Love and Friendship, and Other Early Works | Page 9

thy Daughter could
have induced us to remain so long beneath thy roof."
"Your Freindship for my Daughter has indeed been most powerfully
exerted by throwing her into the arms of an unprincipled Fortune-
hunter." (replied he)

"Yes, (exclaimed I) amidst every misfortune, it will afford us some
consolation to reflect that by this one act of Freindship to Janetta, we
have amply discharged every obligation that we have received from her
father."
"It must indeed be a most gratefull reflection, to your exalted minds."
(said he.)
As soon as we had packed up our wardrobe and valuables, we left
Macdonald Hall, and after having walked about a mile and a half we
sate down by the side of a clear limpid stream to refresh our exhausted
limbs. The place was suited to meditation. A grove of full-grown Elms
sheltered us from the East--. A Bed of full- grown Nettles from the
West--. Before us ran the murmuring brook and behind us ran the
turn-pike road. We were in a mood for contemplation and in a
Disposition to enjoy so beautifull a spot. A mutual silence which had
for some time reigned between us, was at length broke by my
exclaiming--"What a lovely scene! Alas why are not Edward and
Augustus here to enjoy its Beauties with us?"
"Ah! my beloved Laura (cried Sophia) for pity's sake forbear recalling
to my remembrance the unhappy situation of my imprisoned Husband.
Alas, what would I not give to learn the fate of my Augustus! to know
if he is still in Newgate, or if he is yet hung. But never shall I be able so
far to conquer my tender sensibility as to enquire after him. Oh! do not
I beseech you ever let me again hear you repeat his beloved name--. It
affects me too deeply --. I cannot bear to hear him mentioned it wounds
my feelings."
"Excuse me my Sophia for having thus unwillingly offended you--"
replied I--and then changing the conversation, desired her to admire the
noble Grandeur of the Elms which sheltered us from the Eastern
Zephyr. "Alas! my Laura (returned she) avoid so melancholy a subject,
I intreat you. Do not again wound my Sensibility by observations on
those elms. They remind me of Augustus. He was like them, tall,
magestic--he possessed that noble grandeur which you admire in them."
I was silent, fearfull lest I might any more unwillingly distress her by

fixing on any other subject of conversation which might again remind
her of Augustus.
"Why do you not speak my Laura? (said she after a short pause) "I
cannot support this silence you must not leave me to my own
reflections; they ever recur to Augustus."
"What a beautifull sky! (said I) How charmingly is the azure varied by
those delicate streaks of white!"
"Oh! my Laura (replied she hastily withdrawing her Eyes from a
momentary glance at the sky) do not thus distress me by calling my
Attention to an object which so cruelly reminds me of my Augustus's
blue sattin waistcoat striped in white! In pity to your unhappy freind
avoid a subject so distressing." What could I do? The feelings of
Sophia were at that time so exquisite, and the tenderness she felt for
Augustus so poignant that I had not power to start any other topic,
justly fearing that it might in some unforseen manner again awaken all
her sensibility by directing her thoughts to her Husband. Yet to be
silent would be cruel; she had intreated me to talk.
From this Dilemma I was most fortunately releived by an accident truly
apropos; it was the lucky overturning of a Gentleman's Phaeton, on the
road which ran murmuring behind us. It was a most fortunate accident
as it diverted the attention of Sophia from the melancholy reflections
which she had been before indulging. We instantly quitted our seats
and ran to the rescue of those who but a few moments before had been
in so elevated a situation as a fashionably high Phaeton, but who were
now laid low and sprawling in the Dust. "What an ample subject for
reflection on the uncertain Enjoyments of this World, would not that
Phaeton and the Life of Cardinal Wolsey afford a thinking Mind!" said
I to Sophia as we were hastening to the field of Action.
She had not time to answer me, for every thought was now engaged by
the horrid spectacle before us. Two Gentlemen most elegantly attired
but weltering in their blood was what first struck our Eyes--we
approached--they were Edward and Augustus--. Yes dearest Marianne
they were our Husbands. Sophia shreiked and fainted on the ground--I

screamed and instantly ran mad--. We remained thus mutually deprived
of our senses, some minutes, and on regaining them were deprived of
them again.