love and freindship-第3章
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other's arms。 It was too pathetic for the feelings of Sophia and myselfWe fainted alternately on a sofa。 Adeiu Laura。
LETTER the 9th From the same to the same
Towards the close of the day we received the following Letter from Philippa。
〃Sir Edward is greatly incensed by your abrupt departure； he has taken back Augusta to Bedfordshire。 Much as I wish to enjoy again your charming society； I cannot determine to snatch you from that； of such dear and deserving FreindsWhen your Visit to them is terminated； I trust you will return to the arms of your〃 〃Philippa。〃
We returned a suitable answer to this affectionate Note and after thanking her for her kind invitation assured her that we would certainly avail ourselves of it； whenever we might have no other place to go to。 Tho' certainly nothing could to any reasonable Being； have appeared more satisfactory； than so gratefull a reply to her invitation； yet I know not how it was； but she was certainly capricious enough to be displeased with our behaviour and in a few weeks after； either to revenge our Conduct； or releive her own solitude； married a young and illiterate Fortune… hunter。 This imprudent step （tho' we were sensible that it would probably deprive us of that fortune which Philippa had ever taught us to expect） could not on our own accounts； excite from our exalted minds a single sigh； yet fearfull lest it might prove a source of endless misery to the deluded Bride； our trembling Sensibility was greatly affected when we were first informed of the Event。The affectionate Entreaties of Augustus and Sophia that we would for ever consider their House as our Home； easily prevailed on us to determine never more to leave them； In the society of my Edward and this Amiable Pair； I passed the happiest moments of my Life； Our time was most delightfully spent； in mutual Protestations of Freindship； and in vows of unalterable Love； in which we were secure from being interrupted； by intruding and disagreable Visitors； as Augustus and Sophia had on their first Entrance in the Neighbourhood； taken due care to inform the surrounding Families； that as their happiness centered wholly in themselves； they wished for no other society。 But alas！ my Dear Marianne such Happiness as I then enjoyed 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 and Sophia； that there never were a happier Couple； I need not I imagine； inform you that their union had been contrary to the inclinations of their Cruel and Mercenery Parents； who had vainly endeavoured with obstinate Perseverance to force them into a Marriage with those whom they had ever abhorred； but with a Heroic Fortitude worthy to be related and admired； they had both； constantly refused to submit to such despotic Power。
After having so nobly disentangled themselves from the shackles of Parental Authority； by a Clandestine Marriage； they were determined never to forfeit the good opinion they had gained in the World； in so doing； by accepting any proposals of reconciliation that might be offered them by their Fathersto this farther tryal of their noble independance however they never were exposed。
They had been married but a few months when our visit to them commenced during which time they had been amply supported by a considerable sum of money which Augustus had gracefully purloined from his unworthy father's Escritoire； a few days before his union with Sophia。
By our arrival their Expenses were considerably encreased tho' their means for supplying them were then nearly exhausted。 But they； Exalted Creatures！ scorned to reflect a moment on their pecuniary Distresses and would have blushed at the idea of paying their Debts。Alas！ what was their Reward for such disinterested Behaviour！ The beautifull Augustus was arrested and we were all undone。 Such perfidious Treachery in the merciless perpetrators of the Deed will shock your gentle nature Dearest Marianne as much as it then affected the Delicate sensibility of Edward； Sophia； your Laura； and of Augustus himself。 To compleat such unparalelled Barbarity we were informed that an Execution in the House would shortly take place。 Ah！ what could we do but what we did！ We sighed and fainted on the sofa。 Adeiu Laura。
LETTER 10th LAURA in continuation
When we were somewhat recovered from the overpowering Effusions of our grief； Edward desired that we would consider what was the most prudent step to be taken in our unhappy situation while he repaired to his imprisoned freind to lament over his misfortunes。 We promised that we would； and he set forwards on his journey to Town。 During his absence we faithfully complied with his Desire and after the most mature Deliberation； at length agreed that the best thing we could do was to leave the House； of which we every moment expected the officers of Justice to take possession。 We waited therefore with the greatest impatience； for the return of 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 his absencein vain did we weepin vain even did we sighno Edward returned。 This was too cruel； too unexpected a Blow to our Gentle Sensibilitywe could not support itwe could only faint。 At length collecting all the Resolution I was Mistress of； I arose and after packing up some necessary apparel for Sophia and myself； I dragged her to a Carriage I had ordered and we instantly set out for London。 As the Habitation of Augustus was within twelve miles of Town； it was not long e'er we arrived there； and no sooner had we entered Holboun than letting down one of the Front Glasses I enquired of every decent…looking Person that we passed 〃If they had seen my Edward？〃
But as we drove too rapidly to allow them to answer my repeated Enquiries； I gained little； or indeed； no information concerning him。 〃Where am I to drive？〃 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 able to support the sight of my Augustus in so cruel a confinementmy feelings are sufficiently shocked by the RECITAL； of his Distress； but to behold it will overpower my Sensibility。〃 As I perfectly agreed with her in the Justice of her Sentiments the Postilion was instantly directed to return into the Country。 You may perhaps have been somewhat surprised my Dearest Marianne； that in the Distress I then endured； destitute of any support； and unprovided with any Habitation； I should never once have remembered my Father and Mother or my paternal Cottage in the Vale of Uske。 To account for this seeming forgetfullness I must inform you 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 circumstance I allude to。 By their decease I became the lawfull Inheritress of their House and Fortune。 But alas！ the House had never been their own and their Fortune had only been an Annuity on their own Lives。 Such is the Depravity 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 should with Chearfullness have passed the remainder of my Life in their dear Society in the Vale of Uske； had not one obstacle to the execution of so agreable a scheme； intervened； which was the Marriage and Removal of your Mother to a distant part of Ireland。 Adeiu Laura。
LETTER 11th LAURA in continuation
〃I have a Relation in Scotland （said Sophia to me as we left London） who I am certain would not hesitate in receiving me。〃 〃Shall I order the Boy to drive there？〃 said Ibut instantly recollecting myself； exclaimed； 〃Alas I fear it will be too long a Journey for the Horses。〃 Unwilling however to act only from my own inadequate Knowledge of the Strength and Abilities of Horses； I consulted the Postilion； who was entirely of my Opinion concerning the Affair。 We therefore determined to change Horses at the next Town and to travel Post the remainder of the Journey 。 When we arrived at the last Inn we
