Barford Abbey, a Novel: In a Series of Letters

What is the sight of thousands slain in the field of battle, compar'd with the scene I am just escap'd from!--How can I be circumstantial!--where am I to begin!--whose distress...

How long I shall continue here, God only knows.--If my wishes could avail, the time would be short; very short, indeed.--I am quite out of patience with Mr. and Mrs. Smith; some...

Well, I did not think it would evermore be in his power to distress me;--but I have been distress'd,--greatly distress'd!--I begin to think Lord Darcey sincere,--that he has alw...

Here am I, ever-honour'd lady, forty miles on the road to that beloved spot, where, for nineteen years, my tranquility was uninterrupted.--Will a serene sky always hang over me?...

I think I have told your Ladyship, I was to be honour'd with the coach to convey me to the Abbey.--About half an hour after one it arriv'd, when a card was deliver'd me from Lad...

Will all the thanks,--all the gratitude,--the parents blessings,--their infinity of joy, be contain'd in one poor sheet?--No:--Was I to repeat half,--only half of what they send...

BARFORD ABBEY! _Yes_, my dearest Lady,--I date from Barford Abbey: a house I little thought ever to have seen, when I have listened hours to a description of it from Mr. Jenking...

Really, my Lord, this favours a good deal of the matrimonial stile. Was you, commenced Benedict, I should think you had received lessons from the famous L----, who takes such pa...

My heart bleeds afresh--Her body found! Good heaven!--it _must_ not,--_shall_ not come to the knowledge of the family.--At present they submit with a degree of resignation.--Who...

Are you well, Madam? Is my dear father well? Tell me you are, and never was so happy a creature as your daughter. I tremble with pleasure,--with joy,--with delight:--but I _must...

Now, my dear Lady, the time is absolutely fix'd for our embarkation; the 22d, without fail.--Mr. Smith intends coming himself, to accompany me to London.--How very good and obli...

Ah! my dear Lady, how kind,--how inexpressibly kind, to promise I shall one day know what has put an end to the intimacy between the two Ladies I _so_ much revere.

Sent for before breakfast!--Nobody in the coach!--Well, I am glad of that, however.--Something very extraordinary must have happen'd.--I hope Lady Powis is not ill.--No other me...

I am too happy to sleep:--exquisite felicity wants not the common supports of nature.--In such scenes as I have witness'd, the _soul_ begins to know herself:--she gives us a pee...

Oh my dear Lady! what a villain have I escap'd from?--Could your Ladyship believe that a man, who, to all appearance, has made a good husband to your agreeable neighbour upwards...

Lost my heart _again!_--Be not surpriz'd, Madam; I lose and find it ten times a day;--yet it never strays from Barford Abbey.--The last account you had from me it was button'd i...

Hear in what manner I proceeded;--You may suppose the hurry in which I left Dover:--I took no leave of my friend;--his humane apothecary promis'd not to quit him in my absence:-...

Five days more, and I am with you.--Saturday morning!--Oh that I may support the hour of trial with fortitude!--I tremble at the thought;--my blood freezes in my veins, when I b...

I envy not the greatest monarch on earth!--She is return'd with my peace;--my joy;--my very soul.--Had you seen her restorative smiles! they spoke more than my pen can describe!...

No, my dear, _Lord Darcey_ is not the man he appears.--What signifies a specious outside, if within there's a narrow heart?--Such must be his, to let a virtuous love sit impriso...

I should be in a fine plight, truly, to let her go to France without me!--Why, I am almost besides myself at the thoughts of an eight days separation.--Was ever any thing so for...

First, I must tell you the body drove on shore at Dover, which I concluded was Miss Powis's, is discover'd to be a Miss Frances Walsh, going over in the yacht which was unfortun...

Now, my dear Lady, am I ready for my departure:--Sir James and Lady Powis reconciled to my leaving them;--yet how can I call it reconciled, when I tear myself from their arms as...

I propose an immensity of satisfaction from this visit.--Forbid it, heaven! Miss Warley's opposite should again give me a meeting at the Abbey.--After the conversation I am made...

Bridgman!--Could Bridgman dare aspire to Miss Warley!--_He_ offer her his hand!--_he_ be connected with a woman whose disposition is diametrically opposite to his own!--_No_,--t...

Well, give me the first salute of your fair bride;--_and for your bride_ I'll ensure Miss Warley.--Why there is not a symptom but is in your favour.--She is nettled; can't you p...

Ruin'd and undone, as I hope for mercy!--undone too by my own egregious folly!--She is quite lost,--quite out of my power.--I wish Lord Allen had been in the bottom of the sea;-...

Oh Dick! the most dreadful affair has happen'd!--Lord Darcey is distracted and dying; I am little better--Good God! what shall I do?--what can I do?--He lies on the floor in the...

How distressing, how heart-rending, is my dear Fanny's mournful detail!--It lies before me; I weep over it!--I weep not for the departed saint: no; it is for you, myself, for al...

Believe me, my dear Lord, I never suspected you capable of designs you justly hold in abhorrence.--If I expressed myself warmly, it was owing to your keeping from me the knowled...

Prepare your ten pieces, George!--Upon my honour, I was at Barford Abbey a quarter before three, notwithstanding a detention on the road by Lord Michell and Flecher, driving on...

Surely I must smell of venison,--roast beef, and plumb-puddings.--Yes, I smell of the Old English hospitality.--_You_, Madam, have no tenants to regale so;--are safe from such t...

What a sacrifice do you offer up to that old dog Plutus!--I have lost _all_ patience,--_all_ patience, I say.--_Such_ a woman!--_such_ an angelic woman!--But what has,--what wil...

Oh what a designing man is Lord Darcey!--He loves me not, yet fain would persuade me that he does.--When I went yesterday morning to the Abbey, I met him in my way to Lady Powis...

Angry!--You are really angry!--Well, I too am angry with myself.--I do love Miss Warley;--but why this to you?--Your penetration has already discover'd it.--Yet, O Molesworth! s...

All is happiness, Dick!--I see nothing else; I hear of nothing else.--It is the _last_ thing I take leave of at night;--the _first_ thing I meet in the morning.--_Yesterday_ was...

Think me not ungrateful, my ever-honour'd Lady, that I have been silent under the ten thousand obligations which I receiv'd at Barford Abbey.--But indeed, my dear Lady, I have b...

Even whilst I write, I see before me the image of my expiring father;--I hear the words that issued from his death-like lips;--my soul feels the weight of his injunctions;--_aga...

Confound your friendships!--_Friendship_ indeed!--What! up head and ears in love, and not know it.--So it is necessary for every woman you think capable of friendship, to have f...

Say not a word of it;--no, not for the world;--the body of Miss Powis is drove on shore.--If the family choose to have her brought down, it may be done some time hence.--I have...

I am not much surpris'd at the contents of your Lordship's letter, it is _what_ Lady Powis and I have long conjectur'd; yet I must tell, you, my Lord, notwithstanding Miss Warle...

Full of joy! full of surprize! I dispatch a line by Robert.--Fly, Molesworth, to Mr. Smith's, in _Bloomsbury-Square_:--tell my dearest, dear Miss Warley, but tell her of it by d...

Are you a mile from the Abbey, Dick?--Are you out of sight,--out of hearing?--John, though you should offer to kill him, dare not deliver letter or message 'till you are at a pr...

Risby, I am lifted above myself!--I am overcome with surprise!--I am mad with joy!--Is it possible!--can it be!--But Lord Darcey's servant has swore it;--yes, he has swore, a le...

Well, Molesworth,--well--I can go no farther;--yet I _must;--John_, poor faithful _John_, says I _must_;--says he shall be sent back again.--But I have lost the use of my finger...