Though his politeness was evidently constrained, yet I was very glad
to be
thus assured of having nothing more to fear from him.
The Captain, far from listening to their persuasions of accompanying
them to
Ranelagh, was quite in a passion at the proposal, and vowed he would
sooner go to the Blackhole in Calcutta.
“But,” said Lord -, “if the ladies will take their tea at Ranelagh, you may depend upon our seeing them safe home; for we shall be proud of the honour of attending them.”
“May be so,” said the Captain, “but I’ll tell you what, if one
of these
places ben’t enough for them to-night, why to-morrow they shall go
to ne’er a one.”
We instantly declared ourselves ready to go home.
“It is not for yourselves that we petition,” said Lord -. “But for us; if you have any charity, you will not be so cruel as to deny us; we only beg you to prolong our happiness for a few minutes,-the favour is but a small one for you to grant, though so great a one for us to receive.”
“To tell you a piece of my mind,” said the Captain, surlily,
“I think you
might as well not give the girls so much of this palaver; they’ll take
it all for gospel. As to Moll, why she’s well enough, but nothing
extraordinary; though, perhaps, you may persuade her that her pug
nose is all the fashion; and as to the other, why she’s good white
and red to be sure; but what of that?-I’ll warrant she’ll moulder
away as fast as her neighbours.”
“Is there,” cried Lord -, “another man in this place, who, seeing such
objects, could make such a speech?”
“As to that there,” returned the Captain, “I don’t know whether
there be or
no, and, to make free, I don’t care; for I sha’n’t go for to model
myself by any of these fair-weather chaps, who dare not so much
as say their souls are their own,-and, for aught I know, no more
they ben’t. I’m almost as much ashamed of my countrymen as if I was
a Frenchman, and I believe in my heart there i’n’t a pin to choose
between them; and, before long, we shall hear the very sailors talking
that lingo, and see never a swabber without a bag and a sword.”
“He, he, he!-well, ‘pon honour,” cried Mr. Lovel, “you gentlemen of
the ocean
have a most severe way of judging.”
“Severe! ‘fore George, that is impossible; for, to cut the matter
short, the
men, as they call themselves, are no better than monkeys; and as to
the women, why they are mere dolls. So now you’ve got my opinion of
this subject; and I so wish you good night.”
The ladies, who were very impatient to be gone, made their courtsies,
and
tripped away, followed by all the gentlemen of their party, except
the lord before mentioned, and, Lord Orville, who stayed to make
inquiries of Mrs. Mirvan concerning our leaving town; and then
saying, with his usual politeness, something civil to each of us,
with a very grave air he quitted us.
Lord - remained some minutes longer, which he spent in making a
profusion of
compliments to me; by which he prevented my hearing distinctly what
Lord Orville said, to my great vexation, especially as he looked-I
thought so, at least-as if displeased at his particularity of behaviour
to me.
In going to an outward room, to wait for the carriage, I walked, and
could not possibly avoid it, between this nobleman and Sir Clement
Willoughby, and, when the servant said the coach stopped the way,
though the latter offered me his hand, which I should much have
preferred, this same lord, without any ceremony, took mine himself;
and Sir Clement, with a look extremely provoked, conducted Mrs. Mirvan.
In all ranks and all stations of life, how strangely do characters and
manners differ! Lord Orville, with a politeness which knows no
intermission, and makes no distinction, is as unassuming and modest
as if he had never mixed with the great, and was totally ignorant
of every qualification he possesses; this other lord, though lavish
of compliments and fine speeches, seems to me an entire stranger to
real good-breeding; whoever strikes his fancy, engrosses his whole
attention. He is forward and bold; has an air of haughtiness towards
men, and a look of libertinism towards woman; and his conscious quality
seems to have given him a freedom in his way of speaking to either sex,
that is very little short of rudeness.
When we returned home, we were all low-spirited. The evening’s
entertainment
had displeased the Captain; and his displeasure, I believe,
disconcerted us all.
And here I thought to have concluded my letter; but, to my great
surprise,
just now we had a visit from Lord Orville. He called, he said, to
pay his respects to us before we left town, and made many inquiries
concerning our return; and, when Mrs Mirvan told him we were going
into the country without any view of again quitting it, he expressed
concern in such terms-so polite, so flattering, so serious-that I
could hardly forbear being sorry for myself. Were I to go immediately
to Berry Hill, I am sure I should feel nothing but joy;-but, now we
are joined by this Captain, and Madame Duval, I must own I expect
very little pleasure at Howard Grove.
Before Lord Orville went, Sir Clement Willoughby called. He was
more grave
than I had ever seen him; and made several attempts to speak to me in
a low voice, and to assure me that his regret upon the occasion of
our journey was entirely upon my account. But I was not in spirits,
and could not bear to be teased by him. However, he has so well
paid his court to Captain Mirvan, that he gave him a very hearty
invitation to the Grove. At this he brightened,-and just then Lord
Orville took leave.
No doubt but he was disgusted at this ill-timed, ill-bred partiality;
for
surely it was very wrong to make an invitation before Lord Orville
in which he was not included! I was so much chagrined, that, as soon
as he went, I left the room; and I shall not go down stairs till Sir
Clement is gone.
Lord Orville cannot but observe his assiduous endeavours to ingratiate himself into my favour; and does not this extravagant civility of Captain Mirvan give him reason to suppose that it meets with our general approbation? I cannot thimk upon this subject without inexpressible uneasiness; and yet I can think of nothing else.
Adieu, my dearest Sir. Pray write to me immediately. How many
long letters
has this one short fortnight produced! More than I may probably
ever write again. I fear I shall have tired you with reading them;
but you will now have time to rest, for I shall find but little to
say in future.
And now, most honoured Sir, with all the follies and imperfections
which I
have thus faithfully recounted, can you, and with unabated kindness,
suffer me to sign myself Your dutiful and most affectionate EVELINA?