"Finding himself so favourably received, he pressed her to secure
his happiness by marriage; but, to this proposal, she objected the
recency of her kinswoman's death, which would have rendered such a
step highly indecent, and the displeasure of her other relations,
from whom she had still greater expectations, and who, at that
time, importuned her to marry a cousin of her own, whom she could
not like. However, that M-- might have no cause to repine at her
delay, she freely entered with him into an intimacy of correspondence;
during which nothing could have added to their mutual felicity, which
was the more poignant and refined, from the mysterious and romantic
manner of their enjoying it; for, though he publicly visited her
as an acquaintance, his behaviour on these occasions was always
so distant, respectful, and reserved, that the rest of the company
could not possibly suspect the nature of their reciprocal attachment;
in consequence of which they used to have private interviews, unknown
to every soul upon earth, except her maid, who was necessarily
entrusted with the secret.
Pages:
1348
1349
1350
1351
1352
1353
1354
1355
1356
1357
1358
1359
1360
1361
1362
1363
1364
1365
1366
1367
1368
1369
1370
1371
1372