Oxford World’s Classics

by Jane Austen

  ‘Madam, this is not to be borne; I insist—’

  ‘My dear Girl dont vex yourself about the matter; I assure you’ ‘I have entirely forgiven every thing respecting it; indeed I was not’ ‘angry at the time, because as I saw all along, you were nearly dead’ ‘drunk I knew you could not help saying the strange things you did.’ ‘But I see I distress you; so I will change the subject & desire it may’ ‘never again be mentioned; remember it is all forgot—I will now’ ‘pursue my story; but I must insist upon not giving you any description’ ‘of Mrs Watkins; it would only be reviving old stories & as you never’ ‘saw her, it can be nothing to you, if her forehead was too high, her’ ‘eyes were too small, or if she had too much colour.’

  ‘Again! Lady Williams: this is too much’—

  So provoked was poor Alice at this renewal of the old story, that I know not what might have been the consequence of it, had not their attention been engaged by another object. A lovely young Woman lying apparently in great pain beneath a Citron-tree, was an object too interesting not to attract their notice. Forgetting their own dispute they both with simpathizing Tenderness advanced towards her & accosted her in these terms.

  ‘You seem fair Nymph* to be labouring under some misfortune’ ‘which we shall be happy to releive if you will inform us what it is.’ ‘Will you favour us with your Life & adventures?’*

  ‘Willingly Ladies, if you will be so kind as to be seated.’ They took their places & she thus began.

  Chapter the Fifth

  ‘I am a native of North Wales & my Father is one of the most capital’ ‘Taylors* in it. Having a numerous family, he was easily prevailed’ ‘on by a sister of my Mother’s who is a widow in good circumstances’ ‘& keeps an alehouse in the next Village to ours, to let her take me &’ ‘breed me up at her own expence. Accordingly I have lived with her’ ‘for the last 8 years of my Life, during which time she provided me’ ‘with some of the first rate Masters, who taught me all the accom-’ ‘plishments requisite for one of my sex and rank. Under their instruc-’ ‘tions I learned Dancing, Music, Drawing & various Languages, by’ ‘which means I became more accomplished than any other Taylor’s’ ‘Daughter in Wales.* Never was there a happier creature than I was,’ ‘till within the last half year—but I should have told you before that’ ‘the principal Estate in our Neighbourhood belongs to Charles’ ‘Adams, the owner of the brick House, you see yonder.’

  ‘Charles Adams!’ exclaimed the astonished Alice; ‘are you acquainted’ ‘with Charles Adams?’

  ‘To my sorrow madam I am. He came about half a year ago to’ ‘receive the rents of the Estate* I have just mentioned. At that time’ ‘I first saw him; as you seem ma’am acquainted with him, I need’ ‘not describe to you how charming he is. I could not resist his’ ‘attractions;’—

  ‘Ah! who can,’ said Alice with a deep sigh.

  ‘My aunt being in terms of the greatest intimacy with his cook,’ ‘determined, at my request, to try whether she could discover, by’ ‘means of her freind if there were any chance of his returning my’ ‘affection. For this purpose she went one evening to drink tea with’ ‘Mrs Susan,* who in the course of Conversation mentioned the good-’ ‘ness of her Place* & the Goodness of her Master; upon which my’ ‘aunt began pumping her* with so much dexterity that in a short time’ ‘Susan owned, that she did not think her Master would ever marry,’ ‘ “for (said she) he has often & often declared to me that his wife,” ’ ‘ “whoever she might be, must possess, Youth, Beauty, Birth, Wit,” ’ ‘ “Merit, & Money. I have many a time (she continued) endeavoured” ’ ‘ “to reason him out of his resolution & to convince him of the improb-” ’ ‘ “ability of his ever meeting with such a Lady; but my arguments” ’ ‘ “have had no effect & he continues as firm in his determination as” ’ ‘ “ever.” You may imagine Ladies my distress on hearing this; for’ ‘I was fearfull that tho’ possessed of Youth, Beauty, Wit & Merit, &’ ‘tho’ the probable Heiress of my aunts House & business, he might’ ‘think me deficient in Rank, & in being so, unworthy of his hand.’

  ‘However I was determined to make a bold push & therefore wrote’ ‘him a very kind letter, offering him with great tenderness my hand &’ ‘heart.* To this I received an angry & peremptory refusal, but think-’ ‘ing it might be rather the effect of his modesty than any thing else,’ ‘I pressed him again on the subject. But he never answered any more’ ‘of my Letters & very soon afterwards left the Country. As soon as’ ‘I heard of his departure I wrote to him here, informing him that’ ‘I should shortly do myself the honour of waiting on him at Pammydiddle,’ ‘to which I received no answer; therefore choosing to take, Silence’ ‘for Consent, I left Wales, unknown to my aunt, & arrived here after’ ‘a tedious Journey this Morning. On enquiring for his House I was’ ‘directed thro’ this Wood, to the one you there see. With a heart elated’ ‘by the expected happiness of beholding him I entered it & had’ ‘proceeded thus far in my progress thro’ it, when I found myself’ ‘suddenly seized by the leg & on examining the cause of it, found that’ ‘I was caught in one of the steel traps* so common in gentlemen’s’ ‘grounds.’

  ‘Ah cried Lady Williams, how fortunate we are to meet with you;’ ‘since we might otherwise perhaps have shared the like misfortune’—

  ‘It is indeed happy for you Ladies, that I should have been a short’ ‘time before you. I screamed as you may easily imagine till The woods’ ‘resounded again & till one of the inhuman Wretch’s servants came’ ‘to my assistance & released me from my dreadfull prison, but not’ ‘before one of my legs was entirely broken.’

  Chapter the Sixth

  At this melancholy recital the fair eyes of Lady Williams, were suffused in tears & Alice could not help exclaiming,

  ‘Oh! cruel Charles to wound the hearts & legs of all the fair.’

  Lady Williams now interposed & observed that the young Lady’s leg ought to be set without farther delay. After examining the fracture therefore, she immediately began & performed the operation with great skill which was the more wonderfull on account of her having never performed such a one before.* Lucy, then arose from the ground & finding that she could walk with the greatest ease, accompanied them to Lady Williams’s House at her Ladyship’s particular request.

  The perfect form, the beautifull face, & elegant manners of Lucy so won on the affections of Alice that when they parted, which was not till after Supper, She assured her that except her Father, Brother, Uncles, Aunts, Cousins & other relations, Lady Williams, Charles Adams & a few dozen more of particular freinds, she loved her better than almost any other person in the world.

  Such a flattering assurance of her regard would justly have given much pleasure to the object of it, had she not plainly perceived that the amiable Alice had partaken too freely of Lady Williams’s claret.

  Her Ladyship (whose discernment was great) read in the intelligent countenance of Lucy her thoughts on the subject & as soon as Miss Johnson had taken her leave, thus addressed her.

  ‘When you are more intimately acquainted with my Alice you will’ ‘not be surprised, Lucy, to see the dear Creature drink a little too’ ‘much; for such things happen every day. She has many rare & charm-’ ‘ing qualities, but Sobriety is not one of them. The whole Family are’ ‘indeed a sad drunken set. I am sorry to say too that I never knew’ ‘three such thorough Gamesters as they are, more particularly Alice.’ ‘But she is a charming girl. I fancy not one of the sweetest tempers’ ‘in the world; to be sure I have seen her in such passions! However she’ ‘is a sweet young Woman. I am sure you’ll like her. I scarcely know any’ ‘one so amiable.—Oh! that you could but have seen her the other’ ‘Evening! How she raved! & on such a trifle too! She is indeed a most’ ‘pleasing Girl! I shall always love her!’

  ‘She appears by your ladyship’s account to have many good’ ‘qualities’, replied Lucy. ‘Oh! a thousand,’ answered Lady Williams;’ ‘tho’ I am very p
artial to her, and perhaps am blinded by my affection,’ ‘to her real defects.’*

  Chapter the Seventh

  The next morning brought the three Miss Simpsons to wait on Lady Williams, who received them with the utmost politeness & introduced to their acquaintance Lucy, with whom the eldest was so much pleased that at parting she declared her sole ambition was to have her accompany them the next morning to Bath,* whither they were going for some weeks.

  ‘Lucy, said Lady Williams, is quite at her own disposal & if she’ ‘chooses to accept so kind an invitation, I hope she will not hesitate,’ ‘from any motives of delicacy on my account. I know not indeed how’ ‘I shall ever be able to part with her. She never was at Bath & I should’ ‘think that it would be a most agreable Jaunt* to her. Speak my Love,’ ‘continued she, turning to Lucy, what say you to accompanying these’ ‘Ladies? I shall be miserable without you—t’will be a most pleasant’ ‘tour to you—I hope you’ll go; if you do I am sure t’will be the Death’ ‘of me—pray be persuaded’——

  Lucy begged leave to decline the honour of accompanying them, with many expressions of gratitude for the extream politeness of Miss Simpson in inviting her.

  Miss Simpson appeared much disappointed by her refusal. Lady Williams insisted on her going—declared that she would never forgive her if she did not, and that she should never survive it if she did, & inshort used such persuasive arguments that it was at length resolved she was to go. The Miss Simpsons called for her at ten o’clock the next morning & Lady Williams had soon the satisfaction of receiving from her young freind, the pleasing intelligence of their safe arrival in Bath.

  It may now be proper to return to the Hero of this Novel,* the brother of Alice, of whom I beleive I have scarcely ever had occasion to speak; which may perhaps be partly oweing to his unfortunate propensity to Liquor, which so compleatly deprived him of the use of those faculties Nature had endowed him with, that he never did anything worth mentioning. His Death happened a short time after Lucy’s departure & was the natural Consequence of this pernicious practice. By his decease, his sister became the sole inheritress of a very large fortune, which as it gave her fresh Hopes of rendering herself acceptable as a wife to Charles Adams could not fail of being most pleasing to her—& as the effect was Joyfull the Cause could scarcely be lamented.

  Finding the violence of her attachment to him daily augment, she at length disclosed it to her Father & desired him to propose a union between them to Charles. Her father consented & set out one morning to open the affair to the young Man. Mr Johnson being a man of few words his part was soon performed & the answer he received was as follows—

  ‘Sir, I may perhaps be expected to appear pleased at & gratefull’ ‘for the offer you have made me: but let me tell you that I consider’ ‘it as an affront. I look upon myself to be Sir a perfect Beauty—’ ‘where would you see a finer figure or a more charming face. Then,’ ‘sir I imagine my Manners & Address to be of the most polished kind;’ ‘there is a certain elegance a peculiar sweetness in them that I never’ ‘saw equalled & cannot describe—. Partiality aside, I am certainly’ ‘more accomplished in every Language, every Science, every Art &’ ‘every thing than any other person in Europe. My temper is even, my’ ‘virtues innumerable, my self unparalelled.* Since such Sir is my’ ‘character, what do you mean by wishing me to marry your Daughter?’ ‘Let me give you a short sketch of yourself & of her. I look upon you’ ‘Sir to be a very good sort of Man in the main; a drunken old Dog to’ ‘be sure, but that’s nothing to me. your daughter sir, is neither suffi-’ ‘ciently beautifull, sufficiently amiable, sufficiently witty, nor suffi-’ ‘ciently’ rich for me—. I expect nothing more in my wife than my wife’ ‘will find in me—Perfection. These sir, are my sentiments & I honour’ ‘myself for having such. One freind I have* & glory in having but’ ‘one—. She is at present preparing my Dinner, but if you choose to’ ‘see her, she shall come & she will inform you that these have ever’ ‘been my sentiments.’

  Mr Johnson was satisfied: & expressing himself to be much obliged to Mr Adams for the characters he had favoured him with of himself & his Daughter, took his leave.

  The unfortunate Alice on receiving from her father the sad account of the ill success his visit had been attended with, could scarcely support the disappointment—She flew to her Bottle & it was soon forgot.*

  Chapter the Eighth

  While these affairs were transacting at Pammydiddle, Lucy was conquering every Heart at Bath. A fortnight’s residence there had nearly effaced from her remembrance the captivating form of Charles—The recollection of what her Heart had formerly suffered by his charms & her Leg by his trap, enabled her to forget him with tolerable Ease, which was what she determined to do; & for that purpose dedicated five minutes in every day to the employment of driving him from her remembrance.

  Her second Letter to Lady Williams contained the pleasing intelligence of her having accomplished her undertaking to her entire satisfaction; she mentioned in it also an offer of marriage she had received from the Duke of——an elderly Man of noble fortune whose ill health was the cheif inducement of his Journey to Bath. ‘I am distressed (she’ ‘continued) to know whether I mean to accept him or not. There are’ ‘a thousand advantages to be derived from a marriage with the Duke;’ ‘for besides those more inferior ones of Rank & Fortune it will procure’ ‘me a home, which of all other things is what I most desire. Your’ ‘ladyship’s kind wish of my always remaining with you, is noble &’ ‘generous but I cannot think of becoming so great a burden on one’ ‘I so much love & esteem. That One should receive obligations only’ ‘from those we despise, is a sentiment instilled into my mind by’ ‘my worthy aunt, in my early years, & cannot in my opinion be too’ ‘strictly adhered to. The excellent woman of whom I now speak, is’ ‘I hear too much incensed by my imprudent departure from Wales,’ ‘to receive me again—. I most earnestly wish to leave the Ladies’ ‘I am now with. Miss Simpson is indeed (setting aside ambition)’ ‘very amiable, but her 2d Sister the envious & malvolent Sukey is’ ‘too disagreable to live with.—I have reason to think that the’ ‘admiration I have met with in the circles of the great at this Place,’ ‘has raised her Hatred & Envy; for often has she threatened, &’ ‘sometimes endeavoured to cut my throat.—Your Ladyship will’ ‘therefore allow that I am not wrong in wishing to leave Bath, & in’ ‘wishing to have a home to receive me, when I do. I shall expect’ ‘with impatience your advice concerning the Duke & am your most’ ‘obliged’

  &c. &c. ‘Lucy.’

  Lady Williams sent her, her opinion on the subject in the following Manner.

  ‘Why do you hesitate my dearest Lucy, a moment with respect to’ ‘the Duke? I have enquired into his Character & find him to be an’ ‘unprincipaled, illiterate Man. Never shall my Lucy be united to’ ‘such a one! He has a princely fortune, which is every day encreasing.’ ‘How nobly will you spend it!; what credit will you give him in the’ ‘eyes of all!; How much will he be respected on his Wife’s account!’ ‘But why my dearest Lucy, why will you not at once decide this affair’ ‘by returning to me & never leaving me again? Altho’ I admire your’ ‘noble sentiments with respect to obligations, yet, let me beg that’ ‘they may not prevent your making me happy. It will to be sure be’ ‘a great expence to me, to have you always with me—I shall not be able’ ‘to support it—but what is that in comparison with the happiness’ ‘I shall enjoy in your society?—t’will ruin me I know—you will not’ ‘therefore surely, withstand these arguments, or refuse to return to’ ‘yours most affectionately – &c. &c.’

  ‘C. Williams’

  Chapter the Ninth

  What might have been the effect of her Ladyship’s advice, had it ever been received by Lucy, is uncertain, as it reached Bath a few Hours after she had breathed her last. She fell a sacrifice to the Envy & Malice of Sukey who jealous of her superior charms took her by poison from an admiring World at the age of seventeen.

&n
bsp; Thus fell the amiable & lovely Lucy whose Life had been marked by no crime, and stained by no blemish but her imprudent departure from her Aunts, & whose death was sincerely lamented by every one who knew her. Among the most afflicted of her freinds were Lady Williams, Miss Johnson & the Duke; the 2 first of whom had a most sincere regard for her, more particularly Alice, who had spent a whole evening in her company & had never thought of her since. His Grace’s affliction may likewise be easily accounted for, since he lost one for whom he had experienced during the last ten days, a tender affection & sincere regard. He mourned her loss with unshaken constancy for the next fortnight at the end of which time, he gratified the ambition of Caroline Simpson by raising her to the rank of a Dutchess. Thus was she at length rendered compleatly happy in the gratification of her favourite passion. Her sister the perfidious Sukey, was likewise shortly after exalted in a manner she truly deserved, & by her actions appeared to have always desired. Her barbarous Murder was discovered & in spite of every interceding freind she was speedily raised to the Gallows*—. The beautifull but affected Cecilia was too sensible of her own superior charms, not to imagine that if Caroline could engage a Duke, she might without censure aspire to the affections of some Prince—& knowing that those of her native Country were cheifly engaged,* she left England & I have since heard is at present the favourite Sultana of the great Mogul*—.

  In the mean time the inhabitants of Pammydiddle were in a state of the greatest astonishment and Wonder, a report being circulated of the intended marriage of Charles Adams. The Lady’s name was still a secret. Mr & Mrs Jones imagined it to be, Miss Johnson; but she knew better; all her fears were centered in his Cook, when to the astonishment of every one, he was publicly united to Lady Williams—