The History of Sir Charles Grandison — Samuel Richardson

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1902 edition. Excerpt: ...pains me--yet I cannot quit it.--You ask, if, after all, I think it right that she should live with me?--What can I say? For her sake, perhaps, it will not: yet how is her heart set upon it! Vol. VI--12. For my own sake, as there is no perfect happiness to be expected in this life, I could be content to bear a little pain, were that dear girl to be either benefited or pleasured by it. Indeed I love her, at my heart--And, what is more--I love myself for so sincerely loving her. In the wicked part of your letter, what you write of your aunt Eleanor--but I have no patience with you, sinner as you are against light, and better knowledge! and derider of the infirmities, not of old maids, but of old age!--Don't you hope to live long yourself? That worthy lady wears not spectacles, Charlotte, because she never was so happy as to be married. Wicked Charlotte! to owe such obligation to the generosity of good Lord G, for taking pity of you in time Were you four or five and twenty when he honoured you with his hand at St. George's Church? and yet to treat him as you do, in more places than one, in this very letter! But I will tell you what I will do with this same strange letter--I will transcribe all the good things in it. There are many which both delight and instruct; and some morning, before I dress for the day, I will Sad task, Charlotte! But it shall be by way of penance for some of my faults and follies! transcribe the intolerable passages; so make two letters of it. One I will keep to show my friends here, in order to increase, if it be possible, their admiration of my Charlotte; the bad one I will present to you. I know I shall transcribe it in a violent hurry--not much matter whether it be legible, or not--the hobbling it will cause in the...