fool, told the porter that if his lady was at home
she was very positive she would be very glad to see
her. Upon which she was shewed up stairs to Miss
Tichborne, who was ready to drop down at the sight
of her, and could not help asking her in a grave way
how she got in, being denied to every mortal, intending
to pass the evening in devout preparation. Miss
Leigh said she had sent away her chair and servants,
with intent of staying till nine o’clock.
There was then no remedy, and she was asked to sit
down; but had not been there a quarter of an hour
when she heard a violent rap at the door, and somebody
vehemently run up stairs. Miss Tichborne seemed
much surprised, and said she believed it was Mr. Edgcombe,
and was quite amazed how he took it into his head
to visit her. During these excuses enter Edgcombe,
who appeared frighted at the sight of a third person.
Miss Tichborne told him almost at his entrance that
the lady he saw there was perfect mistress of music,
and as he passionately loved it, she thought she could
not oblige him more than by desiring her to play.
Miss Leigh very willingly sat to the harpsichord;
upon which her audience decamped to the adjoining
room, and left her to play over three or four lessons
to herself. They returned, and made what excuses
they could, but said very frankly they had not heard
her performance, and begged her to begin again; which
she complied with, and gave them the opportunity of
a second retirement. Miss Leigh was by this time
all fire and flame to see her heavenly harmony thus
slighted; and when they returned, told them she did
not understand playing to an empty room. Mr. Edgcombe
begged ten thousand pardons, and said, if she would
play Godi, it was a tune he died to hear, and
it would be an obligation he should never forget.
She made answer she would do him a much greater favour
by her absence, which she supposed was all that was
necessary at that time; and ran down stairs in a great
fury to publish as fast as she could; and was so indefatigable
in this pious design, that in four-and-twenty hours
all the people in town had heard the story. My
Lady Sunderland could not avoid hearing this story,
and three days after, invited Miss Leigh to dinner,
where, in the presence of her sister and all the servants,
she told her she was very sorry she had been so rudely
treated in her house; that it was very true Mr. Edgcombe
had been a perpetual companion of her sister’s
these two years, and she thought it high time he should
explain himself, and she expected her sister should
act in this matter as discreetly as Lady K. [Katherine]
Pelham had done in the like case; who had given Mr.
Pelham four months to resolve in, and after that he
was either to marry her or to lose her for ever.
Sir Robert Sutton interrupted her by saying, that
he never doubted the honour of Mr. Edgcombe, and was
persuaded he could have no ill design in his family.
The affair stands thus, and Mr. Edgcombe has four months
to provide himself elsewhere; during which time he
has free egress and regress; and ’tis seriously
the opinion of many that a wedding will in good earnest
be brought about by this admirable conduct.