Like merits, my dear, as person is not the principal motive, may produce
like attachments. My Lord D---- will be, in your hands, another Sir
Charles Grandison.
How good you are, my dear Lady D----! But allow me to repeat, as the
strongest expression I can use, because I mean it to carry in it all the
force that can be given it, that my heart is already a wedded heart.
You have spoken with great force: God bless you, my dear, as I love you!
The matter shall take its course. If my lord should happen to be a
single man some time hence (and, I can tell you, that your excellencies
will make our choice difficult): and if your mind, from any accident, or
from persuasion of friends, should then have received alteration; you may
still be happy in each other. I will therefore only thank you for that
openness of heart, which must set free the heart of my son--Had you had
the least lurking inclination to coquetry, and could have taken pride in
conquests, he might have been an undone man.--We will return to the
company--But spare him, my dear: you must not talk much. He will love
you, if you do, too fervently for his own peace. Try to be a little
awkward--I am afraid for him: indeed I am. O that you had never seen Sir
Charles Grandison!
I could not answer one word. She took my hand; and led me into the
company.
Had I been silent, when my lord directed his discourse to me, or answered
only No, or Yes, the Countess would have thought me very vain; and that
I ascribed to myself the consequence she so generously gave me, with
respect to my lord.
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