The Contrast | Page 6

the death of his father, Billy went to England?to see the world and rub off a little of the patroon?rust. During his absence, Maria, like a good girl, to?keep herself constant to her nown true-love, avoided?company, and betook herself, for her amusement, to?her books, and her dear Billy's letters. But, alas!?how many ways has the mischievous demon of inconstancy?of stealing into a woman's heart! Her love was?destroyed by the very means she took to support it.
CHARLOTTE
How?--Oh! I have it--some likely young beau?found the way to her study.
LETITIA
Be patient, Charlotte; your head so runs upon?beaux. Why, she read Sir Charles Grandison, Clarissa?Harlow, Shenstone, and the Sentimental Journey; and?between whiles, as I said, Billy's letters. But, as her?taste improved, her love declined. The contrast was?so striking betwixt the good sense of her books and?the flimsiness of her love-letters, that she discovered?she had unthinkingly engaged her hand without her?heart; and then the whole transaction, managed by?the old folks, now appeared so unsentimental, and?looked so like bargaining for a bale of goods, that she?found she ought to have rejected, according to every?rule of romance, even the man of her choice, if imposed?upon her in that manner. Clary Harlow?would have scorned such a match.
CHARLOTTE
Well, how was it on Mr. Dimple's return? Did he?meet a more favourable reception than his letters?
LETITIA
Much the same. She spoke of him with respect?abroad, and with contempt in her closet. She watched?his conduct and conversation, and found that he had?by travelling, acquired the wickedness of Lovelace?without his wit, and the politeness of Sir Charles Grandison?without his generosity. The ruddy youth, who?washed his face at the cistern every morning, and?swore and looked eternal love and constancy, was now?metamorphosed into a flippant, palid, polite beau, who?devotes the morning to his toilet, reads a few pages of?Chesterfield's letters, and then minces out, to put the?infamous principles in practice upon every woman he?meets.
CHARLOTTE
But, if she is so apt at conjuring up these sentimental?bugbears, why does she not discard him at?once?
LETITIA
Why, she thinks her word too sacred to be trifled?with. Besides, her father, who has a great respect?for the memory of his deceased friend, is ever telling?her how he shall renew his years in their union,?and repeating the dying injunctions of old Van?Dumpling.
CHARLOTTE
A mighty pretty story! And so you would make?me believe that the sensible Maria would give up?Dumpling manor, and the all-accomplished Dimple as?a husband, for the absurd, ridiculous reason, forsooth,?because she despises and abhors him. Just as if a?lady could not be privileged to spend a man's fortune,?ride in his carriage, be called after his name, and call?him her nown dear lovee when she wants money, without?loving and respecting the great he-creature. Oh!?my dear girl, you are a monstrous prude.
LETITIA
I don't say what I would do; I only intimate how?I suppose she wishes to act.
CHARLOTTE
No, no, no! A fig for sentiment. If she breaks, or?wishes to break, with Mr. Dimple, depend upon it, she?has some other man in her eye. A woman rarely discards?one lover until she is sure of another. Letitia?little thinks what a clue I have to Dimple's conduct.?The generous man submits to render himself disgusting?to Maria, in order that she may leave him at liberty?to address me. I must change the subject.?[Aside, and rings a bell.
Enter SERVANT.
Frank, order the horses to.--Talking of marriage,?did you hear that Sally Bloomsbury is going to be?married next week to Mr. Indigo, the rich Carolinian?
LETITIA
Sally Bloomsbury married!--why, she is not yet in?her teens.
CHARLOTTE
I do not know how that is, but you may depend?upon it, 'tis a done affair. I have it from the best authority.?There is my aunt Wyerly's Hannah. You?know Hannah; though a black, she is a wench that?was never caught in a lie in her life. Now, Hannah?has a brother who courts Sarah, Mrs. Catgut the milliner'?s girl, and she told Hannah's brother, and Hannah,?who, as I said before, is a girl of undoubted?veracity, told it directly to me, that Mrs. Catgut was?making a new cap for Miss Bloomsbury, which, as it?was very dressy, it is very probable is designed for a?wedding cap. Now, as she is to be married, who can?it be to but to Mr. Indigo? Why, there is no other?gentleman that visits at her papa's.
LETITIA
Say not a word more, Charlotte. Your intelligence?is so direct and well grounded, it is almost a pity that?it is not a piece of scandal.
CHARLOTTE
Oh! I am the pink of prudence. Though I cannot?charge myself with ever having discredited a tea-party?by my silence, yet I take care never to report any?thing of my acquaintance, especially if it is to their?credit,--discredit, I mean,--until I have searched to?the bottom of it. It is true, there is infinite pleasure?in this charitable pursuit. Oh! how delicious to go?and condole with the friends of some backsliding?sister, or to retire with some old dowager or maiden?aunt of the family, who love scandal so