- Thus was he enabled to
answer to himself all that could be offered against making her his wife;
and having thus settled every thing, as he imagined, to the satisfaction
of his passion, became no less resolute in following the dictates of it
than he had been in combating it while there was a possibility of
doing so.
To this end he went down to his country seat, and as soon as he arrived
sent to let Louisa know he would have her come and pass some time with
him. She readily obeyed the summons, and found by his manner of
receiving her that she was no less dear to him than her brother. As she
had always considered him as a father, tho' she knew all her claim in
him was compassion, she was far from suspecting the motive which made
him treat her with so much tenderness; but he suffered her not long to
remain in this happy ignorance. As he was walking with her one day in
the garden, he purposely led her on that side where he had found Horatio
and herself in the manner already related; and as they came towards the
arbour, It was here, said he, that heaven put into my power the
opportunity of affording my protection to two persons whom I think will
not be ungrateful for what I have done. - I hope, Louisa, continued he,
you will not at least deceive my good opinion of you; but as you have
always found in me a real friend, you will testify the sense you have of
my good wishes, by readily following my advice in any material point.
I should be else unworthy, sir, answered she, of the life you have
preserved; and I flatter myself with being guilty of nothing which
should give you cause to call in question either my gratitude or duty.
I insist but on the former, resumed he; nor can pretend to any claim to
the latter; - look on me therefore only as your friend, and let me know
your sentiments plainly and sincerely on what I think proper to ask you.
This she having assured him she would do, he pursued his discourse in
these or the like terms:
You are now, said he, arrived at an age when persons of your sex
ordinarily begin to think of marriage. - I need not ask you if you have
ever received any addresses for that purpose; the manner in which you
have lived convinces me you are yet a stranger to them; but I would know
of you whether an overture of that kind, in favour of a man of honour,
and who can abundantly endow you with the goods of fortune, would be
disagreeable to you.
Alas! sir, replied she, blushing, you commanded me to answer with
sincerity, but how can I resolve a question which as yet I have never
asked myself? - All that I can say is, that I now am happy by your
bounty, and have never entertained one wish but for the continuance
of it.
On that you may depend, said he, while you continue to stand in need of
it. But would it not be more pleasing to find yourself the mistress of
an ample fortune, and in a condition to do the same good offices by
others as you have found from me? - In fine, Louisa, the care I have
taken of you would not be complete unless I saw you well settled in the
world. - I have therefore provided a husband for you, and such a one as I
think you can have no reasonable objection to.
Sir, it would ill-become me to dispute your will, answered she,
modestly, but as I yet am very young, and have never had a thought of
marriage, nor even conversed with any who have experienced that fate, I
should be too much at a loss how to behave in it, without being allowed
some time to consider on its respective duties. - I hope therefore, sir,
continued she, you will not oblige me to act with too much precipitation
in an affair on which the happiness or misery of my whole future
life depends.
Your very thinking it of consequence, said he, is enough to make you
behave so, as to allure your happiness with a man of honour; and indeed
Louisa, I love you too well to propose one to you whose principles and
humour I could not answer for as well as my own.
Yet, sir, replied she, I have read that a union of hearts as well as
hands is necessary for the felicity of that state; - that there ought to
be a simpathy of soul between them, and a perfect confidence in each
other, before the indissoluble knot is tied: - and this, according to my
notion, can only be the result of a long acquaintance and accompanied
with many proofs of affection on both sides.
Were all young women to think as you do, said he with a smile, we would
have much fewer marriages; they would indeed be happier; therefore I am
far from condemning your precaution, nor would wish you should give
yourself to one till well assured he was incapable of treating you with
less regard after marriage than before: - no, no, Louisa, I will never
press you to become a wife, till you shall yourself acknowledge the man
I offer to you as a husband is not unworthy of that title, thro' a want
of honour, fortune, or affection.
As Louisa thought this must be the work of time, the chagrin she felt at
the first mention of marriage was greatly dissipated; and she told him,
that when she was once convinced such a person as he described honoured
her so far as to think she merited his affection, she would do all in
her power to return it.
