And this latter is your opinion, is it not madam? said Mr. Glanville.
Certainly, sir, replied Arabella, and in this I am justified by all the heroines of antiquity.
Then you must be in the right, madam, returned Mr. Glanville, both because your own judgment tells you so, and also the example of these heroines you mention.
Well, madam, interrupted Miss Glanville hastily, since my brother has given sentence on your side, I hope you will not delay your visit to Sir George any longer.
How! said Mr. Glanville, surprised: is Lady Bella going to visit Sir George? Pray, madam, may I presume to enquire the reason for your doing him this extraordinary favour?
You are not very wise, said Arabella, looking gravely upon Miss Glanville, to discover a thing which may haply create a quarrel between your brother and the unfortunate person you speak of: yet since this indiscretion cannot be recalled, we must endeavour to prevent the consequences of it.
I assure you, madam, interrupted Mr. Glanville, extremely impatient to know the meaning of these hints, you have nothing to fear from me: therefore you need not think yourself under any necessity of concealing this affair from me.
You are not, haply, so moderate as you pretend, said Arabella, (who would not have been displeased to have seen him in all the jealous transports of an enraged Orontes); but whatever ensues, I can no longer keep from your knowledge a truth your sister has begun to discover; but in telling you what you desire to know, I expect you will suppress all inclinations to revenge, and trust the care of your interest to my generosity.
You are to know, then, that in the person of your friend Sir George, you have a rival, haply the more to be feared, as his passion is no less respectful than violent. I possibly tell you more than I ought, pursued she, blushing, and casting down her eyes, when I confess, that for certain considerations, wherein perhaps you are concerned, I have received the first insinuation of this passion with disdain enough; and I assure myself that you are too generous to desire any revenge upon a miserable rival, of whom death is going to free you.
Then, taking Sir George's letter out of her cabinet, she presented it to Mr. Glanville.