Becoming America - An Exploration of American Literature from Precolonial to Post-Revolution, 2018a

BECOMING AMERICA
REVOLUTIONARY AND EARLY NATIONAL PERIOD LITERATURE
MARIA
Do you think, then, that there is an impropriety in it?—How should you dispose of
your time?
CHARLOTTE
Why, I should be shut up in my chamber; and my head would so run upon—upon—
upon the solemn ceremony that I was to pass through!—I declare, it would take me
above two hours merely to learn that little monosyllable—Yes. Ah! my dear, your
sentimental imagination does not conceive what that little tiny word implies.
MARIA
Spare me your raillery, my sweet friend; I should love your agreeable vivacity at
any other time.
CHARLOTTE
Why, this is the very time to amuse you. You grieve me to see you look so unhappy.
Have I not reason to look so?
What new grief distresses you?
MARIA
CHARLOTTE
MARIA
Oh! how sweet it is, when the heart is borne down with misfortune, to recline and
repose on the bosom of friendship! Heaven knows that, although it is improper
for a young lady to praise a gentleman, yet I have ever concealed Mr. Dimple’s
foibles, and spoke of him as of one whose reputation I expected would be linked
with mine; but his late conduct towards me has turned my coolness into contempt.
He behaves as if he meant to insult and disgust me; whilst my father, in the last
conversation on the subject of our marriage, spoke of it as a matter which lay near
his heart, and in which he would not bear contradiction.
CHARLOTTE
This works well; oh! the generous Dimple. I’ll endeavour to excite her to discharge
him. [Aside.] But, my dear friend, your happiness depends on yourself. Why don’t
you discard him? Though the match has been of long standing, I would not be
forced to make myself miserable: no parent in the world should oblige me to marry
the man I did not like.
MARIA
Oh! my dear, you never lived with your parents, and do not know what inuence
a father’s frowns have upon a daughter’s heart. Besides, what have I to alledge
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