their behaviour would never give me reason to repent the Watchful
Care with which I had presided over their infancy and formed
their Minds–” “With such expectations and such intentions
(cried I) I can have nothing to fear from you–and can chearfully
conduct you to Mrs Cope’s without a fear of your being seduced by
her Example, or contaminated by her Follies. Come, then my
Children (added I) the Carriage is driving to the door, and I
will not a moment delay the happiness you are so impatient to
enjoy.” When we arrived at Warleigh, poor Augusta could scarcely
breathe, while Margaret was all Life and Rapture. “The long-
expected Moment is now arrived (said she) and we shall soon be in
the World.”–In a few Moments we were in Mrs Cope’s parlour,
where with her daughter she sate ready to receive us. I observed
with delight the impression my Children made on them–. They
were indeed two sweet, elegant-looking Girls, and tho’ somewhat
abashed from the peculiarity of their situation, yet there was an
ease in their Manners and address which could not fail of
pleasing–. Imagine my dear Madam how delighted I must have been
in beholding as I did, how attentively they observed every object
they saw, how disgusted with some Things, how enchanted with
others, how astonished at all! On the whole however they
returned in raptures with the World, its Inhabitants, and
Manners.
Yrs Ever–A. F.
LETTER the SECOND
From a YOUNG LADY crossed in Love to her freind
Why should this last disappointment hang so heavily on my
spirits? Why should I feel it more, why should it wound me
deeper than those I have experienced before? Can it be that I
have a greater affection for Willoughby than I had for his
amiable predecessors? Or is it that our feelings become more
acute from being often wounded? I must suppose my dear Belle
that this is the Case, since I am not conscious of being more
sincerely attached to Willoughby than I was to Neville, Fitzowen,
or either of the Crawfords, for all of whom I once felt the most
lasting affection that ever warmed a Woman’s heart. Tell me then
dear Belle why I still sigh when I think of the faithless Edward,
or why I weep when I behold his Bride, for too surely this is the
case–. My Freinds are all alarmed for me; They fear my
declining health; they lament my want of spirits; they dread the
effects of both. In hopes of releiving my melancholy, by
directing my thoughts to other objects, they have invited several
of their freinds to spend the Christmas with us. Lady Bridget
Darkwood and her sister-in-law, Miss Jane are expected on Friday;
and Colonel Seaton’s family will be with us next week. This is
all most kindly meant by my Uncle and Cousins; but what can the
presence of a dozen indefferent people do to me, but weary and
distress me–. I will not finish my Letter till some of our
Visitors are arrived.
Friday Evening
Lady Bridget came this morning, and with her, her sweet sister
Miss Jane–. Although I have been acquainted with this charming
Woman above fifteen Years, yet I never before observed how lovely
she is. She is now about 35, and in spite of sickness, sorrow
and Time is more blooming than I ever saw a Girl of 17. I was
delighted with her, the moment she entered the house, and she
appeared equally pleased with me, attaching herself to me during
the remainder of the day. There is something so sweet, so mild in
her Countenance, that she seems more than Mortal. Her
Conversation is as bewitching as her appearance; I could not help
telling her how much she engaged my admiration–. “Oh! Miss
Jane (said I)–and stopped from an inability at the moment of
expressing myself as I could wish– Oh! Miss Jane–(I repeated)
–I could not think of words to suit my feelings– She seemed
waiting for my speech–. I was confused– distressed–my
thoughts were bewildered–and I could only add–“How do you do?”
She saw and felt for my Embarrassment and with admirable presence
of mind releived me from it by saying–“My dear Sophia be not