Love and Friendship

TO MADAM LA COMTESSE DE FEUILLDE THIS NOVEL IS INSCRIBED BY

HER OBILIGED HUMBLE SERVANT THE AUTHOR

“Deceived in Friendship and

Betrayed in Love”
Transcriber’s Note :

A few very changes have been made to this

version: Italics have been converted to
capitals. The British ‘pound’ symbol has been
converted to ‘ L ’ ; but in general the author’s
erratic spelling, punctuation and capitalization
have been retained
 Letter the First form Isabel to Laura

How often, in answer to my repeated instreaties that you would give my daughter
a regular detail of the Misfortunes and Adventures of tour Life, have you said “No, my
friend never will I comply with your request till I may be no longer in Danger of again
experiencing such dreadful ones.”

Surely that time is now at hand. You are this day 55. If a woman may ever be said
to be in safety from the determined Perseverance of disagreeable Lovers and of obstinate
Fathers, surly it must be at such a time of Life. Isabel
 Letter 2nd Laura to Isabel

Altho’ I can’t agree with You in supposing that I hall never again be exposed to
Misfortunes as unmerited as those I have already experienced, yet to avoid the imputation
of Obstinacy or ill-nature, I will gratify the curiosity of your daughter; and many the
fortitude with which I have suffered the many affilictions of my past Life, prove to her a
useful lesson for the support of those which her in her own. Laura
 Letter 3rd Laura to Marianne

As the daughter of my most intimate friend I think you entitled to that

Knowledge of my unhappy story, which your mother has so often solicited me to give
you.

My Father was a native of Ireland and an inhabitant of Wales; my mother was the
natural Daughter of a Scotch Peer by an Italian Opera- girl I was born in Spain and
received my Education at a Convent in France.

When I had reached my eighteenth Year I was recalled by my Parents to my

paternal roof in Wales. Our mansion was situated in one of the most romantic parts of
the Vale of Uske. Tho’ my Charms are now considerable softened and somewhat
impaired by the Misfortunes I have undergone I was once beautiful. But lovely as I was
the Graces of my Perfections. Of every accomplishment accustomary to my sex, I was
Mistress. Had always exceeded my instructions, my Acquirements had been wonderful
for my age, and I had shortly surpassed my Masters.

In my mind, every Virtue thatcloud adorn it was centered; it was Rendez-vous of

every good Quality and of every noble sentiment.

A sensibility too tremblingly alive to every affliction of my Friends, my

Acquaintance and particularly to every affliction of my own, was my only fault, if a fault
could be called Alas! How altered now! Tho’ indeed my own Misfortunes do not make
less impression on me than they ever did, yet now I never feed for those of another. My
accomplishment too, begin to fade I can neither sing so well nor dance so fracefully as I
once did, and I have entirely forgot the MINUET DELA COUR. Laura
 Letter 4th Laura to Marianne

Our neighbourhood was small, for it consisted only of your mother. She may
probably have already told you that being left by her retired into Wales on economical
motives. There it was our friendship first commenced. Isobel was then one and twenty.
Tho’ pleasing both in her Person and Manners(between ourselves) she never possessed
the hundreds part of my Beauty or Accomplishments. Isabel had seen the World. She had
passed 2 Years at one of the first Boaraing-schools in London; had spent a fortnight in
Southampton.

“Beware my Laura (She would often say) Beware of the insipid Vanities and idle
Dissipations of the Metropolis of England; Beware of the unmeaning Luxuries of Bath and
of the stinking fish of Southampton.”

“Alas! (Exclaimed I) how am I to avoid those evils I shall never be exposed to?
What probability is there of my ever testing the Dissipations of London, the Luxuries of
Bath, or the stinking Fish of Southampton? I who am doomed to waste my Days of Youth
and Beauty in a humble Cottage in the Vale of Uske.”

Ah! Little did I then think I was ordained so soon to quit that humble Cottage for
the Deceitful Pleasures of the World. Adeiu Laura
 Letter 5th Laura to Marianne

One Evening in December as my father, my mother and myself, were arranged in

social converse round our Fireside, we were on a sudden greatly astonished, by hearing a
violent Knocking on the outward door of our rustic Cot.
My Father started “What noise is that” (said he.) “It Sounds like a load rapping at
the door” (replied my mother.) “It does indeed,” (cried I.)” I’m of your opinion; (said my
father) it certainly does appear to proceed from some uncommon violence exerted
against our unoffending door.” “Yes (exclaimed I) I can’t help thinking it must be
somebody who knocks for admittance.”
“That is another point (replied he;) we must not pretend to determine on what
motive the person may knock tho’ that someone DOES rap at the door, I am partly
convinced.”
Here a 2d tremendous rap interrupted my father in his speech, and somewhat
alarmed my mother and me.
“Had we better not go and see it is? (Said she) the servants are out.” “I think we
had.” (replied I.) “Certainly, (added my father) by all means.” “Shall we go now?” (Said
my mother,) “The sooner the better.” (Answered he.) “Oh! Let no time be lost” (cried I.)
A third more violent Rap than ever again assaulted our ears “ I am certain there is
somebody knocking at the Door.” ( Said my mother.) “I think there must,” (replied my
father) “I fancy the servants are returned; (said I) I think I hear Mary going to he door.”
“I’m glad of it (cried my father) so I long to Know who it is.”
I was right in my conjecture; for Mary instantly entering the room, informed us
that a young Gentleman and his Servant were at the door, who had lossed their way, were
very cold and begged leave to warm themselves by our fire.
“Won’t you admit them?” (Said I.) “You have no objection, my dear?” (Said my
father.) “None in the world.”(replied my mother.)
Mary, without waiting for any further commands immediately left the room and
quickly returned introducing the most beauteous and amiable youth, I had ever beheld.
The servant she kept to herself.
My natural sensibility had already been greatly affected by the suffering of the
unfortunate stranger and no sooner did I first behold him, than I felt that on him the
happiness or Misery of my future Life must depend. Adeiu Laura.