Love and Friendship, and Other Early Works | Page 5

this
Amiable Pair, I passed the happiest moments of my Life; Our time was
most delightfully spent, in mutual Protestations of Freindship, and in
vows of unalterable Love, in which we were secure from being
interrupted, by intruding and disagreable Visitors, as Augustus and
Sophia had on their first Entrance in the Neighbourhood, taken due care
to inform the surrounding Families, that as their happiness centered
wholly in themselves, they wished for no other society. But alas! my
Dear Marianne such Happiness as I then enjoyed was too perfect to be
lasting. A most severe and unexpected Blow at once destroyed every
sensation of Pleasure. Convinced as you must be from what I have
already told you concerning Augustus and Sophia, that there never
were a happier Couple, I need not I imagine, inform you that their
union had been contrary to the inclinations of their Cruel and
Mercenery Parents; who had vainly endeavoured with obstinate
Perseverance to force them into a Marriage with those whom they had

ever abhorred; but with a Heroic Fortitude worthy to be related and
admired, they had both, constantly refused to submit to such despotic
Power.
After having so nobly disentangled themselves from the shackles of
Parental Authority, by a Clandestine Marriage, they were determined
never to forfeit the good opinion they had gained in the World, in so
doing, by accepting any proposals of reconciliation that might be
offered them by their Fathers--to this farther tryal of their noble
independance however they never were exposed.
They had been married but a few months when our visit to them
commenced during which time they had been amply supported by a
considerable sum of money which Augustus had gracefully purloined
from his unworthy father's Escritoire, a few days before his union with
Sophia.
By our arrival their Expenses were considerably encreased tho' their
means for supplying them were then nearly exhausted. But they,
Exalted Creatures! scorned to reflect a moment on their pecuniary
Distresses and would have blushed at the idea of paying their
Debts.--Alas! what was their Reward for such disinterested Behaviour!
The beautifull Augustus was arrested and we were all undone. Such
perfidious Treachery in the merciless perpetrators of the Deed will
shock your gentle nature Dearest Marianne as much as it then affected
the Delicate sensibility of Edward, Sophia, your Laura, and of
Augustus himself. To compleat such unparalelled Barbarity we were
informed that an Execution in the House would shortly take place. Ah!
what could we do but what we did! We sighed and fainted on the sofa.
Adeiu Laura.

LETTER 10th LAURA in continuation
When we were somewhat recovered from the overpowering Effusions
of our grief, Edward desired that we would consider what was the most
prudent step to be taken in our unhappy situation while he repaired to

his imprisoned freind to lament over his misfortunes. We promised that
we would, and he set forwards on his journey to Town. During his
absence we faithfully complied with his Desire and after the most
mature Deliberation, at length agreed that the best thing we could do
was to leave the House; of which we every moment expected the
officers of Justice to take possession. We waited therefore with the
greatest impatience, for the return of Edward in order to impart to him
the result of our Deliberations. But no Edward appeared. In vain did we
count the tedious moments of his absence--in vain did we weep--in
vain even did we sigh--no Edward returned--. This was too cruel, too
unexpected a Blow to our Gentle Sensibility--we could not support
it--we could only faint. At length collecting all the Resolution I was
Mistress of, I arose and after packing up some necessary apparel for
Sophia and myself, I dragged her to a Carriage I had ordered and we
instantly set out for London. As the Habitation of Augustus was within
twelve miles of Town, it was not long e'er we arrived there, and no
sooner had we entered Holboun than letting down one of the Front
Glasses I enquired of every decent-looking Person that we passed "If
they had seen my Edward?"
But as we drove too rapidly to allow them to answer my repeated
Enquiries, I gained little, or indeed, no information concerning him.
"Where am I to drive?" said the Postilion. "To Newgate Gentle Youth
(replied I), to see Augustus." "Oh! no, no, (exclaimed Sophia) I cannot
go to Newgate; I shall not be able to support the sight of my Augustus
in so cruel a confinement--my feelings are sufficiently shocked by the
RECITAL, of his Distress, but to behold it will overpower my
Sensibility." As I perfectly agreed with her in the Justice of her
Sentiments the Postilion was instantly directed to return into the
Country. You may perhaps have