Selected quad for the lemma: father_n
Text snippets containing the quad
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Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication) |
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A69552
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The unfortunate happy lady a true history / by Mrs. A. Behn.
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Behn, Aphra, 1640-1689.
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1698
(1698)
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Wing B1711A; ESTC R23165
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21,199
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46
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to send her other things to her the next day The young Lady was very joyfully and respectfully received by her Brother 's venerable acquaintance who was mightily charm'd with her Youth and Beauty A Bottle of the best was then strait brought in and not long after a very splendid Entertainment for Breakfast The Furniture was all very modish and rich and the Attendance was suitable Nor was the Lady Beldam's Conversation less oliging and modest than Sir William's discourse had given Philadelphia occasion to expect After they had eaten and drank what they thought convenient the reverend old Lady led 'em out of the Parlour to shew 'em the House every Room of which they found answerably furnish'd to that whence they came At last she led 'em into a very pleasant Chamber richly hung and curiously adorn'd with the Pictures of several beautiful young Ladies wherein there was a Bed which might have been worthy the reception of a Dutchess This Madam said she is your Apartment with the Anti chamber and little Withdrawing-room Alas Madam return'd the dear innocent unthinking Lady you set too great a value on your servant but I rather think your Ladyship designs me this Honour for the sake of Sir William who has had the happiness of your acquaintance for some months Something for Sir William return'd the venerable Lady Beldam but much more for your Ladyships own as you will have occasion to find hereafter I shall study to deserve your Favours and Friendship Madam reply'd Philadelphia I hope you will Madam said the barbarous man But my business now calls me hence to morrow at Dinner I will return to you and order the rest of your things to be brought with me In the mean while pursu'd the Traytor kissing his Sister as he thought and hop'd the last time be as chearful as you can my Dear and expect all you can wish from me A thousand thanks my dearest Brother return'd she with tears in her Eyes and Madam said he to his old mischievous Confederate giving her a very rich Purse which held 50 Guineas be pleas'd to accept this trifle as an humble acknowledgement of the great favour you do this Lady and the care of her which you promise and I 'm sure she cannot want So once more added he my Dear And Madam I am your humble servant Jusqu ' a Revoir and went out bowing Heavens bless my dear Brother cry'd Philadelphia your Honours most Faithful and Obedient Servant said the venerable Beldam No sooner was the treacherous Brother gone than the old Lady taking Philadelphia by the hand led her into the Parlour where she began to her to this effect If I mistake not Madam you were pleas'd to call Sir William Brother once or twice of late in Conversation Pray be pleas'd to satisfy my Curiosity so far as to inform me in the truth of this matter Is it really so or not Philadelphia reply'd blushing your Ladyship strangely surprizes me with this Question For I thought it had been past your doubt that it is so Did not he let you know so much himself I humbly beg your pardon Madam return'd the true Off-spring of old Mother Eve that I have so visibly disturb'd you by my Curiosity But indeed Madam Sir William did not say your Ladyship was his Sister when he gave me charge of you as of the nearest and dearest Friend he had in the world Now our Father and Mother are dead said the sweet Innocent who never had more Children than us two who can be a nearer or dearer Friend unto me than my Brother Sir William or than I his Sister to him None certainly you 'll excuse me Madam answer'd t'other a Wife or Mistress may A Wife indeed return'd the beautiful Innocent has the pre-eminence and perhaps a Mistress too if honourably lov'd and sought for in Marriage But she continu'd I can assure your Ladyship that he has not a Wife nor did I ever hear he had a Mistress yet Love in youth said old Venerable is very fearful of discovery I have known Madam a great many fine young Gentlemen and Ladies who have conceal'd their violent passions and greater affection under the notion and appellation of Brother and Sister And your Ladyship imagins Sir William and I do so reply'd Philadelphia by way of question 'T were no imprudence if you did Madam return'd old Lady Beldam with all the subtilty she had learn'd from the Serpent Alas Madam reply'd she there is nothing like secrecy in Love 'T is the very Life and Soul of it I have been young my self and have known it by Experience But all this Madam interrupted Philadelphia something nettl'd at her discourse all this can't convince me that I am not the true and only Sister both by Father and Mother of Sir William Wilding however he wou'd impose upon your Ladyship for what ends indeed I know not unless unhappily which Heaven forbid He designs to gain your Ladyships assistance in defeating me of the Portion left me by my Father But she continu'd with tears I have too great an assurance of your virtue to fear that you will consent to so wicked a Practice You may be confident Madam said t'other I never will And supposing that he were capable of perpetrating so base an act of himself yet if your Ladyship will be guided and directed by me I will shew you the means of living happy and great without your Portion or your Brothers help so much I am charm'd with your Beauty and Innocence But pray Madam pursu'd she what is your Portion And what makes you doubt your Brother's kindness Philadelphia then told her how much her Brother was to pay her and gave her an account of his Extravagancies as far as she knew 'em to which t'other was no stranger and doubtless cou'd have put a period to her sorrows with her life had she given her as perfect a relation of his Riotous and Vicious practices as she was capable of but she had farther business with her Life and in short bid her be of good comfort and lay all her care on her and then she cou'd not miss of continual happiness The sweet Lady took all her promises for sterling and kissing her Impious hand humbly return'd her thanks Not long after they went to dinner and in the afternoon three or four young Ladys came to visit the Right Reverend the Lady Beldam who told her new Guest that these were all her Relations and no less than her own Sister's Children The Discourse among 'em was general and very modest which lasted for some hours For our sex seldom wants matter of tattle But whether their Tongues were then miraculously wearied or that they were tir'd with one continu'd scene of place I won't pretend to determin But they left the Parlour for the Garden where after about half an hour's walk there was a very fine Disert of Sweetmeats and Fruits brought into one of the Arbours Cherbetts Ros Solis rich
monsters Brother and Bawd If you distrust that I am yet his Sister here Sir take this Key said she and open that Trunk within where you will find Letters from him to me in his own hand and from my own dear dead Father too Sir Edward that gracious that good Man He shew'd us both the paths of Virtue which I have not yet forsaken Pray satisfie me Sir and see the truth For your satisfaction I will Madam said he but I am now fully convinc'd that you have greater Beauties within than those I admire without Saying this he open'd the Trunk where he read a line or two from her Father and as many from her Brother which having again laid down return'd to her with this advice I see Madam said he that you have Money there and several things of value which I desire you to secure about you this moment for I mean to deliver you out of this cursed place if you dare put any confidence in a stranger after your own Brother has acted the part of so great a Villain if you dare trust a stranger too Madam who had himself a design upon you heaven forgive me for it but by all things sacred I find my error I pity you and I fear I shall love you Do you fear that Sir said she why I love you dearly now because I see you are going to be good again that is you are going to be your self again I hope nay I resolve I will tho' it cost me my Life said he Can you submit Madam to attend on a young Lady of my acquaintance here in Town till I can provide better for you O I can be any thing a Chamber-maid a Cook maid a Scullion what you shall think sit tho' never so mean that is not naughty Well Madam said he compose your self then and seem a little pleasant when I bring up that old Factoress of Hell I will endeavour it Sir she return'd and he went down to the Devil 's chief agent to whom he said that the poor thing was at first very uneasie but that now she had consented to go along with him for an hour or two to some other place doubting your secrecy for she wou'd not have her Brother know it as she calls him for a thousand worlds and more Money Well my Son reply'd old Beldam you may take her with you But you remember your bargain O fie Mother cryâ—d he Did you ever know me false to you No no you smock-fac'd wag said she but be sure you bring her again to night for fear Sir William shou'd come Never doubt it Come up with me cry'd he you 'll see a strange alteration I believe To Philadelphia they came then whom they found walking about the Room and looking something more pleasantly than she had ever done since she came thither After she had taken her Money and other things of value so Madam said Beldam how does your Ladyship now I find the sight of a young handsom Gentleman has work'd wonders with you in a little time I understand you are going to take a walk with my worthy friend here and 't is well done I dare trust you with him but with no other man living except Sir William Madam return'd the fair afflicted Lady I am strangely oblig'd to you for your care of me and am sure I shall never be able to return your obligations as I ought and as I cou'd wish You won't stay late Mr. Gracelove said the Mother of mischief No no reply'd he I will only shew the Lady a Play and return to Supper What is play'd to Night ask'd the old one The Cheats Mother the Cheats answer'd Gracelove Ha said Beldam laughing a very pretty Comedy indeed Ay if well play'd return'd he At these words they went down where a Coach was call'd which carry'd 'em to Councellour Fairlaw's House in Great Lincolns-Inn-Fields whom they found accidently at home but his Lady and Daughter were just gone to Chapel being then turn'd of five Gracelove began his Apology to the good old Councellour who was his Relation for bringing a strange Lady thither with a design to place her in his Family But Sir continu'd he if you knew her sorrowful story you wou'd be as ambitious of entertaining her as I am earnest to entreat it of you A very beautiful Lady 't is return'd the Councellour and very modest I believe That I can witness reply'd t'other Alas Sir said the Fair unfortunate I have nothing but my modesty and honest education to recommend me to your regard I am wrong'd and forsaken by my nearest Relation then she wept extravagantly That Gentleman can give you an account of my misfortunes if he please with greater ease and less trouble than my self Not with less trouble believe me Madam return'd Gracelove and then began to inform Fairlaw in every point of her unhappy circumstances The good old Gentleman heard 'em with amazement and horror but told her however that she need not despond for he would take care to right her against her Brother And that in the mean time she should be as welcome to him as any of his nearest Kindred except his Wife and Daughter Philadelphia would have knelt to thank him but he told her that humble posture was due to none but Heaven and the King sometimes In a little while after the Lady Fairlaw and her Daughter came home who were surpriz'd at the sight of a stranger but more at her Beauty and most of all at her story which the good old Gentleman himself could not forbear relating to 'em which ended the Mother and Daughter both kindly and tenderly embrac'd her promising her all the assistance within their power and bid her a thousand welcomes Gracelove stay'd there till after Supper and left her extremely satisfy'd with her new station 'T was here she fix'd then and her deportment was so obliging that they would not part with her for any consideration About three days after her coming from that lewd womans House Gracelove took a Constable and some other assistants and went to Beldam's to demand the Trunk and what was in it which at first her reverence deny'd to return till Mr Constable produc'd the emblem of his Authority upon which it was deliver'd without so much as re-minding Gracelove of his bargain who then pretended he would search the House for Sir William Wilding but her graceless reverence swore most devoutly that he had never been there and that she had neither seen nor heard from him since the day he left Philadelphia with her With these things and this account he return'd to Councellour Fairlaw's who desir'd Gracelove if possible to find out Sir William and imploy'd several others on the same account In less than a months time Gracelove had the good fortune to find him at his Lodgings in Soho Square where he discours'd him about his Sisters Portion and desir'd Sir William to take some speedy care for the payment of it otherwise she