This morning, therefore, she is again gone to the Hot Wells. I am
waiting in
all impatience for her return; but, as I know you will be anxious
for the account this letter contains, I will not delay sending it.
LETTER LXXIX - EVELINA IN CONTINUATION. October 9th.
HOW agitated, my dear Sir, is the present life of your Evelina! every
day
seems important, and one event only a prelude to another.
Mrs. Selwyn, upon her return this morning from the Hot Wells,
entering my
room very abruptly, said, “Oh, my dear, I have terrible news for you!”
“For me, Ma’am!-Good God! what now?”
“Arm yourself,” cried she, “with all your Berry Hill philosophy;-con
over
every lesson of fortitude or resignation you ever learnt in your
life;-for know,-you are next week to be married to Lord Orville!”
Doubt, astonishment, and a kind of perturbation I cannot describe,
made this
abrupt communication alarm me extremely; and, almost breathless,
I could only exclaim, “Good God, Madam, what do you tell me!”
“You may well be frightened, my dear,” said she, ironically;
“for really
there is something mighty terrific in becoming, at once, the wife of
the man you adore,-and a Countess!”