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52 0 / JANE AUSTEN
overheard, increased my dislike to her, and convinced me that her heart was no more formed for the soft ties of love than for the endearing intercourse of friendship.
'But do you think that my father will ever be reconciled to this imprudent connection?' (said Augusta.)
'Augusta (replied the noble youth) I thought you had a better opinion of me, than to imagine I would so abjectly degrade myself as to consider my father's concurrence in any of my affairs, either of consequence or concern to me. Tell me, Augusta, tell me with sincerity; did you ever know me consult his inclinations or follow his advice in the least trifling particular since the age of fifteen?'
'Edward (replied she) you are surely too diffident in your own praise. Since you were fifteen only!?My dear brother, since you were five years old, I entirely acquit you of ever having willingly contributed to the satisfaction of your father. But still I am not without apprehensions of your being shortly obliged to degrade yourself in your own eyes by seeking a support for your wife in the generosity of Sir Edward.'
'Never, never, Augusta, will I so demean myself, (said Edward). Support! What support will Laura want which she can receive from him?'
'Only those very insignificant ones of victuals and drink.' (answered she.)
'Victuals and drink! (replied my husband in a most nobly contemptuous manner) and dost thou then imagine that there is no other support for an exalted mind (such as is my Laura's) than the mean and indelicate employment of eating and drinking?'
'None that I know of so efficacious.' (returned Augusta).
'And did you then never feel the pleasing pangs of love, Augusta? (replied my Edward). Does it appear impossible to your vile and corrupted palate to exist on love? Can you not conceive the luxury of living in every distress that poverty can inflict, with the object of your tenderest affection?'
'You are too ridiculous (said Augusta) to argue with; perhaps, however, you may in time be convinced that. . . .'
Here I was prevented from hearing the remainder of her speech, by the appearance of a very handsome young woman, who was ushered into the room at the door of which I had been listening. On hearing her announced by the name of 'Lady Dorothea,' I instantly quitted my post and followed her into the parlour, for I well remembered that she was the lady proposed as a wife for my Edward by the cruel and unrelenting baronet.
Although Lady Dorothea's visit was nominally to Philippa and Augusta, yet
I have some reason to imagine that (acquainted with the marriage and arrival
of Edward) to see me was a principal motive to it.
I soon perceived that, though lovely and elegant in her person and though
easy and polite in her address, she was of that inferior order of beings with
regard to delicate feeling, tender sentiments, and refined sensibility, of which
Augusta was one.
She stayed but half an hour and neither, in the course of her visit, confided
to me any of her secret thoughts, nor requested me to confide in her any of
mine. You will easily imagine therefore, my dear Marianne, that I could not
feel any ardent affection or very sincere attachment for Lady Dorothea.
Adieu. Laura
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LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP / 521
LETTER THE EIGHTH Laura to Marianne, in continuation
Lady Dorothea had not left us long before another visitor, as unexpected a one as her Ladyship, was announced. It was Sir Edward, who, informed by Augusta of her brother's marriage, came doubtless to reproach him for having dared to unite himself to me without his knowledge. But Edward, foreseeing his design, approached him with heroic fortitude as soon as he entered the room, and addressed him in the following manner.
'Sir Edward, I know the motive of your journey here?You come with the base design of reproaching me for having entered into an indissoluble engagement with my Laura without your consent?But, Sir, I glory in the act?. It is my greatest boast that I have incurred the displeasure of my father!'
So saying, he took my hand and, whilst Sir Edward, Philippa, and Augusta were doubtless reflecting with admiration on his undaunted bravery, led me from the parlour to his father's carriage, which yet remained at the door and in which we were instantly conveyed from the pursuit of Sir Edward.
The postilions3 had at first received orders only to take the London road; as soon as we had sufficiently reflected, however, we ordered them to drive to M ., the seat of Edward's most particular friend, which was but a few miles distant.
At M . we arrived in a few hours; and on sending in our names were immediately admitted to Sophia, the wife of Edward's friend. After having been deprived during the course of three weeks of a real friend (for such I term your mother), imagine my transports at beholding one, most truly worthy of the name. Sophia was rather above the middle size; most elegantly formed. A soft languor spread over her lovely features, but increased their beauty.?It was the characteristic of her mind?. She was all sensibility and feeling. We flew into each other's arms and, after having exchanged vows of mutual friendship for the rest of our lives, instantly unfolded to each other the most inward secrets of our hearts?. We were interrupted in this delightful employment by the entrance of Augustus (Edward's friend), who was just returned from a solitary ramble.
Never did I see such an affecting scene as was the meeting of Edward and Augustus.
