The Fortunate Foundlings | Page 7

Eliza Fowler Haywood
to Oxford
to finish his studies; and the reason I send you again to the
boarding-school is that you may perfect yourself in such things as you
may not yet be mistress of:--as for any apprehensions of my being
offended with you, I would have you banish them entirely, for I assure
you, I can find nothing in you but what both merits and receives my
approbation.
She seemed extremely comforted with these words; and the coach being
at the door, went into it with her accustomed chearfulness, leaving him
in a state which none but those who have experienced the severe
struggles between a violent inclination and a firm resolution to oppose
it, can possibly conceive.

CHAP. II.

Relates the offers made by Dorilaus to Louisa, and the manner of her
receiving them.
Louisa was no sooner gone, than he wished her with him again, and
was a thousand times about to send and have her brought back; but
was as often prevented by the apprehensions of her discovering the
motive.--He was now convinced that love does not always stand in need
of being indulged to enforce its votaries to be guilty of extravagancies.
--He had banished the object of his affections from his presence; he
had painted all the inconveniences of pursuing his desires in the worst
colours they would bear; yet all was insufficient!--Louisa was absent in
reality, but her image was ever present to him.--Whatever company he
engaged himself in, whatever amusement he endeavoured to entertain
himself with, he could think only of her.
--The Town without her seemed a desart, and every thing in it rather
seemed irksome than agreeable; for several months did he endure this
cruel conflict; but love and nature at last got the victory, and all those
considerations which had occasioned the opposition subsided: he found
it impossible to recover any tranquility of mind while he continued in
this dilemma, and therefore yielded to the strongest side. All the
arguments he had used with himself in the beginning of his passion
seemed now weak and trifling: the difference of age, which he had
thought so formidable an objection, appeared none in the light with
which he at present considered it: he was now but in his fortieth year,
and the temperance he had always observed had hindered any decay
either in his looks or constitution.--What censures the world might pass
on his marrying one of her age and obscure birth, he thought were of
little weight when balanced with his internal peace.--Thus was he
enabled to answer to himself all that could be offered against making
her his wife; and having thus settled every thing, as he imagined, to the
satisfaction of his passion, became no less resolute in following the
dictates of it than he had been in combating it while there was a
possibility of doing so.
To this end he went down to his country seat, and as soon as he arrived
sent to let Louisa know he would have her come and pass some time

with him. She readily obeyed the summons, and found by his manner of
receiving her that she was no less dear to him than her brother. As she
had always considered him as a father, tho' she knew all her claim in
him was compassion, she was far from suspecting the motive which
made him treat her with so much tenderness; but he suffered her not
long to remain in this happy ignorance. As he was walking with her one
day in the garden, he purposely led her on that side where he had
found Horatio and herself in the manner already related; and as they
came towards the arbour, It was here, said he, that heaven put into my
power the opportunity of affording my protection to two persons whom
I think will not be ungrateful for what I have done.--I hope, Louisa,
continued he, you will not at least deceive my good opinion of you; but
as you have always found in me a real friend, you will testify the sense
you have of my good wishes, by readily following my advice in any
material point.
I should be else unworthy, sir, answered she, of the life you have
preserved; and I flatter myself with being guilty of nothing which
should give you cause to call in question either my gratitude or duty.
I insist but on the former, resumed he; nor can pretend to any claim to
the latter;--look on me therefore only as your friend, and let me know
your sentiments plainly and sincerely on what I think proper to ask you.
This she having assured him she would do, he pursued his discourse in
these or the like terms:
You are now, said he, arrived at an age
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