LETTER II
MR. LOVELACE, TO JOHN BELFORD, ESQ.SUNDAY MORN. (JUNE 11). FOUR O'CLOCK.
A few words to the verbal information thou sentest me last nightconcerning thy poor old man; and then I rise from my seat, shake myself,refresh, new-dress, and so to my charmer, whom, notwithstanding herreserves, I hope to prevail upon to walk out with me on the Heath thiswarm and fine morning.
The birds must have awakened her before now. They are in full song. Shealways gloried in accustoming herself to behold the sun rise--one ofGod's natural wonders, as once she called it.
Her window salutes the east. The valleys must be gilded by his rays, bythe time I am with her; for already have they made the up-lands smile, andthe face of nature cheerful.
How unsuitable will thou find this gay preface to a subject so gloomy asthat I am now turning to!
I am glad to hear thy tedious expectations are at last answered.
Thy servant tells me that thou are plaguily grieved at the old fellow'sdeparture.
I can't say, but thou mayest look as if thou wert; harassed as thou hastbeen for a number of days and nights with a close attendance upon a dyingman, beholding his drawing-on hour--pretending, for decency's sake, towhine over his excruciating pangs; to be in the way to answer a thousandimpertinent inquiries after the health of a man thou wishedest to die--topray by him--for so once thou wrotest to me!--To read by him--to beforced to join in consultation with a crew of solemn and paradingdoctors, and their officious zanies, the apothecaries, joined with thebutcherly tribe of scarficators; all combined to carry on the physicalfarce, and to cut out thongs both from his flesh and his estate--to havethe superadded apprehension of dividing thy interest in what he shallleave with a crew of eager-hoping, never-to-be-satisfied relations,legatees, and the devil knows who, of private gratifiers of passionslaudable and illaudable--in these circumstances, I wonder not that thoulookest before servants, (as little grieved as thou after heirship,) asif thou indeed wert grieved; and as if the most wry-fac'd woe hadbefallen thee.
Then, as I have often thought, the reflection that must naturally arisefrom such mortifying objects, as the death of one with whom we have beenfamiliar, must afford, when we are obliged to attend it in its slowapproaches, and in its face-twisting pangs, that it will one day be ourown case, goes a great way to credit the appearance of grief.
And that it is this, seriously reflected upon, may temporally give a fineair of sincerity to the wailings of lively widows, heart-exulting heirs,and residuary legatees of all denominations; since, by keeping down theinward joy, those interesting reflections must sadden the aspect, and addan appearance of real concern to the assumed sables.
Well, but, now thou art come to the reward of all thy watchings,anxieties, and close attendances, tell me what it is; tell me if itcompensate thy trouble, and answer thy hope?
As to myself, thou seest, by the gravity of my style, how the subject hashelped to mortify me. But the necessity I am under of committing eitherspeedy matrimony, or a rape, has saddened over my gayer prospects, and,more than the case itself, contributed to make me sympathize with thepresent joyful-sorrow.
Adieu, Jack, I must be soon out of my pain; and my Clarissa shall be soonout of her's--for so does the arduousness of the case require.