Love and Friendship, and Other Early Works | Page 4

I soon perceived that tho' Lovely and Elegant in her Person and tho'
Easy and Polite in her Address, she was of that inferior order of Beings
with regard to Delicate Feeling, tender Sentiments, and refined
Sensibility, of which Augusta was one.
She staid but half an hour and neither in the Course of her Visit,
confided to me any of her secret thoughts, nor requested me to confide
in her, any of Mine. You will easily imagine therefore my Dear
Marianne that I could not feel any ardent affection or very sincere
Attachment for Lady Dorothea. Adeiu Laura.

LETTER 8th LAURA to MARIANNE, in continuation
Lady Dorothea had not left us long before another visitor as unexpected
a one as her Ladyship, was announced. It was Sir Edward, who
informed by Augusta of her Brother's marriage, came doubtless to
reproach him for having dared to unite himself to me without his
Knowledge. But Edward foreseeing his design, approached him with
heroic fortitude as soon as he entered the Room, and addressed him in
the following Manner.
"Sir Edward, I know the motive of your Journey here--You come with
the base Design of reproaching me for having entered into an
indissoluble engagement with my Laura without your Consent. But Sir,
I glory in the Act--. It is my greatest boast that I have incurred the
displeasure of my Father!"
So saying, he took my hand and whilst Sir Edward, Philippa, and
Augusta were doubtless reflecting with admiration on his undaunted

Bravery, led me from the Parlour to his Father's Carriage which yet
remained at the Door and in which we were instantly conveyed from
the pursuit of Sir Edward.
The Postilions had at first received orders only to take the London road;
as soon as we had sufficiently reflected However, we ordered them to
Drive to M----. the seat of Edward's most particular freind, which was
but a few miles distant.
At M----. we arrived in a few hours; and on sending in our names were
immediately admitted to Sophia, the Wife of Edward's freind. After
having been deprived during the course of 3 weeks of a real freind (for
such I term your Mother) imagine my transports at beholding one, most
truly worthy of the Name. Sophia was rather above the middle size;
most elegantly formed. A soft languor spread over her lovely features,
but increased their Beauty--. It was the Charectarestic of her Mind--.
She was all sensibility and Feeling. We flew into each others arms and
after having exchanged vows of mutual Freindship for the rest of our
Lives, instantly unfolded to each other the most inward secrets of our
Hearts--. We were interrupted in the delightfull Employment by the
entrance of Augustus, (Edward's freind) who was just returned from a
solitary ramble.
Never did I see such an affecting Scene as was the meeting of Edward
and Augustus.
"My Life! my Soul!" (exclaimed the former) "My adorable angel!"
(replied the latter) as they flew into each other's arms. It was too
pathetic for the feelings of Sophia and myself--We fainted alternately
on a sofa. Adeiu Laura.

LETTER the 9th From the same to the same
Towards the close of the day we received the following Letter from
Philippa.
"Sir Edward is greatly incensed by your abrupt departure; he has taken

back Augusta to Bedfordshire. Much as I wish to enjoy again your
charming society, I cannot determine to snatch you from that, of such
dear and deserving Freinds--When your Visit to them is terminated, I
trust you will return to the arms of your" "Philippa."
We returned a suitable answer to this affectionate Note and after
thanking her for her kind invitation assured her that we would certainly
avail ourselves of it, whenever we might have no other place to go to.
Tho' certainly nothing could to any reasonable Being, have appeared
more satisfactory, than so gratefull a reply to her invitation, yet I know
not how it was, but she was certainly capricious enough to be
displeased with our behaviour and in a few weeks after, either to
revenge our Conduct, or releive her own solitude, married a young and
illiterate Fortune- hunter. This imprudent step (tho' we were sensible
that it would probably deprive us of that fortune which Philippa had
ever taught us to expect) could not on our own accounts, excite from
our exalted minds a single sigh; yet fearfull lest it might prove a source
of endless misery to the deluded Bride, our trembling Sensibility was
greatly affected when we were first informed of the Event.The
affectionate Entreaties of Augustus and Sophia that we would for ever
consider their House as our Home, easily prevailed on us to determine
never more to leave them, In the society of my Edward and