Page 152CHAP. XXXIII. Contains an interesting Discovery.
MRS. Darnley received her daughter with unusual ten|derness; she felt how much she stood in need of her filial care; and her behaviour was dictated by that interested kindness which only gives in expectation of receiving back doublefold.
Sophia saw her pale and emaci|ated, and was greatly affected with the sight: she would not mention her sister, for fear of discomposing her; but Mrs. Darnley soon intro|duced the subject that was most in her thoughts, and exclaimed against Harriot's undutifulness and want of affection with the most violent trans|ports of passion.
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I have been the best of mo|thers to her,
said she, melting into tears;
I have always indul|ged her in all her wishes, and impaired my fortune to support her extravagancies, and how has she returned this kindness! Would you think it, my dear Sophy, though she is in affluent circum|stances, and I, by the loss of my annuity, am plunged into all my former distresses, she has re|fused to pay those debts which I contracted during the time she lived with me; and thinks it suf|ficient to invite me to reside in her house, where, no doubt, I should feel my dependence se|verely.
"Sir Charles," said Sophia sigh|ing,
does not act with his usual generosity; if he has married my sister, why does he suffer you to be in distress.
Page 154"Married your sister!" repeated Mrs. Darnley, in astonishment.
"Ah, madam," resumed Sophia,
is she not married then to Sir Charles?
Why, is it possible that you can wish him to be married to Harriot?
said Mrs. Darnley.
"Alas!" cried Sophia,
ought I not to wish it, when I see her in his house?
"Oh," resumed Mrs. Darnley,
I perceive your mistake; but that house is not Sir Charles's now; Lord L— bought it of him, with the furniture, some time ago; it might have been yours, and without any offence to your virtue too▪ yet you thought fit to refuse it: but I will not pretend to reprove one so much wiser than myself—
"Well, madam," interrupted So|phia eagerly,
then it is not to Sir
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Charles that my sister is married, to whom is she married?
You have seen her, have you not?
said Mrs. Darnley, looking a little confused.
"I have indeed seen her," said Sophia,
but she did not explain her situation to me.
"And do you imagine," re|sumed Mrs. Darnley, peevishly,
that she would be less reserved with her mother? and if she was afraid of telling you the truth, is it likely she would own it to me?
Then I fear it is bad indeed with Harriot,
cried Sophia, in a melancholy accent,
since she has so much to conceal from a mother and a sister.
You were always censorious, Sophy,
said Mrs. Darnley, with some passion;
for my part, I am resolved to think the best.
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If Lord L—is married pri|vately to your sister, her charac|ter will one day be cleared to the world, and she thinks no pru|dent person can blame her, for chusing to bear for a time a few undeserved censures, rather than to struggle with poverty and con|tempt.
Sophia, now convinced of Har|riot's unhappy conduct, burst into tears. Mrs. Darnley, after looking at her in silence a moment, said, with some confusion;
Then you do not believe your sister is mar|ried, Sophy?
"Ah, madam," replied Sophia,
you do not say that you know she is, and whatever reasons there might be for concealing her mar|riage from the world, certainly there are none for hiding it from you.—In vain,
added she, with still greater emotion,
would your
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parental tenderness seek to de|ceive yourself.
Reproach me no more with my tenderness for your sister,
interrupted Mrs. Darnley, angrily;
I am too much affected with her ingratitude already.
"I am sorry she is ungrateful," said Sophia;
but, oh! my dear mamma, it is not fit you should accept of her assistance.
"I hope," said Mrs. Darnley, casting down her eyes,
that I know what to do as well as my daughter.—But Sophy,
added she, after a little pause,
I am sorry to tell you, if you do not know it already, that if you have still any thought of Sir Charles, you deceive yourself; I am very well informed, that a match has been proposed to him, and he has given so favourable an answer
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that it is expected the marriage will be concluded, as soon as he comes from Paris: I heard it all from one of the young lady's relations.
This was a severe stroke to poor Sophia, who had just begun to breathe again, after the anguish she had suffered, in the belief that Sir Charles had forsaken her for her sister, and added perfidy and baseness to his inconstancy.
Mrs. Darnley, who saw her grow pale, and her eyes swimming in tears, while she struggled to con|ceal her emotions, could not help being affected with her distress, and endeavoured to console her.
Sophia, more softened by this tenderness, suffered her tears to flow a few moments unrestrained; then suddenly wiping her charm|ing eyes,
said she,
this indeed is not a time to weep for myself, your sorrows claim all my tears.
Aye, I have sorrows enough, Heaven knows,
said Mrs. Darn|ley,
my debts unpaid, my annuity gone, what have I to trust to?
"Providence," interrupted So|phia,
your piety and my industry. Alas! my dear mamma, your greatest affliction is not the loss of your annuity, or the debts with which you are encumbered, it is my sister's unhappy fall from virtue. That parent,
pursued she,
who sees a beloved child become a prey to licentious pas|sions, who sees her publicly in|cur shame and reproach, expel|led the society of the good and virtuous, and lead a life of dis|honour embittered with the con|tempt
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of the world, and the se|cret upbraidings of her own con|science; that parent can best judge of your anguish now: I have only a sister's feelings for this misfortune! but these feelings are strong enough to make me very unhappy.
Mrs. Darnley appeared so much moved with this discourse, that So|phia pursued it, till she brought her mother to declare, that she would rather suffer all the inconve|niencies of poverty, than give a sanc|tion to Harriot's guilt, by partaking of its reward.
Sophia, to relieve her anxiety, laid down a plan for their future subsistence, and proved to her, that by her skill in several little useful arts, it would be easy for her to supply her with all the necessaries of life.
said she, "pay your "debts.
"How is that to be done?" said Mrs. Darnley hastily.
"The furniture of your house," said Sophia,
the plate, and other pieces of finery, which Sir Charles Stanley presented to you, will, if converted into money, not only pay your debts, but provide a little fund for present expences, and a reserve for future exigencies; mean while, my in|dustry and care will, I hope, keep want far from you. I have friends, who will find employ|ment for my little talents; and if I can but make your life easy and comfortable, I shall think myself happy.
Mrs. Darnley, with tears in her eyes, embraced her daughter, bid her dispose of every thing as she
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pleased, and assured her she would endeavour to bear her new condition of life with patience and resignation.
Sophia immediately wrote to a gentleman of the law, who had been an intimate friend of her father's; and he undertook to manage their little affairs in town. A few days afterwards he brought them a hundred pounds, which was all that remained from the sale, after every demand upon Mrs. Darnley was paid.
She read over the accounts with great emotion, bitterly regretting every trinket she had parted with, and told Sophia, that it was absolutely neces|sary they should settle in some village near town, for she could not bear the thoughts of ex|posing
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her poverty, to her acquain|tance, and of being seen in a worse condition than for|merly.
