Evelina | Page 6

her power inadequate to her attempt, enraged at her non-compliance,
she treated her with the grossest unkindness, and threatened her with
poverty and ruin.
Miss Evelyn, to whom wrath and violence had hitherto been strangers,
soon grew weary of such usage; and rashly, and without a witness,
consented to a private marriage with Sir John Belmont, a very
profligate young man, who had but too successfully found means to
insinuate himself into her favour. He promised to conduct her to
England-he did.-O, Madam, you know the rest!-Disappointed of the
fortune he expected, by the inexorable rancour of the Duvals, he

infamously burnt the certificate of their marriage, and denied that they
had ever been united.
She flew to me for protection. With what mixed transports of joy and
anguish did I again see her! By my advice, she endeavoured to procure
proofs of her marriage-but in vain; her credulity had been no match for
his art.
Every body believed her innocent, from the guiltless tenor of her
unspotted youth, and from the known libertinism of her barbarous
betrayer. Yet her sufferings were too acute for her slender frame; and
the same moment that gave birth to her infant, put an end at once to the
sorrows and the life of its mother.
The rage of Madame Duval at her elopement, abated not while this
injured victim of cruelty yet drew breath. She probably intended, in
time, to have pardoned her; but time was not allowed. When she was
informed of her death, I have been told, that the agonies of grief and
remorse, with which she was seized, occasioned her a severe fit of
illness. But, from the time of her recovery to the date of her letter to
your Ladyship, I had never heard that she manifested any desire to be
made acquainted with the circumstances which attended the death of
Lady Belmont, and the birth of her helpless child.
That child, Madam, shall never, while life is lent me, know the loss she
has sustained. I have cherished, succoured, and supported her, from her
earliest infancy to her sixteenth year; and so amply has she repaid my
care and affection, that my fondest wish is now circumscribed by the
desire of bestowing her on one who may be sensible of her worth, and
then sinking to eternal rest in her arms.
Thus it has happened, that the education of the father, daughter, and
grand-daughter, has devolved on me. What infinite misery have the two
first caused me! Should the fate of the dear survivor be equally adverse,
how wretched will be the end of my cares-the end of my days!
Even had Madame Duval merited the charge she claims, I fear my
fortitude would have been unequal to such a parting; but being such as

she is, not only my affection, but my humanity, recoils, at the barbarous
idea of deserting the sacred trust reposed in me. Indeed, I could but ill
support her former yearly visits to the respectable mansion at Howard
Grove: pardon me, dear Madam, and do not think me insensible of the
honour which your Ladyship's condescension confers upon us both; but
so deep is the impression which the misfortunes of her mother have
made on my heart, that she does not, even for a moment, quit my sight
without exciting apprehensions and terrors which almost overpower me.
Such, Madam, is my tenderness, and such my weakness!-But she is the
only tie I have upon earth, and I trust to your Ladyship's goodness not
to judge of my feelings with severity.
I beg leave to present my humble respects to Mrs. and Miss Mirvan;
and have the honour to be, Madam, your Ladyship's most obedient and
most humble servant, ARTHUR VILLARS.
LETTER III [Written some months after the last]
LADY HOWARD TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove,
March 8.
Dear and Rev. Sir,
YOUR last letter gave me infinite pleasure: after so long and tedious an
illness, how grateful to yourself and to your friends must be your
returning health! You have the hearty wishes of every individual of this
place for its continuance and increase.
Will you not think I take advantage of your acknowledged recovery, if I
once more venture to mention your pupil and Howard Grove together?
Yet you must remember the patience with which we submitted to your
desire of not parting with her during the bad state of your health, tho' it
was with much reluctance we forbore to solicit her company. My
grand-daughter in particular, has scarce been able to repress her
eagerness to again meet the friend of her infancy; and for my own part,
it is very strongly my wish to manifest the regard I had for the
unfortunate Lady Belmont, by proving serviceable to her child;