LETTER XVIII

Miss Byron.—­In continuation
Friday evening.

We have had a great debate about the place in which the nuptial ceremony is to be performed.

Charlotte, the perverse Charlotte, insisted upon not going to church.

Lord G——­ dared not to give his opinion; though his father and Lady Gertrude, as well as every other person, were against her.

Lord L——­ said, that if fine ladies thought so slightly of the office, as that it might be performed anywhere, it would be no wonder, if fine gentlemen thought still more slightly of the obligation it laid them under.

Being appealed to, I said, that I thought of marriage as one of the most solemn acts of a woman’s life.

And if of a woman’s, of a man’s, surely, interrupted Lady L——.  If your whimsey, Charlotte, added she, arises from modesty, you reflect upon your sister; and, what is worse, upon your mother.

Charlotte put up her pretty lip, and was unconvinced.

Lady Gertrude laid a heavy hand upon the affectation; yet admires her niece-elect.  She distinguished between chamber-vows and church-vows.  She mentioned the word decency.  She spoke plainer, on Charlotte’s unfeeling perverseness.  If a bride meant a compliment by it to the bridegroom, that was another thing; but then let her declare as much; and that she was in an hurry to oblige him.

Charlotte attempted to kill her by a look—­She gave a worse to Lord G——.  And why, whispered she to him, as he sat next her, must thou shew all thy teeth, man?—­As Lady Gertrude meant to shame her, I thought I could as soon forgive that lady, as her who was the occasion of the freedom of speech.

But still she was perverse:  she would not be married at all, she said, if she were not complied with.

I whispered her, as I sat on the other side of her, I wish, Charlotte, the knot were tied:  till then, you will not do even right things, but in a wrong manner.

Dr. Bartlett was not present:  he was making a kind visit to my cousins Reeves.  When he came in, the debate was referred to him.  He entered into it with her, with so much modesty, good sense, propriety, and steadiness, that at last the perverse creature gave way:  but hardly would neither, had he not assured her, that her brother would be entirely against her; and that he himself must be excused performing the sacred office, but in a sacred place.  She has set her heart on the doctor’s marrying her.

The Earl of G——­ and Lady Gertrude, as also Lord and Lady L——­, went away, not dissatisfied with Charlotte’s compliance:  she is the most ungraciously graceful young woman I ever knew in her compliances.  But Lord G——­ was to pay for all:  she and I had got together in the study:  in bolted Lord G——­, perhaps with too little ceremony.  She coloured—­ Hey-day, sir!  Who expected you?  His countenance immediately fell.  He withdrew precipitately.  Fie, Charlotte! said I, recollect yourself—­and rising, stept to the door, My lord—­calling after him.