SANDFORD.MARGARET.

scene.—woodvilhall.

sandford.margaret.

(asfromajourney.)

sandfordtheviolenceofthesuddenmischancehathsowroughtinhim,whobynatureisalliedtonothinglessthanaself-debasinghumourofdejection,thatihaveneverseenanythingmorechangedandspirit-broken.hehath,withaperemptoryresolution,dismissedthepartnersofhisriotsandlatehours,deniedhishouseandpersontotheirmostearnestsolicitings,andwillbeseenbynone.hekeepseveralone,andhisgrief(whichissolitary)doesnotsomuchseemtopossessandgoverninhim,asitisbyhim,withawilfulnessofmostmanifestaffection,entertainedandcherished.

margaret

howbearsheupagainstthecommonrumour?

sandfordwithastrangeindifference,whichwhosoeverdivesnotintothenicenessofhissorrowmightmistakeforobdurateandinsensate.yetarethewingsofhisprideforeverclipt;andyetavirtuouspredominanceoffilialgriefissoeveruppermost,thatyoumaydiscoverhisthoughtslesstroubledwithconjecturingwhatlivingopinionswillsay,andjudgeofhisdeeds,thanabsorbedandburiedwiththedead,whomhisindiscretionmadeso.

margaretiknewagreatnessevertoberesidentinhim,towhichtheadmiringeyesofmenshouldlookupeveninthedecliningandbankruptstateofhispride.fainwouldiseehim,faintalkwithhim;butthatasenseofrespect,whichisviolated,whenwithoutdeliberationwepressintothesocietyoftheunhappy,checksandholdsmeback.how,thinkyou,hewouldbearmypresence?

sandfordasofanassuredfriend,whomintheforgetfulnessofhisfortuneshepastby.seehimyoumust;butnotto-night.thenewnessofthesightshallmovethebitterestcompunctionandthetruestremorse;butafterwards,trustme,dearlady,thehappiesteffectsofareturningpeace,andagraciouscomfort,tohim,toyou,andallofus.

margaretithinkhewouldnotdenyme.hehatherethisreceivedfarewelllettersfromhisbrother,whohathtakenaresolutiontoestrangehimself,foratime,fromcountry,friends,andkindred,andtoseekoccupationforhissadthoughtsintravellinginforeignplaces,wheresightsremoteandexterntohimselfmaydrawfromhimkindlyandnotpainfulruminations.

sandfordiwaspresentatthereceiptoftheletter.thecontentsseemedtoaffecthim,foramoment,withamorelivelypassionofgriefthanhehasatanytimeoutwardlyshewn.heweptwithmanytears(whichihadnotbeforenotedinhim)andappearedtobetouchedwithasenseasofsomeunkindness;butthecauseoftheirsadseparationanddivorcequicklyrecurring,hepresentlyreturnedtohisformerinwardnessofsuffering.

margaretthereproachofhisbrother'spresenceatthishourshouldhavebeenaweightmorethancouldbesustainedbyhisalreadyoppressedandsinkingspirit.—meditatingupontheseintricateandwide-spreadsorrows,hathbroughtaheavinessuponme,asofsleep.howgoesthenight?

sandfordanhourpastsun-set.youshallfirstrefreshyourlimbs(tiredwithtravel)withmeatsandsomecordialwine,andthenbetakeyournolessweariedmindtorepose.

margaret

agoodresttousall.

sandford

thanks,lady.