Our faculties
were for some minutes suspended by a conflict of grief and joy. At
length I recovered the use of speech, and gave him to understand,
that I was come to town in order to take my leave of him, by the
permission of my father, whom I had promised to attend into the
country next day, before he would consent to my return; the chief
cause and pretence of which was my earnest desire to convince him,
that I was not to blame for the disappointment he had suffered,
and that I should see him again in a month, when the nuptial knot
should be tied in spite of all opposition.
"My lover, who was better acquainted with the world, had wellnigh
run distracted with this information. He swore he would not leave
me, until I should promise to meet and marry him next day; or,
if I refused to grant that request, he would immediately leave
the kingdom, to which he would never more return; and, before his
departure, sacrifice Lord H. B--, son to the Duke of S. A--, who
was the only person upon earth who could have betrayed us to my
father, because he alone was trusted with the secret of our intended
marriage, and had actually undertaken to give me away; an office
which he afterwards declined.
Pages:
830
831
832
833
834
835
836
837
838
839
840
841
842
843
844
845
846
847
848
849
850
851
852
853
854