My
poor father shed a flood of tears, and conjured me to tell him the
cause of my disquiet; upon which, rather than confess the truth, I
amused his concern by pretending that my lover was ill. The whole
family having stayed by me till I was a little more composed, left
me to the care of my maid, who put me into bed about six in the
morning, but I enjoyed no rest. I revolved every circumstance of
my conduct, endeavouring to find out the cause of this fatal change
in S--'s disposition; and as I could recollect nothing which could
justly give offence, concluded that some malicious persons had
abused his ears with stories to my prejudice.
"With this conjecture I got up, and sent my lawyer to him with a
letter, wherein I insisted upon seeing him, that I might have an
opportunity of justifying myself in person; a task which would be
easily performed, as I had never offended, but in loving too well.
I waited with the most anxious impatience for the return of my
messenger, who brought me an answer couched in the coldest terms of
civility which indifference could dictate; acknowledging, however,
that he had nothing to lay to my charge, but that it was for the
good of us both that we should part.
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