I entreated her to spare her raillery, and tell me her real
meaning. She
could not prevail with herself to grant the first request, though
she readily complied with the second.
My poor father, she said, was still in the utmost uneasiness: he
entered upon
his affairs with great openness, and told her, he was equally
disturbed how to dispose either of the daughter he had discovered,
or the daughter he was now to give up; the former he dreaded to trust
himself with again beholding, and the latter he knew not how to shock
with the intelligence of her disgrace. Mrs. Selwyn then acquainted
him with my situation in regard to Lord Orville: this delighted him
extremely; and, when he heard of his Lordship’s eagerness, he said he
was himself of opinion, the sooner the union took place the better;
and, in return, he informed her of the affair of Mr. Macartney. “And,
after a very long conversation,” continued Mrs. Selwyn, “we agreed,
that the most eligible scheme for all parties would be, to have both
the real and the fictitious daughter married without delay. Therefore,
if either of you have any inclination to pull caps for the title of
Miss Belmont, you must do it with all speed, as next week will take
from both of you all pretensions to it.”
“Next week!-dear Madam, what a strange plan!-without my being
consulted,-without applying to Mr. Villars,-without even the
concurrence of Lord Orville!”
“As to consulting you, my dear, it was out of all question;
because, you
know, young ladies’ hearts and hands are always to be given with
reluctance;-as to Mr. Villars, it is sufficient we know him for your
friend;-and as for Lord Orville, he is a party concerned.”
“A party concerned!-you amaze me!”
“Why, yes; for, as I found our consultation likely to redound to his
advantage, I persuaded Sir John to send for him.”
“Send for him!-Good God!”
“Yes; and Sir John agreed. I told the servant, that if he could not
hear of
his Lordship in the house, he might be pretty certain of encountering
him in the arbour.-Why do you colour, my dear?-Well, he was with us in
a moment: I introduced him to Sir John; and we proceeded to business.”
“I am very, very sorry for it!-Lord Orville must himself think
this conduct
strangely precipitate.”
“No, my dear, you are mistaken; Lord Orville has too much good sense.
Everything was then discussed in a rational manner. You are to be
married privately, though not secretly, and then go to one of his
Lordship’s country seats: and poor little Miss Green and your brother,
who have no house of their own, must go to one of Sir John’s.”