Henrietta by Charlotte Lennox

Author:Charlotte Lennox [Lennox, Charlotte]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: The University Press of Kentucky
Published: 2021-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAP. II.

Which throws new lights upon Mr. Darner’s behaviour, and contains a very improving conversation.

The two ladies being again seated in their post-chaise, Mrs. Willis kindly applied herself to comfort her fair companion, whose affecting silence shewed a deeper sense of her new disappointment than any words could express. However, miss Courteney felt in reality fewer perturbations and less anxiety in her return, than when she began her journey. So true it is, that when we hope little, we fear little likewise.

She now looked upon her aunt’s affection as irrecoverable; miss Woodby’s vile insinuations had strengthened her suspicions: Mr. Damer, when he found himself detected, would doubtless account for his behaviour in a manner unfavourable to her; her unhappy flight had given such a colour to her succeeding actions, as rendered any justification of herself hopeless; and the insidious chaplain might now with ease confirm those prejudices he had raised.

In this manner she reasoned herself into a belief that her misfortune was irremediable: despair, as an ingenious writer2 observes, being that ease to the mind which mortification is to the flesh, Henrietta found some relief in being freed from that vicissitude of hopes and fears which had so long held her mind in the most racking suspence; and, with a kind of gloomy satisfaction, resigned herself to all the bitterness of her fate.

Mrs. Willis, who knew not the peculiarities of lady Meadows’s temper, or if she had, would not perhaps have considered, that obstinate people are ever most obstinate in error, thought all things might be set right again, by miss Courteney’s giving a candid narrative of what had happened to her since her leaving her; she therefore pressed the young lady to delay writing to her aunt no longer than the next day.

“There are some cases,” said Mrs. Willis to her, when she saw her sitting down to write, “in which simplicity is the greatest refinement of art; yours is one of them: be as simple and ingenuous as you can in the account you give your aunt, and let the facts speak for themselves.”

Henrietta followed her advice, and related every part of her conduct since she had left her, and the treachery and deceit that had been used towards her, with the utmost plainness and sincerity, and saw that she had made her letter more affecting by its simplicity, than she could have done by the nicest touches of art. Mrs. Willis read it, and approved of it; and it was immediately dispatched to the post.

Scarce was this little affair over, when Mr. Damer sent in his name.

“I like this piece of ceremony,” said Mrs. Willis; “it looks as if the man was ashamed of what he has done: do you chuse to see him, miss?”

“Oh! no,” replied Henrietta; “it would be strange, indeed, if I was willing to see a man whom you suspect of having such shocking designs, and who I am sure has not acted honestly.”

“Well then,” said Mrs. Willis, “I will go down to him, and hear what he has to say.

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