Having resolved to seek no farther, he frequently went to the old man's house, pretending he took delight in country affairs, would walk with him about his grounds, and into his barns, and see the men who were at work in them. One day he took an opportunity of going when he knew he was abroad, designing to break his mind to the young Lætitia, who, being her father's housekeeper, he did not doubt finding at home: accordingly she was so; and, after some previous discourse, a little boy of one of her sisters, being playing about the room, “This it a fine child,” said he; “when do you design to marry, pretty Mrs. Lætitia?” — “Should you not like to be a mother of such diverting little pratlers?” — “It is time enough, sir,” replied she modestly, “for me to think of any such thing.” — “If you get a good husband,” resumed he, “it cannot be too soon”: — “Nor, if a bad one, too late,” cried she, “as there are great odds on that side.” — “That is true,” said he, “but I believe there are many ill husbands, who owe their being such, to the ill conduct of their wives”: — “now I fancy,” continued he, “whoever is so happy as to have you, will have no such excuse; for I firmly believe you have in you all the requisites to make the marriage state agreeable.” To this she only made a curtesy, and thanked him for his good opinion: “I do assure you,” resumed he, “it is so sincere, that I should be glad to prove it, by making you my wife. What say you,” pursued he, “could you be willing to accept of my addresses on that score?” With these words he took hold of her hand, and pressing it with a great deal of warmth, occasioned her to blush excessively. — The inability she was in of speaking, through the shame this question had excited in her, gave him an opportunity of prosecuting what he had begun, and saying many tender things, to convince her he was in earnest; but when at last she gave him an answer, it was only such as made him see she gave little credit to his professions. — Some people coming in on business to her father, and saying they would wait till he came home, obliged Natura to take his leave for that time, well satisfied in his mind, that he had declared himself, and not much doubting, but that in spite of this first shyness, she would easily be prevailed upon to correspond with his desires, when his perseverance in them, should have assured her of their sincerity.
He was, notwithstanding, a good deal surprized, when, going several times after to the house, he could scarce see her, and never be able to exchange a word with her in private, so industriously did she avoid coming into his presence. — Such a behaviour, he thought, could proceed only from one of these two motives, either thro' an extraordinary dislike to his person, or through the fears of giving any indulgence to an inclination, which the disparity between them might make her mistake for a dishonourable one. Sometimes he was tempted to think the one, sometimes the other; but not being of a humour to endure suspense, he resolved to take effectual measures for coming at the certainty.
He went one day about noon, and told the yeoman he was come to take a dinner with him, on which the other replied, that he did him a great deal of honour; but should have been glad to have been previously acquainted with it, in order to have been prepared to receive a gentleman of his condition. — “No,” said Natura, “I chose to come upon you unawares, not only to prevent you from giving yourself any superfluous trouble on my account, but also because I would use a freedom, which should authorize you to treat me with the same; — we are neighbours,” continued he, “and neighbours should be friends, and love one another.”
Some other little chat on trivial affairs passed away the short time between the coming of Natura, and dinner being brought in; on which, the yeoman intreated him to sit down, and partake of such homely food as he found there. — “That I shall gladly do,” answered Natura, “but I waited for your fair daughter; I hope we shall have her company. I do not know,” said the yeoman, “I think they told me she was not very well, had got the head-ach, or some such ailment; — go, however,” pursued he, to a servant, “and see if Lætitia can come down.” — “But, sir,” cried he, perceiving his guest discovered no inclination to place himself at the table, “do not let us wait for her.”
Natura on this sat down, and they both began to eat, when the person who had been sent to call Lætitia returned, and said, she begged to be excused, being very much indisposed, and unfit to be seen. — The old man seemed to take no notice, but pressed Natura to eat, and somewhat embarrassed him with the many apologies he made for the coarseness of his entertainment; to all which he gave but short answers, till the cloth was taken away, and they were alone. — Then, “I could not wish to dine more to my satisfaction,” said he, “if the sweetness of your meat had not been imbittered by your daughter's absence”; — “to be plain,” continued he, “I fear I am the disease which occasions her retirement.” — “You, sir!” cried the father, affecting a surprize, which he was not so well skilled in the art of dissimulation, to make appear so natural, but that Natura easily saw into the feint, and told him with a smile, that he found the country had its arts as well as the court: — “but let us deal sincerely with each other,” pursued he, “I am very certain, it is from no other motive, than my being here, that your daughter refused to come to table; and I also faithfully believe you are no stranger to that motive: — be therefore free with me; and to encourage you to be so, I shall acquaint you, that I have made some overtures to Mrs. Lætitia, — that I like her, and that my frequent visits to you have been entirely on her account: — now, be as sincere with me, and let me know, whether the offers I made her will be approved.”
The yeoman was a little dashed on Natura's speaking in this manner, and was some moments before he could recollect himself sufficiently to make any reply; and, when at last he had, all he could bring out was, “Sir, my girl is honest, and I hope will always continue so.”
“I am far from doubting her virtue in the least,” answered Natura hastily, “but I think I cannot give a greater testimony of the good opinion I have of her, than by offering to make her my wife.” — “Ah, sir,” cried the yeoman, interrupting him, “you must excuse me, if I cannot flatter myself you have any thoughts of doing us that honour. — I am a mean man, of no parentage, and it is well known have brought up a large family by the sweat of my brow.” — “Lætitia is a poor country maid; — it is true, the girl is well enough, but has nothing, — nothing at all, alas! in her to balance for that vast disparity of birth and fortune between you.”
“Talk no more of that,” said Natura, taking him by the hand, “such as she is, I like her; and I once more assure you, that I never had any dishonourable intentions on her, but am ready to prove the contrary, by marrying her, as soon as she approves of me, and you agree to it.”
The old man looked very earnestly on him all the while he was speaking, and knew not well whether he ought to give credit to what he said, or not, — Natura, perceiving his diffidence, continued, by sparing neither arguments, nor the most solemn imprecations, to remove it, till he was at last assured of a good fortune, which, as he said, he had thought too extraordinary to happen in his family. He then told Natura he would acquaint his daughter with the happiness he intended for her, and dispose her to receive it with that respect and gratitude that became her. On which Natura took his leave till the next day, when he found Lætitia did not make any excuse to avoid his presence, as she had lately done. — He addressed himself to her not in the same manner he would have done to a woman of condition, but yet in very tender and affectionate terms: — her behaviour to him was humble, modest, and obliging; and though she was not mistress of the politest expressions, yet what she said discovered she wanted not a fund of good sense and understanding, which, if cultivated by education, would have appeared very bright. He easily perceived, she took a great deal of pains to disguise the joy she conceived at this prospect of raising her fortune, but was too little accustomed to dissimulation, to do it effectually, and both the one and the other gave him much satisfaction.
Circumstances being in the manner I related, it is not natural to suppose any long sollicitation was required. — Lætitia affected not an indifference she was free from, and Natura pressing for the speedy consummation of his wishes, a day was appointed for the celebration of the nuptials, and both the intended bride and bridegroom set themselves about making the necessary preparations usual in such cases.