The marquis, whose surprise was considerably increased by these words, hastily broke open the letter, which she perceiving, hurried out of the room; and, locking herself up in her closet, began to bewail the effect of her charms, as if she was perfectly assured of her cousin's death.
The marquis, however, who, from Lady Bella's exclamation, had prepared himself for the knowledge of some very extraordinary accident, was less surprised than he would otherwise have been at the contents; which were as follow:—
"MY LORD,
"As my leaving your house so abruptly will certainly make me appear guilty of a most unpardonable rudeness, I cannot dispense with myself from acquainting your lordship with the cause; though, to spare the reproaches Lady Bella will probably cast on me for doing so, I could wish you knew it by any other means.
"But, my lord, I value your esteem too much to hazard the loss of it by suffering you to imagine, that I am capable of doing any thing to displease you. Lady Bella was pleased to order me to stay no longer in the house; and menaced me with some very terrible usage, if I disobeyed her: she used so many other contemptuous expressions to me, that, I am persuaded, I shall never be so happy as to possess the honour you designed for, my lord, your most obedient, &c.
"CHARLES GLANVILLE."
When the marquis had read this letter, he went to his daughter's apartment with an intention to chide her severely for her usage of his nephew; but, seeing her come to meet him with her eyes bathed in tears, he insensibly lost some part of his resentment.
Alas! my lord, said she, I know you come prepared to load me with reproaches, upon my cousin's account; but, I beseech your lordship, do not aggravate my sorrows: though I banished Mr. Glanville, I did not desire his death; and, questionless, if he knew how I resent it, his ghost would be satisfied with the sacrifice I make him.
The marquis, not being able to help smiling at this conceit, which he saw had so strongly possessed her imagination, that she had no sort of doubt but that her cousin was dead, asked her, if she really believed Mr. Glanville loved her well enough to die with grief at her ill usage of him?
If, said she, he loves me not well enough to die for me, he certainly loves me but little; and I am the less obliged to him.
But I desire to know, interrupted the marquis, for what crime it was you took the liberty to banish him from my house?
I banished him, my lord, resumed she, for his presumption in telling me he loved me.
That presumption, as you call it, though I know not for what reason, said the marquis, was authorised by me: therefore, know, Bella, that I not only permit him to love you, but I also expect you should endeavour to return his affection; and look upon him as the man whom I design for your husband: there's his letter, pursued he, putting it into her hand. I blush for the rudeness you have been guilty of; but endeavour to repair it, by a more obliging behaviour for the future: I am going to send after him immediately to prevail upon him to return: therefore, write him an apology, I charge you; and have it done by the time my messenger is ready to set out.