The Fortunate Foundlings | Page 8

when persons of your sex
ordinarily begin to think of marriage.--I need not ask you if you have
ever received any addresses for that purpose; the manner in which you
have lived convinces me you are yet a stranger to them; but I would
know of you whether an overture of that kind, in favour of a man of
honour, and who can abundantly endow you with the goods of fortune,
would be disagreeable to you.
Alas! sir, replied she, blushing, you commanded me to answer with
sincerity, but how can I resolve a question which as yet I have never
asked myself?--All that I can say is, that I now am happy by your
bounty, and have never entertained one wish but for the continuance of

it.
On that you may depend, said he, while you continue to stand in need
of it. But would it not be more pleasing to find yourself the mistress of
an ample fortune, and in a condition to do the same good offices by
others as you have found from me?--In fine, Louisa, the care I have
taken of you would not be complete unless I saw you well settled in the
world.--I have therefore provided a husband for you, and such a one as
I think you can have no reasonable objection to.
Sir, it would ill-become me to dispute your will, answered she, modestly,
but as I yet am very young, and have never had a thought of marriage,
nor even conversed with any who have experienced that fate, I should
be too much at a loss how to behave in it, without being allowed some
time to consider on its respective duties.--I hope therefore, sir,
continued she, you will not oblige me to act with too much precipitation
in an affair on which the happiness or misery of my whole future life
depends.
Your very thinking it of consequence, said he, is enough to make you
behave so, as to allure your happiness with a man of honour; and
indeed Louisa, I love you too well to propose one to you whose
principles and humour I could not answer for as well as my own.
Yet, sir, replied she, I have read that a union of hearts as well as hands
is necessary for the felicity of that state;--that there ought to be a
simpathy of soul between them, and a perfect confidence in each other,
before the indissoluble knot is tied:--and this, according to my notion,
can only be the result of a long acquaintance and accompanied with
many proofs of affection on both sides.
Were all young women to think as you do, said he with a smile, we
would have much fewer marriages; they would indeed be happier;
therefore I am far from condemning your precaution, nor would wish
you should give yourself to one till well assured he was incapable of
treating you with less regard after marriage than before:--no, no,
Louisa, I will never press you to become a wife, till you shall yourself
acknowledge the man I offer to you as a husband is not unworthy of

that title, thro' a want of honour, fortune, or affection.
As Louisa thought this must be the work of time, the chagrin she felt at
the first mention of marriage was greatly dissipated; and she told him,
that when she was once convinced such a person as he described
honoured her so far as to think she merited his affection, she would do
all in her power to return it.
The enamoured Dorilaus having now brought her to the point he aimed
at, thought it best to throw off the mark at once, and leave her no
longer in suspence.--Behold then in me, said he, the person I have
mentioned: nor think me vain in ascribing those merits to myself which
I would wish to be the loadstone of your affection.--My honour, I
believe, you will not call in question:--my humour you have never
found capricious, or difficult to please; and as for my love, you cannot
but allow the conquering that aversion, which myself, as well as all the
world, believed unalterable for a marriage state; besides a thousand
other scruples opposed my entering into it with you, is a proof greater
than almost any other man could give you.--There requires, therefore,
my dear Louisa, no time to convince you of what I am, or assure you of
what I may be; and I hope the affection you bore me, as a faithful
friend, and the protector of your innocence, will not be diminished on
my making this declaration.
The confusion in which this speech involved her is even impossible to
be conceived, much less can any words come up to its description: she
blushed;--she trembled;--she was ready