Chapter 4
Page 76
34 The HISTORY of CHAP. IV. Miss Lucum's First Introduction into the gay World. MR. Lucum's Lady was of a very good Family, and related to many Persons of Fashion; but from the time of her Death, and his Re- tirement, his Intercourse with them had been dropped. Miss Lucum's na- tive Elegance, and Dignity of Person, recommended her greatly at first View; and she was now introduced to all her Relations. Some of them, before they had seen her, expected to find in their Country Cousin an Object ot Mirth and Derision; but immediately perceived, that she did not afford them many Op- portunities of displaying their darling Talent of Ridicule; And her Beauty was
Page 77
the Countess of Dellwyn. 35 was so greatly admired by the Gentle- men, that the Ladies too began to ex- press for her an uncommon Friend- ship; and, when it was known that: the Earl of Dellwyn had cast an Eye of Favour on her, it is almost incredible how much Respect he obtained, by the Reflexion of that Honour, amongst those, who, with a sharp darting Eye, foresaw a future Countess. Rumour, indeed, with her hundred babbling Tongues, had spread abroad various Reports; but amongst the Num- ber, that which gained most Credit, was, that Miss Lucum was endeavour- ing to allure my Lord into the State of Matrimony; but that his Lordship was Proof against her Charms, and would not be so drawn in; but her refusing my Lord wasr esteemed to be so very incredible, that it was utterly rejected, as a ridiculous Invention, and most; people were too wise to be so duped. C 6 Miss
Page 78
36 The HISTORY of Miss Lucum, from her Infancy, was so accustomed to early Hours, constant Employment, and a regular Manner of Life, that the turning Night into Day, the flying from Place to Place, to Routs, Drums, &c. &c. and the being Mis- tress of no One Moment of her Time, so wearied and fatigued her animal Spirits, that she was always.languid; and felt something that bore a very near Resemblance to being ill, yet she did not give it that Name; and altho' the most curious Observers could find no- thing in her elegant Form, to which they could possibly give the Name of Aukwardness or Rusticity, yet the Un- easiness with which she went to pub- lic Amusenents, rendered her so life- less at then, that she soon obtained the Appellation of being dull, which ran like a Watch-word from one Person to another; so that, where-ever she was the Subject of Conversation, the just Praises of her Beauty were generally accompanied by the Words, But she is very dull. Not-
Page 79
the Countess of Dellwyn. 37 Notwithstanding this Reluctance for Gaiety, either the Fear of being rude, or her Father's Commands to oblige her Mother's Relations, kept her con- tinually present where she seemed to have no Business, and exemplified in her the Truth of THE SPECTATOR'S Observation, that " No Labour is so " insupportable as that of doing no- "thing." She often slipt from her Company as early as possible; and came home to spend the Evening with her Father. Mr. Lucum, since his Arrival in Lon- don, had been tolerably good-humour- ed, and seemed to have relinquished all Thoughts of Lord Dellwyn. This caused his Daughter to come home to him with much Pleasure; but she was greatly astonished, when she perceived, that her leaving her Company so early displeased. her Father, and rendered him peevish, morose, and churlish. Whenever she expressed a Satisfaction at having left a Croud for the sake of his
34 The HISTORY of CHAP. IV. Miss Lucum's First Introduction into the gay World. MR. Lucum's Lady was of a very good Family, and related to many Persons of Fashion; but from the time of her Death, and his Re- tirement, his Intercourse with them had been dropped. Miss Lucum's na- tive Elegance, and Dignity of Person, recommended her greatly at first View; and she was now introduced to all her Relations. Some of them, before they had seen her, expected to find in their Country Cousin an Object ot Mirth and Derision; but immediately perceived, that she did not afford them many Op- portunities of displaying their darling Talent of Ridicule; And her Beauty was
Page 77
the Countess of Dellwyn. 35 was so greatly admired by the Gentle- men, that the Ladies too began to ex- press for her an uncommon Friend- ship; and, when it was known that: the Earl of Dellwyn had cast an Eye of Favour on her, it is almost incredible how much Respect he obtained, by the Reflexion of that Honour, amongst those, who, with a sharp darting Eye, foresaw a future Countess. Rumour, indeed, with her hundred babbling Tongues, had spread abroad various Reports; but amongst the Num- ber, that which gained most Credit, was, that Miss Lucum was endeavour- ing to allure my Lord into the State of Matrimony; but that his Lordship was Proof against her Charms, and would not be so drawn in; but her refusing my Lord wasr esteemed to be so very incredible, that it was utterly rejected, as a ridiculous Invention, and most; people were too wise to be so duped. C 6 Miss
Page 78
36 The HISTORY of Miss Lucum, from her Infancy, was so accustomed to early Hours, constant Employment, and a regular Manner of Life, that the turning Night into Day, the flying from Place to Place, to Routs, Drums, &c. &c. and the being Mis- tress of no One Moment of her Time, so wearied and fatigued her animal Spirits, that she was always.languid; and felt something that bore a very near Resemblance to being ill, yet she did not give it that Name; and altho' the most curious Observers could find no- thing in her elegant Form, to which they could possibly give the Name of Aukwardness or Rusticity, yet the Un- easiness with which she went to pub- lic Amusenents, rendered her so life- less at then, that she soon obtained the Appellation of being dull, which ran like a Watch-word from one Person to another; so that, where-ever she was the Subject of Conversation, the just Praises of her Beauty were generally accompanied by the Words, But she is very dull. Not-
Page 79
the Countess of Dellwyn. 37 Notwithstanding this Reluctance for Gaiety, either the Fear of being rude, or her Father's Commands to oblige her Mother's Relations, kept her con- tinually present where she seemed to have no Business, and exemplified in her the Truth of THE SPECTATOR'S Observation, that " No Labour is so " insupportable as that of doing no- "thing." She often slipt from her Company as early as possible; and came home to spend the Evening with her Father. Mr. Lucum, since his Arrival in Lon- don, had been tolerably good-humour- ed, and seemed to have relinquished all Thoughts of Lord Dellwyn. This caused his Daughter to come home to him with much Pleasure; but she was greatly astonished, when she perceived, that her leaving her Company so early displeased. her Father, and rendered him peevish, morose, and churlish. Whenever she expressed a Satisfaction at having left a Croud for the sake of his
Chapter 5
Page 81
39 CHAP. V. A Multitude of Wishes, attended with a Multitude of Mortifications. MR. Lucum now never mentioned Lord Dellwyn, but by a perpe- tual Ill-humour at his Daughter's In- sensibility to all polite Assemblies. He at last drove her to seek for Shelter from that almost insupportable Misfor- tune, a disagreeable Home , by staying more abroad; but the being thus in a manner excluded, by the Fears of her Father's Anger, from returning early in the Evening to his Company, instead of a Croud, was highly disagreeable to her; till, by almost imperceptible De- grees, the Force of Custom rendered that Manner of Life tolerable, to which at first she had been so averse; then, the
Page 82
40 the first Step being surmounted, she advanced another, and it became pleasing: And, from thence, it was not long before she was totally wrapped up in it. Public Morning Diversions were the last dissipating Habit she ob- tained; but when that was accom- plished, her Time was squandered away, the Power of Reflection was lost, her Ideas were all centered in Dress, Drums, Routs, Operas, Masquerades, and every kind of public Diversion. Visionary Schemes of Pleasure were continually present to her Imagination, and her Brain was whirled about by such a Dizziness, that she might pro- perly be said to labour under the Dis- temper called the Vertigo. The World appeared, in her Eyes, in quite a dif- ferent Light ; and she perceived her- self to be a fine gay Thing, that before, as Nell says in the Farce, " She knew not." Mr.
Page 83
41 Mr. Lucum had supplied his Daugh- ter with what was necessary to make a genteel Appearance; which, at her first coming to Town, sufficiently satisfied all her Wishes: But the new Revolu- tion in her Mind and Heart, was at- tended with a new and large Train of Desires. She was introduced amongst a Set of Acquaintance, to whose Splen- dor in Dress she could by no means arrive, and consequently she often " Pined in Thought," Like Viola, in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night; But it could not be said, with Propriety, that, like Viola, She sat, like Patience, on a Monument, Smiling at Grief. For, however possible it may be to support disappointed Love with Pati- ence, it is one of the characteristical Marks of disappointed Vanity, to throw the Mind into Perturbation and Impa- tience. 5 Her
Page 84
42 Her Father seldom absolutely refused her any thing tolerably reasonable; but taxed the Grant of her Request with such a heavy Proportion of Ill- humour, as rendered it very painful to her to ask a Favour. It is a common Practice of Persons, who are endowed with the Power of either bestowing or with-holding Benefits, to make all Complaints of them apparently with- out a Cause, by declaring they have ne- ver refused any thing they were asked; but the Heart-aches that are endured before the Request, break forth into Utterance; and the Pain that is given by a Compliance, which they make more afflicting to a gentle Mind than a mild Refusal, is a Part of the Story they chuse to keep closely concealed within themselves. Lady Fanny Fashion was a distant Relation of Miss Lucum, and admit- ted her to a great Degree of Intimacy; but, unfortunately, she was fond of Dress (even in these our Days.) to an uncom-
Page 85
43 uncommon Degree. Every Change of Fashion, every expensive Ornament, was continually purchased by Lady Fanny; and every such Purchase was Wormwood to Miss Lucum. It was impossible for her to follow her Lady- ship through all her various Changes; and whenever she pleased herself with the Imagination that she had obtained something like Lady Fanny, by the time she could get it made up, some later Invention, some newer Whim, appeared on her Ladyship, and renew- ed her Mortification. Fungoso, in Ben Johnson's Comedy of Every Man out of his Humour, was not more unfortunate in his Imitations of Fastidius Brisk, the Courtier, nor oftener disappointed: Had the Poet known her, she might have made a Character in that Play; for she was truly out of Humour; and so totally changed, that it would have puzzled any of the Philosophers, who have written on the Subject of Identity, to have discovered whether or no she was the same Person. Public
Page 86
44 Public Assemblies, altho', in Appear- ance, the Scenes of Gaiety and Delight, are generally fatal to the inward Peace of many of the Individuals of which they are composed; and while the Feet dance after, and attend the Harmony of, the Music, the Heart often beats out of Tune, and is at Discord within itself. Miss Lucum had been presented at Court, and was to accompany Lady Fanny thither on a Birth-night. Many Days were spent in anxious Preparation for the Occasion, and our young Beau- ty made there a most elegant Figure; but Lady Fanny that Evening unfortu- nately appeared in a new Pair of bril- liant Ear-rings, of the finest Water, with a very large Cross of the like Diamonds on her Bosom: Their Lustre so dazled Miss Lucum's Sight, that she could behold no other Object; her Eyes spontaneously rolled after Lady Fanny, or rather after her Jewels, on her every Motion, or Change of Pos- ture;
Page 87
45 ture: She was pierced to her Heart; and, by the turbulent Pangs raised there, fully justified the common pro- verbial Expression, and proved, that, to cut like a Diamond, is to cut with no small Degree of Sharpness; and what is very remarkable, its Sharpness reaches even at a great Distance, and, while it gives Pleasure to the Wearer, it often wounds its Beholder, who seems An Indisposition, perfectly unaffect- ed, alternately changed Miss Lucum's Complexion into a languid Paleness, and a flushing Vermilion ; and, telling Lady Fanny that a sudden Pain in her Head would not permit her to remain any longer in public, she left the Draw- ing-room, and retired: But altho' her Indisposition was by no means feigned, yet was the Pain in her Head a Pre- tence only to conceal that in her Heart. Mr. Lucum finding it was not Incli- nation, but Illness, that brought.his Daughter
Page 88
46 Daughter home so early, received her with unusual Good-humour and Plea- sure; but was not deeply concerned with the Apprehension of Danger from her Distemper. Miss Lucum, as soon as possible, re- tired to the Apartment in which she was accustomed to find Rest; but no Rest was that Night to be found: Not Macbeth, but Di'monds, had murthered Sleep: Diamonds, as adequate to the Purpose as any Ruffians whatsoever. The pain- ful Vision of Lady Fanny's Jewels was, by Memory, faithfully presented to her View, baffled every Attempt to close her Eyes, and chased from her disturb- ed Mind all Possibility of Slumber or Repose. She could start with as much Terror and Anguish, as if she had seen all the Ghosts in Richard the Third; and her Mind, at that time, might be likened to a Theatre, on which the Tragedy
Page 89
47 Tragedy of a glittering Cross, and a Pair of Diamond Ear-rings, was act- ing, with much more Propriety than the envious Critic called Othello The Tragedy of the Handkerchief. Miss Lucum's Beauty was too con- spicuous to suffer her to appear in pub- lic, without being the Object of Obser- vation; and, as she was now pretty well known in Town, her suddenly leaving the Drawing-room so early, occasioned many Surmises the next Morning. A young Nobleman, who had dis- tinguished Miss Lucum by his Gallan- try at many public Assemblies, that Night attached himself wholly to an- other Lady; and to this was her sud- den Illness imputed by many; and poor innocent Love (as is customary) was accused and condemned, altho' totally ignorant of the whole Matter. Many
Page 90
48 Many Reasons were traced, and many Causes assigned; but the only true one, which was indeed no-where to be found but in Lady Fanny Fashion's Ears, and on her Bosom, was never once suspected, except by Lady Fanny herself; who perceived, from the Beginning, the Ray of Dis- comfort her dazling Jewels had darted into Miss Lucum 's Bosom. Perhaps the firiendly Sympathy be- tween these Two young Ladies, ren- dered it easy for them to penetrate each other's Thoughts; for Miss Lucum also perceived, in Lady Fanny's Counte- nance, a Triumph of Contempt over her Weakness: But whatever Lady Fanny knew, or conjectured, she never discovered the Secret, but chose to im- pute Miss Lucum's Disappointment to Lord Dellwyn's Behaviour; who had not that Evening honoured her with any particular Notice. This was spread abroad amongst all her Acquaintance; and
Page 91
49 and Miss Lucum was not so entirely friendless, but that the Report reached her own Ears also. The first Rumour, or even Insinua- tion, to her Disadvantage, that comes to a young Lady's Knowlege, is always attended with great Uneasiness; she presently imagines, that her Story is uppermost in the Thoughts of every Company, and that Politeness alone prevents her being treated with re- proachful Language: She imagines every Whisper contains some Reflec- tions on her Conduct; and on every Look she puts some Construction, which tends to her own Disadvantage. Miss Lucum's Pride was greatly mor- tified at the Report of her being de- sirous, but in vain, to be Countess of Dellwyn. She had treasured up a small Portion of Comfort in the midst of her Misfortunes, by preserving the Power of reflecting, that she had had the Ho- nour of refusing Lord Dellwyn, and VOL. I. D that,
Page 92
50 that, if she would have consented to so preposterous a Union, she might have appeared in greater Lustre than her Friend. She praised her own Courage for suffering all her Father's Anger on that Account; and then to have all this Honour clandestinely purloined from her, if considered in all its aggravating Circumstances, must be confessed to be so heavy a Weight of Affliction, as no young Woman, in Miss Lucum's Situa- tion, could possibly bear with any tole- able Degree of Patience. The fatal Birth-night, which had given the young Charlotte so much Un- easiness, brought some flying Notions into her Imagination concerning the Gratification she might have given her new-acquired Taste, had she complied with her Father's Commands of mar- rying Lord Dellwyn; and her Resolu- tion against being Countess was, in a small Degree, staggered ; but this was not very perceptible to herself; for she thought not on any one of her various Desires,
Page 93
51 Desires, except that of having Jewels equal to Lady Fanny's, long enough to be perfectly acquainted with what she wished with most Ardency: But the first time any Inclination to his Lordship be- came at all predominant, was the Mo- ment in which she became acquainted with the Rumour, that it was not in the Power of her Charms to make so de- sireable a Conquest. The Words, I will not, were as pleasant to her as to Caesar; but the Expression, I cannot, was as hard for her to assent to; as it was to, the Roman Hero to acknowlege that he dared not. Her Confusion was too great to suffer her to make any positive Determination as to her future Conduct ; but, whatever was reported or thought by others, she herself ima- gined, that it was in her Power, when- ever the chose it, to recall my Lord Dellwyn; and therefore her Aversion to him was not entirely eradicated. D 2 CHAP.
39 CHAP. V. A Multitude of Wishes, attended with a Multitude of Mortifications. MR. Lucum now never mentioned Lord Dellwyn, but by a perpe- tual Ill-humour at his Daughter's In- sensibility to all polite Assemblies. He at last drove her to seek for Shelter from that almost insupportable Misfor- tune, a disagreeable Home , by staying more abroad; but the being thus in a manner excluded, by the Fears of her Father's Anger, from returning early in the Evening to his Company, instead of a Croud, was highly disagreeable to her; till, by almost imperceptible De- grees, the Force of Custom rendered that Manner of Life tolerable, to which at first she had been so averse; then, the
Page 82
40 the first Step being surmounted, she advanced another, and it became pleasing: And, from thence, it was not long before she was totally wrapped up in it. Public Morning Diversions were the last dissipating Habit she ob- tained; but when that was accom- plished, her Time was squandered away, the Power of Reflection was lost, her Ideas were all centered in Dress, Drums, Routs, Operas, Masquerades, and every kind of public Diversion. Visionary Schemes of Pleasure were continually present to her Imagination, and her Brain was whirled about by such a Dizziness, that she might pro- perly be said to labour under the Dis- temper called the Vertigo. The World appeared, in her Eyes, in quite a dif- ferent Light ; and she perceived her- self to be a fine gay Thing, that before, as Nell says in the Farce, " She knew not." Mr.
Page 83
41 Mr. Lucum had supplied his Daugh- ter with what was necessary to make a genteel Appearance; which, at her first coming to Town, sufficiently satisfied all her Wishes: But the new Revolu- tion in her Mind and Heart, was at- tended with a new and large Train of Desires. She was introduced amongst a Set of Acquaintance, to whose Splen- dor in Dress she could by no means arrive, and consequently she often " Pined in Thought," Like Viola, in Shakespeare's Twelfth Night; But it could not be said, with Propriety, that, like Viola, She sat, like Patience, on a Monument, Smiling at Grief. For, however possible it may be to support disappointed Love with Pati- ence, it is one of the characteristical Marks of disappointed Vanity, to throw the Mind into Perturbation and Impa- tience. 5 Her
Page 84
42 Her Father seldom absolutely refused her any thing tolerably reasonable; but taxed the Grant of her Request with such a heavy Proportion of Ill- humour, as rendered it very painful to her to ask a Favour. It is a common Practice of Persons, who are endowed with the Power of either bestowing or with-holding Benefits, to make all Complaints of them apparently with- out a Cause, by declaring they have ne- ver refused any thing they were asked; but the Heart-aches that are endured before the Request, break forth into Utterance; and the Pain that is given by a Compliance, which they make more afflicting to a gentle Mind than a mild Refusal, is a Part of the Story they chuse to keep closely concealed within themselves. Lady Fanny Fashion was a distant Relation of Miss Lucum, and admit- ted her to a great Degree of Intimacy; but, unfortunately, she was fond of Dress (even in these our Days.) to an uncom-
Page 85
43 uncommon Degree. Every Change of Fashion, every expensive Ornament, was continually purchased by Lady Fanny; and every such Purchase was Wormwood to Miss Lucum. It was impossible for her to follow her Lady- ship through all her various Changes; and whenever she pleased herself with the Imagination that she had obtained something like Lady Fanny, by the time she could get it made up, some later Invention, some newer Whim, appeared on her Ladyship, and renew- ed her Mortification. Fungoso, in Ben Johnson's Comedy of Every Man out of his Humour, was not more unfortunate in his Imitations of Fastidius Brisk, the Courtier, nor oftener disappointed: Had the Poet known her, she might have made a Character in that Play; for she was truly out of Humour; and so totally changed, that it would have puzzled any of the Philosophers, who have written on the Subject of Identity, to have discovered whether or no she was the same Person. Public
Page 86
44 Public Assemblies, altho', in Appear- ance, the Scenes of Gaiety and Delight, are generally fatal to the inward Peace of many of the Individuals of which they are composed; and while the Feet dance after, and attend the Harmony of, the Music, the Heart often beats out of Tune, and is at Discord within itself. Miss Lucum had been presented at Court, and was to accompany Lady Fanny thither on a Birth-night. Many Days were spent in anxious Preparation for the Occasion, and our young Beau- ty made there a most elegant Figure; but Lady Fanny that Evening unfortu- nately appeared in a new Pair of bril- liant Ear-rings, of the finest Water, with a very large Cross of the like Diamonds on her Bosom: Their Lustre so dazled Miss Lucum's Sight, that she could behold no other Object; her Eyes spontaneously rolled after Lady Fanny, or rather after her Jewels, on her every Motion, or Change of Pos- ture;
Page 87
45 ture: She was pierced to her Heart; and, by the turbulent Pangs raised there, fully justified the common pro- verbial Expression, and proved, that, to cut like a Diamond, is to cut with no small Degree of Sharpness; and what is very remarkable, its Sharpness reaches even at a great Distance, and, while it gives Pleasure to the Wearer, it often wounds its Beholder, who seems An Indisposition, perfectly unaffect- ed, alternately changed Miss Lucum's Complexion into a languid Paleness, and a flushing Vermilion ; and, telling Lady Fanny that a sudden Pain in her Head would not permit her to remain any longer in public, she left the Draw- ing-room, and retired: But altho' her Indisposition was by no means feigned, yet was the Pain in her Head a Pre- tence only to conceal that in her Heart. Mr. Lucum finding it was not Incli- nation, but Illness, that brought.his Daughter
Page 88
46 Daughter home so early, received her with unusual Good-humour and Plea- sure; but was not deeply concerned with the Apprehension of Danger from her Distemper. Miss Lucum, as soon as possible, re- tired to the Apartment in which she was accustomed to find Rest; but no Rest was that Night to be found: Not Macbeth, but Di'monds, had murthered Sleep: Diamonds, as adequate to the Purpose as any Ruffians whatsoever. The pain- ful Vision of Lady Fanny's Jewels was, by Memory, faithfully presented to her View, baffled every Attempt to close her Eyes, and chased from her disturb- ed Mind all Possibility of Slumber or Repose. She could start with as much Terror and Anguish, as if she had seen all the Ghosts in Richard the Third; and her Mind, at that time, might be likened to a Theatre, on which the Tragedy
Page 89
47 Tragedy of a glittering Cross, and a Pair of Diamond Ear-rings, was act- ing, with much more Propriety than the envious Critic called Othello The Tragedy of the Handkerchief. Miss Lucum's Beauty was too con- spicuous to suffer her to appear in pub- lic, without being the Object of Obser- vation; and, as she was now pretty well known in Town, her suddenly leaving the Drawing-room so early, occasioned many Surmises the next Morning. A young Nobleman, who had dis- tinguished Miss Lucum by his Gallan- try at many public Assemblies, that Night attached himself wholly to an- other Lady; and to this was her sud- den Illness imputed by many; and poor innocent Love (as is customary) was accused and condemned, altho' totally ignorant of the whole Matter. Many
Page 90
48 Many Reasons were traced, and many Causes assigned; but the only true one, which was indeed no-where to be found but in Lady Fanny Fashion's Ears, and on her Bosom, was never once suspected, except by Lady Fanny herself; who perceived, from the Beginning, the Ray of Dis- comfort her dazling Jewels had darted into Miss Lucum 's Bosom. Perhaps the firiendly Sympathy be- tween these Two young Ladies, ren- dered it easy for them to penetrate each other's Thoughts; for Miss Lucum also perceived, in Lady Fanny's Counte- nance, a Triumph of Contempt over her Weakness: But whatever Lady Fanny knew, or conjectured, she never discovered the Secret, but chose to im- pute Miss Lucum's Disappointment to Lord Dellwyn's Behaviour; who had not that Evening honoured her with any particular Notice. This was spread abroad amongst all her Acquaintance; and
Page 91
49 and Miss Lucum was not so entirely friendless, but that the Report reached her own Ears also. The first Rumour, or even Insinua- tion, to her Disadvantage, that comes to a young Lady's Knowlege, is always attended with great Uneasiness; she presently imagines, that her Story is uppermost in the Thoughts of every Company, and that Politeness alone prevents her being treated with re- proachful Language: She imagines every Whisper contains some Reflec- tions on her Conduct; and on every Look she puts some Construction, which tends to her own Disadvantage. Miss Lucum's Pride was greatly mor- tified at the Report of her being de- sirous, but in vain, to be Countess of Dellwyn. She had treasured up a small Portion of Comfort in the midst of her Misfortunes, by preserving the Power of reflecting, that she had had the Ho- nour of refusing Lord Dellwyn, and VOL. I. D that,
Page 92
50 that, if she would have consented to so preposterous a Union, she might have appeared in greater Lustre than her Friend. She praised her own Courage for suffering all her Father's Anger on that Account; and then to have all this Honour clandestinely purloined from her, if considered in all its aggravating Circumstances, must be confessed to be so heavy a Weight of Affliction, as no young Woman, in Miss Lucum's Situa- tion, could possibly bear with any tole- able Degree of Patience. The fatal Birth-night, which had given the young Charlotte so much Un- easiness, brought some flying Notions into her Imagination concerning the Gratification she might have given her new-acquired Taste, had she complied with her Father's Commands of mar- rying Lord Dellwyn; and her Resolu- tion against being Countess was, in a small Degree, staggered ; but this was not very perceptible to herself; for she thought not on any one of her various Desires,
Page 93
51 Desires, except that of having Jewels equal to Lady Fanny's, long enough to be perfectly acquainted with what she wished with most Ardency: But the first time any Inclination to his Lordship be- came at all predominant, was the Mo- ment in which she became acquainted with the Rumour, that it was not in the Power of her Charms to make so de- sireable a Conquest. The Words, I will not, were as pleasant to her as to Caesar; but the Expression, I cannot, was as hard for her to assent to; as it was to, the Roman Hero to acknowlege that he dared not. Her Confusion was too great to suffer her to make any positive Determination as to her future Conduct ; but, whatever was reported or thought by others, she herself ima- gined, that it was in her Power, when- ever the chose it, to recall my Lord Dellwyn; and therefore her Aversion to him was not entirely eradicated. D 2 CHAP.
Chapter 6
Page 94
52 CHAP. VI. An Exemplification of the Truth of Montaigne's Observation, That we laugh and cry for the same Thing. WHILST Miss Lucum's Mind was fluctuating to and fro, being greatly desirous at once of vari- ous Things, which were in direct Op- position to each other, her Father in- formed her, that his Business in Town was finished; and commanded her to prepare to return into the Country at an appointed Time, not exceeding Three Days. Miss Lucum started at this Summons, like the Ghost of Hamlet's Father at the Crowing of the Cock, the Har- binger
Page 95
53 binger of Day. In vain she cry'd out, with Hamlet, Rest, rest, perturbed Spirit; for the Perturbation of her Spirit could not be calmed. A resigned and well- regulated Mind can patiently suffer many Afflictions; but that which is burthened with many Griefs, and at the same time is turmoiling and bus- tling, under the insupportable La- bour of determining exactly what those Griefs are, is miserable enough to raise some Degree of Compassion, even in those prudent Persons, who, finding their Stock of Pity but small, take great Care lest they should spend it extrava- gantly; and therefore, Only wear it about on Holydays, or so. Miss Lucum, when her Father left her, could find no Language capable of expressing the quick Motions and Beatings of her labouring Heart; her D 3 Sighs
Page 96
52 CHAP. VI. An Exemplification of the Truth of Montaigne's Observation, That we laugh and cry for the same Thing. WHILST Miss Lucum's Mind was fluctuating to and fro, being greatly desirous at once of vari- ous Things, which were in direct Op- position to each-other, her Father in- formed her, that his Business in Town was finished; and commanded her to prepare to return into the Country at an appointed Time, not exceeding Three Days. Miss Lucum started at this Summons, like the Ghost of Hamlet's Father at the Crowing of the Cock, the Har- binger
Page 97
53 binger of Day. In vain she cry'd out, with Hamlet, Rest, rest, perturbed Spirit; for the Perturbation of her Spirit could not be calmed. A resigned and well- regulated Mind can patiently suffer many Afflictions; but that which is burthened with many Griefs, and at the same time is turmoiling and bus- tling, under the insupportable La- bour of determining exactly what those Griefs are, is miserable enough to raise some Degree of Compassion, even in those prudent Persons, who, finding their Stock of Pity but small, take great, Care lest they should spend it extrava- gantly; and therefore, Only wear it about on Holydays, or so. Miss Lucum, when her Father left her, could find no Language capable of expressing the quick Motions and Beatings of her labouring Heart; her D 3 Sighs
Page 98
54 Sighs were heavy, and she cry'd out, Ah ! oh! oh ! Ah ! the Exclamation King Arthur, and Queen Dollalolla, in the Tragedy of Tom Thumb, when they were in a painful Suspense to discover, whether their Distemper was Love, or the Wind Cholic. Lord Dellwyn spent that Evening with Mr. Lucum; who gave his Daugh- ter her free Liberty, either to remain in her own Apartment, or do the Ho- nours of the Table. Her Choice was immediately fixed; she had not Art enough even to appear indifferent; but, without Hesitation, declared, that she would attend him at Supper, with such an Air of Pleasure, that her Fa- ther could not forbear smiling. In the small intermediate Space be- fore the Arrival of Lord Dellwyn, Miss Lucum found Employment by viewing and reviewing herself before the Glass; her Form of Dress was several times varied, and she perceived great Diffi- culty
Page 99
55 culty in giving herself any tolerable Sa- tisfaction. During the Evening, Mr. Lucum took frequent Opportunities of hinting an intended Marriage between his Lordship and Lady Fanny Fashion; and at last his Lordship explicitly de- clared the Truth of this Conjecture, and requested Mr. Lucum to defer his Journey into the Country for another Fortnight, that he might be present on the joyful Occasion; and at the same time desired the Favour of his Daugh- ter's Company, and that she would per- form the Part of a Bride-maid to Lady Fanny. Both Lord Dellwyn and Mr. Lucum looked with a fixed Attention on the blushing Charlotte at that Instant; her Eyes rolled quick on every Side, to avoid their Observation; till at last, as if tired of Motion, they bent down steadily towards the Ground; and the Swelling of her Passions became so un- D 4 controulable,
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56 controulable, that she burst into a Flood of Tears, to give some Vent to her in- ward Sufferings. Miss Lucum had not been introduced into the fashionable World yet quite Three Months; and altho' she had im- proved herself miraculousy for that Time, yet she had not acquired so quick a Command of herself as to be able, with the same Volubility of Speech as if she had been really pleased, to thank his Lordship for the Honour he intended her, to be very much obliged to him, and all that, as Mr. Bays ex- presses himself; but was forced to leave the Room, overcome with Shame at her own Behaviour. When Lord Dellwyn took his Leave, Mr. Lucum went to his Daughter's Apartment, and entered, uttering the comfortable Words, that he hoped now his dear Charlotte would be happy ; for as she would herself be a Witness of my Lord's Marriage, she could never fear
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57 fear any farther Persecution on that Account. These aggravating Expressions de- prived her of all Power of Reflection; and, without any Consideration of what she was saying, she replied: " For what Insults am I reserved " Carry me, my Father, into the most " distant Country, where I may never " behold a human Face again; for " certainly I am the most wretched " and unfortunate of all Mortals." " What! is the Girl mad?" replied her Father. " You. were courted and " importuned to accept of a Coronet; " to roll almost in the highest Sphere " of Life; to command the most mag- " nificent Equipage your Fancy could " invent; a House in Town equal to a " Palace; your Person adorned with " the highest Splendor, by the Num- " ber and Richness of your Jewels." D 5 At
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58 At every new Instance enumerated bv Mr. Lucum, of those great Advan- tages his Daughter had refused, she wept and sobbed louder and louder; and, at the last-mentioned Article, she could no longer contain within any Bounds, but broke forth so vehemently, that her Father could not for some time be heard; but when her Passion was a little subsided, he thus continued his Remonstrances: " All these Honours you rejected; " you chose your Books, and a calm " rural Retirement. Against my own " Judgement, I complied with your " Humour; and now you are lament- " ing and ranting, like a Queen in a " Tragedy, for no other Reason that I " can imagine, but because you have " been left at Liberty to follow your " own Inclinations. Cease weeping " for nothing; stay this Fortnight " chearfully in Town to oblige my " Friend, and then I will immediately " carry you to your beloved Retreat; where
Page 103
59 " where you shall freely range through " all the serene Pleasures the Country " can afford." These Words would indeed have sounded pleasantly in the Ears of Miss Lucum, had her Father given them Ut- terance at a more seasonable Time: For some little Space after her Arrival in London, they would have been highly joyful; but now the Scene was quite reversed, and they were as bitter in the Digestion as Coloquintida; and her Fa- ther left her in a State of Mind so mi- serable, that Envy itself could not well wish to make any Addition to the Weight of her Affliction. D 6 CHAP.
52 CHAP. VI. An Exemplification of the Truth of Montaigne's Observation, That we laugh and cry for the same Thing. WHILST Miss Lucum's Mind was fluctuating to and fro, being greatly desirous at once of vari- ous Things, which were in direct Op- position to each other, her Father in- formed her, that his Business in Town was finished; and commanded her to prepare to return into the Country at an appointed Time, not exceeding Three Days. Miss Lucum started at this Summons, like the Ghost of Hamlet's Father at the Crowing of the Cock, the Har- binger
Page 95
53 binger of Day. In vain she cry'd out, with Hamlet, Rest, rest, perturbed Spirit; for the Perturbation of her Spirit could not be calmed. A resigned and well- regulated Mind can patiently suffer many Afflictions; but that which is burthened with many Griefs, and at the same time is turmoiling and bus- tling, under the insupportable La- bour of determining exactly what those Griefs are, is miserable enough to raise some Degree of Compassion, even in those prudent Persons, who, finding their Stock of Pity but small, take great Care lest they should spend it extrava- gantly; and therefore, Only wear it about on Holydays, or so. Miss Lucum, when her Father left her, could find no Language capable of expressing the quick Motions and Beatings of her labouring Heart; her D 3 Sighs
Page 96
52 CHAP. VI. An Exemplification of the Truth of Montaigne's Observation, That we laugh and cry for the same Thing. WHILST Miss Lucum's Mind was fluctuating to and fro, being greatly desirous at once of vari- ous Things, which were in direct Op- position to each-other, her Father in- formed her, that his Business in Town was finished; and commanded her to prepare to return into the Country at an appointed Time, not exceeding Three Days. Miss Lucum started at this Summons, like the Ghost of Hamlet's Father at the Crowing of the Cock, the Har- binger
Page 97
53 binger of Day. In vain she cry'd out, with Hamlet, Rest, rest, perturbed Spirit; for the Perturbation of her Spirit could not be calmed. A resigned and well- regulated Mind can patiently suffer many Afflictions; but that which is burthened with many Griefs, and at the same time is turmoiling and bus- tling, under the insupportable La- bour of determining exactly what those Griefs are, is miserable enough to raise some Degree of Compassion, even in those prudent Persons, who, finding their Stock of Pity but small, take great, Care lest they should spend it extrava- gantly; and therefore, Only wear it about on Holydays, or so. Miss Lucum, when her Father left her, could find no Language capable of expressing the quick Motions and Beatings of her labouring Heart; her D 3 Sighs
Page 98
54 Sighs were heavy, and she cry'd out, Ah ! oh! oh ! Ah ! the Exclamation King Arthur, and Queen Dollalolla, in the Tragedy of Tom Thumb, when they were in a painful Suspense to discover, whether their Distemper was Love, or the Wind Cholic. Lord Dellwyn spent that Evening with Mr. Lucum; who gave his Daugh- ter her free Liberty, either to remain in her own Apartment, or do the Ho- nours of the Table. Her Choice was immediately fixed; she had not Art enough even to appear indifferent; but, without Hesitation, declared, that she would attend him at Supper, with such an Air of Pleasure, that her Fa- ther could not forbear smiling. In the small intermediate Space be- fore the Arrival of Lord Dellwyn, Miss Lucum found Employment by viewing and reviewing herself before the Glass; her Form of Dress was several times varied, and she perceived great Diffi- culty
Page 99
55 culty in giving herself any tolerable Sa- tisfaction. During the Evening, Mr. Lucum took frequent Opportunities of hinting an intended Marriage between his Lordship and Lady Fanny Fashion; and at last his Lordship explicitly de- clared the Truth of this Conjecture, and requested Mr. Lucum to defer his Journey into the Country for another Fortnight, that he might be present on the joyful Occasion; and at the same time desired the Favour of his Daugh- ter's Company, and that she would per- form the Part of a Bride-maid to Lady Fanny. Both Lord Dellwyn and Mr. Lucum looked with a fixed Attention on the blushing Charlotte at that Instant; her Eyes rolled quick on every Side, to avoid their Observation; till at last, as if tired of Motion, they bent down steadily towards the Ground; and the Swelling of her Passions became so un- D 4 controulable,
Page 100
56 controulable, that she burst into a Flood of Tears, to give some Vent to her in- ward Sufferings. Miss Lucum had not been introduced into the fashionable World yet quite Three Months; and altho' she had im- proved herself miraculousy for that Time, yet she had not acquired so quick a Command of herself as to be able, with the same Volubility of Speech as if she had been really pleased, to thank his Lordship for the Honour he intended her, to be very much obliged to him, and all that, as Mr. Bays ex- presses himself; but was forced to leave the Room, overcome with Shame at her own Behaviour. When Lord Dellwyn took his Leave, Mr. Lucum went to his Daughter's Apartment, and entered, uttering the comfortable Words, that he hoped now his dear Charlotte would be happy ; for as she would herself be a Witness of my Lord's Marriage, she could never fear
Page 101
57 fear any farther Persecution on that Account. These aggravating Expressions de- prived her of all Power of Reflection; and, without any Consideration of what she was saying, she replied: " For what Insults am I reserved " Carry me, my Father, into the most " distant Country, where I may never " behold a human Face again; for " certainly I am the most wretched " and unfortunate of all Mortals." " What! is the Girl mad?" replied her Father. " You. were courted and " importuned to accept of a Coronet; " to roll almost in the highest Sphere " of Life; to command the most mag- " nificent Equipage your Fancy could " invent; a House in Town equal to a " Palace; your Person adorned with " the highest Splendor, by the Num- " ber and Richness of your Jewels." D 5 At
Page 102
58 At every new Instance enumerated bv Mr. Lucum, of those great Advan- tages his Daughter had refused, she wept and sobbed louder and louder; and, at the last-mentioned Article, she could no longer contain within any Bounds, but broke forth so vehemently, that her Father could not for some time be heard; but when her Passion was a little subsided, he thus continued his Remonstrances: " All these Honours you rejected; " you chose your Books, and a calm " rural Retirement. Against my own " Judgement, I complied with your " Humour; and now you are lament- " ing and ranting, like a Queen in a " Tragedy, for no other Reason that I " can imagine, but because you have " been left at Liberty to follow your " own Inclinations. Cease weeping " for nothing; stay this Fortnight " chearfully in Town to oblige my " Friend, and then I will immediately " carry you to your beloved Retreat; where
Page 103
59 " where you shall freely range through " all the serene Pleasures the Country " can afford." These Words would indeed have sounded pleasantly in the Ears of Miss Lucum, had her Father given them Ut- terance at a more seasonable Time: For some little Space after her Arrival in London, they would have been highly joyful; but now the Scene was quite reversed, and they were as bitter in the Digestion as Coloquintida; and her Fa- ther left her in a State of Mind so mi- serable, that Envy itself could not well wish to make any Addition to the Weight of her Affliction. D 6 CHAP.
