Category: Humour

The Female Quixote; or, The Adventures of Arabella, v. 1-2

_Contains a turn at court, neither new nor surprising. Some useless additions to a fine lady's education. The bad effects of a whimsical study, which some will say is borrowed from Cervantes._

Chapters

91. Chapter XI.

The good divine, who had the cure of Arabella's mind greatly at heart, no sooner perceived that the health of her body was almost restored, and that he might talk to her without...

48. Chapter I.

Though at present, madam, you behold me in the quality of a private gentleman, in the possession only of a tolerable estate, yet my birth is illustrious enough: my ancestors hav...

24. Chapter XI.

But to return to Arabella, whom we left in a very melancholy situation: Lucy had not been gone long from her before she opened her eyes; and, beginning to come perfectly to hers...

71. Chapter XIII.

"I had the honour to assure you this morning on the parade, that the insinuations Mr. Selvin made use of to rob me of the superlative happiness of your esteem were entirely fals...

10. Chapter X.

Arabella had spent some hours in her closet, revolving a thousand different stratagems to escape from the misfortune that threatened her; when she was interrupted by Lucy, who,...

23. Chapter X.

In the mean time, that solitary fair-one was alarmed by a fear of a very unaccountable nature; for being in the evening in her closet, the windows of which had a prospect of the...

42. Chapter I.

Mr. Glanville, who was too much in love to pass the night with any great degree of tranquillity, under the apprehensions he felt; it being the nature of that passion to magnify...

18. Chapter V.

Though, madam, said Mrs. Morris, I have not been long in Miss Groves's service, yet I know a great many things by means of her former woman, who told them to me, though my lady...

16. Chapter III.

Arabella, being then awaked from her slumber, was indulging her grief by complaints, which her women were so used to hear, that they never offered to disturb her. Merciless fate...

46. Chapter V.

_In which will be found one of the former mistakes pursued, and another cleared up, to the great satisfaction of two persons; among whom the reader, we expect, will make a third._

12. Chapter XII.

Arabella saw the change in her cousin's behaviour with a great deal of satisfaction; for she did not doubt but his passion was as strong as ever; but that he forbore, through re...

36. Chapter IV.

As Mr. Glanville took a great deal of pains to turn the discourse upon subjects on which the charming Arabella could expatiate, without any mixture of that absurdity which mingl...

81. Chapter I.

Miss Glanville, whose spirits were greatly exhilarated at their entrance into London, that seat of magnificence and pleasure, congratulated her cousin upon the entertainment she...

35. Chapter III.

Though, replied Mr. Glanville, you are very severe in the treatment you think it necessary our sex should receive from yours; yet I wish some of our town-beauties were, if not a...

9. Chapter IX.

The marquis, though he had resolved to give Arabella to his nephew, was desirous he should first receive some impressions of tenderness for her, before he absolutely declared hi...

66. Chapter VIII.

You speak in strange terms, replied Arabella, blushing, of a princess, who if she was not the most reserved and severe person in the world, was yet nevertheless, absolutely chaste.

68. Chapter X.

Mr. Selvin and Mr. Tinsel, who had listened attentively to this discourse of Arabella, took leave as soon as it was ended, and went away with very different opinions of her;--

70. Chapter XII.

As soon as the ladies were come to their lodgings, Arabella went up to her own apartment to meditate upon what had passed, and Miss Glanville retired to dress for dinner; while...

30. Chapter VI.

Mr. Glanville, coming home in the evening, a little elevated with the wine of which he had drank too freely at Sir George's, being told the ladies were together, entered the roo...

75. Chapter III.

The company she had left behind her being all, except Mr. Glanville, to the last degree surprised at her strange words and actions, continued mute for several minutes after she...

57. Chapter X.

The silence of Philonice, continued Sir George, pierced me to the heart; and when I saw her rise from her seat, and prepare to go away without speaking, grief took such possessi...

50. Chapter III.

Recollecting in a few moments all that happened to me, I could not choose but be surprised at finding myself treated with so little severity, considering I was prisoner to perso...

7. Chapter VII.

The marquis's head-gardener had received a young fellow into his master's service, who had lived in several families of distinction. He had a good face; was tolerably genteel; a...

56. Chapter IX.

The new-fallen snow, pursued Sir George, was tanned, in comparison of the refined purity of that white which made up the ground of her complexion; and though fear had a little g...

89. Chapter IX.

Our fair and afflicted heroine, accompanied by the ladies we have mentioned, having crossed the river, pursued their walk upon its winding banks, entertaining themselves with th...

17. Chapter IV.

Arabella, in a few days, leaving her chamber, had so many opportunities of charming her uncle by her conversation, which, when it did not turn upon any incident in her romances,...

33. Chapter I.

Sir George, who had never missed a day, during Mr. Glanville's illness, in sending to the castle, now he was able to see company, visited him very frequently; and sometimes had...

43. Chapter II.

You are come very opportunely, sir, said Arabella, when he entered the room, to be judge of a great controversy between Miss Glanville and myself. I beseech you therefore, let u...

45. Chapter IV.

After the terrible fright you have been in, madam, said she, upon Sir George's account, I wonder you do not rather think it is his ghost than himself that is come to see us.

84. Chapter IV.

My name, madam, is Cynecia, my birth illustrious enough, seeing that I am the daughter of a sovereign prince, who possesses a large and spacious territory in what is now called...

22. Chapter IX.

Lady Bella, from the familiarity with which Miss Glanville treated this gay gentleman, concluding him her lover, and one who was apparently well received by her, had a strong cu...

25. Chapter I.

Arabella, continuing to ruminate upon her adventure during their little journey, appeared so low-spirited and reserved, that Mr. Glanville, though he ardently wished to know all...

51. Chapter IV.

Ah, madam! said I, observing she had finished her discourse, doubt not but I shall most gratefully preserve the remembrance of what the generous Sydimiris has done for me; and s...

39. Chapter VII.

The baronet, who had been put into a bad humour by Arabella's insinuations that Sir George had affronted her, appeared reserved and uneasy; and, being resolved to question her a...

37. Chapter V.

Sir Charles, who, by this time, had got to the place she directed him to, but saw no appearance of fighting, and only a few haymakers in discourse together, enquired if there ha...

32. Chapter VIII.

At their entrance into the room, Miss Glanville enquired of the physician, just going out, how he found her brother? Who replied, that his fever was increased since last night,...

69. Chapter XI.

As soon as the ladies entered the room, Mr. Selvin, with more gaiety than usual, advanced towards Arabella, who put on so cold and severe a countenance at his approach, that the...

34. Chapter II.

As Arabella was in this part of her discourse, a servant came to inform her that Sir Charles Glanville was just alighted. Upon which Miss Glanville flew to receive her father; a...

49. Chapter II.

For some months, continued Sir George, I prosecuted my addresses to the admirable Dorothea; and I flattered myself with a hope that I had made some progress in her heart: but, a...

47. Chapter VI.

Lady Bella having recovered her usual cheerfulness, through the satisfaction she felt at her uncle's returning to reason, and the abatement she perceived in Sir George's extreme...

21. Chapter VIII.

The day being come on which they designed to be present at the races (or, as Arabella called them, the games), Miss Glanville, having spent four long hours in dressing herself t...

74. Chapter II.

Arabella, who at her entrance had perceived some traces of uneasiness upon Miss Glanville's countenance, tenderly asked her the cause; to which that young lady answering in a co...

20. Chapter VII.

While Arabella was ruminating on the unaccountable behaviour of her new acquaintance, she received a letter from her uncle, informing her (for she had expressly forbid Mr. Glanv...

11. Chapter XI.

The marquis was also extremely uneasy at her obstinacy: he desired nothing more ardently than to marry her to his nephew; but he could not resolve to force her consent; and, how...

52. Chapter V.

The farther I went, continued Sir George, the more my regret increased; and finding it would be impossible to live and quit the divine Sydimiris, I all at once took a resolution...

5. Chapter V.

Lucy now began to think there was something more than she imagined in this affair. Mr. Hervey, indeed, in her opinion, had seemed to be very far from having any design to attemp...

65. Chapter VII.

The indifference of Mr. Tinsel convincing Miss Glanville that Arabella was less to be dreaded than she imagined, she had no reluctance at seeing her prepare for her public appea...

28. Chapter IV.

Miss Glanville, supposing her brother would be glad not to be interrupted in his conference with Lady Bella, did not allow any one to acquaint them with Sir George's visit; and...

29. Chapter V.

Arabella, as soon as she left them, went up to her apartment; and calling Lucy into her closet, told her that she had made choice of her, since she was best acquainted with her...

41. Chapter IX.

Our fair heroine, having ended the foregoing soliloquy, took up the letter, and gave it to Lucy, who had, all the time she was speaking, observed a profound silence, mixed with...

31. Chapter VII.

While these things passed at the castle, Sir George was meditating on the means he should use to acquire the esteem of Lady Bella, of whose person he was a little enamoured, but...

63. Chapter V.

After a short stay in the room, Arabella expressing a desire to return home, Mr. Glanville conducted her out. Two gentlemen of his acquaintance attending Miss Glanville, Sir Cha...

13. Chapter XIII.

In this temper he went to the gardens to pass over the chagrin this unfortunate accident had given him; when, meeting the marquis, who insisted upon knowing the cause of that il...

79. Chapter VII.

The countess, charmed with the wit and good sense of Arabella, could not conceal her admiration, but expressed it in terms the most obliging imaginable: and Arabella, who was ex...

85. Chapter V.

Arabella, who impatiently longed for the hour of meeting the fair princess, with whom she was extremely delighted, consulted her watch so often, and discovered so much restlessn...

83. Chapter III.

Our lovely heroine had not been above a fortnight in London, before the gross air of that smoky town affected her health so much, that Sir Charles proposed to her to go for a fe...

8. Chapter VIII.

Arabella had scarce done thinking of this last adventure, when the marquis communicated a piece of intelligence to her, which opened a prospect of an infinite number of new ones.

38. Chapter VI.

As soon as Mr. Glanville appeared, the two ladies retired; Miss Glanville asking Arabella a hundred questions concerning their diversion, the drift of which was, to know how Sir...

1. Chapter I.

_Contains a turn at court, neither new nor surprising. Some useless additions to a fine lady's education. The bad effects of a whimsical study, which some will say is borrowed f...

87. Chapter VII.

Mr. Glanville, who stood fixed like a statue in the place where Arabella had left him, was roused by this message, which though palliated a little by the girl that delivered it,...

6. Chapter VI.

The marquis sometimes permitting his daughter to ride out, and this being the only diversion she was allowed, or ever experienced, she did not fail to take it as often as she co...

26. Chapter II.

In the mean time, that fair-one being risen, and negligently dressed, as was her custom, went into her closet, sending to give Miss Glanville notice that she was ready to see he...

86. Chapter VI.

Arabella, who had walked as fast as her legs would carry her, got home before Lucy could overtake her, and retiring to her chamber, gave way to a fresh burst of grief, and bewai...

55. Chapter VIII.

It is not to be imagined, said she, that Sir George, or, to say better, Prince Veridomer, lived ten months without eating any thing to support nature; but such trifling circumst...

53. Chapter VI.

I passed some days in this confinement, melancholy enough: my ignorance of the destiny of Sydimiris gave me more pain than the sense of my own misfortunes; and one evening, when...

40. Chapter VIII.

While Arabella passed her time in her closet, in the most disagreeable reflections, Glanville was racking his brain to find out the meaning of those mysterious words she had utt...

88. Chapter VIII.

Mr. Glanville, who did not doubt but Roberts would bring him some intelligence, sat waiting with anxious impatience for his return. The evening drew on apace, he numbered the ho...

78. Chapter VI.

Our heroine expected her with great impatience, and the moment she entered the room, flew towards her with a graceful eagerness, and straining her in her arms, embraced her with...

4. Chapter IV.

_A mistake, which produces no great consequences. An extraordinary comment upon a behaviour natural enough. An instance of a lady's compassion for her lover, which the reader ma...

90. Chapter X.

Richmond was now a scene of the utmost confusion and distress. Arabella's fever was risen to such a height, that she was given over by the physicians; and Sir George's wounds, t...

19. Chapter VI.

Mrs. Morris ending her narration, Arabella, who had not been able to restrain her tears at some parts of it, thanked her for the trouble she had been at; and assured her of her...

58. Chapter XI.

Who would have imagined, said he, that so renowned a hero would have tarnished the glory of his laurels, as my cousin says, by so base an ingratitude? Indeed, prince, pursued he...

3. Chapter III.

Arabella, in the mean time, was wholly taken up with the adventure, as she called it, at church: the person and dress of the gentleman who had so particularly gazed on her there...

44. Chapter III.

While Arabella was uttering this pathetic complaint, Mr. Glanville, with great difficulty, kept himself from smiling; and, by some supplicating looks to his sister, prevented he...

76. Chapter IV.

Arabella, when she had finished these words, which banished in part Mr. Glanville's confusion, went to her own apartment, followed by Miss Glanville, to whom she had made a sign...

61. Chapter III.

Arabella, during the rest of this journey, was so wholly taken up in contemplating upon the last adventure, that she mixed but little in the conversation. Upon their drawing nea...

54. Chapter VII.

"If that proof of my gratitude, which I promised to give you, fall short of your expectations; blame not the defect of my will, but the rigour of my destiny: it was by this only...

72. Chapter XIV.

Why, madam, said Lucy, all I can tell your ladyship is, that we were all excessively frightened, to be sure, when you fainted, especially myself; and that we did what we could t...

60. Chapter II.

The day of their departure being come, they set out in a coach and six, attended by several servants on horseback. The first day's journey passed off without any accident worthy...

77. Chapter V.

Miss Glanville, whose envy and dislike of her lovely cousin were heightened by her suspicions that she disputed with her the possession of Sir George's heart, she having been lo...

67. Chapter IX.

At their return, Sir Charles told his niece, that she had now had a specimen of the world, and some of the fashionable amusements; and asked her how she had been entertained.

2. Chapter II.

Arabella had now entered into her seventeenth year, with the regret of seeing herself the object of admiration to a few rustics only, who happened to see her; when, one Sunday,...

82. Chapter II.

As soon as they were seated in the coach, she did not fail to call upon him to perform his promise: but Mr. Glanville, excessively out of humour at her exposing herself in the g...

62. Chapter IV.

This piece of history, with Sir Charles's remarks upon it, brought them into Bath. Their lodgings being provided beforehand, the ladies retired to their different chambers, to r...

27. Chapter III.

Arabella, when she had pronounced these words, blushed excessively, thinking she had said too much: but, not seeing any signs of extreme joy in the face of Glanville, who was si...

59. Chapter I.

Sir George, to gratify Arabella's humour, had not presumed to come to the castle for several days; but hearing that they were preparing to leave the country, he wrote a short bi...

15. Chapter II.

From this time Mr. Glanville, though he was far from coming up to Lady Bella's idea of a lover, yet, by the pains he apparently seemed to be at in obliging her, made every day s...

64. Chapter VI.

Mr. Glanville, who had too much politeness and good-nature to insist too long upon the ridicule in the character of his acquaintance, changed the discourse; and Arabella, who ha...

73. Chapter I.

Miss Glanville, who with a malicious pleasure had secretly triumphed in the extravagancies her beautiful cousin had been guilty of, was now sensibly disappointed to find they ha...

92. Chapter XII.

Mr. Glanville, who fancied to himself the most ravishing delight from conversing with his lovely cousin, now recovered to the free use of all her noble powers of reason, would h...

14. Chapter I.

The marquis, as soon as he saw Mr. Glanville, told him he was resolved to cure Arabella of her whims, by burning the books that had put them into her head: I have seized upon so...

80. Chapter VIII.

Mr. Glanville at his return to the dining-room, finding Arabella retired, told his father in a rapture of joy, that the charming countess would certainly make a convert of Lady...