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M A R I A: 



NOV E L. 



IN TWO VOLUMES. 



Br TUB AUTHOR 09 



GEORGE BATEMAN. 



7 V O L. I. 




».» « 



I. O N O O Ni 

i>RniTEO r OR T. CADEU., IN THE 8TRAND» 

MJ7CC.L3CXXT. 



^^^. a . /f 



^. 



T O T HE 

HONOURABLE 

Mrs. ward. 

MADAM, 

THOSE who have the hap- 
pinefs of being acquainted 
with the liberal graces of your 
mind, and that elegant fimplicity 
of charader you have fo happily 
preferved, amidft the glare of un- 
feeling diffipation and the conta- 
gious influence of fafhionable af- 
fe(5tatioD, will not wonder that I 
(hould have folicited the honour 
Vol. L a . of 



H dedicattctn: 

of infcribing with your Name a. 
Work, in which my leading aim^ 
has been to pourtray^ in the fimple 
But impaffioned colouring of na- 
ture^ the operations of a mind un- 
acquainted with the world — ^young» 
artlefs, fenfible, and refined — under 
the impulfe of a lively and infuper- 
able attachment;— and to inculcate 
the principle oiASiive Benevolence^ 
by difplaying i« beneficial effcdts. 

They, Madam, who know yoa 
heft, will inftantly feel the pro- 
priety of dedicating to you a per- 
formance which perfonifies Good- 
nefs itt: the mild form of female^ 
Beauty .► 

5 ^ 



DEDICATION. iii 

If the charaders and incidents 
of a iprightlier caft, which divcr- 
fify thefe little volumes, (hoiild ap- 
pear to you copied from the Book 
of Nature, with a hand fufficiently 
ikilful to aflford you entertainment, 
I (hall efteem myfelf happy in the 
publication : — and have the honour ' 
to remain, 

MADAM^ 

Your moft refpedful, 
obliged, and devoted; 

humble Scrvaatr^ 



Stt J>iiKsVPlacn. E4*E/»! I H<^'t 

JA^l Mth, 1785, t ) 



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M A R I A. 



* M A R I A. 



CHAPTER }. 

DR. Edgeware was a man of genius, 
tafte, and learning ; he pofTefled 
a foul ftabic and generous, and a heart 
alive to the beft aixd even the tendereft 
impreflions of humanity ; he had never- 
thelefs an unconquerable fhynefs in dif- 
covering this lad amiable attribute, 
and as carefully concealed the reality^ 
as the generality of people aim to.dif- 
play the femblance of fenfibility. . 
Vol. I. B His 



2 M A R I a; 

His virtue%werc univerfally rcfpeft- 
ed, and his company folicited, as con- 
ferring both honour and inipfovemenc : 
yet, though all gave him the applaufe 
of virtue, and the meed of genius, that 
afFedtionate regard and attachment, 
created by the milder graces of the 
foul, could only be felt for him by his 
domeftic dependants. 

His fituation in early life was con- 
trafted ; but his great talent;, united 
with a lucky coincidence of circumstan- 
ces, had given him independence. He 
fupported himfelf and a lifter (the win- 
dow of a clergyman left in indigence) 
by a handfome annuity, and the fale of 
his writings. 

TheDodor was returning, about the 
middle of July 17 — , from the feat of 

Sir ■ * , and on thie road to Lon*. 

doi), the place of his refidcnce ^ when, 
paffing through the city of ~r*, he 

had 



M A n I a; ' - i 

had the curiofity to inquiffe after the fa* 
mily of a dcceafcd phyfician, with 
whom he had hVed in an intercourfe 
of friendfhip at college. 

Though thcfe gentlemen had (for 
reafons immaterial to the reader) feldom 
met fince the period in which they pur- 
fued their ftudies at the fame feminary,' 
yet a reciprocal regard and efteem had 
ever cxifted between them. 

Dr. Edgcware had been previoufly 
informed, that the death of Dr. Mor« 
daunt haid involved his family in cala- 
mities of a peculiar nature; and that 
this diftrefsful event had (hortened the 
life of his amiable partner^ who had 
left behind her a fon and a daughter. 

He was told, that young Mordaunt 
was gone to the Eaft Indies ; and that 
his filler, an elegant girl of nineteen, 
lived in a family of diftlnftion in the - 
nerghbourhood, as governefs to a 
B 2 young 



4 MARIA. 

young lady.— "It was with a wifli to 
fcrve, if in his power, the orphans of 
this worthy pair, that Dr. Edgeware 
had made inquiry after their (icuation. 

Having been informed of her refi- 
dence, he paid Maria Mordaunt a 
vifit.— ** I am come, young lady," faid 
he, with his ufual franknefs, and 
Xoftening his voice to the tone of 
friendftiip, " to fee the daughter of 
^n old collegiate friend ^ and to know 
if there is any thing in which I can 
fcrve you : — my name is Edgeware; 
you may have heard your father men- 
tion me." 

" You do me a great deal of honour. 
Sir," replied Mifs Mordaunt, " I 
have indeed heard my father fpeak of 
you with high refpedt s and have like- 
wife had the plcafure, and I hope I 
may add, improvement, of reading 
fome of thofe valuable works with 

which 



Maria; 5 

which you have enriched the literary 
world/*^ 

The judicious turn of this little com- 
pliment drew the hard features of the 
Ddftor into a ftill more complacent 
form-, and he replied, " Indeed I — Aye, 
aye, and do you like reading, child ?** 
— ** My books and my mufic are my ' 
chief, almoft my only, amufement. 
Sir," replied (he,' " in the little time I 
have to fpare from the duties of my 
employment."—" And pray, young 
lady, how do you like that employ- 
ment ?" faid the Dodor, who had re- 
ceived a very favourable impreflion of 
her underftanding,-from the unaffefted 
turn of her language and behaviour : 
befides which, there was an air of fad- 
nefs about her that interefted hi&fenfi- 
bility. " It is by no means an unplea- 
fant one," returned Maria. " My 
pupil, Dodor, is fcnfible and docile, 
B 3 ^ and 



6 M A R I A. 

and I have the happinefs of knowing 
I give fatisfaAion in my ftation ^ \>\\% 
there is a painful motive which impels 
me to wilh ^ removal, and is at the 
fame time of a nature that precludes 
my communicating it to my amiable 
patronefs, whofe efleem I am fo happy 
as to have obtained. I am perpetually 
ruminating for an excufe to leave her» 
but can hit \ipon none that will not 
fubjefk me to the imputation of ingrati- 
tude and caprice in her opinion *, and 
I fear I ihall at length be necellitated 
to tell her the true one.*' 

" Though giving language to irk- 
fomc ideas, only ferves to imprefs them 
more ftrongly on the imagination,*' faid 
the Doftor, " yet as I have a fincere 
yrlfli to ferve you, if my requeft is nqt 
improper, I (hould be glad if you would 
inake me acquainted with the caufe of 
your anxiety.** 

Maria, 



MARIA. f 

Maria, whom his manners had in- 
rpired with cftecm and veneration, told 
him, with a franknefs that was natural 
to her, that the cauie of her inquietude 
was a paffion which the hufband of 
the lady with ^hom (he lived had 
conceived for her *, and the profeflions 
of which gave her continual uneafinefs. 

The pathetic tone of her voice, the 
intcrefting expreflion of her counte- 
nance, wrought fenfibly upon the af- 
feftionate heart of Doftor Edgeware, 
but he did not chufe fhe ftould fee he 
was fo much affcfted as he in reality was; 
he drew up his breath, drove to repel a 
figh, and to difperfe a tear ; and after 
a moment's paufe — '* I have a female re- 
lation who lives with me," faid he, 
" fhe will be glad of a young compa- 
nion ; and you will, at my houfe, 
have an opportunity of more extenfive- 
ly cultivating thofe talents you have 
B 4 received 



S MARIA. 

received from nature ; at leaft, it will 
give you a pretext for leaving your pre- 
fent fituation : and if you are not happy 
with us, we will endeavour to promote 
your farther advancement in life/' 

Maria received this invitation with 
every dcmonftration of gratitude ; the 
character of the Dodor had been long 
eftablilhed, and was well known to her ^ 
friends, he had been the intimate friend 
of her father ; flie knew no objcftion 
to the benevolent propofal he had 
made her ; for fhe fought improvement, 
and ihe loved inftrudion ; but above 
all, it afforded her an eligible opportu«» 
nity of leaving her prefent fituation, 
without wounding the feelings of her 
patrbneis, or incurring the imputation 
of ingratitude. 

The friends of Maria were happy 
to commit her to the care of Doftor 
Edgeware and his fifter j and this in- 

vicatiotl 



M A R I a: '4 

vitation being made known to her pa- 
tronefs, it was agreed that our heroine 
Ihould leave her, as foon as fhe fhould 
have accommodated herfelf with a pcr- 
fon to fill her place. When the Doftor, 
taking a friendly leave of his young 
charge, let forward on his journey, and 
arrived fafe in London* 



Bs CHAP, 



id MARIA. 
CHAP. II. 

V 

STORY OF MARIA. 

THE father of Maria was a phy- 
fician of great eminence in one 
of our moil capital provincial cities ; 
a man of confiderable learning, nice 
honour, great talents, and a moft pre- 
poffeffing addrefs. He was a defcendant 
of a younger branch of an ancient and 
honourable family; but marrying, foon 
after his return from the univerfity, a 
woman without fortune, andof obfcurc 
birth, his father difinherited, and his 
relations difowned him,; fo that he 
found himfelf wholly dependant, for the 
fupport of his family, on the pradlice 
of the art of medicine, which had been 
Ids moft favourite ftudy. 

At 



.MARIA. It 

At the period this hiftory commen- 
ces, Dr. Mordaunt's family confifted of 
a wife and two children^ a fon and a 
daughter, all virtuous and amiable; 
in addition to thefe blefiings, he faw 
his fame and fortune increafing daily, 
and bidding fair to rife to the^'height pf 
his well-regulated wilhes. — His. fon, a 
youth of excellent parts, was receiving . 
his education at one of the univerfides. 
Our fair heroine was three years young- 
er than her brother, Ae was juft en- 
tering into her eighteenth ^year-, her un- 
derftanding was of the firft rate ; her 
difpofition foft, delicate, and flexible ; 
her eyes were blue, and beautifully 
formed ; her other features were fofc, 
lively and engaging. Added to thefe 
attradtions, (he poffefied^ the rare gift 
of a figure that blended dignity with 
all the fprightly grace and eafy negli- 
gence which poets afcribe to nymphs 
B6 Qf 



12 M A, R I A. 

of fylvan race. She bad received Jier 
education in the houfe of her parents, 
who had themfelves been her chief in- 
(Iruftors it) many of the elegant accom? 
pliflimepts fhe had acquired. 
, She had, from her earlieft youths 
aflbciated with the politeft families in 
the city in which (he lived, and had fpent 
,three months in London, under the guid- 
ance of a genteel family, who had been 
the early friends of her parents ; fo that 
her manners were as diftant from rufti- 
city, as they were from the frivolous 
affeftation of fafhionable refinement. 

It happened one day that Dr. Mor- 
daunt was called upon to attend a gen- 
tleman who lay fick at one of the prin- 
cipal inns in the city; having been ' 
feized with a fever as he was purfuing 
a journey. The ftfanger was attend- 
ed only by his valet-, who informed 
Mr. Mordaunt that hi& mafter was the 

ion 



MARIA. 13 

fon of Lord Aubrey, and recently re- 
turned from Paris, where he had fpent 
feveral iponths with his father, who re- 
fided there in a public capacity. . 

Mr. Aubrey appeared about twenty- 
eight, his perfon had every- claim to 
the title of manly beauty. The un- 
common dignity of his deportment, 
and the ftrength of his^underftanding, 
which, had received every aid from art, 
joined to the fine polifli his manners 
had acquired from travel, and the air 
of courts, infpired Dr. Mordaunt with 
a refpedful attachn^ot for fo accom- 
pliflied a being. 

The mind pf Aubrey feemed to have 
a caft of melancholy, which Dr. Mor- 
daunt, who could penetrate into the ills 
of the mind as well as thofe of the 
body, foon difcovered had brought on 
the diforder which had introduced 
him to his acquaintance. 

As 



14 M A R I. A. 

As the ftranger began to recover, 
and take the air, Dr. Mordaunt begged 
he would do him the honour of vifit-« 
ing at his houfe while he remained in 
the city of — : and in one of his 
morning excurfions, Aubrey accepted 
the invitation. 

Our heroine was the only perfon at 
home.— She had heard Mr. Aubrey's 
culogium repeatedly from her father, 
but every thing he had faid flie found 
exceeded. 

His countenance was peculiarly 
marked with an ^xpreflion of ftrong 
fenfe, yet difplayed a fpirit mild, be- 
nevolent, and plaintive j a foul that 
wifhcd happinefs to all around, though 
moft wanting comfort and confolation 
itfelf. 

His ill health infpired her with a ten- 
der pity for, and a wifh to amufe him ; 
her forte piano lay openj he alkcd her 
lo to 



M A R I A. IS 

to touch it, and to fihg ; fhe did both, 
with a readinefs that ihewed her good* 
breeding, and a wifh of giving pleafure. 
If Aubrey was charmed with her ikill 
in mufic, her beauty, and the harmony 
of her voice, the air of elegant attrac- 
tion diffufed over her perfon and 
manners, compleated her conqueft. 

A poem he had not perufed lay on 
the table, (he read two or three paffagea 
with an enthufiafm that delighted him. 
'T'-^She requefted his opinion, whfch he 
gave. The perfpicuity of his judg- 
inent» and the delicacy of his tafte, 
claimed and won her higheft admira- 
tion. 

Mrs. Mordaunt returned from a vi- 
fit flie had been making, ere he left the 
houfe } and, after iome little time fpent 
in converfation with that lady, Mr. 
Aubrey retired. 

The moment he had quitted the 

room 



i6 MARIA. 

room Maria's vivacity withdrew it- 
felfj (he involuntarily reclined her 
head on the back of the chair on which . 
he had been fitting, and a fenfation of 
penfive regret took poffeffion of her 
foul. Mrs. Mordaunt, having taken 
up fome needle- workf did not perceive 
this change' in her daughter^ but be- 
gan to expatiate in praife of the 
ftranger; which roufing Maria, Ihe 
joined with the mod animated warmth 
in the applaufe bcftowed on Aubrey 
by her mother. A gentleman with 
whom the family were intimate, and 
one to whofe literary tafte Maria had 
ever paid a particular deference, came 
in ; he took up the book mentioned 
before, he alked her to read aloud ; fhe 
evaded it, by faying (he had fatigued 
herfelf with fo doing. He read himfelf j 
he commented as he read ; but his re- 
marks, though juft, ho longer intercft- 
2 ed 



, M A R I A. iy 

cd her ; (he left her mother to com- 
pliment him upon them, and withdrew 
to indulge her own refle(5lions. 

The mind of Aubrey had, as hath 
been faid before, a deep tindture of me- 
lancholy ; and it was evident that he 
fought relief from it in the fociety of 
the Mordaunts. 



CHAP* 



Nf A R I A. 



C HAP. III. 

IT chanced one day, whilft Aubrey 
was with them, that there came to 
fpend a fchool vacation at Dr. Mor- 
daunt's, a young gentleman who had 
been committed to theDoftor's care 
by his parents, who were Englifh fc^^ 
tiers in the Weft Indies. 

As they had aflbciated together from 
their infancy, Maria had for young 
Robinfon the afFcftioq of a fitter ;-— 
when he entered (he flew towards him, 
and giving him her hand, with a lively 
warmth, that was natural to her — 

'* My dear Charles," cried (he, " I 
rejoice to fee you.— -Come, you muft 
tell me all the adventures you have 
met with fince I faw you."— 

The 



MARIA. 19 

The young gentleman killing her 
hand led her to a feat, and the moment 
he had paid his compliments to the 
company, they entered into a lively 
dialogue, and by their humorous me- 
thod of rallying each other afforded 
great entertainment to Mr. an4 Mrs. 
Mordaunt. 

But Aubrey, who now for the firft 
time began ferioufly to find his heart 
entangled in . the mazes of a paflion 
which he dared not to avow or indulge, 
joined not in the converfation. His 
features exprefled the keened emotion 
of fpirit ; with his teeth fixed together^ 
his hands^ grafped clofe, he leant for* 
ward, whilfl: his eyes dwelt with the 
moft piercing anguifh on the counte- 
nances of both. 

Maria, perhaps, perceived fomething 
of this agitation, for flie rofe from her . 
feat, and telling young Robinfon he 

fhould 



20 M A R I A. 

fliould be a judge if fhe had not im- 
proved her Ikill in mufic, ran to the 
piano forte^ and giving him a book, 
bid him chufe a fong-—the book open- 
ed at, 

** Say mighty Lovi^ and ttach my/ongf 
•* To whom thy ffwertift joys htUng^^ 

" That is an old fong," cried Ro- 
binfon," " fet to an Italian tune. 

Whilft Maria fung. the following 
ftanza ftc percei.ved on the face of 
Aubrey indications of the moft poignant 
diftrefs :— 

■ •* Not fordid fonli of earthly mold, 
*' Who, drawn by kindred charms of gold^ 

** To doll embraces move ; 
'* So two rich mountains of Peru 
** Might grow to wealthy marriage too, 
*' And make a world of love.** 

Fearing fhe had noticed his anxiety, 
Aubrey withdrew to a window, ex- 

claiming^ 



MARIA. ti 

claiming, '^ What a wretched Fate is 
mine!" 

This interjedion was not heard dif- 
tinftly by any one prefentj but his 
emotion was apparent to all. 

That night, whilft the. maid was un- 
cirefling her, the myftery was unravel- 
led to Maria, 

" Blefs me! Ma'am," faid the girl, 
" what news I have heard to day !" 

" What news ?" faid Maria, 

*' Why, Ma'am, as I was going acrofs 
the ftreet to-day, who fliould come af- 
ter me, but Mr. Richards, Mr. Au- 
brey's fervant, — So, fays he, Mrs. Jen- 
ny, I have wanted to fee you this day or 
two ; I wanted to invite you to be my 
partner in a dance which we are going 
to have.— So I faid I was. vaftly obliged 
to him, and invited Mm (as I could do 
no lefs, you know, Ma'am) to drink tea 
with me this afternoon j-rfo, while we 

was 



22 M A R I a; 

was at tea it fell into conveffation that 
we talked about his mafter, and he 
told me (Fm fure I never was fo afto- 
nilh'd) that Mr. Aubrey was married. 
^— Good gracious, Mr. Richards! (faid 
I) why you don't tell me fo ?— I am 
fure I am quite difappointed, for I was 
thinking that there would be a match 
between our young lady and him/'— 

" Surely!" cried Maria, haftily inter- 
rupting her, " furely you did not take 
the liberty of making fo impertinent a 
fpccch/' 

" Oh, dear Ma'am, I am fure I did' 
not mean to give ofFencc— it came in 
quite natural, and I only faid it by way 
of talking in a pitying way ; for Mr. 
Richards told me a long ftbry of his 
mafter's marrying a difagreeable old 
irab of a woman to oblige his father." 

•* Well, what did. he fay?" cried 
Maria, impatiently. 

V Why, 



MARIA; a^ 

** Why, Ma'am, he told tne that old 
Lord Aubrey was a man of great eftate, 
but that hiseftate was very much cncum* 
bered with mortgages ; and fo, M^am, 
Mr. Richafds told me he heard it was 
always his father's plan to get his fon 
a grcdt poft Under government j and 
then. Ma'am, that he Ihould marry a 
woman of great fortune, to clear the fa-* 
mily eftate — and fo. Ma'am, the firft 
of thefe fchemes was quite demolifhed 
by Lord Aubrey being turned out of 
the miniftry— and then there was no- 
thing to be done but to put t'other in 
praftice.— Well, Ma'am, wbilft thefa- 
miljr was iq Parifil (for the dd gentle- 
man's poft obliged him to live there) 
there was an old rtjaid that was fitter to 
fome Lord (I forget his name) fhehad 
a naonHrous great fortune^ ahdufed to 
vifit the family, and fhe fdl in love 
with Mr. Aubrey (as well fte might, 

for 



24 M A R I A. 

for to be fure he is extraordinary hand- 
fome, and the mofl: of a gentleman I 
ever faw)— well. Ma'am, and (6 (he fell 
in love with him; and though fhe*s 
vaftly ugly, and old, and difagreeable, 
the family perfuaded him to marry her, 
fqr Ihe was in fuch a bad ftate of health 
that they did not expedt her to live 
long.— But Mr. Richards fays, he don't 
think his mafter ever would have beca 
perfuaded, hadn't he been induced by 
Bis father's refufing to difcharge his 
debts : — And hq told me in confidence^ 
that poor Mr, Aubrey, before he mar- 
ried, was di^aned ajid plagued off his 
life*— I believe, by what I hear, when 
be firft went abroad he had a rage for 
gaming-, but fince he returned from 
Italy, Mr. Richards fays he never 
fcem'd to have apy liking for it.*'— 

" You didn't fay anymore, I hope,'* 
cried ihe a little tartly, but with a look 

which 



MARIA; 25 

made Jenny fuppofe (he wiflied to hear 
all that WAf laid. 

*' No, Ma'am, I did not fay any 
thing clfe ; — but it was after he had told 
me this that I happened to fay, I was 
quite dif appointed^ for I was in hopes there 
%vould have been a ntat^h between our 
young lady and Mr. Aubrey^ as he was fa 
gre^t an admirer of her^ and fo well 
deferv^ng. — So fays Mr. Richards^ 
Why, as to the matter of that, Mrs. 
Jenny, it may be more likely to hap- 
pen now than, if they had met before, 
for the old woman is gone to Bath 
very ill indeed •, and when flie kicks 
the bucket (as the faying ijs) Mr. 
Aubrey will be his own mailer, and . 
may chufe for himfclf -, and Pm fure, 
for «wy part, /fdon't know where he 
can chyfc a more. elegant young lady 
than your's,— 'No, fays I, that's 
what he could not \ flic's amoft exdbl? 

Vol. I. C lent 



26 MARIA. 

lent young lady as ever lived. — Yes, 
I think fo, faid Mr. Richards, for I 
really''— 

" Pray let me hear no more of the 
fellpw's impertinence/' faid Maria-, 
** I believe you will never finifh talk- 
ing of him. — You did \^rong, Jaqe, 
to encourage fo much prating.*' 

Notwithftanding the apparent indif- 
ference with which Maria had heard 
this intelligence, Ihe was no fooner 
alone, than a gufti of tears relieved the 
forrow which opprefied her heart. She 
perfuaded herfetf (he wept for the fuf- 
fcrings of Aubrey, abftrafted from 
every other cottfideration; and under 
the idea of fympathizing pity, indulg- 
ed the poignant fenfations of difap^ 
pointed love. If (as. hath often been 
obferved) *' pity melt§ the foul to 
love," when a heart aliwdy attached 
feels its influence, how much tnore 
4 ftrongly 



MARIA. If 

ftrongly muft it endear the objedt! 
•^The information Maria had receiv- 
ed, threw a fadnefs over her manners 
the^ next day. As fhe fcemed low* 
fpirited, Doftor Mordaunt propofed 
their going to the play that evenings 
there being a tolerable company of 
players at that time in the city. The 
comedy of '** The Recruiting Officer** 
was to be performed^ by dcfire of the 
officers of a regiment then quartered 

at ' ! ■■ " The Mordaunts went; 

Aubrey was of their party j the houfe, 
as they expefted, was extremely full 5 
the abilities of fome of the performers 
decent ; and every thing went ofFprctty 
fmoothly, till the aftor who did the 
character of Bullock, either through 
ignorance of the words of his part, or 
by way of an attempt at wit, inftead * 
of faying, in the fourth ad, to Sylvia, 
[^ 1 thought you were & captain^, by 
C z you? 



28 MARIA. 

your cockade and your courage," ex- 
changed the word courage for impu- 
dence. The gentlemen of the army, 
incenfed at his audacity, which they 
conftrued into an infult upon their 
profejfton^ would not fuffer the perform- 
ance to go on, until the fellow had 
begged pardon on his knees, for his 
infolence; this he refufed to do, ftand* 
ing on the itage with an air of heroifm, 
amidft hiifes, groans, &c. till feeing 
two or three officers attempting to get 
upon the ftage, v^th their fwords 
drawn, he thought proper to make a 
precipitate retreat behind the fcenes ; 
and the manager, coming forward, 
told the audience that the performer 
had made his efcape, and afluring 
them he fhould not appear any more, 
unlefs he made the fubmiflion exaded 
by them. This account of his de- 
campment only incenfed them the 
' ^ morej 



M A R I a: 29 

more -, they thought bis cfcape a con-, 
nivance between the manager and play- 
er, and faid they would accept of no 
apology but what came from the latter, 
and that on his knees, or the company 
fhould never be permitted to perform 
there again. The manager bowed fub- 
miffively, faid he would endeavour to 
find him, and retired, and the audi- 
cnce again became tolerably quiet; 
but a confiderable time having elapfed, 
and no one appearing, the houfe once 
more became a fcene of riot ;— fcveral 
of the officers jumpefi upon the ftage, 
and ran behind the fcenes; but not 
finding the objedt of their difpleafure 
there, cut the fcenery all to pieces with 
their fwords, kicked the lamps about 
the ftage, &c. &c. The pacific part 
of the audience ftrenuoufly endeavour- 
ed to make their efcape fronn this 
fcene of clamour and outrage. Mrs. 
C 3 Mordaunt 



30 MARIA. 

Mordaunt and Maria, atnong'the re(^, 
were impatient to get out,^ expelling 
every moment to' fte fomebody mur- 
dered. Aubrey ftrove to force a paf- 
fage for Maria, and in the ftruggle they 
loft fight of the Do6lor and his lady ; 
and j uft as they were getting to the 
threlhold of the door, the crowd which 
hemmed them about gave way for a 
moment, and fomebody accidentally 
treading on the train of Maria's goWn^ 
ihe funk down, and the throng clofing 
round her, deprived her of the power 
ef calling for afliftance. What were 
the horrors of Aubrey*s foul at that 
moment I — Terror lent him incredible 
ftrength ; — 'by his exertions and his 
cries he forced back the crowd for a 
moment, apd fnatching her (rendered 
almoft totally infenfible by the violent 
conculfions fhe had received) momen- 
taneoufly from the ground^ held her in 

his 



MARIA, 31 

Ills arms till they got out of the play- 
houfe ; when lifting her into his chariot, 
and feating himfelf befide her^ he or- 
dered the coachman to drive to Dr. 
,Mordaunt*s. During their little Hde, 
Aubrey^ ftill fupporting her, gave a 
loofe to the excruciating motions this 
alarming accident had infpired, Maria, 
beginning to refover from the ftate of 
ftupefadion into which fhe had been 
thrown^ to afenfibility of his folicitudc, 
heard the involuntary efTu&ons of his 
griefs which were too anxioufly ten- 
der, too fondly impafljoned, to proceed 
frflm any but the lips of love. She 
liftened with a pleafing tr^nfport to 
the heart-foothing founds, which for 
fome moments banifhed from her mind 
all remembrance of his fituation, and 
even fufpended, for the time, the ope- 
ration of pain. But memory, faithful 
to propriety, foon reminded her of her 
C 4 fault 



32 M A R I a: 

fault in indulging thefe too foftcning 
fenfations, and recalled ^her from a 
fcduftive dream to a lively fcnfe of 
•bodily anguifh. She had received a 
violent bruife on one fide of her head, 
and a complaint of this was the firfl: 
words flie articulated to Aubrey. De- 
lighted to hear the found of her voice 
oncQ again, he exprefied his joy in the 
moft animated terms, painting to her 
the delpair in which he had been in- 
volved, by beholding her in danger of 
expiring at his feet, Maria, who had 
before but a very imperfedt idea of 
what had happened to her, had but juft 
time to thank him for the prefervation 
of her life, ere the carriage flopped at 
the door of her father's houfe. Fortu- 
nately for our fair heroine perhaps 
was this interruption ;-~fhe might, in 
the flow of her gratitude, have uttered 
exprelfions which would have too faith- 
fully 



M A R I a; 33 

fully painted to Aubrey the ftatc of 
her hearjt. Mr, and Mrs. Mordaunt 
had happily got home a few minutes 
before them, unhurt; and the Doftor 
was fetting out again in fearch of h\i 
daughter, for whofe fafety they vfirt 
keenly alarmed, Mrs. Mordaunt was 
greatly afFefted at fight of the contu* 
lion her daughter had received : Maria 
reclined on a fopha, whilft the DoSkot 
anxioufly examined the bruife on her 
temple, which, to the extreme joy of 
Aubrey and Mrs. Mordaunt, he did 
not apprehend would prove of dange- 
rous confequence ; he then gave orders 
for fomething proper to be applied, 
and in the interval our fair heroine 
related, as well as (he was able, to her 
parents the obligations Ihe owed to 
Mr. Aubrey. Their exprcflions of 
gratitude were oppreffingly lively to 
Aubrey, who thought himfclf amply 
: Cs repaid 



34 M A R I 4. 

repaid for the effort he had made, by 
preferring from deftruAion a woman 
"whofe life he would have died to have 
redeemed. As foon as the application 
had been made to her temple, Mrs, 
Mordauni conduced her daughter to 
her chamber v and Aubrey, after fitting 
9 few minutes with Dr* Mordaunt, 
took his leave, and returned home 
tnuch perturbed in n:und. 



CHAP. 



M A R i a: 3S 



CHAP. IV. 



HE was announced at Dr. Mor* 
daunt's the next nnorning", thai 
gentlcmart was gone out, and Mrs*- 
Mordaunt engaged : but (he told thf 
fcrvant to (hew Mr. Aubrey, into her 
dreffing-room, where he would find 
her daughter. Maria had reclined her- 
felf on a fopha ; and the fatigue of a 
deeplefs nig)>t had thrown her iQto a 
gentle flunribcr y her drefs was, white 
muQin, ^nd, to fbade the light from 
her face, (he had thrown carelef^ly over 
it a gauze veil» which heightening the 
natural delicacy of her features, gave an 
extreme of foftnefs to her perfon^ that 
had a moft enchanting efieft. Aubrey 
C 6 approachcdt 



'S6 M A R I a; 

approached her with the fame reve- 
rence an ancient Roman would have 
felt, bad he been admitted into the pre- 
fence of a veiled virgin of the temple 
of Fefta. A fmall lock of her fine 
auburn hair had (Irayed from its con- 
finemeht) and waved on her ihoulder ; 
—the fight of a pair of fciffars which 
happened p lay on a table, tempted 
him to make himfelf mafter of this 
beautiful treafure : jufl as he had done 
fo Maria opened her eyes, and detefted 
him in the a£t of conveying it into his 
pocket-book. A lovely blu(h of fur- 
prize,' bf confufion, fliot acrofs her 
cheeks, which her indifpofition had 
before rendered paler than common, 
Whilft, with a hefitating voice, and ex-^ 
tending her hand, fhe excUimed, 
** Pray, Mr. Aubrey, return me the 
lock ;-r"iBdeed you have done wrongs 
I cannot confcnt to your taking it.'*— 

It Pardon 



M A R I A. 37 

** Pardon me, deareft Mifs Mordaunt,*^ 
returned Aubrey ; ** the liberty I have 
taken I am fenfible needs many apo- 
logies ; but furely you cannot befo 
cruel, fo extremely rigid^ as tO'dqprivt 
me of this little memento qf thefriend- 
Ihip you have prbfeffcd to4ipnour me 
with, when I tell you that I muft this 
day bid adieu to your charmingibciety, 
as I fliall leave this city to-morrow, 
and am jk>w come to take my leave of 
you and your atmiabl^famil]!, to'whol^ 
humanity arid politenefs I owe fo many 
obligations/^ The infohnation of bis 
defign of leaving the* p\z,cfi ' dfedted 
his purpofe much ibonerrthan aiiy 
thing elfe he.!coUld have urg&d^ for 
Maria's mind became fo wholly en- 
grofled by thi$ idea, that having tre* 
muloufly- uttered the wofds, " In^eqd^ 
Mr. A^bj-cy ! fo foonl" Ihe. renaaip- 
ed ^\vA iof fome miAutes, i^pying to» 
IQ ' concc4 



^^8 M A R I a; 

conceal the agitation the intelligence^ad 
occjtfloned 19 her bofomr During thit 
interval Mrs. Mordaunt entered, wbons 
Aubrey likewtfe made acquainted with 
Jiis intended journey. She exprefled 
' her great regret in very polite teraij^ 
and begged he would do^ the PoAor 
and herfelf the honour of fpeif ding the 
4}ay with thena. The invitation was 
accepted by Aubrey $ but, though (he 
had fo' many opportunities of renew«^ 
ihg thd fubjeA, Maria never once 
again alluded to the lock of hair he 
had taken from her: whether the 
compaflion ihe felt for the diftrcfs 
which was vifible m the councei^aace 
of Aubrey the whole d^> prevented 
her from ieeking to deprive him of 
what (he apprehended he felt fome 
fatisfa&ion in pofieflingy or whetheir 
Ihe really didnot recoBeSl the circum-^ 
ftancei we pretend iKil;to determine. 

Maria^ 



MARIA* s^ 

Maria, fearful of {hewing too plainly 
her feelings, if (he was prcfent when he 
took his final leave of them, withdrew 
foon after cfinner, under pretence of in* 
difpofition, wilhing him afafe and plea- 
fant journey, with all the cafe Ihe could 
affume ; when, retiring to her own 
apartment, (he gave way to the fa4 
luxury of woe her fituation infpired* 



CHAK 



40 



MARIA. 



CHAP. V. 



IT happened, about a year after thefe 
occurrences, that a dreadful dif- 
order raged in one of our Weft India 
iflands, which being taken into con- 
fideration by government, it was deemed 
expedient to fend over a certain num- 
ber of fkilful phyficians; among whom^ 
the father of our fair heroine obtained 
an appointment. When he received- 
orders to prepare for his departure, he 
was advifed by his moft judicious 
friends, to convert what pofleflions 
and effefts he could fpare rpto money 
to carry with him, with which he was 
fdfured he might purchafe lands in the 

Indies^ 



M A R I A. 41 

Indies, that would in time far furpals 
its prefent worth in England. 

Dr. Mordaunt acceded to thefe ad- 
monitions; and, leaving only fuffi- 
cient to enable his family to.fqpport^ 
during the term of his abfence, the 
fituation they had hitherto held in life^ 
he undercookfa dangerous voyage, with 
the hope of benefiting, his beiaved fa- 
mily. 

By the fpirited'and fkilful efforts of 
- the medical gentlemen fent abroad, this 
epidemic malady was fpcedily over- 
come. But alas! at the time Dr. 
Mordaunt was preparing to return to 
the bofom of domeftic happinefs, and 
anticipating the reward of his toils, ah 
unfortunate accident put a period to 
his valuable exiftcnce, and precipitated 
his family into the deepeft abyfs of 
woe. 

Superadded to the irremediable af- 

aiftion 



42 MARIA. 

fliaion they fuftaincd in the lofs of fo 
wifct indulgent, and affeftionace a pro- 
teftor, through the faul contingency 
that deprived him of life happening 
before he had properly fecurcd his 
newJy-purchafed landS) all was loft to 
them. 

To attempt a defcription of the 
beart-tseiidiBg forrowa of this afflicted 
family would be in vain ! — The fon qf 
dils excellent mto Kavittg juft at this 
period finifhed his fcbolailic learning, 
fome of his father's friends procured 
.him an appointment. a$ a writer to the 
Et& India Company, and fitted him 
out for the voyage. 

The departure of her fon was a very 
poignant addition to the griefs of Mrs. 
Mordaunt 5 and her ahgui(h of mind 
brought on a diforder, which (in a few 
months after the death of her hufband) 
terminated in her final diffolution. 

Our 



MARIA. 43 

Our farr and difconfolatc heroine^ 
after licr mother's death, received invi- 
tations from feverai of diofe who had 
been the particular friends of her .pa« 
rents, to fpend hir time amongft them 
till fome plan could be thought of for 
her future eftablifhment. But a ladf 
of fafhion in the neighbourhood re* 
queft tng her to zfS& in the education of 
her children, flie preferred a regular 
fituation in that capacity to a rambling 
dependance on the hofpitality of 
friends. Here ffae might have been 
as happy as the ftate of her nitod 
would admit bf, had it not been for 
the circumftance (he related on her 
firft interview with Dodor Edgewarc^ 
and which the reader is already pofleflf- 
cd of. 

The mind of Maria had not (at the 
time the incident occurred which we 
havf recorded in the firft chapter of 

this 



44 MARIA. 

this volume) in any degree recovered 
its ufaal tone ; the tumult <^her griefs 
had, it is true^ confiderably abated; 
but the painful remembrance of the 
irreparable lofles ihc had fuftained 
ftill faddened her foul ; her future 
profpeds were, befides, chearlefs and 
uncomfortable; of independance Ihe 
had no profped, but from marri^ : 
fcveral refpedable and advantageous 
propofals of that nature had been made 
to her, both before and after the death 
of her parents ; but the perfections of 
Aubrey (notwithftanding her carneft 
endeavours to controul this partiality) 
had made too deep an impreffion on her 
heart, to fuficr her to liften with com- 
pofure to overtures of that kind. She 
ftrove unceafingly to banifh thofe per- 
feftions from her mind ; but alas \ un- 
availingly. — She faw nothing elegant, 
attractive, and commanding, that did 

not 



M A R I a: 45 

not recall to her ioiagination the fame 
graces, heightened and glowing with 
redoubled luftre, in the polifhed ex« 
terior, and exalted foul of the top in- 
terefting Aubrey.— rin this dejcftion 
of fpirit fhe arrived in London, 



CHAPJ 



46 MARIA. 



CHAP. VI. 



DOCTOR EDGEWARE was on 
a vifit at a friend^s habitation 
a few miles out of town, when Maria 
arrived at his houfe in London ; but 
Mrs. Tonto, his fitter, received her 
with many expreOions of pleafure. 

This lady's figure was long, dry, 
and uninterefling *, her nofe narrow and 
pinched in at the bottom; her lips 
were remarkably thin, and her eyes in 
colour, fize, and power of expreflion, 
pretty much refembled a couple of 
black cherries. 

Her mind had caught a tinge of 
fcience from the converfation of her 
brother^ and her deceafed hufband, 

who 



M A R I A; 47 

vfho was a clergyman ; but pofleffing 
neither ftreiigth of underftanding, nor 
brilliant parts, the fcattered rays of 
knowledge (he had thus acquired, 
ferved only to augment her natural 
fdf-fufficiency •, and taught her to look* 
with contempt on perfons of ^better 
capacity and fupcrior judgment, who 
had moved in a different circle. 

All fcandal being barred in the pre- 
fence of the Dodor, Mrs. Tonto*s 
converlation generally turned on fenti- 
mental fubje&s; and ike would (at 
Polly Honeycomhe cxprefles it) expa- 
tiate for feveral hours together on 
^l the fetffibility of dcUcate feelings* adorn- 
ii?g her remarks: fometimes with a few 
ftolen critictfms, that had occafionally 
dropped from the Doftor in his tete* 
a-tite converfations with her-, but 
thcfc decorations ftie ufually referved 
£^ days of Gala^ I mean thofe periods 

when 



48 MARIA.* 

when flie difplaycd her acquiremerits 
at the literary affembly, or converfa* 
zione^ held at her brother's houfe one 
day in every week. 

And I affure you, reader, Mrs. Ton to 
had no little portion of celebrity j— -for 
a fmall poem, faid to have been com* 
pofed by her, had been handed about 
in manufcript ; which (having under- 
gone numberlefs alterations and cor* 
redlions from the pen of the Do&or, 
infomuch that fcarcely any of the origi- 
nal matter remained) when it was at 
length turned into the wide world,inade 
no difreputable figure. 

This piece had indeed been of fingu* 
lar fervicc to her fame 5 for if any 
dared but to hint that they could dif- 
cern no fymptoms of genius in her con- 
verfationj they were immediately an- 
fwercd, V Ob^Jbe must he a woman of 

talents. 



M A R I A. 49 

talents^ f&r Ifaw a very ingenious pom rf 
ifer writing.** 

' Bcfide this, flie had h^ another 
confiderablc advantage 5 namely^ the 
havi^ig a veryjinc compliment upon her 
wit and beauty fent to her, in a pocti- 
cal drefs, by the ingenious Mr. Nigglc- 
pen, and inferred in all the periodical 
papers. The faft was, flie had taken 
various opportunities of CKprcfliog a 
ftrong and unaccoumablc curiofity 
(pec^fe of genius have ftrange whims) 
to fee in what manner the moft celebra- 
ted wits and writers of the age formed 
tbc letter A, Mr.Nigglepeni who had 
long wiflied to be ranked among thofe 
who bad the honour of vifiting Dr. 
Edgewarc, and had penetration enough 
tafee into Mr^.Tonto'sftratagem^hap* 
penirtgcto hear of tliat kdyVpaffion for 
great A%^ immediately fatdoWn and ad- 
dreffcd the beforc-mentioilld compli* 
D ment 



50 M A R I A. 

ment to her, which begun, *' Ah ! love- 
ly black-eyed nymph" — It was won- 
derfully well received by Mrs. Tonto, 
and, at her particular requeft, an invi- 
tation was fent to Mr. Nigglepcn by 
the Dodlor. The fuccefs ; of Mr. 
Nigglepen made many more of the in- 
ferior wits pra6tifc the fame trick, but 
not with the like fuccefs ; for Dr. 
Edgewarc diredlly perceived thtfinejfe^ 
and told Mrs. Tonto, (he muil be con- 
tented with the high admiration of 
thofe gentlemen at a diftance ; for that 
he could not think of a perfonal ac- 
quaintance with all her multifarious 
admirers. 

How ftriking an inftance of the 
fuperiority of modern over ancient 
inodelly does the delicate obliquity of 
Mrs. Tonto's conduft exhibit, when 
contrafted with the behaviour of Cicero 
on a finnilar occafion ? that great orator 

writing 



MARIA. 51 

writing point blank to rcqueft an hifto- 
ri^n to celebrate him in his work, and 
even dictating his own eulogium ( 

Mrs. Tonto was fitting, when Maria 
came in, furrounded by animals of 
various kinds : in one corner of the 
room ftood a cage with a pair of turtle 
doves ; on a cufhion by her fide lay a 
dog 'y and over her head hung a noify 
parrot ; at her feet a large cat, and 
from the oppofite fide of the room 
flirilly warbled a canary bird. 

As foon as Mrs. Tonto had paid 
her compliments to Maria, and inform- 
ed her that the Do£tor was from home, 
flie enquired if.fhe was fond of ani- 
mals : and, before Maria could reply, 
told her it was a certain fign of a ten- 
der and amiable difpofition; 

Maria anfwered, that ihe had not 

made obfervatigns enough to determine 

whether it waa a rule^ but faid fixe had 

D 2 feen 



St MARIA. 

feen feveral inftances of the fagacity 
9nd faith of dogs, and knew feveral 
very cjcccllcnt people who were fond 
of them. 

** Ob, my dear Mifs Mordaunt," 
cried Mrs. Tonto, " I have fuch a 
peculiar tendernefs for animals of all 
kinds, you can't conceive what I un- 
dergo through it. I met with an affair 
laft: Michaelmas that afFeded me in a 
moftifhocking manner: I happened 
to call at our poulterer*s in Newport 
M^ket, and a boy was going to kill 
agQofe, and he was jerking and fqueez- 
ing the poor creature in the mod ex-* 
cruciating ftile your imagination can 
form an idea of.— I affure you, Mifa 
Mordaunt, the goofe fent forth fuch 
piteous fighs, and gave fuch horrid 
gafps, as the cruel wretch held the 
knife to his throat, that (as my belov* 
cd Sterne fays) /A/y pierced my very 

heart 5 



MARIA. 5^ 

heart ; and, to incrcafe the anguifli of 
the whole, a parcel of geefe that were 
confined in a great bafket, fet up fuch 
horrid (hrieks, as if deploring the fat« 
of their unhappy companion, that I 
could ftand the fcene no longer. I 
put a (hilling into the boy's hand, and 
begged him to defifl: till I had got out 
of the market : he did defift, and all 
was quiet j but only continued fo till 
I had quitted the fhop •, for the mo- 
ment my back was turned, he again 
put the knife to the poor being't 
throat, when immediately every goofe 
in the baflcet rent the air with its cries. 
I flopped my ears with my fingers, 
and walked as hard as I was able out 
of the market ; and, the Doddr knows, 
when I got home I was fo affeded that 
I fell into an hyfteric fir, and, I dare 
fay, (hrieked as loud as the poor mifer* 
able geefe for a couple of hours/* 

D3 Sh» 



54 MARIA. 

She had hardly ended when a wo- 
man fervant entered, and began to lay 
the cloth, but was interrupted by Mrs. 
Ton.to's faying, " Cook, where is 
Jenny ? — you know I don't like to 
have you come into the parlour ;— flie 
knows it is her place to wait at table 
when John is gone out with his maf- 
ter." 

'* She is not well. Madam,*' anfwer- 
cd the woman, ** and gone to lie down 
upon the bed. She has got a fever 
and head- ache. Ma'am.'* 

" I fhould not have thought of her 
indolence," faid Mrs. Tonto ; " that 
girl is always feigning ficknefs out of 
idlenefs ; pray go and tell her to come 
down; — you know I don't like to 
have you do any thing in the par- 
lour." 

The c ook retired, and Jenny came 
in. The girl was thin, and of a con- 

fumptivc 



MARIA. s5 

fumptive habit ; her eyes appeared 
heavy and funken with the head-ache ; 
her cheeks had a he<5tic glow, and her 
lips were parched. - 

'* What makes you hold down your 
head and look fo lU-tenTpered?" faid 
Mrs. Tohto ; " you know I cannot 
bear fulky people about me.*' 

Maria, who had not. yet learnt that 
difficult leffon (fo neceffary for a dc- 
l^endant) to fee» to hear, and to fay no- 
thing, Ihockcd at Mrs. Tonto's want of 
humanity, exclaimed, '* Dear Madam,* 
furely you don't fee. that the young 
woman looks ill." 

Mrs. Tonto, after having made fo 
great a parade of tendernefs, was not 
pleaCed with Maria for this reproof i 
which only made her the 'more obfti- 
nately perfift in faying, it was all the 
pretext of indolence. 

*' If I thought," continued Ihe,' 
D4 "that 



S6 MARIA. 

^' that (be was ill, no one would da 
more for her j for my parr, I am not 
one of thofe who think fervants a dif- 
ferent fpecies •, / look upon them as 
unfortunate irotbers and Jifters ; and, * 
when they are really ill, treat them ac-^ 
cordingly." 

Juft before they fat down to dinner^ 
Maria was agreeably furprized by, the 
entrance of Dn Edgewarc, who ba4 
returned fooner than was expefted y he 
gave her, in few wordSj-a very friendly 
and afieAionate reception. 

The moment he had feated him&lf,, 
he called for a glafs of wine : as the 
fick feryant brought it to him, he cad 
his eyes upon her face, and immediate* 
ly, with a look of compaffion and the 
tone of furprife, articulated the words, 
** You are lick ; — why are you here ?** 
This laconic fentence, contrafted with 
the long and futile harangue fhe had fo 

recently 



MARIA. 57 

recently heard from Mrs. Tonto, on 
the fubjedt of fympathy and benevd* 
lence, filled her bread with an afiic- 
tionate veneration for the heart of her 
patron ; and wKilft (he mentally repeat- 
ed the words, *' You are fick j-r-why, 
are you here ?'* a tear of admiration 
fprung to her eye. 

Mrs. Tonto felt the greatcft awe iii 
the prefence of the Doftor, and the 
flighted hint from him was a law witlv 
her; Ihe accordingly joined in difmif- 
fing Jenny,, and went to her clofdt^' 
from whence Ihe didiurfed fomething 
to make a cordial for the Tick girl. 



Vs CHAP, 



58 MARIA. 



CHAP. VII. 

THE next morning, as Maria de- 
fcended the ftairc^fe to breakfaft^ 
ihe heard a noife which feemed to pro- 
ceed from the lower regions; and, 
flopping a moment to liilen, (be dif- 
covered that Mrs. Tonto differed from 
other European commanders, whofe 
cuftom it has been, time immemorial, 
to infpirit their people to a£tion with 
pleafant and elevatThg mu(ic, fhe hav- 
ing adopted the mode of the ancient 
Parthians, who (as Plutarch relates) 
chofe rather, on thofe occafions, harih, 
hollow, difmal founds, fomething be- 
tween the crafhing of thunder and the 
howling of wild beafts« 

To fpcak without metaphor, Mifs 
Mordauni beard Mrs. Tonto,^ in a 

loud 



M A R I Al 59^ 

loud and querulous tone, reprimanding 
her feryants for negleft of orders the 
antecedent day, and enforcing thofe of 
the prelent hour with great warmth 
and energy. 

Maria, wiQiing to hear as little as 
poflible of the engagement, haftened 
into the breakfaft parlour, and in a 
few minutes the Dodor made his ap- 
pearance. Mrs. Tonto no fooncr 
heard his voice in the parlour, than 
fhe afcended, and began to apologize 
for fome loud talking^ ftie faid, Ihe fup* 
pofcd they muft have heard, telling 
them that the cook had been fo im- 
pertinent (he could not bear her ; *' And 
this creature I took," continued flie, 
" out of mere compaffion, when IJie 
was out of place and in great diftrefs ; 
— fhe perfedlly begged berfelf in^ for \ 
did not think fhe would 'do for us j 
and now after all, fhe hath turned out 
X) 6 the 



6o MARIA. 

the moft ungraiMfaL creature ' in the 
world. .But this is the way I am al*> 
ways rewarded :— I meet with nothing 
but inilances of ingratitude. It is not 
only from fcrvants that one experi- 
ences it; there's the ingenious Mrs. 
Hcmiftich (from whom one might 
have expefted a better Jiik of behavi- 
our) hath ufed me very unfeelingly^ 
Her beautiful lines upon friendlhip, fo 
confonant to my own feelings, had 
won my hearty and, as the poet fays, 

<« Made it all her owa.^' 
I thought to have formed a pure and 
lively friendftiip ^ith her-, but I had no 
fooner been introduced to her, and 
had vifited her a few times, than I 
perceived (he beg^m to (light me ^ and 
once when I called, (he was not at 
home to me, though I had not got 
many fteps from the. door before I faw 
Mrs. — , the celebrated writer, ad- 
mitted. 



MARIA. 6p 

micted./ I declare I ibt as ilf for i^fort-^ 
night after-, it threw me into a fever 
that had like to have coll me my life*,: 
for the Dodor knows I was confined 
to my chamber for feveral weeks." 

"If (he did not wifh the acquaint- 
ance," faid the Doftor mildly^ "it 
fhewed a fincerity of difpofition to 
drop the intercourfe at once, rather 
than to pretend to what Ihe did not feel. 
.As to her lines on friendfliip,— 'it be- 
trays a want of difcernment, to be fur- 
prifed that the mind can conceive and 
reprefent beauties in charafter, which 
it does not exhibit in its own. One 
might as naturally cxprefs amazement, 
that a painter could conceive and pour- 
tray graces and proportions diredly 
oppofite to his own figure." 

" I believe/* faid Maria, " we gene- 
rally exped too much from friend«* 
ihip," ; 

" True 



6o M A R I A. \l \. 

the moft ungrat£faLcrcBturtin Ui ^-^ 7^ 
world. But this is the way I ^^^ ^^^^ - 
ways rewarded :— I meet with nbthi., t . 
but inftanccs of ingratitude. It i?ix 
only from fervants that one cxpe;, ^ 
ences it •, there*s the ingenious Mr. 
Hcmiftich (from whom one migi r^.I^. 
have expefted a better J}ile of bchav 
pur) hath ufed me very unfeelingly 
Her beautiful lines uponfriendfliip^ 1 
confonant to my own feelings, ha' 
won my hearty and, as the poet fays, 

•• Made it all her owa." 
I thought to have formed a pure anc 
lively friendftiip jwith 
fooner been introduc 
had vifited her a few 
perceived (he beg^in to : 
once when I called, Ac 
home to me, though I h 
many fteps from the door be 
Mrs. — , the celebrated wr 




6o MA 

the moft ungrd 
world. But thi' 
way5 rewarded 
but inftances ^ 
only from j 
ences it •, t!. 
Hcmiftich 
have expec 
pur) hath 
Her beau 
confonant 
won my h 



I thoug!; 
lively fn 
fooner L 
had vif] 
perceive^ 
once wh 
home tf 



:^Do&or, " for 

aiftrmy-imagi- 

^^aifloncc, to con- 

_<r outwardly po- 

. ^^odeffing fuperior 

^ till I have feen 

^ c in their conduft. 

,ji"c that any appear- 

-ic goodnefs may re- 

^^ of deportment, or 

.^ing talents. , Thus 

iioa U on a nearer view 

,^^ is a fource of glad 

fiiiiiliarity with friends, 

/ten brings difappoint- 

^[t, to me unfolds unex* 

^ for admiration and 

.J. now put an end to the 
by propofing that they 




ARIA. 63 



P. viir. 

little party were 
beautiful piece of 
he artift had de- 
meeting of Pom* 
• the battle of 
'n an elderly 
dical appear- 
\d of about 
rs ' of age, 
d to be his 

this vifi* 

t folem- 

fdf, he 

m of 

fame 

imc 



^j^ 



62 M A R I A. 

" True ;'• replied theDoftor, « for 
my own part, I never fuffermy imagi- 
nation, on a firft acquaintance, to con- 
ceive any one, however outwardly po- 
lifhed and urbane^ as pofTeffing fuperior 
excellence of heart, till I have feen 
proofs that evince it in their conduft. 
Till then, I fuppofe that any appear- 
ance of pre-eminent goodnefs may rcr 
fult from the graces of deportment, or 
the glow of fliining talents. Thus 
every noble aftion I, on a nearer view 
of them, difcover, is a fource of glad 
furprize : and familiarity with friends, 
which to others often brings difappoint- 
ment and difguft, to me unfolds unex* 
pedted claims for admiration and 
efteem. 

The DoAor now put an end to the 
converfation, by propofing that they 
ihould call upon an eminent ftatuary 
of his acquaintance. — This propofal 
was acceded tOj and they went. 

CHAP. 



MARIA. 63^ 



CHAP. viir. 

WHILST our little party were 
admiring a beautifpl piece of 
fculpture, in which the artift had de- 
lineated the afFedling meeting of Pom* 
pcy and Cornelia, after the battle of 
Pharfalia, there came in an elderly 
man- of fedate and methodical appear- 
ance, accompanied by a lad of about 
feventeen or eighteen years 'of age, 
whom they fpeedily perceived to be his 
fon. 

Mr. Hardwick (for fo was this vifir 
tor called) enquired with great folem- 
nity if the wax portrait of himfelf, he 
had ordered, was finifhed : it was fhewn 
to him, and received the fanftion of 
his approbation s his fon at the fame 

time 



$4 M A R . I A. 

time pronouncing it ** a prodigious fine 
things and fifty per cent, better than any 
likencfs that had hitherto been taken of 
him i" and felicitating his father upon 
befng handed down to pofterity with 
exadnefs, among other geniufes of his. 
day* 

The DoiStor lifted up his eyes at the 
found of the words " Geniufes of bis 
d^ \** and as foon as he faw Mr. Hard- 
wick engaged in earneft converfation. 
with the ftatuary, enquired of his fon,. 
in a low voice, '* who that gentleman 
was.'* 

" Blefs me. Sir," cried young Hard^ 
wick, ** don't you know myN father ? 
why. Sir, he's one of the greateft j-^w-" 
ufes In all our bufmefs : Sir, he was the 
Original inventor of le grand pomade for 
the hair : Sir, he has found out things 
that nobody elfe before ever found out, 
and has' made a great fortune, by his 

difcoveries. 



M A R 1 A. 65 

difcovcries. — ^Wc keep the great per- 
futncr's (hop in ftrect/^ 

ThcDodlor ftartcd back involuntari- 
ly at this piece of information, and ut- 
tering the interjedion, " humph/* and^ 
half fuppreffing a finilc, returned ta 
what he had before been viewing. 

** I think, Sir,**faid Mr. Hardwicfe 
gravely to the ftatuary, *'I think I 
ibould like to hawz^dosoen of thefe por- 
tfaitd of nfj^df^ fdt I have promifcd 
them to all my partieuiar friends ; but 
I think I fhall keep a couple to put i» 
my own dining room» thotigh I don^e 
rightly know where I fliallhaog them 

" Oh Lord, father I why hang theni 
up of each fide the glafs/' cried the i6n% 
** they'll make exceeding pretty fom^ 

*' Why yes, Dick,** faid he, looking 
thoughtfully, " that's not a bad notion* 

of 



66 M A R I a: 

of thine; but I don't think it will 
be quite clever neither, upon fccond 
thoughts ; for I don't recolledl I ever 
faw two things of a fort hung up to^ 
geth^r." 

* " Oh Lord, father ! did you never 
fee two horns full of flowers, nor two 
lions heads hung up of each fide a 
looking-glafs ?" 

" True, Dick, true;** faid Mr. 
Hardwick, *' I believe you have hit 
the thing— you arc right 5 and, by way 
of variety, you knowi fir (turning to 
the (latuary) fuppofe we have one in 
wbi^e and one in coloured wax/^ 

*'Very proper, fir,** returned the 
artift.— -— *' That's a fine conceit of 
your's, father,** faid Dick, '* becaufc 
then your friends, you know, will fee 
you in all colours, — Hah 1 hah ! he f 
be!** 

"Don't 



MARIA. 6^ 

" Don't be too forwardly, Dick," 
faid Mr. Hardwick.— ^ 

Here they were interrupted by the 
entrance of a footman, bearing in his 
arms fomething clad in a fcarlet cloth 
cloak trimmed with gold fringe, which 
they fuppofcd to be a child in long 
coats ; but upon the wrapper being 
opened, they difcovered.alap-dc^almoft 
worn out with old age. 

** Mrs, Aubrey's compliments," faid 
the fervant, " and (he has fent the dog 
flie talked to you about yefterday, fir 5 
and (he begs and intreats, fir, that you 
will pleafe to take as ftrong a likenefs 
as pofllble, as the^^^r creature is given 
over by the phyfician, whoiays it can- 
not live above a week longer 5 and fhe 
begs you'il pleafe to contrive, fir, not 
to let it fit to be modelled any where 
but in a warm room, wrapt in its 
cloak \ for if it ihould be expofed to 

the 



68 M A R I A^ 

the datnpncfs arifing from a large body 
of clay, (he fears it will be taken off 
before the ftatue is compleated •, and 
my miftrefs fays ihe cannot exifl: after its 
deceafe, if (he has not a ftrong refem- 
blance of the fwcet original to confole 
her for its lofs*'* 

The footman, with great difficulty^ 
fupprcflTcd an explofion of mirth, whilft 
he delivered the mftffdgc, and his auditors 
were in a fituatJon Kttle Ic{s inclined to 
the indulgence of the ritible faculty. 

The ftatuary, howerer, compofed 
Kis muicles fufficiently to tell him, 
•* that he was particularly engaged 
tbeni but de(rred he would carry the 
dog into the parlour, and he would 
attend' it prefently.** 

The whole company now facrificed 

freely to the laughter-loving goddefs, 

except Mrs. Tonto, who was hurt that 

an extravagant fondneis for animals 

^ fbould 



MARIA. 69 

fiiauld be confidered in fo ridiculous a 
light. 

" I cannot, I own,*' faid ihe, " fee any 
thing fo very diverting in this affair i— 
it gives me a very high idea of the la- 
dy's excellence of difpofition.— For 
even the poor beetle that we tread up- 
on, in corpord.1 fufferance, feels a pang 
as great as when a giant dies. I think 
there is fomething very pretty and af- 
fecting in having a ftatue of an ani- 
mal that one doated upon in its life- 
time, to conible one after its depar- 
ture. For my part, if my poor little 
Fug was to die, I ihould be moft hap* 
py to have a ftatue of it to weep over 
in my retirement." 

" Certainly, madam," faid the fculp- 

tor, with an ironical, gravity, ** it 

would be a charming luxury ; the idea 

IS truly fublime, and calculated to in- 

fpire a fweet and pathetic melan* 

choly." . 

2 "As 



yo M A R I A; ^ 

** As to the lady fpoke of, madam,** 
faid Mr. Hardwick, ** I cannot fay I 
ever heard any thing of the excellence 
of her difpofition, though I know a 
good deal of the hiftory of the Aubrey 
family." 

** Yes," faid Dick, " we ought to 
know, for we fcrves the old lady with 
all her perfumery -, and Ihe ufes'a vaft 
quantity." 

" Don't interrupt me, Dick," faid 
old Hardwick, refuminghis difcourfe; 
" by what I am informed of Mrs. Au- 
brey, 'tis a pity but fhe was laid in 
cold clay till eternity, or had never 
taken a fancy to any companions but 
dogs and monkeys— For I am told the 
fine young gentleman fhe married in 
France, though he is reckoned one of 
the beft tempered men in England, 
has fuch a diflike to living with the 
old crabbed cat, that he has taken 
himfclf to travel into foreign parts, 

and 



MARIA. 71 

and is now making the beft of his 
way to the tower of Italy." 

Maria had heard too much :*— fhe 
turned from the company to conceal 
her emotion! and Hardwick entering 
upon another fubjeft, gave her an op- 
portunity to recover herfelf, " Well, 
Sir," faid he, turning to the artift, 
*' now, if you pleafc, we'll talk about 
this monument for my father, that 1 
was fpeaking to you about the other 
day."* 

"•If you*ll give me leave. Sir, 1*11 
lliow you fome deftgns.^^ 

" Oh, Sir, there's no occaCon for 
much of a defign^** replied he 5 ** I 
would not go to much expends a good 
large head, Tuch as one fees againft the 
walls in Weftminftcr Abbey, would 
do extremely well." 

*' Have you any portrait of the gen- 
tleman, from which I could take the 
refemblance, Sir?'* 

5 !!Why 



79 MARIA. 

" Why yes, Dick, I believe there is * 
a bit of zprofiky (is not there child ?) 
which thy aunt Betty cut in paper? 
But, dear heart, fv, I believe there is 
no occafion for it : PU tell you exa&ly 
what fort of face he had ; and then 
you can make a bit of a IketCh, and 
Dick and I can judge diredly of the 
likenefs. Let me fee ^ his nofi was ex- 
ceedingly like mine -, was it not, Dick ? 
(you remember your grandfather, 
child) : then his eyes, as far as I can re- 
member, were ibmewhat like thine, 
Dick; however, I know they were 
grey/* 

" Well, Sir, hitf mouth and chin?** 
(sad the fculptor, without relaxing a 
snufcle. 

"His mouth and chin. I— why let 
nie fee ^ I think, Dick, there was no-* 
thing very particular about tbemv^ 
fttch a mouth and chin as you fee very 

often 



MARIA: 73 

often, Sir, — 1 dare fay you could eafiiy 
give a guefs at them. Sir.*' 

*' Lord, Sir, grandfather was the 
very moral of father," — cried Dick. 

The artift was infpired with a lucky 
thought ; difcovering from their con- 
verfation that there was a refemblance 
between the father and the fon, he 
drew a (ketch of the face of Mr. Hard- 
wick, and it was immediately pro-** 
nounced, by both old and young Hard- 
wick, as like the old man as ever were 
two pins heads. 

" Well, Sir," faid Mr. Hardwick, 
** I muft take another opportunity of 
calling upon you, to fettle finally about 
this monument j for I muft hafte away, 
having another artift to call upon, be« 
fore I go home to dinner.— You muft 
know, Siri I have compofed a Treatifc 
upon Pomatums ; to which I intend to 
p£rjix a Diflertation upon the moft effi^ 
E cacious 



74 MARIA. 

€acunu methods of preferving and heauti' 
fying that tnojt lovely ornament of the bu-- 
man bead, tbe bair-^till it bos attained a 
f erf eaim greatly furpajftng nature.** 

*• A fubjcft well worthy a philofo- 
phical difcuflion/* replied the fculptor, 
whofe ironic gravity was invincible; 
•* but fo great a worjc will, no doubt, 
bring upon you much envious' criti- 
cifm.'' 

** Oh yes. Sir, I fuppoFe I (hall have 
the critics ftriking at my book ; but 
lord. Sir, I fhall only laugh at their ig- 
norant pretenfions ; for what the devil 
ftiould they know about making po- 
matums." 

" True, Sir, moft true/'— 
•* But all this while," refumed 
Hardwick, ** I have been running 
from the fubjedt ; I was telling you. 
Sir, that I am going to call upon ana* 
thcr artift, who is engraving my headj 

which 



MARIA 75 

which I intend to have perfixed to my 
book. You muft know. Sir, that this 
thought flruck me as I was going up 
Piccadilly t'other day, for there I favr 
in a book-feller*s window, the head of 
all hiftorian, a poet, a philofopher, a 
divine, a gardener, a lord chief jullice, 
and the cook at the London Tavern 5 
fo I thought, if theft men (and I am 
fure fome of them are ugly enough) 
have their heads perfixed to their books, 
fure a man that has written a dillerta- 
tioh upon hair need not be ajhamed to 
fimShis bead.''* 

The philofophical perfumer and his 
fon now made a haHy retreat ; and our 
party, much entertained with the cha- 
rafters they had feen, took a polite 
leave of the ftatuary, and returned 
home. 

E 2 CHAP. 



76 MARIA. 



CHAP. IX. 

TH E three following days they 
paffed at home; which period 
Maria fpcnt almoft wholly tete-a-tete 
with Mrs. Tonto, except at eating- 
times, for the Doftor gave himfelf up 
to his ftudies with an application almoft 
unparalleled. The intelligence of the 
Aubrey family Maria had received at 
the ftatuary's, had revived,,, or rather 
augmented a .train of aflbcialed ideas 
that confiderably heightened the me- 
lancholy which ufually appeared on 
her countenance. The Doaor obferv- 
ed it J . he thought the company of 
Mrs. Tohto, which he knew to be 
fatiguing enough, might contribute 
to it 5 and therefore he faid, *' Stay- 
ing at home fo much, child, feems 

6 to 



'M A R*I a: 77 

to have caft a gloom over your mind ; 
I am forry that almoft all our ac- 
quaintance, to whom it would give 
you pleafure to be introduced, are in 
the country."—" Indeed," continued 
he, " now I recoiled, I faw Lady 
Melmoth a few days before you ar- 
rived J— "I have often met her Lady- 
fbip in company, and (he hath as often 
folicited me to vifit her. SJie told me 
fome law bufinefs had retarded her go- 
ing into the country:— ftie begged I 
would call upon her before fhe went 
out of town. I told her Ladyftiip, 
1 had a young perfon whom I fhould 
(hortly wilh'to introduce to her, and 
gave her a little hiftory of your family 
and fituation •,— on which (he faid, flic 
fliould be happy to render you any 
fervice in her power, and defired me 
to bring you to her. She is almoft 
the only perfon I know» to whom that 

£3 a? 



yS M A R I tA; 

air of melanclioly. you wear would bt 
intercfting. There is nothing, 1 am 
told, conciliates her afFe£lion and re* 
gard fo clofely. Sorrow, from which 
moft people retreat, (he purfucs. She 
\hath been a widow five years; her 
•jointure is large ; the company fhe af- 
fociates with chiefly confifts of perfons 
eminent for their worth and talents, 
to whom fhe is- a beneficent patronefs. 
She appears to be a woman of bright 
parts, and a philbfophic foul. Her 
turn of mind hath led her to literary 
purfuits. She is a warm admirer of 
the fine arts, and a liberal patronefs of 
their profeflbrs." 

'' Yes," faid Mrs. Tonto, '' I be- 
Heve ftie has known enough of forrow 
lierfelf, not to feel for others. She 
married Sir Robert Mclmoth at the cx- 
prefs command of her father; and he 
was of a rough, unfeeling nature-— 

iU-fuited 



M A R I a; 79 

ill-fuited to her Ladyfhip's tender turn 
of thinking :— 'fhe has lately taken to 
relide with Mifs Hampden, a lady of 
literature/' 

. .** Mifs Hampden," faid the Doftor, 
**isa woman of talent$; and, from 
the account given of her by I^ady 
Melmotb, hath, I doubt not, an excel- 
lent heart. The friendly union of 
thefe ladies feems to bid fair for per- 
manency—which is not often the cafe 
in connexions of this nature. Pcr- 
fons of diftinguifhtd abilities ill brook 
domeftic dependence; and the pa- 
tronefs of fanguine ideas, (even though 
poiTefied of an enlarged mind) is often 
difappointed in not finding the objeft , 
of her admiration in all points anfwer- 
able to her high-raifcd expeftations. 

i Whilft, on the other hand, the pro- 

teftrefs of more moderate capacity, 

feels the glare of talents, whofc bril- 

E 4 liance 



to M A R 1 a: 

liance (he cannot enjoy ; and as no- 
velty glides away, envy or indifference 
infennbly takes place of admiration 
and wonder ! " 

" Yet, I confefs," faid Mrs. Tonto, 
" I . am rather furprized that Lady 
Melmoth fliould choofe Mifs Hamp- 
den for her companion. She feems (o 
me to be of an odd temper. I met 
her once at my dear friend, Mrs. 
BlackwelPs : — we were a fmall party 
of ladies •,— Ihe faid very little, and 
feemed to me to have a great deal of 
pride ; at leaft, fhe has a great deal of 
that referve about her, which 1 think 
very unbecoming in young ladies in 
Tier fituation; who ought always to 
ftudy a mild, chatty, and ingratiating 
behaviour. I imputed it to timidity 
ac firft, and endeavoured to engage her 
in converfation ; but every word Ihc 
uttered feemed to come from her like 

water 



M A R I a: 8s 

water dragged out of ,a well. But I 
fuppofc my fociety was not good 
enough for her ; for I afterwards was 
in her company, and my brother being 
of the party, fhe engrofled him in a 
convcrfation almoft the whole after^ 
noon. I think (he certainly muft have 
an extremely odd temper, from what I 
have heard Mrs. Blackwell fay of 
her.'' 

" Odd temper P* reiterated the Doc- 
tor, with fomewhat more afperity than* 
Maria had ever before heard him fpeak 
to his fifter, '' She has talents^ and is 
dependent ; and that is excufe enough 
for a hundrtd pculiarUieSy where there 
h no vke.^*^ 

So faying, he role from his feat; 
and telling Matilda he would be ready 
to attend her to Lady Mclmoth^s in an 
hour, withdrew to his library-. 

E5 CHAP. 



82 M A R I A* 



CHAP. X. 

DR. EDGEWARE's name was no 
foDner announced to Lady Mel- 
moth, than he was admitted. If the 
' charafter given of her ladyfhip by the 
Dodlor had prejudiced Maria in her 
favour, the noble and majeftic air of 
. her figure and countenance, joined to 
the melodious and endearing cadence of 
her voice, ftrengthened her prepoffef- 
lion. When they entered, Mifs Hamp- 
den was reading to her ladyj(kip. Thi$ 
young lady appeared in the fpring of 
life J her form was eafy ^wA ^mmetri-^ 
cal\ her eyes were piercing; and the 
upper part of her face had that eleva^ 
tion, which denotes great fenfe and 
a haughty grandeur of foul; whilft 
there was in the turn of her other fea* 
I tures 



MARIA. 83 

tures a foft roundnefs, that evinced a 
fpirit warm^ generous, and fincerc. 

" Dr. Edgeware," faid Lady Mel- 
moth, *' I am moft happy to fee you ; 
this is an honor I have been long foli- 
citing you to confer upon me." The 
Do6lor bowed to Lady Melmoth*s 
compliment, and taking Maria by the 
hand, led her forward* 

" Here is a fenfiblc little girl, the 
orphan daughter of a worthy collegiate 
friend of mine, whom I muft beg leave 
to introduce to your ladylhip^s notice j 
any portion of which that you may 
honour her with, I think, if I have any 
penetration, flie will not forfeit ; for I 
know your ladyfliip is too intimately 
acquainted with the philofophy of the 
human heart to e:ipe£l: to find in it per* 
fi£iion\ and from what I have heard 
and fecn of her, the child has little 
E 6 . more 



84 M A R 1 a; 

more than the common foibles of hu* 
manity." 

*' No morej'* faidLady Melmoth, 
with vivacity^ "if the cxpreffion of 
the eyes be an emanatbn of the foul ! 
—This is the young lady, I prefume, 
Dodtor, you mentioned to me the other 
day. Give me leave, Mif^ Mordaunt» 
to introduce to you Mifs Hampden^ my 
particular fricndi'* 

The young ladies exchanged mutual 
compliments^ and temporary fubjefts 
having been exhaufted, the converfa- 
tion accidentally turned on phyGogno- 
my, which was a favourite topic of 
Lady Melmoth's. 

'* I am of opinion," faid her Lady>- 
fiiip, " that a perfon of obfervation is 
feldom deceived in judging of the mind 
by the countenance, though it gene- 
rally happens that the mod penetrative 

in 



M A R I a: »5 

in this refpeft fuffer by artifice and 
diflimulations a^ often as thofe who have 
no pretenfions to Ikill in that particu- 
lar. The caufe, I fancy, msty be traced 
to an innate love of flattery ; for let us 
difcover, on a firft interview, ever fo 
many unprejudicing lines in the coun- 
tenance, no fboner has the oh]t& in 
queflion pradlifed i^^on us: the ufual 
arts of infinuation^ than we are infenfi- 
bly lulled into fecurity, and forget (till 
reminded of thpm by too fatally fufFer- 
ing) our firft fenfations of diflike.'* 

*' It does not appear to me/* faid 
Mifi Hampden^ " that a pre-eminent ffcill 
in phyfiognomy is (gs is generally fup- 
pofed) the conftant attendant of a mind 
deeply acquainted with the operations 
of the human heart; but a diftinft 
faculty of itfelf. It is an endowment 
vhich^ I apprehend, nature feldomec 

beftows 



Z6 MARIA. 

bdtows in a large proportion than any 
othcn*' 

*• I differ from you. Madam,** faid 
the Dodor. *^ I am inclined to think 
this faculty is always z pre- eminent con- 
comitant of a philofophic mind ; but 
ipirits inquifitive and penetrating 
enough to analize, with boldnefs and 
precifion, the heart of man, a£k from 
general principles deduced from their 
own reafonings. Such perfons are apt 
to look upon an attempt to read the 
heart by the countenance as at beft 
but an ingenious method of trifling ; 
and hence arifes their negleft to furniih 
and flrengthen, by ftudy and exercife^ 
this valuable faculty/* 

" One would hope then," faid Lady 
Melmoth, fmiling, *^ that the gift of 
reading countenances is poflefied in an 
extraordinary degree, by thole perfons 
of brilliant and refined genius, who ufu- 

aUy 



MARIA. tr 

ally hate the fatigue of minute difqiiifi- 
tions, as a more rapid and more ama- 
tive method of attaining the knowledge 
of mankind than by jtudying to difcri* 
minate the pa£Bons." 

No more being faid on this fubjed^ 
the Dodtor told Lady Mclmoth, he 
hoped the tedious law bufinefs, fhe 
fpoke to him of, was finifhed to her 
fatisfadtion. 

" I thank you, Doftor^ for your 
good wifties,^' returned her ladyfhip, 
" it is happily compleated, and we arc 
going into Dorfetfhire within a few 
days ; it has been a great penance to 
me CO ftay fo long in town, for my bro- 
ther and Lord Newry (a relation of 
our family) who are cM>ai^ifit a few 
miles diftant, have promiied to fpend a 
few weeks with me at Dunlough 
Caftle. And as to.poor Mifs Hamp« 
den (continued ihc fmiling) having 

never 



n M A R I a: 

never yet feen Dunlough, (he is impa- 
tient to enjoy the delightful horrors 
of Gothic galleries, winding avenues^ 
gaping chimnies, and dreary vaults;, 
and by way of enlivening the fcene^ 
fhe intends to take with her the trage- 
dies of Efchylus, the poems of Offian, 
Caftle of 6tranto, &c. &c. and I dare 
fay will, by the aid of imagination, be- 
hold gigantic hands and legs ; and hear 
the voices of other times come whiftjing 
in the winds, and fee the grey mifts 
fifing flowly from the lake, like an 
aged manfupported by a ghoft in mid- 
air, and prefencly diflblving in a fhowep 
of blood. — Are you, Mifs Mordaunt," 
continued her ladyfhip, " a lover o£ 
tliis kind of fublimity ?** 

" I am indeed,. Madam,*' faid Ma- 
ria ; there is not a piece of antiquity 
of that kind in my nauve Ihire I. have 
flot explored.*^, 

roh, 



M A R I a: 89 

" Oh, I am glad of it," returned 
her ladylhip 5 ** for then we may per- 
haps prevail upon you to accompany 
us thither. I wifh we could. I am 
furc it would greatly add to any plea- 
fure we might receive there, if the 
Doftor and Mrs. Tonto would be kind 
enough to Ipare yjou to us/* 

** Lady Melmoth having made this 
requcft, both her ladyfhip and Mifs 
Hampden waited with a look of 
friendly impatience for her anfwer. 
Maria returned the moft polite ac- 
knowledgments of her ladylhip's kind- 
nefs fhe could command ; and Dr. 
Edgewafe looking extremely well- 
pleafed, undertook to make, her apolo- 
gies to his filler. 

" I am rejoiced," faid the podor, 
** your ladylhip has conceived fo fa- 
vourable an opinion of my young 
charge •, and I am fure Mrs. Tontb 

will 



90 M A R I A. 

will be equally fenfible of -the advan- 
tage fhe will derive from your lady- 
Ihip's fociety, and that of your inge- 
nious friend, Mifs Hampden. There 
ztfi but few of her own fcx I am ac- 
quainted with, whofe notice and friendr 
^ip I would wifti her to cultivate, 
however they might imagine they ho- 
nQured her by their notice : for it is a 
truth that cannot be too often incul- 
cated, that on the difpofitions of her 
female friends^ depends the good or ill- 
•fuccefs of a young woman, on her out- 
fet in life." 

"Moft afluredly," replied Lady 
Mel moth ; " there are but few caufes, 
befides avarice or an addidion to gal- 
lantry, which can inftigate a man of 
general good reputation, to injure the 
charader or fortunes of a woman. But 
in intimacies with her own fex, fhe 
has a thoufand (hoals to avoid; Ihe 

will 



M A R I A. gi 

will meet with women^ whofe (ituations 
iQ life give tbeoi infinite refpefbabilicy 
in the world's eye, who will, even un- 
der the feoiblance of friendihip, escert 
every, effort to the ruin of her fortunes, 
for the trivial circumftance, perhaps, 
of being excelled by her in external 
appearance 5 whilft the utterance of a 
lively repartee in their prefence, or 
obtaining. the viftory over them in an 
argument, Ihall fometimes raife their 
envy to that height, that not being able 
to rob her of the fame of a brilliant 
imagination, they (hall, by the blacken- 
ing efforts of low cunning, tear from^ 
the unfufpcdling viftim of their trea- 
cherous arts, the meed due to a good 
heart— the eftcem of the worthy." 

Other company being here announ- 
ced. Dr. Edgeware and Maria hay- 
ing made their vifit pretty long, rofe 
to take their leave 5 and Lady Mel- 
moth 



92 M A R I A. 

moth having told Matilda the day (he 
had fixed upon, to fet out oh her jour- 
ney, they politely bid each other adieu 5 
the former promifing to call at Dr. 
Edge ware's within a day or two* 



CHAP. XI. 



WHEN they got hopie Mrs. 
Tonto was abroad paying viGts j 
the Doftor went to his library, and 
Maria feated herfelf in a (treet parlour. 
In a few minutes a knocking was heard 
at the door, and a perfon enquired for 
Mrs. Tonto •, the fervant faid fhe was 
from home, but was expedled in a few 
minutes ; upon which the vifitor fard 
ftie would . wait her return, and was 
accordingly (hewn into the parlour 

where 



M A R I a; 93 

"where Mifs Mordaunt was fitting. 
The perfon who entered to Maria was 
a woman of a dark and heavy afpeft, 
with a fmall pair of eyes that emitted 
from the corners, for flie feldom look- 
ed any one full in the face, the fly 
glances of malignant obfcrvation; her. 
drefs was parfimonious and formal; 
and her unpolifhed and (idelinggate, as 
{he made her entrie^ united to a certain 
battered air in her whole appearance, 
gave Maria fomewhat the idea of a 
woman who had made a campaign in 
the ftation of corporal's wife and lawn- 
drefs to the officers. 

This la^y was no other than Mrs. 
Arachne Bl^ckwell ( Mrs /Tonto's, par- 
ticular friend). After the ufual civili- 
ties had pafled, the ftrangeV, who was 
generally barren enough of converfa- 
tion, funk into a ftupid filence y ajfer* 
nately aniufing herfelf with poring oyer • 

a book 



94 MARIA. 

a book that lay in the window feat, 
and looking into the ftreet : whilft Mi- 
tilda, who was difguftcd by her for- 
bidding afpeA from attempting to force 
a-converfation with her, puUed outhcr 
work* bag. At length this gloooij 
/&^-tf-/e/V was interrupted ; Mrs* Black- 
well faw her hufband (who, it feems, 
had prpmifed to call upon her at 
Dr. Edgeware's) leading Mrs. Tonto 
acrofs the ftreet ; and no fooner wu 
the door opened to them, and they had 
entered the threfliold, than Mrs. Black- 
well flew out of the parlour, exclaim- 
ing, " I thought you would never 
have come, love ! ** And rufhing be- 
tween Mrs. Tonto and the footman, 
ran her (harp chin right againft her 
hu(band*s;*when there immediately 
proceeded from the contaft, for feveral 
minutes, a found very much refcm- 
Uing t{iat occafioned by the lapjMng of 

two 



I. 



A MARIA. gs 

vc:; two canine animals in a foup-por. 
:t:i. Having made his apologies with great 
j y fubmiflion to Mrs. BlackwcU for his 
\p; delay in coming to her, he delivered 
piillti himfelf a formal compliment to Ma- 
thii: ria» (whom Mrs. Tonto introduced to 
. Mr him) and then Tat down ; at the fame 
^1,0^ ^ time taking hold of a hand belonging 
^pQfl to a long yellow arm of Mrs. Black- 
j{f5 well's, which he prefled to his lips 
(^ with great energy and precifion. Thefe 
j^jif kind of mancDeuvres obliged Maria to 
l^j^c,; turn more towards the window, and 
It, d applying herfelf more clofely to the 
^yjjj needle- work (he had in her hand. 
rufc '^^^ inducements of Mr. and Mrs. 

j^ Blatkwell to this Ihew of fondnefs, 
originated, we have good caufe to 
fufpedt, not from on overflow of affec- 
"T^^ tion, but from pride and vanity. Mr. 
^ , Blackwell thought it a means of raifing, 
him a character for uncommon tender- 

ne(9 



[gair: 



ipf. 



g6 M A R I A. ' 

nefs and benignity of nature ; and his 
wife imagined it gave her a fort of fu- 
periority in the eyes of other women, 
to be able to make a man of fenfe look 
ridiculous. Mr. Blackwell, however, 
had for fome time feen that his condud 
had brought upon hihi the ridicule of 
his acquaintance, and began to think 
it would be better to abftain from per- 
forming (at leaft fome part of) this 
farcij which had not all the effeil he 
wifhed ; but Mrs. Blackwell, who was 
too flupid to fee the matter in the light 
he did, infilled upon the exhibition 
going on as ufual s and he was obliged 
to comply, in order to prevent tumults. 
But to return. 

" My dear Mrs. Blackwell," faid 
Mrs. Tonto, in a whining tone, " how 
glad am I to fee you. What an age it 
is fince I have had the pleafure of 
your company. *Tis a moll afFeding 

thought 



MARIA; 97 

thought to me, that we, who have but 
one foul, fhould be fo widely fepa- 
rated in the body. I wifh you lived 
nearer to me. I am never fo happy as 
when I fee you and your amiable 
fpoufe together. You remind me fo 
much of the manner in which my dear 
departed Doftor Tonto and I lived to- 
gether. And indeed we want all the 
Endearing intercourfes of friendfhip, to 
enable us to endure the rugged path of 
life, in which we meet with nothing 
but difappointments. — You remember 
that family I took up ?'* 

*' I heard you mention the circum-^ 
fiance, Madam," faid Mr. Blackwell ; 
^' 'twas an uncommon inftance of be- 
nevolence.'* 

" Well, Sir, they all turned out un- 
grateful, . and ufed me in the worft 
manner you can conceive.'* 

" What ! did they all prove un- 
yot. I. • ' F grateful. 



9« MARIA; 

grateful^ Madam ?" faid Maria^ with 
furprize. 

*' Yes, my dear, all-^ and I believe 
there were a dozen in family." 

** What an afftfting inftance of the 
d^ravity of human nature," faid Ma- 
ria. ** But difappointments of this 
kind will never deter a liberal mind 
from fecking occafions to render fer- 
vices. .There is a pleafurc'of the 
higheft andj noblefl: kind annexed to 
the perfom^ance of a generous aftion ; 
a pleafure which the gratitude of the 
objects obliged may fomewhat increafe, 
but which their ingratitude can never 
deftroy." 

•* Yes, Madam," faid Mrs. Black- 
well, turning to Mrs. Tonto,. without 
attending to Matilda's obfervation, ^' I 
am continually obferving to Mr. Black- 
well, one gets nothing but ilU treat- 
ment for one's generoficy and kind- 

neft. 



M A R I a; ^9 

nefs. You know how I have been 
ufed in one or two inftances lately ; 
however, for my own parr, I have al- 
ways a pleafure, that I cannot defcribe,' 
both in thinking and talking of favours 
I have conferred J— and 'tis fo agreea- 
ble of a night to lie awake, and think 
of all the good things one has doDc 
in the day." 

*• A very fine obfervation,'my fwect-l 
eft Arachne," cried Mr. BlackwelL 

•• Oh yes. Madam," faid Mrs. Ton-' 
to ; *^ the idea of a benevolent aftion 
is a divine fenfacion ; it diilblves the 
foul in a kind of tranfport. I don't 
know how to dcfcribe it— but fome- 
times Fve been ready to go into an 
hyfteric fit.** 

•* Oh, my dear friend, you quite af- 
feft mc," faid Mrs. Blackwell ; " you 
fpeak my very foul." 

Here the ladies applied their pocket 
F 2 handkerchiefs} 



loa M A R I A. 

handkerchiefs ; and Mr. Blackwell, 
with fome difficulty, jerked a few tears 
into his eyesr 

\ " Yes, Madam," continued Mrs. 
Blackwell, ** you have juft defcribed 
my feelings. I was in fuch a fituation 
the other day ; wasn't I, love r* 

** Yes, my poor Arachne, you made 
fuch a noife in your fit, that I expeft- 
cd every minute the neighbours would 
come in to inquire what was the mat- 
ter ; and I was obliged to throw cold 
water upon you, till I thought I fhould 
have drowned, you, my fweeteft A- 
rachne.** 

** So you did, love," faid fhe ; and 
after again embracing him, fhe entered 
upon a new fubjeft with Mrs, Tontoj 
fufFering Mr. Blackwell to walk to- 
wards the window. He afked the 
opinion of Maria on feveral fubje£ts^ 
and paid her many high-flown com- 
plimcnts. 



MARIA. loi 

pliments, infomuch that Mrs. Black- 
well's vanity began to take the alarm, 
'thinking Maria engrofled too much 
of his attention ; and ihe accordingly 
called him off, by faying, 

*' Mrs. Tonto, love, wants to know 
your opinion of Mrs. Epigram's 
Poems." 

** Ob, mere bombafl: and fuftian,' 
Madam T' faid he eroding the room to 
them. 

** You have been in her company,^ 
Sir," faid Mrs. Tonto. 

•* I have. Madam." 

*• Do pray, love, give Mrs. Tonto 
a deftription of Mrs. Epigram's per-- 
fan:' 

^ Yes furely, my dear," anfwered he, 
feating himfeff at the edge of his chair 
in an ereft pofition ; " Mrs. Epigram 
is a ftiort fquat woman ; her face, in 
the fbape of a full moon, looks like a 
F 3 piece 



102 MARIA. 

piece of baker's dough, with little 
round button features pinched out of 
it •, her eyes are like two bits of painted 
glafs ; and her figure is the exprefs 
image of a couple of quartern loaves 
placed one upon another." 

Here the ladies laughed violently ; 
and Mr. Blackwell, turning to Maria, 
aiked her if 0ie faw the laft new come- 
dy. — She told him that the winter 
theatres had clofed before fhe came to 
jtown, and begged he would favour her 
with the ftory of it, and his opinion of 
its merits j upon which Mr. Blackwell 
was entering into a critical difcuffion ; 
but was called off a fecond time, by 
Mrs. BlackwelPs defiring him **to 
come and give Mrs. Tonto an account 
of what fort of a man Mrs, Epigram's 
bujband was." 

" Mrs. Epigram's hufband, Ma- 
dam," faid he, "is a little outnfcU 
^ low. 



M A R I A. 103 

low, as mis-fhapen as the famed Scarron, 
with a ilrong aukward modification of 
his legs and arms -, he fometimes utters 
good things in an agreeable tone o£ 
voice, and has a han9fome face, fo that, 
if he could always be brought into com- 
pan]f in a fort of cafe made in the Ihape 
of :a tea canifter, he might be endured, 
as we fliouJd thefa only fee his fade and 
hear his voice.** 

•* Very good. Sir, indeed V faid 
Mrs. Tonto, " a very fine ftite of 
ridicule upon my word." 

Mrs. Blackwell was giving her huf- 
band a new fubjcA for ludicrous ani- 
madverfion, but the entrance of Dr. 
Edgware put an end to this kind of 
converfation, Mr. Blackwell being no 
ways ambitious of difplaying his talent 
for caricature before that gentleman, 
contenting himfelf with the applaufe he 
had already received from the ladies. 
F4 The 



I04 MARIA. 

The Doftor faid little after the cuftotn- 
ary civilities had paffed, having a VQry 
painful head-ache. Maria, on hearing 
him con)plain, rofe from the corner of 
the fopha and begged he would take her 
feat, telling him fhe would fetch fome 
drops that would give him almofl: in- 
ftant relief ; fo faying (he flipped out of 
the room and ran up flairs : in two or 
three minutes flic returned, and, with 
an air of filial attention^ poured fome 
of the drops into his hand, defiring 
him to apply it to his head. Mrs. 
Black well at this inflant gave Mrs. 
Ton to a glance from the corner of her 
eye, fo ^enigmatical that we pretend not 
to decypher it. 

*' Well my dear," faid Mrs. Tonto 
to Maria, *' how did you like your 
yifit this morning ?" 

*' I am charmed with Lady Mel- 
moth,*' faid Maria, ** flie appears to 

unite 



M A R I a: 105 

unite all that is great and amiable in 
woman." 

" Was Mifs Hampden with'her ?— ^ 
How do you like that young lady ?'! 
alkcd Mrs. Tonto^ 

^ Very much indeed, Madam,'* re- 
turned Maria •, ** fhe has great good 
fenfe, foft manners, and a very attrac- 
tive perfon ^and, if one may judge from 
her countenance, a benevolent heart.—* 
I admire her infinitely •" 

Here Mrs. Blackweli gave Mrs7 
Tonto another corner glance (which 
we doubt not had a vaft deal of poig- 
nant meaning) accompanied by a mod 
fagacious (brugof thefhoulders; which,, 
though it might be purely the effedk of 
the wife obfervations that ftruck her 
sxiind at that timCr had fomewhat the 
appearance of malignity. However 
that matter was, the look gave Maria 
^ much more unfavourable idea of 
F 5 Mrs. 



io6 M A R I A. 

Mrs. Blackwelly than of the perfon ie 
apparently alluded to* 

The Doctor being fo much indifpof^ 
edy his guefts foon took their leave, 
'Mrs. Tonto attended her beloved friend 
even to the ftreet door ; and as they 
cro0ed the p^flage, Mr. Blackwell faid 
to Mrs. Tonto, 

** A very fine young lady you have 
got with you. Madam/' 

•* A very great favourite of the 
Doflor's too, feemingly,'' faid ' his 
wife." 

*' She is the daughter of a Gentle- 
man with whom the Dodtor had an in-- 
timate acquaintance in the earlier part 
of his life,"* faid Mrs. Tonto ;'" flie is 
a defcendant from a younger branch of 
one of the firft families in the king- 
dom.'* 

** Indeed flie feems a fenfible, gen- 
teel behaved, humane young crea- 
ture,'! 



MARIA: 107 

ture,'* faid Mr* .Blackwcll, for-» 
mally." 

*• I believe (he is ^ young hdy of 
a very fcntimental and pathetic turn of 
mind,*' faid Mrs. Tonto ; " I hope Ihe 
v^ill make an agreeable addition to our 
friendly circle." 

** Yes, I hope you will be very 
happy in her fociety," faid Mrs. Black* 
well.^** Oh yes ! I don't ddbbt but 
fhe is an extremely good-natured young 
perfon ; but only for my part (though 
perhaps I'm wrong) I don't much like 
officious people j fometimes they are 
apt to be defigning ;— I don't mean in 
. regard to this young perfon — no !-7l 
don't mean any refleftion upon any 
body r— Only I know you have met 
with fo many ungrateful people, that 
one can't help wiftiing a perfon of 
your open, unfufpefting, fentimental 
turn of mind, to be more upon your 
F6 guard; 



io8 M A R I a: 

guard ; becaufe fomctimes, you know^ 
the wifeft are deceived.— People are 
fometimes prevailed upon, when they 
get in years, to leave their fubftance 
from their own relations \^^fnen^ you 
know my dear friend, have odd fan- 



cies." 



Before Mrs. Tonto had time to 
make any reply to thefe friendly hints, 
Mr. Blackwell looked at his watch, 
and told his wife that he feared they 
Ihould be late home to dinner -, upon 
which, after a very tender adieu had 
pafled between the ladies, Mr. Black* 
well and his ipoufe departeds 



CHAR 



MARIA; loj 



CHAP. XII. 



THE day before that which was 
fixed upon for their journey to 
Dunlough, our fair heroine fpent with 
lady Melmoth. 

Her ladifliip, accompanied by Mifs 
Hampden, called in the morning and 
took Maria with her to Wedgewood's 
rooms. Maria> who had never before 
been there, was charmed with the claf- 
lical tafte, and Attic elegance that per- 
vaded every thing flie faw.— Lady 
Melmoth purchafed a beautiful tea- 
fervice, ornamented with curious bafs-' 
relief figures; and gave orders for a 
chimney piece for her library, Ma^ 



iio M A R I a: 

ria bought a buft of Pericles as a pre^ 
fent for Mrs Tonto, flie having re- 
peatedly heard that lady exprefs a mod 
profound veneration for the charafter 
of that celebrated ancient; one trait 
in particular was the objeft of her ad- 
miration, namely, that he never went 
out upon bufinefs, or returned with- 
out faluting his Affafia\ a point in 
which fhe faid her dear departed Doc- 
tor Tonto fo much refembled him, that 
file could never read that paflage, in 
the life of Pericles, without weeping. 
As they were leaving the rooms.— i 
f* I know not/* faid. Lady Melmoth, 
turning to Mifs Hampden, ** what I 
fiiall do :— I ought to call upon poor 
Mrs. Benfon before I go out of town, 
tind if I do fp, I muft leave fome very 
particular bufinefi undone, or we fhali 
not get home to dinner, in any reafon- 
«blc time.'! t If th? yifit can be paid 



M A R I A: Hi 

by proxy, J beg your ladyfhip will 
depute me,'* faid Mifs Haimpden. 

" Your offer is very obliging, my 
dear," returned her ladyfliip, " and I 
will gladly accept it." 

^* Perhaps Mifs Mordaunt will be 
kind enough to acconnpany me,'' faid 
Mifs Hampden. 

" With a great deal of plcafure,' 
Madam." 

" You are very good indeed, ladies ;'* 
faid Lady Melmoth •, ** I believe you 
know the ftreet in Picadilly, Mils 
Hampden ? " • 

*^ I jonce went there with your lady^ 
ihip." 

Lady Melmoth now fent the foot«' 
man for a hackney coach, to carry 
her young friends; aiid fpeaikng to 
Mifs Hampden, afide, for two or three 
minutes, told her the particulars of 
her embaffy.— They then ftept into 
the coach, which carried them to the 
3 lodgings 



ri2 M A R I a; 

lodgings of a very worthy womair/ 
who had formerly lived as houfc-keep- 
er with Lady Melmoth, and was at 
that time partly fupported by her 
bounty: this woman had, for fomc 
few years, b^en confined to her bed by 
a diforder, which had deprived' her of 
the ufe of her limbs. 

Mifs Hampden had been reprefent- 
ed to Maria, by Mrs. Tonto, as proud 
and gloomy ; a remark which had a- 
rifcn, either from a want of fenfibility, 
or a malignity of difpolition, in the 
obferver. Early difappointments had 
0iaded with melancholy, a mind natu- 
rally ardent and lively; hut there arc 
moments when the mind will dilate it- 
fclf in fpite of every forrow : in thefe 
moments^ when participated by fpi- 
rits congenial to her own, Mifs Hamp^ 
den difplayed a fund of native hu- 
mour and manners^ gay almofl to ia* • 

faatine 



MARIA. 11 g 

fantine. hilarity. It is true, on a 
firft acquaintance, or in company where 
Ihe feared the attacks of familiarity, 
or the flights of infolence, flie often 
incircled herfelf with an air of referve, 
which fervcd as a kind of intrench- 
ment againft both. But her heart was 
humane, her converfation untindured 
with the fmalleft portion of unprovoked 
fatire, and her deportment natural and 
unaiTuming, estcept when deteftation^' 
at beholding vice or meannefs, kindled 
into rage the native ardour of her fpi- 
rit. But, to return :•*-• 

Mifs Hampden communicated to 
Mrs, Benfon the caufe of Lady Mel- 
moth's not calling upon her as ufual, 
before fhe left town, informing her at 
the fame time, it was that lady's wifli 
to know if there was any thing which 
would contribute to make her life 
more comfortable (he could procure 

for 



lu M A R I a: 

for h«r» The acknowledgements of 
Lady Melmoth's kindnefs, which fell 
from the good woman, ferved to 
heighten the high prepofleflion Maria 
already entertained in favour of her 
ladyfliip's charaften— The perfon who 
ufually attended on Mrs, Boiibn be«> 
ing out of tbe way, Mifs Hampden^ 
l^iddiAg her to confider her as an old 
iux}uainunce^ performed feireral little 
offices with the ready fweetnefs, and 
commiferating afped of a miniftring 
^irit, ordained to hover round the 
bed of ficknefs $ and on her reiterating 
Lady Melmoth's offers of fervice, Mrs« 
Benfon replied :— 

, ** Her ladyftiip is all goodnefs. Ma- 
dam i {he leaves me without a wilh 
upon- my own account ; but I know 
)ier delight is in ads of benevolence, 
and there is a family in this houfe, 
whofe diftrcfs I think would recom* 

mend 



M A R I A; 115 

mend them to her ladyfhip's notice. 
It is the widow of a tradefman, whofc 
hu{band died infolvent fome months 
ago, and her two daughters (who feem 
to have been well brought up) the one 
about eighteen, and the other ten j the 
mother is fick in bed, and fcems al- 
moft worn out wid^ fretting and anxie- 
ty. She is fifter to a Mr. Hard wick, 
whofc fliop I know her ladyfhip ufesy 
and as he is a perfon of conliderable 
property, it is a pity but he could be 
induced to do fomething to make his 
filler's life more comfortable, and put 
his nieces into fome creditable employ- 
ment, as they feem extraordinarily well 
difpofed young people 5 Mr. Hardwick 
is an odd kind of man, but I believe 
he has not a bad heart ; — and I think, 
if Lady Melmoth would condefcend 
to fend Mrs. Jennings* to fpeak to 

- • Lady Mclmoth^a hlmfe-keeper. 

him 



ii6 MARIA. 

him on the fubjedt, her ladyfhip*s be- 
nevolent irtcrference might be of great 
fervice to thofe diftreffed people ; who, 
from what I learn from my niece who 
is acquainted with them, deferve a 
better fate." 

** Lady Melmoth," faid Mifs Hamp- 
den, " is at all times ready to be of 
fervice'^to the afHifted ; and I am fure 
your good opinion, Mrs. Benfon, will 
be a very favourable recommendation 
of this unhappy family ; and I will 
not fail to inform her ladyfhip of the 
particulars you have related." 

'' Pray, Mrs. Benfon," faid Ma- 
ria, " is not this Mr. Hardwick a per- 
fumer?" 

" Yes, Madam." 

** Oh, then I recolleft I once acci- 
dentally faw him at the houfe of a (la- 
tuary of Dr. Edgeware's acquaint- 
ance. He is a very peculiar charac- 
ter— 



MARIA. 117 

tcr— I remember we were much enter- 
tained with the oddity of his conver- 
fttion and manners." She then de- 
feribed to Mifs Hampden fome part 
of his ludicrous dialogue with the 
fculptor. 

"Heavens!" cried Mifs Hampden; 
^* what pity it is, that his ridiculous 
ideas of tafte and philofophy fhould 
fo wholly ingrofs his thoughts, and be- 
wilder his brain, as to prevent him 
from attending to the wants and the 
foi-rows of thofc entitled to his pro- 
teftion and fuccour, both by the ties 
of confanguinity and humanity." 
- Having taken their leave of Mrs/ 
Benfon, as they were crofling the paf- 
fage to go down ftairs, they were Hop- 
ped by an incident which interefted 
their companionate feelings. 
, At the doof of one of the apart- 
ments on the fame floor, flood a coarfe 
4 vulgar 



ii8 MARIA. 

vulgj^r looking woman, exclaiming to 
two young girls, of neat and genteel 
appearance, whom they faw as the 
door flood a-jar*— 

" Fine gentlefolks^ indeed ! — can't 
pay a chandler-fliop bill of ten (hillings ! 
Fine gentty !— howevw, if it is not 
paid immediately, I'll have ye taken 
to jail— Pve fent finer folks than you 
there — Clean linen and white hands 
indeed !-— I fhould be afliadied of hav- 
ing fuch things, if I could not pay 
my debts, but muft live upon othdr 
people's fubftance." 

^^ Do but have patience, good wo^ 

man, for a few days ; I ihall then re<> 

ceive fome moneys and you fhall im- 

. mediately be paid," faid the elder girl. 

** Patience indeed P* replied the wo- 
man, faifing her. voice ;•— " humph ! 
fo you've put me off for this fortnight 
paft i but ril not be made fuch a fbo) 

of 



MARIA; 119 

of again> not L — ^Any body may be 
gentlewomen, if they have inlpudence 
enough to turn iharpers^ and bilk peo* 
pie of their fubft^nce: /could be a- 
gentlewoman^ if I chofe it I— -nothing 
fo eafy." 

" No, that you could not ! " faid 
the little girl, with very pointed ex* 
preflion. 

But the elder, whofe fpirit feemed 
fubdued by affliOion and the world, 
by a look intreated her to be filent, and 
anfwered the woman.' 

" You give very ill language^ 9sA 
without the leaft caufe : we have hi- 
therto paid you very pun&ually, and 
meant to do fo now ; but the expences^ 
of mj mother's illnefs have ftraitened^ 
us a good deal lately :— however, in 
a few days I will aifiiredly pay you.*'— • 
Having now a gUmpfe of Mifs Hamp«i: 
idea and Maria, ihe continued with 

increafed 



lat MARIA. 

— Rlaria, during this, advanced to- 
wards the young girls, the elded of 
whom appeared linking with confu- 
fion, and taking their hands, with the 
voice of tendernefs, begged them to 
excufe their intrufion. 

The womian, having received her 
money, b^an to mutter a fort of apo- 
logy for her behaviour ; but Mifs * 
Hampden reiterating her former com- 
mand, Sac retreated with celerity. 
When that lady, approaching the ob- 
jeftiof her fympathy, her eyes, which 
had till then becq illumined by the 
fpirit of difdain, were now melted 
by the foft drops of tender pity. 

" I intrcat ye,'* faid ftie, " to par* 
don my abrupt procedure,, which ap- 
pears indelicate ; but my feelings are 
rapid, and that woman's audacity en- 
raged me beyond the power of attend- 
ing to forms.*! 

The 



MARIA. taj 

The eldcft of the young women ex* 
prefTed her gratitude with great fim* 
plicity and propriety; adding, that^ 
(he could take nothing atnifs from fpi- 
rits fo benevolent and kind. Whilft 
the younger ieizing Mifs Hampden's 
hand, prefled it to her lips, exclaim* 
ing with vivacity,— -"Oh j Madam, you 
have the charmingeft fpirit in the 
world; you ferved that horrid crea- 
ture juft as (he deferved, Vm fure wq 
are for ever obliged to your goodncfs**' 

When they went away, the little girl 
attended them down ftaira, with whom 
our ladies left a farther teftimony of 
their benevolent difpofuions. As £)oa 
as they got home, they informed Lacty 
Melmoth of what they had fcen and 
heard, which afFefted her ladylhip very 
forcibly ; and as (he was to go out of 
town the next day, flie (ent to Mrs* 
Benfon a fum of money, to enable the 
G 2 family 



124 M A R I A; 

family to difcharge their little debts, 
wliich flic begged her to get her niece 
to. deliver to them in the manner flie 
thought beft. But Lady MeJmoth's 
generofity was not of that partial kind 
which, contents itfelf with the mere 
diftribution of a portion of the gifts 
of fQrtune, without the fatigue of ex- 
ertion to render fervices : it had, on 
the contrary, an elafticityy (if I may fo 
cxprcfs myfelf ) which made it a double 
benefit to fociety. And ihe accord- 
ingly propofed calling herfelf upon 
Hardwick, thinking it might have a 
greater efFeft than fending a domcftic, 
which would be more likely to wound 
the pride of this wealthy cit, than fti- 
mulate him to an adl of generofity. — 
Notwithftanding, therefore, flie was to 
begin her journey the next morning 
early, ftiie took^her <:oach immediately 

after 



M A R I a: 125 

after dinner, and was driven into the 
city. 

Lady Melmoth's barely announcing 
the caufc of her vifit, had a much 
ftronger efFc6t on the feelings of Hard- 
wick, than the moft eloquent oration 
from the diftrefled party, or from 
any perfon of inferior rank and fa* 
fhion ; the fear of cenfure from the 
rich and powerful having, in cafes 
like this, too frequently a far more 
potent eflfeift, than the nioft pathetic 
fupplications of the fufFering objcftr— 
Hardwick acknowledged that he ought 
to do fomething for them ; and faid, 
that he had intended it ; but the vari- 
ety and number of his avocations had 
prevented him from attending to them 
—but gave her ladyfhip his word, that 
he would fettle an annuity of fifty 
pounds a year upon his filler for her 
life, and endeavour to place the elder 
) ; .i G 3 daughter 



n5 MARIA. 

daughter about fotne lady of fafixion^ 
as an attendant \ and in the mean time 
would take her into his own houfe.— - 
Lady MeluiOth greatly .approved of 
his determination i and now made an 
end of her vifit, condefccndingly tell- 
ing hin}) as he attended her to her 
coach, fhe would herfelf do all in her 
power to aflift him, in his intention of 
providing for his <ldeft niece. 



CHAP,^ 



MARIA- 12^ 



CHAP. XIII. 

IT was not till late in the evening 
of the fccond day of their journey, 
that our little party reached Dunlough 
Caftle^ a venerable feat of the Mel- 
moth family. Lady Melmoth imme- 
diately difpat(:hed a fervant to inform 
her brother of their arrival ; who re- 
turned to h?r lady(hip*s billet a polite 
and afFedionate anfwer, informing her 
that he meant Wmfelf the pleafure of 
breakfafting with her the next morn- 
ing. • 

Maria and Mifs Hampden'flept in 
the fame apartment -, for notwithftand- 
ing the fondnefs thefc ladies had ex- 
preffed for fombrotis horrors, neither of 
them felt much pleafure in the thought, 
G4 of 



128 M A R I a; 

of pafling the night alone in the wide 
chambers of this Gothic manfion. — 
They both rofe at the fame hour the 
next morning. —Lady Melmoth was 
not yet ftirring ; and Mifs Hampdca 
fat down to amufe herfelf with a 
book. The windows of their cham- 
ber looked into the garden, which 
retained (notwithftanding feveral parts 
of it had been recently laid out under 
the direction of Lady Melmoth) many 
veftiges of antiquity. 

Maria remembered to have (een the 
preceding evening, a back ftair-cafe 
which led into that part of the garden. 
She defcended it ; and having pafled 
a large green plot, in the centre of 
which flood a little arbour, compofed 
of rude lattice-work and flowering- 
fhrubs, (he ftruck into a walk of tall 
yew trees, whofe branches blending at 
top, formed a (hade fufBcient to ex- 
3 .elude 



M A -R ;i A; 129 

elude the fun at mid-day.— A train of 
ideas, fuch as the place might natu* 
rally be fuppolcd to infpire, took pof- 
fefllon of her foul. 

The ftd pifture of Aubrey's do- 
meftic life, drawn by the rough pencil 
of Hardwick, recurred to her mind-; 
Ihe checked not her tender reflexions 
upon his merits, as flie was.wiont to 
do ; for (he now conGdered him as an 
haplcfs wanderer, whofe peculiar dif- 
trefs, well- warranted her fofteft fympa- 
thy. 

" How hard the fate of that amiable 
being !" cried fhe, " what pity, that 
a fpirit mild, tender, and refined !— a 
foul fo alive to all the fweets that are 
found in the circle of domeftic friend- 
Ihip, fhould be conftrained to roam to 
foreign climes, in fearch of that tran- 
quility which home-bred difquietude 
had deprived him of here.— Alas I 
G5 Why 



tjo MAUI A. 

Why was it not permitted me once 
again to behold the poflefibr of ib 
many enchanting excellencies^ ere he 
quitted, perhaps for ever, his native 
ifle ?**— As Ihe uttered thefe words, 
dafping her bands with an impa&ioned 
air, ihe lifted up her eyes fwimming 
with tears of hopelefs forrow.— 

This laft aiStion difcovered to her, 
what (he had not perceived before-— 
that (he had nearly reached the end of 
the walk, which was terminated by a 
marble buft, large as lifer the fur- 
prize made her ftart back a few paces^^ 
but what wer^ her fenfations, when, 
on re*approaching to exaniine what 
the hand' of fculpture had placed 
there, fee beheld the features of-r 
Aubrey. 

His fpeftre, Ihown by the pale re- 
flex of the moon, gliding through her 
chamber at the dread hour of mid- 
night. 



M A R I Ai i^x 

nighty would no( have had a more 
terrific ^St&: upon her imaginauon ; 
fee ftarted back appajjjed ;-^her frijine 
akernafidy experienced the jeiccremes of 
beat and cold— ccars of horror gulhed 
to her ;eyes, and the violent jcmotions 
of her heart would inevitably have 
configned her to a ftate of inienfibilicy^ 
had not an impafiioned burfl: of hyf« 
terical tears, accompanied by the fhrili 
fhrieks of woe, prevented that efFedt. 
She clafped, with her fhivering arms, 
this death-like and mod awful of all 
imitations of natur€*~fbe preffed with 
hetpallid lips, the heart-chilling re- 
fcmblance of tbo/e from whence flie 
had fo often heard difpenfed the tender 
accents of perfuafive foftnefs, the foul 
of manly fenfe, and the vivid graces of 
Attic wit.-~Whilftihe yet gazed in an 
agony of dumb defpair on each me- 
mory-trcafured feature, a form majef- 
C 6 tic. 



132 MARIA; 

tic, elegant and noble, drew near (un- 
obferved by her) that fide of the pede- 
ftal on which (he leant.—" Great 
God 1 what do I behold !" cried fhe. 

Maria knew it to be the voice of 
Aubrey, and, in the diftradion of her 
tone, fancied (he had beheld the lips 
of the buil quiver with the articula- 
tion of the founds.— Terrified with 
the idea, her limbs tottered, and fhe 
funk half lifclefs on the ground, one 
fide of her head reclining on the foot 
of the pedeftal— Aubrey darted for- 
ward — ^flie turned her dying eyes up- 
on him— they clofed for a moment.— 
He threw himfelf upon the turf befidc 
her, and raifing her lovely head from 
the niarble, prefled it to his bread, his 
lips tenderly declining on her fore- 
head — *' Oh ! look upon me once 
. again, lovely Maria !" cried he ; " it is 
thy adoring Aubrey calls s he who 

loved 



M A R r A. t^$ 

loved from the firft moment he beheld 
thy angelic charms." Thefe emotions 
of new furprize ! of fudden joy ! afted 
as reftoratives to her fleeting fpirits. 

"Explain to me the wonders I 
fee. — They told me you were gone 
abroad,** cried Maria, wrth the voice 
of pathetic tcndemefs^^laiowing what 
fhe faid. 

" The buft, my fweet angel,** re- 
turned he, *' was placed here by the af^ 
fedlionate defire of my fitter, who faid, 
fhe fhould feel a melancholy plcafure 
in having fuch a memento of me, whilfl 
I was performing my propofed tour; 
which unavoidable accidents have for 
fome weeks retarcJed, to give me this 
moment of blifsful anguifh.** ' 

" Is Lady Melmoth your fitter ?** 
exclaimed Maria. 

J'' She is,** returned Aubrey.' 

How 



.134 MARIA. 

" How happy is Lady Melmoth ! — ' 
how happy arc you I" cried Maria, dif- 
engaging herfelf from his arms, and 
making an eSbrc to rife from the 
^rouad. 

As her fpirits recovered, the painful 
confcioufnefs of having difcovered the 
fecret of her ibul to bim^ from whom 
ihe would have given worlds to have 
concealed it, overwhelmed h«r >with 
the deepefl confufion. Aubrey, would 
not increafe it by endeavouring to de- 
tain her. He ailifted her in rifing, and 
with aa air of the mod diffident refpeA> 
led her forward, her limbs trembling 
every Jftep flie took. They had fcarcely 
proceedea a few paces, ere Maria, with- 
out looking upon him, drew her hand 
egently out of his ; and ]}}& then they 
faw enter the walk Mifs Hampden. 
The ufual compliments and enquiries 

rcfpefting 



M A R I A. 135 

refpefting the ftate of their health paC- 
fed between that lady and Aubrey. 

" I am very well, I thank you. Sir,*' 
faid ihe ; ^^ but yw look extremely 
pale, Mifs Mordaunt: have you fecn 
WK^ fpeSre in tbis^oomy place ?" 

Maria turned ftill paler at this 
fpeech; which was, however^ merely 
accidental 

•' Something of that kind,Madam»I 
believe," faid Aubrey, with admirable 
prefcnce of mind ;, " for not having fcen 
me fince I had the honour of viliting her 
family in * f hire, furprifed at view- 
ing fo unexpeftcdly, in a buft, features 
ihe had once known^ Mifs Mordaunt 
miftook it for a preternatural appear- 
ance, and gave a loud Ihriek, which 
brought me from another part of the 
garden to fee what had occafioned 



it" 



Mifs 



136 MARIA. 

Mifs- Hampden having no caufe to 
ftjfpedl any thing further, ftniled at the 
incident ; and the converfacion turning 
upon the antiquity of the caftle, Au- 
brey entertained-them with legendary 
tales refpefting it, till they reached the 
parlour in which breakfaft was pre- 
pared, and Lady Melmoth waited for 
them. 



CHAP, 



MARIA. 137 



CHAP. XIV. 



WHEN they entered the break* 
faft-room, they found with 
Lady Melmoth * the relation, whom 
the reader may recollect, . her Lady* 
ihip told Maria was to accompany 
her brother in his vifit to Dun* 
lough. 

Lord Newry was a native of the 
kingdom of Ireland^ about the age of 
five and twenty j his figure was tall 
and manly; his eyes were dark, and 
had a fire 'and wildnefs bordering "upon 
ferocity ; his complexion was florid^ 
his features prominent and mafculinei 
and. his profile, of the Grecian tUrn, 
gave an infmuating foftnefs to the lowel" 
t part 



138 M A R I A» 

part of his face ; which, united with 
the apparent opennefs of his demeanor, 
rendered his perfon generally pleafing 
to the ladies ; though his manners had 
more of eafe than elegance, and his 
converfation difplaycd a greater degree 
of fpiric and vivacity than wit or folid 
uhderftanding. 

The introdu&ory forms having pat 
fed, Aubrey expreflfed to Lady Mel- 
moth his pleaTure at ib unexpeded % 
meeting with Mifs Mordaunt, from 
whofc family he had received fo many 
polite attentions; and, relating the 
circumftance which firft brought him 
acquainted with the.Mordaunts, beg- 
ged leave to re- introduce Maria, as 
the daughter of a gentleman, and to 
5??hofe friendfhip and phylical fkill he 
iDwed bis lifc/V 

" Then I am doubly bound to love 
Mii$ Mordaunt,'^ faid Lady Melmoth^ 

!' from 



MARIA. 139 

** from gratitude to her family, and 
admiration of her merits.** 

Maria replied, '^ that bad Mr* 
Aubrey owed her family a thoufand 
obligations, they would have been re* 
paid by the important fervicc he had 
rendered her j and then dpfcribcd to 
them the incident which h^d happened 
at the play. Lady Melmoth and. Mils 
Hampden uttered the natural exprefl* 
lions of furprife at die difaftrous ad« 
venture, and Lord Newry fbemed 
much entertained with the account of « 
the riot. 

" Your ftory. Madam," fald he 
laughing, *' reminds me of the firft 
tiaie'I fell in love, which happened 
when I was about lixteen years c^age, 
and with ^ftrolUngprince/s. I chanced 
to be riding through a fmall village in 
the vicinity of Bclfaft with my gover- 
nor ^ for fomc caufc or other we (top- 
ped 



140 M A R I A. 

pcd at a little hedge ale-houfe ; on en- 
tcring thfc kitchen, I faw a handfomc 
young woman tawdrily dreffed, with a 
parcel of dirty feathers and a coronet 
on her head, walking backwards and 
forwards, and waving a white handi- 
kerchief in great agitation. Enquiring 
into the caufe (whilft my governor's 
back was turned) fhe told nie fhe be* 
longed to a con>pany of ftroHing play- 
ers in the village ; that the tragedy of 
The Mourning Bride was to be per*- 
formed that evening, and the exhibi- 
tion was to begin in about half aa 
hour 5 and that fhe was dreflcd for the 
part of the captive queens but a cbatM 
for her hands being abfolutely necef* 
fary to render her habiliment compleat^ 
the diftrefs in which I found her, arofe 
from her not being able to procure one 
of a decent and refpeftable appearance^ 
without paying for it» 



MARIA. 141 

'* / ufed^* faid Jhe^ in a tragic tone, 
and weeping bitterly,"/^ borrow an ex^ 
celleni jack- chain of my landlady^ which 
Juited me exaSlly ; but that^ alas f cannot 
now be -, forjhe will be prefently compelled 
to put a goofe on tbefpit^ which is be/poke 
for/upper" 

" Touched with her affliftion (for 
nothing melts me like beauty in dif- 
trefs) I preffed her to accept of money 
to purchafe a cbain^ which (he, after 
fome heroic refufals, complied with. 
I begged her permiflion to vifit her the 
following day, which my lovely Zara 
likewife condefcendingly granted. Ac- 
cordingly fcraping together all the 
money I could, I gave my governor 
the flip the next <iay, and flew to my 
beauteous queen, with whom I fpent 
nine or ten days incog. At the end of 
that time my fl:ock of cafli being drain- 
ed to the lafl: ftiilling, and my ftock of 

love 



14a M A R * I A. 

love fomewhat leflened, I was reduced 
to the alternative of either ftarving or 
returning, like the prodigal, to my 
father's manQon. By my foul I was 
not long in determining, for I began ta 
be heartily tired of truanting/' 

** And pray how were you received 
at home, my Lord ?** faid Lady Mel- 
moth. 

*• Why, Madam, my mother receiv- 
ed me with open arms, forgetting, in 
her joy at my return, the cau/e of my 
akfence: my father commanded me 
from his prefence, defiring my governor 
to corredt me fcverclyj but before I 
got out of the room, I overheard his 
Lordfhip fay. The dog had afinepromif- 
uigfpirit^ and was jufijucb another as be 
bimfelfwas at the fame age. My gover- 
nor too heard this, and mitigated my 
puniffametit accordingly/' 

Lady Mehnoth and Mifs Hampden 

(tho* 



M A R I A. i4j 

((tho* fliocked) could not help .being 
diverted with fome part of Lord 
Newry's ftorjr j and Maria, low-fpirit- 
cd as ihe was, forced a fmife into her 
countenance. 

The efforts which Aubrey had made 
to appear chearful, and. hide his cha- 
grin, had exhaufted his fpirits, and he 
fat leaning his arm on the window, in 
a fupine and njelancholy attitude. La- 
dy Melmoth, who fat next him, fpoke 
twice 5 and offered him a dilh of tea' 
without being Heard. At iafl, her la- 
dyfhip faid, fmiling, " Mifs Mor- 
daunt, be kind enough to try what 
you can do."— Maria handed him the 
tea, with a trepidation that was greatly 
heightened by perceiving his eyes fixed 
on a ring he wore upon his finger, or* 
namented with a fmall fpray of cyprefs, 
woven in hair of the fame colour as 
her own, and which fhe immediately 
concluded to be the fame he had taken 
4 , from 



144 MAR I A. 

from her at —— — . As Maria pro- 
nounced, " Mr. Aubrey ! " — he ftart- 
ed, and looking in her face a moment, 
without comprehending the caufe of 
her calling upon him, took hold of 
one of her hands, with a wildnefs that 
witnefled an inattention to every other 
objed. Maria, blufhing extremely, 
withdrew her hand haftily i Lord New- 
ry burft into a laugh ; and Lady Mel- 
moth and Mifs Hampden fmiled. 

'* I. beg your pardon for my inat- 
tention, Mifs Mordaunt," faid Au- 
brey, recovering himfelf. 

" You ought indeed to make many 
apologies,'* faid Lady Melmoth. 

" Oh, not at ail," faid Lord Newry ; 
*' your ladyfhip fees my friend Au- 
brey has always recolleftion enough to 
prefer the hand of a beautiful lady to 
a difli of tea. Faith, Aubrey, 'tis my 
dpinion.your thoughts at that moment 
: . ' . :. • . . were 



Jil A R I A. 145 

were worth more than a penny. — I 
fhould like extremely to know if you 
were thinking of an old woman, or a 
young one." 

" Perhaps of neither, my Lbrd,". 
faid Aubrey, colouring with vexation 
at this aukward obfervation. 

" Oh, rjl lay my life you were 
thinking of a woman ; and by — — you 
are in the right — for there is nothing 
elfe that is worth bellowing a thought 
upon." 

" Bravo ! my Lord,** faid Aubrey, 
carelefsly j *' you are welcome to this 
opportunity of recommending yourfclf 
to the ladies, even though you rally at 
my expence.** 

" Faith, it is nothing,'* returned 

my Lord, " but the truth I fpeak— 

for there is not a perfon in the univerfe 

hates flourifhes fo much as I do.** 

Our young Hibernian feemcd charm* 

V0L.L H cd 



»46 MAR I A. 

ed CO extacy in the focicty o£ our beau^ 
dful irioj repeatedly exclaiming^— 
^^. You have introduced me to the 
Graces, Aubrey — you have 4ntro- 
dqtcd me to the Graces ! **— and, loft 
jn admiration, knew not on which to 
fix, as the objeft of bis particular 
adoration; never doubting, however, 
from the eafmefs of fome conquefts he 
had made in his own country^ but that 
cither might be brought by his affidui- 
ties to liften with complacence to his 
fuit.-r-Whilfl: in this uncertainty, he 
conduced himfeif with the mod fub- 
miflive and refpedtful gallantry to all i 
failing not at the fame ixmty feparaUly^ 
to entertain them with proteftations of 
a mod: violent paflion ; fwearing to 
each, that (he was the only woman 
who had ever made the leaft imprcflion 
on his hearty and not forgetting to in- 
terlard his difcourfe with hints, that 

althctugh 



M A R t a: Ur 

although he had never befoife himfelf 
been touched by (he t^odcr pafiion; 
he bad made great havpck among the 
hearts of his ow^i countrywomen^ 

Lady Melmoth replied to thefe in« 
timations with that fort of genteel raiU 
lery, with which women of wit, ac« 
quainted with the WQrId» ufually re* 
turn the efFufions of common-place 
gallantry .~Maria, with her ufual nai^ 
vete^ told him, (he was extremely forry 
if he really felt for her what he dc*» 
fcribedy as (he could not flatter him 
with having inlpired her with lentil 
ments at all accordant; and hoped lie 
would endeavour to philofophize away 
his attachment to her, in the fpeedidfl 
manner he could devife. — The cold* 
nefs and rcfetve of Mifs Hampden's 
carriage to him, had hitherto caufed 
him to be more diftant in his b^havi^ 
our to her, than to cither of the other 
H 2 ladiest 



J4i M A R I A. 

ladies. But one mornitig, after having 
tired himfelf with making fpceches to 
no* purpoib to Maria and Lady Mel- 
moth, who happened to be then walk- 
ing in the garden, he found Mifs 
Hampden alone, and began his addrefs 
in a ftilc more vehement than he had 
cv€r before ufed. 

** How happy," cried, he, feating 
himfelf bcfide her, " am I to find the 
idol of my foul thus alone — how anxi- 
oufly have I languiflied for fuch an op- 
portunity of breathing out my palfion, 
and telling you how 1 have adored fince 
the firft moment I beheld you.— Oh, 
divine Mifs Hampden lyou have rob- 
bed my foul of reft— I cannot live 
without you :— and will you, charm- 
ing creature ! fufFer me to wander 
about this wide caftle, like a gloorhy 
ghoft, as lihall (hortly be, if you kill 
mc with your frowlis.— Come, be 

generous. 



MARIA. 149 

generous, lovely angcH and confefs 
fome little return of afFedtion at Icaft." 
Saying which, (taking the filcnce in 
which aftonilbment held her, for a tacit 
permiffioh of his addreflcs) he feized 
one of her hands, and preffed it rap- 
turoufly to his lips. 

Had Mifs Hampden been Lord 

Newrj^s equal in rank, fbe would pro- 

.bably have thought with Lady Mel- 

nioth, that ridicule was a weapon fuf- 

.ficiently fevere to repel his attacks :— 

but her delicacy and pride catching 

the alarm, (he conftrued his freedom 

Jnto an infult qn her dependant fitua- 

-tion.— The book fhe had been reading 

fell from her hand; (he rofe haftily 

from her feat, and, with a look of con- 

. tempt, vanifhed from his prcfence, (to 

fpcak in the fublimc ftile of Offian) 

like a meteor (hooting athwart the dun 

horrors of midnight, leaving Lord 

H J Newry 



tgo M A R* I A. 

Newry in a ftitc of furprize and won- 
der ; from which he had not recover- 
ed, when Lady Melmoth's waiting gen*^ 
tlewoman, a pretty pert-faced littte 
girl, came into the room with a large 
quantity of flowers in her hands,^ with 
whic h (he was going to decorate the 
apartment. 

"Come hither, my little heart,** 
faid his Lordfliip, ifeating her on afo- 
pha befide him ; " you are a chartning 
girl I— Pray be fo kind as to inform 
me of what rank that young lady may 
be, that has juft left die room.** 

** That lady, Sir," replied (he, (irii- 
pering, " is my l»3y's bumkk rompa- 
nion.** 

" Nay, there, my life, I am afraid 
you make a fmall miftake ; for I am 
rather inclined to think (he is her proud 



one." 



!! Yes, Sir," returned (he, with great 

glee, 



MARIA. 151 

glee, " that's juft what I fay ; for 
now, tho* (he's always civil to me, ycc 
I always think there's fomething abouft 
her that fays, I am a.bove you!— 
Proud minx !— fomc people are as 
fit for companions as (he; though they 
are forced to take up with being wait- 
ing maids. I have had as good edu^ 
cation as ifae, for aught I know. I'm 
fure I learnt French and dancing ; and 
I don't fee why I have not as good 
pretentions aa fhe to be a' companion.^ 

*' Aye, my beautiful divrnity, and 
fo you have; and you ihall be mjf 
companion, and 19^ goddels ; and you 
fhall fpend half my fortune.-— Corner 
take a faithful, generous lover ; and 
you'll never have any occafion to conv- 
plain.— ConGder, that I have been dy- 
ing for you ever f^nce I have, been at 
theCaftlc." 

!* Lord I where could your lordihip 
H4 fee 



152 M A k I A. 

fee me •, thought I had not been fcen 
by any body but my Lady and the fer- 
vants firtce I came down. — ^Dear me, 
*where could your.Lordfhip fee me?" 
• " Oh, in the garden, my heairt -, or 
fomewhere or other.** 
', " No ; I don't think it could be 
^here, my Lord ; for I don't recolledt 
I have been in the garden fince we 
came here ^ Tve been fo bufy unpack- 
ing my Lady's cloaths, and putting 
them in order, &c.— but perhaps ic 
might be in croffing the gallery you 
4kyf mel*^ 

: '* You have juft hit the thing, my 
,dear \ — it was in croffing the gallery, 
now \ recoiled ; — you had on a red 
.gown.'* 

. ** Oh, no, my Lord, I've got never 
:a red gown ; I fancy it muft be my 
Hue tabby." 

1' Right ! right ! bke it was— I'll 
. . take 



M A R I a: 153 

take my oath it was ^/«^;— but no 
matter whether blue, black, green, or 
yellow ; for I fhould have loved and 
adored you juft the fame, if I had feen 
you without any gown ds all.^ 

" Lord, my Lord 1 you arc fuch 
&r2Lnge adrupt gentleman." 

" Come, come, my darling goddefs, 
be my companion ; for, upon my foul, 
I cannot live without you. — Come, be 
generous, and give yourfelf freely- 
and then you never need fleep alone in 
this wide Gothic place.** 
• *' Oh dear ! to be fure it is a horrid 
ugly old place ; and do you know, my 
Lord, I am fa frightened of a night, I 
do nothing but fancy I h^sit fcreecbes 
and groans, and then I Ihrink under 
the cloaths, and my teeth go nick 
knock, nick knock; and I do fo 
diiber and Ihake; for I lie in a great 
flalh room^ at the bottom of the long 
H 5 larum 



154 MAR I A» 

larum old gallery*. I am fure I am 
xeady to die with the thoughts of it/* 

*• So, fo — ^fhe has given me her ad- 
drefs," faid Lord Newry internally. 

" Aye, my life," continued he, 
** you muft let me proteft you.— 
" Come, filence gives confent.** 

" Oh, indeed, but it does not in- 
deed, my Lord. — I am quite fhockcd 
at your propofal— I am fure if yoa 
was fo cooae, and I was to fee you, I 
ihould give a gxtdX fcreecb^ and mfpirc 
down dead direftly.*' 

" Yes, yes, you'd infpire me with 
all manner of joy and rapture." 

Here the found of approaching feet 
interrupted further difcourfe of this 
kind;' and Lord Newry having pre- 
vailed upon her to accept a diamond 
ring he had on his finger, /he tripped 
haftily away ; intreating him not to 
come— for that " if he did, flie was 

fure 



M A R I A. 155 

furc flie fhould give a great fcretcb^ 
and infpre dfrcdly.", 



C H A P. XV. 

MISS Hampdei^ fatigued with a 
vifit they had been making that 
evening, went to bed immediately on 
their retiring for the night ; but Ma- 
ria, who had a letter to write to Dr.' 
Edgeware, fat down to her pen, and in 
refledting and writing fpe;it near a 
couple of hours :— having, at length, 
finiffaed her letter, (he was beginning to 
undrefs, when the mellifluous notes of 
the nightingale faluted her ears. The 
night being extremely hot^ aaod one of 
H 6 jthc 



156 M A R I A;. 

the wincJows left open, (he looked out, 
and was charmed with the fweet fere- 
nity which poflcffcd all nature. The 
little arbour (heretofore defcribed) that 
flood oppoGte the window, feemed fo 
charming a fituation to enjoy the de- 
lightful breezes which fanned the air, 
that Maria threw a cloak over her 
Ihoulders, ^nd repeating foftly from 
Milton — 

*' Svveet.bird, that fhun'ft the noife of folIy» 
*' Moft muiical, mod melancholy''-— 
ftole gently out of the room to feek the 
back ftair-cafe, 

' It happened, however, that inftead 
of opening the door which led to this 
defcent, fhe opened one that conduced 
into a long gallery, which communi- _ 
cated with the principal apartments of 
the Cattle. The ftillnefs of the night 
added a terrific folemnity to the place. 
The moon-beams, which pierced faint- 
ly through the Gothic windows, gave 

a (ha- 



M A R I a; 15^ 

a ftiadowy view of fomc old paintings, 
.,that were thinly fcattered about the 
walls; and here and there, a wide* 
yawning chimney, rcfembling a gloomy 
cave, prefented ' itfelf •, from one of 
which, whilft (he flood with the door 
in her hand, Maria faw a lighted torch 
fail on the ground — the fright depriv- 
ed her of the power of motion ; the 
door (lipped froni her hand, and cloifed 
iipon'her 5 and prefently after, fome- 
thing all black, and large as the mo(t 
mafculine human figure, followed the 
torch with an equal velocity of defcent, 
and lay proftrat^, feemingly ftunned by 
. the violence of the fall. 

Whether the terror Maria felt at this 
moment originated from her fuppofing 
the objef): in queftion to be a diabo-, 
lie appearance, or from her alarm, left 
a thief had concealed himfelf therewith 
an intention of robbing the Ca(tle,'we 

know 



f5t M A R I a: 

know not ; but the operation of her 
fear was fo powerfol, that fhe turned 
vith breathlcfs agitation to unclofe 
the door, but in the confufion of her 
ideas opened another, that conducted 
into a long narrow paffage ; which rc- 
fembling that which led into her own 
apiitmcnt, caufcd her not to perceive 
her error till fhe had attained the mid- 
dle of It, when its extraordinary length 
convinced her of her miftake. — She 
ftood a moment irrefolute whether to 
proceed or retreat, when flie heard the 
found of feet coming haftiljr towanis 
her, and in an iriftant felt fomebody 
clafp her round the waift, and by the 
cxpreffion*-*** Oh ! my lovely angel ! 
were you coming like a kind ftar to 
condufttnetothe goal of happinefe ?** 
•— difcovered it was Lord Ncwry who 
held hfer. 
^t Unhand me, my lord,'* cried Ma- 
ria, 



M. A R I A. 159 

ria, /'I know not what yt>u meant 
I came here with no fuch intiention ^ I 
have loft my way^ and am trying to re* 
gain my apartment." 

" Oh ! blcfc my foul," cried bur 
Hibernian, vexed at the miftake he 
had made, " Oh ! bldTs my foul, Mifs 
Mordaunt, is it you ? I am vaftly lorry ' 
for the accident-— give me leave Co 
help you to find your chamber— it 
would give me the greateft pkafure 
in life." 

^^ You will oblige me far more, my 
lord/'^faid Maria, who dreaded the 
thought of rambling about the caftlq 
at that time of iiigfat with him, *' if 
you will leave me to purfue my way 
alone." 

'' I am diftraAed, my deareft Mift 
Mordaunt, that yOu will not let me 
accompany and aflift youj* but 1 
would not intrude myiUf if you defire 



i6o M A R I a; 

me not 5 for I declare to you upon my 
honour. Madam, I am one of the mo- 
defteft fellows in the univerfe* Though 
upon my foul, Madam, I am diftre/Ted 
to let you go running about by your- 
felf.'^ 

Thus went he on, inwardly rejoiced 
however that Ihe would not let him 
accompany her ; for, as he had no cx- 
]>e£tation of receiving any favours from 
her, he was impatient to get to a more 
complying charmer. And if the reader 
IS not very dull indeed, he will be at 
no great lofs to divine the goal to 
which his lordlhip was haftenihg. 

Having broke from his imprifoning- 
arms, Maria purfued her way to the 
extremity of the avenue; the attain- 
ment of which introduced her to a 
fmali gallery Ihe had never feen before j 
and here, by. the light of the moon, 
which ihone with refplendent luftre 
. . through 



MARIA. i6i 

through a broken window oppofite to 
the place where Ihe ftood, ftie beheld 
a nnan lying befide the wall, all pale, 
ghaftly, and weltering in his blood. 
Maria Ihricked aloud at the fight of 
this dreaQful fpeftacle, exclaiming, with 
the deep tone of terror— 

'* Horror and death obftrudl my paffagel'* 
when, turning haftily from the fight 
of fo terrific an objeft, with an in- 
tention of regaining the gallery (he 
had left, an aperture in the floor 
caught her foot, and brought her 
haftily on her knees to the ground. 
Whilft endeavouring to difengage her- 
felf, Maria heard a deep groan, and an 
uneafy movement ; her head was turn- 
ed from the fpot where it lay, but 
Ihe concluded it to proceed from the 
body.— At that inftant of alarm and 
difmay, Aubrey, who had heard her 
fhrick, and who for fome reafon or 

other 



i62 M A R I A. 

other had not been in bed, came haftily 
o\it of one of the adjoining chambers, 
and appeared before her. 

" Mlfs Mordaunt I** exclaimed he, 
haftening to affilb in difengaging her 
foot from its painful confinement. 

" Oh ! Mr. Aubrey,"* cried Maria, 
^' what is the meaning of that dreadful 
fpcftacle." 

** What fpeclacle, lovely Mifs Mor- 
daunt," cried Aubrey, who had re- 
marked nothing but the agitation in 
which he had feen her involved, and 
the difagreeable fituation from which 
he had relieved her foot, happily un- 
hurt by the accident;—** Surely the 
gloom of the place hath afFeded your 
imagination." ^ 

** See there !." cried Maria, pointing 
to the lifelefs figure, with horror in her 
countenance. 

Aubrey direftcd his eyes to the ipet 

(he 



Mar i a, 163 

fhe marked mt}\ her hand^ and, turn- 
ing to her agaia— 

" May every terror which fliall af- 
fail your breaft, charming Maria I be 
as eafily removed as this !" So faying, 
he led her nearer to the caufe of her 
affright, which, on approaching the 
wall, fhe difcovered, to her infinite a- 
mazement, had proceeded from the 
wonder-working efiefts of an antique 
portrait Of a wounded man. n 

Maria, relieved from this diltrefs, 
proceeded to relate the caufe of her 
lofing herfelf, and the fright ihe had 
been thrown into in the gallery. Au- 
brey attempted to rally her out of the 
idea of what fhe had ieen being any 
thing more than the illufion of fancy ; 
and, runninjg haHily into his own apart- 
ment to fetch a candle, faid, he would 
condudi; her through the place where 

ihc 



i€4 M A R I A; 

ihe had feen thefe alarming appearan- 
CCS, to her own chamber, in order to 
convince her of her miftake. As he 
returned with a candle in one hand, 
and his fword in the other, he faid 
fmiling, *' We will have yet another 
guard, Mifs Mordaunt ;** and, calling 
Florio ! Florio ! pretty loudly, a fpa- 
niel jumped up from one corner of the 
gallery, and came bounding tQwards 
its maftcr, on whom it laviflied the 
foncjeft careffes. "Maria how beheld 
the body from* .which the alarming 
groan had iflued, and was ready to 
think with Aubrey, that all fhe had 
Yeen in the great gallery had been 
merdy ideal. Aubrey took her by the 
hand, and had led her through the 
paflage,' when they faw at the bottom 
-of it'Lord Newry. " Good heavens !" 
faid ^laria, provoked at this encounter, 

u here 



M A R I ^A. 165 

** here is that wild being Lord New- 
ry— I forbad him to follow me, and 

perhaps heMl imagine that " 

' She had not* time to finifh the fcn- 
tence ; the Iriihman ran towards them 
with a look of furpxize and diftrac- 
tion. 

" Hell and furies," cried he, " I 
met the devil crofling the gallery, with 
a flaming fire-brand in his hand." 

So faying, he was rufliing pad them, 
but Aubrey caught hold of his arm to 
ftay him. 

'' Fie, fie, my Lord, will not you 
draw your fword, and accompahy me, 
to fearch into the myftery of this ap- 
pearance ? which X fear is ibmething 
more dangerous than a fpeftre of the 
imagination." 

'* Upon my foul, Aubrey," cried 
Lord Newry, fomewhat recoUcdting 
his fcattered- fcnfcs, "upon my foul I 

am 



|66 MARIA. 

« 

am inclitied to be of youropinion s I 
am afraid fo too.'' 

" Come along then," faid Aubrey % 
upon which Lord Newry, drawing his 
f^ord, marched after them. 

After a ftrift examination^ they found 
» the fource of their dread concealed be* 
hind a door, in one of the chambers 
near the gallery, with the torch cxtin- 
guiflied on the floor. The fuppofed 
goblin-no fooner beheld a couple of 
naked fwords pointed at its breaft, 
than it fell proftrate on the floor, cry- 
ing loudly for mercy, in a voice which 
Aubrey knew to be that of his own 
iervant. 

Aubrey, aftonifhed, commanded 
him, in an authoritative tone, to con- 
fcfs the meaning of his ftrange conduft 
and appearance. 

The poor frightened wretch raifed 
himfelf upon his knees, and begun, 

a I'Oh, 



MARIA. 167 

^* Oh, Sir ! I hope ycoi'll be fo good 
as to overlook this little affair j — I be- 
lieve the devil bewitched me to go up 
the chimney/* 

" I believe fo too,** cried Lord 
Newry, ** pray go on and tell us how . 
this liule affair^ as you call it, came 
about/* 

** I believe, Sir, the devil bewitched 
me," refumed the man, " but I heard 
Lady Melmoth's fervants faying, they 
had heard that chimney in the gallery, 
that I attempted to go up, was only a 
Jham^ for that there was a door in one 
fide of it chat led into 2ifuite of rooms.— 

" I believe this is all a Jbam ; — you 
deferve to be hanged, by - — ^ do you, 
you impertinent dog/* interrupted 
Lord Newry. 

^* Be fo good to let the fellow pro- 
ceed, my Lord s-— 'Gq on Frederick,** 
faid Aubrey. 

r I heard. 



170 MARIA. 

daunt, how^ greatly you have been ter- 
rified and fatigued." 

" Faith, I am quite Ihocked to 
think of it," faid Lord Newry •, " how 
could it happen that you (hould lofc 
yourfelf, Madam ?— it' was very lucky 
you nict with my friend Aubrey, or 
you would have been in a terrible fitu- 
ation, aftec you had refufed to let me 
be your efc9rt€.^* 

** Lucky indeed," faid Maria; " but 
had I accepted your Lordftiip's offer, 
it would only haye been the blind lead- 
ing the blind." 

** Well, my deareft Madam, nOw 
you arc fo happy in a guide you prefer^ 
will you permit me humbly to'bcyour 
candle-bearer ? But faith I cannot 
help laughing to tfiink how fortunate 
it was that you fhould meet Aubrey, 
after you had rejefted my offer. "—Say- 
ing this, he took up the candle, and in 

fo 



M A R I a; 171 

fo doing contrived^ iwhcther .by dfcfiga' 
or accident I caxm at exaftly iky, tix .put 
oiuthedigh't. : , 

^'Oh^Qod God !*' ftid Maria, '' wfeat 
Oiall we do dow ?'* 

i •'Dom'thp.Akrqrifidi Mft4a*P,"',ffti4 
Alubrey ; *' I .koowitbc way 5 .giv* flic 
your haftd." 

" Oh never fear, we'll take care of 
you, Madam," cried Lord Newry, 
feizing her other han4 ;— ^and away 
theyw^nt. 

As they paffed along the gallery^ 
Lord Newry took advantage of the 
dark nefs to fqueeze her hand repeated- 
ly> and to prefs it alternately^ to, his 
heart and his lips 5. Maria ftruggled 
hard to withdraw.it,- but found j(he 
could not without alarming Aubrey. 
At length, as they were going through 
the narrow paflage which led to Maria's 
chamber, he had the audacity to apply 
I z his 



172 MARIA. 

his lips to her check. Maria (who, 
notwithftanding the natural mildnefs 
and foftnefs of her difpofition, never 
wanted fpirit on proper occajGions) was 
fo n)uch exafperated that Ihe would 
have given him a fevere reprimand, had 
Ihe not feared to irritate Aubrey ; Ihe 
kept filence therefore, but puflied him 
indignantly from her, with a force that 
caufed his body to prefs rather too 
clofe againft the wainfcot. Aubrey, 
thinking his foot had flipped, bid him 
take care. This miilake fo highly 
diverted his Lordfliip that he burfl: in- 
to a violent fit of laughter. They 
had now, to the great joy of Maria, 
reached the door of her apartment, 
when, wilhing her peaceful flumbers, 
they bade her adieu. 



CHAP. 



M A R I A. 173 



CHAP. XVI. 



THE opening of her chamber door 
awakened Mifs Hampden, who 
had flejpt the whole time of Maria's 
, abfence. As . our fair heroine ap- 
proached her, (he faid, 

•* I hope, my dear Mifs Mordaunt, 
you wrapt your cloak clofe about your 
throat ; I am afraid the night air ihould 
give you cold/* 

. Maria, thanking her for her friendly 
anxiety, replied, " that fhe had not been 
out of the caftle," and proceeded, 
whilft (he undrefled, to tell her the ad- 
venture of the night. 

The converfation on this fubjcft held 

them fo long that they had talked them- 

1 3 felvcs 



174 MARIA: 

felves out of all inclination to fleep. 
And as the tongue of women (as hath 
been obfcrved at leaft once or twice be- 
fore, by MXtE authors) is an aftivc 
member, they foon fell upon different 
topics. 

Among other things, Maria, prortipt- 
ed poflibly by the accidental repollec- 
t ion of certain glances recorded in the 
clcventfi chapter X)f this voluriie, afked 
Mifs Hampden if (he was acquainted 
with a gentleman and a lady of the 
name of BlackwcU, who vifited at Dr. 
Edgeware's \ and being anfwered in the 
affirmative, enquired what kind of pec* 
pie fhc thought they were 5 to which 
Mifs Hampden replied, 

" Not eua^ly what they wifli to ap- 
pear." 

" I ■ confefs," faid Maria, " there 
appeared to me fomewhat a^igmatical 
about Mr. Blackwell ; but the charac- 
ter 



M A R I a; 475 

ter of his wife, may, I. think, plainly 
enough be difcovcred at a firft inter- 
view ; for (he hath neither wit nor ad- 
drefs fufEcient to fhade the badnefs of 
her temper from obfervation." 

** There is nothing peculiar in her 
charafter,*' replied Mifs Hampden, **to 
diftinguifh her from other mah'cious 
women of mean intellefts and low 
breeding." 

'* But as that of Mr. Blackwell is 
not fo obvious in a (hort conference^" 
faid Maria, " I fhould be obliged to 
you if you will give me your opinion 
©f his difpofition." 

** I will tell you fincerely," returned 
Mifs Hampden, " all I know of his 
mind, manners, and fortunes : — Mr, 
Blackwell was born and bred in a 
ftation rather below mediocrity ; but a 
laudable application to the acquirement 
of fcientific knowledge hath raifed him 
1 4 to 



ijS MARIA. 

to a refpeftable fituation. He at pre- 
icnt enjoys a fmall poft under govern- 
ment, procured for him by a gentle- 
man who admired his talents, and re- 
fpedled his induftry. Mr. Blackwell 
profeiles himfelf a rapturous admirer 
of the ancients, ajid his fupreme am- 
bition is (one may difcover on a clofe 
inlpeftion) to pafs himfelf upon the 
world as an exa£b cad from the model 
of Cato the Younger ; but his natural 
temper is at continual variance with 
his defire of fame in that way ; he is 
too deficient in true greatnefs of mind 
to fupport, in the prefcnce of his fupe^ 
riarsj the fevere dignity of that memor- 
able anciently and he blends a fort df . 
glavering politenefs with his ftarched 
attempts at the fimplicity of his model, 
which forms an aukward fervility of 
deportment, highly ridiculous and dif- 
gulling to thofe who are fo fituated as 

to 



MARIA; 177 

to view the operations of his miod 
without difguife ; for even on the 
(lighteft dilTention with any one on 
whom he apprehends he has conferred 
an obligation, ;or whom he .eftimates 
his inferior, the malk of felf-denying 
politenefs is quickly difplaced, by his 
native aufterenefs and vulgarity. And* 
on thefe occafions, he gives the humor- 
ous fpedbdtor a much ftrong^r idea of 
z player burlefquing.the part of Cato 
the Cenfor, than of the real manners of 
his defcendant. 

It is related of Cato the Younger,' 
that he tinftured his moft ferious dif- 
courfes with a turn of humour i in this 
too Mr. Blackwell afiefts to copy him i 
but in the place of attic wit and well- 
Aimed fatire, fubftitutes an indifcrimi- 
nating fpecies of ridicule^ generally 
turning on fome natural defeft of pe^* 
fon, organs, or deportmcat of thie at-^ 
1$ fent. 



I7t MARIA, 

fm. He has fomc talent at ludicrous 
defcriptions of the charadterifljc trmts^ 
<tf thole with whom he conver&s ; but 
£is knowkge of the hutqan heart is 
fcancy in lAe extitme; he aSe6b to 
talk of fri6ndflii{> with enthufiafm, but 
he has an inllabllity of difpofition, and 
a pronenefs td judge haftily and harihlf, 
which render him incapable of lafting 
amity, where his pufiUanimity has no* 
thhig to dticad from the difpIcAfure Df 
the objcft. 

His crlticifms on books and the fine 
arts difplay conliderable tafte, and Tome 
reading -, but he often introduces them 
aukwardly and pedantically, in cojn- 
pany where they c^n neither be relffli- 
cd nor undcrflood. 

** You hare placed his portrait 
ftrongly before me/* faid Mils Mofr 
'daunt. 

^! I atfure you 1 hare ^not exagge- 
rated 



M A R I a: 179 

rated the lines," returned Mifs Hamp- 
den s " neither have I, Icpnfefs, fof- 
tened them. I have endeavoured to 
give a true likenefs ; and this, I think, 
is but doing juftice to myfelf; as it 
will enable you to judge how far thofe 
dark hints, which I underftand they 
are continually throwing out againft 
me, are to be attended to ; and which 
you^ amongft others, have, .1 .doubt 
not, heard, by your inquiries of nie 
concerning thefc people." 

*' I profefs, my dear Mifs Hamp- 
den/* faid Maria, " I never beard ei- 
ther of them utter any thing tp your 
prejudice ; though I cannot fay I have 
never fcen Mrs. Blackwell .look dif- 
praifingly •, but the malice which ap- 
peared in thofe glances intirely deftroy* 
cd their cfFeft." 

*' Short as my life hath been," faid 

Mifs Hampden, " I have few enough 

16 of 



iSo M A R I a: 

of the world ; and felt too many of its 
bittereft difappointments, not to know 
the abfolute impoffibility of efcaping 
the envenomed Ihafts of malice, if we 
are deftined to mix with mankind at 
large; more efpccially if we fuffcr 
under the tyrant hand of adverfiry. 
Yet, though I have overcome fomc 
part of chat extreme anxiety to main- 
tain the good opinion of all, which 
pcrfons of well-turned and ingenuous 
minds feel on their firfl: entrance into 
life, I am anxious to explain every 
thing that may appear dubious to a 
fplrit fo upright, amiable, and kind as 
yours." 

Maria, with the tjtmoft earncftnefs, 
affured her that explanations were un- 
neceffary ; as fhe had never felt more 
cftccm or affeftion for any one, than 
her excellent conduft and juft fcnti- 
ments, on all ^ccafions, had created 
in her breaft. 

•M thank 



MARIA. i8i 

*' I thank you, my dear Mifs Mor- 
daunt, for thefe friendly afiurances} 
and to convince you of the fincerity 
of ntj attachment and confidence^ as 
well as to explain fome peculiarities 
you may have obferved in my manners, 
I would give you the particulars of 
my little hiftory, was I not fearful of 
faddening your mind, by relating a nar- 
rative, the latter part of which you 
will find marked by peculiar misfor- 
tunes." 

^^ Your conduft needs no explana- 
tion," faid Maria J " but if youlhould 
give me fuch a proof of your confi- 
dence, aflure yourfelf that the tears of 
a fympathifing fri)snd, will accom- 
pany the recital of your every for- 
row." 

*' I will rely," faid Mifs Hampden, 
** on the goodnefs of your heart, to 
excufe the prolixity I am apprehenfive 

I fljall 



i82 M A R I a: 

I fliall be drawn into. By the latter 
part of my relation^ however, you will 
difcover fome traits of the Blackwells, 
which will corroborate what I have be- 
fore defcribed." 

Having thus (aid, fhe began as will 
be related in the next chapter* 



CHAP. 



M A R J A. i%$ 



C HA P. XVII. 

r , 

STORY of Mifs HAMFDEN. 

My father was born in the mid- 
dle rank of life 5 he poScSki 
an employment undjcr government, 
which afforded him an income of about 
two hundred ^^ annumy when he mar- 
ried my mother, who died in giving 
birth to myfelf, her firil child. 
. Juft af the period I had attained my 
fcventh year, Mr. G^— , a gentleman of 
a large eftate in Wales, with his lady, 
came from their feat in that country, 
where thcyjufually dwelt all the year,' 
to fpend a few imonths in town, about 
a charKery fuit which was then de- 
pending. 

The 



i84 MARIA: 

The houfe my father occupied be- 
ing large, and his family only confift- 
ing of myfelf and one fervant, he, at 
the requeft of a friend of theirs, ac- 
commodated Mr. and Mrs. G— with 
apartments for. themfelves and fer- 
vants, whilft they ftaid in town. 

Mrs, G— having for fevcral years, 
as I obferved before, redded wholly in 
the country, had few intimiate acquaint- 
ance in London, and for this reafon 
ufed frequently to fend for mc to 
amufe fome of her vacant hours ; my 
infantine fprightlinefs, joined to that 
pity and fondnefs a tender heart feels 
for a child, (e^ccially of the foftcr 
fcx) deprived of the maternal care and 
proteAion, won to much upon her af- 
feftions, that when Ihe was to return 
to Wales, file requefted my father 
would permit her, as flie had no child 
of her own, to take upon her the caie 
cf my education. 



M A R I A. i85 

As my father's mind was not of the 
domeftic caft, he eagerly embraced an 
offer, that fo fatisfadlorily took from 
him the care of a daughter's education. 

Mr. G— had a heart replete with 
all the gentle and domeftic virtues ; he 
was bcfides a man of fenfe, an excel- 
lent clallical fcholar, and a lover of 
the fine artj.. 

As I early difcovered an aptitude for 
learningy.hetpok pleafure in being my 
preceptor; and inftrufted me himfelf 
in the Latin, French, and Italian lan- 
guages. Mrs. G— *s woman taught 
me all kinds of needle* work ; and for 
the other accomplifhments neceffary 
for my fex, I had the beft mafters the 
country afforded.— Thus blcffcd in 
my indulgent proteftors, I lived 'till 
the age of fcventeen -, when Mr. G-^ 
was feized with an illnefs, that in a 
few months put a period to his valua- 
ble exiftence. 

Mf 



188 M A R I a: 

Hampden, with your beautiful and 
Animated defcription,'' cried Maria; 
** but excufe my interruption— pray 
proceed/' 

^* The likenefs is not at aHflattered, 
if you will believe me, Mifs Mor- 
daunt/' returned Mifs Hampden, 
blulhing/ 

** I dare fay not, my dear^'* faid Ma- 
ria •,— ** be kind'cnough. to proceed -, 
for I am vaftly .Interefted for your 
amiable hero." 

Mrs. G— • (continued Mifs Hamp- 
den) introduced fee to Lord Henry, as 
the favourite companion of the • laft 
ten years of her life. 

Lord Henry, as he turned to make 
his compliments to me, gazed fixedly 
OB my face a nfioment without fpeak- 
ing, but with a look that will never be 
efi^aced.from my memory. He fecmed 
to penetrate the inmoft folds of my 
heart ; but at the fame time infpired 

none 



MARIA. 189 

none of that embarraflmentone ufually 
experiences, when under particular ob- 
fervation.. My foul feemed to fubmit 
itfelf with pleafure (o his fcrutiny, as 
if confcious the heart of its judge' b^at 
with fentiments congenial to its own, 
as if certam of candour and lenity; 
RecoUedting himfelf, he bowed to mc 
wich the mod refpedful politenefs ; 
and in anfwer to Mrs. G— 's introduc- 
tory intelligence, that " I had fpcnt 
the laft ten years with her," he replied, 
with a quicknefs of refpiration that 
flattered me extremely, as it feemed to 
indicate that his words flowed from- the 
heart,—" You mufl; have been very 
happy. Madam ! " 

The tone of voice in which this in- 

tereding compliment was paid, ftill 

vibrates in my ear ; the' fame words 

might have been fpoken five hundred 

% times 



igo MARIA. 

times in any other cadence, and never 
hare reached the heart. 

After fupper, (for it was evening 
whence arrived) I remember the con- 
verfation turned upon the art of letter- 
writing; when Mrs. G— , remarking 
how much the female fex excelled in 
that part of literature, did me the ho- 
nour, in the warmth and flow of her 
partiality, which (as I have before ob- 
ferved) was often unbounded in fa- 
vour of thofe flie loved, gave iine as an 
inft^nce. 

*• You arc cruel. Madam,** faid 
Lord Henry -, ** for you raife a curio- 
fity which, it is mofl: probable, can- 
not be gratified — familiar letters gc- 
tterdly turning on fubjefts of a private 
and domeftic nature." 

** I fee no caufe why your curiofity 
may not be regaled, my dear Henry," 
returned Mrs. G— 5 " for I hive now 

in 



MARIA. 191 

in my poffcffion fifty letters from Mifs 
Hampden, which contain nothing that 
fliould make her objeft to any one^s 
feeing them ;" and thus faying, in 
fpite of my intreaties to the contrary, 
flic pulled two or three out of her 
pocket-book, and laughing at me, 
gave them to Lord Henry. It had 
been a cuftom with Mrs. G— and my- 
felf to write frequently to each other, 
though under the fame roof; a prac- 
tice which had been fuggefted by my 
kind preceptor, Mr, G — , as a method 
to lead me inienfibly to write a fre^ 
and unembarraffed ftile : our fubjefta 
were ufually drawn from occurrences 
within the limits of our own acquaint- 
ance. The enthufiafm with which 
Lord Henry praifed my letters, in- 
duced Mrs. G— to fliew him fome 
tranflations I had made from the Latin 
and Italian poets. The admiration he 

exprefled 



192 M A R I a: 

exprefled of thefe juvenile attempts^ 
was a ftrong argument of that parti- 
ality he afterwards profefled for me ; 
fince the ftrength of his unbiafied judg- 
ment was unqueftionable. 

Every day gave us new caufe to ifid- 
mire the fweet urbanity of Lord Hen- 
ry's diipofition, the extent of his know^ 
ledge, an(i the variety of his accom- 
plifhments. Mrs. G— contemplated, 
with the higheft fraternal rapture, the 
luilre of his talents, which promifed, 
when matured by time, and brought 
into their proper fphere of adion, to 
become the ornament and glory of his 
illuilrious family. Alas ! for my own 
part, the fhare I took in her happineis 
on this Qccafion, (for to this caufe I 
then attributed the pleafure I experi- 
enced^from hearing the praifes of Lord 
Henry) was the grand fource of all 
my future mifcry. 

CHAP. 



MARIA. i9g 



CHAP. XVIII. 

ON E mornings I happened to be 
reading to Mrs, G— and Lord 
Henry, from a volume of the writings 
of the admirable Fielding; and after 
reciting a paflage that charmed mc 
particularly, I exclaimed involun- 
tarily, with a force of ekpreflion that 
was natural to the ardency of my 
feelings,—'* If ever, painting Ihould 
give my form, wy features to pofterity, 
let mc be feen— my hair unbound, 
and my brows wreathed with cyprefs— 
in the attitude of a mourner at 
thy tomb, oh thou bright fpirit of 
heart-chearing humo^ir, endearing fym- 
pathy, poignant wit, and daring ob- 
fervation !'* 

Vol. I. K Mri; 



194 MARIA. 

Mrs. G— laughed at this poetical 
rant, as (he called it ; and turning to 
Lord Henry, who fometimes amufed 
himfelf with drawing,—" There is a 
fubjeft for your pencil, my Lord," 
faid fhe. Lord Henry urged that he 
was unequal to the talk, and would 
have declined it •, but Mrs. G — infift- 
ed that he fhould make an attempt. 

His Lordfhip fucceeded extremely 
well in drawing a likenefs of my per- 
fon, which feemed to give him great 
fatisfaftion •, the dcfign it (elf was Am- 
ple, elegant, and pathetic. 

Mrs. G — liked it extremely, and 
rcquefted Ihe might have it ; but Lord 
Henry evaded giving it to her that 
morning, by faying he would take an 
opportunity of endeavouring to make 
it more worthy her acceptance. 

About two days after, as I wascroff- 
ing the veftibule to go into the garden, 

I picked 



MARIA- 195 

I picked up a fmall roll of paper, 
which on opening I found to contain 
the drawing I have been fpeaking of, 
much improved, and another exaftly 
copied from it. Whilll I ftood with 
the paper in my hand. Lord Henry 
came out of the garden, and approach- 
ed me. 

" You have juft found what I came 
back to. look for, Mifs Hampden," 
faid he, hefitatingly, andfomewhat con- 
fufed ; " I was going to amufe myfelf 
with my pencil in the Gothic temple, 
and loft it by the way." ^ 

" This accident, my Lord," faid I, 
in a raillying tone, " has difcovered to 
me that you are not abfolutely blind 
to your own perfeft ions.— You told 
Mrs. G— you thought the piece un- 
worthy her preferving •, and yet I find 
your Lordfhip has taken the trouble 
of copying it." 

K 2 " You 



xq6 MARIA. 

** You railly mc too feverely, Mifs 
Hampden, replied Lord Henry 5 could 
you afcribe my copying the drawing 
to ' no caufe but vanity ?— however, 
your not conceiving the motive is a 
new proof, charming Emilia, that you 
at lead are totally blind to your own 
perfeftions " 

This fpeech I might eafily have mif- 
taken for that tribute of flattery ufually 
paid to female youth, when acconv 
panied with any (hare of perfonal at- 
tradlions, had not the expreflive look 
which attended it plainly evinced, that 
Lord Henry wifhed me to think it 
meant a great deal more than a cufto- 
mary compliment. I confcfs I felt 
myfelf greatly embarrafled ; I would 
Jiave given the world fbr one fprightly 
idea, with which to have changed the 
cdiiverfation ; my cheeks glowed with 
a CQi)fi|fion I could not fupprefs ; -^I 
2 ftood 



MARIA. 197 

ftood a moment or two without articu- 
lating a fy liable, when Mrs, G — 's 
ivoman pafling us to go into the gar- 
den,^ I inftantaneoufly recolleded my- 
felf, returned the papers into Lord 
Henry's hand, and, turning round, 
opened the door of the parlour in 
which Mrs. G— was fitting, and en- 
tered it, leaving Lord Henry to pur- 
fue his intended walk. 

Whilft I fat at my toilet that morn- 
ing, drefling for a vifit we were to make 
after dinner, I received a letter (fireded 
* by Lord Henry. I had frequently re- 
ceived letters in the hand-writingof his 
Lordfhip, Mrs. G— having confti- 
tuted him her fecretary in our corre- 
fpondence ; but then they had always 
been delivered to me, either by Mrs; 
G— herfelf, or by Lord Henry in 
her prefence. The peculiar introduc- 
tion, therefore, of this, joined to tlie 
K 3 recolledion 



198 MARX A. 

recoUeftion of his behaviour this morn- 
ing, ajid on feme other occafions, 
brought the colour into my checks 
fcarlet deep. I durft not open the 
.letter immediately, left Mrs, G — *s 
woman, who ftood befidc me placing 
fome ornaments in my hair, ihould 
jperufe the contents -, and I feared to 
bid her retire, fcft the command 
Ihould create fufpicion. Affuming, 
therefore, all the eafe I could fummon, 
I threw the letter carelefly on the 
toilet, where I let it remain till flic had 
finiflaed my head-drefs and left me, - 
when, almoft breathlefs with agitation, 
I broke the feal. It was a declaration 
of his fentiments, written with the ^ 
romantically tender enthufiafm of 
youthful love and honour. 

He intreated me to inform him if my 
heart was totally difengaged, protefting, 
thiat ihould my affeflions be free, and 

I thought 



MARIA. 199 

I thought him worthy of my favour, he 
Ihould be the happieft being upon 
earth : adding, that when he returned 
from bis travels he fhould then be of 
age, and in pofTeflion of an eflate left 
him by his grandfather. Sir William 

W \ and if I would condefccnd 

to fhare the moderate fortunes of a 
younger brother, nothing ihould im- 
pede an indifToluble union. 

The noblencfs, the generofity of his 
, fentiments, penetrated my very foul : 
my regard rofe almoft to adoration •, and 
it was fome time before I had any other 
fenfations than thofe of joy at being 
beloved by fo uncommon and exalted 
a being. But thefe thoughts were 
foon diffipated. — A refledtion on the 
difparity of our birth and fortune Ihot 
rapidly through my heart, and, in a 
kind of phrenzy, the words — " Who 
am I ? — How dare I prefume ?" burft 
K4 from 



200 MARIA. 

from my impaffioncd heart,-—** Good, 
God ! how ungrateful a return am I 
making for the long years of fervice« 
rendered me by my dear Mrs, G — > 
by thus rejoicing at what, were ihe ap- 
prized of, would fill her with the utmoft 
inquietude !** , 

As I fpoke thefe words, the agony 
which hadalmoft llifled me broke forth 
into tears, and whilft pulling out my 
handkerchief to wipe my eyes, I faw, 
from the bo^ window in which I fat, 
and which crommanded the garden, 
Lord Henry walking on the grafs ter- 
race. This fight added to my diftrefs ; 
*— I retreated from the window, deter- 
mined . at all events to put a negative 
upon his Lordfiiip's addrefles>, but 
then again I could not think of doing 
this, without at the fame time expreflf- 
ing my admiration of his generofity, 
and the facisfaftion I felt in his good 

opinion % 



MA R I A: 201 

opinion ; and I feared my -feelings 
might lead me to fay more than would 
be llridly confident wich the plan I 
had laid down for my condudt. X re- 
folved, therefore, to write a letter ex- 
prcflive of my fentimcnts, and give it 
to Lord Henry at a convenient oppor* 
tunity. — I took up a pen and attetftpted 
to write, but could not pleafe myfelf ; 
I thought my language wanted force 5 
—I wrote again j — but the expreffions 
I had ufed in making the denial 
rent my heart as I re-perufed them 5 but 
the more reludant my heart was, the 
more I determined it Ihould go. The 
letter, however, was fo blotted with my 
tears, that to have given it to him in 
the date it then was, would have been 
putting into his hands a monument of 
my weaknefs. I took a frefli Iheet of 
paper, ftifled my tears, and, fummon- 
ing qp all the refolution I could com- 
K 5 mand, 



202 M A R I A. 

mand, began to tranfcribe it> I bad 
fcarcely finifhcd a line before I received 
.a fummons to dinner; and, having 
locked my papers in my cabinet, I de- 
fended, trembling left Lord Henry 
ihould gain an opportunity of fpeak- 
ing to me before I had prepared the 
letter for him. 



chap: 



M A R I A. 203 



CHAP. XIX. 

DURING dinner-time, Lord Henry 
viewed me feveral times with 
apprehenfion and concern. I thought 
he perceived by my looks that I had 
been weeping, and the idea greatly 
added to my embarraflment ; which 
was ftill to admit of augmentation 5 
for after dinner Mrs. G — complain- 
ed violently of a head-ach, and at 
length faid, (he muft beg we would 
make an apology to the family we 
were going to vifit, for her abfence. I 
was diftreflcd beyond meafure at the 
idea of a tttea-tete with Lord Henry, 
and intreated (he would fufFer me tQ 
attend her at honrre. 

K 6 •* By 



204 MARIA. 

" By no means, by no means," faid 
(he ; ^* as there is to be a rural ball in 
the evening, I cannot thinlcof keeping 
you away^ Emilia ; belides, what will 
Lord Henry fay to niy depriving him 
of a partner ?" 

I again fuppli(fated her with much 
carneftnefs to permit me to ftay with 
her, faying, I was certain there would be 
ladies diiengaged, infinitely more wor- 
thy the honour of his Lordfhip's hand 
than myfelf. Thefe words were pro- 
nounced with a Angularity of emphafis 
which only Lord Henry comprehend- 
ed. He returned me no other anfwer 
than a deep figb, and a look that ib 
tenderly reproached me for my eager- 
ncfs to deprive him of an opportunity 
of converfing with me, that it drew 
the ftarting tears into my eyes, and I 
was obliged to have recourfe to a 

feigned 



MARIA. 205 

feigned fit of coughing to hide my 
agitation. 

Lprd Henry now propofed, that^ as 
neither his aunt nor mylelf chofe to 
gp^ a fervant fhould be fent to excufe 
the appearance of all three, averring 
that he ihould take no pleafure in pay^- 
ing thevifit under fuch circumftances ; 
to this propofal Mrs. G — would 
give no ear, but abfolutely laid her 
injundions upon me to ge. Lord 
Henry preffed my hand aa he put me 
into the coach^ and when he had feated 
iiimfelf beiide tDe, and it had rolled ofi^ 
I faw him anxioufly endeavouring to 
catch my eye, which I ftrove to pre- 
vent by taking out my knotting bag, 
and bufily employing myfelfj and 
whilft fo doing, anxioufly detiberated 
on what I fhould fay. At length Lord 
Henry broke filence by exclaiming, 

** Have I totally offended you, Mifs 

Hampden, 



2o6 M A R I A. . 

Hampden, by the liberty I took tfris 
morning ?" 

I was unable to make a reply ; the 
Ihuttle with which I was knotting 
dropped from my hand j Lord Henry 
ftooped down on one knee to pick it 
up, and in that attitude^ as he gave it 
into my trembling hand, reiterated the 
queftion. 

" OfFended me I" I at laft returned, 
" Oh no>umy Lord ! believe me^ fo 
noble a proof of your partiality has 
a quite contrary cffeft upon my mind ; 
it gives me both pride and pleafure. 
Your liberal offers and generous forget- 
fulnefe of the inequality of our condi- 
tions, are new proofs of the fuperiority 
of your Lordfliip's fentiments over 
xmich the larger part of mankind, and 
equally defervc my gratitude and my 
admiration." 

[At that inftant fo animated a joy 

took 



MARIA. 207 

took polTefiion of his countetiancc, 
that (I confefs to you my weak* 
nefs) it was not without difficulty 
I futnmoned up refolution enough to 
proceed.] 

" But the fame forgetfulncfs, my 
Lord," continued I, '' which is noble 
in you, would be a weaknefs in me ; 
and I fliould be unwonhy the par- 
tiality you honour me with, .were I 
capable of wounding the heart of my 
benefa^lrefs, by encouraging an attach- 
ment which would difunite the afFec- 
tionst and difappoint the hopes of that 
part of her family, for whofe intereft 
and happinefs ihe as mod nearly con- 
cerned.'* 

Lord Henry ftrove with all the elo* 
quence he was maftcr of to combat my 
lefolve,^ but I fteadily maintained ir. 
He bid me confi^er my own meuits* 
and think how foon thofe would, when 

knowO), 



2o8 MARIA. 

known^ infure me the lore and refpeft 
of his family." 

, ** I thank you, my Lord^ I fincercty 
thank you,*' faicJ I, " for the honour 
of your efteem ; butj mull intreat you 

. will not diftrefs me, by renewing a fub- 
je£t to which I am determined jiot to 
iiften." 

** Oh do not impofc fo fcvere an in- 
junftion upon me, lovely Emilia !** cried 
Lord Henry ; •' anfwcr me one qucf- 
tion, at leaft : Does not a pHor attach- 
ment influence the fteadincfs of this 
command ? if fo, I will be dumb for 
'ever dii the fubjeft, nor give you ano- 

' ther moment*s uneafinefs with the re- 
cital of my hopelefs forrbws.** 

This qtreftion, and the air with which 

he fpoke, touched me to the heart ; I 

knew not how to reply ; but luckily at 

that moment we drove into tht court- 

' . ' yard 



M A R I A. 209 

yard of the gentleman's houfe whom we 
wet-e going to vifit. 

As he led me into the houfe, Lord 
Henry again conjured me to €afc his 
fufpence. I was in the utmoft per- 
plexity how to anfwer, in fuch a man- 
ner as Ibouid prevent his further im- 
portunities. At length, I replied, 
'* My heart ?r yet hath- made no <boice^ 
0iy Lord." 

A ray of fatisfadion dawned in his 
eyes for a moment, but qui<:kly difap- 
peared •, for though this confeffion 
cafed him of the fears of a rival, yet 
the manner in which I had pronounced 
the words, wri&^^f, precluded his hop- 
ing I entertained a prepoflfeflion in his 
favour. The dejedion which appeared 
,in the afpefi: and manner of Lord 
, Henrys, fprcad a gloomioefs over my 
foul, which, though I combated hard, 
I could not overcome. Difpirited 

as 



zio MARIA. 

as I was, I fatigued myfclf with dan- 
cing almoft the whole evening, to pre* 
vent him from obtaining opportu^ 
nities of converfing with me. When 
we went home, I begged a young 
lady, who lived near Mrs, G — , to 
let us convey her home in the coach^ 
and Ihe accepted the offer. 

We found Mrs. G — much re- 
covered from her indifpofition. An 
<Jpen letter ky on the table, and like- 
wife a fealcd one diredled for Lord 
Honry, which fhe gave him, telling 
him Ihe gueffed at the contents, and 
was very forry to put it into his 
hands; 

It was from the Duke of C , de- 

iiring his fon to return home with all 
convenient fpecd, his uncle. General 
L-" — ' (who was lately returned from. 
America and earneftly wifhed to fee his 
Lordlhip) being then on a vifit at C — 

manor* 



MARIA. 211 

manor. Lord Henry feemed a good 
^deal agitated whilft he read the letter v 
but could not form any excufe to dif- 
obey the mandate, efpecially as he had 
already fpent a fortnight longer with 
Mrs. G — than the time at firft pro- 
pofed.^ When he had read the letter^ 
"I muft then take leave of you to- 
nighty my dear ladies,'* faid his Lord- 
fhi^, " for it will be proper for me to 
fet out to-morrow niorning between fix 
and feven o'clock." 

" No, my dear Henry," faid Mrs* 
G — y " that muft not be; I fliall 
rife to breakfaft with you." 

Lord Henry begged he might not 
difturb her before her ufual time ; but 
fhe would take no leave of him that 
night, but advifed him to .go immedi- 
ately to reft, that he might get as much 
refreQiment as pofiible, to enable him 

to 



212 MARIA. 

to endure the fatigues of the enfuing 
day. 

We were in the breakfaft room at 
the hour appointed; Lord Henry 
looked pale and agitated, and his heart 
fcemed fo full that it was with diffi- 
culty he forced himfelf to take any 
thing. 

Mrs. G— went to the door for 
two or three minutes to give foine pri- 
vate orders to a fervant ; and at thalt 
moment Lord Henry took from his bo- 
fom a letter, which he would have put 
into my hand, but I refufed to take it. 
Notwithftanding this, he ftill held the 
letter, as if he hoped I fhould be intimi- 
dated to receive it, by the fear that Mrs, 
G — ftiould turn fuddenly round and 
fipd him in the attitude of offering it 
to me ; but I was rcfolute, and, with an 
angry wafture of my hand, turned from 
him* 

He 



MARIA. %i^ 

He now fccmed daubly diftrefled at 
having offended me, and, bending on one 
knee, fuppKcated, by an affeAing look, 
my forgivenefs. This attitude alarmed 
me ; I glanced my eye to tlie door, and 
by the a£tion of my hands, and the 
perturbed expreflion of my counte- 
nance, befbught him to rife, and fpare 
me the painful fenfations this *' dumb- 
difcourfive * " eloquence occafioned. 
He rofe, and turning from me, leant his 
head againft the chimney-piece, in a 
pofture fo dejeded that it pierced me 
to the fouL Mrs. G— ^ now return- 
ed to her feat, and in a few minutes 
after Lord Henry's valet came to in- 
• form him that the horfes werc.stf the 
door. 

" Now then,*' faid he, " my moft 
/ dear Ladies, 1 mud bid you a (in- 
cerely regretful farewel/* 

* Shakel^eare. 

Mrs. 



AX4 MARIA. 

Mrs. G — tenderly embraced her 
nephew; Lord Henry afFeftionately 
^and refpeftfully thanked her for all 
her kindneffes ; and, turning to me, 
killed my hands, with a look in which 
tendernefs and reproach were fo ftrong- 
ly mingled, that it afFcfted me beyond 
mcafurc; he fighed deeply, bowed 
again (o each of us, and, hurrying 
away, haftened out of the houfe. 

Theemotious of her own mind, had 
prevented Mrs. G — from obferving . 
the behaviour of Lord Henry and my- 
felf ; and the moment he was gone I 
complained of a head-ach, which 
fhe imputing to my rifing fbme- 
whaf earlier than common, gave me a 
pretence for retiring to my own apart- 
ment. I attempted not at firft to ftem 
the torrent of my grief, but gave full 
fcope to its effufions. 

CHAP. 



MARIA. 215 



CHAP. XX. 



A Fortnight had now elapfed; dur- 
ing which time. I had eagerly 
partook of every amufcriient that pre- 
fented itfelf, both at home and abroad i 
and when amufement was not to be at- 
tained, I applied myfclf with redoubled 
affiduities to my ftudies; refolvcd, 
if I could not totally obliterate the 
partiality I felt for Lord Henry, at 
lead not to indulge it. 
. One morning, as Mrs. G — and 
myfelf were croffing a field near the 
houfe, unattended, a man^who had fol- 
lowed us at a little diftance all the 
way, took an opportunity, when Ihe 
had advanced a few paces before me, 

to 



2x6 Mar I A^ 

to attempt to put a letter into my hand. 
I concluded it was from Lord Henry, 
and, frowning upon the meflenger, 
put back the hand which offered it, 
with an air of haughtinefs that I hoped 
would fufEciently intimidate him, 
without alarming Mrs. G—^. As I 
would not take the letter, he dropped 
it on the ground, and, turning about, 
walked back as fafl: as he tl^as^ able. 
I was in the utnioft confternation -, 
when Mrs. G-^ accidentally turning 
round, faw the letter. 

" What is this, Emaia?" faid (he. 

•* I know not, Madam,*^ returned I, 
blufliing ; — '* the man who is now 
crolfing the field, dropped it at my 
feet." 

" It is 9 very ftrange affair, indeed,'* 

fkid fhe, calling aloud to the man to 

i?eturn j— but he, without heeding her 

' . invocation. 



MARIA. ti7 

invocation, continued Jiis courfe, and 
in a few minutes got out of fight. 

**A ftrarigc affair, indeed!" cried 
Mrs. G— , opening the letter, whilft I 
ftood trembling befide her, anxioufly 
waiting the confequetlce of this difco* 
very.— Having glanced her eyes over 
it, ihe tore the letter in ten thoufq^d 
pieces, exclaiming, with an enraged 
tone of voice— 

" Heavens \ could I ever have 
thought the foul of Eoiilia Ifimpden 
cpuld have ftooped Co fuch a mean<< 
ncfs I Could I ever have fuppofed that , 
fhe, whom I had nourifhed next my 
heart for fuch a feries of years, would 
have encouraged a clandeftine corre* 
fpdndence, which ihe muft know would . 
inevitably kindle a perpetual flame of 
difcord in my family !'* 

** What have you feen in me, Mzt 
dam," replied I, " that youihould con- 

Vol, L L demn 



2ig M A ^ I A.* 

dcmn mc unheard ?— Emilia Hampdin 
has defccnded to no fuch bafenefs. — 
Bclfeve me, when I aver, that I have 
entered into no clandeftine correfpond- 
cnce, nor given, ear to any overtures 
which might tend to difunite your fa- 
mily ; — and if, fSladam, you had only 
given the letter a patient reading, I am 
convinced that alone would have ex- 
culpated me."— I was proceeding, birt 
Ihe interrupted me, exclaiming— 

*• Oh, Emilia ! Emilia 1 do not at- 
tempt to impofc upon me i— -it is too 
plain you have encouraged the im* 
prudent and inconfiderate paffion of 
this raih youth. Nor is this the firft 
letter you have received from Lord 
Henry. My woman, who fufpefted: 
fomething of this nature, faw you re<- 
ceive a letter from Lord Heniy whilft 
flie drcffod youv I have been flow to 
give ear to fuggeftions of this nature ; 
. . L had 



M A ti i A! 219 

I-had too firm a reliance on your pru- 
dencc, your fiacerity, and the fuperio- 
rity of your mind and undcrftanding. 
I dildained to tax you with the charge, 
unlefs I Jiad, from my own obferva- 
tion, had caufe to fufpeit; — ^but I can 
now no longer be blind to the dUpli-* 
city of your conduft:— to have con- 
cealed from me the addreffes of Lord^ 
Henry, is a proof that you did not 
trtean wholly to difcourage them/* 

I made no attempt to interrupt Mrs. 
G — in the utterance of thefe unde-* 
fefved feprdaches :— my heart fwelled 
almoft to burfting, with forrow, re- 
fentment, and difdain, at the unjufl: 
treatment* 1 received for the painful 
ftruggles I had endured, infupporting 
the part my own notions of honour 
taught me to think right,— Tears of* 
ahguilh' rolled * down ' my' cheeks, ancl^ 
every feature fpoke the tottufe'of my' 
•" ■ L 2 '^ ^ foul. 



^20 M A R ; . Ai 

foul. Perhaps Mrs. G—.tniftook thefe 
emotions for the fymptoms of guilt ; 
for fhe turned from me» as (he con- 
cluded, with a look of difguft and 
difpleafure^ which tore my heart in ten 
thoufand pieces. — At laft the refeht- 
ment I felt broke forth into words— 
*' My filence on the fubjcft of Lord 
Henry's addrcfles. Madam, proceeded 
from nothing but the molt upright mo* 
tive in the world — the diQike of giv* 
ing you pain ; and, as I have aAed 
according to the firifteft dictates of 
juftice and honour, I (hall ever look 
upon my filence as one of my greateft 
nicrits. — My own word attcfts my in- 
nocence ; and if the word of Emilia 
Hampden hath loft its currency in the 
mind of her benefaflrefs, fhe volunta- 
rily relinquiihes all pretenfions to her 
future favours ; and will feek an afy- 
^m with a parent, who, as fhe hath 

•done 



MARIA. !22i 

done nothing to difgrace herfelf or 
him, cannot withhold his protedlion. 

Mfs. G— made fome reply that in- 
dicated continued fufpicion, and wound 
my foul up to a pitch of refcnt- 
ment^ that would not permit me to re- 
monftrate. She fecmcd inflexibly de- 
termined to arm herfelf againft con* 
vidliony and we returned home in a 
ftate of gloomy filence. Finding it 
impoflible to remove this unhappy 
prepoflefljon in my disfavour, 1 told 
Mrs. G— that I would write immedi- 
ately to my father, informing him of 
the particulars, and my wiihes to put 
myfelf under hisprotedion : (he made 
no objeftion to this propofal, and I ex- 
ecuted it. 

Unable to fupport the coldnefs of 

Mrs, G — ^"s deportment towards me, 

I confined myfelf almoft wholly to my 

own apartment, under pretence oi in- 

L 3 difpolition«. 



222 M A R I 4^; 

difpofition. Theeafeand mfepfibiUty 
with which fhe faw mc prepare 
for my departure, at firft aftoniftied 
me 1 — ;I could not cpn?eive how a wo- 
man, who had for fo many years che- 
rifhcd me as her own child, C9uld fo 
fuddenly caft off all affedion, and fo 
obftinately perQft in perfuading her- 
felf I was guilty. My fequeftration 
from company afforded me tin^e to re- 
volve pad circumllances in my mind. 

It occurred to my remembrance, 
that Col. Herbert, who hjid fpent the 
fummer with his brother Sjir James 
Herbert, (our neighbour) h^d been pf 
late very frequent in his viQts at o^ir 
houfe ir— his repeated affiduitics toMrs. 
G-^ had not efcaped my obfervatiop. 
I rccoilefted that Mrs. Q — had once 
afked my opinion of that gentleman. 
I told her, with (incerity, I thought 
his perfon, underftanding, and deport- 
ment 



MAR I A. 225 

^rncnt were ekgant,— but that I difliked 
his charafter; for, if report fpokc 
true. Col. Herbert had nearly difli- 
pated his patrimonial fortune, and w^s 
befides luxurious, unprincipled, and 
addicted to gaming. I delivered my 
Sentiments the more ftrongly, becaufe, 
at that time, he took frequent oppor- 
tunities of profeffing a paflion for me ; 
:probably imagining, ,(^s moft of h^r 
-acquaintance in Wales did) that Mrs. 
G— would give me a confiderablc 
.portion, if I married to her approba* 
tion ; and therefore I fufpefted he had 
interceded with Mrs, G— to become 
:his advocate 'with me; and that ihe 
took this method of making herfelf 
miftrefs of my opinion. Again, I call- 
jcd to mind, that after this converfation 
fhe feemed involved in thought^ fret- 
ful, and unhappy, for ibme hours. In 
i;he afternoon of that day ihe excufed 
L 4 herfelf 



124 MARIA. 

herfelf from paying a vifit with me, al- 
ledging feme trifling indifpofition as 
an excufe; and when I returned in 
the evening. Col. Herbert was with 
her ^~4>ut this, at the time^ I thought 
might be merely accidental 5 not fufpeft- 
ing that, finding me inexorable, be bad 
transfwrtd bis addnjfes te my patronefs. 

From a variety of circumftances, 
too tedious to enumerate, it appeared 
plainly that Mrs, G*— had not difcou- 
raged his addrefles ; and her wifhing 
to conceal this fadt from me, led me 
to draw the following inference, name- 
ly,— That flic fuflfcred berfclf to fee 
my condu^ refpedltng Lord Heiiry in 
a wrong lights in order to afford a co- 
lour for removing from her prefence, 
one whom fhe knew reverenced almoft 
to idolatry the memory of Mr. G— *i 
one whofe ftrong regret for his lofs was 
ftill living, and whom fhe perhaps im^ 

gincd 



MARIA. 225 

gined v^ould look with fome degree df 
contempt upon her, for fufFcring her 
heart to open to a new attachment, al* 
moft before the fod which covered the 
grave of her departed hufband had 
regained its verdure •, whilfl: the tears 
file had fo recently fhed on his urn, yet 
remained as evidences of her broken 
faith. 

I received, in a few days, a Ihort let- 
ter from my father, fignifying that he 
was ibrry to hear a difagreement had 
ar%n betwixt myfelf and Mrs. G-— ^ 
but informing me that he fhould receive 
me with pleasure and afFeftion. 

I fet out a few days afterwards.-^ 
The indifference with which my late 
indulgent friend took leave of me, 
wrung me to the heart'j had fhe fpokeri 
but one tender word, I fhould hatve 
fallen at )ier feet in an agoily oif tcndc? 
forrpw 5 but her coldnefe k6pt tfie 'froth 
L 5 finking 



2i6 MARIA. 

finking under my feelings, ^nd,eiiablcd 
mc to deparjt with fbme jdegree of 
compofure.— Compofure ! did I fay ? 
Oh, no !— that is a defeftive term.— 
But you, my dear Mifs. Mprdaunt, 
have a heart that can cqnceivc what I 
felt. . 

Before I left the houfe^ Mrs. G— 
put into my hands a purfe, which flie 
lold mc would defray the cxpcnces of 
.my journey. At that moment, fuch was 
the wounded pride of my fpirit, that 1 
would have given worlds, had. I pof- 
fcffed them, to have refufed this pre- 
fent from thehaad of one, yrhofe heart 
fcemed to have (hut itfclf againft me. 
But I had no way of avoiding it\ for 
my father had fen t me no money, and 
I had nearly expended the fum I re- 
ceived quarterly from Mrs. G*-^. I 
accepied it, therefore, with the beft 
jgracc 5py ftrupglipg (913! would ^cr-. 
* " ^ ^ mit 



„ M ; A R r A. 227 

mit me; and, thanking her for all 
her favours, I flew out of the roorn^ 
and into the chaife, with the utmoft 
precipitation. 

Unknowing of the world, I thought 
the mifery I then experienced could ne- 
ver be exceeded. But alas f fad as my 
firft affliction was, what was it in cotti* 
parifon of thoie ills it has iince drawn 
upon me ! 



L 6 CHAP. 



d2S MARIA. 



c H A P.. xxr. 



WHEN we arrived la London^, T 
gave orders tc>> be driven to* 
the place my^ father's letter fpecified j 
and judge my fenfations^ when tB? 
driver (topped at a. fmaUfliabby- look- 
ing houfe, in a narrow ftreet in Ox«- 
ford Road. From the meannefs of the 
exterior appearance of the houfe, fo diff- 
ferent from what I had been taught to 
jexped, I could not perfuade myfel^ 
the man was right. I took the direc* 
cion from my pockety hoping to find I 
had told him a wrong number— but in 
this I was difappointed ; I then flatter-^ 
ed myCelf he had miftaken the ftreet ;. 

and. 



M A R I a; 22:9 

and interrogated him iq)on that head, 
iMsibrel would fuSer him to knock. 

*' Oh^ yes. Madam,*' faid he, *^ I 
am quite right ; and if you had hap* 
p.ened to have looked up as you turned 
the cC^mer houfe, you would have feea 
the name of the ftrect wrote up,'* 

Saying which, he gave a thundering 
rap at the door, which was immediately 
opened by a dirty-looking fervant girh 
I enquired if Mt^ Hampden lived 
there ? She^ anfwered in the affirmative, 
defiring me to walk up ftairs, and fhe 
believed i (hould find fomebody be^ 
longing to him above. I requefted her 
to fee my things taken from thechaife; 
and, much fatigued in body and de^ 
* prefled in fpirits, afcended a narrow 
ftrait ftair-cafe, and^ at the door of a 
front room, was received by an old 
woman, whoie appearance was a dtf* 
gree meaner than that of a common fer- 

vant,. 



,vmu Q» my ^ing: her if Mr* 
H^pd^ was at Iiqqi^ flie iapfwec^ 
/jed in fl|? |ieg^|:^vei l?ut tcJd, Qe'fhe 
waite4 upon hiin, and, with much re* 
ipe^, Ifpggcd na/e to walk in.[ ^4 take 
ioftif^ fefne(brwnt after ipy tang jour- 
ncy. ' I ^niemi 4 but Ko*f ii^s I fl¥)ck- 
^d with the appearance of ^very thing 
that furfQunded luc ! My weari^ed fpi^ 
jits uQw Aiik tp th$ iQweft pitch ; de- 
leted aod fodorn* Iiifat dowa ia 
ftiie corner i:>f tfaii^ioQmy apaftment 
f^iHy jnjnd filled *ith grief and per- 
pkxity,T-I CQuU byxu) mfearis .account 
for what I &W. .My £athei's .fitoation 
In life, bad heeti fe|>felei)Ded to tne a9 
cfcdUable,OTd eyen genteel ^ 1 had ne- 
ver been told that his circumfiance^ 
were reduced, .and was In the utmoft 
perplexity how ita reconcile.the air of 
abjeft neamiefs^ thai: pervaded every 

ihing 



M A R J A, .23^ 

,thing I (aw, to the djefcriptxoal had re- 
ceived from Mrs. G — '• I,cpi4d not 
believe fee had impofed ppon m«^, for 
So long a term tof years. I rather ^mar 
gined, fome fad r^verfe of fortjane ha^ 
occafioiied the prefent ?pp9M"aQ|ce .^ 
thiDgST-but Jthen I Yf^ %t 9S gtyat |i 
Ipfs, to what c^ufc to impute l^is cpor 
jccaling froin nf)c .a <:a)amify, wihjeli 
jnuft only fkikc me cijpns ff»iMf 
jf^htn I rn^t iJ unprep^r^^. ; At laft m 
idea took pofTeffion of my min4^ jji^f 
ayarice muft have occafioned this ap- 
pearance of poverty. 

This idea made feveral things, which 
had before almoft ic^d my blood, 
now ferve rather by their novelty 
to amufe me ; whilft I flattered my- 
felf, that if my father had an afledtion 
for me, I .might prevail upon him to 
enlarge this contrafted plan of life. I 
had before refufed all the old woman's 
.. . .. intrcatics 



d32 M A R I a; 

intreaties to take fome refrefliment; 
but now of my own accord rcquefted 
her to give me fome tea, which flic im- 
mediately began to prepare by lighting 
a fire, and putting on the tea-kettle ^ 
and as it was a cool evening, at the lat- 
ter end of the fummer, the warmth, 
the fuel diffufed was not ungrateful to 
me : whilft the old woman was bufied 
in making the fire burn, I employed 
fiiyfelf in putting the tea equipage m 
crder^ 



CHAP. 



MARIA; 93$ 



€ H A P. XXII. 



IH A D taken fome tea» and was 
grown rather more chearful, when 
my father came in ;— but how was I 
ihocked at his appearance ! He wore 
the flovenly dreCs of indolent poverty, 
not the formal penurious garb of thrifty 
•avarice. He gave an involuntary ftart 
of furprize when he firft^faw me, but 
recovered himfelf as he approached to 
embrace me. My pbfervation and. my 
feelings were naturally rapid -, I faw in- 
ftantaneoufly, though I knew not for 
what rcafon, that I was anuncxpedled— 
and) I feared, an unwiihed-for gueft. 
The difcovery pierced piy heart ; I 
could noake no reply to the queftions 

my 



my father afked mc concerning Mrs. 

G— ; the agony I endured fwclled my 

throat almofl: to fufFocation ; at length 

a fhower of tears, forced, a, paffage to 

my eyes» and I funk upon a chair, 

over)vhelnied with grief. My father 

' feemed a good deal affeded i he bade 

. the old woman go into the next room, 

when,' taking my hand,— "Come, 

child/* Taid he,'**'things may change 

'for the better : it IS true my lituatidn 

Is far different froni what jpu or Mrs. 

' G— expeded -, but I -have hopes of 

" again obtairTing as ' good a pkce as 

thatlhaveloft."'-' 

• ; "ohvSirr*''ftfdj;wpiiig, ^'h^a 

you informed me of this unfortunate 

change before, it would *hot thus have 
* overwhelmed me; I fhooW havebeen 

prepared, in -fome degree,- to haivc borne 

it 'With patience." 1 

'' That is'true, xfaHd," faid he j '* hut 
^ ■ I con- 



:M 'A' R I A. 235, 

I concealed it from prudential mo- 
tives. I thought that if I wrote word 
to Mrs. G'^y that I had loft thefplace 
. I held when ihe firft knew me, it might 
leflen you in hereftimacion, (the know- 
ledge of one*8 poverty having fome- 
times thateffeft) and induce her to re- 
turn you upon my hands. I had fome 
thoughts of telling you of it when I 
anfwered your laft 'letter •, but the fame 
' reafon 'ftill prevented me as I hop^d 
a reconciliaticm would tak« plac^^ for 
I could not have thought, that fhe, who 
;.was alw:ays fo fond of you, -could have 
; fulFered you *to leav€ her/* ilfc added, 
. that it appeared very ftrangeto him; 
and that he thought, if I had behaved 
right, foniebody muft have prejudiced 
her againft^me, to occafionJier fo fud- 
denly giving way to fufpxcion. 

The coldnefs of this fpeech, parti- 
cularly the exprefiion, ^^ returning .ym 

upon 



23^ 'MAR I A. 

ufM mjf hands^*' pained me to the hearts 
I entered into thofe particulars^ how-» 
ever, that might tend to vindicate my 
conduct in the eye of my parent ; and, 
in feme degree to account for the im« 
petuous behaviour of Mrs. G — ^ I told 
him what I have before related to you 
^concerning Col, Herbert i upon hear-> 
ing which, my father feemed no longer 
furprized,— faying, *^wl^n a woman 
of her years has got a new hufband in 
her head, there was nothing to be won- 
dered at that (he did.'^ 

I wa$| as you will fuppofc, anxious 
to know by what means my father had 
loft the place (I underftood) he had 
held undcrgovernment. The faft was, 
he had on\yJbared the income accruing 
from a confiderable place, for going 
through the bufinefs of it for the real 
proprietor j but ^bout five years before 
my arrival in town, having given um- 
brage 



M A R I A. «37 

brage to the place-holder, by too ftcely 
avowing himfelf of difierent political 
fentitnents, he was difmifled. Since 
which he had followed the profefllon to 
which he had been bred, naniely^ the 
Law } but his difpofition leading him 
more towards the ftudy of politics than 
bufinefi, he of courfc profited little 
by it. 

But to return :— The lecond day af- 
ter I arrived in London, as we fat 
atj breakfaft, my father afked me, 
if I had got any money : — add- * 
ing, that he was in "great want of 
feme for prefentfupply. . I immediately 
produced a bank bill of fifty pounds, ' 
which I had found in the purfe Mrs. 
G— had given me when I left her 
houfe, telling him, at the fame time,^ 
how very mortifying a circuniftance it 
had been to me to accept it, whilft la- 
bouring under the difpleafure of the. 

donon 



240 M A R I a; 

^^ He means the editors of the newf- 
papers, child, who write criticifms on 
the merits and demerits of the theatri- 
cal performers, and on all the new 
pieces they exhibit. I know one of 
thefe gentlemen extremely well." 

** A good dramatic critic," faid I, 
^^ muft be amanof very rare and exalted 
talents. I fhould fuppofe him pofleff* 
ed of a mind enriched with the bound* 
Ids ftores of Greece and Rome, and 
adorned with all that is elegant and 
praife^ worthy in modern arts and litera* 
ture J a foul feelingly alive to every 
thing fublime, impaflioned, noble, and 
endearing ; an imagination bold, bril- 
liant, and vivacious, yet chaftened by 
judgment, and refined by a corre£k and 
delicate tafte. Thefe dramatic critics, 
I fuppoie, Sir, are chofen and appoint* 
cd by the Lord Chamberlain ?" 

!! Oh 



MARIA. HI 

" Oh no, child r they are deputed 
by nobody but the proprietors of the 
news- papers." 

Here my father, whom I had ob- 
fcrved to fmile ftveral times during the 
delivery of my fpeech, burftinto a vio- 
lent fit of laughter. I then thought his 
behaviour ftrange, as I was not confci- 
ous of having faid any thing abfurd ; 
—but I was prevented from afking an 
explanation at that time, by a fight that 
abforbed all jry.facuUies. The door 
of the oppofite ftage box opened, and 
I faw enter Lord Henry, the Duchefs 

of C , (his Lordfhip's mother) and 

a young and elegant female compa- 
nion. Lord Henry feated himfelf be- 
twixt the two ladies ; the younger prac- , 
tifing a thoufand little graces and af- 
fectations to gain his attention, whilft I 
perceived (or fancied I did) Lord Hen* 
Vol. I, M ^Y 



244 MARIA*, 

ry liften to and behold her with pecu- 
liar pleafurc — nay, I once thought I 
faw him prefs her hand. Alas ! till 
that moment I knew not how very dear 
he was to my heart, or how blended 
his idea with every fibre of my exiftencc 
•—for till then I had never felt the tu- 
multuous pang of jealous apprchenfion. 
I '(haded my face behind my fan, but 
loft not for one rhinute the interefting 
fight of their countenances •,-— whilft I 
gazed upon them, my heart throbbed as 
if it would have left my breaft ; ten 
thoufSnd torturing ideas crowded to my 
brain, and agonizing ficknefs opprcfled 
my foul ; I begged my father to take me 
away, complaining of a fudderi illnefs ; 
•—when we got out, the air fomewhat 
revived my ftrength, but my heart was 
ftill rived with all the inquietudes of an 
ill-fated, hopelefs'paffion. A coach was 
9 ^ . called. 



MARIA. 24J 

called, and my father having fet me 
down at our own houfc, advifed me to 
order the old woman to prepare fome- 
thing forme, and tago immediately to 
reft. I could make no arifwer but by 
an aflenting bend of my head, as the 
coach drove froth the door, in ord^^ to. 
carry him back to the theatre. 



M 2 CHAP. 



144 MARIA. 



CHAP. XXIII. 

MY bram was in a ftatc little 
Ihort of aftual phrcnfy !— The 
inftant I got up ftairs, I gave full fcope 
to my defpair ; I threw myfelf on the 
ground j I tore my hair, rcgardlefs of 
all the old woman's endeavours to 
pacify mq ; till at length, concluding 
me mad, (he was going to call up fome 
of the family. This brought me to 
myfelf, and I called her back, telling 
her I fliould be more compofcd in a 
little time, and defiring her by no 
means to mention to my^ father the 
fituation fhe had feen me in ; and the 
better to fecure her fidelity I gave her 

money. 



MARIA. 245 

money. She appeared rejoiced to fee 
my reafon returned, and gladly affifted 
me in undrefling. I pafled the night 
in Gghs, tears, and agonies ; every pro- 
fpeft of happinefs, or even of comfort, 
feemed flown ! eternally flown } The 
morning dawned upon, my flecplefs 
eyes ; — I rofe ; but to new forrows. — 
Cut ofF from all fociety ! at lead all 
that could make life deflrable *, without 
a guide to direft, without a friend, to 
footh me I my brcaft torn by a hope* 
Icfs paflion ! think what I endured !— 
My father was gone out before I rofe ; 
— the old woman had prepared my 
brcakfaft, which ftie preflfed me earneft- 
ly to take.— A fiery vapour clouded 
my brain j my temples beat as if they 
would have cleft 5 — I could not eat. — 
My mouth was parched and my throat 
dry; in, order to allay this violent 
M 3 thirfl:, 



246 MARIA. 

thirft, I drank two ^or three "diflics of 
tea, after which I feated myfelf befide 
tlie window in a fort of ftupid lethargy 
of grief. 

It was not long before I was rouzed 
from this inaftivc (late, by feeing the 
man who had given me the letter from 
Lord Henry, in the field, go. into a 
(hop on the bpppfite fide of the way. 
1 ftarted from the windpw» l^n acrpfs 
the room to the old woman, and fejzing 
her by the arm— for my mifery had 
•made me pcrfcftly wild-^ 

** Go,*' faid I, ^ and enquire of that 
man you fee in the oppofite fliop, who 
the young lady was that accompanied 
the DucHcfs of C ■ * >^d her fon 
Lord Henry, to the play laft night ; 
and afk him if he knows the caufe of 
Lord Henry's being ftill in England, 
But I charge you On jfpur life, let no 

perfuafions 



MARIA. 247 

perfuaQons tempt you to reveal to 
whom you belong.** 

The old woman flew, or rather hob- 
bled, as fwift as fhe could to obey my 
dircftions ; — and, not till flie had croff- 
ed the way, and I faw her in clpfe con* 
ference with the man, did I rcfle<5t on 
the impropriety, madnefs, and folly of 
this aftion.— •! was terrified to death 
kft ftie fhould be prevailed upon to 
reveal her cnaploycr. At lafl: (he re- 
turned^ I eagerly enquired if (he had 
difcovered to the man from whom (he 
came ; (he protefbed (he had not, and 
that fo earneftly that I had no farther 
doubts. 

She learnt from the man, that the 
young lady whom I had fccn at the 
play with Lord Henry, was his Lord- 
(hip*s coufin,. Lady Charlotte D— •; 
and that a fcvqj((h complaint which 
had hung upon Lord Henry for feme 
M 4 weeks, 



248 MARIA. 

weeks, had been theoccafion of retard- 
ing bis journey. 

This information eafed my heart of 
half its load;— far fome minutes I 
forgot all my forrows in the happy 
thought, that what I had miftaken for 
the attention of a lover had been no- 
thing more than the afFcdionate regards 
of a relation. 

I felt the tendered pity for his indif- 
pofition, mixed with a fenfacion fo like 
pleafure, that I know not what other 
name to give it. In (hort (I confefs to 
you my weaknefs) I flattered myfelf 
that his anxiety on my account had been 
the caufe of it. It is impoffible to de- 
fcribe to you, my dear Mifs Mordaunt, 
the change this unexpefted incident 
(though it brought with it nothing 
that could infpire hope) wrought in my 
mind for fome hours. ^ I attempted to 
amufe myfelf with my books, for the 

firft 



MARIA. 249 

firfl: time fioce I had been in town ; and 
when my father came home to dinner, 
I happened to be reading an afieAing 
paiTage in the Pharfalia of Lucan. 
On his entrance I laid down the bpok, 
and wiped my' eyes, which were wet 
with tears. 

My father alked me .what play or 
novel I had been reading, and took up 
the volume ; on opening it he gave a 
ftart, exclaiming, ^' Do you read Latin, 
child ?" 

I anfwered in the affirmative ; upon 
which he defired I would let him hear 
me conflrue a pafTage into £nglifh» 
This I did, and afterwards (hewed him 
the tranflations I had attempted from 
J^orace, and from the Italian of Meta* 
ftaiio. 

He feemed very much furprifcd ; and 

Xaid he fhould bring his friend Mr. 

- ■- — , the «ditor (who would great- 

Ms ^ ly 



250 MARIA. 

ly admire my talents) to fee me fome 
day of other; telling me, that if I 
was inclined to write /or the preft, he 
would be the proper perfon to ferve me 
with the bookfellers. I anfwered him, 
that I had no fuch idea ; but he replied, 
that he thought I could not do better 
than to employ myfelf in that way, as 
the delicacy of my education had un- 
fitted me for any other method of get- 
ting my bread. 

I faid I was willing to undertake any 
thing for which I was qualified ; and 
here the converfation ended for that 
time. . 

The old woman feemed pleafed to 
fee my reafon returned 5 and after we 
had dined, and her mailer was gone out, 
fhe ftrove to entertain me, by relating 
feveral ftories fhe had acquired from 
khofe curious repofitorics of fugitive 



wit, 



MARIA. 251 

wit, called jeft books ; a repartee of 
one of our celebrated wits, which I had 
never heard, made me laugh, however, 
Jn fpite of all my melancholy ; but I 
begun at laft to be very much tired 
with her tales, and voluminous com- 
ments upon them ; and was begging 
her to be filent, when I heard foniebody 
come up ftairis and rap at the door of 
our apartment. As I happened to be 
near it, I rofe from my feat and opened 
thedbor; but judge my furprife! my 
confufion ! my overwhelming feelings ! 



when it admitted Lord Henry C— — ! 
•— I had not ftrength to upbraid the 
old woman for her falfehood to my 
commands j — the blood forfook my 
cheeks, and in attempting to totter to a 
chair, I funk almofl: lifelefs on the floor* 
How long I continued in this fituation 
^ I know not ^ but when I came to my- 

felf. 



252 MARIA. 

fclf, the firfl: objcft which ftruck my 
fight was Lord Henry fupporting mc 
in his arms, on whofe countenance ter- 
ror and tender forrow had left their 
impaflioned traces. 

'' Thank Heaven P* exclaimed he, 
*' (he yet lives !— I have not killed the' 
idol of my foul.** 

I had not (Irength to articulate a 
fyllable ; but, almoft infenfible, I funk 
again dri the Ihoulder of Lord Henry. 

** Forgive me, oh forgive me, lovely 
Emilia, the diftrefs my unhappy paf- 
fion hath occafioned you,** cried his 
Lordftiip, drawing mc to his bofom as 
he wiped away the tears with which he 
had bedewed my cheeks, " if you 
knew what I have fuflfered (fince the 
fatal day the Duchefs received a letter 
from my aunt, informing her, that (he 
had difcovered a cocrefpondcnce be- 
tween 



MARIA. 253 

twecn her fon and a young lady who 
had refided fomc years with her, but 
whom flie had now fent home to her 
friends) you would not refufe me your 
pity. To dcfa'ibe to you the diftrefs 
I felr, at having, by my imprudence;, 
drawn upon you the difpleafure of my 
aunt, is impofliblc !— I aflured my fa- 
ther and mother that Mrs. G— had 
totally miftaken the cafe; and wrote 
immediately to her, averring in the fo- 
lemnefl: terms, that you had invariably 
difcouraged my addreflesi and refufed 
to receive any letter from me fince you 
had hid caufe to fufpedt the import, 
A lucky chance gave me to know, this 
day, where you refided in London, and 
I embraced, with cagerncfs, an oppor- 
tunity of conjuring you to pardon, if 
it be poffibli?, my imprudence.— For- 
give my intruflon, and fufFer me to 

leave 



254 MARIA. 

leave you with the fmall confolation of 

knowing you do not hate me/* 

My tears flowed fo faft that I was in- 
capable of anfw'ering him for fome 



minutes 



Only make me one promife, my 
Lord/' faid I, difengaging myfelf from 
his holding, " and after that you may 
affure yourfclf I forgive you, with my 
whole foul,, all the diftrcfs and em- 
barralTment the delivery of that fatal 
letter brought upon me/' 

Lord Henry viewed me with a loo^, 
in which was blended the molt ardent 
enquiry, and the tendered afliidion. 

" Heavens I" cried he, " what is 
there I would not do to obtain that 
bleffing l» 

*' Promife me then^ my Lord,** re* 
turned I, as I feated myfelf on a chair, 
aiTuming all the fteadincfs of voice and 

manner 



MARIA. 255 

manner I could command, " promife 
me then, my Lord, that you will never 
again attempt to invade my retirement ; 
but leave me unmolefted to purfue my 
obfcure, my mournful deftiny. I can- 
' not, indeed I cannot fupport thqfe 
alarms, united with fo many other for- 
rows — they diftraft my very foul." 

I was fearful I had fppken too feel- 
ingly, and, a little recovering my felf, I 
added, " If you feel what yqu defcribc, 
do not force me to behold the mifcry 
I cannot relieve." 

" Alas !" replied Lord Henry, " I 
need make no vows to obtain your par* 
don, for to-morpw I bid adieu to Eng- 
land for three years -, I hav^now broke 
from a circle of friends and relatives 
who havc^ fpent part of this day with 
me as a farewel vifit.'— Will you be 
kind enough to anfwer me one qucftion. 



256 M A R I A. 

my dear Mifs Hampden," continued 
his Lordfhip, after a paufe — *' Do you 
think there was nothing particular in 
the motive of Colonel Herbert's vifits 
to my aunt laft fummer? — I own to 
you, it ftruck me at the time, that it 
would not be long before (he exchang- 
ed her ftatc of freedom for the matrU 
monial chains.*' 

The qucftion 'Lord Henry had aik- 
cd mc I knew not how to evade, and 
therefore I anfwered him with my real 
fentimcnts 5 and, from his reply, learnt 
that his penetration had imputed Mrs. 
G— *s ready aflcnt to my departure 
to the famt motive I had fufpcdled. 

'* Oh heavens," continued he, " how 
couldmyaunt have the extreme cruelty, 
the extreme injuftice, to let any motive 
prevail upon her t6 risduce you to a 
fituation fo unworthy of your native 

talents, 



M A R r A. 257 

talents, your inborn elegance, and ac- 
quired accomplilhrnents ! — but why do 
I arraign her condu6t ? I am ten thou- 
fand times more to blame ; for my folly, 
my imprudence, gave her the oppor- 
tunity.'* 

" Call not Mrs. G— *s conduft 
unjuft, my Lord," faid I ; " (he had a 
right to do with me as fhe thought pro- 
per. I was wrong in not informing her 
at firft, that you had unhappily mif- 
placed your afFeftions on one beneath 
you -, but. Heaven is my witnefs,,! con- 
cealed it from the pureft motive of 
friendfbip, the fear of giving her pain, 
and becaufe I thought I had fufficiently 
difcou raged you from repeating your 
addrefles. To have loft the friendlhip, 
the regard, of Mrs, G— , wounds 
me to the foul ; but there is no aft of 
injuftice in her reducing me to my ori- 
ginal nothingncfs." 

"Oh 



258 MARIA. 

*' Oh fpeak not'fo unworthily of your- 
fclf, my greaf, my lovely Emilia!" 
cried Lord Henry. 

As he fpoke, we heard the found of 
feet on the ftair-cafe. 



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