Love and Friendship, and Other Early Works | Page 3

which as I approached it, I
discovered to be the chearfull Blaze of your fire. Impelled by the
combination of Misfortunes under which I laboured, namely Fear, Cold
and Hunger I hesitated not to ask admittance which at length I have
gained; and now my Adorable Laura (continued he taking my Hand)
when may I hope to receive that reward of all the painfull sufferings I
have undergone during the course of my attachment to you, to which I
have ever aspired. Oh! when will you reward me with Yourself?"
"This instant, Dear and Amiable Edward." (replied I.). We were

immediately united by my Father, who tho' he had never taken orders
had been bred to the Church. Adeiu Laura

LETTER 7th LAURA to MARIANNE
We remained but a few days after our Marriage, in the Vale of Uske.
After taking an affecting Farewell of my Father, my Mother and my
Isabel, I accompanied Edward to his Aunt's in Middlesex. Philippa
received us both with every expression of affectionate Love. My arrival
was indeed a most agreable surprise to her as she had not only been
totally ignorant of my Marriage with her Nephew, but had never even
had the slightest idea of there being such a person in the World.
Augusta, the sister of Edward was on a visit to her when we arrived. I
found her exactly what her Brother had described her to be--of the
middle size. She received me with equal surprise though not with equal
Cordiality, as Philippa. There was a disagreable coldness and
Forbidding Reserve in her reception of me which was equally
distressing and Unexpected. None of that interesting Sensibility or
amiable simpathy in her manners and Address to me when we first met
which should have distinguished our introduction to each other. Her
Language was neither warm, nor affectionate, her expressions of regard
were neither animated nor cordial; her arms were not opened to receive
me to her Heart, tho' my own were extended to press her to mine.
A short Conversation between Augusta and her Brother, which I
accidentally overheard encreased my dislike to her, and convinced me
that her Heart was no more formed for the soft ties of Love than for the
endearing intercourse of Freindship.
"But do you think that my Father will ever be reconciled to this
imprudent connection?" (said Augusta.)
"Augusta (replied the noble Youth) I thought you had a better opinion
of me, than to imagine I would so abjectly degrade myself as to
consider my Father's Concurrence in any of my affairs, either of

Consequence or concern to me. Tell me Augusta with sincerity; did you
ever know me consult his inclinations or follow his Advice in the least
trifling Particular since the age of fifteen?"
"Edward (replied she) you are surely too diffident in your own praise.
Since you were fifteen only! My Dear Brother since you were five
years old, I entirely acquit you of ever having willingly contributed to
the satisfaction of your Father. But still I am not without apprehensions
of your being shortly obliged to degrade yourself in your own eyes by
seeking a support for your wife in the Generosity of Sir Edward."
"Never, never Augusta will I so demean myself. (said Edward).
Support! What support will Laura want which she can receive from
him?"
"Only those very insignificant ones of Victuals and Drink." (answered
she.)
"Victuals and Drink! (replied my Husband in a most nobly
contemptuous Manner) and dost thou then imagine that there is no
other support for an exalted mind (such as is my Laura's) than the mean
and indelicate employment of Eating and Drinking?"
"None that I know of, so efficacious." (returned Augusta).
"And did you then never feel the pleasing Pangs of Love, Augusta?
(replied my Edward). Does it appear impossible to your vile and
corrupted Palate, to exist on Love? Can you not conceive the Luxury of
living in every distress that Poverty can inflict, with the object of your
tenderest affection?"
"You are too ridiculous (said Augusta) to argue with; perhaps however
you may in time be convinced that ..."
Here I was prevented from hearing the remainder of her speech, by the
appearance of a very Handsome young Woman, who was ushured into
the Room at the Door of which I had been listening. On hearing her
announced by the Name of "Lady Dorothea," I instantly quitted my

Post and followed her into the Parlour, for I well remembered that she
was the Lady, proposed as a Wife for my Edward by the Cruel and
Unrelenting Baronet.
Altho' Lady Dorothea's visit was nominally to Philippa and Augusta,
yet I have some reason to imagine that (acquainted with the Marriage
and arrival of Edward) to see me was a principal motive to it.