To Miss Fermor.

Sunday morning.

Could you have believed he would have expected such a proof of my desire to oblige him? but what can he ask that his Emily will refuse?  I will see this friend of his, this Madame Des Roches; I will even love her, if it is in woman to be so disinterested.  She loves him; he sees her; they say she is amiable; I could have wished her visit to Quebec had been delayed.

But he comes; he looks up; his eyes seem to thank me for this excess of complaisance:  what is there I would not do to give him pleasure?

Six o’clock.

Do you think her so very pleasing, my dear Bell? she has fine eyes, but have they not more fire than softness?  There was a vivacity in her manner which hurt me extremely:  could she have behaved with such unconcern, had she loved as I do?

Do you think it possible, Bell, for a Frenchwoman to love? is not vanity the ruling passion of their hearts?

May not Rivers be deceived in supposing her so much attached to him? was there not some degree of affectation in her particular attention to me?  I cannot help thinking her artful.

Perhaps I am prejudiced:  she may be amiable, but I will own she does not please me.

Rivers begged me to have a friendship for her; I am afraid this is more than is in my power:  friendship, like love, is the child of sympathy, not of constraint.

      Adieu!  Yours,
          Emily Montague.

LETTER 111.

To Miss Montague.

Monday.

The inclosed, my dear, is as much to you as to me, perhaps more; I pardon the lady for thinking you the handsomest.  Is not this the strongest proof I could give of my friendship? perhaps I should have been piqued, however, had the preference been given by a man; but I can with great tranquillity allow you to be the women’s beauty.

Dictate an answer to your little Bell, who waits your commands at her bureau.

        Adieu!

“To Miss Fermor, at Silleri.

Monday.

“You and your lovely friend obliged me beyond words, my dear Bell, by your visit of yesterday:  Madame Des Roches is charmed with you both:  you will not be displeased when I tell you she gives Emily the preference; she says she is beautiful as an angel; that she should think the man insensible, who could see her without love; that she is touchant, to use her own word, beyond any thing she ever beheld.

“She however does justice to your charms, though Emily’s seem to affect her most.  She even allows you to be perhaps more the taste of men in general.

“She intends paying her respects to you and Emily this afternoon; and has sent to desire me to conduct her.  As it is so far, I would wish to find you at home.

      “Yours,
          Ed. Rivers.”

LETTER 112.