'
Generous man! thought I. O how my tears ran down my cheeks, as I hid my
face behind the countess's chair!
But will you allow me, sir, proceeded the countess, to ask you, were you
freed from all your uncertainties--
'Permit me, madam,' interrupted he, 'to spare you the question you were
going to put. As I know not what will be the result of my journey
abroad, I should think myself a very selfish man, and a very
dishonourable one to two ladies of equal delicacy and worthiness, if I
sought to involve, as I hinted before, in my own uncertainties, a young
lady whose prudence and great qualities must make herself and any man
happy, whom she shall favour with her hand.
'To be still more explicit,' proceeded he, With what face could I look up
to a woman of honour and delicacy, such a one as the lady before whom I
now stand, if I could own a wish, that, while my honour has laid me under
obligation to one lady, if she shall be permitted to accept of me, I
should presume to hope, that another, no less worthy, would hold her
favour for me suspended, till she saw what would be the issue of the
first obligation? No, madam; I could sooner die, than offer such
indignity to both! I am fettered, added he; but Miss Byron is free: and
so is the lady abroad. My attendance on her at this time, is
indispensable; but I make not any conditions for myself--My reward will
be in the consciousness of having discharged the obligations that I think
myself under, as a man of honour.
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