f'Wf'r^^ ^.f i -A- « THE WILUAM R. PERKINS UBRARY OF DUKE UNIVERSITY Rare Books I XJ o s -^ 9 1 ~? (U ;s X as d M o Tj "C; 4-> ^ rt ~5 Q o d .2 .52 y' 4-> 2-, l-S f M'-%BUTX-E^^ N N A; O R M E M O I R S ^^ O F A WELCH HEIRESS. V O L. I. A N N Ah O R MEMOIRS O F A WELCH HEIRESS. INTERSPERSED WITH ANECDOTES F A NABOB. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. L THE FOURTH EDITION. DUBLIN: PRINTED FOR LUKE WHITE. M.DCC.LXXXVI. r,««i»t:;»«»?)aaBS»?w*#aji T O HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS Charlotte - Augufta - Matilda, PRINCESS ROYAL O F ENGLAND. MADAM, At is with the mofl exalted fenfe of the facred refpecSl due to your amiable cha- racter, that I prefume to dedicate to your Royal Highnefs the following fheets ; but although vi D E D I C ATI O N. although I am equally fenfible of the vfe- ry hjumble pretenfions in my trifling pro- duction, I beg leave to aver, I am diveft- cd of every felfifh inducement : even the reception in the world of this firft effort of my pen, lofes its'intereft iA' mywifhes, while the ftronger one of bearing public teftimony to the virtues of a beloved Prin- cefs is gratified. Moft attradively adorned, as you are, by the firfl of all graces, modefty, fear not, Madam, Ijcantake the advantage of example from time immemorial, and ob- trude on you, under the fandion of a De- dication, compliments your judgment will condemn, or flattery your underfl:and- ing will defpife. Simple truth, in the lan- guage of fmcerity, is your beft eulogium ; the higheft panegyric on your character, are J>M:D IC A T I OnKi v5 are the fentiments of a whole Nation. What can fame add to your pralfe, when it is confeiTcd the fons of Britain are proud to admire, and her daughters to emulate, you. The love and veneration of Britiili fabjeds muft be the voluntary offering of their hearts : and thofe are all warmly de- voted to you. The world, Madam, feels you are beau- tiful ; it knows you are good :— but there is a yet more ineftimable, though perhaps lefs brilliant, part of your charadler ; you are the comfort and pride of your Royal Parents ; the idol of your Family. The brighteft Jewel of the Court, the graces of whofe perfon gives, but cannot receive, luftre from the mofl fplendid ornaments, IS in the domeflic circle, in family endear- '^^^•^ments viii D E D I C A T I O NT; ments, ftill more lovely, and flill more", beloved : time muft mature the wifdom, it muft add experience, to the graces of your mind : You mufh yourfelf become a mother, before your Royal Highnef^ can juftly eftimate the value of your own charadcr. The juftice, the goodnefs, the mercy of your Royal Father, are in you, Ma- dam, vifibly blended Vv'ith the elegance, fv/eetnefs and virtue of the beft, as v/elt as firft, of women. Continue, charming Princefs, to follow her example : it points invariably to every female excellence \ it leads to immortality. Few authors in my very humble line fend their produdions into the world with- out rendering their Heroines too perfecl for D E D I CAT ION. IX- for human nature; but, partial as, I con* fefs, I have been to mine, withfuch living . models.as thofe growing to maturity in the Britifh court before me, and conllant as is my humble admiration and obfervation whenever their public appearance gives me opportunity ; the wonder will be I have not brought the Welch Heirefs nearer perfedion. Permit an orphan, Madam, to find an af) lum at your feet ; (he is young, virtu- ous, and friendlefs : — the vicifTitudes of her fortune are many of them taken from real life. You, Madam, in the bofom of maternal love, of royal as well as pater- nal affedion, will, iffhehas the honour of being perufed, meet fome charaders your own genuine innocence and honour will announce outre and unnatural ; and, as X DEDICATION. as experience of the remorfelefs cruelty^ the' deceit, ingratitude, and defign of one part of the world cannot be attained with"^, out the accompaniments of forrow and regret, you will always, I trufl, remain in the belief, that the dark fhades in my pidure exift only in a foured imagina- tion ; while every fentiment of benevo- lence, delicacy and generofity, if fuch are to be found in Anna, will be fure to meet your approbation -, becaufe fuch are the fpontaneous growth of your own amiable difpofition ; — and whether the vice, the folly, and the injuflic? Anna Manfel encountered, be fidion, or not, we glory in the convidlion that the virtues, the graces, and beauty our nation boafts, are real : we know where the affemblage of female perfedions are to be found. As DEDICATION. xi As one, amcng the multitude, whofe fincere affedion and loyal attachment is their pride, permit me, Madam, to offer up prayers, not lefs ardent from my hum- ble nation, that the happinefs of the Royal Offspring may equal their merits ^ and that Your Royal Highnefs, in particular, may long live with numberlefs additions to, but not one diminution from, your prefent peace and honour : — This is an univcrfal prayer thoufands will be fure to join in with, Madam, Your Royal Hidinefs's Moil faithful, Obedient, and devoted Humble Servant, THE AUTHOR. ANNA. CHAPTER. L A Scene of Mortality, X H E latter end of September, Mrs. Clarke, a widow woman, whofe narrow circumftances ob- liged her to let lodgings, was fo fortunate (as (he then termed it) to have her apartments taken at her own price, by a very good-looking middle- aged man ; who, to obviare any doubts that fhe might have refpe6Ving his being a flranger, ad- vanced a month's rent, and preparing her to re- ceive a fick woman and a child, defired her to pro- vide a nurfe for the former, as (he engaged to Ai^ perintend all the attendance he wifhed for himfelf and the latter : and having given her a couple of guineaF to lay out in v/hat neceflaries might be im- mediately wanting, left her, to fetch the womaa and child. The ftranger had dropped no hint that the perfon who was to occupy the apartments was his wife, neither had he faid, fhe was not fo — Mrs. Clarke was fcriipiilous and particular in her own princi- ples ; but her lodgings were empty ; they had unluckily been fo all the fummer j the winter Vol. I. B was 2 ANNA. Tvas approaching ; during that feafon fhe had fel- rfom tenants for them, and neceflity rendered her lefs inquifjtive than in more eafy circiimftances fhe "Would have been ; fhe was prevented afking quef- tions, by the fear of having them anfwered in a way that would oblige her to forego an advantage fhe could not well do without. In two hours from the time he left her, a hack- ney coach fet down at her door an elderly woman, in the laft flage of a confumption, a pretty little girl of three or four years old, a portmanteau, a fmall trunk, and the aforefaid gentleman. Luck- ily, Mrs. Clarke was a woman who made a point of fulfilling her engagements; for th^ aflfiduity with which (he had prepared their rooms, and procured a nurfe, was rendered necelfary by the extreme weaknefs of the poor invalid, who was directly got to bed, and a neighbouring apothecary fummoned to her affiftance. The gentleman, with apparent concern, wait- ed his decifion, and on a phyfician being recom- mended, begged (being, as he faid, a Granger) the apothecary would give him the addrefs of the moft eminent ; adding, that he would go himfelf to procure his immediate attendance. As foon as he was furnifhed with directions, he fet off ia hafle, accompanied by the apothecary, and Mrs. Clarke was beginning to fcrape acquaintance with her little charge, when her attention was called to a buftle at her dcor, where, fhe met, to her fur- prile and concern, Mr. Linton, the apothecary, returning, afTifted by fome accidental paffengera, with the lifelefs body of her new lodger: a vein ■was immediately opened, biit without efi:e<5t, a fit of apoplexy had put a period to his exiftence ; he breathed no more. The conFufion fuch an event raifed in the houfe, reached the iick peifon, and the nurfe incautionfly teUing ANNA. 3 telling her the caufe, it threw her into faintings, from which Ihe never recovered fufficiendy to fpeak to be underftood, although fhe lived three days. Among others whofe curiofity was excited by this awful and fatal circumftance, was the Rev. John Daiton, a popular preacher belonging to a Methodift conventicle in the neighbourhood— Mrs. Clarke as we 1 as the nurfe were his conftant hear- ers, and begged his prayers with the dying wo^ man ; who, a fhort time before fhe expired, gavfe proofs (he was fenfible of his facred fun6lion and her own fituation, by making figns to have the infant and trunk brought her, both which (he pift into liis hands, and appearing then more compofed and refigned, was, in a few moments, releafed oitt of her pain. The trunk appeared heavy enough to quiet ift fome meafure the apprehcnfions of the reverend teacher; otherwife, the facred beque/l, and the folemn manner in which it was made, would not have been the mod acceptable thing in the world to him — Poor Mr?. Clarke, as foon as file found fhe could rot didurb the dying woman, began loudly to lament, herfelf, at having a couple of people to bury, of whofe names, conncdtions, and even country, fhe was ignorant, and whofe bag- gage was too triHing to anfwer the funeral eo^- pences, which would half ruin her to defray, hav^ ing a very fmall penfion, as widow of a carpenter of a man of war, and what (he could make of her lodgings, to fupport herfelf and d:iughter, who fte had put apprentice to a milliner. This refleiE^ion fuggefled the idea of fearching the pockets of bo^h the deceafed: in the man's was found a gold watch and chain, with three feals, viz. a coat of arms, a creft, and a cypher, H> T. feven guineas, fome filver, and a fmali key, v/hich B 2 Dalton 4 ANNA. Dalton took as belonging to the trunk, and having hjilf opened it, he fliut it again immediately, de- claring it was full of old papers which he would look over when he got home, and as it had pleafed the Lord thus fignally to deprive the innocent child of its natural friends, he would take the prefent care of her himfelf. To be fure, he had a large family of his own, and hard enough he found it to fupport them ; but what of that ? Deeds of charity, like thofe of virtue, were their own reward ; nay, he would go farther, he would take what effeds there were, and pay all the expences of their refpective fune- rals, and every other that was already incurred: if there was enough to reimburfe him it was well ; if not, God would pay him — The women were loft in admiration of his piety and charity, when, to avoid the cenfures of evil minded people, he directed them to take an inventory of the things the property of the defun'---3/' ■ . - . a|^^/.-r. .-i.! Dalton, ever prudent and confiJerate, bbferved to his wife that as Anna was going to gentlefolks, a fpecies of beings who feldo'm cared how their money went, and who certainly Would foon buy her cloaths to their own tafle, it was needlefs to fend any with her;— befides bundles might be loft or miflaid;— what things fhe did not take would fit Polly ; and fuch an extravagant lady as Madam Melmoth vvoujd not thank them for faving her money. Mrs. Dalton had no power, or indeed inclination, to oppofe arguments which left her in poiTeilion of C 2 all 28 AN N A. all the gay things given to her late ward ; the child, therefore, was fent ofF, as I have related, with her whole wardrobe on her back. The porter, who anfwered the ftage coachman's ring at the gate, having no inftrudlion from his maf- ter or miftrefs, was ftruck with aftonifhment at the fight of Anna, and the coachman's dei;nand of the part of her fare left unpaid, as is ufual at the inn in town ! — A child he had never heard of: fo fent and fo diredled, was indeed an extraordinary circum- ftance ; and fo much did it ftagger him, that, before he would venture to receive our heroine within the gates or pay her carriage, he fummoned the houfe- Jceeper, \^ho was followed by all the maids, and they by the footmen. The porter thought it was a trick to palm the child on their mafter. " More *' likely to fend him his own,'* cried the cook. ** Like enough," anfwered a new footman from Madam's country : " you lived with his honour *' before he u^as married ;" adding, with a fignifi- cant wink, " Hi p, Ptggy you, m.ay know the mo- *' ther?'* an infinuation, however indire£l or ob- fcure that implies a doubt of the chaftity of a wo- man, who is confcicus of not poffefLng any of that troublefome virtue, is not only never forgiven, but fure .0 be the obje6t of fpight and rancour to the perfon fo cffcnded. Unluckily the private feeh'ngs of poor Margaret were but too fore — iheconfcquently fired up j; — " Why, how, new, Mr. Powdermonkey ; you •' have opened your mouih and faid nothing," re- torted {he, wiih an inflamed fixe and ra fed yoice. *' if the girl belonged to my mafter*s Ijde. of the *' houfe, fl^e would not hardiy have been fent pack- " ing;— No, no." bi idling, "we are' pufl ir.c[iers *' in Somttzetfl^iirc. 1 he girl, I dare' fay, is c'uf- ** Ylx ; (l^e is as like m^dam as {he can ilarej and ** that 1 will idy if I lofe my place.'* The ANNA. 29 The lioh6ur of John, now doubly wounded in the reflexion on his miftrefs and the ftigma on his country, would not fufFer him patiently to endure fuch an afFront ; the majofity of the fervants being natives of the place, and of courfe fiding with Mar- gery, words ran high ; Mr. John being fupported only by Mrs. Kitty, the lady's maid, whofe hum- ble fervant he was ; for Mrs. Elton, the houfe- keeper, though miftrefs both of volubility and weight of argument, had, in moft matters, fo much to fay on both fides, that it was difficult, and indeed im- pofTible, to tell to which {he was moft partial, at leaft till the opinion of her fuperiors were known. In the midft of this clamour, every tongue going at once, it was in vain the coachman prefled to be difcharged ; they had now almoft got beyond words ; yet one point feemed to be determined on by both the contending powers, which was, that the girl could not belong to them. The coachman obftinlately perfifted in leaving her ; and they as obftinately refufed to take her in. Poor Anna, terrified at fo many ftrange faces, all bending their inaufplcious -looks on her, fcreamed loudly, though (he knew not why, as the coach- man lifted her from the coach. Mrs. Melmoth's maid, who was her great favourite, having caught a fever the beginning of the winter in London, had been fent home for the air before Anna's accident ; fie therefore knew nothing about her; and the coachman and fervants who had feen their miftrefs's fondnefs for her, were now out with them. But at this inftant it fortunately happened, that our heroine had one friend and acquaintance at Mel- moth Lodge, to whofe good offices fhe owed her not being turned into the ftreet ; this was an Italian grey hound, between whom and Anna there fub- ftfted a mutual afFedion i her fcreams, ia a voice the 30.. A- N- N , A. the favourite animal well knew, no fooner reached him, than he ran cut and rejoiced the heart of his little acquaintance, who, in her tranfports at feeing Ninon, forgot all her tribulation, and thought only of careUing her very feafonable friend. John took advantage of this circumftancc, which difcovered the child to be known to his miflrefs, and putting her under the care of Mrs. Kitty, promifed to relate all that had been faid when his honour came home. Thus the entrance of our heroine into Melmoth Lodge, whofe own difpofition would have qualified her for the harbinger of peace and love, was haikd by the difcord and ill-will of all its dependents. -, t r 'Mrs. Elton would now fain l]ave claimed fome merit by her attention ; but Mrs. Kitty told her, with a fneer, that fmcq the child was fo like her miflrefs, flie would keep her in the drefling-room till ordered to ffce contrary. Tired with thXlong journey, and overpowered by fleep, long before Mrs. Melmoth retiirned, Anna was dead to the cares which, In more advanced age, might have robbed her of reft ^ from this happy in- fenfibility (he was awoke by the fond and rapturous carefles of her benefacStrefs, who, on retiring to her room a little fatigued, was throwing herfelf on ,the fofa, when fhe beheld, faft afleep, and beautiful as an angel, her little Pet. ' ■ - ; Mr. Melmoth immediately explained the myftery, and received his wife's acknowledgement for his kind attention to her wifhes ; then turning again to the child, fhe almoft fmothered her with her embraces. Anna was at firft rather peevifh ; but as foon as quite awake, flie recollecSted Mr. and Mrs. Mel- j7ioth, her lively and innocent joy was as unbound- ed as fmcere, and gave the higheft gratification to • her friends, who every rnoment felt themfdves more ANNA. 31 more interefted for her, and more pleafed at their own generous adoption of fo amiable a child. 'I'he next morning Mr. Melmoth was made acquainted with the fpeeches of Margery, and thofe of her fellow fervants who had Tided with her; — the Squire, enraged at their infolent reflec- tions on his lady, infifted immediately on difmifTing them; and though the little kindnefs Anna had received from Mr. John and Mrs. Kitty was purely in oppofition to the other fervants, it was amply rcvarded, as well by the commendations of thejr mailer and miftrefs as by more fubftantial proofs of their approbation. Every body knows that the tranrii6lions of a great houfe in the country becomes more or lefs the immediate concern of every individual within the reach of its influence or example, particularly on fuch an occafion as removing domertics, whofc natural connections are in the neighbourhood. Mr. Melmoth's cook, dairy and houfe maids, his groom-heiper, and under gardener, found them- fjlves much injured by that gentleman's chufing to tlifcharg.e them; thofe injuries it was not necclfa- ry for them to keep fecret ; they were therefore ccmmunicated firfl: to their relations, next to the fervants of the adjacent great houfes, and, lafily, 10 the heads of thofe great houfes themfelves, par- ticularly to the relations of their late mafler : what were the candid comments of the neighbourhood of Melmoth Lodge, on this extraordinary exer- tion of benevolence and charity in its owners, will be fecn in the fucceeding pages. CHAP. $2 ANN CHAP. VIL J plan for female Education. IVlRS. Melmoth, with the vivacity that ge- nerally attends the new undertakings of a fine lady living in the country, whofe amufements are prin- cipally calculated rather to pafs away time than en- joy it, now fet about cloathing our heroine ; all her maids were employed, and a fervant difpatched to Dame Plunket at the next market town, for the linen, and every other article her fhop could fup- ply, of the befl fort and the highefl: price. Mrs. Melmoth was no oeconomifl ; the lead thing fhe was acquainted with was the value of money ; indeed but little of that article went through her hands, as the bills were paid by the fleward ; but there was a thing fhe was very clever at, and that was giving orders ; Anna was there- fore not only well flocked in all forts of necefTa- ries, but fhe abounded in fuperfluities ; and the amount of Mrs. Plunket's bill was carefully con- veyed to good Mrs. Afhby, and her confidential friends. As foon as fhe was equipped, fhe became the conflant companion of her patronefs, who failed not to exhibit her to the beft advantage ; nor made any vifits within a few miles of the lodge unattend- ed by her Pet. At ANNA. 33 At Mrs. Afhby's, however, and at fome other fadies in the neighbourhood, ihe found an unac- countable coldnefs and a reftrained civiHty that af- tonifhed her ; all common meflages in the family way were anfwered. with a hauteur and caprice that appeared to Mr. and Mrs. Melmoth truly ri- diculous, unconfcious of giving them any caufe for fuch an abfurd change in their behaviour : they fought not an eclaircifTement ; their acquaintance with them declined gradually ; and in a fhort time all communication between them and the ladies of the family wholly ceafed. The circle of their vifits being by this means contracted, our heroine excited more both of their love and attention : an Englifli governefs was pro- cured for her, whofe chara6ter and abilities for the flation fhe filled were attefted by people of un- queftionable honour ; (he was near forty, and had been fo happy as to give fatisfa6lion to different families twenty years of her life ; that fhe had un- dertaken the arduous tafk of forming the minds and manners of young ladies ; fhe did not profefs to teach them the fluent ufe of the French tongue, though fhe fpoke it herfelf, and underftood its grammatical rudiments ; but fhe was perfe6t miflrefs of the Englifh — reading the beft of our authors with the greatefl propriety and critical judgment ; fhe was efleemed one of the finefl needle-women of the age, wrote a clean, good hand, underftood mufic much better than fhe could execute, and Co nice a judge of time, that her attendance on her young pupils in their praC^ice and leiTons was of the moft infinite advantage to them ; fhe was per- fectly neat in her perfon, and flriClly virtuous in her conduct ; her principles were uncorrupted by a fingle deviation from propriety, and her foul un- tarnifhed by one mean or difhoneft thought ; her underflanding and accomplifliments qualified her C 5 for 34 ANNA. for the fociety of the learned, while the fimpllclty • of her manners and the goodnefs of her heart ren- dered her the beloved friend and companion of uninformed youth : fuch was the perfon to whofe care the fortunate orphan was configned at a very liberal falary. Pvlr. Melmoth was, we have obfervetf, a man of letters ; he was, indeed, fo fond of holding converfe with the dead, that hiftory, ancient and modern, as welf as poetry, and the Belles Lettres^' engi ofled more of his time, when in the country^ than was, perhaps, confifl'ent with the warm af-' fedlion he bore his wife, or the true politenefs and attention a fine young woman may be thought to- expe6l ; when he left her alone for hours, prefer- ring his dear books to her fociety, his heart fmote him for it, and he feemed fo confcious of a con- di\^, for which he felt felf condemned, (thoiig^li-. he wanted the refolution to change it) that he. feized with avidity every opportunity of obliging or.' contributing to her amufement : when, there- fore, he fav/ her bufied, and happy, in the ma- nagement of Anna, he gave every encouragement to what, if It may be called a weaknefs, ^was a very amiable one. Maflers, at a veijy grieai'ex-; pence. Were procured to teach her mufic, jO^nc'- ing, and drawing ; and Mr. Melmoth, farther to, oblige his lady, not only confented to paying for^ the beft infifuctions In thofe lines the country af- forded, but condefcended to infpe61: the hterary part of her education himftlf — a circumdance not^ more favourable' to the ihflruried than honqurablel. to the inftrudor. /. ^, .,' ,-',•, .■^. Mr. Melmoth, though a great. fc'hoTar., defp^IteSTr pedantry; his pavTion for the Greek and Latin was indulged only in his clofet, and his admiration of the Mufes confined to his fecret interviews with them. Few ANNA. 35 Few equalled him in learning or underftinding ; in goodnefs he was exceeded by none ; he was well bred, polite, and humane : the infl:ru6tions of fuch a man promifed to be, and certainly were, of the greateft advantage to the orphan he patro- nifed : the rapid progrefs fhe made in her ftudics rendered the talk his goodnefs and humanity had impofed foon an agreeable amnfement. He pleaf- cd himfelf in obferving how f1:ri6tly flie attended to the rules he laid down for the formation of her mind and manners ; infpired her with the pride of virtue and the love of truth : he taught her fentiments founded on the bafis of the pureft ho- nour ; nor did he forget to encourage every Tpark of humanity and benevolence in her compofi- tion. With a genius uncommonly lively, and talents to compafs every thing, it is little wonder that in four years, the fummers given to tiiofe invalu- able fludies, the winters to repeating them, and her other exercifes, to her amiable governefs, whofe endeavours were to render her pupil wor- thy the continued favour of her benefactors, An- na really deferved the encomiums beflowed upon her : the rooms were adorned with her drawings ; her works framed in the belT: apartrre Us ; and her tall:e and execution on the harpfichord unequalled in that part of the world. Mr. and Mrs. Melmoth, when the duties of Parliament called him to London, left her with re- gret ; and the pleafure they felt al her perfonal im- provement on their return to the country, was al- ways increafed by their obfervations of her mental ones ; nor, young as fhe was, when taken under the protection of her prefent friends, did fhe for- get her obligations to her early ones; fhe had been told her claims on the Daltons were not ihofe 01 blood ; and ruppoilng in their car"- and alfeCti- 0!l 36 ANN a; on they had been aQ:uated only by the foft bond of charity and compaflion, her little heart expanded "with grateful fenfations ; Ihe conftantly wrote to them from the time fhe could firft join her letters ; and Mr. Melmoth's indulgence fupplying her with the means, Ihe was continually fending fuch pre- fents as the country produced — pork, poultry, and game, they received in abundance from her, which being all carriage paid, and her letters franked, were advantages the Do6tor, on his part, never failed acknowledging, taking care to feafon his let- ters with fpiritual inftrudions and religious ex- hortations* CHAP. N N A. 37 CHAP. viir. A Scheme for Reformation, O, UR heroine was now entered on the twelfth year of her age, when an event happened at Mel- moth Lodge, which portended, at leaft, a divi- fion of the afFe6tion of her benefa6trefs. The lady's pregnancy was announced, to the inexpref- fible joy of Mr. and Mrs. Melmoth : an heir was the firft wifh of their hearts, although the length of time which had elapfed fince their marriage, without its being gratified, had, in fome meafure, reconciled them to what appeared the will of hea- ven ; but their acquiefcence was the efFeft of ne- ceflity, not choice. Their joy was, however, not a little clouded by the growing embarraflment of their circumftances. Mr. Melmoth's total inattention to his affairs, and his blind indulgence to his wife in all the tonifh extravagance of the age, which were every win- ter increafing, had fo much involved his eflate, that before the birth of his child one half of its in- heritance was wholly alienated, and the other deep- ly mortgaged. The appearance of the little ftrang- er added to the inquietude of its father : he had hitherto read and wrote, while his acres were fly- ing over the town, or finking into the purfes of fraudulent dependents and licentious fervants ; but 38 ANNA. but his Eliza brought with her new cares as well as new afFeftlons. Mrs. Melmoth who being brought up In a flyle of life which obliged her mother, while ihe fet her duughter off to the beft advantage in her pow- er, to fave it out of unfeen neceflaries, having once attained the projected end, which was, that of marrying well, thought the riches of a man with three thoufand pounds a year, was endlefs ; and as her hufband had never ftinted her in what- ever fhe chofe to fpend, it had not been her in- quiry, or concern, to know how his circumflanccs flood ; nor did he foon awake her from the intoxi- cating reverie into which luxury and diffipatioa had lulled her : but when, before the fummerwas over, fhe gave him notice of a fecond blefTing in the increafe of his family, he, with great tender- nefs, informed her of the flate of his finances. Her diftrefs, which was great, joined to her fond- nefs for her child, had at firft nearly overpowered her reafon. After fome time, however, fhe en- tered with the greateft alacrity into a reform m their expences ; the fuperfluous fervants were dif- charged ; all the Carriages, but the family coach, were laid down, and the horfes fold. Mrs. Mel- moth would no more go to London ; and Mr. Melmoth's principles fetting him above the hopes of advantage to himfelf from the feat he held in the fenate, he, to the furprife of his friends, refigned it. The town houfe and furniture were difpofed of ; and before the fecond child made its appear- ance, Mr. Melmoth, by having happily got rid of fo many (to them) incumbrances, had time to be both a family man and an author ; while Mrs. Melmoth commenced a mere country lady, who was very well fatisfied now to find fhe hadtheufe of her limbs. I-Lippily ANNA. sg Happily for our heroine ^7;^ was not yet confi- dered one of the fuperfluities it was neceilary to difcard, but her inftru6tors were. Mrs. Barlow, indeed, was a very worthy woman ; her they could not think of parting with, as their Eliza would foon be under her care; but mufic, danc- ing;, and drawing for Anna were immediately given up. The time ufually devoted to thofe ac- complifiiments, was filled by our heroine very pleafurably to herfelf in the nurfery with the chil- dren of her patronefs, of whom flie was exceflive fond ; and they, as is ever the cafe with infants, fdon found by whom they were beloved. Thu^ we fee (however the degeneracy of human nature may influence cur maturer a6lions) gratitude is the firil: fenfation obfervable in the attachments of young minds. Mrs. Barlow, notwithftanding her defire of being always with the children, kept her, at ftated times, to the conftant repetition of thofe kfTons which had been fo expenfive to Mr. Mcl- moth : (he was indefatigable in her intreatles to Anna, not by forgetting thofe valuable branches of female education, to give caufe to her patrons to regret the time and money beftowed on her. This good woman knew (what a dependent In a gentleman's family frequently does not) the reduced circumilances of her employers, and forefaw her young pupil could not long enjoy the funfhlne flie now experienced. The heart of Mrs. Barlow was the refort of humanity, as well as the feat of vir- tue : fhehad heard the orphan ftate of Anna ; and efteem, fiift founded on her amiable difpofition, and rivited by ccmpaffion, now endeared to her the child of misfortune m.ucli more than with the fame attra6tions ihe v/ould have done in happier circumftarces. '^i'o make her a ufeful member of fociety, flie now conceived that the grebtefl: fer- vice file could do to the young crciUun.^ fhe entire- 40 ANNA. ly loved, and therefore blended dome/lIc needle •work with ornamental. Anna conquered every thing ; Ihe foon put Mrs. Melmothout of conceit with her milliner. No cap or hat pleafed but thofe of Anna's making ; the family needlework went all through her hands, and fhe became, to the great pleafure of Mrs. Barlow, and the grati- fication of her own pride, of real ufe to her bene- faflrefs. About this time, when Anna was entering her fourteenth year, Colonel ; butwhatami about ; — to introduce a hero at the end of a chap- ter 1 he deferves and fhall have one to him- felf. CHAP. ANNA. 41 CHAP. IX. l^he Nabob V> at the age of eighteen, we find him beginning the world with two fuits of regimentals, a dozen of fhirts» and twenty guineas in his pocket. As the pay of his commiffion was very inade- quate to the expences attendant on the life of a man of mean pride and vicious pleafures, before he at- tained the age of twenty-two, although, by the intereft of his friend, his income was enlarged, by ANNA. 43 by his advancing in rank from Enfign to Cap- tain, he was involved in debt to every tradefman whofe credulity rendered him the dupe of his plau- fible tales, as lie conft.intly paffcd himfelf on them for the ward of Mr. Melmoth, and gave himfelf credit for a large fortune iu-, th^^; gentleman's hands. ,: 'io ru/ui. With a difpofition wherein cruehy and ingratitude were blended, he poirtfled all the powers necefTa- ry to rife in ^ polite circle. He had an infinity of fmall talk ; fervllity enough to render him invul- nerable to common rebuffs; and patience to en- dure, with an affe6led complaifance, the proud man's fcorn : he had a figh for the affllded, an indignant glow for the oppreiTed, and his fofttned voice profefled univerfal charity for thofe who were griped by the hard hand of poverty and want. Thofe were the outlines of a character the mod complicated and contemptible of the human fpe- cies ; for though a fenfe of his narrow circum- llances, and fmall hopes, taught him to pra6tifc thofe leifons of non-refiftance and lip-deep humili- ty, for which, indeed, a late noble writer was his fan8:ion, his heart was the receptacle of vices, the reverfe of thofe virtues of which he made an often- tatious parade : he was proud, envious, unforgiving and felfifh, infomuch, that in no one voluntary a£t of his^life did he forget to condu6t himfelf fo as not to further his own intereft ; a common injurer of others, he never forgave one offered himfelf ; to thofe whofe rank and fortune were either above, or (if equal) independent of him, he was the very effence of humility, good humour, and complai- fance ; but to thofe ftw whom Providence, in its anger, had placed under his infolent jurifdi6lion, his arrogance and cruelty were unbounded. The punifliment he inflidied on his fdlow creatures un- happily 44 ANNA. happily under his command, for the flighted of- fences, held him up to the foldiery as an obje(5t of deteftation, while he flattered himfelf, that, under the fan6tion of ftrict difcipHne, he veiled the real luff of power and mercilefs difpofition of his foul. Could this man be fufpe^led of announcing him- felf the champion of the foFter paflions, of valuing himfelf on his fuccefs with the gentle fex, whofe nature fhrinks from tyranny, and whofe eyes invo- luntarily turn from the perpetrators of unfeeling barbarity ! one would imagine it impofiible ; but his was, as I have faid, a complicated chara6ter ; ' it was as far as one evil can be oppofite to ano- * ther, a contradictory one. - The experience, a clofe and conftant obferva-' tion of the motives, as well as aftions of man- kind, gave him, added to his innate art and cun- ning, and thefe aided by a natural fmoothnefs of' fpeech and plaufibility of manners, furnifhed him ■with powers to impofe himfelf on his own fex, as ' a man void of defign, Or guile. What, then,.had ■ a woman to arm herfelf with againfl: his infidious fnares ; his perfonj which was rather difgufting than elfe, was, indeed, a kind of fecurity againfl his attempts ; but as if (which was not the cafe) he had been himfelf confcious of that defeat, he v 1 was feldom known to begin his attack till he had ^ wormed himfelf into the good opinion of the def- tined vi£tim, by a femblance of thofe virtues fhe loved, found oiit her weak fide, and where (he was vulnerable: that point once gained, ye of my own fex who have fallen, and you of the other, who by admitting men of this flamp into your fa- milies, have lofl, in the honour of your female, the pride and felicity of your lives, you know what follows. Incoriflancy is ever the companion of intrigue ; and when I have faid it was this man's boaft ne- ver ANNA. 45 ver to have had a connection with a woman who had not her reputation to lofe, nor ever had ho- nour or dehcacy to conceal the lapfe himfelf had occafioned, while it will exhibit him as an objeO: of envy to thofe (and many there are) pf his own defcription, it will infpire the good with horror, and the juft with contempt. ■r! ''0 £>M( CHAP. X. The Nab(ih continued. l^APTAIN Gorget had fet out and continued in fuch an expenfive flile, that having worn out every expedient of impofing on the generofit) of his patron, and finding the credulity of his tradefmen beginning to give way to the calls of nectflity, it became prudent, as he entered his twenty-fourth year, for him to vary the fcene ; he according- ly exchanged with an officer in ill health, who was ordered to Jndia, and who not only gave up fupe- rior rank, but prefented our hero with a Turn of money fufficient to equip him for the voyage, and recommended him to the general cfFcer u ho com- manded the regiment, in terms which his ready wit, artful manners, and fpecious appc ararce great- ly improved; he infinuated hnrielf with great eafe into his commander's lavour, whofe open heart 46 ANNA. heart was by no means a match for this defigner ; and his entertaining converfation procured him a general invitation to his table and houfe. And here commenced his firft public entrance into the annals of modern gallantry — The Gene- ral grew more pleafed with his new officer every day — He made him his aid de camp, and gene- roufly offered, on finding him in rather embarraf- fed circumdances, to lend him money fufficient to enable him to leave England out of debt — In gratitude for this difinterefled, kindnefs, his friend's wife became the object of his cautious but warm purfuit. The General was a bon vivant, he loved his bottle and enjoyed his friend ; intoxication too often fucceeded the exhilaration of his fpirits, and rendered him unfit for the bed of a delicate, beau- tiful young wife ; who, innocent as (he was hand- fome, paffed over with great good humour this one failing in a man, who had married her (tho' of a good family) without a fortune, and whofe delight it v/as to fupport her in the mofl fplendid and happy ftyle— No wifh of her heart was un- gratified— Till the cryel fpoiler came, who ruth- lefsly taking advantage of the confidence repofed in him by the fond hufband, and unfufpicious in- nocent wife, foon contrived to jnTpiie her with .thofe fentiments which banifhed honour and gra- titude : in a word, after convincing her how un- worthy of fuch a treafure the man was who could negle6l it, and by exaggerating charms he fvvor,e would grace a diadem, he had leffened her obliga- tions to her hufband — his next {^ep, was to guide her attention from a man, much older than her- felf,. who undervalued her beauty, to a lover, of her own age, who adored it. Too eafily he perfuaded her to gratify a doting pafTion fo fuperior to the man's whofe name fhe bore — A .N N A. 47 bore — 071C had already known decay, the other, ne- ver, never coidd : it would be a ceafelefs fund of b'lifs and rapture over which time itfelf \yould have no power — In an evil hour, this lovely young creature, whofe natural and acquired endowments might have ornamented any fociety, gave up her claim to all but the moil abandoned — Too much elated with his fuccefs, and too vain to conceal it, he made a fubaltern, who hated him, the confi- dant of his complicated treachery. Soon was the injured hufband acquainted with his diflionour, and as foon furniflied wiih proof fufBcient to iq? title him to a divorce. But, ah ! how inadequate to the pangs of difappointed, ill-requited love, arc the mofl ample retributions of the law ! — It could punifli the. violator of his honour — It could fepa- rate him from his guilty wife— but coukj It take from him the memory of her beauty and her in- nocence — Could it fhed oblivion's eafing influence over his mind, and baniih from thence the charms he adored — Could it leffen the reproaches of his own heart, for admitting to his domeflic circle, a man of the world, a declared p.upil of the Chefr terfield fyflem ? Ah, no — Nor law, nor revenge, nor even time can fubdue the anguifli of fuch re- jRe61:ions. The goodnefs of her heart, the ele- £"ance of her manners, recurring to his imaginati-r on, with the aggravation that one was corrupted, tl'.e other loft to him, and that for ever, if he car- ried on a- profecution ; thefe, added to his un- abated love for her perfon,. fpcke peace and for,? givenefs in the ftern heart of the injured foldierr-- Violent were his con{li6ls; but love, a!l-conquer- jjig love, overcame rerentme;nt. — Ke fent her word, if on the honour fhe once held facred, flie would give \.\\) every farther thought of her fedu- cer, as they vvcrcgqing to leave the kingdom^ vhere, long before their return the matter would be 48 ANNA. be forgot, he would forgive and never mention the pall. Generous as was this offer, the ill-fated woman refufed it — Fond of her undoer, and in full confi- dence of the honour and fidelity the noble Captain had fo often called the hofts of heaven to witnefs, and finding herfelf in a way that promlfed another link to an attachment, fhe fondly hoped would end but with her life — She frankly owned her fitu- ation ; acknowledged her hufband's goodnefs ; but avowed, the kneeling world fhould not tempt her to give up the befl:, the moft amiable of men, her dear Captain. Rage and refentment, in proportion to his love and difappointment, now filled the foul of the in- jured hufband— In his firft tranfports he vowed deftru<£tion to the villain that had undone him— To extirpate him from the face of the earth would be an aft of common jufiice to mankind ; but his friends prevailed on him to adopt that mode moft adequate to the punlfhment and expofure of fuch a wretch — The law was flower in its operations than revenge could well brook ; but it was never- thelefs fure : ruin muft attend his profecutlon of a man who had offended the laws of fociety, with- out friends or ability to pay the penalty it inflldted —He, therefore, refigned his lucrative employ- ment, the reward of many years hard fervice, to purfue with unremitting vengeance the unfortunate Captain. In the mean time, the lady wrote her adored word of what had psfied betwixt her and her huf- band, and pleafed herfelf with the grateful rap- tures he would feel, at fo noble a proof of her regard, as the voluntary facrifice fhe made him ; but who can paint her grief and conflernation, at receiving an anfwer full of the kceneft reproaches for the ruin her nonfenfical heroifm muft bring on him ; ANNA. 49 him: he conjured her, on any terms, to make her peace with the General — The farce, he told her, was ended ; for fettle it how fhe would, he could fee her no more — His income was not only fmall but incumbered, and totally infufficient for the maintenance of the child fhe was fo good as topromife him, but which, in his humble opinion, would be much better difpofed of to the general; he concluded, by afluring her, he was. With the moft inviolable regard. Her moft obliged, Mofl: gratefully devoted. Humble fervant, Patrick Gorget. Vol. I. 3 CHAP. 50 ANNA. CHAP. XI. A Digrejftcn, V> je8: in view. Since the increafe In the family of her bene- factors, Mrs. Barlow, forefeeing the fun of An- na's favour was fetting, had been long fortifying Her ANNA. 67 her mind againft pofTible, if not probable, events; {he had been arming her with patience, and con- juring her to perfeverc in innocence and integrity now that flie was on the eve of leaving her, and leaving her too in a fituation which, though it ap- peared dangerous to her, flie was not juftified in mentioning, fince her own furmifes were her only authority : fhe might be wrong — (he might injure the Colonel-but her love for Anna rendered her anxious : it was not, indeed, till the inftant of feparation fhe knew how neccflary to her happi- nefs this dear girl was ; gladly would flie have taken her wholly from Mrs. Melmoth ; but the bare mention of fuch a thing (he knew would be taken ill, and (he had too high a fenfe of gratitude to offer an affront, where flie acknowledged her- felf much obliged ; nothing was therefore in her power but to enforce by admonitions (where tears were blended with inilruflions) thofe leffons of virtue and propriety which had been the fubjccSt of their eight years ffudies — fhe begged that their correfpondence might be regular and unreferved ; told her with an earneflnefs, in which truth and love were equally vifible, flie fliould always find a home with her, and obliged her to promife, if any unforefeen event fhould occafion her, either from neceffity or choice, to quit the Lodge, fhe would, inflead of returning to the Daltons, come by way of Briflol to her, as that gentleman's fa- mily was large, and flie would be there receiving obligations, when, in favouring Mr. Manfel and herfelf with her company, flie would, by adding fo confiderably to their happinefs, confer it on them. The poor weeping Anna felt as if fhe was going to be annihilated ; fhe promifed to obferve, with the mofl facred regard, the minuteft thing her dear friend enjoined her, and to treafure in her 68 ANNA. her memory the invaluable inflrutSlions (he had re- ceived from her. Their parting was accompanied with floods of tears, and their affe«Stionate adieus infeded the whole houfe. With her eyes did Anna follow the chaife ; and when it was no longer in fisjht, {\\q fell fenfelefs into the arms of one of the maids, who, with all the fcrvants, had followed to the gate, with their good vvilhes and prayers, a wo- man, whofe inoffenfive temper had, for the long time (he lived at the Lodge, preferved her from enemies, while the juflicc, candour, and hu- manity of her difpofuion had made her many friends. CHAP, N N A. 69 CHAP. XIV. The ConUji, iVlRS. Melmoth's inquiries after a French go- vernefs on which occafion (he had wrote to Lon- don, were anfwered in two days, before the de- parture of Mrs. Barlow, by the apphcation of a perfon who was accidentally within twelve miles of the Lodge. A lady of high rank and quality was on a vifit at a quondam friend's in Somerfetfhire : fhe was there attended with a French gentlewoman, who had been long enough about her ladyfhip's perfoa, to be in poflefTion of fome few anecdotes (perfect- ly innocent no doubt) which gave her, as ihe prer fumed, a title to a greater degree of familiarity than fat quite eafy on her lady, who, however, did not find it convenient to reprehend or difcharga her, but wanted not inclination to do both. It is probable Mademoifelle, as flie was called, (who was not deficient in the fpecies of low cunning, fome people chufe to dignify with the name of wit) might perceive that fhe \yas more feared than, valued, and therefore took- this opportunity of providing for hcrfelf in a country gentleman's fa- mily, or that file might fear her lady, who was above fetting any great value on (..liaracler, would grow weary of the tiammels her infolence now made her wear. Whatever 70 ANN A. Whatever were her motives, flie inflantly ap- plied for a recommendation from Lady Waldron to Mrs. Melmoth, afligning ill health as her only reafon for her wifh to part with fo good and fo amiable a lady. London air nor I>ondon hours agreed with her ; the country fhe hoped would be of fervice to her ; but wherever fhe was, it was impolTible for her to forego her refpe6t and vene- ration for her dear lady, who, on her fide, de- clared nothing on earth fhould prevail on her to part with fo valuable a dependent, but her regard for her conftitution and wifh to forward her inter- efl — Mademoifelle was therefore difpatched in Lord Bury's chariot to Melmoth Lodge, with the following card : " Lady Waldron's compliments wait on Mrs. ** Melmoth, would certainly have had the honour *' of paying her refpe6:s to her at the Lodge, had *' fhe not been confined with a nervous head « ach. ** Lady Waldron hearing Mrs. M. is in want ** of a French governefs for the Mifs Melmoths, *' takes the liberty of recommending Mademoifelle *' Frajan as the mofl proper perfon in the world ** for fuch a trufl. Lady Waldron will be an- *' fwerable in every rerpe6t for her charader and « abilities." Colonel Gorget and her two friends were in the faloon taking their tea when this important mef- fage arrived. " Heavens !" cried the Colonel, " the divine '* Lady Waldron in the neighbourhood, and I ** not at her feet ! A few years back fhe would ** have been highly piqued at fuch neglect : upon *' my foul 1 was fond of that woman ; but let us ** fee her card — ha, the fame pretty penwoman, ** and her flyle too — • " Is, ANNA. 7X " Is, no doubt, very good," interrupted Mr. Melmoth ; ** but upon my word, my dear,'' turn- ing to Mrs. Melmoth, ** 1 cannot think Lady ** VValdron's recommendation an eligible one for ** the fort of perfon you want." ** Mr. Melmoth, you aftonifh me," anfwered the Colonel in warmth ; " are you really fo igno- *' rant of what is due to people of diilindion, as *' to doubt (notwithftanding the little gallantries of " her Ladyfhip's life) any perfon would, or, in- *' deed, could obje6\ to her recommendation ? — *' Mrs. Melmoth, fee the lady by all means." Mr. Melmoth would have offered a negative, but his circumftances were fo involved, and his ex- pectations fo great from his generous friend, con- trary to his own judgment, v/hich at all times was good, he remained a filent, unapproving fpe6la- tor ; while Mademoifelle was admitted, examin- ed, hired, and returned with the following card : ** Colonel Gorget's very beft compliments to ** Lady Waldron, begs leave to return a thoufand " thanks for the honour her Ladyfliip conferred '' on his friend, Mrs. Melmoth, who is happy to " have any perfon under her roof that hUs attend- *' ed on the charming Lady Waldron. " The Colonel will have the honour of paying *' his devoirs to Lady W. and Lord Bury, as foon ** as convenient to them." It will, I prefume, be afked, why Mrs. Mel- moth herfelf did not anfwer Lady Waldron's card, I have told my readers that Colonel Gorget was, according to his own account, acquainted with the firft men, as well as the fined v/omen, in the kingdom ; but I did not pledge myftif for the ve- racity of that aifertion. The truth is, excepting thofe hungry and profligate peers who condefcend- ed to borrow his money, which I before obferved, he would freely lend to a peer, and the family, to whofe 72 ANNA. whofe father he owed all that he was, he was as little known as refpefted ; and as to Lady Wal- dron, he had actually never feen her but in pub- lic : neverthelefs, quality acquaintance was his greateft ambition ; and not being troubled with the modeft diffidence that keeps merit at a diftance, or when it is fuflFered to approach, prevents the difplayofits claims to patronage, he feized, with undaunted aflurance, on this occafion, to intro- duce himfelf ; he did not, however, take the fenfe of his friends on the contents of the card to the lady ; he felt the fuperiority of Mr. Melmoth's judgment and under/landing too forcibly, to fuffer him to infpedt into fo flimfy an artifice. As to matter of cuftom and politenefs, were they not poor, and was he not rich, and were they not in too much diftrefs to nik offending a man in whofe power it was to be their friend ? Certainly Mr. Melmoth felt himfelf hurt ; and it was not till he had heard a great deal more from his wife, of bear- ing, and forbearing, he could quite refume his good humour; but that was a mere bagatelle. The next day brought the French governefs ; the apartments were now to undergo an entire alteration ; the little library, where all the ideas of Anna were formed, was no more; Mademoi- felle muft have a room to herfelf. At this our he- roine did not repine, as fhe then flept vi^ith Eliza, but foon had (he fufficient reason to regret her loft friend ; her refpedted companion. Every fuccef- five hour in her time had its employments or amufements that contributed either to health or improvement ; the hours appropriated to ufeful or ornamental needle work, were now loitered away from trifle to trifle, or actually funk in dire6t idlenefs ; and thofe moll delightfully filled by read- ir.<^ feme of the beft Englifh authors, in vv^hich happy periods they were frequently honoured with the ANNA. 73' the company of Mr. Melmoth, who had the good- nefs to guide her judgment, and dire6t her tafte, now loft in an illiterate commencement of the French language, which Anna could not compre- hend, nor would attend to. In fine, fhe defpifed the inftru£lrefs, and could not profit by her lef- fons ; ignorant, haughty, and ill bred ; com- manding with an air of infolent pride, thofe, who not being ufed to fuch manners, fcorned to obey. Mademoifelle began her career at Melmoth Lodge with the diflike of all its natural inhabi- tants ; the Colonel, indeed, was charmed with her ; as to the children, it was enough to fay Mademoifelle was coming, to frighten them inta any thing. This refpe6lable perfon for whofe chara£ler a lady of fafhion was anfwerable, was in her thir- tieth year ; had been handfome ; was dirty in her perfon ; immoral in her difcourfe ; ignorant of the refinements of her own language ; and too vo- latile to learn, with propriety, that of the country fhe found it convenient to refide in : her fpeech was a mixed jargon of broken Englifh and vulgar French ; fhe wore a vaft deal of rouge, took fnufF; loved intrigue ; and hated work ; fuch was the perfon engaged to fupply the place of Mrs. Barlow, at Melmoth Lodge, under the aufpices of Colonel Gorget. Vol. L E CHAP. N N A. CHAP. XV. Family Anecdotes, T, HE gallant Colonel was now in his element; he was waiting a mandate from Lady Waldron ; he was ogling and fighing at the Frenchwoman, and he felt his defires increafe every moment for the inno- cent victim he had marked for his own. He had propofed two days flay at the Lodge ; as many months were now elapfed, and he fpoke not of departing. Mrs. Afhby, and Mrs. Mandeville, two fifters of Mr. Melmoth, were in impatient expe6lation of the time he would confer the fame honour on them ; and anxioufly jealous of a partiality fo marked, more than half repented of giving up Mrs. Melmoth's acquaintance, as they had, by that means, (hut themfeives out of the way of paying their court for the loaves and fifhes. They v/ere continually fending him invitations, tirefome enough, as he could not prevail on himfelf to leave the Lodge, till he had vifited Lady Wal- dron, made a conquell: of Mademoileile, and fe- cured Anna; but it at laft flruck him, that the dif- tance being fo fmall, he might occrfionally vifit thofe ladies, v^ithout remitting his attention to cither of the points he wifncd to keep in view ; indeed, he now recollected it as an odd circumftance, which had before efcaped his obfervation, that neither of Mr. Mel- ANNA. 75 Melmoth's fifters had been to pay their perfonal rcf- pe6ts to him there: this was a matter as unintelligi- ble to his hofts as himfelf, the family conne6lion had been declined on the part of thofe ladies ; with little ceremony, and lefs good -nature ; and whenever they met by accident, it was with that ftift contempt on one fide, and carclefs indifference on the other, that an ecclairciflement was the laft thing likely to take place, Mr. Melmoth, in juftice to himfelf and family, could not help relating, with fome acrimony, the unprovoked caprice of his relations, on being quef- tioned on that head by his friend. The Colonel exprelfcd both grief and furprife, to hear that his charming, his amiable friend, Mrs. Melmoth, had been fo impolitely ufed. He fuppofed, her hufband's having fo nobly pre- ferred happinefs to riches, in his choice of her, to be the caufe of her being treated with fuch difref- pe<£l:. The lady bluftied at this compliment, which ra- ther mortified than flattered her ; but anfwered coolly, if that was the cafe, (he prefumed the diflike of Mr. Melmoth's relations would have been fhewn at the time of their marriage ; on the contrary they had lived with great harmony fcur years. Well, it was aftonifliing ; the Colonel could }wt account for it ; but, however, he would take a ride to Mrs. Afliby's— He would know the caufe ; and did aflure them, if the fifters did not well acquit themfelves, or make proper advances towards a re- union in the family, they (hould be equal ftran^ers to his fricndfhip and favour. ^ ^ Mr. and Mrs. Mdmo;h could have difpenfed With this inteife>ence ; they felt no regret at* being deprived of the fociety of relations, between v/hom, and themfelves there e.xifted neither afFcaion nor ef- teem j but the apparent cn^ndour and good nature of E 2 the -76 ANNA. the motive, called for thanks and acknowledgments; yet though they did not refufe, neither did they court the good offices of their officious friend, on an occafion about which they were perfedly indif- ferent However, the following morning Colonel Gorget's fervant was fent with the joyful news, that his mafler would condefcend to dine with Mrs. Afh- by next day, and requefled Mrs. Mandeville would be of the party. The ladies were in raptures at the fight of their dear and honoured friend ; they had been broken hearted at his being fo near fuch a length of time, without allovi'ing them to pay their duty ; and Ca- roline Afhby was not a little mortified, that her young coufins had fo much better fortune than her- felf, in the opportunity his refidence at the Lodge gave them of attracting the honour of his notice. The Colonel, on his part, was all afFe£lion and politenefs ; he had fuffered very much, in depriving himfelf fo long of the happinefs he now enjoyed ; he was charmed with the ladies, and delighted with Mifs Caroline; and notwithftanding what I have faidof the duplicity of his character, he was in his profeffions of friendfhip and regard, quite as fmcere as the ladies to whom he addreffed them were in theirs. After dinner Mifs Afhby was called to her indru- ment— She was a tall courfe girl of fixteen, Vv'ho •was fo partially approved by the mother, and whofe every a61:ion fo charmed, that when once the de- lightful theme of her perfe6lions were ftartcd, it engroffedher whole attention.' Come, Caroline, let the Colonel hear my favour-, ite fong. Play your newleflbn. Now my dear, the rondeau. With a conceited air, and unblufhing counte- nance, Caroline obeyed —Deilitute of tafte, air, voice, ANNA. 77 voice, or judgment, and free from the conftraint of timid modefty, the young lady entertained their gueil: — no room indeed was left for his requeft ; the fond ill-judging mother, ftill continuing her plaudits, and flill calling forth the fancied attradions of her darling daughter, not knowing, that inftead of gratifying, {he was difgulling the perfon it was fo much her wifli to pleafe. The contraft between the manners as well as per- fon of the profperous Caroline Aftiby, and the poor orphan'd Anna, was indeed too flriking, not to re- double the value of the one, in his eftimation, as he felt tired and difguftcd with the other — It was in vain he fought an opportunity of entering on the fubje£t of the coolnefs that fubfifled in the family ; Mifs A{})by had {lill fome charming thing to amufe him with, till after fhifting his feat feveral times, and betraying every token of reftlcilhefs, he was obliged to break in on what he vowed was the harmony of the fphcres, to beg an hour's ferious converfation ; hut Mifs was flill defired to keep her feat, as Mrs. Alhby, was fure, Colonel Gorget Vv'ould wiih to hear another fong before he left them. He then, with great apparent coriCern, in«[itired the reafon, fo manifeft a difunion prevailed In {o id'- pc6lahle a family ? A general fimper overfprcad the countenances of the ladies. I'hey affeiled a rclucSlance to enter on the fub- je61:, which he was too great an adept not to per- ceive was affeded, and that with expe6tation of being more clofely urged. After many evafions, and pretended backwardnefs, to fay any thing that could leflen their friend's good opinion of any part of the family, Mrs. Afhby took upon her to be fpokefwoman. She appealed to himfelf, whether, in the firft in- ftance, it nluft not be a great mortification to them, E 3 to 78 ANNA. to fee their only brother, a young man in poflcflion of fuch a :i.jbie eflate, and the laft male of their family, free from incumbrances of any kind, throw himxelf away on a woman of neither birth nor fortune, the daughter of people of doubtful chara6^er, as (he fuppofed he knew. 1 he Colonel bowed bis aflent. However, when the thing was paft recal, we thought it beft to be on decr-nt terms with them, but when, in the face of the whole country, fhc fhamelefsly brought her natural daughter here, dref- iing and educating her in a far fuperior ftile to what our children were drefTed and educated, fquander- ing our dear father's fortune on her illegitimate offspring ; it was too much ; the honour of our family was concerned, as well as our own private feelino;s, in avoidino; all intercourfe with them. What is this you fay. Madam ? anfwercd the Colonel in the utmoft aftonifhment ? Let me un- derfland you — her natural daughter ! Yes, returned Mrs. A(hby, that Anna, that Pet is her ov/n child ; fhe was brought from Lon- don by an old fervant of my father's, who receiv- ed ]\ev from the people that nurfed her, and they told Dame Plunket, Mrs. Melmoth had at laA prevailed on her huiband to take the brat — All the old fervants (fome of them born in the houfe) were difcharged, for prefuming to deliver their opi- nions on fo fcandalous an affair : it is now no fecret, every body in this country knows is, nor can fhe be ignorant that her infamy is difcevered j but it is no wonder (be wiflies to conceal it from you. Sir. This was news indeed to Colonel Gorget; not that he believed a fyllable of the affair as rcprefent- cd by Mrs. Afliby. Mrs. Melmoth, at his firft coming to the Lodge, related, in fuch an ingenu- ous, artlefs manner, her accidentally meeting with the orphan (he protcded, together with the name and ANNA. 79 and place of abode of the perfon from whom flie took her, whofe facred funftion was, as well as Mr. Melmoth's authority, a confirmation, that placed beyond a poflibility of doubt the truth of the flory ; bei'ides Mr. Melmoth, although, as Dame Plun- ket faid, a mere fap in wordly wifdom, had too much honour, as well as underflanding, to fupport his wife in fu ch an atrocious impofition ; it was fo eafy to trace it to conviiSion, if falfe, and nolefs to confirm it, if true, that he hefitated not to de- cide, in his own mind, on the innocence of Mrs. Melmoth : he had, indeed, fo thorough a know- ledge of the world, and what it would do to carry a point, that he made no doubt but this was a calumny, originating at firfi: in the fpirit of curiofi- ty, and confirmed by that of ill nature; but the matter now was, what ufe could be made of this piece of intelligence — could it not be tortured fo as to turn to the advancement of his grand dcfign? Mrs. Melmoth's favour was of confequence to him juft now j fhould he, therefore, make a merit with her of vindicating her injured fame, and clearing her characSter from the unjud: afperfions it had (iii'- tained ; or would it not be better to rcferve this acl of juflice for fome future occafion. Could he not by ^nd by tell it in a manner that fhould both alarm and diilrefs her ; and was it not probable, in that cafe, he might feize fome fit- vourable moment to induce her to difcard the in- nocent caufe of her difquiet. At all events, he could at any time difclofe it as an acSt of kindnefs, or, if more convenient, as caufe of quarrel, and an excufe to break off the connec- tion, when it was no longer neceffary to be fopar- tial to her, or fodotingly fond of her children. At prefent then he refolved to fail with the ftream. . After So ANNA. After fome rnoments profound filence, during which he turned in his mind the preceding argu- ments, attentively watched by the ladies, he raifed his eyes to heaven, and, deeply fighing, caft them down again inilantaneoufly without articulating a fyllable. ^ Another p.iufe raifed the expectation of the company ; and fo prepared were they to coincide with the wifdom of his opinion, that had he, as they prefuppcfed he would have done, flood forth the champion of Mrs. Melmoth's honour, rather than rifque a difference in opinion with him, they would have given up the matter, notwithftanding their rooted prejudices, and their warm regard to the credit and honour of their family. But fuch condefcenfions were not likely to be demanded ; the Colonel folemnly addrefled them : — " Let us,'' faid he, " my ever dear friends, " where juftice will permit it, leave room for *' candour ; let us believe you may be mif- ** informed." Encouraged beyond their hopes — No ; they aflured him that was impoffible ; they were but too certain. " Well, then,'* continued the mild, benevo- lent man, ** let us, not know it; or if we mujl ** know it, let us hoping the poor woman may ** have feen her error, and, in compaiTion to the ** children ilie has by your brother, give the world ** an example of charity and forgivenefs in our ** condua." If the reader has been ufed to converfe with Co- lonel Gorgets, and he will find many of them on ■the theatre of the great world, he will know that there are two ways of enforcing an argument ; and that the fame words, literally repeated, may ferve for either. Thus ANNA. 8r Thus to be looked upon as the peace-maker of the family, and to be efleemed the friend of Mrs. Melmoth, was what the Colonel chofe to exprefs in his words ; but the manner of his uttering them made it pretty plain neither was in his meaning. With the prefent inhabitants of the Lodge he was perfe6tly free from all apprehenfions of a dif- covery of the latent caufe of his remaining there. A'Irs. Melmoth was a good-natured, open-hearted, thoughtlefs woman, whofe bofom harboured not fufpicion of any kind ; all (he had in view was, paying court to the Nabob for the fake of her children. The Squire was, every moment he could (leal off to his ftudy, up to the ears in heroic poems, and when prefent, more than half in the third heavens : as for the French governefs, fhe was almoft a match for the Colonel himfelf; elated with his amorous advances, fhe had, in her own ideas, laid a regular plan of defence and capitula- tion, and already rolled her vis-a-vis down St. James's Street, not giving way to Lady Waldron herfelf. Anna, the treafure for whom all his plans were laid, innocent and carelefs, thoughtlefs and un- fufpicioiis, was now wholly employed in finifli- ing a muff for Mrs. Melmoth, romping with the children, or playing on the harpf.chord, and pla- ced her fupreme delight in receiving a fummons from Mr. Melmoth to his library, or v/riting to Mrs. Manfel, which Ihe never failed doing, or omitted informing her of every occurrence that happened : to this eafy, unfufpe6ting circle it was not the intereft of Colonel Gorget to make any addition. Mrs. Afhby, a widow, and a coquet ; Mrs. Mandeville, a flarched prude ; and Caroline Afh- by, a pert, forward, inquifitive mifs, were not at E 5 all 82 A N 1^ A., all people he chofe to give an opportunity of ob- fcrving on his actions. It was therefore, at prefent, not convenient to him to bring about a reconciliation in the family, though he thought proper io preferve the appear- ance of endeavouring to tKcd: it. When he parted with the ladies at Afliby Grove, he told them it was with infinite regret ; and though he could not but wifh to meet them at the Lodge, yet he muft own it was a delicate point, on which he could not determine, as it appeared^ in the light the affair now flood, equally com- mendable, whether they continued their referve in refped to their family, or whether they dropped it in regard to their brother ; but he would give them his farther fentiments when he had the ho- nour of waiting on Mrs. Mandeville, which fhould be in the enfuing week. At his return to the Lodge, Colonel Gorget la- mented the implacable temper of the ladies he had been with, made comparifons, in an indirect man- ner, between the gentle and fweet temper of his amiable friend, and that of the violence and felf fufficiency of thofe he had vifitcd ; and in confe- cjuence of his unfavourable obfervations on thofe ladies, he would no more think of dividing his time, but while he flaid in that part of the coun- try make his home at the Lodge. ^ , I need not fay Mr. and Mrs. Melmoth were terv happy at this preference in the Colonel, or that they expre/Ted themfelves not more honoured than obliged, becaJjfe, though their circumftances were fo much deranged, it was the folly of the age, not the vices of it, which had found place in their difpofitions ; they reali v felt his partiality as ihe highefl: obligation, and acknowledged it with as much gratitude. CHAP N N A. S^ CHAP. XVL The Rapture, V^OLONEL Gorget, now perfe£lly at eafe in his outworks, ferioufly began his attacks on our young heroine. It was, I have informed my rea- der, Mrs. Barlow's cuflom, from the time the mufic mafler was difcharged, to keep Anna to a regular pradice of leflbns one hour every morning. The interruption which alarmed the governefs, induced her to change the place of practice ; and from the time the Colonel intruded on them, they Iiad made ufe of an old organ in an o6tagon tem- ple, where formerly little concerts had been held. Anna, in obedience to Mrs. Manfel's injunctions, as well as to gratify her own tafte for mufic, con- tinued her morning vifits to the temple : of this circumftance an old valet, who, being as artful as his mafter, was the only fervant who could ftay any time in his fervice, informed the Colonel ; and he, the very firfl day after this intimation, un- der pretence of ftrolling round the gardens, fur- prifed her in the middle of a leflbn, which fo en- tirely engroffed her attention, that he had fuffici- ent leifure to examine, and admire the various charms of a young creature, who was the em- blem of youth, innocence, and beauty ; but his emotions did not fuffer him to enjoy long, in filence, fo exquifite a feaft ; at lirft the furprifc both 84 ANN A. both alarmed and confiifed her ; but he, throwing all the foftnefs and polite refpett into his manner, hefo well knew how to make fit eafy on his fea- tures, begged a thoufand pardons for the intrufi- on, and with great earneftnefs intreated he might •not interrupt her — faid he would inftantly leave the place, if fhe required it, but fhould be for ever obliged by one fong. This requeft, in her idea, amounted to a com- mand ; file knew how exceedingly Mrs. Melmoth was interefted in pleafing this gentleman, and as unapprehenfive of danger as unconfcious of guilt, with no other embarraflment than at firft proceed- ed from her natural diffidence, fhe fung and played. The morning was one of the hottefl in Augufl: ; not a breath of air interrupted the melody of her "voice, and the accompaniments were echoed from an adjacent grove ; (he aftonifhed and charmed the enraptured Colonel in her warblings of " Fair Aurora," from Artaxerxes ; — another and ano- ther fopg was afked, and granted ; when fudden- ly recoil e<51:ing her dear companion in this morn- ing amufement, fhe made a quick tranfition from Seftini's lively *' No?7 du hi la^'' to Linley's beau- tiful elegy of ^' I fing of the days that are *« gone.'' He could hold no longer, no longer reflrain the tranfports of a paffion he fecretly vowed no power fhould prevent him from gratifying ; — - catching her in his arms, he fwore fhe was more thin mortal — (he was divine — and ravifhing from hc" hitherto-unpolluted lips kiiTes, not lefs difguft- insc from his figure than frightful from his vehe- mence, for a moment deprived her of all power of refiilance, foon, however, thoroughly terrified at hi*^ indecent violence, her fcreams rent the grove; but lofl now to every idea except that of gratifying ANNA. 85 his hideous pafTion, he recolIe6ted not how far he was removed from that country where rape and murders are tolerated a6ls ; deaf to her cries, un- moved by her youth and terror, he was proceed- ing to outrage, when the fudden appearance of Mademoifelle took from him all asStive powers. The trembling Anna efcaped out of the temple, and, with inconceivable agility, ran into the nur- fery, where fhe fainted away. The interview between Colonel Gorget and Frajan requires an abler pen than mine to do it jiiftice ; that lady was awakened much earlier than common by her own agreeable ideas. The gal- lant Colonel had taken an opportunity of attribut- ing to her charms his llay at the Lodge ; the paf- fionhe felt for her, he vowed, would confume him ; hfe was no life ; it was a lingering living death, without the adorable Frajan ; he added as many more brilliant things as could be crammed into a two-minutes flop enpaffant, as he crofled the hall ; and fo delighted was fhe with his homage to charms, which, to fay the truth, were pretty well worn, it was late before her delightful reveries gave way to repofe, and early when they refum- ed their empire over her imagination, to indulge in her fond prefage of future happinefs. She ftrol- led into the garden, and was, at the inftant of her turning towards the terrjple, deliberating v/ith her- felf whether (he might not by affedting referve, draw the old fool into marriage; many a one had been fo caught by thoie who could not boail: hnlf her attractions; indeed, on recolleclion, a trilling objection occurred, namely, her being married al- ready ; but that was of fmall import, Monfieur Frajan was a gent!eman who had the honour of belonging to the GraTide Munarque's guards ; he was too polite to loe h 'id of accefs ; and too poor to be troublefome 3 he had the misfortune of not being 86 ANN A. being able to fupport Madame Frajan In a flilc equal to her elevated notions ; and he had the hap- pinefs of being too great a philofopher, to let that difturb his peace ; but then, fuppofing that mat- ter adjufled, fhe fhould be obliged always to live with the ugly wretch ; now, as a miftrefs, (he was entitled to feparate purfe, feparate pleafures ; and as to interefl, it is feldom, indeed, in that iituation they are united ; thefe confiderations be- ing all reduced to fa^ts, what muft her confterna- tion be at feeing the man who was dying for her, who fhe fet down as her fixed (lave, on the point of committing violence on a beautiful inmate in the fame houfe, a mere chit, a girl fhe held in con- tempt ; rage tied her tongue, as confufion did his. But rage in the French woman, though ftrength- ened by fo fevere a difappointment, had not pow- er to reprefs the happy turn of her nation ; her rifible faculties were irrefiflibly and involuntarily excited by the objefi: before her. The Colonel's figure was truly comic ; ima- gine you fee a little mean-looking perfon, his eyes not yet recovered from their vicious flare, en- deavouring to blink away the fhame of detection ; his fine laced ruffles hanging in tatters over his wrifts, and the contraft between the powder and his olive comple£lion rendered ftill more flriking, by its being brufh. likewife liiuch caficr refuted than 95 ANNA. than filenced ; while, therefore, the girl continued under her protedion, what had been beUeved would be remembered. " And what. Sir," faid Mrs. Melmoth, eager- ly interrupting him, ** mud become of the poor « thing ?" '' What, Madam," anfwered he gravely, *' will ** become of her, if you ftill keep her ; you *^ know befl: ; but I advife you to confider whe- *' ther your circumflances are fuch as will pro- ** vide for a girl you have fo improperly educated, *' or if they are, could you knowingly fix fuch an *•' indelible ftain on your hufband's family as fuf- *' fering a weak attachment to influence you to *' perfevere in confirming the fhameful reports al- *' ready circulated ? — Come, come, Mrs. Mel- *^ moth, you muft forgive me, if, for the fake of *' your children, your own fake, and that of the *' refpe6table family (I fpeak not in contempt of *' your own) into which you are married, 1 urge *' you to the only a(5l which can clear your cha- *' rafter in the opinion of the world ; for my own *^ part, I frankly confefs, I look on myfelf, though *' not of their blood, as allied to the honour of *' the Melmoths. You muft pofitively part with « this girl." " Ah !" faid Mrs. Melmoth, weeping, " fhe is the befl creature in the world: *' what, what will become of her, poor, poor *' girl ? my heart bleeds for her." — " Oh, fhe *' would do very well : — the parfon, from whom *' fhe was taken, would provide more properly *' for her, by getting her a fervice, than fhe *' could by keeping her in a chara6ler it was very ** unlikely fhe would ever be able to fupport.'* In fhort, partly by hints that he fhould be eter- nally difobliged by her not adopting his opinion, and partly by his abfolute affurance, on his honour, that the girl was wholly unworthy the kindnefs fhcwH ANNA. 97 fhewn her, of which her treatment of the amiable Frajan, a perfon who certainly had been very much efteemed by people of the firft diftin(5tion, was one of the many inftances he knew, but did not chufe to repeat : he at length prevailed on the gentled of female hearts to be guilty of an a6l of deliberate cruelty, by difcarding, without any real provocation, from her favour and proteiS^ion, an innocent, unoffending, young creature, Ihe had adopted as her own child, without firft informing herfelf whether any other perfon would receive her. Eager to carry his deep-laid plan into execution, through all delay or oppofition— " A propos, ** Madam," faid he, ** the London ftage paffes ** to-morrow morning — oblige me by exerting •* your refolution — accept this facrifice to your ** humanity," prefenting a Bank note of twenty pounds — " fee her no more, as you value your *' own peace or my friendfhip. And here," con- tinued the generous creature, ** I believe I have ** not yet paid my entrance into the good graces •* of my Eliza; do me the honour of prefenting ** her with what this will purchafe, in my name," putting into Mrs. Melmoth's hand another note of one hundred pounds. Gratitude, prudence, and that all-fubduing ar- gument, /^yintereil:, was too powerful to be re- fifted — it overcame all farther fcruples : — Frajan was fummoned — fhe was directed to fend Anna away by the London ftage ; and, in fine, the Pet was difcarded, the orphan no longer protec- ted. Vol. L F CHAP. C8 ANNA. CHAP. XVIIL Ji. Rencontre, W, ITH what a light heart and gladdened coun- tenance did Frajan fly to execute her commiflion. *' It cannot be," faid the petrified Anna ; *' it *^ is not in the nature of my dear benefaflrefs to ** be fo cruel. What ! turn me out of her houfe, *' without fufFering the poor girl fhe has fo often ** and often prelTed to her heart, to. kifs her dear •* hand, to pray for, and to blefs her for her good- ** nefs. You ar€ furely diverting yourfelf, Ma- ** dam, by fporting with my misfortunes.*' The unfeeling governefs affured her over and over of the truth of her mcfTage : Ihe advifed her as a friend to make the beft of the matter— pack up her trafh, and, fince go (he muft, fet off with a grace, that the feryants might not make their ob- fervations. " Ah!" anfwered Anna, *' how much at eafe ** muft that mind be, who, in fuch a moment, •' could be biafled by fuch trivial ideas. Alas ! *^ I think not of any thing but never feeing my ** dear Mrs. Melmoth more — of being for ever " feparated from my fweet Eliza — of no more " being permitted to hear from dear Mr. Mel- *^ moth, the inftruftion of wifdom, or to thank him ** for thofe he has already taught me. Do, dear <^ Mademoifelle, beg for me. Alas I I have ** long ANNA. 99 '* Ions; expe£led to go — but not Co very fudden — *' not^in fo difgracciul a manner." " Not I,'* anfwered the Frenchwoman : " I <« aflure you, you think to whine Mrs. Mchnolh ** out of her refolution ; but the Colonel will take " care of that." ** It is then to his endeavours and yours," re- turned Anna, with fpirits, " I owe the lofs *' of my benefaSrefs's favour : I will not, there- '* fore, trouble you with any meflage to her ; but ** as to your aflbciate, you may tell him, 'tis poor ** fpite, in fuch an old man, to perfecute a young '* girl, whofe offences towards him are her ftrong- ** eft claim to the favour of heaven : God reward *' you both. I have no felfifli regrets at leaving ** this place ; none but what arifes from my '* grateful love to its owners — Dear fpot," con- tinued fhe, looking mournfully around her, ** once •* the hallowed retreat of peace, content, and ** unanimity, the bright dwelling of virtue, the ** feat of wifdom ; but now" — darting a look of contempt into the guilty foul of Frajan — ** you, ** Madam, and Colonel Gorget are here — why ** need I defcribe the hateful reverfe ?" It is not to be fuppofed Frajan, whofe leaft virtue was patience, bore this keen reproach without re- torting, which fhe did with all the fpite and abufe in her power ; and that, it muft be confeffed, is faying a great deal. Arrria, full of her own concerns, heeded her not : fhe fet about packing her trafh, as Frajan had not improperly called them ; for fhe had grown fo very faft, and money was fo fcarce an article at the Lodge, that flie had, for the lail three or four years, been altering and cutting up one old thing to piece out another, without having the deficiency fupplied by any thing new ; fo that, though fhe was blefTed with a perfon and manner F 2 that loo ANN A. that ftamped gentlewoman on her appearance, let her drefs be what it would, her clothes were but a forry recommendation to refpe^t ; and bad as they were, lefs ufeful than valuable j fuch as (he had, however, flie put up in a fmall trunk of Mrs. Manfei's, and a fmailer bundle ; and then once more, made an effort to fee Mrs. Melmoth, by prevailing on the footman to deliver an hum- ble, but ardent requeft, to be indulged with one moment's audience after tea ; but the Colonel, who ftirred not from the lady's fide the whole day, fruftrated her wifhes, by fetting his negative oiji the meffage as foon as delivered. She was likewife forbid feeing the children; Madamoifelle would not fuffer them to be dif- turbed with her deceitful whimpering. This, though meant as an a6t of cruelty an'd mortification, was, in its effect, the kindeft thing that could hav6 happened ; for Anna fo doted on Eliza, the parting with her would have half broken her heart, without anfwering any purpofe but rendering her unfit for her long journey. Such a fudden turn could not but furprife the fervants ; but as every creature in the houfc (thofe only mofl concerned excepted) had 'heard, and, indeed, generally believed, the report fo long cir- culated refpefting the confanguinity of Anna to Mrs. Melmoth, fo when, by the Colonel's com- mand, the old valet communicated to them the injury that had been done their miftrefs, and af- figned that as a rcafon for the difcarding coir he- roine, in order to clear the lady's character, which had been falfely afperfed, it became a matter of courfe : they, however, were all filled with pity and regret at parting with her ; every fervant in the houfe followed her with cordial wi(hes for her health and profperky. Jenny, the nurfery maid, who had been her*s when (ht firft came to the Lodge, ANNA. loi Lodge, wept over her, and promifed faithfully to fend Mrs. ManfePs letter the inftant it arriv- ed. No choice was left her, otherwife her incli- nations would have led her, as fhe promifed, to Wales ; but Mrs. Mclmoth's commands were, that Ihe fhould go to London ; and as Anna had never yet difobeyed any order of that lady, fhe did not chufe to do it now. At four o'clock in the morning the flage flop- ped, by order, at the Lodge. Mrs. Melmoth, not then under the conftraint impofed by her artful gueft, got out of bed to take, in a peep through the curtain, a parting view of her Pet ; fhe faw her flow, reluctant fleps, fol- lowed by all the maids, and fome of the men, wiping the faft-falling tears from her face, which, on her reaching the ftage, was turned full to her apartment, and then to the nurfery ; and after a minute's paufe in filent grief, with an a<5t at once graceful and affecting, flie extended her open hand to each, firft confecrating it with a kifs, then making an eafy courtefy in return to the benedic- tions of the fervants, with a burfling heart Ihe af- cended the vehicle. Mrs. Melmoth's emotions were fo flrong at the laft fight of a child flie had brought up, and her affection renewing, filled her with fuch regret at her departure, (lie rung for her maid in her firfl agitations to have Anna detained. Kitty, who with her ftllow fervants was at the gate, not di- re£lly hearing the bell, the flage was far out of fight before flic attended her miftrefs, who fhe found in a fit of liyflerlcs, which rendered her un- able to break fa fl below. Nor was fhe the only perfon whofe reft was diflurbcd by ri defire to fee the laft of our he- roine, F 3 Madam 102 ANNA. Madame Frajan was too full of joy at this event, rot to delight her eyes with fo acceptahle a fight ; but file had another reafon, file had thought pro- per to convert the twenty pound note given her for Anna into ten guinea?, which fhc thought quite enough for fuch a brat, prudently finking the re- mainder ir.to her own purfe, as llie mufi certainly be a better judge how to ufe that fnm than fuch an ignorant lidng us Anna ; but, however, fhe might reconcile the difcretion of the a6t to her own mind, fhe was not quite fo eafy in her ap- prehenfionS of detedlion ; nor could fhe fecurely enjoy the fuccefs of her fraud, till our heroine was out of fight, when fhe returned to her repofe, and fiepr, according to cufiiom, till ten o'clock. Colonel Gorget too — but let me not make a mifiake, his rejl was not broken by his curiofity, for he actually was too much overjoyed to take any : he told, in wakeful anxiety, the tedious hours as they pafifed, till the welcome one arrived, which by removing Anna from Melmoth Lodge, carried her nearer the habitation he was fo kind as to defign for her, not without emotion, though of a different nature did he watch every graceful attitude of his unconfcious charmer; his heart throbbed with ungoverned ecfi:afy ; and when the coach drove off, he pronounced himfelf the hap- piefi:ofmen. The tears which plentifully flowed from the eyes of our young traveller, at firfi: hindered her obferving her companions; they confifted of an aged farmer-looking man, a pretty young woman, his daughter, with whom he was returning from a vifit they had been making to fome near relations who lived thirty miles beyond Melmoth Lodge to Epfom, where they refided, and the identical dame Plunket ; the latter was grown a few years older, it is true ; fhe was a good deal fatter, and fomewhat ANNA. lol fomewhat richer than when lafl Ihe travelled in company with our heroine; but her malignant, bufy, cenforious difpofition, ftill remained ; and as her ill will to Squire Melmoth's family was now authorized by their being reduced in their for- tune, they were hardly out of fight of the houfe, when (he began to open with fuch coarfe and il- liberal abufe of them, and fuch unintelligible, though difgufling inferences, on Co fine a lady*s being returned to her original poverty, which according to her accounts was bad indeed, that Anna heard her with aftonifhment, not at firft knowing it was to her fhe was fpeaking. When, however, flie did under/land the vulgar jar2:on was addreffed to herfelf, and called to mind the woman whole difagreeable behaviour had made a lafling impreffion on her memory, it had a very different effecSb from what the notable dame expected ; for inftead of mortifying, as fhe kind- ly intended, it exhilarated her fpirits ; her pride (of which fhe had no inconfiderable fhare) was hurt, and being roufed by infults flie could not have provoked, no longer fuffered the defponden* cy of her countenance to encourage the attack* of her ill-conditioned fellow traveller. The uncommon beauty of her perfon, with the fweetnefs of her manners, prejudiced the old man and his daughter very much in her favour, which file improved by all the little attentions in her power, while fhe treated the malicious fhop-keep- cr with every mark of indifFerence and contempt. Enraged at fuch airs, Mrs. Plunket fneeringly congratulated her on Mrs. Melmoth's acquifition of a friend who durfl tell her her own. Every body, fhe faid, knew Colonel Gorget's vifit to Afhby Grove would rout /ler out of the lodge, and fit it fhould ; Mifs Caroline Afhby was a gentle- woman, and it was very hard ihe ihould give up F 4 to 104 ANN A. to the Lord knows who. — Oh, if the old Squire could but look down and fee the doings which were carrying on at Melmoth Lodge, he would not reft in his grave! Poor dear creature, he lit- tle thought his eftate would be fpent to fupport madams and baftards. All that Anna could make out of this fine ha- rangue was, that Colonel Gorget was her enemy; and that Mrs. Plunket was a friend to no one but herfelf ; but as fhe mofl heartily hated the former, and found herfelf much inclined to defpife the lat- ter, it gave her little concern. They arrived, without any accident, at the fe- cond night's ftage, when, to her great mortifica- tion, fhe underftood fhe was the next day to lofe her friendly companions, and be left wholly to the fociety of Mrs. Plunket ; her infuperable dif- like to that notable dame, rendered her extreme- ly uneafy : the young woman obferved it, and good-naturedly prefTed her to alight at Kew bridge with them, where their one-horfe chaife would meet them to crofs the country, from thence to Epfom, from whence carriages went every day to town. Anna endeavoured, in vain, to reafon herfelf out of her prejudices ; the more fhe thought of it, the more fhe felt her heart ficken at the idea of proceeding on her journey to London with the difagreeable fhopkeeper, and at length recolledting Mr. Dalton was not apprized of her coming, ac- cepted the offer made her by the good country folks. A man was procured to carry her luggage, and fhe accompanied her honeft companions over Kew bridge, and got to Epfom to dinner. The farmer was a widower, in good circum- flances ; his daughter managed his houfe ; they were induftrious, inoffenfive people ; eafy in their circumflances, and mild in their tempers ; they grew ANNA. 105 grew more pleafed with their gued the fonger they knew her, and were importunate in their intreaties, as fhe informed them her friends were unacquainted with her journey, to flay with them a few days before fhe proceeded to London. The open-hearted friendship and guilelefs fm- cerity of thofe honed people, was too confonant with her own difpofition, not to be very pleafing to her ; fhe accepted their invitation, and wrote to Mr. Dalton to inform him of her leaving the lodge, and where fhe now was, but referred him to their meeting, which would be in a few days, for particulars. This was one of thofe incidents in human life, on which often hangs, from fecret fprings, unfeen by mortal eye, the good or evil of our days ; it was to our heroine a particular intervention of that providence, we hope, and believe, makes innocence its care ; an intervention that could be neither forefeen nor pre-concerted, and which preferved her honour, if not her life. Perhaps the reader may fufpeft fomething more than the honour of the Melmoth family was Colo- nel Gorget's inducements fo flrenuoufly to urge the removal of Anna ; and may fuppofe he might promife himfelf fome advantages from the dif- trefs Mrs. Melmoth's defertion would expofe her to; he did more, he took meafures which he flattered himfelf would put it in his own power to make good that lofs, by being her prote6lor himfelf; of one thing he was certain, no charac- ter of his, no reputation or honour he pofTefled, could fuffer by that or any other ilep ; he had' wrote fome days back to prepare one of thofe hor- rid wretches, who make a traf^c of female ho- nour, to entrap and guard the unfufpicious girl when fhe fhould arrive in London, and the infbsjt he could be fure of her pofitive difmifHon from F 5 the io6 AN N A. the lodge, he fent off his trufty fervant exprcfs, with orders for his agent to wait the arrival of the ftage, in a hackney coach, before it reached Hyde- park Corner ; flie was then to fay, Mr. Dalton not being at home, and Mrs. Dalton indifpofed, {he was come from them in confequence of a let- ter received from Mrs. Melmoth, to condu6l her to her friends. This fcheme would certainly have taken effe61, as Anna was not only a ftranger to the world, but to all kinds of fraud and double dealing, had it not been for the accident before related. When the flage Coach pafled, it was according- ly flopped, and Anna enquired for; happily Mrs. Plunket was too much enraged at the infolence of the faucy beggar, to anfwer any interrogatories ; (he knew nothing of or about her, and in a huff drawing up the blind, refufed to fay another word, leaving the enquirers to learn of the coachman wh^t he bnew, v»/hich was little enough; all he could fay was, that he fet three paffengers down at Brent- ford, but who, or what they were, he could not tell, as he had drove the coach but from the laft change of horfes before they left him. The vakt being within call, although he kept cuicf fight, v/as now confulted ; he was fure no perfon whatever fet off with Anna from Melmoth Lodge ; he favJ- her go himfelf, but as he well knew his mader's heart was fet on the accomplifli- ment of his defign, they agreed to go on to Brent- ford, examining, without fuccefs, every carriage that paffed ; they could gain no kind of informa- tion, the woman, therefore, returned to town, and Wakers went on with his ill news to his mafler, who was" waitings, in anxious expectations to learn the fuccefs of his fcb^me. CHAP. N N Ar i«7 CHAP. XIX. A Curtain Le^ure, When Anna left Melmoth Lodge, Colo- nel Gorget, joylefs and infipid, as now appeared all there, affeded to be in the befl: humour and highefl fpirits in the world, Mrs. Melmoth's were jis proportionably low — Indifpofed, and diflatisfied with herfelf, it required all his efforts to keep her np ; he was attentive to every look and word; nothing could exceed the warmth of the friend- ihip and efteem he profeffed for her; he romped •with Eliza, and her infant fifter came in for a fhare in his carefles : to direft the too intenfc reflections of Mrs. Melmoth, was no lefs his flu- dy than his intereft. He could form no excufe for leaving the Lodge jull: now ; he did not, indeed, chufe to ftir, till the longed-for news came from his agent in town ; but he took occafion to alter his mind, from a circumftance he did not forefee. When Mr. Melmoth returned from his little journey, he was moft gracloufly received by his good friend the Colonel ; and this particular civi- lity was the more agreeable to him at that time, as he met a perfon at the affize, who Having a large mortgage on his eflate, had dropped feme ugly hints about foreclofure, which much mwti- fied and hurt him- ; and he juft refolved to open his mind to his zealous friend, not doubting, but he 10$ ANN A. he would rejoice In an opportunity to give him proofs of that good will he fo liberally profefTed, by advancing the money, and taking the mort- gage into his own hands. The fond father called for his children the in- flant of his arrival, and pulling out of his pocket a beautiful drawing, faid, Mrs. Lafmayor, a lady, who lived at the county town, begged' Anna would copy it for her. " Alas I' anfwered Mrs. Melmoth, burning into tears, " ihe is not here, fhe is gone, I have *' fent her away." , , Mr. Melmoth, in the utmofl aflonifhment, de* manded her meaning — Colonel Gorget, then, for the lady was unable, related the whole affair, but Mr. Melmoth's generous heart, fo far from ac- cording with the Colonel's opinion, recoiled from the prejudices he faw that good man wifhed to infpire : he reproached his wife feverely, both for her want of feeling and judgment, in parting with the lovely orphan they had fo long patronifed, and brought up with fuch care, which love was fo amply repaid by her amiable difpofition and fine qualities. The ilory repeated fo pompoufly by Colonel Gorget, had long reached him ; he was told of it within a few months of its invention; but too generous to avenge the caufe of the guilty on the innocent, he took every other poflible me- thod to convince thofe, whofe good opinion he valued, of its falfehood and abfurdity ; but it had never flruck him, as it had done his worthy friend, difcarding the unoffending orphan, could operate as a juftification of his wife's chara6^er — Perfe6Hy fatisfied with it himfelf, he chofe not to difturb her peace by troubling her with the furmifes of others ; and as to the quarrel with the French go- vernefs, he avowed the moft contemptible opini- on of that lady, her abilities and principles : in Ihort, anna: 109 fhort, Mrs. Melmoth had never feen her hufband fo much hurt or difplcafed with her before ; fhe pleaded the Colonel's advice and afliftance, in parting with Anna, and he confequently attempt- ed to convince them both, he a6ted on principle ; but thofe arguments which the lady had found un- anfwerable, appeared equally fallacious and ridicu- lous to her hufband ; he fwore never to forgive the inhumanity of the a8:, and keenly upbraided hi's gueft for urging Mrs. Melmoth to a ftep that would, in the judgment of every humane being, be a reproach to her as long as (he lived. This was a kind of freedom Colonel Gorget could by no means relifti ; but as he knew how to turn every thing to his own advantage, he immedi- ately recolle£led a breach with Mr. Melmoth at this particular period was the moft convenient thing that could happen, he vindicated his condu6t with a mixture of acrimony and haughtinefs he was well aware would exafperate inflead of appeafing ; his wifh was now to make matters worfe : his plan fucceeded — Mr. Melmoth, in the involunta- ry refentment of his generous heart, and in his companionate feelings for the poor orphan, forgot his mortgage, his poverty, and his hopes ; he had even the imprudence to revert back to fome cir- cumftances in the life of the great man, which circumflances as he chofe to confign to oblivion, he could never forgive Mr. Melmoth for remem- bering—His horfes were dire6lly ordered, and though it was paft ten o'clock, he fet off after profufely paying the fervants for the trouble he had given their mafler, to Mrs. Afhby's, leaving his hefts, for the firft time in their lives, angry and diflatisfied with each other. The morning, with his wife's tears and remon- flrances, brought cooler thoughts to Mr. Mel- moth j for though he fliil continued his partial regrets i!d ANN A. regrets for the fate of Anna, he began to be fenfible of his impolitic conducl towards a man, who had it (o amply in his power, and he had every reafon to conclude in his inclination, to ferve him — Mrs. Melmoth, on her part, lament- ed, with fome little afpenty, the fracas, that had at once deprived them of the advantages and hopes her fanguine ideas had brought to a certainty ; and could not help inveighing bitterly againft that warmth in her husband, excited by the intereft of a perfon who was nothing to him, to the preju- dice and perhaps ruin of his own children — He felt the fad conclufion of her argument, though he was felf-acquitted as to that part of his condu^ which had brought on him the difpleafure of the Colonel : neverthelefs, in compliance with the re- queft: of his wife, he rode over to Mrs. Afhby's, to make what fubmiiTion his circumftances, not hi» judgment, diftated. — But his wifh to conciliate matters was intireiy fruftrated ; theMachiavel he followed, was congratulating himfelf on his efcape from the Lodge — He was but too happy at being furnirtied, by "the fimple honefty of Mr. Melmoth, with an excufe that would juff ify him, for break- ing with people, who building their airy caftles on fo flight a fabiic as his promifes, might have been fo irnpertincnt as to charge him with ingratitude^ as well as irijuftice, when they found how far wide promife and performance was with fo great a man. He refufed even to fee his late edeemed friend-; and Mrs. Afhby, now juftified in her fpleen and gratified in her malice towards- her fider-in-law, failed not to pa-y'her own court, at the expence of her relations ; fcaildal took the hint ;: Mrs. Mei^ moth had loft Colonel Gorget's favour; owing to keeping her baftard at the Lodge ; the mortgagee prefled'for his money ; creditoFs grew clamorous^ ^ the ANNA. nx the now diftrefled Mr. Melmoth, urged by ne- ceflity, vrote repeatedly to the callous Colonel, and at lad his letters were returned unopened. It will not be wondered, in founpleafant a fitu- ation, all thoughts of Anna were funk in their own difficulties ; there remained for poor Mr. Mel- moth but one alternative, either to give up his all, or leave the kingdom, which they very precipi- tately did, firfi: difcharging, with every mark of contempt and difgufl-, the French governefs. While thefe matters were tranfading at the lodeje, Colonel Gorget was impatiently waiting the return of his fervant ; but the difappointment of his hopes, and the pangs it gave him, began the punifliment due to his hypocrify, at the inftant he promifed himfelf the full enjo}ment of his wifli ; he had been fo very careful to attend to the leafi minutiae, and made fo fuie of fucceeding in his plan, that he could fcarce credit his fervant's pro- teffations of zeal and fidelity with which both himfelf and aflbciate had executed their commif-' fion. After a thoufand quefllons and as many curfes, he pretended urgent bufinefs, took a very tender^ leave of Mrs. Afhby, and MifsCaroline, for whom^ he vowed eternal friendfhip, and fet ouP for Lon-J don, flopping at every inn where the flage called, to trace the loft obje6f of his delucs — He found Walter's report confirmed at Brentford, where he loft her himfelf; but not content thus to give up happinefs, juft as he flattered himfelf it would be within his grafp — he firft fet a watch about Dal- ton's houfe, from which finding no Anna was there, he wenr pcifonally to make inquiries, and relying on the truth of Mrs. Melmotli's account c^ the manner in which Dalton had iirft met her, he introduced himfelf, by pretending forne know- ledge of her parentage — Nothing profpercd wiih the 112 ANNA. the poor Colonel, that tended to the deftriK^ion of our heroine, the method he fixed on to gain intel- ligence, was precifely the one lead calculated to anfwer the purpofe. Mr. Daiton dreaded no event in the world fo much as a difcovery of Anna's family, fince that mud confequently lead to a fettlement he was eve- ry day more averfe to making. He was much mortified by the receipt of Anna's letter from Epfom ; he had hoped all his trouble and expence on her account was ended; but that mortification was tranfient, as it was fucceeded by inquiries, he believed came from a relation, who would have more eanly traced her to the Lodge, than he could do either to where (he now was, or where he might with great eafe remove her. He therefore abfolutely and refolutely denied knowing any thing of or about fuch a perfon ; affuming fuch an air of truth, that the Colonel began to doubt his own judgment, and to conclude, the girl was aftually, as was reported, the daugh- ter of Mrs. Melmoth ; which, after continuing for fome time his watch in vain, in Dalton's neigh- bourhood, he at laft believed, and that fhe had been conveyed by the order of her mother out of the road of inquiry. CHAP, ANNA. 113 CHAP. XX. Another Journey, jHlT this time two of Dalton's children lay ill in the fmall pox, an accident particularly favourable to his views of concealing our heroine, as they knew not of her having had that diftemper. When her letter (in whichftie told him of thene- ceffityfhe was under again to trouble him for an afy- lum, till fome mode could be fixed on to enable her to fupport herfelf ) came to him, and that followed by inquiries after her that filled him with difmay— < He wrote dire£lly to inform her of the fituation of his family, and defiring her to remain where Ihe was for fome little time ; generoufly adding (to make fure of her not coming to town) that he would pay for her board, and promifing to fee her very foon. Three days after, came to his houfe, inclofed by the faithful Jenny, Mrs. Manfel's anfwer to Anna's letter. Guilty minds are foon alarmed ; every thing that concerned his charge, was at this period particu- larly interefting to Dalton ; he was at no time rc- ftrained by a fenfe of honour, and now curiofity had felf-prefervation to aid it — the feals were caa- tioufly broke— and the contents filled him with fuch joy, that having as cautioufly re-fealed the packet;> 114 ANNA. packet, he went to Epfom for the purpofe of de- livering; it. His furprife was inexprefTible, at I>eins: there fhewn into a neat country parlour, where a tall, elegant .'joun^ creature, wlicfe looks and manners flill more than her beauty coir.man.'ed rerpr6t, foon rtcclle(5lecl him, and threw herfcff at his feet, with the mofl: Hvely exprefTions of gratitude and afFe6i:ion- He felt an involuntary kind of awe, ac- comna-nied with a parg of fomething resembling confcience, though I will not venture to fay it was that irrefiil-Ible monitor ; becaufe, if it wis, from that time to the period in which I now vvriie, I do not believe it has difhirbed him with a fecondvifit, which choaked his utterance : however, he fcon got the better cf it, be it what it would, and con- gratulated Anna on her improvements, at the fame time obferving, how very lucky it was fhe had been prevented going to London, as her beauty- might have been fpoiled by the fmall pox. *' I am fhoure,*' faid the good old farmer, *' that would be a fad pity ; God blefs her, I *' would keep her for ever firil." Dalton, to Ins great fatisfadion, quickly found no pay was ex- pelled or would be taken, and therefore very ear- neftly offered it ; but the honeft creatures meant the friendfhip they exprefied, and fo far from ac- cepting his money, bigged Anna would remain with them till all danger was over ; but the letter Mr. Dalton brought with him, put every other idea out of her head ; fhe was on the wing t® obey its contents, which was as follows : *^ My dearest Child, " Your laft letter fills me with fuch apprehen- fions for your fafety, that I Ihall not reft till you are with me, *' I ad- ANNA. 115 <* I advife you, my dear Anna, to make Mrs. Melmoth the confident of the wicked Goloners condiid ; fhe may, perhaps, have her reafons to avoid a breach with him, but 1 am fnrc^ her re- gard to virtue and delicacy, as well as her undoubt- ed afFe6tion for you, will induce her to gr'ant the requcd I make her this port of fuffering } 011 to pay me a vifit : but my Anna, this is on a fuppofuicn, no otiier infult may have rendered it expecienc for you to leave the Lo.ige, or that by the contrivance of that bad man and woman, you may not, which I expe6l, be fent from thence — If either of thofe ihould be the cafe, God, I triifl-, will preferve you, and enable you to come to me in faftty ; my fweet child, how dearly have I miflTcd you, and with what pleafure have I begun to decorate an apartment that fliall be your own. " Mr. Manfel, the tendereft of hufbands, and mofl: worthy of men, bought a piano forte yefter-* day at Caermarthen for you ; it has a good tone, and in repair ; though the lady who had it was fo long in ill health before flie died, it has not lately been ufed : the woodbines and jafmines in front of your little room rather darken it, as the cafements in this country are fmall, but they fhall be taught to grow in forms mofl pleafing to the child of my heart. ** Hpw often have you contributed to my hap- pinefs ! come to me, my own Anna ; it is only your fociety that is wanting to complete the fe- licity of your afFedionate, And truly Maternal friend, Maria Mansel.*^ *' llandore." Sub- ii5 ANN A. Subjoined to the foregoing. " My dear Miss> ** You muft forgive my joining Mrs. Manfel, in requeuing you will oblige us with your compa' ny, as foon as can be made agreeable to yourfelf ; the Brecknock ftage fets out from Lad Lane twice a week, from A^hence I will fetch you — pray ap» prife me of the time. 1 am, With great regard, Your humble fervant, Davidl Mansel." Mr. Dalton made a merit of confenting to the thing of all others moft agreeable to himfelf. He promifed to inquire out the ftage, and exa- mine the books, and when any female pafTengers were going to let her know. The honefl farmer infifted on her ftay with him till the day of her departure for Wales, as flie could not be received at her friend's without danger to herfelf. Mr. Dalton inquired into the flate of her finan- ces, and was rejoiced to hear they flood in no need of his afliflance. U'he manner in which fhe had been difmifl'ed .from the Lodge, very flightly claimed his atten- tion ; fo his end was anfwered, it would have been new, indeed, for him to concern himfelf about the means — he returned to town full of en- comiums on his ward, but rcfolved to lofe no time in getting rid of her, which he had an immediate opportunity of doing. A clergyman's widow, who received the annual . bounty, was come from Wales to London, to get the apprentice fee for her daughter, who fhe bound to a mantua maker, and happened to hit on a wo- man^ ANNA. ir7 man, who, in confideration of Dalton's religious principles, and profefled poverty, and being one of his hearers, very kindly accepted from him five pounds, being exa£tly one quarter of the fum he received from the fund of t\\€ clergy, as an ap- prentice fee of his daughter — Mrs. Bowen, a widow, and mother of a large family, had not worldly wifdom enough to make fo good a bar- gain ; fhe paid the whole fum, got her pertfion, and was returning home, very thankful for the benefits fhe had received, when Dalton was on the look out for a proper opportunity of convey- ing Anna to her friends. Mrs. Bowen, though in the next pariih to Llan- dore, lived five miles from Mr. Manfefs, but fhe engaged neverthelefs to deliver her to Mrs. Manfel, The ftage left the town the fecond day after Dalton had been at Epfom, and Anna received the joyful fummons, on the morning of that, on which ihe was required to be in town. The old farmer and his daughter would accom- pany her in his one-horfe chaife ; and Mrs. Dal- ton, whofe curiofity was greatly raifed by her huf- band's defcription of Anna, with her own, and Mrs. Bowen's daughter, met them at the inn, where they fupped, and fpent the evening together m the greateft harmony, as the farmer infifted on •bearing all the expence. Mrs. Dalton parted with our heroine with many kind exprefTionSjand invited her return when weary of Wales. — Our travellers reached the place of their deftination without any one incident worth relating. Mrs. Bowen found her Ton waiting for her with a fingle horfe, and borrowing a pillion at the inn, mounted Anna behind him— As this was the firfl: time fhe had ever rode on horfeback, her fears obliged them to go a very flow pace j fta that al- though 11.8 ANNA. though they left Brecknock, and had but ten Welch miles, which is not above eighteen Englifh, to go, it appeared the longeft journey fhe had ever taken ; and the craggy narrow roads, fometimes afcend- ing nearly perpendicular, at others frightening her with their fudden declivity, and the almoft barren mountains, which bore no traits of inhabitants, except the numerous flocks of flieep, contributed not a little to the tedioufnefs of the journey ; more cfpecially as her condu6tor underflood not her lan- guage — It was eleven o'clock, and the darknefs of the night, which was likewife wet, had for the laft two or three hours taken from her the power of diftinguifhing objects, when to her inexpreiTible joy they reached Llandors. CHAP. N N A. 119 C H A P. XXf. A voorthy Per/on and a IVekh Village, Ml R. ManfePs family were retired to refl ; lie was in his ftudy hinifelf, it being Saturday night; and his wife, ufed to later hours than was known in that peaceful part of the globe, where all had been filent above an hour, was undrelfing in her own apartment, when a loud holla at the door, where no thundering rap was ever heard, alarmed her ; fhe opened her unbarred window and aiked who called ; but todefcribe the joyful extafies the good woman felt on hearing a well-known and be- loved voice anfwer, ^^ It is me. It is Anna ;" is impoflible ; the doors flew open, the heart and arms of Mrs. Manfel expanded to receive their welcome gueft ; and, then, for the firfl: time fmcc their Reparation, did Anna feel quite happy ; fhe was now, (he thought, at home ; the rugged paths that had led to the blefled heaven of friend- Ihip were forgot ; no place could be barren or un- cultivated where philantrophy lived, and where benevolence thrived. When Mrs. Manfel (hewed her to the little apartment they had allotted her, contiguous to their own, fhe took poffeflion of it with the fame heart-felt eafe and pleafure, as if the mofl indul- gent mother had given it her ; a found and re- freshing fleep, unalloyed by care of any kind, fuc- ceede4 120 ANNA. ceeded the fatiguing journey, from which jfhe did not awake till noon next day. The good woman and her fon, who Mrs. Man- fel obliged to ftay the night, had been gone hours before Anna was fenfible of the happinefs that awaited her ; the embrowned mountain tops, the difagreeable and almoft unfrequented roads fhe had pafled, were yet in her mind, and Mrs. Man- fel's woodbines and jafmines flie fet down as mere figures in rhetoric ; imprefled with thofe ideas when Ihe advanced to her window, and feafted her eyes with a fight of the mod beautiful valley nature ever formed, with not only the creepers Mrs. Manfel defcribed, but a mofs rofe tree, and a myrtle a(5lually growing into her room, (he could fcarce credit her fenfes, or believe ihe had not got into a fairy land. The fituation of the village of Llandore is beau- tifully pifturefque and romantic ; it (lands in^ fertile valley, through which runs the river Tave, "whofe frequent, but harmlefs overflowings, give a richnefs and verdure more captivating to the eye, from the wild mountains which form, to appear- ance, an inacceffible chain on each fide of the vale, which is irregularly interfperfed with vari- ous old ruins, the fad memento of the faded glory and funk dignity of the ancient inhabitants of Cam- bria. In the middle of a large green church yard, flood the church, and round it, in two femicircles^ on the outfide of the wall, were the whitc-wa(hed neat dwellings of the inhabitants, with here and there a break for a better houfe than common, fuch as the parfonage, the doctor's, lawyer's, ex- cifeman's, and Pre(byterian parfon's. The river was fo divided above the village for the conveni- ency of working two mills at the other extremity, that a ftream of clear water ran on each fide at the back of the houfes, and joined, a mile farther ; the ANNA. 121 the green of their little orchards and gardens was beautifully contrafled by the fnow white appear- ance of the walls which furrounded them. Lime was fo very cheap, and cleanlinefs in fuch high eftimation at Llandore, that the meaneft hut vied in hue with the beft houfe there, which was the parfonage. This was a comfortable dwelling, where neat- nefs and convenience was fo judicioufly blended, it would be difficult, and, perhaps, impoflible to alter any part of it, without injury to one or the other of them ; a flower garden reached from the front almofl to the veftry door ; at the back of it'was a hanging kitchen garden and orchard, the trees fo regularly planted, that from all the windows, the river which ran at the bottom, and the hill on the other fide, were feen to the moil charming advantage. The living was worth fix- ty pounds a year ; Mr. Manfel had a few acres of ground to his houfe, and he rented a ftw more, jufl: to fupply his family. Mrs. Manfel I have already defcribed ; her hufband's charadler may be told in a few words : he was a man of liberal education ; the chearful pra<5tifer of thofe divine and moral laws which he equally enforced by precept and example ; he bore himfelf, in every part of his facred fun<5lion, with the honour of his mafter in view ; he preach- ed a plain, found dodrine, that all might under- fland, and all, if they pleafed, put in prac- tice. In the duties of religion he knew no diftincSlion of perfons ; in private life he was refpeftful, but not fervile to his fuperiors, affable and mild to his- inferiors ; in his converfation he was at once fim- ple, elegant, and polite, though flri£t in his own morals, he knew how to pity frailties in others 5 religion was in him chearful and refpedable. Vol. I. G He 122 ANN A. He never failed folemnly to, admonifh, in cafes of vicious excefs in any of his flock ; but in the innocent diverfions of the country, he was one of the firft ; the fong, the dance, or Chriftmas gambol, was incompleat without the good re6tor. He was firmly attached to his wife, having the highefl opinion both of her heart and underlhind- ing ; and was always in mofl: credit with himfelF, when he anticipated her fentiments ; he was the Ifraelite in whom there was no guile ; and he had this very particular happinefs, he was a per- fon of whom every body fpoke well. On the oppofite fide, fronting the parfonage, but nearer the fummit of the mountain, at the diflance of one mile, diftinguifhed by the numer- ous white chimnies which appeared to rife out of the very thick grove that furrounded it, was Llan- dore Gaftle, an ancient family manfion belonging to 'Sir William Edwin, but now inhabited by Mr. Herbert, who having married the favourite fifler of that Baronet, was complimented by him with this place on account of its vicinity to fome large iron works of which Mr. Herbert was, .in right of his wife, a principal proprietor. ■ The view of this ancient building, which had been for ages dignified with the name of caftle, and the grandeur as well as the beauty of the furround- ing woods, reaching from the front down to the edge of the river, over which a regular row of white large flones formed a convenient caufeway; and from the back up to the top of the mountain, was an enchanting addition to the pleafant pro- fpe6; from the parfonage ; when our heroine had time to look round her, there was an air of con- tent and freedom in the inhabitants, a cleanlinefs in the look of their houfes that charmed her, and the refpeft and veneration which the parifhioners jbore their reftor, was extended to every part of ■ his A N N A. 123 his family. Mrs. Manfel, notwithftanding fhe was unacquainted with their language, was foon endeared to them on her own account. " I am not," faid fhe to Anna, (when, in fhewing her every part of the houfe, they came to a httle clo- fet filled with medicines of all kinds) " ambitious *' of the character of a Lady Bountiful, but the <' poor people are here in general fo ignorant, ** they frighten themfelves at the idea of a do6lor '* as well on the account of the expence, as the *' notion, that when the do6tor is called in, death " is not far diflant ; fo that trifling medicines, ** and dreflings are acquifitions to them, and of " little expence to me ; and you will not fufpc(5l " me of carrying my charity fo far, as to look at ** their wounds when they have them, or expof- ** ing my own health to the danger of infe6tion : *' I am content with the theory, though I can tell *' you I am in general fo fuccefsfui in my pre- " fcriptions, that my fame is very much known, *' and my (kill as much depended on ; but I am " particularly now, when to every other blefling ** is added the company of my beloved Anna, too " fenfible of my happinefs, to rifk, by any wilful ** aot only contrived to keep their old lovers, but attraCI: new ones, notwithffanding their coverture, found great temptations in the title and riches of Lord Sutton, and not forefeeing her mo- ther's obje6lion, had already obliged moll of her corrffpofiding friends with an account of the fe- verity of that fate, which in obedience to the com- mands of her parents had obliged her to unite her felf to a rich difagreeable old man, VN'hile her heart ANNA. lyr heart was attached to the moft amiable, the moft charming youth in the world. That youth {he now fhone on, in full luftre, the regard he actually had for fo near a relation, the rerpe6t due to her rank, and immenfe fortune, and the confideration of family obligations, all operated on the mind of young Herbert, and induced him to treat Cecilia with afFc6lion as well as politenefs ; when they walked, fhe hung on his arm ; he was her efcort on horfeback ; and tho' he faid he did not noiv love dancing, when he was forced into one, Cecilia was his partner, and he was her beau on every occafion ; indeed, fhe had not a doubt of her abfolute rule in his heart; but however pleafing fuch a lover was in the country, fhew, equipage, and the dear round of fafhionable pleafures, was in London a thoufand times more delightful ; fo that tho' fhe yet pofTefTed, and did feel a penchant for her coufm Charles, fhe by no means defigned him the fupreme favour of her hand and fortune. Cecilia's idea of the increafing love of Mr. Her- bert was in fome degree confirmed by an alteration in his temper, and fhe imputed it to the refpe6lful timidity that tied his tongue ; this alteration was, I muft own, not of the moft brilliant kind ; from the heft tempered, chearful creature exifting, he was become peevifh, and melancholy -, man delight- ed not him, whatever woman might do; even Ce- cilia's company was often avoided, and a folitary ramble preferred to her lively converfation ; his ap- petite failed, and a general languor pervaded his whole frame; Mrs. Herbert, grieved at an alteration which alarmed her for his health, and Mr. Herbert, who hated Wales himfelf, condemned that charming retirement as the caufe of his fon's change. When the ladies furprifed our heroine, as I have related, at the parfonage, fhe was deep in thought on the inflability of all human felicity ; Mifs Ed- 1 2 win's 172 ANN A. win's arrival at Llandore fhe had heard of, and fi- gured to herfelf the fame happy parties, in which flie had heretofore fhared ; her feat in the grove, her voice in the Trio, her courted judgment and applaufe at the readings, were now filled by Cecilia, ■ — and a deep figh followed thofe refledions, — tears ftarting into her eyes, when they were difperfed by the fight of thofe who had excited them. Mifs Herbert feverely reproached our heroine for her long and frequent abfences from the caftle ; and Cecilia infifted nothing now muft keep her from thence. The emaciated looks and weak ftate of health in which they faw Mrs. Manfcl, was Anna's beft apology for the feeming negle61: of her friends, and the intended journey to the fea mentioned with regret, as it would flill longer deprive her of the honour of attending them ; the ladies, however, would not flir, without her promife of fpending fome part of every day with them till her depar- ture. Mrs. Manfel, tho' the company of my heroine was the only thing befides that of her hufband's, in 'which (he delighted, confidering the importance of the acquaintance of people of rank to her young orphan, readily confented to their requeft, and (he engaged to fpend the next day with them. This appointment was a dagger to the heart of Wllkinfon, who was prefent, but it was not to be prevented, nor what was worfe, could he poflibly attend her, as he was engaged to go to Briftol on bufmefs of the iron works with Mr. Herbert ; he was loft in the anguifh of his own reflexions when the Llandore family left the parfonage, and Anna, as intent on her own thoughts, fat at the window, her eye eagerly following their fteps, as they defcen- ded the flope, but foon unable to conquer her emo- tions, fhe turned from the fight of the gay Cecilia, hanging ANNA. 173 hanging on the arm of her coufin Charles, and meeting the dejected look of her defponding lover, all her diflike changed to pity. Low fpirits, a complaint very nev^ to her, fhe had been lately much troubled with j a fit now feif- ed her, tears filled her eyes, and fighs rent her bo- fom ; Wilkinfon faw not one, nor heard the other; his heart was too full of his own vexation, to at- tend to any thing elfe ; and to prevent a renewal of the intimacy at the Caftle his prefent meditation ; Anna had long left the room before he was fenfible he was alone; no remedy, no invention offering to aid his widies, he was obliged to take leave of the family, with his heart torn by regret, jea- loufy and apprehenfion. CHAP. 174 ANN CHAP. XXVIIL More Love Matters, JL HE next morning after having tried every gown and cap her wardrobe afforded, and confulted, for a much longer period than ufual, her glafs be- fore it was poflible to determine on thofe moft be- coming her compledlion, Anna at laft fixed on a fprigged muflin gown, tied with lilach ribband, a chip hat decorated with the fame colour, and her own fine hair, faftened up with a comb. Blooming and freih as the blowing myrtle in her bofom, fhe began her way to the Caftle by the fame path, where {he had the interview with Herbert, which was fo deeply engraved on her memory; when the turning path prefented itfelf to her view, her confcious blood mounted in her cheek, a figh involuntarily forced its way — {he flopped. A ruflling among the trees announced an intru- der, who appeared in the diftant figure of Herbert ; — he was prefently before her. He apologized for a fecond time intruding on her privacy, and afked with a fmile, if he was now iii danger of interrupting an aifignation ? Anna, piqued at the queftion, walked on with a flight courtefy. The ANNA. 175 The offence was increafed, by a farther enquiry, whether the happieft of all happy men was to meet or overtake her. When he fpoke intelligibly, {he would anfwer. He faw file was nngry, he told her ; but froward fpirits, fpoiled by indulgence, were apt to be ungo- vernable. IVIeaningminc, Sir? anfwered Anna. Oh, no ! returned he, fighing. Mr. Wilkinfon's then ? Not him neither ! Your own Sir ? fmiling. All! aiifwercd Herbert, that fmilc, that look I — yes, madam, I own, mine is the ungovernable, the froward and repining fpirit, your indulgence has ruin- ed. Anna looked aftoniflied. You are furprized — but do y'oa conceive it no- thing, to be bicil: in your focicty I to hear the ac- cents of divinity from your lips ! to have no one defire beyond beholding )ou! to be fed by your fiiiiles, with the fond hopes of your fricndfhip I and have thofe bleffings dearer, heaven knows, than ex- iilence, at once torn away! to fee abfence and cold rirferve take place of fi icndfhip and condefcenfion 1 AhJ Anna, never, never may you feel the anguifli of unrequited friendjltip. But 1 leave you — whatever are my own feelings, let me not a fecond time wound yours. With thefe words, the unaccountable Herbert difappeared, leaving Anna in a ftate of mind, that would have again tempted her to return to the par- fonage, had fhe not feared to alarm her friends. With trembling fteps fhe purfued the path to the Caflle, and was met at a little dilfance from it by Mifs Edwin and Patty Herbert ; Charles foon joining them in company wiihfome young ladies and gentle- men, who by invitation dined there. I 4 . A harp 17^ ANN A. A harp and violin being in the neighbourhood, Mrs. Herbert procured their attendance ; and a little ball In the afternoon gave Mifs Edwin an op'poriunlty of exhibiting to advantage her grace- ful perfon in a minuet with young Herbert ; they were both defervedly applauded ; and a young ]ady who fat by Anna, whifpered her, the two coufins looked born for each other ; It was pity they fhould ever be parted ; did not fhe think fo ? She bowed aflent, but her tongue refufed its of- fice. A partner in the country dances offering, (he ilood up, glad to efcape a dlfcourfe fhe found her- felf unable to fupport. ^ When they broke up, and Mrs. Herbert's car- riage waited to carry Anna home, her breaft bow was loft ; fne was fure flie had it on when flie went down the dance ; that Patty confirmed ; fome invifible power had certainly fecreted it ; — the room was fearched over and over; no bow. could be found, and fhe was obliged to go home w^ith- out It ; the fame ill fuccefs attended her inquiries next morning — it was no more heard of. Anna continued her daily vifits to the Caftle ; their party quaree was enlivened by little concerts ; Herbert played very well on the flute ; Cecilia took her harp, Patty her guittar, and Anna fat down to the organ ; they walked, they chatted ; every heart feem.ed in unlfon, even Cecilia's forgot its gay flirtations, and refted on the peaceful delights of friendfliip and retirement ; but a fad, a fatal reverfe awaited our young heroine. Mrs. Manfel grew daily worfe ; her declining health filled Anna with grief and angulfh ; the day was fixed for their departure, and flie went for the laft time to the caftle, where, as it was to be a farewel vifit, fhe was to ftay the night ; the fo- lemn cloud which overfpreads the interview of friends who are on the point of parting, was ne- ver anna: 177- ver more vifible than in this evening at Llandore Caftle ; reftlefs and uneafy, they all retired early ; and the morning which was to carry Anna from this fcene of felicity, broke on her fleeplefs eyes with little comfort and lefs hope. Tired of a bed on which flie had unavaillngly courted reft, in hopes the air would help to difpel the oppreffion on her heart, {he walked out ; the dear fpot flie was about to leave contained her warmefl: affe6lions ; Mifs Herbert would be gone, before fhe returned ; Mrs. Manfel's health in fuch a melancholy flate, what alterations might not hap- pen, for ever to divide her from characters fhe loved and revered ? Mr. Herbert and Cecilia would undoubtedly foon be united ; God blefs them, faid ihe aloud, juft as flie was met by the incidental bridegroom her fancy had painted. And who, Mifs Manfel, is fo happy as to be the objeft of your early orifons ? had my friend Wil- kinfon been here, he would have been pleafed at your emphatical theme, fmce fuch folicitude for one, even of your own fex, muft be enviable ? Is it not natural. Sir, returned fhe, for me, who have fo many obligations to the inhabitants of the place I am fo foon to leave, to be fervent in my wifhes for their happinefs ? And were they then. Madam, the fubjefls of your thoughts ? and may I afk, were the males of the family Included in the blefling ? Indeed, Sir, they were, faid Anna, with the mofl engaging earneflinefs and fimplicity. And God blefs you too, mod amiable and lovely of women, anfwered Herbert ; I have much to be forgiven for, Mifs Manfel ; but I know fo well the fweetnefs of your difpofition, I have no fear, but my heart, if laid open at your feet, would be more the objeCl of your compaflion than refent- ment j if I have been the unhappy fource of un- I 5 eafinefs i?^ ANN A. eafinefs to you, believe me it was without defign ; the efForts of reafon, refleaion, and honour, may liave been in fome few moments fince I have known you, too weak to conquer feeUngs that have received additional ftrength from concurrent cir- cumftances, or to conceal wifhes incompatible with my own peace and yours ; yet, in my lucid intervals, and thofe I truft are many, my whole foul is interefted in your honour and felicity ; adieu. Madam, if my indifcretions revive in your ima- ginations, remember in the moment when my heart was burfting with its fecret woe, I prayed for your happinefs, and tore myfelf away. Remember ! repeated the agitated Anna. Oh ! tliat I could learn to forget, following his quick, fleps with her fwimming eyes, as he left her. It was not pofiible now to mifconftrue his meaning; hopes, which fhe had hitherto repelled, £!led her heart ; his trembling, his faultering, his hefitatiou, could have but one fource. And am I then, faid flie, exultingly, beloved by Charles Herbert ! who can tell, if blefled with birth and fortune, I might not have been his choice; enviable attractions! did I ever regret your want before I But I may admire his virtues, I may refped his principles, nay I may love the guarded purity of his pafTion, while I am Tingle without injuring my- felf or him ; and what is thereon this fide heavea can give an equivalent for even that poor grati- fication ? This interview gave Anna fpirits ; fhe returned to the houfe, and after fpending the day there, fhe v^as fetched home by the re6lor, who then took leave of the young ladies. Mrs. Herbert having been fo good as to take her tea at the parfonage with the worthy Mrs. Manfel, with whom fhe parted with the fincereil wilhes for the re-efta- blilhment ANNA. 179 bllfliment of her health, and regret for the occafion of their reparation. Herbert did not appear ; he had rode out, and returned not till Anna had left the caftle. CHAP. XXIX. The Houfe of Mournhg, Ti H E following morning Mr. and Mrs. Man- fel, with Anna, fet out for Swanfea. Neither the falntary fea breezes, nor the briny- medicine, were of the leaft fervice to Mrs. Man- fel, whofe diforder increafed beyond all human aid ; and her weaknefs, fuch as rendered it im- poflible to carry her in a chair ; but wilHng to try every thing, fhe was conveyed by water to the Briftol Hot Wells. Here fhe continued till after Chriflmas, in vain hopes of receiving benefit from the waters and phyficians. Mr. Manfel's diflrefs is not to be con- ceived. — To gratify him only it was, his beloved wife (laid there fo long ; but at lafl:, finding all would not do, fhe begged to refign her breath at the i8o ANN A. the parfonage ; and fo eager was the worthy wo man to get there, fhe fupported herfelf in her long journey much better than could be expecSted. She was brought in a Htter the laft four ftages, followed by the tears and prayers of the inhabi- tants, through the village, to her own houfe ; where, with an unruffled mind and quiet confci- ence, fhe waited the eternal fiat. During the awful interval that pafled between the time when every hope of her recovery had left them to that of her diflblution, the anguifli of her hufband and young friend may be better conceived than defcribed. The folemn and hopelefs inquiries of the neigh- bours, the lamentations of the poor, the grief of the fervants, vi^ere faint epitomes of the fevere forrows of the inconfolable hufband, and of the affectionate orphan. The parfonage, fo'late the fcene of perfe<5b tranquillity, of chearful content, and uninterrupted peace, was now literally a houfe of mourning. In this fcene of poignant forrow, although eve- ry moment out of the dying faint's apartment, Anna was drowned in tears, while by her bed-fide fhe was the ferene companion of the friend flie loved; fhe was her nurfe ; fhe read to her ; and wdien the broken-hearted hufband could officiate in his holy office, fervently joined in the facred de- votion of a death-bed ; Vv^hile Mrs. Manfel dofed, with true filial piety did flie exert her utmoR power to comfort the grieving redor, though her own feelings were unfupportable. On the ^8th of January, after very flrong flrug- ales for one who had been gradually weakening fo ions:, it pleafed God to take to his peace a woman ■who had ferved him all her days; her refignation and fortitude during her painful and lingering dif- order, was the laft, and not the leafl valuable lef- fon I ANNA. i8r Ton left to Anna, in whofe arms flie expired ; and who, contrary to the modes of the times which authorifes depofiting the corpfe of our beft friend in a vacant apartment, continued to fit and fleep < in the room untij the eighth day ; when, having (led by Mr. Manfel, and followed by the parifhion- ers of Llandore) feen her remains depofited in the chancel of the church, they retired, each to their apartments, unable to meet at that table where now the voice that cheered and inflru6ted was heard no more. Herlafl injunftions to Anna were to follow the counfel of Mr. Manfel ; and her laft requeft to her hufband, never to forfake or deny parental care to the child of Her heart- Mr. Manfel had a maiden fifler who had been fent for by Mrs. Manfel (when at Swanfea fhe faw no hope of her fpeedy return) to take care of the family, and had, at Anna's requeft, been conti- nued. After Mrs. Manfel's death, her ftay was iVill neceflary ; but if it had not, fhe would have had no inclination to leave a warm, full houfe, for her own little cottage, where fhe lived on a very fmall income. Mrs. Jane Manfel was in the fiftieth year of her celibacy, and valued herfelf on her notability and fine fhape ; for few women could vie with her in either ; fhe was, indeed, faving to a proverb, and fmall to a fault : flie was ill tempered, fandy hair- ed, and fallow ccmple£tioned ; (he had not yet given up the hopes of matrimony, for which pur- pofe, ever fmce flie had refided at the Parfonage, ihe had been making a hoard of every thing in kind to tempt, when no other attraction was to be found. Such a fubflitute for the faint they had lof!:, foon occafioned an alteration in the parfon's family : the man and maid, who were the happy domeilics of the i82 ANN A. the beft manager and mldrefs on earth, refigned their places, which were immediately filled by thofe, who knew nothing more than was neceffary ^in a common farm houfe, and who, from a fimi- larity of minds and manners, were the favourites oi Mrs. Jane. A'Vhen Mr. Manfel was prefent, nothing could exceed the fawning fpecioufnefs of this woman's behaviour to Anna ; but the moment his back was turned, her never-failing topics were leflbns of induftry to young people, delivered to her maid, but evidently meant at Anna. — She hated to fee thofe who were able, and having nothing of their own, unwilling to work, loitering about as if their whole bufinefs in the world was to be maintained at other people's expence. Thofe lecSturesi which had always witneffes, and her own want of fplrits, which were funk to the joweH: ebb, foon leflfened the confequence of Anna at the Parfonage, and placed her in a fituation ve- ry little to be envied. She did not like, by inform- ing Mr. Manfel of his fifter's conduQ:, to embroil him in a family difpute, and much lefs did fhe choofe to fubmit to the infulls of a woman, who, if fhe had been of a tolerable temper, was fo ex- tremely ignorant and low bred, it was impofTible to aflbciate with. Mr. Manfel's grief for his wife was of the kind to lafl ; it vented not itfelf in words, it fubfided not in the overflowings which dropped from his eyes ; his foul was the manfion of integrity ; there, in every fentiment, in every thought, he found renewed the memory of his Maria : nothing of goodnefs flruck his imagination unaccompanied with her idea ; the violence of his forrovv, in- deed, abated, as he brought himfelf to confider Ihe had but preceded him in the rich reward of virtue. But wh^n alone, when he could uninter- ruptedly ANNA. 1S3 ruptedly recal her voice, her action, and her wif- dom, he fancied himfelf yet in her fociety ; he was, therefore, feldom vifible but in the difcharge of his duties and at meals ; nor was it always he * accompanied them then ; the chearful board, the innocent chat, the comfortable firefide was no more ; and Anna fo conftantly reminded, began to conceive the living a burden on honeft pains-taking people, fiiameful and unneceflary : yet loath to hurt or offend Mr. Manfel, it was with great re- luctance, and not till perfonally and dire6Hy affront- ed by Mrs. Jane, (he could raife her fpirits fuffi- ciently to propofe leaving him. Mr. Manfel heard her with forrow and furprife ; he entreated her to confider well the ffep fhe was taking ; queftioned her about his family ; begged file would modulate it as fhe pleafed. Wilkinfon, though he called fometimes, had received his de- finitive anfwer ; he was no longer troublefome, what could then be her motives ? Fully refolved to conceal the caufe of her dif- gufl-, and too much irritated to remain fubjeft to the ignorant caprice of Mrs. Jane, fhe faid it was receffary for her to lay down fome plan for her way of life. Servitude mufl be her lafl refource ; fhe heard there were means in the metropolis by which women of good education might earn a decent fubfiflence, with a tolerable appearance ; and another flrong motive for her wifhing to go, was her defire to learn every particular of her origin, that fhe might try to get fome knowledge of her family. Mr. Manfel, who knew it was not in his power to provide longer for her than he livecl, felt the propriety of her reafons, though he fecretly wifh- ed fhe had not been fo nice about fervitude, as he thought the Edwins might have affifted her : he, therefore^ ceafed to oppofe her intentions, but took i84 ANN A. took every method to make her journey comfort- able. The fifty pounds Lady Edwin fent her re- mained (notwithftanding all the money Mrs. Man- fel had faved was expended, and fome debts un- avoidably contra6led) untouched ; that and Mrs. Manfefs clothes he infifted on her taking ; every thing belonging to her departed friend was dear to her : but as to the note, all his pleadings could not induce her to take more than twenty pounds. Still the good man was very loath to part with her ; but finding her bent on going, he took her himfelf to Brecknock, and having obtained the promife from her of returning to him, as her home, parted with tears and regret on both fides; his laft words as he put her into the coach being, " Remember you have a home, and I am your " father." CHAP. N N A. 185 CHAP. XXX, A Journey to London^ jTLnNA took Bath In her way, and was received by Mrs. Herbert and Patty with the fame kind- nefs and friendfhip (he was ufed to at Llandore. They prefTed her to flay ; but Ihe was too eager to get to London, to comply with their invitati- on. She hinted to them her circumftances, and Mrs. Herbert infifted on troubHng her with a card to Lady Edwin. Ceciha being with Mifs Turb- ville in Bedfordfliire ; and Patty told her with great joy, that her Coufm, Hugh, who was ex- pected every day, was to be married as foonas he came, when they fhould all be in London : they agreed to continue on their correfpondence ; and after two days flay, Anna again fet out on her journey to London. She was met by Mr. Dalton at the inn, who was apprized of her coming by a letter from Mr. Manfel. The time which had pafTed fo happily with our lieroine, had produced many alterations in the fituation of Dalton ; the clergyman, to whofe hu- manity he owed his curacy, was dead, and his fuccefTor chofe to place a relation of his own in the cure. A twelvemonth had pafTed without any profpe^Sl of again meeting an employ that would feed i86 ANN A, feed his family. Unfucccfsful In all his applica- tions for a church, he, at lail:, fought favour among his old friends the Methodifts ; from one of thofe people he got a recommendation to a gentleman who headed and patronized that fedl, and was indeed a good Samaritan. In poflelTion of a large and clear cflate, as well as merchandizing to all parts of the globe, Mr. n^hornhill had the power of putting into practice the lovely attributes of charity and benevolence, as literally laid down by his Divine Preceptor; to feed the hungry, t© clothe the naked, to pour balm into the wounds of enemies as well as friends, was the bufmefs of his life ; if, in the extenfive line of his charities, he knew a preference. It was to the ftrici profeflbrs oF his own religion ; a par- tiality the more excufeable as none of the fons or daughters of Affli6lion were turned unrelieved from his gates. This gentleman, in the ferven- cy of his zeal, had lately built a fmall chapel in a village about fix miles from the metropolis ; the number of artificers employed in its neighbour- hood was a temptation to the good man to endow it, and place there a preacher who would be at- tentive and induftrious in his holy calling. Dalton's application for charity, as a preacher with a numerous offspring out of bread, and de- flituie of means for their fupport, fortunately came at this period to the hands of Mr. Thorn- hill, whofe compaffion for the individual was in- creafed by his general good will to his fellow creatures, on whofe account the chapel was erec- ted ; he relieved the neceflities, painted in a very flrong light byDalton, and placed him in the new meeting, with houfe rent and fifty pounds a year for life. In this fituation he was when he receiv- ed the unwelcome news of Anna's return to his protection; however, by his v/ife's advice, he went ANNA. 187 went to the inn where the coach ftopt, in order to conduct: her to his houfe. Mrs. Dalton received her very kindly, and that kindnefs was much increafed by the prefent of a brown fatin night gown of Mrs. Manfel's for he r- felf, and all the remains of the finery brought from Melmoth Lodge, as well as the clothes fhe had outgrown fince, for her children, who were dif- pofed of different ways, except the eldeft daugh- ter, fhc had fcrved out her apprenticefhip to the mantua maker, and now worked at her bufi- nefs, paying her father for her board and lodg- ing- 'I'he next morning Dalton told Anna, with ve- ry little ceremony, it was time for her to think of fome mode of living, without being a hanger on from one to the other. This was her own fen- timents ; but flie could have difpenfed with his coarfe opinion on the matter, delivered without feeling or judgment. The contraft between this addrefs and thofe fhe had lately been ufed to, flruck her fo forcibly, fhe could not immediately anfwer; — which filence being interpreted by him into a defign of fixing herfelf on him, he wife- ly refolved to let her know it was what fhe muft not expert in time ; and was on the point of being ftill lefs attentive to the laws of hofpitality, when a queftion from her brought the ^blood into the cheek of both him and his wife, and that was, to know the particulars of his firfi: meeting her ; when, and where it was ; and lafily, what the things that were brought by the deceafed to the lodgings confifted of, and what was become of them ? After a little paufe, which if our heroine had the leaft knowledge of guilt herfelf, muft have given birth to fi.ifpicions not very favourable to her reverend friend, he told her where fhe was brought iS8 ANN A. brought by her father, but that not only the wo- man was moved, but tne very houfe (which was true) was pulled down, and another built on the fpot ; that the things confifted of a few wear- ables, which had been fold without referve to de- fray the expences of the funeral ; and that he had, by advertifement, and every inquiry in his power, endeavoured to find out to whom fhe belonged, without fuccefs ; that by the fun- burnt comple<5tion of both the man and woman, he concluded they came from abroad. This account entirely baniflied every hope of learning any thing of her origin. It was very un- likely fhe, who v/as fo entirely ignorant of the world, fhould fucceed better in her refearches than Mr. Dalton, who was fo much interefted in finding fome one to take off his hands, a child, who had no claims on him but thofe of charity. Her next thought was to deliver Mrs. Herbert's card to Lady Edwin, in hopes, by that Lady's pa- tronage, fhe might be able to fix on fome means for her future fubfiftence. She accordingly went in the morning ftage, and was fet down in Whitechapel. The ftreets were very dirty ; wholly unacquainted with London and its cufloms, fhe had no idea of taking a coach ; through the wet, therefore, flie walked, inquir- ing at every turning the way to Grofvenor Square, which file reached in three hours, having fome- times received right diredlions, and oftener wrong, to the great entertainment of the witty crackers of fo pleafant a Joke. Tired and fplafhed, at length fhe arrived at the door of Lady Edwin, which two or three chairs and a dozen powdered fops in livery furrounded : thefe fhe had to pufh her way through. The impudence, the vices, and the follies of their employers, are, in general, fo exactly copi- ed ANNA. 189 cd by thofe party-coloured gentlemen, that when I have faid thofe in waiting belonging to fome of the firfl: and mod diffipated families in the king- dom, I need not add, the Tight of a modeft young woman had in it too much novelty to pafs unno- ticed or uninfulted. With great difficulty (as they ran all their undaunted faces under her hat) fhe reached the porter, who, with a fettled grin and witty fneer at his companions, flood waiting to receive her. To her modeft quedion of. Is Lady Edwin at home ? file was anfwered with a gruff. No, and a fupercilious flare ; and then unfortunately her fpotted clothes, attracting the notice of the too- well-kept, idle wretches round her, fhe was fa- luted with a loud laugh. Afloniflied at fuch brutal rudenefs, fuch wan- ton, unprovoked infolence, and terrified with the apprehenfions of what infults might farther be of- fered her, fhe was haflily going from the door, ■when a footman belonging to the houfe, flruck with her beauty, recollefting Lady Edwin's wo- man had jufl difcharged her maid, and promifing himfelf (for he was a perfon of great gallantry) his prefent condefcenfion might be rewarded with future favour, bid her come in, and civilly afked her bufinefs. Mrs. Herbert's name eleftrified the whole crew ; thofe belonging to the vifitors chairs flunk off, and the furly porter taking the card, rung for Lady Edwin's own man, who begged her to walk in ; at the fame time opening the door of an elegant and fpacious parlour, faid his lady had company but he would deliver the card the moment they went. — Here to her great comfort fhe found a large fire, at which fhe dried her feet, and had time to fet her clothes in a lit- tle better order, as it was full two hours before fhe was admitted to Lady Edwin. The 190 ANN A. The cordiality of her reception made ample amends for the mortifications iTie had received at the door : the lady embraced her with great affec- tion, condoled with her on her fable drefs, and exprefled herfelf much pleafed at Mrs. Herbert's fending her to Grofvenor-fquare. Struck with a kindnefs fhe did not expert, our heroine burfl: into tears. Lady Edwin's goodnefs increafed with this mark of fenfibility ; fhe had a real regard for her, and when fhe heard from Mrs. Herbert, the de- clining ftate of Mrs. ManfePs health, had thought the having fuch a young perfon about her in qua- lity of a companion would be both convenient and agreeable : — Mifs Edwin troubled her with very httle of her company ; fhe grew corpulent and in- dolent; public places fhe was weary of, and going out much fatigued without amufing her. Lady Edwin liked cards, and her routs were crowded by the firfl people ; but there were many hours which an elegant fenfible young woman would very acceptably fill ; fhe, therefore, diredly pro- pofed to Anna living with her on the footing of a companion, and faid, fhe would compliment her with fifty pounds a year for clothes. It cannot be doubted but this offer was grate- fully accepted ; and fo defirous was the lady of having her immediately there, an early dinner was ordered, and the coach carried her to Dal- ton's, with diredions to wait for and bring her back. When Dalton faw fo elegant a carriage flop at his door and Anna alight from it, he could fcarce believe his eyes ; with undifTembled joy he heard how fortunate fhe had been ; he congratulated her on it ; and, never out of his way, begged, if an opportunity offered, fhe would put in a word for him ANNA. 191 him to Lady Edwin, whofe poor countryman he was. Her baggage not having been unpacked was foon ready, and once more Mr. Dalton had the pleafure of feeing himfelf freed from his care of Anna: (he returned to Grofvenor-fquare early in the evening : — Lady Edwin, very mucli pleafed with the gratitude and alacrity fhe had fhewn, ordered a piece of black filk in addition to what fhe alrea- dy had, and gave direcSlions to her own tradefpeo- ple to equip her in a falhionable ftile, as her night was to be the third after. In the intermediate fpace fhe did not fail ac- quainting Mr. Manfel with her fituation, or thank- ing Mrs. Herbert for the friendly recommendation which had procured her the honour of Lady Ed- win's favour ; a hair-dreffer having cut and tor- tured her charming ringlets into likenefs of nothing human, and drefTed in fafhionable mourning, Anna followed Lady Edwin into her drawing- xoom. CHAP. 192 ANN CHAP. XXXL High Life. X-/ A D Y Edwin's doors opened at nine, but it was near eleven before the card tables were all fil- led. This fcene was perfedly novel to our hero- ine, and excited no lefs her curiofity than wonder ; fhe, who had hitherto looked on vifiting as a me- thod of keeping up the connefbion of families and friends, could not conceive the pieafure of enter- taining fuch a number of people by a fingle cour- tefy to each perfon as they entered, and an ar- rangement of the tables, any more than fhe could reconcile it to her ideas of civility for people to leave the houfe without even that little ceremony or beftowing a look at the lady of the manfion ; the conftant fucceffion of feathered ladies and painted beaus, who juft glided round the rooms and retired, particularly flruck her, as a very un- meaning mode of paffing their time. She was however, drawn out of one furprife and thrown into another, by a moft polite and flatter- ing addrefs from a male figure, who begged Lady Edwin to introduce him to the lovely ftranger j her ladyfhip's ready compliance with this requefl, con- vinced Anna it was a perfon of confequence who made it, which his ridiculous appearance rendered at firfl rather doubtful, to one who knew not that nothing ANNA. 193 nothing in that ftile was beneath our modern no- bles. He was a tall, elderly perfonage, whofe fatln waiftcoat and breeches were out-pinked by the rouge on his cheeks, and that beaulifiilly contraft- ed by the white daubings on the other parts of his haggard face ; he had a wide mouth, which the art of his dcntift contrived to fill with a double row of falfe teeth ; he was fond of his height, and to keep up the appearance of youth and vigour he wore ftays ; he was of fuch an amorous conftitu- tion, that the fight of beauty fet him in a flame, and the fhew and variety of his miftreffes could only be equalled by his ftud of horfes ; his hair was curioully frizled out at the fides, in clofe imi- tation of the court Adonis ; he wore a blue rib- band, and was vadly addi£led to falling in love. He approached Anna with a ghaflly flare, which he miftook for a languifhing ogle, and which would certainly have provoked her rifible faculties, had not Lady Edwin announced him the Duke of . To laugh at a Duke would have been fhocking ; to refpeO: him impofiible ; fhe was therefore an angel, a goddefs, and every thing divine without raifing her vanity; and his Grace wounded, miferable, and dying, without exciting her pity ; (he had too much good fenfe to feel any thing but contempt, for a man, whofe ambi- tion it was to take the lead in folly and diffipation, when not only his age but conftitution called for reformation and warm flannels, and was not long able to conceal her difguft ; the ducal title filled her with awe, but the poor animal who bore it foon deprived himfelf of refped ; fhe involunta- rily turned her back on liis eloquence, his dignity, and his admiration. The marked manner in which his Grace fing- led out our heroine, called forth the glafles of the Vol. I. K beaus, 194 ANNA. bcaus, who, dear creatures ! to a man are all pur- blind ; and the ladies, not to be behind them in defeats, were fo good as to lifp out their inquiries of " Who is fhe, and what is (he ?" Thefe general obfervations made her truly ri- diculous ; file actually was out of countenance; her modeft eyes withdrew from the gaze of curio- fity ; a piece of ill-breeding any modern belle would try to blufh at. But poor aukward thing fhe foon ceafed to be an interefting obje6l, except to a few dilTipated married menj for it being fomehow whifpered, that fhe was the daughter of a Welch parfon, whom Lady Edwin had taken as a companion to Mifs Edwin, the ladies were eafy and the beaus fatisfied. This, far from mortifying Anna, left her to en- joy her own obfervation, which brought home things in others, lefs defirable than poverty and dependence. The infipid evening pafted, and the rooms cleared atone o'clock; Sir William, Lady Edwin, and Anna, then fat down to fupper, and retired about two. One evening gave Mifs Manfel a leflbn for all the company they received, or the vifits they paid ; and very foon fhe was fo well acquainted with the etiquette on thefe occafions, as to take all fatigue off Lady Edwin, who fat to cards in the firfl par- ty, leaving the ceremonial part to her. When ihe was entirely fettled, and her thoughts at liberty, nothing to wifh for but the continuance of Lady Edwin's favour, the paft fcenes would of- ten return to her imagination, and was it pofTible, was fhe indeed, fettled under the roof of Lady Edwin, could it be, and fliould flie again fee and converfe with Charles Herbert ? Yes, fhe re- membered his parting words ; but, alas ! what end could it anfwer. Better, far better would it be to forget he exifted ; was he not engaged, and that to A N N A. 195 to her friend, the daughter of her benefa8:rers ; was it not unjufl: and ungrateful in her to wifti to fupplant a perfon, who had fo many claims to a contrary conduct? And, indeed, if that was not the cafe, if he was free, was it Hkely he would think of her, would his family pride floop to a girj in her dependent ftate, one who had not the bene- fits common to the refufe of fociety, who knew not a creature of her blood, and who was totally deftitute of the means of fubfiftence but from the charity of flrangers ?_ Certainly no; well, then, ihe would refolve to think no more of him : — but " Thought repelled, refenting, rallies, " And doubles every woe." A letter from Mr. Manfel, in which the good man favoured her with advice and congratulations on her prefent fituation, contributed not a little to the fixing in her mind an idea that, to fay the truth, never left it. He warned her againfl the deceptions of her own heart, hinted at the parti- ality fhe was fufpe6led of for young Herbert ; at the fame time he reprefented the impoffibility of its being attended with fuccefs ; faid the dependent fituation of that young gentleman was fuch, that his ruin mufl be the confequence of a fufpicion of that kind in the family, as he knew it was their fettled intention to unite him to his coufin : begged, therefore, Ihe would guard her peace (her honour he knew to be fecured by her own principles), pre- fented Wilkinfon's beft wifhes, and invited her home whenever (he pleafed. Anna fhed tears over this letter, and called her- felf feverely to tafk for her condu6l, fome part or other of which muft have given rife to her friend's conjedure j and if him, why not others ? Alarmed K2 at 196 ANN A. at this conclufion, (he refolved to be more guard- ed in future. Lady Edwin grew more pleafed with her com- panion the longer fhe knew her ; and Sir William was as partial as generous, ever buying fome little trinket to prefent her with, and her time paffed if not happily at leaf!: agreeably. C H A F. XXXIT. The Arrival of a Stranger, -LX. Month after Anna's removing to Grofvenor- fquare, Mr. Hugh Edwin returned from abroad. This event filled the houfe with joy ; he was the idol of his family, and the heir of their noble fortunes ; had been four years making the grand Tour ; no ex pence or pains had been fpared to render him the moft accomplifhed man of the age, and his fine natural parts gave flattering hopes of the figure his rank and fortune entitled him to cut in the world. But ANNA. 197 But the high opinion entertained of his abili- ties by his fond parents, and their bHnd indul- gence to the foibles of his infancy, had ruined the one, and converted the other into mature vice. He was handfome and elegant in his perfon ; and by his acquaintance with the world, had ac- quired an eafy and polite addrefs. His good underftanding was embellifhed with a pleafing delivery, and when he chofe to exert himfelf, he was mafter of great elocution, which, added to a perfe6: knowledge of the laws of his country, promifed to his father, who doted on him, the utmoft that fame and ambition could be flow. But the unref^rained liberty of a<5lion, and pow- er of purfe, which he received from the afFe£li- on of his parents, involved him in almofl every vice in the compofition of human nature, and young as he was in years, returned to his country a veteran in iniquity — He had feduced, under a folemn promife of marriage, before he went on his travels, a young widow of fortune and family, whofe love for him fo far exceeded all other con- fiderations, that though flie found hcrfelf ruined and deceived, fhe accompanied him abroad, whea notwithftanding his great allowance from his fa- ther, he contrived to fpend her whole fortune. She had bred by him, but as it is faid, there is no friendfhip among the wicked, neither can there be a lading efteem or real happinefs in a vicious conne6iion. The lover was inconflant, the lady jealous, and by time of their return to England, they, who had flattered themfelves they fhould be bleft for life, were become mutual plagues to each other :. the unhappy woman, indeed, flill doted on her K 3 feducer j 198 ANNA. feducer ; but pairion founded on mere fenfual pleafure, is fure to evaporate in difguft. Edwin, certain of his father's generofity, made him immediately acquainted with his fituation : he was not miftaken ; Sir Wilham Edwin had the moft guilelefs of human hearts ; when the young prodigal proteilcd his forrow for his part indifcre- tions, and promifed amendment, the fond father beheved him, and took on himfelf the care of providing for the lady, which he generoufly did, and that in a manner that rendered her accept- ance of five hundred a year, rather a favour con- ferred on, than received from him. CHAP. N N A. 199 CHAP. XXXIII. Filial Piety infajhionable Life, J-^DWIN, now free from his companion, was at large ; intrigue was his hobby horfe, and mif- chief his pieafure. The lovely Anna, in full bloom of beauty and innocence, was an object too defirable to be paf- fed over ; his mother's protection had nothing in it facred enough to preferve her from his attempts, nor his promife to his father confidered from the moment he had obtained his end ; he knew Mifs Tuibville was the deftined partner of his hand, but that, he never defigned fliould fliackle his in- clinations ; the more he faw of Anna, the more he was enamoured with her ; and fo rapidly was her influence increafmg, that it was with difficulty he could conceal his raptures, even in the pre- fence of his father and mother — Whenever he caught her alone, which he watched eagerly for, lie pleaded his pafTion with all the violence natu- ral to his temper. How eafy is it to refift temptation our inclina- tions revolt at ! Anna could paint to Edwin his undutiful behaviour to the beft of parents ; fhe could aflure him, if there was no other objedtion, her obligations to Lady Cecilia would fufficiently fteei her heart againft addrefles fhe knew they K 4 would 200 ANN A. would dlfapprove — Abanloned as this young man was, the propriety of condud and modeft dignity of Anna's deportment was fuch, that he had hinted at nothing fhort of an honourable pafllon, although he was fenfible it was neither in his power or inclination to perform fuch engage- ments, if he could prevail on her to accept tliem. But of that there was not the leafl danger ; for though no more of his chara6^er had reached the ears of Anna than what Lady Edwin thought pro- per to difclofe, fhe was armed vviih the argument I have hinted at ; and had there been no other, I am perfuaded there needed none ; but in truth there was, and had young Edwin offered her a diadem, her heart was Co devoted to the humbler graces of his coufin, fhe would have rejected him — She lived but for Herbert, at the fame time that file had not the mofl: diftant hope of ever be- ing happy in the object of her choice ; on the contrary, while her imagination was perpetually bringing back the lafl: fcene at Llandore, fhe flat- tered herfelf fhe could fee him united to Mifs Edwin, without any other emotion than what the mofl: difinterefted friendlliip would warrant, re- ferving only to herfelf the pleafing idea, that while fhe was Tingle, (which fhe predetermined fhould be as long as fhe lived) fhe might continue the fecret preference her heart now gave him, without injury either to his honour or her own ; and having made up her mind in this dangerous manner, flie no longer fought to reprefs the ap- probation which, in fpite of herfelf, would ac- company the memory of every action. Her heart was continually forming comparifons between him and the young men that vifited at Sir V/illiam's ; if her fentiments happened to be thofe of any other perfon, fhe was fure Charles Herbert's ANNA, 201 Herbert's ex preflions would have given grnce to them ; if (he was diTgufted, her firft thoughts were, good heavens, how different is Herbert ! Thus, then, nourifhing the fecret bias of her foul, (be lived at Lady Edwin's without any dif- quiet, but what the young man^s alTiduities gave her, fome weeks; for Mifs Edwin was to ftay in Bedfordfhire till the family went to fetch her, that a convenient opportunity for Mr. Edwin's falling in love w^ith Mifs Turbville might not be want- ing. Mr. Edwin- found himfelf in no hurry to for- ward this marriage ; his heart became really de- voted to Anna, the more ferioufly, that notwith- flanding the difadvantages of her fituation, two gentlemen of fortune, one of them of rank, had made their offers of marriage ; one a Baronet, of good eftate and reputable family, turned of forty ; the other, a Mr. Mordant, a young man of un- exceptionable morals, and agreeable perfon. Ton to an opulent Weft-India planter, who Sir Wil- liam (being acquainted with his conneflions) was very kind to ; and he was admitted into the fami- ly on the footing of a relation ; his father left him to his own choice of a wife, that mufl accompa- ny him to Jamaica, and his heart paid homage to the charms of our heroine. The indifference with which fhe received thofe propofals, and the explicit manner in which flie refufed them, appeared no lefs extraordinary to Sir William and his lady, than flattering to the vanity of their Ton ; he had been fo ufedto fuccefs among the women, he could not doubt but his good fortune would ftill continue ; and the latent partiality for his dear felf convinced him thofe re- jedions of Anna were founded on her attachment to him* K 5 HcL 202 ANNA. He dreaded nipping in the bud the bright hope on which fo much depended ; the leaft hint of his nuptials, as confented to by himfelf, would he forefaw, ruin him with her. On Sir William fettling his affairs with Mrs. Mitford, he promif- ed to comply with all his wifhes in regard [to his eftablifhment in life : and indeed a fituation, inde- pendent of control, was too defirable a matter to be declined by a young man who wi(hed for no- thing more. Yet the lovely Anna to be given up, was too great a facrifice even for that, and one excufe fol- lowed another to protra6t time. Mr. Herbert's family were invited to accompany them to Bed- fordfhire, but Edwin had privately wrote to Charles to put off the journey from week to week, till SirWilliam declaring he would go without them, that would no longer anfwer his purpofe, the day before their arrival, he thought proper to fall fick, ,a private emetic gave the appearance of a violent attack that alarmed his parents, who wifhed to call in every medical afliftance ; but their fon had a particular confidence in one only, and he, though not a perfon who attended the family, was em- ployed, and his reports of the progrefs of the diforder juft fuch as fuited the patient's inclina- tion. It was in vain Lady Cecilia intreated he would have more advice ; it teazed him to be oppofed, and increafed his fever ; he was fure he was per- fectly fafe in the hands of Mr. Depuis, and would fee nobody elfe. Anna, fufceptible to all the feelings of humani- ty, and who loved and honoured Lady Edwin, caught from her the habit of folicitude for her fon; and in hopes to calm the fears of the fond mother, was conitanlly inquiring after the health of her heir. Of ANNA. 203 Of this circumftance Mr. Edwin's valet took care to inform his mafter, whofe joy, at each proof of attention from her, was hardly to be kept within bounds ; to her inquiries, he was al- ways better ; to others worfe ; fo that I.ady Ce- cilia, finding herfelf comforted by Anna's report, was fo exceedingly pleafed when flie made it, that fhe could not but be encouraged to pcrfcvere in a condudl fo acceptable to her patronefs. In this fituation the Herberts found them. Young Edwin and Charles had fpent their youth, and taken the firft rudiments of learning together, having never been feparated till Mr. Edwin went on his tour ; fo that, unlike as the coufins were in their principles, they were much attached to each other. Herbert was hardly feated by the bed of his friend (for he pretended he could not fit up) be- fore he difclofed his lliam ficknefs, allcdging his repugnance to the flate of marriage at all times, but more particularly now, when he faid he was expe6ted to fall in love with one woman while he was heart and foul devoted to another, as the rea- fon of putting this deception on his family ; he then proceeded to inform him of the method he had taken, having a<5lually made himfeif ill by af- fecting it. This occafioned a good deal of mirth between the two friends, in the midft of which, his trurty valet came to inform him that Tvlifs Manfel had alked after his honour's health tv/ice in the lail half hour. " Charming, delightful, kind Anna !" exclaim- ed Edwin. The mirth which had exhilarated the counte- nance of Herbert in an inftant fled. "What," 204 ANNA. ** What," f:iid he, fcarce daring to brealhc, " who ? Mifs Manfel did you fay ? Anna, h it «* her ?" ** Ah, you know her, then ?" replied the other " Yes : who but fhe cojild have taken *' fuch entire poflefTion of my foul r" *' I thought," faid Herbert, *' fhe was mar- « ried ?" ** Heaven forbid,'* anfwered Edwin, '* that *' any human being fhould dare to have a hope of •* the kind ; no, fhe refufed William Mordant ** and Sir Charles Stanly ; refufed them for me, '* Charles ; I have ftole into her htile heart ; *' fhe mufi: be mine." " What, then, will you give up Mifs Turb- « ville? " Not fo, neither." *' How will you then, manage with Anna ? " vou cannot think — " ** 'Think, I knovj flie loves me, Charles, and by^ " lieavens I adore her ; but I believe we fhall <* neither of us think it neceflary to have recourfe " to the dull beaten road of matrimony." *' Love, free a? air, at fight of human ties, *' Spreads his light wings and In a rrjoment flles,^ Mr. Edwin in the excefs of his rapturous idea?^ run on for fome time in this flrain, and might have, uninterrupted, repeated all the poetry and common place fayings the worn out fubje8: of fe- du(SiIon could furniOi him. Herbert was too much abforbed in his own ideas (which were not of the pleafanteft kind) to attend to him \ he was not, till this moment, fenfible of the flrength of his attachment to our heroine ; 'tis true he thought her engaged, and by this lime married to the perfon of her choice j that, and that ANNA. 205 that ouly, had prevented liis attempting to render fuccefsful the firft ferlous paflion he ever felt ; but now tl\at he found fhe was not only fingle, but in love with a man that meditated her ruin, his thoughts were in tumults. Should he not endeavour to fave the fweetnefs and purity fo captivating ? Were thefe elegant manners, thofe charms of perfon, given her, then, in fuch profufion, to be the prey of vice ? But how could fhe be faved ? would a woman who could attach herfelf to a known libertine, thank him for an interference (rather Impertinent than according to Aich ideas) friendly, and if fo, what end would it anfwer, except involving their family in a quarrel, which would difirefs his mother, and even bring the charge of ingratitude on himfelf ? As he was con- fcious of many obligations to his uncle, he, there- fore, for a moment, gave it up, and retired, un- der pretence of fatigue, pleading that as an excufe for not waiting Sir William's return fromlhe houfe; but he could not leave Grofvenor-fquare without making his bow to Lady Cecilia j he accordingly was announced. CHAP- 2o6 ANN A. CHAP. XXXIV. The Pique,, JL H E crimfoned cheek of Anna would have told a very contradi6lory tale to' that he had juft now heard, had Herbert obferved her ; but a fen- fation refemblingr inward pride and refentment, added to the reiblution he had juft formed, and being prepared to fee her, prevented that obfer- vation, or any other. After paying his refpeds to Lady Cecilia, he bowed with the cold indiflFer- ence of a common acquaintance and no more. Good heaven! v/hat at ihat cruel moment were the feelings of Anna ; her heart had fondly antici- pated the pleafure of this meeting to Charles and herfelf; (he cculd not, from all his behaviour, help indulo;ing hopes of being dear to him ; their parting fcene was ever prefent in her mind, rhe plaintive found of his voice at that period ftill vi- brated on her ear ; and after all, was it thus they met ! the pointed negle<5l, the cutting indifference, ftruck her wivh grief and confternation. Too much confufed to afk after his mother and filler, and fcarce able to fupport herfelf, ilie took the opportunity of Lady Edwin's family inquiries to retire to her chamber, where a flood of tears relieved her fwelling heart: — Ah, cried fhe I bit- terly weeping, it was not to Mr. Manfel only, I dif- ANNA. 207 dlfcovered the imprudent, the prefumptuous thoughts, my own folly too, too much encou- raged; Herbert has perceived it, anddefpifes me ; he fees the forward girl is not to be trufted with the appearance of friendfliip ; his looks, his man- ner, fpoke a contempt I could not otherwife have excited. But perhaps, continued the affli6i:ed girl, the change in my fituation has had this effe6l ; and could Herbert, could he be the firfl: whofe beha- viour fhould remind her of her dependence on his family ; was that the expanfion of his heart, the noble difpofition for which flie had fo admired him : cruel Herbert, unhappy Anna; fhe had cre- ated an idol in her own imagination, of manly beauty and goodoefs, her every thought had learnt to worfhip ; he had barbaroufly torn away its ami- able vifage, and fubflituted in its place the mod frightful deformity ; but fhe would think of him no more, or if fhe did, it fhould be with the con- tempt fuch caprice deferved ; fhe would fhew him, that true pride of confclous worth and integrity was of no family, that it might exift, undignified by blood, unadorned by the gifts of fortune : fup- pofe he had fufpecfted her imprudent affe6i:ion, fure it could be no difficult matter to change that affec- tion into fcorn for one who could infult a woman becaufe he might ; for fuch a change of behavi- our, without the leafl: caufe on her fide, amount- ed, in her prefent imagination, to infult. The value of Lady Cecilia's kindnefs to her now leffcned ; fhe condemned hcrfelf for not taking DaUon's advice, and fixing on a trade, whereby fhe might fubfirt:, with fome little claim to inde- pendence: fhe had loft all confequcnce with herfelf, from the moment flie fuppofed fhe was of none to Herbert ; her heart fickened at the profpe<5l before her ; fhe had wrote to Mifs Edwin, in her for- mer 2o8 ANN A. mer flile, but had received no anfwer ; the fweet intercourfe, the union of minds, that was to lafl: their hves, was already evaporated, and had no more place in that lady's thoughts than if it never had exifted. From the fentimental novelifl: of feventeen, Mifs Edwin was transformed into the gay coquette of twenty; the hero of her firfl: romance onlv, maintained his ground in the variety of her ideas ; Charles Herbert was amiable, when over-run with notions of love ; fhe was ignorant of almofl: every thing elfe; and now that her fortune was a bait to every coxcomb fhe became acquainted with, and her pafTion for admiration gave encouragement to every fool to addrefs her, ftill her coufm was be- yond compare preferable to any fhe faw, and her pride not a little hurt to find his attachment to her by no means what fhe had flattered herfelf. Mifs Turbviile, her now bofom friend, v/as the counterpart of Cecilia ; they were educated toge^ ther, and the formation of their minds left to wo- men who (interefled only by the price they re- ceived, and ignorant of the real accomplifhments that render a young woman of fafliion vaJ.uable, to her own connections in particular, and fociety in general) were gratified in making them acquainted with the fuperficial knowledge themfelves pof- fefled. Born to fplendid fortunes, and never contradicted in their lives, it is little to be wondered their ten>- pers were unamiable as their manners ; they both fet out determined to be the heroines of fentimen- tal paflions ; but fine cloaths, fine company, and fine jewels, with the very fine fpeeches of a few as fine beaus, totally overthrew the firft foft fyftem, and introduced an inordinate love of drefs, plea- fuic ANNA. 209 fiire and admiration ; fenfibllity was banlfhed, and the finer feelings were no more. So that there was no confolation to be derived from the memory of Mifs Edwin's friendfhip. Mrs. Herbert wanted refolution, and Patty, the amiable Patty, power to be of fcrvice to her ; Dalton had plainly hinted llie mufl: not think of living there, Lady Edwin's protection was there- fore her only refource, and there (he miift con- flantly fee the man of all others fhe wifhed to avoid ; the advance of fpring promifed no altera- tion, as there was yet no talk of going to Dennis Place. Lady Edwin at this moment fent for her, to in- form her of two things ; one, highly agreeable to her, was, that Mr. Herbert, his lady and daugh- ter, were arrived at their lodgings in Bond-flreet, whither fhe defired her to go and welcome them ; and the other, that Cecilia, and Mr. Stanley's fa- mily would be in town the following week. Anna eagerly flew to execute the commands of her patronefs : Patty wept with joy, and Mrs. Herbert exprefled as much pleafure as the gloom on her countenance would permit ; they had not yet feen Charles, who came from Oxford to join them; they returned with her to Grofvenor-fquare, and ftaid the evening. Mr. Stanley, guardian to Mifs Turbville, a moft worthy charafter, was rejoiced at the ap- proach of the time that was to free him from the care of a flighty girl, whofe large fortune render- ed her Co tempting an object ; and therefore, fmce the mountain would not go to Mahomet, Maho- met, he faid, muft go to the mountain ; in a word, he removed with his family to a ready-fur- niflied houfe in Burlington-Sreet. It fignified nothing nov/ to be Tick; allevafions were at an end j Edwin's honour had been given to 210 ANNA. to his father, to marry, when he Co nobly provi- ded for Mrs. Mitford : no excufe would be ad- mitted by his parents, and his ideas were fo full of the charms of independence, that when he could get the lovely Anna out of his head, he was ra- ther defirous of being what he called fettled. But that was neither often nor of long duration, Anna returned with double force and with irrefifti- bie power, banifliing every agreeable confequence of his marriage with another ; he knelt, fwore, and vowed in vain ; (he urged him to obedience to his parents ; to remember his family, fortune, and conne£lions ; and at length, declared her afFe8:ions were engaged — Diftraded at this idea, he refolv- ed to force a compliance from her ; he now found it in vain to court; difappointed pride and vanity were goads to a pafTion that wanted none. In the time of his feparation from Herbert, dif- fipation and vicious company had not done more towards corrupting his mind, than good fenfe and mora^ companions had done to improve Herbert — the former felt he refpe6t:ed his coufin more, but loved him lefs for his fuperiority : notwithflanding his rational and polite behaviour on all occafions, he had found him rather fhy of the confidence he was difpofed to place in him refpe6ting his defigns on Anna ; and when he perceived he had impofed on himfelf, in his conclufions of her partiality, he was prevented both by that and his own pride from revealing to him his difappointments or future intentions. Herbert, on his part, now in the conftant com- pany of our heroine, found reafon and reflexion too weak to guard him from her fafcinating charms, yet, piqued at his firft behaviour, her whole de- portment towards him was fo referved, fo cool, and fo diftant, that he doubted not Edwin was a favoured lover j he regretted a thoufand times he had ANNA. 211 had not tried to make an intereft in her heart at Llandore — he recoIIe6led a variety of circum- ftances which might have convinced him, fhe dif- liked Wilkinfon, but it was now too late to avail himfelf of thofe obfervations ; for, befides that it would be diflionourable to his coufin, his own delicacy could not bear to think of being fecond to fuch a libertine, even in the heart of Anna ; yet he wifhed, fervently wiflied, flie might efcape the meditated ruin. Thofe confli6ls in his mind fo affe^led him, that it injured his health, and air was ordered: Mrs. Herbert would gladly have accompanied her doting piece, but Lady Edwin wifhed her to ftay in town, and advifed lodgings near, from whence he might ride occafionally, or they vifit him ; but he chofe to return to Oxford, as foon (after he had paid his refpe6ls to Mifs Edwin and the intended bride) as he could. CHAP. 212 ANN A. CHAP. XXXV. Fir J} Imprejpons, Ml -R. Stanley's family arrived In town the be- ginning of May ; Mr. Edwin found his intended bride juft the reverfe of what his heart approved in Anna ; fhe was, indeed, tolerable handfome, but vain, conceited, proud, and witty ; had much fmall talk, loud laugh, and large white teeth, her cheeks, as fhe was very fair, fliewed the rouge at the firil: glance, and her auburn brows were rob- bed of their beauty by a black pencil ; her hair plaftered with pomatum and brown powder, form- ed a flrong contraO: to the clean chefnut locks of Anna; in (hort, if inflead of captivating, fhe had laid a regular plan to difgufl, flie would certainly have fucceeded. But Mr. Edwin was too much a man of the world to fuffer his fentiments to efcape him inad- vertently ; it was his bufmefs to fall in love ; and as very few men exceeded him in natural or ac- quired underllanding, to which was added, a graceful, handfome, perfon, he was fo fortunate as to render hlmfelf as pleafing to the lady as he affected to be with her. Cecilia \ ANNA. 213 Cecilia was in the mean time playing off all her airs and graces, at her inanimate coufin, and vex- ed to death her pains were attended with Co little fuccefs ; her anger increafed by obfervations not lefs galling to her pride than alarming to her jea- loufy. Charles (pre-determined to be a clofe obferver of Anna at the firH: interview of the intended bride and bridegroom) had no eyes or ears for any one elfe ; he faw with extreme fatisfadlion the placid ferenity of her countenance kept its unruffled, peaceful appearance ; looks of curiofity were the only ones (he directed towards them ; her face was the faithful index of her mind ; in her fine clear fkin every interefting change in her thoughts might be read, and the lovelieft pair of eyes in tiie univerfe had not yet learnt any leflbns but thofe of nature. Cecilia faw and felt her fuperiorlty ; felt it, ac- companied with fcorn and envy — What whim could pofllbly induce Lady Edwin to keep fuch a thing about her ! She had been accuflomed to watch the eyes of the men ; it was not long before the ftolen glances of her brother made another difcovery, ^hich fhe was refolved fhould be turned to ufe. When they returned toGrofvenor-fquare, Mifs Edwin went with them, having fent her woman and baggage before ; fhe pleaded a head ach as an excufe for direftly retiring, leaving Lady Edwin ftirprifcd, and Anna piqued, at the coolnefs of her behaviour ; however, as neither thought it necefTiry to fpeak their fentiments to each other, no obfervatibn was made. Next morning brought Mr. Herbert and Mr. Mordant to Lady Edwin's breakfaft table, which was at too early an hour for Cecilia ; Charles came to 214 ANN A. to take leave of the family, and Mordant once- more to prefs his fuit with Anna ; his intimacy in the Edwin family gave him but too many op- portunities of witnefTing the unexceptionable mind, as well as lovely perfon, of our heroine. He brought from the gentleman who had the charge of him from his father a carte blanche ; the time of his flay in England was very near elapfed, and he, for the laft time, came to try his fate with the woman he loved. His interefl was warmly efpoufed by Sir William and Lady Edwin ; and finding Herbert was fo nearly related to the family, he intreated his influence alfo. Anna had before faid all that a determined mind could fay, and the prefence of Herbert was very unlikely to give a turn to her fentiments. The relu6lance with which Mordant refigned his lafl hope, engaged them till two o'clock ; when, dreffed with the utmofl attention, in an elegant morning difhabille, in fwam Cecilia, and brufhing her eyes over Anna, who refpedfully rofe at her entrance, bowed to the company, and fat down with a mixture of haughtinefs and contempt in herlooks. Mordant diredtly applied to her for her interefl with her lovely friend — fhe was furprifed, could not divine who he meant — who could he mean but the charming Mifs Manfel — fhe had no influence. Anna begged he would fpare her as well as the company; flie afTured him of her grateful remem- brance of the honour he did her, which fhe ac- knowledged file thought her misfortune fhe could not, confident with her own notions of integrity, accept ; her refolutions were unalterable. Be- lieve me. Sir, continued fhe, with an amiable franknefs in her manner, and a modeft earneflnefs in her countenance, if 1 could have returned the affections of fo worthy a man, it would have •been I ANNA. 215 been my pride to do It generoufly ; you are fo de- ferving, Mr. Mordant, I am fure you will meet a heart more valuable than mine, that will require no interfering friends to do juftice to your merit. God preferve you, Sir, faid Ihe, making him a £^raceful courtefy, and immediately left the room. Mordant then with a tender regret which affe6ted both Sir William and Lady Edwin, took his leave. Mifs Edwin (hrugged her flioulders ; — if a capital merchant would not do, Ihe wondered what would ! Mr. Herbert now rofe to be gone ; it was in vain Mifs Edwin entreated his flay a few days — fhe wanted a beau — could not pofTibly do without him — nay, he fhould flay. He declined all her invitations, took his leave, and went from thence to Mr. Edwin's apartment. " Well Charles, and what fay you to my di- ** vinity ? How do you like her ?" cried Edwin the moment he entered. " I think her a fine woman, and hope you *' will be happy." " 'Till death do us part, Charles, — do not " forget that." *' But what," faid Herbert, " do you think *' of her yourfelf ? for that's the grand qucfli- (( Indeed, is it ! But as it is a queftion which, '' if anfwered fincerely, will produce a devilifh *' rude one, it had better not be afked. But ^' come, Charles, as you fay flie is a fine woman, *' and all that, if you will take her off my hands, *' you will oblige me very much." Charles exprefTmg no great gout to the offered kindnefs, Edwin inveighed with great bitternefs againfl: the folly and infipidity of both Mifs Turb- ville and his fider; fwcaring, that if it were not for one fweet hope, he would fet off and leave them 2i6 ANN A. them to commit matrimony with any one but himfelf. *' Ah ! what a diflPerence, faid he, between *' them and the angelic Manfel. Did you obferve '' her abfolute loveliners, hov/, robed in her ex- *' cellence, fhe looked an emblem of fweetnefs, *' innocence, and beauty ? Upon my foul as I fat *' (ftunned with the tittering nonfenfe of my in- ** tended wife) at the other end of the room,wh€n *' her coral lips opened to deliver, with grace and *' eafe, the fentiments of wifdom and propriety, ** the perfume of her breath feemed, to my a- ** doring imagination, from that diflance to reach ** my foul. But come, Herbert, you fet off to- ** morrow ; we will dine at a tavern to-day ; ** where we will toaft the angel in half pints un- ** til nothing of love but the pleafure fhall have " power to difturb us." ** Well," anfwered Herbert with a faint fmile, *' you talk it bravely ; but you forget Mifs Turb- '* ville is to dine here." " I leave her looking- *' glalfes enow, and I will fwear you debauched *' me,'* replied Edwin, ** fo allonsy^ taking held of his arm. We left Mifs Edwin with her father and mother ; the former, as T have faid, was dotingly fond of both his children: Lady Edwin's love for her daughter was greatly leffened by her behaviour, which was negledlful and often rude. She dire6lly began to wonder how her mother could think cf taking fuch a girl as Anna about her ; fhe was fure great inconvenience would arife from fuch a ridi- culous piece of charity. Lady Edwin was afto- nifhed at the little ceremony her daughter ufed in fpeaking to htr, and peremptorily bidding her attend to her own concerns, immediately leit the room. Cecilia, ANNA. 2f7 Cecilia, whofe feelings, fuch as they were, had been too much for her, before Herbert's depar- ture, now cried for mere fpite. Her father ten- derly inquiring into the caufe of her afflicHon, was told Ihe dctefted Anna ; that fhe was a proud, in- Iblent creature, who had the aflurance, fhe was fure, to aim at enfnaring her brother. Partial and indulgent as was Sir William to his children, he could not give way to fo uncharit- able an infinuation,but took the abfcnt,unoft"tnding Anna's part with fo much warmth, tliat his d;'ugh- ter flung from him into her own room, where, throwing herfelf on a fopha, flie began to vent her anger en her woman, who, fhe declared, had purpofely disfigured her head that morning, be- caufe- file knew it was her defire to look tol«?.r- able. The woman, in broken Englifh, attempted to vindicate herfelf, and not without fome palhon, which irritated her miftrefs to that degree, that fhe actually fcolded ; and her voice founding all over the houfe, Anna ran towards her apartment, as did Mr. P2dwin and Charles. They found Cecilia, her eyes fwollei:i with cry- ing, her face diftortcd with anger, and lier lips white and quivering in a perfetf frenzy, and her woman, a foreigner, talkmg quite as fait in her turn. Edwin burft into laughter at this fcene, which he told his fiftcr wanted but a Hogarth to render it immortal, fneeringly aflvcd her if llie en- tertained often in this way ? and immediately turned on his heel. But Herbert and Anna, actu- ated both by the fame fpirit of kindnefs, attempt- ed to footh the fair vixen ; their endeavours were not fuccefsful ; flie rudely bid them leave her apartment. The truih is, Anna was fo much alarmed at wliat fnc heard and faw, and Herbert Vol. I. L fo 2l8 ANN A. fo ftriick at this unexpe(5led rencontre with her, and fo interefted for her difquietude, that, un- mindful of Cecilia, his firfl: efforts were to calm Jier fears ; and the fight of him in an attitude of the tendereft folicitude, imploring her not to be alarmed, one arm round her waifl:, the other fpread on his heart, while he hung over her enamoured, was net calculated to calm the raging tempeft in Mifs Edwin's dreiUng room. When at her repeated command they left her, fhe was on the point of difcharging her woman ; but her peace was made, and flie reftored to fa- vour by a difcovery as new as unexpedled. CHAP. N N A. 219 CHAP. XXXVI. A Retrofpe£i, ^^ EC ilia's anger had been on the part of her woman quite unprovoked ; it was not difficult for her to fee file was the vi£lim of her lady's refentment to another ; her not thinking (he looked well, was a fure fign flie wiflied fo to do ; indeed this woman, whofe cunning was feldom to be exceeded, well knew Mr. Herbert had a powerful advocate in the breafl: of Cecilia, and an indifferent fpecSlator might as eafily difceni that faw him with Anna off his guard, where all his wiflies lay. This, therefore, was Mifs Edwin's rival ; fhe was more, fhe was the identical Anna, who fome years back had rival'd Madame Frajan (for it was that very lady) in the affections of Colonel Gor- get, the all accompliflied ; and who, as flje had injured, it was impoffibleyZ'^ could forgive ; be- fides the gallant Colonel, though now a Baron, a man of title, was no changeling. She had at different times paid her refpects to him, and as often received the compliment of one pound one, but never without regretting the lofs of his little flame. Two obje6i:s, therefore, immediately offered themfelves to her view,— interell and re- venge ; — what French filJe de chamhre could refiil either. L 3 Lord 220 ANNA. Lord Sutton, but perhaps my reader may here accufe me of inconiiflcncy, having once intro- duced that gentleman as a chara6ter univerfally defpifed, we fliould at our re acquaintance find him graced with the favour of a virtuous Prince. But unheard of as it may feem for fo defpicable a charaQer to be made a Lord, 1 entreat my readers to give credit for its veracity. In truth, the Co- lonel was very rich ; fome trifling occurrences in his pall: life, under the fignature of Gorget, were not fo pleafing to recolle6L in their confequences ; the name was famous, it was rather too well known: -—he, therefore, fome how or other by dint of his intereft with Lady Waldron, got Baron Sutton added to his confequence, whereby in public mat- ters Gorget was forgotten. Jt was this very perfonage whofe addrefles were ce}e6:ed by Lady Edwin for her daughter, on ac- count of his father's cbfcure original, and who found in Jicr fortune and conne6lions fllll fuch at- traclions, that he had got Aladame Frajan into the family to forward once miore his applications, which, if reiedcd, he intended to try his influence Xvitii .the lady for a trip to Scotland ; yet, tliough ill e. was v.oung enough to be his daughter, it did not follov/ her perfon was, as he pretended, his ultimate obje(E):; Madame Frajan knew to the contrary, and if fhe had not been fo certain of that, ihe improved perfon ard graces of Anna would have decided her opinion. She had fome (Otlier reafonf, which nill appear in the courfe of this hiilcrv, to haie the fh^lit of our heroine; ihe, iheretcre, fuffcfed Cecilia to vent her rage, till again tears fupp'icd the want of re- venge. ■It was then the fly Frajan entreated her pardon for having unv.'illingly cfi'endcd lier, prctefled her Unbounded legaid and refpect for fo fweet, fo amiable ANNA. 221 amiable a lady, which flic flattered herfelf flie fhould yet be able to prove, and begged her for- givenefs for a qiicflion that niii::;ht appear imper- tinent, but whicli Ibe flioiildgive fufficient rcafon for afking ; and wiili great humility begged to know how long ihe had known the young wo- man Mr. Plerbert fcemed fo fond of? The (juellion was an irritation to the rage of her foul — Name Iter not, faid ihe, flamping, one houie ihall not hold us : this was the cue her woman wanted. Nor need it. Madam, anfwcred fhe ; is this then the Mifs Manfei Lady lulwjn is fo wrapt up in? an impoftor, a tliief ! — Mifs Edwin was all attention, her rage fubfided, and the woman re- flored to her favour, by repeating to her the hif- tory of our heroine ; fo mixed with facls, it was difficult to feparate the true from the falfe : what the refolutions formed on this occafion were, will be feen in their confequences. It happened that evening was Lady Edwin's grand rout, and Anna, wlio was now perfe6ily acquainted with a polite aflemlly, ufually did the honours ; receiving the company in Lady Edwin's place, who was much better pleafed to fit to cards, when Mrs. and Mifs Herbert were of thofe par- ties. Patty whofe love to her friend, equalled her deferts, generally kept pretty clofe to her. — Herbert dining with Edwin, and Mr. Stanley be- ing engaged to be with Sir William on family bu- fmefs, gave Cecilia a pretence for requeuing to be indulged with the company of Mifs Turbville, and dinner in her own apartment. Mrs. Herbert dropping in, in the morning, beg- ged Anna might go home with her, which Lady Cecilia the more readily agreed to, as they were to enter on matters relative to the fettlement, and L 3 it 222 ANNA. it was not necelTary an uninterefted perfon Ihould be prefent. As foon as they got to Bond-flreet, Mrs. Her- bert, whofe aching heart always fat on her brow, left Anna and her daughter to themfelves ; the in- tended v/edding in the family, and the finery and ihew it would be attended v.'ith, for fome time eng-ofled their converfation ; Charles and Cecilia naturally fucceded : Patty obferved tlie great al- teration in her ccufin, and added, that fhe feared Charles would prove an ungrateiul fwain> for fhe was fure that kind of woman was not the one for him ; indeed, continued fhe, I have reafon to think he is ilrongly attached, but where, or ta whom, I cannot tell ; and if that fliould be the cafe, Mamma will break her heart, as both fa- milies depend on its being a match ; Lady Cecilia is fo good, fhe waves all thoughts of fortune, in confideration of the family intereft ; and though my coufin has taken fuch a foolifh turn, you know fhe always loved Charles, and he her : — I thought, faid Anna, he had been her declared ad- mirer ever fince 1 have known them. Why as to that, anfwered Patty, I beheve my coufin was rather too fanguine in her ideas of his love; hov/ever, I hope in God it will be brought about, for Papa goes on at fuch a rate, we had need have nobody elfe to vex us. — What reafon have you to doubt it, my dear; why fhould you fufped he has an attachment ? While Anna afked this of her friend, the fitua- tion of her mind may be guefifed : I'll fhew you, faid Patty^ drawing a lilach, breaft-bow from her work-fi:and ; I found this on his bed this morn- ing ; when he was gone out. Mamma and I went into his room to look over fome of his things, I caught it up : he returned very foon in a violent buftie ; did not a{k me for it you rpay be fure, but his A N N i^. 223 his man told Betty he wore it tied to a firing round his neck, and had done To a long while ; and, — looking in her friend's f.-.cc at this period, fhe faw her pale and agitated; the alarm this gave, put the bow out of her head. Anna was indeed ill ; all that Mifs Herbert faid had affeded her. — Poor Mrs. Herbert, deftitutc of any other confolalion, robbed of all comfort but what centered in lier fon, and his elhihlifh- ment, how could her ftlllih heait give way to wifhes that would covnUcracl the only jiope of fo good a woman ; even PaU.y hoped in God it would be brought about— Mow could flie (uus there no other obje<5\ion) bring hcrfelf to give paiu to the gentle the endearing Paity ? — but when the bow was produced in evidence of lier fufpicion, file could no longer reprcfs er conceal h.cr emoti- ons ; it Wiis with difficulty fhe concealed lier feel- ings ; and unable to continue {"o intcrefiirig ;i converfation, begged to go home : with great le- ludance file v/as fufFered to leave them : and Patty cn^?,'^ed, if her indlfpofition continued, to fpend the eveaingin, her apartment; if file was better th/y were to meet in Lady Edwin's draw- ing-room. Without acquainting any body of lier return, Anna flew to her room the moment ihe got to Grofvenor-fquare, and having locked the door, as if her thoughts could be feen, whifpered to her fond, throbbing heart ; — if Charles Herbert loved the owner of that bow, then was Anna Manj'el the happy objeft of his attachment ! It was hers, dropped, as I have related, the week before fhe left Llandore. Pleafure filled her bofom, and joy throbbed in her heart ; fhe was now fure Charles loved her ; in tl:tat idea all thoughts of forrow were banifiied: and I mufi- own, to the difcredit of our heroine, not one of L 4 thgfe 224 ANN A. thofe very fine arguments flie had made ufe of to Rdwin, and uhich might with equal, if not greater propriety, have been urged to Herbert, ^refented ihemfelves to her recollection, iave the effe£t on his mother's peace. Her bow tied round Charles's neck, was proof againfr all the efforts of reafon or prudence ; and fhe indulged, for the firfl: time, a certainty of being dear to him : but whence that coolnefs on his coming to London ? — No matter ; — if really cold to her, the ribband would not that very morning, have been of fuch importance. Thus, happily reftored to confidence in her- felf, fhe beftowed more than ordinary pains in adorning her perfon ; for though Herbert had taken leave, as the two young men were to dine together, perhaps, in the courfe ot the evening, they might drop into the ailembly. CHAP. N N A. 2^^ CHAP. xxxvir. The unguarded Moment. -L/ADY Edwin knew not of Anna's return, liH, lovely indeed, (he attended m her dreffing-room, previous to going down to receive the company. " You are fo charming to night, Anna," faid Lady Edwin, *' I dcfpair of prevaiiing on my daiisi;hter or Mifs Turbville to treat you with com- mon good manners ; but let not that dlfturb you, the wedding will focn take place, and Mifs Edwin will go for a time with h.er new fiilcr ; I give you my word, the envy of little minds will never hurt you with me." Anna gratefully thanked Lady Edwin for fo kind an afllirance, and regretted her lofs of the young la- dies' efteem ; faid fhe could not charge herfelf with an 2iQ. that ought to have that effeQ:. *' Look, child, in the glafs,'' anfwered her pa- tronefs, ** you will fee a very good reafon, one that will find its way into the bolom of every young lady on my lift to night." On iheie happy terms, who could forcfee that this was the laft night fhe lliould fpcnd under the roof of fo partial a friend ? They entered the drawing-room in the greatefl harmony ; Mifs Edwin's return to town brought many young people of both fexes of the firfl: L 5 fafhioii 226 ANN A. fafhion to the afrembly ; the great Welch fortune was an inducement to the one, and the elegant ftile they lived in entitled them to the acquaintance of the other. The beautiful miftrefs of the ceremonies at- tra£ted every eye ; a plain white luteftring witb black flowers, fancied in the moft fimple and ele- gant tafte, fet oft her fine complexion, and her tout fnfemble, was, indeed, ftriking; innumerable were the compliments paid at the fhrine of beauty by the few on whom it had power, while the two fair friends in the circle they fat were exhibiting their witty talents at the expence of an innocent wcman, whofe heart was warm in every good wifh towards them. As fhe flattered herfelf, fo it happened ; Edwin' and Charles came in about ten; the indifpofition of Anna (which they heard in Bond-ftreet) car- ried them into Lady Edwin's drawing-room. Edwin rallied her on her pallid looks, and beg- a;ed for God's fake, fhe would be ill again. Anna told him, fmiling, there were eyes in the room that would not forgive him if his were diverted from their proper cbjefl, dire6ting him, by a glance, from her fine eyes to Mifs Turbville's par- ty ; but, reader, guefs, if it is poffible, her afio- nifhment, when flie faw, playing with Mifs Ed- win's fan, moil fuperbly dreflfed, her old friend Gorget, now Lord Sutton. Had a Gorgon faced her, the efFe6l could not have been flronger : her colour changed, and her tremour was fo vifible^ that Herbert, who was near her, obferved it, and begged fhe would fuffcr him to attend her into the- other room for air. Scarce knowing v/hat fhe did, fhe complied, and he had the happinefs of fupporting in his arms, fome moments after flie got out, the woman he adored* A N N A. 227 In this fond moment, unguarded by caution or prudence, he befought her to lean on him ; lier hands were, ahernately, prefTed to his bofom, and headdrefled her by the tendered appellations :~ this behaviour ;?.iarmed and difpleafed her; and having drank a glals of water, they both attempted to recoi- led their Scattered thoughts. Herbert, however, jiad gone too far to recede ; he therefore intrcated her pardon for a difcovery her fituation had wrung from him, and eloquently pleaded the force of a pafTion he neither expefted nor wiflied to conquer, though he knew it was hopclcfs, Anna, who could interpret this to nothing but her dependent fituation, anfwered haughtily, he was perfeftly right, and immediately left him. More wretched and more confirmed in her love for Edwin than ever, lie returned to the company pale and dejected ; and only flaid to make.a pafTing bow to Lady Edwin and the young ladies.. C H A Fc 228 ANN A. CHAP. XXXVIIT. Difgrace, Oi 'N account of her indlfpofitlon, Anna fent aa excLife to her patronefs, who returned a friendly injur.6ticn on her to be careful of herfelf : flie paf- ^td a very relllefs night, an unaccountable dread feized her fpirits, though innocent of a thought of offending human being ; fhe feared fhe knew not what. — Juff as Hie was leaving her chamber, a packet was given her, diredied lo Mrs. Herbert, by Lady Edwin's woman, with orders to deliver k immediately. This command v/as as extraordinary as it was new; neverthelefs as it was her part to obey, fhe walked to Bond-ftreet. Mrs. Herbert was not up, and Patty was gone, on a fudden whim, to Rich- mond, v/ith Charles, who made it in liis way (o call on a widow filter of his father to dinner ; (he fent up the packet with defire to know if there was an anfwer ? After waiting an i;our, Mrs. Herbert came down ; but inftead of the cordial, warm, leception, fiie had been ufed to from that i^^dy, a cuurtefy hardly perceptible was all- — fhe . fat dcv/n. P(or Anna could not fpeak at firfl ; but when fhe could articulate, begged, for God's f;4:e, to knov/ tlie meaning cf fuch a dreadful foiemnity \ Mr.&.. ANNA. 229^ Mrs. Herbert pulled out the packet, and, opening it, looked at her very earneftly, and demanded to know how long (he had affumed the name of Manfel? Nothing had ftruck Anna, at the firft appearance of Mrs. Flerbert, but that fhe had difcovered her attachment to Charles ; her countenance, there- fore, brightened up at this queftion, confcious of having nothing to blufli at in the change of her name, fhe immediately told her. '' Did you wait on Mrs. Melmoth ? *' As to waiting on her," Anna faid, '^ fhe *' fliouid have been proud to render her any fer- *' vice in her power ; but fhe had not been a fer*- " vantto her." " You left her in difgrace, child, I think ?" " I am, to this moment, ignorant what my of- ** fence was.'* " There," faid Mrs. Flerbert, with a folemn fteady voice, '* is half a year's pcnfion from Lady ** Edwin. Mrs. Manfel did ill in introducing you " to our family ; I am forry I ever knew you ; I '* am, at this inftant, concerned more than I wifh ** for you ; have you any friends in London ?" Lady Cecilia herfelf had not more laudable pride than Anna. Perfc6lly innocent of any one a£lion that could prejudice thofe ladies fo much againfl: lier, and hurt as well at the matter as the manner of lier difchargc, fhe retreated from the offered money, and to the queftion of, ** had fhe any " friends ?'* anfwcred, it is not, madam, for an ** orphan, who has no connexions, natural or *' acquired, to boaft of her fiiends ; few in a *■ more elevated ftation abound with them ; it ** is enough that you, madam, muft be certain I *' have enemies — you perhaps know, though I ** do not, to wliat length thcfe have carried their *-' ujiprovoked malice. If I have deferved to he *< dif. 230 ANN A. '< difcarded in this manner, I have no claim fo *' the money you offer. When I am told of what «' I am accufed, I will try to acquit myfelf ; till *' then, I have only to pray for yours and the fa- ^'^mil;'o happinefs." This faid, with an air of injured pride and in- nocence, fhe was going, but recolleding herfelf, " afked if fhe was to return no more to Grofve- " nor-fquare, how fhe was to get her things ? " They will be fent where you dired/' an- fwered Mrs. Herbert. On which fhe fet down with her pencil, as the only place fhe could recollefV, the inn where the Brecknock ftage put up. On her arrival in town, and leaving the houfe, called a hackney-coach, threw herfelf into it, and bid the man drive to Whitechapel, where the ftage from Dalton's vil- lage flopped ; being jufl in time, fhe immediately proceeded to Layton. The whole tranra6tion had been fa fudden, and fo unexpeded, that fhe could fcarce credit her fenfes, or believe fhe v/as now on the road to Lay- ton. One comfort, indeed, offered itfelf — fhe had not left Charles Herbert behind. On recol- lecting and putting together circumflances, flie concluded, fhe mufl: owe to Colonel Gorget's ill ■will this new misfortune ; but what could provoke him to this inveterate perfecution of her fhe could not imagine, except it v/as the difappointment of his wicked attempts on her when quite a child ; yet the time was fo fhort, from that fhe had part- ed with Lady Kdvvin, on fuch very cordial terms. She could not conceive the method he mufl have taken to work fo quick a ruin ; fhe thought and thought again, and the coach flopped at Dalton's door before fhe had pleafed herfelf in her conjec- ture. When I ANNA. 231 When Dalton faw her and looked in her dejected countenance, lie exclaimed, " What, the bad money returned." This falute in her prefent fituatlon and ftate of mind was too much ; her tears moved Mrs. Dal- ton, who received her very kindly, and begged fhe would not make herfclf uneafy ; that fhe would be always welcome there. " Ay, ay,'' faid Dalton, *' for a while, fo fhe fhall, but it is time (he. *' knew how to get her bread." This was her own opinion ; but how it was to be done, was the point. Spight of herfelf, fome latent hopes would arife that fhe might, one day, be united to Charles, and in that cafe, would the proud Cam- brians of his family ever acknowledge a mantua- makeror a milliner ? What, then, could fhe do ? She could think of nothing elfe, and Dalton flill harping on a trade, Mrs. Dalton faid, that as Peggy was now out of her time, and in bwfinefs for herfelf, Anna might try a little with her firfl:. To this fhe made no obje6iion, when {he fhould arrange her little matters ; during which period, fhe told the greedy Dalton, fhe would pay for her board; t?iat Mrs. Dalton pofitively refufed. Anna fent for her things, which were left, as file direQed; when tiiey were delivered at the door, her heart funk ; fhe had hoped either letter or meffuage would have accompanied them, that would give fome light into what had been her of- fence, or, perhaps, an invitation to return : two or three days elapfed, and no news fiom Grofvenor fquare, or (what was worfe) from Bond-ilreet. CHAP. 23a. ANN CHAP. XXXIX. The Correfpondence. T, H E fourth day Anna received the following billets : ** When laft I faw and pleaded the caufe of love, awed by your frowns, and filenced by your peremp- tory commands, I feared, I mud for ever drop the rapturous hope of pofTelTing the lovclieft of women; but you will now, perhaps, hear that from reafon, paliion durft not plead. Any fettlement in my pow- er to command is )ours; family, friends, even country, fhall be facrificed to the willies of my charming Anna, whofe name in future, (hall be that of her adorer, if fhe chufes to afTume It. Write to me, I befeech you ; I need not put any other fignature than that of the man who moft- loves : you will recolle6l v.'hom. Billet the Second. ** Madam, '' It was with dliEculty I traced you fo as to re- ceive your addrtfs : the tranfient view I had of you at Lady Edwin's afTcmbly, gave me hopes I fhould have an opportunity of offering you any fervice In my A N N A. , 233 my power, as the friendfhip I felt for you at Mel- moth Lodge is ftill frefh in my memory. I was much furprized, on inquiring of that lady, this morning, to hear you was difcharged that fami- ly. I do not mean an impertinent inquiry into the caufe, but I defire Mifs Dalton will honour me with any commands that may be acceptable to her,, in the power of, madam, Your moft obedient. Humble Servant, Sutton." Billet the Third. " Ah ! my dear Anna, what can your Patty fay to comfort you under fuch cruel mortification ! You need not tell me you are innocent ; how little do thofe know you who can think otherwife ; I long to fee you, but am forbid by all the family ; poor mamma, bears the blame from every body — how he came by it I do not know, but my coufm has a di- re61:ion which he fays will find you, if rt does, pray write to your P. H. *' P. S. You muft direO: to me under cover to Mr. Edwin ; he is your (launch friend and advocate.'' Indignation at the two firft of thefe notes gave way to pleafure at thelaftj teais of gratitude filled her eyes — " Sweet friend, dear girl," flowed from her lips ; ftie refolved to anfwer that immediately, for two reafons ; one was, fhe wifhed to oblige Mifs- Herberts the other, (he longed to know what fhQ could be accufed of — yet how could (he approve of the means of correfponding Patty propofed j as little as 234 ANNA. as (he knew or fufpecled of the ways of intrigue, it was plain, directing to Mils Flerbert under Mr. Edwin's cover, would give him a pretence to vifit her, an honour by no means defirable in his and her prefent fituation ; for did he not profefs to love her, a profeffion injurious to thepeace of the lady he was about to marr)', as well as infulting to her own ho- nour ; yet how elfe to write to her friend, fo as to prevent her lying under the difpleafure of the fami- ly? And if Ihe did not write, would her filence not give Patty an impreffion of her ingratitude — it was impoflible ; could flie oiherwife find cut of what crime fbe had been accufed, or by v/hom, or could (he by any other means ever know any thing of Charles ? The laft thought decided the point, and the following fhorit note was difpatched : "To Miss Herbert. " May you never, my deareft friend, by being in diftrcfs, experience the kind of joy your note gave me ; yet I do not approve of this means of thanking you Of what am I accufed? only tell me that 1 cannot wifli to engage my friend in a correfpondence which muft be blameable in her, as being forbid by her family ; but that one favour, till better times, is all 1 afk of my Patty, who will for- give the declining any farther ufe of Mr. Edwin's ffiendfhip, to her ever grateful and afFe6lionate Anna." Having wrote this, Anna fet herfelf in earneft about thinking of future fubfiftence ; although Dal- ton's harfh expreilions hurt her, yet file could not in juflice difapprove them ; fhe faw his large fami- ly, all of whom were now getting their own liveli- hocxl by the laudable exertions of induflry — Peggy, the I ANNA. 23s the eldefl:, lived with them, and contribnted to their general fupport ; (he had a great deal of woik about the village, and it being now fummer, when moft young folks in the middle line of life, have what new clothes they can afford, w^as very full of bufinefs the afTiftance of our heroine was there- fore no lefs timely than acceptable, and her natural tafte being good, (he very foon took all the trim- ming and ornamental part on herfelf ; added to this, her late refidcnce in the great world, enabled her to inflrucSt Mifs. Dalton in the fafliions moft in vogue, whofe fame in confequence became fo great, that the ladies, tliat is to fay, the tradefmen's wives, who, either by the fucccfs of induftry, or a fpirit of prodigality, had country-houfes began to employ and recoromend her to each other, fo that bufmefs came in very faft, and Dalton, confequently more civil. But the latent difeafe of the mind depends not on either fuccefs or difappointment in the common oc- currences of life; and pride had too great afharein Anna's compofition to render her eafy in fuch a fituation. • Lord Sutton's letter had excited in her no other emotions than thofe of hatred and contempt ; (he was fure his ill offices had a fecond time robbed her of her proteiSlrefs ; and fo rooted was her bad opini- nion of him, fhe dreaded no evil but what fhe ima- gined would originate with him : his letter was therefore tofled into the fire with the moft perfe£t fcorn and indifference — and here it may be necefla- ry to remind my reader, in Mifs Edwin's chamber fcene, which difcovered Anna to Frajan, the former was too much taken up to obferve the latter ; her attention was divided between Cecilia and Herbert, or if ftie did, had not the flighteft recolledion of hef perfon during the few minutes fhe was in the room, a circumftancc that will not appear ftrange, if 2^6 A N N A. if we recollect Frajan not owning heiTelf mafricd, the appellation nT^rely as a French wailing woman in all genteel tamilics is mademoifelle only, and Anna being always in Lady Edwin's apartments, it was next to impcfiible, during the fhort time llie continued in Grcfvenor fquare, after Mifs Edwin's return from Bedfordlhire, flic could have any perfonal knowledge of her attendant ; fo that fhe could form no conjec- ture of the au'thor of her disgrace in the Edwin fa- mily that did not point at his Loidfliip. Many returns of the poit and no letter from M'lfs Herbert, at length, wearied out wiih expe£fations, and mortified with continual difappointments, (he wifhed to turn her thoughts to things within her own abfolute reach ; and though confcious (he had taught Dalton's daughter more than it was poflible Jhe could learn from her, yet, tired with the father's continual teazing, her confent was obtained to be bound for two years to the bufmefs, and he joyfully applied to an attorney to draw the indentures : how- ever, before this matter could be completed, it was entirely put a flop to. They were (that is, the young women) at work one morning in a room appropriated for that pur- pofe, when an uncommon rattling of coach wheels under the window, and a lo.ud rap at the door, ex- cited their curiofity ; but what was Anna's furprife, to fee Lord Sutton alight from a fuperb carriage ; indeed it took from her the power of fpeech ; and while Peggy was making a thoufand conjedfures concerning the obje6l of this vifit, from a perfon in a coroneted coach, Anna was abforbed in her own ideas, wholly unable to comprehend the meaning of fo unwelcome an intrufion. Lord Sutton was fhewn in, and Dalton inftantly recolle6led in the vifage of the noble Lord, hira- who had made four ye^rs. before fuch alarming efi,^: c^yiries- A 'N 'N A. 237 quiries after Anna, felt guilty and abaflied, artd doubtin;» from his fplendid appearance the day of reckoning was come — TVemhIing and pale, it was with inrtn te difficulty he could muiler up courage to afk the Granger's bufinels. Lord Sutton, proud only of his rank, riches and fp'endour, found his vanity highly gratified by the vifible confufion of the poor parfon, who he fup- pofcd was confounded at his grandeur. After enjoying fomc moments with the appear- ance of the mofl ftately indifference, the conlufion he excited, he changed at once the haughty Peer into the artful infmuating fycophant, made many apologies to Mr. Dalton for his intrufion, which, he faid, was occafioncd by his dehre to ferve a young perfon under tb.eir prote6lIon, who, though Ihe had been difcarded by a relation of his who had taken her wlien very young, was, he prefumed, too we'l educated to be cap.ible of being ufcful to an inferior Oate of life, and too handfome to he fafe in fuch an age as this from the purfuits of the licentious. Mrs. Dalton whofe heart had nothing wrong a- bout it but wliat (lie delved from her hufb,:nd5 with- out the lead guile in her own compofition, was in raptures at this kindnefs ; ihe v/as ready to worfhip him, and heaped praifes in the v/arrnth of her heart, his told him he could never dcferve Init whatever happy piefage this good woman's creduli- ty gave him, he was not lefs furpnfed than vexed, to obferve the hufhand's filcnce (for he had not fpoke fmce the firif falutation) proceeded from fome other caufe tiian mere refpeci for his Lordihlp. He, thereiore, addrefi'ed him with praifes for his Jiumanity to Anna, fo profufc, that Dalton, con- fcious hovv little merit he could plead on tliat ac- count, felt himfeif more hurt th^n gratified ; and callcus 23S ANN A. callous as was his confcience, turned the many compliments paid him to an ironical meaning. Undetermined therefore, in his ideas, he interrupt- ed his gueft, by afking him bluntly, if he had not feen him before. Lord Sutton, although exceedingly difconcerted, was too great an adept in hypocrify to fufFer it to be feen. With an affable fmile he commended the retentive memory of the preacher, which he fuppofed mufl be of great advantage both to him- felf and his flock, and anfwered he was not mif- taken, that he had felt the fame compaflion then for his ward he yet retained, and that in confequence thereof he had made thofe inquiries, which were of great trouble to himfelf, without (he fpoke it with regret) ferving the young lady, as he, Mr. Dalton, pofitively denied any knowledge of her, a conduct he muft own, quite inexplicable to him. " And pray, Sir," faid theflill doubting parfon, "who may you be?" "myname, Sir, perhaps (at leaft if you '' have read the hiflory of the fuccefs of our ar- " mies abroad) you may have heard— it is Gorget " — I had the honour to command the army in '* the Eafl Indies ; my poor fervices his Majeily '^ has thought proper to reward with a title; Lord " Sutton, at your fervice." — The room inftantly became too fmall j the cringing Dalton, reaflured no danger was nigh, immediately adopted the ut- moft fervility both oi fpeech and countenance; while his wife, in endeavouring to clear away her litters, threw every thing into diforder. A Lord was a being in whofe prefence it was impoffible for them to fit ; nor could all his condefcenfion pre- vail on either of them to take a chair, till he arpfe himfelf and abfolutely refufed to refume his feat, except they favoured him with their company. N N 239 He then artfully begged to confult them on the means likely to be of feivice to Anna, declining their firfl: oflfer of calling her down. Dalton, who never for a moment lofl: fight of his own interell, explained to his Lordfhip her prefent fituation, and what he had planned for her with his daugh- ter ; adding, that as his LordHiip was fo very good and charitable, if he would recommend them to work for the great ladies of his acquain- tance, it might be the making of both. Sutton, with all his caution, could hardly keep his temper at this propofal ; he had in the care of Frajan took large ftrides to place a French waiting woman of infamous principles, in attendance on a young lady of fafhion and chara£ter ; but to take on huTifelf to recommend a couple of honefl: young women as mantuamakers, — what could the fellow mean ? Neverthelefs he feemingly acquiefced — one only obje6tion ftruck him ; he faid, he doubt- ed whether Anna was not more qualified for the flation fhe had luH: left ; he feared fo fedentary a life would not fuit her education ; and as to their daughter, it fhould be his fludy to evince his re- fpc6l for the parent, by his friendfhip to the child ; he would recommend her, whether Anna continued with her or not. This fet the matter in a new light. His Lord- fhip was the beft judge ; he had only to fignify his pleafure to them, and they would obey to the ut- mofl: in their power all his injundlions. Mrs. Dalton then repeated the motion of calling Anna ; his Lordfhip bowed his aflent. She immediately carried this joyful news to our heroine, net doubting but fhe would be in ecftafies ; but the coldand contemptuous reception ofthe great friend- fhip that waited her acceptance, together with her abfolute refufal to go down, almofl: petrified the poor woman ; what not go down to a Lord, not accept .240 ANNA. accept of his offered fervices ? what would this world come to ! " Indeed Anna," continued fhe, '* I never till now could credit what Mr. Dalton '* has often feen in you ; your pride will, as he ** fays, 1 am afraid, come down." Anna, piqued at this fpeech, fat filently to her work ; but on Mrs. Dalton's ftill urging her to go to his Lordfhip, fhe fuddenly threw it down, and told her fhe would follow her. This fhe did from a determination to let Lord Sutton fee (lie was not the dupe of his artifice, and farther to convince him fhe was not likely to become fo. Accord- ingly Mrs. Dalton announced her intention, and in file went. Tranfient as was Lord Sutton's view of her at the affembly, it had left her image deep- ly rooted in his heart ; the beautiful girl of four- teen he had never ceafed regretting the lofs of, and the voice which, reigned predominant in his foul, was continually placing her innocence and budding charms before him in a light too accepta- ble to his libertine principles : but when the fame beauty, innocence, and fimplicity again met his eyes, adorned with every grace and accomplifh- ment — when the fweetnefs and charms of her countenance fl:ruck him, more captivating from their m.aturity, he felt, what he had never yet felt, a fincere pafHon ; which to gratify he was determined at all events, be the ex pence or trou- ble what it would. When the fair victim, he now refolved never to lofe fight of, appeared before him, when he again beheld her, a tremcur fcizcd his guilty frame ; he hefitatcd and faultered, but endea- vourinu; to conceal by a low and refpe.ed the eyes of that deferving woman to the gentleman, in whofe countenance the greateft fatisfaclion appeared, and whofe glances at onr heroine ill accorded with his affir- mative, on being afkeJ whether fhe might con- gratulate him on his marriage. Mrs. Wellers made an offer of going; but Anna, who happened to be quite alone, and not dvjfing to be left with Edwin, intreated her ffay,. undttr pretence of expeaing Peggy Dalton, though fhe ANNA. ^251 /he in reality knew (he was gone to town, and would not return till evening. Curiofity added weig^ht to lier rcquell ; and the lady, to the vifible difpleafure of the gentleman, was rcfeated. He told Anna they were jufl: jeturncd from Bcdfordfhire ; that he had fuffered, wilh great anxiety, any conflraint that prevented him from waiting on her ; alhired her he had fliared the mortifications yZj(f had received from his famil}^ and, that all he could command was at her fer- vice. This very open declaration from a man who ac- knowledged himfelf a bridegroom, daggered Mrs. Wellers' good opinion of our heroine, more efpe- cially as it was received in (Hence. After a paufe, Anna inquired of the health of Lady F^dwin and her daughter. 1 he latter, he told her, was wilh Mrs. Edwin, tlie former gone to Wales. ** Accompanied, I fuppofe,'' anfwered Anna, " by Mrs. Herbert and her family." An affenting bow called up another blufh— Mrs. Wellers had now almofl: given up the caufe of poor Anna ; when fhe was moft agreeably furprifed, after a fe- cond paufe, to hear her addrefs her vifitor in a ve- rv folemn manner. She told him, hov/ever honoured fhe might l>e, by his condefcending to take notice of a perfoa who had been fo contemptuoufly difmiffed'his fa- mily, {he muft beg leave to remind him, that the more deftitute and friendlefs fhe was, the more it behoved her to take care of what only flie could caliber own, which was her good name-^" Far, " Sir," continued fhe, *' be it from me to infinu- ** ate, thefon of my benefactrefs, a married man, ** a bridegroom, woivld wilfully do any thing that *' could lead to a deprivation of that moft inva- " iuable treafure : but you muCi forgive me, Sir,. *' if 252 ANN A. " if I remind you of the utter impropriety of a " young woman of my rank receiving vifits from " a perfon of yours, in the predicament in which ** T now ftand with your family : fhould any offi- ** cious tale-bearer but mention the circumftance " of your being here this morning, would it not ** juftly offend ladies, for whom Ihaveafincere ve- ** neration ? — Pardon me, Sir, (for he was eager- *' ly interrupting her) the conclufion drawn might " no lefs affedl your peace than my character ; *' I therefore mufl; beg to be excufed feeing *' you, if, at any future period, you fhould take *' Layton in your v/ay." This plain dealing was by no means acceptable to Mr. Edwin, who gave Mrs. Wellers a look of difpleafure, and intreated Anna to favour him with five minutes conference. The requeft was refufed as eagerly as afked — He infixed on it — She v^^as immoveable. Great as was his chagrin and difappointment, lie did not chufe to difcover half what he felt ; he, therefore, rifing, told her, he would take fome more favourable opportunity of waiting upon her with his meflage from Mifs Herbert. *' Have you then, Sir, any meflage from her, *' and could you be fo cruel as to detain it fo long — *' Alas ! I feared Hie had forgot me," anfwered Anna. The flarting tear, as fhe finifhed the fentence, thrilled the heart of Edwin, who only made ufe of Mifs Flerbert's name to gain his point of fpeak- ing to her, but a farther thought now prefented itfelf to him, as a ftratagem by which he might get her fully in his power : he therefore, in a cool, refentful manner, wifhed her a good morning; faid he faw (he was engaged, but hoped to be more fortunate in the next vifit he had the honour of paying her. Anna ANNA. 253 Anna would now have wifhed to detain him, but could not prevail on herfelf to make any far- ther attempt. When he e^ot to the door, his fervants had re- tired to a neighbouring alehoufe, which the con- venience of iin adjoining (hed entitled to the name of inn— Edwin, at no time a good maftcr, now, that he law himfclf mortified, and his hopes founded on Anna's fituation fo entirely reprefled, was in no humour to forgive this flolen refrefh- ment ; he fwore he would break ihe rafcal's bones; and feeing an elderly decent perfon on the oppo- fite fide of the way looking earncftly at him, afk- ed if he had feen his fcoundrels ? The perfon, unaccuftomed to fuch a laconic ad- drefs, gruffly anfwered, lie was not ufed to leok after fcoundrels. Irritated at his words, and more at Iiis man- ner, Edwin fiercely threatened to liorfewhip him into better manners. The man, as much a flranger to a drubbing as the fear of one, indantly croffed the way — Edwin, in the pride of riches and profperity (forgetting that a iDreach of the peace might fubjc6l a man of the firfl confcquence to inconvenience) was as good as his word, handfomely making ufe of his whip. The neighbourhood, alarmed at fuch an out- rage to a perfon who unfortunately was no fmall favourite of the poor of the place, came to his afhftance, and our bridegroom was foon in the fafe cuifody of a blackfmith, conftable, and his afliflant a collar maker. The perfon he had infulted, to his infinite fur- prife, proved one of the wealthieft men in that part of that country ; one, who was above a pe- cuniary compenfation, and whofe rage at the af- front 254 A N N A. front 35 well as injury would admit of no pallia- tion. An a6lion at law he knew would be a means of putting the aflailant to an expence ; that, he could not fuppofe would be an object to the young gentleman : he therefore wifely determined to take him before a magiftrate, and profecute him for the affault. Edwin, whofe underflanding was exceeding good, and whofe knowledge of the laws and cudoms of his country had not been, even in his tour, ne- gle6led, faw the difagreeable predicament in which his paffions had involved him, endeavoured to af- fuage the refentment of Mr. Bendy, but in vain ; before a magiilrate he fliould go, and give fecu- rity to anfwer his offence at the next quarter ^q^- fions. Ineligible as this fituation was for a man of fa- Ihlon, there being no remedy, he got fome of the bye-danders to hunt out his fervants, not wifhing to return to Dilton in fo difgraceful a fituation. The men were foon found, and it was lucky for them his wrath had met fuch a fet down ; he bid them follow him with an execration delivered be- tween his teeth, which was productive of a freili offence, as his vindidlive adverfary immediately took witnefs of it, in order to oblige him to pay the penalty for profane fwearing. Never was poor young man of gallantry treated with lefs refpedl or ceremony, during their walk to Mr. JuiVice Strap's ; the iron gate being unfolded by a fer- vant in livery, who wiis, in Scrub's true explana- tion of his fervice, his twin brother; one part, indeed, of his bufinefs exceeded the Herculean labour of Farquhar's original, fjnce to the du- ties of gardener, coachman, footman, and groom, was added that of clerk and prompter to his maf- ter 3 although the fees of OiBce were not part of his ANNA. 255 his earnings ; a hardfhip under which he was obliged to be content for many reafons, the prin- cipal of which was his having been a tradefman in the village at the time his mafter worked as journeyman with a barber in the fame place ; and,, by misfortunes it was neither in his power to fore- fee nor prevent, gradually reducing in his circum- ftances in the fame progreiTion as the fortunate Mr. Strap had rofe, and at this period having a wife and family on tiie fpot, the faid generous juftice had taken him in the above feveral capaci- ties out of charity, for which he allov/ed him eight fliillings per week. By this grey-headed fervant or clerk, then, our party was ufhered into his worfhip's pre- fence. Salutations, rot, indeed, of the mofl: friendly kind pafled between his worfhip and Mr. Bently, who told a plain matter of fa6l tale, producing witnefles to fupport his charge. Mr. Strap had, therefore, nothing to do but afk the delinquent whether he had any, and what bail to offer, as if he had not, a mittimus, which Arnold was or- dered to profiuce, mufl: be filled up. Edwin was much better acquainted with the power of Strap than he was himfelf ; and hav- ing fufficiently cooled fince he offered the offence, begged to fpeak with both gentlemen without other witneffes ; he found great difficulty attend- ing 'his requeff, Mr.Juflice Strap being a very pla- cable perfon, and by no means capable of giving offence where it could be returned, and M •. Bent- ly ftill fmarting under the weight of his daring breach of the laws of fociety. At length, however, the favour was granted, after the precaution on the fide of the magiflrate, of a whifper to Arnold, when having told his family 256 ANNA. family and connections, he made every ac- knowledgement poiTible for a gentleman, and Oifered any fatisfaction for the affront ; this ec- claircijfement had a very different effe6l on his two auditors. The juffice forgot to enforce the ne- cciTity of a mittimus, in the very great refpe(£l: he profeffcd for the perfon who was to have been the object of it ; he protcfled was it him, he fhould ratfier look on the little paffionate fally of fuch a man as a piece of good fortune than other- wife, as it was the means of putting it in his power to confer an obligation, where it was the higheft honour to receive one, and made no doubt but Mr. Bently would be of his opinion. " Not quite fo fafl:, good Mr. Jullice,'* an- fwered that gentleman, " fpeak foryourfelf; you *' and I fee this matter very differently ; you, I ," perceive, are inclined to pardon in Mr. Ed- '* win, actions that would ruin one of his foot- ** men ; as to the good Fortune of a horfe-whip- ** ping from a great man, — why I wifh you had ** it with all my heart ; but this is not the firji ** time you and I have been of contrary opinions ; *' if this ma?i (for I will not call him gentleman) " was of lefs confequence, his offence would be ** lefs likewife; and was it not in his povver to *' injure fociety as much by example as precept, " the particular affront offered me, fhould not ex- *' cite an unforgiving fpirit. " But here comes a great man, and, like you^ '' honour, (bowing to Edwin) he happens to be *' out of humour about a wench, a hare, a card, " the turn of a dice, or fome fuch important " matter : well, he chances to meet fome infigni- *' ficant fellow, whofe head being happily free '' fromanyfuchimfreffions, is quietly following his '* concerns on the King's high road, thinking nor *' meaning injury to any created berng 5 poh, fays " the ANNA. 257 '* the great man, you {hall not tread the fame ** ground, breathe the fame air, look ere6l, or *' wear your beard like me ; but why, and like '* your honour, (bowing again to Rdwin) not be- *' caufe I am better, older, or wifcr, but becaufe *< I am richer than you. " That may be an incontrovertible reafon with *' you, Mr. Juftice ; but 1 am, as I dare f;iy you '* think, an odd, obftinate, old fellow ; and it *' gives me great pleafure juft now to ftand in the ** medium between the overbearance of the rich, ** and the rights of the poor. If my groom, " pleafe your worfhip, being a lufly young fellow, " had laid an old man by the heels, I would have " punifned him legally, or fent him into confine- '* ment as an infane. Mr. Edv/in's front, to be *' fure, has nothing wanting in it ; but, never- " thelefs, I fee there no ftronger plea to excite *' companion than in Dick Grovers." '* Companion," anfwered Edwin fcornfully, " your age — " *^ Ah, generous youth, would thou hadfl be- *' fore remembered it,'' as fcornfully retorted Bently. ** I fee,'' faid Edwin, '* every concefiion but ** adds to yourinfolence." Then addreffing him- felf to the magiftrate, mentioned the difficulty he was under about bail, as it was in the county of Effcx, where he could not recolle6l an individual he knew. The civil Mr. Strap undertook to take care of every thing of that kind, ordering Arnold to ftand up for one, and the conftable for the other. This being adjured, Mr. Bently retired, and Edwin acknowledged the politenefs of the juftice, and in- viting him to Portman fquare, was, by him, mofl obfequioufly attended to the outward gate. He 258 ANN A. He left Layton with the moft mortifying re- flections ; fincerely did he condemn the palHon, by which he had put himfelf in the power of fuch a low-bred fellow, as he called Bently ; and bitterly did he curfe the pride of her who occafioned it, not that he minded the lav/, but the /lory might get wind. What excufe could he make for vifit- ing Anna at all ? Some terms it was necefTary he fhould keep up with his family, and the little re- mains of refpeft he felt for h.is parents, who he knew would be much hurt at the idea of his being carried like a felon before a petty magiflrate, not a little difturbed him. This train of refleClions brought him back to his fervants, both of whom he ordered to be difcharged the inftant he g^ot to town ; they then, bound by no intereft nor awed by fear, told the whole affair in the fervants' hall ; and, before fix, it was a fettled thing among Mr. Edwin's domeftics, that their mailer kept Mifs Manfel. Mr. Dalton and his family, I have faid, were out, the day Edwin was at the village ; they were gone, by invitation, to dine (where my reader will not expe6t to find them) with no lefs a perfon than Lord Sutton ; there the fplendour of the houfe, magnificent fervice of plate, quantity of fervants, and rich liveries, opened a new world never feen or fufpecled before by that family ; they were firfl fuffered to wait, in view of riches that ap- peared endlefs, till their ideas of the owner were accompanied with an awe which increafed with each new thing that appeared ; and as their wait- ing was protra6:ed for no other reafon than to give them imprefTions fuitable to his purpofe, his entrance into the room, with the moft placid fmiles upon his countenance, cordially fhaking hands with Dalton, and fainting his wife and daughter, almoft turned their brain. He ANNA. 259 He Immediately entered into a very free con- verfation with them, adopting their manner of difcourfe, and gave them a dinner, abounding with every dehcacy the feafon afforded ; to which was added, the various fuperfluities, which, at the command of the rich, are taught to counter- ait the law of nature, by bringing the bloom of fpring to deck a winter table, and fpreading it in fummer with the hoary appendages of winter. The moft coftly and delicate viands were handed round in a plenty and profufion, of which the humble vifitants knew not the name ; and the wa- ter, vainly, though with the moft fervile refpe<5l, oifered to people, who were ftrangers to the cuf- tom of ufing it at table — A defert fit for the en- tertainment of a royal guefl: followed. Wonder and admiration kept filent tliofe for whom fo much pains had been taken, and the table would have been cleared without its being touch- ed, but for the great attention and folicitude of the noble Lord, whofe polite recommendation of each different fruit and confe£lionary drew them out of their wonder into a more fubrfantial enjoy- ment of the things before them. When the fervants withdrew, having impref- fed his guefts with equal ideas of his riches, po- litenefs, and generofity, he artfully, by inquiries into their income, and exprelTing his furprife it was fo fmall, threw out hints of many different ways by which it might be enlarged. — Suppofe Dalton's return to the church, as he had connec- tion, and, indeed, he flattered himfelf, intereft with fome of the firft people, in whofe particular line prefentations lay ; in the mean while, till fomething could be done, he muft infifl on their accepting an annuity from him; he could not bear fo amiable a woman as Mrs. Dalton fhould feel an inconvenience it was in his power to prevent, or fo i6o ANN A. fo worthy a man as her hnfb;.nd want any f'riend- fhip he could command. And having niade fiire his way, he now ventured to mention their ward ; he grieved her pride and obAuiacy deprived him of the pleafure ol doing her a twofold fervice, that of ajTifiing herfelf, and that of relieving them from the burden of fupporting her ; afked them whe- ther they could tel! on what occafion (lie had been difmifTed Lady Edwin's family. Mrs. Dalton's anfvv^er was confident with truth ; file lamented Anna's obftinacy in refufing his fa- vours, which he was grieved fhe ftill perfifled in, though fhe had no friend elfe in the world ; as to be fure, though fhe pretended to be ignorant of the caufe by which flie had lofi: the protedion of the Edwin family, it v/as to be fuppofed Mr. Manfel would adopt their fentiments. Dalton, 1 have informed my reader, wanted not cunning or penetration ; the depravity of his own principles made him clearer fighted than his wife, the latter ever confided in the appear- ance of candour, and believed all profeiTions made her witfi the moft credulous fimplicity. Sutton appeared to her more than mortal w'th fuch pov/ers, and fuch inclination to be of fervice to individuals, fo little pride, and fo much huma- nity blended in one chara6ter, was fo different to any thing fhe had fancied of a great man, that not a fufpicion to his difadvantage could poffibly find its way into her mind. Not fo her hufband — the attention of Lord Sut- ton, fo conflant and unfolicited, his extraordinary generofity, the beauty of Anna, and chara8:er of the man, which was too notorious to be a fecret to any whochofe to inquire, were ftrong reafcns for clofe obfervation ; and he had no kind of doubt, but his Lordiliip's views on Anna were more per- fonal than he wiihed to be fecn. He ANNA. 261 He confidered himfelf in no degree anfwerable for the event ; he wifhed heartily to get rid of a young woman on whom he could not lock without feeling a kind oflliame and fell reproach, which by long habit had changed to hatred of the obje£t that caufed fo difas^reeable a fcnfation, without taking from his own family their all, it was now impofTibie to do her juftice. Lord Sutton could not, therefore, more fervently wifh to get pof- felTion of Anna, than Dal ton to be freed from her. Thefe thoughts, however, had too evil a fource to be communicated to his wife ; paffive obedi- ence and non-refirtance he had long taught her, but her morals were yet good : avarice only had found its way into her mind, from his conftantly preaching how neccflary money was to the fub- fiftence of children flie fondly loved. — He had, in- deed, been as particularly careful to guard every fentiment of his own which would leiTcn her con- fidence in his religious practice from her, as from the reft of the world, which, from her difpofition was eafy enough to efFe6l : he, therefore, encou- raged her great encomiums on Lord Sutton ; nor was he himfelf backward in his acknowledgments ; concluding with a hint highly pleafing to his Lord- fhip, that if Anna continued her wicked unthank- fulnefs of heart, he fhould not only difcard her himfelf, but expe have been Mr. Manfei's conducft on fuch an occafi- on, ftrikin^]!; with the vivacity which generally ac- companif^s the atStions of people of warm pafTions, fne told Mr. Dalton, that, " fince he knew fo lit- " tie of her, file would no longer trefpafs on the " charity he upbraided her with, but inftantly rc- '* turn to Mr. Manfel, was it only to clear herlclf *' with refpe6l to the motives that induced Lady *' Edwin to part with her." This declaration by no means fuitcd the Daltons — if Anna left them, v/hat became of all the ad- vantages their fanj^uine hopes had almoft brought to a certainty from Lord Sutton ? Peggy, indeed, tho' a very ordinary girl, had been fo highly flattered in his compliment to her, that {he gave it as her po- fitive opinion his friendship for them was fixed : in- deed, why fhould it not ? What was there in Anna fo particularly interefting which they could not plead for themfelves with equal right ? Mrs. Dalton join- ed her in faying, flie thought Lord Sutton too good a man to think Avorfe of them for the fault of An« na ; but added, as (lie was an orphan, and friend- lefs, that was a tic which they had not. Dalton delivered not his fentiments, but took a private re- folution to inform his Lordfhip of what happened the next day ; and in the mean time deffred his wife to follow Anna up flairs, and endeavour to" fof- ten what had pafTed; inwardly refolving, if it was not his defire fne fhould be detained, to repeat the affront, that fhe might indeed fetofF in anger, and rid'him for ever of a perpetual fource of difgufl. Mrs. Dalton found her in a fituation that difarm- ed every idea of anger her hufband's intelligence excited, for it was him who was told, and commu- nicated to her the events of the day. Unlocking her trunk in order to pack up her things, the firft thing that prefented itfelf to Anna was a letter wrote by her departed friend ; the tender and generous N 3 fentiments 270 ANN A. fentimcnts It exprefTcd, the pralfe beftowed, and the maternal love it contained, now wrung her heart. ** Oh, my dear and only friend !'* cried fhe in % tranfport of grief, " Why, why are *' you for ever loft to me ? How little does it now " avail to me to have cheriflied your inftrudlions, " to have made your perfe6l life the model of my *' a(f^ions. In the wide world have I not a lingle *' friend to do me common juftice? Could you " have thought your Anna vf ould have lived to be " charged with infamy ?" In thofe exclamations on her knees, . the open letter in her hand, and her face bathed in tears, fhe was found by Mrs. Dai- ton, whofe good-nature immediately co-operating with her hufband's defire, induced her to comfort and footh her, whom ten minutes before, fhe had joined in reviling as the worft of criminals. Anna was foon appeafed, but not happy : to find herfelf the talk of the place as a woman who received im- prudent vifits, cut her to the foul j and having in- quired into the particulars of the affair, fhe found the reflections on herfelf proceeded entirely from what the fervants had in their cups faid at the inn, who made no fcruple of attributing her difcharge from the family to a criminal aftair with their maf- ter; and that now the wedding was over, they ilippofed fhe was to be taken into keeping. A fcandal fo void of the leaft foundation was the more provoking, as there was fome parts of it out of her power at prefent to confute. Uncertain what ftep to take, and deprefTed beyond meafure in her fpirits, fhe could only lament her unhappy lot, and depend on the juftice of providence to clear her fame ; making,, however,' a ftrong refolution never to fee Mr. Edwin again on any pretence whatever — no, not from Mifs Herbert and to take the firft opportunity of leaving Mr. Dalton's. Her ANNA* 271 Her zeal for returning to Mr. Manfel now abated ; could fhe think of burdening that good man with her trouble ? Could (he wifli to involve him in dif- grace and diftrefs ? What to her was now the opini- on of the Herberts ? If, as the fervants alledged, fhe was difcarded on account of Edwin, Charles would not be the laft to hear a tale fo injurious to her honour; his filler had certainly given her up — that indeed ceafed to be matter of wonder when it was confidered flie too muft have credited a ftory fo calculated to dellroy every bias of an uncorrupted mind. Confclous that he had actually paid her his warm adJrefles at the very period he was entering into a matrimonial contraifl with Mifs Turbville, flae now refledled bitterly on her own want of difcern- nient ; Tince from that circumftance it was evident, however, difguifeJ under the appearance of refpe6l and delicacy, his views had the abandoned end fo o- penly declared in his billet. She regretted not ac- quainting Lady Edwin, at the time, of all that had pafl j but thofe regrets now came too late her good name that invaluable jewel of a wonKin, was hurt — innocence alone could not clear her chara6ler, and (he had nothing elfe to oppofe againft the ca- lumny fo recently excited by the folly and impru- dence of Mr. Edwin : fad as thofe refiefllons wercj they were continually uppermoft in her thoughts. To return to Mr. Manfel flie could not bear to (lay at Dalton's was worfe : unknowing and un- known, wiiat hope could flie entertain of making more foi tunate conne6lions tlian thofe which had coft her fo dear ? Yet (he was refolved to try ; and for this purpofe ferioufly began to caft about in her mind for fome clue to guide her through the laby- rinth "before Ijer. N 4 Mrs: 272 ANN A. Mrs. Wellers was the only perfon with whom fhe held common converfation out of Dalton's fa- mily Tince {he had been at Layton ; to her fhe re- folved to apply, and, if necefTary to open her whole mind. In this difpofition (he walked to the Hill t a next morning j but not having the good fortune o. meeting her at home, Ihe left word fhe would c Jl the next day. CHAP. N N A/ 27.3 CHAP. XLIII. Containing Things of great Importance. X^ALTON went, as he propofed, to Portland Place; If he wanted confirmation of his fufpicions before, the change of countenance in Lord Sutton would have been fufHcient, rage, jealoufy, and forrow were, alternately, vifible in a face, never tolerable, now abfolutely hideous. A volley of imprecations flartled Dalton, and the furious Lord hardly could reftrain himfeif from manually rewarding his intelligence ; the afFriglited Parfon wiflied himfelf out of the houfe, and lort, in fears tor his perfonal fafety, all hopes of future ad- vantages ; however, a little thought on one fide, and patience on the other, explained the fentiments of both. Lord Sutton made an apology for his warmth, which was very readily accepted by Dal- ton ; they proceeded, therefore, to bufmefs with equal eagerncfs, and it was agreed, the noble Lord, iliould call, by accident, next morning, at the re- verend teacher's houfe, to try, aided by the advice of her friends, to prevail on Anna to move out of the way of fedu6i:ion, or if it was too late for that, to preferve her from the farther ill confequences of fuch an attrocious crime. N5 Lori^ 274 ANN A. Lord Sutton's humanity carried him ftill farther ; Mrs. Edwin was a charming woman, and deferving a better fare ; he felt for her, — to refcue her from the mifery of difcovering the infidelity of her huf- hmd, and, at the fame time, to remove from him the temptation of continuing to injure fo fine a crea- ture, was, as he aiTured Dalton, what he had moft at heart ; his praifes were echoed with all that fer- vility opulent vice^ever receives from indigent fin- ners ; and thofe fentiments which owed their origin to the moft abandoned motives, attributed to the divine emanation of Chriftian benevolence and good will to the perfon he wiflied to deftroy. When Dalton had taken his leave, and Lord Sut- ton returned to his h'brary, freed from the imperti- nence of obfervation, diftra6ling as the idea was, it M'as but too probable that the fweet prize he had fo long meditated the obtaining, was now for ever torn fro!n him : the pangs of jealoufy this thought gave, convinced him of what he did not like to believe 5 that h's heart was now really attached; and that, maugre all that vanity co^uld urge, it was without the leaft hope of return. So much he a- dored Anna, he now regretted he had not offered her marriage ; but fhe had been fo long at Lady Edwin's houfe, after her fon arrived, before he had feen her, it would, perhaps, have been too late, tiien, to have obtained her unfullied himd ; and 'however abandoned has been the life of a libertine, let his a6lions have been branded with every hreach of the laws of honour, gratitude, or hofpitality, let him have called the hoK hofb of heaven to wit- nefs his perjuries, let beauty, innocence, and vir- tue have been his prey, be it renitmbercd, fuch a ch"ra6l^r, though worn out with every vice to v/hicb human ruture is liable in its moft depraved ftiue, txpecis he is yet eniided to the difintcreOed affections. ANNA. 275 affe£llons, the pure and unblemiftied heart of what- ever happy file happens to ftrike his worn-out tafte. As the fond wifh we are apt in our fangulne ex- pectations to form leaves us, we are then, while hope and fancy plays around the imagination, fond of feizing on the next good thing to look forward to. Thus, Anna, courted by Edwin, one of the handfomeft young men of the age, if it was poHi- ble fhe had yet retained her virtue, would not, furely, yield to him ; her old prejudices yet alive, perhaps, fufpefling, what was truth, that he had helped to deprive her of her friends in Grofvenor- fquare, as v/ell as Somerfelfhire. This faid expiring gallantry ; but to be a lady, to make her miftrefs of him and his fate, was it in nature for her to refufe that? Yet to beftow himfclf and fortune on an orphan, a girl nobody knew, was all his intrigues to end in fo inglorious a union"; but then the charming image of Anna decked in jewels, ornamented by drefs and equi- page, rendering him the envy of all the young fellows of the age, arofe in his idea, and banifhed from thence every mortifying retrofpe6l of what had been, in the enchanting hope of what might yet be ; and he determined, if he found her un- contaminated, pure, and worthy of fo capital a piece of felicity, to ofFer her his hand. Madame Frajan was announced in that indant; but a day before, this vifit from the partner in [ii« iniquity would have been the moft acceptable thing that could have happened, at prefent it was rather vial-a-propos. Hov/ever flie was too deep in his fecrets to be affronted, flie was therefore admitted — Her lengthened face and meaninsc eyes convinced him there was fomething to be told-,' but curiofity . had 276 ANNA. had now little room in a heart totally abforbed in the delightful ideas of pofTefling the moft lovely of women. Frajan was too full of her errand to obferve this change ; and having prefaced her ftory by defiring now to remind him of what fhe had frequently af- ferted, that tho' the Englifh women poileffed not that noble franknefs which rendered the gallantry of French ladies more confpicuous, they w'ere none of them averfe to intrigue : — The demure little Anna, for inftance, though fhe wanted penetration and tafte to fufFer his Lordfhip to initiate her in- to the foft paffion, had not been fo cruel to Mr, Edwin, by v/hom fhe was now adually kept. This intelligence delivered partly with reproach and partly with fpight, found not fuch credit v^ith Lord Sutton as fome others of that lady's invention, with his aid, had done from the family fhe ferved. He knev/ the laft part to be falfe, as well asmany other things laid to the charge of Anna ; but the cafe was now altered, the injuries done to the cha- ra6ler of a deferted orphan might not, perhaps, become neceffary to clear Lady Sutton from ; as the blemifhes, which would ruin the one, and de- prive her of the means of procuring an honert: fubfiftence would be loft in the affluence and digni- ty of the other. But yet there were fome few obligations our heroine owed to the invention of him and bis aflbciare, Madame Frajan, which it would be, by no means convenient Anna fhould be acquainted with, at leaft while it was out of her pov/er to acknowledge them as they deferved.— Bui for this confideration, the league betwixt thofe two worthy friends would have been inftantly dif- folved, as it had never yet happened that he had fet the kaft regard on. any one perfon longer than he could in forne ihape or other make them {uhi'tr- vient ANNA. ^)j ■vient to his intereft, or dropped with the lead re- lu6tance any one who had done him the laft good office in their power. His Lordlhip had now no thought of his fair emiiliiry, but how to caft on her the odium of every injury done Anna by their joint means. Cooly, therefore, he aflured her, (he had been mifinformed, that he was better acquainted with Anna's fituation and fentiments, and believed the firfl: was reputable, the latter untainted. — The air that accompanied this declaration ftruck poor Fra- jan dumb ; Lord Sutton turned the friend of Anna, then muft he be inevitably her enemy, fince if ad- mitted to her converfation, difcoveries mud be made vi\\\c\\fie could not ftand the brunt of. How- ever, one confolation remained, Ihe had likewife difcoveries in her power, which, on occafion, fhe was determined to make ufe of. Female fpite required this piece of juftice, on a man who had, from the beginning, deceived even her ; and his fuffcring her to depart without the accurtomeJ douceur, which fhe always reckoned on as her undoubted perquifite, contributed not a little to the vindidive fpirit in which flie left him. Lord Sutton, full of his intended proje£V, and the happinefs he expeded to rcfult from his deep- laid fcheme, paid little regard to the fuddenefs of her exit ; one difficulty now flruck him which was, how to get rid of his two fultanas ; the ore in the houfe with him was a poor, fpiritlef?, meek creature, whofe whole pleafure centered in the children fhe had by a tender and worthy de- ceafed hufband ; — his pleafures or purfuits were equally uninterrupted by her: indeed, in his opi- nion, fhe was but one degree removed from idiot- ifm ; he promlfcd himfelf to part with her with- out the leaf]: trouble or expence : at prefent, the honefty of her difpofition, and the occonomy which (though 278 ANNA. (though reclLiced from very promifing expecta- tions) had always been her pra6tice, made her a very valuable manager in h;s family. Profufion and meannefs are very nearly allied ; nothing that could feed his pride or vanity, nothing that could contribute to the gratification of his appetite of * any fort was thought much of by him ; — but though from a fcene of impofition, wafle, and expence, Mrsi Villers had edablifhed order and regularity, and confcquently his houfe-keeping bills was one half reduced, her accounts were fure to meet a thoufand faults, nor even fettled without bein^ reminded of the value of money, of the poverty from which he had relieved her, and the difirefs flie mufl be again expofed to if deprived of his prote,ction. The fettled unchangeable countenance with which thofe harangues were received, contributed not a little to confirm his notions of her ftupidity :; he had but, therefore, to turn her out when it was convenient ; but the woman he kept at Bath, who was the fame on his firfl return from India ; he had in the parade of his wealth and oriental con- fequence eflabliPaed a firfl-rate courtezan, who dared do any thing fhe took ii;to her head, and who, by threats and cunning, had contrived to be fupported in fplendour, by a man who entertained not the lead inclination for her, and indeed who never had — How fnould he do with her ? One certain plague which attends old rakes and coquettes. Is the mortification furc to be inflided at every hint of decreafe of their powers ; it was a plague particularly tormenting to Sutton ; it was •his very fore place ; Charlotte Madan knew every weak point about him, and the art of turning her knowledge to an advant?.p^e, w^as what (he was by no means deficient in. Our hero flood fo much in awe of this charming appendage to his (tate, that though anna; 279 tViough the hoiife and eftablifhment at Bath were elegant and expenfive ; and though the waters of that delightful place were allowed to be the moft falutary for conftitutions broken by long rcftdence in a hot climate ; it was the place he was leaft feen at. For this piece of felf denial he had two ex- cufes, bufinefs in winter, and indifpofition in fum- mer ; and provided his charmer had been of the party, he would have fairly compounded with any one, to take the v/iiole at a very cheap rate off his hands. His heart recoiled the moment Charlotte came acrofs his memory ; had he been going to be united to a modern woman of fafhion, a large jointure and double pin money would have filenced the fcruples of a fafhionable belle, who, contented to lead on her own fet, would not perhaps have been offended at her hufl3and's kept Midrefs's claiming the fame advantage in her's. But the purity of the mind of Anna, and the old-fafhioned notions fhe inherited from Mrs. Man- fcl, would, he well knew, fhrink from fuch an idea ; to get rid of Charlotte, therefore, was in- difpenfably neceflary ; but how, was another thing too difficult to be diredly determined on. Banldi- ing, therefore, fuch an unpleafant fubjccl, again lie indulged himfelf in contemplating the charms of his future bride, in figuring to himfelf the fe- renity of his life with fuch a companion, and in furnifliing his mind with argfumentb to combat his mifgiving, on account of Edwin. C HA P. aSo ANN A. CHAP. XLIV, T^he Dif appointment , N EXT morning carried him to Layton. Dal- ton and his family were drelTtid, in expe6tation of the honor he did them ; but Anna was not of the parly ; a circumflance that gave him no dif- quiet, as he was glad of the opportunity to in- quire if any thing farther, had tranfpired, relating to the fuppofed connection with Edwin. He was overjoyed to hear from Mrs. Dalton, fhe was convinced, as far as related to Anna, it was totally void of foundation ; he only wanted this to induce him to open his intention, which he did, with all the parade and oflentation his heart abounded in, at the fame time making a full difplay of the extreme generofity of his mo- tives, in waving every confideration of birth and fortune, to make himfelf the legal prote6lor of a deftitute young creature, who muft elfe fall a prey- to the wicked intrigues of the libertine age. — The furprife of the Daltons is not to be defcrib- ed at this declaration, nor their joy, at the con- nection they had an opportunity of forming by fo elicfible a match for their ward, who would now be fure amply to rep^iy all the kindnefs fhe was fuppofed ANNA. 281- ^uppofed to receive from tlieir hands : — In the ^ullnefs of their hearts they compHmented the no- ble lord, and they congratulated each other ; his goodnefs they extolled to the fkies ; while the af- piration of their own hopes feemed to follow his exultation. When full two hours had been employed, to the mutual fatisfacSton of the vifitor and vifited, his Lordfhip exprefled his wifh to be admitted to the fight of his intended bride : (he had gone out before breakfad, and was not returned ; her ac- quaintance was fo fmall in the village, it was eafy to trace it ; the maid was therefore difpatched to Mrs. Wellers', with Mrs. Dalton's requeft fhe would immediately come home. The girl return- ed with anfwer, that Mifs Manfel breakfafted with Mrs. Wellers, who had taken her with her to town in the carriage, but that they were ex- pected back to dinner : — Sutton was difappointed and angry : who the d — 1 is this Wellers, faid he, and why do you fufFer her to go out alone ? — Dalton fatisfied him as to the propriety of her companion, and both promifed, till they had the honour of delivering her into his own hands, (he never more fhould go out of their fight . — This promife hardly pacified him : — he was drefled, both himfelf and equipage, to attraft all eyes ; armed at all points, he had flattered himfelf he was irrefiflible ; it was, therefore, with extreme re- gret he gave up the expectation of feeing her that day ; yet to wait her return, and again fend for her, would be opening his addrefs, which, notwithftan- mg his great vanity, he had fome ferious fear about ■ — in rather an aukward way, he was therefore obliged to poftpone this weighty affair ; and, charging Dalton with his compliments &c. he told him^ he Ihould write to her as foon as he got to 282 ANN A. to town. — the carriage being then ordered to draw to the door, with half the town round it in a full gaze, afFefling an air of humility and good hu- mour, after bowing to the doffed hats of the mob, he was drawn off. During the time his carriage was in waiting, the young diililler I have before mentioned pafled. the houfe ; and meeting a neighbour, who had the honour of mixing medicines for the infirm in that and the adjacent villages, the difliiller ready to burft with the importance of his own ideas, obferved the extreme elegance of the vis-a-vis, and, with a fneer, fuppofed Mifs would be for cutting as great a figure as the Bird of Paradife. The doc- tor was a man of good underftanding, and a tole- rable lliare of profeffional knowledge ; but havings Thirty in his domeftic circle, feme embarraflmcnt, which called on the utmo/l exertions of induftry to counteraQ:, he had very little knowledge of the world, with which Mr. Bibbins afTured him he- was perfe ; ht entreated him to go home with him to his houfe, which was withiti fight — the offer was ac-' cepted 286 A N N A. cepted with a polite freedom, and a few moments ferved to fettle a very good under/landing between the Do£tor and his new acquaintance, who ac- knowledged that it was of the utmofl importance to him to know every particular concerning Anna Manfel. A firm promife in return was given by- Collet, to make it his bufmefs to Inform him of all he could learn ; gratifying at once, by their league, his two favourite, though contradi£lory, purfuits, curiofity and good-nature ; on which er- .land he immediately fallied out. CHAP. N N A. 287 CHAP. XLV. The Morning Vifit. w. ITH Dalton, Collet had no acquaintance ; that good man had a mortal averfion to phyfical bills, nor would ever fufFer one to be incurred in his family : but he had heard of Bently's affair, and Bibbins' account of Anna was a confirmation that the report then fpread was but too true; however, he was refolved to be fomething better informed, if poffible, and as he had the honour of attending the family of Mr. Juftice Strap, he took occafion to call with a How d'ye ? on his lady. There he met, on a fimilar vifit to the Mifs Straps, Mifs Bibbins, the young lady I have be- fore introduced as a perfon perfectly acquainted with the bad chara6ler of our heroine; — Do6lor Collet was nobody ; he, therefore, was no inter- ruption to that young lady's volubility, who con- tinued her account of a drefs which feemed to have made no fmall diflurbance in her ideas. *' The flounce, if you will believe me, ma'am, w^as near half a yard deep, of the fineft corded muflin, put on as thick as it was pofTible — the train, though looped up, I am fure was of a monftrous length ; why, dear me, mamma fays it is not a little pays for thofe things ; then " ma'am. 283 A N N A, *' ma'am, her linen is fo fine — and it is a fliame " to fee the lace fhe wears — befides fhe certainly <« paints." — " That is very evident," anfwered <« the elded Mifs Strap—" I am aftonifhed Mrs. ** Wellers can take up with fuch trumpery." — •« Oh, as to that, my dear," anfwered Mrs. ** Strap, *' it is eafy accounted for ; Mrs. Wel- *' lers, you know, takes on her to lead us all — - ** and perhaps fhe may hope to introduce this " minx by way of fliewing her power; fome <' folks who are very well themfelves, may fancy " what they pleafe, but there are folks whofe *' chara£lers are of confequence. '« Certainly, ma'am," faid Mifs Bibbins, ** that *< is what my mamma fays; and befides, as fhe *' fays, the thing is pad doubt ; for how could *' fuch a girl as that wear about in her common ** drefs, things that are fo expenfive and out of *' chara£ler for her ; befides, her afFeg ■t^forc they had an idea of the Englifli alphabet. : , /Without either car'or voice Mrs. Wellers deter- . p^ipqd her :daug]>ters i}>ould he proficients in mufic : and with capacities^ which rendered it difficult for , liieni^ to receive an idea of the four quarters of the "globe, they were expecSVed to excel in geographical O 3 knowledge. S9'3 A/i Nl>' N V. A. ?• km^kdge-i Wojfcy indfeed, was out of her fyf- tcm : qmbrokiery, quadrille balkets, cutting of pa- ftr, and other trifles of a trifling age, indeed, were the only employments it was neceflary fliould err- gage their attention, but not even of them did fhe make any point. , Her mother-in-law faw wiih the eyes of indul- gence the excefs to which this paflion of her daugh- fercarried her; fhe was moft refpetSt fully attended io on every other fubje£t, but her remonflrances were (o ill-received en this, fhe prudently declined repeating them ; and rather fought to drefs in an a- niiable light, what to hcrfelf appeared a weaknefs i'm her daughter. ii; The accomplifhments and abilities of Anna ftruck in a particular manner, as capable of being of more real advantage to her grand children, than the la- boured inftru(Stions of the different mafters who at- tended them ; at lead they would be more likely to catch the manners of a gentlewoman from her (whofe native grace and policenefs fpoke her fit toa- •dorn any rank) than the hired foreign fervants about them. There was but one difficuhy that (lie fore- faw would be a hard one to furmount ; which was, her kiK)wing lb little of the French language it was therefore that fhe did not explain her intentions in taking her to town. When they arrived in Charter -houfefquare, Mrs. Wellers immediately afcended to the third floor, which was entirely devoted to the young ladies: the mafters and attendants, mother and daughters, were all engaged. In one room the mufic maft^-r was 8;iving his inflruciions ; in another the globes were difplayed ; in the third a pretty little girl was pradlifmg ^pas feul; and in a large detached clofet, another (overlooked by mamma) was attempting a landfcape, attended by a l}.i^%nQ}).gm!&!iX^d^ and,„iwo maids of the fame nation. ).>,,] ^ .^ ;.. '- :f |f•^ .' Grand- A K K' AV 29+ Grandmamma's arrival Immediately made a little holiday — the children hung round her, while their mamma was like wife cxprefTing the pleafure this vifTtgave her. The two ladies foon retired, leav- ing Anna much amufedand furprized at a fight fo new ; flie fat down to the harpfichord with that avidity and pleafure a lover of mufic, who has long been deprived of an inftrument, only can conceive. Her execution and taftc, I have before faid, was beyond iicr in/lrLi6iions or opportunities. The mafter, who was not yet gone, paid her many compliments on her performance ; and flie was fo delighted with the opportunity of refuming her favourite amufemcnt, that the ladies who v/ere an hour-abfent, when they returned found her lofl in her own harmony. The intermediate time had been fpent by the benevolent Mrs. Wellers in introducing to her fon and daughter in the moft favourable and am.iab'.e hght the orphan fhe had promifed to befriend. Mr. Wellcrs was a plain, hcneft, moral man, Avhofe feelings were regulated by his ideas of juf- tice ; the integrity of his dealings were univcrfally known, but he was not more regular in his books and accounts than in his inclinations : — He behaved with friendOiip and afte6tion to his wife, and gave his v/hole time and attention to the intereft of his farriily : — increafmg his fortune for their advantage, he reckoned all the fondnefs incumbent on a fa- then .- " What warmtli there was about him was more particularly towards his parents — whofegenerofily in parting with tlieir all for his eftablifhment, was b^ hiin called confidence in his credit; and that is a 'fort of' obligation men of bufnefs n :ver forget. 'Otie regular mode of- life carried him thro' tie ^^'^ear. At one hour you was fttre to find him at bieakfaA, at the Bai.k, at Change, and at dinner. The i^S -AN N A. The evening he gave to his wife, and Sunday to his parents. But it was equally out of the nature of things to work him up into an a6t of benevo- lence, or prevail on him to be guilty of one of op- preflion. His fenfibility neither hurt his own peace, orafFe