I believe it would be difficult to say whose cheeks were, at that
moment, of
the deepest dye, Lady Louisa’s or my own; for the conscious pride
with which she has hitherto slighted me, gave to her an embarrassment
which equalled the confusion that an introduction so unexpected
gave to me. She saluted me, however; and, with a faint smile said,
“I shall esteem myself very happy to profit by the honour of Miss
Belmont’s acquaintance.”
I only courtsied, and we walked on; but it was evident, from the
little
surprise they expressed, that they had been already informed of the
state of the affair.
We were soon after joined by more company: and Lord Orville then,
in a low
voice, took an opportunity to tell me the success of his visit. In the
first place, Thursday was agreed to; and, in the second, my father,
he said, was much concerned to hear of my uneasiness; sent me his
blessing; and complied with my request of seeing him, with the same
readiness he should agree to any other I could make. Lord Orville,
therefore, settled that I should wait upon him in the evening, and,
at his particular request, unaccompanied by Mrs. Selwyn.
This kind message, and the prospect of so soon seeing him, gave
me sensations
of mixed pleasure and pain, which wholly occupied my mind till the
time of my going to the Hot Wells.
Mrs. Beaumont lent me her chariot, and Lord Orville absolutely
insisted upon
attending me. “If you go alone,” said he, “Mrs. Selwyn will certainly
be offended; but if you allow me to conduct you, though she may give
the freer scope to her raillery, she cannot possibly be affronted:
and we had much better suffer her laughter, than provoke her satire.”
Indeed, I must own, I had no reason to regret being so accompanied;
for his
conversation supported my spirits from drooping, and made the ride
seem so short, that we actually stopped at my father’s door, before
I knew we had proceeded ten yards.
He handed me from the carriage, and conducted me to the parlour,
at the door
of which I was met by Mr. Macartney. “Ah, my dear brother,” cried I,
“how happy am I to see you here!”
He bowed, and thanked me. Lord Orville, then, holding out his hand,
said,
“Mr. Macartney, I hope we shall be better acquainted; I promise myself
much pleasure from cultivating your friendship.”
“Your Lordship does me but too much honour,” answered Mr. Macartney.
“But where,” cried I, “is my sister? for so I must already call,
and always
consider her:-I am afraid she avoids me;-you must endeavour, my
dear brother, to prepossess her in my favour, and reconcile her to
owning me.”