Answer For Yourself, Madam, Cried He With Some Emotion, For I Could
Perceive My Behaviour Had A Little Flung His
Vanity; and resolute to
give him in my turn all the mortification in my power, nay, said I with
a
Disdainful toss of my head, I do not enquire into your sentiments, - it
is sufficient mine are to break entirely off with you; - neither is it
any concern to me how you may resent this alteration in my conduct, or
dispose of yourself hereafter; but I once more assure you, with my usual
frankness, that I now can see none of those perfections my foolish fancy
formerly found in you, and cannot be complaisant enough to counterfeit a
tenderness I neither feel nor think you worthy of.
The surprize he was in kept him silent for some moments; but recovering
himself as well as he could, he told me, that if the levity of my nature
had made me cease to love him, he could not have expected endearments
should be converted into affronts; that if I was determined to see him
no more he must submit, and should endeavour to make himself as easy as
he could under the misfortune.
These last words were uttered with a kind of sneer, which was very
provoking, however, I restrained my passion during the little time he
stayed; but as soon as I found myself alone gave it vent in tears and
exclamations, - since which I have been mere at peace within myself; for
tho' I cannot say I hate him, I am now far from loving him, and hope
that time and absence may bring me to a perfect indifference.
Thus, Louisa, continued she, you see the beginning and end of an
adventure which has made some noise in town, to be out of which I have
taken a resolution to travel till the whole shall be forgotten, and I
have entirely rooted out of my heart all manner of consideration for
this ungrateful man.
Louisa thanked her for the condescension me had made her in entrusting
her with so important a secret, and said every thing she could in praise
of the resolution she had taken to leave England for a time, not only
because it was exactly conformable to her own desires, but also that she
thought it so laudable in itself. Melanthe then assured her that she was
not capable of changing her mind in this particular, and that her
equipage was getting ready at London for that purpose, so that she
believed they should embark in a few days. Louisa, on hearing this,
said, that she must then provide herself with some things it would be
necessary for her to have in order to appear in the station her ladyship
was pleased to place her; but the other, who, as may be seen by her
history, never preserved a medium in any thing, would not suffer her to
be at the least expence on that account, but took the care of furnishing
her with every thing on herself; and accordingly sent a man and horse to
town directly to her mercer's, draper's, milliner's, and other
tradesmen, with orders to send down silks, laces, hollands, and whatever
else was requisite; which being brought, were put to be made fit for
wearing by workwomen at Windsor; so that now our Louisa made as good a
figure, and had as great a variety of habits as when under the
guardianship of Dorilaus, and, to complete her happiness, this new
benefactress grew every day more, and more delighted with her company.
All being now prepared, they came to London, where they lay but one
night before they took shipping for Helvoetsluys in Holland, where,
being safely landed, they proceeded to Utrecht, and so to
Aix-la-chappelle; there they stayed some weeks for the sake of the
waters, air, and good company; and Louisa thought it so pleasant, that
she would have been glad not to have removed for some time longer; but
Melanthe was yet restless in her mind, and required frequent change of
place. Here it was, however, that Louisa thought she might venture to
write to Dorilaus, to ease him of that kind concern she doubted not but
he was in for her welfare, by the advertisement already mentioned in the
Gazette. The purport of her letter was as follows:
Ever Honoured Sir,
'Child of your bounty as I am, I flatter myself
that, in spight of my enforc'd disobedience,
it would be a trouble to you to hear I should
do any thing unworthy of that education you were
pleased to bestow on me: I therefore take the liberty
of acquainting you, that heaven has raised
me a protectress in a lady of quality with whom
I now am, as you will see by the date of this, at
Aix-la-chappelle. As all the favours I receive
from her, or all the good that shall happen during
my whole life is, and will be entirely owing
to you as the fountain-head, it will be always my
inclination, as well as duty, to pay you the tribute
of grateful thanks. - Poor recompence,
alas, for all you have done for me! yet those,
with my incessant prayers to heaven, are all in
the power of
Your most dutiful
LOUISA.'
She took no notice of the advertisement, not only as she could not be
positive it related to herself, as also because she thought, if he were
certain she had read it, he might resent her not answering it, as
discovering a too great diffidence of his honour. She added, however, a
postscript, entreating him to let her brother know, that whatever
happened, he should have no reason to find fault with her conduct.
After they left Aix-la-chappelle, they took bye roads to avoid the
armies; yet notwithstanding all their care, they now and then met
parties who were out on foraging, but as it happened, they were always
under the conduct of officers who prevented any ill accident, so that
our travellers met with no manner of interruption, but arrived safely at
the magnificent city of Vienna, where was at that time an extreme gay
court, affording every thing capable of diverting a much more settled
melancholy than either Melanthe or her fair companion were possessed of.
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