love and freindship-第22章
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〃He exclaimed with virulence against Uncles and Aunts； Accused the laws of England for allowing them to Possess their Estates when wanted by their Nephews or Neices； and wished HE were in the House of Commons； that he might reform the Legislature； and rectify all its abuses。〃
〃Oh！ the sweet Man！ What a spirit he has！〃 said I。
〃He could not flatter himself he added； that the adorable Henrietta would condescend for his sake to resign those Luxuries and that splendor to which she had been used； and accept only in exchange the Comforts and Elegancies which his limited Income could afford her； even supposing that his house were in Readiness to receive her。 I told him that it could not be expected that she would； it would be doing her an injustice to suppose her capable of giving up the power she now possesses and so nobly uses of doing such extensive Good to the poorer part of her fellow Creatures； merely for the gratification of you and herself。〃
〃To be sure said I； I AM very Charitable every now and then。 And what did Mr Musgrove say to this？〃
〃He replied that he was under a melancholy necessity of owning the truth of what I said； and that therefore if he should be the happy Creature destined to be the Husband of the Beautiful Henrietta he must bring himself to wait； however impatiently； for the fortunate day； when she might be freed from the power of worthless Relations and able to bestow herself on him。〃
What a noble Creature he is！ Oh！ Matilda what a fortunate one I am； who am to be his Wife！ My Aunt is calling me to come and make the pies； so adeiu my dear freind； and beleive me yours etc H。 Halton。
Finis。
*
SCRAPS
To Miss FANNY CATHERINE AUSTEN
MY Dear Neice As I am prevented by the great distance between Rowling and Steventon from superintending your Education myself； the care of which will probably on that account devolve on your Father and Mother； I think it is my particular Duty to Prevent your feeling as much as possible the want of my personal instructions； by addressing to you on paper my Opinions and Admonitions on the conduct of Young Women； which you will find expressed in the following pages。 I am my dear Neice Your affectionate Aunt The Author。
THE FEMALE PHILOSOPHER
A LETTER
My Dear Louisa Your friend Mr Millar called upon us yesterday in his way to Bath； whither he is going for his health； two of his daughters were with him； but the eldest and the three Boys are with their Mother in Sussex。 Though you have often told me that Miss Millar was remarkably handsome； you never mentioned anything of her Sisters' beauty； yet they are certainly extremely pretty。 I'll give you their description。Julia is eighteen； with a countenance in which Modesty； Sense and Dignity are happily blended； she has a form which at once presents you with Grace； Elegance and Symmetry。 Charlotte who is just sixteen is shorter than her Sister； and though her figure cannot boast the easy dignity of Julia's； yet it has a pleasing plumpness which is in a different way as estimable。 She is fair and her face is expressive sometimes of softness the most bewitching； and at others of Vivacity the most striking。 She appears to have infinite Wit and a good humour unalterable； her conversation during the half hour they set with us； was replete with humourous sallies； Bonmots and repartees； while the sensible； the amiable Julia uttered sentiments of Morality worthy of a heart like her own。 Mr Millar appeared to answer the character I had always received of him。 My Father met him with that look of Love； that social Shake； and cordial kiss which marked his gladness at beholding an old and valued freind from whom thro' various circumstances he had been separated nearly twenty years。 Mr Millar observed （and very justly too） that many events had befallen each during that interval of time； which gave occasion to the lovely Julia for making most sensible reflections on the many changes in their situation which so long a period had occasioned； on the advantages of some； and the disadvantages of others。 From this subject she made a short digression to the instability of human pleasures and the uncertainty of their duration； which led her to observe that all earthly Joys must be imperfect。 She was proceeding to illustrate this doctrine by examples from the Lives of great Men when the Carriage came to the Door and the amiable Moralist with her Father and Sister was obliged to depart； but not without a promise of spending five or six months with us on their return。 We of course mentioned you； and I assure you that ample Justice was done to your Merits by all。 〃Louisa Clarke （said I） is in general a very pleasant Girl； yet sometimes her good humour is clouded by Peevishness； Envy and Spite。 She neither wants Understanding or is without some pretensions to Beauty； but these are so very trifling； that the value she sets on her personal charms； and the adoration she expects them to be offered are at once a striking example of her vanity； her pride； and her folly。〃 So said I； and to my opinion everyone added weight by the concurrence of their own。 Your affectionate Arabella Smythe。
THE FIRST ACT OF A COMEDY
CHARACTERS Popgun Maria Charles Pistolletta Postilion Hostess Chorus of ploughboys Cook and and Strephon Chloe
SCENEAN INN
ENTER Hostess； Charles； Maria； and Cook。
Hostess to Maria） If the gentry in the Lion should want beds； shew them number 9。
Maria） Yes Mistress。 EXIT Maria
Hostess to Cook） If their Honours in the Moon ask for the bill of fare； give it them。
Cook） I wull； I wull。 EXIT Cook。
Hostess to Charles） If their Ladyships in the Sun ring their Bellanswerit。
Charles） Yes Madam。 EXEUNT Severally。
SCENE CHANGES TO THE MOON； and discovers Popgun and Pistoletta。
Pistoletta） Pray papa how far is it to London？
Popgun） My Girl； my Darling； my favourite of all my Children； who art the picture of thy poor Mother who died two months ago； with whom I am going to Town to marry to Strephon； and to whom I mean to bequeath my whole Estate； it wants seven Miles。
SCENE CHANGES TO THE SUN
ENTER Chloe and a chorus of ploughboys。
Chloe） Where am I？ At Hounslow。Where go I？ To London。 What to do？ To be married。 Unto whom？ Unto Strephon。 Who is he？ A Youth。 Then I will sing a song。
SONG I go to Town And when I come down； I shall be married to Streephon* ＇*Note the two e's＇ And that to me will be fun。
Chorus） Be fun； be fun； be fun； And that to me will be fun。
ENTER Cook Cook） Here is the bill of fare。
Chloe reads） 2 Ducks； a leg of beef； a stinking partridge； and a tart。I will have the leg of beef and the partridge。 EXIT Cook。 And now I will sing another song。
SONG I am going to have my dinner； After which I shan't be thinner； I wish I had here Strephon For he would carve the partridge if it should be a tough one。
Chorus） Tough one； tough one； tough one For he would carve the partridge if it Should be a tough one。 EXIT Chloe and Chorus。
SCENE CHANGES TO THE INSIDE OF THE LION。
Enter Strephon and Postilion。 Streph：） You drove me from Staines to this place； from whence I mean to go to Town to marry Chloe。 How much is your due？
Post：） Eighteen pence。 Streph：） Alas； my freind； I have but a bad guinea with which I mean to support myself in Town。 But I will pawn to you an undirected Letter that I received from Chloe。
Post：） Sir； I accept your offer。
END OF THE FIRST ACT。
A LETTER from a YOUNG LADY； whose feelings being too strong for her Judgement led her into the commission of Errors which her Heart disapproved。
Many have been the cares and vicissitudes of my past life； my beloved Ellinor； and the only consolation I feel for their bitterness is that on a close examination of my conduct； I am convinced that I have strictly deserved them。 I murdered my father at a very early period of my Life； I have since murdered my Mother； and I am now going to murder my Sister。 I have changed my religion so often that at present I have not an idea of any left。 I have been a perjured witness in every public tryal for these last twelve years； a
