Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray

38
"And your cousin would give her eyes to become the tenth," the mother replied.
"My cousin give her eyes!" Fatima exclaimed. "It's not much, I'm sure, for she squints
abominably." And thus the ladies prattled, as they rode home at night after the great ball at
the house of the Baron of Barbazure.
The gentle reader, who has overheard their talk, will understand the doubts which pervaded
the mind of the lovely Fatima, and the well-nurtured English maiden will participate in the
divided feelings which rent her bosom. 'Tis true, that on his departure for the holy wars,
Romane and Fatima were plighted to each other; but the folly of long engagements is
proverbial; and though for many months the faithful and affectionate girl had looked in vain
for news from him, her admirable parents had long spoken with repugnance of a match
which must bring inevitable poverty to both parties. They had suffered, 'tis true, the
engagement to subside, hostile as they ever were to it; but when on the death of the ninth
lady of Barbazure, the noble baron remarked Fatima at the funeral, and rode home with her
after the ceremony, her prudent parents saw how much wiser, better, happier for their child
it would be to have for life a partner like the baron, than to wait the doubtful return of the
penniless wanderer to whom she was plighted.
Ah! how beautiful and pure a being! how regardless of self! how true to duty! how obedient
to parental command, is that earthly angel, a well-bred woman of genteel family! Instead of
indulging in splenetic refusals or vain regrets for her absent lover, the exemplary Fatima at
once signified to her excellent parents her willingness to obey their orders; though she had
sorrows (and she declared them to be tremendous), the admirable being disguised them so
well, that none knew they oppressed her. She said she would try to forget former ties, and
(so strong in her mind was DUTY above every other feeling!—so strong may it be in every
British maiden!) the lovely girl kept her promise. "My former engagements," she said,
packing up Romane's letters and presents, (which, as the good knight was mortal poor, were
in sooth of no great price)—"my former engagements I look upon as childish follies;—my
affections are fixed where my dear parents graft them—on the noble, the princely, the
polite Barbazure. 'Tis true he is not comely in feature, but the chaste and well-bred female
knows how to despise the fleeting charms of form. 'Tis true he is old; but can woman be
better employed than in tending her aged and sickly companion? That he has been married
is likewise certain—but ah, my mother! who knows not that he must be a good and tender
husband, who, nine times wedded, owns that, he cannot be happy without another partner?"
It was with these admirable sentiments the lovely Fatima proposed obedience to her
parents' will, and consented to receive the magnificent marriage-gift presented to her by her
gallant bridegroom.
III.