DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.51519#0375
MISS JENNINGS.
321
witty, generous, devoted to his friends; of great talents, headlong-
passions, and reckless valour.*
It had been suspected, before Talbot’s departure for Ireland,
that Miss Boynton, one of Queen Catherine’s Maids of Honour,
had indulged for him some partial and fond regards; and on his
re-appearance at court, before he was introduced to Miss Jennings,
the love-lorn nymph signalized her tenderness by fainting away.
Talbot, as a man and an Irishman, could not behold a lady in
such a pitiful case without feeling a wish to console her, particu-
larly as Miss Boynton was really very pretty and elegant, though
on the smallest and most fairy-like scale of beauty; he therefore
began to pay her some attentions. Before he had proceeded
beyond a few tender glances and equivocal compliments, the
destinies placed Miss Jennings before him in all her unrivalled
attractions; Miss Boynton was forgotten, and Miss Hamilton no
longer regretted ; and as modesty was not among Talbot’s qualifi-
cations, he at once threw himself at her feet, and tendered himself
to her acceptance.
We have reason to suppose that Miss Jennings, though some-
thing of a coquette, was coquette par calcul, rather than by instinct.
She had no desire to extend her conquests, nor to remain in a
court, the dangers of which she began to comprehend; she wished
to surrender honourably, and to secure a good establishment.
But though the fine exterior and imposing manners of Talbot
could not be disregarded, and his fortune and favour at court had
due influence, his self-sufficiency seems to have a little shocked her
high spirit: he was more favourably received than any former
suitor, but he was not at once accepted. Talbot, who rightly
thought that a woman who hesitates may be considered as won,
* The unfavourable character which Clarendon has drawn of Richard Talbot
should be taken with much reservation, when we remember that the Chancellor
allows, in so many words, that he was noted fox- having a prejudice against all
the Talbots.
321
witty, generous, devoted to his friends; of great talents, headlong-
passions, and reckless valour.*
It had been suspected, before Talbot’s departure for Ireland,
that Miss Boynton, one of Queen Catherine’s Maids of Honour,
had indulged for him some partial and fond regards; and on his
re-appearance at court, before he was introduced to Miss Jennings,
the love-lorn nymph signalized her tenderness by fainting away.
Talbot, as a man and an Irishman, could not behold a lady in
such a pitiful case without feeling a wish to console her, particu-
larly as Miss Boynton was really very pretty and elegant, though
on the smallest and most fairy-like scale of beauty; he therefore
began to pay her some attentions. Before he had proceeded
beyond a few tender glances and equivocal compliments, the
destinies placed Miss Jennings before him in all her unrivalled
attractions; Miss Boynton was forgotten, and Miss Hamilton no
longer regretted ; and as modesty was not among Talbot’s qualifi-
cations, he at once threw himself at her feet, and tendered himself
to her acceptance.
We have reason to suppose that Miss Jennings, though some-
thing of a coquette, was coquette par calcul, rather than by instinct.
She had no desire to extend her conquests, nor to remain in a
court, the dangers of which she began to comprehend; she wished
to surrender honourably, and to secure a good establishment.
But though the fine exterior and imposing manners of Talbot
could not be disregarded, and his fortune and favour at court had
due influence, his self-sufficiency seems to have a little shocked her
high spirit: he was more favourably received than any former
suitor, but he was not at once accepted. Talbot, who rightly
thought that a woman who hesitates may be considered as won,
* The unfavourable character which Clarendon has drawn of Richard Talbot
should be taken with much reservation, when we remember that the Chancellor
allows, in so many words, that he was noted fox- having a prejudice against all
the Talbots.