Part 13 (1/2)

CHAPTER V

From this period, he continued to visit me (I confess at my solicitation) more frequently We occasionally resuether, or entered into discussion on various topics At length he grew captious, disputatious, gloomy, and imperious--the more I studied to please him, the less I succeeded He disapproved my conduct, my opinions, e considerably affected me In company, his manners were studiously cold and distant; in private capricious, yet reserved and guarded He seemed to overlook alleye, to search only for my errors--errors, into which I was but too easily betrayed, by the painful, and delicate, situation, in which I had placed h on a visit of congratulation to her brother (eldest son of my deceased uncle Mr Melmoth), who had, when a youth, been placed by his father in a commercial house in the West Indies, and who had just returned to his native country with an ample fortune His sister andour early, fraternal, affection and inti to his acquaintance a man so accomplished and respectable as Mr Harley We were little aware of the changes which time and different situations produce on the character, and, with hearts and minds full of the frank, lively, affectionate, youth, from e had parted, seven years since, with mutual tears and embraces, shrunk spontaneously, on our arrival at Mr Melant house in Bedford square, frohty, opulent, purse-proud, Planter, surrounded by ostentatious luxuries, and evidently valuing hiive him in our eyes

Mr Harley received the formal compliments of this favourite of fortune with the easy politeness which distinguishes the gentlenified composure which the consciousness of worth and talents seldom fails to inspire Mr Melmoth, by his aard and eed the iuest We were introduced by our stately relation to his wife, the lady of thewoman whom he had accidentally met with in a party of pleasure at Jamaica, whither she had attended a family in the humble office of companion or chief attendant to the lady Fascinated by her beauty and lively manner, our trader had overlooked an empty mind, a low education, and a doubtful character, and, after a very few interviews, tendered to her acceptance his hand and fortune; which, though not without some affectation of doubt and delay, were in a short tientle-room, whom the servant announced by the nanized, notwithstanding so, the onist of Mr Francis, at the table of my father He had lately (ere informed by our host) been to Jamaica, to take possession of an estate bequeathed to hiland in the saant dinner of several courses had been served up and removed for the desert, a desultory conversation took place

Mr Pemberton, it appeared, held a commission in the militia, and earnestly solicited Mrs Melrace their enca season near one of the fashi+onable watering places, with her presence

This request the lady readily pro, in tones of affected softness, her admiration of military lorious war!'

'Do you not think, Miss Courtney,' said she, turning tomen in the world?'

'Indeed I do not, Madas, in audy pomp of sacrifice'

'_Murder_, indeed! What a harsh word--I declare you are a shocking creature--There have always been wars in the world, and there always must be: but surely you would not confound the brave felloho fight to protect their King and Country, and _the ladies_, with common ruffians and housebreakers!'

'All the difference between them is, that the one, rendered desperate by passion, poverty, or injustice, endeavours by _wrong_ h this terrible and pitiable --The others, wantonly and in cold blood, cut down e whole towns and cities, and carry devastation through a country'

'What _odd notions_! Dear, Mr Peely?'

Thus called upon, Mr Peht it incumbent upon him to interfere--'_Courtney_, I think, Madahter of an old friend of mine, if I a lady, a great admirer of _Roman virtues_'

'Not of _Roman virtues_, I believe, Sir; they had in them too much of the destructive spirit which Mrs Mel about _Roman virtues_, nor do I trouble myself with such subjects--I merely admired the soldiers because they are so brave and so polite; besides, the --Dear, Mr Pei in return to the coium on the taste and beauty of the speaker

'Pray, Sir,' resu herself to Mr Harley, whose inattention seemed to pique her, and whose notice she was determined to attract, 'are you of Miss Courtney's opinion--do you think it right to call soldiers _murderers_?'

'Upon my word, Mada into such _nice distinctions_--when _ladies_ differ, who shall presu, 'that they had some thousands more of these _murderers_ in the West Indies, to keep the slaves in subordination, who, since absurd notions of liberty had been put into their heads, were grown very troublesome and refractory, and, in a short tilish servants'

'Would you believe it, Mrs Denbeigh,' said the Planter's lady, addressing the sister of her husband, 'Mr Melland but a e our whole suit of servants?'

'This is a land of freedom, my dear sister; servants, here, will not submit to be treated like the slaves of Ja to have one's will disputed by such low, ignorant, creatures How should they knohat is right? It is enough for them to obey the orders of their superiors'

'But suppose,' replied Mrs Denbeigh, 'they should happen to think their superiors unreasonable!'

'_Think!_ sister,' said the lordly Mr Melh, 'what have _servants_, or _wo_?'