So I went up to my chamber, and saw (what made my heart throb) Mrs.
Jewkes's officious pains to put the room in order for a guest, that,
however welcome, as now my duty teaches me to say, is yet dreadful to me
to think of. So I took refuge in my closet, and had recourse to pen and
ink, for my amusement, and to divert my anxiety of mind.--If one's heart
is so sad, and one's apprehension so great, where one so extremely loves,
and is so extremely obliged; what must be the case of those poor maidens,
who are forced, for sordid views, by their tyrannical parents or
guardians, to marry the man they almost hate, and, perhaps, to the loss
of the man they most love! O that is a sad thing, indeed!--And what have
not such cruel parents to answer for! And what do not such poor innocent
victims suffer!--But, blessed be God, this lot is far from being mine!
My good master (for I cannot yet have the presumption to call him by a
more tender name) came up to me, and said, Well, I just come to ask my
dear bride (O the charming, charming word!) how she does? I see you are
writing, my dear, said he. These confounded rakes are half mad, I think,
and will make me so! However, said he, I have ordered my chariot to be
got ready, as if I was under an engagement five miles off, and will set
them out of the house, if possible; and then ride round, and come back,
as soon as I can get rid of them.
Pages:
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565
566
567
568
569
570
571
572
573
574
575
576
577
578
579
580