This Is A Behaviour, Madam,
Which Demeans Yourself Much More Than Me, Said Louisa, And When Reason
Gets The Better Of Your Passion, I Doubt Not But You Will Be Just Enough
To Acknowledge You Have Injured Me.
She got out of the room with these words, but heard Melanthe still
outrageous in her reproaches; but determined not to answer, made what
haste she could into her own chamber, where having shut herself in, she
gave a loose to the distraction so unexpected an event must
naturally occasion.
Pride is a passion so incident to human nature, that there is no breast
whatever that has not some share of it; and it would be to describe
Louisa such as no woman ever was, or ever can be, especially at her
years, to say she was not sensibly touched at the indignity she had
received from a person, but a few hours before, had treated her as
pretty near an equality with herself. - Nor was her amazement inferior to
her grief, when after examining, with the utmost care, all her words and
actions, she could find nothing in either that could possibly give
occasion for this sudden turn.
From the present, she cast thoughts back on the past accidents of her
life, and comparing them together, how cruelly capricious is my fate,
said she, which never presents me with a good but to be productive of an
adequate evil! - How great a blessing was the protection and tenderness I
found from Dorilaus, yet how unhappy did the too great increase of that
tenderness render, me! - What now avails all the friendship received from
Melanthe, but to make me the less able to support her ill usage! - And
what, of what advantage is it to me that I am beloved by a man the most
worthy to be loved, since I am of a condition which forbids me to give
any encouragement to his, or my own wishes!
In this manner did she pour forth the troubles of her soul, till the
hour of supper being arrived, Melanthe's woman knocked at the chamber,
and Louisa having opened it, she told her that she was sorry to see such
an alteration in the family, but it was her ladyship's pleasure that she
should eat at the second table. It is very well, said Louisa, resolving,
whatever she endured, not to let Melanthe see any thing she could do
disturbed her too much, and in saying so, went with her into the hall
and sat down to table, but with what appetite I leave the reader
to guess.
Melanthe, who now hated her to a greater degree than ever she had loved
her, gave to the ladies who were with her the whole history of Louisa,
as far as she knew of it, and rather aggravated, than any way softened
the mean condition from which she had relieved her; but when they asked
her what that unhappy creature had done to forfeit a continuance of her
goodness, she only answered in general, that she had found her to be an
ungrateful and perfidious wretch.
As she mentioned no particular influence on which this accusation was
grounded, every one was at liberty to judge of it as they pleased. - The
accomplishments Louisa was mistress of, made every one convinced she had
been educated in no mean way, tho' by some accidents she might have been
reduced to the calamities Melanthe had so largely expatiated upon, and
more there were who pitied her than approved the behaviour of her
superior: - some indeed, who had envied the praises they had heard
bestowed on her, were rejoiced at her fall, and made it a matter of
mirth wherever they came; - and others again thought themselves affronted
by having a person, who they now found was no more than a servant,
introduced into their company, and would never visit Melanthe afterward
the whole time she stayed in Venice.
The affair, however, occasioned a great deal of discourse: monsieur du
Plessis heard of it the next day related after different fashions. The
concern he was in was conformable to the passion he had for the fair
occasion, and both beyond what is ordinarily to be found in persons of
his sex. Impatient to know the truth he went to Melanthe's, and she
happening to be abroad, he desired to speak to Louisa, but was told she
was indisposed, and could see no company. These orders had been given by
Melanthe, but were very agreeable to Louisa herself, who desired to
avoid the sight of every one she had conversed with in a different
manner from what she could now expect; but of the whole world this
gentleman she most wished to shun.
He concealed the trouble he was in as well as he was able, and affecting
a careless air, told the person who answered him, that he only came to
ask if she had heard the last new song, and that he would send it
to her.
The moment he came home he sat down and wrote the following billet.
To the ever charming LOUISA.
"That invincible bar you mentioned, yet
made so great a secret of, is at last revealed,
and I should be unworthy of the blessing I aspire
to, if I were unable to surmount it.
Cruel Louisa! you little know me, or the force
of that passion you have inspired, to imagine
that any difference which chance may have put
between us, can make the least alteration in my
sentiments! - It is to your own perfections I
have devoted my heart, not to the merit or
grandeur of your ancestors. What has my love
to do with fortune, or with family! - Does a
diamond lose any thing of its intrinsic value for
being presented by an unknown, or an obscure
hand? - My eyes convince me of the charms
of my adored Louisa; my understanding shews
me those of her mind; and if heaven vouchsafes
to bless me with so rich a jewel, I never shall
examine whence it came.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 55 of 100
Words from 55453 to 56466
of 102800
