Chapter ii.
In which is opened a very black design against Sophia.
I remember a wise old gentleman who used to say, "When children aredoing nothing, they are doing mischief." I will not enlarge thisquaint saying to the most beautiful part of the creation in general;but so far I may be allowed, that when the effects of female jealousydo not appear openly in their proper colours of rage and fury, we maysuspect that mischievous passion to be at work privately, andattempting to undermine, what it doth not attack above-ground.
This was exemplified in the conduct of Lady Bellaston, who, under allthe smiles which she wore in her countenance, concealed muchindignation against Sophia; and as she plainly saw that this younglady stood between her and the full indulgence of her desires, sheresolved to get rid of her by some means or other; nor was it longbefore a very favourable opportunity of accomplishing this presenteditself to her.
The reader may be pleased to remember, that when Sophia was throwninto that consternation at the playhouse, by the wit and humour of aset of young gentlemen who call themselves the town, we informed him,that she had put herself under the protection of a young nobleman, whohad very safely conducted her to her chair.
This nobleman, who frequently visited Lady Bellaston, had more thanonce seen Sophia there, since her arrival in town, and had conceived avery great liking to her; which liking, as beauty never looks moreamiable than in distress, Sophia had in this fright so encreased, thathe might now, without any great impropriety, be said to be actually inlove with her.
It may easily be believed, that he would not suffer so handsome anoccasion of improving his acquaintance with the beloved object as nowoffered itself to elapse, when even good breeding alone might haveprompted him to pay her a visit.
The next morning therefore, after this accident, he waited on Sophia,with the usual compliments, and hopes that she had received no harmfrom her last night's adventure.
As love, like fire, when once thoroughly kindled, is soon blown into aflame, Sophia in a very short time compleated her conquest. Time nowflew away unperceived, and the noble lord had been two hours incompany with the lady, before it entered into his head that he hadmade too long a visit. Though this circumstance alone would havealarmed Sophia, who was somewhat more a mistress of computation atpresent; she had indeed much more pregnant evidence from the eyes ofher lover of what past within his bosom; nay, though he did not makeany open declaration of his passion, yet many of his expressions wererather too warm, and too tender, to have been imputed to complacence,even in the age when such complacence was in fashion; the very reverseof which is well known to be the reigning mode at present.
Lady Bellaston had been apprized of his lordship's visit at his firstarrival; and the length of it very well satisfied her, that thingswent as she wished, and as indeed she had suspected the second timeshe saw this young couple together. This business, she rightly I thinkconcluded, that she should by no means forward by mixing in thecompany while they were together; she therefore ordered her servants,that when my lord was going, they should tell him she desired to speakwith him; and employed the intermediate time in meditating how best toaccomplish a scheme, which she made no doubt but his lordship wouldvery readily embrace the execution of.
Lord Fellamar (for that was the title of this young nobleman) was nosooner introduced to her ladyship, than she attacked him in thefollowing strain: "Bless me, my lord, are you here yet? I thought myservants had made a mistake, and let you go away; and I wanted to seeyou about an affair of some importance."----"Indeed, Lady Bellaston,"said he, "I don't wonder you are astonished at the length of myvisit; for I have staid above two hours, and I did not think I hadstaid above half-a-one."----"What am I to conclude from thence, mylord?" said she. "The company must be very agreeable which can maketime slide away so very deceitfully."----"Upon my honour," said he,"the most agreeable I ever saw. Pray tell me, Lady Bellaston, who isthis blazing star which you have produced among us all of asudden?"----"What blazing star, my lord?" said she, affecting asurprize. "I mean," said he, "the lady I saw here the other day, whomI had last night in my arms at the playhouse, and to whom I have beenmaking that unreasonable visit."----"O, my cousin Western!" said she;"why, that blazing star, my lord, is the daughter of a country boobysquire, and hath been in town about a fortnight, for the firsttime."----"Upon my soul," said he, "I should swear she had been bredup in a court; for besides her beauty, I never saw anything sogenteel, so sensible, so polite."----"O brave!" cries the lady, "mycousin hath you, I find."----"Upon my honour," answered he, "I wishshe had; for I am in love with her to distraction."----"Nay, mylord," said she, "it is not wishing yourself very ill neither, forshe is a very great fortune: I assure you she is an only child, andher father's estate is a good L3000 a-year." "Then I can assure you,madam," answered the lord, "I think her the best match in England.""Indeed, my lord," replied she, "if you like her, I heartily wish youhad her." "If you think so kindly of me, madam," said he, "as she isa relation of yours, will you do me the honour to propose it to herfather?" "And are you really then in earnest?" cries the lady, withan affected gravity. "I hope, madam," answered he, "you have a betteropinion of me, than to imagine I would jest with your ladyship in anaffair of this kind." "Indeed, then," said the lady, "I will mostreadily propose your lordship to her father; and I can, I believe,assure you of his joyful acceptance of the proposal; but there is abar, which I am almost ashamed to mention; and yet it is one you willnever be able to conquer. You have a rival, my lord, and a rival who,though I blush to name him, neither you, nor all the world, will everbe able to conquer." "Upon my word, Lady Bellaston," cries he, "youhave struck a damp to my heart, which hath almost deprived me ofbeing." "Fie, my lord," said she, "I should rather hope I had struckfire into you. A lover, and talk of damps in your heart! I ratherimagined you would have asked your rival's name, that you might haveimmediately entered the lists with him." "I promise you, madam,"answered he, "there are very few things I would not undertake foryour charming cousin; but pray, who is this happy man?"--"Why, heis," said she, "what I am sorry to say most happy men with us are,one of the lowest fellows in the world. He is a beggar, a bastard, afoundling, a fellow in meaner circumstances than one of yourlordship's footmen." "And is it possible," cried he, "that a youngcreature with such perfections should think of bestowing herself sounworthily?" "Alas! my lord," answered she, "consider thecountry--the bane of all young women is the country. There they learna set of romantic notions of love, and I know not what folly, whichthis town and good company can scarce eradicate in a whole winter.""Indeed, madam," replied my lord, "your cousin is of too immense avalue to be thrown away; such ruin as this must be prevented.""Alas!" cries she, "my lord, how can it be prevented? The family havealready done all in their power; but the girl is, I think,intoxicated, and nothing less than ruin will content her. And to dealmore openly with you, I expect every day to hear she is run away withhim." "What you tell me, Lady Bellaston," answered his lordship,"affects me most tenderly, and only raises my compassion, instead oflessening my adoration of your cousin. Some means must be found topreserve so inestimable a jewel. Hath your ladyship endeavoured toreason with her?" Here the lady affected a laugh, and cried, "My dearlord, sure you know us better than to talk of reasoning a young womanout of her inclinations? These inestimable jewels are as deaf as thejewels they wear: time, my lord, time is the only medicine to curetheir folly; but this is a medicine which I am certain she will nottake; nay, I live in hourly horrors on her account. In short, nothingbut violent methods will do." "What is to be done?" cries my lord;"what methods are to be taken?--Is there any method upon earth?--Oh!Lady Bellaston! there is nothing which I would not undertake for sucha reward."----"I really know not," answered the lady, after a pause;and then pausing again, she cried out--"Upon my soul, I am at mywit's end on this girl's account.--If she can be preserved, somethingmust be done immediately; and, as I say, nothing but violent methodswill do.----If your lordship hath really this attachment to my cousin(and
to do her justice, except in this silly inclination, of whichshe will soon see her folly, she is every way deserving), I thinkthere may be one way, indeed, it is a very disagreeable one, and whatI am almost afraid to think of.--It requires a great spirit, Ipromise you." "I am not conscious, madam," said he, "of any defectthere; nor am I, I hope, suspected of any such. It must be anegregious defect indeed, which could make me backward on thisoccasion." "Nay, my lord," answered she, "I am so far from doubtingyou, I am much more inclined to doubt my own courage; for I must runa monstrous risque. In short, I must place such a confidence in yourhonour as a wise woman will scarce ever place in a man on anyconsideration." In this point likewise my lord very well satisfiedher; for his reputation was extremely clear, and common fame did himno more than justice, in speaking well of him. "Well, then," saidshe, "my lord,--I--I vow, I can't bear the apprehension of it.--No,it must not be.----At least every other method shall be tried. Canyou get rid of your engagements, and dine here to-day? Your lordshipwill have an opportunity of seeing a little more of Miss Western.--Ipromise you we have no time to lose. Here will be nobody but LadyBetty, and Miss Eagle, and Colonel Hampsted, and Tom Edwards; theywill all go soon--and I shall be at home to nobody. Then yourlordship may be a little more explicit. Nay, I will contrive somemethod to convince you of her attachment to this fellow." My lordmade proper compliments, accepted the invitation, and then theyparted to dress, it being now past three in the morning, or to reckonby the old style, in the afternoon.