So it was with him. In his leisure hours he studied
not only horological science but the works of our great English
authors.
I was so much attracted to the watchmaker that I often called on
him, when I had no business with him. He had a wife and daughter,
both of whom were his companions. Melissa, the daughter, was about
nineteen. She was not beautiful according to the Grecian model, but
her figure was elegant, there was depth in her eyes, and she was
always dressed with simplicity and taste. She spoke correctly, and
surprised me by the justness of her observations, not merely on
local and personal matters, but upon subjects with which women of
more exalted rank are not usually familiar. Admission had been
refused to her by every school in Bath, but she had been taken in
charge by two elderly gentlewomen, distant relations of her
grandfather, who had instructed her in the usual branches of polite
learning, including French. I will content myself, Mr. Rambler,
with informing you that I fell in love with Melissa, and that she
did not discourage my attentions.
Pages:
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129
130
131
132
133
134
135
136
137
138
139
140
141