The physician was sent for;
his prescription afforded Ann a little temporary relief; and they again joined
the circle. Unfortunately, the weather happened to be constantly wet for more
than a week, and confined them to the house. Ann then found the ladies not so
agreeable; when they sat whole hours together, the thread-bare topics were
exhausted; and, but for cards or music, the long evenings would have been
yawned away in listless indolence.
The bad weather had had as ill
an effect on Henry as on Ann. He was frequently very thoughtful, or rather
melancholy; this melancholy would of itself have
attracted Mary's notice, if she had not found his conversation so infinitely
superior to the rest of the group. When she conversed with him, all the
faculties of her soul unfolded themselves; genius animated her expressive
countenance and the most graceful, unaffected gestures gave energy to her
discourse.
They frequently discussed very
important subjects, while the rest were singing or playing cards, nor were they
observed for doing so, as Henry, whom they all were pleased with, in the way of
gallantry shewed them all more attention than her.
Besides, as there was nothing alluring in her dress or manner, they never
dreamt of her being preferred to them.
Henry was a man of learning;
he had also studied mankind, and knew many of the intricacies of the human
heart, from having felt the infirmities of his own. His
taste was just, as it had a standard—Nature, which he observed with a critical
eye. Mary could not help thinking that in his company her mind expanded, as he
always went below the surface. She increased her stock of ideas, and her taste
was improved.
He was also a pious man; his
rational religious sentiments received warmth from his sensibility; and, except
on very particular occasions, kept it in proper bounds; these sentiments had
likewise formed his temper; he was gentle, and easily to be intreated.
The ridiculous ceremonies they were every day witness to, led them into what
are termed grave subjects, and made him explain his opinions, which, at other
times, he was neither ashamed of, nor unnecessarily brought forward to notice.