Amelia -- Volume 3

etween Booth

y, Booth went by appo

ce he returned to A

reat master of human pa

ls us she cried and smi

posite affections of joy and grief were struggling for the superiority

air out of my mind, and hath filled it with the most sanguine, and, at the same time, the most reasonable hopes of making a comfortable provision for yourself and my dear children. In the first place, then, he will advance me a sum of money to pay off all my debts; and this on a bond to be repaid only when I shall become colonel of a regiment, and not before. In the next place, he is gone this very morning to ask a company for me, which is now vacant in the West Indies; and, as he intends to push this with all his interest, neither he nor I have any doubt of his success. Now, my dear, comes the third, which, though perhaps it ought to give me the greatest joy, such is, I own, the weakness of my nature, it rends my very heartstrings asunder. I cannot mention it, for I know it will give you equal pain; though I know, on all proper occasions, you can exert a manly resolution. You will not, I am convinced, oppose it, whatever you must suffer in complying. O my dear Amelia! I must suffer likewise; yet I have resolved to bear it. You know not what my

, Mr. Booth?" crie

u more?" answered Booth.-"Did I

e up!"

l not be long-for I know his heart; I shall scarce have more joy in receiving you back than he will have in r

to me!" s

only man on earth who could have prevailed on me; but I know his house, his purse, his protection, will be all at your command. And as for any dislike you have conceived to his wife, let not that be a

atest friendship; his I am sure will be sincere, as to the wife of a friend entrusted to his care; and

e conceits from some parts of his discourse); "and I will give you my resolution in a w

her ears; I mean those in which he exaggerated the great goodness and disinterested generosity of his friend; but her resolution remained inflexible, and r

d, having heard the merits of the cause on both si

you, I will give you my thoughts as well as I am able. In the first place then, can anything be more reasonable than for a wife to desire to attend her husband? It is, as my favourite child observes, no more than a desire to do her duty; and

" answered Amelia: "I am sure, if he loved as tend

good of your children, he would not deserve the name of a man, I am sure not that of a husband, if he hesitated a moment. Nay, in that case, I am convinced you yourself would be an advocate for what you now oppose. I fancy therefore I mistook him when I apprehended he said that t

the doctor would be of. Nay, I am certain there is n

gentleman," said the do

't de

my dear doctor

world understands the phrase, I should be ashamed of; and my comfort is that no one can accu

es Booth, "that wi

e case in the present instance, for either you will no

right, doctor,

he doctor, "for then I assu

knew all my reasons you would

wledge that they are in the wrong is a very

me of that. I will not believe that any human being eve

resolution of not being persuaded. Your husband would never call me a wis

," cries Amelia, "to let

they please, it would be very hard if they had not themselves the same liberty. And yet, as unreasonable as the powe

elia. "I should great

force me to think you so: and, whenever you are pleased to act as you d

and you will make allowances for the difficulty she makes in complying. To say the truth, when I examine my own heart, I have more obligations to her than appear at first

too, in the care and protection of a friend that gives credit to the old stories of friendship, and doth an honour to human nature. What, in the name of goodness! do either of you think that you have made an union to endure for ever? How will either of you bear that separation which must, some time or other,

eared in his discourse, he had a tenderness of heart which is rarely found among men; for which I know no other reason than that true goodness is rarely found

followed is not worth relating, till the doctor ca