My heart
demands alliance with hers, and hopes to be allowed its claim; though
such are the delicacies of situation, that I scarcely dare to trust
myself to speak upon the subject. From the first, I called Miss Byron my
sister; but she is more to me than the dearest sister; and there is a
more tender friendship that I aspire to hold with her, whatever may be
the accidents, on either side, to bar a further wish: and this I must
hope, that she will not deny me, so long as it shall be consistent with
her other attachments.
He paused. I made an effort to speak: but speech was denied me. My
face, as I felt, glowed like the fire before me.
My heart, resumed he, is ever on my lips. It is tortured when I cannot
speak all that is in it. Professions I am not accustomed to make. As I
am not conscious of being unworthy of your friendship, I will suppose it;
and further talk to you of my affairs and engagements, as that tender
friendship may warrant.
Sir, you do me honour, was all I could say.
I had a letter from the faithful Camilla. I hold not a correspondence
with her: but the treatment that her young lady met with, of which she
had got some general intimations, and some words that the bishop said to
her, which expressed his wishes, that I would make them one more visit at
Bologna, urged her to write, begging of me, for Heaven's sake, to go
over.
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