Lydia Serge.
P. S. You need not be under any fear of meeting that disgrace to me, Lydia. I have not seen her since her leaving Putney, nor will I ever again hacknowledge her as my child. Jerry may be as obstinate as he please. So will I, on this point. You will be astonished to hear, that he have set up the feller who married her like a gentleman, and even sent down a postchay for his lady’s use. I see into this malice. It is all done to spite the captain, whom he hate. I am sorry to say, Nora’s foolish complaints have done no good. I am sure, I can see nothing in the captain that would not please any reasonable woman; and to me, his behaviour is always hattentive and respectful. You need not shew this letter to my cousin; Sir Murdoch have made her quite a methodist.
What a shocking end Flamall have made! But he was always as proud as Lucifer.
CONCLUDING CHAPTER.
Having faithfully performed my pleasing task, and exerted my best abilities to recommend myself to my readers, I do honestly confess, that I am gratified by finding that something remains, in which my services may be useful to their curiosity. Except two letters, from Miss Cowley to her correspondents at Heathcot, nothing appears of sufficient consequence to this work, they being confined solely to Miss Hardcastle’s and Miss Howard’s journey to Farefield; which they reached in the month of February.
It remains with me, consequently to supply a few pages to this, otherwise abrupt conclusion of a work, already reprehensible in the critic’s eye.
My readers may be able to recollect the name of Montrose, the early friend of Mr. Philip Flint, who, with his sister, the wife of Mr. Lindsey, shared in his confidence, with the truth and ardour of youthful zeal and friendship, during his progress to Miss Sinclair’s heart.
To this gentleman am I at present indebted for a situation in life which I would not exchange for the most brilliant which this world has to give. For I am sheltered from “the proud man’s contumely,” and “the pang which the worthy of the unworthy takes.” I was in my friend’s hospitable house at the shocking termination of Mr. Flamall’s life. This event produced many changes in favour of those, to whom he had been more obnoxious than useful. My brother Lindsey, was immediately placed in Mr. Flamall’s office, as this regarded Miss Cowley’s property on the island; and Mr. Flint, with Counsellor Steadman’s advice and concurrence, relieved her, by an appeal to Chancery, from the restrictive clauses in her father’s will, they being her appointed guardians until she was of age.
In the mean time, I was judged capable of educating the young Cowley’s. Their gentle and interesting mother had formed an intimacy with my sister Lindsey, during the time they resided under the same roof, at Mr. Dalrymple’s; and to judge of the future by the present, these friends will never have but one and the same roof.
In the hours of confidence, which succeeded to their first acquaintance, Marian informed Mrs. Lindsey, of her motives for withdrawing from Mr. Flamall’s authority and power, by quitting an abode she loved. He had importuned her with his passion even before Mr. Cowley’s death; and she held him in abhorrence and terror. She made no doubt of the illegality of Mr. Cowley’s will, he having repeatedly told her that she would find a protector and a guardian for her sons in Mr. Oliver Flint; and from the moment she was informed of Mr. Flamall’s authority, she determined never to lose sight of her children. Mr. Philip Flint befriended her, because Juba had told him that I was afraid of his uncle. Her entire concurrence in committing her children to my care; her confidence in my integrity, led her cheerfully to part with them, and we reached England in safety; where my trust was sanctioned by their expecting sister and maternal friend.