nt happy, shall not have my Emily--Shall he?
Your Emily, your happy Emily, sir, has not, cannot have a heart that is
worth notice, if it be not implicitly guided by you.--This I said, madam:
and it is true.
And did he not, said I, clasp his Emily to his generous bosom, when you
said so?
No, madam; that would have been too great an honour: but he called me,
good child! and said, you shall never be put to pay me an implicit
regard: your own reason (and he called me child again) shall always be
the judge of my conduct to you, and direct your observances of my advice.
Something like this he said; but in a better manner than I can say it.
He calls me oftener child, madam, than any thing else when we are alone
together; and is not quite so free, I think, at such times, in his
behaviour to me, (yet is vastly gracious, I don't know how,) as when we
are in company--Why is that? I am sure, I equally respect him, at one
time as at another--Do you think, madam, there is any thing in the
observation? Is there any reason for it?--I do love to study him, and to
find out the meaning of his very looks as well as words. Sir Charles
Grandison's heart is the book of heaven--May I not study it?
Study it, my love! while you have an opportunity. But he will soon leave
us: he will soon leave England.
So I fear: and I will love and pity the poor Clementina, whose heart is
so much wounded and oppressed. But my guardian shall be nobody's but
yours. I have prayed night and day, the first thing and the last thing,
ever since I have heard of Lady Clementina, that you, and nobody but you,
may be Lady Grandison: and I will continue my prayers.--But will you
forgive me: I always conclude them with praying, that you will both
consent to let the poor Emily live with you.
Sweet girl! The poor Emily, said she?--I embraced her, and we mingled
tears, both our hearts full, each for the other; and each perhaps for
herself.
She hurried away. I resumed my pen.--Run off what had passed, almost as
swift as thought. I quit it to prepare to attend my cousins to St.
James's-square.
LETTER XIV
MISS BYRON.--IN CONTINUATION
WEDNESDAY NIGHT, APRIL 5.
Miss Grandison, as I told you, took with her my letter of yesterday. As
soon as my cousin Reeves and I entered Sir Charles's house, the two
sisters conducted us into the drawing-room adjoining to the
dining-parlour, and congratulated me on the high compliment their brother
had made me, though
|