LETTER XXX.

MISS BYRON.

[In continuation.]

WHAT a plague, said the wretch to the women, do you come in for? I thought you knew your own sex better than to mind a woman's squalling. They are always ready, said the odious fellow, to put us in mind of the occasion we ought to give them for crying out. I have not offered the least rudeness.

I hope not, sir. I hope my house-So sweet

a creature

Dear, blessed, blessed woman, (frantic with terror, and mingled joy, to find myself in better hands than I expected-Standing up, and then sitting down, I believe at every sentence,) protect me! Save me! Be my advocate! Indeed I have not deserved this treacherous treatment. Indeed I am a good sort of body; (I scarce knew what I said ;) all my friends love me; they will break their hearts, if any mishap befal me; they are all good people; you would love them dearly if you knew them; Sir Hargrave may have better and richer wives than I; pray prevail upon him to spare me to my friends, for their sake. I will forgive him for all he has done.

Nay, dear lady, if Sir Hargrave will make you his lawful and true wife, there can be no harm done, surely.

I will, I will, Mrs Awberry, said he. I have promised, and I will perform. But if she stand in her own light-She expects nothing from my morals-If she stand in her own light; and looked fiercely

God protect me! said I; God protect me! The gentleman is without, sir, said the woman. O how my heart, at that moment, seemed to be at my throat! What gentleman, thought I!-Some one come to save me-O no!

And instantly entered the most horrible looking clergyman that I ever beheld.

This, as near as I can recollect, is his description-A vast tall, big-boned, splay-footed man. A shabby gown; as shabby a wig; a huge red pimply face; and a nose that hid half of it, when he looked on one side, and he seldom looked fore-right when I saw him. He had a dog's-eared common-prayer book in his hand, which once had been gilt; opened, horrid sight! at the page of matrimony!

Yet I was so intent upon making a friend, when a man, a clergyman, appeared, that I heeded not, at his entrance, his frightful visage, as I did afterwards. I pushed by Sir Hargrave, turning him half round with my vehemence, and made Mrs Awberry totter; and throwing myself at the clergyman's feet, Man of God,

said I, my hands clasped, and held up; man of God! Gentleman! Worthy man !-A good clergyman must be all this!-If ever you had children! save a poor creature! basely tricked away from all her friends! innocent! thinking of no harm to anybody! I would not hurt a worm !—I love everybody!-Save me from violence! Give not your aid to sanctify a base action.

The man snuffled his answer through his nose. When he opened his pouched mouth, the tobacco hung about his great yellow teeth. He squinted upon me, and took my clasped hands, which were buried in his huge hand: Rise, madam! kneel not to me! no harm is intended you. One question, only: Who is that gentleman before me, in the silver-laced clothes? What is his name?

He is Sir Hargrave Pollexfen, sir; a wicked, a very wicked man, for all he looks so!

The vile wretch stood smiling, and enjoying my distress.

O, madam! a very hon-our-able man! bowing, like a sycophant, to Sir Hargrave.

And who, pray, madam, are you? What is your name?

Harriet Byron, sir! A poor innocent creature, (looking at my dress,) though I make such a vile appearance-Good sir, your pity! and I sunk down again at his feet.

Of Northamptonshire, madam? You are a single woman! Your uncle's name

Is Selby, sir. A very good man-I will reward you, sir, as the most grateful heart

All is fair; all is above board; all is as it was represented. I am above bribes, madam. You will be the happiest of women before daybreak-Good people!-The three women advanced.

Then I saw what an ugly wretch he was! Sir Hargrave advanced. The two horrid creatures raised me between them. Sir Hargrave took my struggling hand; and then I saw another ill-looking man enter the room, who, I suppose, was to give me to the hated man.

Dearly beloved, began to read the snuffling

monster

O, my Lucy! does not your heart ache for your Harriet? Mine has seemed to turn over and over, round and round, I don't know how, at the recital.-It was ready to choke me at the time.

I must break off, for a few minutes.

LETTER XXXI.

MISS BYRON.

[In continuation.]

I WAS again like one frantic. Read no more! said I; and, in my frenzy, dashed the book out of the minister's hand, if a minister he was. I

dam; save me from ruin, as you would your daughters.

These young women are my daughters. They are sober and modest women. No ruin is intended you. One of the richest and noblest men in England is your admirer; he dies for you; he assures me, that he intends honourable marriage to you. You are not engaged, he says; and you must, and you shall be his. You may save murder, madam, if you consent. He resolves to be the death of any lover whom you

encourage.

This must be the vile contrivance of Sir Hargrave Pollexfen, immediately cried I out; Is it not? Is it not? Tell me; I beg of you tell me. I arose, and sat on the bed-side; and at that moment in came the vile, vile Sir Hargrave.

I screamed out. He threw himself at my feet. I reclined my head on the bosom of the elderly person, and by hartshorn and water they had much ado to keep me out of a fit. Had he not withdrawn; had he kept in my sight; I should certainly have fainted. But holding up my head, and seeing only the women, I revived; and began to pray, to beg, to offer rewards, if they would facilitate my escape, or procure my safety; but then came in again the hated man. I beg of you, Miss Byron, said he, with an air of greater haughtiness than before, to make yourself easy, and hear what I have to say. It is in your own choice, in your own power, to be what you please, and to make me what you please. Do not therefore needlessly terrify your self. You see I am a determined man.-Ladies, you may withdraw

Not and leave me here!-And as they went out, I pushed by the mother, and between the daughters, and followed the foremost into the parlour; and then sunk down on my knees, wrapping my arms about her ; O save me! save me! said I.

The vile wretch entered. I left her, and kneeled to him. I knew not what I did. I remember, I said, wringing my hands, If you have mercy; if you have compassion; let me now, now, I beseech you, sir, this moment, experience your mercy.

He gave them some motion, I suppose, to withdraw; (for by that time the widow and the other daughter were in the parlour;) and they all three retired.

I have besought you, madam, and on my knees too, to shew me mercy; but none would you shew me, inexorable Miss Byron! Kneel, if you will; in your turn kneel, supplicate, pray; you cannot be more in earnest than I was. Now are the tables turned.

Barbarous man! said I, rising from my knees. My spirit was raised ; but it as instantly subsided. I beseech you, Sir Hargrave, in a quite frantic way, wringing my hands, and coming near him, and then running to the window, and then to the door, (without meaning to go

I ne

out at either, had they been open; for whither could I go?) and then again to him; Be not, I beseech you, Sir Hargrave, cruel to me. ver was cruel to anybody. You know I was civil to you; I was very civil

Yes, yes, and very determined. You called me no names. I call you none, Miss Byron. You were very civil. Hitherto I have not been uncivil. But remember, madam-But, sweet and ever-adorable creature, and he clasped his arms about me, your very terror is beautiful! I can enjoy your terror, madam-and the savage would have kissed me. My averted head frustrated his intention; and at his feet I besought him not to treat the poor creature, whom he had so vilely betrayed, with indignity. I don't hit your fancy, madam!

Can you be a malicious man, Sir Hargrave? You don't like my morals, madam, ! And is this the way, Sir Hargrave, are these the means you take, to convince me that I ought to like them?

Well, madam, you shall prove the mercy in me, you would not shew. You shall see that I cannot be a malicious man, a revengeful man ; and yet you have raised my pride. You shall find me a moral man.

Then, Sir Hargrave, will I bless you from the bottom of my heart!

But you know what will justify me, in every eye, for the steps I have taken. Be mine, madam; be legally mine. I offer you my honest hand. Consent to be Lady Pollexfen-No punishment, I hope-or, take the consequence.

What, sir! justify by so poor, so very poor, a compliance, steps that you have so basely taken!-Take my life, sir; but hand and my my heart are my own; they never shall be separated. I arose from my knees, trembling, and threw myself upon the window-seat, and wept bitterly.

He came to me. I looked on this side, and on that, wishing to avoid him.

You cannot fly, madam. You are securely mine; and mine still more securely you shall be. Don't provoke me; don't make me desperate. By all that's good and holy

He cast his eyes at my feet; then at my face; then threw himself at my feet, and embraced my knees with his odious arms.

I was terrified. I screamed. In ran one of the daughters-Good sir! Pray, sir!-Did you not say you would be honourable?

Her mother followed her in-Sir, sir! In my house

Thank God, thought I, the people here are better than I had reason to apprehend they were. But, O my Lucy! they seemed to believe, that marriage would make amends for every outrage.

Here let me conclude this letter. I have a great deal more to say.

Alas! my Lucy, I was no virago: I was in a perfect frenzy; but it was not an unhappy frenzy, since, in all probability, it kept me from falling into fits; and fits, the villain had said, should not save me.

Dearly beloved, again snuffled the wretch. O, my Lucy! I shall never love these words. How may odious circumstances invert the force of the kindest words! Sir Hargrave still detained my struggling hand.

I stamped, and threw myself to the length of my arm, as he held my hand. No dearly beloveds, said I. I was just beside myself. What to say, what to do, I knew not.

The cruel wretch laughed at me: No dearly beloveds! repeated he. Very comical, 'faith, and laughed again: But proceed, proceed, doc

tor.

We are gathered together here in the sight of God, read he on.

This affected me still more. I adjure you, sir, to the minister, by that God in whose sight, you read, we are gathered together, that you proceed no farther. I adjure you, Sir Hargrave, in the same tremendous name, that you stop farther proceedings. My life take; with all my heart, take my life; but my hand never, never, will I join with yours.

Proceed, doctor: Doctor, pray proceed, said the vile Sir Hargrave. When the day dawns, she will be glad to own her marriage.

Proceed at your peril, sir, said I. If you are really and truly a minister of that God whose presence what you have read supposes, do not proceed; do not make me desperate.-Madam, turning to the widow, you are a mother, and have given me room to hope you are a good woman; look upon me as if I were one of those daughters whom I see before me: Could you see one of them thus treated?-Dear young women, turning to each, can you unconcernedly look on, and see a poor creature tricked, betrayed, and thus violently, basely treated, and not make my case your own? Speak for me! Plead for me! Be my advocates! Each of you, if ye are women, plead for me, as you would yourselves wish to be pleaded for, in my circumstances, and were thus barbarously used! The young women wept. The mother was moved.

I wonder I kept my head. My brain was on fire. Still, still, the unmoved Sir Hargrave cried out, Proceed, proceed, doctor; to-morrow, before noon, all will be as it should be.

The man who stood aloof (the slyest, soddenfaced creature I ever saw) came nearer-To the

question, doctor, and to my part, if you please!

Am not I her father?-To the question, doctor, if you please!-The gentlewomen will prepare her for what is to follow.

O thou man! of heart the most obdurate and vile! And will ye, looking at every person, one hand held up, (for still the vile man griped the other quite benumbed hand in his iron paw,) and adjuring each, will ye see this violence done to a poor young creature?-A soul, gentlewomen, you may have to answer for. I can die. Never, never, will I be his.

Let us women talk to the lady by ourselves, Sir Hargrave. Pray, your honour, let us talk to her by ourselves.

Ay, ay, ay, said the parson, by all means; let the ladies talk to one another, sir. She may be brought to consider.

He let go my hand. The widow took it; and was leading me out of the room-Not up stairs, I hope, madam? said I.

You shan't then, said she. Come, Sally; come, Deb; let us women go out together.

They led me into a little room adjoining to the parlour; and then, my spirits subsiding, I thought I should have fainted away. I had more hartshorn and water poured down my throat.

When they had brought me a little to myself, they pleaded with me Sir Hargrave's great estate. What are riches to me? Dirt, dirt, dirt! I hate them. They cannot purchase peace of mind; I want not riches.

They pleaded his honourable love-I my invincible aversion.

He was a handsome man-The most odious in my eyes of the human species. Never, never should my consent be had to sanctify such a

baseness.

My danger! and that they should not be able to save me from worse treatment

How!-Not able!-Ladies, madam, is not this your own house? Cannot you raise a neighbourhood? Have you no neighbours? A thousand pounds will I order to be paid into your hands for a present before the week is out; I pledge my honour for the payment; if you will but save me from a violence, that no worthy woman can see offered to a distressed young creature!—A thousand pounds!-dear ladies! only to save me, and see me safe to my friends!

The wretches in the next room, no doubt, heard all that passed. In at that moment came Sir Hargrave: Mrs Awberry, said he, with a visage swelled with malice, young ladies, we keep you up; we disturb you. Pray retire to your own rest; leave me to talk with this perverse woman. She is mine.

Pray, Sir Hargrave, said Mrs Awberry

Leave her to me, I say:-Miss Byron, you shall be mine. Your Grévilles, madam, your Fenwicks, your Ormes, when they know the pains and expense I have been at to secure

In wickedness, in cruelty, sir, you are every man's superior.

You talk of cruelty, Miss Byron! triumphing over scores of prostrate lovers, madam! You remember your treatment of me, madam ! kneeling, like an abject wretch, at your feet! Kneeling for pity! But no pity could touch your heart, madam!—Ungrateful, proud girl!-Yet I am not humbling you; take notice of that; I am not humbling you; I am proposing to exalt you, madam.

Vile, vile debasement! said I.

To exalt Miss Byron into Lady Pollexfen! And yet if you hold not out your hand to me

He would have snatched my hand. I put it behind me. He would have snatched the other; I put that behind me too; and the vile wretch would then have kissed my undefended neck; but, with both my hands, I pushed his audacious forehead from me. Charming creature! he called me, with passion in his look and accent; then, cruel, proud, ungrateful; and swore by his Maker, that if I would not give my hand instantly, instead of exalting me, he would humble me. Ladies, pray withdraw, said he, leave her to me. Either Lady Pollexfen, or what I please; rearing himself proudly up. She may be happy if she will. Leave her to me.

Pray, sir, said the youngest of the two daughters; and wept for me.

Greatly hurt, indeed, to be the wife of a man of my fortune and consequence! But leave her to me, I say. I will soon bring down her pride: What a devil am I, to creep, beg, pray, and entreat, and only for a wife!-But, madam, said the insolent wretch, you will be mine upon easier terms, perhaps.

Madam, pray, madam, said the widow to me, consider what you are about, and whom you refuse. Can you have a handsomer man? Can you have a man of greater fortune. Sir Hargrave means nothing but what is honourable. You are in his power

In his power, madam! returned I; I am in yours. You are mistress of this house. I claim the protection of it. Have you not neighbours? Your protection I put myself under. Then clasping my arms about her, lock me from him till you can have help to secure you the privilege of your own house; and deliver me safe to my friends, and I will share my fortune with your two daughters.

The wicked man took the mother and youngest daughter each by her hand, after he had disengaged the former from my clasping arms, and led them to the door. The elder followed them of her own accord. They none of them struggled against going. I begged, prayed, besought them not to go, and, when they did, would have thrust myself out with them; but the wretch, in shutting them out, squeezed me

dreadfully, as I was half in, half out; and my nose gushed out with blood.

I screamed; he seemed frightened; but instantly recovering myself-So, so, you have done your worst!-You have killed me, I hope. I was out of breath; my stomach was very much pressed, and one of my arms was bruised. I have the marks still; for he clapt to the door with violence, not knowing, to do him justice, that I was so forward in the door-way.

I was in dreadful pain. I talked half wildly, I remember. I threw myself in a chair. So, so, you have killed me, I hope-Well, now I hope, now I hope, you are satisfied. Now may you moan over the poor creature you have destroyed; for he expressed great tenderness and consternation; and I, for my part, felt such pains in my bosom, that, having never felt such before, I really thought I was bruised to death: Repeating my foolish so, so-But I forgive you, since I-Only, sir, call to the gentlewomen, sir.

Retire, sir. Let me have my own sex only about me. My head swam; my eyes failed me; and I fainted quite away.

LETTER XXXII.

MISS BYRON.

[In continuation.]

I UNDERSTOOD afterwards that he was in the most dreadful consternation. He had fastened the door upon me and himself; and, for a few moments, was not enough present to himself to open it. Yet, crying out upon his God to have mercy upon him, and running about the room, the women hastily rapped at the door. Then he ran to it, opened it, cursed himself, and besought them to recover me, if possible.

They said I had death in my face; they lamented over me; my nose had done bleeding; but, careful of his own safety in the midst of his terror, he took my bloody handkerchief; if I did not recover, he said, that should not appear against him; and he hastened into the next room, and thrust it into the fire; by which were sitting, it seems, the minister and his helper, over some burnt brandy.

O, gentlemen! cried the wretch, nothing can be done to-night. Take this; and gave them money. The lady is in a fit. I wish you well home.

The younger daughter reported this to me afterwards, and what follows: They had desired the maid, it seems, to bring them more firing, and a jug of ale; and they would sit in the chimney-corner, they said, till peep of day; but the same young woman, who was taken off from her errand, to assist me, finding me, as they all thought, not likely to recover, ran in to them, and declared, that the lady was dead, certainly