Le_Sage_Gil_Blas.txt topic ['13', '324', '378', '393']
insolent to those who have no pedigree to
boast " farthest from it in the world/ 1 answered
; " the young man is gentle in his temper and
polished in his manners ; handsome withal, and some-
what under thirty." " paint him in flattering col-
ours," said to ; " what is his name 1" "
de ," replied 's wife : " it is not long
. 393.
since be came to his inheritance ; he lives on his own
estate about a mile off, with a younger sister, of whom
he takes care." " once knew something of his fam-
ily," observed ; "it is one of the best in ."
" i care less for lineage," cried , " than for the
qualities of the heart and mind ; this will ex-
actly suit us, if he is a good sort of man." " is be-
lied else," said , with a blushing interest in
oar conversation ; " the inhabitants of , who know
him well, say all the good of him you can conceive."
smiled at this ; and her father, not less quicksighted,
saw plainly that her heart had a share in the testimony
of her tongue.
gentleman soon heard of our arrival, and paid his
respects to us within two days. address was pleas-
ing and manly, so as to prepossess us in his favour*
affected merely to welcome us home as a neighbour.
reception was such as not to discourage the repeti-
tion of his visit, but not a word of !
he was gone, asked us how we liked him.
eould have no objection to make, and gave it as our
opinion that could not dispose of herself
better.
next day, and returned the visit.
took a guide, and luckily ; for otherwise it might have
puzzled us to find the place. was not till our actual
arrival that it was visible ; for the mansion was situated
at the foot of a* mountain, in the middle of a wood,
whose lofty trees hid it from our view. was an
antique and ruinous appearance about it, which spoke
more for the descent than the wealth of its proprietor.
our entrance, however, the elegance of the interior
arrangement made amends for the dilapidated grandeur
of the outer walls.
received us in a handsome room, where he
introduced his sister , a lady between nineteen
and twenty years of age. was a good deal tricked
out, as if she had primed and loaded herself for con-
quest, in expectation of our visit. presenting all
her charms in full force, she did by me much as -
nia had done before ; but 1 managed my raptures so dis-
creetly, that even had no suspicion. con-
versation turned, as on the preceding day, on the mutual
pleasure of good neighbourhood. he did not open
on the subject of , nor did we attempt to draw
394 .
him out our interview, often cast a side glance
at * though with all the reserve of delicate ap-
; whenever our eyes met, the citadel of my
eart was ready to surrender. describe the object of
my love justly, as well as feelingly, her beauty was not
of the most perfect kind : her skin was of a dazzling
whiteness, and her lips united the colour with the fra-
grance of the rose ; but her features were not so regular
and well-proportioned as might have been wished : yet,
altogether, she won my heart.
short, left the mansion of a different man
from what 1 was on entering it : so that, returning to
with my whole soul absorbed in , saw
and spoke only of her. " is this, master ?" said
, with a look of astonishment, " you seem to be
very much taken with 's sister ! you be
in love with her 1" , my friend," answered ; "to
my shame be it spoken. the death of ,
how many lovely females have passed in review before
me with indifference : and must my passions be irresist-
ibly kindled at this time of life !" " , sir," re-
plied the eon of , "you may bless your stars,
instead of squabbling with yourself: you are not so old
as to make your sacrifice at the shrine of love a by-
word : and time has not yet ploughed such furrows on
your brows, as to render hopeless the desire of pleas-
ing. you see next, ask him boldly for
his sister: he. cannot refuse her to you; and besides*
if his views in her settlement are ambitious, how can
he do better ? have a patent of nobility in your
pocket, and upon that your posterity may ride easy:
after five generations, when pedigree herself shall be
lost in the confusion of her materials, it may exercise
the diligence of learned inquiry, to trace the family of
the to the beginning of its archives, and
consecrate the fame of its founder by the indistinctness
of his story,"
. 395
.
,
.
this discourse, encouraged me to declare
myself, without considering how he exposed me to the
danger of a refusal. own resolution was taken with
fear and trembling. carried my years well,
nd might have sunk at least ten, it did not seem un-
likely that a young beauty might turn up her nose at
the disparity. determined, however, to bolt the ques-
tion the first time saw her brother, who was not with-
out his trepidations on the subject of my god-daughter*
returned my call the next morning, just as 1 had
done dressing. " de ," said he, "
wish to speak with you on some serious business."
took him into my closet, where, entering on the subject
at once, " imagine, 11 continued he, " that you are not
unacquainted with the purpose of my visit : love -
raphina ; you are all in all with her father ; must re-
quest you, therefore, to intercede and procure for me
the accomplishment of my heart's desire : then shall
have to thank you for the prime bliss of my existence. 9 '
" , 19 answered , u as you come to the
point at once, you can have no objection to my follow-
ing your example : good offices are fully at your
service, and shall hope for yours with your sister in
return. "
was agreeably surprised. " it be pos-
sible," exclaimed he, " that should have made
a conquest of your heart since yesterday 1" " is
even so," said , " and it would make me the happiest
of men if the proposal should meet with your joint
approbation." " may rely on that," replied he :
" though with some pretensions to family pride, yours
is not an alliance to be despised." " flatter me
highly," rejoined : " that you are not mealy-mouthed
about receiving a commoner into your pedigree, is a
mark of good sense ;. but even if nobility had been a
necessary ingredient in your sister's requisites for a
896 . .
husband, we should not have quarrelled on that account*
have worked out twenty years in the trammels of
office : and the king, as a reward of my long labours,
has granted me a patent of nobility." high-minded
? gentleman read my credentials over with extreme satis-
action, and returning them, told me that was
mine. " yours," exclaimed .
were the two marriages agreed on between us.
consent of the intended brides was all that remain-
ed ; for we neither of us presumed to control the incli-
nations of our wards. friend, therefore, carried home
my proposal to his sister, and 1 called , ,
and my god-daughter together, for the purpose of lay-
ing open a similar project. voted loudly for
immediate acceptance, and silently.
father did not say much against it, but boggled a little
at the fortune he must give to a gentleman, whose seat
required such immediate and extensive repairs. stop-
ped 's mouth by telling him that was my concern,
and that should contribute four thousand pistoles to
the architect's estimate.
the evening came again. " busi-
ness is going swimmingly,' 9 said : " pray mine
may promise as fairly." " it cannot,' 1 answered
he ; " my influence was quite unnecessary to prevail
with ; your person had made its impression,
and your 'manners pleased her. were afraid she
might not like you ; while she, with more reason, hav-
ing nothing to offer but her heart and hand " "
would she offer more 1" interrupted , out of my wits
with joy. ' the lovely can think of me
without repugnance, ask no more : my fortune is am-
ple, and the possession of her is the only dowry should
value."
and myself, highly delighted at having
brought our views to bear so soon, were for hastening
our nuptials, and cutting off all superfluous ceremonies.
closeted the gentleman with 's parents ; the
settlements were soon agreed on, and he took his leave,
to return next day with . eager
esire of appearing agreeable in that lady's eyes, occa-
sioned me to spend three hours at least in adjusting my
dress, and communicating the air of a lover to my per-
son ; but could not do it so much to my mind as in my
younger days. preparations for courtship are a
. 397'
to a young man, but a serious business and
azardous speculation to one who is beginning to be
oldish. yet it turned out better than my hopes or
deserts ; for 's sister received me so gracious-
ly as to put me in good-humour with myself. was
charmed with the turn of her mind ; and foreboded that,
with discreet management and much deference, might
really get her to like me as well as anybody else.
of this sweet hope, sent for the lawyers to draw up
the two contracts, and for the clergyman of to
bring us better acquainted with our mistresses.
did light the torch of for the second
time, and it did not burn blue with the brimstone of
repentance. , like a virtuous wife, made a
pleasure of her duty : in gratitude for the pains took
to anticipate all her wishes, she soon loved me as well
as if had been younger. and my god-
daughter were more enthusiastic in their mutual ardour ;
and, what was most unprecedented of all, the two sis-
ters-in-law loved one another sincerely. was
a man in whom all good qualities met : my esteem for
him increased daily, and he did not repay it with in-
gratitude. short, we were a happy and united fam-
ily : we could scarcely bear the interval of separation
between evening and morning. time was divided
between and : his excellency's pistoles
made the old battlements to raise their heads again,
and the castle to resume its lordly port.
these three years, reader, have led a life of
unmixed bliss in this beloved society. perfect my
satisfaction, has deigned to send me two smi-
ling babes, whose education will be the amusement of
my declining years ; and if ever husband might venture
to hazard so bold an hypothesis, devoutly believe
myself their father.