All this while not
a word on either side; a stupid stare was all the face I
could put on this strange visit.
The tea was made, and the landlady, unwilling, I sup-
pose, to lose any time, observing my silence and shyness
before this entire stranger: "Come, Miss Fanny," says she,
in a coarse familiar style, and tone of authority, "hold up
your head, child, and do not let sorrow spoil that pretty
face of yours. What! sorrows are only for a time; come, be
free, here is a worthy gentleman who has heard of your mis-
fortunes and is willing to serve you; you must be better
acquainted with him; do not you now stand upon your punc-
tilio's, and this and that, but make your market while you
may."
At this so delicate and eloquent harangue, the gentle-
man, who saw I look'd frighted and amaz'd, and indeed, in-
capable of answering, took her up for breaking things in so
abrupt a manner, as rather to shock than incline me to an
acceptance of the good he intended me; then, addressing
himself to me, told me he was perfectly acquainted with my
whole story and every circumstance of my distress, which he
own'd was a cruel plunge for one of my youth and beauty to
fall into; that he had long taken a liking to my person,
for which he appeal'd to Mrs. Jones, there present, but
finding me so absolutely engag'd to another, he had lost all
hopes of succeeding till he had heard the sudden reverse of
fortune that had happen'd to me, on which he had given par-
ticular orders to my landlady to see that I should want for
nothing; and that, had he not been forc'd abroad to The
Hague, on affairs he could not refuse himself to, he would
himself have attended me during my sickness; that on his
return, which was but the day before, he had, on learning
my recovery, desir'd my landlady's good offices to introduce
him to me, and was as angry, at least, as I was shock'd, at
the manner in which she had conducted herself towards ob-
taining him that happiness; but, that to shew me how much he
disown'd her procedure, and how far he was from taking any
ungenerous advantage of my situation, and from exacting any
security for my gratitude, he would before my face, that
instant, discharge my debt entirely to my landlady and give
me her receipt in full; after which I should be at liberty
either to reject or grant his suit, as he was much above
putting any force upon my inclinations.
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