Complete Novels of Maria Edgeworth

by Maria Edgeworth

  OLIVIA.

  LETTER CXI.

  LEONORA TO HER MOTHER.

  MY DEAREST MOTHER, Yarmouth.

  Can you believe or imagine that I am actually unwilling to say or to think that Mr. L —— is quite well? yet this is the fact. Such is the inconsistency and weakness of our natures — of my nature, I should say. But a short time ago I thought that no evil could be so great as his danger; now that danger is past, I dread to hear him say that he is perfectly recovered. The moment he is able he goes to Russia; that is decided irrevocably. The promise has been claimed and repeated. A solemn promise cannot be broken for any human consideration. I should despise him if he broke it; but can I love him for keeping it? His mind is at this instant agitated as much as mine is — more it cannot be. Yet I ought to be better able to part with him now than when we parted before, because I have now at least the consolation of knowing that he leaves me against his will — that his heart will not go from me. This time I cannot be deceived; I have had the most explicit assurances of his undivided love. And indeed I was never deceived. All the appearances of regret at parting with me were genuine. The general witnessed the consequent struggle in Mr. L — —’s mind, and this fever followed.

  I will endeavour to calm and content myself with the possession of his love, and with the assurance that he will return to me as soon as possible. As soon as possible! but what a vague hope! He sails with the first fair wind. What a dreadful certainty! Perhaps to-morrow! Oh, my dearest mother, perhaps to-night!

  LEONORA L —— .

  LETTER CXII.

  GENERAL B —— TO THE DUCHESS OF —— .

  MY DEAR MADAM, Yarmouth.

  Today Mr. L —— , finding himself sufficiently recovered, gave orders to all his suite to embark, and the wind being fair, determined to go on board immediately. In the midst of the bustle of the preparations for his departure, Lady Leonora, exhausted by her former activity, and unable to take any part in what was passing, sat silent, pale, and motionless, opposite to a window, which looked out upon the sea; the vessel in which her husband was to sail lay in sight, and her eyes were fixed upon the streamers, watching their motion in the wind.

  Mr. L —— was in his own apartment writing letters. An express arrived; and among other letters for the English ambassador to Russia, there was a large packet directed to Lady Leonora L —— . Upon opening it, the crimson colour flew into her face, and she exclaimed, “Olivia’s letters! — Lady Olivia — —’s letters to Mad. de P —— . Who could send these to me?”

  “I give you joy with all my heart!” cried I; “no matter how they come — they come in the most fortunate moment possible. I would stake my life upon it they will unmask Olivia at once. Where is Mr. L —— ? He must read them this moment.”

  I was hurrying out of the room to call my friend, but Lady Leonora stopped my career, and checked the transport of my joy.

  “You do not think, my dear general,” said she, “that I would for any consideration do so dishonourable an action as to read these letters?”

  “Only let Mr. L —— read them,” interrupted I, “that is all I ask of your ladyship. Give them to me. For the soul of me I can see nothing dishonourable in this. Let Lady Olivia be judged by her own words. Your ladyship shall not be troubled with her trash, but give the letters to me, I beseech you.”

  “No, I cannot,” said Lady Leonora, steadily. “It is a great temptation; but I ought not to yield.” She deliberately folded them up in a blank cover, directed them to Lady Olivia, and sealed them; whilst I, half in admiration and half in anger, went on expostulating.

  “Good God! this is being too generous! But, my dear Lady Leonora, why will you sacrifice yourself? This is misplaced delicacy! Show those letters, and I’ll lay my life Mr. L —— never goes to Russia.”

  “My dear friend,” said she, looking up with tears in her eyes, “do not tempt me beyond my power to resist. Say no more.” At this instant Mr. L —— came into the room; and I am ashamed to confess to your Grace, I really was so little master of myself, that I was upon the point of seizing Olivia’s letters, and putting them into his hands. “L —— ,” said I, “here is your admirable wife absurdly, yes, I must say it, absurdly standing upon a point of honour with one who has none! That packet which she has before her—”

  Lady Leonora imposed silence upon me by one of those looks which no man can resist.

  “My dear Leonora, you are right,” said Mr. L —— ; “and you are almost right, my dear general: I know what that packet contains; and without doing anything dishonourable, I hold myself absolved from my promise; I shall not go to Russia, my dearest wife!” He flew into her arms — and I left them. I question whether they either of them felt much more than I did.

  For some minutes I was content with knowing that these things had really happened, that I had heard Mr. L —— say he was absolved from all promises, and that he would not go to Russia; but how did all this happen so suddenly? — How did he know the contents of Olivia’s letters, and without doing any thing dishonourable? There are some people who cannot be perfectly happy till they know the rationale of their happiness. I am one of these. I did not feel “a sober certainty of waking bliss,” till I read a letter which Mr. L —— received by the same express that brought Olivia’s letters, and which he read while we were debating. I beg your Grace’s pardon if I am too minute in explanation; but I do as I would be done by. The letter was from one of the private secretaries, who is, I understand, a relation and friend of Lady Leonora L —— . As the original goes this night to Lady Olivia, I send your Grace a copy. You will give me credit for copying, and at such a time as this! I congratulate your Grace, and

  I have the honour to be, &c.,

  J. B.

  LETTER CXIII

  TO MR. L ——

  {Private.}

  London, St. James’s-street.

  My Dear Sir,

  In the same moment you receive this, your lady, for whom I have the highest regard, will receive from me a valuable present, a packet of Lady Olivia — —’s letters to one of her French friends. These letters were lately found in a French frigate, taken by one of our cruisers; and, as intercepted correspondence is the order of the day, these, with all the despatches on board, were transmitted to our office to be examined, in hopes of making reprisals of state secrets. Some letters about the court and Emperor of Russia led us to suppose that we should find some political manoeuvres, and we examined farther. The examination fortunately fell to my lot, as private secretary. After looking them all over, however, I found that these papers contain only family secrets: I obtained permission to send them to Lady Leonora L —— , to ensure the triumph of virtue over vice — to put it into her ladyship’s power completely to unmask her unworthy rival. These letters will show you by what arts you have been deceived. You will find yourself ridiculed as a cold, awkward Englishman; one who will hottentot again, whatever pains may be taken to civilize him; a man of ice, to be taken as a lover from pure charity, or pure curiosity, or the pure besoin d’aimer. Here are many pure motives, of which you will, my dear sir, take your choice. You will farther observe in one of her letters, that Lady Olivia premeditated the design of prevailing with you to carry her to Russia, that she might show her power to that proudest of earthly prudes, the Duchess of —— , and that she might gratify her great revenge against Lady Leonora L —— .

  Sincerely hoping, my dear sir, that these letters may open your eyes, and restore you and my amiable relation to domestic happiness, I make no apology for the liberty I take, and cannot regret the momentary pain I may inflict. You are at liberty to make what use you think proper of this letter.

  I have it in command from my Lord —— to add, that if your health, or any other circumstances, should render this embassy to Russia less desirable to you than it appeared some time ago, other arrangements can be made, and another friend of government is ready to supply your place.

  I am, my dear sir,

 
Yours, &c.

  To F. L —— , Esq. &c.

  LETTER CXIV.

  FROM LADY LEONORA —— TO THE DUCHESS OF —— .

  Yarmouth.

  Joy, dearest mother! Come and share your daughter’s happiness!

  Continued by General B —— .

  Lady Olivia, thus unmasked by her own hand, has fled to the continent, declaring that she will never more return to England. There she is right — England is not a country fit for such women. — But I will never waste another word or thought upon her.

  Mr. L —— has given up the Russian embassy, and returns with Lady Leonora to L —— Castle to-morrow. He has invited me to accompany them. Lady Leonora is now the happiest of wives, and your Grace the happiest of mothers.

  I have the honour and the pleasure to be

  Your Grace’s sincerely attached,

  J. B —— .

  LETTER CXV.

  THE DUCHESS OF —— TO LADY LEONORA L —— .

  My beloved daughter, pride and delight of your happy mother’s heart, I give you joy! Your temper, fortitude, and persevering affection, have now their just reward. Enjoy your happiness, heightened as it must be by the sense of self-approbation, and by the sympathy of all who know you. And now let me indulge the vanity of a mother; let me exult in the accomplishment of my prophecies, and let me be listened to with due humility, when I prophesy again. With as much certainty as I foretold what is now present, I foresee, my child, your future destiny, and I predict that you will preserve while you live your husband’s fondest affections. Your prudence will prevent you from indulging too far your taste for retirement, or for the exclusive society of your intimate friends. Spend your winters in London: your rank, your fortune, and, I may be permitted to add, your character, manners, and abilities, give you the power of drawing round you persons of the best information and of the highest talents. Your husband will find, in such society, every thing that can attach him to his home; and in you, his most rational friend and his most charming companion, who will excite him to every generous and noble exertion.

  For the good and wise, there is in love, a power unknown to the ignorant and the vicious, a power of communicating fresh energy to all the faculties of the soul, of exalting them to the highest state of perfection. The friendship which in later life succeeds to such love is perhaps the greatest, and certainly the most permanent blessing of life.

  An admirable German writer — you see, my dear, that I have no prejudices against good German writers — an admirable German writer says, that “Love is like the morning shadows, which diminish as the day advances; but friendship is like the shadows of the evening, which increase even till the setting of the sun.” ——

  1805.

  PATRONAGE

  Patronage was published in four volumes in 1814 by J. Johnson and Co and took the author five years to complete. The novel explores the various and many types of patronage across English society. Edgeworth offers rigorous analysis of these forms while also managing to create a work with an interesting plot, astute characterisation and an ability to render the nuances of social interaction and conventions. This was also a forte of her contemporary Jane Austen, who greatly admired Edgeworth’s work. The Anglo-Irish author demonstrates her acumen for dialogue and accuracy of conversations and speech. The plot centres on the decent and upstanding Percy family, who are subject to series of misfortunes, though they do not allow these problems to destroy them or their positive outlook on life. It is their education and preparation for the caprices of life that allows them to survive and flourish. They are the moral lynchpin of the work and are clearly viewed favourably by the author in contrast to the Falconers.

  Edgeworth depicts the Falconers as scheming, cunning and prepared to use underhand means to advance their interests in society. Interestingly Edgeworth not only focuses on attempts to marry off daughters, but also the machinations necessary in marketing sons as partners. The novelist reveals her liberal tendencies when she contrasts the approach of the two families to the notion of patronage. The Percy’s refuse to use the system believing that it is wrong and ultimately unproductive; they advocate the notion of a meritocracy instead. The Falconers wish to benefit from the patronage system which meant you did not have to work for any success or position in society.

  Edgeworth’s celebrated novel explores the middle-class values that would come to dominate 19th century literature: the rebuke of aristocracy and ‘underserved’ wealth in favour of work as the means for secure financial accumulation.

  The first edition

  CONTENTS

  PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

  CHAPTER I.

  CHAPTER II.

  CHAPTER III.

  CHAPTER IV.

  CHAPTER V.

  CHAPTER VI.

  CHAPTER VII.

  CHAPTER VIII.

  CHAPTER IX.

  CHAPTER X.

  CHAPTER XI.

  CHAPTER XII.

  CHAPTER XIII.

  CHAPTER XIV.

  CHAPTER XV.

  CHAPTER XVI.

  CHAPTER XVII.

  CHAPTER XVIII.

  CHAPTER XIX.

  CHAPTER XX.

  CHAPTER XXI.

  CHAPTER XXII.

  CHAPTER XXIII.

  CHAPTER XXIV.

  CHAPTER XXV.

  CHAPTER XXVI.

  CHAPTER XXVII.

  CHAPTER XXVIII.

  CHAPTER XXIX.

  CHAPTER XXX.

  CHAPTER XXXI.

  CHAPTER XXXII.

  CHAPTER XXXIII.

  CHAPTER XXXIV.

  CHAPTER XXXV.

  CHAPTER XXXVI.

  CHAPTER XXXVII.

  CHAPTER XXXVIII.

  CHAPTER XXXIX.

  CHAPTER XL.

  CHAPTER XLI.

  CHAPTER XLII.

  CHAPTER XLIII.

  CHAPTER XLIV.

  An 1822 engraving of the author

  PATRONAGE.

  “Above a patron — though I condescend

  Sometimes to call a minister my friend.”

  TO THE READER.

  My daughter again applies to me for my paternal imprimatur; and I hope that I am not swayed by partiality, when I give the sanction which she requires.

  To excite the rising generation to depend upon their own exertions for success in life is surely a laudable endeavour; but, while the young mind is cautioned against dependence on the patronage of the great, and of office, it is encouraged to rely upon such friends as may be acquired by personal merit, good manners, and good conduct.

  RICHARD LOVELL EDGEWORTH.

  Edgeworthstown,

  Oct. 6, 1813.

  PREFACE TO THE THIRD EDITION.

  The public has called for a third impression of this book; it was, therefore, the duty of the author to take advantage of the corrections which have been communicated to her by private friends and public censors. Whatever she has thought liable to just censure has in the present edition been amended, as far as is consistent with the identity of the story. It is remarkable that several incidents which have been objected to as impossible or improbable were true. For instance, the medical case, in Chapter XIX.

  A bishop was really saved from suffocation by a clergyman in his diocese (no matter where or when), in the manner represented in Chapter X. The bishop died long ago; and he never was an epicure. A considerable estate was about seventy years ago regained, as described in Chapter XLII., by the discovery of a sixpence under the seal of a deed, which had been coined later than the date of the deed. Whether it be advantageous or prudent to introduce such singular facts in a fictitious history is a separate consideration, which might lead to a discussion too long for the present occasion.

  On some other points of more importance to the writer, it is necessary here to add a few words. It has been supposed that some parts of PATRONAGE were not written by Miss Edgeworth. This is not fact: the whole of these volumes were written by her, the opinions they contain are
her own, and she is answerable for all the faults which may be found in them. Of ignorance of law, and medicine, and of diplomacy, she pleads guilty; and of making any vain or absurd pretensions to legal or medical learning, she hopes, by candid judges, to be acquitted. If in the letters and history of her lawyer and physician she has sometimes introduced technical phrases, it was done merely to give, as far as she could, the colour of reality to her fictitious personages. To fulfil the main purpose of her story it was essential only to show how some lawyers and physicians may be pushed forward for a time, without much knowledge either of law or medicine; or how, on the contrary, others may, independently of patronage, advance themselves permanently by their own merit. If this principal object of the fiction be accomplished, the author’s ignorance on professional subjects is of little consequence to the moral or interest of the tale.

  As to the charge of having drawn satirical portraits, she has already disclaimed all personality, and all intention of satirizing any profession; and she is grieved to find it necessary to repel such a charge. The author of a slight work of fiction may, however, be consoled for any unjust imputation of personal satire, by reflecting, that even the grave and impartial historian cannot always escape similar suspicion. Tacitus says that “there must always be men, who, from congenial manners, and sympathy in vice, will think the fidelity of history a satire on themselves; and even the praise due to virtue is sure to give umbrage.”