When Mr.
Lovelace returned into the country, he thought fit to visit my father and
mother; hoping to be allowed to keep up an acquaintance and friendship with a
family which he should always respect. And then unhappily, as I may say, was I
at home and present.
It was
immediately observed, that his attention was fixed on me.
My aunt Hervey
was there; and was pleased to say, we should make the finest couple in England.
My mother
declared, that her only dislike of his alliance with either daughter, was on
account of his reputed faulty morals.
My father
indeed, after a long silence, said that he had a letter from his son, on his
hearing of Mr. Lovelace's visits to his daughter Arabella; which he had not showed
to any body but my mother; that in this letter he expressed great dislike to an
alliance with Mr. Lovelace on the score of his immoralities: that he knew,
indeed, there was an old feeling of resentment between them; but that, being
desirous to prevent all occasions of disunion and animosity in his family, he
would suspend the declaration of his own mind till his son arrived, and till he
had heard his further objections. He added that he had heard that he was a very
extravagant man; that he had contracted debts in his travels.