I
wish I had here Strephon For he would carve the partridge if it should
be a tough one.
Chorus) Tough one, tough one, tough one For he would carve the partridge
if it Should be a tough one. EXIT Chloe and Chorus.--
SCENE CHANGES TO THE INSIDE OF THE LION.
Enter Strephon and Postilion. Streph:) You drove me from Staines to this
place, from whence I mean to go to Town to marry Chloe. How much is your
due?
Post:) Eighteen pence. Streph:) Alas, my freind, I have but a bad guinea
with which I mean to support myself in Town. But I will pawn to you an
undirected Letter that I received from Chloe.
Post:) Sir, I accept your offer.
END OF THE FIRST ACT.
A LETTER from a YOUNG LADY, whose feelings being too strong for
her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart
disapproved.
Many have been the cares and vicissitudes of my past life, my beloved
Ellinor, and the only consolation I feel for their bitterness is that on
a close examination of my conduct, I am convinced that I have strictly
deserved them. I murdered my father at a very early period of my Life, I
have since murdered my Mother, and I am now going to murder my Sister. I
have changed my religion so often that at present I have not an idea of
any left. I have been a perjured witness in every public tryal for these
last twelve years; and I have forged my own Will. In short there is
scarcely a crime that I have not committed--But I am now going to
reform. Colonel Martin of the Horse guards has paid his Addresses to me,
and we are to be married in a few days. As there is something singular
in our Courtship, I will give you an account of it. Colonel Martin is
the second son of the late Sir John Martin who died immensely rich, but
bequeathing only one hundred thousand pound apeice to his three younger
Children, left the bulk of his fortune, about eight Million to the
present Sir Thomas. Upon his small pittance the Colonel lived tolerably
contented for nearly four months when he took it into his head to
determine on getting the whole of his eldest Brother's Estate. A new
will was forged and the Colonel produced it in Court--but nobody would
swear to it's being the right will except himself, and he had sworn so
much that Nobody beleived him. At that moment I happened to be passing
by the door of the Court, and was beckoned in by the Judge who told the
Colonel that I was a Lady ready to witness anything for the cause of
Justice, and advised him to apply to me. In short the Affair was soon
adjusted. The Colonel and I swore to its' being the right will, and Sir
Thomas has been obliged to resign all his illgotten wealth. The Colonel
in gratitude waited on me the next day with an offer of his hand--. I am
now going to murder my Sister. Yours Ever, Anna Parker.
A TOUR THROUGH WALES--in a LETTER from a YOUNG LADY--
My Dear Clara I have been so long on the ramble that I have not till now
had it in my power to thank you for your Letter--. We left our dear home
on last Monday month; and proceeded on our tour through Wales, which is
a principality contiguous to England and gives the title to the Prince
of Wales. We travelled on horseback by preference. My Mother rode upon
our little poney and Fanny and I walked by her side or rather ran, for
my Mother is so fond of riding fast that she galloped all the way. You
may be sure that we were in a fine perspiration when we came to our
place of resting. Fanny has taken a great many Drawings of the Country,
which are very beautiful, tho' perhaps not such exact resemblances
as might be wished, from their being taken as she ran along. It would
astonish you to see all the Shoes we wore out in our Tour. We determined
to take a good Stock with us and therefore each took a pair of our own
besides those we set off in. However we were obliged to have them both
capped and heelpeiced at Carmarthen, and at last when they were quite
gone, Mama was so kind as to lend us a pair of blue Sattin Slippers, of
which we each took one and hopped home from Hereford delightfully---I am
your ever affectionate Elizabeth Johnson.
A TALE.
A Gentleman whose family name I shall conceal, bought a small Cottage in
Pembrokeshire about two years ago. This daring Action was suggested to
him by his elder Brother who promised to furnish two rooms and a Closet
for him, provided he would take a small house near the borders of an
extensive Forest, and about three Miles from the Sea. Wilhelminus gladly
accepted the offer and continued for some time searching after such a
retreat when he was one morning agreably releived from his suspence by
reading this advertisement in a Newspaper.
TO BE LETT A Neat Cottage on the borders of an extensive forest and
about three Miles from the Sea. It is ready furnished except two rooms
and a Closet.
The delighted Wilhelminus posted away immediately to his brother, and
shewed him the advertisement. Robertus congratulated him and sent him
in his Carriage to take possession of the Cottage. After travelling for
three days and six nights without stopping, they arrived at the Forest
and following a track which led by it's side down a steep Hill over
which ten Rivulets meandered, they reached the Cottage in half an hour.
Wilhelminus alighted, and after knocking for some time without receiving
any answer or hearing any one stir within, he opened the door which
was fastened only by a wooden latch and entered a small room, which he
immediately perceived to be one of the two that were unfurnished--From
thence he proceeded into a Closet equally bare. A pair of stairs that
went out of it led him into a room above, no less destitute, and these
apartments he found composed the whole of the House. He was by no means
displeased with this discovery, as he had the comfort of reflecting that
he should not be obliged to lay out anything on furniture himself--. He
returned immediately to his Brother, who took him the next day to every
Shop in Town, and bought what ever was requisite to furnish the two
rooms and the Closet, In a few days everything was completed, and
Wilhelminus returned to take possession of his Cottage. Robertus
accompanied him, with his Lady the amiable Cecilia and her two lovely
Sisters Arabella and Marina to whom Wilhelminus was tenderly attached,
and a large number of Attendants.--An ordinary Genius might probably
have been embarrassed, in endeavouring to accomodate so large a party,
but Wilhelminus with admirable presence of mind gave orders for the
immediate erection of two noble Tents in an open spot in the Forest
adjoining to the house. Their Construction was both simple and
elegant--A couple of old blankets, each supported by four sticks, gave
a striking proof of that taste for architecture and that happy ease in
overcoming difficulties which were some of Wilhelminus's most striking
Virtues.
,
?
»
1
2
«
!
,
.
3
4
,
5
.
,
.
6
,
7
-
-
.
-
-
,
8
.
»
9
10
«
,
?
»
11
12
«
.
13
,
14
,
15
16
,
-
-
17
18
'
19
20
«
!
,
!
21
!
22
!
»
23
24
«
;
25
.
,
?
.
26
,
,
27
,
28
'
,
29
30
»
-
-
«
-
-
»
.
31
.
«
,
32
,
33
.
34
35
,
.
36
»
-
-
-
-
37
38
«
,
,
39
!
»
40
41
«
,
.
»
«
42
,
,
43
.
»
44
45
«
,
46
.
.
»
47
48
«
!
,
49
,
.
»
50
51
«
.
»
.
.
52
53
«
,
!
54
!
55
!
,
56
,
57
,
58
!
»
59
60
?
,
61
!
!
62
!
.
63
64
«
!
,
,
65
;
66
67
,
,
68
.
»
«
!
69
,
70
.
,
,
71
,
.
»
«
72
,
73
'
,
,
74
75
,
76
,
.
»
77
78
«
,
!
»
79
80
«
?
,
81
,
,
82
.
»
«
83
,
84
,
,
85
.
»
«
86
87
;
,
88
,
,
,
89
.
»
90
91
«
!
,
,
!
92
93
?
»
94
95
«
,
.
»
96
97
«
.
»
98
99
«
;
100
101
,
,
102
,
.
»
103
104
«
!
!
!
»
.
105
106
«
,
107
108
,
109
,
110
.
111
;
112
113
114
,
.
»
115
116
«
,
.
117
?
»
118
119
«
120
,
121
122
,
,
,
123
124
.
»
125
126
!
!
,
127
!
,
128
,
-
-
.
.
129
130
.
131
132
*
*
*
*
*
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
,
141
,
142
143
,
144
,
145
.
-
-
146
.
147
148
149
150
151
152
153
154
,
;
155
,
156
.
157
,
'
;
158
.
'
.
-
-
159
;
,
160
,
,
161
.
162
,
163
'
,
164
.
165
,
.
166
;
167
,
168
,
;
,
169
170
.
171
.
,
,
172
173
'
174
.
(
)
175
,
176
177
,
178
,
.
179
180
,
181
.
182
183
184
;
185
.
,
186
.
187
«
(
)
,
188
,
.
189
,
190
,
191
,
192
,
,
.
»
,
193
.
194
.
195
196
197
198
199
200
201
202
203
204
205
-
-
206
207
,
,
,
.
208
209
)
,
210
.
211
212
)
.
-
-
213
214
)
,
215
.
216
217
)
,
.
.
218
219
)
220
-
-
.
221
222
)
.
.
223
224
225
,
.
226
227
)
?
228
229
)
,
,
,
230
,
231
,
232
,
.
233
234
235
-
-
236
237
.
238
239
)
?
.
-
-
?
-
-
.
?
240
-
-
.
?
.
?
.
241
.
242
243
,
*
244
[
*
'
]
.
245
246
)
,
,
,
.
247
248
-
-
)
.
249
250
)
,
,
,
251
.
-
-
.
.
252
.
253
254
-
-
,
'
,
255
256
.
257
258
)
,
,
259
.
.
-
-
260
261
.
262
263
.
:
)
264
,
.
265
?
266
267
:
)
.
:
)
,
,
268
.
269
.
270
271
:
)
,
.
272
273
.
274
275
276
277
278
,
279
280
.
281
282
,
283
,
284
,
285
.
,
286
,
.
287
288
.
289
;
.
290
-
-
291
.
,
292
.
293
,
.
294
,
295
296
,
,
297
.
298
299
'
.
300
-
-
301
'
,
302
.
303
,
304
305
,
.
306
.
'
,
307
.
308
-
-
.
309
.
,
.
310
311
312
313
314
-
-
-
-
315
316
317
-
-
.
318
;
,
319
320
.
.
321
,
322
.
323
324
.
,
325
,
'
326
,
.
327
.
328
329
.
330
,
331
,
,
332
-
-
-
333
.
334
335
336
337
338
.
339
340
,
341
.
342
343
,
344
,
.
345
346
347
.
348
349
350
.
351
.
352
353
,
354
.
355
.
356
,
357
'
358
,
.
359
,
360
,
361
,
362
-
-
363
.
364
,
,
365
.
366
,
367
-
-
.
368
,
369
,
370
,
,
371
.
372
,
373
,
374
.
-
-
375
,
,
376
377
378
.
379
-
-
,
,
380
381
'
382
.
383