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GOSSIP'S STdRY, 
 
 AND A 
 
 LEGENDARY TALE. 
 
 BY THE AUTHOR OF 
 
 'ADVANTAGES OF EDUCATION. 
 
 Nor Peace nor Er.fe the He^rr cm know, 
 
 hicli, like the Nceillc true, 
 . .,rn< at the touch of Joy and M'oe, 
 " Yet, turning, tremi)les to.)." 
 
 CKEVILLe's ode to ISDirrERENCC. 
 
 with calin feverity unnafiionM age 
 " Detects the fpecit>u.> fallacies of youth, 
 Rcvif ws the motives which no more engage, 
 *' Aiul weighs each adi'vi In the fcale of truth." 
 
 Mxs. carter's poems. 
 
 THE THIRD EDITION. 
 
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 \J^^^ --ZI — — 
 
 DUBLIN: 
 
 printer) tp UlxWizm jpcrter, (69) (5rafton*Str?ct^ 
 1 
 
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 THE following Pages intended, under the 
 difguife of an artlefs Hiftory, to illuftrate the 
 Advantages of Consistency, Fortitude, and 
 the Domestic Virtues ; and to expofe to ri- 
 dicule, Caprice, affected Sensibility, and 
 an idle censorious Humour j are moil re- 
 fpeflfully infcribed to 
 
 THE HON. MRS. COCKAYNE ; 
 
 by one who has been long honoured by her 
 friendfliip, who fincerely admires the maternal 
 and conjugal duties exemplified in her condu(^i 
 and who wiflies, by her example, to recommend 
 them to others. 
 
Extract from the Monthly Review, 
 Jantiary, 1797. 
 
 *' IVe reconnncnd this Jiory as uniting in a 
 great degree cf intercjl the rarer qualities of good 
 fenfe and an accurate knowledge of mankind. 
 The grammatical errors and vulgarifms which 
 difgrace 7na}ty even of our ?noJl celebrated novels^ 
 have here no place, and fever al of the Jlwrter 
 poetical pieces interfperfed throitgh the ivork, 
 have very confiderahle merit. Ajnufement is com- 
 hined, zvith utily, and foiion is itilijled in the 
 caife of virtue and pra^'iccl phiicfophy." 
 
^ ^^ 
 
 GOSSIP'S STORY, 
 
 AND A 
 
 LEGENDARY TALE. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 The comforts of Retirevtent Rural Elegance 
 
 defined by example. 
 
 XXS I profefs myfelf an egotiO;, it will not be 
 uncharacleriflick to begin with ftating the qua- 
 lifications I pofil'fs, to execute with propriety 
 the tafk I have undertaken. 
 
 I have been for feveral years the inhabitant of 
 a fmall market-town called Danbury, in the north 
 of England, /^s my annuity is regularly paid, 
 and my family confills only of myfelf, a female 
 fervanr, and an old tabby-cat, I have but little 
 domeftic care to engage my attention and anx- 
 iety. Now as I am of a very active temper, my 
 mind naturally fleps abroad, and occupies itfelf 
 in the conce'-ns of my neighbours. Befides the 
 peculiar advantages of my lituation, I enjoy fome 
 C inherent 
 
2 A gossip's story. 
 
 Inherent qualities, which I flatter myfelf render 
 me a very excellent goffip. I have a retentive 
 memory, a quick imagination, ftrong curiofity, 
 and keen perception. Thefe faculties enable 
 nie not only to retain what 1 hear, but to con- 
 necL the day dreams of my own mind j to draw 
 concluuons from fmall premifes ; in fliort, to 
 tell what other people think, as well as what 
 they do. Other circumftances alfo confpire to 
 render my pretenfions to the above characfler iu- 
 dirjmtsble. 
 
 As Dnnbury poflefTes the advantages of an 
 healthy fituation, dry foil, and pleafant environs, 
 it has long been dinin;iul{hed for th.e genteel 
 connections which it afFords. Many hngls la- 
 dies, like myfelf, have chofsn it for their refi- 
 dence, and we have eftabliflied a very agreeable 
 fociety, which meets three times a week, to 
 communicate the obfervations which the levity 
 of youth, the vanity of ollentaticmj or the mean- 
 nefs of avarice have fuggcfted. Our remarks 
 have all the acumen which experience and pe- 
 netration can fupply, and as we exhibit models 
 of prudence in our own condu(fl, it is a rule 
 with us to Ihew no mercy to others. 
 
 I will not attempt to conceal the cenfures 
 U'hich the obje£ls of our animadverfion, in re- 
 turn, affect to throw upon us. I am not igno- 
 rant that v/e are termed the fcandalous club, and 
 that fpleen, malevolence, and difappoiniment' 
 are faid to hz the idoli, on whofe altars we fa- 
 crifice every reputation which comes within our 
 reach. Perfedion belongs to no human iolli- 
 tution, and I will own that foaietimes we may be 
 wrong. The reader mud know that I am un- 
 commonly good humoured and tender hearted ; 
 
 whether 
 
A GOSSIP 3 STORY. 3 
 
 whether therefore my diHent from my l:idy af- 
 fociates proceeds altogether from a redundance 
 of " the milk of human kindnefs" in my dif- 
 pofition, or from too great feverlty in theirs, 
 time muft determine. 
 
 Amongfl the agreeable appendages to Dan- 
 bury, its vicinity to Stannadine mufl be enu- 
 merated. This elegant manfion was built by 
 a refpeftable gentleman, whofe family falling 
 into decay, it has fince become the cafual re- 
 fidence of feveral genteel people ; and has thus 
 been inftrumental in promoting our amufements, 
 not only by its plealing embellifliments and de- 
 lightful walks, but by the quick fucceflion of its 
 inhabitant?, who fupply a never-failing fource of 
 obfervation and .anecdote. I am not aointr to 
 detail the commodious apartments in the houfe 
 or to defcribe the grounds, beautiful as they are 
 by nature, and highly cultivated by art. A mere 
 novice in landfcape defignation, I confine myfclf 
 to the delineation of the lights and (had^^s of 
 human character; and as I conceive the hidory 
 of the Dudley family may afford inftrudion as 
 well as amufement ro the younger part of the 
 female world, I fliall dedicate my prefent hif- 
 tory to their concerns, hinting at the fame time, 
 that it is not abfolutely impofhble, but that I m.iy 
 at fome future period again treat the public 
 with fome other delicacy, drawn from the ample 
 ftores I po fiefs. 
 
 No fooner was the arrival of Mr, Dudley and 
 his daughter at Stannadine announced, than our 
 fociety immediately met, to determine on the 
 propriety of vifiting the ftrangers. This is a 
 prelimmary etiquette we have refolved never to 
 omit in future, fince by a negleft of circumfpe:- 
 ^ -2 tion, 
 
4 A GOSSIP'S STORY. 
 
 tion, we had been betrayed into an intimncy 
 with the lad inhabitants of the manfion, whom 
 ve unfortunately difcovered had amafled a 
 fortune by keeping a flop-|})op in Wapping. 
 1 he univcrfal contempt with which we treated 
 them when we knew their mean ongin, had 
 indeed been the caufe of driving them from the 
 neighbourhood j but as we were all gentlewo- 
 mfn born, we could not eafily overcome the fe- 
 cret mortification we had experienced. 
 
 We icfolved therefore upon the prefent oc- 
 caHon to be very circumfpeil, and exi;mined in 
 full council all the intelligence which our re- 
 fpeflive Mollies and Betties had been able to 
 procure from Mr. Dudley's fervants, who had 
 arrived about a fortnight before to prepare for 
 l);s reception. Little, I am forry to fiy, could 
 be difcovered. He w?.s juil con>e from the 
 Wert-lndies., and had hired raofl of his houfe- 
 hold in London, it was however guefied that he 
 v/as rich, and his eftablifliment was upcn an ex- 
 penfive plan. 
 
 It was at Iciigth determined that we fliould de- 
 pute two ladies of our body, in the character 
 cf infpctlors, to inform us whf^ther the Dudlevs 
 were iifiiubL' beings or not. Mrs Medium the 
 Vicar's lady, and Mifs Cardamum the daughter 
 of an eminent medical gentleman, were felffl- 
 ed for the important truft. Their abilities were 
 indifputable ; as Mrs. Medium had been for | 
 ir>any years an humble friend to a lady Cif qua- I 
 lity, and Mifs Cardamum conftantly acconip-\- 
 nied her papa every funimer to Scarborough, it 
 was irr.pollible they couid be impofed upon in 
 the gr.md articles of falliionable appearance a:id 
 intrinfic gentility. 
 
 It 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 5 
 
 It being neceffary, not only to form a right 
 notion of the Dudleys, but alfo to imprefs them 
 with an high idea of us, we determined, though 
 the walk was but half a mile, and tlie morning 
 inviting, that Mr. Cardamum's carriage fhouKl 
 be got ready for the occafion, and the foot-boy 
 had orders to tie on his viining queue, brufti his 
 livery, and trim up old Bolus the favourite chair- 
 horfe. The reins alfo were blacked for the oc- 
 cafion, and all the ornaments of the buggy (I 
 mean the capriole,) furbiflied to the brightnefs 
 of filver. Mifs Cardamum, drefied in an ele- 
 gant new riding habit, was driver ; and Mrs. 
 Medium, in honour of the embafly, was attired 
 in the rich brocade Lady Seraphina gave her oa 
 her nuptials, and to take off from the antiquity 
 of its appearance, flie put on a modern hat with 
 three upright feathers. They ftcpped at my 
 door, and kindly promifed to give me the firlt 
 intelligence of their return. The fair Belle gave 
 the lafh a fmart twirl, and Bolus fet off on a 
 good round trot. Little Joe on Mr. Carda- 
 mum's poney, with his ftick held perpendicular, 
 (as was the fafhion amongft the lacquies at Scar- 
 borough laft feafon,) followed the carriage as 
 fall as poflible. 
 
 The refult of the vint was communicated in 
 the afternoon, but unhappily the ladies did noc 
 agree in their verdicb. Mifs C.irdamum would 
 not affent to Mrs. Medium's determination, thst 
 Mifs Dudley was h^ndfome and well dreiTed ^ 
 and the fair fpinlter's opinion concerning the 
 elegance of the furniture, and the excellence of 
 the cakes and chocolate, was as warmly disput- 
 ed by the experienced matro".. Ihi points in 
 which they agreed did not tend to infpire us 
 
 wi.h 
 
6 A GOSSIP S STORV 
 
 yv'iih any very high idea of the ftrangcrs. They 
 dttcrmined Mifs Dudley to be a /hy fearful thvg ; 
 Mr. Dudley, on the contrary, had a mofi: inti- 
 iHiidating look,- which feemed to criticire every 
 word, and to remark every allien. A little in- 
 cident was cited 'to confirm this obfervation. 
 Over the chimney was the portrait of a lady, 
 •"■vhich, when Mrs. Medium adiinlred, and ob- 
 I'-rved liow much it put her in niind of one in 
 L'Viy Seraphina's faloon, Mifs Dudley faid with 
 a hgh i.T a low voice, as if to prevent further in- 
 quiry, that it was intended for her mother, 
 bhe then ftole a timid confufed glance -at her 
 father, who withdrew to the window evidently 
 diicompoied. The ccnclufion which my friends 
 drew from lliis wz?, that he had been a fevere 
 liuTouid, and that his draighter wOu'd, if Ih.e 
 datll:, have reproached him for his urikindnefs. 
 1 vei.tured to hint that the fat^ admitted a con- 
 trary inference, but I was preiTed fo ftrongly 
 with arguments drawn from Mr. Dudley's Hern 
 manner, and from the reflraint which the poor 
 girl vifibly fuffered, that I was forced to give 
 up my opinion. 
 
 After much difcufiion it was at lafl; agreed, 
 that though they promifed to add but little to 
 {he pleafures of Drfnbury ; yet as they certainly 
 were gentlefolks, lived in ftyle, and intended 
 f oming to our aiTemhly, we might as well vifit 
 them. And we vifited them accordingly. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 CHAPTER 1[. 
 
 The Aathcr Jhcivs that ft:s fi/dies climax'y cr gra- 
 dalicin of charafier. 
 
 x\S it Is the duty of all authors to relieve 
 their reader's curiofity as foon as is conlHtent 
 with their plans, I fliali dedicate rhis chapter to 
 introductory anecdotes of the Dudley family, 
 after having made a few preliminary obferva- 
 tions. 
 
 The fpirit of penetration or the ability to 
 difcover people's characters by a curfory glance, 
 though arrogated by almoil every body, is in 
 reality poflefled by very few. Nothing can be 
 more intricate tlian the hujnan heart, and the 
 difcriminating fhades which ferve to mark varia- 
 tion of charaifler, are generally too minute and 
 confufed to write di(lin6l traits upon the coun- 
 tenance. Even words and actions are often de- 
 ceitful guides. People frequently ftep out of 
 themfelves. The man of fenfe has his weak 
 moments, the woman of refleclion on fome 
 occafions adls inconfulerately. Noa' though 
 fuch deviations furnish very ngreeable amufe- 
 ment to the cenforious, the iiile, and the male- 
 volent ; none but the thoughtlefs part of man- 
 kind vi'ill fee thefe incidental defects in any other 
 light tlian as a cafual departuie from the real 
 character. 
 
 I confefs it is my wifii to hunt this f.iid fpirit 
 of pe;ietr3tion out of the world, as I am con- 
 vinced it is produ£live of many ferious evils. 
 It often teaches us to tiiink highly of the un- 
 worthy 
 
B A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 wortliy, and meanly of the meritorious. It 
 makes us arrogant and {'(-If'-opinionated, or elfe 
 expoft's us to many difHculties in endeavouring to 
 icdl-fy the erroneous notions we have adopted. 
 It nfRfts the artiBces of falfehood, increafes the 
 allurements of fedu£\iori, feathers the fhafts of 
 flattcy, and cafts an additional veil over the 
 difgulfes of hypocrify. It is one of the errors 
 into which inexperience is mod apt to fall, 
 Springing from the ingenuous confidence, fan- 
 guine pailions, and prompt decifion incident to 
 young minds. Happy are they if they become lefs 
 precipitate in their judgments, before the con- 
 I'eqnences of their errors are fatal to their peace! 
 
 Neither Mrs. Medium nor Mifs Cardamum 
 hail the apology of youth or inexperier.ee to plead 
 in excufe for the erroneous conciufions they 
 had drawn. The ladies were arrived at years o£ 
 maturity, and had been in the courfe of their 
 lives at lead one ihoufand times m.illaken. But 
 there are people who never will derive advantages 
 from the pall, who are happy in the art of felf- 
 excufe, and determined to think themfelves 
 always right, vi'ho place their own portion of 
 human infirmity to their ntighbour'a account ; 
 irr.d certainly, as they have lo little to do in re- 
 forming errors at liome, may be allowed to look 
 abroad for employment. 
 
 To thofe who prefer fkimmipg over the fuper- 
 ficies to diving into the fubflance, ilrong features 
 marked with mafculine fenfe may wear the af- 
 pe<ft. of ill-humcur, and feverity ; diflidence 
 will appear like folly i and the referve of polite 
 prudence may be denominated pride. All com- 
 mon obfervers, though they love the utmoi^t 
 niinutencfo in a llorv, are fond of difcuHmg ab- 
 
 ftraa 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY; 9 
 
 ftfadl qiulities in a compendious manner; and 
 I have known an " Oh, Madam, it was fo 
 foolifli," or " She is fo ill-nauired," or " Wa« 
 not that extravagant," or "He is fo proud," 
 decidedly fink a character into fupreme con- 
 tempt, even in the fhort period while the fpeaker 
 was dealing a hand at quadrille. Indeed, ex- 
 clufive of errors in point of drefs or cmiffions 
 of ceremonious forms, pride, ill-humour, folly, 
 and extravagance feem to include all human 
 vices; at lead in the vocabulary of Danbury. 
 One reafon for this may be, that pride and ill- 
 humour wound our feelings, while the folly and 
 extravagance of our neighbours are implied com- 
 pliments to our own good feiife and difcretion. 
 
 To return to the Dudleys — 
 
 Mr. Dudley poifefled in an eminent degree 
 the virtues of the head and the heart. Blefled 
 with the early advantage of a liberal education, 
 he united the character of the true gentleman 
 to the no lefs refpeclable name of the generous 
 confcientious merchant. Having palled through 
 many viciffitudes of life, he had learned how to 
 form a temperate judgment, and by truly appre- 
 ciating its pleafures and its pains, he knew how 
 to reduce his def^res to that moderate ftandard, 
 which is mofh likely to produce content. 
 
 In the death of an amiable wife he had expe- 
 rienced a feverer blow than all the former {hocks 
 of fortune could inflift. Two daughters were 
 the offspring of an union, which, while it laded, 
 proiiucfd as much happinefs as any fublunary 
 connedl'on could afford. Mrs. Alderfon, tho 
 mother of Mrs. Dudley, took the youngell child 
 immediately upon her dauijlitt^i's death, with a 
 declared intention of adopting her for her own, 
 B 5 and. 
 
10 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 aiul making her helrefs to all her fortune, 
 Louifa, the elder, accompanied her father to 
 Birba^oes, wliere he had a confiderable eflate, 
 for the i'nprovement of whicli he judged his 
 prefe; «.e ibfolutely neceflary. 
 
 i\ aindliLe Mr. Durtjey's, awakened to all 
 the imprcfaoiis of duty b-jth to his Maker ai)d 
 his fellou'-creUurcs, mufl be fuppofed to have 
 pofleff^d fuincient ilrength to overcome the ex- 
 treme indulgence of hopelefs grief. Though he 
 found it impolTibie to forget that he once \va» 
 mod happy, he acquiefced with patient vefigna- 
 tion is the limited eiijoyments vvhich his fitUvi- 
 tion allowed, and flifl'.ng in his bread the feel- 
 ings of widowed love, endeavoured to fupply 
 its place with the anxious tendernefs of the pa- 
 ternal chara<fler. Loaila, who from herearlleft 
 years difcovered a dirpofition to improve both 
 in moral and mental excellence, liftened with 
 attention to her father's precepts, illuftrated at 
 times by the painful yet pleafing defcription of 
 what her mother was. Inllrutlion? thus en- 
 forced by example, funk with double weight 
 into her retentive mind ; and (lie early nuifed 
 the laudable ambition of copying thofe amiable 
 virtues, of which her departed mother and living 
 father exhibited fuch tine models. 
 
 As {he -A-as at the age of fixteen when fheloll 
 })er mother, Mr. Dudley's narratives were 
 flrengthmed by her own recolle(5lion. She Lad 
 befides th-i advantage of having commenced her 
 education under a female eye, and conLquently 
 of acquiring thofe foft touches of refined ele- 
 gance, which the moft experienced male in- 
 ilru6ior cannot communicate. 
 
 While 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY, II 
 
 While Louifa thus rofe into woman under 
 her father's care, in a climate in which the lux- 
 uriant bounty of Nature, and the fierce conten- 
 tion of the elements, by producing frequent 
 reveifcs of fortune, aJternatcly excite dilTipation 
 and demand fortitude; Marianne experienced 
 under her Grandmother, all the fond indul- 
 gence of doating love. If ever the exceffes of 
 tendernefs are pardonable, they might be in Mrs. 
 Alderfon's circumftances. 5he had loft an ami- 
 able and only daughter, enchanting as a com- 
 panion, and eftimable as a friend ; whofe foci- 
 ety afforded her the greateft delight, ' whofe 
 conduct and character reilec^ed honour upon 
 herfelf. It was natural to view the child which 
 her daughter had bequeathed her, with an affec- 
 tion rifing to agonizing fenCbility ; to confider 
 it as a pledge from an .inhabitant of another 
 world, a relique fnatched from the grave, a 
 bond of union between herfelf and the glorified 
 fpirit of its immortal mother. Lefb firm than 
 Mr. Dudley, though not lefs attached both to 
 the living and the dead, fhe regarded her Mari- 
 anne as poffeffing a kind ot hereditary claim to 
 perfeiSlion, and almolt fuppofed that the necef- 
 lity of culture was fuperfeded by the faperior 
 excellence of the parent plant. 
 
 The chara-f^ers of the young ladies will be 
 fully developed in the enfuing pages, but un- 
 willing to omit any thing which cuilom has 
 rendered neceffary to writers of my ciah^, I v^ill 
 fay fomething of their perfonal aitradions. 
 
 Louifa's figure was tall an! ekgarit, her eyes 
 exv:reffed intelligence and Ir/'enuous modeily. 
 Her features were more agreeable ti^au beautiful, 
 and hen^manner, though in gcr;;al r.aher (^h- 
 
 cully 
 
12 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 cidly refcrved than obtrufive or fparkllng, was 
 irequentJy animated by the lively graces of 
 youtl'.. Yet even in ifhofe gayer monieius her 
 niirth indicated an informed, well-regulated 
 mind. ThoUj^h her education had extended to 
 particular's not ufually attended to by female?, 
 there was nothing in her converlation to excite 
 the apprehenfions which gentlemen are apt to 
 entertain of learned ladies. Science in her 
 might be compared to a light placed behind a 
 veil of gauze, which, without being itfclf ap- 
 parent, (beds a foftened radiance over each fur- 
 rounding objedl. 
 
 To all who admire beauty in its fnftefl and 
 moft fen)inine drefs, Marianne Dudley mud 
 liave appeared uncommonly attradlive. Her 
 features were formed with delicate fymmetry, 
 her blue eves fvvam in fenfibility, and the beau- 
 tiful tranfparcncy of her complexion fecnied 
 dci'Ggned to convey to the. aduuring beholder 
 tvery varying fentiment of her mind. Her 
 looks expreiled what indeed fhe was, tremb- 
 lingly alive to all the fofter paflions. Though 
 the gentle timidity of her temper had prelerved 
 Iier from the ufual efFesfts of early indulgence, 
 it rer.dered her peculiarly unfit to encounter 
 even ihofe common calamities humanity muft 
 endure. Her natural good health Lad hitherto 
 preferred her from bodily fufFerings ; and Mrs. 
 Alderfcn had never permitted her to know' a 
 forrow which could either be alleviated or re- 
 moved. 
 
 A little time previous to the return of her 
 father and hiler from the Weft-Indies, her 
 Grandmother's death rendered her poUefied of 
 a fortune of. fifty thoufand pounds, d^ which, 
 
 _ though 
 
1 gossip's stort. _ 13 
 
 though only nineteen, it was that lady's dying 
 requcil flie fiiould be the uncontrolied miftrefs. 
 Tiius bkficd with youth, health, beauty, and 
 jiffluence, what was wanting to render her teli- 
 city complete ? I doubt not but the younger 
 part of my readers are inclined to think that I 
 Ihall dcfcribe her as too happy. 
 
 Mr. Dudley, though he had confented from 
 unexceptionable motives to the feparation of his 
 children, ever lamented the circumftance as 
 likely to check the expanfion of the filial and 
 fifterly affettions. About the time of Mrs. 
 Alderfon's lad illnefs, difcouraged by the terri- 
 ble devaltations of a hurricane, he abandoned 
 the fchemes of improvement he had projedled 
 upon his eflates, and returning with Louifa 
 into England, offered himfelf to Marianne 
 as her natural guardian and protecStor. That 
 young lady's heart was too full of fenfibility not 
 to be affe£led by the manly tender nefs of a father, 
 End the affectionate endearments of a fifter» 
 from \\ hom {he had been fo long feparated. She 
 readily accepted their invitation to refide with 
 them, and it was with a view to her proper ac- 
 commodation that Mr. Dudley engaged the fpa- 
 cious manfion at which in my preceding chapter 
 I aniit^unce.d his arrival. Mifs Marianne was 
 not prefent when my fagacious neighbours de- 
 cided upon the characters of the Dudleys, hav- 
 ing determined to fpend a few weeks with an 
 intimate friend, previous to her defign of fixing 
 her abode under the paternal roof.v 
 
 CHAP. 
 
14 A gossip's story^ 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 A fine injlance of modern fufceptibility introduces a 
 delicate difciijjiou, ivhich is left to fome brighter 
 genius to determine. 
 
 F 
 
 ROM this excurfive view of chara<fl;ers above 
 the general level, I return with the delight of a 
 bird flying to her neft, to common life, and the 
 dear fociety in which I fpend my hours. 
 
 I fuppofe it was from perceiving even the 
 vohible fpirit of female converfation droop when 
 unfupported by the prefence of gentlemen, that 
 the antient mythologifts conftantly grouped 
 Cupid with the Graces, and introduced Apollo 
 into the circle of the Mufes. Though the com- 
 parifon will not perhaps apply in all parts, we 
 ladies of Danbury had our converfations en- 
 livened by the prefence of a Cupid and an 
 Apollo too, in the perfons of Captain Target, a 
 militia officer, firft coufin to a Baronet, a gen- 
 tleman of unqueftionable honour; and of Mr. 
 Alfop, the heir of an eminent Attorney, who 
 having amaffed a confiderable fortune by bufi- 
 nefs, educated his fon in what he efteemed the 
 di(lingui(hing mark of a gentleman, Idlenefs. 
 
 Againft thefe beaux the fair Cardamum 
 planted all the artillery of love. She long ago, 
 on examining her own heart upon the grand 
 queftion, had determined marriage to be eflen- 
 tial to her happinefs ; but on advancing tp the 
 next point in debate, who (hould be the man, 
 {he found herfelf totally unable to decide, and 
 her heart wandered from one to the other as 
 
 local 
 
A gossip's story. 15 
 
 local circumftances dlre£led. Every one knows 
 that the parifli church In the country anfwers 
 the end of places of publick refort in London, 
 by givhig fafhionable people opportunity of 
 fporting a whim, making critical obfsrvations, 
 or attradlin^ the attention of the other fex. I 
 have often feen my fair friend's eyes, even in 
 the molt pathetick parts of Mr. Mediui"n's dif- 
 courfe, wander from the Captain's hat, when 
 decorated with the military plume, to Mr. Al- 
 fop's fervants in their new liveries, and pitied 
 the perplexities which agitated her gentle bofom. 
 If family, martial addrefs, knowledge of the 
 world, and an infinitude of fmall talk, recom- 
 mended the accomplifhed Target; no lefs did 
 the charms of youth, wealth, and great doci- 
 lity of temper plead in favour of the rich Al- 
 fop. Without pretending to that penetration 
 I decried in a former chapter, it w'as eafy to 
 difcover the prefent Itate of her heart ; as it 
 was an invariable rule to fpeak of the favourite 
 of the week in terms of ftudied contempt or 
 marked cenfure. While her afiedlions rebounded 
 from one gentlrrnan to the other, I was eafy } 
 but when for foveral days together flie talked of 
 the conceited foppifh airs Target gave him- 
 felf, or of the poortft of all poor creatures, 
 Aifop, I trembled for her peace of mind. 
 
 The rivals continued to live together in tirms 
 of perfcifi intimacy. 1 muft luppofe they were 
 ignorant of the Itorms they excited in the breaft 
 of beauty ; for had they known the flate of the 
 lady's heart, could modern friendftiip liave been 
 proof to the temptation of fecuring fo invaluable 
 a prize ? I am confirmed in my opinion by 
 refleCling, that extreme humility and fuper- 
 
 abundant 
 
i6 A gossip's story. 
 
 abundant diffidence are the unhappy fallings of 
 the prefent race of young men. They think 
 too meanly of themfelves and too exaitedly of 
 us, to dare to afpire to the poflefiion of the ex- 
 cellence they at diltance adore ; and though 
 condefcending fweetnefs and eafy accefs are no 
 lefs the charadleriftick of the prefent race of 
 beauties, their worihippers are fo apt to con- 
 fider them as inexorable divinities rather than 
 as placable mortals, that hopelefs of fuccefs 
 they retire from their altars in the dun^b filenca 
 of defpair. 
 
 But I will confider the cafe in another point 
 of view, and propofe a queftion which I hope 
 fome filter novelift will difcufs, as it is an ex- 
 tremely delicate point of honour, and will bear 
 amplifying through at lead fifty pages. Sup- 
 pofing the gentlemen a£lually perceived the 
 ilate of the lady's heart, could they confiftent- 
 ly v/ith friendlliip and generofity make any ef- 
 forts to fecure it entirely to themfelves ? Was 
 it not infinitely more congenial to thofe refined 
 principles and delicate diilinclions, invented by- 
 feveral French writers, and adopted by our own, 
 to leave her entirely to herfelf, and neither to 
 do any thing tranfcendently praife-worthy, or 
 to fay any thing eminently clever, to influence 
 her decifion ? I cannot determine this point, 
 but will proceed in the narrative way to ftate, 
 that certainly neither of them was guilty of \\ho 
 crime of endeavouring to detain the angel which 
 thus hovered between them. 
 
 It would have been a folecifm in good breed- 
 ing, if Captain Target and Mr. Alfop had omit- 
 ted to pay their devoirs to the Dudley family. 
 The Captain only waited to know whether the 
 
 cellars 
 
A gossip's story. 17 
 
 cellars were well flocked, and the table hofpi- 
 tably fupplied, to propofe to his friend a morn- 
 ing walk to Siannadiiie. Mr. Alfop readily ac- 
 quiefced in the propofal, thovigh from dift'iirent 
 motives. Happy as he was in many refpe<£ls, 
 he was tormented by the attacks of a cruel in- 
 vincible enemy, who, in fpite of all his efForts, 
 haunted all his waking hours. This enemy was 
 Time. Such is the Itrange intricacy of human 
 afFairs. It was originally beftowed by Provi- 
 dence as an eflimable blefling, an improveabfe 
 talent, the fource of prefent enjoyment and fu- 
 ture felicity. 
 
 Full of the heroick defign of killing this mon- 
 fter, my heroes failied forth, and were received 
 by Mr. Dudley with politenefs and attention. 
 Captain Target readily fell into converfation j 
 they talked of the We ft- In dies, its important 
 commercial advantages and natural beauties; 
 the military gentleman enlivening the difcourfe 
 with anecdotes of feveral gallant officers, with 
 whom he became acquainted during the fum- 
 mer encampments. Mr. Alfop was filent, con- 
 templating the form of Mr. Dudley's buckles, 
 and wondering if they were more faQiiouable 
 than his own. 
 
 As it was the merchant's cuftom to banifli as 
 much as poilible the little rules which etiquette 
 unneceflarily prefcribes, the ftrangers, though 
 it was a firlt vifit, confented to llay dniner, and 
 Mr. Dudley, to employ part of the morning, 
 led thetn tlie tour of his pleafure grounds, point- 
 ing out fome little improvements he propofed 
 to make. To thefe C.iptain Target affented 
 with warm approbation, while the modell Al- 
 fop, though he equallv underftood and admired 
 " ^ ^ Mr. 
 
iS A gossip's story. 
 
 Mr. Dudley's tafte, contented himfelf with the 
 harmlefs epithets of •• vailly pretty, vaftly cle- 
 ver indeed." 
 
 From the flirubbery they returned to the 
 drawing-room, where Mil's Dudley received 
 them with the fmile of v/elcome and the blufti 
 of delicacy. Captain Target poured forth a 
 volley of compliments, but could he have at- 
 tended to any thing but the found of his own 
 voice, he might have perceived that the lady to 
 whom they were addrefled, knew how to efli- 
 mate her own worth too well, to be elevated by 
 cafual attentions or fuperficial praife. Mr. Al- 
 fop not being fo fluent in his expreflions, con- 
 tented himfelf with filent admiration, never 
 once withdrawing his eyes from Mifs Dudley, 
 t;li the fcrvant fummoned them to the dining- 
 room. 
 
 If Captain Target had been moderate in his 
 approbation before, the prefent fcene would 
 have thrown him into ecftafies. Every thing 
 was excellent -, he eat voracioufly, met with all 
 his favourite dillies, with vi'ine peculiarly adapt- 
 ed to his tafte, and at the conclufion of h.is vifit 
 he entreated Mr. Dudley to allow him the ho- 
 nour of confidering him in the light of an inti- 
 mate. Mr. Alfop's bow urged the fame re- 
 queit, to which Mr. Dudley politely afiented. 
 
 On their return home, Mr. Alfop, who had 
 pondered upon the events of the day, with- 
 out being able to (hape the chaos of his own 
 mind into any determined form, refolved to 
 found his friend's real opinion, that they might 
 at lead have the happinefs of agreeing in the 
 fame (lory. A prudent fcheme, and the more 
 neceflary, ps the abfence or prefence of the ap- 
 plauded 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. I9 
 
 plauflcd perfons frequently produced a wnk dif* 
 ference in the Captain's fentinnents. Finding 
 liim however fincere upon the prefent occafion, 
 he commenced a warm admirer of the family 
 at Stannac'ine. and heroically refolving to de- 
 fend the caufe of injured merit, c<.iled upon 
 Mifs Cardamum the next morning with the ex- 
 prefs defign of telling her that he really tliought 
 Mr. Dudley a very good fort of man, and his 
 daughter a pretty agreeable young lady ; adding 
 as a clencher, that Captain Target faid fo 
 too. 
 
 "Whoever ccnfiders how rude it is to difpute 
 any opinion which a lady has advanced, or how 
 highly affronting it is to commend the features 
 of another in the prrfence of a fifler belle, may 
 form a famt idea of Mifs Cardamum's refent- 
 ment, heightened by the painful fentiments 
 whicli love and iealoufy excited. She darted on 
 Mr. Alfop a look of fiery indignation, which 
 on recolle£lion ihe turned itUo the fmile cf far- 
 caftical contempt, complimenting him upon his 
 fuperior fiiare of difcernment. Then turning 
 to fome ladies who were prefent, flie expatiat- 
 ed upon the merits of young Mr. Inkle the new 
 draper, declared he w»s not only well bred, but 
 handfome, and fo refpeclfully civil in his deport- 
 ment, that file fhould not at all vender at his 
 marrying a woman of fuperior education and 
 large fortune. Amongfl Mr. Inkie's merits, 
 his never contradiciing any body was pointed 
 out with fuch marked encomiums, that poor 
 Mr. Alfop, thouj^h not very acute in his feel- 
 ings, could not but cbferve how highly he had 
 ofiended •, and feeling his courage unequal to 
 the tafi of endeavouring to mitigate her re- 
 
 fenyneut 
 
20 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 fentraent, ronfufcdly withdrew. Ashe was not 
 at the card aflembly that evening, I prefume he 
 fpent it alone in all the agonies of diftrefs. 
 
 Happily our fex is of too gentle a nature to 
 fufFer our refentments to be as lafting as they 
 are violent. Mifs Cardamum met both gentle- 
 men in her walk next morning, and courtefied. 
 with her ufual affability : nay, her kind confi- 
 deratlon led her ftill further, for anxious to pre- 
 vent any ill confequences ar'fing from her late 
 encomium on Mr. Inkle, fhe took care to tell 
 her companion Mifs Dorothea Medium, loud 
 enough for the gentlemen to hear, that though 
 the man was very w-^1 in his (hop, and behaved 
 civil to his cuftomers, it would be very wrong 
 to treat him in the fame manner as one would 
 genteel people ; for trades folks were very apt to 
 give themfelves airs, if genteel people tooic 
 notice of them. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Contawwg ivbat ?nciy be termed a literary curiojlty^ 
 being an exira^ from the journal oj an old 
 maid. 
 
 BEFORE the character of the elder part of 
 the Dudley family could be decided upon in a 
 fatisfactory manner, a new ftar arofe in the ho- 
 rizon. 1 almolt doubt whether the firft. appear- 
 ance of Helen at the Courtof Pri:im excited more 
 wonder and furpriae a.TiOngft the Trojan ladies, 
 
 thaii 
 
A gossip's STORT. 21 
 
 than did the lovely Marianne Dudley, when ia 
 the full blaze of natural charms, aided by all 
 the graceful appendages which tafteful art could 
 beftow, — !he burfl upon us at our monthly af- 
 fembly in fall fplendor. So inconteftable was 
 her claim to the praifti of beauty, that even the 
 invidious were hurried into applaufe. Mifs 
 Cardamum was the firfl: who recovered from 
 the general confternation. She ventured to 
 obferve that though her features were very regu- 
 lar, (he thought they were rather deficient in 
 expreffion. Mrs Medium purfued the hint, and 
 jamented the want of a certain dignity of man- 
 ner and look, of which Lady Seraphina was im- 
 menfely fond, adding, ** Now, there's my Do- 
 rothea, though a plain girl, (hold up your head 
 my dear,) fhe has more of that turn of coun- 
 tenance which her poor dear Ladylliip fo much 
 admired" 
 
 The incertitude of public opinion has been 
 exemplified by hiftories of degraded heroes and 
 perCecured patriots. I choofe to illuftrate it by 
 an inftance from common life. As it was very 
 natural for enquiry to be bufy about an objedl 
 that fo ftrongly arrefted attention, we foon dif- 
 covered Marianne's independent fortune. Ru- 
 xnour on this occafion a£led in her ufual way, 
 increafing it to at leaft one hundred thoufand 
 pounds-, for the many-tongued goodefs ..Iways 
 enlarges the pcflcfiions of the weaith\, in the 
 fame proportion as (he diminifiics the Vefources 
 of the unfortunate. 
 
 We were lilcewife told that Mr. Dudley and 
 Louifa were almoft dependent upon Marianne, 
 who, like moft favourites of fortune, was ca- 
 pricious, vain, and haughty ; and returned their 
 
 khid 
 
32 A gossip's sro^y. 
 
 kind foHcltude to yileaTe vyjth whlmfical indif- 
 ference. No fooncr did we icnov/ that s.;m for- 
 mer obje«5\s of our diilike wfere lefs happy tl\ani 
 we fuppofed- than all their good qualities burll 
 in a flood v.po\\ us, and we aUernsttly pitied* 
 and adn-ired the modcft, the fenfible, av.d affa- 
 ble Loiiiru. 
 
 Thefe tender fertiinents were con armed hy 
 frelh news from .Stannadine. J^'in the errand- 
 man, had told Betty at the Poll Office, that a 
 fine gentleman was expelled ?/, a fuitor to the 
 younger Mifs. Every lady in Danbury was now 
 out of patience that fuch a little chitty face 
 fiiould be preferred to her elder filler : if 
 furniflied feveral pathetic diHertations on the 
 bad tafte and mercenary temper of men, and 
 brought back to the remembrance of our fociety 
 the golden days of youth, when female merit, 
 unlefs obflinately bent on a fingle flate, was 
 fure of procuring the regard of the other fex. 
 Mrs Eleanor Singleton and myfelf enlarged 
 upon the diliiculty we had to avoid being ac- 
 tually worried into matrimony, in fpite of our 
 avowed declarations to the contrary. 
 
 I have often lamented the (ituation of many 
 good ladies, who like myfelf may be faid almofl 
 10 fubfift upon news, and are often forced to 
 devour very unwholefome aliment. The events 
 which real/y happen in a fmall neighbourhood, 
 are not fufhcient to furnifh the fupplies conver- 
 fation eternally requires, without the aid of 
 liiHiion. I have often, though encumbered with 
 my umbrella and pattens, carried a piece of 
 intelligence round the town in tl>e morning, 
 which in the evening i was again forced to ftep 
 
 out 
 
A gossip's story. 23 
 
 out and contradict. An extra£l from my week- 
 ly journal will prove thisoblervation. 
 
 MONDAY. 
 
 Mr. Pelham is come to Stannadlne — They 
 will Toon be married, for the mantua-maker 
 went over this mornipjr, doubtlifs to receive 
 orders about wedi'iieclouies. Memorandum. 
 Mifs Cardamum i s they will have the clothes 
 from a London warehuufe, and that the groom 
 went to town yelterday nbout them. 
 
 TUESDAY. 
 
 Not quite cerfaln which of tlie ladies Mr. 
 Pelham addrelTes. He was feen walking this 
 morning with Mifs Dudley. 
 
 WEDNESDAY. 
 
 Mifs Marianne has pofiiively refufed hira^— 
 ?he may be a long time before flie has another 
 offer. 
 
 THURSDAY. 
 
 It is very odd, if he is refufed, that he ftill 
 ftays at Stannadine. Perhaps he intt^nds to of- 
 fer hirafelf to Louifa. 
 
 FRIDAY. 
 
 We have all been mirtaken. The Koufe- 
 keeper told my butcher when he went there for 
 orders, that Mr. Peliium is not come as a lover, 
 but only as an old friend of the fr.mily. 
 
 Finally, after Mr. Pelham's perfou and cha- 
 rader had run through all the changes of hand- 
 fome and ugly, young and eld, nch and poor, 
 
 amiable 
 
24 A gossip's story. 
 
 amiable and dir,<greeable, we fent him back to 
 his own habitation on Saturday. Now, thougii 
 we could not difcover the mytlery, there really 
 was fomething in Mr. Pelham's vifit. 
 
 Ever fince Marianne's arrival at her father's, 
 Mifs Dudley perceived an unufual gravity in 
 her air and manner; and wich true fifterly af- 
 fection as well as delicacy, endeavoured to en- 
 courage her to reveal the caufe by a foothing 
 tendernefs of behaviour, rather than by a prying 
 curiofity, which indeed never deferves, and fel- 
 dom pofieiTes confidence. The timid Marianne 
 at length ventured to unbofom berfelf to her fif- 
 ter, by owning, that during her vifit at Lady 
 Milton's, (he had received declarations of love 
 from Mr. Pelham, her Ladyfliip's nephew^ a 
 gentleman of handfome fortune and unblemifti- 
 ed character. 
 
 Louifa congratulated her upon fo refpe£lable 
 a conqueft, and exprefled the tranfport (he 
 would feel at feeing her placed under the pro- 
 tection of a worthy hufband ; but added, that 
 probably (lie was not yet able to judge, whether 
 Mr. Pelham really pofTefled the requifites that 
 were effential to her ideas of happinefs. 
 
 Marianne's uncertainty upon this fubje£l did 
 not arife from any doubt fhe entertained ref- 
 pefling the gentleman's merits, or the poffibility 
 of her approving him. She was fearful left Mifs 
 Milton's afFsdtions fhould have been engaged by 
 her coufin, in which cafe flie would die a thou- 
 fand deaths before fhe would be the caufe of 
 blading the tender bloflcm of her Eliza's latent 
 love. She had not indeed any grounds for this 
 fufpicion, but the friendOiip which fubfifted be- 
 tween the ladies was of a romantic kind, and 
 
 confequently 
 
^ A GOSSIP S STORY. 25 
 
 confequenily was too refined in its liopes atid 
 fijars to be adapted to ordinary opacities. 
 
 Louifa was not cafuift enough to determine 
 the intricate queflion, wliether Marianne ougFit 
 to rej.^ct; Mr. Pclham, on the pofTibility tliac 
 INIifs Milton might be in love with him. — 
 Knowing no other rules of a(5lion than the plaia 
 laws of equity and honour, how could flie decide 
 on a point, which I may fay was finely obfcurf d 
 by furrounding difficulties ? Had (lie pleaded for 
 Mr. Pclham, Marianne had a variety of inftances 
 of high heroic virtue to produce, not drawn in- 
 deed from a61ual obf^rvation of life, but from 
 her favourite ftudies. She had long been an at- 
 tentive reader of memoirs and adventures, and 
 had tranfplanted into her gentle bofom all the 
 foft feelings and highly refined fenfibilities of 
 the refpedlive heroines. 
 
 After feveral days of cruel perplexity, icji 
 which (lie at length refolved to facrifice love 
 (for fhe doubted not her own regard for Mr. 
 Pelham) upon tlie altar of friendfhip j a fervant 
 arrived with a packet from J.ady Milton, The 
 firll letter addrefled to Mr. Dudley I fliall tran- 
 fcribe. 
 
 «SlR, 
 
 * Though many years have intervened, 
 
 * fince your departure from England termmaced 
 
 * an acquiintance from which I received the 
 
 * fmcercit plealure, 1 do not doui t your recog- 
 « nifing the wriung of .>n old friend with joy. 
 
 * The warm eileem which your excellent wife 
 
 * ever exprelTed for me and my late fiftcr Pel- 
 
 * ham, a.'ui the happy hours we paded together 
 
 * in early life, induces me to ur^e my prefer. t 
 
 C *« requelt 
 
26 A gossip's story. 
 
 requed «i(han air of cor:fl<lci)ce. The many 
 excellencies of your younger diup;hter have 
 made a deep iinpreflinn upon my nephew'd 
 heart ; I flitter myfelf, Sir, tliat upon enquiry 
 you M(/'\l\ find both his morals ai;d fortune un- 
 exceptionable. Should he be fo fortunate iiS 
 to obtain the approbation of the young lady 
 ?nd yourfelf, I cannot exprefs tl)e tranfport I 
 fiia 1 feel at receivinj^ the child of my inoft va- 
 lued friend into my family. ]My daughter, 
 wiio loves her Marianne with more than u 
 fifler's fondnefs, is in rf»ptures at difcoverincj 
 her coufin's attachment, and laments bitterly 
 that a diforder in her eyes prevents her from 
 addrefhng lier dear coirefpondent upon the 
 fubjetl. Mr. Pclliam writes by th.e fame con- 
 veyance. Allow mie, Sir, to hope that his 
 propofals will be as agreeable to you, as the 
 fweet object of his afFcclions is to us, and th.at 
 you will fix an early day for the vifit he re- 
 quefts permiffion to make. With rtfpc6\ful 
 compliments to yourfelf and Mifs Dudley, 
 with whom I hop? foon to renew a perfcnal 
 acquaintance, a:ui kiiidtft love to my dejtt 
 niece e!e^>, (pardon the freedom of that ex- 
 prcCioii,) I remain, 
 
 * Dear Sir, 
 
 * Ycurs afle£lionateIy, 
 
 « E. MILTON.' 
 
 C H A p. 
 
A gossip's story. 
 
 CHAPTER 
 
 Fiinale irrefolutlon mny proceed from too much y as 
 ivell as from too liltley rejinement^ 
 
 A 
 
 MIND dirpofeci to enjoy all the agreeaoJe 
 circumftances this world affords, would have 
 •. confidered the letter with which I concluded my 
 :i'? lift chaprer as a pleafant event, at lead as an in- 
 difputable proof that the Miltons actually deHr- 
 ■ ed the propofed alliance. But Marianne Dud- 
 ley was too refined to be thus eafily fatisfied. 
 She doubted not that her Ladyfhip flated, as far 
 as flie knew, the real caufe of Miza's diftrtfTmg 
 fdence, but could delicacy, while labouring under 
 the pangs of hopelffs love, do orhttwife than 
 endeavour to conceal its tortures, under the af- 
 fumed air of indifponcion ? No, it was too evi- 
 dent ; Eliza was certainly in love. 
 
 Such were the reflccl;ons which agitated her 
 bofoin, when her father with a fmiling air deli- 
 vered the letter for her perufal. Louifa had in- 
 formed him on his confulting lier about their 
 contents, that fhe believed lier filler was net in- 
 different to Mr. Pelham's merits ; how then 
 could he account for the llrong diilrels vifiLle ia 
 Marianne's countenance : Ihe, however, recol- 
 iecling that her furrows were of too delicate a 
 nature for her father to uniterliand, thought it 
 right, if poffible, to keep them from his offer-" 
 vation, and hurried out of the room juil in tiir;e 
 to conceal a Hood of tears. 
 
 C 2 Mr. 
 
2S A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 Mr. DuiHey turned to Louifa to explain this 
 extr;inrdin^ry circuniRanre, who perhaps think- 
 ing her fifler a little whimfical, dift^uifed her 
 knowledge of the real ciufe, and pleaded the 
 perp'exing terrors an ingenuous and rcfledliing 
 mind mull feel at the idea of entrufting its hsp- 
 pinefs to a flrnnjier's care. She took an oppor- 
 tunity of following Marianne to her dreffinp- 
 room as fcon as flie could, and found her juil: 
 recovered from a profound reverie. A h^ippy 
 and hercical thought had occurred. By receiv- 
 ing Mr. Pelham's addrefles S-e would be enabled 
 to judge of the ftate of Mifs Milton's heart ; and 
 if by her pining defpair her latent love was con- 
 finned, generous frierdlhip might at any time 
 renounce ils own hspp'snefs, snd even at the al- 
 tar refign the expe<itant bridegroom, who, if 
 unwilling to accept tiie fubRhuted charmer, 
 would be no hero. 
 
 She communicnted this plan to Louif.i, wlio, 
 happy that a treaty fo agreeab'e to her failier 
 "might at any rate commence, informed him im- 
 medijtcly of her filler's acqui;fcence. A letter 
 of invitation w<^s in conf-quence difpatcbed, and 
 the happy lover foon appeared at Stannadine. 
 
 If an open, ingenuous countenance, manly 
 fenfe, and eafy accommodating manntrs may al- 
 lowably infpire the beholders with a fort of intui- 
 tive clkcm j Mr. Pelham, who poireffcd all thefe 
 advant;iges, had a claim to the warm affe£tinn 
 wirh which JNlr. and Mifs Dudley received him. 
 T hey felicitated each other on the agreeable 
 profpe£l v\ hich the propofed acquaintance offer- 
 ed ; and forgetting that the tie of relationfhip 
 was nor yet confirmed, received him with all 
 the kindnefs of a brotlier and fon. lie- brought 
 
 I>.Iaria;ine 
 
A cossir's sTO?vY. 29 
 
 M.irinnne a letter from Mifs Milton, dicl.ited 
 with f'jch apparent e,\[c and heantVlt fatisfacli- 
 011, that even her fertile imagination could 
 fcarccly Hart any freQi doubts on that head. 
 
 Yet file was not happy. She now began to be 
 apprehenlTve that Mr. Pelhatn was not the kind 
 of character with whom (he could enjoy that 
 perfect and nninterrupted felicity which flie was 
 certain the union of two kindred minds afforded. 
 In the fivft place, he feemed much more gay and 
 lively than was coufjllent with the painful (»(- 
 pence in which courtihip ought to keep the lover's 
 heart. His manner was unembarraiTed, which 
 was wrong ; he was comfortable in her abfence ; 
 her prefence indeed feemed to give him fatisfac- 
 tlon, but not of the tranfporcing kind fhe cx- 
 pe6ted. He maintained his own opinions in 
 converfation, and though he treated her with 
 refpedt, yet not with deference. In his addrefies 
 as a lover, he fell far fliort of that kneeling 
 ecflatic tendernefs, that reftlefs folicitude, that 
 profound veneration, in fiiort, thofe thoufand 
 namclefs refinements, which fome call abfurdi- 
 ties and fome delicacies, but by which men, 
 who really love, afpire to gain the woman of 
 their heart. Confequently might flie. not fear 
 that his attachment was not of a kind to render 
 their future lives a (late of paradifiacal blifs ^ 
 
 If my readers fuppofe that the lady's fdtidiouf- 
 nefs arofe from vanity, arrogance, or fpleen, they 
 miftake the charatlcr I mean to delineate. It 
 was long ago obferved that the virtues lie be- 
 tween two oppofite vices-, thus is all our atten- 
 tion awakened to keep the (Iraight path of rec- 
 titude, as the lead deviation leads us into one of 
 the extremes. From over-llrained liumility, 
 from gentlenefs which hadencreafed to timidity, 
 
 and 
 
0' 
 
 A gossip's story. 
 
 and from fenfibillty indulged fill it became a 
 wenknefs, from thefe caufes I fay, and from a 
 wronj; eftimate of life, the errors and forrowsof 
 Marianne Dudley are to be derived. 
 
 In her charadkr I vvifii to exl^.ibir the portrait 
 of an amiable and ingenuous mind, folicitous to 
 excel, arr.l defnous to be happy, but dellitute of 
 natural vigour or acquired flability *, forming to 
 itfv-lf a romantic (landird, to which nothing hu- 
 man ever attained ; perplexed by imaginary dif- 
 iicukies ; finking under fancied evils j dedroy- 
 ing its own peace by the very means which it 
 nV:-q tc fcTur." it; and acting with a degree of 
 folly beneath the common level, through irs de- 
 li:c at alpn-ing above the ufual limitb cf female 
 excellence. 
 
 Lffb an obje£lion (hould be ftarted, that fhe 
 exhibition o[ iuch a char;icler raay be of dider- 
 vice to the general caufe of morality, I fliall 
 urge mv renlbns for maintaining a contrary opi- 
 nion, I have looked on life with deep attention, 
 andforefee no evils likely to enfue from impref- 
 fing upon the minds of youth, as foon and as 
 deeply as polFible, juft notions of the journey 
 they are about to take, and juil opinions of their 
 fe'low-travellers. 1 am periuaded that the ima- 
 ginary duties wlilch the extreme of modern re- 
 jmi^ment prtfcribes, are never practiied but at 
 the expence of thofe Iblid virtues, who.^e fuperior 
 excellence has ftood the tell of ages. 1 cohceive 
 that the rules prefcibed to us as focial and ac- 
 countable beings, are fully fufficierr^t to exercife 
 all our indufhry while in tliis tranfitory (late. I 
 vifh to ait the fair enthufialls who indulge 
 in all the extravagance of heroic generofity, ro- 
 n:antic love, and exuberant fricudlh'p, whether 
 
 they 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 3I 
 
 they really fuppofe it pofTible to Improve upon 
 the modfl which ChriRianity (our bed comfort 
 in tins world, and fure guide to the next) pre- 
 ftfPts for our imitation. If not, I would tell 
 them, that fimple but inelVmiable code prefents 
 no puzzling qneftion to tear tlie divided heart 
 by contrary duties. It fpeaks of life as a muta- 
 ble fcene, and it admonilltes us to enjoy its blef- 
 fings with moderation, and to endure its evils 
 with patience. It tells us that man is as vari- 
 able as the world he inhabits, rhar imperfciflions 
 mingle with the virtues of i!ie beft ; and by the 
 line idea of a date of warfare, urges us to con- 
 ftant circumfpeclion and unwearied attention. 
 From this mixture of good and evil it directs our 
 purfuit after the former, by leaching us to curb 
 our palLons, and to moderate our defires; to ex- 
 pert witii difhdence, enjoy with gratitude, and 
 refign with fubmilllon. It commands us, con- 
 fcious of our own failings, to be indulgent to che 
 errors of others. Upon the bafis of mutual 
 wants, general imperfection, and univerfal kin- 
 dred, it builds the fair Urudlure of candour and 
 benevolence. 
 
 And do thefe writers, whofe works generally 
 fall into the hands of the younger part of tiie 
 fofrer fex, indeed fuppofe that they ferve the in- 
 terefls of this divine inflitution, when they ex- 
 cite the dangerous Hwccefs of the p;iflions, by re- 
 prcfcnting the violence of love, grief, defpai--, 
 a'ld jeaioufy, not on'v as amiable frailties, but 
 as commendable qualities ? Ought fuicide ever 
 to be introduced by a Chridian author, but as a 
 brand of intamy to mark charaQers peculiarly 
 detcftable ? Should the love of a man to a mar- 
 ried woman ever be foftened Into an innocent 
 
 atuchmeiu, 
 
32 1 GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 attachment, or defcr'bed as a tender \ncaknefs 
 which he cannot conquer, confequcntly rather as 
 the error of nature and necelTity, than of choice? 
 ^Vhy is the young mind led to forrn hopes which 
 cannot be realized, and thus, by barbing the 
 fliafts of difappointment, to add to the already 
 ample flock of human calamities ? In youth we 
 ftart upon a race, in which the difficulties of the 
 way generally increafe as we draw nearer to tha 
 goal ; and inftcad of ftrengthcning the refoluti- 
 on, and bracing up the foul for the contefl, mo- 
 dern writers generally teach us to flirink at the 
 iirfl fhock of evil ; to melt in tender fuftnefs at 
 woes of our own creating, and tluis to turn with 
 dirguft from life before the fan of our exiftence 
 has advanced to its meridian. 
 
 Thefe romantic notions indeed generally leave 
 UR on our journey ; but what is the confequence? 
 Repeated difappointments four the temper, we 
 grow cjuerulous complainers, difagteeable to 
 others and burthenfome to ourfelves ; and at lalt, 
 not unfrequently do we arraign the wifdom of 
 Providence for not having rendered this world a 
 perfeft, inftead of a probationary (Inte •, for not 
 having given us the f<ilicity it never promifed, or 
 for having implanted in us defires which we 
 ought to fubdue, fince our Creator meant them 
 rather as trials of fortitude than as fources of 
 gratiHcation. 
 
 C li A P. 
 
A gossip's STORT, 33 
 
 C H A P T E R Vr. 
 
 27)^ j4uthor endeavours to get rid of the fer'ious 
 humour ivhich contaminated the lajl chapter. 
 
 T< 
 
 O thofe who have had the courage to fol- 
 low me throifgh the ferious conclufion of the 
 laft chapter, no apologies for its contents will I 
 hope be necefTary ; and I am certain all my well- 
 bred readers will exercife their ufual privilege of 
 fk'pping over the uninterefting page. For their 
 fakes, therefore, I fliall immediately refume the 
 narrative, premifiug, to conciliate their regard, 
 that though I live in retirement, I know too 
 much of the manners of the world, ever to ex- 
 pedl even momentary attention to a moral re- 
 proof, when it attacks a reigning foible. And 
 indeed, hnce youth and aiTluence generally pro- 
 tect their pofietlors from many real calamities, 
 and as a certain portion of forrow feems necef- 
 fary in the compofition of human affairs ; it 
 would perhaps be cruel to perfuade the gay 
 world to forget the m-iny pretty little fubje^ls of 
 complaint, and all the agreeable viciJitudes 
 which the fairy regions of iiuaginary didrcfs am- 
 ply fupply. ' 
 
 In returning to my hillory I fliall illuftrate 
 this poHlion. Can the calm fatisfaclion a young 
 woman, who thinks and a£ls in a common way, 
 would receive from the addreffes of fuch a lover 
 as Mr. Pelham, be half (o enchanting as the 
 I'weet perturbations, the delightful emotions, 
 C 3 which 
 
34 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 whicli a fuperior turn of fentiment excited in 
 Marianne's breaft ? Now elevared by the hope 
 that he would refine into an Orondates, now 
 agonized by the idea that he had nothing of true 
 fenfibiUty in his compofition. From her early 
 childhood (he had maintained a voluminous cor- 
 refponder-ce with Mifs Milton ; but on the pre- 
 sent occafion flie was deprived of all the confo- 
 Jation which pouring out her foul to her Eliza 
 would have afforded, by tiiat young lady's warm 
 eileem for her coufin. Mifs Dudley's fincere 
 afre6lion and acknowledged prudence pointed 
 her out as a proper confidante, but unfortunately 
 {he wanted the grand rcquifite, for Louifa had 
 fo little fentiment, that fhe was more inclined to 
 Jaugh at her fifler's apprehenfions, ihan to pour 
 balm into the tvound. Marianne was therefore 
 compelled to confine her forrows alniofl wholly 
 to her own bofom. 
 
 On the contrary, Mr. Pelham was fo tho- 
 roughly fatisfied with his reception, that he im- 
 patiently wifhed for an alliance with a family 
 truly eliimable in all its branches. The roman- 
 tic turn of his fair miftrefs did not indeed ef- 
 cape iiis penetration, and he once dared to rally 
 her upon the fubje£l ; but perceiviug it only 
 encreafed the ferioufnefs of her features, he 
 carefully avoided again introducing it. He had 
 delicacy enough to be tender of the failings of 
 the woman whom he loved, and enough ot love 
 to be convinced, that the fweetnefs of her tem- 
 per and the goodnefs of her heart would conquer 
 the little errors which a romantic propenfity nad 
 engrafted upon her inexperienced mind ; at 
 lealt would prevent them Irom ever giving pain 
 to an afTcwtionate hufoand. He hoped a little 
 
 commerce 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 35 
 
 commerce with the world, to which (he was 
 almoft a (Iranger, would divert her thoughts 
 from their prefeiit train, and he anticipated the 
 agreeable profpecft of her laughing in. a few 
 years at her former enthufiafm. 
 
 Soon after he left Stannadine he was invited 
 to Milton-Hall, to join in the feftivities which 
 were intended to welcome the return of her 
 Ladyfl.ip's only fon from the Indies;, where he 
 had refided feveral years in a military ftation*, 
 and amaiTed a fortune fufficient to reftore that 
 ancient family to the refpe(£lability it formerly 
 polFefled. At this happy meeting, Mr, Pelham's 
 agreeable profpecfts were difcufled amongft 
 other family topics. He fpoke cf the merits of 
 Mr. and Mifs Dudley in fuch warm terms of 
 recommendation, that Sir William Milton's im- 
 patience to be introduced to thefe eftimable cha- 
 ra(5lers, could not confine its defire of gratifica- 
 tion till after his coufin's nuptials. The privi- 
 leges allowed to an accepted lover, ft-emed to 
 juftify a requeft to accompany him on his next 
 vifit to the Dudley's, and Mr. Pelham, not a 
 little proud of his Marianne's attracftions, had 
 no objection to introduce her to his friend. 
 
 Nature indeed had been far lefs liberal to Sir 
 Williarh than to theother gentleman. To judgeby 
 his countenance, a gloomy fufpicious foul feeaied 
 to lour from under his dark bent eye-brows, and 
 the air of confcious hauteur, which accompanied 
 all his aclions, rendered even his condefcenfions 
 painful and mortifying. He had been too long 
 accuftomed to the fervile adulation of the e.\fl, 
 to recolle<fl that freeborn Britons are feldom in- 
 clined to admit the claims of wealth and arro- 
 grance, if men poflefs no fuperior title to refpe£l- 
 
 and 
 
36 A gossip's stort. 
 
 and efleem. So (Iriking was his appearance, 
 that even the candid Louifa told her filler, that, 
 if Ivlr. Pelham's countenance had been as un- 
 pleafing, (he would have confidered her appre- 
 henfions of future happinefs to have been ra- 
 tional. 
 
 But though Mifs Dudley drew thefe unfa- 
 vourable conclufions from Sir William's man- 
 ner, he faw in her's an enchanting grace which 
 enferced his approbation. Never did eafy 
 fvveetnefs of temper, niodeft fenfe, poliflied 
 nfFability, and drift propriety of exprefhon and 
 behaviour, appear more amiible than in the 
 worthy Louifa. 1 hefe were the qualities which 
 he mofi: defired in a companion for life, and con- 
 ceiving the propofals he had it in his power to 
 make too ample to admit of hefitation, he fooii 
 requefted a private conference with Mr. Dudley, 
 and aflced Jhis permiihon to addrefs his elder 
 daughter. 
 
 'Ihe fond father would have rejoiced, if the 
 man who afpired to the jufily elleemed darling 
 of his heart had been more apparently amiable. 
 He anfwered with hefitation. His daughter's 
 choice was free, and he (houM limit his inter- 
 ference to the character of an advifer; but he 
 added, the liberality of Sir William's propofals 
 required at lealt franknefs on his parr. It might 
 be expelled from his ftyle of living, that Louifa's 
 fortune would prove adequate to the expetla- 
 tions Sir William Milton might jullly prettnd to. 
 It was unhappily the reverfe. Indeed on declin- 
 ing the mercantile bufiners, he im;!gined he had 
 fc^cured :in handfomc income, but the deltruc- 
 tion of th;it part of B.irbadoes in wh.ich his 
 cftate lay, together with the doubtful credit of 
 
 a great 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 37 
 
 a great mercantile houfe, in whofe concerns he 
 had from motives of private friendlhip radily 
 embarked all his perfonal property, rendered his 
 daughter's fortune at bed but probiematica! j 
 and he feared he could rate her value at little 
 more than a mind, which would not be defi- 
 nite of comforts, even in deprefled circum- 
 ftances. 
 
 Sir William was more gratified than difap- 
 pointed at this difcovery. The idea of laying a 
 wife under an obligation was rather flattering to 
 liis pride •, and fince his own fortune was too 
 large to confine his views in plans of expendi- 
 ture, he was deli reus of marrying a woniaii 
 who having Ho claim of her own to affluence, 
 might enjoy the wealth to which he gave her a' 
 title, witli exultation and gratitude. He told 
 Mr. Dudley, that, thanks to fortune and liis 
 own exertions, he had no reafon to confider pe- 
 cuniary conveniences. Mifs Dudley w^as the 
 woman he fliould prefer to all others, and he 
 even wiHied her to bring him nothing more ihan 
 her merit and her affcdlions. 
 
 There was fuch an air of generofiry in the 
 above declaration, that Mr. Dudley condemned 
 himfelf for having yielded to erroneous and ur- 
 charitable prepcflefTions. Hi promifed to intro- 
 duce him to his daughter, as an admirer wlicie 
 pretenfions n-.et his approbation ; and then re- 
 tired to confuler of the mod likely means to 
 render his mediation fuccefsful. He recolletled 
 that when they difcufled the characters of their 
 viHtants the preceding evening, Louifa had 
 fpcken of Sir William in terms of fuch Itrono- dif- 
 approbaticn, and drawn a parallel between l;:m 
 and Mr. Pelham fo manifeftly to Sir William's 
 
 difadvantage, 
 
j8 A gossip's stort. 
 
 difadvantage, that Mr. Dudley thought proper 
 gently to check her warmth, as rather indicative 
 of the raflinels of a precipitate conclufion, than 
 of the difpaflionate, candid judj^ment he wiflied 
 her to form. She yielded with pJacid fubmilhon 
 to his reproofs, and allowed the force of the ex- 
 tenuating circumftances he urged in Sir Wil- 
 liam's behalf; but, reflecting upon the circum- 
 ilance, Mr. Dudley thought he perceived her 
 acquiefcence had rather proceeded from defe- 
 rence than from convi£lion. 
 
 CHAPTER VII, 
 
 Extremely dull. 
 
 iVxR.. Dudley haflened to Louifa's apartment, 
 impatient to difcufs the important fubjedl which 
 occupied his attention. He intended to flate 
 with emphafis and precinon the reafons which 
 induced him to accede to Sir William's ofTers, 
 and to exert his own influence over Louifa's 
 mind to enfure their fuccefs ; but ere he had 
 proceeded far, the young lady's apprehenfions 
 took the alarm. She funk upon her knees, 'and 
 clafping her father's hands, with eyes fwimming 
 in tears, and looks full of anxiety and confler- 
 nation, exclaimed, " My deareil Sir, do not 
 marry me to Sir William Milton." 
 
 To give pain to that bofom which had been 
 the faithful repofitory of his fecrets and for- 
 
 rows 
 
A GOSSIP 3 STORY. 39 
 
 rows ; to aHHIcSl: the dutiful and amiable child, 
 to wliofe love and fympathy he had ever fled as 
 a refuge fronn injury, and a cure for difappoint- 
 ment -, was more than Mr. Dudley's refolutioii 
 could fupport. He tenderly raifed her, afTurecl 
 her of his unremitting tendernefs, and hurried 
 out of the room to give vent to the expreflion 
 of that concern his f\«,'elling heart could icarcely 
 retain. 
 
 When alone, and removed from the influence 
 of her powerful tears, he recollefted that till 
 (lie was in pofleffion of the whole argument, 
 lier decifion could not be jult. The fentiments 
 refpecling filial confidence which (he had always 
 entertained, the known propriety of her con- 
 duft, and the calm command (he had ever pof- 
 feifed over her affedlions, left him no room to 
 fuppofe that her diflike to Sir William proceeded 
 from the addrefles of a preferred, though unac- 
 knowledged lover. He at leaft determined to 
 Eiake another attempt, and fearing again to ex- 
 pofe his refolution to the influence of her foft 
 diflrefs, had recourfe to his pen, and wrote the 
 following letter : 
 
 * TO MISS DUDLEY. 
 
 ' However lively my dear child's relu£iance 
 
 * to read this addrefs may be, it cannot exceed 
 
 * what I feel, while by writing it I difcharge a 
 
 * certain, though painful duty. Let a (imilar 
 
 * inducement urge you, my Louifa, to weigh 
 
 * my arguments with attention. When you 
 
 * have done this, with all the temper and con- 
 
 * fidcration of which you are miflrefs, I give 
 
 * you my word that your anfwer fliall be deci- 
 
 * five. The fubjefl in difculTioa fhall never 
 
 more 
 
40 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 more be revived, if you perfift in your rc- 
 fufal. 
 
 < Have I too liighly rated your confidence in 
 me, by fuppofing that you are adlually free 
 from the iropuife of a prior attachment, and 
 confequenfly at liberty to govern your heart 
 by the di(fiates of your judgment ? If, my 
 love, from exuberant delicacy or extreme 
 timidity, you have concealed from me a fecret 
 of fuch importance, this is the moment of 
 difcovery. To urge you in favour of Sir Wil- 
 liam, while you feel a preference for another, 
 v^ould at once be cruel and unjuft. Fear no 
 upbraidings from a father: my arms are open 
 to embrace you, my heart confirms your par- 
 don, and my bell: advice and affiftance are 
 ready any way in which you fhall require their 
 exertion j but till you affure me to the con- 
 trary, I will fuppofe you abfolutely difen- 
 gaged. 
 
 ♦ Did a'l men fee you with my partial eyes, I 
 fhould hive a propofal to announce, at leaft as 
 unexcepiionable as that which awaits the ac- 
 ceptance of your happy fifler. I do not fcru- 
 ple to own that neither the perfon or manners 
 of Sir William Milton are conciliating. His 
 virtues appear to be of the item, rather than 
 of the amiable caft, and I Should conceive, 
 that like our firft King Charles, he would fell 
 the glofs of generofity by an uni^racious me- 
 thod of beftowiiig favours. But when the 
 heart is right, candour will excufe the reft. 
 Were you lefs happy in the prudent gentle- 
 nefs of your own temper, I viould not re- 
 commend an union with one who will proba- 
 bly claim indulgence. I depend upon the in- 
 
 ■ « fluenc^i 
 
A GOSSll' S STORY. 4I 
 
 flucnce of your fweetnefs, to foften his afpe- 
 rity, or at leaft to enable you to fupport its 
 tffccls with patience and chearfuln.fs. You 
 have too much good fenfe to expe(5i perfe£lion 
 either in charaftcr or fituation, and though 
 an accommodating temper is eflential to hap- 
 pinefs in moft marriages, I think my Louifa 
 might be happy if her hufband poflefled it 
 but in an inferior degree. 
 
 * I-buihi my hopes on tiie jufl fenfe he has of 
 your merits. He generoufly fuppofcs them 
 an ample equivalent for all the advantages 
 wealtii can beftow. How flattering is this 
 opinion to a doating father ! How fatisfac- 
 tory, when he refledls that his darling child's 
 virtues are of a caft that will bear the fcruti- 
 nizing eye of inquiry ! That they >vill realize 
 the expctflations of love, and elevate it into 
 cfleem ! Am I too fanguine in fuppofing that 
 a man, who can make the hberal offers he has 
 done, will be influenced by the fweet and can- 
 did partner he has purchafvd with his liberty 
 and his fortune ? 
 
 * You are, I know, above pecuniary mo- 
 tives ; oa this hc-ad, however, 1 fliall introduce 
 myfelf. Unwilling to difturb your peace, I 
 have as much as pofRble diminilhed my fears 
 for the fecurit'y of the fleet, in which the little 
 property I couid preferve from the wreck of 
 my fortunes in tlie Weft-Indies, is embarked. 
 I have alfo wholly concealed my doubts, 
 which are now almofl; certainties, refpe(£ling 
 the refponfibility of the Alefhcurs Tonnereaus. 
 Sir William knows on what a doubtful con- 
 tingence ycur fortune depends, and I never 
 fliall forget the air of pleafure his countenance 
 
 ' aflumed 
 
42 A GOSSIP S 3T0RT. 
 
 ailumed at the difcovery ; as it" he till then 
 doubted the validity of his pretenfions to yo(.i. 
 Confider, my child, if my apprehenfions are 
 jull (and I aiTure you I did not lightly enter- 
 tain them) ho\v I am to fupport tlie thought 
 that my rrtih and f ual confidence has reduced 
 you to penury. You will, 1 know, endure 
 adverfity v\ith dignity and patience, but every 
 fmilc in which you meekly drefs your coun- 
 tenance to receive me, will be a dagger in my 
 confcious heart. 
 
 * To you, who have been bred in afi^uencc, 
 the perplexities of a limited fortune are in- 
 conceivable while at a diftatice *, but when ex- 
 perienced they will be molt poignantly felt. 
 I knew them, my child, in my early years. 
 My excellent father poflefTcd every defirable 
 bleffing except a competence. He was, you 
 know, a Clergyman, living upon fmall pre- 
 ferment. Piis numerous family was at once 
 his delight and his perplexity, the fource of 
 all his plrrafares, and the obje£l of all his 
 fears, liven hiu firm philofophick mind and 
 llcady confivienee in Heaven, fometimes yield- 
 ed to the dlftreires which the numerous wants 
 of his children occafioned ; and the fear of 
 leaving his ainaoll adored wife, and his orphans 
 delliture, lo the mercy of the world, grew as 
 his health declined alraoft infupportable. 
 
 * From fuch pangs, my LoulCi, i would fecure 
 you, by an union with a worthy, though 
 perhaps not an highly amiable man. Perfond 
 confiderations are beneath your attention. 
 Defe£l in character is the unavoidable lot of 
 humanity, if you have difcovered no reafons 
 for di.^approbation, flronger than thofe you 
 
 ♦ Rated 
 
A gossip's STORY. 43 
 
 « ftated laft night, and your heart is ictally dif- 
 
 * engaged, I trull your affctlions may be taught 
 
 * by gratitude to now in the channel which 
 
 * judgment prefcribes. If your repugnance is 
 
 * ilil! infurraouiuahle, do not add to your per- 
 
 * piexliy by the apprehenfion of my difpleafure. 
 « The reafons which influenced my child are at 
 « lead entitled to my refpt-a. Whether I pof- 
 
 * feTs a cottage or a palace, my Louifa is mofl 
 
 < welcome to the comforts ii affords. The com- 
 
 < panion of my profperity Ihall teach me to 
 
 * fupport adverilty: her happinefs not her 
 
 * aggranJifenient is the wi(h cf her 
 
 < Moll aftcclionate father, 
 
 • Richard Dudley.' 
 
 CHAPTER Vlir. 
 
 ^n aitembt at novelty, Louifa rduRatrtly confcuis 
 to adimt the addnjps of a rich young baronet. 
 
 IVliSS Dudley had fcarcely recovered from 
 tiie invo'untatv ihock, which the fnit intima- 
 tion of Sir William Milton's attachment had. 
 occafioned, when her father's letter arrived. 
 Shc^ had pcrfuadcd herfclf that either entreaty 
 or fortitude might prevent the dreaded tie. '1 he 
 contents of the letter would at lc:alt have con- 
 vinced her, that fomething could be urged in 
 julVihcation cf Mr. Dudley's willies; but the 
 ientiments of love and confidence with which it 
 was replete, forcibly appealing to her Iicart, and 
 
 calling 
 
44 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 calling forth the mingled feiitiments of filial 
 piety and ftrong rcluciance, too much agitated 
 her mind to allow her to reafosi. She fat a few- 
 moments trembling and fiknt, and then burit 
 into tears. 
 
 Marianne, who at that moment entered tlie 
 drefling-room, was fnocked at her fifter's pale 
 and agitated countenance. She flew towards 
 her : '* You are ill, my dear Louifa, for Heaven's 
 fake, fpeak." Mifs Dudley fainily attempted to 
 fmile. '* My difordtr," fatd Ihe, " is nothing 
 but an apprehenfive mind 5 you have a claim to 
 my confidence. Sir William Milton has made 
 propofals refpe£ling me to my father, which I 
 am grieved to fiy he approves." 
 
 " Ah, my love," exclaimed Marianne, ** how 
 fimilar is our fate ! 1 have endured too much 
 not to pity you j but what are your refolves ?" 
 " If poflible, to comply with my father's wilhes," 
 returned Louifa. " Heroick girl ! The refo- 
 lution is worthy of yourfelf. I have at lafl: 
 brought my mind to the fame determination. 
 Hearts like ours, my Louila, can never know 
 felicity but in the converfe of a kindred foul ; 
 yet though our future lives muil pafs in one fad 
 joylefs teuour, it will be a fupport in our fuffer- 
 ings, to rellert that we have ccmplied with the 
 paternal injunifiion. This thouglit will be a 
 balm to all our woes, and will at lafl render the 
 bed of death eafy. I have long ago given up 
 every hope, except v/hat I derive from your af- 
 fedlion. My iiiier in blood and now alfo in 
 affliaicn." 
 
 Louifa was too fcrioufly difcompofed to anfwer 
 this addrefs in any other way than by a tender 
 preOure of her hand. She begged to be alone. 
 
 " i muli;' 
 
A gossip's STOr.Y, 45 
 
 <« I mufl," faid file, " be prompt in my reply; 
 as it v.'ill be decilive, I ought to deliberate." 
 Marianne exprellcd how deeply (lie felt for her, 
 and withdrew. 
 
 Louifa now exerting all her natural fortitude, 
 again perufed her father's letter. •' Shall I," 
 faid {lie, " fiirink from a duty, when en- 
 couraged by example as well as precept ?" 
 
 To her fathet's inquiry refpecling a pre-en- 
 gagement, flie fancied ihe could give a clear and 
 fatisfa6lory negative. She had not entirely 
 efcaped the addreffes cf lovers, but neither 
 their afiiduities nor their offers ever excited 
 more than a momentary attention. How then 
 could flis explain the violence of her averfion to 
 Sir William ? and yet the more fhe probed 
 l.'cr heart, the more fenfible flie was of her 
 reluclance. 
 
 Her failier's o'-fervation in the fiicceeding 
 paragraph, refpecting the fa^jerinr merit of her 
 hjpp'er lUlir's lover, brouglit Mr, Pclham be- 
 fore her eyes, in all that (Irong bght of contrail 
 in which her fancy had often exhibited him. 
 Her imagimtion winged by the wifh, that he, 
 ii^-Tiead of Sir William, had been the lover Mr. 
 Dudley propofud, did not eafily return from its 
 excurfive flighr,,to recollect tliat wilhes are the 
 weak refort of a querulous, impaiTioned mind. 
 Her foul was above envy, and though the bright- 
 nefs of Marianne's profpeQ^ feemed to deepen 
 the gloom of her own, ihe perceived her fifter 
 was not in reality happier. By her, the real ex- 
 cellencies of Mr. Pelham's ccnduft \^-ere over, 
 looked, while (he continued in fanciful purfuit 
 after an inii^ginary undefined good. J^ouifa 
 again endeavoured to avoid the fault (he faw in 
 
 her 
 
4<J A gossip's stort. 
 
 her fifler, and to make the heft of her own lot ; 
 but in endeavouring to think of Sir William, 
 the idea of Mr. Pelham again returned. Her 
 cheek glowed, and perhaps for the firft time flie 
 had caufeto arraign the re6litude of her heart. 
 Deceived by the native opennefs of her temper, 
 fhe fuppofed fiie was only cultivating the friend- 
 (liip a lifter ought to feel for a fifter's lover, 
 when her attention was rivetted to all Mr. 
 Pelham's words and afiions. Without her own 
 concurrence, or indeed knowle<lge, her thoughts 
 during her hours of retirement had been chiefly 
 appropriated to him. Conviclion flaflied upon 
 her foul, and fhe felt a momentary humiliation. 
 I fay momentary, for no fooner did Ihe difco- 
 ver the ftate of her heart, than {he determined 
 that Sir William Milton fliould not owe his re- 
 jecf^ion to the preference ihe fecretly entertained 
 for a gentleman, who would foon probably be 
 her fifter's hufband. Marianne's wlumfical irre- 
 folution afforded I.er neither hope nor juftifica- 
 tion ; Mr. Pelham's attacliment was avowed, and 
 his millrcfs muft,, if true to her own h.sppinefs, 
 reward it. At leaft honour, delicacy, fifterly 
 love, all forbade her to indulge a puihon, which 
 could only end in guilt or difappointment. 
 
 On returning to the letter, her farliet's {?n- 
 timents confirmed her noble rtfoluiion. He 
 praifed her piudence -, ought ftie to dlfgrace his 
 judgment ? He fpoke of her as his deareft'con- 
 folation; isnd (hould fhe add co his griefs or 
 his embarrrilTnients ? What a iraniport to be 
 able to fuppoTt an unfortunate but almoft ador- 
 ed father ! Could lovf, even innocent happy 
 love, fupply a more exalted bhfs i 
 
 Determined, 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 47 
 
 Determined, with all the laudable d'ffidence 
 of an ingenuous mind, not to trufi: her refolution 
 to the cl'snce of an lictir, fhe rcfolved to write 
 to her father, and to inform him of the acqoi- 
 efcence with his wifhes. There are fomt: fe- 
 crets which fcarcely admit of being difclofed 
 even to ourfelves. Louifa's was of this nature. 
 Refolved to eradicate an attachment if would 
 have been criniina! to avow, {lie judged it un- 
 neceflliry to mention to her father the reafon 
 which moft forcibly determined her; fnce vir- 
 tue, difcretiv-)n, and felf-command told her it 
 would not long exift. 
 
 * TO MR. DUDLEY. 
 
 * Dear and Honoured Father, 
 
 * Have you from my earliefl infancy to this 
 
 * moment ever given a ftronger proof i)f vour 
 
 * affeflion for me, than the letter I now hold to 
 
 * my tlirobbing heart ? You bid me, Sir, be 
 ' fincere ; I h.we batl-ed it with tears of vene- 
 
 * ration, gratitude, and reluctance. The laft 
 
 * was the leaft painful emotion. 
 
 * I acknowledge no prior attachment, and I 
 
 * truft I Oiall be able to beftow my lieart where 
 ' your wiflits point. At leart, the gentleman 
 
 * whom your fuperior penetration is difpofed to 
 
 * favour, may be fure of acquiring my efleem. 
 
 * Be pleafed to inform Sir "William INlilton that 
 
 * I Will endeavour to deferve Isis generous pre- 
 
 * fere nee : cur acquaintance has been fo recent 
 
 * that he wiil not expect me to f;:y more. To 
 
 * you, my faihtr, I w:il own tliat the ui:bound- 
 
 * ed affluence he pofI';fles has to me no other 
 
 * charm, than that it will enable me to relieve 
 
 * every anxious rare which pcirefTes your heart. 
 
 • You 
 
4? A gossip's stort. 
 
 * You invite me to partake of y^ur cottae©. 
 
 * Oh, for a f3n<ftuary fafe from every raj-bior- 
 
 * tune in.^whlch I might infiirine you ! 
 
 « I^ocisA Dudley. 
 
 The agitation of Mifs Dudley's mind was too 
 preat to permit her to write with a fleady hand, 
 Mr. Dudley, upofi receiving it, hadened to her 
 apartment. ** I have/' faid he, tenderly em- 
 bracing her, received a letter which docs ho- 
 nour to your filial piety and virtue. The plea- 
 fure I received from it would have been un- 
 mixed, could I have forgotten that what gave 
 tranfport to ray heart, was perhaps the fource of 
 bitter pangs to yours." 
 
 «< You have convinced my reafon, Sir," re- 
 plied Louifa ; *< and if I did not attempt to att 
 according to its rules, I (liould deferve contempt 
 rather than pity. But does Sir V/ilHam know 
 my anfwer ? I trufl; he does not prefs an imme- 
 diate interview." 
 
 «« I have avoided Sir William," •faid Mr. 
 Dudley, ♦* and for the prefe'nt fhall. You have 
 rather told me what you wiih to do, than what 
 you are able to perform. It is not neceflary 
 that he fhould be immediateilJy accepted, but 
 after he is, it is highly important that he fbould 
 not be able to t?.x your condu£l with levity or 
 caprice. Recollecl yourfelf; my child : the fuh- 
 je6t in debate refpects your future happincO, 
 yet it is not m.ore irnportant to yourfelf than to 
 me. If the pleas I have urged give you pain, 
 forget them." 
 
 " Your tendernefs," faid Louifa, melting 
 into tears, " is lefs pleafing, as id implies a want 
 of that confidence in my (Irength of mind, 
 which I wifl; to infpire. Have I, Sir, forfeited 
 
 your 
 
A GOSSIP 3 STORY. 49- 
 
 your efleem ? I mean to be ingenuous ; Sir Wil- 
 liam flia!l know my errors and dcfedis. I will 
 tell him at our firit interview, that, perhaps I 
 can never return his difintereft^d regard with 
 warm attachment ; but tliat he fliall poflcfs my 
 duty, efteem, and gratitude. If this declarati- 
 on fatisfics him, I will be his." 
 
 *' And fliali I prepare liim, my love," faid 
 Mr. Dudley, " by telling him that at the appre- 
 henCon of that interview you trembled, turned 
 pale, and eagerly caught hold of my hand .'' My 
 dear child, you never appeared more deferving 
 of my efteem than at this moment. But be not 
 precipitate; if your refolution is well founded, 
 it will be the fame to-morrow morning. WjC 
 fhall, you know, have company to dinner; re- 
 fume your compofure, and judge of your lover's 
 behaviour. Trivial <:ircum fiances fometimes 
 prove a true index to the heart, and may hts 
 be worthy of yours !" 
 
 Mr. Dudky preflTed his daughter's hand be- 
 tween his, and withdrew, rightly judging that 
 (lie would be better enabled to tranquillize her 
 mind by reflcdlion, than by a further difcuffioa 
 of the painful •ftjbjeci. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 ji converfation piece y concluded by a Jong. 
 
 JL HE benignant fmile with which Mifs Dud- 
 lev performed the honours of her father's table 
 D this 
 
50 A gossip's story, 
 
 this day, was not tlie fa tl.s fa dory glow of a de- 
 lighted hear;, but the placid fwcetnefs of a dig- 
 nified and benevolent inind. PoHrenefs and at- 
 tention were fo habitual to her, that it was im- 
 pofl'ib'e for any of the guefts to complain of 
 negletfb,' though her bofoni was throbbing with 
 fenfations of the mod painful nature. Deter- 
 mined to give the pleafure (lie could not feel, 
 flie finothered her fighs with fuch care, that 
 even Mr. Dudley's watchful eye could not dif- 
 cover her fcrenity to be only ailumed; and he 
 congratulated himfelf that the alliairce which 
 promifed to fupport Ins tottering fortunes, would 
 'aifo confirm liis Louifa's happinefs. 
 
 The next interefting figure in die groupe was 
 Mr. Pclham, but as he really was as much at 
 eafe as he appeared, his merit mv;(l rank below 
 the mild cheerfulnefs of Mifs Dudley. His 
 lively fenfe and attentive good-humour, while it 
 feemed only folicitous to call forth the various 
 talents of the company, enjoyed the reverbera- 
 tion of the pleafure which he excited. Every 
 body went away fatisfie !, and perfuaded that, 
 
 . next themftlves, Mr. Pelham was the mod ami- 
 able and beil-informed perfou of the party. 
 Swift obfi-rves, " that the perfon whom all 
 agree to pronounce deferving of the fecond 
 place, deferves in reality the firfl. :" I fliali not 
 controvert this opinion. 
 
 'I"he fair Marianne v.-as not fo univerfallj ad- 
 mired. Alter (lie had left her fider's drelFing- 
 
 "roonn, to divert the fympathifing pain die really 
 ft^lt, llie hid recourfe to her fiudies. The novel 
 feiet^ed for tlie mortiing was of tlie mournful 
 cad, and after attending the heroine through 
 four long volumes of feniimental mifcry, the 
 
 ideas 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 5I 
 
 iileas of foft didrefs were fo f;i ml liar' zed to her 
 mind, ntid fo liei^hrcnti'd by Louif.i'b fufferings 
 and her own perplpsiti' s, that during the ^« hole 
 evening flie appea'-^d n.ore like the weeping 
 April than tlie fn.ilm;; Mjy. 
 
 Sii William IVlilton exhibited a different cad 
 of charaflcr. On his entr.mce into the room, 
 he catl an obfervin^ glance from under his bent 
 brows, on the company, which, tn(>r.gh i^ con- 
 fjfted of all the gefj/ee/ people of D^nbury. lie 
 confidered to be utterly beneath his notice. 
 Wrapping himfc-lf, therefore, in his own con- 
 fcious importance, he fat filentlyi^enjoying the 
 fuperiority lie felt. At intervals he threw his 
 eyes upon Louifa, not to fee how much fhe 
 ftirpaffed the obje£^3 around her, but to wonder 
 why (he would take pains to render herfelf 
 agreeable to fuc/: people. 
 
 I do not hold forth this condufl as prudent. 
 Few people are fo ftupid as not to perceive when 
 they are dcfpifed, and fewer yet have fuiTicient 
 fervilitv to fubmit to contempt. I'hofe who 
 appear to do fo are guided by intereRed motives, 
 and it wouid lower the hauteur of arrogance to 
 refle£l:, that the inferiors on whom they exer- 
 cife their ill-humour, expcift to be repaid for 
 their forbearance. Wealth and rank have many 
 natural advantages ; mankind only afks permif- 
 fion to applaud and to admire them. A nod 
 from his Grace, a bow from my Lord, or a 
 fmile from the Squire, are a fort of checque 
 drawn upon our own vanity, which we punc- 
 tually difcharge with a large quantity of com- 
 mendation. All my neighbours went deter- 
 mined to like the Nabob ; yet even Captain Tar- 
 get, though he had refohxd to vifit him at Mil- 
 D 2 tOi> 
 
52 A GOSSIP 3 STORY. 
 
 ton-hall, returned wirhout being In raptures. 
 I'd own the truth, every body was too much 
 piqued, to coiifefs their own peculiar difjp- 
 pointment, but very kindly pitied otlier people's ; 
 and the unamiable defcription of Sir William's 
 liaughty referve concluded with, <♦ To be fure / 
 iliould not fay fo, for he was very civil to me, 
 but quite rude to Mr. and Mrs. fucli-a-one." 
 
 No fooner had the party broken up, than 
 IVlarianne began to pity Louifa ; ♦* I trembled 
 for y^u, my love, the wiiole day," faid fhe. 
 *' How embarrailing ! to be forced to enlertain 
 flrangers, while your heart was torn with fueli 
 ciuel apprehenfions." 
 
 " 1 could l.ave wiftied," replied Louifa, fmil- 
 •inji, " that you had been a li>i'.e better able to 
 iHiil me. I was concerned lo fee you ^o out of 
 ipirits." 
 
 *' And did you cbferve it ? O you are juft 
 fuch a kind attentive friend as my dear Grand- 
 mama was ! But fympatliy, the buaft of wo- 
 men, has no place in the bofom of men. \ou 
 rnuit now acknowledge that 1 am righr. If Mr. 
 Feiham loved me, he never could have been fo 
 clieerful and volatile wliile I was fo depred'ed. 
 Sir William's behaviour was Itrikingly differ- 
 ent ; he liuug upon your looks with the air of 
 a man, who only llv( d in your prefence. His 
 fiience too and deje6led air were highly exprtf- 
 <ive of the anxious unaccepted lover. Indeed, 
 L^ulfa, you will rule, every moment of liis 
 foul." 
 
 •< I had ratlier be lefs important to him,or elfe 
 difcover fomething more amiable in his man- 
 ners," returned Louifr'. •' His fixed attention 
 riifconccirtcd me, but perhaps time may render 
 
 him 
 
A gossip's story. 53 
 
 him Icfs alii-ni rg. However, as you are be- 
 come the pair L,y: ill if my admirer, let me fpeuk 
 in f.ivoiu of yoi'.s." 
 
 " Giddy infeiifible creature," replied r\Jari- 
 anne. 
 
 *' How," cried Louifa, *< cnn you call him 
 Jnfenfible, who took this morning, unknown to 
 anyone, a v«'atk of five miles to relieve a worth.y 
 family in diltrefs ? He is cheerful and agreeably 
 animated indeed, but di^i you ever fee his mirth 
 offend 'he laws ot- decorum, politenefs, or hu- 
 ,hianity ? With what refpert does he fpeak of 
 leTit us Tnd facred fuhje«lls ? His bt h-niour to 
 f^^r. r>Iedium to-day is in poi-;;. How gene- 
 rouily did he refcue that difHdent man from the 
 frothy jefls of Captain Target ? What conf^;- 
 quence did he give him in tlic eye of every one- 
 prefenr, by the attentions he him.felf patd ? L 
 truft i fliouJd not have been negligent, but it 
 would have been imjiofiible for me to ov^rluck. 
 the dignity of the clerical charader, while fuch 
 a Mentor was prefent. How delicately did he 
 divert from JNlifs Cardamum the common-pbce 
 raillery upon old Maids, at tl;e inftant too that 
 Mr. Alfop was preparing a laugh at the Captairi's 
 jokes? Every one was delighted to fee the man 
 of wit look infinitely more ridiculous than the 
 poor perfecuted fj/iniler." 
 
 « My heart was not fufficiently at eafe to 
 obferve them," anfwered Marianne, half fmil- 
 ing. " But I am rejoiced to fee you could. It. 
 certainly is a good omen for Sir VViiliam." 
 
 " I do not doubt," returned Louifa, reco.- 
 lefting herfeif, <« but that 1 flull foon be able 
 to difcover m.any latent good qualities in /.=//« ,- 
 
 and 
 
54 A gossip's stort. 
 
 and then my prefent relu£l:ance to Lis addrefTes 
 v.'ill difappear." 
 
 '< Not if you are like me," fighed Marianne, 
 *< Mine increafe every hour." 
 
 " Then, for Heaven's fake, why not imme- 
 diately refufe Mr. Pelham r" 
 
 " Can you, wlio fet me fuch a pnttern of 
 lieroirm, aft, or need 1 anfvver ? Filird piety 
 forbids." 
 
 ** You certainlv mift^ke my father," return- 
 ed Louifa ; " he leaves you abfolutely free: he 
 does not even influence you by giving his 
 opinion." 
 
 *' And can you imar^ine me ignorant what 
 that opinion is f" faid Marianne. *' His eyes 
 have told it me, every commendation he utters 
 convinces me of his vvilhes, and to ti)ofe wifhes 
 1 devote myfelf a f.rcriilce. i might even afk 
 you, why he (hould be fo felicitous to fee you 
 married, and yet iiidifFerent how I am difpofed 
 of?" 
 
 Louifa, wlio recollected that her father did 
 not wifli to deprefs her fifter's mind, by difco- 
 vering the misfortunes which threatened him, 
 knew not how to reply. Marianne, who mif- 
 conflrued her embarr.idment, pafTionately ex- 
 claimed, «' Speak, your fil'ince is more diftracSt- 
 ing than certainty. If there be any reafon, it 
 *nuft be that I have lefs of his afi' iflions, and 
 if fo, loft, undone Marianne !" " You yield to 
 a caufelefs alarm," returned Louifa. '* Do, 
 my dear girl, endenvour to conquer thefe keen 
 fenfibilities. De afliired you have a full iliare of 
 my father's hc.irr. Let me perfuade you to en- 
 truft to him all your troubles. His tendernefs 
 will relieve, and Ids difcrction will dire6l vou. 
 
 'He 
 
A COSSir S STORY. 55 
 
 He lias all the delicacy you can wifli for in a 
 confidant; he will encourage you by his con- 
 defcenfion -, and lupport you by his firmnels. 
 When you have opened your heart to him, you 
 vfill no longer doubt his lively affe£lion. 'I'cll 
 me, Marianne, will you take courage? Shall 
 1 prepare him for the interview ?" 
 
 After a little hefitation Marianne confented, 
 and retired to conilder what her troubles and 
 forrbws really were. 
 
 In the morninp- Mifs Dudley met her father 
 in the library. Her fmiling aipecl induced him 
 to tell her, th^t, encouraged by the unconilrain- 
 ed eafe of hc;r behaviour yefterday, he had ac- 
 quainted Sir William Milton with her determ.i- 
 nation ; which he was the more folicitous to do, 
 as he perceived the young Baronet hurt at being 
 kept in fui'penfe. He concluded with faying, 
 that the favour of an immediate introduiflion 
 had been requefted. L Juifa had fufTicient pre- 
 fence of mind to avoid trembling, and again 
 catching hold of her father's arm, ihe walked to 
 the window, and in a few moments f;.id ilie 
 ■would retire to her drefling room after breakfalt, 
 and would then fee Sir William. 
 
 She now recolitcted lier filter's requcu, and 
 flatedjas well as (lie was able, the Irrefolution ai'.d 
 terror underwhich Marianne laboured. Mr.Duu- 
 ley, who had long thouglit his younger daughter 
 one of the peculiar favourites cf fortune, was afto- 
 niflied to find that ihe alfo was fufi'erlng under 
 '< the penalty of Adam." He readily promifcd 
 his afliftance, but had Lcuifa been in a livelier 
 humour, it ispoflible they might have mutually 
 laughed at the peculiar nature cf the fair mocr- 
 nei's embarraflnK-nt. 
 
 I for- 
 
^6 A gossip's story. 
 
 I formerly gave a reafcn why I avoided dwell- 
 ing upon love fcenes ; and indfed th.at which 
 I'.afil'd between Mil's Dudley and Sir Wiliiam 
 was not very well calculated to do cr-:dic to the 
 dtfcriber. The gentleman, was cor.lequentia!, 
 the lady vras confuted. The fwain, e:. tiie mo- 
 r.'.enr he declarc'd his high {^cni'c of hie- miilrefs's 
 excellencies, took care to place his own advan- 
 tages in a Itriking point of view ; and the nymph, 
 •wlicn he tci^k leave, could not help vvifi-.ing that 
 he might appear to greater advantage at his next 
 interview. 
 
 Confidering it wrong in her prefent fituation 
 fo i?vh:ige rtrflecTions to his dif.idvantage, MTs 
 Dudley ftrove to banifh them, by adapting the 
 iollowing llai;zas to her havpfiehortl : 
 
 S O N G. 
 
 1. 
 
 Th' IdaKan boy with frolick mien, 
 And Cytherea, changeful Queen, 
 
 To Hymen's (lirine advance ; 
 Hope beckons to her fairy band, 
 With thefe the Graces, hand in hand, 
 
 Unite in feftal dance. 
 
 II. 
 
 Pleafure attunes her filver fhell, 
 Of ever- during joys to tell, 
 
 Which mutual love fupplics ; 
 And fanguine youth, enwreath'd with flowers, 
 Tvanfported views the white-rob'd hours, 
 
 That bright in vifion rife. 
 
 III. 
 
A gossip's story. 57- 
 
 III. 
 
 But not for me the joyful train 
 
 Bids Pleafure found that raptur'd drain,. 
 
 For me no Graces play ; 
 Th' Idalian boy bends not his bow. 
 Nor does the torch of Hymen glow 
 
 On me with gladforae ray. 
 
 \1V. ^ 
 
 Be firm, my heart, the conflift dare,, 
 A father's grief, a father's care, 
 
 Thy wifh'd affent beguiles ; 
 And, powerful Virtue ! be thou nigh». 
 Chafe the fond dew-drop from my eye,. 
 
 And drefs my face in fmiles. 
 
 V. 
 
 Nor let mc with defponding gloom 
 Confine my profpefls to the tomb. 
 
 Or pine with mortal care ; 
 When confcience whifpers mental peace,' , _ 
 Shall not the war of paffion ceafe ? 
 
 To guilt belongs defpair. . 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 Humbly dedicated to the improvemfnt of alt fair 
 Quixotes in heroifm, 
 
 X_iEST the afFe£lion of my readers fhould be 
 wholly engrofled by the calm dignity with which 
 Louifa reconciled her mind to whatever was; 
 
 unpleafant: 
 
58 A gossip's stort. 
 
 iinpleafaiit In her fituation, I fliall dedicate this 
 chapter to Marianne, who was now imnierfed 
 in a fea of troubles. 
 
 She fo deeply pondered on the probable con- 
 fequences of the interview with her father, that 
 lier mind was rendered too weak to derive any 
 benefit from it. She alternately threw herfelf 
 upon the fopha, and reclined upon the bofom of 
 lier confidential maid Patty. She now feared 
 fhe (hould never fupport herfelf in the expetted 
 converfation, and then again fortified her refo- 
 lution with hartfiiorn. 
 
 Mr. Dudley, at his firfl entrance into Iier 
 drefiiiig-room, perceived his daughter's terrors, 
 and endeavoured to divert them. He praifed 
 the docility of a bull-finch, which, at lier bidding, 
 chanted the tune of ** Ma chere amie." He 
 next commended the elegant fancy, with which 
 ifhe had decorated Mifs Milton's portrait, by 
 conne£ling it to her own by a broad blue rib- 
 band, on which the words, "The bond of 
 friendfnip," were embroidered in filver foil. By 
 thus leading her attention from the fubje£}, he 
 enabled her to recover herfelf; and in a little 
 lime fhe found courage to tell him, that fiie 
 >vifhed to have his opinion whether it would be 
 improper for her to difmifs Mr. Pelham.. 
 
 Of that, Mr. Dudley anfwered, fhe muft be 
 the beft judge, as fhe knew what kind of encou- 
 ragement fne had given him. 
 
 " None, upon her word," flie replied, " ex- 
 cept permitting his vifits." 
 
 " The difmiffion of a lover who has received 
 only that mark of attention," refumed Mr. 
 Dudley, is rather an embarrafTmg affair ; fince 
 it proves that the perfon you thouglu worthy, 
 
 when 
 
A gossip's story. 59 
 
 when at a dlftance, is not fo eligible upon a 
 nearer view. Will you, my dear. Hate your 
 obje(nions to Mr. Pelliani ;" 
 
 Marianne began lier cuflomary complaints. 
 *' Their fentiments did not coincide, their 
 taftes were materially difFerent, there was no 
 fimilitude of foul, nothing to form that ftrong 
 tie of fympathy which you know," faid flie, 
 *«< muft exift, or elfe there can be no certain 
 expedlation of felicity." 
 
 "Perhaps, my love," replied Mr. Dudley,. 
 ** you will alter your opiiiion when you have 
 heard what 1 am going to tell you. I have not 
 entirely depended upon Mr. Pelham's very pre- 
 poflefTing conntenance, nor the amiable urba-- 
 nity of his manners, in forming a favourable 
 opinion of his intrinfick worth. I have taken 
 the liberty Lady Milton propofed, and have 
 made repeated enquiries refpes^ling his charac- 
 ter. The refult is highly faiisfaclory. I am 
 told that his morals are unexceptionable, and 
 that his reputation for probity and goodnefs 
 {lands very high. He is refpeclfully treattd by 
 his fuperiors; a proof that he is free from th^; 
 contemptible meannefs of fawning fervility. 
 His equals efteem him, and he is idolized by hijf 
 dependents; I (hould therefore think his bene- 
 volence and agreeable temper unqueftionable. 
 In fine, 1 am told that he is a kind mafter, an 
 indulgent landlord, an obliging neighbour, and . 
 a fteady adllve friend." 
 
 " "Yet, Sir," faid Marianne, " you are only 
 defcribing what I fiiould call a good fort of per- 
 fon. Thefe are merely common virtues. How 
 deteftable would he b.e if deftitutc of them." 
 
 " fake 
 
6o A gossip's story. 
 
 •• Take care, Marianne, how you treat a 
 good fort of man, as you term him, with con- 
 tempt, or defpife the perfon who confcienti- 
 oully performs the ordinary duties of life. Pro- 
 vidence has afcertained their value by their 
 hourly recurrence. A man's family is tlie thea- 
 tre wherein he can exercife every laudable qua- 
 lity. If he fail to pradlife them daily at home, 
 he will never perform them gracefully before 
 the eye of the world. Believe me, my child, 
 the common virtues, as you ftile them, are mod 
 elFential parts of the human charadler. They 
 do not indeed dazzle our fenfes ; but they glad- 
 den our hearts by a mild uniform luftre. To 
 ■your queflion, what Mr. Pelham would be, if 
 tleilitute of them, I will anfwer, that many mea 
 are, who impofe upon the world as the poflef- 
 fors of fuperior merit; and who peculiarly at- 
 tra6l the attention of the fuperficial part of 
 your fex." 
 
 " Do not fpeak with feverity, my dear Sir," 
 faid Marianne, her eyes fwimming with tears. 
 *' Your voice and look intimidate me." 
 
 «« My voice and look then belie my heart," 
 rejoined her father, " which at this moment 
 overflows in tendc-nefs for you. Proceed, my 
 love •, have you any thing elfe to ftate ?" 
 
 ** Many things, my deareft father. Yet 
 turn afide your face. Spare my blufiies. He js 
 jiot, indeed he is not, the tender, refpedful, 
 fympathizing lover, which my heart tells me is 
 iieceifary for my future repofe. He does not 
 love me, at lead with that ardent affection, that 
 deference, that afliduous timidity — But you 
 fmile, Sir." 
 
 ♦< I did 
 
A gossip's story. 6x 
 
 " I did, my dear, to fee by what a falfe ro- 
 mantlck Randard you eftimate your lover's worth. 
 Have you obferved fo little of real life as not to 
 perceive, that the kind of addrefs you talk of, 
 is chiefly pra^tifed by the defigning part of man- 
 kind, upon the woman whofe perfon or fortune 
 is the objedl of their defire ? You muft know 
 that marriage divefls you of all this afl'umed con- 
 fequence. Law and cuflom leave the hufband 
 aiafter of his own a£lions, and in a certain de- 
 gree arbiter of his wife's. Whether your lover 
 was a fentimental fniveller, or an artful defigner, 
 the mock majefty with which you were invefted 
 could not continue in the married ftate. The 
 romantic part of love quickly evaporates, and 
 the fooneft with him who has been the moll 
 vifionary in his expedlations. Think yourfelf 
 happy if the kneeling flave does not change into 
 the Tyrant, and compel you, in your turn, to 
 endure without complaint, the whimfical indif- 
 ference of caprice, or the fudden burft of petu- 
 lance. Do not let my long Ie(flure tire you ; but 
 I muft obferve that Mr. Pelham's charatler as a 
 man, is of much greater confequence to your 
 future peace, than his behaviour as a lover. 
 The latter diftin<Slion will foon be laid afide, on 
 the former you muft depend through life ; and 
 he who pra6lifes the other relative duties, will 
 feldom a£l wrong in this more intimate and in- 
 terefting connexion." 
 
 " But, Sir," faid Marianne, « even in your 
 circumfcribed and limited idea of love, fome 
 portion of it is neceflary. Three years ago I 
 pafled the fummer with Mr. Pelham at Lady 
 Milton's i if I rea/ly made an impreflion upon 
 his heart, would he have concealed his paffion 
 
 till 
 
6i A gossip's stort. 
 
 till my Grandmama's death had afcertained mv 
 fortune ? I then thought he appeared tnofl: at- 
 tentive to Mifs Milton." 
 
 *' If you, Marianne, are ferious in this objec- 
 tion, your age affords the beft anfwer. The 
 charadler of a girl at fixleen is not fufficientiy 
 determined, to allow a prudent man to look 
 forward to a permanent connexion. Nature has 
 been liberal to your perfon, and I perceive you 
 are fond of making impreflions at lirft fight ; 
 yet would you not wifli your lover to fay with 
 Juba, 
 
 ** 'Tis not a fet of features, or complexion^ 
 " The tinfture of the /Itin, that I admire; 
 ** The virtuous Marcia towers above her fex ?'* 
 
 Till you aie certain that the^^difcovery of fimilar 
 perfe<fi;ion in your charadler, has not fecured to 
 you Mr. Pelham's afFe<fl.ion, I fhouid advife you 
 not to think him mercenary. Befides, recoUedl: 
 he was then a minor, conf>.'quently he could not 
 with propriety think of marriage ; and an at- 
 tempt to engage you in the many inconvenien- 
 cies of a long entanglement, however confident 
 with the narrow views of feif-indu!gence, has 
 little of the generofiiy infeparable from my idea 
 of true love." 
 
 Marianne afked, with fome degree of eager- 
 nefs, whether true love could difcover any faults 
 in the obje£l of its affections ? 
 
 Mr. Dudley was of opinion that it could, as 
 well as true friendfhip, for as the object of either 
 of ipiofe paffions was a fallible being, it was a 
 proof that we indulged them to a blameable ex- 
 cefs, when they precluded us from the exercife 
 of rsafon. *' I recolle<St," continued he, " the 
 
 circumftancs 
 
■ A gossip's stort. 63 
 
 circumftance to which I dare fay you allude, and 
 ■will only tell you, that if you do net renounce 
 your romantic notions before you ])ave been a 
 wife twelve months, I (hall think very highly in- 
 deed of your hulband'spolitenefs, or very meanly 
 of the fincerityof his attachment to you," 
 
 »' I fliall never be converted, Sir," replied 
 Marianne with a faint fniile. " The pi^ure 
 you have drawn of a married life, has deter- 
 mined me never to enter into it. My heart tells 
 me that if my hufband were to omit any of thofe 
 thoufand delicate attentions, thofe pleafing afh- 
 tluities that won me to be his, defpair and death 
 mufl. be the confequence," 
 
 *< If you fpeak ferioufly, my dear child, I fluU 
 advife you by all means to adhere to your refo- 
 lution. Your motives for reje(^ling what I think 
 a mod eligible ofler, prove that you have che- 
 riQied, inllead of fupprefled, thofe painful fenfi- 
 bilities, to which your fex owes its fevered 
 mifeiies ; are you, my love, who tremble at a 
 breeze, fit to encounter the florms of life f If 
 you feel yourfelf unable to fupport a cafual un- 
 kindnefs, in which perhaps the heart has no 
 fhare, or a cafual error from which the mind, 
 on recollection, revolted, endeavour to contrail 
 your fpher'e of action, and to make yourfelf 
 liappy with fewer bleffings, as you cannot en- 
 counter their attendant forrows. Marriage, like 
 all other fublunary connexions, mixes the bitter 
 with the fweet. Mutual confidence and cfteem 
 compofe the latter, and mutual forbearance 
 mud be exerted to palliate the former. The 
 fimilitude of foul, of tade, and of feniiment, 
 which you talk of, is not neceflary. The drong 
 tie of fympathy often cannot exid ; and the de- 
 licate 
 
^4 A gossip's stort, 
 
 licate attentions and pleafing afTiduities of the 
 lover fo rarely appear in the hufband, that if 
 thefe circumftances y?/7/ feem eflential to your 
 peace, do not commit your happinefs to the 
 {lender chance of finding a human phoenix, but 
 confine your fenfibiiityto the calmer enjoyments, 
 of friendiliip. A miftalce there will neither be 
 fo irretrievable, nor fo excruciating." 
 
 Marianne only anfwered with a deep figh,, 
 and Mr. Dudley, after conjuring her to give the: 
 whole argument a fair difcuflion, withdrew. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 A fpecitnen of an AbigaiPs eloquence. Marianne 
 appears in various points of view. 
 
 Immediately after Mr. Dudley was gone,. 
 Mrs. Patty entered the dreffing-room. From 
 the circumftance of having attended her young 
 lady from her infancy, fiie imagined herfelf in- 
 titled to give her opinion upon every occurrence, 
 and by virtue of liftening had made herfelf mif- 
 tr^fs of fome part of the foregoing converfation.. 
 She was particularly (hocked at the cruel advice 
 given againft matrimony; nor could fhe have 
 endured greater c nfternationj had her lady's 
 laft prefent been, fpoiled at the dyer's, or had 
 any one aflured her that the butler had fent a 
 billet-doux to the houfekeeper. Thofe, who 
 confider how advantageous a young lady's love; 
 
 affairs.^ 
 
A gossip's story. 6^ 
 
 affairs are to an Abigail, the certainty of poflef- 
 fing all the oM wardrobe, when the fair bride 
 puts on her nuptial paraphernalia, and the pof- 
 fibility of further prefents ; raufl have hearts of 
 adamant, if they do not excufe Mrs. Patty's paf- 
 fio!!, and forgive her, though (he (hould be a lit- 
 tle illiberal to Mr. Dudley. 
 
 " Oh, Patty !" exclaimed Marianne, " I am 
 not equal to tlie troubles I muft undergo. lam 
 weary of life." 
 
 «• A great deal too good for the people you 
 are confamcd with, Madam," replied Patty. — 
 ** Oh, no, I am a poor help'.efs, weak, inconfift- 
 ent creature." 
 
 *' Sul if I were you, Madam, I would not be 
 fo lo;:g. Mr. Frank tells me as how his mailer 
 is quite refolved about it, and means to put the 
 quellion this very time ; and I know / (hould 
 not argufy long. 1 never knew no good come 
 of fhaiyjhally doings, I'd have him at once." 
 
 " 1 never will," faid Marianne, «' nor any 
 one elfe. I detcfl the fex. My father has in~ 
 fpired me with an abhorrence of all men." 
 
 *' Never did I hear of any thing fo barbarous," 
 cried the indignant Patty. "I am fure you ne- 
 ver lliould have feen him this morning, if I had 
 thought what he was going to fay. Jull as if it 
 was not natural to be married, and as if people- 
 then could not be hnppy if they like. 1 am fure 
 it is their own faults if they artist. Hate all 
 men, indeed ! why t'^e poor young gentleman 
 will go mad. Pray, Ma'am, don't ufe fuch fad 
 words any more, for you frighten me to death. 
 But 1 know what our old gentleman would be 
 at, I can fee as well as another." 
 
 Marianne, 
 
66 A gossip's story. 
 
 Marianne, who fat deeply mufing upon what 
 her father had urged, did not hear one v/ord of 
 Patty's eloquence ; but paffionately exclaimed, 
 *• O my Grand-mama ! if your fatal partiaHty 
 had never diftinguifhed your unhappy chihi, I 
 fhould have had no caufe to doubt the (incerity 
 of my lover's attachment. Fortune, thou idol 
 of mercenary fouls, 1 deleft thy pageant incum- 
 brance !" 
 
 Mrs. Patty, who thought money a very good 
 thing, and was feldom withheld from anfwering 
 by not clearly comprehending her lady's mean- 
 ing, readily replied, «' Why, certainly Ma'am, 
 when people love one another, there is no need 
 for money to make them happy, and to be fure, 
 young Mr. Peiham is very rich, and you may 
 not like to keep much company. But then can- 
 not you live quite retired, and do a great deal of 
 good, and be -y^/v generous to every body about 
 you." 
 
 " I repeat that I hate him, that I am deter- 
 mined againft him, exclaimed Marianne. 
 
 Patty, who thought it impoflible her miftrefs 
 fliould, of her own accord, hate fuch a good-hu- 
 moured looking gentkman, was out of all pati- 
 ence with Mr. Dudley; to v/hom llie fuppofed 
 this determination was owing, and refolved to 
 relieve herfclf from the burden of ilie fecret, 
 which flie had faithfully concealed i/:ree hours. 
 " Shame upon them," faid (lie, «< for a pareel 
 of crafty folks, and Heaven forgive me for 
 fpeaking rafii, hut I can tell why he does this. 
 Why Ma'am, I did not mean you fhould know 
 any thing about it, and to be fure I promifed 
 Thomas not to fay a word, but it is very true 
 for all that. — Ycur Papa has outrun the confta- 
 
A gossip's stcrv. 67 
 
 ble I find, and as fure as you are alive wants 
 you never to marry, that you may take care of 
 him, and the ^ViH Louifa he is fo fond of. Tho- 
 mas told me this very morning that thinps vv^ere 
 in a fad poor way. His mailer gets no fleep, 
 but is walking about his room, or elfe writing, 
 and locking over accounts. And he found a 
 bit of an old letter, fo he is fure there will be a 
 crafiifoon. But I know if I were you, 1 never 
 would be inade a tool of, and all to pleafe a fa- 
 vourite filler." 
 
 As wife people often defeat their aims by too 
 great caution, cunning alfo frequently overfhoots 
 the mark by too much craft. Patty's fpeech, 
 inftead of awakening the angry malevolent paf- 
 ficns in the bofom of her gentle miltrefs, as (he 
 defigncd it (hould, infpired the kindeft forrow 
 for her unfortunate father ; mingled with a re- 
 gret too tender to be called envy, that his pre- 
 ference for Louifa was fo vifible. Her heart 
 was really excellent, and fne refolved not meanly 
 to fupplant, but heroically to emulate her fifter. 
 Mifs Dudley's motive for eiicouragirg Sir Wil- 
 liam was now apparent, and flimulated by her 
 example, INIarianne formed the refolution of ne- 
 ver marrying, while her father's circumftances 
 continued perplexed, but to dedicate the fortune 
 Ihe had juil quarrelled with to his fupport. 
 
 The heart is never {o eafy as when luflained 
 by confcious rectitude, and though the roman- 
 tic turn of this young lady's mind, taught her 
 to overlook little dutie-, it impetuoufly urged 
 l;er to perforn) high acSls of virtue. 'I'o increale 
 ihc merit of the facrifice, (lie refolved to conceal 
 the motive, and after feverely cliiding Patty for 
 Iier imp-rtinent invedives, (which flie with the 
 
 true 
 
68 A GOSSIP S STORY- 
 
 true adroitnefs of her profefTion, excufed by ex- 
 uberant declarations of regard for her deareft 
 lady,) difpatched her to beg a fccond interview 
 ■with Mr. Dudley. 
 
 She met him with a fmile, which beaming 
 through her tears, befpoke the triumph of forti- 
 tude in a feeling heart, and told him, fhe had 
 weighed his arguments, and felt determined 
 againft marriage. 
 
 Mr. Dudley begged her to form no refoluti- 
 ons which might reilrain her judgment refpe£l- 
 ing a future connecSlion. A lover might appear 
 better adapted to her tafte ; but as Mr. Pelham 
 had not fufficient influence to induce her to 
 change the fingle (late, his difmiffion became 
 unavoidable. 
 
 Marianne told her father her motives would 
 ever hold in force : "You will," faid fhe, "be 
 left without a companion when Louifa marries 
 Sir William. Allow me to fill her place in 
 your affe<f\ions, and to dedicate my life to you/' 
 " You will ever preferve your oivrf place," — 
 faid Mr. Dudley, clafping her to his bofom, 
 ** and I truft my beloved girls will only leave 
 me to fecure to themfelves more tender and af- 
 fe^ionate friends, whofe prote6tion will conti- 
 nue vi'hen mine is terminated by the law of na- 
 ture. Time, my Marianne, will, I hop^, dimi- 
 nifli that dangerous fufceptibility whicli wars 
 againfl your peace, and then, like your filter, 
 you will increafe my happinefs, by giving me a 
 ion worthy of my tendereft alTeillon, if de.^'crv- 
 ing of you," 
 
 Marianne's tranfport was unbounded. Filial 
 piety taught her to glory in the praife of fuch a 
 father, while confcience increafcd her joy, by 
 
 fuggefting 
 
A gossip's stort. 69 
 
 fuggefting the honed pride of having rieferved 
 it. The only talk remaining, was to difmifs 
 Mr. Pelham politely, and Mr. Dudley reluc- 
 tantly undertook tlie painful oflice. 
 
 That gentleman's mind was indeed prepared 
 in feme degree for this mortification. He per- 
 ceived the little progrefs he had made in his 
 charmer's heart ; and as his attachment rather 
 increafed than declined, he felt the fevereft con- 
 cern. Defirous of fecuring a woman, interefl- 
 inj; even in her eccentricities, he would willing- 
 ly have framed his addreffes to her tafle; but 
 as it is very difhcult for a man of honour to 
 adopt the character which he defpifes, or to 
 fpeak a language foreign to his heart, his un- 
 fortunate attempts at fighing Strephon were To 
 remarkably unfuccefsful, that they only gave 
 the iiiea of an ironical caricature-, and convinc- 
 ed Marianne tijat he rather defigr.ed to ridicule 
 than to flatter her opinion. But, though equal- 
 ly unhappy in his natural and aflumed charac- 
 ter, he (lillrkept lingering near her, fafcinated 
 by the hope which Jove fupplieil, that time 
 might work fome change in his fortune. A 
 hope which the favourable regard of Mr. and 
 Mifs Dudley certainly ftrengthcued. 
 
 The regret he felt at being deferted by this 
 poor fupport, was too fevere to be fcf.ened hf 
 the warm expreflions of eiteem \vi:h which Mr. 
 Dudley qualified his daughter's reiufal. He re- 
 peatedly enquired if her determinations were 
 pcfitiveJy fixed ; if entreaties might not prevail 
 upon her at leaft to poflpone his rejection ; at 
 length recolledling himfelf, and fortifying his 
 mind by the proud (or (hah I fay by the prudent) 
 confideration that marriage could promife little 
 
 happiaefs. 
 
70 A GOSSIP S STORY 
 
 happinefs, unief'^ rounder! on the bafis of mutual 
 regard, lie dc.eriniiicrt to fubmit to his fa^e. At 
 taknig leave of cStvniadine ht- irnprefT^d every 
 one with grief for his departure", except the per- 
 fon whofe approbation he had been moft foii- 
 citous to obtain. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 Extremely nfeful to the author y giving; her an op- 
 portunity of filling her booky contrafling her 
 characlerSy and difplaying great critical acumen. 
 
 X H E mythological fable of the combat be- 
 tween Hercules and Antceus, may allude to the 
 pertinacity with which the human mind reverts 
 to its firfl deiigns. When our plans are thwart- 
 ed and difconcerted, the momeni«of apparent 
 defeat is that in which we moft zealouflv form 
 the projeil of a frefli attack. My claflical rea- 
 ders will thank me for this allufion, if it be only 
 aprplied to a Wciiting-maid. 
 
 In (hort, tae redoubtable Patty, though one 
 offer of m.arriage was abfolutely negatived, was 
 ilill rcfolved to defeat her matter's fuppcfed de- 
 fign, of fortuning Mifs Dudley with her la'dy's 
 property ; and thinking numerous lovers mud 
 at leaft unfettle her intention of living in " blef- 
 fed finglenefs," (he began to debate upon the 
 ways and means of raiiing her aa army of ad- 
 mirers. 
 
 The 
 
1 gossip's story. 71 
 
 The worlil is ever {o generoufly Inclined to 
 refcue a ricii beauty fr'.vii the vile durance in 
 which The is kept by in avaricious, tyrannical, 
 or capricious father, that Patty had only to 
 tell her poor miflrefs's hard faic, in order to 
 fucceed. Even Danbury was not without 
 foniewhat of the chivalrous Ipirit, and two 
 Knights-errant ifl'urd forth to refcue the captive 
 Damfel. I choufe to fpeak according to che 
 real intention of the parties, for oflenfibly it 
 was oidy one Knight, and an attendant hTquire. 
 
 Captain Target encouraged Mr. Aifop to 
 make propofals, promifing to fecond hiin with 
 all the powers of his addrefs and eloquence ; 
 which, to fay truth, lie meant to employ to his 
 own advantage, if occafion offered. Let thofs 
 who cenfure this as a breach of friendOiip, con- 
 fider the f.ifcination of youth, wealth, and 
 beauty, and they will, at lead, allow that the 
 Captain did not a61: an wicommort part. 
 
 As it was very material to the fuccefs of 
 their projefls, that Mr. Dudley fliould not be 
 apprized of them, referve in his prefence be- 
 carr.e indifpenfably nccefla'-y ; and Mr Alfop 
 depending upon his friend for explanation, was 
 not fufuciently pointed in his devoirs to Ma- 
 rianne, to enable her to difcov' 1, whether the 
 frequency of'thefe gentlemen's 'its was owing 
 to the attraction of her own ch?.r'->.s, or the good 
 arrangement of her father's t / -ie. There was 
 fomething fo unique in them Lth, that without 
 any fhare cf coquetry it was allowable to in- 
 dulge a laugh at their exp.T.ce; and Louifa 
 often diverted her mind from the gloom of her 
 own profpeds, by rallying her fifter upon her 
 conqued, not only^of young meum and tuum, 
 
 but 
 
72 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 but alfo of the veteran fon of Mars. Except the 
 amuiement which they iifForded the ladies, their 
 prefence added little to the pleafures of Stanna- 
 dine. To a man like Mr. Dudley, pofielTed of 
 refources in his own mind, what is commonly 
 called a good neighbour is rather a formitiible 
 chara6ler; and Sir William Milton, now almolt 
 an inmate in the family, never fpent an hour 
 with our Danbury beaux, without dlfcovering 
 fome new quality to excite contempt. Neither 
 of my friends were fkilful in making difcoveries 
 of the mortifying kind ; Mr. Alfop knew no 
 other criterion by which to difcover diflike, than 
 the blunt expreflion of ** Sir, I do not want your 
 company," and the Captain was perfuaded that 
 Mr. Dudley enjoyed his long military details, 
 and tb.at his happy, eafy^ unencumbered, atten- 
 tive manner had quite conquered the Baronet's 
 referve ; becaufe he often condefcended to lau^jh 
 at his jefts ; but Captain Target was not bleiT.d 
 with the cleartft penetration. 
 
 Converfation is a delicacy of that peculiar na- 
 ture, that to preferve all its agreeable pungency, 
 many uncommon ingredients are neceffary. Mr. 
 Dudley often feU. diilrefied how to amufe his 
 guifts, and one evening, to prevent the rifing 
 yawn, without having recourfe to the famenefs 
 of cards, he propofeii the perufal of a Legendary 
 Tale, which h^d afforded bun entertainment a 
 few days before. Mariann ? feconded the mo- 
 tion, declart ig herfelf an euUHiriaftic admirer of 
 poetry. Her eclio Alfop repeated her words, 
 with the addition that he loved it fo much, that 
 ht always ufed to read the pretty things in the 
 papers to his pappa and his aunt Peggy ; and 
 the Captain enjoyed tales and flories to his 
 
 heart. 
 
A GOSSIP 3 STORY. 73 
 
 heart. It was at firfl propofed that Louifa 
 fhould be orator, but (he, with graceful diffi- 
 dence, defined leave to propofe an abler f.iblli- 
 tute, and delivered the manufcript to Sir Wil- 
 liam, with a fmile which almoft divefted his 
 countenance of its ufual aufterity. 
 
 As my narrative is not now at a very inter- 
 efling period, I am inclined to hope my critical 
 readers will allow me the Goffip's privilege ot 
 digreffion. I will promife them, that my po- 
 etical epifode fiiall be as conducive to forivard 
 my main plot, as fecondary charadters and 
 flowery illuftrations are, in the moft approved 
 productions of my contemporaries. Befides the 
 ufual advantage of filling my volumes, thofe, 
 who choofe to (kip over adventitious matter, 
 will at one glance know where to begin again. 
 The moral may recommend it to the few, who 
 flill love to fee nobility clad in the refpedlable 
 robe of virtue; and eminent rank defcribed in 
 unifon with dignified fentiments and generous 
 actions. 
 
 RODOLPHO, 
 
( 74 ) 
 RODOLPHO, EARL OF NORFOLK j 
 
 A 
 
 LEGENDARY TALE. 
 
 IVifdcm and Fortune combating toc^e//jer. 
 If that the former do but luhut it can, 
 No chance can Jhaks it. 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 PARTI. 
 
 j[ WAS at the hour when evening's pall 
 Hangs ligl'tly on the vale, 
 The fongllers of the grove were mute, 
 Hiilh'd was each rudtr gale : 
 
 The weary fwain bath fought the path 
 
 VVliich toward the hamlet goes, 
 To take his hard-earn'd frugal meal. 
 
 And inatch his Ihovt repofe : 
 
 When by the tufted oaks that throw 
 
 Long ihadows o'er the mead, 
 The brave ill fated Edgar led 
 
 His much o'er-wearied ileed. 
 
 Bruis'd was his buckler, deeply bruis'd 
 
 Tlie cuirafs on his bread ; 
 And many a hollile blow had faU'n 
 
 Upon his batter'd crcft. 
 
 Affliftion o'er his giaceful form 
 
 A foft attraftion threw. 
 As damafl< rofes feem more fweet 
 
 When wafa'd by morning dew. 
 
 As 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 75 
 
 As flid he mui'd on pleafures paft, 
 
 On croifes that annoy, 
 And every bitter ill that taints 
 
 The cup of human joy ; 
 
 Sudden a tumult In the wood 
 
 His ftariled car alarms, 
 The Hivick of terror and fiirprize, 
 
 The cUng of hollile arms. 
 
 Nor did the generous Edgar doubt 
 
 His fuccour to bcftow, 
 His heart, tiio' full of fiiarp diftrefs, 
 
 Still felt another's woe. 
 
 Now, near the fpot, he view'd a fcene 
 
 Which might the brave affright, 
 Six ruffians join'd in murderous league 
 
 i^gainll one gallant Knight : 
 
 That Knight with inbred courage warm'd 
 
 Full on th' affailants bore ; 
 A faithful fervant at his feet 
 
 Lay bath'd in mortal gore. 
 
 Rcfiftlefs as the lightning's flaHi, 
 
 His faulchion Edgar drew ; 
 Nor does the dreadtd bolt of Heaven 
 
 Defcend with aim mo'C true. 
 
 Two quickly fell ; the llranger Knight 
 
 Th' unhop'd-for fuccour bleil ; 
 New vigour nerv'd his lircwy arm. 
 
 And fortify 'd his bread. 
 
 Sharp was the confliiil I dire the fcene ! 
 
 But Heaven is virtue's guard; 
 By arduous confli£i: proves its worth, 
 
 To judify reward. 
 
 All lifelefs fell ; the refcu'd Knight 
 
 Survey'd them on the ground ; 
 And knew them well, an outlaw'd band 
 
 For defp'ratc deeds rcnown'd. 
 
 E 2 And 
 
76 A gossip's story. 
 
 And now he fnatch'd brave Edgar's hand 
 
 With frank and courteous mien ; 
 " How dear," he cried, " 1 prize my life, 
 
 Flereafter (hall be feen. 
 
 No low-born pcafant haft thou fav'd, , 
 
 No Lafe unthankful churl ; 
 Rodolpho is my name, a Knight, 
 
 And now of Norfolk, Earl. 
 
 But let us to my caftle hade, 
 
 In yonder vale it lies ; 
 And lo, to fpeed our tardy fteps, 
 
 Night's deeper (hades arife." 
 
 They left the wood-crown'd hills, and fwift 
 
 The winding vale explor'd ; 
 And here a train with lighted brands 
 
 Came forth to meet their lord. 
 
 Their veftures of rich cloth of gold 
 
 Shone glittering in the light. 
 And foon the caftle's fpacious walls 
 
 Burft full on Edgar's fight. 
 
 The ample moat, the lofty fpires. 
 
 Each vx'ork of Gothick art, 
 Proclaim'd at once the mailer's wealth. 
 
 And fpoke his liberal heart. 
 
 Obfervant of his honour'd will, 
 
 The fcrvants crowded round, 
 And Edgar faw the ftately board 
 
 With taitcful viands crovvn'd. 
 
 Rodolpho took a golden bowl, 
 
 Mantling with cordial wine, 
 And graceful to his gallant gued 
 
 Confign'd the draught divine. 
 
 Then to his train, " Whilft we with food 
 
 Our wafted ftrength reftore, 
 Go, bid the minftrel's fweet-tou'd haip 
 
 >-^&iiie foothing dittv pour." 
 
 The 
 
A GOSSH'ls STORY. 77 
 
 The bard obey'd ; love's v.';oes be fang, 
 
 And then that defcant clear, 
 Whofe theme, the wars of ancient daysj 
 
 Enchants the chieftain's ear. 
 
 But as the wat'ry halo veils 
 
 The fplendor of the moon. 
 So look'd Sir Edgai's tearful eyes, 
 
 Pain'd at the martial tune. 
 
 Rodolpho ftopp'd the thrilling fong. 
 
 Then thus his train addreil, 
 ** That yet I live to thank your care, 
 
 Be this brave hero blelt. 
 
 Had not his arm from robbers fell 
 
 A fure defence lupplyM, ~ . 
 
 I now had lain a litVlefs corfe 
 
 By faithful Ofbert's fide." 
 
 He ceas'd ; and through the fpacious hall 
 
 The burft of tranfport reign'd, 
 Which, plainer far than ftudy'd fpeech, 
 
 Great Norfolk's worth explain'd. 
 
 On Edgar each the ardent eye 
 
 Of grateful blefling threw ; 
 It fpokc the feelings of their beart8> 
 
 It fpoke their virtues too. 
 
 The tumult ceas'd : now all retlr'd,- 
 
 Save Norfolk and his gueft ; ' 
 
 Again the Earl grafp'd Edgar's hand, 
 
 And tremulous addrefs'd : 
 
 " Fortune around my favour'd head 
 
 Has all her gifts diffus'd. 
 Nor yet has Love, to blefs my life. 
 
 Her fvvceter hopes refus'd. 
 
 My father from the Norman fhorc 
 
 With Royal William came-; 
 He fliar'd the dangers of his lord, 
 
 He fliar'd alike bis fame. 
 
 Proportion'd 
 
78 A gossip's story, 
 
 Proportioii'd to his foldier's worth, 
 
 The King rewarub bellovv'd ; 
 And, fiuce my father's death, to me 
 
 Hath Royal bounty flow'd. 
 
 His honour'd patronage I boaft, 
 
 His confidence poffei's ; 
 I life my pow'r to punifh wrong, 
 
 To mitigate diltrcfs. 
 
 Thou brave preferver of my life, 
 
 Or let me call thee friend, 
 My tongue would fpeak my heart's warm wifh. 
 
 But fears it may offend. 
 
 In ev'ry gePaire, ev'ry look, 
 
 Thy lofty f.Jul 1 trace; 
 The di;inity of confcious worth 
 
 Informs thy meaning face. 
 
 Yet have I mark'd thy frequent fighs 
 
 Which, tho' in part fupprefs'd. 
 Awake a fear that fortune*wrongs 
 
 Have oft thy foul diftrefs'd. 
 
 Say then, in all the ample (lore. 
 
 The power, the wealth 1 bear. 
 Is there a blelnng thou wouldft deign, 
 
 At my requelt, to ihare ? 
 
 Nor fear to af]< ; Rodolpho's life 
 
 Is not of value bafe ; 
 Some ample boon, fome princely gift, 
 
 Should its preferver grace." 
 
 He paua'd ; o'er Edgar's glowing face 
 
 A deep fuffufion pais'd ; 
 And now his eye was rais'd to HeaTen, 
 
 And now on Norfolk catt. 
 
 " Oh foul of honour !" he exclaim'd, 
 " Too high the chance you rate ; 
 
 Which haply led me to behold 
 Thy late uifailrous Hate. 
 
 For 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. "/'^ 
 
 For he who had a moment paus'd, 
 
 Yet fetn th' unr(in?il ftrife, 
 Muft have a heart as bale as thofe 
 
 Who fought thy facrcd hfe. 
 
 Great Earl ! as at thy feflal board 
 
 Obfervant I have fate, 
 And feen thy menials with deh'ght 
 
 '1 hy honoured mandate wait: 
 
 My foul hath miis'd on all the wrongs 
 
 I unregarded met, 
 From thofe who, tho' they (hare thy rank. 
 
 Its duties dill forget. 
 
 If to a poor man's fimple tale 
 
 Thou canll indeed attend, 
 And to a lod and friendlefs wretch 
 
 Thy favouring arm extend ; 
 
 Know then, that Edgar is my name, 
 
 And tho' of humble birth, 
 I boaft a parentage renown'd 
 
 For uncorruptcd worth. 
 
 My father, whoCe ingenuous mind 
 
 Confef&'d fair glory's charms, 
 Infpir'd his dear and only fon 
 
 With love of arts and arms. 
 
 Fair was the promlfe of my youth, 
 
 Beyond my rank or years ; 
 In ftudious lore, in manly fporls, 
 
 I rofe above my peers. 
 
 Impaffion'd memory with delight 
 
 Yet recollefts the days. 
 When all was pleafure, all was hope, 
 
 Encouragement, and praife. 
 
 Deftru(5live to this fcene of joy. 
 
 Love wak'd its fatal flame ; 
 Rob'd in an angel's fmiling form. 
 
 The dear delufion came. 
 
 Thoii 
 
?o A gossip's story. 
 
 Thou fay'ft, Rodolpho, thou haft lov'd. 
 
 Thou wilt not then dif-:' n'n 
 To hear me, tho' from grief diffufe, 
 
 My tale of woe explain : 
 
 A Saxon lord, whofe lofty tovv'rs 
 
 O'erlook'd the vale he plow'd. 
 To grace his daughter's natal day, 
 
 Conven'd a feital crowd. . 
 
 The martial fports, the conqueror's prize. 
 
 My fwellirig heart infl.im'd ; 
 I went, and viftor in the jouil, 
 
 The promis'd honour claim'd. 
 
 I follow'd with exulting ftcp 
 
 The vafiTals of tl.e lord, 
 To where the miftrcfs of the feaft 
 
 Eeilow'd the wifh'd reward. 
 
 High on a ruftick. throne fiie fate. 
 
 With woodland lilies crown'd. 
 Her fimple veil of virgin white 
 
 A cord of filver bound. 
 
 O'er her fair neck, whofe fnowy hue 
 
 Her garland did upbraid, 
 Half falling from a filken net 
 
 Her nut-brown treffcs ftray'd. 
 
 She turn'd on me her radiant eyes, 
 
 Bright as thf ftar of love ; 
 She fmil'd ; fo fwef tly breaks the morn 
 
 In yon blue vault above. 
 
 But each fine feature to defcrlbe, 
 
 Demands fap^frior art ; 
 SnfEce it, their remembrance lives. 
 
 Deep graven in my heart. 
 
 In tones, harmonious as the fpheres. 
 
 My wifh'd fucctfs flie hail'd : 
 I fhould have anfwercd, but at once 
 
 The pow'r of language fail'd. 
 
 Kneellnjr 
 
A gossip's stort. 8£ 
 
 Kneeling T took the profTer'd prize, 
 
 In humble awe 1 gaz'd ; 
 A courtly vidtor would have fpoke, 
 
 A colder lover prais'd. 
 
 Blufhing fhe fought the fcftal hall ; 
 
 There 'mid the virgin choir, 
 Obedient to her father's will. 
 
 She chaunted to her lyre. 
 
 The hopes of virtue were her theme, 
 
 Its perils, and its praife ; 
 Her heavenly looks might fpeak herfelf 
 
 The fubjecl of her lays. 
 
 O blefl; tranfcendently ! (he cry'd, 
 
 And worthy to be bleft, 
 Are all who^ through the maze of life,' 
 
 Keep virtue's pure beheft. 
 
 Hard is the taflc, but toil and pain 
 
 Invigorates the mind. 
 Which, finking on the couch of floth, 
 
 Feels all its pow'rs confin'd. 
 
 Heaven ne'er meant that rran with eafe 
 
 His wiHies HioUia obtain, 
 He muft from labour's ftrenuous grafp 
 
 The palm of triumph gain. 
 
 Oh gcn'rous youth ! if e'er thy heart 
 
 To glory dares afpire. 
 Let aftive merit's guiding ray 
 
 Diredt the great delire. 
 
 By virtue, to the Kappy few 
 
 Who love her laws, is giv'n 
 Heartfelt tranquillity on earth,. 
 
 And happinefs in heav'n. 
 
 She ceas'd ; the numbers, on my foul 
 
 New euergy beftow'd ; 
 At once love wak'd its thrilling flame, 
 
 And emulation glo\s''d. 
 
 E 3 Ifeli 
 
82 A gossip's STOR-y. 
 
 I felt the buoyant gale of hope 
 
 A rifing fervour breathe ; 
 Vaft was her worth, but fanguine love 
 
 Can miracles atchieve. 
 
 Arms feem'd the ncareft path to fame ; 
 
 I roijs'd my rullic bands, 
 And relcu'd from an outlaw'd chief 
 
 Her father's richeft lands. 
 
 1 conqiier'd, but with generous pride 
 
 All retribution wav'd ; 
 I only fought my charmer's fmile, 
 
 And fcorn'd the lands I fav'd. 
 
 Eut foon her father's piercing ken 
 
 My latent love defcry'd ; 
 Still will the confcious eyedifclofe 
 
 Thofe truths the heart would hide. 
 
 Mufing on every favouring hope 
 
 Her gentle fmiles convey'd, 
 As pcnlively one day 1 fate 
 
 Bcneatli a poplar's fhade, 
 
 Her father came ; Dar'lt thou, he cry'd. 
 
 Of rullic birth, afpire 
 To gain a beauteous lady's love. 
 
 Who calls a Baron fire ? 
 
 Prefume not on the little fame 
 
 Thy fword by chance hath won, 
 Far nobler deeds, far ampler praife, 
 
 Muft grace my future fon. 
 
 But to difguife thy daring love. 
 
 No mean denials feek ; 
 E'en now it flafhes in thy eyes, 
 
 And blufhes on thy cheek. 
 
 My vengeance, yes, my vengeance, bor, 
 
 Can arrogance reflrain ; 
 Dare not beyond to-morrow's fun 
 
 Abide in my domain. 
 
 He 
 
A gossip's story. 83;; 
 
 He ceas'd — I trembled ; 'twas not fear, 
 
 A glow of lionell. fliame ; 
 A painful confcioufnefs of worth, 
 
 Which yet I fcorn'd to name. 
 
 My ready hand had grafp'd my fword,, 
 But love the purpofe (lay'd ; 
 
 It was the father of my fair, 
 I (heath'd the half-drawn blade. 
 
 Yes, at thy bidding I will go, 
 
 From England I will fly ; 
 Thou haft infulted me ; 'tis well 
 
 1 frame no fierce reply. 
 
 Hereafter thou perchance may'ft hear 
 
 Of my fucceis in arms ; 
 My country's foes fnall know how well 
 
 1 prize thy daughter's charms. 
 
 I turn'd — the glow of injnr'd pride 
 Supprefs'd each mournful thought ; 
 
 I flew not to my father's arms, 
 But Robert's banners fought. 
 
 Exulting, on my arm the crofs 
 
 Of Paleftine I bound ; 
 Nor. doubted quickly to return. 
 
 With martial honours crown'd. 
 
 How well I fought, let envious fpleen,. 
 
 Let calumny proclaim ; 
 My native courage caught from love 
 
 £nthufia(lic flame. 
 
 By thofe I refcu'd, hated, fcorn'd, — 
 Ah ! fpare the painful tale — 
 
 I faw the hopes of youth and love. 
 Of truth and candour, fail. 
 
 Tir'd of a fcene where low-born art 
 Could merit's dues command, 
 
 Harafs'd with toil, with forrow worn,. 
 I fought my native land. 
 
 Thefc- 
 
^4 A gossip's story. 
 
 Thefe bruiTed arms and Knighthood's rank^^ 
 
 In fix long fummers won, 
 I bear ; to foorh a father's grief 
 
 For his unhappy fon. 
 
 Yet ftill 1 feel the fear of love. 
 
 But why that fear deplore i 
 It is the inmate of a heart 
 
 Where hope exifts no more/* 
 
 END OF PART I. 
 
 PART II. 
 
 " B/eJ are thofe 
 " IVhofe Hood a^nl judgment are fu tuell commlugled 
 ** That they are not a pipe for Fortune' s Jingers 
 " To found tvlmt Jlopjloe pleafes. Give me a man, 
 " That is not pa//ion'sfIave, and I ivill ivear him 
 '* In my heart's core, aye, in my heart of heart.'* 
 
 Shakspeare^ 
 
 X O Edgar then Rodolpho fpoke ; 
 
 " V/hat infolence deny'd, 
 By gen'roiis friendfhip's grateful hand 
 Shall amply be fupply'd. 
 
 And if the charmer of thy foul 
 
 Thy high defert can move, 
 Her haughty father fliall be forc'd 
 
 To court thy flighted love. 
 
 Oh ! Edgar, I have heard thee tell 
 
 The ilory of thy wovS, 
 And felt that int'rcft in thy fate 
 
 Which fympathy bellows. 
 
 Scorning 
 
A gossip's story. 8*^ 
 
 Scorning the fnares which for my rank 
 
 Ambitious beauty threw ; 
 No artful fmile, no ftudied glance. 
 
 My cold attention drew. 
 
 Anxious from every bafe reproach 
 
 My tow'ring fame to fhield. 
 In fcience I amufement fought. 
 
 And honour in the field. 
 
 As foremoft in the royal chafe 
 
 I urg'd my rapid ileed. 
 One day I met a lovely maid,. 
 
 Attir'd in forrow's weed. 
 
 Slow file approach'd ; when near, (he rais'd 
 
 Her long, diforder'd veil, ^ 
 
 And (hovv'd a face divinely fair. 
 But through dejeftion pale. 
 
 Wilt thou, fhe cried. Oh gallant Knight! 
 
 A Damftl's fears allay. 
 And fwiftly to my lord the King 
 
 My anxious fteps convey ? 
 
 I have a tale of woe to tell, 
 
 Would I could accefs find ! 
 All righteous Heav'n, who knows my grief. 
 
 Will move the royal mind. 
 
 1 would have footh'd the fair diftrefs'd. 
 
 But converfc (he delay'd: 
 I led her to th6 green wood tent, 
 
 Where Hill the monarch ftaid. 
 
 There in that eloquence of phrafe 
 
 Which forrow can '.- How, 
 Proftrate at royal Wiliia.n'sfeet, 
 
 She told her tale of woe. 
 
 Her father, injur'd by a lord, 
 
 Kank'd in the uyal train, 
 Had dar'd to utter his complaints 
 
 In trcafon's guilty ftrain. 
 
 With 
 
86 A gossip's story. 
 
 With purposM infurreftion charg'd, 
 
 ImpnTon'd and anaign'd ; 
 He faw his ancient honours leiz'd, 
 
 His fair demefnes diArain'd. 
 
 And ftill th' inexorable law, 
 
 By mercy unconfin'd. 
 Had, to attainder of eftate, 
 
 Life's deadly forfeitjoin'd. 
 
 The weeping beauty did not fear, 
 
 The' want prepar'd to feize 
 Her, whom luxurious grandeur rear'd 
 
 On the foft lap of eafe. 
 
 She fear'd not fcorn, tho' fcorn with joy 
 
 The bow of Hitire ftrung. 
 To fpoil the flirine where flattery late 
 
 Its gilded off'rings hung. 
 
 Her gentle frame contain'd a foul 
 
 In filial duty brave ; 
 A father's life was what flie fought. 
 
 From fortune's wreck to fave. 
 
 Stern is our royal mailer's foul, 
 
 The guardian of the law y 
 Decided by the harfli decree. 
 
 No lenient grace he faw. 
 
 Thy forrow for thy father's crimes,. 
 
 He cry'd, fhall ne'er atone ; 
 Unpunifh'd, fnall rebellion's voice 
 
 Infiilt the facred throne ? 
 
 Oh 1 Edgar, never can my eyes- 
 Forget the awful fcene ; 
 
 The horror of the lady's look. 
 Her wild diforder'd mien. 
 
 Then muit he die ? flie beat her breaft,. 
 
 She groan'd In deepdefpair: 
 Then mull my father die i' flic fliriek'd,. 
 
 And rent her flowing hair. 
 
 Oh. 
 
A gossip's story. 87 
 
 Ob ! fave f/im, William ! take wy life. 
 
 Let jullice have its due ! 
 You had a father, but, alas ! 
 
 Your fire you never knew. 
 
 Whillt thus through all the echoing tent 
 
 The flrtam of horror rung ; 
 At once compalfion, wonder, love. 
 
 Within my bofom fprung. 
 
 If e'en the monarch's eye auflere 
 
 With pity feem'd to melt. 
 Oh think how deep my fofter foul 
 
 Its thrilling Impulfe felt. 
 
 I riflc'd my hopes; but let me fpare 
 
 To tell each various art, 
 By which, to mercy by degrees 
 
 I mov'd great VVilliam's heart. 
 
 The pardon galn'd, I flew with joy 
 
 The mourner to confole. 
 And in her father's prifon met 
 
 The miftrefs of my foul. 
 
 By time fu'^du'd, her pious grief 
 
 Seem'd fix'd, but yet refign'd ; 
 And to defpair's pale hollow cheek 
 
 The calm of patience join'd. 
 
 She knelt bcfide her contrite fire, 
 
 For him to Heav'n flic- pray'd ; 
 Can beauty eve^r look more fweet 
 
 Than thus in tears array'd ? 
 
 I gave the pardon — then my heart 
 
 A painful blifs confefs'd ; 
 When the rapt father's eager arms 
 
 His fainting daughter prcfs'd. 
 
 Recov'ring from her trance of joy, 
 
 I faw her tranlport fpeak. 
 Irradiate her ytt doubtful eye, 
 
 And flufli her changing cheek, 
 
 Affur'd 
 
88 A gossip's story. 
 
 AfTur'd, confirm'd, with winning grace 
 Around my knees fhe clung ; 
 
 She bleft me, but her eyes by far 
 Outfpake her fault'ring tongue. 
 
 Now paffion fwelling in my foul, 
 
 A fudden impulfc mov'd ; 
 I caught the charmer to my heart, 
 
 And told her that I lov'd. 
 
 At once 1 claimed her fire's aflent. 
 
 And told my rank and ftate ; * 
 
 Boafting, what bleffings I defign'd 
 Should worth like her's await. 
 
 Edgar ! I know a lib'ral mind 
 
 Will own a terror here, 
 Left gratitude on gen'rous hearts 
 
 Should lay a tafk fevere. 
 
 I {hould have waited till her eyes 
 
 A foft efteem confefs'd ; 
 Ere e'en in private to her ear 
 
 I had my loveexprefs'd. 
 
 I crr'd, m.y friend ; — my penfive heart 
 
 Does oft its error own, 
 When '{lead of love's impaflion'd voice 
 
 I hear cold duty's tone. 
 
 To-morrow's fun (but can 1 then 
 
 Tafte fullnefs of content ?) 
 She feals with me the nuptial oath. 
 
 Oh, may her heart aflent ! 
 
 E'en when I left her yefternight, 
 
 And fondly breath'd adieu, 
 And of the morrow talk'd, her cheek 
 
 Aflum'd a paler hue. 
 
 Cold file withdrew her trembling hand, 
 
 And as fiie turn'd afide, 
 I faw a tear, the tears of love 
 
 Would fne attempt to hide ? 
 
A gossip's story. '89 
 
 If to her fire I breathe a doubt, 
 
 He talks of virgin ii; tne ; 
 Of timid diiiidence, which checks 
 
 Chaite beauty's bafhfcil fiame. 
 
 Still as I liften to his words. 
 
 Each fad fiiggeftion flie-, 
 And all my future hours of life 
 
 In profpedt fweet ariTe. 
 
 O gallant Edgar ! think me not 
 
 The Have of jealous fear , 
 The doubt that hangt, upon my heart 
 
 Is caus'd by love fincere. 
 
 Might but to-morrow make her blelV, 
 How welcome were the J :y ! 
 
 But while in talk we waite the hour, 
 The night wears fad away. 
 
 My brave prefervtr ; from thy bread 
 Cifmifs this gioum of woe ; 
 
 And with thy friend, on feftal mirth, 
 One happy day beftov '' 
 
 ♦' Bleft be thy morrow," j£dgar cry'd, 
 
 ♦' The firlt of happy days ! 
 But fhall my father fay his fon 
 
 At bridal fealt delays? 
 
 Six annual funs have fcen his cheek 
 Bedew'd with conftant tears ; 
 
 Nor (hall thofe forrows ceafe to flow, 
 Till Edgar's felf appears," 
 
 *• Go then," Rodolpho rifing cried, 
 
 " If fuch thy kind defire. 
 Within my caltle reft to-night, 
 
 To-morrow fcek thy fire. 
 
 Yet when his fond impaffion'd arms 
 
 Shall fuffer thee to Itray, 
 Rcfletl that Norfolk owes a debt 
 
 He lives but to repay. 
 
 Tlie 
 
90 A gossip's story. 
 
 The parting warriors now again 
 
 The hands of friendOiip join'd ; 
 And Edgar, guided by a page. 
 
 Sought out the room affign'd. 
 
 They pafs'd through many a marble hall, 
 
 And many a lofty dome, 
 With cedar lin'd or richly grac'd 
 
 By Antwerp's coilly loom. 
 
 The vvlfh'd apartment ga'n'd, the Knight 
 
 Again admiring gaz'd ; 
 For here, the wall with portraits hung, 
 
 The mimic pencil prais'd. 
 
 On one fine painting, full in fight, 
 
 He ca(l a Itartled view ; 
 A woman's form ; his beating heart 
 
 Confefs'd the likenefs true. 
 
 ** Know'ft thou that lady V to the page 
 
 Impetuoufly he cried ; 
 " It is Albina," faid the youth, 
 
 " My mafter'sdeiUn'd bride.'* 
 
 ** Thy mailer's bride, Albina, fay— 
 
 The Baron Siward's heir!" 
 *' The fame, but fcarce the painter's art 
 
 Could fketch the peerlefs fair." 
 
 The page retir'd — the Knight alone 
 
 Stood motionlefs In thought: 
 His lov'd Albina ! forwhoJe fake 
 
 He Robert'^ banner's fought. 
 
 The hope that Norfolk's fviendfiiip rais'd, 
 
 On her alone rely'd ; 
 Albina I foul didrading thought ! 
 
 Is Norfolk's deilined bride. 
 
 Beneath a canopy of flate. 
 
 Which grac'd the proud alcove. 
 In vain the downy couch invites 
 
 The frantic Have of love. 
 
 SlTll 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 91 
 
 Still gazing wild with folded arms, 
 
 The portrait full in view. 
 He drives love's arrows in his heart, 
 
 And barbs their fhafts anew. 
 
 Yet from Rodolpho's boding ftar 
 
 A dawn of hope may break, 
 The tear that pain'd the gen'rous Eail 
 
 Might flow for Edgar's fake. 
 
 " Oh blafted be that impious hope ! 
 
 Shall I the villain prove, 
 And Real from him I moll efteem, 
 
 The idol of his love ? 
 
 No, from this moment every wifli 
 
 Defpairing I forego ; 
 'Tis better to be curs'd myfelf, 
 
 Th?kn caule Rodolpho's woe. 
 
 Albina, tho' 1 mud till death 
 
 Thy lovely form adore, 
 Thy lovely form, thy angel face, 
 
 Shall feaft thefe eyes no more. 
 
 The ftory of my haplefs love 
 
 Shall ne'er thy ear offend, 
 Nor fondly wake the pitying figh 
 
 That wrongs my gen'rous friend. 
 
 That dear remembrance once beftow'd, 
 
 Thus from my arm 1 tear; 
 Would I could tear her fiom my heart, 
 
 But fhe is rooted there." 
 
 Now from his arm the llriiig of pearl 
 
 He eagerly unties ; 
 The firing of pearl Albina gave, 
 
 His youthful valour's prize. 
 
 " Go, bracelet, to Rodolpho's foul 
 
 A love like mine convey ; 
 But teach the genial flame to burn 
 
 With more aufpicious ray. 
 
 Go, 
 
92 A gossip's story. 
 
 Go, when he binds thee on his arm 
 
 An equal joy impart, 
 As once I felt, when firfl. the fmile 
 
 Of beauty touch'd iny heart." 
 
 So pafs'd the tedious night, now faint 
 Approaching morning gleams ; 
 
 And e'en fad Edgar's woe- worn bread 
 Receives itsgladd'ning beams. 
 
 One wifh r«'main'd, it was to footh 
 
 The anguifh of his fire ; 
 He haftens to the caftle gate, 
 
 There meet's Rodolpho's 'Squire." 
 
 To him the bracelet he configns. 
 
 To bear it to his friend ; 
 And with it fay, that Edgar's prayers 
 
 Will ftiU the Earl attend. 
 
 But penfive vifions of the night 
 Had wak'd th' ill-omen'd dread. 
 
 That frefh diftreffes ripen'd hung 
 O'er Edgar's fated head. 
 
 ** Howe'er fevere on me," he cries, 
 *' The blov/ of anguifh falls, 
 
 May peace and happy love fecure 
 Thefe hofpitable walls." 
 
 Then, all his deareft hopes refign'd, 
 
 Upon iiis horfe he fprung ; 
 The courftj's hoofs re-echoing loud, 
 
 Upon the champaign rung. 
 
 The Earl arofe ; he fought his friend, 
 Then at his abfence figh'd ; 
 
 And penfive, on his arm the pledge 
 Of parting kindnefs ty'd : 
 
 And now his bridal train he call'd. 
 
 And vaulted on his deed ; 
 'Twas fnowy white, of faultlefs*form, 
 
 And fprung from gen'rcus breed. 
 
 Exulting 
 
A gossip's STORT. 93 
 
 Exulting on Rodolpho's check 
 
 Sate txpedlation warm ; 
 And dignity and manly eafe 
 
 Seem'd blended in his form. 
 
 Rich was his vefturc ; o'er his horfc 
 
 Embroider'd trappings flcw'd ; 
 But worth difclaiiniiig outward pooip 
 
 The Earl confpicuous (hew'd. 
 
 At Siward's caftle now arriv'd, 
 
 The joyful Barons came 
 To meet the fplendid cavalcade, 
 
 And blefs Rodolpho's Name. 
 
 *• Thou gen'rous friend, to whom 1 owe 
 
 My fortune and my life, 
 Come, ever welcome !" he exclaim'd, 
 
 '« Behold thy deftin'd wife." 
 
 Slow was the fair Albina's flep, 
 
 And penfive was her air ; 
 Her face was pallid as the veil 
 
 Which held her beauteous hair. 
 
 Tho' deck'd in bridal robes of flate, 
 
 Yet Hill her looks exprefa'd 
 The vidtim of unhallow'd rites. 
 
 For mournful orgies drefs'd. 
 
 *' Receive, my child," her father cried, 
 
 " Thy virtues to reward, — 
 Receive from thy fond parent's hand 
 
 This brave and worthy lord. 
 
 No longer let thy maiden fears 
 
 A coy referve impart ; 
 Avow the love that Heaven approves, ^ 
 
 And give him all thy heart." 
 
 Albina now her penfive eyes 
 
 On brave Rodolpho threw ; 
 And when they met his ardent gaze, 
 
 They timidly withdrew. 
 
 He 
 
P4 A GOSSIP S STO"^Y. 
 
 He fnatch'd her hand : '« What ! ftill, my fair, 
 
 This cold and dillant fear? 
 Does my Albina doubt my love, 
 
 Or why dillrefs'd appear ? 
 
 " Oh, reilaflur'd, thou dcareft trufl 
 
 That Heaven on earth can give, 
 'Tis but to make my charmer bled 
 
 That now I wilh to live. 
 
 " But yerternight, when robbers fell 
 
 My evening walk ofFail'd, 
 Lifclefs on tartli the fervant funk, 
 
 Who lo defend me fail'd : 
 
 *' When from my tlr'd o'erpower'd arm 
 
 Its wonttd vigour fled, 
 And death's eternal gloomy (hade 
 
 Seem'd falling on my head: 
 
 " Memory, amid the tumult wild, 
 
 Thy lovely image drew ; 
 And thy foft woes, in fancy feen, 
 
 Reftot'd my llrcngth anew. 
 
 " When refcu'd by a gallant knight 
 
 Whom Heav'n to fave me fent, 
 Life feem'd a nobler gift, fince life 
 
 Would now with thee be fpent. 
 
 «' But wherefore (hould I blefs the hand 
 
 That did the gift beftow, 
 If from thy fix'd, thy cold difdain, 
 
 I only anguiOi know :" 
 
 " Let not my Lord," Albina faid, 
 
 «' Su'-h painful doubts fugge It, 
 Nor think his merit fails to move 
 
 Albina's confcious breall. 
 
 •' Can {he forget, when fcorn'd, refus'd, 
 
 In vain Hie mercy crav'd. 
 When, at the moment of defpair, 
 
 Hisgcu'rous pity fav'd ? 
 
 " If 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 95 
 
 " If then his kind, but partial eyes, 
 Deems her a meet reward, 
 
 Duty fliall prouipt her grateful heart, 
 To bleis her honour'd Lord." 
 
 END OF PART II. 
 
 -a> 
 
 PART III. 
 
 " J am not of that feather tojloahe ^ff 
 
 " My friend ivhen he mojl needs me. I do know him 
 
 " /I gentleman, that ivell deferves a help, 
 
 " Which hejloall have." 
 
 Shakespeare. 
 
 N> 
 
 OW, while th' attendant train carous'd, 
 And drain'd the fcftal bowl, 
 While mufick's various pow'rs combin'd, 
 Eutranc'd each joyful foul, 
 
 Rodolpho, whifpering to his love, 
 
 His Edgar's worth expvefs'd, 
 And fhew'd the bracelet he recciv'd 
 
 Fiom his departing gueft. 
 
 Inftant her looks, her trembling frame, 
 
 Confcfs'd a wild alarm ; ■ 
 Wiiileher fix'd eyes, with frantick gaze, 
 
 Dwelt on her lover's arm. 
 
 Vain was each effort to conceal 
 
 Surprize fo highly wrought ; 
 She fainted ; but Rodolpho's arms 
 
 The finking beauty caught. 
 
 Thefr 
 
g(y A gossip's story. 
 
 Their lovely miftrefs to fupport, 
 Th' attendant handmaids flew; 
 
 Rehitlant from her opening eyes 
 The thoughtful Earl withdrew. 
 
 Cjlold o'er his foul each doubt confirm'd. 
 
 Its painful influence flung, 
 
 And heavy on his bended arm 
 
 His head recumbent hung. 
 
 When Siward, whofe prefaging heart 
 
 The caufe too well divin'd. 
 With agitated pleading look, 
 
 Rodolpho quickly join'd. 
 
 Now all retir'd ; a paufe enfu'd ; 
 
 To break it Siward try'd ; 
 Check'd by Rodolpho's look, which fpokc 
 
 Stern honour's wounded pride. 
 
 Pi.t length he faid, " Let not my Lord 
 
 Sufpedl a paflion bafe 
 Did e'er my daughter's guiltlefs heart 
 
 With mean deiire debafe. 
 
 ** A ruftick ftrippling at a jouft 
 
 With vidlory was crown'd, 
 And gain'd the bracelet, which is now 
 
 Entwin'd thy arm around. 
 
 " My daughter's hand befliow'd the prize, 
 
 But he audacious grew, 
 Anddar'd with bold prefumptuous love. 
 
 Thy promis'd bride to view. 
 
 " I drove him from my wide domain, 
 
 And many a year h pafl:. 
 Since in the wars of Paleftine 
 
 I trull he breath'd his laft. 
 
 *' But when Albina on thy arm 
 The well-known bracelet vicw'd. 
 
 Her (hame and fcorn at Edgar's love 
 Were painfully renew'd." 
 
 « There 
 
o 
 
 ^ A GOSSIP S STORY. 97 
 
 «< There need no picas, T reft afTai'd," 
 Rodolpho anfwer'd mild ; ** 
 
 " But this young Edgar, only once 
 Did he behold thy child? 
 
 " No plea of merit had the youth ? 
 
 Was love his only claim ?" 
 He paiis'd, and Sivvard's confcious cheek 
 
 Confcfs'd the blufli of fliame. 
 
 *' His courage," Siward cried, *' my lands 
 
 From lawk'fs ruffians fav'd ; 
 But when I offcr'd him reward, 
 
 His pride the offer wav'd. 
 
 ** Yet till his manner, voice, and look, 
 
 His lalciit views cxprefs'd. 
 Within my caftle he abode, 
 
 My brave acknowledg'd gueft." 
 
 Th' indignant Earl now check'd the tear 
 
 Which unpermitted ftole. 
 And to the rigour of his fate 
 
 Compos'd his manly foul. 
 
 " Go, o'er thy daughter's grief," he cried, 
 
 " Drop pity's ioothing talm, 
 Whilll I in yon fcquefter'd grove 
 
 Regain a mental calm." 
 
 But not the ftill fequefter'd grove 
 
 Could calm Rodolpho's foul, 
 Still on his mind Albina's tears 
 
 And Edgar's anguifli flole. 
 
 Now beauty in the net of love 
 
 His heart r li.ife captive held ; 
 Now grateful friendlliip's manlier force 
 
 The Syren's faare repcll'd. 
 
 *' Did lefs of beauty, lefs of worth, 
 
 Around Alblna blaze, 
 Lefs were the torture to refign. 
 
 But lefs would be the praifc. 
 
 F « For 
 
pS A gossip's story. 
 
 *' For this did Edgar from my head 
 
 A certain death remove, 
 Tlint I Ihould fever from his breaft 
 
 The lall faint hope of love ? 
 
 *' Did but his foul for fortune pant, 
 Or fought he pow'r to gain, 
 
 How would I gratify each wifh ! 
 Yet dill the fair retain. 
 
 *' Retain the fair ! retain her ! how? 
 
 What now her vows demand ? 
 Know that another has her heart, 
 
 Yet ftize her captive hand ? 
 
 " Forbid it, pity ! Honour, fcom 
 
 Indelible dilgrace ! 
 Love may with tortures tear my heart. 
 
 But fhall not make it bafe." 
 
 He call'd a page : — to Edgar's houfe 
 He bade him point the road : 
 
 Not diftant in a grafTy vale, 
 Appear'd the plain abode. 
 
 A hawthorn hedge tie gardi'n bound, 
 'Twiis fill'd with many a fTow'r ; 
 
 A woodbine round a maple cwin'd, 
 Compos'd a fylvan bow'r. 
 
 And there the aged Orcar oft, 
 
 His tafli of labour done, 
 Gaz'd on the fpangled arch of heav'n, 
 
 And mus'd upon his fon. 
 
 There too, that gallant fon return'd, 
 He fought his griefs to calm ; 
 
 And pour'd upon the wounds of love 
 Confolatory balm. 
 
 ** Ah ! whilhtr, dear unhappy boy. 
 Dock thv dilbaition tend ? 
 
 Far fwifrer thsn yon failing clouds 
 Life hallcns to its cud. 
 
 Still 
 
A GOSSIP S STORT. 99 
 
 *< Still as our fteps, advancing, verge 
 
 On its declining ftage, 
 Tke profpefts faint and diftant grow 
 
 Wiiich did our youth engage. 
 
 " Our pafiions, as we bend to earth. 
 
 Imbibe a fombre gloom ; 
 And lengthening with our fetting fun. 
 
 The fliadows reach the tomb. 
 
 ** Then chief on thofe who patient tread 
 
 An irkfome path of woe, 
 Bright burfting from an happier clime, 
 
 The ilr-rams of glory Row. 
 
 " Nor urge my difappointed hopes, 
 
 1 do not no'w complain : 
 When I beheld thee, one embrace 
 
 Kapaid each former pain. 
 
 " I aflv'd not for my darling wealth. 
 
 Virtue was all my pray'r ; 
 And Heav'u did limit other gifts, 
 
 To be more lavifh there. 
 
 " Yet, Edgar, if thy patient foul 
 
 The tauiit of pride rcpell'd, 
 Patient endur'd the foldier's toil. 
 
 Yet faw his rights withheld ; 
 
 •* Oh! bid it, in ene trial more, 
 
 Invulnerable prove. 
 And triumpii o'er the envious fnaft 
 
 Of difappointed Love." 
 
 «* Envy ! Oh, father," cried the youth, , 
 
 '"■ My heart the term difdains ; 
 Thav iiw-art, where next, bright maid, to thee. 
 
 The brave Rodolpho reigns. 
 
 " Had any fuitor crofs'd my hopes, 
 
 "With merit Itfi replete, 
 I would liave check 'J his gay career, 
 
 Or perilh'd at his feet. 
 
 F 2 , / •^« Father, 
 
lOO A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 *' Father, thou know'ft Albina's face, 
 
 Far lovelier was her mind ; 
 While Siward favour'd, I full oft 
 
 With her in converfe join'd. 
 
 *' And ■ftill the maid would tell the joys 
 
 On virtuous love confcrr'd ; 
 Dectiv'd by fanguine hope, I thought 
 
 Flcr theme to me referr'd. 
 
 •' Rodolpho now, with purtft joy 
 
 Shall liden to that theme, 
 Feel each licentious wifh confin'd, 
 
 Yet tade a blifa fupreme. 
 
 *' For him dv.' weaves the martial fcarf ; 
 
 For him the garland wreathes : 
 Strikes at his call the foft-ton'd harp, 
 
 And drains foul piercing breathes. 
 
 <' Ch ! la usfeek fome diftant fpot ; 
 
 My love I will iupprefs ; 
 The father, whiun till now 1 griev'd, 
 
 Henceforward 1 will bleis. 
 
 *' For thee, and thee alone, I'll Hay 
 
 The purpofe of defpair ; 
 Ccnfolous that man is born to woe, 
 
 Thofe woes ITl firmly bear." 
 
 lie faid, and with a fickly fmile 
 
 The drooping Orcar chctr'd, 
 When fuJden at the wicket gate 
 
 The gr'.i'iuus Earl appcar'd. 
 
 He faw his friend, a painful thrill 
 
 Seem'd ev'ry thought to, check, 
 'Till bra'.e Rodolp'.io'o outlh- tch'd arms 
 
 Weie circled round his ucc k. 
 
 Long paub'd the Earl, then fav.lt'ring fpoke, 
 
 '- 'Tvvas, much unkind to go. 
 To leave me on this awful day 
 
 Did liule fricnd:!iip Ihow. 
 
 " I come 
 
AGOSSI?SSTORY. 101 
 
 " I come to lead thee to the hall, 
 
 The ftails, the fports attend ; 
 And ev'n Albina's f^-lf requells 
 
 The prefence of my friend." 
 
 ** Does (he requtft it ?" Edgar cry'd, 
 
 And (ix'd liis gisring eye ; 
 " She doth requefl: it," fafd the Earl, 
 
 " Can'n thou the fair deny V 
 
 " No, I will go!" — Forth from the bow'r 
 
 With fruntick fpeed he fpriing ; 
 His troubled foul to pUrenfy'd rage 
 
 By fancy 'd wrong was ftung. 
 
 Now whilft upon his panting bread 
 
 His mail he fmnly ties, 
 Orcar on penfive Norfolk luvn'd 
 
 His mild perfiiafive eyes. 
 
 <' Great Earl, (hall not that youth's defpair 
 
 Thy kind conceri engage ? 
 He is my fon, my only child, 
 
 And lo ! I droop with age " 
 
 •' Oh venerable fire ! no wrong 
 
 Thy Edgar Hiall annoy ; 
 But follow, and prepare thv foul 
 
 To meet a fcene of joy." 
 
 S'Icnc and fwift acroff; the va'e 
 
 The lortur'd friends returii'd ; 
 DejeClion funk T^odolpho's heart, 
 
 With anger Edgar's huin'd. 
 
 " Tliis low bom fntcr, this mean device," 
 
 Tiius lo hiiiiitlf he laid, 
 <' Shall all her farmer virtues blall, 
 
 And all her charms degrade. 
 
 *' I thank her, for I now am free, 
 
 My heart each fetter breaks ; 
 Fiom virions of id;.a^ woitli 
 
 My wond'ring ioul awakes. 
 
 " With 
 
102 A gossip's STORT. 
 
 '♦ Willi finiles of cold contempt I'll meet 
 
 Het proud exulting eve ; 
 My heart may in the conflidl break, 
 
 But it fliall never iigh." 
 
 Now broke upon his loathing view 
 
 The caftle's turrets white; 
 Thofe turrets which in happier days 
 
 Infpir'd a gay delight. 
 
 Far d iff' rent now, each lofty fpire. 
 
 And K^'ly fuelling dome, 
 Incrcas'd the horrors of defpair, 
 
 And deeptii'd all its gloom. 
 
 Now joyful, at the Earl's return, 
 
 The portals were unbarr'd ; 
 The bridal train in order Hood 
 
 Within the caftie-yard. 
 
 Rodclpho fair Albina fought 
 
 Within the hal! of ftate; 
 Aftrightcd, trembling, and difmay'd, 
 
 The mournful beauty fate. 
 
 Silent her father flood, his looks 
 
 Mpake horror's pale ptefagc ; 
 Amliiiion's fullcn gloom, the fcowl 
 
 Of difappoiiited rage. 
 
 Now Edgar on li'm lorig-lov'd maid 
 
 Throws his difdainful eyes ; 
 But when he fees her grief of foul, 
 
 Ear d iff 'rent paifions rife. 
 
 «' Thofe clapped hands, that fulemn look, 
 
 Do they infiilting prove? 
 Thine, Norfolk, was the mean device, 
 
 Thou tyrant in thy love !" 
 
 His trembling hand now grafps his fword, 
 
 But honour, foon alaim'd. 
 Determines yet to fpare a foe. 
 
 Unguarded and unarm'd. 
 
 " Yet 
 
A gossip's STORr. 103 
 
 ** Yet, liaiighty Earl, the hour (hall come, 
 
 Nor dillant is ll)c limt. 
 When, biiiiliiig from each vein, ihy blood 
 
 Shall expiate lliy crime. 
 
 •* 'Till then, with infolent delight 
 
 My heartfelt angiiilh view." 
 So thought the youth, and o'er his face 
 
 His beavei Iternly drew. 
 
 Radiant, as ia a night of froft 
 
 Beams Cynthia's filver car, 
 Albina look'd, through cliilling' grief 
 
 Each charm feem'd lovelier far. 
 
 Rodo'pho took one parting gaze,. 
 
 A long and deep farewell ; 
 It feem'd at once eternal love 
 
 And fix'd regret to tell. 
 
 Her fatlier feiz'd her hand, fi)e rofe, 
 
 1 Norfolk's Earl Oie came ; 
 RdufSant was her Jing'iing ftep, 
 
 And terror fhook her frame. 
 
 «' Canft thou," Hiecry'd, «« the fuddcn pang, 
 
 Which reafon blam'd, forgive? 
 I never mote (hall fee the youth, 
 
 Yet fuffer htm to live." 
 
 The Earl receiv'd the profTcr'd hand 
 
 That Si ward had lefign'd ; 
 " Thou givell her to me," he fdid ; 
 
 *' I do," the Sire rejoin'd.^ 
 
 " Then thus with her I pay the debt 
 
 Which I to valour ow'd ;" 
 He lurn'd, and on his frantic friend 
 
 Th' angelic maid beftowM. 
 
 Then whiill o'er all his glowing face 
 
 Benignant traufport broke, 
 Thus to the agonized pair 
 
 Thegeo'rous Noble ipoke. 
 
 *• Swcct 
 
ic4 A gossip's story. 
 
 *' Sweet mourner, turn, Rodolpho yields 
 
 To Edgar's claim thy vows ; 
 Turn, lovely maid, with tender fmiles 
 
 Now greet thy dcltiii'd fpoufe. 
 
 " Fortune and merit both combin'd, 
 
 Thy pnffion (hall approve ; 
 Nor flK)ii, brave EdLcar, doubt the fritnd 
 
 That gives thee e'en his love- 
 
 *' Slward, if ftill thy narrow heait 
 
 Can humb'e worth difdaiii, 
 Know, Edgar from this hour is lord 
 
 Of many a fair domain. 
 
 " Soon o'er tie lands which I btftow 
 
 Mis lib'ialcare fhall fliine ; 
 Give rapture to his father's heart, 
 
 Artd felf- reproach to thine. 
 
 ** Nor, Edgar, Fct a friendly fear 
 
 Thy prefent blifs decree fe ; 
 Approvinq virtue cheers my foul, 
 
 And all within is peace. 
 
 *' Charm'ii by the joys which heav'n arounc 
 
 Benevolence hath thrown, 
 I fliare the bleflings I impart, 
 
 Nay, make them all my own. 
 
 " Hereafter in fnme penfive liour 
 
 Should le'fifl) thoughts offend, 
 To banifii every mean regret, 
 
 I'll feck my happy fiieud. 
 
 *' There as he fiiines, in fortune, fair.e, 
 
 1 u love, in virtue bielf, 
 Tiie mulic of his gtateful voice 
 
 Shall harmonize my breaft." 
 
 Continuation 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. JO^" 
 
 CottilniiLition of the ilth Chapter £/'The Gossir's 
 Story. 
 
 vVhEN Sir William Milton had finiflied the- 
 long manufcript, Captain Target, who had with 
 great diiiiculry retrained from paymg his ref->- 
 pedis to Morpheus during the recital, bep-tin to 
 roufe his faculties by eniphatical commenda- 
 tions, which he happily divided between the 
 flory and the reader. 
 
 Liarianne, whofe eyes fwam with tears, re- 
 joiced that the lovers were at lall made happy 
 together, of which flie had once many doubts. 
 
 JSIr. Alfop applying every word which Mari- 
 anne uttered in favour of love, to his own ad- 
 vantage, took courage, and ventured to give his 
 opinion j which was, that it was very cleverly 
 brought about to make my Lord give up fome 
 demefnes to Edgar, for he thought the Old 
 Gentleman never M'ould have allowed his daugh- 
 ter to marry a man, who was not only of low 
 birth, but who had r\ofoit>{ne. 
 
 *' Mr Alfop," faitl Sir William contemptu- 
 oufiy, " overh^oks tlie circumltance which en-- 
 nobled Edgar \ he bore arms in Paleftinc.'' 
 
 Captain Target could not fuiler a hint in fa-, 
 vour of tbic military line to pafs unnoticed. He: 
 bowed profoundly to the Baronet, ahd declared 
 himfelf happy in entertaining dxc fame honour- 
 able fentimentd of the- chara:lor of a foidier ; 
 adding in a theatrical ilyle, »« None but the 
 brave dt'erve t'^e fair. Is not that vour oni- 
 nion, Mils, Dudley?" 
 
 ' F 3 « I h-ope,. 
 
Jo6 A gossip's story. 
 
 " I hope, Sir," faid Louifa, colouring at this 
 unexpeded reference, " I (hall not offend your 
 allowable partiality for your oivn profeffion by 
 obferving, that I am glad Rodolpho is not left 
 unhappy. Indeed I think he is placed in the 
 moft enviable fituation, fince the confcioufnefs 
 of having performed a highly generous aflion, 
 mud afford a perfect delight to an exalted mind. 
 But Edgar labours under the weight of an obli- 
 gation, which he never can repay ; befides, he 
 may fear that his tranfports are the caufe of dif- 
 treiling his benefactor.'' 
 
 " My fentiments, Madam, refpefting the 
 fublime pleafurcs of generofity entirely coincide 
 with yours," faid Sir William ; " but I am 
 forry to hear you fpeak of gratitude as z painful 
 fenfation." 
 
 " Not abfolutely fo," replied Louifa, diftrefl; 
 at an obfervation which was accompanied by a 
 look of angry penetration. " I only think Ro- 
 dolpho's is the moft enviable lot. He is placed 
 in fuch a favourable point of view that had I 
 been Albina, I fliould have felt half foiry to re- 
 fjga fuch a worthy lover." 
 
 " Not if you had been previoufly attached to 
 Edgar, filler, and recollected what he had fuf- 
 fered for your fake," faid the gentle Marianne. 
 " True, Madam," exclaimed Alfop v.'ith a deep 
 figh ; " but every body don't know what frue 
 love is " 
 
 " Indeed, fifler," returned Louifa, laughing, 
 " Mr. Alfop is a better adept in love affairs than 
 1 am : but let us change the fubjcct of conver- 
 iation. It grows too interefting." 
 
 Mr. Dudley now obferved, tliat if the manu- 
 fcript had entertained his friends, it anfwercd 
 
 the 
 
A GOSSIPS STORT. 107- 
 
 the purpofe for which he had introduced it. Its 
 merit, he faid, confilled in its fimplicity, and 
 he was going to make ionje obfervations en the 
 ftudied ornaments with which many modern 
 poets overload their productions, till they ob- 
 Icure the fenfe, and difturb the harmony of the 
 language ; when the entrance of a fervant to 
 announce fupper happily relieved the Danbury 
 gentlemen from a literary difcuflion, of which,, 
 to fay the truth, they were not very fond.. 
 
 On their return home, Mr. Alfop alked his 
 friend's opinion refpe6ting the prefent flate of 
 his affairs. The Captain fwore they were in an 
 admirable train, and mentioned Louifa's laugh- 
 ing at him, as a convincing proof that fhe was 
 apprehenfive of his influence over her fifter's 
 mind. 
 
 In fliort, things were thought ripe for the 
 grand attack, and it was agreed that a letter 
 fliould be written exprefhve of Mr. Alfop's paf- 
 iion, which his confidant promifed to deliver. 
 They then feparated for the evening ; the Cap- 
 tain to fabricate a fpeech, intimating a ftruggle 
 between love and friendfliip ; and Mr. Alfop to. 
 read the Polite Letter-writer, prior to the com-- 
 pofition of his intended epiftlc. 
 
 JC li A P. 
 
io8 A gossip's story. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 A letter (hut net the n>;e the reader iva^ uuhicccl 
 to hope for ) calls forth Jome very antiquated na- 
 tions. 
 
 1 
 
 HE poO; arrived at Stannadine foon after 
 the departure of the vifitors, and Mr. Dudley, 
 on receiving a packet from his London corre- 
 fpondent, wifiied his daughters a good night, 
 and retired to his chamber. 
 
 The inteiligence it contained vi^as of the un- 
 pleafant kind. It certified the report, that the 
 Trench had detached a fquadron to lay wait for 
 the Weft-India fleet, which was deititute of 
 adequate means of delence againft an unexpecEl- 
 ed attack •, it alio added, that the capture of a 
 fliip in wliich they had hopeil to receive large 
 re.nitUftces, had precipitated the ruin of Mr. 
 Tonncreau's fu"m, which had that day (lopped 
 paym r.t. 
 
 WJnle Mr. Dudley fat meditating on his mis- 
 fo t-ines, with the deep regret of a man fenfi- 
 b!e that ht had been guilty of an irretrievable 
 error, Louifa entered the room. Mr. Dudley's 
 agitated mind was ftrongly imprLfled on his 
 countenance ; but his daughter was in too much 
 diforder to regard it. Pale, trembling, and un- 
 able to fpeak, {lie gi».ve him a letter which /Jje 
 h d jufl; received •, and while he perufed it, (he 
 funk into a chair. I fliall copy this alarming 
 epiille : 
 
 * TO 
 
1 GOSSIP S STORY. FOQ 
 
 * TO MISS DUDLEY. 
 
 ' Madam, 
 * I make bold, though a perfedl ftranger, to 
 
 * trefpafs upon your goodnefs. I am tohl that 
 
 * you are fliortly to be married to Sir V/iliiain 
 
 * Milton. I mud fay, Madam, for all I have 
 
 * heard of you, I with you a better hufband 
 ' than fuch a villain. I am a poor widow wo- 
 
 * man, who keeps a coftee-houfe in ftreet, 
 
 * and a few years ago my daughter (a very 
 
 * handfome, well-behaved young woman) went 
 
 * to the Indies, in hopes to make her fortune. 
 
 * She there met Sir William, tlien only Captain 
 
 * Milton, and he fell in love with her, and flic 
 
 * with him. He promifed to marry her, and 
 
 * fo at lad ruined her. But he kept her like a 
 *- Princefs all the while (he (laid there. Poor 
 
 * creature, the worfe for her now. For at lafh 
 
 * he qur.nelled with her, and left her behind 
 
 * him when he came to England, and would 
 ' do nothing for her, and flie is come home in 
 
 * great diftrefs indeed. She has two children, 
 
 * Madam, and I have hard work to maintain 
 
 * myfelf thefe bad times. So I hope you will 
 
 * pevfuade Sir William to do fomething hand- 
 « fome, and I fhall be bound to pray for you ; 
 
 * from 
 
 * Your humble fervant, 
 
 ♦ Mary Morton. 
 < N. B. He ought to do fomething for his 
 
 * children, they are too young to alTront him.* 
 
 Mr. Dudley, after perufmg the letter, cad 
 his eyes upon his daughter, and a&ed her what 
 could be done. 
 
 " Can 
 
no A gossip's story. 
 
 " Can I, Sir," faid Louifa, burfling into 
 tears, " vow to love and to honour a man vi^ho 
 labours under fuch an imputation ? Cruelty is 
 added to licentious perfidy. My dear father, 
 forgive me I My very foul revolcs againft this 
 union." 
 
 « Oh wortliy of thy excellent mother," faid 
 Mr. Dudley : " No, Louifa, you cannot. I 
 am far from thinking fo lightly as fome people 
 do of the vicious irregularities in which many 
 young men indulge : but to abandon the un- 
 happy creature he has feduced, to the horrors 
 and temptations of poverty j to make no pro- 
 vifion for his innocent, helplefs offspring ! Ra- 
 ther would I fee thee a beggar, than fuffer thee 
 to contaminate thyfelf by participating in his 
 guilty affluence. He capable of a generous af- 
 fetlion ! Impoffible !" 
 
 •' You have relieved my anxiety," replied 
 Mifs Dudley ; " yet why fhould I doubt that 
 my dear father would fee the atrocity of fuch 
 an action in as (Irong a light k's myfelf .'', But, 
 Sir, you have had letters from London. Not 
 diftrefling ones I hope." 
 
 " They are not confolatory, my child," re- 
 fumed Mr. Dudley ; " but we muft firit decide 
 upon this affair." 
 
 Louifa, who perceived her father agitated by 
 a contrariety of paffions, gueffed at the intelli- 
 gence he would not communicate, and regret-' 
 ted that fhe had ruflied into his prefence, to 
 overwhelm him with the additional weight of 
 her own forrows. She ft rove to compofe her- 
 felf, and again perufed the letter from Mrs. 
 Morton. She began to think it poffible (he • 
 might have been betrayed by her fecret preju- 
 dices. 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. r I 1 
 
 dices, to adopt a fevcre opinion without fu (Rel- 
 ent proofs ; and, determined not to trufl; to her 
 own judgment, aflced htr father, if the letter 
 did not bear evident marks of being dictated by 
 flrong refentment. 
 
 Had Mr. Dudley feen what palled in Iiis 
 daughter's mind at that moment, he would 
 have contemplated the triumph of filial p'cty, 
 defirous of giving up every thing but its inte- 
 grity, to ward the fliafts of misfortune from 
 him. He would have admired the virtue that 
 warred with even the innocent and allowable 
 propenfities of the heart, and Hill more would 
 his daughter's characfter have rifen in his eye, 
 from her attempt to hide the intended facrifice 
 from his obfervation, by giving to the excufes 
 flie was forming, tlie air of extenuating love. 
 He was ignorant of tbefe circumftances, and 
 ■when Louifa afsed him, if it would not at lead 
 be jufh to allow Sir William an opportunity of 
 jullifying his condu(fl, he fuppoled it poffible 
 the diflike his daughter at fird exprefied againft 
 her lover, had fubfided ; and was fucceeded 
 by a degree of attachment. 
 
 But fmce love, though indulged to the de- 
 gree of dotage, would not, in Mr. Dudley's 
 opinion, obviate the many evils incident in an 
 alliance between a virtuous wpman and a pro- 
 fligate man ; he onlyAvifhed, from the fuppo- 
 fed {fate of Louifa's affedlions, that Sir William 
 might be able to jaftify himfelf from the fevere 
 imputations cafl. upon his chara{rLer. On read- 
 ing the letter again, he tliought it probable that 
 ipleen, violence, end difappointment might ag- 
 gravate the offence. " But depend upon it, my 
 love," faid he, " the charge has fome founda- 
 tion. 
 
112 A GOSS[P S STORY. 
 
 tion. It would be wrong not to hear what he 
 can plead in his defence, and indeed you 'can- 
 not now decline his addrefles, without giving 
 him a reafon for your conduct. I will fpeak 
 to him to-morrow morning." 
 
 Louifa now prefled her father to difcover the- 
 purport of his intelligence from London, but he 
 eluded inquiry, determined that llie fhould 
 know nothing more of his misfortunes, till Mrs. 
 Morton's accufation was either refuted or con- 
 firmed. He rightly thought, that though pe- 
 cuniary circumitances may influence a woman's 
 choice, when no folid objections can be made 
 to the lover ; innocence, if bribed by the wealth 
 of the unlverfe, fhould flirink from a connec- 
 tion with vice. He therefore pretended the 
 eafe he did not feel, and reminding her of the 
 latenefs of the hour, with a fervent carefs dif- 
 mifTed her to repofe. It was a blefTmg which 
 neither of them enjoyed that night : beiides the 
 prefl'ure of their own forrows, each of them la- 
 boured under the apprehenhon of what the 
 other endured ; for the filial and paternal ties 
 are at leaft as fufceptible of thefe emotions, aa- 
 either friend fnip or iove. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. I I3 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 A •wealthy lover is d'lfmijfcd by a faintly upon the 
 eve of baiihruptcy, for what the lucrld niayfyle 
 fpir'itcd coudiicl. 
 
 .ISS Dutlley rifing early next rr»orn!ng, as 
 was her ufual cuftom, to fuperintend dpmeftic 
 afFaivs, met Sir William in the pafi"ige leading 
 to tlie breakfaft-room. He had an unufual de- 
 gree of urbanity in his afpeQ, and felzing her 
 hand with an air of gaUantry, begged the fa- 
 vour of a few minutes' converfation : Louifa 
 reluflantly aflented ; and lie gave her a letter 
 he had juil received from his mother, in which 
 her Ladyfliip expreffed her eagernefs to receive 
 a daughter of her late beloved friend, in a yet 
 more endearing point of view, than that in 
 which her nephew hoped to have prcfented one. 
 Slie concluded with begging, that his amiable 
 mirtrefs would facrifice a few fcruples of punc- 
 tilio to her earneft entreaties. Her health, flie 
 faid, was apparently declining, and flie felt all 
 a parent's anxiety to fee the happinefs of her 
 fon fecured, and to participate in his tranfports, 
 while Ihe was yet able to enjoy them. Sir 
 William llrengtliened this argument by urging 
 his own impatience ; he flattered himfelf he 
 had not been wholly undcfervlng her favour ; 
 fettlements he was ready to dlfcufs with Mr. 
 Dudley \ but as he meant by their liberality to 
 prove his high fenfe of her merits, no ob)ec- 
 tions could arife on that head. He concluded 
 with hoping, that as female coquetry had no 
 part in her charader, {he would fliortcn the 
 
 time 
 
114 A gossip's story. 
 
 time of probation, and favour him with an 
 early day. 
 
 Louifa, with ftreaming eyes, perufed Lady 
 Milton's letter, and from the maternal tender- 
 nefs vifible in every part, was led to wifh that 
 fhe could gratify the kind requeft. She flarted 
 from her reverie at Sir William's lafl; words ; 
 the proof of iiis unworthinefs flafhed upon her 
 mind, and while her foul overflowed with ve- 
 neration for the mother, it fhrunk in abhor- 
 rence from her fon. She attempted to fpeak, 
 but was unable. She turned afide -her face 
 glowing with confufion, and clung to the arm 
 of her chair as if to fupport her trembling 
 frame. Sir William, who conltrued her beha- 
 viour into maiden delicacy, was going, by de- 
 clarations of everlafting love, to deliver her 
 from her embarrafiment j when Mr. Dudley en- 
 tered the room. Louifa never beheld her fa- 
 ther approach with more pleafure ; (lie inftantly 
 rofe, and referring her lover to him for an ex- 
 planation, haftily withdrew. 
 
 Though the young Baronet would have pre- 
 ferred receiving from his miflrefs the defired 
 confent, he was not thrown into defpair by this 
 reference. He gave Mr. Dudley his mother's 
 letter, and informed him that he had been urg- 
 mg MIfs Dudley to favour him with a fpeedy 
 union. Lady Milton's confent was, he faid, 
 of no confequcnce in one point of view, as his 
 fortune was perfeftly independent, and in his 
 own poflefiion ; but as it implied a jull refpe£l 
 for the Lady he fo highly efteemed, he could' 
 not but rejoice in every tribute that was paid to 
 his Loulfa's virtues. 
 
 Mr. 
 
A gossip's story. 1 15 
 
 Mr. Dudley, after obferving that he was the 
 l^fl: man upon earth to whom apologies for filial 
 tlekrence were nccefl'ary, declared his grateful 
 leiife of Ludy Milton's favourable fentiments of 
 his family. He then liiiued, tliat before the 
 propofed alliance could take place, a very pain- 
 ful fubje(5\ mult be difcuOcd. 
 
 Sir William, fuppofir.g he meant fettlements, 
 replied, that in all pecuniary concerns, Mifs 
 Dudley's wiflies fliould be the only bound to his 
 liberality. 
 
 '* I do not doubt your generofity on that 
 head. Sir William j it was to another circum- 
 flance I alluded. But let me premife, that you 
 fee before you a man of bankrupt fortunes ; 
 one who has ruined himfelf and his child by a 
 fatal confidence ; one who has nothing but his 
 integrity left. Be pleafed. Sir, in our future 
 converfaiion to remember tj^is circumldance." 
 
 Sir William, grafping Mr. Dudley's hand, 
 protefted the intelligence gave him no pain ex- 
 cept upon his accour.t. He would with pleafure 
 r.frord him all the afiii'tance wh.ich his ample for- 
 tune could beftov.'. He would fettle upon him 
 what income he fhould juc-^e neceflary for his 
 fupport i and as to his Lcuifa, the enjoyments 
 of wealth wou'd be doubled to him by her con- 
 fenting to fliare theiri. He thanked Heaven 
 he had no ^ccafion to bound his expences by 
 parfimonious rules, and liberality was the dar- 
 ling palTion of his foul. 
 
 Mr. Dudley bowed witli the air of one who 
 would rather avoid than court the favour of 
 proud munificence. Anxious, however, to 
 avoid oflending the haughty youth he intended 
 to reprove, he expreHed a lively fcnfe of his 
 
 generous 
 
ii6 A gossip's story. 
 
 generous promifes. " Indulge me, Sir," faid 
 he, *< with the privilege our prefent fituation 
 claims, and fufFer me not only to a<fl: the part 
 of a father to my girl, but of a real friend to you. 
 A report has reached us which has given us 
 both pain ; and a juft regard for Louifa's fu- 
 ture peace compels me to aft the nature of your 
 connexion with Mifs Morton r" 
 
 A ilroke of ele(51:ricity could not have more 
 fenfihly affecfled >ir William Milton. A deep 
 fuffufion dole over his gloomy features, which 
 was foon fuccceded by a livid palenefs. There 
 needed no {kill in phyfiognomy to exclaim, 
 ♦< Guilty, upon mine honour." 
 
 INIr. Dudley, who hoped his filence was at 
 lead a proof of contrition, proceeded : " It is 
 not my wifli, Sir, further to diflrefs you,-, I 
 fee and pity your confufion. Few of us can 
 walk in the unerring path of redlitude ; and 
 perhaps a fmcere endeavour to reclaim our 
 wandering fteps is all that can be expecfled from 
 human infirmity. Though licentious indulgen- 
 cies ever were and mufh be criminal, I am wil- 
 ling to allow fomething- for the impetuofity of 
 youthful paffions j the influence of difllpated 
 fociety •, and the unreltrained freedom of m.an- 
 ners in which Europeans indulge themfelves, 
 in the luxurious climate of the Eaft. But there 
 are fome circumftances in tlie didrcffing ac- 
 count which fliock credibility, and I doubt v.at 
 but that you will exculpate yoiirfelf from i/jem" 
 
 " Name them," faid Sir V/illiam, in an im- 
 perious accent. 
 
 " That you have abandoned the unhappy 
 creature you feduced, to want and all its horrid 
 temptations. Nay, that you have neglec'^ed to 
 
 provide 
 
A G0S3TP S STORY. II7 
 
 provide for your own lielpkfs, unofFcndIng off- 
 fpring." 
 
 " You mufl: give up the author of this re- 
 port," refumed the Baronet, in a loud, autho- 
 ritative tone. 
 
 " Not till vru in a fatisfac^lory manner re- 
 fute the charge." 
 
 ** I fcorn to anfvver anonymous fcandal," faid 
 Sir William. " If you cfteeni me a villain on 
 ilender proofs — retain your opinion." 
 
 " I fhould rejoice in your vindication ; but 
 this warmth is no ftep towards it. The confe- 
 quences of my thinking you a villain, is my 
 daughter's rejeclion of your addrcfs." 
 
 *' You fpeak, Mr. Dudley, as if the obliga- 
 tions were on your fide. 1 have a due fenfe of 
 your (daughter's merit ; but love has not fo 
 blinded my reafon as to make me undervalue 
 my own pretenfions." 
 
 " I perceive, Sir," faid Mr. Dudley, " that 
 vou remember my poverty : but I am ft ill rich 
 in my child, nor dare I entruft you with my 
 only remaining treafure, till I am aflured I 
 commit her to the protedlion of a man of prin- 
 ciple and honour. You frown, Sir j I cannot 
 be filenced by a frown. The man who can fo 
 far prcfcrve his equanimity of mind during the 
 ruin of his fortune, as to afk nothing or the 
 wealthy, is too rich to fear their refentnient." 
 
 *» Did you, Mr. Dudley, formcily find this 
 intelleiftual wealth a good marketable commo- 
 dity ?" interrogated Sir William. " I rather 
 fufpecft you did not fully appreciate its value, 
 till you retiicd from mercantile puifuits." 
 
 •" If by reminding me of the profefTion I 
 once followed, you mean to throw any reflecftion 
 
 on 
 
iiS A gossip's story. 
 
 on the general charafler of a Britifh merchant, 
 you rather expofe your own want of informa- 
 tion refpefling the refources and wealth of this 
 empire, than difcredit me. I glory in having 
 (limulatgd the induftry of thoufands ; increafed 
 the natural ftrength of my country ; and en- 
 larged her revenue and reputation, as far as a 
 private individual could. My fall has not been 
 accelerated by vice, extravagance, or difho- 
 nefty : but we wander 'from the point. Dif- 
 putes of this nature are only unnecefTary ag- 
 gravations. If you continue to refufe the de- 
 fired explanation, I can no longer confider you 
 as Louifa's lover j and whatever my fentiments 
 of your condu£l may be, it is only in that cha- 
 radier that I can claim any right to enquire into 
 it." 
 
 «« I quedion," faid Sir William, « if thai 
 charaEier gives you the right to which you pre- 
 tend. But it is not from you^ Sir, that I fhall 
 take rnv difrnilRon. I mull fee Mifs Dudley, I 
 will know how far you have prejudiced her 
 againft me. She may perhaps expliin jyowr mo- 
 tives for this extraordinary interference." 
 
 *' -I have no improper ones," replied Mr. 
 Dudley, rifmg to ring the bell. Then addref- 
 fmg tlic fervant who came in, he defired that 
 Loui'a -vvould immediately attend. The gen- 
 tlemen re rained fulienly filent till flie entered 
 the room. 
 
 « Mv dear," faid Mr. Dudley, « Sir Wil- 
 liam. Milton wifhes to fpeak to you, perhaps he 
 will favour you with the explanation he has re- 
 fufed me." He then artemptcd to withdraw ; 
 Louifa fixed her pleading eyes upon him, as if 
 intreating his (lay j oji he determined to refift 
 
 their 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 1 19 
 
 their filent language •, till Sir William obferved 
 that he had nothing to urge to Mifs Dudley 
 which it was improper for her father to hear. 
 
 " I find, Madam, " faid the haughty lover^ 
 " that I have forfeited Mr Dudley's efteem. I 
 wifli to know if ^'(?z/ too confider me as a bafe 
 feducer ; the betrayer of innocence ; one who 
 meanly abandons the creature he has plunged 
 into guilt ; nay, who deferts his own helplefs, 
 unoffending offspring ? Are you too, Madam, 
 refolved to withhold from me the name of my 
 accufer ?" 
 
 " If my father," replied Louifa, <* has in- 
 formed you of the charge, you muff; know in 
 what light I confider it. I fnould defert the 
 female characflcr if I was deftilute of delicacy 
 and compafiion : and unlefs ycu wifh to difprove 
 thefe cenfures, of what ufe can it be to difcover 
 from whence they proceed ?" 
 
 " I perceive," returned Sir William, « (I 
 wifli I could fay with indifference, "l the flender 
 hold I have of your afi^^dlions. Perliaps, Ma- 
 dam, it was the I'plendor of my off^ers alone that 
 procured me even a momentary attention." 
 
 " Had you, Sir, appeared to me at firft in 
 the light you now do, not even your fplendid 
 off^ers would, have excited a moment's hefita- 
 tion. I cannot reconcile my heart to an huf- 
 band deficient in moral principle." 
 
 " And may I aik:," exclaimed the peremp- 
 tory lover, " what that high ilandard of per- 
 fe<f\ion is by which thofe who afpire to you muft 
 be meafured r" 
 
 " The ftandard after which you inquire, Sir 
 William, does not exceed moderation : it is 
 
 humble 
 
I20 A GOSSTP S SrOXY. 
 
 humble like my own deTcrcs. Bat we only agi- 
 tate each other ; penriit nie to witliuraw" 
 
 " No, by my foul, I cannot luie yea !" cried 
 Sir William, in violent emotion. He would 
 have bent his knee, but recollecting that Mr. 
 Dudley was prefent, refrained from the undue 
 condefcenfion. He gazed upon her a few mo- 
 ments, and then in a low tone faid, '< You 
 could not treat me with this indiilcrence if you 
 ever loved me But even at this moment you 
 fcorufully enjoy my agony^" 
 
 " As thefe cenfures," refumed Mifs Dudley, 
 ** are merely intended to evade a charge you do 
 not deny, I need not labour to reinftate myfelf 
 in your good opinion. Yet J could wifli to pre- 
 ferve Lady Milton's, and will intreat as a lajl 
 favour, that, when you inform her of what has 
 pafied, you will give as candid an account of me 
 as can confiit with your own vindication." 
 
 " Sovereign contempt, by Heaven ! But, 
 Madam, you miltake me if you think to awe 
 me into fupplicatory fubmiffion. However 
 highly you may rate my love, I can borrow 
 fome of your philolophy to conceal its pangs. 
 May you find a worthier lover, or at leaft one 
 who is a better adept in the difguifes of court- 
 fliip." 
 
 Sir William then ordered his horfes, and Mr. 
 Dudley, after an invitation to ilay breakfalt, 
 which was coolly declined, did not oppofe his 
 departure. 
 
 CHAP. 
 
A GOSSIPS SrCRY. 121 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 Calami fy frequetitly expands a generous heart, 
 
 IVIr. Dudley attempted to fortify his daugh- 
 ter's mind with thofe principles, which not 
 O'.ily blunt the keeneft arrows of difappoint- 
 ment, but convert them into bleffings. "Your 
 dream of happinefs, my love," faid he, *' ap- 
 pears to be terminated : yet from the calm con- - 
 fillency of your condua, I truft that you arc 
 not deiiitute of thofe mental fupports, without 
 which all that the world calls good is but fplen- 
 dld mifery. You feel, my Louifa, that you 
 have acted as you ought, and that rtfleftion will 
 enable you to fupp )it even the painful difcovery 
 of the unworthinefs of a favoured lover." " It 
 was your recommendation, Sir," replied Louifa, 
 ** which firft induced me to accept Sir William 
 Mdton's offers. I relied upon your judgment, 
 and felt afiared that the good qualities you 
 afcribed to him would excite my elteem, my 
 gratitude, and my love. 1 have every rea-Oon 
 to rejoice that we have been convinced of the 
 defedl;s in his temper and condufl, before it 
 became my painful duty to endure them. But 
 I fear, my dear father, that the termination of 
 this connexion may be of ferious confequences 
 to you P" 
 
 '* When your mother died," replied Mr. 
 Dudley, " I loft my hi^;h rcliOi for the com- 
 forts and plrafures affluence beltows. I truft 
 my heart has not been cqinted by mifanthropy, 
 but I have been fo accuiiomcJ to feek for 
 G my 
 
122 - A GOSSIPS STORY. 
 
 my pleafures and comforts out of my own 
 mind, that to renounce fociety, and to fe- 
 clude myfelf from the world, will fcarcely 
 excite a figii upon my own account. For you, 
 my child, I deeply feel ; your fpirits have not 
 been' broken by repeated trials, and rifing into 
 life, you look upon it with all the fanguine pre- 
 ference of youth. Anxious to preferve to you 
 the profperity you have hitherto enjoyed, I con- 
 fideied Sir William's apparent generoHty M'ith 
 too favourable an eye ; but no more of him. 
 Amidft the ruin of my fortunes, I rejoice that 
 the little eflate your grandfather left you in Lan- 
 calhire for pocket-money will preferve you 
 from indigence. You have not to thank me 
 for tliis referve, it was happily fecured from my 
 inJifcretion, and conft-quently could not be fa- 
 crificed to an artful, ungenerous friend." 
 
 « My deareft father," faid INIifs Dudley, 
 " do no.t afEicl: me by thefe felf-upbraidings. I 
 owe you a debt I never can difcharge. Not to 
 mention the thoufand kind attentions which 
 Irave hitherto made my life a round of delights, 
 it is from you I have received a fuperior educa- 
 tion ; you inftilled into my infant foul princi- 
 ples which, unlefs my own fault, rnuft infure 
 my prefent and future happinefs. Why, Sir, 
 for I will, fpeak proudly, fiiould not your daugh- 
 ter be able to find pleafure and comlorc in the 
 refources of her own mind as well as yourfelf ? 
 We fhall live very comfortably upon that -dear 
 little ellate you talk of. I always had a turn 
 for oeconomy and management ; am quite a 
 cottager in my heart, I affiire you. The few 
 friends we pollefs will continue to eUcem us in 
 any Itation ; and as to general acquaintance, I 
 
 never 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 1 23 
 
 never confidered them important to my happi- 
 nefs." 
 
 " A cottage life, my love," refumed Mr. 
 Dudley, " is not fo pleafant in reality as in 
 theory. Like every other ftate it has its vexa- 
 tions, even foi thofe who were born with no 
 higher hopes. To them who have been accuf- 
 tomed to the elegant enjoyments of life, it pre- 
 fents evils that patience and fortitude may teach 
 us to fupport •, but which are doubtlcfs evils. 
 To vou they will be lefs painful than to a light 
 frivolous mind, and this is all my confolation." 
 
 Mr. Dudley then ailced if Marianne had been 
 informed of his perplexities ? Louifa anfwered 
 in the negative ; but owned that her fifter had 
 lately made fome enquiries to which (from an 
 idea that it would be moft agreeable to her fa- 
 ther) (he had given evaiive anfwers. 
 
 Mr. Dudley commended her prudence. 
 ** When your grandmother took Marianne," 
 faid he, " it was with the exprefs condition 
 that (he (liould exclufively be confidered as /'^r 
 child. I truft you polTefs her friend fnip, and 
 will occafionally receive fubllantial proofs cf it : 
 yet to be wholly caft as a dependant upon her 
 bounty would not, I think, contribute to the 
 happinefs of either. She is dutiful, afFedlion- 
 ?.te, and generous ; but her feelings are peculi- 
 arly lively •, and as is the cafe with moll people 
 of ftrong fenfibility, there is fome degree of un- 
 certainty in her conduit. For my own part, 
 there is fcarcely a mifery I would not fooner 
 endure, than penfion myfelf upon my child, 
 with an apprehenfion that by fo doing I might 
 prevent her from forming fuch conneclions as 
 her fortune and merit might otherwifv; attrail. 
 G z Had 
 
124 A gossip's stort. 
 
 Had Mr. Pelham heen agreeable to her, I think 
 I could have been hnppy in the prote£lion of 
 fuch a fon. I have judged from her caft of 
 characler, that a fingle Hfe would be mod con- 
 ducive to her liappinefs ; but as even candour 
 itfelf could hardly acquit me of interefted vievv'S, 
 Mere I to urge iuch advice in my prefent fitu- 
 ation, I have only to hope that I iliall be able 
 to conceal from her the prefent (late of my af- 
 fairs, until flie fe!e<ns fome worthy admirer for 
 her hufband. Our expences at Stannadine in- 
 deed are conCderable, yet I think continuing 
 them a few months longer, from the hope of 
 her forming a fuitable attachment, is juftifia- 
 ble. I fiiall not fcruple applying to her for a 
 ihare of them ; befides, my love, (here Mr. 
 Dudley faintly fmiled,) perhaps a public enemy 
 may prove more favourable to me than an infi- 
 dious friend." 
 
 Mifs"^ Dudley acquiefced in thefe opinions, 
 nnd Marianne loon joined the party, anxious to 
 know the caufe of Sir William Milton's hafty 
 departure. Her father was happy to hear her, 
 sfter the perufal of Mrs. Morton's letter, ex- 
 prefs ftrong deteftation of libertine principles ; 
 a fentiment which, I will affirm, is natural to a 
 delicate unviriated female mind. 
 
 Mr. Du^Hey then informed his daughters, 
 that fome unexpected bufinefs would call him 
 to London. He lamented that he fliould lofe 
 the fociety which w^as fo delightful to him j 
 but yet would not be fo fclfifh as to defire them 
 to refign the country, while glowing in the 
 richeft robe of fummer, to accompany him to 
 a dirty, dcferted town. liOuifa gucihng at her 
 father's real motives for declining their com- 
 pany, 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 1 25 
 
 pany, acquiefced in the pretended one ; and 
 Marianne was too much enamoured with purl- 
 ing llreams, and niofs-grov/n dells, to endure 
 the thought of leavinc; Stannadme. 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 jAn interejlhig adventure. The purblind God of 
 Love difpatched upcji tioo dt^erent errandsy com- 
 mits an irreparable mijlake. 
 
 J- HE interelling particulars T have been re- 
 lating afforded the greatefl treat to my neigh- 
 bours that they had enjoyed for many years. 
 Two lovers at firft encouraged, then haftilydif- 
 miffed, opened a fine field for conjecture. Cu- 
 riofity, which had hitherto been employed in 
 fucceflively detecting the extravagance, parfi- 
 mony, carelefs negligence, and fufpicipus watc}'— 
 fulnefs of Mifs Dudley's domeilic management, 
 ■was entirely diverted from family arrangements, 
 to confider vi'hat could be the caufe of thefe re- 
 volutions. After 'many dcbues, we at lad 
 finally determined, that Mifs Marianne refufed 
 Mr. Pelham, becaufe her fathri- gave him a bad 
 character \ and that Sir William Milton y/^w 
 off, when Jie difcovcred Louifa had no fortune. 
 The frequent vifits of Captain Target and 
 Mr. Alfop to Stannadine were another inex- 
 hauftibie topic of converfation. I obferved that 
 this fummer proved the heahhieft I had even 
 
 knowr. 
 
126 A gossip's story. 
 
 knc^vn. None of my friends anfwered my en- 
 quiries with complaints of feeling they did 7wt 
 knoiv hoiv : not one creature had a nervous at- 
 tack or was out of fpirits. Sometimes we dif- 
 patched a nobleman in a coach and four to fetch 
 off Marianne, and then again created a group 
 of bailiffs, armed with an execution, to drive 
 out the whole family. For my own part, I 
 riade a very prudential ufe of this general foli- 
 ciiude. Whenever I laboured under any of 
 tiioie little perplexities which miftreflcs of a 
 family fometlmes feel, I introduced the Dud- 
 leys, and can truly fay, that more than once it 
 prevented my party from difco\ering that my 
 cort'ee was cold, and my filver waiter dreadfully 
 tarniflicd. 
 
 My friendfl.ip for Mifs Cardamum would 
 have given me pain, on account of the evident 
 dereli(5\ion of her beaux ; but happily that lady 
 had accompanied her papa to Scarborough, from 
 whence fhe wrote very fprightly letters to Mrs. 
 Medium, obliquely intimating, that fiie had 
 danced with two of the firft ger.tlemen of fa- 
 ihion there, wiio had faid very/c// things to her. 
 She enquired with perfedl nonchalance^ whether 
 Aifop or Target had run away with Marianne 
 Dudley yet ; declaring either of them were 
 very likely to draw in a raw young creature, 
 who had feen nothing of the world. I confidcr- 
 ed tliefe obfervaticns as an unqueflionable proof 
 that they had totally forfeited her good opinion. 
 
 I am however willing to hope that the rea- 
 der's regard is not fo wholly withdrawn from 
 them, but that curiofity is iliil anxious to know 
 the event of the letter, which we left Mr. Alfop 
 compofing in the twelfth chapter. It was in- 
 deed 
 
1 gossip's story. 127 
 
 deed a very unfortunate performance, for though 
 written in a fair legible liand, and very correct- 
 ly fpelt, it vi'as fo long in finifliing, that before 
 it was ready to prefent, Mr. Dudley had fet out 
 for London. As it began with ftating, that 
 the reafon which determined him to that mode 
 of addrefs was to avoid the jealous attention of 
 her father, the very bafis on which it was found- 
 ed being fubverted, the unhappy edifice fell to 
 the ground ; and thus the offspring of the Lovi s 
 and Graces was fmothered in its birth. But 
 (liil the heroic Alfop was not difcouraged. How 
 perfevering and indefatigable is love ! 
 
 To account for the confidence which fwelled 
 his hopes, I mull, difclofe a fecret which my 
 Betty told me ; namely, that by means of Mils 
 Lappel, the millener, a fecret correfpondence 
 had been entered into between the afpiring lo- 
 ver and Mrs. Patty. Every one who has clan- 
 deftinely addrefled a rich heirefs knows that it 
 is of great confequence to fecure the waiting- 
 maid ; and I would not be fo difrefpedlful to 
 Mr. Alfop's learning, as to hint that he v/as de- 
 ficient in fuch neceffary knowledge. ISlrs. 
 Patty's zeal to have her lady married was too 
 warm to be very nice about the intended huf- 
 band ; and no fooner did Mifs Lappel tell her 
 liow deeply Mr. Alfop wzs/mitteny and how very 
 rich he was, than Patty thought it might do 
 very well. They agreed indeed that he was 1:0 
 ivit, and rather How in converfation ; but then 
 he was good-natured, and Patty obferved v/Itli 
 a wink, that \\\^ fuarpej} men did not make the 
 bell hufbands. In fine ; by a prudent difpofal 
 of a few yards of Valenciennes edging, Mr. 
 Alfop fecured an able afliltant, and Patty enter* 
 
 tained 
 
128 A gossip's stort. 
 
 talned her lady with encomiums upon that gen- 
 tleman's great merit, as often as flie dared to 
 enter upon the fubjetl. _ The^ trufty Abigail 
 too, whenever {he wanted a Uttle article at Mils 
 Lappel's, took care to tell the happy lover, that 
 her Jadv feemed more and more pleafed when 
 Hie told her about him, and that Ihe was fure it 
 woiwd do in time. 
 
 Relying upon this intelligence, and feeling 
 a degree of fufpicion whether his old friend I'ar- 
 g'.-'t would play fair, for wlith doubt, to fay 
 truth, he had fome reafcn, I\Ir. Alfop determin- 
 ed to trull all to his own per Ton -^i^u] eloquence; 
 therefore, one fine hot moaning in July, he fet 
 cut, like another Paris, to conquer or die. 
 Not, indeed, attired like the young Trojan, 
 when he challenged the gruff, ill-behaved king 
 of Sparta to the lifts of war ; but in clean filk 
 ftocktngs ; and a new pink padufuay waiftcoat ; 
 his hair loaded with poM'der; and the lower 
 part of his face fo enveloped in an enormous 
 beaudalh, as to threaten fuffocation. He wore 
 a large bouquet of myrtles and geraniums,-whe- 
 ther with an emblematic defign, I will not fay, 
 and toifing a light rat-tan in his right hand, 
 tripped nimbly over the meadow. I do not 
 compare him to any ancient pod, or modern 
 knight of chivalry, not recollecting any fimili- 
 tude juft in point. As he walked along he me- 
 ditated, and determined to tell Mifs Marianne, 
 that-he tliought her the prettieft creature in the 
 world ; and that if (he did not pity him, death 
 muft be tlie inevitable confequence : when, lo ! 
 as he turned round a corner to enter the court: 
 gate, (he burft upon his view — not fitting alone 
 in a fliady bower — not gracefully reclined upon 
 
 the 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. I29 
 
 the turf, with a book in her hand, the emblem 
 of elegant fcience ; not awakening the echoes 
 with her melodious voice ; but pale, agitated, 
 difordered in her look and appearance. She 
 had jufl alighted from a carriage which flood at 
 the gate, and by the aiTiftance of two gentle- 
 men, who feemed abforbed in their attention to 
 their fair charge, flowly entered the houfe. 
 Mr. Alfop's alarm baniflied from his mind his 
 intended heroicks, and he haftiiy enquired of a 
 fervant the caufe of this incident. — He was in- 
 formed, that Mifs Marianne had ridden out 
 that morning, and narrowly efcaped a dreadful 
 accident. Her horfe had taken fright at a car- 
 riage which fhe met upon the road, and run 
 a'A'ay with her. Ijhe had fufhcient prefence of 
 mind to keep her feat, till a young gentleman 
 W'ho followed the carriage, with equal agility 
 and dexterity (topped the terrified animal, and 
 extricated her from her perilous (ituation. The 
 alarm however had overpowered her fpirit?, and 
 flie repeatedly fainted. Her preferver placed 
 her in the chaife with his father, and both of 
 them humanely accompanied her home. Mr. 
 Alfop judging his fuit could not commence that 
 morning, left his compliments, and after a great 
 deal of forrow for the accident, and joy that 
 flie was not hurt, promifed to call again the 
 next day. 
 
 Mifs Dudley met her fifter with tender 
 anxiety, and allifted her to her ciiamber. As 
 foon as flie was aiTured that flie had received 
 no real injury, (he left her to calm her agitateil 
 fpirits, at)d returned to thank the gentlemen, 
 for having preferved a life fo truly valuable. 
 The elder of the two, who feemed near fixty, 
 G 3 had 
 
130 A gossip's story, 
 
 had a keen, fenfible afpe£l ; the other Aid not 
 appear to exceed twenty, and was remarkably 
 handfome. 
 
 When Louifa had fatisfied their concern, by 
 informhig them, that her fifter was already 
 much calmer, the elder of the gentlemen de- 
 clared, that if the lady did not fufFer from her 
 alarm, he fhould a! mod be fo felfifh as to re- 
 joice in a circumflance which had accelerated 
 his introdudlion to a family, of whom he had 
 conceived the higheft opinion. He then faid 
 liis name was Clermont, that he had lately ar- 
 rived at a feat he had in the vicinity, and (hould 
 be happy to be confidered, by the Dudleys, in 
 tlie light of a neighbour and a friend. 
 
 Louifa, who had heard Captain Target men- 
 tion a Lord Clermont, with whom he was upon 
 a moft familiar footing, rightly concluded her 
 pvefcr.t viiitor to be that nobleman. She re- 
 plied, that (lie felt adured her father (who was 
 then from home) would be hpppy to cultivate 
 an acquaintance fo much to their honour. Mr. 
 Clermont then requefted pern iiTion to call and 
 enquire after the lady's health next morning, 
 "which (he readily granted, and the gentlemen 
 •withdrew, highly pleafed wi'h the exquifite 
 b< auty of Marianne, and the graceful politenefs 
 of her hfter. 
 
 Mifs Dudley now enquired of Marianne the 
 circuniflances of her late alarm, and was happy 
 to fee her recovered from every ill effecl of it. 
 She then told her what had polled in tlie draw- 
 ing-room, the rank of the family, their wifti 
 to commence an acquaintance, the flriking 
 countenance of Lord Clermont, and the ex- 
 prcfuve beauty ol his fon. This latter circum- 
 
 ftance 
 
A gossip's ^tory. 131 
 
 fiance Marianne denied, for pofllbly her fright 
 prevented her from obferving him ; fhe alio 
 leemed to think there would be an impropriety 
 in receiving a vifit from him during her father's 
 abfence. Louifa laughed at her fifler's prudery, 
 till Marianne was rather difpleafed, and petiifh- 
 ]y anfwered, that as fhe was determined upon a 
 fingle life, her error was merely charafleriftick 
 and of no confequence. She appeared, how- 
 ever, next morning dreffed in an uncommonly 
 elegant defliabille, and her natural charms were 
 improved by the advantage of well-adapted, 
 but apparently unfludied ornament. I would 
 not have my readers from thence conclude, that 
 (he was not really difpleafed at Mifs Dudley's 
 indifcreet permiffion ; or that her refolution in 
 favour of " blefled finglenefs" faultered; no 
 young lady wifties to be feen a *' mere figure," 
 and a perfon may be very angry at their heart, 
 and yet. adorn their face with an enchanting 
 fmile. 
 
 Mr. Clermont was accompanied by his fifler, 
 a girl about fourteen, whom he prt-fented to the 
 ladies; as one zealouHy delirous to obtain their 
 favourable opinion. He interrupted Marianne's 
 thanks for the aiTiilance he fo fortunately gave 
 her, by expreffing the tranfport he felt at being 
 able to render it. Mifs Dudley directed her at- 
 tention to Mifs Clermont, who being too young 
 and too timid to join much in converfation, it 
 was principally lupported by her brother and 
 Marianne. Never was fuch a wonderful coin- 
 cidence of opinion ! Both were piihonatc ad- 
 mirers of the country ; both loved moonlight 
 walks, and the noife of diltant waterfalls ; both 
 were enchanted by the fouiid of the fweet-toned 
 
 harp, 
 
132 A gossip's story. ' 
 
 harp, and the almofl: equally foft cadence of the 
 palloral and elegiac mufe •, in (liort, whatever 
 was palhonate, elegant, and firntimental in 
 art ; or beautiful, penfive, and enchanting in 
 nature. • 
 
 When minds arc in fuch happy unifon, time 
 flies unperceived. I cannot guel's how long the 
 morning call might have been protracted, had 
 not the appearance of Mr. Alfop excited a dif- 
 ferent train of ideas. His drefs and manner 
 were equally calculated to caricature the part he 
 meant to perform ; and the hopes Mrs. Patty 
 infpired had baniflied his natural timidity, with- 
 out fubftituting any thing more valuable. His 
 U'hole behaviour put the politenefs of the party 
 to a fevere ted. Marianne bit her lips to avoid 
 laughing at his folemn enquiries refpeCting the 
 confequences of her fright, and his afl'urances 
 cf the pain he felt at hearing of it. INIr. Cler- 
 mont could only anfwer with a bow, when he 
 ElTuined the oilice of Ciceroni, by offering to 
 tondu<fi him to all the pretty places in the gar- 
 den. Mifs Dudley's embarraflment was en- 
 creafed, by obferving that Mifs ClcrnKnit had by 
 no means obtained a command over her rifible 
 mufcles ; but fat pinching her fingers to pre- 
 vent a loud laugh. The Danbury Adonis de- 
 termined when he left honje, to fit out any 
 company that might be at Stannadine i for to 
 fay truth he was tired of hot morning walks, 
 and determined to carry off the prize before the 
 r-'^turn of her father. The Clermonts, there- 
 fore, were compelled to order their carriage, 
 ?\m\ while the l.iHies accompanied them to the 
 door, Mifs Clermont expreffed a hope that 
 though her mother w^iS not then in the coun- 
 
 try, 
 
A gossip's story. 133 
 
 fry, Rlifs Duilleys would have the goodnefs to 
 excufe her ablence, and favour them with their 
 company at the park. Louila, fearful of offend- 
 ing her fifcer's prudeiice, poflponed the invita- 
 tion till Mr, Dudley's return. 
 
 Mr. AUbp, who confidered this vifit as no 
 good omen for him, felt his difngreeable prog- 
 noftics confirmed, by Louifa's returning to 
 him with a fliglit apoloj'v for her filler's abfence. 
 He did not doubt that (he was playing the part 
 of a Duenna, and defpairing to elude fuch a 
 watchful Argus, at one time refolved boldly to 
 demand a conference with his charmer. But 
 rccollecSling thr.t it would be as prudent to try 
 to propitiate her keener, he frankly owned that 
 he was very deej^Iy in love, mentioned l)is in- 
 come, and earnellly im.plortd. her good opinion. 
 He certainly knew which of the ladies he meant 
 to addrefs, but being much agitated, and not 
 verv clear in his exprcfuons, he unhappily con- 
 veyed to her the arrogant hope that (he was the 
 cbjecl: of his purfuit; flie therefore thanked 
 him for the honour he had done her, but in- 
 treated him to defift from an addrefs which 
 never could fucceed. Mr. Alfop defired (he 
 would confult her filler, refufing to take a pofi- 
 live denial till Marianne was informed of his 
 defign. IMifs Dudley thought this reference 
 extraordinary, and told him her fifler's fenti- 
 ments could make no change in Ikt determina- 
 tion. Mr. Alfop ?.nfwered, Ihe was then very 
 barbarous, and laid fomething about freedom, 
 which Lojifa miilaking, replied, ftie hoped 
 freedom of opinion would be permitted to her- 
 felf. At length the lover grew warm, and told 
 her he faw her defigns, and was determined to 
 
 overthrow 
 
134 A gossip's story. 
 
 overthrow them, and to carry his point, in fpite 
 of all the oppofition (lie could make. Thus 
 they feparated, the gentleman in furious indig- 
 nation ; and the lady wondering what fteps her 
 refolute fwain would take, to compel her to 
 attend him to the altar. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIL 
 
 A modern lover makes his exit^ but not in a Jl^U 
 of high heroifm. 
 
 xN O fooner was Mr. Alfop gone, than Mifs 
 Dudley* impelled (t fuppofe) by the fpirit of 
 envy, flew to her fifter, to inform her of the 
 ardent paflion fhe had infpired, in a heart which 
 Marianne certainly accounted her own. I can- 
 not fay that the difpute between the ladies was 
 carried on with as much acrimony as mirth ; 
 but certainly each heroically complimented the 
 other with offers to refign the contefted con- 
 quell. Poor Mr. Alfop's affair being foon dif- 
 patched, the converfation turned upon the Cler- 
 monts. Marianne commended the fimplicity, 
 propriety, and modeft fweetnefs of the fifter; 
 and Louifa aflced her, if fhe was not no%v a con^ 
 vert to the brother's uncommon beauty ? Ma- 
 rianne was refolutely determined againfl; love ; 
 but, fmce there was fuch a fimiiarity of foul, 
 intended to cultivate a platonic friendfliip with 
 Mr. Clermont, i think in that heterogeneous 
 compofjtion beauty cannot be an eflential qua- 
 lity. 
 
A gossip's stort. 135 
 
 lity. I rather fuppofe, fince mind is the only 
 objeiSV, it would fubfill in its fulled perfedtioa 
 between old Blue Beard and Lady Medufa. 
 Marianne Dudley probably thought the fame. 
 She was (hocked to hear her filter talk of Mr. 
 Clermont as merely an handfome man ; while 
 flie took no notice of that fuperior virtue, that 
 inherent excellence, that fublime amiability 
 which fhe already difcovered was congenial to 
 his foul. Indeed Louifa was apt to commend 
 only what was apparent, and generally referved 
 her praife of thofe latent qualities, till their ex- 
 iftence was confirmed by experience. 
 
 Marianne paiTed the remainder of the day in 
 perufing paftorals, and playing upon her harp. 
 At ni'^ht, after having taken leave of her Tn- 
 ter, Patty, with many apologies, many aflu- 
 rances that fhe would not do fuch a thing again 
 for the world, many proteflations that (he met 
 him quite by accident, and much pity beftowed 
 upon the poor gentleman, put into her hand 
 a billet-doux from Mr. Alfop. Marianne at 
 firft declined reading it, till her filter was pre- 
 fent; but being allured by Patty that Mifs 
 Dudley was not to know of it, ventured to 
 break the feai. A love-letter is generally thought 
 rather a didicult performance, and perhaps I (hall 
 be of fervice to the rifing generation of fighing 
 fwains if i communicate a warranted original : 
 
 * MADAM, 
 
 * As I have been certified by authentic tef- 
 
 * timony, that the party to whom I ftated my 
 
 * cafe is biailed in judgment, and likely to hold 
 
 * back evidence, 1 have undertaken to plead my 
 
 * own caufe j and though 1 will not be fo bold 
 
 ' as 
 
1^6 A gossip's story. 
 
 < as to afk a favourable verdl£l, depend upon 
 
 * receiving mercy. Flrfl:, I premife, Madam, 
 « never vi^as man more in love. Secondly, I 
 
 * could bring many witnefles to fpeak to my 
 
 * chara£ler. Thirdly, I poflefs the fee-fimple 
 « of an eltate in the county of Weftmoreland, of 
 
 * feven hundred pounds per annum, devifcd 
 
 < by ray late father. Fourthly, I enjoy five 
 
 * thoufand in the long annuities, by virtue of 
 
 * the will of my aunt Margaret Alfop, fpinller. 
 « Now, Madam, judge if I fliould be condemned 
 « unheard. Let the caufe come fpeedily to if- 
 « fue, and believe me, 
 
 * Deareft of creatures, 
 
 ' Yours till death, 
 ' Thomas ALsoi^. 
 
 * N. B. Be pleafed to avoid naming this fub- 
 jea to Mifs Dudley.'^ 
 
 Though the humane Patty endeavoured to ex- 
 cite her lady's compaflion for the miferable 
 writer, fhe was too much diverted by the epif- 
 tle to attend for fome time to fentiments of 
 pity. At length flie enquired how fhe could 
 alTift him, fmce flridly prohibited from faying 
 any thing about him to her fifter, who was the 
 perfon whofe favour he was folicitous to obtain. 
 This queftion brought on an eclairciliement ; 
 Patty vowing, that he protefted he was in love 
 with her lady, and Marianne as pofitively Af- 
 firming that he had made propofals to Lourfa 
 that very day. There is no arguing againft 
 fafts. Patty was forced to give him up as a 
 bafe perjured lover, and deeply moralized upon 
 the general infidelity of men, to exculpate her- 
 felf from the charge of credulity, in having been 
 
 impofed 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. I37 
 
 impofed upon by INlr. Alfop's pretetidtd paf- 
 fion. She received a pofitive injun£lion never 
 to mention his name to her miflrefs again, and 
 to return his letter, with an intimation tliat his 
 impertinence would receive no other anfwcr. 
 I'atty obeyed, and penned a furious epillle; in 
 which file bitterly reproached him with having 
 expofed lier to her lady's ref^ntment, and ruin- 
 td his own hopes by his perfidious behaviour. 
 
 Nothing could exceed the aftonifhment of 
 Mr. Alfop at this charge. Indeed the accufa- 
 tion of perfidy was extremely unjuft, as ever 
 fmce the firfh encouraging ray beamed upon his 
 love, he had been invariably fixed to the object 
 of his purfuit; I mean the lovely Marianne's 
 fortune. It was the object of his daily thoughts 
 and nightly dreams ; he had proceeded fo far 
 as to plan the future method of expenditure, 
 iiow then could he be fal^ ? Utterly ignorant 
 of the name of the lady with whom he was 
 charged M-ith infi.Jelity, he could only exclaim 
 with Shakefpear's Hero, 
 
 ** That my accufers know, who have condemn'd mc." 
 
 In this agony he flew to receive the foft leni- 
 tives v/hich frienrifliip affords ; but Captain 
 Target thought proper to apply only ccrrofives 
 to the wound. In pretty plain terms he called 
 him a blundering fool, ornamenting his dif- 
 courfe with thofe flowers of rhetoric, which, 
 though the reputation of them would be judged 
 difgi'dceful to a female pen, are certainly elleem- 
 cd by the gentlemen who ufe them as the very 
 quinteflence of wit, and th.e criterion of rnanly 
 fenfe. He at length reludl:ant!v confented to go 
 to Stannadine, and ende-vour to difcover what 
 
 this 
 
138 A gossip's story. 
 
 this heinous ofFcnce was. Indeed he was not 
 in reality forry at his friend's mifcarriage, hav- 
 ing only made ufe of him as a fkilful gene- 
 ral does his raw, imdifciplined troops, to dif- 
 cover the ftrength of the enemy previous to his 
 arranging the grand attack ; firmly perfuaded 
 that by a few of thofe fliilful manoeuvres allow- 
 able in love as well as war, he could at any 
 time divert the laurel from Alfop's brows to his 
 own. 
 
 But if that hope had ever been well founded, 
 *< the golden glorious opportunity" was loft. 
 Mifs Marianne, dazzled by the attractive beams 
 of friendfliip, not only refufed to look at love, 
 but confidered it as a falfe fire, and the fource 
 of all female wretchednefs. 
 
 Captain Target had the penetration to per- 
 ceive this, and after joining in a liearty laugh at 
 his friend's miftake, prudently avoided difco- 
 vering his own attachment ; which would in- 
 deed have banifhed him from the enjoyment of 
 Mr. Dudley's hofpitality, for which he enter- 
 tained a xno^ profound regard. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIir. 
 
 Variety^ an atitlJote to fatiety. 
 
 ^OUISA informed her father of the events 
 ■which had happened in his abfence, and foon 
 received from him the follovi^ing anfwer : 
 
 < TO 
 
A gossip's story. 139 
 
 * TO MISS DUDLEY. 
 
 * The playful vivacity with wliich my dear 
 girl relates Alfop's odd adventure, would ligh- 
 ten my bofom of many of its cares, were I 
 not allured that your filial delicacy would iiv- 
 duce you to conceal the sfflitlion that rived 
 your heart, and pretend to chearfulnefs in the 
 moment of agony ; left you (hould reproach a 
 confcience deeply wounded. I will not how- 
 ever increafe my real forrows by Lmaginary 
 ones, but will fuppofe that 1 have not made 
 my Louifa wretched. 
 
 * I rejoice from my very foul at Marianne's 
 efcape : I will certainly wait upon Lord Cler- 
 mont, to exprefs my gratitude to him and his 
 fon, immediately upon my return. The inti- 
 macy he requefts will, I fear, be incompatible 
 with the plans we muft. too probably adopt. 
 You tell me, unlefs a fifttr's parrialiry deceives 
 you, Mr. Clermont looks on Marianne with 
 more than admiration. I fcarce with her to 
 make a conquefl of fo yomig a lover. 
 
 * You exprefs a defire to h"ar of my own af- 
 fairs. The onlypleafant circumftances which 
 have happened to me, have been owing to an 
 accidental meeting with Mr. Pelham. As my 
 connexions with 1 onnereau miiji be divulged, 
 I did not conceal from him the unpleafant mo- 
 tive of my journey. I am unable, Louifa, to 
 exprefs the manner in which this moH excel- 
 lent young man has endeavoured to confole iric. 
 He pofitively infifted that 1 fliould remove 
 from the lodgings I had taken, and accept of 
 an apartment in his houfe. He behaves to 
 me with yet fupsrior sfteem and refpect, than 
 
 • when 
 
14© A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 when he was at Stannadine foliciting yourfif- 
 ter's hand. Oh, that flie had viewed him with 
 approbation ! we then fliould have enjoyed the 
 comforts of prote6lion, without feeling the 
 miferies of dependance. But Jet us not re- 
 pine : the events of life are guided by a wife 
 diret^or, who often extracSts real good out of 
 feeming evil. 
 
 * Mr. Felham has frequently mentioned you. 
 He tells me Sir William Milton's attachment 
 to you is more violent than ever, and that he is 
 as wretched as pride, difappointment, and felf- 
 reproach can make him. I find he has not 
 been quite fo criminal as we conceived. The 
 Mortons, my love, are artful women : the 
 daughter, who is uncommonly beautiful, was 
 educated for the infamous purpofe of attra(Sl- 
 ing the notice of fome man of fortune. She 
 loft her chara£ler before fhe went to India, 
 where, Mr. Pelham fays, fhe laid fuch fnarcs, 
 as his coufin's prudence was unable to refift. 
 You will be ailonilhed, but during the three 
 years flie lived with him, fhe made his lofty 
 fpirit fubmit to what (he pleafed to propofe. 
 Mr. Peliiam owns that the was at length left 
 without any provifion, but this was not wlio!- 
 ly her paramour's fault, as at their quarrelling 
 file ftubborniy refufed to accept of any. No- 
 thing was done for the children : this Mr. 
 Pelham feverely reprobates ; and I find has at 
 length perfuaded bit William to fettle one 
 hundred a-year upon each of them. 
 ' Lady Milton's health is rapidly declining. 
 From the high charaQer fhe had heard of you, 
 flie perfuaded herfelf you would foften thofe 
 afperities in her fon's manner, which even a 
 
 * partial 
 
A gossip's story. 141 
 
 partial mother could not avoid perceiving. 
 Mr. Pelham is fo perfuaded that you are ne- 
 cefTary to Sir Wdliam's happinefs, that he 
 wifhed me to fay whether! thought it poflible 
 you could forgive the pafl, if his future con- 
 duct ftiould appear to deferve yourefleem. I 
 vi'ould not encourage fuch a diftant expe£la- 
 tion, or bind my Louifa to an improbable 
 contingence. 
 
 * It is a pleafure to fee my amiable hofl in 
 his own family : the regularity of his houfe- 
 hold, the cheerful refpefl of his fervants. 
 He mingles in the world, but is not fafcinat- 
 ed by its pleafures. His father's fifter lives 
 with him ; fhe does not feem remarkable ei- 
 ther for her virtues or abilities ; and I can per- 
 ceive her temper is fomewhat injured by the 
 infirmities of age : yet Mr. Pelham contrives 
 to make every one as attentive to her as him- 
 felf, and thus gives her an importance fiis 
 would not othervi'ife poflefs. His behaviour 
 proceeds from gratitude ; for (he nurfi^d him 
 when an infant in a very dangerous illnefs ; 
 and it is principally owing to her care that his 
 life was prolonged. I live, my dear, in times 
 when 1 hear much about publick virtue. 
 Thofe a£lions of a man's life which are exlii- 
 bited upon the theatre of the world are always 
 of doubtful origin. Ambition and avarice 
 may in reality claim what appears to proceed 
 from patriotifm and benevolence ; but the re- 
 tired virtues of domedic life are fure indica- 
 tions of that excellence of heart, and rectitude 
 of intention, which the author of all good pro- 
 mifes to reward. 
 
 < Mr. 
 
142 A gossip's story. 
 
 * Mr, Pelham never names your fifler : in 
 
 * this he is equally generous and delicate. He 
 
 * knows howmuch my heart feconded his wifhes, 
 
 * and kindly avoids a fubjecl which couM only 
 
 * give me pain. His a6live friendfliip has dif- 
 
 * covered a gleam of hope, which perhaps like 
 
 * many former ones will only end in deeper dif- 
 
 * appointment. An uncle of Mr. Tonnereau's, 
 
 * who died in Holland, bequeathed him an im- 
 
 * menfe eftate. This was (uppofed to be plac- 
 
 * ed beyond the reach of our Knglifli laws ; but 
 
 * an eminent counfcHor, whofe opinion, un- 
 
 * known to me, Mr. Pelham has obtained, dates, 
 ' that he conceives it may be amenable to his 
 
 * debts; and I am advifed, as being the princi- 
 
 * pal creditor, to attempt the recovery of it. 
 
 * My generous friend offers me every afliftance, 
 
 * and I fliall (lay fome time longer in London 
 
 * to hear further particulars. 
 
 * I will v/rite to Marianne by this poll. She 
 
 * is a truly amiable child, and my affedlions are 
 
 * equally divided between my daughters; but 
 
 * the peculiar circumflances of my prefent fitua- 
 
 * tion forbid me to difclofe to her my tvhole 
 
 * heart. My Louifa has long had a prefcriptive 
 
 * right to the confidence of her 
 
 * Affedionare father, 
 
 ' Richard Dudley.' 
 
 Such an epiftle could not but give delight to 
 a iieart in which the flame of filial piety glowed 
 •with purefl lullre ; but periiaps it was not whol- 
 ly afcribable to that amiable quality, that Louifa, 
 after prefTing the letter to her lips, depofited it 
 in her bofom, repeating. at the fame time her 
 
 father's 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. I43 
 
 father's words, *' that the author of all good 
 wouKl certainly reward the virtues of Mr. Pel- 
 ham." 
 
 As Mr. Dudley's letter to Marianne is not ef- 
 fential to my defign, I (hall omit it. That 
 young lady's apprehenfions refpe(fling her fa- 
 ther's enibarrairments had been confiderabiy re- 
 lieved, by the evafive anfwers of her fifter; 
 whofe uniform cheerfulnefs, joined to the ob- 
 fervation that the family arrangement was con- 
 duced in its ufiial liberal way, at length entire- 
 ly removed the fufpicion. Mrs. Patty too, who 
 
 ■ to ferve a particulir purpofe had been the caufe 
 of exciting her alarm, perceiving that it did not 
 take the right effect, took care to make Thomas 
 unfay every hint, to the difadvantage of his 
 
 . mailer's fortune. 
 
 Marianne was now therefore tolerably eafy ; (he 
 never permitted herfelf to be more. Alway^difla- 
 tisfied with the prcfent, regretting the pad, and 
 anticipating the future, fhe became peculiarly in- 
 genious in the art of felf-tormenting. Her friend- 
 fljip for Mr. Clermont (though only friendfhip) 
 was of fuch an apprelienlive kind, that it could 
 not promote the tranquillity of the bofom in 
 which it was cherifhed. It was fo peculiarly fuf- 
 ceptible, that, notwithftanding his frequent vi- 
 fits and marked' attentions, it continually fug- 
 gefttd the itlea that flie was not fo amiable in 
 his eye, as he was in lier's. 1 htfe refledlions 
 did nor excite any alarm refpe6ling the ftate of 
 her heart ; was it not fortified by refolutions 
 againfl love .'* Echdes, (he recoile^led that in the 
 beginning of their attachment flie felt the fame 
 doubts refpecling the finceriiy of her dear Eliza 
 Mihon. 
 
 The 
 
144 ■* gossip's story. 
 
 The bar which had fubfifted to prevent 'ler 
 confidential correfpondence with that lady, dur- 
 ing the period of Mr. Pclham's vifits, being re- 
 moved, Mifs Miitoti had written her a molt af- 
 fectionate epiftle J in whicli, though fiie lament- 
 ed that the ill fuccefs of her brother and coufia 
 had prevented tb.e family conne£lion fo much de- 
 fired from taking place, fiie obferved a bond (till 
 fubfifted, more facred, more indiffbluble tlian 
 any other. She flouilfned a little upon the word 
 friendfliip, and then defired her deareft Marianne 
 to reme.Tiber its hallowed claims. This produc- 
 ed a very difFufe reply, in which fuch reafons 
 were given for Mr. Felha-m's difmilhon, as en- 
 tirely fatisfied the fair confidant, who declared 
 that her friend had acfled with Jier ufual great- 
 nefs of foul, in rejecting a man whom (however 
 unexceptionable) il.e could not love. 
 
 Marianne had now an additional employment, 
 befides playing upon her harp, reading paftoral 
 poetry, walking in the woods by moonlight, 
 and liftening to diitant waterfall?. She kept a 
 journal of the events of the day, and every morn- 
 ing difpatched two flieets of paper, clofely writ- 
 ten, to her beloved liliz u if any fceptical cri- 
 tick fliould cenfure this as a violation of proba- 
 bility, obferving that a lady leading a retired 
 country life could not find maiter for fuch volu- 
 minous details, i fiiaU pity his ignorance, and 
 refer him to the produ6tions of many of my 
 contemporaries; where he may be convinced, 
 that fentiment is to the full as ducliie as gold, 
 and when beaten thin will cover as incalculable 
 an extent of furface. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
A GOSSIP S STORT. I4: 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 An important incident, announced in pretty 
 language. 
 
 B, 
 
 • UT while the fair Nymph thus continued 
 to hang her virgin offerings on tie (hrine of 
 friend(hip, Mr. Clermont acknowledged himfsif 
 fubdued by the irrefiflible force of a fuperior 
 divinity. His heart was naturally fufcepriole of 
 the power of beauty, and his youthful imagi- 
 nation, unrellrained by experience, and un- 
 fubdued by time, annexed to the lovely form 
 of Marianne Dudley, every idea of ' perfe£V, 
 fair, and good j' "^U the images of excellence 
 that 
 
 ** Fable ever feign'd, 
 
 " Or youthful poets fancy when they love." 
 
 He perceived through the clear tranfparency of 
 her exquifite complexion, a mind unclouded by 
 any (hade of error, and radiated by all the 
 fplendor of grace and virtue : and in the fwim- 
 ming lulfrc of her azure eyes he not inaccurate- 
 ly read the foft emotions of a melting foul. 
 Did ten thoufand worlds prefent equal attrac- 
 tions to that of calling fuch an angel his ? I am 
 confident every lover under twenty will an- 
 fwer — no. 
 
 To accelerate the conqueft of his heart, love 
 
 was increafed by difficulty. Her rejedlion of 
 
 Mr. Pelham was a convincing proof that {he 
 
 was not eafily won •, and though the fmile 
 
 H which 
 
14<5 A gossip's storv. 
 
 which beamed in her love'y hce at his ap- 
 proach, might have told him he was a welcome 
 gued, he had roc high an idea of her perfec- 
 tions, to fuppofe they would be the reward of 
 his vows. But ihould the goddefs be propi- 
 tious, might not parental authority interfere ? 
 This, thowgh a pmbable, was only a fecondary 
 terror; for fuppohng himfelf blefled with her 
 favour, he felt difpcfed to brave Jhe frowns of 
 fortune and of fate. 
 
 Mifs Dutllcy liad declmed any family inter- 
 courfe till her father's return ; but Mr. Cler- 
 mont always found excufes for anotlier call. 
 Sometimes he apprehended one of the ladies 
 bad a flight cold, and then civility required 
 that he fliould make enquiries after her health. 
 Again, Marianne cxprtlfed a w ifii that fl\e 
 could get a Canary-bird, and the attentive lover 
 had it in his power to prefent her with a charm- 
 ing little fongiler ; another day, (he was li.trdiy 
 miftrefs of a favourice piece of mufic, and Mr. 
 Clermont was fo happy in his manner of teach- 
 ing, that (he le.irnt much more from his in- 
 flrui^lions than the Icffons of her mailer. Then 
 on darting a literary topic, Ihe h':id not read an 
 author which he commended, and fortunately 
 hiving the book at home, he infilled upon 
 brinpng it next day. Thus ever reltU^fs but 
 when in her comprmy, he repeated his vifus, 
 gcized upon lier charms, magnified iier perfec- 
 tions, and drained, evc.i to its dregs, the iu- 
 tOAicating cup of love. 
 
 Such an admirer, or to fpeak with more pre- 
 ct.lon ati adorer, was too much adapted to 
 iVlavijnne's t:iile to be viewed witii r^al indif- 
 feience. But the pillion, which ui Mr. Cler- 
 mont's 
 
A GOSSIPS STOUV. 147 
 
 mom's heart fliimeJ with arJour, nnd fpole 
 with dnimalion j in the fofrer chiiracter of Ma- 
 rianne airumed the form of gentle mchincholy. 
 Louif.i ptTccived with pain the change in her 
 filler's manner, and eafily divined the cauft*. 
 The behaviour of Mr. Clermont was too mark- 
 ed to villow her to doubt of h.is fcntiments ; yet 
 flie pruriently wifhed that her ufter mi^ilit not 
 beftow her ivhole heart, till certain that no 
 cbftacles would arife to make her regret its 
 lofs. 
 
 The frequent vifits of Mr. Clermont during 
 her frjth.er's abfence, gave Mifs Dudley tlie more 
 concern, as fiie knew not how to declitie them. 
 She endeavoured to engage her filler in fociety, 
 but Marianne's relucflance to quit her beloved 
 folitude was invincible. At lali, flie fucceeded 
 fo far as to prevail upon her to take a tour, 
 for a few days, amongft the beautiful fcenery 
 with which they were furroundcd ; but hardly- 
 had they proceeded to the end of the fir ft Rage, 
 when Mr. Clermont and his filter overtook 
 them, who, as he thought, very fortunately, 
 had juft fet out upon exatflly t!ie fime route. 
 How was Louifa to efcape tins new embarrafl- 
 mem ? Kven the prudent Marianne thought 
 they could not decline his propofal of joining 
 their party, without evident rudcnefs. 
 
 .^s no vigilance could now gu trd againfl re- 
 peated Interviews, Mifs Dudley felt hcrfjf oblig- 
 ed to commit her fifter to the guard of her own 
 circumfpe'l-on. Frequent convcrTitioiis amongit 
 the delightful objccls wiiich n.iture prc-fcnted to 
 their view, fo forcibly increaf..d Mr. Clermont's 
 enihiifiafm, that he no longer brooked the re- 
 itraint of fiience. He fcized an opportunity of 
 H 2 addrdfiiig 
 
148 A gossip's story. 
 
 addreffing his charmer, as he was condudllng 
 lier along a woodland dell, at a little diftance 
 from the reft of the party. With all the glow- 
 ing colouring of romantic tendernefs, with all 
 the impaffioned eloquence of youthful impe- 
 tuofity, he commuTiicatcd the fecret of his heart. 
 His bluihing miftrefs liftened in filent confu- 
 fion, her complacency at feeing her own idea 
 of a lover realized, was abated only by recol- 
 lecting, that the " was fu'orn never to tliink of 
 love." Being prefled for an auiwer, flic with 
 fome hefitation mentioned her determined pre- 
 ference of a fingle life -, but intermixed this de- 
 claration with fo much efteem for Mr. Cler- 
 mont, and fo much pity for his mifery, that 
 though flie doubtlefs intended to blaft all his 
 liopes, Tne did not a(ftually reduce him to de- 
 fcair. He implored her forgive nefs : it was 
 readily granted ; he then inlreated he might 
 preferve tl'ie tender regard, the enchanting con- 
 fidence with which he had been favoured. To 
 this the lady afiented, on condition of his never 
 naming the word love; he in reply promifed to 
 confine his unh.apny pafTion if pojTible to his own 
 bofom, and thus the quondam lovers became 
 oilenfible friends. 
 
 The reft of the tour was extremely agreeable 
 to both parties. Marianne's fnirits, uhich pro- 
 bably had fuff. red by too clofe confinement, re- 
 ceived confiileri^ble bent-fit from th.e excurfion. 
 TJie chanj^e vas fo vifible to Touifa, that (he 
 could not avoid rallying her fifttr upon the 
 caule of this funden alteration. Marianne's 
 heart wai, formed for confideoce, and the readi- 
 ly inforiAied Louifa of ihe circumPcance of Mr. 
 Clermont's adurciTes, a::d her total rejetS^ion. 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. !/:(() 
 
 ISIifs Duclley did not appear to think the denial 
 gnit£ fo peremptory as Marianne intended it 
 fhould prove ; and that opinion feemed con- 
 firmed by the vivacity of the reje6led lover. 
 Perplexed at this fuggeftion, Marianne deter- 
 mined to appeal to her Eliza Milton, who was 
 an excellent cafuift in all points of love and 
 honour. On the evening (he returned home, 
 fhe retired early from fupper, in order to write 
 down the whole particulars. But the affe6ling 
 fight which {he faw on entering her drelFin^- 
 room, incapacitated her for ufing her pen. It 
 was no other than the little canary-bird, her fa- 
 vourite pet, lifelefs at the bottom of its cage, 
 and infenfible to the carefles of its weeping 
 miftrefs. 1 do not inGnuate that Marianne's 
 regret was increafed by any aflbciation of ideas v 
 fhe was paffionately fond of all kinds of birds, 
 and certainly did not prize this the more, from 
 having been the prefent of a rejeffed lover. 
 The accident however afforded Mr. Clermont 
 a frefh opportunity of urging his fuit, for af- 
 fuming the character of the dead warbler, he 
 prefented Marianne v/ith the verfes following : 
 
 SONNET, 
 
 ON THE DEATH OF A CANARY-BIRD. 
 
 Far from the funny ifie, and vine-hung grove. 
 
 My native foil, to Britain's temp'rate (ley 
 I came, to learn the tale of hopckfs love. 
 
 To chaunt its woes to Delia, and to die. 
 Oft lliall the penfive maid thofe notes recall, 
 
 Whofe varied melody did once engage, 
 And oft the tear of kind regret fliall fall,. 
 
 A« fad fhe ga;^s on my vacant cage. 
 
150 A gossip's story. 
 
 Yet, gentle mourner, not tliy tears or fighs, 
 Csn life's extingiiifh'd taper re-illume ; 
 
 And when for thee defpairing Strephon dies, 
 Thy angel pity cannot break lus tomb : 
 
 Yet now fnch pow'r is lodgM in thy foft eyes, 
 One tender glance would clear the morbid gloom. 
 
 Mari.innt^ difcovered in this compofition a 
 charm infinitely fuperior to that of a mere well- 
 turned compliment, and cenfured Louifa's com- 
 miMidarion of the poetry, as by no means fufli- 
 fien'ly animated. Mrs Party, who happeified 
 to be prefent when the fubje£l was difcufied 
 bf tween the fiUers, joine?! in the converfation, 
 and did not, by any means, " d.nnn witli 
 f.'.int praife." She had now commenced as 
 warm an advocate for Mr. Clermont, as ihe had 
 been for his predccelfors I'elham and Alfop, not 
 fiom the mercenary motives which induced her 
 to plead for the latter gentleman, but from the 
 natural afteclion which flie bore to handfome 
 peoj-ile. Though her lady feldom interrupted 
 her wlien Mr. Clermont was her theme ; (lill fhe 
 fo conllantly perlilted in her determination of 
 *' withering upon the virgin thorn," that Patty 
 began to apprehend feme ferious difafler mu(t 
 betal her, as a''judgment upon her obllinacy : 
 either that l^^e would be metamorphofed into a 
 rock of marble, or fetched away by the ghofl: of 
 fome lover, who had died in dtfpair. Refolved 
 therefore, by giving fair w>!rning, to difcharge 
 her own duty, Ihe coMflantly entertained her 
 lady duririg her Jiours of attendance, with the 
 dreadful confequences of female difdain, begin- 
 ning with Bateman hanging himfelf for love, 
 and ending with t!ie cruelty of Barbara Allen. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
A gossip's story. 151 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 An example of polijhed henevohvce- furii'iJJjes a 
 Jlrong argument agahiJJ melancholy difcouteiit, 
 
 VV HILE the wavering balance of female re- 
 folutlon continued fufpended, before Mrs. Pat- 
 ty's eloquence, or fome weightier motive made 
 the nodding fcnie preponderate in Mr. Cler- 
 mont's favour, Mr. Dudley returned home, liis 
 arrival relieved Louifa from much anxiety for 
 his health, and peace of mind, and many appre- 
 henfions for her fiftcr's future tranquillity, as fne 
 ■was now certain of the affiftance of an abler 
 advifer. Mr. Dudley's account of his own af- 
 fairs was more and more diilreirmg. The li- 
 mitations under which the eftate had been be- 
 queathed to Mr. Tonnereau, did not upon fur- 
 ther examination appear to be f *.-mo'ontab!e \ 
 and even government had given up all hopes of 
 thefafety of the Leeward ifldnd fleet: the un- 
 der-writer too, v.h.o had itifured the fliip in 
 which Mr. Dudley's property was embarked, de- 
 clared himfelf reduced by repeated loffes, to a 
 (late of infolvcnfcy. Yet though expofed to the 
 prefTure of fo many various niibfortunes, Lonirri 
 with delight perceived that her father's mind 
 had loft much of the gloomy defpondency, 
 V hich deprefled it when he left btannadi/ie, and 
 which had appeared to his excellent daughter a 
 feverer misfortune, than tlie lofs of that wealth 
 (he had been accuflomed to enjoy. 
 
 Mr. 
 
152 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 Mr. Dudley accounted for the change. " Per- 
 haps, my love," laid he, " of all the evils at- 
 tendant on poverty, none are more to be lament- 
 ed than the querulous humour it excites, even 
 in liberal and benevolent minds. People in un- 
 happy circumftances are not Only art to view 
 the comforts they are forced to relinqullh, with 
 repining regret, almoft approaching to envy j 
 they too often confider the fons of affluence, as 
 enjoying their calamities, making them the fub- 
 ject of illiberal mirth, and looking down with 
 contempt upon the children of adverfity. The 
 real afdi£lions incident to penury, are lefs ha- 
 TalTing to our fortitude, than the fuppofition of 
 01 r being infulted by 
 
 ** The proud man's contumely, 
 *' The Infolence of office, and the fpurns, 
 ♦' Which patient merit of th' unworthy takes. 
 
 '« Bad as the world is, I believe this hap- 
 pens lefs frequently than the unhappy fuppofe ; 
 and doubtlefj it is their duty to avoid indulging 
 thefe painful fenfibilities ; but they are fo con- 
 genial to a refle(fling independent mind flrug- 
 gling with dillrefe, and are fo Itrengthened by 
 the general opinion of mankind, and the opini- 
 ons not only of poets, but of moral writers and 
 divines ; that it is almofl: impoflible for a perfon 
 to feel pecuniary difficulties, without fuppofing 
 themfclves to be ill-ufed and forfaken. It was 
 with thefe fentiments I left you, and though not 
 infenfible to negleft myfelf, I anticipated it with 
 greater terror, as I imagined it would fall with 
 ten-fold violence upon you ; who have been ac- 
 cuflomed to be welcomed with delight, heard 
 wich attention, and anfwered vs'ith refpedl. Mr. 
 
 Pelham 
 
A gossip's story. 
 
 ^S3 
 
 Pelliam my clear, has made me open my eyes 
 to a brighter profped ; and though few, hke 
 this excellent young man, meafure their con- 
 tlu6l to the unfortumte by that divine benevo- 
 lence, which regards the keen fufceptibility of 
 mifery, inftead of the cold rules of civility, — 
 though few, I fay, like him divert by their kind 
 attentions the recollection of that diftrefs, which 
 the yet unfubdued fpirit of independence will 
 not permit their fortune to relieve ; yet ftil!, 
 Louifa, there are many generous minds in the 
 world ; and much of the negledl of which af- 
 fli£lion complains is cafual and accidental. May 
 you, my dear, confuler it as fuch ! or rather 
 may you meet with a Pelham, to raife you 
 above the torment of thefe reflections !" 
 
 Mr. Dudley's conclufion was more alFecfting 
 to Louifa than he intended. She would have 
 repeated his energetic wifh, but recollecfting 
 herfelf, determined to think of this mod ami- 
 able man, only as the friend and comforter of 
 her father. 
 
 Mr. Dudley's intention of paying a refpe£lful 
 vifit of thanks to Lord Clermont, was prevented 
 by that nobleman's afTiduous poiitenefs ; for he 
 waited upon him the morning after his return, 
 and prefented his fon to him, as one whofe 
 highed ambitio'n was to obtam his approba- 
 tion. Lord Clermont exprefled his wilh for 
 an intimacy between the families, with a 
 warmth which neither admitted of denial nor 
 evafion ; and plainly iliewed that more than a 
 neighbourly intercourfe was dcfired. Mr. Cler- 
 mont's behavic':' .fTji-ded a further expi.ination, 
 and though the ^.clicacy infeparable rroin tem.de 
 attachment prevented iMarianne from making 
 H 3 yny 
 
154 -A GOSSIPS STORT. 
 
 any intentional difcovery of her fenthnents:; yet 
 the bhjfli of pleafure which lighted up her face 
 at her lover's approach, and tiie penfive abfence 
 of mind which followed his departure, inti- 
 mated a preference which the difcerning father 
 hardly felt inclined to limit to the name of 
 friendfhip.. 
 
 Lord Clermont did not long permit Mr. 
 Dudk-y to found his opinion upon fufpicion 
 only; he avowed his {oh'$ altachment, and his 
 ■warm approbation of his choice, in terms which 
 fe.?med to indicate an apprehenfion that difficul- 
 ties would be itarted on Mr. Dudley's fide. 
 What then was his aflonillmient vihen that gen- 
 tleman declared, that his daughter was an abfo- 
 lute miftvefs of her perfon and fortune, and that 
 i! ilie inclined to favour Mr. Clermont, the pa- 
 tvirnal fantlion would be chearfully bellowed ? 
 But in order to account for his Lord (hip's fur- 
 prifc, I muft flate fome circumllances in his 
 hiflory and character. 
 
 Lord Clermont then, was one of thofe who 
 iaiagine they are thoroughly acquainted with 
 human life, from having contemplated it on the 
 dark fide. Difappointed in his expectations of 
 preferment at court, he retired into the country, 
 with fomewhat of a faturnine call of charadter ; 
 llie afpericy of which was not foftened by the 
 enjoyment of domeftic happinefs. His union 
 with Lady Clermont was effe£led by interelted 
 motives, and as the badnefs of her temper, and' 
 the inferiority of her whole chara£ier, was a 
 perpetual fource of difquiet, he attributed his 
 infelicity to his own folly, in marrying a woman 
 whom he beheld with indiilVrence j errone- 
 QuHy fuppofing that if he had really loved her, 
 
 her 
 
A gossip's stort. 155^ 
 
 f^er fallings would have given him lefs pain* 
 This predileflion in favour of love-matches, 
 ftrongly warring with his ruling pafTion, avarice, 
 induced him tolook forward with apprehenfion, 
 to the period of his children arriving at matu- 
 rity; for he fuppofed it improbable, that Cupid 
 and Plutus could agree in their choice, and each 
 of thefe deities fecmed in his eye of equal im- 
 portance. To prevent his children therefore 
 from falling in love, he educated them with 
 ftri(5l feverity, and railed at the paflion with in- 
 creafing violence, till his accidental interview 
 with Marianne Dudley, and his fon's vifible 
 attachment to her, relieved his painful apprehen- 
 fions, and changed his inveclives into encomi- 
 ums. Habitual feverity prevented him from 
 owning to Mr. Clermont the fatisfa<Stion he 
 felt ; but the young lover's impatience to lead 
 his charmer to the altar, was hardly more vio- 
 lent than his father's defire efFedlually to fecure 
 him from the poiLbility of being attached to 
 feme beautiful beggar, or of facrlficing his fu- 
 ture comforts at the Ihrine of unamiable riches. 
 The unfounded rumour refpedting Mr. Duu-- 
 ley's intentions of reilrainlng Marianne from 
 marrying, had reached the Park ; and Lord, 
 Clermont confidered it as too probable to want 
 authenticity. He elleemed it a very fortunate 
 clrcumflance, that his fon's acquaintance wiih 
 the ladies had commenced during the father's 
 abfence \ and inftead of reftralning, encourag- 
 ed his frequent vifits to Stannadine, in order 
 that he might fecure the aiTections of Marianne, 
 before any oppofition could be flarted. His 
 obfervatlons on her behaviour convinced him 
 that his plan had fo far fucceeded, and he con^ 
 
 fidered; 
 
1^6 A gossip's story 
 
 fidered the compliment he paid her father in 
 alking his aflenr, to be merely a ftep to bring 
 the affair to a crifis. That aflent, given with 
 no other reftriftion than what his child's happi- 
 nefs feemed to demand, alloninied his Lord- 
 Ihip J but an adept in the ways of' the ivorld will 
 rot afcribe any a£lion to the principle of dif- 
 jnterefted virtue, which is capable of being re- 
 ferred to confummate hypocrify. 
 
 Lord Clermont, on his return to *^he Park, 
 fent for his fon to his clofet. The polifhed ur- 
 banity of manners, which diRinguifhed this no- 
 bleman in company, did not enter into his do- 
 inedic arrangements, and Mr. Clermont with 
 reluftant (leps obeyed the fummons of a father^ 
 uho, except in permitting his vifits to Stanna- 
 tline, had always appeared to combat his wifhes ; 
 and who never called him to a private confer- 
 ence, but only to give him a pointeJ reproof. 
 Even now that he had the mod tranfporting 
 tidings to communicate, he could not refolve to 
 do it in a gracious manner. <• Edward," faid 
 he, in a (levn voice, '• I wifii to know if you 
 have fo far forgotten your duty as to engage 
 your ;:ff"e£tions to Mifs Marianne Dudley, with- 
 out previoufly obtaining my permiffion." Con- 
 fcious of the error, which he knew not how to 
 vindicate, and could not difown, Mr. Clermont 
 was filent. " I perceive," refumed his Lord- 
 fhip, *' that my fufpicions are juft. I fuppofe^ 
 Sir, I have not deferred your confidence. I am 
 an unnatural father, am I not ?" The poor 
 youth, fuppofing the next fentence would con- 
 tain a peremptory mandate to banifli him from 
 one on whom his life depended, and againft 
 whom no reafonable objedion could be urged, 
 
 could 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. I57 
 
 coulJ not give a negative reply to his father's 
 interrogatories, and remained dumb with terror 
 and confufion. After his Lordfhip had thus gra- 
 tified himfelf by the indulgence of paternal 
 power ; he thought proper gracioufly to forgive 
 him, and after llightly mentioning Marianne's 
 inferior rank, expreiTed his willingnefs to over- 
 look that objedlion in confequence of her merit, 
 and his defire to enfure his fon's happinefs. He 
 then related what had pafled between him and 
 Mr. Dudley, and claimed the acknowledgement 
 which duty and gratitude muft excite, in return 
 for fuch confiderate goodnefs. Mr. Clermont 
 in a tranfport of joy flung himfelf at his fa- 
 ther's feet, and acknowledged that he had made 
 him the happiell of men; and his Lordfliip, 
 while he railed hirn and held him to his heart, 
 experienced for perhaps the Jirji time in iiis life 
 the real blefling of being a father. 
 
 Nothing now remained but to gain the ap- 
 probation of Lady Clermont, and to prevail up- 
 on the lovely maid to fan£lion their hopes. The 
 former, my Lord was too much of a fafhionable 
 hufband to confider as of much importance} 
 and the latter he was inclined to hope would 
 not prove an Herculean labour^ 
 
 '"HAP. 
 
158 A gossip's story. 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 ji fair Platonift /^ compelled to marry y as a left 
 hazardous expedient^ than refining the opinions 
 of an illiberal age. 
 
 Ti 
 
 H E lover's tafk of propitiating his God^ 
 defs was rendered lefs difficult by Mr. Dudley ; 
 who, immediately upon the departure of Lord 
 Clermont, informed his daughter of the purport 
 of that nobleman's vifit, and requefled her deci« 
 fion. 
 
 Marianne, with bluflies as animated and as 
 beautiful as thofe of the morning, cxprefled a 
 lively fenfe of Mr. Clermont's merits ; buc 
 though fhe felt for him a tender friendship and 
 a warm efteem, flie fcarce fuppofed her regard 
 amounted to love, a paffion of which flie believ- 
 ed her heart never would be fufceptihle. 
 
 Mr. Dudley, who thought otherwife, replied^ 
 *' Where, my dear, did you learn your opinion 
 of love ? If neither vi^arm elteem nor tender 
 friendll^ip exprefles the fentiments it infpires, 
 by what other words can you define them ?" 
 
 Marianne, a little piqued at having her know- 
 ledge of a fcience, in which flie believed herfelf 
 an adept, called in queftion, anfwered, that if 
 (lie was convinced it would promote Mr. Cler- 
 mont's happinefs, Ihe could chearfuUy refign him 
 to another. 
 
 " You only tell me, my dear, that you are 
 not felfifti, mean, and illiberal ; qualities of 
 which I never fuppofed you capable." 
 
 The 
 
A gossip's story. i5g 
 
 The young lady perceiving that (he had con- 
 fiderably the difadvantage in the argument, beg- 
 ged her father to give her Ins opinion of her 
 lover. 
 
 Tenderly prefTing her hand, " I am certain," 
 faid he, *' my dear child is not one of thofe who 
 difcover irrefiflible sttra<Stions in the fpier.dorof 
 a coronet, or the pofTefRon of immenT^ wealth. 
 I therefore will not confider that Mr. Clermont's 
 pretenfions are by thofe advantages rendered 
 irrefiftible. He appears to be an intelligent, 
 agreeable young man, of a frank, candid difpo- 
 fition ; and I am informed is irreproachable in 
 his morals. As a lever, I prefume, he mufl. be 
 as much of an Amadis de Gaul, as modern man- 
 ners will permit, and therefore certainly adapt- 
 ed to your tafle in that particular." 
 
 Marianne fmiled. " You are fevere upon 
 me, Sir, but is this all you have obferved of 
 him ?" 
 
 '« I could fay," refumed Mr. Dudley, " that 
 his chara^ier is not yet completely formed. He 
 has been educated in retirement, under the eye 
 of (if the world fays right) a ftern father. Such 
 a fituation, \o fecure from every temptation to 
 do wrong, and precluded from the poiPibility of 
 aQing and judging lor himfelf, obliges me to 
 confider Mr. Clermont's future condu£l to be 
 rather a matter of opinion, than admitting of a 
 pofitive conclufion. He is extremely young, 
 lively, and poflefled of ftrong pafhons; for fuch 
 an one the world will fnread many fnarcs, from 
 which 1 fincerely hope his attachment to you 
 may preferve him. Our fex, my dear, is form- 
 ed to fill an ampler fpace in the world than 
 yours, and the fphere of an Englifti nobleman's 
 
 adliofl 
 
i6o A gossip's storV. 
 
 adlions is an extenfive one. It is always fortu- 
 nate for a woman, when fhe marries a man 
 whofe charaifter can in fome degree be afcertain- 
 ed, by his having been for fome time under his 
 own guidance. You who are formed to fulfil 
 the retired, but not lefs important duties of life, 
 can always be properly ellimated while under 
 the parental wing -, the attentive, fubmiflive 
 daughter, will make a tender, obliging wife ; the- 
 retired, amiable maid, will form the prudent, 
 domeflic matron. But the manners of the man 
 cannot be fo well determined by the virtues of 
 the youth ; particularly if his father, like Lord 
 Clermont, affumes that method of behaviour, 
 which indeed tries his patience and good hu- 
 mour, but does not eradicate any wrong propen- 
 f]ty, or call forth the latent qualities of his foul, 
 by confidence and generous friendqjip. I mull 
 therefore upon the whole confider Mr. Clermont 
 as a lefs eligible hufband than Mr. Pelham." 
 
 Marianne entreated her father never to men- 
 tion a name which fhe never heard without feel- 
 ing diflike, bordering upon averfion. She then 
 aOced her father if patience and good humour 
 were the only virtues he difcovered in Mr, Cler- 
 mont. 
 
 The fretful impatience with which fhe inter- 
 dicted Mr. Dudley from mentioning his friend, 
 and the tacit reproof her quellion conveyed, de- 
 termined the obfervant father to fupprefs fur-_ 
 ther obfervations ; and endeavouring to give the 
 converfation a lively turn, he told Marianne that 
 patience and good humour were very good con- 
 tjuhia/ virtues. 
 
 Still Marianne could not think of marriage, 
 and wifiied that Mr. Clermont's fentiments com- 
 
 cided 
 
A gossip's story. l6l 
 
 clJed with her's, in preferring (for at leaft feme 
 years) the gentle tie of friendfliip. 
 
 *« Will you tell me, my dear," faid Mr. Dud- 
 ley, " what the married ftate is, if it is not 
 frjendfliip in its moft lively, extenfive, and ex- 
 alted fenfe ? Is it not an union of intererls and 
 affetflions, fan£tioned by an indiflbluble tie ? 
 Does it not call for mutual efteem, confidence, 
 forbearance, and tendernefs ? Contemplate it, 
 my dear, in the light of a connedlion at firft de- 
 figned by divine wifdom, for the mutual advan- 
 tage of two fallible creatures, and not as a fairy 
 region of ecftafy and perfe^l happinefs, inhabit- 
 ed by pevicO. beings, whofe every wifli, fenti- 
 menr, and a£tion flows in unifon. I would not 
 fhock your delicacy, Marianne ; but I mufl teH 
 you, that the world is exceedingly apt to call in 
 queftion tlie exiitence of that Platonic afFedlion 
 you feem to entertain ; and I will apprize you, 
 that it is necefTary, either to receive Mr. Cler- 
 mont's vifits in the acknowledged chara£ler of 
 your lover, or to requeft him to difcontinue 
 them. 
 
 Marianne was exceedingly difpleafed at the 
 world's want of candour, fentiment, and A;- 
 finement ; but as more expert reformers than 
 herfelf had often in vain tried to correal its pre- 
 judices, fhe did-not feel fufficient courage to dare 
 its cenfures, and to defpife its frowns. The 
 compalhon infeparable from her difpofitiou, 
 prevented her from adopting the laft alternative 
 propofed by her father 5 as its efFe(fls would in- 
 evitably prove fatal to poor Clermont. But 
 while flie hefitated, perplexed, and unrefolved, 
 the lover arrived to plead his own cjuff. His 
 arguments, confirmed by a thoufand vows of 
 
 eternal 
 
i62 A gossip's story. 
 
 eternal gratitude, unremitting attention, unalter- 
 able, tender, inviolable love, were ruccefsful : and 
 Marianne confented to accompany him to the 
 altar. 
 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 7/je Author's predllecl'ion for declamaiion^ induces 
 her to make f 10 ufe of a fine opportunity jor in^ 
 traducing elegant defcription. 
 
 O fooner had the lady's confent been ob- 
 tained, than the Clermonts, as if fearful that fhe 
 would retraft it, urged on their fuit with the ad- 
 ditional requeft of a fpeedy union. My Lord, 
 with the pettifti impatience common to difcon- 
 tented people, would not believe that an event 
 fo agreeable to his wiflies would take place^ 
 without the intervention of feme mortifying cir- 
 cumftance to abate his faiisfa6lion. His fears 
 of Mr. Dudley's oppofition being removed, by 
 that gentleman's chearful acquielcence, he adopt- 
 ed another fet of apprehenllons ; and as he had 
 difcovercd the perplexed (late of the father's af- 
 fairs, began to fear a marriage with the daughter 
 might entail upon his fon the proteflion and 
 fupport of two beggars; and to this he calcu- 
 lated Marianne's fortune was unequal. 
 
 A little time previous to his being certainly 
 afTured of Mr. Dudley's misfortunes, his Lord- 
 fliip in converfiition gave a hint, which at leafk 
 
 proved 
 
A gossip's story. 163 
 
 proved liim to he a man of forecafl;, as it is ge- 
 nerally termed. The purport of it was, that 
 though Rirs. Alderfon had thought proper to 
 diliiiiguifli Marianne as her favourite, he hoped 
 Mr. Dudley would dill remember (lie was his 
 daughter. Mr. Dudley nor entering into the 
 force of this fuggeftion, anfwered it by declara- 
 tions of the afI'v:£lion Ise felt for fuch an ami- 
 able child ; and in the warmth of paternal tran- 
 fport, repeated many indances of the tender 
 attachment fhe had fhewn to his perfon, and 
 attention to his interefls ; adding, that he could 
 hardly have expetled fuch regard, conlldering 
 that lie had been feparatt-.d from her in her early 
 years, wl.en the heart receives the mod lively 
 impreflions. The deep difcernment of Lord 
 Clermont, reSeding afterwards upon thefe 
 words, and comparing them with the flate of 
 Mr. Dudley's circumdances, led him to fufpeft 
 that they conveyed more of defign than of pa- 
 ternal tendernefs; in other words, that he in- 
 tended to take advantage of the filial virtue he 
 commended ; his Lordfh'p therefore thought it 
 light to take an opportunity of diewing him, 
 that he would find fome diiliculties to impede 
 his defign. 
 
 The deady honour which was an inmate of Mr. 
 Dudley's breafl in every fituation, anticipated 
 his Lorddiip's cold prudence. On recolle£ling 
 the converfation, he perceived, that << more was 
 meant than met the ear ,'' and to prevent the ex- 
 pedlations of avarice from exceeding their pro- 
 bable gratification, he determined, not only to 
 inform _l..ord Clermont that Marianne's fortune 
 had been limited to Mrs. Alderfon's bounty, by 
 exprefs agreement, when (he and her fider v\ere 
 
 infants. 
 
i64 A gossip's story. 
 
 infants, but that in fa£\ he had now nothing to 
 bequeath. Determined to conquer faife (hame, 
 fince unconfcious of intentional error, he frankly 
 dated his alarminjj fituation. My Lord heard 
 him with much fang froicjf his eyes fixed on a 
 beautiful landfcape of Claude's, which hung at 
 the other end of the faloon. When Mr. Dud- 
 ley had finifhed, he expreffed great concern, but 
 intermixed his confolations with reproofs for 
 his mifplaced confidence, declaring that he very 
 well knew the inftability of Tonnereau's credit 
 a twelvemonth ago. He did not flop to hear 
 Mr. Dudley exculpate himfelf, as he attenjipted 
 to do, by pleading, that they were old family 
 friends, and that his long abfence from Eng- 
 land gave him lefs opportunity of knowing the 
 ftate of mercantile credit than others : his Lord- 
 fhip went on in a very compofed, carelefs man- 
 ner, to afk how he meant to difpofe of himfelf, 
 and what were his future plans refpe(fting his 
 daughter. 
 
 " People of our age, my Lord," faid Mr. 
 Dudley, with a warmth he could not reflrain, 
 *' may employ themfelves better than in forming 
 diftant plans for the fupport of an exiftencc they 
 may a! moll hourly expecft to refign. I felt mis- 
 fortune at a time when I looked forward to many 
 years, which hopes had drefled in gay alluring 
 colours : if I ihe/i fufl^ined my trials with firm- 
 nefs, much more may f now, when experience 
 has taught me the infufficiency and inllabiiity 
 of temporal blcffings; and when nature reminds 
 me of a fpeedy fummons from all fublunary 
 profpecfls. With refpedl to Louifa, I am happy 
 in feeing her poiiefs a dignity and compofure of 
 mind, which will in any circumltances prevent 
 
 her 
 
A gossip's story. 165 
 
 her from finking into defpair. Both of us, my 
 lord, have independent fpirlts. We can neither 
 folicit nor accept the cold afRiliance of reluc- 
 tant friendfnip. Fortunately for her, her grand- 
 father's prudence placed the means of procuring 
 lier the neceflaries of life beyond the power of 
 my indifcretion : and in all my trouhles, I have 
 the confolation to refledl, that the child, whom 
 my folly injured, has the ability, as well as the 
 virtue, to offer me an humble but fecure afy- 
 lum." 
 
 *« Your numerous friends, Mr. Dudley, will 
 doubtlefs prevent you from putting the young 
 lady's filial piety to an inconvenient trial. I 
 fhould, for inltance, think my fon would be ex- 
 tremely happy ; but really there is no anfwering 
 for young men ; and people of quality are often 
 embarralTed to fupport what the world expefts 
 from them. But fuppofe we mention the af- 
 fair to Edward." 
 
 " By no means, my Lord. My expectations 
 from Mr. Clermont extend no further than to 
 his making my Marianne happy. In fo doing, 
 he will confer upon me a lading obligation ; 
 and my heart is too proud to be eafy under the 
 fenfe of multiplied favours. Could I have fub- 
 mittcd to beeome a penfioner upon Marianne's 
 bounty, I believe 1 could eafily have taken ad- 
 vantage of the melting kindnels of her temper ; 
 and by depriving her of tiie advantages fhc had 
 a riglit to expetl:, have fecured myfelf in afflu- 
 ence. But as I have taken no difhonourable 
 flep to fecure myfclf from poverty, I trull I 'aall 
 not want firmnefs to endure it." 
 
 Though Lord Clermont {pra£lil"ed in the '.'ays 
 of the world) was not inclined to place implicit 
 
 confidence 
 
i66 A gossip's story. 
 
 confidence in declamatory integrity, the ferene 
 firmnefs which irradiated Mr. Dudley's coun- 
 tenance almofl induced him to iament, that a 
 mnn of fuch principles (hould be left the unaf- 
 fified prey of n.isfortune. To do juflice to his 
 Lordfhip's benevolence, he really felt an incli- 
 nation to ftand forth as an a6live friend ; a vvillx 
 which like many of the defires human nature is 
 apt to entertain, Teemed to encreafe with the 
 imnrobability of its completion. Upon the 
 whole, he confidered this converfation to be 
 very fatisfafl:ory : a conneflion with a ruined 
 ina!i was not indeed defirabie, but when po- 
 verty was accompanied with the firm fpirit of 
 haughty independence, it was infinitely lefs 
 troublefome to its acquaintance and friends. 
 The humane might dare to exprefs their fym- 
 pathy ; and the polite venture an offer of fer- 
 vice without any hazard of having appropriate 
 i'jrvices annexed to general exprelTions. 
 
 He therefore hurried on his fon's nuptials 
 with additional impatience, and Mr. Clermont 
 feconded his felicitations with all the ardour of 
 young romantic love. Marianne found her 
 maidenly rekKflance yield to the entreaties of 
 fucii importunate fuitors. Within a month 
 from the time of Mr. Dudley's return, Mr. 
 Clermont had the tranlport of hearing his blufli- 
 ing bride publickly confirni, with folcnui vows, 
 the tender alTu ranees fhe had before given him 
 of eternal love. 
 
 The younger part of my readers will doubt- 
 leis expect a defcription of the nuptilal cere- 
 mony, the bride'a paraphernalia, and al the ^ay 
 er c^etera of a wedding ; which often diverts the 
 
 juvenile 
 
A gossip's story. 167 
 
 juvenile mind from reflefling upon the Impor- 
 tant duties this grand change in female life prc- 
 fcribes. I had propofed niyfelf the pleafure of 
 gratifying them in this particular ; but when 
 thefe affairs came to be difcuflcd in a grand 
 committee meeting of our fociety, convf-ned at 
 Danbury, for tlie exprefs purpofe of judging 
 whether every thing was properly managed ; 
 the whole proceedings appeared nothing but a 
 chain of improprieties, and I therefore think it 
 better to omit a defcrlption which could only 
 excite the painful duty of unfavourable criticifm. 
 Why ftiould I tell the public that -zn? determin- 
 ed that the marriage was too private ; that the 
 bride's clothes were ill fancied, and fat fright- 
 fully, or that the jewels laboured under the 
 double difadvantage of being horridly extrava- 
 gant, and cdkiifiy unbecoming ? 
 
 But one circumllance as connected with the 
 hiflorical part of my prefent labours I muft not 
 emit. It was the extreme plainnefs of the drefs, 
 in which Mifs Dudley accompanied her fifter to 
 the altar. Such meannefs was fo little confifttnt 
 with the other circumllances of her chara6ler, 
 that we foutid no dilliculty in attributing it to 
 the moll malignant envy. The Tigdcity of this 
 obfervation was 'Confirmed by hearing, that in- 
 {lead of arTiiHng at the cenmonial vititirgs, 
 Louifa and her father fet out for their eltatf in 
 Lancafliire a few days alter the nuptial Cvre- 
 mony. Such a want of attention to even com- 
 mon decorum, excited all our philanthropy, and 
 in proponion as we hated the partial father and 
 his darling daui'hter, we wiflied all iniat^iiiable 
 l.appinefs to the poor young people, thus left 
 to themfeives without any prudent friend to 
 
 direCl 
 
i68 A gossip's story 
 
 dire£l them In family management. TJnfoli- 
 cited, and prompted only by our natural gene- 
 rofity, we refolved to take upon ourfelves the 
 hind ofEce of general inquifitors into the con- 
 duct of Mrs. Clermont's family, and we accord- 
 ingly aflumed the felf-invefted charadler. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 The nuptial prefent of a Father. 
 
 A. 
 
 .MONGST the arrangements preparatory to 
 P>1rs. Clermont's nuptials, it was determined that 
 Mr. Dudley fliould immediately refign Stanna- 
 dine to the young couple, for their refidence ; 
 and Marianne acceded the more readily to her 
 father's propofal, becaufe (lie had lately heard 
 him exprefs an intention of accompanying 
 Louifa to her Lancafliire eftate that autumn. It 
 mull: be obferved, that the train of thought in 
 which the fair enthufiafl had hi':herto indulged, 
 did not fupply the moft accurate ideas refpe£ling 
 real life. Though educated to enjoy all the 
 elegant comforts of affluence, fhe did not know 
 that competence was a bleffing ; and (he would 
 perhaps have declaimed againlt tJie narrow, illi- 
 beral mind that dared to reckon it amongft the 
 prime ingredients in the cup of human happi- 
 nefs. She had too great a foul lo enquire what 
 the value and extent of her fifkr's eltate was j 
 (he had heard there was a cottage upon it, and 
 that name fuggefted every thing that was paf- 
 
 toral 
 
A gossip's story. 169 
 
 toral and charming. Nothing but tlie fociety 
 of her adored Clermont could have prevfntcd 
 her from envying the elegant retirement her fa- 
 ther and fifter were going to enjoy. At parting, 
 fhe repeated her injunQions to Louifa, not to be 
 fo captivated with rural beauty, as to forget her 
 promlfe of fpending Chriftmas at Stannadine, 
 and in the interim the was to be a pun£lual and 
 difFufe correfpondent. The charming fcenes of 
 artlefs nature could not fail to afFord ample ma- 
 terials to a fkilful hand ; the tender attachments 
 of the nymphs and fwains would throw living 
 figures into the landfcape ; and who knows but 
 Ibme new Palemon might prefent himfelf, with 
 taile to felect, and virtue to reward the new 
 Lavinia. 
 
 Louifa, with a penfive fmile, wiflied her fifler 
 a long continuance of her prefent happinefp, 
 while the flarting tear feemed to indicate that 
 fhe formed no very high idea of the rural feli- 
 city (he herfelf was going to enjoy. 
 
 While Mr. Dudley, the evening previous to 
 his departure, repeated the bleiring he firfl pro- 
 nounced on configning his child to the protec- 
 tion of a hulb ind ; prudence fuggefted a few 
 falutary precepts. *' May I always, my dear 
 Marianne, fee in your countenance this delight- 
 ful appearance of 'heartfelt fatisfac^lion ! But ia 
 order to preferve it, let me conjure you to banifh 
 from your heart that excreme lenfibihty you have 
 hitherto cheriftied." 
 
 ** My dear Sir," cried the afloniftied bride, 
 " you advife me to difmifs the very faculty by 
 which I know how to appreciate my prefent hap- 
 pinefs. I owe to it the exq-iifite fenfe I have of 
 Mr. Clermont's unremitting tendcrnefs. To 
 I thi» 
 
170 A gossip's story. 
 
 this lively fentiment I afcrlbe the Ineffable de- 
 light his prefence excites, and the refined tranf- 
 port which I feel at all his obfervant affiduous 
 attentions. My dear father, do not think I caa 
 furrender a quality, which has taken the deepeft 
 root in ir.y foul." 
 
 " I perceive," faid Mr, Dudley, " that you 
 are not yet a convert to my doftrines, that the 
 lover and the hufband are different charad^ers ; 
 yet as my opinion is warranted by long obferva- 
 tion, you will I am certain be convinced at laft : 
 I hope not painfully. Much of your future 
 happintfs, Marianne, depends upon yourfelfj 
 do not at lead err through principle. Many du- 
 ties are interwoven with the facred charadter 
 which Mr. Clermont has lately afTumed : he is 
 no longer the enamoured youth, whom nothing 
 unconnedled with his fair Idol can intereft ; he 
 is become the country gentleman, the neigh- 
 bour, the landlord, the mafter of a famijy. 
 With thefe obligations, though highly pleafing 
 to an intelligent mind, many irkfome duties 
 are neceffarily involved ; and when his temper is 
 rufHcd by any exterior j-.crplexity, thofe ailidu- 
 ous, obfervant attentions which you fay are the 
 fource of your refined tranfports, mull appear 
 to him as a difagreeablc reftraint. 1 here is no 
 part of the female chiradler dearer to us men, 
 than the idea that you are the foothers of our 
 inquietudes, the folacers of our forrovv, the 
 fynipathiznig friends to whom we may at' all 
 times teiire for comfort, in every diflrefs. The 
 enthuliafrti of youth often mingles with the ad- 
 drtfies of the lover, an ovevtlrained fubmiilion 
 which places your fex in an exalted, but let me 
 add in a falfe point of view. Ihe hufband, 
 
 when 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. I7I 
 
 wTien he refledls coolly upon every circumftnnce, 
 will, if he judges tight, confider it bett.-r to 
 preferve the heart he has gained, by difpLiying 
 the manly qualities of fenfe, philanthropy, in- 
 tegrity, and fortitude, than by the lover-like 
 arts which liis juvenile affeclion urged liim to 
 adopt ; and the difcreet wife will haften to ele- 
 vate her own character, by adding to the deli- 
 cate tendernefs of the bride, the dignified vir- 
 tues of the matron." 
 
 *♦ Exert the powers of your underflanding, 
 my dear child," continued lie, tenderly preOing 
 her hand. " Even during the firfl fond period 
 of wedded love, ftrengthen the bonds by which 
 you hold Mr. Clermont's heart, by difplaying 
 thofe mental excellencies which will be ever 
 new, and valuable when your perfon, your con* 
 verfalion, and your many fine .iccompUlhmeuts, 
 fhall have loft the glofs of novelty. Providence, 
 by placing you in an affluent fituaticn, has im- 
 pofed upon you a thoufand motives for exercif- 
 ing a benevolent heart ; snd by making you as 
 it were a mark of diftintlion, enjoins that nice 
 propriety of conduft, by which if we cannot ef- 
 cape cenfure and forrow, we are at leafl fecurc 
 from the feif-reproach of having deferved it. 
 You are commanded to prepare yourfelf for a 
 fpiritual world, nof to languifli out life in luxu- 
 rious fofmefs. You may, like yonder glorious 
 Orb now linking in the Weft, (pread comfort 
 and delight all around you, and become a noble 
 fpe£lacle both to men and angels. And will 
 you give up all thefe privileges, to place your 
 whole ofhappinefs in the unremitting tendernefs 
 ofafincere, amiable, well-intentioned, but un- 
 doubtedly of a fallible being .•* No, my child, 
 I 2 fummou 
 
172 A GOSSI? 3 STORY. 
 
 fumir.on your refoliuion, and ere !<e changes 
 the mode of behaviour his fondnefs has impofed, 
 do you imperceptibly releafe him from the ref- 
 traint. With pain I have heard you both de- 
 clare, that you willi to fliut out all the reft of 
 the world, and to live only to ourftlves. I muft 
 tell you that if this opinion was circulated, you 
 ■wculd fubje6t yourfelves to much opprobrium, 
 not to fay difagreeable ridicule : but 1 will pre- 
 dial that your oj^inions m ill be changed before 
 you are three months older." 
 
 Mrs. Clermont here interrupted lier father. 
 " You have formed your judgment, ibir, upon 
 common attachments, and common marriages, 
 and feem inclined to think that there are no ex- 
 ceptions from a general rule." 
 
 '* I have formed my judgment," refumed 
 Mr. Dudley, '* upon my thorough knowledge 
 of )cur chaia£ler, and all I have feen of Mr. 
 Clern.ont's -, but I perceive my iecSture wearies 
 inftead of convincing you. 1 will therefore con- 
 clude with two requeltS. I would wifli to give 
 tliem the elEcacy of commands. In the firft 
 place, do not appear to avoid mixing in the fo- 
 cieiy of your neighbours, and eudeavtur to en- 
 gage Mr. Clermont in amufements, which will 
 occallon frequent liltle abfenees. He will return 
 to you with additional fatisfu<51;ion, and your 
 relilh of each other's focieiy w-ill be improved, 
 by the occidional interruptions company wil!_give. 
 My fecond rcqiielt i.-, that you will (ludy your 
 hulband's tempi r and chary(fier, Vt'ith the decpeft 
 attention 5 in oidtr that you may difcover the 
 peculiar tendency of tbof.; errors and prejudices, 
 from which tlie bell of us are not free, that by 
 familiarizing them to your mind, they may fteai 
 
 upon 
 
A gossip's story. 173 
 
 upon you in the ilimlniflied form of little im- 
 pv^rfe'^ions. If you negledl: to do this, you may 
 perh ips iirll: perceive iheni, at a moment when 
 praTun has eucrcafed them beyond their ufual 
 niagiii'ude ; and your alarmed imagination m; y 
 Hill farther extend them, till they ecHpfe their 
 nci^hb tiiring virtues. Befides, a wife's difcre- 
 tion may often guard her hulband from an error^ 
 by knowing the peculiar temptation to wh'ch 
 he is mod liable. I have no-v done, and thi.-., 
 my child, is the only legacv I can bequeath you." 
 Rcfiedlions of the molt poii^nant nature agi- 
 tated Mr. Dudley, as he fpoke the lait words; Mrs. 
 Clermont with difinlerelted alTedtion thanked. 
 liim for the valuable gift, and after afTuring him 
 it was all flie wifhed for, fhe intreated liim to 
 conGder Louifa as his ouly child in the difpofal 
 of his fortune. She then obliged him to repeat 
 his promife of vifiling Stanrradine at Chriftmas. 
 <« You will then, my dear father," faid ihcj^. 
 •' fee how I am improved by your precepts, and 
 how far I am a convert to your opinion." 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 An attempt at local dcfcnptiou. The Author fee*^ 
 fomtthuig like an enchanted cajlle^ in ivhicb pe 
 immures a fair Arcadian. 
 
 JL HE afylum which filial piety prepared for 
 Mr. Dudley, was little calculated to banifli froni 
 
 hi& 
 
174 * gossip's story. 
 
 hb memory the glowing fertility of t'le tropical 
 ifijnds ; or the convenient elegance, with which 
 \\ ell-regulated art had embelliflied Stannadine. 
 The mod enrhufjaRic imaginaticn could hardly 
 afibciate pafloral ideas with the neglected "wild- 
 nefs of Seatondell, could fuppofe it peopled by 
 Naiads ant! Dryads, or fancy that Pan ever awoke 
 its echoes witli his tabor and pipe, while Cyn* 
 tliia aiui her maidg of honour danced cotillions. 
 
 Little did JNIr. Alderfon think when he be- 
 queaihed^this cltate to his grand-daughter, as a 
 fupply for pin-money, that it would foon be- 
 come her ofi/y permanent poflefTion. Much 
 more improbable would it have appeared to his 
 Widow, could flie have forefeen, when on her 
 death-bed fbe requelled that her old da;ry-maid, 
 Mary Arby, might be permitted to end her days 
 iii the farm-houfe, which (lie had for many 
 years inhabited •, that (he was providing a com- 
 panion for the intelligent, accomplifhed Louifa. 
 But the viciflitudes of fortune have often afforded 
 copious themes for declamatory aitonifhment. 
 
 Thougli Mrs. Arby had anfwered Mifs Dud- 
 ley's intimation of her defign of coming to re- 
 fide upon the farm, with an aflurance, tliat ihe 
 fhould be proud to entertain young madam ; (he 
 certainly did not feel any real fatisfa6lion in the 
 idea, that (lie v/as to be interrupted in the pofl'ef- 
 fion of a place, over which (he had long reigned 
 with paramount authority. Few young worrien, 
 accuifomed to the elegance of refined life, would 
 have been inclined to difturb her. The houfe 
 •was built at a period when the fubftantial and 
 gloomy flyle of architecture was preferred to the 
 convenient and chearful plan. Before the front 
 was placed a little fquare garden, furrounded by 
 
 a cut 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. I7J 
 
 a cut hedge, and fubdivided at right angles, by 
 an ornamented fence of yew. Behind t)ie 
 houfe was an orchard, terminated by a rocket y, 
 the trees of which appeared at leaft contempo- 
 rary antiques with the dwelling they belonged 
 to. On the left hand lay the farm-yard and 
 out-iioufes -, and on the right the decayed vil- 
 lage of Seatondell, many of whofe inhabitants, 
 allured by the fuperior comforts wliich a large 
 manufa£turing town in the neighbourhood af- 
 forded, had deferted their parental nbodes. 
 There now remained only a few opulent far- 
 mers, their labourers, and the curate of the 
 parlfh ; the latter of whom, after enjoying the 
 mental luxury of literary converfation, in college 
 fociety, during the early part of his life, had 
 been confined for many years, to the dry difcisi" 
 fions of haughty illiberal ignorance; and the 
 painful refledlions of difappointed hope. A pi- 
 tiable, but not uncommon fituation ! 
 
 The arrival of the Dudleys in a pofl-chaife, 
 was fuch a novelty, that every inhabitant of 
 Seatondell ran out of doors to gaze at the ftran- 
 gcrs. Mrs. Arby, trembling alike with inilr- 
 mity and apprehenfion, unbarred th,e mafiy 
 porch door, and led them into an antique (lone 
 hall. Anxious properly to perform thchonouia 
 of the houfe, fl e attempted to place IVIr. Dudley 
 in the wicker arm-chair, but unhappily in tlie 
 hurry of poUtenefs Hung down a large flower- 
 pot that decorated the open chimney, upon 
 Louifa's clothes. ' That amiable girl, poflTciTed of 
 the true benevolence which can exert itfclf iu 
 trlSing Mti.urs, as well as upon important occa- 
 fions, diverted the good woman's concern for 
 the accident, by kind enquiries after her heakb, 
 
 and- 
 
1^6 A gossip's story. 
 
 and recollections of the early kindneiTcs (he had 
 received from her, when flievifited -Jt her grand- 
 mamma's in her childliood. By mentioning 
 iome articles of rural cookery, in which Mrs. 
 Arby iifed to excel, fi^.e in a great degree re- 
 aiTured h.er trembling diffidence, and Tent her 
 
 ** AVith difpatchful looks in ha fie, 
 
 " As one on hofpitable thoughts intent," 
 
 to make trial of her fklll. 
 
 Mifs Dudley now addrefled her father, who 
 funk in the arm chair with his head relling upon 
 }iis Isand, his liftlefs, unobfervant eyes fixed on 
 the immenfe ftone window-frames, which 
 feem.ed rather to exclude than to admit the day. 
 The deepening fliades of evening added to the 
 gloomy appearance, and encreafed the dejec- 
 rinn of his too confclous heart. *' My dear fir,'* 
 faid Louifa, '* I find this place infinitely pre- 
 ferable to what I expe<fted : a little paint and 
 paper will enliven the houfe exceedingly, and 
 when the yew ornaments are removed, I fliall be 
 delighted with gratifying my tafte for flowers in 
 that neat little garden. We fliall find both 
 healtli and amufement in improving our farm in 
 fummer, and in winter books and mufic will 
 aiFord a never-failing refource from chagrin My 
 dear father, do refume your wonted chearful- 
 nefsj you have often taught me refignation, let: 
 not the preceptor need inftrudiion from the 
 pupil." 
 
 Mr. Dudley, after gazing upon his daughter 
 for a few moments with a look of delighted af- 
 fection, excufed his want of fpirits as arifing 
 from the fatigue he felt from their long journey. 
 Louifa hoped the depreflion which flie.alfo felt 
 
 might 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 177 
 
 might be afcribable to the fame caufe ; — they 
 fcparated at an early hour. 
 
 Awakened by the clamour of the domeftic 
 poultry, Mifs Dudley role with (he fun, and 
 opened the cafement of her chamber window, 
 to take a view of the adjacent country. Her 
 apartment fronted the orchard, a thick autumnal 
 mid hung upon the horizon^ but had the morn- 
 ing been more favourable, the trees would have 
 effedlually impeded her defign ; for they were 
 crowded together with a profufion which entirely 
 obftru£led the fight of any other object. She 
 fat down, liftening to the murmur of a diflant 
 rivulet, which by a natural alTociation of ideas, 
 reciUed to her memorya beautiful cafcade at Stan- 
 iiadine; near which flie fird beheld Mr. Pelham, 
 when introduced by her father in the character 
 of Marianne's lover. There are moments in 
 which the firmed fpirits yield to the prefTure of 
 calamity ; and while Mifs Dudley recollected 
 the happy hours flie had pailed in the focijty of 
 that arriable man, a tear of involuntary regret, 
 and a fpontaneous figh, expreffed how much 
 Ihe felt the contraft of her prefent fituation. 
 
 She was roufed from this reverie by the found 
 of footfleps under her window, and looking out 
 perceived her father. Mr. Dadley, after paf- 
 fing a reftlefs night, had left his apartment, with 
 the hope of diverting the refiedlions he knew 
 not how to endure. His amiable daughter im- 
 mediately banifhed from her thoughts the indul- 
 gence of her own peculiar fcrrow, and lifting 
 her beautiful eyes to heaven, with meek folici- 
 tude implored the beneficent Author of Creation, 
 to afTill her endeavours to reftovc tranquillity and 
 I 3 feliV^ 
 
178 A gossip's story. 
 
 fcIf-fatisfa6lion to one of the worthieftof human 
 hearts. 
 
 To give efficacy to her prayers, and to confirni 
 her exalted principles by calling them into ac- 
 tion, flie immediately joined her father, and with 
 the winning fweetnefs of which fhe was abfo- 
 ]ute miflrefs, imperceptibly detached his thoughts 
 from brooding upon irremediable misfortunes. 
 She perfuaded him to walk round her little de- 
 mefne, and, with unfeigned tranfport, at length 
 fuccecded in reviving in his mind that paffion 
 for agricultural improvement to wliich he was 
 na'urally inclined. A party of labourers were 
 foon ftt to work, to prepare the ground for 
 plantations, which were to be fo difpofed, that 
 ornament niight unite with utility. Others were 
 employed i.: clearing feme v/alle land, which 
 could ufefully be converted into arable. A third 
 fet were occupied in cleaning a large fifti-pond, 
 which through neglect had been nearly filled 
 with earth, by which effort of induflry Mr. 
 Dudley propofed the double advantage of drain- 
 ing a moral's and furnifhing his table with an 
 agreeable luxury. Ihe orchard and garden un- 
 derwent a complete metamorphofis, about two 
 thirds of the trees in the former were felled, and 
 thus the chearful rays of the fun were permitted 
 to break in upon the green mouldering M-alls of 
 the old raanfion. The dipt hedge was in part 
 removed, and a neat green paling fubftituted 
 in its place, and the ornamental yew pillars were 
 completely annihilated, to make room for a plan- 
 tation of odoriferous fhrubs. Thefe alterations 
 involved the Dudleys in foms ferious difputes 
 with Mrs. Arby, who feeling all the local at- 
 tachments age is apt to indulge, confidered 
 
 every 
 
A gossip's story. lyg 
 
 every obje£l with which (he had long been fa- 
 miliar, with a fort of facred regard. Even the 
 gloom and damp which had hung for many 
 years upon her refidence, feemed in iier eyes a* 
 perfecfbion, the lofs of which nothing neiu could 
 fupply. 
 
 Douhtlefs all the antiquated Dryads of Sea- 
 tondell, if any fuch there were, joined with 
 Mrs. Arby in her regret, but amidd tlie general 
 devaClation, a large White Rofe, which entirely 
 ovelhadowed the dairy-window, was preferved 
 with mod religious care. A tender fentiment 
 was united to rhe uncommon beauty and ferti- 
 lity of the plant, to preferve it from de(iru(flion, 
 for it had been fet by Mrs. Dudley in her child- 
 hood. Her afFe£lionate and grateful daughter, 
 while flie cleared it of its decaying branchesj 
 and with pious aiTiduity decorated the fud from 
 whence it grew with 
 
 " The rathe Primrofe that forfaken dieSj . 
 
 " The glowing Violet, 
 
 " With Cowflips wan, that, hang the penfivc 
 
 " head, 
 " And ev'ry flower that fad embroidery wears ;" 
 Milton's Lycidas. 
 
 indulged the pleafing melancholy which a de- 
 parted friend im'prefles upon the memory, whea 
 time has foftened the agonies of grief into mild 
 regret and pious refignation. The appro;^; i of 
 winter had already begun to drip the branches 
 of the Rofe-bufli of their verdant honours ; and 
 Mifs Dudley's thoughts were naturally led from 
 the ravages of the feafon, to recoiled; the more 
 terrible devallations of death. Her melancholy 
 
 ibuie 
 
)8o A gossip's story. 
 
 mufe esprefled this idea in the following elegiac 
 fonnet: 
 
 TO A 
 
 ROSE BUSH, 
 
 PLANTED BY A DECEASED FRIEND. 
 
 Rob'd In the mantle of luxuriant fpn'ng', 
 
 To thee the village-nymphs for chaplets fue, 
 O'er thee the Bee extends his filmy wing, 
 
 Inhales thy fweets, and drinks thy neftar'd dew* 
 From his high throne the flaming lord of day 
 
 i'ouvson thy burning germs his fervid pow'r, 
 While zephyr, pleas'd amonglt thy leaves to play, 
 
 Caftsthy foft fragrance on each meaner flovv'r; 
 Thy foliage fhall again falule the fl<ies, 
 
 Thou fliah not languifli long in winter's gloom ; 
 Bntlifelefb flill thy honour'd planter lies, 
 
 The beams of fummer cannot pierce the tomb : 
 Man, lord of all, beneath the reign of time. 
 
 Awaits perfection in a nobler clime. 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 Proving, that the creative poiuer of the imagina- 
 tion may he employed in producing pleajure^ as 
 •well as pain. 
 
 X HE fuperior excellence with which Mifs 
 Dudley adorned retirement, was not wholly 
 confined to the duties of a daughter ; her heart 
 
 glowed 
 
A gossip's stort. iSr 
 
 glowed with the pureft flame of benevolence, 
 nor could difappointment obfcure, nor diftrefs 
 nbforb the facrcd radiance. The inhabitants of 
 Seatondell certainly prefented no very alluring 
 qualities to a polifhed mind ; but my heroine 
 confidering them in the light of fellow-creatures, 
 difcovered in the common nature flie fliared 
 vith them, an unalienable claim upon her to 
 difcliarge all the fecial and charitable offices, 
 which dependent and accountable man from 
 «' brother man requires." She was not retrain- 
 ed by obferving that prejudice, malevolence, and 
 calumny prevailed even in this obfcure retreat. 
 iShe confidered thcfe hateful paffions as tlie na- 
 tural charaCleriftics of an ignorant mind and an 
 unbridled temper, and (lie even conceived it pof- 
 fible to countera£l their baleful effe£l^s, by ex- 
 liibitingthe contrary virtues in the moft amiable 
 point of view. This hope was too romantic to 
 be the chief moCut which regulated her conduct, 
 for fhe principally looked forward to the appro- 
 bation of her own confcience, whofe fiient voice 
 can heft appreciate the efFedls of external cir- 
 cumdances. 
 
 By the mofl engaging affability of look and 
 manner, Louifa conquered the dillike her weal- 
 thy neighbours 'had conceived againft iier, and 
 induced them to vifit the " fine lady," who 
 was at firft equally the objeft of their ridicule 
 and abhorrence. I\Iy poor heroine foon perceiv- 
 ed, that it would be a vain attempt, to difcufs 
 any of the topics of converfuion of which ftie 
 was miftrefs, and prudently affumingthe learner, 
 permitted her vifitants to lead the difcourfe, and 
 endeavoured to improve herfelf in the know- 
 ledge of local politics, and rural ceconomy. The 
 
 matrons 
 
i82 A gossip's stort. 
 
 matrons were all charmed by this modeH: humi- 
 lity; and the fair ruftic belles perceiving no- 
 thing intimidating or haughty in her manner, 
 endeavoured to acquire fome hints refpedling 
 drefs and behaviour, from the graceful ftrangerj 
 and almoll forgot their firfl idea, that (he wag 
 come on purpofe to ridicule and eclipfe them. 
 
 Though Mlfs Dudley, inftead of fucceeding 
 in her well-meaning defign, of healing the vil- 
 lage animofities, was forced to liften to many 
 a dull detail of wrongs and infults ; yet (he de- 
 rived confiderable advantages from the occafional 
 facrifice of an afternoon. She more clearly 
 knew the value of candour and placability, by 
 perceiving how neceflary they were to tranquil- 
 lity and felf-fatisfa£lion. From a tedious unin- 
 terefting converfation fhe returned with double 
 avidity to her favourite amufements ; her books, 
 her needle, her mufic, her garden, the focietyof 
 her beloved father, and thofe active exertions of 
 charity from which her limited purfe could not 
 wholly reftrain her. Accuftomed to occonomic 
 attentions, (he knew how to hufband her bounty, 
 and by adding to it her perfonal fervices, to ren- 
 der a trifle valuable. She vifited the fick, con- 
 foled the affli(5led, inftrufted the ignorant, and 
 reproved the idle. She founded a village-fchoolj 
 infpecled its management, and diftributed its 
 rewards. She was not difcouragsd by the mur- 
 murs of caprice, miftake or ingratitude, tho' they 
 often interrupted her benevolent plans ; for while 
 her heart bore teltimony to the re(5^itude of her 
 intentions, it taught her to look for her reward 
 in an approbatian tranfcendently fupsrior to the 
 changeful plaudits of variable man. 
 
 No 
 
A gossip's stort. 183 
 
 No part of her condu£l appeared more deferv- 
 ing of imitation than her behaviour to Mr. Wal- 
 dea, the unfortunate Clergyman whom I before 
 mentioned. He had long been expofed to the 
 fupercilious negle£l of oftentatious wealth, or 
 the rude infults of conceited ignorance. De- 
 prefled by poverty, perplexed by the care of pro- 
 viding for a numerous family, and harafied by 
 the unpleafant temper of his wife; his mind 
 funk under the prellure of thefe accumulated 
 evils, which his education had taught him to 
 feel j and though he continued faithfully to dif- 
 charge his minitlerial duties, he performed theiiX 
 with the mortified air of a felf-denying ancho- 
 rite, in (lead of the chearfal fatisfadlion of the 
 Chriftian Paftor. 
 
 The Dudleys at their firft arrival at Seaton- 
 dell, conceived for him all the refpecl his cha- 
 racfler and facred function defcrved, and treat- 
 ed him with the mod marked civility. Flatter- 
 ed by an attention to which he had been fo lit- 
 tle ufed, he endeavoured to revive his deje<fl:ed 
 fpirits, and to recollett thofe agreeable talents 
 which hzd lain buried in oblivion. His attach- 
 ment to thofe who had recalled him to the fenfe 
 of pleafure was extreme, and his eager enjoy- 
 ment of the long denied luxury of literary con- 
 verfation led him frequently to their houfe ; 
 •where, felicitous to exhibit his mental acquire- 
 ments, he anxioully fought to engage Mr. Dud- 
 ley or his daughter upon fome ingenious topick 
 of difcourfe. They were tco candid to call this 
 condudl by the hardi terms of intrufion, or pe- 
 dantry. Louifa felt happy at being able to give 
 him a moment's refpite from chagrin. Far from 
 
 indulging 
 
i84 A gossip's stort. 
 
 inc^ulglng a jeft at the expence of his quaint 
 Tuftlcity, or fcholaftic expreflions j they excuf- 
 ■ed his fallings, pitied his misfortunes, and ef- 
 teemed his virtues. 
 
 Nor was Mrs. Arby exempt from the mild in- 
 fluence of Louifa's excellencies. Happily blend- 
 ing the miltrefs with the friend, and kindly al- 
 lowing for the petulance and prejudice of age, 
 flie foon taught the old woman to confider the 
 once dreaded arrival of her young lady as the 
 greatefl bleffing fiie had known ; and to join in 
 the general applaufe, which in fpiie of a few 
 malevolent detra<?.ors was bellowed upon fuch 
 -exemplary conducfl. 
 
 Thus increafing the happinefs of all around 
 her, was it polTible for IMifs Dudley to be 
 wretched ? Could a liberal, reflecling mind 
 avoid partaking of the felicity it imparted ; or at 
 lead, enjoying the pure fatisfatlion arifmg from 
 the confcioufnefs of having acked right? Yet 
 fometimes, when alone, a tear would ileal down 
 her cheek, it was ;«/ called forth by rccolleti:- 
 ing the fplendid eltablifhment 8ir William Mil- 
 ton had once offered, for tliat Ihe had refigned 
 without the lead reluctance ; but alas ! Mr. Pei- 
 ham was not quitt; forgo:ten, and his agreeable 
 charadler appeared to greater advantage, when 
 contrafted with the fociety in which flie now 
 fuppofed herfelf d^iiined to fpcnd her future 
 life, riliai piety, fortitude, and female delicacy 
 united to redrain the unavailing regret, and (he 
 never met her father but with a fmile indicative 
 of the mod heartfelt fatisfacflion. 
 
 Mr. Dudley was a/wo/f perfuaded that the 
 
 ruin of his daughter's fortune had not materially 
 
 ' affeaed; 
 
A gossip's story. 185" 
 
 afFc;£lecl her happlnefs, and the thought was a 
 cordial to his depreffed fpirits. He looked for- 
 ward indeed to Chriflmas with anxiety, becaufe 
 he intended, while Louifa was with her fifter, 
 to take a journey to London, and endeavour to 
 coJledl: the fcattered remains of his fortune. In 
 the mean time the hours did not pafs uncomfor- 
 tably away. The unufuai mildnefs and ferenity 
 of the weather proved favourable to their rural 
 occupations. The mornings were generally 
 fpent in the field, and the evenings enlivened by 
 the perufa! of fome approved author. Our im.- 
 mortal Shakefpeare iield a diilinguirtied place 
 amongft thein, and it is probable it was his ani- 
 mated delcription of a winter, fimilarly beauti- 
 ful, which fuggefted to Mifs Dudley the follow- 
 ing addrefs to the one (he fpent at Seatondeil. 
 
 SONNET TO JVINTER. 
 
 Be crown'd with flow'rs, gay winter. From thy wing 
 Shake the round- moulded hail and flaky fnow. 
 Bid fiom Aquarius' urn foft ftreamlets flow. 
 
 And Pifces wanton in the warmth of fpring ; 
 
 Say to the fliiv'ring Twins, no longer bring 
 Your tulips copy'd from th' aerial bow. 
 Or paint the I^leat bud. Let tempefls blow. 
 
 And o'er the wond'ring world my mantle flino^ : 
 For ft ill with Oberoii Tilania jars. 
 And ftill the fallen Queen indignant flies, 
 
 While Elfin fquadrons who before thefe wars 
 Led the fucceffive feafons down the fliies, 
 
 Their charge deferting, fiipplicate the ftars 
 To heal the ills that from contention rife. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
A gossip's stort. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 The daivu of Connubial Felicity with a ivord er 
 tivo on the pleafure of tormenting. 
 
 M 
 
 .Y two preceding chapters were peculiarly 
 adapted for thofe who feel the inconveniencies 
 arifing from deprefled circumftances, a difa- 
 greeable fituation, or an unpleafant neighbour- 
 hood. It feemed a humane ofiice to point out 
 to them independent amufements, and comforts 
 aifolutely beyond the power of fortune. I now 
 addrefs to the favourites of the fickle Goddefs 
 a few intimations, that they fhould recerve her 
 bounty with gratitude, and ufe it with modera- 
 tion ; frequently comparing their fituatfon with 
 that of their neighbours, in order to induce them 
 to meet with fortitude the little evils from which 
 even the happieft human beings cannot be ex- 
 empt. With fortitude, did I fay ? I want a 
 term implying the moft chearful acqutefcence v 
 for confidering the calamities to which our na- 
 ture is fubjc£l, the trivial vexations of life are 
 beneath our regard. 
 
 It may be remembered, that Mrs. Clermont 
 was left in the full pofTeflion of all the bleflings 
 the moll flattering imagination can conceive. 
 No fooner had her father and filler left Stanna- 
 dine, than the happy pair agreed to devote one 
 fortnight to the uninterrupted pleafure of each 
 other's fociety. The congratulatory cards were 
 therefore anfwered, with a hint that they did 
 net at prefent receive company, and an invita- 
 tion 
 
A gossip's story." 187 
 
 tion to go and fpend a week at the Park was 
 refpeOfully deferred. 
 
 For the honour of wedded love it (hall be 
 mentioned, that they perfevered in this refolu- 
 tion, though candour compels me to acknow- 
 ledge, that before the expiration of that time, 
 the hours moved upon leaden pinions. As every 
 adventitious aid to converfation was rejected by 
 mutual agreement, the invincible power and 
 eternal durability of Love, though illuftrated by 
 tiieir own example, feemed after frequent repe- 
 tition but a vapid topic. Mr. Clermont with 
 fome degree of pleafure recollecSled the amufe- 
 ment his pencil afforded, and his fair bride was 
 more than once tempted to look over her nuptial 
 ornaments, and to appropriate her feveral dreffes 
 to different occaftons of grand difplay. 
 
 Meanwhile Lady Clermont, who had reluc- 
 iaritly left a very «' high-lived party" at Bright- 
 helmftone to be prefent at her fon's nuptia's, 
 ■was dreadfully chagrined to be detained with 
 her Lord for a longer period than flie at firfl: pro- 
 pofed, and fince decorum would not permit her 
 to leave the country till the intended vifit was 
 over, (he determined that her new daughter 
 ftiould deeply feel the mortification of which 
 flie had been the caufe It was not difficult for 
 her ladyiliip to endeavour to perfuade herfelf to 
 diflike a young woman, poffeffed of beauty, 
 fweetnefs, and elegance ; it was a charadler to 
 which flie could form no pretenfion, and natu- 
 rally hated, becaufe it eclipfed her own. 8he 
 received the bride with the hauteur of affefted 
 fuperiority ; her plebeian rank was confidered by^^ 
 the high-born Lady Clermont as an indelible 
 difgrace j and hex ignorance of the faflidious 
 
 niceties 
 
i88 A gossip's story. 
 
 niceties of etiquette which the great world re- 
 quires, afforded an inexhituPuble liind of raillery, 
 for one M'ho had long confidered/w/; knowledge 
 to be the compendium of valuable fcience, 
 
 Mrs. Clermont had been accut'tomed from 
 her earlieft infancy to unremitting tendernefs, 
 and (lie was by nature peculiarly fufceptible of 
 unkind treatment ; it therefore cannot be won- 
 derful that the dillike between the motlier and 
 daughter was reciprocal. But her Lridydiip's 
 temper was too violent to permit her to confine 
 her's to her own bofom. She nurfed the detef- 
 table defign of rendering her lefs amiable in the 
 eyes of her impaffioned hufband ; and unreflrain- 
 ed by the ftrong impatience vifible in his coun- 
 tenance, whenever the idol of his foul was 
 fpoken of in terms (hort of admiration, ftie con- 
 tinued to point the moil mortifying farcafms 
 againfl romantic attachments and firfl imprcf- 
 fions, mixing her obfervations with thofe fainc 
 commendations of Marianne's beauty and fim- 
 plicity, which might almofl be termed implied 
 cenfures. 
 
 Mr. Clermont's behaviour to his mother had. 
 always been diilinguifhed by refpectful atten- 
 tion, in part arifing from gratitude for the 
 marked preference (lie had fhewn to him, and 
 in part from pity at witneffing the unkind ne- 
 gledl {he experienced from his father, and which 
 had greatly contributed to four a temper natu- 
 rally unamiable. But his deference as a fon 
 was now put to a fevcre trial, and could fcarce- 
 ly refill the (Ironger feelings of orTended love. 
 
 One day, after having been particularly piqued 
 by his mother's invidious obfervations, he hafli- 
 ly retired to his wife's apartments, to lofe the 
 
 j)ainfui 
 
A gossip's story. 1S9 
 
 painful recolK'i^ion in her ("ng'^ging fvec'tijers. 
 He found her in tt.ars. Tlie tears of beauty are 
 iiiterefting; its JiiUtilcs infpire the lieart with 
 the warmed refentment ; and Mr. Clermont 
 had infinitely more of the knight-errant in his 
 chara(5ler than generally falls to the lot of a huf- 
 band. He cotijured her to difclofe the caufe ; 
 his tender folicitude, while it gave her heart the 
 liveliell pleafure, confiderably increafed her 
 tears; for Mrs. Clermont had not yet adopted 
 her father's advice, of afpiring to that more 
 exalted part of our fex's chara(fi.er, which teaches 
 us to fharc in the forrovvs of our hufbands with 
 magnanimity, and to teach them fortitude by 
 cur unobtrufive patience. She was the " feeble 
 vine," always clinging for fupport to " her 
 wedded elm." 
 
 Sobbing with diftrefs, which feemed rather 
 to proceed from weaknefs than from any 
 real affliction, flie at length anfwered his im- 
 portunities, by confe/ung that her tears pro- 
 ceeded from Lady Clermont's unkind beha- 
 viour. But when flie found that (lie had ex- 
 cited a tempeft which all her fkill could not 
 allay, (he deeply regretted the imprudent dif- 
 covery. Mr. Clermont burft from her in a 
 rage, and hallened to his motlier. A mofl vi- 
 olent ahercatian enfutd between them, in which 
 they mutually feemed to forget what was due to 
 the facred ties of blood. Lord Clermont's au- 
 thority, and the gentle mediation cf his daugh- 
 ter, produced an apparent reconciliation ; but 
 the feeds of difguii were deeply fown, and in 
 their final efle£i were ruinous to Mr. Cievmont's 
 peace. 
 
 During 
 
ipO , A GOSSIP 3 STORY. 
 
 During the remainder of the vifit, her Lzdy- 
 lliip behaved to the bride with ceremonious 
 coolnefs an<| afre(!^ed refpeft. This behaviour, 
 though lefs reprehenfible than the former, was 
 equally painful to a candid ingenuous mind. 
 Marianne deeply reflected upon the preceding 
 events, and though there was nothing in her 
 hulband's behaviour which could be conllrued 
 into an implied cenfure upon her condu(5t ; her 
 confcious heart told her it had not been worthy 
 his cfteem. She had been apprized of Lady 
 Clermont's bad temper, and the little influence 
 fhe polTeffed in her family was publicly known. 
 It was abfurd to expedl: to be exempt from the 
 general influence of conftuutional ill-humour, 
 and cruel to degrade and expofe an unhappy 
 woman, who already laboured under the fevere 
 aiTiiiftion of a hufband's contempt. 
 
 On difcovering her pad indifcretion, Mrs. 
 Clermont fell into an error not uncommon to a 
 generous fufceptible heart. Prompted by a keen 
 fenfe of her fault, ihe determined to apply to 
 Lady Clermont for forgivenefs ; and had ihe ap- 
 plication been made with prudence, or had tlie 
 perfon to whom it was addreffed, pofl'elTeJ but 
 half the generofity of herfelf, the moil happy ef- 
 feifts might have been produced. But in the 
 letter (he wrote, (for fhe had not courage to 
 name her offence in converfation,) {lie propor- 
 tioned her concefTions rather to the acutenefs of 
 her own feelings, than to the enormity of the' 
 fault, which was in reality nothing more than 
 an irritable fenfe of undeferved provocations. 
 This letter afforded the malevolent Lady Clermont 
 the livelieft fiitisfadlion. It convinced her of 
 her power to diftrefs a placable fufceptible mind, 
 
 and 
 
A gossip's story. 191 
 
 and flie preferved it with care, to be produced as 
 an uncontrovertible evidence againfl her daugh- 
 ter, on any future occafion. Her reply was 
 dictated by great apparent kindnefs and oflenta- 
 tious urbanity. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 v^ fete champetre. Exceffive ter.dernefs is fome- 
 times troublefome. 
 
 OOON after the Clermonts returned to Stan- 
 nadine, the congratulntory vifitings commenced. 
 Oar fociety was unufually animated, by the ex- 
 hilarating entertai-nment of anecdote and obfer- 
 vation which this circumftance fupplied. As 
 I have already anticipated the general conclu- 
 fions, and hate repetitions, I (hall haften to the 
 dcfcription of a grand fete, given by Mr. Cler- 
 mont, to the inhabitants of Danbury ; for in 
 compliance with his father's wifties, he had 
 formed a parliamentary defign upon our ancient 
 refpe^lable borough. 
 
 Theen'tert.iin-mcnt confiflcd of a ball and fup- 
 per, given in the gardens; in which fome of the 
 company who chcfe might appear in an afTumed 
 chara£ler. The biide arranged the plan of the 
 entertainment, and perhaps felt a fecret pleafure, 
 that the fuperior elegance of i;er tafte had novir 
 an opportunity of pu'.Hcly dilpiayiig itfelf. 
 Evei y orniuneni was perf-\lly rural, and the 
 whole proceedings were aJjaited witii paftoral 
 
 fmiplicity 
 
192 A GOSSIP S STORT. 
 
 (impHcity. In the attire of C^lypfo fhe prefided 
 as miflrefs of the feafi:, and welcomed her 
 gucfts to her bower with an air of inimitable 
 fweetnefs. Her UlyiTes hung with enamoured 
 eyes upon his fair enchantrefs, and forgot his 
 father's fenatorial projects : unlike his old ar- 
 chetype, who only remembered Ithaca, even 
 when firft infatuated by the Queen of Ogygia. 
 
 The company aflbrded a great difplay of cha- 
 racter, but not all ftrit^ly claffical. Captain 
 Target, with his head dreffed a la Pigeon, a 
 chapeau under his arm, and a fword, exhibited 
 a tolerable tnodfrn Mzts. MifsCardamum hap- 
 pily returned from Scarborough in time for 
 this feflivity ; rich in polite anecdote, and gayly 
 decorated byfafliion. She treated us with a very 
 lively Diana, in a pink farfnet jacket : while 
 Mifs Dolly Medium difplayed as happy an imi- 
 tation of Venus, in a white frock altered into a 
 Grecian fymar for the ocrafion. For my own 
 part, I was contented with the fimple, unambi- 
 tious chara6ler of a (hepherdefs, and put myfelf 
 to no further expence than a few blue ribands, 
 with which I metamorphofed, my walking cane 
 into a crook. 
 
 I thought the evening extremely agreeable, 
 and returned home perfectly fatisfied ; but my 
 unfortunate facility in being pleafed, expofes mc 
 to many inconveniencies, and frequently obliges 
 me to retradl the applaufe which is controvert- 
 ed by better judges. It was determined in full 
 confiilory, that the lights were ill difpofeJ, the 
 ornaments childifli, the refreOiments paiTimoni- 
 oully fupplied, and the bride and bridegroom 
 viHbly too much attached to each other, to pay 
 proper attention to their friends. But what 
 
 was 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 19: 
 
 was mofl lamentable, fo lirtle regard liaJ hsrcii 
 paid to proper arrariireineni-, with refpecfl to the 
 d;incers, that the Captain and Mils Dolly were 
 placed below Mr. Inkle and Mils Allba',, the 
 common brev/er's daughter. This might iiii'.-"cd 
 be the efFctft of chance, but fuch misfortunes 
 mufl be expecfled from the heteroR;eneous mix- 
 ture jumbled together on this occallon. It was 
 undoubtedly an infult to the Danbuiy patricians, 
 to invite them on the fame evening with their 
 plebeian neighbours, and a breach of the cti- 
 quetfe their prefent member, Lord Grimbly, 
 always oblerved. As the Clermouts were young 
 people, it certainly proceeded from ignorance, 
 bat tlien a friendly hinc fhoulcl be given, that: 
 fuch improprieties may be avoided in future. 
 
 As thefe oblervations were not wjiifpered in 
 clofets, they were detailed to Mrs. Patty, wljea 
 fhe paid an extraordinary vifit to Mifs Lappel's 
 in order to learn what was faid of the enter- 
 tainment. As in the opinion of the finguine 
 Abigail, it had been a complete piece of per- 
 fe£lion, flie had anticipated the high enco- 
 mia. ns which would be pa/r.d upon her lady; 
 and by implication upon herfelf, as a mofl able 
 ■ afhftant in producing the happy tffecl. J'iub:;e 
 then of her aflonilhment to find it had been 
 voted an abfolute bore. Mrs. Pattv's tongue 
 was not deficient in the grace of volubility, and 
 ' flie certainly poured upon the calumniators a 
 torrent of what might be termed retributive 
 abufe; but when we expe£l a panegyrick upoa 
 ourfelves^ to meet only an opportunity of abuf- 
 ing others, is certainly a mortification. I can 
 compare it to nothing but what a Pvomfin ge- 
 K. neral 
 
194- A gossip's story. 
 
 ner.il mull feel, who was only permitted an 
 ovation, when he expelled a triumph. 
 
 Paf'y's anger was too violent to evaporate in 
 defamation at Mifs l/ippel's, and flie feized the 
 firfl opportunity to inform her lady what her 
 enemies faid of her. Vv'^henever my fair readers 
 are threatened uith a finiilar communication, I 
 will entreat them, for the fake of their future 
 peace of mind, to reprcfs the imprudence of 
 rifing curiofity, and to filence the injudicious or 
 perhaps malevolent informer. iSlrs. Clermont 
 did not exert this ufeful felf-command, and 
 Patty was too fond of ufing the acid in her 
 mental (limulants, to adhere rigidly to truth. 
 She aggravated therefore the nrgmvat'ions which 
 Mifs Lappei, tlirough her indignation at the 
 ill ufage of fo good a cuflomer, had already fup- 
 plied ; and thus the Danbury critique upon Mrs. 
 C!cr-cnont's fete champetre became at lall a mofh 
 Iviqhiy coloured lampoon ; capable of agitating 
 a' firmer mind thintlie fair entertainer pofTefled. 
 How extremely hard it was to be difappointed, 
 in her firft attem.pt at gaining popularity ! To 
 be fo unexpeLlciUy dif.ippointed too, rendered it 
 fiill more provoking ; for every one of her guefls 
 had declared themfei^es quite enchanted during 
 the whole evening. One f.itisfy<nion flill remain- 
 ed, — the fympathv of an afFcifiionate hufband. 
 Sh-C had made the entertainment on purpofe 
 to oblige him, and doubtlefs he vi'ould warmly 
 ei''poufe her caufe againft a malevolent ivorl'd. 
 Her quarrel indeed was only with a very fmall 
 part of the univerfe ; but injured people are 
 fond of ufing indefinite terms. 
 
 it was at an inaufpicious moment that Ma- 
 rianne (lew to impart to her dear protedlor 
 
 the 
 
A gossip's story. 195 
 
 the cruel injuries flic had received Mr, Cler- 
 mont had employed the whck' morning in at- 
 tempting t") Iketch a likenefs of the fvveet 
 Cdlypfo, who had fo enchanted him a few 
 evenings before. After many unfuccefsful at- 
 tempts, he at lad executed a very promifing 
 outline ; but whilft he was bending over it» 
 with the mingled exultation of an arrlfl 2nd a 
 lover, a f.wourite fpaniel ruflied into the room, 
 and in its ecftafy at the fight of his m?)fter, 
 leaped upon the pallet, and entirely obliterated 
 the unfortunate performance. 
 
 Mr. Clermont had ever borne his father's 
 ' peremptory behaviour and his mother's caprice 
 v'ith fuhmiflion and deference. But: the man- 
 dates of his Lordfiiip ifTued in the compulfa- 
 tory tone of a defpctic monarch, and received 
 with filent awe, were not calculated to eradi- 
 cate any evil p;cpenfity, nor to Inculcate any 
 generous virtue. Fortunately his fon had re- 
 ceived from nature an amiable, afFe£tionate dif- 
 pofition •, and his uncoirupted mind, elevated 
 by a fertile imsj-ination, and the (Irong cnthu- 
 fiafm of early yairh, gave a romantic, but en- 
 gaging turn to iiis character. From nature too 
 he received as foils to his virtues, impetuous 
 pafilons, atid venemence of temper ; and theis 
 errors no ^i.\.cxu?\ precept tau^^'.it him to fubdue ; 
 nor did the yet furer rule of paternal example 
 inculc.ite the importanc duty of felf command. 
 The reflraint which the prefence of his pa- 
 rents impofed was temporary, and Iiis violence 
 was (1111 more apparent Vv-licn that curb was 
 removed. 
 
 On opening the door of the library, Mrs. 
 
 Clermont furprized her hufband in the firft 
 
 K 2 paroxy ms 
 
iyf5 A gossip's stoe.t. 
 
 paroxyfms of anger ; correcting the trembling 
 liog. Though lier prefence had always ufed 
 to hannonize his foul, it rather added to his 
 vexation on this occafion. He wifiied to have 
 conceaK^d from his Marianne every dcfedl in 
 his own difpofition. He felt the rt'fentment 
 which rifes in the mind of perfons cor:fcious of 
 error ; a refentment at firfl extremely apt to 
 fall upon thofe wlio happen to'witncfs the fault, 
 inllead of pointing the reproof to their own 
 bofoms. To her terrified enquiries as to the 
 caufe of -his violence, he remained for fome 
 time filent, r.nd at lalt cornplaiv.ed that flie had 
 interrupted him, when he wzi m.ofl; particularly 
 engaged. Mrs. Clermont immediately with- 
 drew. Her fpirits had been previoufly agitated 
 by Patty's goftiping communications ; this was 
 the firft time Ihe had ever fci^n the " God of 
 her Idolatry" in a light that obfcured his fup- 
 pofed divinity. Wh.at a difcovery for one who 
 meafured the virtues and the vices by a gigantic 
 Randard i hhe reached her dreffing-room, and 
 finking into a chair, fell into ftrong hyflerics. 
 
 Her fcreams inllantly alarmed her family, 
 and Mr. Clermont was the firft to fly to her 
 alliftance. His heart was candid and affec- 
 tionate, and foon penetrated by remorfe. He 
 had correfted his dog for obliterating the por- 
 trait ; but he' had himfeif cruelly dilcompofed 
 the charming original. In the lively pangs ,of 
 compunction, he flung himfeif at her feet ; 
 terrified at die apprehenfion of her danger, he 
 irnplorecl her forgivenefs, and ftiied liimfelf the 
 bafclt of villains. No pungent aromatic could 
 boalt the reviving power which his voice poi- 
 ftfleJ ; his gentle biide, willi fobbing tender- 
 
 wcUy 
 
A gossip's story. 197 
 
 nefs, aflured him of her forgivenefs; but her 
 delicate frame had been too nuch afffcltd by 
 tlie acuteiiefs of her f^rnfibility, immediately to 
 recover from the fliock it had received. Wr. 
 Clermont attenc'cd her with tlie moll: vT'atchful 
 folicitude ; intreaties for pardon, and afiurances 
 that it had been long ago granted, were repeat- 
 ed every minute ; and if this uiilucky incident 
 could be termed the quarrel of lovers, it cer- 
 tainly confirmed the proverb, by prpving the 
 •' renewal of love." 
 
 Ihe lady's indifpofition necefTirUy ohiiged 
 fome of the fcrv-aiits to be prefent during ih»i 
 eclairciilement ; and as uneducated minds are 
 ever apt to fufpecl more than they knu'.v, and 
 to exaggerate what they really fee, the ci;CL:m- 
 llance was foon publillied, in a manner not 
 very favourable to the wedded pair. My faga- 
 cious neighbours entered deeply into the dif- 
 pute, and feemed willing to allow Mr. Clermont 
 entire pnfTefRon of the epithet of " b>.feil ci 
 villains," wiiich lie r.ad been pleafed to aiHx '.o 
 liis own chara(ner. Indeed, |!;ener;d report 
 brought no inflance to confirm this uiiquat^fiai 
 abufe ; but will candour permit us to queltiou 
 the veraciry of voluntary confclFion ? Our in- 
 quifitors-general, after bitte5j.y inveighing againfl 
 the guilt of hypocrify in a young pevfon, re- 
 foK'cd upon a permanent filling to difcover tl.s 
 latent depravity, which they were certain mufc 
 cxilt. And they excxuitd tliis taPK witii a 
 degree of watchfulnefs, that would have done- 
 honour to Argus himfe'f ; who perhaps was ti e- 
 mytiiological emblem of cur fiilerhood. 
 
 C II A P- 
 
19^ A gossip's story. 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIir. 
 
 /'/ Tvcdlocky charnBers may he ioo Jimilar to pro- 
 dtice hiirmony. This axiom is prci'ed by a nvell-^ 
 fought battle between female weak/if s^ and male 
 flly. 
 
 VV MILE pity fang the plaintive dirge over 
 the misfortunes of " poor Mrs. Clermoiu," that 
 l.iriy iiad entirely recovered from her indirpofi- 
 liotj-j and fully confiding in her hiifbanci's af- 
 furjnce, that Hie ihould never beliold ihc frnallrfi 
 ( rror in his tensper and conduift again, flie 
 jioKicd to tiie tranfporting refledlions which the 
 fxpedied arrival of her dear Eliza INJilton had 
 txcited. Several months had elapfed fince the 
 iriends had enjoyed the gratification of a per- 
 fun.il iiitercourfe, and thongh the important 
 events which had taken place in that period liad 
 been defcribed by a very diff'ufe pen •, yet, many 
 circumftances would admit of further ampliti- 
 cation, in which art both ladies were adepts. 
 
 As 1 cannot conceive that it could be from 
 the want of a proper reliPn for the beauties of 
 female converfation, that Mr. Clermont was not 
 condantly of the party, I will afcribe his ab-* 
 fence to his commendable wifh to gratify the 
 fair friends with opportunities of indulging the 
 confidence tliey fo highly relifiied. Delicacies 
 are rqit to fatiate the appetite, and to produce 
 fiich a V himfical craving after novelty, as to 
 render the coarfeH: food palatable. 1 he mod 
 
 luxurious 
 
A gossip's story. 199 
 
 luxurious Epicures fometimes prefcribe to fhem- 
 felves abflinence, in order to excite the greater 
 relilh for an expected claiiuy. judging by thtfe 
 rules, Mr. Clermont invited a party nf young 
 friends to Stannadiiie, very foon after Mifs 
 IMilton's arrival. They had all been his com- 
 panions at fchool as well as al College, and their 
 fociety had been productive of a thoufand p!ea- 
 fures, before defpctic love became the *' nralter 
 paiTion in his bread," ami <* fwallowed up" 
 every competitor. 
 
 The foils who were thus introduced as 2 con- 
 trait to female fijiuefs v\ere men of fortune,, 
 animated by youth and lively fpirits, and ex- 
 ceedingly difpofed to enjoy tliemfelvts with 
 their old frienJ. 'i'hey beheld his happmefs 
 with that fort of good-humoured envy, whicii 
 warm adm*/ation is apt to infpire, and which, 
 though it defires as fortunate a lot for itfeif, has 
 no malevolent wifli to lerten the felicity of ano- 
 ther. •' Where did you meet with fuch aw 
 angel, Clermont ?" was the general exclama- 
 tion ; and the epithets '* Lucky dog !" arid 
 " Happy fellow !" were interrupted by many 
 hearty fhakes of the hand, and wiines of 
 long life and uninterrupted fuirmony. 1 couKl 
 here moralize upon tlie initability of h.umaa 
 wiHies. 
 
 The young gentlemen were all pafhonately 
 fond of field fpurts; it was the feafon for enjoy- 
 ing them, and the lurrounding country was fa- 
 vourable to their defires. The refllefs humour 
 of their fex foon made them- weary of fedenrary 
 amufements ; one propofcd liunting, another 
 Ihooting, a third courfing ; but Mrs. Clermont's 
 tender difpofitio.n fupplied her wiih very llrong 
 
 obje<nions. 
 
A GOSSIP S fTORY. 
 
 ohjedlions to all the three diverfions, and fiie 
 looked witli fo mucli hoiror upon the cruel na- 
 ture of thcfe fports, as almott to detefl thofe 
 who pravSlifed them. 6he defended the caufe 
 ot the. dumb creation, with a\\ tlTe irri-Tiftible 
 graces of plaintive oratory; and as her iniinuating 
 countenance, no lefs than l.er words, was pecu- 
 liarly adapted to foften the hearts of her oppo- 
 nents, the majority feeined more than half con- 
 Viuced, and inclined to give up their darling 
 purfuit. But one of the young A61eans, (hy 
 n<ime Aubrey,) pofTcffing more humour than 
 implicit defirrence, encountered tlie fair pleader 
 w'uh a great (liare of agreeable vivacity, at the 
 imcnient that her triumph was going to be ac- 
 knowledged. He gayly afcribed the comnnife- 
 ration the ladies generally exprefl'ed for the fuf- 
 f erings of animals of chace, to fympathy, arif- 
 jng from the recoiledion of their own terrors, 
 while expofed to the perfecutions of the grand 
 piivfuer Man. He cautioned them againft the 
 dangerous, though generous tlefign, of diverting 
 liie ivhole attention of that mifchievous creature 
 from other objedls of prey, to themfelves ; and 
 lie illuflrated his argument with {o many whim- 
 llcal idea , that a loud lough announced his 
 v't'tory. Neither Mrs. Clermont, nor her echo 
 T'.lifs Milton, dared to oppofe their lively anta- 
 gonif^, and a {hooting party was fixed for the 
 utxt morning, to which Mr. Clermont was pre- 
 v.iiled on to accede, though he had in reality no 
 rciifh for the fport. 
 
 Ihe company had no fooner retired thaii 
 Mrs. Clermont began to exert lier influence to 
 detach her hufband from what llie termed aa 
 ii.hunh.n diverfion. Certainly Ihoccing could 
 
 appear 
 
A GOSSIPS STORT. 20 C 
 
 appear no better, when her lively imagination 
 had embellifhed the terror of the poor birds 
 which had efcaped, the mifery of fucli as were 
 wounded, the angulHi of the dying, and the 
 grief of the furvivors. Mr. Clermont heartily 
 wiflied he could have retra<5led his prom ife ; but 
 as it had been given, thought he mud adhere to 
 it. His lady had now a new caufe for dif- 
 fuafion. Accidents often happened with guns, 
 and as nothing but his Haying at home would 
 pacify her, he at length acquiefced ; but fo un- 
 willingly, that he fpent the remainder of the 
 night in anticipating theaukward appearance he 
 fiiould make to his expecting friends in the 
 morning. This apprehenfion was not ill-found- 
 ed ; the apologies he had framed were too jejune- 
 to be admitted ; the real caufe of his abfenting 
 himfelf was inllanlly guefled, and a loud laugh 
 excited ; which Mr. Clermont affected to parry 
 with great bravery. 
 
 A jeft upon the fubject of female ufurpation 
 is dreadfully grating to lordly man, and it is 
 peculiarly fo when (as in the prefent inftance) 
 it happens to apply. Mr. Clermont ileclined 
 his lady's invitdtion to breakfaft, and as foon as 
 his friends had fe: of}', retired to his library, and 
 there continued to pace the room with defultory 
 ileps ; frequently imagining he had caught a 
 glimpfe of the cliains which Hymen \% fiifpeBed 
 to wear under his long fafiron mantle. 
 
 Refpecling the real exillence of thefe faid 
 chains, I, as an old maid, mull not be allowed 
 to give any decided opinion ; but as the very 
 apprehenfion of them has been known to drive 
 many of the « Lords of the creation" frantic, I 
 co:i{lantly advife my newly-married fi lends tj 
 K 3 endiavour 
 
02 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 end savour as much as poffible to divert tlieir 
 hufhands' attention from this terrlblii bugbear. 
 I intre;!t them to hold the reins of government 
 (if by great chance committed to their hands) 
 with circunifpedl: propriety, and to furrender 
 them the moment that the poflefiion of them 
 becomes difputed. 
 
 Dinner fummoned the party again together. 
 The young fportfmen, delighted with the plea- 
 fures they had enjoyed, were in moil excellent 
 fpirits : but the fretful vexation which appeared 
 in Mr. Clermont's look and manner effe(5\ually 
 fupprefled the indulgence of genuine mirth. A 
 forced converfation was faintly fupported, and 
 the ladies foon withdrew. The bottle then be- 
 gan more freely to circulate, and Mr. Clermont's 
 chagrin was not proof to the general hilarity it 
 infpired. Old fchool exploits were then recol- 
 lected with infinite fatisfaclion, and the claffical 
 enjoyments which College had produced loft 
 none of their attic zeft by repetition. In fliort, 
 mirth and good-humour were completely re- 
 eftabliflied in the dining-room. 
 
 Mrs. Clermont was in the mean time indulg- 
 ing in a luxury, of which I would prefcribe a 
 moit temperate ufe to all young wives : I mean, 
 the dangerous pleafure of unreferved confidence, 
 ■with what is termed a hofom friend. 'I he ruin 
 of wedded peace may often be afcribed to fuch 
 injudicious communications. To what purpofe 
 is it to talk over an hufoand's errors, or the little 
 vexations which may be cafually endured from 
 him, unlefs to quicken our fenfibllity, to keep 
 our minds and our tempers in a painful irritable 
 ftate, and to prevent that happy forgetfulnefs 
 
 v^high 
 
A gossip's story. 203 
 
 which Is In many inftances the greatefl: bleffing 
 we can enjoy. 
 
 Mr. Clermont's ill-humour wa? too apparent 
 to efcape Mifs Milton's obfvfrvation, and Ma- 
 rianne's ftreaming tears evinced her painful 
 fenfe of it. Encouraged by the pleafing fym- 
 pathy of her friend, flie indifcrectly related 
 every little incident which had before occurred 
 of a difagreeable nature ; and the adventure ia 
 the library was largely difcufled, together with 
 Mr. Clermont's anxiety at her illnefs, and his 
 folemn promifes of never again giving way to 
 ill-humour. Inftead of confidering a breach of 
 that engagement as a conflitutional defecl, or a 
 tranfient forgetfulnefs, and therefore but a venial 
 error, Mifs Milton aggravated it into wanton 
 perjury and confummate cruelly. She had no 
 malevolent defign in fo doing, but flie had never 
 made any obftirvations upon real life; and Mr.. 
 Clermont's prefent behaviour was certainly very 
 oppofite to the perfefl: excellence and perfeft 
 felicity which exiils in the land of Hymen ; — as 
 defciibed in the Utopian geography of many 
 modern novelills. 
 
 *' Ah, my deareft: Marianne," cried the af- 
 fefrionate but imprudent Mifs r>Iilfon, " are 
 you indeed united to a lordly fpirit, infenfible cf 
 the value of your lovely tendernefs, your charm- - 
 ing fenfibility ^ I obferved you at tables and 
 felt aftoniflied that Mr. Clermont could refift 
 the foft complaining anguifh that appeared in 
 your countenance. Hark! — No I am not mif- 
 taken, the gentlemen are extremely lively now.. 
 They can enjoy themfelves as foon as the re- 
 ftraint which wc impofed is removed. Good 
 
 Heaveu I; 
 
204 A gossip's story. 
 
 Heaven ! and have I lived to fee my Marianne 
 an impediment lo her huibantl's happinefs r" 
 
 *< My father's cautions," refumed Mrs. Cler- 
 mort, '« pointed out to me all thefe evils; 
 but I did hope that Mr. Clermont would prove 
 an exception to the general rule. Too plainly 
 do 1 difcover that my foclety has loft its wonted 
 fafcination. Alas ! my heart will ever be un- 
 alterably his, even if he continues to treat me 
 injurioufly." 
 
 Here a fudden interruption prevented her 
 from proceeding, and gives me an opportunity 
 of clofmg my chapter. 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 The conjiquences of a confdani' s interference ivhen 
 unrefraincd by dfcretion. 
 
 .R. Clermont and his friends rofe from 
 table in high fpirits, and proceeded to the draw- 
 ing-room in the gay hope of fpending a pleafant 
 evening. The firft obje£l they beheld was Mrs. 
 Clermont rifing from the fopha, and loofening 
 }ier hands from Mifs Milton's ; her eyes red and 
 fwollen, and her cheek wet with lears. 
 
 Coniufed, furprifed, and perhaps fecretly 
 afliamed of a weaknefs flie had not time to con- 
 ceal, flie could only anfwer the general enquiry 
 of what was the matter, with a complaint of 
 indifpofition ; and feizing her friend's arm, hur- 
 ried to her apartment. Mr. Clermont followed, 
 
 full 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 205 
 
 full of real anxiety, but when he tenderly en- 
 quireil into the nature of her complaint, fhe 
 only anfwered him with a foft figh, and a re- 
 quell that he would not diftrefs her. 
 
 Lady G. (in Sir Charles Grandifon) com- 
 plains, that mediators and mediatrixes had ex- 
 tended her whimfical difputes with her lord, and 
 given them a more ferious afpecl than (lie de- 
 figned. There can be no doubt that the prefent 
 fracas between our young people would have 
 terminated as eafily as the laft, if Mifs Milton 
 had not been feized with the warm Knight- 
 errantry of friendlhip. Conceiving that the 
 timid Marianne wanted an orator to open her 
 caufe, flie informed Mr. Clermont that his wife's 
 uneafinefs had proceeded from his evident ill- 
 humour, and (he requefted him to confider what 
 kind of treatment gentlenefs and .fenfibility 
 required. 
 
 To borrow a phrafe from the vocabulary of 
 Bacchus, Mr. Clermont was a little elevated, and 
 confequently felt the high dignity of man too 
 warmly to fubmit to reproof. '* Does Mrs. 
 Clermont, Madam," Hiid he, " appoint you the 
 judge of my behaviour .'"' Then turning to his 
 lady, he delired her for her own fake to behave 
 with more pVopriety, and then humming a fa- 
 vourite tune, he rejoined his companions. 
 
 Neither my hero nor my heroine were models 
 of prudence. Mr. Clermont's renewed vexation 
 was flrongly written in his face, and he was too 
 much agitated to evade his friends' enquiries. 
 They were quite in a difpofition to enjoy y}//;, 
 without retaining fufficient judgment to diitin- 
 guifli humour from mifchicf. . A grand rebel- 
 lion againft female ^influence was refolved upon 
 
 and 
 
2o6 A gossip's stop.y. 
 
 and as fuch proje£ls always fucceed bed when 
 reafon is entirely banidied, they all determined 
 to fpend the evening in high joiHty ; and to call 
 in Champaign and Burgundy as glorious auxili- 
 aries, for the fupporting of male authority, and 
 for humbling a wife's fpirit. 
 
 As Mr. Clermont's heart, in fpite of his re- 
 fentment, could not be wholly alienated from 
 his Marianne, he was the firft to quicken the 
 circulation of the glafs, in order to filence the 
 reproaches which he could not endure. The 
 hours of night flew rapidly away, enlivened by 
 what the gentlemen called Anacreontic fallies. 
 About twelve o'clock, Mrs. Clermont difpatched 
 a requeft to fpeak with her hufband j but the 
 general voice chorufed his anfwer, that he was 
 particularly engaged, and could not leave his 
 party till the morning. 
 
 If the g.iy Bacchanalians perceived the *' broad 
 pinions of time fwifter than the wind ;" to 
 poor Mrs. Clermont he appeared " to creep de- 
 crepid with old age." Unkindnefs mud ever 
 fall with feverell weight on thofe who have ever 
 been accudomed to extreme indulgence. Mifs 
 Milton's interpofition had indeed been able to 
 aggravate a trivial vexation into a real forrow, 
 but it was utterly incapable of healing the an- 
 guidi a tender mind endured, while labouring 
 under the knozvn difpieafure of a beloved huf- 
 band. 
 
 Mrs. Clermont flung herfelf upon the bed, 
 pretending fleeplefs, but in reality to efcape 
 from the impertinence of confolation ; which 
 adminiflered no relief to her agonized h,eart. 
 Her anxious fri— id infifted upon watching her 
 numbers, and pofitively refufed to quit her cham- 
 ber. 
 
A gossip's stouy. 207 
 
 ber. Tills fond attention, contrafted with Mr. 
 Cltivinont's cruel negledl, rendered the latter but 
 more apparent, and fixed another dagger in Ma- 
 rianne's breaft. Befides, her faithful Fatty be- 
 lieving her lady to be afleep, began a converfa- 
 tion in audible whifpers with Mifs Milton, of 
 which the following was the prefatory fpeech, 
 
 <' Pr?y, Madam, what can be the matter be- 
 tween my mafter and my huly ? though I always 
 thought they would foon fall out, for Mifs Lap- 
 pel has told me, that all th.e people in Danbury 
 fay, Mr. Clermont is the greateft villain in the 
 world." 
 
 «' Hulh !" fdid Mifs Milton, <«fo I am afraid j 
 but don't let your lady hear you for the world." 
 «« O," repiied Patiy, " flie is faft afleep. Tis 
 a fhocking thing, Madam, that Hie fliould be fo 
 married. The fweetcfb, bell tempered creature 
 in the world." 
 
 «« It is indeed a fatal engagement," faid Mrs. 
 Clermont to herfelf, but her defire to hear more 
 kept her filent. 
 
 *< Pray, IVIrs. Patty, do you know how this 
 match was brought about f" enquired Mifs Mil- 
 ton. 
 
 <* It was my old Lord's doings, Madam. To 
 be fure there 'muft be a fate in thefe things. 
 Perhaps they wanted moxiey at the Park ; but I 
 think it was not fo neither. I\Ir. Clermont 
 never let my lady have any reft ; teaze, teaze ; 
 but fuch hot love is generally foon cold, as the 
 faying is." 
 
 " Not always fo," returned Mifs Milton, — 
 «' but only with fuch ungrateful wretches as 
 he." 
 
 ** Wretches 
 
2o8 A gossip's story. 
 
 «' Wretches indeed, Mad^m. Well, to be 
 fure, you only fay what all the world does of 
 him." 
 
 Here Mrs. Clermont's agony could no longer 
 be fupprefTed, She fell into violent fits, and it 
 was at this period that the meflage was fent to 
 Mr. Clermont, and the anfwer returned, which 
 I have before ilatcd. The footman was again 
 difpatched to fay that Iiis lady was extremely ill; 
 but he, (judging his mailer's prefence, in the 
 {late he then was, could afford no confolaticn,) 
 brought for anfwer, that Mr. Clermont was ex- 
 tremely forry, but really was unable to attend 
 her. 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 Humau pnjfions, like the fea^ vary from tempejls te 
 fullen calms. 
 
 HE night pafled in fcenes of diftradion ; I 
 fhall now uiher in the morning, 
 
 Mrs. Clermont, exhauited by her flrong emo- 
 tions, funk into a {lumber, in which fiie had con-" 
 tinued a few hours, when Mr. Clermont and his 
 friends awoke. A confufed recolleclion of" 
 what had palled, mingled with mucii fccret 
 compundion f or the delights of intemperance, 
 will never ftaud the tell of returning reafon. 
 
 The 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 209 
 
 The vifitants, on being informed that Mrs. 
 Clermont was exceedingly indifpofed, judged 
 that tlieir remaining longer at Srannadiiie would, 
 be a great impropriety; and defirous to remedy 
 as far as polFible the eviftheyhad caufed, at tak- 
 ing leave of Mr. Clermont, ftrongly urged him 
 to an immediate reconciliation with liis lady, 
 shocked at the idea that the world fliould know 
 that he and his beloved Marianne were at vari- 
 ance, he fat agitated by the mofl fenfible regret, 
 which his friends drove to diminifh, by foften- 
 ing liis cfTence into a I'cnial failing. 
 
 The moment their carriages drove oiT, Mr. 
 Clermont Vi'ent into his wife's apartment ; but 
 not with that lively tranfport which is expreflive 
 of the happy hufband. She had juft rifen from 
 her bed, and did I indulge myfelf in the ufe cf 
 fimiles, 1 might now julUy apply the trite one, 
 of a broken lily wet with rain. Her pale, de- 
 je£led afpecl heightened in Mr. Clermont's 
 mind the tender fenfibility which refentment 
 and inebriety liad obfcured : he folded her ia 
 his arms, and with impallioned agony be fought 
 lier to iorgive him. Mrs. Clermont allured 
 him that fiie did, but her averted eye, and half- 
 flifled fobs, gave no pleafing confirmation to 
 her words. 
 
 Mr. Clermont walked to the window morti- 
 fied and dejecled.- Undoubtedly he was too 
 arrogant in expelling his recent provocations 
 could be immediately forgotten, and himfelf re- 
 ceived with a complacent fmile. 1 am, how- 
 ever, afraid that the generality of hufbands, 
 from the high idea they entertain of their own 
 fuperiority, would be apt to think a wife very 
 
 capricious 
 
210 A gossip's story. 
 
 capricious who fiiould retain her refentment 
 after they have made the fiightejl conceffion. 
 Men are remarkably tenacious of their opinions, 
 and fince protra<fting a domeflic quarrel muft 
 always be at the hazard of future happinefs, I 
 mull advife my fex to be " eafily entreated." 
 I can afi'ure them that a placid fmile will convey 
 a very forcible reproof to a generous heart con- 
 scious of error, and that forgivenefs is not the 
 lefs valuable becaufe it is chearfully bellowed. 
 
 After a moment's hefitation, Mr. Clermont 
 determined upon another t^c£\ ; " You have 
 been ill, my dear," faid he, *' I hope you are 
 better." A faint affirmative was the only reply. 
 *' I conjure you, Marianne, by all our former 
 Iiappinefs, do not treat me with indifference. 
 1 feel more compundlion than I can exprefs 
 when I recollccfl the pall ; but let this acknow- 
 ledgment fuffice. Banifh the events of yefterday 
 from your remembrance. Give me your hand, 
 and promife to think of them no more." 8he 
 coldly gave her hand, and with a forced fmile 
 uttered the dtfired promife. 
 
 Though it would be very entertaining to a 
 profeiTed golFip, to follow our young couple's 
 proceedings in a journal like narrative, the ap- 
 prehenfibn of not meeting \Vith the congenial 
 foul of a fii'ler-sjodip in my readers, impofes 
 brevity. I'he Clermonts continued to behave 
 to each other for fome weeks with civility in- 
 (tead of tendernefs, and with attention indead 
 of confidence and harmony. The converfation fiie 
 ])ad overheard between Mifs Milton and Patty, 
 cruelly agitated her mind, and induced her to 
 view all her hufoand's actions with the afkance 
 eye of fufpicion \ while her knowledge of the 
 
 violence 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY, 211 
 
 violence of his temper impofed a fort of terri- 
 fied compliance. Mr. Clermont, on the contra- 
 ry, attributed his Marianne's melancholy referve 
 to an implacable difpofition, and feeUng unwil- 
 ling to gratify her pride by any further fubmif- 
 Tion, he permitted his attachment for his once 
 adored idol infenfibly to decline. 
 ' After having for fome time filently endured 
 the agonizing terror, wliich the fear of an huf- 
 band's unworthinefs niufl excite in an ingenuous 
 heart, Mrs, Clermont unfortunately refolved to 
 difburden her mind, by confeffing to Mifs 
 Milton that Pne liad overheard the converfation 
 between her and Patty. That lady candidly 
 acknowledged^ that the violent epitiiets O'.e had 
 ufed againlt Mr. Clermont, proceeded from iier 
 hvely intereft in her friend's fufferings, and not 
 from her knowledge of any fecret depravity. 
 *« But," added The, " I am afraid your maid 
 can give you further information." 
 
 *' Will my inquiries be juftifiable, and ta 
 what purpofe v/ili t.'iey tend r" refumed Mrs. 
 Clermont. 
 
 ** They will at leafl: relieve the anguifh of 
 fufpenfe, and if lie appears innocent, your har- 
 mony will be in fome degree reilored ; if the 
 contrary, you 'will have the comfort of knowing 
 tiie worll:, and the fooner you are feparated from 
 a depraved huiband — " 
 
 " Separated !" — exclaimed Mrs. Clermont, 
 turning pale with terror; '* for Heaven's fake, 
 Kliza, how could you fugged fuch an horrid 
 idea ? you little know with what palFionate at- 
 tachment my heart is irrevocably his. But let us 
 change the iubjetl, for I will make no inquiries 
 that may lead to fuch a horrid cataftrophe." 
 
 « Ad 
 
212 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 - " A(Sl as you judge beft," returned Mlfs 
 Milton; *< I have only mentioned what an at- 
 tachment like that you exprefs would urge me 
 to do. I confefs, uncertainty feems to me the 
 mofl dreadful of all conditions; and recollect, 
 my dear, that the event you Hiudder at, is at all 
 times optionable, and not the certain confequence 
 of your endeavouring to re-afTure your mind." 
 
 To this fallacious reafoning, Mrs. Clermont 
 weakly yie!de<i her ** better judgment," and 
 Patty was applied to for further information. 
 Mr. Clermont's behaviour had been fo truly in- 
 offenfive in every refpe(fl, but in the inflances I 
 have detailed, that Patty had nothing new to 
 communicate ; but out of her great ze^.l to 
 make her lady eafy, fhe undertook the oiBce of 
 fpy upon her maker's condu£l, and opened an 
 indirecl communication with the Danbury 
 infpe<flors. 
 
 Nothing however could be procured but petty 
 detraiftions and general inventive ; io evidently 
 the refult of malice, as to be even in Pattys 
 opinion undcferving of repetition. During the 
 courfe of thefe inquiries, Mifs Milton terminat- 
 ed her vifit ; Mr. Clermoni's mind was (till fo 
 little in unifon with l^^is Marianne's, that he re- 
 joiced at the departure of a perfon, who lie per- 
 ceived was honoured with that confidence and 
 thofe marks of afFe£lion which he believed to be 
 exclufively his right, while fhe bitterly regretted. 
 the abfence of her dear companion. 
 
 The happinefs of the Clermonts foon aiTumed 
 a more favourable appearance. The indefatiga- 
 ble Patty could hear nothing that was of fuffi- 
 cient importance to dillurb it, and her lady in- 
 dulged the hope that tlie exprellions which had 
 ib deeply dillurbed her mind, were only " un- 
 
 ♦' weighed 
 
A gossip's story, 213 
 
 " weiglied wonls," or thoughtlef!} repetitions 
 of the vague calunuiies of emyand malevolence. 
 She and Mr. C'crmont equ.illy felt the p.iin of 
 difcord, and they began infcnfibjy to re-allume 
 the tender affectionate behaviour which had en- 
 deared the early hours of their union ; when 
 this fair promil'e of felicity was interrupted by 
 an unfortunate incident. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXr. 
 
 Very palatable to the Lords of the Creatiov^ as it 
 exhibits them in the ^ojffjfton of plenitude of 
 
 Pciver. 
 
 I 
 
 N compliance wjth her friend's parting requeft, 
 Mrs. Clermont had given a folemn promife of 
 continuing her journal ; and ,'is it was to be truly 
 circumflantial, it neceflarily employed great part 
 of her time. While thus eng.iged, fhe generally 
 locked her door to prevent interruption ; but 
 one day having unfortunately forgotten that 
 precaution, Pv^r. Clermont fuddenly appeared. 
 Three fheets of paper had been filled ready to 
 difpatch ; to fay the truth, they were as inno- 
 cent a compofition as ever illued from a female 
 pen : but as they contained a repetition of what 
 had pafled in converfaticn between herfcif and 
 hufband, with comments on the happy change 
 in his behaviour, (lie anxioufly wiilied to con- 
 ceal them from him ; and on iiis playfully at- 
 tempting to take them from her, (he threw them 
 
 into 
 
214 A GOSSIPS STORY 
 
 into tne fire, and watched them till confumed, 
 with ferious folicitude. 
 
 Mr. Clermont's mind was not wholly free 
 from the meannefs of fufpicion, and he felt 
 deeply mortified at the idea of a wife's conceal- 
 ing fecrets from him, which flie implicitly con- 
 fided to another. He fupprefled his chagrin at 
 the moment ; but fince his curiofity to penetrate 
 into this interdicted correfpondencc was irrefifii- 
 ble, he determined to ufe atiy means to develope 
 the myftery. 
 
 He foon procured a letter of Mifs Milton's, 
 and upon breaking the feal, realized the proverb 
 refpeftingthe fate of fufpicious people, for cer- 
 tainly the firfl: paragraph was not very compli- 
 mental to himfclf : it follows, — 
 
 *« Do not, my deareft Marianne, think me 
 infenfible of the pleafure you exprefs, at your 
 hufband's appearing confcious of his cruel inju- 
 rious treatment of you ; I rejoice that your meek 
 fenfibility at lafl: fcems to touch his heart with 
 remorfe, may the compunction be lading ! But 
 oh, my fweet friend, guard againft the amiable 
 fufceptibility of your temper, nor any longer fix 
 your happinefs in the frail promifes of weak ir- 
 ritable man. Recolleft your father's admirable 
 precepts, and contract your fond affettion for 
 one who never deferved, and does not return 
 it." 
 
 If Mr. Clermont had poHefTtd fufficient pr^ti- 
 ence to perufe the whole letter, he would have 
 found the a*''perity of this paragraph foftened by 
 feveral concefnonsin his favour, and would have 
 perceived the epithets *' weak" and <* irritable," 
 wliich had moft piqued him,, were in reality in- 
 tended as a cenfure upon his whole fcx. But 
 
 his 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 21^ 
 
 his pafTion entirely overcame him, and flying to 
 his lady's apartnient, he peremptorily charged 
 hcT imrvdiately lo break otFnll conne6tion with 
 an aritul, bife c.ilumniator, who under the fpe- 
 cious mafk of fricndfhip, dared to interfere ia 
 the facred concerns of wedlock, and to traduce 
 a hufb iiui's charader even to his wife. He con- 
 cluded with a threat, that if (lie refufed imme- 
 diate compliance, flie fliould never fee him 
 more; and after thus ju/l:ifying Mifs Milton's 
 fentiments by his condu^il:, he tore the letter 
 inio a hundred pieces, and rufhed out of the 
 room. 
 
 Mrs. Clerm.ont remained for fome moments 
 ftupefied with furprife, and gizing upon the 
 fragments, in which fhe recognized the writing 
 of her dear Eliza. Tears, her ufual refource, 
 at length came to her relief, and (he was in- 
 dulging in a very plentiful flow, when a fervant 
 entering the room, announced the arrival of 
 Mr. and Mifs Dudley: Marianne flew to meet 
 them, and for a moment forgot her forrow in 
 their embraces. 
 
 I muft now account for their fudden arrival. 
 Mr. Dudley was haftened to London by letters 
 from his agent, informing him that a clear dif- 
 covery had been made of the long fufpedled vil- 
 hny of the elder Tonnereau, and that in confe- 
 quence he was taken into cudo-iy •, Louifa's ar- 
 dent defire to fee a filter, whofe letters had for 
 fome time betrayed an expreffion of tender me- 
 lancholy, induced her to expedite her incended 
 vifit to Stannadine. 
 
 Mrs. Clermont did not wait for their inqui- 
 ries to explain the reafon for the tears which (till 
 (warn in her radiant eyes j fhe frankly owned 
 
 that 
 
2i6 A gossip's stort. 
 
 that her father had formed the juftefb eftimate of 
 the married ftate, but added, that perhaps even 
 /)f would not have expe£led that Mr. Clermont's 
 love ihould already have fo far evaporated, as to 
 permit him to infift upon her abandoning a 
 friend, who had been the chief bleffing of her 
 life. She fobbed out her refolution never to re- 
 nounce her Eliza, and then afked if her lot was 
 not that of peculiar mifery ? 
 
 " No, my child,"ufaid Mr. Dudley, "you 
 only participate in the ills common to humanity ; 
 and I have a fatisfatlion in reliedling, that the 
 troubles arifmg from contrariety of temper and 
 opinion, may be remedied by prudence and con- 
 ceffion. Mr. Clermont has doubtlefs reafons to 
 urge for (his peremptory Ityle. Where is he t* 
 I mull fee him, and bring about an immediate 
 explanation."' 
 
 A fervant bein>f fummoned, informed them, 
 that his mailer was gone out on horfeback, and 
 had refufed any attendance. Mrs. Clermont's 
 dillrefs now aflumed the appearance of phrenfy, 
 from apprehenfions refpec^ling the fafety of the 
 perfon, whom Ihe a few moments betore confi- 
 dered as a relentlefs tyrant. Every domeftic was 
 difpatched in fearch of the dear fugitive, and 
 fcarcely could the efforts of her father and filler 
 rellrain her from joining them. 
 
 Intelligence at length arrived, that he had 
 been feen on the road to the park -, Mrs. Cler- 
 mont now earneflly prefled her father to follow 
 him, and to conjure him immediately to return 
 liome. Nothing elfe could alleviate her anxiety, 
 and having obtained this promife from Mr. 
 Dudley, (he became tolerably calm. 
 
 Louiia's heart not only melted with pity for 
 
 her 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 217 
 
 l.er fiRer's wild diftrefs, but for the filent anorui<}i 
 which oppreiled her dejetled fatlier, Slie knew 
 his mind had lately received an adiliiional weight 
 of angaiili, from the apprehenfion that he mu(t 
 either engage in a criminal profecution, again it 
 a man with whom he had formerly lived in the 
 flriclefl bond of frieudlhip, or elfe fufFer a ne- 
 farious villain to efcape punifhment ; ** My dear 
 father," faid Louifa to herfelf, while her filter 
 was in the extremell paroxyfms of grief, •* with 
 what calm diL:nity Jo you fupport forrow ?" 
 
 Having perfuaded Marianne to recline on ths 
 fufa for a few minutes, flie followed her father 
 to the door, to breathe her ardent wi(hes for the 
 fuccefs of his embafly •, *' I do not fear," replied 
 Ivlr. Dudley, " but that I (hall perfuade Mr. 
 Clermont to return ; do you exercif* your influ- 
 ence over your filler, and conjure her to aban- 
 don a friend, who I fu'.petl has aiSted a mod 
 indefenfible part; if Ihe yiel('---, lier hulband 
 will probably be afliamcd of his unmanly vio- 
 lence. My fears, Lcuifii, were but too jufl:. 
 They have good hearts, and a real aiF.Ction for 
 each other ; but Marianne is married to a man 
 as enthufiaftical and impruiient as herfelf. ilow 
 difgraceful are ihefe baby quarrels ! hnw ridicu- 
 lous thefe high theatrical pnlTions, wliicii fub- 
 je£l them to the" laugh of the neigh'jourhood ! 
 nay, worfe, which point out to arnu' villanv, 
 means whereby it m.iy effectually undermine do- 
 meftic happinefs." 
 
 Mifs Dudhy exerted all her eloquence, to per- 
 fuade Mrs Clermont to confent to any terms of 
 reconciiiation her hufband (houKl im^.c!"": ; her 
 arguments were anfwered by dec!a;",uuot^, flou- 
 liihcs on the inviolable fanduy of friend I'hip, 
 L and 
 
2i8 A gossip's story. 
 
 and the juHice of defending one whofe zeal, if 
 allowed to be imprudent, was yet tlie refult of 
 pure afFcflion. 
 
 ]Mr. Budley was not more fuccefsful in his 
 mediation ; Mr. Clermont, after an exaggerated 
 detail of his provocation, urged the fond idolatry 
 with which he had loved his Marianne, and her 
 ifigrai//iu!e, in hefitating lo facrifice to his Jt//} 
 refentment her blind partiality for a dangerous 
 woman, who afiunied the pretext of friendfliip, 
 to further her execrable dtfigns againU his peace. 
 Lord Clermont, though lefs violent than his fon, 
 WAS Jiy jnly of opinion, that the intimacy with 
 Mifs Milton mull be immediately terminated ; 
 and Lady Clermont, who happened unfortu- 
 nately to be at the park, took this opportunity 
 to vent her farcailic malignity. She termed 
 Marianne a well-meaning voung creature, but to 
 lier certain knowledge, too deficient in her ideas 
 of propriety, to be entirely intruded with her 
 own conduei. 
 
 IN'Ir. Dudley checked the refentment of 
 wounded paternal affedion, by ncollefting his 
 charafter of mediator. He gave up Mils Mil- 
 ton's condii£l as wholly indefenfible i and in 
 general condemned confidants as dangerous to 
 matrimonial peace. But he urged the propriety 
 of gently ioofening thofe ties, wiiich th:ugn 
 abfolutely fantaftic, had a real ir.fluence over his 
 daughter's mind. The very word Mr. Clermont 
 had ufed (facrifice) implied reluctance, and he 
 pointed out how much moredcfirable i: was that 
 her reafon fhould be convinced refpe^linsj the 
 impropriety of her friend's conduO, and confe- 
 quently the nccefhty of diflolving the conntc- 
 ticn ; than, that a fudden breach fliould be im- 
 
 pofed 
 
A GOSSIP S STOkT. 219 
 
 pofeil upon her, as an a£l of obedience. In 
 the former cafe, Mr. Clermont might expe6l hi> 
 wife would fcon look up to him with grateful 
 deference, for having relcued her from a dan- 
 gerous error; in the latter, a recolleiSlion of the 
 violent meafures which had been taken, would 
 induce her to honour her fevered Iriend with a 
 regret of which flie was unworthy. In conclu- 
 (ion, he urged his fon-in-law to a generous un- 
 conditional return, by the confideration how pow- 
 erfully fuch a conceifion would affedl his daugh- 
 ter's heart. 
 
 Lady Clermont here interfered, and prevent- 
 ed thefe arguments from determining the yield- 
 ing hufhand. She produced the letter in which 
 the incautious but well-intentioned Marianne 
 had coufefTed, that weaknefs and precipitate con- 
 fidence were her conflitutional failings. H':r 
 Ladyfhip prevented all the impreffion tiie un- 
 queflionablc ingenuoufncfs of this acknowledg- 
 ment might have made, by obferving that (he 
 had long ago entirely forgiven the little offence 
 which this letter was meant to palliate, and only 
 produced it as a proof of the iiulifputable necei- 
 Ijty of her fon's fupplying the firm decifion, 
 which the dear creature confefTedly wanted, 
 and of his refcuing his amiable wife from fucii 
 a dangerous friend as Mifs Milton was. This 
 opinion met with general approbation, and Mr. 
 I)udley, on his return to his daughter, recom- 
 mended unconditional fubmiiTion, as the only 
 terms on whicii Mr. Clermont would confent 
 to return home. 
 
 " 1 do not," faid he to Mrs. Clermont, " now 
 
 urge your determination by common motives' 
 
 Every thing which ought to be moll dear and 
 
 L 2 facred 
 
220 A gossip's STOUY. 
 
 ficred to you, is at ftake. Tt is not four montlis 
 fmce the woild favv you enter into mariai^e, 
 under the haopieft aufpices of mutual love. 
 Your dif-igreements cannot be concealed, and 
 the nipd candid will hardly be able to perfuade 
 thenifclvcs that they could have proceeded to 
 this length, vithout fomewhat criminal on one 
 fide at leafl. Let your flory, my dear girl, be 
 told even by a partial friend, believe me the 
 prudent part of the world will feverely reprobate 
 .an attachment (though to a female) to which 
 you can refolve to facrifice the higher duties you 
 have recently bound yourfelf, by the moll fo- 
 lemn and inviolable oaths, to fulfil." 
 
 " Are then the names of wife and friend in- 
 comp ritible r" excLimfd Mrs. Clermor.t. 
 
 *< I will give you my opinion on that fubjeft 
 hereafter, at prefent the knoivn duty of a vv'ife 
 calls upon you for immediate performance. 
 I'liilc not your future happinefs by any further 
 delay. Take your pen and dictate an adieu to 
 Mils Milton. It may be afteclionate, but let it 
 be determined ; and then recal your huiband 
 -whiKl it is yet in your power to recal him." 
 
 Mrs. Clermont reluclantly complied. Her 
 letter to her Lliza was blotted with tears, and 
 incoherent through diftrefs. After 072e gentle 
 reproof, it was filled with copious complaints 
 againil the hard neceiFity which impofed a fepa- 
 ration, and with proteftations of inviolable re- 
 gard. To thefe fond ebullitions of love, M-ifs 
 Dudley fubjoined a foftened narrative of the 
 events which had led to the prohibition -, and 
 llje urged Mifs Milton, by all her regard for her 
 M-.rianne's future peace, not to attempt to dif- 
 pute its validity. 
 
 I will 
 
1 gossip's story. 221 
 
 I will iiifcrt Mrs. Clennont's letter to her 
 hutband — 
 
 " 1 liiwe complied with your I:)junc\!on?, and 
 h.ive given up for _)•;// tiie friend w;ioie aiLclicn 
 cotillituted my chief felicity for fourteen years : 
 a friend whofe only fault was indifcrect partia- 
 lity for nie ! In doing this, I have torn from my 
 heart its deareft. objetl:, youifelf rt/o«^ excepted. 
 My r-rgret cannot be difguifed, nor will it yield 
 to time. Your renewed and uniform lender- 
 nefs can alone recompenfe me, for the facrifice 
 yo!i have enjoined. Return, my Edw.ird, im- 
 mediately, and fave your once beloved Marii-ir.e 
 from linking under the weight of her forroAS." 
 
 Mr. Dudley did not dii'approve the pathetic 
 fincerity expreHcvi i;i this letter. It had tlie de» 
 fired eHvcl:. IMr. L'Lrmont Immedhitely return- 
 ed to Stannadine ; again intreated his lady to for- 
 get ti.e pad, and encouraged iier to look for- 
 ward ro future golden days, by the gnui'Ms af- 
 furance that he would always rcaicmber her 
 meritorious coiiipliance. 
 
 C H A P T E R XXXII. 
 
 The author s opinion of the politics of Hpnsn ferns 
 to be in Javnir of a limited monarchy. 
 
 X HOUGH the quarrels of the Clermonts 
 might in their violence, frequency, and fpeedy 
 termination, bejuflly compared to the difnuies 
 
 of 
 
222 A GOSSir S STORY. 
 
 of children, fhey did not end in qt/ite fo cordial a 
 reconciliation. It is perhaps impoilible to " pluck 
 memory from her feat," or to '< erafe a written 
 Trouble from the brain," when the mind has paf- 
 fcd the firil ftage of adolcfcence. Mrs. Cler- 
 mont recolledled that every dif/greement had 
 been adjufted with increafed diilicuhy, her ex- 
 perence of the pad g.ive her but a melancholy 
 anticipation of the future, and the renunciation 
 of lo dear a conneflion was too painful, and ina- 
 poied in too authoritative a manner, tobechear- 
 fully fubmitted to. The fear of offending taught 
 her to try to conceal her grief, but her pallid 
 cheek and fwoln eyes the next morning, plainly 
 proved the night had been fpent in tears. 
 
 Confcious of pad feverity, Mr. Clermont en- 
 dsivcurcd to ccr.cilistc his wife's afFsdliiins, by 
 more marked attentions to her father. He ear- 
 iicitlyprefled him to poftpone his intended jour- 
 ney to town, to give up all endeavours to reco- 
 ver his fortune, and to depend entirely upon the 
 itcady friendfhip with which he would chearful- 
 ]y ufe every effort to alleviate his forrows. Mr. 
 ])udley'3 conducl in influencing his tiaughter's 
 lubmiffion, had bani(hed from her huiband's 
 mind a fufpicion which an expreflion in Mifs 
 Milton's fatal letter excited, and Mr. Clermont 
 now felt gratefully inclined to promote ths 
 willies of a man, who had gratified his. 
 
 '* Make my child happy," faid Mr. Dudley, 
 «< and you will impofe upon me the highelh ob- 
 ligation." 
 
 Mr. Clermont threw his eyes upon the ground, 
 and with a remorfeful air faid, it fhould in fu- 
 ture be his fludy to prove how highly he rated 
 her ccmpliance. 
 
 " I do 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 223 
 
 *' I do not, Sir, mean to reproach you, or 
 wholly to vindicate my d.iu^^hter ; but I wifh 
 ftridlly to caution you againft two errors. Avoid 
 calling in any perfon to witnefs your little do^ 
 mellic difputes ; a mediator in matrimonial 
 quarrels is more likely to widen than to heal the 
 breach. Rather choofe to keep every diTagree- 
 ment a profound fecret, for if they are at all ex- 
 pofed, curious impertinents will publifh them 
 with added circumftances, and however painful 
 thefe circumftances are to yourfelves, the world 
 will find in them matter for entertainment and 
 ridicule. 
 
 «< Let me alfo, my dear Sir, intreat you to 
 look upon your wife's errors with the tendereft 
 indulgence. If an a£lion can be referred to two 
 motives, kindly afhx that which is leafl repre 
 henfible. You ufed an exprefTion at the park, 
 Mr. Clermont; it was inconfiderately uttered, 
 yet it ftruck me to the heart. You called my 
 child ungrateful. Her heart is devotedly yours, 
 you may break it by unkindnefs, but you can- 
 not eftrange it. She is young, inexperienced, 
 and romantic, but flie is not, cannot be ungratt- 
 ful. Ingratitude is the vice of a narrow or de- 
 praved foul, it never exifts in a warm impaiuon- 
 ed dilpofition.. Oh, Sir, pardon my agitation, 
 but the daughter of the exalted woman 1 have 
 long lamented, and fpeedily hope to rejoin, 
 never could difgrace her mother's memory by in- 
 gratitude to an affedlionate hullj.ind." 
 
 <' Proceed," faid Mr. Clermont. «* Your 
 words fink into my foul ; have you more to 
 urge r" — " Nothing !" replied Mr. Dudky em- 
 phatically, and grafping him by the hand •, 
 
 *« except- 
 
224 A Gossrr's story. 
 
 " except tliat you will never fuffer rry Louifa to 
 want a protestor, or an afylum." 
 
 The ladies here entered, and Mr. Clermont 
 turned ailde to conceal the emoiion Mr. Dudley's 
 iolemn reproof had fxcited.. The fond f.itlu r 
 took this opportunity to Hip a-letter into INlari- 
 anne'b hand. " 1 had much to fay to you, my 
 dear child," faid he, '* and it is of too impor- 
 tant a nature to be intruded to the vague im- 
 pitffion converfation imprints upon the mind. 
 Your worthy hufband has urged me to refide 
 M ifh you \ his requcll is the n^ore pleaflng, as 
 it evidently proceeds from his afiecflion for you. 
 ]f i live, I fl^all be often with you ; if not, con- 
 fult that paper, 1 fliall fpeak in it when dead." 
 
 At thefc words liis daughters hurfl into 
 tearp. " I mufl go with you to London, Sir,'* 
 faid Louifa. " You fhall not leave me while 
 you indulge thefe afflicting forebodings." 
 
 *• My mind is uncommonly tranquil and 
 ferene, my dear girls, this morning. 1 wonder, 
 Louifa, you do not perceive my artifice. 1 wifii- 
 ed to make a deep imprefhon upon Marianne's 
 mind, and fee 1 have fucceeded. Dry your 
 ryes, my darlings, and bid a chearful adieu to 
 that father whofe only remaining wifli is, to fee 
 Iiis children happy," 
 
 While Mrs. Clermont threw herfelf into her 
 father's arms in an agony of affe6tion, the dig- 
 rified Louifa raifing her meek eyes to Heavea 
 in a fi'ent ejaculation, imn'ored its beneficent 
 attention to that interefllng ol:jc6\, a good man 
 in afHiflion. The air of forced gaiety wJiich 
 JNIr. Dudley aflumed at parting, could not ^ba- 
 rilh the dejection the folemnify of his expref- . 
 ficns had infpired. His daugluers followed him 
 
 with 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 225 
 
 with their eyes as long as poflible, and then 
 fllently with^lrew to their refpeclive apart- 
 ments. 
 
 I ftiall conclude this chapter with a copy of 
 his letter to Mrs. Clermont. 
 
 * Before I leave my Marianne, happy, I trufl', 
 in the recovered afFettions of her hufband, I 
 will give her my promifed opinion, refpecSl-- 
 ing a fubje£l to which I thought her yefter-- 
 day too- much agitaled to attend. 
 
 * You sliced me if the name of wife and friend 
 are incompatible : certainly not.. They are 
 titles which mutually reflecl hiftre upon each 
 other ; and I have ever confidered that youn^ 
 \\'omati as particularly fortunate, who had 
 fecured the efteem of fome difcreet matron, 
 and regulated her conducfl by the dictates of 
 experience. I muft, however, repeat that a 
 wife fliould retain no connexions which her 
 hufband decidedly difapproves. A prudent 
 woman indeed will wzvtx form any which can 
 give pain to a reafonable man. She will 
 choof her friends with judgment, confide in 
 them with caution, and love them v.-ith fin- 
 c^rity, yet ftill with moderation. You may 
 tliink thefe limitations cold and narrow, they 
 are fuch as you ought always to regard. 
 
 * Female friendfliip, my child, is often dif- 
 graced by a ridiculous imitation. Two ro- 
 mantic girls felecl each other from the general 
 mafs of their acquaintance as fancy dictates. 
 They relinquiih the pra<51ice of acknowledged 
 virtues, to indulge in a frivolous intimacy, 
 and while they gratify a propenfity for mere 
 goffip, capricious expectations, and fantaltic 
 defires, fuppofe that they e.xhibit a mcde! of 
 
 L 3 ' one 
 
226 A gossip's story. 
 
 one of thofe angelic perfections which dignify 
 our natures. 
 
 * You fay you have been accuflomed to coxw- 
 municate every fentiment of your foul to your 
 dearEHza, and you think while fo doing, you 
 were at leall innocently employed. Time was 
 not given us to be idled away ; has any moral 
 or mental improvement refuhed from this cor- 
 refpondence ? Your heart is good, your un- 
 derlianding not contemptible; yet could you 
 without confufion fee thofe fentiments pub- 
 licly divulged, of which you have made her 
 the unrefcrved depofitory. Has not the defire 
 of having lomewhat to communicate, induced 
 you to form a precipitate judjjment, and to 
 utter opinions which you afterwards wiflied 
 to retra£l ? Have rot the commendations and 
 tender expreflions you have been ufed to re- 
 echo to each other, vitiated your affections, 
 and rendered you Icfs fenfible of the tempered 
 but uniform attachment of your other con- 
 neClions ? 
 
 * But fuppofing this perverficii of time par- 
 donable in early youth, it can no longer be ex- 
 cufable ; and had not Mr. Ciermoni's difap- 
 pr ibation fuJdenly obliged you to terminate 
 your conne(flion with Mifs Milton, I Ihouid 
 have thought that your fenfe of the higher du- 
 t!i"s to which you are calle'd, would have con- 
 vinced you of the necellky of appropriating 
 lei's time to multiplied exprefiions of unmean- 
 ing tcndtrucfs. You are a wife, my love ; you 
 will, 1 hope, foon be a mother; you are the 
 miilrefs vf a family; you are a pjrfon of for- 
 tune ; you have had a liberal education. 
 What an extcnfive fcope of aCtion do thefe 
 
 » characters 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 227 
 
 characlers imply ! Go, Marianne, and thank 
 that Providence, who has placed you in a ca- 
 pacity to employ every portion of your time 
 in important occupations, and to exercifc the/ 
 nobleft. feelings of the human heart. 
 * Do not droop with vain regret, becaufe Mi". . 
 Clermont appears lefs fauklefs than your enthu- 
 fiaftic imagination once fuppofed. Do not ar- 
 raign the difpenfations of Heaven, becaufe you 
 are not wholly exempt from the common ills 
 incident to humanity. Inilead of indulging a 
 foolifli curiofuy refpe£ling your hufband's con- 
 duel, fix your attention upon your own. Do 
 not regard what the idle and malevolent fay 
 of you, or him : you will both be impleaded 
 at a different audit. Go, and comfort thofe 
 who drain the dregs of that cup of forrow, 
 of which you have but flightly tailed. Go, 
 and relieve the wants of poverty, fmooth the 
 bed of ficknefs, alleviate the anguifh of incu- 
 rable grief, diiRpate the gloom of ignorance, 
 and if polFible limit the r.ivages of vice. Rife 
 to the noble talk for which you were called 
 into exiflence. You cdr-not want employ- 
 ment when you have to prepare yourfelf for 
 eternity. Yau cannot be wretch-^d vhile you 
 can make your fellow-crejt'urcs happy. 
 « Adieu, my Marianne, refpccl your huf- 
 band's virtues, and divert yi ur attention from 
 his failin;:;s. Love your filter, (he defervcs 
 your conh.ience and eileeai. Her trials };a.e 
 been inigular, but they have rendered her me- 
 rit more conlpicuous. Once mcie fare **■£(?, 
 my child ; if 1 fhould not again [<:e you ia 
 * this world, give yourfelf to my a:ms, and to 
 
 « the: 
 
228 A gossip's story. 
 
 * the arms of your fainted mother, as an angel 
 « of light, in a purer ftate of exiftence. 
 
 * RICHARD DUDLEY.' 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIII. 
 
 57y (iifcernhig Reader may d'ifover fytvptoms of 
 approaching events y of the painful kind. 
 
 J/ OR fome time Mr. and M^-s. Clermont ap- 
 peared to have derived conriderable advantas^e 
 from the precept they had received, and their 
 vkhole behaviour promifed a perfect renewal of 
 harmony and happinefs. He divided his time 
 judicioufly between the claims of fecial life, and 
 the elegant amufements to which he was at- 
 tached ; and yZv turning her attention to the 
 ?.£live engagements of benevolence and domef- 
 tic management, foon made a confiderable pro- 
 liciency, being aflifted in her progrefs by her 
 ilRer, who was an adept in the pradlice of the 
 retired virtues. 
 
 Chiiftmas is a feafon peculiarly adapted to the 
 purpcfes of hofpitality, and wlijlil the Clermonts 
 liberally fupplied the wants of their indigent 
 neighbours, they did not neglecl thofe inferior, 
 but not unimportant claims, which the laws of 
 fociety require. Notwithftanding tlw;ir difap- 
 poiotment on a former occafion, the furround- 
 ing country were invited to an elegant enter-^ 
 tainment ; and as the hope of the inviters, 
 refpedling giving pleafure and acquiring popu- 
 larity, 
 
A gossip's story. 229 
 
 Jarity, was not fo fanguine as before, their 
 humble views were more fully gratified. Indeed 
 tlicy feemed to conciliate the affedlions of their 
 neighbours, by not attempting any extraordi- 
 nary degree of fplendour or novelty; for we 
 always relu£lantly pay the applaufe demanded oi 
 us by that merit which is avowedly fuperior, or 
 that excellence which is confcious of its own 
 defert. 
 
 This flattering profpecl was interrupted by the 
 illnefs of Lord Clermont. He had been for 
 fome weeks at Bath, indifpofed by an hereditaiy 
 gout ; and at lengrh grew {0 alarmingly ill, as 
 to render his fon's prefence neceflary. It was 
 Mr. Clermont's widi, that his Marianne Ihjuld 
 accompany him, but (lie, unufed to public fcenes, 
 fond of retirement, difgufted with focietv, and 
 attached to the habits ihe had lately adopted, 
 preferred remaining at Stannadine ; till her 
 filter llirongly urged the danger of rificing her 
 newly-recovered happinef^, by appearing indif- 
 ferent to her hulband's defire of her iociety. 
 
 Another motive influenced Louifa to give this 
 advice. Though Mr. Dudley had prudently con- 
 cealed his obfervations from Marianne, he had 
 imparted to his elder daughter his apprehenfion 
 of fome latent malignity in Lady Clermont ; and 
 intreated her occarionally to guard her After 
 againll the machinations of envy and reven«Te. 
 Mifs Dudley, confiding in the re£litude of Ma- 
 rianne's heart, and the innocence of her con- 
 duct, fuppofed her prefence would moll effec- 
 tually filence calumny, and defeat cunning. This 
 opinion was theoretically right, but it argued 
 little knowledge of the world, or, to ufe a more 
 appropriate and lets hackneyed phrafe, of ex- 
 treme 
 
230 A gossip's stort. 
 
 treme human depravity; for I am perfuaded 
 that real malevolence is not fo common, as mif- 
 take, prejudice, and a ccnforious habit. This 
 laft, the bufy daughter of Idlenefs and Vanity, 
 does an infinitude of mifchief, with no worfe 
 defign than amufing itfelf, and fhewing its own 
 importance. It is the ** fool who tofles about 
 firebrands in fport." 
 
 The motives that hurried the Clermonts to 
 Bath, precluding Mifs Dudley from accompa- 
 nying them ; Ihe returned to Seatondell, and 
 there had leifure to moralize upon the incidents 
 of her filler's hiftory. From it (lie deduced 
 another proof to illuftrate thefe important truths, 
 that happinefs is diftributed with a much evener 
 hand than a curfory obferver would fuppofe ; 
 and that its true feat is in the foul, which, when 
 well difpofed, can humbly imitate its great Au- 
 thor, and create a Paradii'e in a defert. 
 
 Recollecting the high expectations her fifter 
 had formed, and her father's unregarded pre- 
 di<Slions that they would be difappointed, the 
 Trojan prophetefs came into her mind, and (he 
 compofed the following 
 
 SONNET. 
 
 Her hair diHievel'd, and her robe unty'd, 
 Caflaiidra rufti'd amongft the feilal train, 
 What time young Paris fang his nuptial ftrain, • 
 
 And led to Priam's roof the Spartan bride : 
 
 Of certain woes that muft that crime betide 
 The holy virgin prophcfred in vain ; 
 Her warning voice could no attention gaia 
 
 'Till Pyrrhus lev^U'd Ilium's tow'ring pride. 
 
 Ah! 
 
A gossip's story. 231 
 
 Ah ! in the horrors of that night aghaft, 
 What (hrieks, prophetic maid, ihy truth declar'd ! 
 And thus whtn youth beholds Misfortune's blall 
 
 O'erturn the fairy bow'rs by Fancy rear'd, 
 Too late it mufes on the precepts fage 
 Of cool experience, and piediclive age. 
 
 The letters Mifs Dudley received from London 
 informed her, that Mr. Tonnereau had diffipat- 
 ed his whole fortune, previous to his being 
 taken into cuftody ; the creditors, therefore, 
 could propofe no other end in profccuting hiru 
 for having concealed part of his effe(fts, than 
 that of bringing a villain to punifhment. Mr. 
 Dudley darted another hope, which appeared 
 more than a phantom. The particular (liip in 
 which his property was embarked, inftead of 
 having been captured with the reft; of the fleet, 
 had efcaped into a neutral port in Spanifli Ame- 
 rica : the Government of which had ordered the 
 cargo to be confifcated, under the pretence of its 
 being defigned for contraband trade ; but in re- 
 ality, from the fufpicious fpirit with which the 
 Spaniards conduQ their colonial affairs, and their 
 jealoufy of the cominercial importance of ling- 
 iand. Here Mr. Pelham's friendlhip promifed 
 a mod fortunate interpofition ; he was luckily 
 very intimate with the Spanifli ambaffudor, and 
 through his means a ilrong memorial was for- 
 warded to the council of the Indies, dating the 
 injudice of the tranfadlion, and demanding ref- 
 titution. Little doubt was entertained of that 
 illultrious fynod's decidincr with equity, and the 
 only difagreeable circumf.ance wouid be, the 
 obliging Mr. Dudley to cake a voyage to Spain. 
 The fond father concluded, exulting in the hope, 
 
 that 
 
232 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 that he (hould at lafl be able to reward the ex- 
 emplary virtue of his child. 
 
 Louifa's heart experienced a fenfation very- 
 different from pleafure, at the apprehenfion of 
 what her father's declining heahh might fuffer 
 from a fea voyage. In her anfwer fhe begged 
 him to abancion a projeO: which (he knew he 
 formed principally with a view to her emolu- 
 ment. Her defire, (he informed him, centered 
 in her dear little farm, which, even at tliat early 
 period of fpring, wore a promifing appearance. 
 The crops looked vigorous, the plantations were 
 healthy, and the houfe was fo confiderably im- 
 proved by the little fums which had been ex- 
 pended upon it, as to appear quite a chearful 
 habitation. " My garden," faid flie, *' is now 
 decorated with a profufion of vernal flowers, the 
 germs of the lilack are burfling ; and my morn- 
 ing walks are enlivened with the carol of birds, 
 and the bufy hum of bees. ' I look forward to 
 the approacli of iVlay with lover-like expedta- 
 tions, and have indeed folicited the agreeable 
 goddefs tohaflen her approach, in the following 
 addrefs : 
 
 SONNET TO MAT. 
 
 Come, May, attir'd in fplcndor all thy own ; 
 
 Enchantrefs, come ! reanimate the grove. 
 Hang on the buoyant breeze, thy floating throne, - 
 
 And wake the fong of univeri'al love : 
 The fprouting herbage for thy mandate llays, 
 
 Long nipp'd and ihrivel'd by protrafked cold ; 
 And the fwoln corn flill fearfully delays, 
 
 'Till thou (lialt bid the tender blade unfold. 
 
 The 
 
A gossip's story. 233 
 
 The fhiv'i ing Naiads, who defpaiiing fled, 
 Wlicn rude Aquarius rear'd his icy pale, 
 
 Lead hack their fountains to their wonted hed, 
 Pi cpar'd to murmur through the graffy vals : 
 
 The fair-hair'd graces, and Idalian boy. 
 
 Await thy call to lead the dance of rural joy. 
 
 " Your prcfence, my dear fatlier, will add to 
 all the beauties vhich the feafoii promife?, a 
 charm in which thev are .leficient : I mtMn that 
 of fociety. Peor Waldon regrets your abfence 
 almod 35 much asmyfelf j he vifits me very fre- 
 quently. 1 believe we entertain ourneighbours ', 
 but in defiance of fcandal, I always tell him 
 that I am ghd to fee him j and have juft per- 
 fuaded him to teach me backgammon. Some- 
 times I divert him by muGc and finging ; yet I 
 will own our tete-a- teres have a famenefs !n 
 them, which I believe proceeds from the recol- 
 lection of more agreeable trios. Dear Sir, re- 
 turn to Sea;ondeI), I need no Spanifli dollars to 
 make me happy. 
 
 ♦' If your refolution is too fr.r fixed to yield 
 to my intreaties, vou muft allow m,e to be 
 equally tenacious of my determination of accom- 
 panying you. My fear of the fea cannot deter 
 roe from fulfilling the duty which I owe you. 
 Do not conteft this point with mc, I claim it as 
 a right due to the affedlion of your ever-grateful 
 daughter, 
 
 " LOUISA DUDLEY." 
 
 CHAP- 
 
234 A gossip's story. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIV. 
 
 Jllrs. Prudenila further developes a charaBer of 1^ 
 extreme malemoletxe, but ivithout copying the like- 
 7jefs from her ownfiflerhood. 
 
 X HE order o^ my narrative condu£ls me back 
 to Marianne's hirtory. 
 
 Mr. Clermont, on his arrival at Bath, found 
 his father confiderably recovered from his alarm- 
 ing indifpofition, to the extreme mortification 
 of Lady Clermont, who flattered herfelf that 
 file fliould be fpeedily releafed from the hateful 
 yoke of unhappy marriage. The natural dif- 
 agreeablenefs of her temper, completely foured 
 by contemptuous treatment, and now galled by 
 difnppoirdment^ in fpite of the aflumed fuavity of 
 politenefs, impreffed upon her peevifli counte- 
 nance the wretchednefs of her heart. The 
 youth, beauty, and fweetnef? of Marianne, had 
 at firlt excited in her mind the bileful pafiion 
 of envy. Her tender afFeftions had never been 
 poured into the bofom of her family ; (he was 
 ftill in the prime of life, and uivwilling to re- 
 nounce the falCe fatisfailion (lie received from 
 liftening to the Siren fong of adulation. . Mrs. 
 Clermont muft now of neceility be introduced 
 into that part of the great world, which the fea- 
 fon had convened at Bath. Her LadyOiip ex- 
 peO.ed to find her a powerful rival ; but when 
 Marianne firll vifited the rooms, her beauty ex- 
 cited an attention far exceeding thofe expe£tati- 
 
 ons 
 
A gossip's story. 235 
 
 ©ns. Unfortunately the lovely reclufe became 
 quite the fafhion ; her fimplicity and tidiveie in- 
 creafed her elegance ; and her modefly and dif- 
 fidence had all the charm of novelty, in the cir- 
 cle to which fhe w^as introduced. The town 
 rung with, '' did you ever fee fo lovely a crea- 
 tur-- ? How aftoniOiing flie did not come out 
 foo;ier." The compliments and attention paid 
 to Lady Clermont's rank were cold and faint, and 
 rendered the admiration which youth and beauty 
 attracted ftill more apparent. 
 - There was befides another motive to excite 
 envy and hatred in her Ladyfliip's breaft ; Ma- 
 rianne appeared to have recovered the heart o-f 
 her hufband ; their behaviour to each other, 
 though not diftinguifiied by the unremitting 
 aOiduity of fond lovers, was indicative of com.- 
 phcence and mutual afFe£lion. Sometimes a 
 I'ok melancholy appeared in her countenance, 
 but it was fo tempered with fweetnefs, that in- 
 ftead of offending it feemed to charm Mr. Cler- 
 mont, and to engage him to a more ftudioufly 
 tender attention, in hopes of difpelling the 
 meek placid dejrdlion. 
 
 Lidy Clermont was both wretched and dif- 
 agreeable h:rrfeli, uid every nerfon who appeared 
 amiable and h^^ .y, was to her an obje(fb of dif- 
 gull. T'v^ mild iuftre of wedded love, which 
 *lhe now ev.::ry day beheld, increafed, by the 
 power of concrafl, the ('loom of her own 
 raifery. Shf- determined to endeavour to inter- 
 rupt the happinefs ihe could not fiiare, and re- 
 conciled herfelf to the diabolical defign, by over- 
 looking Marianne's merits, and aggravating her 
 faults. She refolved to think her a weak, yet 
 cunning girlj Ihe termed her refinement and 
 
 fenfibiluy 
 
23^5 A gossip's story. 
 
 fenfibillty, affe£lation ; her tendernefs, hypo- 
 crifyi'and (Ise pretended to pity her fun, for 
 having been duped bv fuch an inferior chara£\er. 
 Meanwhile Mrs. Clernioni's conduQ, though 
 not free from indifcretion, was amiable and in- 
 tentionally right. Inftead of being captivated 
 by the noife and glare of fashionable life, flie 
 feemed difguded and confounded. The voice 
 of admiration which eve'-y where pnrfued her, 
 did not excite even a momentary fatisfa61:ion. 
 Inftead of being enchanted with the attention of 
 the fine gentlemen who followed her, fhe at- 
 tached criminality to what others termed inno- 
 cent gallantry ; and by the ruftic morality of 
 her notions foon offended all her Cccifbeoj. In 
 her opinion, every deviation from the {lri<n: rules 
 of virtue at;d delicacy funk a charatlier Into the 
 loweft pit of infamy ; had Oie confined this 
 fentiment to her own breaft, it would only have 
 had the falutary eile6l of regulating lier own 
 corldu£l ; but Mrs. Clermont was one of thofe 
 who think aloud, and flie was remarkably inju- 
 dicious in the choice of thofe perfons to whom 
 flie imparted her opinions. If their behaviour 
 was decent, and Ihe had never lieard any harm 
 of them, (lie candidly concluded that their 
 hearts were as innocent and undefigning as her 
 own ; and tiiat their fentiments muft corref- 
 pond. She had feen too little of the world to 
 know that propriety of manner 5S often aflumed 
 by profligacy, and that many charatlters are in- 
 famous which have not been expofed to public 
 notoriety, indeed (he was unacquainted with 
 the private hidory and connetSlions of the great 
 world ; and one day in the pump-room exclaim- 
 ed againfl the folly and vvickednefs of ufing 
 
 cofmetics, 
 
A gossip's STORY. 237 
 
 cofir.etics, to a faded ghofi: of beauty, who was 
 juft arrived from the Hot-Wclls, where ftie had 
 been endeavouring to repair tl'C ravages which 
 paint had made in her conftitution. Another 
 time, Mrs. Clermont left oft dancing, to proteft 
 againft the (hameful effrontery with which a 
 married Lady who flood near her, encouraged 
 the advances of Iier partner. Her indignation 
 was proper, but the perfon to whom (he vented 
 it was a celebrated demirep, who had been fepa- 
 rated from her huiband for more than dcubljul 
 gallantry : though, as fhe was a woman of high 
 rank, the world chofe to be charitable, and flill 
 admitted her into fociety. But Mrs. Clermont 
 committed a flill more pointed error, upon being 
 invited to play at gold Loo, when the pofitively 
 affured a peerefs who had juft ruined her lord at 
 Pharo, that nothing fhould ever induce her to 
 engage in the infamous habit of gaming, which 
 fhe thought not only fooliili and extravagant, but v 
 indelicate and immoral. 
 
 Lady Clermcnt beheld her daughter-in-law's 
 midakes with pleafure, hoping that they would 
 hr.ve the effeift of terminatir.g her popularity. 
 Nor was flie difappointed. Some haled the fair 
 reprover, from the idea that fiie intended to af- 
 front them. Others defpifed her as a fool, be- 
 caufe (he was ignorant of what every body elfe 
 knew. The moft candid confidered her as an 
 impertinent moraiilt, and every body was ready, 
 at leaft, to hear talcs to her difadvantage. 
 
 I (hall hazard a bo'id conj;6ture, yet I am in- 
 clined to afhrm, that the g?nius cf golhping has 
 as many worfliippers in the refi;5ed circles of 
 high life, as even in tlie environs of Danbury. 
 "J^hey indeed afiume a more polifiicd appearance, 
 
 and 
 
238 A gossip's story. 
 
 and fpeak out of a courtly vocabulary ; but their 
 idol is (till the offspring of vanity and idlenefs, 
 and their purfuiis and pleafures are eventually 
 the fame. 
 
 Amongit the company which the feafon had 
 fummoned to Bath, Mr, Clermont had the plea- 
 fure to recognize his friend Aubrey. That 
 young gentleman really poffefled a good heart, 
 joined to an agreeable originality of manner. He 
 was delighted to find that the thoughtlefs im- 
 propriety of his behaviour at Stannadine, had 
 not effentially injured his friend's happinefs, and 
 he was impatient to obtain Mrs. Clermont'sy«// 
 forgivenefs ; for he fincerely admired both her 
 perfon and charatler. Marianne was placable 
 in her difpofition, fhe felt a prediletSiion for her 
 hufband's moft intimate friend, which might be 
 efteemed an implied compliment to his tafie, 
 and flis found Mr, Aubrey a man of good itniQ 
 and information, qualities not always difcern- 
 ible in modern men of the world. Nothing 
 could be purer than her heart, or more innocent 
 than her conducl ; but even difcretion will not 
 always preferve us from calumny. An invidious 
 whifper, firfl invented by the watchful malice 
 of Lady Clermont, was rapidly circulated by 
 that pellifcrous humour of detraction, againlt 
 •which i will ever dart my lance with true 
 Qu^ixote fervour, until I have baniflied it from 
 fociety. The fuccefs of my warfare is at bed 
 but problematical ; yet furely the laudable de-' 
 fign merits approbation. I am convinced iis 
 accomplilhment would prove a greater blefling 
 to fociety, than moll ot the projedfs of reform 
 fuggefted by modern patriots and philofophers- 
 
 To 
 
A COSSIP S STORY. 239 
 
 To return from my dlgrefl'ion ; — detraction 
 was not the only engine employed by Lady 
 Clerinont ngnnlt her dauizhtci's peace : the 
 reader will remember that I fome time ago left 
 Mrs. Patty bufily employed in an unfuccefsful 
 endeavour to difcover her mafter's faults. She 
 had been lately thrown into the fliade ; for Mifs 
 Dudley, during her vifit at Stannadine, had ar- 
 gued (o forcibly againft the folly and danger of 
 low conlidants, that a vifible alteration took 
 place in Mrs. Clermont's behaviour. Our re- 
 doubted Abigail was piqued at the change, and 
 determined to recover her miftrefs's favour; 
 even if it was at the expence of her repofe. 
 
 Chance promoted her defign by a common 
 incident. — A violent fracas took place between 
 herfelf and Mrs. Bonj.iu, Lady Clermont's wait- 
 ing woman; on precedency, beauty, and confe- 
 quencc. On the lad head Patty urged, that her 
 - lady had never treated her like a common fer- 
 vant ; that (he told her all her fecrets, and 
 whenever a quarrel took place between her maf- 
 ter and her lady, (he was the firit perfon inform- 
 ed of it. She added, Ihe could fay a great deal 
 more if fhe chofe it ; but that her lady k/ieiu her 
 prudence, or flie never would have given her the 
 commifTions fhe had done. 
 
 Highly as Patty thought of her own under- 
 flanding, (he had to encounter people of fuperior 
 art. Mrs. Bonjou flew to her lady, whofe fatur- 
 nine features relaxed with pleafure at the intel- 
 ligence. Recovering from a hearty laugh, a 
 luxury (he did not olten enjoy, '< Well, Bon- 
 jou," faid (he, " I dcfire you will henceforth 
 honour Mrs. Patty's confequeiice with proper 
 treatment, or, as Ihe is her miftrefs's parti- 
 cular 
 
240 A GOSSIPS sroRY. 
 
 cular friend, I may chance to be implicated ia 
 your quarrels. But ferioufly I cannot think Mrs. 
 Clermont quite (o great a fool ; fuppofe you try. 
 Get acquainted with this prodigy of prudence, 
 and bore her with fome (tory, no matter what. 
 We (hall fee if it circulates, and if it does, I 
 will make it a means to deter tny fon's wife from 
 difgracing herfelf by fuch refpe£lable attach- 
 ments." 
 
 Mrs. Bonjou underftood her orHce. She 
 made a conciliatory apology to Patty* and they 
 became fworn friends. In the courfe of their 
 intimacy, the latter divulged every family fecret 
 which the either knew or fufpedied; and Mrs. 
 Bonjou was extremely forry for the pretty young 
 creature, for (he knew her young Lord never 
 deferved her. << Vat you think," fa id fhe, "be 
 go to Monficur Aubrey for love, fo often. Oh, 
 no, all {l>am. He do not go to fee Monfieur 
 Aubrey, but one fad diable woman, liitls way 
 off; and then fays he goes there." 
 
 Pattv haftenetl to communicate this terrible 
 intelligence. She found her miflrefs in her 
 dreifing-room, waiting for Lady Clermont's fum- 
 mons to attend her to t^e rooms. There was 
 an unufual degree of fprightlinefs in her manner, 
 and a plac'.d fmile upon her countenance, which 
 few people would have chofen to dilturb. Pat- 
 ty's prefatory afiurance that fhe had fomething 
 very important to fay, interrupted this happy 
 calm ; and ere her tale was finilhed, a death- 
 Jike palenefs flole over every feature. At this 
 inflant Lady Clermont entered ; <' The carrij^^e, 
 my dear, waif^" faid (he, and without appearing 
 to perceive that Maiianne's trembling limbs 
 could fcarce fupport her, hurried her into the 
 chariot with o(ficious attention. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 24! 
 
 CHAPTER XXXV. 
 
 Innocence and fimplicity are infijfficient guards 
 aga'viji malignity and detrafliotiy unlefs accom- 
 panied by dijcretion, 
 
 X-iADY Clermont, though not naturally of a 
 communicative difpofition, happened this even- 
 ing to be unufually converfable. She indulged 
 herfelf in a number of bright Tallies, and finding 
 them not honoured with proper attention, def- 
 canted in praife of chear.fulnefs, which die de- 
 fined to be an infallible fign of a good heart, and 
 a contented mind. 
 
 During her Ladyfhip's harangue, the afllidled 
 Marianne fat almctt devoid of utterance or re- 
 collection. Thought followed thought, in ago- 
 nizing fuccefTion, but none of them tended to 
 organize the chaos in her foul. The carriage 
 at length (lopped, and they proceeded to the 
 ball-room, where Mrs- Clermont dec i ling every 
 invitation to dancing or cards, retired into an 
 obfcure corner, and, abforbed in her own dif- 
 trefs, remained infenfible to the gay fcene around 
 her. 
 
 Roufed from this reverie by the voice of Mr. 
 Aubrey, flie darted, looked round with appre- 
 lienfion, and felt in his unexpected appearance 
 the confirmation of all her fears: for Mr. Cler- 
 mont had declined accompanying her that even- 
 ing, on the pretext of a pre engagement to dine 
 with his friend. She enquired after l:er huj- 
 M b.nd, 
 
24 2 A gossip's story. 
 
 banc^, with an eagernefs for which Aubrey could 
 as little accountj as for the rrielancholy pofirion 
 in v.'hich fhe was fitting when he firfl: accofted 
 her. He attempted to relieve her didrefs, by 
 afTurtrg her, that his friend . was perfedl'y well 
 but two hours ago." " "Where is h.e now r" en- 
 quired Mrs. CleTmort wiih redoubled agitation. 
 Aubrey vowed he couM not tell. The p<irty 
 had broken up fooner than was intended, and 
 he knew not how Clermont had difpofed of him- 
 fe'f, he believed to the play, and ofi'ercd to go 
 and look for him. *' Have the humanity," faid 
 fhe, •' fir't to order my carriage; I will retura 
 home immediately." He begged (he would let 
 him go and call Lady Clermont, who was engag- 
 ed in a party at cards. •' Oh, no !" exclaimed 
 Marianne ; " l;er prefence will only b^ a re- 
 ilraint upon me. and my heart is too full to 
 confiilt propviefy." He offertd her his arm, it 
 was a fupport which htr e.\trcme agitation ren- 
 dered nete.Tary, and flie liurrif d out of the room, 
 either unccnfcious that her behaviour had excit- 
 ed general attentiot), or too much difordered to 
 regard it. The rival beauties whom her fupe- 
 rior charms haxi mortified, and the fpecious hy- 
 pocrites whom her unguarded remarks had ta- 
 citly reproved, row joined in exclaiming agalnft 
 ■•' fthe detccled mcralill," as ihcy termed her. 
 Her declining Lidy Clcrmout's attendance had 
 been overheard ; the word? Cue ufed were capa- 
 ble of an invidious ccnftruclion, and they rea- 
 dily g;ive them that tendency ; but .when it was 
 coitrved tliat Mr. Aubrey was not afterwards 
 feen in the afTembiy-rooms th.it evening, they 
 all declared thai c-mdour ittcif could fuppofe no 
 otlier than that iMrs. Clermcnt was criminal ; 
 
 farcallically 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 243 
 
 farcaftically addinp', that it was doubtlefs the 
 firft affair (he had ever eni^aged in, or die would 
 have maiisged her affii^nation left, publicly. 
 
 I will however vindicate Mrs. Clermont to my 
 readers, and ajfare thenn that Oie returned home 
 ahtie.^ that (he retired to her chamber, declined 
 Patty's attendance, and judicioufly entered uporx 
 the talk of calm recoHe£tion. She remembered 
 her father's invaluable letter, and again perufed 
 it, with a defign to fee if any thing he faid, 
 would apply to the prefeni: emergency. His 
 precepts againd fufpicicuHy watching her huf- 
 band's condu<n:, and believing (or indeed liften- 
 ing to) every idle tale, were in point, and flie be- 
 gan to think that (he hid yielded to her old in- 
 firmity of aftli£ling herfelf upon flight grounds, 
 and fuffering her paifions to obfcure her judg- 
 ment. She determined to difmifs the oiTicioua 
 Patty, who ftie perceived feduloufly employed 
 herfelf in agitating her mi!id, and while fhe waj 
 in this temper, fhe heard Mr. Clermont's voice 
 upon the itairs. She flew to meet him ; he 
 anxioufly enquired refpeding the indifpofltion of 
 which Mr. Aubrey had jull given him a cori- 
 fufed and alarming account. He told her that 
 he had hurried out of the theatre the moment: 
 his friend brought him this intelligence, and the 
 candour and folicitude of his manner confirmed, 
 this afiiirance. 
 
 It generally happens when a fufpe£led perfon 
 clears himfelf in one inflance from a fault of 
 which he was accufed, that a generous mind 
 immediately forgets its former doubts, and in- 
 verts the accquitted perfon in the white robe of 
 unfuUied innocence. It proved fo in the pre- 
 fent indaace. The towering edifice of tragedy 
 BI 1 forrovjr 
 
244 * GOSSIPS STORr. 
 
 forrow which Mrs. Clermont had been for fome 
 hours erecfl in j^, fell to the ground. He was no 
 longer treacherous, falfe, ungrateful, but every 
 thing that was kind and good ; nor was fhe a 
 miferable fordken woman, but a credulous crea- 
 ture who had behaved very ridiculoufly, for a 
 rciifon which fl'.e was aftianied to own. Cantiid 
 and generous, flie confcHtd herfcjlf exceedingly 
 to blamf, in giving way to lier feelings from 
 fliglit miftakes and mifreprefentations ; (he in- 
 treated Mr. Clermont would not require an ex- 
 planation of the pall, and promifed greater felf- 
 comm.ind in future. No hufbmd wou'd like 
 to be fummoned in an alarming manner, from a 
 fnvourite diverfion, to attend upon a wife's 
 wiiims. He felt difpofed to give a gentle lec- 
 ture, which (he w^as receiving with n)eek con- 
 trition, when Lady Clermont appeared full of 
 anxiety for the deir creature's heilth, having 
 but that moment heard of her illnefs. Her ap- 
 prehenfions on that head being removed, (he 
 very ietuierly blamed Marianne for not requiring 
 her attendance. It was very odd, my de.'.r, in 
 you, particularly in your fituation, to take Mr. 
 i\ubrey home with you ; you ought to have had 
 afe.Tiale friend. *' Aubrey, Madam !" exclaim- 
 ed Mr. Clermont. " Aubrey could not go home 
 ■with her. lie law h.er to tlie cJiariot, and then 
 came in fcarch of me." *' Indeed !" replied her 
 Ladyfliip j •' ilien I bfg, Edward, that you will 
 rn^ke th.it oircu.'Tiiftance known. It is iiighly- 
 importanc that it Ihould, I atliire you, I will 
 take care to tcl! Lady Richly tnxfelf^ tiiat the 
 world is miilaken. Mr. Aubrey did not go 
 home with Mrs. Clermont." 
 
 80 
 
A gossip's storv. 245 
 
 So innocent was Marianne's hearty tliat flie 
 did not even underftand the point of this infmu- 
 ation, and the next morning, when Llr. Aubrey 
 called to enquire after her heahli, Ihe did nc.t 
 confider her being alone in her drelhng-room a 
 fufficient reafon to prevent her from receiving a 
 vifit from her hulband's friend. She even met 
 him with a fniile of gratitude, and after aiTuring 
 him that fhe was perfe£lly recovered, and thank- 
 ing him for his attention the preceding evening j 
 «* I have," faid flie, " two rtquefts to make. 
 Endeavour to forget how abfurdly I behaved 
 laft night i and when you hear me cenfured 
 for it, try, if poflible, to invent an excufe for 
 me." 
 
 " I mud firfl fi'e your abfurdities," replied 
 Aubrey,' *' before I can forget them ; and as 
 for the cenfures of the idle and the envious, it is 
 the tax which merit mud always pay. 1 afiu; ^ 
 you I (hould never have wifhed for the honour cf 
 your acquaintance, if I had not been toltl by 
 every body, that you was the Ilrangeil cf all 
 ftrange beings." 
 
 At this inftant Mr. Clermont entered the 
 room. He was juft returned from a public 
 breakfaft, whers he had heard his \v\\t\ con- 
 dudl: canvaffed 'in an audible whifper. The la- 
 dies afarmed that file mull be vciy feriouOy in- 
 difpofed ; for it was evident fhe knew not what 
 (he was about. The gentlemen affected to 
 envy Aubrey as a lucky fellow, in having the 
 
 honour to efcort the divine creature lionie 
 
 Though thefe witticifms afforded mirth to thetn^ 
 they were dealli to Mr. Clermont's peace. He 
 conftiued every enquiry after his lady, v.hich 
 politenefs dictated, into an oblique aSront, and 
 
 uuable. 
 
24^ A gossip's story. 
 
 unable to command lilmfelf, he returned home 
 in very ill humour; and furpriied Mr. Aubrey 
 and Mrs. Clermont engaged in very lively con- 
 ^'erfation, which the g'ocm in his manner fud- 
 dtnly terminated. His Aubrey was nevt-r be- 
 fore unwelcome, nor did his Marianne's fmiles 
 fiver give tortu'e to l^is heart tiil that moment. 
 lie rcllrained iiis feelings, but they made an in- 
 delible impreilion upon his mine) ; and Mrs. 
 Cl.rmont might certainly refer the r-iifery of her 
 future life to thefe i.pparenr*y trivial incidents. 
 
 I b-^ve^ defcribrd thefe circunillances with 
 fonie degree of minutentfs, for though the eifedl 
 of them did not immedialely appear, or only in 
 a f-r.zll degree of fallen referve, they funk deep 
 j-fT'o Mr. Clermont's foul, and gradually pro- 
 (iuced a iotal change of character. 1 will not 
 minutely detail this alteration, but will confine 
 my garrulous humour to a general account of its 
 eaufes and confcc^uence. 
 
 The fpirit that took poffefiion of Mr. Cler- 
 mont's mind, though not ftriftly jealoufy, bore 
 a near atHnity to tiiat " green-eyed moniter.** 
 He was not fo credulous as to believe the ca- 
 lumnies of dttraCiion, nor fo undifcerning as 
 not to perceive his mother's malice : nor did lie 
 doubt his Marianne's innocence, or even ofice 
 fufped that her gentle heart liad Rrayed from its 
 acknowledged poiliflbr. He knew the purity of 
 her foul, and the conftancy of her teniper, but 
 this did not acquit her of levity and indifcre- 
 tion ; upon which bafis he judged it pofhble 
 thnt flander and calumny had ereded their 
 fjbric of falfehood. 8he was herfelf confcious 
 of impropriety, and afhamed to difclofe the 
 »notives of hex behaviour. She had owned 
 
 herfelf 
 
A gossip's storv. 247 
 
 lu'rfeir to !)ave aci.nl vt^ry wrong, and this con- 
 fdViij ^yn'wd with it the force of a thoufand 
 wit:ic;T;5 His thoughts ran in the fame (train 
 of fi'ltf. LIS delicacy with tlie great Roir.au 
 conquc. .^r. <« My wife mufi: not only be free 
 from guih, b\!t alfo from fufpicion." 
 
 Karlv in life, before his characler was form- 
 ed, cr his opinions methodized, Mr. Clermont 
 entered inru marriage \ with vague, floating 
 ideas of ai.gelic goodnefs, and confummate biils. 
 In proportion as his romantic enthufi-ifm had 
 raifed the mortal nymph inro a goddefs, his 
 cooler, but not more accurate judgment, as the 
 inf.ituuion of love fubfided, magnified her errors 
 into indelible offences. He faw her weaknefs, 
 timidi'-y, irrefolution, and imprudence : he for- 
 got her gentlentfs, fwcetnefs, candour, and; 
 generofity. Vanity had ever been intermingl-d 
 with his love. He fancied tliat when he p"' - 
 duced his idol to the world, every heart Mouid 
 acknowledge its perfedlion, every tongue cotir 
 fefs his happinefo, and applaud iiis judgmetit;. 
 His Marianne had been produced to the world. 
 The tranOent a-hniration which (he had at firR ex- 
 cited had rather been a tribute paid to her beauty 
 than to lier intelie£lual endowments j it fion 
 fubfided, and now her condu£l was ridicu'cd 
 and her cliaracter defamed. lie had not cou- 
 rage to withftand ** the world's oread l.iu^!i, 
 which fcarce the firm philofopher can fcorr.." 
 His temper was not naturally gentle, it had only 
 acquired an occafional fuavity from love ; and as 
 love expired, it rcfumed its ufual tendency. 
 The polifhed manners of the gentlem,.n deco- 
 rated his beliaviour with the f.'.int gilding (f 
 civility, and fofiened furly contempt into poli:e 
 
 indi3\;rcnLe : 
 
248 A gossip's stort. 
 
 indifference : but afTedlion was extin6l, efleem 
 did not fupply its place, and pride alone prompt- 
 ed him to give fome degree of confequence to 
 the woman whom he had honoured with his 
 name ; when he treated her with occafional 
 complacency, and refcued her from liis mother's 
 virulent malice. 
 
 Mrs. Clermont had adhered to her refolution 
 of difmiiri-ig Patty, and fhe, like mofl confi- 
 dential fervants, ungratefully revenged lierfelf 
 upon her lady's fuppofed unkindnefs, by dif- 
 clofing all the f crets with which fhe had been 
 intruded. Mifs Milton's hij^hly indifcreet ad- 
 vice, and tlie irrefolute Marianne's weak com* 
 }))iance, were now known by every fervant in 
 the family; and Lady Clermont took care that 
 ]ier fon (hould f>oi be ignorant that his wife had 
 employed a fpy upon his condu£l. The breaclx 
 now became irreparable. Lord Clermont's 
 urgent defire of having a grandfon to inherit his 
 eftate, could fcarce impofe a temporary civility 
 upon the enraged hufband; or prevent him 
 from breaking forth into the molt violent ex- 
 poftulations : while the infidious mother, by 
 appearing to plead for the poor, inexperienced, 
 well-meaning, mided young creaiure, effedtual- 
 Jy undermined every fentiment of confidence 
 and regartl ; and funk the unhappy Marianne 
 into an objeft of pity, and perh?.ps contempt. 
 
 Mr. Clermont now determined to carry iiis 
 wife back to Stannadine, where he refolved (lie 
 fliould in future conceal her folly in obfcurity. 
 For hin-ifelf, he intended icon to plunge into 
 the buft'e of public life, and emkavour to for- 
 get both the expedbtions and difippointments 
 of love. Ihe itate of Mrs. Ckrmoni's mind 
 
 upon 
 
J A GOSSIP S STORY. 249 
 
 upon difcovering that (he had loft her hnfband's 
 heart, will not require explanation. It wa* 
 wretcliednefs in the extreme. She tried to recal 
 the dear unkind by tears, and foft complaints; 
 but he always avoided the latter by leaving the 
 room, and he had now too often feen the for- 
 ni.r to be affedted by an April fiiower. 
 
 The hiftory of Mrs. Clermont's married life, 
 may teach ladies not to depend upon the durabi- 
 lity of that evanefcent affeftion which lovers 
 feel. It may admonifh their fanguine adorers 
 not to expedl too much, nor yet to rejedl and 
 defpife what is amiable, becaufe it is not per- 
 fe6l. Perhaps I (hall be cenfured for afcrib- 
 ing the deftrudlion of married happinefs to 
 fiich light caufes ; but 1 am willing to ap- 
 peal to the experience of every wedded pair, 
 whether ^rt',:;^ criminality on either fide is necef- 
 fary, in order to render the bonds of Hymen a 
 galling yoke of mifery. My mind is open to 
 conviction, and if I have been wrong, I iliall 
 at lealt acquire a more confolatory profpedl o£ 
 the happinefs of my fellow-creatures. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVr. 
 
 Integrity and duty are the cordials of aJ^'iBlon, 
 
 ,Y thirty third chapter concluded with ^. 
 
 letter from Mil's DaJ'.ey to her father; I iiull 
 begin this with his reply, 
 
 M 3 < It; 
 
15* A gossip's story. 
 
 * It Is not upon flight grounds and capricious 
 motives, that I reject the intreatles of my dear 
 child, fo afFedlionately and earneftly urged. I 
 ano influenced by a principle which I have vene- 
 rated through the whole courf^ of my life, and 
 which i ought not to renounce in the clofing 
 fcenes. I k/ioiv, when I have explained myfelf, 
 you will have the greatnefs of loul to approve 
 my condudl. 
 
 < But I mull firft Inform you of an incident 
 which has deeply afflidted me. Mr. Tonne- 
 reau yeRerday difgracefully terminated his ex- 
 iftence by his own hands. Unhappy man ! 
 He found that feme of his creditors were re- 
 folutely bent to expofe his condutl, and to 
 pu(h their difcoveries to the utmoft extremity. 
 He knew that his guilt was fo far developed, 
 that no (ubterfuge could avail ; and he dread- 
 ed the auftcrity of thofe laws which he had 
 provoked. He trembled at the vetigeance of 
 man, but he did not fear to brave that of 
 God ! - 
 
 * You know, Louifa, how much I once 
 efleemed him. He was the friend of my 
 early youth, and for many years I can rjjirm 
 that his condu£l was formed upon principles 
 of honeft induilry. I am aflured that latterly 
 he confiderably deviated from the aufpicious 
 commeiKement of his life. He has been dif- 
 fipated and extravagant, and then to redeem 
 his tottering credit, he has applied to the dan- 
 gerous refources of the gaming-table. 
 
 « When I confider this man's laft fcenes of 
 life, can I term my own Ctuation unfortu* 
 nate } Dcferted by the licentious companions 
 of his follies j juftly execrated by thofe injur- 
 
 ' ed 
 
A GOSSIPS STORY. 25 I 
 
 ed j3eople, who (though once his friends) now 
 confider their acquaintance with him as the 
 mod difaftrous circumftance of their lives; 
 his charafter held up by thofc who are flran- 
 gers to his perfon, as a mark of abhorrence 
 and infamy ; alone in a prifon, deftitute of the 
 comforts of life, though till then accullomed' 
 to its fuperfluities ; no one near him, but a 
 mercenary attendant, callous through famili- 
 arity with mifery ; no eye to pity his forrows ; 
 no friendly bofom on which to repofe his 
 griefs; his own reflections his word enemies; 
 and even defpairing of mercy from the foun- 
 tain of goodnefs. Unhappy Tonncreau ! I 
 pity thee too m.uch to hate thee. 
 * But let me recollect myfelf. Since I have 
 been in London, I have taken an inventory of 
 my effe<fls, and find they will not be fuflicienc 
 to difcharge the debts which I contracted, 
 with, as 1 thought, lull ability of payment. 
 Integrity is no lei's the chara6ter of an Englifli. 
 merchant than enterprife ; nor can 1 willingly 
 renounce the glorious boafl: which I have hi- 
 therto enjoyed, of having never injured any 
 one in perfon or property. I cannot retain 
 it, if I negledt any probable opportunity of re- 
 covering enough of my fortune to fatisfy every, 
 legal claim upon me. The innrniities of the 
 body may interrupt the foul in the exertion of 
 its fublime fpeculative fundtions; but they 
 never ought to impede us in the performance 
 of pofitive duties, unlefs by impofing total in-' 
 ability. I have not long to live, my dear, even 
 according to the coiirfe of nature; and lately 
 I have been frequently unwell. A fea-voyage, 
 may be of fervice to mc, but fuppofing the. 
 
 » worft; 
 
:52 A gossip's story, 
 
 wotft, what is the lofs of a few months of 
 painful exidence, to the pleafure of refledling 
 in my lafl hours, that by facrificing it, no in- 
 jured orphan or widow has caufe to curfe my 
 aflies ; and tliat I have prevenied my children 
 from being followed by the clamours of my 
 defrauded creditors ? 
 
 * Mr. Pelham has received intelligence by 
 means of the Ambaflador, that the Council of 
 the Indies have admitted the legality of my 
 claims, and as foon as I appear perfonally to 
 identify them, the value of my part of the 
 fliip's cargo will be puncfiually paid. 1 am 
 determined to take my pafTage on board of 
 the fnft packet that fails for Corunna. I 
 (liall not decline the kind ofler of your com- 
 pnny, for the complaint in my fide is at times 
 very troublefome ; it often affects my breath, 
 but when my dear nurfe is with me I (hall be 
 better. Set out, my love, as foon as you re- 
 ceive this. I am ftill with my friend, nor can 
 I offer to change my refidence during the 
 fiiort flay we fhall make in London, without 
 ofJl-nding him. His aunt, Mrs. Penelope 
 T'eliiam, is defirous to be acquainted with you. 
 She is a little fingular, but upon the whole a 
 worthy woman. I wiii promife you a moft 
 a{lccl;ionare reception from Mr. Peiham. Let 
 us know when you fet out, and we will meet 
 you at the lafl; ilage. Adieu, haften to the . 
 arms of your 
 
 * AfFe£lionate father, 
 
 « RICHARD DUDLEY.' 
 
 In little more than a week from the receipt 
 cf this letter Mifs Dudley arranged her affairs 
 
 at 
 
A gossip's stort. 253 
 
 at Seatondell, preparatory to an abfence of fome 
 months, and finiflied a journey from Lancnfliire 
 to London. It was part of her characfttr to 
 form her plans with propriety, and to execute 
 them with difpatch. I therefore forbid any con- 
 je£lures as to the efFe£t the promidid njfefiionate 
 reception from Mr. Ptlham might h;ive upon 
 her expedition. Defirous to furprife her father 
 with her fpeed, (he forbore to fend any intel- 
 ligence of her motions, but wifiied to be the 
 agreeable herald of her own arrival. An ac- 
 cident which happened during the laft day's 
 journey, detained her upon the road, and fhe did 
 not arrive at Portland-Pbce till near midniglit. 
 iihe fent in her name, and Mr. Pelham imme- 
 diately appeared to conducft her from the car- 
 liage. Her heart throbbed with the livelieffc 
 tranfport, and a crimfon blufti irradiated her 
 countenance -, but he received her with a fo- 
 lemn erabarrafled air, and led her, almofl without 
 fpeaking, to his aunt. My friend, Mrs. Pene- 
 lope, might, both in perfon and manner, be 
 termed a brief abflradl of our fiflerhood : fhe 
 moved by rule, and fpoke in a raeafured ca- 
 dence. 1 he cold formality of her welcome ad- 
 ded to poor Louifa's chagrin, (he ventured to 
 turn her eyes'upon Mr. Pelham, his were fixed 
 upon the ground. Was this the promifed re- 
 ception ? Did " that fun of benignity which 
 fhone in his countenance," to adopt an expref- 
 fion of her father's, fliine on all but her .'' Was 
 it poffible for her to have difpleafed him, or had 
 fhe, by the pleafure fne (hewed at feeing him, 
 unguardedly difcovered the fecret of her heart. ? 
 After a few faint efforts to fupport ceremo- 
 nious convcrfation, Mr. Pelham with hefitation 
 
 faidf 
 
254 A GOSSIP'S STORT. 
 
 faid he would go and acquaint Mr. Dudley of 
 his daughter's arrival. Louifa recolie£ling her 
 father's early habits, to which fince his indifpo- 
 fition he had flricSlly adhered, obferved the la- 
 tenefs of the hour, and begged that he might 
 not be informed till morning. 
 
 Mr. Pelham gravely replied, he was afraid 
 his friend was not afleep. A thoufand diftradt- 
 ing fears rufhed into Mifs Dudley's mind. She 
 recollefted that her queftions refpe£ling her fa- 
 ther's health had been cvafively anfwcred. She 
 darted from her chair, and with a look of inex- 
 prelTible alarm, laid her hand involuntarily upon 
 Mr. Pelham's, and conjured him not to deceive 
 her ; (he knew her father was worfe than 
 ufual. 
 
 «< He is indeed," replied Mr. Pelham, hold- 
 ing her trembling hand. *< I need not alTure 
 you that I take the mofl; lively intereft in his 
 fafety. We have called in Dr. L. You have 
 probably heard of his medical reputation ; but 
 I hope mod from your prefence. Your father's 
 anxiety to fee you has confiderably aggravated 
 his difeafe. Be calm, dear Madam, I befeech 
 you. We have by no means abandoned hope." 
 
 " When was he feized ?" 
 
 " He has been evidently unwell ever fince he 
 has been with us ; and I have fometimes drawn 
 from him a reluctant complaint, that the difor- 
 ortler in his fide was at times infupportably 
 painful. I fear the uneafinefs of his mind has 
 encreafed his difeafe •, and the dreadful crimi- 
 nality of Tounereau's death gave him a fhock, 
 which has haftened the crifis. He has been 
 confined to his bed thefe three days. He is 
 
 now 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 255 
 
 now extremely feverifti. We fear an abfcefs is 
 forming." 
 
 Unable to fupport the painful intelligence, 
 Louifa funk into her chair. *< Nephew," faid 
 Mrs. Penelope, as fhe a<^lvanceri, holding out 
 her falls, " do not keep the young lady in fuf- 
 penfe. You ought to tell her the worfl at fir(t. 
 Your papa, Madam, is quite given up by Dr. 
 L. and 1 am very glad he has done with him, 
 for / never liked his prefcriptions, and I hope 
 you will now perfuade Mr. Dudley to try an 
 invaluable Medicine, which 1 have often ad- 
 miniilered, and never knew it fail of eifeO. 
 Mr. Pelbani knows that he owes his life to 
 it." 
 
 Louifa could only reply by a flood of tears ; 
 a falutary relief to her big fwoln heart. Her 
 head dropped almoft lifelefs upon Mrs. Pene- 
 lope's bofom, wlio, whilft bufily employed in 
 rubbing her temples, and adminiftering pun- 
 gent reftoratives, alternately cenfured her want 
 "of fortitude, and commended her affedlion ; 
 aggravated Mr. Dudley's danger, and comfort- 
 ed her by the aflurance, that while life remain- 
 ed, her recipe would prove infallible. 
 
 The natural firmnefs of Mifs Dudley^s mind 
 was perhaps more conducive to her recovering 
 her wonted calm, than my good friend's ora- 
 tory. She dried her tears, and thanking he? 
 with an air of mild benignity for her attention, 
 intreated that fhe might fee her father imme- 
 diately, " while my mind, added (he emphati- 
 cally, " can exert its recovered rtrength." 
 
 Mr. Pelham's generous heart melted with 
 eompaiTion. He withdrew to apprize his friend, 
 that " the fond darling of his foul," as 
 
 he 
 
2^6 A gossip's story. 
 
 he filled her, v/as arrived. Mrs. Penelope had 
 now a fair opportunity for defcribing the cures 
 efFe£led by ht'r noftrum ; but f am afraid (he 
 had not an attentive auditor, for at tae nioft 
 interefting peirod of her narrative, Louifa re- 
 ceived the expelled fummons, and obeyed u as 
 fad as her trembling limbs would pernvii. She 
 drew afide the curtains with eager impatience. 
 Her father, fupported by Mr. Pelham, had raif- 
 ed himfelf upon his elbow ; and he welconjed 
 her with a penetrating fmile. •< My dear nurfe 
 is come to take care of me," faid he. *' I have 
 been too impatient, love, for thy arrival. Come 
 to my arms. Reftoratlon hangs upon thy 
 lips." 
 
 His emaciated countenance, and the labori- 
 ous weaknefs of his voice, fliook his daughter's 
 fortitude. She hung over him in filence, and 
 bathed his pallid cheek with tears. 
 
 " Do not alarm thyfelf fo much," continued 
 Mr. Dudley \ my dau^^hter is not fo imminent. 
 My worthy friends here are too anxioufly foli- 
 citous, too apprehenfive. Recolleffc yourfelf, 
 my child, I expe6t confolation from your fo- 
 ciety. Yoa are to enable me to fufFer." 
 
 " Oh !" the tortured Louifa was tempted to 
 exclaim; •' who will confoie, wlio will fupport 
 ine ? In what afylum Avail /hide my orphan- 
 head ? Gracious Heaven ! deprive me not of 
 my only friend and prote£lor ?" Her native - 
 piety recalled her thoughts from this melancho- 
 ly cxcurfion. She recollected the endearing 
 titles of *' friend of the friendlefs," which the 
 great author of creation had deigned to affume j 
 and her foul firmly anchored upon the rock of 
 ages. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
gossip's story. 257 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVII. 
 
 An irijlanct of the Jii'ong intereft luhich dlgtiijied 
 dijirefs can excite. 
 
 N( 
 
 O fooner had Mifs Dudley recovered fuffi- 
 cienr ftrength to -look beyond the gloom of a 
 temporary parting, than a ferene fmile diffufed 
 itfelf over her countenance. She now fixed her 
 eyes fte^rdily upon her admirable father, and 
 with awfui pleafure contemplated the undimi- 
 niflied glory of tlie never-dying intelleclual 
 power, which beamed forth with fuperior fplen- 
 dor from under the ruins of the tottering mor- 
 tal fabric. Though lier countenance was not 
 regularly beautiful, it generally attracted admi- 
 ration from being an expreffive index of the; 
 excellence of her heart. Her compofed tender- 
 nefs and dignified patience did not now efcapc 
 the attention of an accurate judge of chara(fler 
 and manners. 
 
 Mr. Dudley raifed his eyes to the amiable 
 youth, \il;0"(till fupported him. "Thank you, 
 my dear Felham," faid he j ** now lay me gent- 
 ly down upon my pillow. I hope to have a 
 good nighit, and will difmifs yea all." 
 
 " Mifs Dudley," returned he, " muil be fa- 
 tigued with her journey ; but I muft iiifift upon 
 watching you to-night. To-moirow morning 
 1 will refign you to her cares." 
 
 *< 1 am not fenlible of the lead fatigue," re- 
 plied Louifa } '< and you know v^'c prcfejT-J nurl'es 
 
 always 
 
258 A .(50SSH>'S STORY. 
 
 always fleep bed in our patient's apartment. I 
 fliall be able to repofe myfelf isi tiiat arm-chair, 
 and if my father appears eafy, enjoy a very com- 
 fortable night." 
 
 *< We nrurt yield to her in thl< point," faid 
 ]Mr. Dudley. *' The dear girl is very tenacious 
 of her opinion, and vi'ill not confider my medi- 
 cines to be efficacious, unlefs I receive them 
 from her hands. Befides, we muft fettle the 
 plan of our voyage. Good night, Pelham, do 
 not fail to enquire when the next packet will be 
 ready ; for we muft; not expedl to take our paf- 
 fage in that which is now under failing or- 
 der?." 
 
 Mr. Pelham withdrew in filence, with his 
 heart divided between grief and admiraticn. 
 IVlr. Dudley's anguifli not permitting him to 
 lie compofed, he affeded a degree of fpright- 
 linefs, and enquired after his plantations and 
 improvements, with the interefled curiofity of 
 one who hoped to fee them rife to perfettion. 
 At intervals he talked of their intended expedi- 
 tion ; and defcribed the natural advantag.^s of 
 Spain, and the auftere manners of its haughty 
 indolent inhabitants, from obfervacions which 
 he had made in a former journey to that king- 
 dom. His difcourfe v.'as merely intended to 
 confirm his daugliter's agitated I'pirits, for he 
 felt certain that he fhould never fet cut for any 
 other country, but chat from which no travel- 
 ler returns. 
 
 Thuspafled the night; — in the morning Dr. L. 
 came to rtiake what he termed a friendly, inftead 
 of a profeffional vifit. Mr. Dudley underftood 
 the diflindtion. He wifhed to alk fome quef- 
 lionsj but was interrupted by Mrs. Penelope, 
 
 who 
 
A GOSSIP S STORY. 259 
 
 vtio came again to urge the propriety of admi- 
 niUeri:)g her infallible me<.iicine. Dr. L. ort 
 b.t-iiig confulted, owned the patient was in a 
 Rate to atlniit of hazardous experiments, and 
 viiihdrew, promiGiig to call again in the cven- 
 
 Mrs. Pen<:]ope might now be faid to enjoy 
 her full importance. Every domeftic was em- 
 ployed to pr<Kure or prepare the refpe<S\ive in- 
 gredients, whicii (he mixed with her own hands, 
 according to tr.e prefcribed rule. Slie at length 
 approached Mr. Dudley's bed-fide with the ce- 
 lebrated compound, but whether like Circe with 
 the poifonous chalice, or like Hygeia with the 
 rciiorative cup, the event will determine. 
 
 The immediate effect' certainly did not rea- 
 lize her fanguine expedlations. Perliaps Mr. 
 Dudley's llrcngth was too far exhaufiedj or lie 
 might wz'Mfaithi which I am told is a neceflary- 
 auxiliary in this claf^ of remi^dies ; for tliey often 
 lie dormant, unlefs quickened by a fort of re- 
 . a<^ion in the patient's mind ; or the herbs might 
 not be gathered at the right period of the moon, 
 whofe influence in pharmacy is unquedionable. 
 I will not dare to arraign the infdiibility of the 
 recip?, but will ordy ftjte that Mr. Dudley ap- 
 peared coiifidetably v.orfe after the operation, 
 in the opinion of every body but Mrs Penelope ; 
 who, having the fame f^ihh in her preparation 
 as Don (luixote had in the balfam of Fu-cbrafs, 
 perceived Itrong fyroptoms of immediate reco- 
 very. She retired exulting in her phyfical know- 
 ledge, to enjoy the pleafurc of a pool at Pred- 
 rille, wich two fclett friends. 
 
 Dr. L. did not confirm Mrs. Penelope's opi- 
 nion at his evening vifit. Mr. Dudley had pre- 
 
 vioully 
 
26o A gossip's story. 
 
 vlouily requeftctl to be left alone wiih his pliy- 
 fician ; '* I perceive, Sir," faid the exalted man, 
 ** that you are fenfible I am much worfe, and I 
 thank you for your explicit behaviour. I could 
 not be deceived by comnr»on profelTional forms, 
 and you are too liberal to adopt them. I have 
 {^tn enough of life to be willing to refign it j 
 but we are not called into exiftence merely for 
 ourfelves, and there are circumftances which 
 make me wilh that I could at this time recover. 
 Do you know of any experiment that has a 
 chance of fuccefs ?" 
 
 The Dr. replied that an operation might be 
 performed upon his fide, but that it was excru- 
 ciating and highly dangerous. 
 
 " i will fubmit to it chearfully," replied Mr. 
 Dudley. " Let the furgeons attend me at five 
 o'clock to-morrow morning. I do not vvifh for 
 any of the family to be informed of it." 
 
 In purfuance of this refolution ]ie anfwered 
 every interrogatory with an adurance that he 
 was much better, and difpofed to flumber. He 
 perceived by Louifa's eyes on her re-entering 
 tlie room, that (he had difcovered his increafed 
 danger, and he endeavoured to confirm her 
 finking fpirits by infpiring a degree of falfe hope. 
 " Do not, my love, entirely depend upon my 
 phyfician's report; a l;ck man is tho belt judge 
 of his own feelings. I flatter myfelf that I iliall 
 have a comfortahle night. Go early to bed, 
 and you will be fulTicieiitly refreOied to attend 
 me in the morning. I ihall compofe myfelf 
 with the thought that you are tranquil." 
 
 Mifs Dudley did not controvert this opinion. 
 She tenderly wilhed him a good night, and 
 witluL-ew to her own apartment. Her breaking 
 
 heart 
 
A gossip's story. 261 
 
 heart required feme relief, ami flie now reco!- 
 iecled that, at her exprefs defire, fiie was lodged 
 in a fmall room feparated from her father's by a 
 thin partition. She therefore haftily left it, 
 and took two or three turns in an adjoining 
 anti-chamber, undetermined how to difpofe of 
 herfelf for a few hours. If fne joined Mrs. 
 Penc'ope's party, it would only be to receive 
 felicrtiitions, and to hear prognoftics which her 
 reafon fadly difprovedj or probably flie might 
 be prefied to take a hand at cards, as a fure fpe- 
 cific againft melancholy. She had ever felt a 
 tendernefs for the prejudices and peculiarities 
 of age ; but at this time, her mind was in a flate 
 to render <» folitutle the bcft fociety." 
 
 She at length withdrew to the library, and 
 endeavoured to relieve her dejeflion by applying 
 to fome of the treafures with which it was Itor- 
 ed. But wit had loft its attic point, and ele- 
 gance its forcible attraction. She could not fol- 
 low an argument through its long train of de- 
 dutlions, and the befh-told narrative failed to 
 intereft her attention. She returned the books 
 to their places, and after a minute's paufe funk 
 upon her knees. Grief has been termed the 
 parent of eloquence-, — it is peculiarly fo in an 
 informed well-regulated mind. She raifed her 
 eyes, the feelings of her agitated foul animated 
 every impaflioned feature. Her fnowy hands 
 remained c'afped in anguifh, and regardlcfs of 
 the tears which fell copioudy upon them. In 
 the warm flow of unltudied elocution her lips 
 expreflcd the piety of a feraph, chaflifed by the 
 humble awe of a weak, dependent mortal. She 
 fupplicated Heaven to fpare her father, her only 
 friend and comfort ; but flie afked w::h fubmif- 
 
 fioa. 
 
262 A gossip's stouv. 
 
 Hon. She palmed an orphan's forVows ; but 
 not with the dark colourings of defpair. Her 
 mind appeared to gather ilrength from her di- 
 vine employment; her tears ceafed to flow ; a 
 i'ercne fweetnefs beamed in her countenance, 
 and when fhe rofe from her knees to retire, her 
 who'e form feemed infpired with fupernatural 
 intelilgence, and exprclfed the moft lively re- 
 femblance of fuperior beings which ihe human 
 imagination can form. 
 
 Mr. Pelham's apprehenfion for his friend hav- 
 ing rendered him unfit for company, he had re- 
 tired to fpend his evening in a reading clofet at 
 the upper end of his library. His attention was 
 drawn from his ftudies by the found of a female 
 voice. He flepped foftly to the door, and be- 
 came an unobferved fpe<flator of the fcene I 
 have defcrihed. His frnfalions were in fome 
 refpefts fimilar to thofe exprefTed by Sir Eldrcd 
 of the Bower : 
 
 " My fcorn has oft the dart repell'd 
 
 " Which guileful beauty threw ; 
 *• But goodnefs heard, and grace beheld, 
 
 '* Muft every heart fubdue." 
 
 After fhe had withdrawn he returned into his 
 clofet, but even his favourite authors were now 
 taflelefs. Tlie pleadings of Demofthenes were 
 Itudied and artificial, when coinp .red to the 
 more lively oratory of a deeply afierted hearty 
 nor did the morality of the divine Tiilly llrike 
 the foul with fuch flrong conviction in favour 
 of the nobleft virtues, as it received from the 
 powerful example of youth and innocence. 
 
 He 
 
A gossip's story. »263 
 
 He left his hook?, and walked to tlie table, 
 againft which Mif) DuJley had lately knek ; it 
 was flill wet witli her tears. There, bending 
 ovef the marks of holy forrow, he recalled her 
 image to his recolle£licM7. Even when his heart 
 was moH: infatuared by the fuperior brilliancy of 
 Marianne's charms, it had done juftice to Lou- 
 ifu's virtues. Time andabfcnce had blunted the 
 pain of difappointment, and gradually reconciled 
 his mind to the lofs oi his firit love : but his at- 
 t'^chment had been too ilrong to permit him to 
 form a fecond choice, though every hope had 
 been excluded by her marri.ige. He had too 
 ftvong ienfe to yield to whining complaints, and 
 he fubmittf d to a fevere tr.ortijifution with manly 
 firmnefsj but whenever Fancy recalled to his 
 mind any plenfing ideas, the altra<fling image of 
 Marianne Dudley rofe to his view, and the 
 charms of other fair ones faded at the compari- 
 ft)n. Yet even that fafoin,\ting form feemed to 
 yield to the fuperior Icvciinefs of intelle<flual 
 beauty, and he determined if pcfHble to refcue 
 Loutia from an orphan's woes, and to foJicit the 
 afTcdVions of fo valuable a woman. 
 
 CHAP- 
 
264 A gossip's story. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXVIII. 
 
 ^ circumjlance of aiuful folemmty prepares the ivay 
 for a very defirable event. 
 
 JLVaR. Dudley fpent the night in agony, but 
 his fortitude feemed to increafe with his pains ; 
 and his defire of not dillurbing his daughter, 
 who, he found, lay near him, repreflcd the 
 groan of anguilTi. The powers of his mind 
 continued unimpaired ; he felt his danger, 
 and confidering it poihble that he might not 
 furvive the intended operation, he dcfired that 
 Mr. Pelham might be called at an early hour. 
 The worthy man flew to his apartment, but 
 fnocked at the vifible change in his friend's 
 countenance, he burft into tears, which the 
 dying hero thus reproved : '* Check this un- 
 manly forrovv, my good Sir ; mine is no uncom- 
 mon lot. I do but underc[o the general law of 
 nature, to which this world is fubjedl ; a world 
 mortal and periih ible like man its lord. I have 
 many comforts, at times they predominate over 
 my fufFerings ; my foul is tranquil ; I look for- 
 ward to futurity with hope. I have only one 
 trouble."—" Confide it to me," faid Mr. Pel- 
 ham, endeavouring to ftifle his grief. 
 
 " Bleflcd be Heaven for a little interval of 
 eafe," refumed Mr. Dudley ; lam perfuaded 
 that you will exert your kind endeavours to pro- 
 cure that fatisfaction to my family from the 
 
 Spanifh 
 
A GCSSIl's STOHY. 26^ 
 
 5panlfii govcnirr.ent, which I could not in per- 
 fon ciematul. Tlie peculiar circumftancts of my 
 flory muft move jittcntion, but (liouk! you fail of 
 fucccfs, I commend my charaifler to your care. 
 Defend it from opprobri-im ; fay that I was not 
 intentionally unjuit ; unforefeen incidents, a 
 variety of misfortune?, all united to prevent the 
 favourite vvifii of my heart. Fhofe whom I 
 have injured will complain; endeavour to foften 
 the afperity of their complaints." 
 
 " Your memory," faid Mr. Pelham, clafping 
 the hand of Mr. Dui^ley, " flrall be as irre- 
 proachable as your life. I do not doubt but 
 that ample juflice will be done you, yet if it 
 fhould be withheld, 1 will make myfelf your exe" 
 cutor. I know the amount of your debts ; calm 
 your worthy heart ; were they double the fum, 
 1 would with pleafurc difcharge tliem." 
 
 " "Vou are too good, too generous; Infixed 
 not this; I expccled it not; your kindnefs 
 pains me." Mr. Du(j!ey funk upon his pillow, 
 and remained filent a few moments. 
 
 The furgeoRS nov/ entv^ved ; he opened 1)13 
 eyc's, atd wc Icomed ti^eai with a flight motion 
 of his hand : " I have fome private bufnicfi," 
 f^id he; *' go, dear Prlham, leave me a little 
 while ; if i am worfe I will fend for you " — — ' 
 •' Gentlemen," -refumed Mr. Dudley, when 
 every tiling was prepared, *» I am afraid your 
 intended aiiidance will not fucceed ; I am much 
 weakened by a bad night ; hut act as you think 
 befl:. I am ready, my mind is colleftcd. let if 
 you think I fti.i'.l not fuivive X.\\c opci.itio:i, I 
 would firlt fee my daughter." 
 
 On hearing tliefe words, Mlfs Dudley ruiiicd 
 into tl-.e room; lier anxiety had onlv :•' i •.nic- il 
 iicr to throw lierfoif upon the b.d, i; 
 
266 " A gossip's story. 
 
 {\\e had frequently rifen during the night, and 
 with laudaiile curiofity haftened to hear if any 
 groans proceeded from her father's chamber. 
 From the filence which prevailed there, fhe had 
 compofed herfelf with the thought that Mrs. 
 Penelope's hopes were not entirely vifionary. 
 The found of ftrange voices which flie imper- 
 fecftly heard, had cleared away her broken {lum- 
 bers, and her father's words hurried her into the 
 room in an agony. 
 
 The principal furgeon humanely endeavoured 
 to confoie her. He perfuaded her that opening 
 the ulcer in the fide might be attended with fa- 
 lutary confequences. " Let me ftay then," faid 
 ftie, *« while it is performed ; 1 can rub his 
 temples : 1 know I can be of fcrvice," — " Re- 
 tire my love," faid Mr. Dudley : " Your pre- 
 fence would overpower me. if I faint you (hall 
 be fummoned." Louifa cUifped her pious hands 
 in mental prayer, and withdrew. 
 
 The furgeons now examined their patient, 
 and unatiimoufly declared, that from prefent ap- 
 pearances the propofed incifion muft be de- 
 clined. No good could poflibly arife from it, 
 a mortification having already taken place. 
 
 *< I am fenfiblc," faid the heroic objecft of 
 their care, " that nothing can now be done for 
 me. I tiiank you for your hunnr.e ai-ention ; — 
 yet if you can inform me how long I may con- 
 tinue to fuffev" — 
 
 «* Your fufferings, Sir," faid one of them, 
 *' will very fpeedily ternainatc, but you may live 
 fevera) hours." 
 
 Mr. Dudley waved his hand, and they with- 
 drew in tears. 
 
 He now reiuived to prepare liis foul by the 
 moil ioiemn chriitian duties for its expefled 
 
 journey 
 
A gossip's story. 267 
 
 journey. Previous to the clergyman's arrival, 
 Mr. Pelham feated hlmfi-lf befide the bed of 
 death, loft in forrow, and infenfible to the 
 frequent fobs which proceeded from Louifa's 
 apartment. 
 
 Mr. Dudley prefTed his hand ; " Comfort my 
 child, dear amiable friend, comfort my forlorn 
 Louifa : a fingular attachment fubfifted between 
 us, it was more than the tie of blood. She was 
 my advifer, my comforter, my companion, my 
 friend ; our taftes, our habits, our defires cor- 
 sefponded. I am not anxious now refpetSling 
 her fortune. I know that (lie has fuflicient 
 greatnefs of foul to dignify narrow circumftances 
 by chearful patience ; but my lofs will fit heavy 
 upon her heart, confole her as a friendy and if 
 the weaknefs of her fex fliould expofe her to in- 
 ., jury, be her protector ." 
 
 " My heart," faid Pelham, finking upon his 
 1 knees, " afpires to a more facred title. Ever 
 Ifince I knew v!?" it has panted to be allied to 
 ;your virtues; difappointed in the obje<5l of my 
 lyouthful love, I have with matureft judgment 
 I (formed a fecond attachment. You once pro- 
 tmifed me your Marianne, I now alk for \our 
 Louifa." 
 
 « Gracious Heaven!" cried Mr. Dudley, 
 Taifing himfelf up, and with an energetic voice 
 fwhich feemed to intimate recovered health and 
 fftrength, " but did I underftand you rightly ? 
 Do you indeed love my Louifa ?" 
 
 « Even when 1 was her filler's adorer, I 
 honoured her charader, and efteemed her vir- 
 tues; they now blaze upon me with invincible 
 ffplendor. The delicacy of her fentiments may 
 induce her to rejedl a man whoconfefles a prior 
 
 iiattachment. Support my pretenfions by your 
 N 2 confent. 
 
268 A gossip's story. 
 
 confent, ami reft afTured my prsfriit love is 
 liucere :<x]d ardent. The exalted Louifa mny 
 be infliieiiced in favour of a paifion which you 
 hiVQ approved." 
 
 '* Son of my foul !" excl.iinK^d Mr. Dudley, 
 flretching out his arms, " come to my heart, 
 «nd let it tell thee that all hs fecret lui/ha arc 
 f/oiu fuHil!od" : Go and call my darling to me. 
 How blifbful are my departing nion:cnts !" I\Ir. 
 Pelham withdrew. 
 
 Mifa Dudley haflily threw herfelf into her 
 father's aims. •' You feem," faid flie, bending' 
 over him in rrieek alRiclicn, *' to be fcmewhat 
 revived." — <* I am, my child. I thought my 
 blood had Aagnated, but joy has quickened tlie 
 languid Ourrent. Why did i cefpair, or think' 
 thy merit could pafs unnoticed? MyLouifa,' 
 the worthy P<'ll»am loves thee. Cand thou re- 
 ward thy father's generous friend ? He has 
 ?i]:cd me tobeftow my only treafure upon him. 
 I have not many n.o'n ents to lofe. Speak, my 
 love, wilt thou be his.'' Away with that referve 
 wiiich keeps thy rlyi.'-g father in fufpenfe, en the 
 cnJy rubjec"l whicli intercfls him upon earth." 
 
 No Lirgu.ge could do jultice to M;fs Dudley's 
 fet:lini]3. Critf and lurpriCe, gratitude ard- 
 jcve, were elevated to a painful extreme. Slie 
 was told that tiie pallion which liad long been 
 an unobferved but penfi-ve inn;,ate of h.er bcfoni, 
 at. length had m.et a reciprocal return. She 
 was e\en called upon to confcfs rlie afFe£lion 
 V hich virgin modelty had conc^^aled. But by 
 whom, aiid in what circumftances was Hie urged 
 lo this dilcloiure ^ 
 
 'ihrice Ihe attempted to fpeak, and thrice the 
 wild palpitations of her heart forbade her utter- 
 ance. At l^-ngth the iaint'v e-\c!ai!ncd, " I- 
 " • .. ' • h.-.c 
 
. A gossip's story. 269 
 
 have lone efleemed hitn— loved hiiii I fiiould 
 fay. But oh, my father, at wliat a. moment do 
 you claim this confeifion." 
 
 " At a blifsful one, dear deliglit of my foul ! 
 It is a moment which fends a joyful pilgrim 
 back to his native country, and feals t!ie hap- 
 pinefs of two kindred n)!M.i+*. Pelham, my 
 humane, generous, noble fin, where art thou i 
 Come and receive this bielfing from "my arms, 
 whilethey have yetllirengtlitobellowiieron thee." 
 
 Isle. Pelham, who from motive- of the pureft 
 delicacy was abfent at this eelairciffement, enter- 
 ed at the welcome fummons. Mr. Dudley held 
 his daughter's hand between his numbed and 
 clammy palms, and raifing his eyes with pa- 
 triarchal dignity, thus bedowed her on her 
 kneeling lover. " I give i.er to thee, a dear and 
 folemn trull. Look down. Gracious Greater, 
 and blefs this worthy pair. Give them long 
 life, love, and temporal felicity : and let their 
 laft moments enjoy the holy tranfport, tlie divine 
 beautitude which I now enjoy." 
 
 LouiCa fur.k in fpeechlefs anguifli as he fpoke ; 
 Mr. Pelham fupported her. His fond attentions 
 recalled her fluttering fenfes. " Spare, oh fp^re, 
 every expreinon of love and tranfport," faid (he. 
 *< My heart is entirely yours, but I can now at- 
 tend to nothing but my father." 
 
 A ferene, elevated fmile, exprefTive of intcl- 
 le£lual tranfport, beamed in Mr. Dudley's face. 
 Ills a jonies fubfided. Inftead of rcillefs toffings 
 and convulfive darts, he remained placidly com- 
 pofed. He received the moil facred rite of 
 chriftianity with his beloved daughter and adopt- 
 ed fon. As he tafted the confecrated chalice he 
 again bleiTed them, the abfent Marianne, and 
 Mr. Clermont. He repeated to Louifa a part- 
 ing 
 
270 A gossip's story. 
 
 ing charge for her fifler; then finking into a 
 ];inguicl ftate, he dozed at intervals till the even- 
 ing, when again calling his daughter to him, he 
 drew his laft breath in her arms. 
 
 CHAPTER XXXIX. 
 
 Includes a greater portion cf time than oil the 
 preceding narrative. 
 
 .ISS Dudley, reftraining her grief with fen- 
 timents of reverend awe, forbore to interrupt 
 the departing foul. When the quivering pulfe 
 had flopped fome moments, (he preiTed with 
 pallid lips the honoured remains ; and com- 
 mitting the corpfe to the care of the attend- 
 ants, with a requeft. that every thing fliould be 
 conducfled with propriety, retired to her 
 apartment. 
 
 Mr. Pelham followed her, he intended to 
 have offered fome topic of confolation, but his 
 faultering voice dif.ippointed his dcfign, and he 
 covld only intreat her not to indulge her forrow, 
 kit it fliould aiTi'£l her health. " In heart and 
 in fou! I refign him to his God," faid the e?ialt- 
 ed mourner. ** Ought I to fink in defpair, be- 
 caufe my beloved father is become an inhabitant 
 of a better world '' Yet allow me, Sir, to vent 
 in privacy the fond regrets of nature, I wifii to 
 offer my firfl forrows to my Maker ; I trult he 
 will enable me to fuppoit them." 
 
 Mr. 
 
A gossip's story. 271 
 
 Mr. Pelham acquiefced ; but Mrs. Penelope 
 was firmly of opinion that the young lady ouglit 
 not to be left alone. It was expected my old 
 friend's furprife at hearing Mr. Dudley was 
 really dead, would be very great, as fne even zo- 
 the lafl perceived increafing marks of his amend- 
 ment : but file happily recollected that flie \\z\ 
 adminiftered her medicine too foon after Dr. L.'s 
 lad prefcription, for her potion to exert iis 
 wonted efHcacy. She now offered to vifit Mifs 
 Dudley, and to talk her out of her mclanthol)^, 
 by arguments drawn from her favorite apho- 
 rifms, that " what muft be vvul be," ar.d 
 " that Fate mud govern all things i" but JM"-. 
 Pelham refpeCled the fancTiiiy of his Loiwfa's 
 forrows, and infuled that they fiiou'.d not be 
 difkurbed. 
 
 From the time of her father's death, till every 
 thing was prepared for liis funeral, Mifs Dud- 
 ley never left lier chamber, except t%vice a-day 
 to vifit the corpfe. Tiiere, kneeiirg by the cof- 
 fin, flie poured forth the fulnefs of h^r,'vffe£^ior^- 
 ate grateful heart. There (he accuflomed iirr- 
 felf to recollecl all the invaluable precepts fne 
 had received from him, refpe6liiig her conduct 
 in life, and L-ft her memory fiiould fail, {he 
 committed ihem -to writing. " Thefe, my fj- 
 ther," faid (lie, apollropliifing to his fpirit, w!»ich 
 {[\t fublimely fancied ever prefent with her, 
 ** Thefe, tJiy elevated fentiments, Ihall fpeak to 
 me and conible me, though the inftru£live voice 
 which uttered them is mute, and the heart 
 which prompted them no longer beats at thy 
 highly favored child's approach. Yet let me 
 reiied, though thefe eyes fhine not upon me, 
 thty will no longer meit into tears ; the hun)aii. 
 
 atfeC\ions 
 
272 A GOSSIP S STORY 
 
 •aTeflions are indeed extinfi ; but forrow will 
 not come nigh thee. Thy tongue will never 
 move confole or indrufi me, but the language 
 of CcMTipIaiiit has ceafcd for ever. ihine, 
 ray father, was an uneafy pilgrimage for tJiee •, 
 r.Ji.^ ci .inge is blcfleJ, therefcre I will not 
 n'iourn." 
 
 I will fovijear from any further repetition of 
 tliofe fentiments of pious forrovv, by which 
 Louifa and her worthy admirer espreff;d their 
 nnaCl^lvil grief. Thty were elevated and de- 
 vour, and a feeling mind may eafily conceive 
 them. Nor will I circumflanti.illy defcribe Mr. 
 Pclham's behaviour, wliich was all that efleem, 
 fvinp-uhy, and delicacy could prompt. The 
 eorpfe was conveyed to AKlevfon manor, and 
 interred in the family vault, clofe by Mrs. Dud- 
 ley's coiTm. Mr. Telha-.n 'Attended Louifa on 
 iliis fad occauon, and Mr, Ciermont met her at 
 the grave- Marianne could not join in the 
 folemn obfequies. "^Ihe intelligence of her fa- 
 ther's darker, unwarily communicated, vv'as more 
 than lier weakened fpirits could fupport. A 
 premature confmement was the confequence 
 of the flioclc, by v\hich not only Lord Cler- 
 tnor^t's anxious especiliatioiis of an heir were 
 fruRrated, but her own life was endangered, 
 imd the HiTeifiions of her hufband firti;er 
 alienated. 
 
 Hiflierto the behaviour of Mr. Pelham ha4 
 been more indicative of t.'ie friend tlian the 
 lover. He endeavoured to divert her grief by 
 icfpeflful attentions, or to fjoth it by fympat.hif- 
 jng in her lofs ; rather than to interrupt the 
 train of her thoughts by unfeafonable anticipa- 
 tions of expected happinefs. At parting, reci- 
 
 procrd 
 
1 GOSSIPS STORT. 273 
 
 procal marks of tender regard appeared In each. 
 He requefted permilFion to write to her, which 
 {lie readily granted ; and while flie accompa- 
 nied Mr. Clermont to Stannadine, flie perceiv- 
 that all her livelieit afl'eQions were not buried 
 in her father's grave. 
 
 The interview between the fiders prefented 
 a fcer.e ftrikingly intereding. 
 
 The lovely form of Marianne, faded by 
 ficknefs and dilirefs, was fupported by the 
 amiable Loulfa; who bending over her with 
 n)atronly tendernefs, joined in regret for a dear 
 fatiier's lofs, and with firmer but not lefs 
 feeling heart recapitulated the afFjvlling narra- 
 tive of his ficknefs and death. Mrs. Cler- 
 mont bitterly bewailed her abfence ; *' and 
 did he not," faid Ihe, " reproach his abfent 
 INIarianne, and alk why flie did not come to 
 fmo:th the bed of death, and to wipe the 
 faint dews from his honoured face .'' .'^nd you 
 too, my Lcuifa, mult furely condemn your 
 unfeeling filler, for not hallening to alRlt you 
 in thofe pious olnces." 
 
 *' 1 have ioo longr known the virtues of that 
 
 o 
 
 tender heart to doubt that fome cruel nccef- 
 fity detained you from us. As for our fa- 
 ther, unkind, fufpiclon had no part in his 
 caara(ner. Almoll the Jail words which he 
 fpake were a prayer for you. Give, faid he, 
 emphatically, my dying blclling to my dear 
 anecUonate Marianne ; and thou, all gracious 
 lic-<iven, prefcrve her from real forrou', and 
 lelTcn her fenfe of the fmaller evils of hfe. 
 lilels Mr. Clermciit too, and grant ih'^m 
 many years of profperity and mutual love." 
 
 'n 3 •' Vain 
 
2 74 A GOSSIP S STORY. 
 
 <' Vain were thofe pious prayers," cried Mrs. 
 Clermont in an agony ; " and yet they fome- 
 times fay the good man's dying wi{hes are ful- 
 filled." She then related what a lamentable 
 change had taken place in her hufband's beha- 
 viour: Mifs Dudley was diftrefled at the recital ; 
 yet flie felt willing to hope that a too lively ima- 
 gination had as ufual aggravated the fombre 
 lines of life j but her own obfervation during 
 her Hay at Stannadine fatally confirmed the fide- 
 lity of the portrait. 
 
 She now exerted all the fympathizing tender- 
 refs of her temper, and all the ftrong powers 
 of her calm difcretion, to fupport and confole 
 tiie mourner. She endeavoured to divert her 
 from her own misfortunes by the exertion of 
 thofe benevolent and a£live duties from which 
 flie had formerly derived pleafure. But the 
 Jpri'ig of Mrs. Clermont's mind was entirely 
 broken. She pitied the diftrefs of the poor, 
 iind when an obje6l was pointed out, was willing 
 to relieve them, but fhe had not vigour of foul 
 fufHcient to ftep out of herfelf, and to take a 
 lively intereil: in the forrows of others ; her 
 early and fevere difappointment preyed upon 
 her heart ; (he no longer felt an inclination for 
 amufement, or any defire to excel, and her 
 thoughts continually wandered within the 
 gloomy pale of her own calamity. 
 
 Mr. Clermont (now commenced a man of 
 the world) wandered from one place of public 
 refort to another •, in purfuit of that fleeting 
 huppinefs which (till eluded his grafp. When 
 difappointed he returned home ; but it was only 
 50 contrail the increnfed penfivenefs of his wife's 
 behaviour with the gay fccnes he had juft for- 
 
 faken 
 
A gossip's story. ^75: 
 
 faken, and he derived from her condudl a frefli 
 defire to enjoy them. 
 
 Mifs Dudley deeply felt for her fifler's woes, 
 but it was her only affliction. Her own prof- 
 pedls were peculiarly brilliant. Mr. Pelham'a 
 letters were di<ftated by that manly tendernefs 
 whic'i ilione in all his condu6l \ they were af- 
 fe(flionate without infipidity, and polite without 
 flattery. In one of them he informed her, that 
 her bufinefs with the Spanifli government was 
 amicably fettled ; the wliole property remitted 
 to England, her father's debts discharged j and 
 a furplus of five thoufand pounds left at her dif- 
 pofal. " I rejoice at this event," faid he, " as 
 it will prevent your generous mind from feeling 
 the pain oi fi/ppofed obligation. And yet, my 
 Louifa, fhould little pecuniary affairs ever dif- 
 turb the felicity of thofe lovers, who are fo 
 happy as to be able to boaft, on one fide elegant 
 competence, and on the other tranfcendent 
 worth ?" 
 
 If Mr. Pelham had doubted as to the acinal 
 transfer of his heart from its once dear obje£l, 
 the fenfations he experienced on revifuing Stan- 
 nadine would have convinced him; he beheld 
 the beauty of INIrs. Clermont withering under 
 the worm of difcontent, her features contracfhed 
 by peevifh melancholy, and her temper ren- 
 dered irritable by difappointment. Though 
 fuch an objecft moved his pity, admiration and 
 love c6uld only be awakened by the mild intel- 
 ligence and unruffled fweetnefs of a Louifa. 
 His impatience to call the meek-eyed angel his 
 would fcarcely permit him to wait the expira- 
 tion of the twelve months, which flie had de- 
 voted 
 
2-6 A gossip's stort. 
 
 voted to the robes of mourning. At length 
 the amiable pair plighted their mutual vows. 
 
 Immediately after their nuptials, Mr. Pelham 
 condutled his bride to his country feat. As he 
 led her the tour of his pleafuve-orounds, flie 
 was particularly pleafed with a long avenue of 
 majeltic oaks, Hoping down the declivity of a 
 liill, OD the fummit of which a fine Doric tem- 
 )')le was dedicated to Integrity and Fortitude. 
 IMrs. Pelham admired theatric fimplicity of the 
 appropriate emblems ; but her aLtention was 
 fuddenly arrefted by one ohjcCt faper/ativeiy in- 
 terelling; a fine bull of her father in white 
 marble, was placed at the upper end of the 
 building, and on a beautiful Etrufcan urn under 
 if, {he read the following infcription : 
 
 Here, as to firm Integrity we kneel, 
 
 Aiidlight lo Fortitude the votive flane, 
 
 Thy memory, Dudley ! animates our zeal, 
 And purer ardours kindle at ihy name. 
 
 ITere, wlien we mourn the father and the friend, 
 Hope fliallthe funeral pall cf forrow raife ; 
 
 And felfifh Grief its lamentations end, 
 Thy life to copy, and thy death to praife. 
 
 Here, if wc faint beneath the taflc of life, 
 Thy bright example (liall new force fupply; 
 j\rm our weak louls for renovated llrife, 
 And poiiit ourju't ambition to the iky. 
 
 Oh, ever lov'd ! while o'er thy facred earth 
 Affedtion graves thy deeds, and drops a tear; 
 
 Onr future lives ihvAl emulate thy worth : 
 
 Ourfbtare virtues prove that thou wert dtar. 
 
 ]Mr. 
 
A gossip's story. 277 
 
 Mr. Pelham thus tenderly addreficd her when 
 flie had recovered from her Hrfl: emotion. " I 
 propofe myfelf many deliglitful hours in ihis 
 tranquil retreat. Here, 'my Louifa, we will 
 often retire to hold communications with our 
 own hearts, and to form a jull eftimate of life 
 "We will not furvey its little forrows through the 
 gloom of mifanthropy, nor will we judge of 
 its pleafitres from the colourings of enthuiiafm. 
 We will reco]Ie£t your father's precepts, and 
 confider it as a chequered fcene, from which 
 the virtuous well regulated mind may derive 
 many advantages. Here we will couverfe with 
 that ever-refpe6led man ; we will feaft our eyes 
 with gazing upon his features, and our minds 
 by recalling the tiohler likenefs of the informing 
 foul. We will think of him, not with that 
 ufelefs regret which ends in peniive melancholy, 
 much Icfs with that bold forrow which audaci- 
 oufly dares to queftion Providence ; but cur re- 
 membrance fliall tend to meliorate our own 
 hearts, and our love prompt us to exercife thofe 
 virtues which have glorified him, and v/lU exalt 
 us to equal happinei's. Should any little error 
 in the conduct of cither, give pain to the fuf- 
 ceptibility of fond attaciiment, here we will 
 come, and faircy that marble animated, and that 
 it repeats the excellent obfervations we have fo 
 often heard : That imperjicllon is always mixed 
 nvith human "jirtues^ and infelicity luith hun.an 
 hli/s," 
 
 CHAP- 
 
278 A gossip's story. 
 
 CHAPTER XL. 
 
 "The conclufion. Mrs. Prudent ia ceremoniouJI'j 
 takes leave of all her charaBers, 
 
 X HAVE now brought my narrative to a pe- 
 riod ; but as Swift obferves, that no well-bred 
 modern author will omit the conclufion, I wil- 
 lingly fubjoin one. 
 
 I once intended to have adopted fuppHcatory 
 addrefles to the candour and generofity of my 
 gentle readers ; but recollecting that there has 
 lately been an uncommon demand for thefe qua- 
 lities, and apprehending they muft have been 
 entirely worn out in the fervice of my fifter 
 novelifts, I am under a neceffity of depending 
 upon the tafte and difcernment of the age, 
 without even advancing the ufual pleas of little 
 leifure and painful interruptions. Indeed I am 
 afraid readers care little about an author's private 
 hiftory, and after all the civil things we can fay, 
 only appreciate our merit by our ability to en- 
 tertain and inftrudl them. Therefore, inftead 
 of obtruding myfelf upon tlie public, the re- 
 maining pages fhall be employed in defcribing 
 the prefcnt fituation of my principal chara(flers. 
 
 Nearly three years have elapfed fince Mifs 
 Dudley gave her hand to Mr. Pelham, and the 
 enamoured hufband Jlill confiders that event as 
 the happieft of his life. She has fanned the 
 torch of Love with fuch admirable dexterity, 
 that it continues to burn with^ a calm fteady 
 
 flame 
 
A gossip's stort. 
 
 279 
 
 flame ; and with fo little diminution of its prif- 
 tine brightnefs, that Mr. Pelham is celebrated 
 by all who know him, for being a polite, ten- 
 der hufbat\d, to an unaiTuming wife. Her 
 charader rifes in his eflimation every hour, and 
 fhe often furprifes him by the difcovery of fonae 
 new virtue, or graceful accomplilhment ; which 
 unobtrufive delicacy had hitherto concealed from 
 his obfervation. Her excellent judgment, tem- 
 pered by cheerful affability, induces hirn to con- 
 fide in her as a friend, and to admire her as a 
 companion ; his high opinion of the fuperiority 
 of her condu(£l, prompts him to be more obfer- 
 vant of his oivn^ and to guard with fcrupulous 
 care againft his natural infirmities, left they 
 fhould prejudice him in her efleem. He is 
 now acquainted with the preference which his 
 Louifa felt for him, during the time of his at- 
 tachment to Mrs. Clermont ; and his greatnefs 
 of foul induces him to admire the delicacy, that 
 fo clofely concealed it from every eye, and the 
 generofity, that refolved by conquering it to 
 facrifice every felfifh wifli to tlie good of others. 
 Mrs. Penelope Pelham, who was extremely 
 averfe to her nephew's connetfiion with Mifs 
 Dudley, from a perfuafion that he was deferv- 
 ing of a Duchefs, and at laft confented to the 
 marriage becaufe there is a fate in thefe things 
 which cannot be withftood, is now completely 
 reconciled. 
 
 She refides with the young couple, not only 
 to fee that every thing goes on right, but alfo 
 to pleafe Mr. Pelham, who fiie is convinced 
 could not be happy without her. We have 
 forrefponded fcveral years. 
 
 Her letters are now generally filled with the 
 
 witticifms 
 
2So A COSSIP'S STORY. 
 
 witticifms of mafter Pelham, who is jufl: twenty 
 months old, and by her account a prodigy. She 
 fometimes fpeaks of her niece, allows her to be 
 -an obliging good-tempered young woman, and 
 fo well informed in houfekeeping, that Mrs. 
 Penelope has yielded the family affairs to her 
 management, and they are now almoft as well 
 conduced as when (he herfelf prefided. She 
 mentions amongft her niece's perfections, that 
 fhe is an excellent milliner, and makes "mighty 
 becoming bonnets" for ladies who are not very 
 young. She has alfo learned to play at Tre- 
 drille. 
 
 Louifa has not deferted Seatondell. Indeed 
 flie is particularly attached to the little farm., 
 ■which afForded an afylum to herfelf and her 
 father in their adveifity ; and which was planted 
 and decorated under his direcftions. Mrs. Arby 
 and the reft of the neighbours are " prcdigi- 
 oufly proud" when flie honours them with a 
 vifit, and they difcover many excellencies in 
 INIrs. Pelham, which they overlooked in Louifa 
 Dudley. I find llie has enlarged the charitable 
 inftitutions which flie formerly founded, and it 
 gives n^.e particular plea fare to hear that Mr. 
 Pelham has made poor Wakien tolerably happy, 
 by prefeniing him with a living. 
 
 Mr. Clermont is become a peer by his fa- 
 ther's death, but the acqulfition of a title has 
 not contributed to his repofe. The late Lord's 
 fentinients in politics were (o violently in op- 
 pofition to government, that they have operated 
 as an antidote to his fon ; who being tned of 
 the infipidjty of a fafliicnable life, has entered 
 into adminiftration, with the fanguine hope of 
 having mw found the long-defired good. His 
 
 features 
 
A gossip's story. xil 
 
 fe^itures have acquired a call of mydery, and his 
 frank impafTioned manner is changed into re- 
 ferve and importance. He foinetimes pays a 
 Ihort viGt to his Lady at the Park, who wel- 
 comes him with tears, and endea.vours to detain 
 liini by complaints. She has in a great degree fe- 
 cluded lierfelf from fociety, fome of her neigh- 
 bours fay {he is deranged, others think her in- 
 tolerably proud ; all blame her for living unhap- 
 pily with a handfome, generous, well-behaved 
 huihand. Few can underftatid her forrows, 
 and fewer have courage to flem the torrent of 
 public opinion by pitying them. 
 
 The Dowager Lady Clermont is a convert to 
 methodifm, and is elteemed a blefed acquifition 
 by that fociety. 
 
 Mifs Milton's fenfe of her friend's injuries is 
 fo very acute, that ihe has rejetled two unex- 
 ceptionable offers, and transferring the faults of 
 one man to the whole fpecies, has declared her- 
 felf a determ'nied member of my fiflerhood. 
 Her refentment agalnft the bafe, ungrateful, 
 tyrannic fex is fo great, that flie entirely avoids 
 the fociety of gentlemen. Her apartments are 
 decorated with hiftories intended to defcribe 
 their falfehood ; and (he ipcnds her time in 
 writing fatires-againft perjured fv\'ains, and ele- 
 gies upon deceived nymphs. Her favourite fub- 
 jecl of converfation is to inveigh againll Lord 
 Clermont, and fome of thofe cenfurcs have 
 reached his Lor.ifliip, and contributed to in- 
 creafe the unkindnefs v/liich (lie deplores. 
 
 After feveral unfuccefsful attempts to form a 
 n;atrimonial connection with a woman of cha- 
 radler, Sir WilUam Milton has taken Mifs Mor- 
 ton 
 
s82 A gossip's story. 
 
 ton again into keeping. Their tempers are too 
 violent for cordiality, fcarce a day pafles without 
 a quarrel ; and though he congratulates himfelf 
 that he is not bound to the fury for life, fhe 
 makes his haughty fpirit bend to her controul. 
 Nay, fhe affirms, that (he may be Lady Milton 
 when fhe pleafes, and the bets in this particular 
 are two to one againft Sir William. 
 
 A very flrange event has taken place at Dan- 
 bury fince I mentioned my favourite abode, and 
 I beg my readers pardon for not informing them 
 of it fooner. Could any one have believed that 
 after thirty-five years of irreproachable condu£l, 
 Mifs Cardamum (houid at lafl elope with Mr. 
 Inkle, Though this match was completed un- 
 der the aufpices of Cupid, it does not prove to 
 be a very happy one. Mr. Cardamum is inex- 
 orable in point of fortune, and as Mrs. Inkle 
 pofitively refufes to go behind the counter, or 
 to do any thing inconfiftent with hgr dignity, I 
 am afraid the young man is plagued with a 
 well-bred wife, and a fcanty income. We have 
 excluded her from our genteel aflembly r I am 
 told (lie is much piqued at it, but fuch an un- 
 pardonable derelii^iion of all rules of decorum 
 ought to be feverely reprobated, 
 
 A great deal has been faid lately refpe6ling 
 Captain Target's attention to Mrs. Eleanor Sin- 
 gleton. They have been furprifed tete-a-tete at 
 picquet •, and I faw him with my oivn eyes carry 
 little Fido from church la!i: Friday, for fear he 
 fhould dirty his new pink fattin ribbon. I have 
 ^ very good opinion of my friend's underftand- 
 ing, and I hope it was only a neighbourly ac- 
 tion. 
 
 Since 
 
A gossip's stort. 283 
 
 Since Mrs. Inkle's marriage, Mrs. Medium 
 Iras laid ftrong ficge to Mr. Alfop, and (lie ma- 
 nages the battery of her daughter Dolly's merits 
 fo admirably that I think his heart mu/} furren- 
 der at difcretion. His houfekeeper, Mrs. Betty, 
 is of a different opinion. 
 
 I (hall conclude with a fong lately com'pofed 
 by Mrs. Pelhani ; who ftill occafionally facri- 
 fices to the Mufes. Ivly correfpondent Mrs. 
 Penelope has luckily favoured me with a copy, 
 juil in time for publication : 
 
 Go, daughters of Faihlon, for pleafure repine, 
 The joys ye pnrfuc are iiwt equal to mine ; 
 The humours of thoufands for yours mutt agree. 
 Mine centre in Henry, and Henry's in rac. 
 
 The rofe thrice hath bloom'd on the chaplet of May» 
 Since I bow'd at the altnr, and vow'd to obey ; 
 Talk not of reftridions, the bond 1 approve, 
 'Tie fanif}ioii'dby rcafon, reh'gioii, and love. 
 
 Gay carols the lark as we rife in the morn, 
 
 And at evening the blackbird chaunts fweet on the 
 
 thorn, 
 We join in the concert, why fbould we refrain ? 
 Our hearts are as grateful, as lively our ftrain. 
 
 We bafk in the funfhine which fummcr fuppliea. 
 And count, fertile autumn ! thy exquifite dies j 
 No terror in ice-mantled winter we fee, 
 A book and a fong ftill can conquer ennui. 
 
 Domeftic, yet chearful, delighted to blend 
 By prudent attentions the lover snd friend. 
 In wedlock's full cup we fome bitters expeft. 
 And allow for the frailties we try to corredl. 
 
 Though 
 
284 A GCSSTP's STORT. 
 
 Thougli fhunning the many, wild Comus's crew ; 
 Foi- focial enjoyment we choofe but a few : 
 Thofe few round our table fhall frequently meet 
 Sincere be the welcome, and firopie the treat. 
 
 Our boy on my bofom I cherifli with pride, 
 He calls to thoft duties we gladly divide ; 
 May he live when our limit of being is done, 
 And our naraeiand our virtues furvive in our fon. 
 
 THE END. 
 
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