The Wanderer; or, Female Difficulties (Volume 1 of 5)

by Fanny Burney

  CHAPTER XVI

  From all the various sufferings of Ellis, through the scenes of thismorning, the predominant remaining emotion, was that of pity for herpenitent young offender; whom she saw so sorely wounded by a sense ofhis own misconduct, that he appeared to be almost impenetrable tocomfort.

  But all her attention was soon called to the letter of Lady Aurora.

  'To Miss Ellis.

  'I cannot express the grief with which I have learnt the difficulties that involve my dear Miss Ellis. Will she kindly mitigate it, by allowing me, from time to time, the consolation of offering her my sympathy? May I flatter myself that she has sufficient regard for me, to let the enclosed trifle lead the way to some little arrangement during her embarrassment? Oh! were I in similar distress, I would not hesitate to place in her a similar trust! Generously, then, sweet Miss Ellis, confide in my tender regard.

  'AURORA GRANVILLE.'

  'At Lord Denmeath's, Portman Square.'

  The 'enclosed trifle' was a bank-note of twenty pounds.

  Most welcome to the distress of Ellis was this kindness and thissuccour; and greatly she felt revived, that, severe as had been her lateconflicts, they thus terminated in casting her, for all pecuniaryperplexities, upon the delicate and amiable Lady Aurora.

  Uncertain what might prove her reception, she desired, upon approachingLewes, that the groom would ride on, and enquire whether she could havethe honour of seeing Mrs Maple. The man then said, that he had a notefor that lady, from Mrs Howel.

  After being detained at the gate a considerable time, a servant came toacquaint Miss Ellis, that the ladies were particularly engaged, butbegged that she would walk up stairs to her room.

  There, again established, she had soon a visit from Selina, whoimpatiently demanded, how she had parted from Lady Aurora; and, whensatisfied that it had been with the extremest kindness, she warmlyembraced her, before she related, that Aunt Maple had, at first,declared, that she would never, again, let so unknown a pauper into herhouse; but, when she had read the note of Mrs Howel, she changed hertone. That lady had written word, that she was hastening to consign LordMelbury and Lady Aurora to their uncle; in order to be acquitted of allresponsibility, as to any continuance of this amazing acquaintance, nowthat, at last, she was apprized of its unfitness. She conceived that shehad some claim, however, to desire, that Mrs Maple would, for thepresent, receive the person as usual; since if any dismissal, ordisgrace, were immediately to follow her return from Howel House, itmight publish to the world what an improper character had been admittedthere; a mortification from which she thought that she had some right tobe exempted.

  Mrs Maple was by no means the less offended, by the pride andselfishness of this note, because those qualities were familiar to herown practice. It is the wise and good alone that make allowance fordefects in others. Her resentment, however, endowed her with rancour,but not with courage; she complied, therefore, with the demand which shedid not dare dispute; but her spleen against its helpless object wasredoubled; and she sent her a message, by Selina, to order that shewould complain of a sore throat, as an excuse for not quitting her room,nor expecting any of the ladies to visit her: yet charged her to becareful, at the same time, to say, that it was very slight, lest thepeople in the neighbourhood, or the servants themselves, should wonderat not seeing a physician.

  Ellis could by no means repine at a separation, that saved her from thepride and malevolence of Mrs Maple and of Ireton, and from thedistressing incongruities of Elinor.

  Her spirits being thus freed from immediate alarm, she was able toruminate upon her situation, and upon what efforts she might make forits amelioration. Her letter from abroad enjoined her still to live inconcealment, with respect to her name, circumstances, and story: allhope, therefore, of any speedy change was blown over; and many fearsremained, that this helpless obscurity might be of long duration. It wasnecessary that she should form some plan, to accommodate her mode oflife to her immediate condition; and to liberate, if possible, herfeelings, from the continual caprices to which she was now subject.

  To live upon charity, was hostile to all her notions, though thebenefaction of Lady Aurora had soothed, not mortified, her proudestsensations. But Lady Aurora was not of an age to be supposed alreadyfree from controul, in the use of her income; and still less was she ofa character, to resist the counsel, or even wishes of her friends. Elliswas determined not to induce her to do either: nor could she endure togive a mercenary character to a grateful affection, which languished toshew that its increase, as well as its origin, sprang from disinterestedmotives. All her thoughts, therefore, turned upon making the presentoffering suffice.

  Yet she was aware how short a time she could exist upon twenty pounds;and while a residence at Mrs Maple's would be now more than everunpleasant, recent circumstances had rendered it, more than ever, also,unlikely.

  To acquire that sort of independence, that belongs, physically, tosustaining life by her own means, was her most earnest desire: Her manyaccomplishments invited her industry, and promised it success; yet howto bring them into use was difficult. She had no one with whom she couldconsult. Elinor, though, at times, cordially her friend, seemed, inother minutes, her enraged foe. Selina was warmly good natured, butyoung in every sense of the word; and Mrs Maple considered her alwayswith such humiliating ideas, that to ask her advice would be to invitean affront.

  The occupation for which she thought herself most qualified, and towhich, from fondness for young people, she felt herself most inclined,was that of governess to some young lady, or ladies; and, finally, shesettled, that she would endeavour to employ herself in that capacity.

  This arrangement mentally made, she communicated it, in a letter of thetenderest and most grateful thanks, to Lady Aurora; entreating herladyship's kind and valuable aid, to enable her to leave, in future, forother distressed objects, such marks of benevolence as she had lastreceived; and to owe, personally, those, only, of esteem and regard;which she prized beyond all power of expression.

  The next day, again, very unexpectedly, Selina skipt into her room. 'Wehave had a most terrible fuss:' she cried; 'Do you know Lord Melbury'scome on purpose to see you!'

  'Lord Melbury? Is he not gone to town?'

  'Mrs Howel wrote word so, and aunt thought so; but he only went a littleway; and then came back to spend two or three days with Sir LyellSycamore, at Brighthelmstone. He asked after you, when he came in, andsaid that he begged leave to be allowed to speak with you, a fewminutes, upon a commission from Lady Aurora. Aunt was quite shocked, andsaid, that she hoped his lordship would excuse her, but she really couldnot consent to any such acquaintance going on, in her house, now he knewso well what a nobody you were; if not worse. Upon which he said he didnot doubt your being a well brought up young lady, for he was certainthat you were modesty itself. And then he begged so hard, and said somany pretty and civil things to Aunt, that she was brought round; onlyit was upon condition, she said, that there should be a witness; and sheproposed Mrs Fenn. Lord Melbury was as red as fire, and said that wouldnot be treating Miss Ellis with the respect which he was sure was herdue; and he could not be so impertinent as to desire to see her, uponsuch terms. So, after a good deal more fuss, it was settled, at last,that Sister Elinor should be present. So now you are to come down to herdressing-room.'

  Ellis, though startled at the effect that might be produced by hisremaining at Brighthelmstone, was sensibly touched by these public andresolute marks of his confirmed and undoubting esteem.

  Elinor, presently, with restored good humour, and an air of the mostlively pleasure, came to fetch her. 'Lord Melbury,' she cried,'certainly adores you. You never saw a man's face of so many colours inyour life, as when Aunt Maple speaks of you irreverently. If you managewell, you may be at Gretna Green in a week.'

  They descended, without any answer made by Ellis, to the dressing-room.

  The air of Lord Melbury was far less dejected than
when they had lastparted; yet it had by no means regained its natural spring and vivacity;and he advanced to pay his compliments to Ellis, with a look of evenstudious deference. He would detain her, he said, but a few minutes; yetcould not leave the country, without informing her of two visits, whichhe had made the day before: both of which had ended precisely with theamity that she had wished.

  Elinor, enchanted in believing, from this opening, that a confidentialintercourse was already arranged, declared, that her aunt must lookelsewhere for a spy, as she would by no means play that part; and thenran into the adjoining room. Lord Melbury and Ellis would have detained,but could not follow her, as it was her bed-chamber.

  Lord Melbury then, who saw that Ellis was uneasy, promised to be quick.'I demanded,' said he, 'yesterday, an interview with Mr Harleigh. I toldhim, without reserve, all that had passed. I cannot paint to you theindignation he shewed at the aspersions of Ireton. He determined to goto him directly, and I resolved to accompany him.--Don't look pale, MissEllis: I repeated to Mr Harleigh the promise you had exacted from me,and he confessed himself to be perfectly of your opinion, that all angrydefence, or public resentment, must necessarily, in such a case, beinjurious. Yet to let the matter drop, might expose you to freshabominations. Ireton received us with a mixture of curiosity andcarelessness; very inquisitive to know what had passed, but veryindifferent whether it were good or bad. We both, by agreement, affectedto treat the matter lightly, gravely as we both thought of it: I thankedhim, therefore, for the salutary counsel, by which he had urged me toprocure myself so confounded a rap of the knuckles, for my assurance;and Mr Harleigh made his acknowledgements in the same tone, for thecompliment paid to his liberality, of supposing that a person, who, inany manner, should be thought under his protection, could be in a stateof penury. We both, I hope, made him ashamed. He had not, he owned,reflected deeply upon the subject; for which, Mr Harleigh told me,afterwards, there was a very cogent reason, namely, that he did not knowhow! Mr Harleigh, when we were coming away, forcibly said, "Ireton,placing Lord Melbury and myself wholly apart in this business, ask yourown sagacity, I beg, how a female, who is young, beautiful, andaccomplished, can suffer from pecuniary distress, if her character benot unimpeachable?" Upon that, struck with the truth of the remark, hevoluntarily protested that he would make you all the amends in hispower. So ended our visit; and I cannot but hope that it will releaseyou from all similar persecutions.'

  Ellis expressed her sincere and warm gratitude; and Lord Melbury, withan air of penetrated respect, took his leave; evidently much solaced, bythe consciousness of serving one whom he had injured.

  Ellis had every reason to be gratified by this attention, which set hermind wholly at rest upon the tenour of Lord Melbury's regard: whileElinor was so much delighted, to find the acquaintance advance sorapidly to confidence, that she embraced Ellis, wished her joy, mockedall replies of a disclaiming nature, and, accompanying her back to herroom, made her a long, social, lively, and entertaining visit; hearingand talking over her project of becoming a governess, but laughing atit, as a ridiculous idea, for the decided wife elect of Earl Melbury.

  She was succeeded by Selina, who exultingly came to acquaint Ellis, thatMr Ireton had just made a formal renunciation of all ill opinion of her;and had told Mrs Maple, that he had indubitable proofs that she was aperson of the very strictest character. 'So now,' cried she, 'LadyAurora and I may vow our friendship to you for life.'

  This was a very solid satisfaction to Ellis, to whom the calumny ofIreton had been almost insupportable. She now hoped that Mrs Maple wouldfavour her new scheme, and that she might remain tranquilly in the housetill it took place; and equip herself, from the donation of Lady Aurora,for her immediate appearance in the situation which she sought. Sheresolved to seize the first opportunity for returning Harleigh his banknotes, and the Miss Joddrels their half-guineas. She wished, also, torepay the guinea of the worthy Admiral, and to repeat to him hergrateful acknowledgements: his name and address she concluded that shemight learn from Harleigh; but she deferred this satisfaction till moresecure of success.

  The next day, Selina ran upstairs to her again. 'Who do you think,' shecried, 'came into the parlour in the middle of breakfast? Mr DennisHarleigh! He arrived at Brighthelmstone last night. Sister Elinor turnedquite white, and never spoke to him; she only just made a sort of bow tohis asking how she did, and then swallowed her tea burning hot, and leftthe room. He can stay only one day, for he must be in London to-morrownight. He is come for his final answer; for he's quite out of patience.'

  Selina had hardly descended the stairs, when Elinor herself mountedthem. She entered the chamber precipitately, her face colourless, andher eyes starting from her head. 'Ellis!' she cried, 'I must speak withyou!'

  She seated herself, made Ellis sit exactly opposite to her, and went on:'There are two things which I want to say to you; or, rather, to demandof you. Have you fortitude enough to tell truth, even though it shouldwound your self-love? and honour enough to be trusted with a commissiona thousand times more important than life or death? and to execute itfaithfully,--though at the risk of seeing the greatest idiot that everexisted, shew sufficient symptoms of sense to run mad?'

  Alarmed by her ghastly look, and frightened at the abruptness ofquestions utterly incomprehensible, Ellis gently entreated to be sparedany request with which she could not comply.

  'I do not mean,' cried Elinor, with quickness, 'to make any call uponyour confidence, or to put any fetters upon your conduct. You will be asfree after you have spoken as before. I want merely to ascertain a fact,of which my ignorance distracts me! If you have to give me a negative,your vanity alone can suffer; if an affirmative--' She put her hand uponher forehead, and then rapidly added,--'the suffering will not beyours!--give it, therefore, boldly! 'Twill be heaven to me to end thissuspense, be it how it may!'

  Starting up, but preventing Ellis from rising, by laying a hand uponeach of her shoulders, she gazed upon her eyes with a fixed stare, ofalmost frantic impatience, and said, 'Speak! say Yes, or No, at once!Give me no phrase--Let me see no hesitation!--Kill me, or restore me tolife!--Has Harleigh--' she gasped for breath--'ever made you anydeclaration?'

  'None!' steadily, forcibly, and instantly Ellis answered.

  'Enough!' cried she, recovering some composure.

  She then walked up and down the room, involuntarily smiling, and herlips in a motion, that shewed that she was talking to herself. Thenstopping, and taking Ellis by the hand, and half laughing, 'You willthink me,' she cried, 'crazy; but I assure you I had never a moreexquisite enjoyment of my senses. I see every thing to urge, and nothingto oppose my following the bent of my own humour; or, in other words,throwing off the trammels of unmeaning custom, and acting, as well asthinking, for myself.'

  Again, then, walking up and down the chamber, she pursued her new trainof ideas, with a glee which manifested that she found them delightful.

  'My dear Ellis,' she cried, presently, 'have you ever chanced to hear ofsuch a person as Dennis Harleigh?'

  Ellis wished to avoid answering this question, on account of herinformant, Selina; but her embarrassment was answer sufficient. 'I seeyes!' cried Elinor, 'I see that you have heard of that old story. Don'tbe frightened,' added she, laughing, 'I am not going to ask who blabbedit. I had as lieve it were one impertinent fool as another. Only neverimagine me of the tribe of sentimental pedants, who think it a disgraceto grow wiser; or who suppose that they must abide by their firstopinions, for fear the world should know that they think twice upon onesubject. For what is changing one's mind, but taking the _pro_ one time,and the _con_ another?'

  'But come,' continued she, 'this is no time for rattling. Two years Ihave existed upon speculation; I must now try how I shall fare uponpractice. Is it not just, Ellis, that it should be you who should dragme out of the slough of despond, since it was you who flung me intoit?--However, now for your commission. Do you feel as if you couldexecute it with spirit?'

  'With willingness, certa
inly, if I see any chance of success.'

  'No ifs, Ellis. I hate the whole tribe of dubiosity. However, that youmay not make any blunder, I shall tell you my story myself; for all thatyou have heard from others, you must set down to ignorance or prejudice.Nobody knows my feelings, and nobody understands my reasons. Soeverybody is at war against me in the dark.

  'Now hearken!

  'Just as I came of age, and ought to have shaken off the shackles ofAunt Maple, and to have enjoyed my independence and my fortune together,accident brought into my way a young lawyer--this Dennis Harleigh--ofgreat promise in the only profession in the world that gives wit fairplay. And I thought him, then,--mark me, Ellis, then!--of a nobleappearance. He delighted to tell me his causes, state their merits, andask my opinions. I always took the opposite side to that which he wasemployed to plead, in order to try his powers, and prove my own. TheFrench Revolution had just then burst forth, into that noble flame thatnearly consumed the old world, to raise a new one, phoenix like, fromits ashes. Soon tired of our every day subjects and contests, I begancanvassing with him the Rights of Man. He had fallen desperately in lovewith me, either for my wit or my fortune, or both; and therefore alltopics were sure to be approved. Enchanted with a warfare in which I wascertain to be always victorious, I grew so fond of conquest, that I wasnever satisfied but when combating; and the joy I experienced in thedisplay of my own talents, made me doat upon his sight. The truth is,our mutual vanity mutually deceived us: he saw my pleasure in hiscompany, and concluded that it was personal regard: I found nothing torouse the energies of my faculties in his absence, and imagined myselfenamoured of my vanquished antagonist. Aunt Maple did her littlebest--for every thing she does is little--to forward the connexion;because, though his fortune is trifling, his professional expectationsare high; and though he is a younger brother, he is born of a noblefamily: and that sort of mean old stuff is always in her head; for ifthe whole world were revolutionized, you could never make her conceive anew idea. And the great fact of all is, she cannot bear I should leaveher house before I marry, because, she is sure, in one of my own, Ishall adopt some new system of life. Thus, in the toils of my self-love,I became entangled; poor Dennis called himself the happiest of men; thesettlements were all drawn up; and we were looking about us for a houseto our fancy, and all that sort of stuff, when Dennis introduced hisfamily to us.--Now the rest, I suppose, you can divine?'

  This was, indeed, not difficult; but Ellis durst not risk any reply.

  With a rapidity scarcely intelligible, and in a manner whollyincoherent, she then went on: 'Ellis, I pretend not to any mystery. Whyis one person adorable, and another detestable, but to call forth ourlove and our hatred? to give birth to all that snatches us from mereinert existence; to our passions, our energies, our noblest conceptionsof all that is towering and sublime? Whether you have any idea of thismental enlargement I cannot tell; but with it I see human nature endowedwith capabilities immeasurable of perfection; and without it, I regardand treat the whole of my race as the mere dramatis personae of a farce;of which I am myself, when performing with such fellow-actors, aprincipal buffoon.'

  Nearly out of breath, she stopt a moment; then, looking earnestly atEllis, said, 'Do you understand me?'

  Ellis, in a fearful accent, answered, 'I ... I am not quite sure.'

  'Remove your doubts, then!' cried she, impatiently; 'I despise what isobscure, still more than I hate what is false. Falsehood may at leastapproach to that degree of grandeur which belongs to crime; butobscurity is always mean, always seeking some subterfuge, alwaysbelonging to art.'

  Again she stopt; but Ellis, uncertain whether this remark were meant tointroduce her confidence, or to censure her own secresy, waited anexplanation in silence. Elinor was evidently, however, embarrassed,though anxious to persuade herself, as well as Ellis, that she wasperfectly at her ease. She walked a quick pace up and down the room;then stopt, seemed pausing, hemmed to clear her voice for speech; andthen walked backwards and forwards before the window, which shefrequently opened and shut, without seeming to know that she touched it;till, at length, seized with sudden indignation against herself, forthis failure of courage, she energetically exclaimed, 'How paltry isshame where there can be no disgrace!--I disdain it!--disclaim it!--andam ready to avow to the whole world, that I dare speak and act, as wellas think and feel for myself!'

  Yet, even thus buoyed up, thus full fraught with defiance, somethingwithin involuntarily, invincibly checked her, and she hastily resumedher walks and her ruminations.

  'What amazing, unaccountable fools,' she cried, 'have we all been forthese quantities of centuries! Worlds seem to have a longer infancytaken out of the progress of their duration, even than the longimbecility of the childhood of poor mortals. But for the late gloriousrevolutionary shake given to the universe, I should, at this verymoment, from mere cowardly conformity, be the wife of Dennis!--In spiteof my repentance of the engagement, in spite of the aversion I havetaken to him, and in spite of the contempt I have conceived--with onesingle exception--for the whole race of mankind, I must have been thatpoor man's despicable wife!--O despicable indeed! For with whatsentiments could I have married him? Where would have been my soul whileI had given him my hand? Had I not seen--known--adored--his brother!'

  She stopt, and the deepest vermillion overspread her face; her effortwas made; she had boasted of her new doctrine, lest she should seemimpressed with confusion from the old one which she violated; but thestruggle being over, the bravado and exultation subsided; femaleconsciousness and native shame took their place; and abashed, and unableto meet the eyes of Ellis, she ran out of the room.

  In the whole of this scene, Ellis observed, with mingled censure andpity, the strong conflict in the mind of Elinor, between ungovernedinclination, which sought new systems for its support; and an innatefeeling of what was due to the sex that she was braving, and the customsthat she was scorning.

  She soon re-appeared, but with a wholly new air; lively, disengaged,almost sportive. Her heart was lightened by unburthening her secret; thefeminine delicacies which opposed the discovery, once broken through,oppressed her no more; and the idea of passing, now, straight forward,to the purposes for which she had done herself this violence,re-animated her spirit, and gave new vigour to her faculties.

  She laughed at herself for having run away, without explaining themeaning of her communication; and for charging Ellis with a commission,of which she had not made known even the nature. She then more clearlystated her situation.

  From the time of her first interview with Albert, her whole mind hadrecoiled from all thought of union with his brother; yet the affair wasso far advanced, and she saw herself so completely regarded by Albert asa sister, though treated by him with an openness, a frankness, and anaffection the most captivating, that she had not courage to proclaim herchange of sentiment.

  The conflict of her mind, during this doubting state, threatened to casther into a consumption. She was ordered to the south of France. Andthere, happily arrived, new scenes,--a new world, rather, opened to hera code of new ideas, that soon, she said, taught her to scoff at idlemisery: and might even, from the occupation given to her feelings, bythe glorious confusion, and mad wonders around her, have recovered herfrom the thraldom of an over-ruling propensity, had not Dennis, unable,from professional engagements, to quit his country, been so blind, uponhearing that her health was re-established, as to persuade his brotherto cross the Channel, in order to escort the two travellers home. Fromthe moment, the fated moment, that Albert arrived to be her guide andher guard, he became so irresistibly the master of her heart, that herdestiny was determined. Whether good or ill, she knew not yet; but itwas fixed. Ill had not occurred to her sanguine expectations, nor doubt,nor fear, till the eventful meeting with Ellis: till then, she hadbelieved her happiness secure, for she had supposed that nothing stoodin her way, save a little brotherly punctilio. But, since the junctionof Ellis, the spontaneous interest which Albert had taken in her fate,and her affai
rs, had appeared to be so marvellous, that, at every newview of his pity, his respect, or his admiration, she was seized withthe most uneasy feelings; which sometimes worked her up into pangs ofexcruciating jealousy; and, at others, seemed to be so ill founded,that, recollecting a thousand instances of his general benevolence, shelaughed her own surmises to scorn. How the matter still stood, withregard to his heart, she confessed herself unable to form any permanentjudgment. The time, however, was now, happily, arrived, to abolishsuspense, for even Dennis, now, could bear it no longer. She expected,she said, a desperate scene, but, at least, it would be a final one. Shehad only, for many months past, been restrained from giving Dennis hisdismission, lest Albert should drop all separate acquaintance, from thehorrour of seeming treacherously to usurp the place of his brother.Nevertheless, she would frankly have ended her disturbance, by an avowalof the truth, had not Albert been the eldest brother, and, consequently,the richest; and the disgraceful supposition, that she might beinfluenced to desire the change from mercenary motives, would have hadpower to yoke her to Dennis, for the rest of her weary existence, hadnot her mind been so luminously opened to its own resources, andinherent right of choice, by her continental excursion.

  'The grand effect,' she continued, 'of beholding so many millions ofmen, let loose from all ties, divine or human, gave such play to myfancy, such a range to my thoughts, and brought forth such new,unexpected, and untried combinations to my reason, that I frequency feltas if just created, and ushered into the world--not, perhaps, as wise asanother Minerva, but equally formed to view and to judge all around me,without the gradations of infancy, childhood, and youth, that hithertohave prepared for maturity. Every thing now is upon a new scale, and manappears to be worthy of his faculties; which, during all these pastages, he has set aside, as if he could do just as well without them;holding it to be his bounden duty, to be trampled to the dust, by oldrules and forms, because all his papas and uncles were trampled sobefore him. However, I should not have troubled myself, probably, withany of these abstruse notions, had they not offered me a new road forlife, when the old one was worn out. To find that all was novelty andregeneration throughout the finest country in the universe, sooninfected me with the system-forming spirit; and it was then that Iconceived the plan I am now going to execute; but I shall not tell ityou in its full extent, as I am uncertain what may be your strength ofmind for measures of force and character; and perhaps they may not benecessary. So now to your commission.

  'I am fixed to cast wholly aside the dainty common barriers, which shutout from female practice all that is elevated, or even natural. Dennis,therefore, shall know that I hate him; Albert ... Ah, Ellis! that I hatehim not!'

  'My operations are to commence thus: Act I. Scene I. Enter Ellis,seeking Albert. Don't stare so; I know perfectly well what I am about.Scene II. Albert and Ellis meet. Ellis informs him that she must hold aconfabulation with him the next day; and desires that he will remain atLewes to be at hand.--'

  'Oh, Miss Joddrel!' interrupted Ellis, 'you must, at least, give meleave to say, that it is by your command that I make a request soextraordinary!'

  'By no means. He must not suspect that I have any knowledge of yourintention. The truth, like an explosion of thunder, shall burst upon hishead at once. So only shall I truly know whether it will shake him withdismay--or magnetize him by its sublimity.'

  'Yet how, Madam, under what pretence, can I take such a liberty?'

  'Pho, pho; this is no time for delicate demurs. If he be not engaged tostay before I turn his brother adrift, he will accompany him to town, asa thing of course, to console him in his willowed state. The rest of myplot is not yet quite ripe for disclosure. But all is arranged. Andthough I know not whether the catastrophe will be tragic or comic, I amprepared in my part for either.'

  She then went away.