Barford Abbey | Page 8

look without them.
Who is Miss Warley?--What is Miss Warley?--you ask.--To your first
question I can only answer, A visitor at Jenkings's.--To the
second,--She is what has been so much sought after in every age,
perfect harmony of mind and person.--Such a hand, George--
Already have I been here eight days:--was I to measure time, I should
call them hours.--My affairs with Sir James will take up longer in
settling than I apprehended.--Come therefore this week or the next, I
charge you.--Come as you hope to see Miss Warley. What do you think
Sir James said to me the other day?--Was Miss Warley a girl of fortune,
I should think her born for you, Darcey.--As that is not the case,--take

care of your heart, my Lord.--She will never attempt to drag you into
scrapes:--your little favourite robin, that us'd to peck from your hand,
has not less guile.
No! he will never consent;--I must only think of friendship.
Lady Powis doats on this paragon of beauty: scarce within their
walls,--when she was mention'd with such a just profusion of praises,
as fill'd me with impatience.--Lady Powis is a heavenly woman.--You
do not laugh;--many would, for supposing any of that sex heavenly
after fifty.--The coach is this moment going for Miss Warley;--it waits
only for me;--I am often her conductor.--Was you first minister of
state,--I the humble suitor whose bread depended on your favour,--not
one line more, even to express my wants.
Twelve o'clock, at night.
Our fair visitor just gone;--just gone home with Edmund.--What an
officious fool, to take him in the carriage, and prevent myself from a
pleasure I envy him for.--I am not in spirits;--I can write no
more;--perhaps the next post:--but I will promise nothing.
I am, _&c. &c._
DARCEY.

LETTER V.
The Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH to LORD DARCEY.
Bath.
Confound your friendships!--Friendship indeed!--What! up head and
ears in love, and not know it.--So it is necessary for every woman you
think capable of friendship, to have fine eyes, fine hair, a bewitching
smile, and a neck delicately turn'd.--Have not I the highest opinion of
my cousin Dolly's sincerity?--Do I not think her very capable of
_friendship?_--Yet, poor soul, her eyes are planted so deep, it requires
good ones to discover she has any.--Such a hand, George!--Such a hand,

Darcey!--Why, Lady Dorothy too has hands; I am often enough
squeez'd by them:--though hard as a horse's hoof, and the colour of
tanned leather, I hold her capable of friendship.--Neck she has
none,--smile she has none! yet need I the determination of another, to
tell me whether my regard for her proceeds from love or
_friendship?_--Awake,--Awake, Darcey,--Awake:--Have you any value
for your own peace?--have you any for that of Miss Warley's? If so,
leave Barford Abbey.--Should you persist in loving her, for love her I
know you do?--Should the quiet of such an amiable woman as you
describe be at stake? To deal plainly, I will come down and propose the
thing myself.--No sword,--no pistol. I mean not for myself, but one
whose happiness is dear to me as my own.
Suppose your estate is but two thousand a-year, are you so fond of
shew and equipage, to barter real felicity for baubles?--I am angry,--so
angry, that it would not grieve me to see you leading to the altar an old
hobbling dowager without a tooth.--Be more yourself,
And I am yours,
MOLESWORTH.

LETTER VI
Lord DARCEY to the Honourable GEORGE MOLESWORTH.
Barford Abbey,
Angry!--You are really angry!--Well, I too am angry with myself.--I do
love Miss Warley;--but why this to you?--Your penetration has already
discover'd it.--Yet, O Molesworth! such insurmountable obstacles:--no
declaration can be made,--at least whilst I continue in this
neighbourhood.
Sir James would rave at my imprudence.--Lady Powis, whatever are
her sentiments, must give them up to his opinion.--Inevitably I lose the
affection of persons I have sacredly--promised to obey,--sacredly.--Was
not my promise given to a dying father?--Miss Warley has no tye; yet,

by the duty she observes to Sir James and Lady Powis, you would think
her bound by the strongest cords of nature.
Scarce a moment from her:--at Jenkings's every morning;--on foot if
good weather,--else in the coach for the convenience of bringing her
with me.--I am under no constraint:--Sir James and her Ladyship seem
not the least suspicious: this I much wonder at, in the former
particularly.
In my _tête-à-têtes_ with Miss Warley, what think you are our
subjects?--Chiefly divinity, history, and geography.--Of these studies
she knows more than half the great men who have wrote for ages
past.--On a taste for the two latter I once prided myself.--An eager
pursuit for the former springs up in my mind, whilst conversing with
her, like a plant long hid in the earth, and called out by the appearance
of a summer's sun.--This sun must