municate it to me, in
consideration of the confidence I had reposed in her. "It is of little
consequence," said she, "to tell the names of my parents, who are dead
many years ago; let it suffice to assure you, they were wealthy, and
had no other child than me; so that I was looked upon as heiress to a
considerable estate, and teased with addresses on that account. Among
the number of my admirers, there was a young gentleman of no fortune,
whose sole dependence was on his promotion in the army, in which, at
that time, he bore a lieutenant's commission. I conceived an affection
for this amiable officer, which, in a short time, increased to a violent
passion, and without entering into minute circumstances, married him
privately. We had not enjoyed one another long in stolen interviews,
when he was ordered with his regiment to Flanders; but, before he set
out, it was agreed between us, that we should declare our marriage to
my father by letter, and implore his pardon for the step we had taken
without his approbation." This discovery was made while I was abroad
visiting, and just as I was about to return home, I received a letter
from my father, importing that, since I had acted so undutifully and
meanly as to marry a beggar, without his privity or consent, to the
disgrace of his family as well as the disappointment of his hopes,
he renounced me to the miserable fate I had entailed upon myself, and
charged me never to set foot within his doors again. This rigid sentence
was confirmed by my mother, who, in a postscript, gave me to understand
that her sentiments were exactly conformable to those of my father, and
that I might save myself the trouble of making any applications, for
her resolutions were unalterable. Thunderstruck with my evil fortune I
called a coach, and drove to my husband's lodgings, where I found him
waiting the event of his letter. Though he could easily divine by my
looks the issue of his declaration, he read with great steadiness the
epistle I had received; and with a smile full of tenderness, which I
shall never forget, embraced me, saying, "I believe the good lady your
mother might have spared herself the trouble of the last part of her
postscript. Well, my dear Betty, you must lay aside all thoughts of a
coach, till I can procure the command of a regiment." This unconcerned
behaviour, while it enabled me to support my reverse of fortune, at
the same time endeared him to me the more, by convincing me of h