Evelina | Page 8

be so in private life; though it will by no means allow
her to enjoy the luxury of a London fine lady.
Let Miss Mirvan, then, Madam, shine in all the splendour of high life;
but suffer my child still to enjoy the pleasures of humble retirement,
with a mind to which greater views are unknown.
I hope this reasoning will be honoured with your approbation; and I
have yet another motive which has some weight with me: I would not
willingly give offence to any human being; and surely Madame Duval
might accuse me of injustice, if, while I refuse to let her grand-daughter
wait upon her, I consent that she should join a party of pleasure to
London.
In sending her to Howard Grove, not one of these scruples arise; and
therefore Mrs. Clinton, a most worthy woman, formerly her nurse, and
now my housekeeper, shall attend her thither next week.
Though I have always called her by the name of Anville, and reported
in this neighbourhood that her father, my intimate friend, left her to my
guardianship; yet I have thought it necessary she should herself be
acquainted with the melancholy circumstances attending her birth: for
though I am very desirous of guarding her from curiosity and
impertinence, by concealing her name, family, and story, yet I would
not leave it in the power of chance to shock her gentle nature with a tale
of so much sorrow.
You must not, Madam, expect too much from my pupil; she is quite a
little rustic, and knows nothing of the world; and though her education
has been the best I could bestow in this retired place, to which
Dorchester, the nearest town, is seven miles distant, yet I shall not be
surprised if you should discover in her a thousand deficiencies of which
I have never dreamt. She must be very much altered since she was last
at Howard Grove. But I will say nothing of her; I leave her to your
Ladyship's own observations, of which I beg a faithful relation; and am,
Dear Madam, with great respect, Your obedient and most humble

Servant, ARTHUR VILLARS.
LETTER V
MR. VILLARS TO LADY HOWARD March 18. Dear Madam,
THIS letter will be delivered to you by my child-the child of my
adoption-my affection! Unblest with one natural friend, she merits a
thousand. I send her to you innocent as an angel, and artless as purity
itself; and I send you with her the heart of your friend, the only hope he
has on earth, the subject of his tenderest thoughts, and the object of his
latest cares. She is one, Madam, for whom alone I have lately wished to
live; and she is one whom to serve I would with transport die! Restore
her but to me all innocence as you receive her, and the fondest hope of
my heart will be amply gratified. A. VILLARS.
LETTER VI
LADY HOWARD TO THE REV. MR. VILLARS Howard Grove.
Dear Rev. Sir,
THE solemn manner in which you have committed your child to my
care, has in some measure damped the pleasure which I receive from
the trust, as it makes me fear that you suffer from your compliance, in
which case I shall very sincerely blame myself for the earnestness with
which I have requested this favour: but remember, my good Sir, she is
within a few days summons; and be assured, I will not detain her a
moment longer than you wish.
You desire my opinion of her.
She is a little angel! I cannot wonder that you sought to monopolize her:
neither ought you, at finding it impossible.
Her face and person answer my most refined ideas of complete beauty:
and this, though a subject of praise less important to you, or, to me than
any other, is yet so striking, it is not possible to pass it unnoticed. Had I

not known from whom she received her education, I should at first
sight of so perfect a face, have been in pain for her understanding; since
it has been long and justly remarked, that folly has ever sought alliance
with beauty.
She has the same gentleness in her manners, the same natural graces in
her motions, that I formerly so much admired in her mother. Her
character seems truly ingenuous and simple; and at the same time that
nature has blessed her with an excellent understanding and great
quickness of parts, she has a certain air of inexperience and innocency
that is extremely interesting.
You have not reason to regret the retirement in which she has lived;
since that politeness which is acquired by an acquaintance with high
life, is in her so well supplied by a natural desire of obliging, joined to
a deportment infinitely engaging.
I