In which the history draws near to a conclusion.
Mr. Courteney found his short absence had rather endeared him to his aunt, than lessened the ardor of her fondness; encouraged by her behaviour, he was several times upon the point of laying open to her the whole affair of his pupil’s passion for Henrietta, and the difficulties which obstructed so advantageous a match; difficulties which she could so easily remove: but he hoped a great deal from the presence of Henrietta, which it was highly probable would revive the old lady’s tenderness for her, and from the interposition of Mr. Damer, who, it was not to be doubted, would enter heartily into the interest of his ward, for whom he expressed so tender an affection.
While he waited in anxious expectation of a letter from his sister, to acquaint him when she was to leave Paris, with her guardian, he was pleasingly surprised with a billet from Mr. Damer himself, requesting him to meet miss Courtney and him at the house of Mrs. Willis, where they were just arrived.
Mr. Courteney, without communicating this news to lady Meadows, hastened to see his beloved sister. The moment he entered the room, where she was sitting with her guardian and Mrs. Willis, she flew to receive him with a transport of joy. He embraced her tenderly; and Mr. Damer advancing to salute him, he in the politest manner, thanked him for his generous care of Henrietta.
Mr. Damer was extremely pleased to hear that she might depend upon an affectionate reception from her aunt. “And now, my child,” said he; for so he tenderly affected to call her, “since I have delivered you safe into the hands of your brother, I will leave you, and a day or two hence I will visit you at your aunt’s, and settle your affairs in a manner which I hope will not be disagreeable to you.”
Henrietta, who, from some past conversations with him, well knew the kind purport of these words, by a grateful look and a respectful courtesy, expressed her acknowledgment. Mr. Courteney, seeing him prepare to leave them, begged he would favour him with a few moments private conversation. Mr. Damer readily consented; upon which Mrs. Willis shewed them into another room, and returned to load her dear miss Courteney with a thousand tender caresses.
Mean time Mr. Courteney gave the friendly guardian of his sister a brief account of the marquis’s passion for her, and the conduct he had observed in that affair. He added, that he believed it would be easy to engage the duke’s consent to his son’s marriage with Henrietta, provided her aunt would act as generously towards her, as she had formerly given her reason to expect.
“From several hints (said he) which lady Meadows has thrown out, and from the great kindness she expresses for me, I am apprehensive that she intends to transfer her bounty from my sister to me; but as my circumstances, though not affluent, are easy, and as I have nothing so much at heart as the happiness of my friend and my sister, I will most chearfully relinquish in her favour all my expectations from lady Meadows. The prospect of so advantageous a match will probably have some weight with her aunt; and the mention of it will come with propriety from you, sir, as the guardian of Henrietta. Lady Meadows will then explain herself clearly; and we shall have an opportunity given us of pressing her to remove, by her generosity, the only obstacle that obstructs my sister’s advancement.”
Mr. Damer was prodigiously affected with the uncommon nobleness of this proceeding. He took the young gentleman’s hand, and, giving it an affectionate shake, “I shall love and honour you while I live (said he) for this generous proposal: doubt not of my ready concurrence in every measure for your sister’s advantage. I love her as well as if she was my own daughter; and the inconveniencies she has suffered through the folly and imprudence of some of my family, require that I should make her amends, by doing every thing in my power to make her happy.”
“I will wait upon lady Meadows,” pursued he, “to-morrow in the afternoon, and then we will talk over this affair.” Mr. Courteney told him, he would prepare his aunt for the visit he intended her. After which, Mr. Damer went away, and he joined his sister and her friend. A coach being ordered, they took leave of Mrs. Willis, whom Henrietta promised to visit again very speedily. Mr. Courteney had some discourse with his sister as they went, concerning the marquis; but carefully avoided mentioning his design to her, lest he should raise hopes which might be unhappily disappointed.
Henrietta was under some perturbation at the thoughts of appearing before her aunt, whose displeasure against her, and unjust suspicions, all recurred to her memory; but the reception the old lady gave her, immediately effaced those impressions: it was perfectly kind and affectionate, without the least mixture of upbraiding or reproach.
“I had a mind to surprise you, madam,” said Mr. Courteney, who with infinite pleasure beheld his sister so tenderly embraced by her aunt. Lady Meadows assured him, that he had surprised her very agreeably; and, again embracing Henrietta, told her, that her good friend, the countess of ——, had been very lavish in her praise, and had acquainted her with several circumstances of her conduct, which had raised her highly in her opinion.
“I suppose you will not be very much grieved (added the old lady, smiling) to hear that your former lover lord B—— is married to the citizen’s daughter.”
“No, indeed, madam,” replied Henrietta, “they seemed to be formed for each other.”
“They are not very happy, I hear,” said lady Meadows; who, having fallen upon the article of domestic news, related a great number of anecdotes concerning her acquaintance, some of which Henrietta had often heard before. The old lady’s fondness for talking at length gave way to her curiosity to hear every thing that had happened to her niece during their separation.
Henrietta gratified it with discretion, suppressing whatever might tend to revive disagreeable remembrances. She was now put into possession of her former apartment, and had an opportunity that night to congratulate her old friend Mrs. White (who assisted her to undress) upon her being reinstated in the favour of her lady.