The Fortunate Foundlings | Page 6

laudable ambition which actuated that of her
brother.
Dorilaus beheld with an infinity of satisfaction the success of his
endeavours, in favour of these amiable twins, and said within himself,
how great a pity would it have been, if capacities such as theirs had
been denied the means of improvement!
After the departure of Horatio, he kept Louisa some time with him,
under pretence of showing her the town, which before she had never
seen; but in reality to alleviate that melancholy which parting from her
brother had caused in him. He could not have taken a more effectual
way; for there was such an engaging and sweet cheerfulness in her
conversation, added to many personal perfections, that it was scarce
possible to think of any thing else while she was present. She had also
an excellent voice, and played well on the bass viol and harpsicord, so

that it is hard to say whether he found most satisfaction in hearing her
or discoursing with her.
But how dangerous is it to depend on one's own strength, against the
force of such united charms! Dorilaus, who, in the midst of a thousand
temptations, had maintained the entire liberty of his heart, and tho'
never insensible of beauty, had never been enslaved by it, was now by
charms he least suspected, and at an age when he believed himself
proof against all the attacks of love, subdued without knowing that he
was so.--The tender passion stole into his soul by imperceptible
degrees, and under the shape of friendship and paternal affection, met
with no opposition from his reason, till it became too violent to be
restrained; then showed itself in the whole power of restless wishes,
fears, hopes, and impatiences, which he had often heard others
complain of, but not till now experienced in himself: all that he before
had felt of love was languid, at best aimed only at enjoyment, and in the
gratification of that desire was extinguished; but the passion he was
possessed of for Louisa was of a different nature, and accompanied
with a respect which would not suffer him to entertain a thought in
prejudice of her innocence.
Many reasons, besides his natural aversion to marriage, concurred to
hinder him from making her his wife; and as there were yet more to
deter him from being the instrument of her dishonour, the situation of
his mind was very perplexing.--He blushed within himself at the
inclinations he had for a girl whom he had always behaved to as a
child of his own, and who looked upon him as a father: not only the
disparity of their years made him consider the passion he was
possessed of as ridiculous, there was one circumstance, which, if at any
time a thought of marrying her entered into his head, immediately
extirpated it, which was, that there was a possibility of her being born
not only of the meanest, but the vilest parents, who, on hearing her
establishment, might appear and claim the right they had in her; and lo,
said he, I shall ally myself to, perhaps, a numerous family of vagabonds;
at least, whether it be so or not, the manner in which these children
were exposed, being publicly known, may furnish a pretence for any
wretch to boast a kindred.

He was therefore determined to suppress a passion, which, as he had
too much honour to seek the gratification of by one way, his prudence
and character in the world would not allow him to think of by the other:
and as absence seemed to him the best remedy, he sent her down into
the country again with a precipitation, which made her (wholly
ignorant of the real motive) fear she had done something to offend him.
At parting, she entreated him to let her know if he had been dissatisfied
with any thing in her behaviour.--Wherefore do you ask? said he, with
some emotion, which the poor innocent still mistook for displeasure;
because, answered she, dropping some tears at the same time, that you
banish me from your presence. Why would you be glad to continue with
me always? again demanded he. Yes indeed, said she; and if you loved
me as well as you do my brother, you would never part with me; for I
saw with what regret you let him go.
This tender simplicity added such fewel to the fire with which Dorilaus
was enflamed, that it almost consumed his resolution: he walked about
the room some time without being able to speak, much less to quiet the
agitation he was in. At last, Louisa, said he, I was only concerned your
brother made choice of an avocation so full of dangers;--but I never
intended to keep him at home with me:--he should have gone