User:Languageseeker/Manuscripts
Templates Needed[edit]
- test - manuscript insertion {{MI}}
test- manuscript deletion {{MD}}- new
test- manuscript replacement {{MR}} - - manuscript joining character end {{MJe}}
- - manuscript joining character at the start {{MJs}}
- and - manuscript ampersand {{M&}}
Frederic and Elfrida
a novel.
Chapter the First.
The Uncle of Elfrida was the FatherMother of Frederic; in other words, they were first cousins by the Father's side.
Being both born in one day and both brought up at one school, it was not wonderfull that they should look on each other with something more than bare politenness. They loved with mutual sincerity but were both determined not to transgress the rules of Propriety by owning their attachment, either to the object beloved or . to any one else.
They were exceedingly handsome and so
much alike, that it was not every one
who knew them apart.—Nay even their
most intimate freinds had nothing to
distinguish them by, but the shape of
the face, the colour of the Eye, the length
of the Nose and the difference of the complexion.
Elfrida had an intimate freind to whom, being on a visit to an Aunt, she wrote the following Letter.
To Miss Drummond
"Dear Charlotte"
"I should be obliged to you, if you would buy me, during your stay with Mrs Williamson, a new and fashionable Bonnet, to suit the complexion of your"
Charlotte, whose character was a willingness to oblige every one, when she returned into the Country, brought her Freind the wished-for Bonnet, and so ended this little adventure, much to the satisfaction of all parties.
On her return to Crankhumdunberry
(of which sweet village her father was
Rector) Charlotte was received with the
greatest Joy by Frederic and Elfrida, who, after
pressing her alternately to their Bosoms,
proposed to her to take a walk in a
Grove of Poplars which led from the Parsonage
to a verdant Lawn enamelled
by with a variety of variegated flowers and
watered by a purling Stream, brought
from the Valley of Tempé by a passage
under ground. In this Grove they had scarcely remained
above nine hours, when they were
suddenly agreably surprized by hearing
a most delightfull voice warble the
following stanza.
Song.
That Damon was in love with me
I once thought and beleiv'd
But now that he is not I see,
I fear I was deceiv'd.
Chapter the Second.
As Elfrida and her companions, had seen enough of them to know that they were neither the two Miss Greens, nor Mrs Jackson and her Daughter, they could not help expreſsing their surprise at their appearance; till at length recollecting, that a new family had lately taken a House not far from the Grove, they hastened home, determined to lose no time in forming an acquaintance with two such amiable and worthy Girls, of which family they rightly imagined them to be a part.
Agreable to such a determination, they went that very evening to pay their respects to Mrs Fitzroy and her two Daughters. On being shewn into an elegant dressing room, ornamented with festoons of artificial flowers, they were struck with the engaging Exterior and beautifull outside of Jezalinda the eldest of the young Ladies; but e'er they had been many minutes seated, the Wit and Charms which shone resplendant in the conversation of the amiable Rebecca, enchanted them so much that they all with one accord jumped up and exclaimed.
"Lovely and too charming Fair one, notwithstanding your forbidding Squint, your greazy tresses and your swelling Back, which are more frightfull than imagination can paint or pen describe, I cannot refrain from expressing my raptures, at the engaging Qualities of your Mind, which so amply atone for the Horror, with which your first appearance must ever inspire the unwary visitor."
"Your sentiments so nobly expressed on the different excellencies of Indian and English Muslins, and the judicious preference you give the former, have excited in me an admiration of which I can alone give an adequate idea, by assuring you it is nearly equal to what I feel for myself."
Then making a profound Curtesy to the amiable and abashed Rebecca, they left the room and hurried home.
From this period, the intimacy between the Families of Fitzroy, Drummond, and Falknor, daily encreased till at length it grew to such a pitch, that they did not scruple to kick one another out of the window on the slightest provocation.
During this happy state of Harmony, the eldest Miss Fitzroy ran off with the Coachman and the amiable Rebecca was asked in marriage by Captain Roger of Buckinghamshire.
Mrs Fitzroy did not approve of the match on account of the tender years of the young couple, Rebecca being but thirty-six and Captain Roger little more than sixty-three. To remedy this objection, it was agreed that they should wait a little while till they were a good deal older.
Chapter the third
In the mean time the parents of Frederic proposed to those of Elfrida, an union between them, which being accepted with pleasure, the wedding cloathes were bought and nothing remained to be settled but the naming of the Day.
As to the lovely Charlotte, being importuned
with eagerness to pay another visit
to her Aunt, she determined to accept the
invitation and in consequence of it walked to
Mrs Fitzroys to take leave of the amiable Rebecca,
whom she found surrounded by
PatchesRouge, Powder, Pomatum and Paint with which she
was vainly endeavouring to remedy the natural
plainness of her face.
"I am come my amiable Rebecca, to take my leave of you for the fortnight I am destined to spend with my aunt. Beleive me this separation is painfull to me, but it is as necessary as the labour which now engages you." "Why to tell you the truth my Love, replied Rebecca, I have lately taken it into my head to think (perhaps with little reason) that my complexion is by no means equal to the rest of my face and have therefore taken, as you see, to white and red paint which I would scorn to use on any other occasion as I hate art."
Charlotte, who perfectly understood the meaning of her freind's speech, was too goodtemper'd and obliging to refuse her, what she knew she wished,—a compliment; and they parted the best freinds in the world.
With a heavy heart and streaming Eyes did she ascend the lovely vehicle[1] which bore her from her freinds and home; but greived as she was, she little thought of in what a strange and different manner
- ↑ a post chaise