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Page 40
Whatever were the surmises of Sir Horace Mortimer, he was perfectly
satisfied with the result of his private examination of the miniature
for he exclaimed to himself, "God be praised! it must indeed be so,"
saying this, he put it in his pocket, and joined the Falkner family at
breakfast, where the conversation before related, took place.
On his way to Helen's, he met his cousin, and they walked on together.
At length Sir Horace Mortimer asked, "George, my boy do you not begin
to think of marrying; it is in my opinion, high time you should--let
me see; you must be eight and twenty, why you are losing time sadly,
take care I don't get spliced first, as sailors say."
"Why sir, they do say Maria Falkner has certainly made a conquest of
you."
"They do, do they: its very kind of them to settle so important a
point for me. Do you approve the match."
"I think there are many who would make you happier."
"Miss Willoughby, for instance!" said Sir Horace.
"Miss Willoughby! sir."
"Yes, Miss Willoughby, George, what objection? Should I be the first
old man, who has married a young girl? and made her happy too. I
intend to make her a proposal to-day."
"You! sir; you surely don't mean what you say!"
"But I do, though; I was never more in earnest in my life. But, eh,
George! what is the matter? you change colour. You don't want her
yourself? You know you can't marry her and Miss Falkner too."
"I marry Miss Falkner? Never; I would sooner be wedded to--"
"Hold! my boy; I know the workings of that wayward heart of yours,
better than you think; and, therefore, let us understand each other;
at any rate, let me be clearly understood, when I say, that unless you
make up your mind to marry Helen Willoughby, I shall."
"But, my dear Sir Horace, though I greatly admire and esteem her far
beyond any woman I ever saw. Yet I am,----" and he paused.
"You are what? Shall I tell you? You are so very fastidious, that you
are refining away your happiness, like anything but a sensible man.
You don't expect perfection, do you? The long and the short of the
matter, is this: in your haste to answer my letter from the Downs, you
sent me, by mistake, a confidential epistle, which you had intended
for some intimate friend. Not having any signature, I went on reading
it, nor till you adverted to my arrival off Deal, was I aware who was
the writer. It was a lucky _contre temps_, it gave me a better insight
into your views and character, than years of common intercourse could
have done. I admire your principles, though I think you carry them a
little too far. Now don't blame me, as I again repeat, you omitted
your name at the end. So no more nonsense, my lad; 'screw up your
courage to the sticking point,' and go, and propose for the girl at
once. You must do it, I tell you, or I disinherit you, and give her
every penny; and, as I before said, myself into the bargain. But I am
off to Sherman's and thence, to Miss Willoughby, where I shall expect
you in an hour, so you had best be on the alert. You will not be the
first young man who has been outwitted by an old one, so mind." Saying
this, he left his young relative, who was not, however, very tardy in
following advice so consonant to his own wishes.
It may be thought George Mortimer was too particular, but be it
remembered, it was a most honorable feeling that led to his
deliberation; viz., the firm resolve not to win Helen's, affections,
and then leave her. No, he nobly resolved first to learn the state of
his own feelings; and well would it be if many others would act
equally generous. But no! however men decry beauty, they are all its
slaves, and it ever wins a willing homage from them. They are won by
the attractions of a pretty face, and are in consequence, most
particular in their attentions to its possessor; who is thus singled
out, and in all probability, is subject to the jokes of her friends
till from so constantly hearing, she is beloved, she believes it to be
so, nor awakes from her dream, till she sees herself supplanted by a
newer or prettier face. This is a crying evil: a bad state of things;
and in regretting it, we must not lay the blame wholly on the opposite
sex. There is doubtless too much credulity in the ladies, but this
credulity would be greatly diminished, were they more frequently met
and treated as rational beings, and they would much sooner become so:
for they would have an object in it. How much would the state of
society be improved, could there be a little reform on the side of
each sex. Let the man, as the superior, commence; he will find his
young female friends, beings capable of more than the small talk, with
which they are too generally amused; and I think they will soon be
better prepared for sensible conversation; and then let the ladies on
their part be a little more sceptical in believing the flattery and
adulation of the men, and not fancy every gentleman, who is friendly
and attentive in perhaps merely a general way, in love with her. As in
everything else, there are exceptions, here I only speak of
generalities, and I trust not with acerbity. A very little of mutual
effort, would bring about a great improvement in these matters. The
_young_ have great influence on the _young_, particularly in the
formation of character, and well for those who exercise it
beneficially.
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