rapping at the door'?(replied my mother.) 'It does indeed.' (cried I.) 'I am of your opinion; (said my father) it certainly does appear to proceed from some uncommon violence exerted against our unoffending door.' 'Yes, (exclaimed I) I cannot help thinking it must be somebody who knocks for admittance.'
'That is another point (replied he;) We must not pretend to determine on what motive the person may knock?though that someone does rap at the door, I am partly convinced.'
Here, a second tremendous rap interrupted my father in his speech and somewhat alarmed my mother and me.
'Had we not better go and see who it is? (said she) The servants are out.' 'I think we had.' (replied I.) 'Certainly, (added my father) by all means.' 'Shall we go now?' (said my mother.) 'The sooner the better.' (answered he). 'Oh! let no time be lost.' (cried I.)
A third more violent rap than ever again assaulted our ears. 'I am certain there is somebody knocking at the door.' (said my mother.) 'I think there must,' (replied my father) 'I fancy the servants are returned; (said I) I think I hear Mary going to the door.' 'I'm glad of it (cried my father) for I long to know who it is.'
I was right in my conjecture; for Mary instantly entering the room informed us that a young gentleman and his servant were at the door, who had lost their way, were very cold, and begged leave to warm themselves by our fire.
'Won't you admit them?' (said I) 'You have no objection, my dear?' (said my Father.) 'None in the world.' (replied my mother.)
Mary, without waiting for any further commands, immediately left the room and quickly returned, introducing the most beauteous and amiable youth I had ever beheld. The servant, she kept to herself.
My natural sensibility had already been greatly affected by the sufferings of the unfortunate stranger, and no sooner did I first behold him, than I felt that on him the happiness or misery of my future life must depend.
Adieu. Laura
LETTER THE SIXTH Laura to Marianne
The noble youth informed us that his name was Lindsay?for particular reasons, however, I shall conceal it under that of Talbot. He told us that he was the son of an English baronet,9 that his mother had been many years no more, and that he had a sister of the middle size. 'My father (he continued) is a mean and mercenary wretch?it is only to such particular friends as this dear party that I would thus betray his failings. Your virtues, my amiable Polydore (addressing himself to my father), yours, dear Claudia, and yours, my charming Laura, call on me to repose in you my confidence.' We bowed. 'My Father, seduced by the false glare of fortune and the deluding pomp of title, insisted on my giving my hand to Lady Dorothea. No, never, exclaimed I. Lady Dorothea is lovely and engaging; I prefer no woman to her; but, know sir, that I scorn to marry her in compliance with your wishes. No! Never shall it be said that I obliged my father.'
We all admired the noble manliness of his reply. He continued.
'Sir Edward was surprised; he had perhaps little expected to meet with so
9. A baronet, a member of the lower aristocracy, is entitled to be called 'Sir' and can pass on his title to his son.
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LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP / 51 9
spirited an opposition to his will. 'Where, Edward, in the name of wonder (said he) did you pick up this unmeaning gibberish? You have been studying novels, I suspect.' I scorned to answer: it would have been beneath my dignity. I mounted my horse and, followed by my faithful William, set forwards for my aunt's.'
'My father's house is situated in Bedfordshire, my aunt's in Middlesex, and, though I flatter myself with being a tolerable proficient in geography, I know not how it happened, but I found myself entering this beautiful vale, which I find is in South Wales, when I had expected to have reached my aunt's.'1
'After having wandered some time on the banks of the Usk without knowing which way to go, I began to lament my cruel destiny in the bitterest and most pathetic manner. It was now perfectly dark, not a single star was there to direct my steps, and I know not what might have befallen me, had I not at length discerned through the solemn gloom that surrounded me a distant light, which, as I approached it, I discovered to be the cheerful blaze of your fire. Impelled by the combination of misfortunes under which I laboured, namely fear, cold, and hunger, I hesitated not to ask admittance, which at length I have gained; and now, my adorable Laura (continued he, taking my hand), when may I hope to receive that reward of all the painful sufferings I have undergone during the course of my attachment to you, to which I have ever aspired? Oh! when will you reward me with yourself?'
'This instant, dear and amiable Edward.' (replied I.) We were immediately united by my father, who though he had never taken orders had been bred to the church.2
Adieu. Laura
LETTER THE SEVENTH Laura to Marianne
We remained but a few days after our marriage in the vale of Usk. After taking an affecting farewell of my father, my mother, and my Isabel, I accompanied Edward to his aunt's in Middlesex. Philippa received us both with every expression of affectionate love. My arrival was indeed a most agreeable surprise to her, as she had not only been totally ignorant of my marriage with her nephew, but had never even had the slightest idea of there being such a person in the world.
Augusta, the sister of Edward, was on a visit to her when we arrived. I found her exactly what her brother had described her to be?of the middle size. She received me with equal surprise, though not with equal cordiality, as Philippa. There was a disagreeable coldness and forbidding reserve in her reception of me which was equally distressing and unexpected. None of that interesting sensibility or amiable sympathy in her manners and address to me which should have distinguished our introduction to each other. Her language was neither warm, nor affectionate, her expressions of regard were neither animated nor cordial; her arms were not opened to receive me to her heart, though my own were extended to press her to mine.
A short conversation between Augusta and her brother, which I accidentally
1. Bedfordshire is in the eastern midlands of both. England; Middlesex is just northwest of London; 2. Laura's father has never been ordained. This and south Wales is many miles to the southwest of marriage is not legal.
