Gives the reader hopes of a favourable change in the circumstances of our fair heroine.
Henrietta had exercised her patience for some weeks in the service of Mrs. Autumn; but every day producing new instances of her folly, she resolved to quit her as soon as the countess came to town. She conceived she was in some degree accountable to that lady for her actions, since it was through her recommendation, that she had been introduced to Mrs. Autumn; and she thought it necessary for the justification of her conduct, to have so considerable a witness of its being irreproachable.
Her lady, though she found herself always disappointed in that complaisance to her whims which she endeavoured to exact from her, yet ventured to make her a proposal, which her own want of delicacy hindered her from seeing the impropriety of.
She had taken it into her head to try her supposed lover’s constancy, and therefore wrote a letter to him, in the character of a lady unknown, on whose heart he had made a deep impression, but who was resolved not to discover herself till she knew whether his was wholly disengaged.
This letter, she doubted not, would produce a declaration that would afford matter of great triumph to herself, who she suspected was the secret object of his adoration.
She acquainted her woman with her scheme, and gravely desired her to copy the letter, for Languish, she said, knew her hand.
Henrietta blushed with surprise and shame at this improper request, and very frankly begged to be excused from complying with it.
“What!” said Mrs. Autumn, a little confused; “you dispute my commands then!”
“I never refused to obey any of your commands, before, madam,” replied Henrietta; “but this, (pardon me, madam,) appears so strange.”
“You do not dare to suspect my virtue, I hope,” said Mrs. Autumn, in a lofty accent.
“It does not become me, madam,” said Henrietta, “to censure your actions.”
“No certainly,” replied the lady, “nor to refuse to do any thing that I order you to do: but I would fain know if you, in your great wisdom, think there is any thing improper in this little piece of gallantry.”
“My opinion is of no consequence, madam,” replied Henrietta; “I only beg to be excused from copying it.”
“Well, no more of the letter,” cried Mrs. Autumn, hastily: “perhaps I had only a mind to try your discretion; perhaps too I shall like you the better for your steadiness—Be modest and reserved, and you will be sure of my approbation. Were you the best servant in the world, you would not do for me, unless you were extremely modest. And now you know my mind, be cautious how you behave: modesty is a sure recommendation to my favour; I can pardon any fault in my servant but want of modesty.”
Henrietta, from this declaration, had reason to think herself pretty sure of her lady’s favour: for the severest prude that ever declaimed against the monstrous levity of her own sex, could not have objected to the propriety of her behaviour; but, unhappily for her, she was that very day guilty of a fault by which she incurred very shocking suspicions: for having neglected to fill her lady’s smelling-bottle with some fresh Eau de Luce, Mrs. Autumn declared that such heedlessness must necessarily proceed from her having her thoughts continually employed upon fellows; and telling her, that she could not endure such a creature in her sight, ordered her to be gone immediately.
Henrietta did not think proper to offer any answer to this strange charge; but quitting her presence immediately, and her house a few moments afterwards, she returned to Mrs. Willis, who, seeing her alight at her door, eagerly flew to receive her.
“I have great news for you, my dear miss,” said she, “I was this moment preparing to set out in a coach to bring you a letter, which was left here by one of your uncle’s servants.” “It is very true,” pursued she, seeing Henrietta look surprised. “I asked the young man, who he came from? and he said, the earl of ——. You may believe I am impatient to know the contents of this letter. Come, my dear, and read it; I hope all your troubles are over now.”
Henrietta receiving the letter from her, which she took out of her pocket, followed her into the parlour, and breaking the seal,
“It is my uncle’s hand, indeed (said she) and this is what he writes.”
‘Mrs. Courteney is desired to call at the earl of ——, to-morrow morning at twelve o’clock: he has something to propose to her for her advantage.’
“Did I not tell you, miss,” said Mrs. Willis, exultingly, “that the step you had taken would produce a favourable change in your fortune?”
“Don’t be too sanguine in your expectations, my dear Mrs. Willis,” said miss Courteney; “who knows but my uncle may have another sir Isaac Darby to propose to me: however, I will certainly wait upon him, and, if possible, will be punctual to the hour he has prescribed me; but if nothing should come of this overture of his lordship’s, I shall be your guest again for some time. I have left Mrs. Autumn.”
She then related to her some circumstances of that lady’s extravagant folly, and the cause and manner of their parting, which, together with their comments on lord ——’s message, furnished them with matter sufficient for discourse during the remainder of the day: what happened to our fair heroine the next, will be found in the following chapter.