The coquette. The Coquette by Hannah Webster Foster 2019-03-04
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The Coquette Letters I
By this same clerical lover of hers she was for several months confined as a nurse. Do come and see me, Charles; for, notwithstanding all my gaiety and parade, I have some turns of the hypo, some qualms of conscience, you will call them; but I meddle not with such obsolete words. Whitman's life was turned into a moral allegory, ministers and journalists blaming her demise on her reading of romance novels, which gave her improper ideas and turned her into a coquette. His taste is undebauched, his manners not vitiated, his morals uncorrupted. I hope, said I, since we are engaged in the conversation, that you will excuse my frankness, if I tell you, that the understanding and virtue of this worthy couple, induce them, without any regard to rank, to bestow their esteem wherever it is merited. After he was gone, Mrs.
In a letter to his friend, Charles Deighton, he expresses his regret at his wretched behavior. I fear that he has not yet laid aside his arts. From this time, however, the spirits of the stranger evidently sunk; and in two weeks more birth and death had followed each other, and the grave had closed over all. His maternal grandmother was Esther, the second daughter of the Rev. The third was that the plot and performance seemed quite clichéd.
I am sure of the favor and interest of the friends with whom she resides. Finding every effort vain, he rose precipitately, and bade me adieu. I have succeeded in my addresses to the lovely Eliza Wharton--as far, at least, as I had any reason to expect from our short acquaintance. He met me at the door of the parlor; and taking my hand with an air of affectionate tenderness, led me to a seat, and took one beside me. It shall be my study to merit a return of affection; and I doubt not but generosity and honor will influence your conduct towards me. Nothing, however, was said particularly expressive of his apparent wishes. An elegant supper, and half an hour's conversation after it, closed the evening; when we returned home, delighted with our entertainment, and pleased with ourselves and each other.
But vain the wish; my heart was doomed to prove Each torturing pang, but not one joy of love. Some pleasantry passed, and we retired to dress. I believe it peculiar to lovers; and with that class I must now rank myself, though I did not know, until this evening, that I was so much engaged as I find I really am. Yesterday we had a party to dine. I found my brother and his wife, with Lucy Freeman and Mr.
My disposition is not calculated for that sphere. The reason, madam, said I, is that I do not like the character of the man. There is still another extant, of which I need not at this time and place make mention, besides many valuable literary contributions to the scattered periodicals of that day. My swain interests himself very much in your affairs. Richman and Lucy, furthermore, are steps beyond Eliza in her journey.
The Coquette: Freedom, Flirting, and Falling from Virtue
Frazier's, where we walked, talked, sang, and danced together. He listened eagerly; wished not, he said, to influence me unduly; but if I were not otherwise engaged, might he presume to solicit a place in my friendship and esteem, be admitted to enjoy my society, to visit me as an acquaintance, and to attend my excursions and amusements as a brother, if not more? To a twentieth century reader Eliza's fate seems over-dramatized, pathetic, perhaps even silly. The entertainment for which I was prepared was such as virtue would not disapprove, and my gallant was a man of fortune, fashion, and, for aught I knew, of unblemished character. After he was gone, Mrs. But imagination only it has proved, and that dashed with the bitter ranklings of jealousy and suspicion. Yet he who can, under any circumstances, entreat the love of woman, and then take advantage of her weakness or her confidence, is an anomaly in nature, and should have a special, judiciary here and in heaven. I believe the esteem which I now have for Mr.
In regard to these men, my fancy and my judgment are in scales. Whitman was fond of reading romance novels, so the narrative became that her love of books resulted in her having sex which resulted in her death. It seems to me that love must stagnate, if it have not a light breeze of discord once in a while to keep it in motion. I must own, that I felt a glow of jealousy, which I never experienced before; and vowed revenge for the pain it gave me, though but momentary. He is a womanizer who provides excitement for Eliza yet shows no signs of future commitment. I must write to you the impulses of my mind; or I must not write at all.
I bowed slightly at his compliment, taking no visible notice of any peculiarity of expression either in his words or looks. His fate is unalterably, and I trust happily, fixed. She spent time caring for her betrothed, , on his deathbed, and although she esteemed the man, she did not love him. She warned her of her own sincerity leading her astray. She attended him during his last illness, with all the care and assiduity of a nurse; and with all the sympathising tenderness of a sister.
But be that as it may; I hope, and trust that I am, and ever shall be a reasonable creature; and not suffer my judgment to be misled by the operations of a blind passion. I shewed the billet to Mrs. I was the more encouraged, as I saw, from our first acquaintance, his declining health, and expected that the event would prove as it has. And here I am again over head and ears in the hypo--a disease, you will say, peculiar to students. He asked my pardon, if he had been impertinent; but desired leave to renew his request, that I would receive his visits, his friendly visits.
