Charlotte Lennox - The Female Quixote (chap 2.6.11) lyrics

Containing only a few Inferences, drawn from the foregoing Chapters. Mr. Glanville, excessively delighted with this Event, could not help laughing at the unfortunate Baronet; who seemed, by his Silence, and down-cast Looks, to expect it. Who would have imagined, said he, that so renowned a Hero would have tarnished the Glory of his Laurels, as my Cousin says, by so base an Ingratitude? Indeed, Prince, pursued he, laughing, you must resolve to recover your Reputation, either by retiring again to your Cave, and living upon bitter Herbs, for the generous Sydimiris; or else wander through the World, in search of the Divine Philonice. Don't triumph, dear Charles, replied Sir George, laughing in his Turn; have a little Compa**ion upon me, and confess, that nothing could be more unfortunate, than that dammed Slip I made at the latter End of my History: But for that, my Reputation for Courage and Constancy had been as high as the great Oroondates, or Juba. Since you have so fertile an Invention, said Sir Charles, you may easily repair this Mistake. Ods-heart! It is pity you are not poor enough to be an Author; you would occupy a Garret in Grub-street, with great Fame to yourself, and Diversion to the Public. Oh! Sir, cried Sir George, I have Stock enough by me, to set up for an Author Tomorrow, if I please: I have no master of, and did not fail to talk her into an Opinion of his Wit, by ridiculing every Body that pa**ed them, and directing several studied Compliments to herself. Miss Glanville , who was not so agreeably entertained by the grave Mr. Selvin, saw these Advances to a Gallantry with her Cousin with great Disturbance: She was resolved to interrupt it if possible, and being convinced Mr. Selvin preferred Arabella's Conversation to hers, she plotted how to pair them together, and have the Beau to herself. As they walked a few Paces behind her Cousin and Mr. Tinsel, she was in no Danger of being over-heard; and taking Occasion to put Mr. Selvin in mind of Arabella's Behavior to him, when he accosted her; she asked him, if he was conscious of having done any thing to offend her? I protest, Madam, replied Mr. Selvin, I know not of anything I have done to displease her. I never failed, to my Knowledge, in my Respects towards her Ladyship, for whom indeed I have a most profound Veneration. I know so much of her Temper, resumed Miss Glanville , as to be certain, if she has taken it into her Head to be angry with you, she will be ten times more so at your Indifference: And if you hope for her favor, you must ask her Pardon with the most earnest Submission imaginable. If I knew I had offended her, replied Mr. Selvin, I would very willingly ask her Pardon; but really, since I have not been guilty of any Fault towards her Ladyship, I don't know how to acknowledge it. Well, said Miss Glanville coldly, I only took the Liberty to give you some friendly Advice, which you may follow, or not, as you please. I know my Cousin is angry at something, and I wish you were Friends again, that's all. I am mightily obliged to you, Madam, said Mr. Selvin; and since you a**ure me her Ladyship is angry, I'll ask her Pardon, tho', really, as I said before, I don't know for what. Well, interrupted Miss Glanville , we'll join them at the End of the Parade; and to give you an Opportunity of speaking to my Cousin, I'll engage Mr. Tinsel myself. Mr. Selvin, who thought himself greatly obliged to Miss Glanville for her good Intentions, tho' in reality she had a View of exposing of her Cousin, as well as an Inclination to engage Mr. Tinsel, took Courage as they turned, to get on the other Side of Arabella, whom he had not dared before to approach, while Miss Glanville , addressing a Whisper of no great Importance to her Cousin, parted her from the Beau, and slackening her Pace a little, fell into a particular Discourse with him, which Arabella being too polite to interrupt, remained in a very perplexing Situation, dreading every Moment that Mr. Selvin would explain himself. Alarmed at his Silence, yet resolved to interrupt him if he began to speak, and afraid of beginning a Conversation first, lest he should construe it to his Advantage. Mr. Selvin being naturally timid in the Company of Ladies, the Circumstance of Disgrace which he was in with Arabella, her Silence and Reserve so added to his accustomed Diffidence, that tho' he endeavored several times to speak, he was not able to bring out anything but a precluding Hem; which he observed, to his extreme Confusion, seemed always to increase Arabella's Constraint. Indeed, that Lady, upon any Suspicion that he was going to break his mysterious Silence, always contracted her Brow into a Frown, cast down her Eyes with an Air of Perplexity, endeavored to hide her Blushes with her Fan; and to shew her Inattention, directed her Looks to the contrary Side. The Lady and Gentleman being in equal Confusion, no Advances were made on either Side towards a Conversation, and they had reached almost the End of the Parade in an uninterrupted Silence; when Mr. Selvin, fearing he should never again have so good an Opportunity of making his Peace, collected all his Resolution, and with an Accent trembling under the Importance of the Speech he was going to make, began, Madam, Since I have had the Honor of walking with your Ladyship, I have observed so many Signs of Constraint in your Manner, that I hardly dare intreat you to grant me a Moment's Hearing while I Sir, interrupted Arabella, before you go any further, I must inform you, that what you are going to say will mortally offend me. Take heed then how you commit an Indiscretion which will force me to treat you very rigorously. If your Ladyship will not allow me to speak in my own justification, said Mr. Selvin, yet I hope you will not refuse to tell me my Offence, since I You are very confident, indeed, interrupted Arabella again, to suppose I will repeat what would be infinitely grievous for me to hear. Against my Will, pursued she, I must give you the Satisfaction to know, that I am not ignorant of your Crime, but I also a**ure you that I am highly incensed; and that not only with the Thoughts you have dared to entertain of me, but likewise with your Presumption in going about to disclose them. Mr. Selvin, whom the seeming Contradictions in this Speech astonished, yet imagined in general it hinted at the Dispute between him and Mr. Tinsel; and supposing the Story had been told to his Disadvantage, which was the Cause of her Anger, replied in great Emotion at the Injustice done him, Since somebody has been so officious to acquaint your Ladyship with an Affair which ought to have been kept from your Knowledge; 'tis a Pity they did not inform you, that Mr. Tinsel was the Person that had the least Respect for your Ladyship, and is more worthy of your Resentment. If Mr. Tinsel, replied Arabella, is guilty of an Offence like yours, yet since he has concealed it better, he is less culpable than you; and you have done that for him, which haply he would never have had Courage enough to do for himself as long as he lived. Poor Selvin, quite confounded at these intricate Words, would have begged her to explain herself, had she not silenced him with a dreadful Frown: And making a Stop till Miss Glanville and Mr. Tinsel came up to them, she told her Cousin with a peevish Accent, that she had performed her Promise very ill; and whispered her, that she was to blame for all the Mortifications she had suffered. Mr. Tinsel, supposing the Alteration in Arabella's Humor proceeded from being so long deprived of his Company; Endeavour's to make her Amends by a Profusion of Compliments; which she received with such an Air of Displeasure, that the Beau, vexed at the ill Success of his Gallantry, told her, he was afraid Mr. Selvin's Gravity had infected her Ladyship. Say rather, replied Arabella, that his Indiscretion has offended me. Mr. Tinsel, charmed with this beginning Confidence, which confirmed his Hopes of having made some Impression on her Heart; conjured her very earnestly to tell him how Mr. Selvin had offended her. 'Tis sufficient, resumed she, that I tell you he has offended me, without declaring the Nature of his Crime, since doubtless it has not escaped your Observation, which, if I may believe him, is not wholly disinterested. To confess yet more, 'tis true that he hath told me something concerning you, which Let me perish, Madam, interrupted the Beau, if one Syllable he has said be true. How, said Arabella, a little disconcerted, Will you always persist in a Denial then? Deny it, Madam, return'd Mr. Tinsel, I'll deny what he has said with my last Breath; 'tis all a scandalous Forgery: No Man living is less likely to think of your Ladyship in that Manner. If you knew my Thoughts, Madam, you would be convinced nothing is more impossible, and Sir, interrupted Arabella, extremely mortified, methinks you are very eager in your Justification. I promise you, I do not think you guilty of the Offence he charged you with; if I did, you would haply experience my Resentment in such a Manner, as would make you repent of your Presumption. Arabella, in finishing these Words, interrupted Miss Glanville 's Discourse with Mr. Selvin, to tell her, she desired to return Home; to which that young Lady, who had not been at all pleased with the Morning's Walk, consented.