Love and Friendship

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Episode Transcript

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Letter, the first from Isabel toLaura. How often, in answer to
my repeated entreaties that you would givemy daughter a regular detail of the misfortunes
and adventures of your life, haveyou said no, my friend, Never
will I comply with your request tillI may be no longer in danger of
again experiencing such dreadful ones. Surelythat time is now at hand. You

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are this day fifty five. Ifa woman may ever be said to be
in safety from the determined perseverance ofdisagreeable lovers and the cruel persecutions of obstinate
fathers, surely it must be atsuch a time of life. Isabel letter.
Second Laura to Isabel. Although Icannot agree with you in supposing that

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I shall never again be exposed tomisfortunes as unmerited as those I have already
experienced, yet to avoid the imputationof obstinacy or ill nature, I will
gratify the curiosity of your daughter,and may the fortitude with which I have
suffered the many afflictions of my pastlife proved to her a useful lesson for

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the support of those which may befallher in her own. Laura Letter,
third Laura to Mary Anne. Asthe daughter of my most intimate friend,
I think you entitled to that knowledgeof my unhappy story which your mother has

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so often solicited me to give you. My father was a native of Ireland
and an inhabitant of Wales. Mymother was the natural daughter of a Scotch
peer by an Italian opera girl.I was born in Spain and received my
education at a convent in France.When I had reached my eighteenth year,

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I was recalled by my parents tomy paternal roof in Wales. Our mansion
was situated in one of the mostromantic parts of the Veil of Usk.
Though my charms are now considerably softenedand somewhat impaired by the misfortunes I have
undergone, I was once beautiful,but lovely as I was, the graces

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of my person were the least ofmy perfections, of every accomplishment accustomary to
my sex, I was mistress whenin the convent my progress had always exceeded
my instructions. My acquirements had beenwonderful for my age, and I had
shortly surpassed my master's. In mymind. Every virtue that could adorn it

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was centered. It was the rendezvousof every good quality, and of every
noble sentiment, a sensibility too tremblinglyalive. To every affliction of my friends
my acquaintance, and particularly to everyaffliction of my own, was my only
fault. If a fault, itcould be called alas how altered now though

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indeed my own misfortunes do not makeless impression on me than they ever did.
Yet now I never feel for thoseof another. My accomplishments too begin
to fade. I can neither singso well nor dance so gracefully as I
once did, And I have entirelyforgotten the minuet de la cour adieu.

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Laura, letter forth, Laura toMary Anne. Our neighborhood was small,
for it consisted only of your mother. She may probably have already told you
that, being left by her parentsin indigenous circumstances, she had retired into
Wales on economical motives. There itwas our friendship first commenced. Isabel was

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then one and twenty. Though pleasingboth in her person and manners between ourselves,
she never possessed the hundredth part ofmy beauty or accomplishments. Isabel had
seen the world. She had passedtwo years at one of the first boarding
schools in London, had spent afortnight in Bath, and had supped one
night in Southampton. Beware, myLaura, she would often say, Beware

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of the insipid vanities and idle dissipationsof the metropolis of England. Beware of
the unmeaning luxuries of Bath, andof the stinking fish of Southampton. Alas
exclaimed, I, how am Ito avoid those evils? I shall never
be exposed to What probability is thereof my ever tasting the dissipations of London,

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the luxuries of Bath, or thestinking fish of Southampton. I who
am doomed to waste my days ofyouth and beauty in a humble cottage in
the Vale of usk Ah. Littledid I then think I was ordained so
soon to quit that humble cottage forthe deceitful pleasures of the world. Adieu,

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Laura. Letter fifth Laura to MaryAnne. One evening in December,
as my father, my mother andmyself were arranged in social converse round our
fireside, we were on a suddengreatly astonished by hearing a violent knocking on
the outward door of our rustic cot. My father started, What noise is

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that? Said he? It soundslike a loud rapping at the door,
replied my mother. It does,indeed, cried I. I am of
your opinion, said my father.It certainly does appear to proceed from some
uncommon violence exerted against our unoffending door. Yes, exclaimed I. I cannot

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help thinking it must be somebody whoknocks for admittance. That is another point,
replied he. We must not pretendto determine on what motive the person
may knock, though, that someone does rap at the door, I
am partly convinced. Here A secondtremendous rap, interrupted my father in his
speech, and somewhat alarmed my motherand me. Had we better not go

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and see who it is? Saidshe? The servants are out, I
think we had, replied I certainly, added my father. By all means,
shall we go now, said mymother. The sooner the better,
answered he. Oh, let notime be lost, cried I. A

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third, more violent rap than everagain assaulted our ears. I am certain
there is somebody knocking at the door, said my mother. I think there
must, replied my father. Ifancy the servants are returned, said I
I think I hear Mary going tothe door. I am glad of it,
cried my father, for I longto know who it is. I

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was right in my conjecture, forMary, instantly entering the room, informed
us that a young gentleman and hisservant were at the door, who had
lost their way, were very cold, and begged leave to warm themselves by
our fire. Won't you admit them? Said I. You have no objection,
my dear, said my father.None in the world, replied my

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mother. Mary, without waiting forany further commands, immediately left the room
and quickly returned, introducing the mostbeauteous and amiable youth I had ever beheld.
The servant, she kept to herself. My natural sensibility had already been
greatly affected by the sufferings of theunfortunate stranger, and no sooner did I

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first behold him than I felt thaton him the happiness or misery of my
future life must depend. Adieu Laura, Letter sixth Laura to Mary Anne.
The noble youth informed us that hisname was Lindsey. For particular reasons.

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However, I shall conceal it underthat of Talbot. He told us,
that he was the son of anEnglish baronet, that his mother had been
for many years no more, andthat he had a sister of the middle
size. My father, he continued, is a mean and mercenary wretch.
It is only to such particular friendsas this dear party, that I would

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thus betray his failings, your virtues, my amiable Polydor, addressing himself to
my father, yours, dear Claudia, and yours, my charming Laura,
call on me to repose in youmy confidence. We bowed. My father,
seduced by the false glare of fortuneand the deluding pomp of title,

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insisted on my giving my hand toLady Dorothea. No, never exclaimed I.
Lady Dorothea is lovely and engaging.I prefer no woman to her.
But know sir, that I scornto marry her in compliance with your wishes.
No, never shall it be saidthat I obliged my father. We

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all admired the noble manliness of hisreply, he continued, Sir Edward was
surprised he had perhaps little expected tomeet with so spirited an opposition to his
will. Where Edward, in thename of Wonder, said he did you
pick up this unmeaning Gibberish, whohave been studying novels I suspect, I
scorned to answer, it would havebeen beneath my dignity. I mounted my

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horse, and, followed by myfaithful William, set forth for my aunt's.
My father's house is situated in Bedfordshire, my aunt's in Middlesex. And
though I flatter myself with being atolerable proficient in geography, I know not
how it happened. But I foundmyself entering this beautiful vale, which I
find as in South Wales, whenI had expected to have reached my aunt's,

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After having wandered some time on thebanks of the usk, without knowing
which way to go, I beganto lament my cruel destiny in the bitterest
and most pathetic manner. It wasnow perfectly dark. Not a single star
was there to direct my steps,and I know not what might have befallen
me had I not at length discerned, through the solemn gloom that surrounded me,

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a distant light, which, asI approached it, I discovered to
be the cheerful blaze of your fire, impelled by the combination of misfortunes under
which I labored, namely fear,cold and hunger. I hesitated not to
ask admittance, which at length Ihave gained. And now my adorable Laura

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continued, he taking my hand.When may I hope to receive that reward
of all the painful sufferings I haveundergone during the course of my attachment to
you, to which I have everaspired? Oh? When will you reward
me with yourself? This instant,dear and amiable Edward replied I. We

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were immediately united by my father,who, though he had never taken orders,
had been bred to the church.Adieu, Lura, letter seventh do
to Mary Anne. We remained buta few days after our marriage in the
Vale of Usk. After taking anaffecting farewell of my father, my mother

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and my Isabel, I accompanied Edwardto his aunt's in Middlesex. Philippa received
us both with every expression of affectionatelove. My arrival was indeed a most
agreeable surprise to her, as shehad not only been totally ignorant of my
marriage with her nephew, but hadnever even had the slightest idea of there
being such a person in the world. Augusta, the sister of Edward,

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was on a visit to her.When we arrived, I found her exactly
what her brother had described her tobe, of the middle size. She
received me with equal surprise, thoughnot with equal cordiality as Philippa. There
was a disagreeable coldness and forbidding reservein her reception of me, which was
equally distressing and unexpected. None ofthat interesting sensibility or amiable sympathy in her

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manners and addressed to me when wefirst met, which should have distinguished our
introduction to each other. Her languagewas neither warm nor affectionate. Her expressions
of regard were neither animated nor cordial. Her arms were not opened to receive
me to her heart, though myown were extended to press her to mine.

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A short conversation between Augusta and herbrother, which I accidentally overheard,
increased my dislike to her, andconvinced me that her heart was no more
formed for the soft ties of lovethan for the endearing intercourse of friendship.
But do you think that my fatherwill ever be reconciled to this imprudent connection,
said Augusta. Augusta replied, thenoble youth, I thought you had

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a better opinion of me than toimagine I would so abjectly degrade myself as
to consider my father's concurrence in anyof my affairs, either of consequence or
concern to me. Tell me,Augusta, with sincere did you ever know
me to consult his inclinations or followhis advice in the least trifling particular since

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the age of fifteen? Edward repliedshe. You are surely too diffident in
your own praise, since you arefifteen, Only my dear brother, since
you were five years old, Ientirely acquit you of ever having willingly contributed
to the satisfaction of your father.But still I am not without apprehensions of
your being shortly obliged to degrade yourselfin your own eyes by seeking a support

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for your wife in the generosity ofSir Edward. Never, never, Augusta,
will I so demean myself, saidEdward. Support What support will Laura
want which she can receive from him? Only those very insignificant ones are Victuals
and Drink, answered she. Victualsand drink, replied my husband in a

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most nobly contemptuous manner. And dostthou then imagine that there is no other
support taught for an exalted mind suchas is my Laura's than the mean and
indelicate employment of eating and drinking,None that I know of so efficacious,
returned Augusta. And did you thennever feel the pleasing pangs of love?

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Augusta replied my Edward. Does itappear impossible to your vile and corrupted Pallette
to exist on love? Can younot conceive the luxury of living in every
distress that poverty can inflict with theobject of your tenderest affection. You are
too ridiculous, said Augusta to arguewith Perhaps, however, you may in

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time be convinced that Here I wasprevented from hearing the remainder of her speech
by the appearance of a very handsomeyoung woman who was ushered into the room
at the door of which I hadbeen listening. On hearing her announced by
the name of Lady Dorothea, Iinstantly quitted my post and followed her into
the parlor, for I well rememberthat she was the lady proposed as a

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wife for my Edward by the crueland unrelenting Baronet. Although Lady Dorothea's visit
was nominally to Philippa and Augusta.Yet I have some reason to imagine that
acquainted with the marriage and arrival ofEdward to see me was a principal motive
to it. I soon perceived that, though lovely and elegant in her person,

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and though easy and polite in heraddress, she was of that inferior
order of beings with regard to delicatefeeling, tender sentiments, and refined sensibility,
of which Augusta was one. Shestayed but half an hour, and
neither, in the course of hervisit, confided to me any of her
secret thoughts, nor requested me toconfide in her any of mine. You

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will easily imagine, therefore, mydear mary Anne, that I could not
feel any ardent affection or very sincereattachment for Lady Dorothea. Adieu Laura,
Letter eight Laura to mary Anne.In continuation, Lady Dorothea had not left
us long before another visitor, asunexpected a one as her ladyship was announced.

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It was Sir Edward, who,informed by Augusta of her brother's marriage,
came doubtless to reproach him for havingdared to unite himself to me without
his knowledge but Edward, for seeinghis design, approached him with heroic fortitude
as soon as he entered the room, and addressed him in the following manner,

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Sir Edward, I know the motiveof your journey. Here you come
with the base design of reproaching mefor having entered into a dissoluble engagement with
my Laura without your consent. ButSir, I glory in the act.
It is my greatest boast that Ihave incurred the displeasure of my father.
So saying, he took my hand, and whilst Sir Edward, Philippa and

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Augusta were doubtless reflecting with admiration onhis undaunted brave led me from the parlor
to his father's carriage, which yetremained at the door, and in which
we were instantly conveyed from the pursuitof Sir Edward. The Postilions had at
first received orders only to take theLondon road. As soon as we had
sufficiently reflected, however, we orderedthem to drive to Mum, the seat

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of Edward's most particular friend, whichwas but a few miles distant. Ad
Mum we arrived in a few hours, and, on sending in our names
were immediately admitted to Sophia, thewife of Edward's friend, after having been
deprived during the course of three weeksof a real friend. For such I

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term your mother, imagine my transportshad beholding one most truly worthy of the
name. Sophia was rather above themiddle size, most elegantly formed a soft
languor spread over her lovely features,but increased their beauty. It was the
characteristic of her mind. She wasall sensibility and feeling. We flew into

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each other's arms, and, afterhaving exchanged vows of mutual friendship for the
rest of our lives, instantly unfoldedto each other the most inward secrets of
our hearts. We were interrupted inthe delightful employment by the entrance of Augustus,
Edward's friend, who was just returnedfrom a solitary ramble. Never did

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I see such an affecting scene aswas the meeting of Edward and Augustus.
My life, my soul, exclaimedthe former, My adorable angel, replied
the latter, as they flew intoeach other's arms. It was too pathetic
for the feelings of Sophia and myself. We fainted alternately on a sofa Adieu

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Laura. Letter the ninth from thesame to the same. Towards the close
of day, we received the followingletter from Philippa. Sir Edward is greatly
incensed by your abrupt departure. Hehas taken back Augusta to Bedfordshire. Much
as I wish to enjoy again yourcharming society, I cannot determine to snatch

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you from that of such dear anddeserving friends. When your visit to them
is terminated, I trust you willreturn to the arms of your Philippa.
We returned a suitable answer to thisaffectionate note, and, after thanking her
for her kind invitation, assured herthat we would certainly avail ourselves of it
whenever we might have no other placeto go to. Though certainly nothing could

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to any reasonable being have appeared moresatisfactory than so grateful a reply to her
invitation. Yet I know not howit was, but she was certainly capricious
enough to be displeased with our behavior, and in a few weeks after,
either to revenge our conduct or relieveher own solitude, married a young and
illiterate fortune hunter. This imprudent step, though we were sensible that it would

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be probably deprive us of that fortunewhich Philippa had ever taught us to expect,
could not, on our own accounts, excite from our exalted minds a
single sigh, Yet fearful lest itmight prove a source of endless misery to
the deluded bride, Our trembling sensibilitywas greatly affected when we were first informed
of the event. The affectionate entreatiesof Augustus and Sophia that we would forever

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consider their house as our home easilyprevailed on us to determine never more to
leave them. In the society ofmy Edward and this amiable pair I passed
the happiest moments of my life.Our time was most delightfully spent in mutual
protestations of friendship and in vows ofunalterable love, in which we were secure

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from being interrupted by intruding and disagreeablevisitors. As Augustus and Sophia had,
on their first entrance in the neighborhood, taken due care to inform the surrounding
families that, as their happiness centeredwholly in themselves, they wished for no
other society but alas my dear Mariannesuch happiness, as I then enjoyed,

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was too perfect to be lasting.A most severe and unexpected blow at once
destroyed every sensation of pleasure. Convinced, as you must be from what I
have already told you concerning Augustus andSophia, that there never were a happier
couple, I need not, Iimagine, inform you that their union had
been contrary to the inclinations of theircruel and mercenary parents, who had vainly

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endeavored, with obstinate perseverance, toforce them into a marriage with those whom
they had ever abhorred. But witha heroic fortitude worthy to be related and
admired, they had both constantly refusedto submit to such despotic power. After
having so nobly disentangled themselves from theshackles of parental authority by a clandestine marriage,

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they were determined never to forfeit thegood opinion they had gained in the
world in so doing, by acceptingany proposals of reconciliation that might be offered
them by their fathers. To thisfurther trial of their noble independence. However,
they were never exposed. They hadbeen married but a few months when
our visit to them commenced, duringwhich time they had been amply supported by

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a considerable sum of money which Augustushad gracefully purloined from his unworthy father's escritoire.
A few days before his union withSofia. By our arrival, their
expenses were considerably increased, though theirmeans for supplying them were then nearly exhausted.
But they exalted creatures scorned to reflecta moment on their pecuniary distresses,

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and would have blushed at the ideaof paying their debts. Alas what was
their reward for such disinterested behavior.The beautiful Augustus was arrested, and we
were all undone such perfidious treachery inthe merciless perpetrators of the deed. Will
she shock your gentle nature, dearestMary Anne, as much as it then

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affected the delicate sensibility of Edward Sophia, your Laura, and of Augustus himself.
To complete such unparalleled barbarity, wewere informed that an execution in the
house would shortly take place. Ah, what can we do? But what
we did? We sighed and faintedon the sofa, Adieu Laura, Letter

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ten Laura In continuation, when wewere somewhat recovered from the overpowering effusions of
our grief. Edward desired that wewould consider what was the most prudent step
to be taken in our unhappy situation, while he repaired to his imprisoned friend
to lament over his misfortunes. Wepromised that we would, and he set

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forwards on his journey to town.During his absence, we faithfully complied with
his desire, and, after themost mature deliberation, at length agreed that
the best thing we could do wasto leave the house of which we every
moment expected the office of Justice totake possession. We waited, therefore,

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with the greatest impatience for the returnof Edward, in order to impart to
him the result of our deliberations.But no Edward appeared in vain. Did
we count the tedious moments of hisabsence in vain? Did we weep in
vain? Even did we sigh?No Edward returned. This was too cruel,

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too unexpected, a blow to ourgentle sensibility. We could not support
it. We could only faint atlength, collecting all the resolution I was
mistress of, I arose and afterpacking up some necessary apparel for Sophia and
myself. I dragged her to acarriage I had ordered, and we instantly
set out for London. As thehabitation of Augustus was within twelve miles of

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town. It was not long erewe arrived there, and no sooner had
we entered Hoburn than letting down oneof the front glasses. I inquired of
every decent looking person that we passedif they had seen my Edward. But
as we drove too rapidly to allowthem to answer my repeated inquiries, I
gained little, or indeed no informationconcerning him. Where am I to drive,

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said the postilion, to Newgate?Gentle youth, replied, I to
see Augustus. Oh no, no, exclaimed Sophia. I cannot go to
Newgate. I shall not be ableto support the sight of my Augustus in
so cruel a confinement. My feelingsare sufficiently shocked by the recital of his
distress, but to behold it willoverpower my sensibility. As I perfectly agreed

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with her in the justice of hersentiments, the postilion was instantly directed to
return into the country. You mayperhaps have been somewhat surprised my dearest mari
Anne, that in the distress Ithen endured, destitute of any support,
an unprovided with any habitation, Ishould never once have remembered my father and
mother, or my paternal cottage inthe Veil of Usk. To account for

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this seeming forgetfulness, I must informyou of a trifling circumstance concerning them,
which I have as yet never mentioned. The death of my parents a few
weeks after my departure is the circumstanceI allude to. By their decease,
I became the lawful inheritress of theirhouse and fortune, but alas the house

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had never been their own, andtheir fortune had only been an annuity on
their own lives. Such is thedepravity of the world to your mother.
I should have returned with pleasure,should have been happy to have introduced to
her my charming Sophia, and shouldwith cheerfulness have passed the remainder of my
life in their dear society in theVeil of Usk had not one obstacle to

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the execution of so agreeable a schemeintervened, which was the marriage and removal
of your mother to a distant partof Ice. Adieu, Laura, end
of Part one, Part two,Letter eleventh Laura in continuation, I have

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a relation in Scotland, said Sofiato me as we left London, who
I am certain would not hesitate inreceiving me. Shall I order the boy
to drive there? Said I,but instantly recollecting myself, exclaimed, alas
I fear it will be too longa journey for the horses. Unwilling,
however, to act only for myown inadequate knowledge of the strengths and abilities

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of horses, I consulted the postilion, who was entirely of my opinion concerning
the affair. We therefore determined tochange horses at the next town and to
travel post to the remainder of thejourney. When we arrived at the last
inn we were to stop at,which was but a few miles from the
house of Sofia's relation. Unwilling tointrude our society on him unexpected and una

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thought of, we wrote a veryelegant and well penned note to him,
containing an account of our destitute andmelancholy situation, and of our intention to
spend some months with him in Scotland. As soon as we had dispatched this
letter. We immediately prepared to followit in person, and was stepping into
the carriage for that purpose when ourattention was attracted by the entrance of a

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coroneted coach and four into the innyard. A gentleman considerably advanced in years,
descended from it. At his firstappearance, my sensibility was wonderfully affected,
and ere I had gazed at hima second time, an instinctive sympathy
whispered to my heart that he wasmy grandfather. Convinced that I could not

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be mistaken in my conjecture, Iinstantly sprang from the carriage I had just
entered, and following the venerable strangerinto the room he had been shown to,
I threw myself on my knees beforehim and besought him to acknowledge me
as his grandchild. He started,and, having attentively examined my features,
raised me from the ground, and, throwing his grandfatherly arms around my neck,

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exclaimed acknowledge thee yes dear resemblance ofmy Loreena and Lorena's daughter, sweet
image of my Claudia and my Claudia'smother. I do acknowledge thee as the
daughter of one and the granddaughter ofthe other. While he was thus tenderly
embracing me, Sophia, astonished atmy precipitate departure, entered the room in

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search of me. No sooner hadshe caught the eye of the venerable peer
than he exclaimed, with every markof astonishment, another grand daughter. Yes,
Yes, I see you are thedaughter of my Lorena's eldest girl.
Your resemblance to the beauteous Matilda sufficientlyproclaims it, Oh, replied Sophia.
When I first beheld you, theinstinct of nature whispered me that we were

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in some degree related, But whethergrandfather's or grandmother's I could not pretend to
determine. He folded her in hisarms, and while they were tenderly embracing,
the door of the apartment opened,and a most beautiful young man appeared.
On perceiving him, Lord Sinclair startedand retreating back a few paces with

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uplifted hands, said another grandchild,What an unexpected happiness is this to discover
in a space of three minutes,as many of my descendants, This,
I am certain is Falander, theson of my Loreena's third girl, the
amiable Bertha. There wants now butthe presence of Gustavus to complete the union
of my Lorena's grandchildren. And herehe is, said a graceful youth,

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who that instant entered the room.Here is the Gustavus you desire to see.
I am the son of Agatha,your Lorena's fourth and youngest daughter.
I see you are, indeed,replied Lord Sinclair. But tell me,
continued he, looking fearfully towards thedoor. Tell me, have I any
other grandchildren in the house? None, my lord, Then I will provide

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for you all without further delay.Here are four bank notes of fifty pounds
each. Take them, and rememberI have done the duty of a grandfather.
He instantly left the room, andimmediately afterwards the house. Adieu,
Laura letter the twelfth Laura. Incontinuation, you may imagine how greatly we

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were surprised by the sudden departure ofLord Sainclair. Ignoble grandsire, exclaimed Sophia,
unworthy grandfather, said I, andinstantly fainted in each other's arms.
How long we remained in this situationI know not, But when we recovered,
we found ourselves alone without either GustavusPhalander or the bank notes. As

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we were deploring our unhappy fate,the door of the apartment opened and MacDonald
was announced. He was Sofia's cousin. The haste with which he came to
our relief so soon after the resistedof our note spoke so greatly in his
favor that I hesitated not to pronouncehim at first sight a tender and sympathetic
friend, alas he little deserved thename. For though he told us that

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he was much concerned at our misfortunes, yet by his own account it appeared
that the perusal of them had neitherdrawn from him a single sigh nor induced
him to bestow one curse on ourvindictive stars. He told Sophia that his
daughter depended on her returning with himto McDonald Hall, and that as his
cousin's friend, he should be happyto see me there also to McDonald Hall.

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Therefore we went, and were receivedwith great kindness by Janetta, the
daughter of MacDonald and the mistress ofthe mansion. Jeannetta was then only fifteen,
naturally well disposed, endowed with asusceptible heart and a sympathetic disposition.
She might, had these amiable qualitiesbeen properly encouraged, have been an ornament
to human nature. But unfortunately herfather possessed not a soul sufficiently exalted to

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admire so promising a disposition, andhad endeavored by every means on his power
to prevent it. Increasing with heryears, he had actually so far extinguished
the natural noble sensibility of her heartas to prevail on her to accept an
offer from a young man of hisrecommendation. They were to be married in

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a few months, and Graham wasin the house when we arrived. We
soon saw through his character he wasjust such a man as one might have
expected to be the choice of MacDonald. They said he was sensible, well
informed, and agreeable. We didnot pretend to judge of such trifles.
But as we were convinced he hadno soul, that he had never read

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the sorrows of weather, and thathis hair born not the least resemblance to
auburn, we were certain that Jeannettacould feel no affection for him, or
at least that she ought to feelnone. The very circumstance of his being
her father's choice, too, wasso much in his disfavor that had he
been deserving her in every other respect, Yet that of itself ought to have

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been a sufficient reason in the eyesof Janetta for rejecting him. These considerations
we were determined to represent to herin their proper light, and doubted not
of meeting with the desired success fromone naturally so well disposed, whose errors
in the affair had only arisen froma want of proper confidence in her own
opinion and a suitable contempt of herfather's. We found her, indeed,

(34:30):
all that our warmest wishes could havehoped for. We had no difficulty to
convince her that it was impossible shecould love Graham, or that it was
her duty to disobey her father.The only thing at which she rather seemed
to hesitate was our assertion that shemust be attached to some other person.
For some time she persevered in declaringthat she knew no other young man for

(34:52):
whom she had the smallest affection,But on explaining the impossibility of such a
thing, she said that she believedshe did like Captain mc kenry better than
any one she knew. Besides,this confession satisfied us, and, after
having enumerated the good qualities of mckenry and assured her that she was violently
in love with him. We desiredto know whether he had in any wise

(35:15):
declared his affection to her. Sofar from having ever declared it, I
have no reason to imagine that hehas ever felt any for me, said
Janetta. That he certainly adores you, replied Sophia, there can be no
doubt the attachment must be reciprocal.Did he never gaze on you with admiration,

(35:36):
tenderly press your hand, drop aninvoluntary tear, and leave the room
abruptly? Never, replied she thatI remember he has always left the room,
indeed when his visit has been ended, but has never gone away particularly
abruptly or without making a bow.Indeed, my love, said I,
you must be mistaken, for itis absolutely impossible that he should ever have

(36:00):
left you. But with confusion,despair, and precipitation, consider but for
a moment, Janetta, and youmust be convinced how absurd it is to
suppose that he could ever make abow or behave like any other person.
Having settled this point to our satisfaction, the next we took into consideration was
to determine what manner we should informmc kenry of the favorable opinion Jeannetta entertained

(36:22):
of him, We at length agreedto acquaint him with it by an anonymous
letter, which Sophia drew up inthe following manner, Oh, happy lover
of the beautiful Janetta, Oh,amiable possessor of her heart, whose hand
is destined to another, Why doyou thus delay a confession of your attachment

(36:43):
to the amiable object of it?Oh? Consider that a few weeks will
at once put an end to everyflattering hope that you may now entertain by
uniting the unfortunate victim of her father'scruelty to the execrable and detested Graham.
Alas, why do you thus socruelly connive at the projected misery of her

(37:04):
and of yourself by delaying to communicatethat scheme which had doubtless long possessed your
imagination? A secret union will atonce secure the felicity of both The amiable
mcchenery, whose modesty, as heafterwards assured us, had been the only
reason of his having so long concealedthe violence of his affection for Janetta.

(37:24):
On receiving this billet, flew onthe wings of love to MacDonald Hall,
and so powerfully pleaded his attachment toher, who inspired it that, after
a few more private interviews, Sofiaand I experienced the satisfaction of seeing them
depart for Gretna Green, which theychose for the celebration of their nuptials in
preference to any other place, althoughit was at a considerable distance from McDonald

(37:47):
Hall Adieu Laura Letter the thirteenth Laurain continuation, They had been gone nearly
a couple of hours before either MacDonaldor Graham had entertained any suspicion of the
affair, and they might not eventhen have suspected it but for the following

(38:08):
little accident. Sophia, happening oneday to open a private drawer in MacDonald's
library with one of her own keys, discovered that it was the place where
he kept his papers of consequence,and amongst them some bank notes of considerable
amount. This discovery she imparted tome, and, having agreed together that

(38:29):
it would be a proper treatment ofso vile a wretch as McDonald to deprive
him of money, perhaps dishonestly gained, it was determined that the next time
we should either of us happen togo that way, we would take one
or more of the bank notes fromthe drawer. This well meant plan we
had often successfully put in execution,but alas on the very day of Janetta's

(38:52):
escape, as Sophia was majestically removingthe fifth bank note from the drawer to
her own purse, she was mostimpertinently interrupted in her employer by the entrance
of mc donald himself in a mostabrupt and precipitate manner. Sophia, who
though naturally all winning sweetness, could, when occasions demanded it, call forth

(39:12):
the dignity of her sex, instantlyput on a most forbidding look, and
darting an angry frown on the undauntedculprit demanded in a haughty tone of voice.
Wherefore her retirement was thus insolently brokenin on the unblushing MacDonald, without
even endeavoring to exculpate himself from thecrime he was charged with meanly endeavored to

(39:32):
reproach Sophia with ignobly defrauding him ofhis money. The dignity of Sophia was
wounded, wretch, exclaimed she hastilyreplacing the bank note in the drawer.
How dareest thou to accuse me ofan act of which the bare idea makes
me blush. The base wretch wasstill unconvinced, and continued to upbraid the

(39:54):
justly offended Sophia in such approbrious languagethat at length he so greatly provoked the
gentle sweetness of her nature as toinduce her to revenge herself on him by
informing him of Jeanetta's elopement and ofthe active part we had both taken in
the affair at this period of theirquarrel. I entered the library and was,

(40:15):
as you may imagine, equally offendedas Sophia at the ill grounded accusations
of the malevolent and contemptible MacDonald.Base miscreant cried, I, how canst
thou thus undauntedly endeavor to sully thespotless reputation of such bright excellence? Why
dost thou not suspect my innocence?As soon be satisfied, madam replied he,

(40:37):
I do suspect it, and thereforemust desire that you will both leave
this house in less than half anhour. We shall go, willingly,
answered Sophia. Our hearts have longdetested thee and nothing but our friendship for
thy daughter could have induced us toremain so long beneath thy roof your friendship,

(40:57):
For my daughter has indeed been mostpowerfully exert by throwing her into the
arms of an unprincipled fortune. Hunterreplied He Yes, exclaimed, I amidst
every misfortune. It will afford ussome consolation to reflect that, by this
one act of friendship to Janetta,we have amply discharged every obligation that we
have received from her father. Itmust indeed be a grateful reflection to your

(41:22):
exalted minds, said he As soonas we had packed up our wardrobe and
valuables, we left MacDonald Hall,and after having walked about a mile and
a half, we sat down bythe side of a clear, limpid stream
to refresh our exhausted limbs. Theplace was suited to meditation. A grove
of full grown elms sheltered us fromthe east, a bed of full grown

(41:45):
nettles from the west. Before usran the Murmuring Brook, and behind us
ran the Turnpike Road. We werein a mood for contemplation and in a
disposition to enjoy so beautiful a spot. Rtual silence, which had for some
time reigned between us, was atlength broke by my exclaiming, what a

(42:06):
lovely scene. Alas, why arenot Edward and Augustus here to enjoy its
beauties with us? Ah, mybeloved Laura, cried Sophia, for pity's
sake, forbear, recalling to myremembrance the unhappy situation of my imprisoned husband.
Alas, what would I not giveto learn the fate of my Augustus,
to know if he is still inNewgate, or if he is yet

(42:29):
hung? But never shall I beable so far to conquer my tender sensibility
as to inquire after him. Oh, do not I beseech you ever let
me again hear you repeat his belovedname. It affects me too deeply.
I cannot bear to hear him mentioned. It wounds my feelings. Excuse me,

(42:49):
my Sophia, for having thus unwillinglyoffended, you replied I, and,
then, changing the conversation, desiredher to admire the noble grandeur of
the Elms which sheltered us from theEastern zephyr. Alas, my Laura returned,
she avoid so melancholy a subject.I entreat you do not again wound
my sensibility by observations on those elms. They remind me of Augustus. He

(43:14):
was like them, tall, majestic, He possessed that noble grandeur which you
admire in them. I was silent, fearful lest I might any more unwillingly
distress her by fixing on any othersubject of conversation which might again remind her
of Augustus. Why do you notspeak, my Laura, said she,

(43:36):
after a short pause. I cannotsupport this silence. You must not leave
me to my own reflections they everrecur to Augustus. What a beautiful sky?
Said I. How charmingly is theazure varied by those delicate streaks of
white? Oh, my Laura,replied she hastily, withdrawing her eyes from

(43:57):
a momentary glance at the sky.Do not not thus distress me by calling
my attention to an object which socruelly reminds me of my Augustus's blue satin
waistcoat striped in white. In pityto your unhappy friend, avoid a subject
so distressing. What could I do? The feelings of Sophia were at that
time so exquisite, and the tendernessshe felt for Augustus so poignant, that

(44:22):
I had not power to start anyother topic, justly, fearing that it
might, in some unforeseen manner againawaken all her sensibility by directing her thoughts
to her husband. Yet to besilent would be cruel. She had entreated
me to talk. From this dilemma, I was most fortunately relieved by an
accident truly apropos It was the luckyoverturning of a gentleman's fight on on the

(44:46):
road, which ran murmuring behind us. It was a most fortunate accident,
as it diverted the attention of Sophiafrom the melancholy reflections which she had been
before indulging. We instantly quitted ourseats and ran to the rescue of those
who, but a few moments before, had been in so elevated a situation

(45:07):
as a fashionably high fight on,but who were now laid low and sprawling
in the dust. What an amplesubject for reflection on the uncertain enjoyments of
this world, would not that fighton and the life of Cardinal Wolsey afford
A thinking mind, said I toSophia, as we were hastening to the
field of action. She had nottime to answer me, for every thought

(45:29):
was now engaged by the horrid spectaclebefore us. Two gentlemen, most elegantly
attired, but weltering in their blood, was what first struck our eyes we
approached. They were Edward and Augustus. Yes, dearest mari Anne, they
were our husbands. Sophia shrieked andfainted on the ground. I screamed and

(45:52):
instantly ran mad. We remained thusmutually deprived of our senses some minutes,
and on regaining them, were deprivedof them again for an hour and a
quarter. Did we continue in thisunfortunate situation, Sophia fainting every moment and
I running mad as often at length? A groan from the hapless Edward,

(46:15):
who alone retained any share of life, restored us to ourselves. Had we
indeed before imagined that either of themlived, we should have been more sparing
of our grief. But as wehad supposed when we first beheld them,
that they were no more, weknew that nothing could remain to be done.
But what we were about. Nosooner did we therefore hear my Edward's

(46:36):
groan. Than postponing our lamentations forthe present, we hastily ran to the
dear youth, and, kneeling oneach side of him, implored him not
to die. Laura said, he, fixing his now languid eyes on me.
I fear I have been overturned.I was overjoyed to find him,
yet sensible. Oh tell me,Edward said, tell me, I beseech

(47:00):
you before you die. What hasbefallen you since that unhappy day in which
Augustus was arrested and we were separated? I will, said he, and,
instantly, fetching a deep sigh,expired. Sofia immediately sank again into
a swoon. My grief was moreaudible, my voice faltered, my eyes

(47:22):
assumed a vacant stare, My facebecame as pale as death, and my
senses were considerably impaired. Talk notto me, of phytons, said I,
raving in a frantic, incoherent manner. Give me a violin. I'll
play to him and soothe him inhis melancholy hours. Beware, ye,
gentle nymphs of Cupid's thunderbolts, avoidthe piercing shafts of Jupiter. Look at

(47:47):
that grove of firs, I seea leg of mutton. They told me
Edward was not dead, but theydeceived me. They took him for a
cucumber. Thus, I continued wildly, exclaiming on my Edward's death for two
hours did I rave thus madly?And should not then have left off?
As I was not in the leastfatigued. Had not. Sophia, who

(48:07):
was just recovered from her swoon,entreated me to consider that night was now
approaching, and that the damps beganto fall. And whither shall we go,
said I, to shelter us fromeither to that white cottage, replied
she, pointing to a neat buildingwhich rose up amidst the grove of elms,
and which I had not before observed. I agreed, and we instantly

(48:30):
walked to it. We knocked atthe door, it was opened by an
old woman. On being requested toafford us a night's lodging, she informed
us that her house was but small, that she had only two bedrooms,
but that however, we should bewelcome to one of them. We were
satisfied and followed the good woman intothe house, where we were greatly cheered

(48:52):
by the sight of a comfortable fire. She was a widow and had only
one daughter, who was then justseventeen, one of the best of ages.
But alas she was very plain,and her name was bridget Nothing therefore
could be expected from her. Shecould not be supposed to possess either exalted
ideas, delicate feelings, or refinedsensibilities. She was nothing more than a

(49:16):
mere, good tempered, civil andobliging young woman. As such, we
could scarcely dislike her. She wasonly an object of contempt. Adieu,
Laura, end of Part two,Part three, Letter the fourteenth Laura,
in continuation, arm yourself, myamiable young friend, with all the philosophy

(49:42):
you are mistress of, summon upall the fortitude you possess, for alas
in the perusal of the following pages, your sensibility will be most severely tried.
Ah, What were the misfortunes Ihad before experienced, and which I
have already related to you, tothe one I am now going to inform
you of the death of my father, and my mother and my husband,

(50:07):
though almost more than my gentle naturecould support, were trifles in comparison to
the misfortune I am now proceeding torelate. The morning after our arrival at
the cottage, Sophia complained of aviolent pain in her delicate limbs, accompanied
with a disagreeable headache. She attributedit to a cold caught by her continued

(50:28):
faintings in the open air as thedew was falling the evening before this,
I feared was but too probably thecase, since how could it otherwise be
accounted for that I should have escapedthe same indisposition. But by supposing that
the bodily exertions I had undergone inmy repeated fits of phrenzy had so effectively
circulated and warmed my blood as tomake me proof against the chilling damps of

(50:52):
night, whereas Sophia, lying totallyinactive on the ground, must have been
exposed to all their severence. Iwas most seriously alarmed by her illness,
which, trifling as it may appearto you, a certain instinctive sensibility,
whispered me, would in the endbe fatal to her. Alas my fears

(51:15):
were but too fully justified, shegrew gradually worse, and I daily became
more alarmed for her. At lengthshe was obliged to confine herself solely to
the bed allotted us by our worthylandlady. Her disorder turned to a galloping
consumption, and in a few dayscarried her off amidst all my lamentations for

(51:37):
her, and violent you may supposethey were. I yet received some consolation
in the reflection of my having paidevery attention to her that could be offered
in her illness. I had weptover her every day, had bathed her
sweet face with my tears, andhad pressed her fair hands continually in mine,

(51:58):
My beloved Laura, said she afew hours before she died. Take
warning from my unhappy end, andavoid the imprudent conduct which had occasioned it.
Beware of fainting fits, though atthe time they may be refreshing and
agreeable. Yet believe me, theywill, in the end, if too
often repeated and at in proper seasons, prove destructive to your constitution. My

(52:22):
fate will teach you this. Idie a martyr to my grief for the
loss of Augustus. One fatal swoonhas cost me my life. Beware of
swoons, dear Laura. A frenzyfit is not one quarter so pernicious.
It is an exercise to the body, and, if not too violent,
is I dare say, conducive tohealth in its consequences. Run mad as

(52:45):
often as you choose, but donot faint. These were the last words
she ever addressed to me. Itwas her dying advice to her afflicted Laura,
who has ever most faithfully adhered toit. After having attended my lamented
friend to her early grave, Iimmediately, though late at night, left

(53:07):
the detested village in which she died, and near which had expired my husband
and Augustus. I had not walkedmany yards from it before I was overtaken
by a stage coach, in whichI instantly took a place, determined to
proceed in it to Edinburgh, whereI hoped to find some kind, some
pitying friend, who would receive andcomfort me in my afflictions. It was

(53:30):
so dark when I entered the coachthat I could not distinguish the number of
my fellow travelers. I could onlyperceive that they were many. Regardless,
however, of anything concerning them,I gave myself up to my own sad
reflections. A general silence prevailed,a silence which was by nothing interrupted but

(53:51):
by the loud and repeated snores ofone of the party. What an illiterate
villain must that man be, thoughtI to myself, What a total want
of delicate refinement must he have,who can thus shock our senses by such
a brutal noise, He must,I am certain, be capable of every
bad action. There is no crimetoo black for such a character. Thus

(54:15):
reasoned I within myself, and doubtlesssuch were the reflections of my fellow travelers
at length. Returning day enabled meto behold the unprincipled scoundrel who had so
violently disturbed my feelings. It was, Sir Edward, the father of my
deceased husband. By his side satAugusta, And on the same seat with

(54:36):
me were your mother and Lady Dorothea. Imagine my surprise at finding myself thus
seated amongst my old acquaintance. Greatas was my astonishment, it was yet
increased when, on looking out ofwindows I beheld the husband of Philippa,
with Philippa by his side, onthe coach box, and when on looking
behind I beheld Philander and Gustavs inthe basket. Oh heavens, exclaimed I

(55:02):
is it possible that I should sounexpectedly be surrounded by my nearest relations and
connections. These words roused the restof the party, and every eye was
directed to the corner in which Isat. Oh my Isabel, continued,
I, throwing myself across Lady Dorotheainto her arms, receive once more to

(55:23):
your bosom, the unfortunate Laura.Alas when last we parted in a veil
of usk, I was happy inbeing united to the best of Edward's I
had then a father and a mother, and had never known misfortunes, but
now deprived of every friend. Butyou, what, interrupted Augusta. Is

(55:44):
my brother dead, then tell us, I entreat you what is become of
him? Yes, cold and insensibleNymph replied I that, luckless Swain,
your brother is no more, andyou may now glory in being the heiress
of Sir Edward's fortune. Although Ihad always despised her from the day I
had overheard her conversation with my Edward, yet in civility I complied with hers

(56:08):
and Sir Edward's entreaties that I wouldinform them of the whole melancholy affair.
They were greatly shocked. Even theobdurate heart of Sir Edward and the insensible
one of Augusta were touched with sorrowby the unhappy tale. At the request
of your mother, I related tothem every other misfortune which had befallen me

(56:28):
since we parted of the imprisonment ofAugustus and the absence of Edward, of
our arrival in Scotland, of ourunexpected meeting with our grandfather and our cousins,
of our visit to MacDonald Hall,of the singular service we there performed
towards Janetta, of her father's ingratitudefor it, of his inhuman behavior,

(56:49):
unaccountable suspicions and barbarous treatment of usin obliging us to leave the house,
of our lamentations on the loss ofEdward and Augustus, and finally of the
melancholy death of my beloved companion.Pity and surprise was strongly depictured in your
mother's countenance during the whole of mynarration. But I am sorry to say

(57:15):
that the eternal reproach of her sensibilitythe latter infinitely predominated, nay faultless.
As my conduct had certainly been duringthe whole course of my late misfortunes and
adventures, she pretended to find faultwith my behavior in many of the situations
in which I had been placed,As I was sensible myself that I had

(57:36):
always behaved in a manner which reflectedhonor on my feelings and refinement. I
paid little attention to what she said, and desired her to satisfy my curiosity
by informing me how she came there, instead of wounding my spotless reputation with
unjustifiable reproaches. As soon as shehad complied with my wishes in this particular
and had given me an accurate detailof everything that had befallen her since our

(58:00):
separation, the particulars of which,if you were not already acquainted with your
mother, will give you, Iapplied to Augusta for the same information,
respecting herself, Sir Edward and LadyDorothea. She told me that, having
a considerable taste for the beauties ofnature, her curiosity to behold the wonderful
scenes it exhibited in that part ofthe world had been so much raised by

(58:23):
Gilpin's tour to the Highlands that shehad prevailed on her father to undertake a
tour to Scotland, and had persuadedLady Dorothea to accompany them. That they
had arrived at Edinburgh a few daysbefore, and from thence had made daily
excursions into the country around in thestage coach they were then in from one

(58:43):
of which excursions they were at thattime returning. My next inquiries were concerning
Philippa and her husband, the latterof whom I learned, having spent all
her fortune, had recourse for subsistenceto the talent in which he had always
most excelled, namely driving, andthat, having sold everything which belonged to

(59:05):
them except their coach, had convertedit into a stage, and, in
order to be removed from any ofhis former acquaintance, had driven it to
Edinburgh, from whence he went toSterling every other day. That Philippa,
still retaining her affection for her ungratefulhusband, had followed him to Scotland and
generally accompanied him in his little excursionsto Sterling. It has only been to

(59:28):
throw a little money into their pockets, continued Augusta, that my father has
always traveled in their coach to viewthe beauties of the country since our arrival
in Scotland. For it would certainlyhave been much more agreeable to us to
visit the Highlands in a post chaisethan merely to travel from Edinburgh to Sterling
and from Sterling to Edinburgh every otherday in a crowded and uncomfortable stage.

(59:50):
I perfectly agreed with her in hersentiments on the affair, and secretly blamed
Sir Edward for thus sacrificing his daughter'spleasure for the sake of a ridiculous old
woman, whose folly in marrying soyoung a man ought to be punished.
His behavior, however, was entirelyof a piece with his general character.
For what could be expected from aman who possessed not the smallest atom of

(01:00:10):
sensibility, who scarcely knew the meaningof sympathy, and who actually snored?
Adieu, Laura Letter the fifteenth Laurain continuation. When we arrived at the
town where we were to breakfast,I was determined to speak with Filander and

(01:00:32):
Gustavus, and to that purpose,as soon as I left the carriage,
I went to the basket and tenderlyinquired after their health, expressing my fears
of the uneasiness of their situation.At first, they seemed rather confused at
my appearance, dreading no doubt thatI might call them to account for the
money which our grandfather had left meand which they had unjustly deprived me of,

(01:00:54):
But finding that I mentioned nothing ofthe matter, they desired me to
step into the basket, as wemight there converse with greater ease. Accordingly
I entered, and whilst the restof the party were devouring green tea and
buttered toast, we feasted ourselves ina more refined and sentimental manner. By
a confidential conversation. I informed themof everything which had befallen me during the

(01:01:19):
course of my life, and atmy request, they related to me every
incident of theirs. We are thesons, as you already know, of
the two youngest daughters which Lord Sainclairhad by Lorena, an Italian opera girl,
our mothers could neither of them exactlyascertain who were our father though it
is generally believed that Fialander is theson of one Philip Jones, a bricklayer,

(01:01:42):
and that my father was one GregoryStaves, a staymaker of Edinburgh.
This is, however, of littleconsequence, for as our mothers were certainly
never married to either of them,it reflects no dishonor on our blood,
which is of a most ancient andunpolluted kind. Bertha, the mother of
Philander, and Agatha, my ownmother, always lived together. They were

(01:02:05):
neither of them very rich. Theirunited fortunes had originally amounted to nine thousand
pounds, but as they had alwayslived on the principle of it, when
we were fifteen, it was diminishedto nine hundred. This nine hundred they
always kept in a drawer in oneof the tables which stood in our common
sitting parlor, for the convenience ofhaving it always at hand. Whether it

(01:02:28):
was from this circumstance of its beingeasily taken, or from a wish of
being independent, or from an excessof sensibility, for which we were always
remarkable, I cannot now determine.But certain it is that, when we
had reached our fifteenth year, wetook the nine hundred pounds and ran away.
Having obtained this prize, we weredetermined to manage it with economy,

(01:02:50):
and not to spend it with eitherfolly or extravagance. To this purpose,
we therefore divided it into nine parcels, one of which we devoted to victory
us, the second to drink,the third to housekeeping, the fourth to
carriages, the fifth to horses,the sixth to servants, the seventh to
amusements, the eighth to clothes,and the ninth to silver. Buckles.

(01:03:14):
Having thus arranged our expenses for twomonths, for we expected to make the
nine hundred pounds last as long wehastened to London, and had the good
luck to spend it in seven weeksin a day, which was six days
sooner than we had intended. Assoon as we had thus happily disencumbered ourselves
from the weight of so much money, we began to think of returning to

(01:03:34):
our mothers, but accidentally, hearingthat they were both starved to death,
we gave over the design and determinedto engage ourselves to some strolling company of
players, as we had always hada turn for the stage. Accordingly,
we offered our services to one,and were accepted. Our company was indeed
rather small, as it consisted onlyof the manager, his wife, and

(01:03:57):
ourselves, but there were fewer topay, and the only inconvenience attending it
was a scarcity of plays, which, for want of people to fill the
characters, we could perform. Wedid not mind trifles. However. One
of our most admired performances was Macbeth, in which we were truly great.
The manager always played Banquot himself,his wife my Lady Macbeth, I did

(01:04:18):
the three witches, and Flander actedall the rest. To say the truth,
This tragedy was not only the bestbut the only play that we ever
performed. And after having acceed itall over England and Wales, we came
to Scotland to exhibit it over theremainder of Great Britain. We happened to
be quartered in that very town whereyou came and met your grandfather. We

(01:04:43):
were in the inn yard when hiscarriage entered, and perceiving by the arms
to whom it belonged, and knowingthat Lord Saintclao was our grandfather, we
agreed to endeavor to get something fromhim by discovering the relationship. You know
how well it succeeded. Having obtainedthe two hundred pounds, we instantly left
the town, leaving our manager andhis wife to act Macbeth by themselves,

(01:05:04):
and took the road to Sterling,where we spent our little fortune with greater
clas we are now returning to Edinburghin order to get some preferment in the
acting way. And such, mydear cousin, is our history. I
thanked the amiable youth for his entertainingnarration, and after expressing my wishes for

(01:05:25):
their welfare and happiness, left themin their little habitation, and returned to
my other friends, who impatiently expectedme. My adventures are now drawing to
a close, my dearest mary Anne, at least for the present. When
we arrived at Edinburgh, Sir Edwardtold me that, as the widow of
his son, he desired I wouldaccept from his hands of four hundred a

(01:05:46):
year. I graciously promised that Iwould, but could not help observing that
the unsympathetic baronet offered it more onaccount of my being the widow of Edward
than in being the refined and amiableLaura. I took up my residence in
a romantic village in the highlands ofScotland, where I have ever since continued,
and where I can, uninterrupted byunmeaning visits, indulge in a melancholy

(01:06:12):
solitude my unceasing lamentations for the deathof my father, my mother, my
husband, and my friend. Augustahas been for several years united a Graham,
the man of all others most suitedto her. She became acquainted with
him during her stay in Scotland.Sir Edward, in hopes of gaining an
heir to his title and estate,at the same time married Lady Dorothea.

(01:06:36):
His wishes have been answered. Philanderand Gustavus, after having raised their reputation
by their performances in the theatrical lineat Edinburgh, removed to Covent Garden,
where they still exhibit under the assumednames of Leuvis and Quick. Philippa has
long paid the debt of nature.Her husband, however, still continues to

(01:06:59):
try of the stage coach from Edinburghto Sterling. Adieu, my dearest Marie
Anne Laura Finney June thirteenth, seventeenninety End of Part three and End of
Love and Friendship by Jane Austen