You are very good; but since we must submit to the general opinion, shall I desire the music master to inform the girl, whom we are speaking of, not to let us see her again in our company—or I shall decline coming.
EMILIA.
You may do as you please; but you must allow me to tell him that I do not concur with you.—I then made her a cool curtsy and withdrew.
She wrote to the music master; but all the rest of the company insisted that he should not comply with such an unreasonable request, and deprive us of our best performer, who was in every respect a desirable companion. My mother took particular notice of the young lady in order to give her consequence, and told me, after she was gone, that she had not for a long time seen so modest and well educated a girl.
So ended this foolish affair. My mother and I had a long conversation on the subject; I have not now time to repeat it, but she animadverted very severely on that foolish pride that makes people neglect to attain the real personal consequence which can only arise from virtue, and value themselves on the accidental advantages of birth, riches and external ornaments, which do not constitute the pre-eminence of a rational being. These cannot follow them to the grave. Farewell. Remember me in the kindest manner to your mother and little Annette.
EMILIA.
P. S. I opened this letter again to enclose a few lines to my brother. Emilia is a good girl, perhaps, he will say; I am sure I wish to appear so in his eyes.
LETTER XXVIII.
Emilia to Charles.
I have need of your advice, dear brother. You know that my mother designed some months ago to let me have a waiting maid, and she has ever since been enquiring among her acquaintance for a proper one; and she hired one last week who had been particularly recommended to her. But this is not all; I discovered Charles, before she had been with me two days, that she was very unhappy, and I perceived when she was dressing me that she had been weeping. This affected me very much; I attempted to comfort her and find out the cause of her grief, and at last I discovered it. Why Lucy, said I, do you cry so much; tell me the reason, my good girl? consider me not as your mistress, but as your friend; perhaps I may be able to alleviate your sorrows. She could not speak, and pressed my hand in which I was holding her’s; in short, my pity for her, or as she expressed it, my goodness, gave her courage, and she told me that the lady who recommended her had concealed her real name. Her father had been a naval officer, and that her mother, by his death, was reduced to extreme poverty. She added, that she was now afflicted with a lingering illness without any means of support; and that to be enabled to assist her she determined to go to service, and was accordingly recommended to me by the lady who had assisted her mother. You may imagine what I felt, and I exclaimed, I will go directly to my mother, she is very compassionate. Poor Lucy held me back; for heaven’s sake do not do it! keep my secret. Let me serve you; let me have the satisfaction of finding a friend in a mistress, for what will become of me if I leave you? My mother made me promise not to mention my name; and she will never forgive me if I make her distress public.—I was at a loss what to resolve on, at last I said, I will keep your secret provided you live with me as a sister. But Charles, have I done right in keeping a secret from my mother? I wish I had not made the promise; yet on the contrary I must have parted with this good girl; but I considered again, I ought not to think of myself, I ought to persuade my mother to assist her. Dear Charles will you send me your advice, I shall not be easy till I hear from you, pray write soon. Do not mention this affair even to William.
Fly swiftly a few weeks, and bring my dear Charles to us! In the course of a month we expect to see you. My mother had several times tears in her eyes when she read William’s account of you: how happy are we when our parents are satisfied with us! God certainly loves you Charles, because your parents do. And you would see that I love you if you could read my heart. Farewell my dear brother.