Read this, added she; but read it without suffering yourself to be transported with any violent motions of anger: and as in fight I am persuaded you would not oppress a fallen and vanquished foe, so in love I may hope an unfortunate rival will merit your compassion.
Never doubt it, madam, replied Mr. Glanville, receiving the letter, which Miss Glanville, with a beating heart, earnestly desired to hear read. Her brother, after asking permission of Arabella, prepared to gratify her curiosity; but he no sooner read the first sentence, than, notwithstanding all his endeavours, a smile appeared in his face; and Miss Glanville, less able, and indeed less concerned to restrain her mirth at the uncommon style, burst out a-laughing, with so much violence, as obliged her brother to stop, and counterfeit a terrible fit of coughing, in order to avoid giving Arabella the like offence.
The astonishment of this lady, at the surprising and unexpected effect her lover's letter produced on Miss Glanville, kept her in a profound silence, her eyes wandering from the sister to the brother; who, continuing his cough, was not able for some moments to go on with his reading.
Arabella, during this interval, having recovered herself a little, asked Miss Glanville, if she found any thing in a lover's despair capable of diverting her so much, as she seemed to be with that of the unfortunate Sir George?
My sister, madam, said Mr. Glanville, preventing her reply, knows so many of Sir George's infidelities, that she cannot persuade herself he is really in such a dangerous way as he insinuates: therefore you ought not to be surprised, if she is rather disposed to laugh at this epistle, than to be moved with any concern for the writer, who, though he is my rival, I must say, appears to be in a deplorable condition.
Pray, sir, resumed Arabella, a little composed by those words, finish the letter: your sister may possibly find more cause for pity than contempt, in the latter part of it.
Mr. Glanville, giving a look to his sister sufficient to make her comprehend that he would have her restrain her mirth for the future, proceeded in his reading; but every line increasing his strong inclination to laugh, when he came to the pathetic wish, that her fair eyes might shed some tears upon his tomb, no longer able to keep his assumed gravity, he threw down the letter in a counterfeited rage.
Curse the stupid fellow! cried he: is he mad, to call the finest black eyes in the universe, fair? Ah! cousin, said he to Arabella, he must be little acquainted with the influence of your eyes, since he can so egregiously mistake their colour.
And it is very plain, replied Arabella, that you are little acquainted with the sublime language in which he writes, since you find fault with an epithet which marks the beauty, not the colour, of those eyes he praises; for, in fine, fair is indifferently applied, as well to black and brown eyes, as to light and blue ones, when they are either really lovely in themselves, or by the lover's imagination created so; and therefore, since Sir George's prepossession has made him see charms in my eyes, which questionless are not there; by calling them fair he has very happily expressed himself, since therein he has the sanction of those great historians who wrote the histories of lovers he seems to imitate, as well in his actions as style.
I find my rival is very happy in your opinion, madam, said Mr. Glanville; and I am apt to believe, I shall have more reason to envy than pity his situation.