More followed about the religious duty of full
consideration and prayer before deciding on what would fix her
destiny for life, but all was so confusing to the girl, entirely
unprepared as she was, that after hastily glancing on in search
of an explanation which she failed to find, she laid it aside, and
opened the other letter. It began imperially
"MY COUSIN,
"No doubt you are already informed of the Honour that has been
done you by the Proposal that Mr. Amyas Belamour has made to your
Father for your Hand. It is no slight Compliment to a young Maid
like you, from one of the most noted Wits about Town in the last
Reign; and you will no doubt shew the Good Sense to esteem yourself
fortunate beyond all reasonable Expectations or Deserts of your own,
as well as to act for the Advantage of your Family. Be assured that
I shall permit no foolish Flightiness nor Reluctance to interfere
with you true Welfare. I say this, because, as you well know, your
Father's Affection is strong and blind, and you might easily draw
him into a Resistance which could but damage both his Health and
his Prospects. On receiving the tidings of your Marriage, I promise
to settle on him the Manor House with an Annuity of Three hundred
Pounds; but if he should support you in any foolish Refusal, I shall
be obliged to inform him that I can dispense with his Services;
therefore you will do wisely to abstain from any childish expressions
of Distaste.
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