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diff --git a/35769-h/35769-h.htm b/35769-h/35769-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..bfa014f --- /dev/null +++ b/35769-h/35769-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,6192 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" xml:lang="en" lang="en"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dilemmas of Pride, (VOL 1 OF 3), by Mrs. Margracia Loudon. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + +body { + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; +} + + h1,h2 { + text-align: center; + clear: both; +} + +p { + margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; +} + +hr { + width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; +} + +table { + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; +} + +.pagenum { + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; +} + +.center {text-align: center;} + + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Dilemmas of Pride, (VOL 1 OF 3), by Margracia Loudon + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Dilemmas of Pride, (VOL 1 OF 3) + +Author: Margracia Loudon + +Release Date: April 4, 2011 [EBook #35769] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 1 OF 3) *** + + + + +Produced by Heather Clark and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h1>DILEMMAS OF PRIDE.</h1> +<p class="center">BY THE AUTHOR OF FIRST LOVE.<br /><br /></p> +<p class="center">IN THREE VOLUMES.</p> +<p class="center">VOL. I.<br /><br /></p> + + +<p class="center">LONDON:</p> + +<p class="center">BULL AND CHURTON, HOLLES STREET.</p> + +<p class="center">1833.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<table summary="Table of Contents"> +<tr><td class="center" colspan="2" style="font-size:125%">Table of Contents</td></tr> +<tr><td class="center" style="font-size:80%" colspan="2">Contents generated for HTML</td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter I</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_I">1</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter II</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">14</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter III</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">26</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter IV</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">45</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter V</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">66</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter VI</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">83</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter VII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">89</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter VIII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">104</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter IX</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter X</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XI</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">142</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">149</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XIII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">173</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XIV</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">180</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XV</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XVI</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">202</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XVII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">218</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XVIII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">230</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XIX</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">244</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XX</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XX">255</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XXI</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">265</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XXII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXII">276</a></td></tr> +<tr><td>Chapter XXIII</td><td style="text-align:right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XXIII">287</a></td></tr> +</table> + + +<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<p style="font-size:175%"><a name="DILEMMAS_OF_PRIDE" id="DILEMMAS_OF_PRIDE"></a>DILEMMAS OF PRIDE.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I.</h2> + + +<p>The immense extent and beautiful irregularity +of the grounds, the unfathomable depth of the +woods, the picturesque ramifications of some of +the most conspicuously situated of the very old +trees, the hour, for it was almost midnight, the +numerous bonfires scattered in all directions, +the innumerable tenantry gathered round them, +the crowd of moving forms extending as far as +the eye could penetrate into the darkness; and, +quite in the fore-ground, the figure of a blind old<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> +man who had been born in the family, and grown +grey in its service, playing, with the most extravagant +demonstrations of delight, on a rude +harp, that instrument so surrounded with poetic +associations; seated too beneath a spreading +cedar, the trunk and undermost branches of +which, together with his countenance and white +hair, were strongly illuminated by an adjacent +heap of blazing pine,—all gave to Arden Park +a demesne of such unlimited magnificence, that +it formed in itself a sort of sylvan empire, a +powerful resemblance, at the moment of which +we speak, to what our imaginations are prone to +figure of the feasts of <i>Shells</i>, as described by +that poet of ancient bards and burning oaks, the +venerable Ossian.</p> + +<p>On an abrupt and rocky eminence, at some +distance, but still within the park, stood the +picturesque remains of Arden Castle, once the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span> +residence of the ancestors of the family. Its +round towers of different dimensions, some still +perfect, its perpendicular site, the trees and turn +of the river at its base, were all rendered conspicuous +by the clear light of the moon now +about to set behind the ruins.</p> + +<p>In all the ancient deeds the landed property +derived its designation from this castle, and it was +still customary for the heir to take formal possession +of the roofless walls, ere he was considered +true Lord of the Manor; a ceremony +which had in the course of the day just passed, +been duly performed.</p> + +<p>A little removed from the old castle, emerging +from the trees, appeared the square turret of +another ruin, called the Grey Friary, once the +residence of monks, to whom at that time a portion +of the lands appertained, while along the +verge of the horizon, the spires of several churches<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span> +were just visible, breaking the dark line formed +by seemingly interminable woods.</p> + +<p>The modern house, a magnificent structure, +standing on a commanding eminence, the +approach to which was gradual in the midst of +a park and woodlands comprising above thirty +thousand acres, now poured from every door +and window streams of cheerful light.</p> + +<p>Figures were discernible within, some moving +in the merry dance, others thronging to and from +halls dedicated to hospitable cheer.</p> + +<p>We have already said it was near midnight: +the day had been spent in festivities, held to +celebrate the coming of age of Sir Willoughby +Arden, now (his father having been sometime +dead,) the head of the ancient family to whom +the property belonged.</p> + +<p>The rejoicings, not only those going forward +beneath the sheltering roof of the mansion but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span> +those also out of doors, were kept up thus late +in compliment to Alfred Arden, the twin brother +of the heir. The elder twin had been born about +nine in the evening, the younger not till after +twelve at night. To unite, therefore, the two +distinct birth-days in the one festival, and thus +preserve unsevered the more than brotherly tie, +it had been resolved that no guest, of whatever +denomination, should depart till the hour of +midnight had been ushered in with every possible +demonstration of joy.</p> + +<p>The county-town, though not above a quarter +of a mile removed, was quite planted out: the +spires already noticed, and which were highly +ornamental to the landscape, being all pertaining +of city scenery, which was visible over the tops +of the trees.</p> + +<p>The clocks of some of the churches now began +to strike. A spell at the instant seemed to fall<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span> +upon all: the music ceased, the voices of revelry +were hushed, and that peculiar stillness prevailed +which seemed to indicate that every individual in +the crowd was occupied in counting the solemn +chimes. The nearest and loudest bell took +the lead, and was quite distinct from the rest, +while the others followed, like answering echoes, +in the distance. A second after the number +twelve was completed, one universal shout rent +the air! The health of Alfred Arden was drank +within the mansion, and arms might be seen +waving above the heads of the guests: after +which, Sir Willoughby, leading his brother forward, +issued from the open door, and stood on +the centre of the steps.</p> + +<p>Servants held up lighted flambeaux on either +side, and the old butler, with hair as white as +the harper's, presented a goblet of wine. Sir +Willoughby announced his brother with enthu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span>siasm, +and then drank to the health of Alfred Arden. +A simultaneous movement among the +groups around the bonfires indicated that they +were following his good example, and the next +moment three times three resounded from the +crowd.</p> + +<p>In about an hour after this all was still, +save the solitary voice of a distant waterfall. +Every light was quenched, and dying embers, +which from time to time as they fell together +flashed for an instant, were all that remained of +the scattered bonfires. The merry crowd had +sought their respective homes, and the inhabitants +of the mansion had retired to rest, with +the exception of Lady Arden, who sat at an +open window, taking leave as it were of familiar +scenes which, when the light of morning next +dawned upon them, would no longer be her +home.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span></p> + +<p>In marrying the late Sir Alfred, the then +head of the family, in obedience to the wishes +of her parents, she had sacrificed an early attachment +to his youngest brother.</p> + +<p>Sir Alfred had, however, proved a very polite +husband, and she had for years been the mistress, +nay, the very princess of a princely mansion, +a splendid establishment, and a magnificent +demesne; she had possessed every luxury that art +and wealth could procure, and at the same time +had been surrounded by all the beauties of nature +on the most extensive scale.</p> + +<p>All had now passed away! It was to her +son, 'tis true, and he was dutiful and affectionate, +and would always, she had no doubt, make her +welcome, but of course as a visitor; and whenever +her son should marry (which she certainly +wished him to do), a stranger would be mistress +of all; and to the courtesy of that stranger she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> +must owe permission to cross the threshold of +her long accustomed home.</p> + +<p>She did not mean absolutely to murmur; but +there was something pensive, at least, if not melancholy +in such thoughts.</p> + +<p>While her son was a minor, Arden Park had +still been hers, at least the right of living there; +but to-morrow she was to set out for town; she +was to take her daughters from under the shelter +of their father's roof, to become wanderers +as it were, on the world's wide wilderness. She +would have a house in town, 'tis true: a short +season of each year would be spent there, and +the remainder in temporary and probably agreeable +homes in the various watering-places. +But she felt a painful consciousness, that, of the +adventitious rank which the mere <i>prejudices</i> of +society bestow, herself and daughters would +now lose many steps; and that the latter must,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> +whenever she should die, if they were not +married, lose many more; nay, be probably +reduced, at last, by the insufficiency of their +portions as younger children, to the state of poor +aunt Dorothea, whom she had herself often held +up to them as a warning of the miseries attendant +on remaining single.</p> + +<p>Aunt Dorothea's afflictions were not always +of the tragic order, and the remembrance of some +of them called up, at the moment, despite her +solemn reflections, a faint smile on the countenance +of Lady Arden; followed, however, by a +sigh, for the subject now came home to her +feelings in a manner it had never done before.</p> + +<p>So absorbing had been her reflections, that +she had not noticed the gathering clouds which +had gradually extinguished every star, and darkened +the heavens, till all on which she still +looked out had become one black and formless<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> +mass. At the instant, a vivid flash of lightning +gave to her view, with the most minute distinctness +of outline, not only the grand features of +the landscape generally, but, prominent above +all, the ruins of the castle, the rocky eminence +on which they stood, the river at its foot, and +the trees that surrounded its base. Thunder +and violent rain followed, and the wind rose to +a hurricane. There existed a superstitious belief +among the country people that a tremendous +tempest always preceded or accompanied +any event fatal to a member of the Arden family. +A remembrance of this crossed the mind of Lady +Arden at the moment, but was of course rejected +as silly to a degree. Besides, she added +mentally, if an idea so absurd required refutation, +the present occasion being one of rejoicing, +would be quite sufficient to satisfy any reasonable +mind. She retired to rest, however, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> +saddened feelings, while the castle, crowning its +rocky site, as already described, floated before her +eyes, even after their lids were closed; and when +she slept, the vision still blended with her +dreams, as did the forms of the Baron and his +two sons, described in the legend of the +castle, and all strangely mixed up with the +festivities of the previous day, and the forms of +her own happy blooming family.</p> + +<p>The legend alluded to, and which had given +rise to the superstition we have mentioned, ran +thus.</p> + +<p>Some centuries ago, the Baron had two sons, +who, when boys, had climbed, one day, during +a fearful thunder storm to the topmost turret of +the castle, which was at the time enveloped in +clouds.</p> + +<p>When, however, the storm was over, their +bodies were found, locked in each other's arms,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> +laying in the river at the foot of the rock on +which the castle stands. The old Baron died +of grief, and the property went to a distant relative, +who, it was vaguely hinted, had followed +the youths unseen, and while they stood gazing +at the storm, had treacherously drawn the coping-stone +from beneath their feet; others maintained +the only grounds for this foul suspicion to be, +that the said stone was certainly found on the +inner side the parapet, while the bodies of the +youths lay below.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II.</h2> + + +<p>When Lady Arden arose in the morning all +was calm and sunshine.</p> + +<p>The storm of the night might have seemed a +dream but for the still visible traces of its +ravages. The river was greatly swollen, and several +of the largest and finest of a range of +magnificent old trees which had grown on the +brow of a sloping bank, forming a beautiful +feature in the landscape, now lay on the ground, +literally uprooted by the violence of the tempest. +Their fate, however, was soon forgotten +in that of two young oaks, which had been<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> +planted beside each other on the lawn, on the +joint birth-day of her two sons. The lightning +had shattered both: Lady Arden viewed them +for the moment with a shuddering sensation +of superstitious dread, the influence of which it +required all her good sense to resist.</p> + +<p>Geoffery Arden, the only nephew of the late Sir +Alfred, was standing on the grass, with his arms +folded, and looking rather askance than directly +at the remains of the blasted trees, while his +eye-brows were drawn up contemptuously, and +a somewhat scornful smile curled his lip, as he +marked blind Lewin the Harper, his countenance +full of woe, feeling, with visibly trembling +hands, each shattered branch of the uprooted +oaks, while the large tears were falling from his +sightless eyes.</p> + +<p>The brothers Willoughby and Alfred, and +their three sisters, all seemingly attracted by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> +the same object, issued one by one, from the +open glass door of the breakfast room, and gathered +round the spot; each looked playfully +dismal for a moment, and the next uttered +some laughing remark. They were soon joined +by their mother; and the group would have +formed a striking family picture. Lady Arden +was still a very fine woman: from her mild temper +the sweetness of her countenance was yet unimpaired, +while the expression of maternal tenderness,—and +this from the late tenor of her +thoughts was unconsciously mingled with something +of solicitude,—with which she viewed her +children, her sons now especially, and Alfred in +particular, her favourite son, gave additional +interest to her appearance.</p> + +<p>Alfred's sparkling eye and blooming cheek +did not, however, seem to justify much anxiety +on his account; his brother too, though he had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> +always been more delicate, seemed at present +in excellent health and spirits, while the three +sisters were young, handsome, and happy looking. +Geoffery Arden still stood apart, as though +there were but little fellowship of feeling between +him and the rest of the group.</p> + +<p>He was a lad of eighteen or nineteen +before the marriage of his uncle, the late Sir +Alfred; and from a child had been in the +habit of hearing his father and mother, and +such of their particular friends as sought to +flatter their secret wishes, speculate on the possibility +of his uncle's never marrying, and his +being consequently heir to the Arden estates, +which were strictly entailed in the male line. +Nay, his very nursemaid's usual threat was, that +if he cried when his face was being washed, he +should never be Sir Geoffery. At school, all the +boys at play hours had somehow or other a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>cquired +the habit of calling him Sir Geoffery; and +at college his companions, particularly those who +wished to flatter him into idle extravagance, +constantly joked and complimented him about +his great <i>expectations</i>. Thus had those expectations, +unjustly founded as they were, grown +with his growth and strengthened with his +strength; till, when his uncle did marry, he +could scarcely help thinking himself an injured, +robbed, and very ill-treated person. Hope however +revived a little, on the first three children +chancing to be daughters, and his mother began +again to say, he might have the Arden estates +yet:—stranger things had happened. "And +you might marry one of the girls, you know, +Geoffery," she would continue,—"it would be +some compensation to poor Sir Alfred for having +no son."</p> + +<p>"Indeed I should do no such thing," he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> +would reply. "I should just please myself. +It's not to oblige me, I suppose, that my uncle +has no son."</p> + +<p>The birth of the twin brothers, immediately +after this, put an end to all further speculations +on the subject; except, indeed, that Mrs. Arden +could not help observing that, "after all, the +lives of two weakly infants, as twins of course +must be, with the measles, hooping-cough, and +all other infantile diseases before them, were +not worth much."</p> + +<p>Geoffery became sulky under his disappointment, +and said very little; but silently he hated +the twins for having been born. Of what use +were they, he thought; for what purpose had +they been brought into the world, except indeed +to ruin his prospects.</p> + +<p>Had they never been born, they would not +have wanted the property, and he might have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span> +enjoyed it. Now he must go and drudge at a +profession, the very idea of which, after his +imagination had been so long dazzled by false +hopes, he absolutely loathed.</p> + +<p>He had been educated for the Bar, but had +neglected his studies. He had been dissipated +without gaiety of heart, and a gambler from +avarice. His hopes had made him proud, while +his fears had made him gloomy. In short, he +had contrived to extract the evil from every +thing, while he had avoided all that was good. +As to his legal studies, he had never read any +portion with interest or attention but the law of +male entail.</p> + +<p>He was a bachelor, and likely to remain +such: for he could not afford to marry, unless +he obtained a much larger fortune than he was +entitled to expect.</p> + +<p>There was nothing he could exactly dare to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span> +do to injure his cousins; but he hated them +both, and kept an evil eye upon them. As for +his female cousins, he did not take the trouble +of actively hating them, he merely despised them +as beings shut out from all possibility of inheriting +the property. Beautiful and high born as +they were, he would not have accepted the +hand of any one of them had it been offered to +him.</p> + +<p>Sir Willoughby was goodnaturedly weak, and +very vain;—his was a vanity however which, +when it happened to be gratified, made him extremely +happy, by keeping him in the highest +good humour with himself. From him Geoffery +won large sums at billiards, by flattering him on +his play, 'till he induced him to give him, +habitually, such odds as amounted, in point of +fact, to giving him the game, or, in other words, +the sum staked upon it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lady Arden often endeavoured to dissuade +her son from acquiring so bad a habit as that +of gambling, but in vain; for Willoughby, like +all weak men, was obstinate to excess: he had +besides a marvellous respect for the salique law, +and that jealousy of being guided, which unhappily +always forms a leading feature in the +characters of those who stand most in need of +guidance. Yet he was fondly attached to his +mother; his greatest delight was to devise something +for her pleasure or her accommodation; he +was always ready to make her munificent presents; +in short, he would do any thing to oblige her, +with the exception of following her suggestions.</p> + +<p>Not that he always ungraciously refused requests +that contained in them nothing prohibitory; +he had no particular objection sometimes to +do a thing he was asked to do; but a thing +he was asked not to do, he was always sure to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> +do! And if it happened to be a thing which +Geoffery Arden wished should be done, he could +always decide the point, by artfully complimenting +his cousin on the <i>firmness</i> of his character.</p> + +<p>Of Alfred, Geoffery could make nothing. +He was frank, kind, and open-hearted; yet +clear-seeing and decided. With him his mother's +slightest wish but guessed at was a law: +his sisters, too, could always coax him out +of any plan of pleasure of his own, and get +him to go with them. Not so those for whom +he had no particular affection; he had never +yet been known, in any one instance, to sacrifice +his opinion of what was right, respectable, +or amiable, to the persuasions of idle +companions; so that he was already respected +as well as regarded by thinking and discerning +men much older than himself; some of them<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span> +too, men who had bought their experience dearly +enough and who were surprised into involuntary +admiration of so young a person, who +seemed to have his intuitively.</p> + +<p>His brother loved him in the most enthusiastic +manner; more than he did his mother, or +any one else in the world; yet, strange to say, +such was Willoughby's dread of being governed, +that even the brother whom he loved so much, +had not the slightest influence over him; nay, +Alfred was afraid to use persuasion of any +kind, lest it should have a contrary effect; and +yet, if he ever let it appear that he was in the +slightest degree hurt or offended by this unmeaning +and dogged obstinacy on the part of his +brother, Willoughby's despair would sometimes, +though but for a moment or two, manifest itself in +a way perfectly terrifying; he would rush towards +a window, or a river side, and threaten to fling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span> +himself out or in; so that Alfred, though he +knew himself to be his brother's sole confidant, +and the first object of his affections, was obliged, +with great pain of course, to see him led away +by designing people, especially his cousin Geoffery, +into many practices far from prudent, yet +not interfere; and even be thankful, when by +refraining from so doing, he could avoid the recurrence +of the distressing scenes alluded to. +Willoughby had received a blow on the head +when a child, which had not then exhibited any +serious consequences; whether this circumstance +had any connection with the occasional strangeness +of his temper or not, it was impossible to +say, but Alfred sometimes secretly feared it +had. It was a thought, however, which he did +not communicate even to his mother. Such was +the family, which on the morning we have described, +quitted Arden Park for London.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III.</h2> + + +<p>While the Arden family are on their way to +town, we shall take a peep at the High-street in +Cheltenham. Strings of carriages were driving +backward and forward, from turnpike to turnpike, +while the open barouches, filled with bonnets +of every colour in the rainbow, flaunting +and waving to and fro, looked like so many +moving beds of full blown tulips. Foot-passengers +too of all classes thronged the flag-ways.</p> + +<p>Among these was distinguishable a tall, large, +and still handsome woman, apparently upwards<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> +of fifty. There was something aristocratic about +both her countenance and carriage, although +she was closely followed by a trollopy looking +maid-servant, who carried a bandbox under each +arm, a dressing-box in one hand, and a work-box +in the other.</p> + +<p>Mistress and maid entered the private door +or <i>genteel</i> separate ingress, appropriated to +lodgers, of a music-shop; and having the door +at the further end of the passage opened, for the +purpose of throwing light on the subject, stumbled +up a still dark and very narrow staircase, +at the top of which they turned abruptly into +a small sunny drawing-room, furnished with +chintz hangings, lined and draperied with faded +pink calico. The carpet was a stamped cloth, +of a showy pattern. It was a recent purchase, +and therefore not yet faded; so that it secured<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span> +to these lodgings, as being <i>superiorly</i> furnished, +a great preference over their competitors. In +the centre of the room stood a table covered +with a very dingy green baize, and round the +walls were ranged some half dozen small mock +rosewood chairs, accommodated with little square +inclined planes, covered with pink calico, and +called cushions. Either for want of strings at +the back, or in consequence of such strings +being out of repair, these said inclined planes, +whenever you attempted to help yourself or any +one else to a chair, flew off, either into the middle +of the floor, or if it was the fire you had +wished to approach, perchance under the grate. +Over the mantelpiece was placed what the landlady +considered <i>a very handsome</i> chimney-glass, +a <i>foot and half</i> high, and about three wide; +its gilt frame carefully covered with transparent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> +yellow gauze. On the mantelpiece stood two +bronze chimney lights, with cutglass drops, +only it must be confessed there were but three +of the drops remaining on one, and the other +wanted two. The woman of the house, however, +had promised faithfully to find the rest +of the drops, and so restore to these embellishers +of her establishment the whole of their +pendant honours.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't give much for their promises," +answered Sarah, the maid, when, in reply to +a comment of hers on the subject, she was told +so by Mrs. Dorothea Arden, her mistress.</p> + +<p>"And here's no sofa, ma'am," she continued; +"how are you to be sitting, the length of an +evening, stuck upright on one of these here +<i>ricketty</i> bits of chairs, I'd be glad to know."</p> + +<p>"Why, it will not be very comfortable, to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> +sure," answered Mrs. Dorothea, "so long as it +lasts; but she has promised faithfully, that as +soon as the sick lady goes away, which will be +in about a week, she will let me have the sofa +out of the next drawing-room."</p> + +<p>"A bird in the hand's worth two in the bush!" +replied Sarah. "I dare say if the truth was +known, they're not worth a sofa; or, if they are, +they'll keep it in the next room, when it is vacant, +to be a decoy-duck to another lodger. They're +not going to let you have it, I promise you, now +that they have got you fast for a month certain."</p> + +<p>"Well, if they don't, I can't help it," said +Mrs. Dorothea; "one can't have every thing +you know; and the new carpet certainly gives +the room a very respectable appearance. And +then there is a chiffonier; that's a great comfort +to put one's groceries in; or a few biskets; or a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> +bottle of wine, if one should be obliged to open +one. The doors, to be sure, are lined with blue +and they should have been pink."</p> + +<p>"And here's no key," said Sarah, examining +the chiffonier; "and I declare if the lock <i>ante</i> +broke."</p> + +<p>"That is provoking," said Mrs. Dorothea, +"she must get me a lock."</p> + +<p>Sarah was now dispatched with her bandboxes, +and ordered to hurry the dinner and unpack +the things.</p> + +<p>In about half an hour, Aunt Dorothea becoming +hungry and impatient, rang her bell. Sarah +reappeared, with a countenance of the utmost +discontent, declaring she was never in such a +place in her life; that there was no getting any +thing done, and that as to unpacking, there was +no use in attempting it, in a place where they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span> +should never be able to stop. When the dinner +was asked for, she replied, that she believed it +had been done some time, but that she supposed +there was no one to bring it up, for all they +had engaged to do the waiting. "But there's +sixteen of themselves, shop boys and all; and +they <i>gets</i> their own tea the while your dinner's +a cooking it seems."</p> + +<p>When the dinner did come up, it was cold, and +consisted of mutton-chops, which had evidently +been upset into the ashes. Poor Aunt Dorothea +consequently made but a slender repast.</p> + +<p>The next day, while engaged in the labours +of the toilet, she thus addressed Sarah; for +people who live quite alone, are too apt to get +into a way of gossiping with their servants.</p> + +<p>"It's a very long time since the Salters +have called; is it not, Sarah?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span></p> + +<p>"A very long time indeed ma'am," replied +the abigail, "they was a saying to their own +maid the other day (they don't know I suppose +as she is a friend of mine), for they was a saying, +as I said, that they didn't think as they should +call any more; for that nobody never knew +where to find you, as you was always a changing +your lodgings; and that as to your having +a sister that was a lady, they didn't believe a +word of it; for though you was always a talking +of Lady Arden coming, she never come."</p> + +<p>"What impertinence! Well, Lady Arden +will be here this season to a certainty. She is +to come direct from London; and I'll take care +they shall not be introduced to her. Was there +ever such ingratitude! People that had not a +creature to speak to, till I introduced them to +every one they know. I even made so particu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>lar +a request of my friends that they would call +on them, that I quite laid myself under obligations +to people. They could find out my lodgings +fast enough, when they were coming to my +little sociable parties five nights out of the +seven; declaring they did not know what +was to become of them, were it not for my +kindness; and that the more they saw how +differently others behaved to them, the more +were they obliged to me; and then making such +a vulgar noise about the number of invitations +they were in my debt and their grief at not +having it in their power as yet to make any return."</p> + +<p>"Then I can tell you ma'am," said Sarah, +"they are to have a grand party this very night +at the rooms, and never had the manners to ask +you."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I know their cards have been out for some +time. And who are they to have, did you +hear?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, titles without end, they say; and generals +and baronets, and all sorts of fine people. +Mrs. Johnson <i>sais</i>, as the young ladies should +say, they were determined as their party should +<i>exist</i> entirely of <i>excuses</i>."</p> + +<p>"Exclusives you mean, I suppose; but did +you hear any of the names?"</p> + +<p>"Why yes ma'am; they are to have Sir +Matthias and Lady Whaleworthy."</p> + +<p>"Sir Matthias indeed!" repeated Mrs. Dorothea, +"an alderman cheesemonger, knighted +only the other day; and as for his poor goodnatured, +vulgar wife, she has been fattened on +whey, I suppose, till no reasonable door can +admit her."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well to be sure!" exclaimed the abigail, +"and then they are to have Sir Henry and Lady +Shawbridge."</p> + +<p>"Sir Henry, poor man," said Mrs. Dorothea, +"was only knighted by mistake. I don't know +what he was himself, but they say he had just +married his cook-maid; and her ladyship certainly +has all the fiery-faced fierceness of that +order about her."</p> + +<p>"A cook-maid, ma'am! why I am a step +above that myself. And let me see, who else—oh, +there's to be Lady Flamborough."</p> + +<p>"She is a woman of rank certainly, or rather +the widow of a man of rank; for she is of very +low birth herself; and what is much worse, she +is a woman of bad character, which of course +prevents her being visited, so that she is glad to +go any where. And who else pray?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sir William Orm, that Mrs. Johnson <i>sais</i> +is such a fine gentleman."</p> + +<p>"Sir William Orm," repeated Mrs. Dorothea, +"he is a known black-leg; a man shut out from +all good society; he may do very well for the +Salters, however, if he can endure their vulgarity."</p> + +<p>"There is another title," said Sarah, "let me +see—Sir—Sir—Sir Francis Beerton, or Brierton, +I think."</p> + +<p>"Poor little man," said Mrs. Dorothea, "there +is no particular harm in him; but his wife is so +sanctified, that she will neither go any where, +nor see any one at home; so that he is glad of +any thing for variety. Strange notions some +people have of duty! in my opinion, if a woman +will not make a man's home comfortable and +agreeable to him, she becomes accountable for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span> +all the sins he may commit abroad, although she +should be praying for his conversion the whole +time. Well, who comes next on your list?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think as I remember any more, excepting +General Powel."</p> + +<p>"He, poor old man, is mere lumber; neither +useful nor ornamental, nobody will be troubled +with him who can get anybody else to fill up +their rooms; so that I should suppose he is not +incumbered with many invitations."</p> + +<p>"Well who would a thought of their being +such a <i>despisable</i> set; and so many titles +among them too; why to have heard Mrs. +Johnson talk o' them, you'd supposed they had +been so many kings and queens."</p> + +<p>"It was a set I should not have joined certainly; +but quite good enough for the Salters, +whom I should never have visited, had the friend<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> +who wrote to me about them been sufficiently +explicit as to who and what they were. The +daughters, I suppose, would be excessively indignant +if they thought it was known that their +father had made his fortune somewhere in Devonshire, +by a contract for supplying the navy +with beef."</p> + +<p>"Supplying beef, ma'am! Why isn't that all +as one as being a butcher?"</p> + +<p>"Not unlike it, certainly," replied Mrs. Dorothea.</p> + +<p>"Well, who would have thought, and they +so proud: but it's always them there upstartish +sort that's the impudentst and most +unbearable."</p> + +<p>"It is in general the way those sort of people +betray themselves. If they behaved in a modest +unpretending manner, very possible no questions +might be asked. After their ingratitude and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> +impertinence to me, I for one shall make no +secret of the circumstance. And the very young +men that eat Mr. Salter's roast beef now, washed +down too with his champaign and his claret, will +not be the less ready to jeer at the time he sold +the same commodity raw. When my sister, +Lady Arden, comes, and her three beautiful +daughters, they will of course have all the +young men in Cheltenham about them; so that +I shall be acquainted with them all; and I shall +take care they shall not be in the dark about +the Misses Salter, who shall find that I am not +to be insulted with impunity."</p> + +<p>"And I shall have some fun with our butcher +about it," said Sarah; "I shall tell him to be +particular what sort of meat he sends to such +a good judge as Mr. Salter. Perhaps you could +spare me for a couple of hours this evening,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span> +ma'am?" she added, when her mistress was +attired.</p> + +<p>"What for, Sarah? you are always asking +leave to go out. I must say you are very idly +inclined. How are my summer things ever to +be ready at this rate. This mulberry silk has +been looking quite out of season, ever since the +sunny weather came in."</p> + +<p>"I am sure, ma'am, there is not a young +person in Cheltenham sits as close to their +needle as what I do; but this evening Mrs. +Johnson has, of course, the privilege of the +music-gallery, and she has offered me a place. +I thought you might like, perhaps, to hear how +the party went off?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, certainly I should!" replied Mrs. Dorothea. +"Well, Sarah, you may go, and mind +you have all your eyes about you, and bring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span> +me a full account of every thing. And notice +if there is any body there that I know—and +how the people are dressed—and how often the +refreshment trays come in—and whether they +attempt a supper—and who begins the dancing. +The Miss Salters will get partners for once in +their lives, I suppose! And I dare say they will +contrive to have a tolerably full room; for I +hear they have been getting all their acquaintance +to give away cards, right and left; Lady +Matthias alone boasts that she has disposed of +three dozen."</p> + +<p>Sarah promised strict compliance with all the +directions she had received, and disappeared in +great haste, to pin new bows in her bonnet, and +slip stiffeners into the large sleeves of her best +silk dress; determining to complete her costume +for the occasion, by lending herself her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span> +mistress's pea-green china crape shawl and +black lace veil.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea Arden, as soon as she was +alone, sighed unconsciously; for visions of her +early days presented themselves suddenly and +unbidden, forming a violent contrast with the +whole class of petty and degrading thoughts and +interests, to which circumstances had gradually +habituated, at least, if not reconciled her.</p> + +<p>Ere she had quitted the pedestal of her youthful +pride, beneath the shelter of her father's +roof, with what appalling horror would she have +thought of the chance-collected mob, about +whose movements she was now capable of feeling +an idle curiosity.</p> + +<p>Vague recollections, too, passed with the +quickness of a momentary glance, through her +mind, of eligible establishments rejected with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span> +scorn, of comfort and respectability cast away, +for dreams of ambition it had never been her +fate to realize.</p> + +<p>She paused, and some seconds were given to +a remembrance apart from every other, which, +though now but faintly seen amid the haze of +distance, still seemed a little illumined speck, +on which a sun-beam, piercing some aperture in +a cloudy sky had chanced to fall.</p> + +<p>But it was too late, quite too late for such +thoughts, so she went out to pay some morning +visits, to send in a veal cutlet for her dinner, +and find out, more particularly, who were to be +at the Salter's party.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV.</h2> + + +<p>Mr. Salter and his two daughters, the former +equipped in a new wig, the latter in two new +dresses, expressly for the occasion, were parading +up and down the yet vacant public ballroom.</p> + +<p>The lights were burning, the waiters in attendance, +and the orchestra playing; while, +peeping over the shoulder of the double bass, +appeared a particularly smart bonnet, decorated +with numerous bows of quite new ribbon, +and further graced by a very handsome +black lace veil.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What can all the people be thinking of?" +said Mr. Salter at last; "I have a mind to order +the lights to be put out, and go away home to +my bed. It would be just a proper punishment +for them all. And pray," he added, looking +at his daughters' dresses, "what are these gig-meries +to cost?" At this crisis resounded the +welcome sounds, "Sir Matthias and Lady +Whaleworthy:" with quickened steps and delighted +countenances, our trio hastened towards +the bottom of the room, to receive their guests, +now, as by magic, flowing in altogether.</p> + +<p>Introductions were endless; every leading +bird was followed by a flock, which neither host +nor hostess had ever seen before; while, from +time to time, the promised titles, those stars +which were to give brilliancy to the night, made +their appearance, sprinkling the common herd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> +with consequence. Lady Flamborough! Sir +William Orm! Sir Henry and Lady Shawbridge! +Next appeared poor old General Powel +and half blind Sir Francis Brierton, poking his +little sharp nose into everybody's face, and +smirking his recognition, when by so doing he +had discovered who they were; and though last +not least, Sir James Lindsey; least in consequence +we mean, for he was a very little, very +ugly man, the express image of the knave of +spades. He was, however, a vastly important +personage, a bachelor baronet, with fifteen thousand +a-year, and a man of good family too, so +that there was no objection whatever to him, +except that he was a fool, and that when he +danced he so capered and kicked up behind, +and rounded his elbows, and, in short, made +himself so completely the butt and laughing-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>stock +of the whole room, it was with difficulty +that even his fifteen thousand per annum could +procure him a partner.</p> + +<p>We rather suspect, however, that there were +ladies who, though they shrank from sharing +with Sir James the unprofitable ridicule of the +hour, would have had no objection to share +with him for life his fifteen thousand a-year, +for, in that case, they could afford to be laughed +at.</p> + +<p>Sir James had a brother, a very fine young +man, remarkably handsome and equally clever; +perhaps a little too hot-headed, but +warm-hearted withal; an enthusiast in beauty, +painting, music, scenery, every thing in short +at which a glowing imagination takes fire; +the very material for a frantic lover, yet condemned +by his circumstances, either to lead<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span> +a single life, or possibly at least contract a marriage +with the purse of some old rich widow, +fitter to be his mother than his wife. For +Henry Lindsey was one of the many living sacrifices +hourly immolated on the altars of <i>pride</i>, +and how many a holocaust has been offered up +upon those altars!</p> + +<p>How often have we heard persons, who could +argue rationally enough on other subjects, gravely +assert, in reply to every argument which good +feeling or justice could urge, "A family must +have a head."</p> + +<p>In this particular instance the head, or <i>pride</i> +of the family, had proved its disgrace, yet standing +laws and previously made settlements could +not be altered. Fifteen thousand per annum, +therefore, must be melted down, to make a +golden image of poor little silly Sir James,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> +while Henry, with the pittance which as a +younger child was his portion, was obliged to +purchase the privilege of being shot at; for the +younger brother of an old baronet <i>could not disgrace +his family</i> by doing any thing likely to +provide <i>comfortably for himself</i>.</p> + +<p>Thus do the <i>prejudices</i> of society seem to have +been invented for the express purpose of hunting +down and crushing those whom its laws have +robbed and oppressed.</p> + +<p>Children of the same parents must be defrauded +of the birthright, by natural justice +theirs, to heap all on one brother! And for +what purpose? That he may keep alive, by +being its living representative, that <i>pride</i>, that +<i>curse</i>, which forbids to those so defrauded, the +use of honest means for earning honest bread!</p> + +<p>If, instead of this, all property which had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> +been a father's, were, at his death, equally divided +among his offspring, without revolution or +confiscation, extravagant disparity of station +would gradually disappear, and with it <i>pride</i>, +that destroys the happiness, with its whole array +of <i>prejudices</i>, waging eternal warfare against +rational contentment.</p> + +<p>How many are there who might still, even as +the world now is, dwell within a very garden of +Eden, of peaceful and natural delights, and yet +who virtually turn themselves out of the same; +and, at the mere mandate of some <i>prejudice</i> of society—some +<i>by-law</i> of <i>pride</i>, become wanderers +through the thistle-grown wildernesses of discontent, +or weary pilgrims amid the thorny +paths of petty mortification.</p> + +<p>But to return to our ball: by this time so +fair a proportion of the company had arrived,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> +that it was thought advisable to commence +dancing. For this purpose Mr. Salter, with +a feeling of exultation which made him forget, +for the time, what the whole entertainment was +likely to cost, led Lady Flamborough to the +head of the room. Her ladyship had evidently +been pretty in her youth; but though the remains +of a fine woman may sometimes be +viewed with a blending of admiration with our +veneration, mere prettiness seldom grows old +gracefully. In Lady Flamborough's case it certainly +did not. Her once nicely rounded little figure +had now outgrown all bounds, not excepting +those of the drapery which ought to have concealed +its exuberance. Her once infantine features +were now nearly lost in the midst of a +countenance disproportionally increased in its +general dimensions; while in manner she still<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> +played off numberless once becoming, but now +disgusting, airs of artless innocence; languishing, +lisping, and rolling her eyes; and childishly +twisting her fingers through the ringlets of her +hair, while looking up in her partner's face, and +saying silly things.</p> + +<p>Had it been possible to have checked coquetry +in Lady Flamborough, the sight of the senseless +bloated countenance on which she was thus +casting away those interesting appeals of her +visual orbs, one would have thought might have +done so.</p> + +<p>Mr. Salter's head was in shape something +like a sugar loaf: the region denominated fore-head, +and appropriated by phrenologists to the +intellectual faculties, being so confined, that it +nearly came to a point, while the descent +widened as it approached the organs of gusta<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>tiveness, +and all that called itself face, concluded +without any distinct line of demarcation, in a +jole, much resembling that of a cod-fish.</p> + +<p>The eyes were colourless, and owed all the +brilliancy they possessed to an inflammation of +the lids, which never forsook them. The efforts +of their owner, on the present occasion, to give +them a languishing roll, that should correspond +with that of her ladyship's, was truly ludicrous. +As to his mouth, it bisected his countenance +from ear to ear, which rendered his +endeavours to spread it wider by that bland +movement designated a smile, nearly abortive.</p> + +<p>A few additional lines of circular or spherical +trigonometry were conspicuously marked upon +cheeks that yielded in carnation hue to nought +save the nose; while this rallying point of the +vital powers, like certain well-known altars of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> +the ancients, never allowed the flame to go +out.</p> + +<p>Mr. Salter was exceedingly proud of his legs, +(not that he had seen them himself for the last +ten years), and though short for his body, which +by-the-by had precisely the appearance of a +Brobdingnag melon on castors, the legs themselves, +when you were distant enough to have a +view of them beneath the inflated balloon that +otherwise concealed them, were certainly +formed according to the rules of beauty; that is +to say, they had very large calves, and very small +ankles.</p> + +<p>We suppose it must have been the combined +effect of the personal charms and the elevated +rank of his partner, which raised Mr. Salter's +spirits to so inconvenient a degree, as to produce +in his mind a most frisky longing to behold,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span> +once more, this long remembered attraction of +his own—his said handsome legs. Accordingly, +while setting to the lady, he made several kicks +out in front, with accompanying jerks forward +of the head, in the vain hope of catching a +glimpse; but, alas, in one unfortunate effort +more strenuous than the rest, he lost his balance; +out flew his feet, and down he came on his back, +so much to the amusement of the whole room +that no one for a time had the presence of mind +to pick him up: while there he lay, sprawling +and puffing, his own endeavours to rise being +quite as fruitless as those of a beetle usually are, +when placed in the same reversed position by +a mischievous school-boy. Neither was the +evening by any means one of unmixed delight +to the Misses Salter. It was but too evident +that even on the present occasion, when, if ever<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> +compliment was due to them, that the gentlemen +evinced any thing but impatience to secure the +felicity of being their partners. On the contrary, +it was generally when a quadrille was +nearly made up, and the last added couple +were in great distress for a <i>vis-à-vis</i>, that some +one who had previously made up his mind not to +dance, was pressed into the service, and given a +hint that one of the Miss Salters was sitting down.</p> + +<p>Even Sir James, though he did dance a set +with each sister, did not do so till he had been +shaken off by nearly every other woman in the +room.</p> + +<p>The Scotch proverb says, "It's a lucky lass +that's like her father."</p> + +<p>But we must confess, we never could discover +that it was any advantage to Miss Salter to be +so strikingly like her father as she certainly was.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> +Miss Grace Salter was altogether of a different +style; she was under-sized, pitiably thin, +and extremely dark, with an expression of countenance +as if she had just swallowed something +unseasonably bitter, and was making a face at +its disagreeable flavour. The set with Sir James +could not much sooth the vanity of either sister, +for no sooner did he commence operations, +than a ring was immediately formed for the +avowed purpose of laughing at him; while he, +mistaking the general attention he drew for +admiration, seemed gratefully determined to +spare no pains to give the greatest possible satisfaction +to his numerous spectators.</p> + +<p>The Misses Salter had also another source +of uneasiness this evening. At all times their +greatest earthly apprehension, next to that of +not getting husbands themselves, was, lest their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> +father should marry, and cut them out of a +small sum, which not having been swallowed +up in the purchase of the estate for John, +he had promised to divide between them unless +indeed he married again. His doing so seemed +this evening more probable than ever it had +done before. The roll of his eye, while looking +at Lady Flamborough, had become quite ominous, +while her ladyship's air of condescension +was truly alarming.</p> + +<p>"Now it would be too bad, would it not?" +said Miss Salter to Miss Grace Salter, as they +were undressing, "if after all, this ball that we +have been so long teazing at my father to give, +and that he thinks so much about the expense of, +should turn out to be our own ruin in the end."</p> + +<p>"Why, I am afraid, to be sure," replied her +sister, "if he marries he won't leave us the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> +money, or else it would be a grand connection! +wouldn't it? We'd be sure to be visited by every +body then."</p> + +<p>"That we should, no doubt," said Miss +Salter, "but what of that, we shouldn't have +a shilling in the world, comparatively speaking, +when my father dies—and as for John—"</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't give us a shilling if we were +starving!" observed Miss Grace.</p> + +<p>By John, they meant their brother. And, by-the-by, +one of the reasons, in addition to their +want of beauty, why these ladies were paid so +little attention to by the gentlemen, was, that it +was well known, Mr. Salter had a cub of a +son, on whom he meant, in imitation of his +betters, to heap the earnings and savings of his +life, for the purpose, as he himself expressed it, +of making a family: and, for that matter he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span> +didn't see why a man mightn't be prouder of +being the first of his name to do so, than if he +was come of a family ready made to his hand +a thousand years ago! for sure, they must all +have had a beginning one time or other.</p> + +<p>But as to being the first of his name to have +a rise in the world, he was not so clear of that +neither: he had often heard talk of a Lord Salter +or Salisbury, or something beginning with an S; +and he might become a lord, one time or +other, for any thing he knew to the +contrary.</p> + +<p>But be that as it may, "he wasn't going +to have his money, that he had been a lifetime +scraping together, squandered by idle fellows +that were nothing at all akin to him, but would +just come and marry his daughters to get hold +of the cash."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But supposing, Sir, we shouldn't get married +at all," said Miss Salter one day.</p> + +<p>"Nothing more likely," replied her father. +"As for Grace, she is certainly as plain a girl +as I'd desire to see any day. And I don't know +how it is, you're not very handsome neither, tho' +you're thought so like me."</p> + +<p>These observations of Mr. Salter's about +being the first of his family were, by the particular +desire of his daughters, strictly confined +to his own fireside. There was no occasion, +they argued, to make any such confession in a +place like Cheltenham, where nobody knew anything +about people, but what they choose to +say of themselves. Accordingly, they made +family their constant theme; and inquired with +the most consequential airs about the connections +of every one they heard named; always<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> +winding up their harangue by observing, that +of course it was very natural for a man like their +father, of such an ancient and highly respectable +family, to be very particular about who they +visited, particularly in those sorts of places +where people of every description congregated.</p> + +<p>"It's no harm, you know," said Miss Salter +to her sister, "to have the name of being particular, +it makes people of consequence; at +the same time I'd have us get acquainted +with every creature we can, and go everywhere; +there's no knowing where one might +find one's luck."</p> + +<p>"Talking of luck," answered Grace, "I read +in one of the new novels the other day, that +'luck knocks once at every one's door;' I wish +it would knock once at mine, I know, and it +shouldn't have to knock again."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And, by-the-by, was it quite prudent of us, +on your plan, to cut Mrs. Dorothea Arden as we +have done?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes; what's the use of an old maid, +she can have no sons, you know; besides, we +didn't cut her till Lady Whaleworthy, and +Lady Flamborough, and Lady Shawbridge, +and all of them, had called; and then I thought +we could spare such old lumber as Mrs. Dorothea."</p> + +<p>"Why, to be sure, as you say, she can have +no sons; indeed I never even heard her speak +of a brother or a nephew; and as to her expecting +this Lady Arden that she is always +talking about, I am sure its nothing but a +boast."</p> + +<p>"Nothing more you may be certain! And +then I was afraid my father would have taken<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> +a fancy to her at last, for he was always saying, +she was a fine woman for her years."</p> + +<p>"She was very useful however at first," said +Grace.</p> + +<p>"Oh yes she was, certainly," replied Miss +Salter, "but now you know we don't want her."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V.</h2> + + +<p>Lady Arden, leaning on her son Alfred, her +eldest daughter on the other side, her two +younger following, had just entered the ballroom +at Almacks.</p> + +<p>The sisters, we have already said, were beautiful. +They were all above the middle height, +and finely formed; remarkably fair, with brilliant +complexions, and very beautiful light +brown hair.</p> + +<p>Jane, the eldest, had her mother's amiable,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span> +mild, regular features, and soft, modest, hazel +eyes.</p> + +<p>Louisa, the second, much resembled her sister +in the form of her features, except that her +mouth was a very little larger, the lips fuller, +and of a more vivid red, and the smile more +conscious. Her eyes were of a grey colour, +clear and sparkling; but in their expression +there was too much of triumph, while her very +blush had something in it of the same character; +you felt, you knew not why, that it did not arise +altogether from timidity.</p> + +<p>Her beauty, however, was perfectly exquisite; +there was a rich luxuriance, a beaming lustre +about her whole appearance, which seemed to +gain by contrast with others, whom, while viewed +separately, you had thought as handsome. It +was like the undefinable distinction between the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span> +brilliant and its best imitations, most clearly +seen when subjected to the ordeal of comparison.</p> + +<p>Madeline, the youngest, had a rounder face +than her sisters, the features not quite so fine, +yet lovely in their own perfectly innocent joyousness; +while beautifying dimples accompanied +her smiles, and fairy cupids danced in her +laughing eyes.</p> + +<p>The sisters always dressed alike: on the present +occasion, they all wore white lace over +white satin; the lighter or outer drapery looped +up on one side with a bunch of white roses, +mixed with lilies of the valley: and a few of the +same flowers in the hair on the contrary side. +A set of diamonds each, unusually costly for +girls, but which, by a whim of their maternal +grandfather, they happened to possess, were their +only ornaments.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span></p> + +<p>Lady Arden had never, since her widowhood, +returned to colours; her invariable costume was +black velvet; her diamonds, however, yielded +in magnificence to those of royalty only. So +that, what with the faces being quite new, and +the appearance of the group altogether, not forgetting +the handsome Alfred, was such as to excite +considerable attention, even amid an assembly +like the present, where youth, beauty, +fashion, and splendour, habitually congregate.</p> + +<p>Willoughby was too important a personage +to form one of the family picture. He was in +the room, however, having just arrived in attendance +on a party with whom he had dined.</p> + +<p>A young lady of remarkable beauty was leaning +on his arm. He addressed her from time +to time with great animation; while she appeared +to listen with the most languid indifference.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span> +Young Lord Nelthorpe, one of their nearest +neighbours at Arden, now approached our party. +Jane had noticed him for some time, and, on +first doing so, had coloured deeply. They had +not met before since their arrival in town. He +came up to our party, was very polite, and even +friendly, but not quite as cordial as might have +been expected. He conversed with Lady Arden +for a little time. Music commenced, he made +a slight bow, and moving quickly towards a +lady at a little distance, led her to the +quadrille. Jane had been so perfectly certain +that he intended to dance with her, that when +the music began, she had instinctively drawn +her arm half way from within her mother's. +Her disappointment was bitter, and arose from +a feeling much deeper than the mere loss of a +partner for the dance could have excited.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span></p> + +<p>From her earliest childhood she had been in +the habit of hearing her own family speak of +Lord Nelthorpe as a very suitable match. +As children together, they had been quite +little lovers. Public schools and colleges +had broken off this familiarity of intercourse. +He had, however, since arriving at the age of +manhood, often paid her a good deal of attention +in the country, where he had nothing else to do; +and in some of the summer evening walks of the +young people, a declaration had more than once +seemed to tremble on his lips; still nothing decided +had passed; and poor Jane's heart had +been given away, some couple of years before she +had begun to doubt the sincerity of his attachment, +or the certainty of their future union. +And why was Jane mistaken? Because, society +being artificially constituted, the language of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> +nature cannot explain the motives which govern +its members; nor our own feelings, till we too +become sophisticated, teach us to calculate upon +those of others.</p> + +<p>The attention of Alfred was just at this moment +attracted by the appearance of the younger +of two ladies, who were standing at a little distance. +They were evidently, from their striking +resemblance, mother and daughter. The stature +of both was rather above the middle height; +that of the elder, from its queen-like carriage, +and its being a little disposed to embonpoint, +had a strikingly imposing and majestic effect; +while that of the younger, though perfectly +formed and beautifully rounded, was so delicate +in its proportions, and so timid in its air, +as to require comparison to convince the eye +that the actual elevation was the same. The<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span> +features of both were so regular, that it would +be impossible for the scrutiny of the nicest artist, +to discover a defect; but those of the elder were +of a lustrous, conspicuous white, as though +chiseled in Parian marble; those of the younger +of a stainless transparency, as if modelled in the +purest wax; the lips only of both were of a +lively red; those of the elder, perhaps, a little +too thin, but boasting the glossy scarlet of the +coral; while those of the younger, full and bewitching +in their expression, were of the tender +tint of the rose's ambrosial centre. The hair, +eye-brows, and eye-lashes of both were absolute +jet; but while the firm braiding of the elder +lady's tresses betrayed the usual defect of black +hair—strength of texture—the raven ringlets of +the younger rivalled the flaxen locks of childhood +in their silken softness. The line of her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> +eye-brow, too, was the most delicately penciled, +and her eye-lashes the longest, or they seemed +so, her eyes being cast down; while those of +the elder lady were raised and fully visible. +They were dark, large, and brilliant; but the +supercilious vanity with which they moved +slowly round, courting the universal admiration +they drew towards them, without once shrinking +from its glare, made it impossible for their +lustre, splendid as it was, to reach any heart.</p> + +<p>Alfred observed an elderly gentleman with +whom he was acquainted join the two ladies, +and converse for a time with the air of an old +intimate of the elder. As soon as he quitted +them Alfred joined him; and with as much circumlocution, +preparation, and management, as +though he had in view nothing less than the +place of prime minister, demanded if he could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> +venture to introduce him to his fair friends, as a +candidate for the hand of the younger lady for the +next quadrille. Nothing could be easier: Lord +Darlingford was intimate with the parties; +accordingly, he presented our hero to Lady +Palliser and her daughter, Lady Caroline Montague.</p> + +<p>The eyes of the latter were, at the moment of +introduction, of necessity lifted to Alfred's face. +In colour, size, and liquid lustre they resembled +her mother's; but oh, how unlike were they in +their mild, beseeching expression; and in the +tremulous movement of the lids; which, as if +weighed down by their sable veil of silken lashes, +hastened again to overshadow them. The transparent +cheek too, at the same instant that the +eyes were raised, had been visited by a deep +blush; gifting, though but for a fleeting instant,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span> +this beautiful, this almost too unearthly being +with the warm glow of life.</p> + +<p>The effect on Alfred of the momentary vision +was decisive of his fate.</p> + +<p>During the dance, to which this introduction +led, the snatches of most exquisite pleasure experienced +by our hero were when, by directly +addressing his partner, he could again induce +her to look up. On each such occasion, the +beseeching expression already described, excited, +despite the cooler suggestions of reason, a +feeling as though the gentle appeal were addressed +to him in particular. What was there +so entreated that he would not have undertaken? +The most difficult feats of ancient chivalry, nay, +the impossibilities of necromancy itself, would +have seemed tasks of easy performance in such +a cause! His beautiful partner said very little;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span> +yet, from her general demeanour, and the fluttering +frequency with which her changing colour +came and went, it might be inferred that her +reserve was neither that of haughtiness, nor of cold +calculation, but rather an excess of almost painful +timidity. This reserve, however, did not affect her +performance of the quadrille, which was perfect; +it was the harmony of motion realized. The +absolute accordance was such that it seemed to +be the influence of the musical sounds on the +undulating air, which wafted the light form, +"like the thistle-down floating on the breeze," +through each evolution of the dance. Or when +called upon to quit her original position in the +quadrille for a few seconds and again return to +it, such was the quiet grace with which she executed +the task, that it seemed as though the delicate +vision, fading away like Scott's White Lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> +of the Mist, had but ceased for a moment to be +visible, and, in a moment more, again became +palpable to sight.</p> + +<p>From time to time she looked at Lady Palliser; +not, however, as though it were there she +sought a refuge; for, on the contrary, there was +an indescribable something in the manner of the +glance, which conveyed the idea that her ladyship +was the principal object of her daughter's +fears. Yet again, the moment the quadrille +was concluded, Lady Caroline expressed a +wish to rejoin her mother. Lady Palliser received +our hero with a coldness that very soon +made him feel obliged to take himself off. At +once captivated and mortified, he felt disinclined +to dance any more, and rather disposed to indulge +in reveries, while pursuing with his eyes +the form of his new acquaintance through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> +moving crowd. Instead, however, of reclining +indolently on a sofa, or lounging about with +other men, he devoted himself, in the most +amiable manner possible, to his mother and sisters +for the remainder of the evening; and though +they found him somewhat deaf, performed, when +they did make him hear, any little service they +required of him with great alacrity. Notwithstanding +which, ere the evening was over, each +of his sisters had severally informed him that he +was already in love. Such secrets are generally +discovered by others before they are known to +the parties themselves.</p> + +<p>A friend of Lady Arden's, forgetful that her +ladyship objected on principle to all younger +sons, <i>except her own</i>, had introduced Henry +Lindsey to Louisa. Her exquisite beauty dazzled +and delighted him, while her gratified<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span> +vanity, at the enthusiasm of his admiration, +made her manner so encouraging, that he believed +himself well received, and gave himself +up to hopes and feelings destined to cost him +many a bitter pang.</p> + +<p>Lord Darlingford, though a widower and a +man, by his own account upwards of fifty, was +much disposed, on the strength of his rank, to +be a serious admirer of Jane Arden. This +evening he found himself better received than +usual; he did not deem it necessary to make a +fool of himself by dancing, but was sitting +apart with the lady, conversing very earnestly, +and was just beginning to weigh the propriety +of availing himself of so favourable an opportunity +for making her an offer of marriage, +when Lord Nelthorpe came up and asked her +to dance. The moment before she had deter<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>mined, +if he did do so at this late period of the +evening, to reject his offer. As soon, however, +as he approached, and preferred his request, her +spirited resolve vanished: with one of her +sweetest smiles she rose and took his arm, and +in the flurry of her spirits, forgetting to make +even a parting bow to poor Lord Darlingford, +left him sitting alone, looking what he was, +quite forsaken, and cursing himself for an old +fool.</p> + +<p>Lord Nelthorpe now took pains to be particularly +agreeable, and either from vanity or +lingering attachment, was evidently anxious to +discover if he still retained the power he knew +he had long possessed over the feelings of his +fair partner. He made allusions to her late +companion, and half jest, half earnest, ventured +several whispered comments, almost amount<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>ing +to tender reproaches, watching her countenance +while he did so. As he handed her +into the carriage, he secretly wished, with +something like a sigh, that he had no brothers +and sisters to pay off. She went home in high +spirits.</p> + +<p>"I wish, Jane," said Lady Arden, as they +drove from the door, "you would make up your +mind to marry Lord Darlingford."</p> + +<p>Jane made no reply.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI.</h2> + + +<p>The next morning Willoughby confided to +his brother the determination he had come to on +the last evening, of proposing for Lady Anne +Armadale, the daughter of Lord Selby.</p> + +<p>He described with great exultation how much +attached the lady had been to a gentleman of +whom her friends disapproved, and whom she +was notwithstanding determined to marry up to +the time he had become his rival; but that he +had not been long in driving the former lover<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span> +from the field, and securing the preference of +the lady.</p> + +<p>Alfred, in his anxiety for his brother's happiness, +forgot for the moment his usual dread of +offering advice.</p> + +<p>"For heaven sake," he said, "Willoughby, +pause! Be <i>quite</i> certain that you have secured +her real preference!"</p> + +<p>"I <i>am</i> quite certain," said Willoughby, taking +up his hat impatiently.</p> + +<p>"Nay, do not be hasty either with the lady +or with me."</p> + +<p>"You think it is impossible for any woman to +prefer me, I suppose. I have, I confess, no +pretensions to be an Adonis," he added with a +sneer, for he knew that Alfred was considered +remarkably handsome; "at the same time all +people's taste are fortunately not alike!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Nay, my dear Willoughby, do not be childish! +Is it not wiser to use a little caution? +Have you no fear of finding yourself, when too +late, the husband of a woman capable of sacrificing +her feelings to her interest?"</p> + +<p>Willoughby abruptly quitted the room. He +went directly to Lord Selby's, and in less than an +hour had proposed for, and been accepted by +Lady Anne Armadale.</p> + +<p>Unhappily for Willoughby, the slender share +of sense he possessed was not only at all times +hoodwinked by vanity, but in general superseded +in its operations by temper. For if any +friend happened to offer him the slightest advice, +so jealous was he of having it supposed +his judgment required assistance, that, without +waiting to consider if any offence was +intended, he would feel perhaps but a momen<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>tary +resentment, yet, while under its dominion, +as the readiest and most appropriate revenge, +would resolve hastily on an opposite line of conduct +to that suggested by his adviser; and having +once so resolved, obstinacy would put its +seal on a determination which in fact had never +been examined by his understanding, while +had there been no interference, he would at +least have considered the subject, and might, +possibly, have come to a just conclusion.</p> + +<p>A man of a decidedly superior mind, on the +contrary, having no private misgivings respecting +his own capacity, is always well pleased to +take under consideration any new views of a +subject, which the suggestions of a friend, or +indeed of any one, may present. It is of course +his own judgment which finally decides, but +like a just judge, after first hearing every wit<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>ness, +that is to say every argument which can +be brought to bear upon the subject. Acuteness +in prejudging is the boast of the fool. +Discrimination to give its due weight to every +part of the evidence, the privilege of the man +of sense. The fool is always telling you he can +see with half an eye. We would request such +persons to employ in future the whole of both +orbs, and possibly with a vision so extraordinary, +they might be enabled to pierce even to +the bottom of that far-famed well, in which it is +said that truth has hitherto lain hid from the researches +of mankind.</p> + +<p>Certainly no claim to merit or distinction can +be more absurd than that which is founded on +the wilfully limited means employed for producing +the desired end.</p> + +<p>Excellence, to challenge admiration, should<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> +be excellence in the abstract; while he who +would be even a respectable candidate for the +prize, should use every power that Providence +has given to man, avail himself of every ray of +light that the experience of past ages has elicited, +and bringing all to a focus, pour the concentrated +beam on the path to be explored.</p> + +<p>Thus only can each generation hope to gain +some step on the road towards perfection unattained +by its predecessor.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII.</h2> + + +<p>Gloucester Villa, the residence of Mr. +Salter, at Cheltenham, was in a state of high +preparation for a dinner to be given to Lady +Flamborough.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Johnson had no leisure to assist the +<i>young</i> ladies to dress, they were therefore left +to perform that office for each other.</p> + +<p>"By-the-by, I have been so much hurried, +I forgot to tell you," said Grace, "but Lady +Arden is now really coming: Mrs. Dorothea's +maid has been telling Johnson all about it."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I dare say it's just talk as usual," said +Miss Salter.</p> + +<p>"No, no, it's quite certain now," persisted +her sister, "for Violet Bank is taken for her +ladyship for six months certain, and the adjoining +villa, Jessamine Bower, for another titled +lady; and I daresay they'll be acquainted, so +you see what we've lost!"</p> + +<p>"Well, that is really provoking!" exclaimed +Miss Salter. "I wonder would there be any +use in sending her an invitation for this evening?"</p> + +<p>"Sending who an invitation?" said Grace. +"Mrs. Dorothea do you mean? Oh, quite ridiculous +at this late hour; and after leaving her +out of the ball too!"</p> + +<p>"I know all that," replied Miss Salter; +"but let me see, I'll write her a long apology<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> +about having sent a card for our ball to her old +lodging in mistake! and for the short notice I'll +say, that I know she likes friendly invitations +better than formal ones, and that our party +this evening is to be so particularly select, +just what I know she likes; and then I'll +give a list of the titles, and that I think will +decide her, even if she does see through the +excuses."</p> + +<p>Accordingly Miss Salter, in great triumph at +her own diplomatic abilities, wrote and dispatched +her note.</p> + +<p>"After all," she added, as she resumed her +toilette, "these are sorrowful rejoicings for us, +for I suppose with this fine lady coming to dinner, +and being so gracious, and all that, she +means to marry my father; and if she does, +though to be sure it'ill bring fine acquaintance,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> +I suppose, but will it bring us husbands?—on +the contrary, if it gets abroad that we're not to +have a shilling—"</p> + +<p>"We'll have but a poor chance, I'm afraid," +interrupted Grace.</p> + +<p>"But I'll tell you what I have done to endeavour +to obviate that," said her sister; "I +have been telling Johnson, and I have told her +too that she may tell it where she pleases, +for it's no harm that the truth should be +known, that our mother's fortune was a hundred +thousand pounds, and was so settled +upon us that my father can't keep it from us; +and she has begun already with Sir William +Orm's man, and he has told his master, and Sir +William is full of it; so we shall see how he +behaves to-day."</p> + +<p>"But what a shocking lie!" said Grace.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Lie! Nonsense!" replied her sister, "Who +tells the truth, I'd be glad to know?"</p> + +<p>Here the answer to the note interrupted the +conversation. It was of course a formal apology. +Mrs. Dorothea had not been at a loss +to see through the motives of her <i>friends</i> the +Salters.</p> + +<p>The <i>young</i> ladies now descended to the drawing-room, +where Mr. Salter was already standing +at a window, in high dress; with the bright +white, angular points of a fresh put on collar, +contrasting finely with the shining ruby of his +cheeks. A carriage with a coronet drove up +to the door; bless me, how fine! thought the +Misses Salter; it was almost enough to reconcile +their father's marrying again.</p> + +<p>Lady Flamborough was announced. Her +ladyship entered; her round, fat, rosy face,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> +smiling in a round wreath of red roses. Her +dress, a colour de rose satin, her ornaments, +necklace and earrings of pink topaz.</p> + +<p>The broad daylight, or rather sunshine, of +the first day in May, in weather unusually fine, +and even hot for the season, in a three windowed, +south-west drawing room, at six o'clock, +did ample justice to the glow of her ladyship's +appearance, which nothing less than the entrance, +immediately after, of Lady Whaleworthy, +in a crimson velvet, could have at all subdued.</p> + +<p>Lady Shawbridge arrived next. Her dress was +a gold coloured velvet, and gold tissue turban, +the wide circumference of which displayed the +fiery countenance hinted at by Mrs. Dorothea +to great advantage. Indeed the whole assembly +was of a fiery order; although being, as +we have said, hot weather, there was no oc<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>casion +for fire. But the very furniture of the +room, unluckily for the day and aspect, was +crimson, while in addition to the red and reddish +countenances already enumerated, Miss Salter's +face, on all warm occasions like the present, was +much too apt to emulate the glow of her father's. +While even poor Miss Grace, though in general, +from hardness and thinness, a chilly object, was +subject with peculiar provocation, to a dullish +red knob, like a winter cherry, just at the end +of her nose.</p> + +<p>The rest of the party having arrived, and +among them Sir William Orm, Sir James Lindsey, +Sir Francis Brierton, and the general, dinner +was announced. Mr. Salter gave his arm to +Lady Flamborough, and leading the way, was +followed by the rest of the company, to the +dining-room; which, having the same aspect<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> +as the drawing-room, and being, besides +over the kitchen, was by no means calculated +to cool the already heated guests. The two +turtles, we mean Mr. Salter and Lady Flamborough, +every way so well <i>entitled</i> to the <i>title</i>, +being in their forms turtles, and in their present +dispositions towards each other turtle doves, +took their loving seats side by side, opposite +to the turtle-soup, at the head of the table. +(Men who have no wives of course head their +own tables.)</p> + +<p>The dinner having been entirely provided at +so much a-head, by a pastrycook, who was to +remove its remains, was of course only too good, +we mean too fine, too much ornamented, too +technical; in fact the display of each course resembled +more a confectioner's counter than a +gentleman's table. Every thing, in short, was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span> +so befrosted, and so beglazed, that if one had +been at all absent, one might have put one's +hand in one's pocket, and asked what was to pay.</p> + +<p>It is an acknowledged fact, that to act the +gentleman is impossible. It is equally impossible +for people, though possessed of the purse +of Fortunatus, to ape successfully, on special +occasions, a style of living not habitual to +them.</p> + +<p>We hope we have not cooled the turtle-soup +by our digression. Poor Mr. Salter, instead of +quietly conveying ladles of soup to soup-plates, +till the demand ceased, was most unnecessarily +prolonging his own labours, and delaying the +progress of the feast, by deliberately inquiring +of every several member of the assembly by +name, if they chose turtle-soup, and poising the +while, his insignia of office over the tureen,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> +till their ear caught the question and his the +reply.</p> + +<p>By the time similar rites had been performed +over every steaming remove, it may be believed +that the countenance of our host had lost nothing +of its brilliancy. During the dessert he had +more leisure to turn its lustre, adorned with +smiles, on his fair companion; whose uplifted +eyes languishingly met his, till there wanted but +the pipe to make the pair an excellent study for +a painter of the Dutch school. The attitude too, +leaning back at their ease in their chairs, so +favourably displayed their forms, that the couple +in this particular very much resembled a <i>pair +of globes</i>; though we must confess that, except +in courtesy to the lady, we should not have been +disposed to designate either the celestial.</p> + +<p>Sir William Orm, who had handed in Miss<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> +Salter, was descanting with much feeling on +the interested motives which governed the matrimonial +views of but too many men in the +world, and declaring that such must ever be +secondary considerations with him. Miss Salter +confessed that amiable sentiments like his were +very rare now a days, and consequently the +more to be admired. On the opposite side, Sir +James Lindsey was giggling with silly self-satisfaction, +as he sat receiving the assiduous +attentions and pointed compliments of Miss +Grace. While Lady Shawbridge was remarking +aside to Sir Matthias Whaleworthy, that Lady +Flamborough's youthful airs were quite disgusting; +and Sir Matthias in return, made some +comments on Mr. Salter's dancing, which +sounded very ungrateful, proceeding from lips<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span> +which had just finished a <i>second</i> plate of the +man's turtle-soup.</p> + +<p>Lady Whaleworthy, good soul, was telling +Sir Henry Shawbridge one of the long stories +about herself, her father and mother, brothers +and sisters, husband, children, and servants, +which she inflicted on all who had the misfortune +to sit near, and the patience to listen to +her.</p> + +<p>Ere the ladies left the dining-room, the now +completely enamoured Mr. Salter had determined, +that in the course of the evening he would +take a sly opportunity of making Lady Flamborough +an offer of his heart and hand. Alas! +how vain are human resolves, when we know +not what an hour or at most an hour and +a half may bring forth; for it could not have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span> +exceeded that time, when the gentlemen followed +the ladies to the drawing-room, and yet Mr. +Salter's visual organs by some process, possibly +connected with a certain series of toasts, which +despite of fashion, he might have felt it his +duty to propose, had in that short period undergone +such an extraordinary change, that when +he approached what ought to have been the +<i>sole</i> object of his affections, he beheld as it were +two Lady Flamboroughs, sitting, or rather attempting +to sit, on the same chair! He gazed +in utter amazement, and strove to concentrate +the powers of sight: for a second the mysterious +vision amalgamated, and was but one! again, +however, it glided asunder, and became two! +nor did this happen but once, so as to leave any +room for doubt or mistake, on the contrary, while +our astonished host still stood staring, the ex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>traordinary +process was frequently repeated. +Nay, once, as lured by the smiles of the fair +shadow nearest him, he ventured to address +some complimentary remark to its ear in particular, +it slid away as if for refuge behind its +representative, and immediately after popped in +view on the other side!</p> + +<p>Whether it is that supernatural appearances +have a tendency to awe the passions into stillness, +or whether this glaring infringement on the +classical laws of unity, by dividing, destroyed +the interest; or whether possibly, some vague +dread of being betrayed unconsciously into the +sin of bigamy, might have presented itself to +the imagination of Mr. Salter, we have not +philosophical lore nor critical acumen sufficient +to decide; we can only speak to the effect, +which was, that Mr. Salter, instead of finding<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span> +with this double provocation a double share of +love inundating his heart and overflowing his +lips, was struck perfectly mute, and continued +so for the remainder of the evening.</p> + +<p>So much for lovers continuing their libations +at Bacchus' shrine until they see double.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII.</h2> + + +<p>"Well, there is nothing like getting into +<i>select</i> society after all!" said Miss Salter to her +sister, when they had retired for the night. +"Who would have thought, six months ago, of +both of us having baronets for lovers? I dare +say you are right, Grace, and that this marriage +of my father's (for I suppose now it will take +place), is the best thing that could have happened +for us. And I know, I'm determined +when I'm married to Sir William Orm (and he +has gone great lengths, I assure you), that I will<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span> +visit none but titled people. And tell me, how +did you and Sir James get on?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, delightfully!" answered her sister, "he +asked me if I thought him very handsome; and of +course I said I did; and then he laughed so. And +then he asked me if I thought the silk of his +waistcoat a pretty pattern; and I said I did; +and he told me a lady chose it for him. And +he asked me if I was inclined to be jealous; and +I said if I thought he had any regard for me, I'd +be jealous of every lady that looked at him; and +he said, 'would you indeed?' and laughed again. +And he asked me if I admired his dancing as +much as most people did, for that he was thought +a first rate dancer; and I said that nobody could +help admiring his dancing. And he asked me +if I could think what in the world it was that +made so many young ladies refuse to dance<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span> +with him; and I said it was, to be sure, because +he danced so well that they were afraid it would +make their own bad dancing the more noticed. +'And do you really think so?' said he, laughing +again. And so, at last, only think! he asked +me if I'd like very much to be my lady! and I +said I should of all things. And so then he +laughed, and said he could make any body a +lady he chose."</p> + +<p>"And I hope you said you wished he'd make +you one," interrupted her sister.</p> + +<p>"Why I thought of it," replied Miss Grace, +"but I was afraid people would hear me; if we +had been quite by ourselves, I would have +said it."</p> + +<p>"What nonsense!" exclaimed Miss Salter. +"If you can get to be my lady, and have fifteen +thousand a-year at your command, I think you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> +can afford to defy people's comments about how +you came by it! You said, the other day, that +if luck knocked once at your door, it shouldn't +have to knock twice. I'm sure it knocked then, +with a vengeance, and such a knock as comes +to the doors of but few, I can tell you; and you +the fool not to answer it. It's such as you'll +never hear again, with your little ugly black-a-moor +face. And when you had the good fortune +to get hold of a fool that didn't know the difference, +if you dosed his draught with flattery +enough, you should have said or done anything +to please him, blockhead that you are."</p> + +<p>"You needn't be so abusive, Eliza," said poor +Grace, almost whimpering, "I'm sure I thought +I was barefaced enough, this time, to please you."</p> + +<p>"Such stuff, with your mock modesty," interrupted +Miss Salter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And as for a black face, it's as good as a +red one, any day," continued Grace, "and rather +<i>genteeler</i> for that matter," she added, "since +you're grown so mighty fond of gentility."</p> + +<p>Miss Salter's rage now knew no bounds, and +consequently became so coarse and disgusting +in its manifestation, that we shall forbear any +further representation of the scene.</p> + +<p>Vulgar people are bad enough in good humour. +Propitious fate deliver us from them when they +are out of temper!</p> + +<p>Before proceeding further with our history, +we may as well take the present opportunity of +sketching slightly the origin of this same titled +personage, by a connection with whom the +Misses Salter expected to gain so much consequence. +Lady Flamborough was the only child +of an hotel-keeper, who, in his hospitable calling,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> +had amassed enormous wealth. He had not +always, however, been the great man, even in +his own line, which he ultimately became. His +daughter, therefore, to the age of five or six, +was brought up, literally running about in a +very minor establishment, little better, in short, +than a road-side posting-house; and, being a +pretty, rosy, fat child, had, up to that age, been +the pet and plaything, not only of her father, +(she had no mother living), but of every waiter +and hostler in and about the house. And often +had she sat on her father's knee, while he drank +his ale in the bar, and, when the jest and the +tale went round, which were, as yet, to the ear +of the child, a foreign tongue, laughed merrily +for very glee at seeing others laugh. But alas! +amid the sounds and sights of scenes like these, +native delicacy, even at this early age, was lost.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span> +For callousness is not so much a wrong bias +given, as a class of feelings, out of which some +of the most valuable traits of character are hereafter +to be formed, destroyed; and if the material +be gone, how can the superstructure be +raised?</p> + +<p>The child was, after this, sent to expensive +boarding-schools, and as her father's fortunes +rose, given every possible accomplishment. In +these, and her being very pretty, Mr. * * * *, +afterwards Lord Flamborough, but then a +younger brother, and of course poor, found some +apology for overlooking the lady's want of birth, +and appropriating her immense wealth, which +was his true object.</p> + +<p>Soon after his marriage, his brother died, and +he succeeded to the title and estates; and now, +bitterly repenting his ill-assorted union, behaved<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> +with neglect, and even contempt, towards his +wife. Upon which the lady, partly out of revenge, +and partly out of levity, gave a favourable +reception to the addresses of a lover in no +very exalted sphere of life.</p> + +<p>Proceedings were immediately instituted to +obtain legal redress; but before the divorce had +passed the house, his lordship, who had previously +been in a bad state of health, chanced +to die.</p> + +<p>Lady Flamborough, therefore, though of +course banished from all tolerable society, still continued +to be Lady Flamborough, and to enjoy a +handsome jointure. On her total expulsion +from the set among whom her marriage had, for +a time, given her a place, she descended till she +found her level among that, rationally speaking, +only disreputable class, made up of those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> +who have lost caste by their own wilful departures +from principle, and those who are contemptible +enough to be willing to associate with +vice, for the love of the <i>tarnished tinsel</i> which +once was rank; forgetful that titles and honours +were first invented as badges of the virtuous or +heroic deeds of those on whom they were bestowed; +that only as such they have any meaning; +and that, when borne by the vicious, they +become, in a peculiar degree, objects for the +finger of scorn to point at, and seem to claim, +as their especial privilege, the contempt and +derision of mankind.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"'Tis phrase absurd to call a villain great."</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>Titles are attainted for high treason, why +should they not be so for every treason against +good morals? Are not good morals as essential<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> +to the well-being of the community as good +Government?</p> + +<p>Nay, what is Government? Power to enforce +moral order. Why then should not a sin +against the end be visited as severely as a sin +against the means?</p> + +<p>Are men, whose vices invade the peace of the +domestic hearth, and sunder the sacred ties of +life,—or men who court luxury in foreign climes, +while evading the payment of their just debts +at home; consigning the while industrious +tradesmen and their helpless families to ruin;—are +men, in short, who are no longer men of +honour, to be still misnamed <i>noble men</i>? Is it +not the natural tendency of such misnomers to +bring nobility into contempt? And is not this +an injustice to the truly <i>noble</i>?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span></p> + +<p>Are the vicious to be allowed to sully honours +till the honourable cannot wear them?</p> + +<p>Nobility would indeed be beautiful were it a +guarantee of virtue! titles would indeed be +honours, if the men who bore them must be +pure! And if the certainty that those titles for +ages had existed in that family, were thus an +assurance that morality for centuries had not +been sinned against in that house, then indeed, +would rank be nobility. Let us not be misunderstood: +let us not be supposed to mean +that men of rank are more likely to offend +against the laws of morality than other men; on +the contrary, education and circumstances ought +to render them less so: we simply assert, that +when they do so offend, such offence ought to +degrade them from their rank as <i>noble men</i>.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span></p> + +<p>How glorious would be that land that first +enacted such a law! how worthy its monarch +of that greatest of his titles, "Defender of the +Faith!" For what is this faith? Religion! +and the author of Religion has defined it thus:</p> + +<p>"True religion and undefiled, before God and +the Father is this: to visit the fatherless and +widows in their affliction, and keep himself unspotted +from the world."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX.</h2> + + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea had been so busy all day, +changing her lodgings again, that she had +hardly had time to ask Sarah a word about the +Salters' dinner-party.</p> + +<p>On this occasion, however, we must remark, +that she had moved to a furnished house, not to +a mere lodging; for she was determined to make +an exertion, while the Ardens were in Cheltenham, +live how she might the rest of the year, +having a great horror of living like a poor +relation.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> + +<p>Most people have a particular objection to +seeming to be what they really are.</p> + +<p>Indeed Lady Arden had written most kindly +to Mrs. Dorothea, inviting her to spend the +time they should be at Cheltenham with them. +Had the expense of a house or lodging been no +object to Aunt Dorothea, she would gladly have +availed herself of this invitation for the pleasure +of the thing; but the arrangement would have +been so very convenient, that her <i>pride</i> took the +alarm, and would not suffer her to accept the +offer. In her father's life time, as a daughter of +the then head of the family, she had acquired +notions of her own consequence, which became +a painful incumbrance from the moment her circumstances +underwent that violent revolution +to which those of the daughters of the proudest +and most ancient families are peculiarly liable.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span></p> + +<p><i>Pride</i> in any situation is a moral disease, +which it would be highly desirable to see for +ever banished from the world! but <i>pride</i>, when +complicated with poverty, is apt to render the +unhappy sufferer not only always very uncomfortable, +but often very ridiculous. Added to +which, it must ever be impossible for the heart +that harbours <i>pride</i> to know contentment.</p> + +<p>At present, however, Mrs. Dorothea was quite +delighted. The house she had taken for six +months certain for Lady Arden, though designated +by the rural title of Violet Bank, was a +splendid mansion. The one she had taken for +herself for the same period, was both pretty and +agreeably situated; it was accommodated with a +cook, or maid of all work, who was taken with +it as a part of the furniture. Mrs. Dorothea had +also hired a footman for the great occasion, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span> +put him into livery; so that with Sarah, her own +maid, she had now, for a single lady, quite a respectable +little establishment, and could look +forward to returning the evening entertainments, +at least of her relations, on something of +an independent footing. Dinners of course she +could not give, nor need she accept them; she +did not care what she eat. She certainly liked +the best society, and that she should now have, +without laying herself under obligations to any +one. For, much as she liked Lady Arden, (one +whom no one could help liking, she was so truly +amiable,) she could not forget that her ladyship +was a stranger in blood, from whom, consequently, +an <i>Arden</i> could not receive even a +courtesy without requital.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea was so glad too, as she told +Sarah, while she stood in the centre of her new<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span> +drawing-room, looking round her, to get out of +that horrid place where she had been for the +last two months, sitting every evening on those +tiresome little chairs, for, as Sarah had prophesied, +her landlady had never given her the sofa, +nor put the drops to the chimney-light, nor even +got a key for the chiffonier. Then, the woman +of the house could not or would not afford a +decent servant, so that the cooking was shocking, +and the attendance wretched; and then the +oven of the bakehouse next door she found out +at last was just on the other side of the one +brick thin wall, against which her bed stood, so +that she had been nearly baked to death, and +had been losing her health without knowing +why. To be sure the carpet looked respectable, +but then the lodging had no other recommendation, +as in addition to its many dis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>comforts, it had +proved one way or other very +expensive; for mistaking the heat and restlessness +she felt at nights for the consequences of +the lassitude and want of appetite of which they +were in fact the cause; she had got frightened +about herself, and had called in doctor after +doctor, and taken ever so much medicine in +vain, till at last happening to go in next door to +correct an error in her baker's bill, in which she +had been charged with all the bread supplied to +her landlady, she became acquainted with the +geography of the premises, and so discovered +the whole mystery. Then being without a key +to the chiffonier too, made a great difference in +the groceries, though having no proof of the +fact, it would not do to say so. This might +have brought down the lawyers upon her; then +indeed would the cup of her afflictions have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> +been full. Poor Aunt Dorothea felt almost restored +to the days of her youth by the comparative +comforts which now surrounded her. She +moved into her regular dining-room when her +dinner was ready, and was there decently and +respectfully attended by her own footman in +livery. There was a sideboard, and her few +articles of plate were arranged upon it, and +things looked orderly and comfortable; it was +enough to give one an appetite, and made her +boiled chicken and quarter of a hundred of +asparagus seem a dinner for an emperor. Instead +of dining in the comfortless scramble she +used to do, in her haste to send the tray out of +the drawing-room lest some one should come +in, she now ate as slowly as possible to prolong +the gratifying sense of dignity which accompanied +the ceremony.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span></p> + +<p>The very next day the Misses Salter had the +impudence to call, and the new footman not +being in the family secrets, admitted them.</p> + +<p>On their entrance Aunt Dorothea looked her +astonishment with great dignity.</p> + +<p>"What a sweet situation," exclaimed Miss +Salter.</p> + +<p>"What a charming house," said Miss Grace. +Mrs. Dorothea bowed.</p> + +<p>"How fortunate we were in finding you at +home," said Miss Salter.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, very fortunate indeed!" added Miss +Grace. Mrs. Dorothea bowed again.</p> + +<p>"How sorry we were you could not come to +us last night," said Miss Salter, "we had such +a <i>select</i> party, just what you would have liked."</p> + +<p>"Yes, just what you would have liked," +echoed Miss Grace.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope we shall be more fortunate the next +time," said Miss Salter. "We shall have a +great many of those agreeable <i>select</i> parties just +now. Our <i>particular friend</i>, Lady Flamborough, +you see, and our <i>particular friend</i>, Lady Whaleworthy, +and our <i>particular friend</i>, Lady Shawbridge, +and all that pleasant set being here just +now, naturally induces one to see a great deal +of company. Then there are such delightful +young men here at present, and that you know +always makes parties pleasant, there's <i>our friend</i>, +Sir William Orm, <i>such</i> an elegant fashionable +young man."</p> + +<p>"And Sir James Lindsey," observed Miss +Grace, "an old baronet, with fifteen thousand +a-year."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Miss Salter, "such an agreeable +good tempered little man, so affable and unas<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>suming. +And there is General Powel too, in +short we quite abound in <i>nice young</i> men. And +I hope," added Miss Salter, with an air of great +friendship, "that we shall soon and often have +the pleasure of seeing you, Mrs. Arden."</p> + +<p>"You are very obliging," replied Mrs. Dorothea, +bowing gravely, "but my arrangements +will for some considerable time be controlled +entirely by those of my sister, Lady Arden, and +her family, with whom I shall consider myself +engaged, either at home or abroad, every day +during their stay."</p> + +<p>"So you expect Lady Arden," said Miss +Salter, with well affected surprise. "Dear me, +I'm sure we should be most happy to pay attention +to any friend of yours."</p> + +<p>"You are very obliging," observed Mrs. +Dorothea, with if possible increasing stiffness,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> +"but Lady Arden does not mean to extend her +acquaintance."</p> + +<p>The discomforted Misses Salter finding lingering +and last words useless, at length took +their departure.</p> + +<p>The Ardens dined on the road, but arrived +in time to take tea with Aunt Dorothea. The +weather was beautiful; the rural appearance +of the little villa, situated among the plantations +and pleasure grounds of the public walks, its +own miniature lawn and veranda, adorned with +flowers and flowering shrubs, and garlanded +with roses as if for a festival, the fine trees of +the Old-Well-Walk in view, and bands of music, +as if hid in every grove, sending forth on each +breeze some strain of melody, all seemed delightful +and refreshing to people just escaped +from the heat and fatigue of London. While<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span> +the large and joyous looking family party, some +seated within the open glass door, some standing +in the veranda, some straying on the fresh +mown turf of the little lawn, formed a picture +of social felicity quite delightful to the usually +solitary Aunt Dorothea; to whom the idea of +the party being not only her near relatives, +but also her guests, was altogether so pleasing +that she had not been as happy for many years. +To her kind heart must be ascribed the chief of +the pleasure she experienced; if, however, there +was a slight admixture of gratified vanity we +cannot be surprised, when we consider that a +pretty comfortable house of her own, in which +to receive her friends, was to her so great a +novelty.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X.</h2> + + +<p>So fond is youth of novelty, that Alfred and +his sisters, though fresh from all the gaieties a +London season has to offer, were quite impatient, +the very morning after their arrival, to visit the +public walks, of which they had had peeps the +evening before from Aunt Dorothea's veranda. +They had been told that about seven was the +hour. Accordingly, as it was a fine sunny morning, +the girls were all up soon after six. They +had been told too, that notwithstanding the +hour, it was usual to be extremely fine; but for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> +this their habits of good taste were too inveterate; +they equipped themselves therefore +in quite close bonnets, and having roused and +enlisted the goodnatured Alfred, set off for +Mrs. Dorothea's, Lady Arden having by an arrangement +of the evening before, committed +the young people to the charge of their aunt, +knowing that she should be too much fatigued +herself after her journey to rise so early.</p> + +<p>Aunt Dorothea was quite ready. She was +too happy in feeling herself necessary to her +nieces, too happy in having the charge of them, +too justly proud of them, proud of their beauty, +and all their many attractions and recommendations, +to feel anything like laziness, this first +morning that she was to show, not only the +walks to them, but them to the walks.</p> + +<p>Thither then they proceeded immediately,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> +guided through each shady maze, as in the play +called <i>Magic Music</i>, in which the sounds become +louder to denote nearness to the object of +pursuit. So did the swelling notes of the band +grow on the ear as they approached the immediate +spot, which it is fashion's whim to +throng as closely as any crowded assembly-room, +while all around is comparative solitude.</p> + +<p>Here all-kind Aunt Dorothea's proud anticipations +were fully answered by the sensation +her nieces produced; every eye was turned towards +them, and in ten minutes after their first +appearance all the company who sat on the +benches on either side the walk had asked each +other who they were; the mammas who had +daughters, and the <i>young</i> ladies who were <i>not +young</i>, decided that they were not the style of +beauty they admired, while the very young girls<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> +and all the men, had pronounced them the loveliest +creatures they had ever beheld. As for +the mothers who had sons, they prudently suspended +their judgments till they should hear +what fortunes the Miss Ardens were likely to +have.</p> + +<p>Our party were joined instantly by Henry +Lindsey. He had ascertained their movements +from themselves, and quitted town when they +did to be in Cheltenham before them. He was +at Louisa's side in a moment, and was received +with a blush and a smile which, though produced +in part at least by gratified vanity, seemed +to his generous nature all he could desire of +encouragement. He was of course introduced +to Aunt Dorothea, who, until she found out +that he was a younger brother, was quite delighted +with him.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Arden party now took advantage of +vacant seats which presented themselves, and +for a time became in their turn spectators of +the moving crowd.</p> + +<p>Soon after which, announced by noise, and +with many coloured streamers flying, the fleet +of the Salters, and their <i>select</i> friends hove in +sight.</p> + +<p>There was in the first place Mr. Salter, with +a white hat on, which duly set off by contrast, +that true secret for producing effect, a countenance, +the hue of which we flatter ourselves +we need not again describe. Lady Flamborough +embellished his arm; her head thrown back, +and adorned by a pink crape hat and feathers, +her eyes raised, and practising their most becoming +roll, her complexion heightened by the +heat of the weather and the long walk up<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span> +through the Sherbourn. Not that her dress was +oppressive, on the contrary, it was light enough +in all conscience, consisting of the softest India +muslin, trimmed with superfine Mechlin lace, +and ornamented at the neck, and at the wrists +round the top, and round the bottom, down the +sleeves, and down the front, with ties, bows, and +ends innumerable, of pink ribbon, while a broad +long sash of the same encircled the waist, tied +behind in dancing-school fashion. The dress +was made nearly as low round the bust as a +dinner costume, while what shelter there was +to compensate for this was derived from the +long pendant white gauze-ribbon strings, and +deep blond-lace edge of the hat, with merely a +slight pink gauze-scarf, scarcely wider or longer +than the said strings.</p> + +<p>The next in the line (as it approached cross<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>ing +the walk abreast), was Lady Whaleworthy, +defying hot weather and sunshine in a crimson +velvet pelisse. It was a thing which, as she +told her own maid when putting it on, had cost +too much money to be ever either out of season +or out of fashion: it was only your dabs of +things which every body could have that were +sure to go out again before you could turn yourself +round in them, so that there was no saving +in the end. "I always <i>tells</i> Sir Matthias that +a right good article, cost what it will at the +first, is sure to be the cheapest in the long +run."</p> + +<p>Poor Lady Whaleworthy! a crimson-velvet +pelisse had been the dream of her youth when +she did not think she should ever possess such +a treasure! and still such the hold of early impressions +in a crimson-velvet pelisse was con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>centrated her +ladyship's notions of the <i>ne plus +ultra</i> of magnificence. Next came little Sir +James, fantastically fine, with a lilac figured silk +waistcoat, as many gold chains as a lady, and a +glaring brooch, the gift of Miss Grace Salter, +and taken for the purpose of being so bestowed +from her own dress, and with her own brown +hands transferred to the breast of his open-work-fronted +and diamond buttoned inner garment; +while the little man, during the whole +performance of the flattering operation, had +laughed almost hysterically.</p> + +<p>Three titles were very well to muster for a +morning walk; so next came the Misses Salter +themselves. They never dressed alike, having +each their own notion of the colours that became +them. In shape, however, both their hats +had been made by the same pattern, borrowed<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span> +for the purpose from Lady Flamborough's. Miss +Salter's was of yellow crape, Sir William Orm +having been his own jockey at a late race, and +rode in a yellow jacket; while Miss Grace's, in +compliment to Sir James's waistcoat was lilac; +both, of course, flaunted with feathers, blond, +and streaming strings, and had artificial flowers +stuck in the inside. Nor had such a show of +beauty and fashion been a mere lucky hit; the +Misses Salter, on quitting Mrs. Dorothea's, had +fully weighed the subject, and resolved to show +the Ardens, who might else be prejudiced against +them, that they were not people to be looked +down upon; they had gone to infinite pains in +making their arrangements.</p> + +<p>Alas! little did they think that this very morning +was marked in the book of fate to cost them +both their lovers: they, too, who had none to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span> +spare. But unhappily ladies so situated are so +fond of showing off a supposed conquest—so +fond of being suspected of being about to be +married, that in their haste to be congratulated, +they too often cast away all cause for gratulation; +and by the noise they raise themselves, put +a man on his guard before he is above half +caught, whom they might perhaps have secured, +had they been satisfied to delay their triumph, +and keep him nodding at the home fireside till +they had quietly netted him round. We speak of +course only of ladies in <i>distress</i>, like the Misses +Salter. The lovely sisters of Arden, on the contrary, +so far from being under the necessity of +laying snares for lovers, found them at their feet +wherever they went; the only difficulty was to +select from among them such as might both +please themselves, and come up to their mamma's<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> +and brother's ideas of matches suitable to their +family consequence. We left our party seated +on one of the benches, which, as we have already +stated, were ranged on either side this favourite +portion of the walk. The eye of Sir James, as +he passed with the Salters, was instantly caught +by the extreme loveliness of the beautiful sisters. +For the poor little man, though he had neither +sense nor judgment to direct him in the formation +of any thing approaching to an opinion, was +not without some of the natural elements of +taste, and was especially a great admirer of +beauty: it dazzled and delighted him, as new and +splendid toys would a child; and it was much +that he had been taught to say, like the good +child, "I'll only look!" for he would often stand +with his hands behind his back, as if the attitude +were intended to keep them out of the way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> +of temptation, and to stare at strangers whose +appearance happened to strike him, till people +would be first offended, and finally guess the +truth, that poor Sir James was silly.</p> + +<p>On the present occasion, seeing his brother +with the party which had drawn his attention, +he joined him instantly; and even while speaking +to him, as well as for some time after, eagerly +passed his eyes again and again along the row +of ladies, till they were finally fixed by the peculiar +lustre of Louisa's beauty.</p> + +<p>Henry now introduced his brother, and the +party rose to renew their walk. Sir James attached +himself to them entirely, and contrived, +too, to make a good position next to Louisa, +whose appetite for admiration was so insatiable, +that even his was acceptable. While the whole +party were so goodnatured, so agreeable, and so<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> +much amused; yet so much too well bred to +show it in the rude and flagrant manner indulged +in by too many towards those labouring +under natural infirmities, that poor Sir James +was perfectly delighted, and felt as if he was +among the most charming, kind, agreeable +people in the whole world.</p> + +<p>The Misses Salter had in the mean time +made several attempts to bow to Mrs. Dorothea; +but that lady always took care to be so much occupied +with other people, as to make it impossible +for them to catch her eye. She however noticed +their proceedings; and observing that some +time after the desertion of Sir James, Sir William +Orm arrived and joined them, she laid her plans +accordingly. Sir William would not do to introduce +to her nieces, but he should nevertheless +desert Miss Salter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span></p> + +<p>The walk now began to thin; on which the +Arden party, having invited Sir James and +Henry Lindsey home with them to breakfast, +an invitation very usual on the Cheltenham promenade, +took the path which led to their own +villa.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI.</h2> + + +<p>When breakfast was over, and the gentlemen +had taken their departure, Louisa was amazingly +laughed at by her sisters about her new +lover.</p> + +<p>He was mimicked and ridiculed in every possible +way; walk, air, manner, voice, modes of expression, +ways of looking, &c. &c.; till the girls +had perfectly fatigued themselves with laughing.</p> + +<p>We have heard it said, that it was a service +of danger for any man to become the admirer of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> +one of a large family; for that, let him be ever +so successful in talking the lady of his choice +into love, she was sure the moment he absented +himself to be laughed out of it again by her sisters. +It is no wonder, then, that poor Sir James +did not escape. Lady Arden, however, and Mrs. +Dorothea came from time to time to the rescue +of the little baronet's memory.</p> + +<p>"Heedless creatures!" said Aunt Dorothea, +"how little thought you give to the future!"</p> + +<p>"I only hope he may be serious, and really +propose for Louisa," said Lady Arden; "and if +he should, I trust she will have the sense to +pause before she rejects so advantageous an +offer."</p> + +<p>"But then, mamma, is he not a fool?" asked +Louisa.</p> + +<p>"Why no, my dear, not exactly that. In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>deed, +I know a great many ill-tempered, reserved +sort of men, without a grain more sense, +who pass for Solomons! He is a vain little +man, certainly; and perhaps too goodnatured. +But then, only consider what a vastly <i>eligible</i> +establishment it would be: you would have rank +yourself, and be at once restored to the wealth +and station lost to you all by the death of your +father; and what, my dear, is still more important, +you would be rescued <i>in time</i> from the +comparative poverty, and consequent obscurity +into which you must ultimately sink, if you survive +me unmarried."</p> + +<p>What dilemmas so humiliating as those to +which <i>Pride</i> reduces its votaries!</p> + +<p>Lady Arden, by nature amiable, affectionate, +and high-minded; but by education tainted with +false pride, thus stooped to the very depth of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> +meanness, unconscious of degradation; and sacrificed +her purest feelings to the supposed necessity +of securing to her daughters that artificial +station in life which a system of unjust +monopoly had for a time given them, and of +which the same system had again deprived them.</p> + +<p>Artificial positions in society, like unnatural +attitudes of the body, cannot be long persisted +in without pain and weariness. Where is the +dignity of human nature? Forgotten! for were +it remembered, the beggar, when educated, might +share it with us; and at this false pride takes +alarm! And, therefore, do we leave man out +of the account, and worship idols of silver and +idols of gold, and titles made of the breath of +our own lips.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"From <i>Pride</i> our very reasoning springs."</span><br /> +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span></p> + +<p>Louisa had nothing to say against such unanswerable +arguments as those Lady Arden had +used; but she thought of Henry Lindsey, and +could not help wishing that he had been the +elder brother, or, at least, that the fortune had +been divided: even seven thousand five hundred +with him would have been better, she could not +help thinking, than the whole fifteen thousand +with Sir James.</p> + +<p>"It is always desirable," continued Lady +Arden, "that a girl should marry in the same +station as her father; but it is not always practicable, +particularly if she is a daughter of the +elder branch; for no family can have more than +one elder son, while many may have half a dozen +daughters, no one of whom ought, in common +prudence, to marry a younger brother!!"</p> + +<p>"Nay," said Alfred, "is not this sufficient to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> +show how absurdly society is constituted? What +is to become, then, of five out of every six daughters, +and all the younger sons in the world? +What is to become of my hapless self, for instance?"</p> + +<p>"We must hope, my dear, that you may be +fortunate, and meet with an heiress."</p> + +<p>"But consider, ma'am, how few heiresses +there are. Parliament ought to make a new +batch every session. It would, however, be of +no use to me if they did," he added, despondingly, +"for heiresses, of course, consider themselves +entitled to marry, not only elder sons, but +noblemen. I have often thought what is to become +of me, if I should ever have the misfortune +to fall in love."</p> + +<p>"You did, I think, fall half in love one evening +in town," said Jane.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And, by-the-by," observed Lady Arden, +"Lady Caroline Montague is an heiress."</p> + +<p>Alfred coloured, and rising, sauntered towards +a window as he replied, "And, therefore, very +unlikely to be allowed to cast away a thought +on an unfor——" Here he broke off, and after +gazing for a time from the window, exclaimed, +"That was certainly she—I had but a momentary +view, but I am quite sure it was she I saw +pluck a rose in that next garden, and run into +the house again. Can they be living in the adjoining +villa to us?"</p> + +<p>The grass gardens or little lawns of these twin +villas were separated only by wire palings, along +which sweet briar and flowering shrubs were +trained.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII.</h2> + + +<p>The family party, with the addition of Lord +Darlingford, Sir James Lindsey, and his brother, +were assembled round the luncheon-table at +Lady Arden's.</p> + +<p>Henry Lindsey had been amazingly piqued +that morning by Louisa's reception of Sir +James. The little baronet was now seated next +to her, and making, if possible, a greater fool of +himself than usual; while, in consequence of +the lesson she had received, she was yielding +him her attention with marked complacency.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span> +Henry sat opposite, and trembled with a +mingling of agitation and indignation. He +thought he could already foresee that he was +to be deliberately immolated to avarice; yet, +so thoroughly was he the slave of Louisa's +beauty and his own passion, that no worthlessness +on her part could have set him free. He +felt, that were she already the wife of his +brother, her image might drive him mad, but +that he could not banish it from his imagination.</p> + +<p>The hardship of Henry Lindsey's case as a +younger brother was conspicuous, and displayed +in a striking manner the evils consequent +upon sacrificing justice to <i>pride</i>.</p> + +<p>From a boy he had felt much on this subject; +but being of a generous, warm-hearted, +liberal nature, he did not long brood over his +own individual wrongs; his mind, however,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> +following the impulse thus received, though in +the first instance from a selfish feeling, gave itself +to the contemplation and discussion of natural +rights generally, till it became enamoured +of abstract justice, and learned to apply its +searching test to every subject, especially the +all absorbing topic of the day—Political +Economy; while, with his characteristic enthusiasm, +despising the sophisms of expediency, +he embraced, without perhaps sufficient caution, +theories which soon caused him to be considered +by his friends a reformer, by his enemies +almost a revolutionist, and by himself the warm +advocate of the rights, not of younger brothers +only, but of those whom he emphatically termed +the step-children of the laws—<i>The People</i>.</p> + +<p>Such were at all times his opinions, while +the irritable state of his mind, at the moment<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> +of which we are speaking, added asperity to his +manner of expressing himself, and caused him, +in answer to some jesting remark of Alfred's +on the old topic of younger brothers, to give +vent to his feelings in a long, and almost angry +political discussion. He objected, he said, to +the law of primogeniture on the ground of its +being a wretched system of monopoly, which +placed in the hands of a simple individual what, +if divided, would suffice to restore thousands of +his degraded and oppressed fellow-creatures to +the rank of humanity. The times were gone +by when communities, formed for the general +weal, would wilfully sacrifice prosperity to +<i>pride</i>, and not only parcel out the whole land +to, comparatively speaking, a few families, but +the succession to those lands being limited to +the elder branches, allow all place, preferment,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> +and emolument, to be confined to the younger +sons of the same families, because the land +had given them influence; and the mass of +the people to be thus reduced to do the work +of the ass and the mule, and because they +cannot also eat their food, the grass and the +thistle, be often in danger of starvation.</p> + +<p>The old feudal system itself was better than +this: the ancient baron was at least bound to +feed not only his relations but his vassals, and +he did so in his own hall, at his own table. +While, now-a-days, a man, as soon as his +father's funeral is over, turns his brothers +and sisters out of doors, to exist as they may, +on a pitiful portion, the principal of which is +in general infinitely less than one year's +income of the property, on the scale of which +they have been accustomed to live in their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> +father's time; while the new master permits +his servants to collect their wages by showing +the empty baronial hall to strangers at so much +per head, by which creditable means he is +himself enabled to reserve all his rents to stake +at hazard in London, or at <i>rouge et noir</i> in Paris. +When parliament is sitting, he must of course +attend, to vote against any infringement on +his monopoly, which the enlightened spirit of +the times may chance to propose. Thanks, +however, to the Reform Bill, the holders of +the monopolies are no longer our sole law-givers; +we have now some <i>chance</i> of justice <i>one +time or another</i>.</p> + +<p>"Besides," he added, "to return to the +ancient baron, he was not only bound to +feed his retainers, but in time of war to provide +the government with a certain number of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> +them, fitly clothed and armed; which was virtually +bearing the burdens of the state. The +baron was, in point of fact, but the trustee to a +certain property, which property was to feed a +certain number of the population, and to contribute +its due proportion to the defence of the +community. Instead of this, when the feudal +system becomes dangerous to government the +barons are forbidden to arm, and exonerated from +feeding their retainers; yet, the trust-property +left in their hands for <i>pocket-money</i>, while their +late followers are not only turned out on the +wide world to starve, but the taxes necessary +to maintain the army which the barons are +forbid to provide, are levied on the <i>bare palms</i> +of the <i>hands</i> of the thus turned out and starving +vassals; and not satisfied with this injustice, +those who thus keep possession of the trust-<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>lands, +have arrived at literally billeting their +younger sons on those said vassals, thus turned +out and starving."</p> + +<p>"Explain! explain!" cried Lord Darlingford, +"How can you make that out?"</p> + +<p>"Are not," replied Henry, "the salaries and +pensions of all the posts and sinecures they +hold paid by means of taxes, a great proportion +of which are levied on industry? Is +this as it should be? If the <i>pride</i> of the great +demand that their properties shall be inherited +by their elder sons, and the offspring of that +<i>pride</i>—if <i>false necessity</i>, require that places and +sinecures be provided for their younger sons, +should not the <i>rich co-operate</i> in raising a fund +for the payment of the salaries of such, and not +grind their thousands by pittances from the +<i>real necessities</i> of the <i>poor</i>?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What then is your panacea for so many +crying ills?" asked Lord Darlingford, "Do +you call on us to render up our trusts and proclaim +an Agrarian law?"</p> + +<p>"No; those whose motives are honest dare +not go such lengths. This would be to resolve +society into its mere elements, to open the flood-gates +of anarchy, and awake the savage spirit +of wanton plunder. Many large landed properties +too have been purchased with the wages +of industry; so that besides the horrible convulsions +attendant upon the dissolution of the +social system, there would be no such thing as +drawing the line; to avoid, therefore, worse +evils, I would allow the 'frightful disparities,' +as an able writer of the day terms them, to exist +till industry, unchecked, unladen, could work +out for itself a gradual emancipation from the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span> +bondage of want. But I would not add to +evils I dare not too suddenly remedy! I would +not require the children of Israel to make +bricks without straw! I would not lay the +burdens of the state on shoulders already +weighed down by nature's demand for daily +bread. I would exempt from the whole weight +of taxation the labourer, whether of brain or +limb; he has no stake in the stability of the +state; he can carry his head or his hand wherever +he goes. He who keeps back the hire of +the labourer is denounced in holy writ: I would +not be worse than such, and rob the labourer of +his hire. I would, therefore, repeal every tax +<i>direct</i> and <i>indirect</i>, which now exists, and substitute +for <i>all</i> a graduated property-tax, on +<i>independent</i> property <i>only</i>, trifling in amount, say +one per cent., where the property was small; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> +doubling, trebling, nay, quadrupling, if necessary, +as it rises. What, if a man with thirty thousand +per annum, pay twenty thousand, can he not +live on ten? or if the man with two hundred +thousand per annum, pay one hundred and fifty +thousand, can he not live on fifty? This, +some people are not ashamed to answer me +would be robbing the rich; while they talk as +loudly as vaguely of the sacredness of property +and vested rights. But I would answer such, +that starvation in the midst of plenty, on the +plea of the sacredness of justice, is a practical +blasphemy! What, therefore, relief from taxation +did not effect for the absolutely destitute, +I would complete by an amended system of +poor-laws;—such assessments, however, to be +levied on independent property only."</p> + +<p>"Poor-laws are bad things," interrupted Sir<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span> +James, who having finished his luncheon, was +now lolling on a sofa, "they make the common +people so lazy."</p> + +<p>"As long as industry is not taxed in support +of idleness," answered Henry, "the lazy rich +man is entitled to no commiseration for being +compelled to assist his brother, the lazy poor +man! Poor-laws," he added, turning to Lord +Darlingford, "as far at least as food goes, I +consider the most sacred of vested rights. +God said, 'Behold, I have given you every +herb bearing seed which is upon the face of all +the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit +of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for +meat.'"</p> + +<p>"But you allow," said his lordship, "that +many of the great landed properties you would +tax thus heavily are purchased with the pro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>duce +of the owner's own exertions; state your +reasons for giving immunity to present industry +and not to past?"</p> + +<p>"Because," replied Henry, "when once a +man has realized property he has acquired a +stake in the country, a stake in the stability of +the government; his property requires protection, +whether from the foreign enemy or the +home depredator; and, therefore, he should +pay for such protection. If a man desires a +wall round his garden, who pays for building +the wall? The man who owns the garden! +If a man wishes to insure his premises against +fire, who pays the insurance? The man whose +premises are guaranteed. Would either of these +persons dream of calling a parish meeting to +demand of their neighbours as a right, that they +should subscribe towards the expense so incurred;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> +nay, that every pauper subsisting on some shilling +or two per week, should be compelled to +pay two-pence for his penny loaf until the sum +was made up; yet, such is the spirit of every +tax, direct or indirect, levied on any thing but +independent property. The machinery of government +is the garden-wall of the landed +interest, the insurance office of the fund-holder. +Any tax, therefore, levied on those who have +neither land nor money is a crying injustice, +except, indeed," he added with bitter irony, +"we admit of a small pole-tax to keep down +burking. It is, no doubt, the houseless, nameless, +friendless wretch, who has no one to ask +what is become of him; the poor creature, who +has nothing to be protected but the limbs and +sinews he was born with, who runs the greatest risk +of contributing these to the promotion of science."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span></p> + +<p>"But," observed Lord Darlingford, "it is not +the very destitute who pay taxes."</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon," said Henry, "indirect +ones they do. If the beggar in the street succeeds +in exciting the compassion of the passenger, +and receives one penny, ere he can appease +his hunger with a mouthful of bread, do +not the corn laws, by doubling the price of the +loaf, exact from him one half of the penny so +obtained? And is not his mite, thus cast into +the treasury, like that of the poor widow in the +Gospel, taken from his <i>want</i>; and, therefore, +more than all they (<i>the rich</i>) did cast in of their +abundance?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, it is all but too true!" said Lady Arden, +feelingly. "I do think your scheme of taxation +would be but justice. Willoughby would certainly +have a great deal to pay; but he can<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> +surely afford it better than poor creatures who +have nothing but what they earn, or what they +beg. I see the subject now in quite a new +light. I have always been in the habit of thinking +people <i>poor</i> who had but <i>one</i> or <i>two</i> thousands +a-year; and I never took the trouble of +considering that there was any difference between +hundreds a-year and nothing."</p> + +<p>"How would you apportion this property-tax +of yours?" asked Lord Darlingford; "and how +ensure its being sufficient for the exigencies of +the state?"</p> + +<p>"On a graduated scale, as I have already +said," replied Henry, "from justice to individuals: +let those who have the largest property +to ensure, pay, as at all other insurance offices, +the most; but, as to details and calculations, I +leave those to Mr. Hume, or some of the multi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>plication +table people; I only advocate the principle. +Indeed, one of the great recommendations +of this plan is, that the principle once established, +the work is done: when those who tie up the burdens +have to carry them, they may be trusted to +find scales of sufficient nicety in which to weigh +them: we need, in that case, no longer call for +estimates, or petition against sinecures; nay, we +may give the very voting of the subsidies to the +<i>Lords</i> themselves!—many of whom, I make no +doubt, would forthwith become immortalised by +the economical or '<i>twopenny halfpenny</i>' ingenuity, +developed in the devising of future +budgets. '<i>Twopence halfpenny</i>,' I would have +the noble lords to know, though no object to +them, is a sum which many of their destitute +fellow-creatures would, at this moment, receive +with joy of heart! Then, remember, in further<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> +recommendation of this scheme, the millions a-year +of unprofitable expense that would be saved +to the nation, by having but one instead of innumerable +taxes to levy."</p> + +<p>"I don't think," said Sir James, looking as if +he had made a discovery, "that the people with +large fortunes will like this law of yours, Henry."</p> + +<p>"Many people, too," replied Henry, contemptuously, +"don't like paying their Christmas +bills."</p> + +<p>Alfred, who had been looking over a morning +paper near a window, and from time to time +lending a share of his attention to the disputants, +now joined them.</p> + +<p>"We cannot, I think," he said, "blame any +particular government, or set of men, for the +ills of which you complain. The fault is in +human nature; and the remedy, if there be one,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> +is only to be found in laying step by step the +wisest general restrictions we can on individual +selfishness. The advance of civilization has +already placed a salutary check on plunder by +force; it remains for the march of intellect to +discover one for plunder by stratagem. But we +must be cautious; in desiring the higher steps +of the ladder of wisdom and virtue, we must not +undervalue those we have attained, and in our +headlong haste, stumble; and, like our neighbours +of the continent, fall back on the frightful +abyss of anarchy that lays below! 'Tis well to +rise in excellence; I hate the cant of dreading +all chance: but, to keep to the simile of the ladder, +let us take care that the lifting foot be +firmly placed on the step above, ere the standing +one be removed from the step below."</p> + +<p>"Is there not some danger," said Lord Dar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>lingford, +"of a property-tax sending capital out +of the kingdom?"</p> + +<p>"It must be very easy," replied Henry, "for +the inventors of all sorts of protecting duties to +devise a means of meeting that difficulty, by +some ingeniously arranged tax on the exportation +of property, whether income or capital, with +a tremendously deterring fine on any attempt at +imposition; and minor exactments, to hunt evasion +through all its windings. There might, +also," he added, "be an alien tax, to prevent +the foreign artizan from sharing the immunity +from taxation, purchased by our own rich for +our own poor."</p> + +<p>"Is there not some danger," said Lady Arden, +"that the deteriorated incomes of the great, by +obliging them to lessen their establishments and +expenditure, would throw many people out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span> +employment, and so increase the numbers of the +poor?"</p> + +<p>"I should think not," answered Henry; "recollect +there would be the same property in the +kingdom, only in more general and more equal +circulation. The servants dismissed, and the +luxuries foregone by the few, would in all probability +be more than compensated by the +increased establishments and more numerous +comforts of the many, though each only in a +small degree. The standard of splendour might +be lowered, but that of comfort would be raised. +The change, too, is likely to be in favour of +home productions: the overflow of inordinate +wealth, the <i>too much</i> of the few, is frequently +squandered on luxuries obtained from abroad; +while the fertilizing sufficiency, the <i>enough</i> of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> +the many, would probably be expended on comforts +produced at home.</p> + +<p>"I do not, however," he added, "mean to +assume the character of a prophet, or even to +argue the point of future consequences; I take +higher ground, and end every such discussion +with the same appeal to duty:</p> + +<p>"Let each generation do what is clearly justice +in their own day, and leave the future to the +All-wise Disposer of events.</p> + +<p>"If there were, indeed, a theory through the +mazes of which moral rectitude knew no path, +we might be excusable in taking calculation for +our guide; but when our road lies before us, indicated +by duty's steadily pointing finger, we are +not entitled to balance ere we proceed, even +though it should be where four frequented +highways meet."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea, the sisters, and Sir James, had +got tired of politics, and wandered into the garden. +Henry, perceiving that Sir James was still +in attendance on Louisa, became impatient, +broke off the conversation abruptly, and following +them, joined her, saying, "Lord Darlingford +is too prudent a politician for me. I hate prudence +and calculation, and worldly mindedness," +he added, with impetuosity, and a provoked +and mortified tone of voice, which Louisa was +at no loss to comprehend. "The present artificial +state of society," he proceeded, "has banished +into the poet's dream every thing worth +living for!—there alone all things deserving +the ambition of an intellectual being now hold +their unreal existence! Beauty has become a +snare—feeling a folly, or a curse!—love a farce, +and lovely woman, nature's most cunning<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> +workmanship, a <i>toy</i>, a <i>trinket</i>, which the rich +man may draw out his purse and purchase!!!—heart +and all!" he subjoined, in an under and +somewhat softened voice, for Louisa had looked +round, and their eyes had met for a moment. +"Is it so?" he continued; "or are the beautiful +looking deceptions now made to suit the <i>market</i> +for which they are intended, <i>without hearts</i>?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII.</h2> + + +<p>Whether Alfred's study was pamphlet, +newspaper, or magazine, he could never contrive +to discern the print by any light but that of the +window, or rather glass door, at which we left +him standing on the morning on which he first +discerned the fleeting semblance of a fair vision +in the adjoining garden. The glass door was +generally half open, a muslin blind drawn half +down across it, and the eyes of the student, like +those of the naughty child in the pictures of +bold Harry, just visible over the top of his book.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span></p> + +<p>On such occasions one of his sisters would +often glide behind him, and startling him with a +loud burlesque sigh, exclaim, "She is not there +to-day." "Nonsense!" Alfred would say, +rising. "This is a very well written thing," +he added one morning, throwing his book on a +table.</p> + +<p>"What is it about, Alfred?" asked Madeline +archly. He took up the book again to examine +it before he could answer the question; "I declare +he can't tell," she cried, "without looking +at the top of the page;" a general burst of +laughter followed, from which Alfred escaped +into the garden. He had long since made it his +business to ascertain that Lady Palliser and her +daughter inhabited the next villa; but few, very +few indeed, and "far between," had been the +glimpses of his beauteous enslaver which his late<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> +studious habits and love of good light had procured +for him.</p> + +<p>Lady Caroline appeared to be conscious that +the garden was exposed to the view of their +neighbours, and was therefore timid about entering +it; or, when she did so, as on the first +occasion noticed, it was only to pluck a flower, +for she seemed fearful of remaining in it for +a moment. This morning, however, both mother +and daughter had appeared on the lawn and +with bonnets on, which, combined with the +early hour, had caused Alfred to suspect +them of an intention of visiting the walks; +and his consequent anticipations of a possible +meeting, had, we must confess, made him rather +absent.</p> + +<p>He now called in at the window to his sisters +to know if they were not yet ready, assuring<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> +them that the band had played several tunes, +and that they would be late.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know that the Duke of Gloucester +has arrived?" he continued, "did you not hear +the joy bells yesterday evening? He is so punctual +to seven, that the fashionables are always +early when he is here."</p> + +<p>This remonstrance had the desired effect; +final arrangements were quickly completed and +the party set forth.</p> + +<p>On entering the Montpelier walk, Alfred beheld, +quite near and coming towards them, Lady +Palliser and her daughter, in company with the +duke, and attended by two or three of his +grace's aides-de-camp.</p> + +<p>Alfred saw that Lady Caroline perceived and +recognised him, for she coloured instantly, but +looked as if she did not know whether she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span> +ought to acknowledge him or not; while he was +so much startled and confounded, that he had +not presence of mind to look for a recognition. +Lady Palliser happened to be conversing with +his grace, and did not see him. He passed, +therefore, unacknowledged by either lady.</p> + +<p>The next turn, the next and the next again, +he was determined to manage matters better, +and accordingly kept a regular look out for +the duke's party, but they were nowhere to be +seen; it was evident they had been going off +the walk at the time he met them.</p> + +<p>How dull the whole gay scene became the +moment this conviction reached him! How irksome +the frivolity of every body's manner; +while all the world, seeming to have made the +discovery simultaneously with himself, kept +telling each other as they passed that the duke<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span> +was gone, just as if it was done on purpose to +torment him.</p> + +<p>In vain did Miss Salter, every time he encountered +the party, address Lady Flamborough +by her title, in an unnecessarily loud tone, to +endeavour to draw his attention by showing him +what exalted company she was in. Every effort +was thrown away upon him, as well as all the +extra finery sported this day on purpose for the +duke. Little did his grace think how many +husbands and fathers he had caused to grumble. +As for poor Lady Whaleworthy, in her loyal zeal +to make herself fit company for royalty, she +actually crowned herself with the gold tissue +turban which she wore at Mr. Salter's dinner; so +that with this and her everlasting crimson velvet +pelisse, to which she had added a gold waist-band +for the occasion, she was altogether as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span> +fine as the hammer cloth of a lord mayor's +coach.</p> + +<p>Lady Flamborough trusted more to her natural +attractions; these she displayed for the +great occasion with a liberality which certainly +did succeed in calling forth a remark from his +grace, though by no means a complimentary +one.</p> + +<p>The new bonnets sported this morning would +require the calculating boy to count them; and +as for shoes, many a simple-hearted girl fresh +from the country, submitted to hours of actual +torture, in order that the Duke of Gloucester +might go back to London convinced that she +had very small feet.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV.</h2> + + +<p>The next morning Alfred was on his guard, +and watched the first approaches of the duke's +party with a palpitating heart.</p> + +<p>But, alas! Lady Palliser, as before, was occupied +and saw him not; while, what was much +worse, it was evident that Lady Caroline did see +him at a distance, and from that moment kept +her eyes fixed on the ground. They passed each +other, and he could discern the glow of consciousness +steal over her cheek as they did so. +Again and again they passed—still without<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span> +recognition; till at length he scarcely ventured +to look that way. Lord Darlingford now appeared. +He attached himself to Lady Arden's +party—Jane in particular. After a turn or two, +he apologised for quitting them, saying he must +go and speak to Lady Palliser. Alfred, forming +a sudden and desperate resolve, at which he +often afterwards looked back with astonishment, +took his lordship's arm, and accompanied him. +The duke had just quitted the walk, and Lady +Palliser, quite <i>désoeuvrée</i>, happened at the +moment to be in what she called a humour +for being spoken to. She received, therefore, +not only Lord Darlingford but Alfred with the +utmost graciousness. Caroline, after a timid +glance at her mother's countenance, looked round +and recognised our hero with a smile that +seemed to open to him in an instant the gates<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> +of Paradise. Nay, the Montpelier walk itself +became, as by a sudden revelation, the very garden +of Eden to his delighted eyes. He was +walking next to Caroline—he did not know how +he had got there! He was speaking to her—he +did not know what he was saying! Her countenance +was turned towards him to reply, while +the close bonnet which, while it was so turned, +hid its loveliness from every eye. It was a slight +summer one of simple snowy sarcenet, and though +it warded off the glare of the out-door sun-beam, +it admitted through its half transparent texture a +heavenly kind of light, which at once accurately +defined, and seemed a fitting shrine for the perfectly +angelic features around which it dwelt: +the pure lively red of the lovely moving lip, +where all else was so white; the smile of enchantment, +exposing to view the pearly teeth; the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span> +delicately pencilled brow; the large dark eyes, +which yet were so soft, so modestly raised, so +meek in their expression, that their very lustre +seemed that of compassion's tear ere it o'erflows +the lid! Yet did their mild beams make such +an unmerciful jumble of all Alfred's ideas, that +he was quite sure he must be talking nonsense. +But there was no help for it; if he spoke not, he +saw but the fluted outside of the white sarcenet +bonnet; it was necessary to make ceaseless appeals +to Caroline's attention, or the graceful +head would not be turned towards him; the +lovely eyes would not be raised to his, the +beauteous lips, fresh as rose leaves moist with +morning dew, would not be parted in reply; to +purchase delights such as these he was compelled +to risk his reputation as a sage, and go on +without an effort to think. At length, however<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span> +he came to an unlucky pause, and instead of +jumping over it, unfortunately began to weigh +what subject he should next propound. But, +alas! the precious moments flew past in rapid +succession, and, one after another, became absorbed +in the gulph of eternity, while our poor +hero was still at a stand.</p> + +<p>And now strange uneasy sensations began to +blend with the dream-like felicity he had hitherto +enjoyed, though he was not yet awake to the +cause, which was simply this: the band was +playing that well known note of dismissal—the +national anthem—and anticipations of approaching +separation began to steal over his senses. +To his surprise and infinite delight, however, +Lady Palliser suddenly asked Lord Darlingford +and himself, with the prettiest and most petitioning +manner possible, to go home with her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> +party to breakfast. We need scarcely say that +Alfred consented; so did Lord Darlingford, +though not quite so willingly, for he had intended +to return to Lady Arden's party.</p> + +<p>After this morning, Alfred not only joined his +new friends whenever they appeared, but became +in a short time almost a daily visitor at +Jessamine bower; and apparently with the entire +approbation of Lady Palliser. Indeed, it was +in general some message or some commission of +her ladyship's, or some allusion to the morrow +made at parting, almost amounting to an appointment, +which furnished him with an excuse for +calling. He, poor fellow, was flattered, delighted, +filled with hope and joy! But, alas! +he was not sufficiently acquainted with the +character of Lady Palliser to understand his +own position. Her ladyship was a being with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>out +affections and without occupation; who in +her intercourse with others, and from total heartlessness, +cared not whose best feelings were +the springs of the puppet-show, so the movements +of the puppets amused her—and he happened +to be the whim of the hour;—to order +him about, to see him perfectly at her disposal, +chanced to be what, just then, afforded a species +of excitement to her restless idleness and morbid +selfishness.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV.</h2> + + +<p>Meanwhile much of Caroline's excessive +reserve, or rather fearfulness of manner wore +off. In her mother's immediate presence indeed +she was ever the same; but if Lady Palliser +quitted the room for a moment, or was +occupied conversing with some other visitor, +Caroline's countenance would brighten, and her +manner become comparatively easy and happy. +Fully, however, to comprehend our heroine, it +will be necessary to cast a retrospective glance +over the manner of her education.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span></p> + +<p>The most painful silence of the heart and all +its best affections had from infancy been habitual +to Caroline. She was an only child, and +had no recollection of her father; while her +mother's strange, unfeeling character, had made +her from the very first shrink within herself. +When arrived at an age at which young people, +not self-opinionated, naturally wish to ask those +older than themselves what they ought to do on +various little occasions, which seem to them +important from their novelty, poor Caroline +would sometimes, in what she deemed a +case of urgency, make a great effort and apply +to her mother, on which Lady Palliser would +treat her simplicity as the best of good jokes, +laugh to excess, then rally her for blushing, +and next perhaps for shedding tears; and, +finally, either leave her question without reply,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> +or give one turning the subject into absolute +ridicule; till at last Caroline learned to +feel a terror surpassing description of having +any one thought, feeling, or opinion even +guessed at by her mother. Yet her mother was +her only companion. There was also a strange +inconsistency in the character and conduct of +Lady Palliser; for while she never condescended +to advise, she was tyrannical in her commands, +exacting implicit, unquestioned, instantaneous +obedience to every whim.</p> + +<p>Either there was something in the thorough +kindliness of Alfred's disposition which appeared +in his manner, and secretly won the +confidence of our heroine; or fate had ordained +that they were to love each other. +Whatever the cause, the consequence was, +that Caroline, after the intimacy we have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> +described had subsisted for some weeks, no +longer felt alone in the world—she was no +longer without thoughts that gave her pleasure; +while those thoughts, though for their ostensible +object they had a walk, a song, a book, or a +flower, were always associated with the idea of +Alfred—of something that he had said—or some +little kind service he had performed—or, perhaps, +some chance encounter of his eye—or the +consciousness of his fixed gaze, felt without daring +to look up, and which, though it had produced +strange confusion of ideas at the time, was remembered +with delight. Neither was she any +longer without hope, though but a hope that +they might meet on the walks, or that he +might come in about something she had heard +her mother mention to him.</p> + +<p>It may be asked why should Caroline not al<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>ways +have had the hopes with which most +young people enter life; merely because the +buoyancy of youth had been pressed down, and +the elasticity of its spirits destroyed, by the unnatural +restraint under which every thought and +feeling had been held during the period that her +earliest affections had, as is generally the case, +endeavoured to fix themselves on her parent.</p> + +<p>As for Alfred, he had misgivings certainly, +respecting his being a younger brother, and his +consequent want of fortune. At the same time, +when he felt that he was justified in harbouring +the restless, delightful hope, that he was already +not quite indifferent to Caroline, and that he +received such decided encouragement as he +did from her mother, what could he think, +but that he was the most fortunate fellow in existence, +and that he had met with the most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> +generous, liberal minded, delightful people in +the whole world!</p> + +<p>Sometimes, indeed, he would take a fastidious +fit, and murmur a little in his heart against fate, +for compelling him to be the one to receive, +and denying him the pride and pleasure of bestowing; +but so absorbing was his passion +for Caroline, that he soon closed his eyes +against this objection, almost as absolutely as +he would have done against the contrary had it +existed. He was incapable, in short, at the time, +of weighing any subject deliberately: a look, a +smile, or the unbidden brightening of Caroline's +countenance when they met, would have been +sufficient to have upset the firmest resolves, had +he even been visited by a lucid interval in which +to have formed them; but on the contrary, from +the first morning he had been so unexpectedly<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span> +invited home by Lady Palliser, his head had +become giddy with rapture; the pulsations of his +heart had never settled down to their steady +original pace, nor had any one thought or feeling +ever once been summoned before the bar of +reason. That it must be a fairy tale—a dream—too +much happiness to be true, would sometimes +cross his imagination for a moment, and strike +his heart with a sort of panic; but such +thoughts not being agreeable enough to meet +with a welcome within, were therefore quickly +dismissed.</p> + +<p>Whenever he was neither at Lady Palliser's +nor at his old post at the window, he was wandering +in some unfrequented walk, or reclining +listlessly on a remote sofa in a deep reverie, +calling to mind looks, smiles, or half uttered re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>plies, +from which, while they said nothing, every +thing might be inferred.</p> + +<p>He studied and learned to comprehend as a +language hitherto unknown, the timid, shrinking, +as yet undeveloped character of Caroline. +To him her very silence now conveyed more than +the eloquence of others; and however long he +watched the downcast lid, if it was raised at +last but for a second, he was amply rewarded.</p> + +<p>And when he repaired to Jessamine Bower, +to pay his now daily morning visit, and on entering +addressed Lady Palliser first, as he made +a point of doing, he literally trembled with concealed +emotion as he noted the slight tinge, +faint as the reflection from a rose leaf, steal over +Caroline's delicate cheek, while she continued +to bend over her employment, whatever it might +be, and acting her part unnecessarily well, en<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>deavoured +to betray no consciousness of his presence, +till her attention was absolutely claimed +by some such formal address as—</p> + +<p>"How is Lady Caroline this morning?" +Formal as were the words, the tone of the voice +was sufficient. The faint tinge would increase +to a deep blush, ere the equally formed reply +was articulated. On many occasions, Alfred +would continue to converse with Lady Palliser, +or perform any of her frivolous and whimsical +commands, and nothing more apparently would +pass between the young people; yet would he, +the while, trace in slight variations of countenance, +imperceptible to any other eye, all that +Caroline thought or felt with regard to what was +said. Sometimes Lady Palliser herself would +suddenly fling down her netting or knotting, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span> +whatever nonsense she was about, with an expression +of disgust, declare she was sick of it, +and ordering Alfred to look for her pet book of +Italian Trios, and Caroline to put away her drawing +and join them, seat herself at the instrument.</p> + +<p>This to Caroline and Alfred was a wonderful +improvement of position. Standing together +behind Lady Palliser's chair, their voices +united in the thrilling harmonies of the music, +and sometimes in the utterance of words expressive +of thoughts, which else one at least of +the voices had never dared to pronounce. On +one of these favourable occasions a circumstance +occurred, trivial in the extreme, yet which forwarded +Alfred's cause amazingly, and indeed +conveyed to both a tacit conviction of each +other's attachment.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span></p> + +<p>A hand of each while they sang rested on the +back of Lady Palliser's chair, and after a simultaneous +attempt to turn over the leaf of the +music-book, accidentally came in contact as they +returned to their former position. It had been +long ere a modest younger brother, like our poor +hero, had found courage to possess himself +by any direct means of the fair, soft, taper +fingered, rosy palmed, little hand, of the +great heiress, the beautiful Lady Caroline +Montague; but an occasion like this was not +to be resisted: Alfred's trembling fingers closed +upon the fond treasure; while a hasty but faint +effort of Caroline's to withdraw it, was met by +a beseeching look that seemed to have the desired +effect; for, though covered with blushes, +she did not immediately succeed in disengaging +the hand, while the little scene was at the +<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>moment supplied by the duet with appropriate words.</p> + +<p class="center"><img src="images/image01_musicscore01.png" alt="" /></p> +<p class="center">Langue il mio co-re per te d'a-mo-re.</p> + +<p>Sang Alfred, while Caroline in faltering notes +replied</p> + +<p class="center"><img src="images/image02_musicscore02.png" alt="" /></p> +<p class="center">Non so re-sis-te-re.</p> + +<p>When our hero had taken his departure +Caroline hastened to her own apartment. She +felt unfit for any society, particularly her +mother's.</p> + +<p>Her pure unpractised delicacy of mind caused<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span> +her to look back on the incident which had +just passed as an event of the utmost importance; +as, in short, not only a proposal, +but also an acceptance. Nay, had she +wished it, she would no longer have thought +herself at liberty to retract; for she knew +that she would not have allowed a man +who was indifferent to her to have retained +her hand in his for a single second. That she +had permitted Alfred then to do so, she felt +amounted to a confession of preference! Deep +was the blush which accompanied this +thought.</p> + +<p>At other times Lady Palliser would be extravagantly +late in the morning; and, if consequently +not in the drawing-room when our +hero called, she would send word that Mr. +Arden was not to go away till she came down;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span> +and then so whimsical were all her movements, +not perhaps make her appearance for an hour, +or possibly two. Those were the occasions on +which Alfred best succeeded in drawing Caroline +into easy and familiar conversation, and thus +inducing in her a feeling of confidence towards +himself, which a young creature who had been +blessed with any friend in her own family, +would not have thought of mingling with her +love for a lover: but the affection poor Caroline +was beginning to feel towards Alfred was not +only her <i>First Love</i>, but it was also the first +friendship her heart had ever been encouraged +to know. Thus it was, that to a being hitherto +so totally alone in the world, he became in so +short a time every thing. While the idea, +however vaguely entertained, of being at some +period of the future of existence protected by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> +his affection from every harshness—sheltered by +his tenderness from every sorrow, had almost +unconsciously became the hope, the home, the +resting place of all her anticipations.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI.</h2> + + +<p>"But how are you to ask us to the wedding, +Alfred, considering we don't even visit?" said +Louisa one morning to her brother, who stood +as usual at the window, but now without even +the pretext of a book.</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Louisa!" he replied. "Wedding, +indeed! I wish it were come to that! and it +would be easy to arrange the visiting. By-the-by, +ma'am," he added, turning to his mother, +"independent of Louisa's jesting, I wish we did +visit."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span></p> + +<p>"So do I, my dear," replied Lady Arden, +"but Lady Palliser, of the two, was here rather +before I was; besides she is a person of the +highest rank, so that I think the first advances +ought to come from her. They say too, her +ladyship is going to give a great fancy ball, and +it would look as if I wanted to have the girls +asked. However, I should suppose we must +visit soon, one way or other; for Louisa's jesting +as you call it, appears to me to go on in as +serious a manner as you could desire."</p> + +<p>"Oh—I—a—don't know, ma'am," said Alfred, +colouring, and pulling off and on an unfortunate +glove, which seemed destined to be +martyred in the cause.</p> + +<p>"Why certainly," persisted Lady Arden, +"neither Lady Caroline, nor her mother for her, +would be justified in receiving either your public<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> +attentions or your daily visits in the manner they +do, if they meant to make the only objection +which could be made to you—your being a +younger son."</p> + +<p>"Well—I hope you may be right, ma'am;" +said Alfred, laughing, and escaping into the +garden to hide his confusion.</p> + +<p>"He will be a fortunate young man if he +gets Lady Caroline Montague," said Aunt +Dorothea.</p> + +<p>"Not more fortunate than he deserves, Mrs. +Dorothea," replied Lady Arden, "for he is the +best creature in the world, as well as the handsomest +and the most agreeable."</p> + +<p>"No one can be more sensible of my nephew's +merits than I am," said Mrs. Dorothea; "but I +still maintain that few, even of the few who deserve +as well, are as fortunate. Lady Caroline<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> +Montague, I understand, inherits the whole of +the family estates, and her son, should she have +one, will I suppose have the title."</p> + +<p>"Why, no doubt she could command any +match," replied Lady Arden; "'tis however a +most fortunate circumstance that Lady Palliser +has the good sense to see the advantage of her +daughter marrying so thoroughly amiable a +young man, who will make her so truly +happy."</p> + +<p>"Talking of happiness," said Mrs. Dorothea, +"I hope poor Jane may be happy with Lord +Darlingford."</p> + +<p>"I trust she will," replied Lady Arden, with +a half suppressed sigh; "and in point both of +rank and fortune you know it is a most desirable +match."</p> + +<p>"No doubt of it," rejoined Mrs. Dorothea,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> +"and people are very foolish who neglect such +serious considerations, and allow their time to +glide by them. Were I, at this moment, as I +might have been but for my own folly, Countess +Dowager of Ravenscroft;" and here Mrs. Dorothea +drew up her head with great stiffness, +"such people as the Salters would never have +had it in their power to insult me; nor should I +have been in danger of losing my life by being +baked to death in that horrid lodging. To be +sure the carpet looked respectable, and that was +all it had to recommend it."</p> + +<p>"By-the-by," said her ladyship, "I have +often wondered, Mrs. Arden, how you, who have +in general a very proper sense of your own +dignity, came to make the acquaintance of +such people as those Salts, was it you called +them?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Your ladyship's remark is very just," replied +Mrs. Dorothea, "but the old friend from +whom they brought me a letter, is a highly respectable +and gentlemanly man, and I was not +aware till lately that he had only made their +acquaintance himself casually at a boarding-house, +where it seems they persecuted him with +attentions, and then worried him for a letter to +some one at Cheltenham, where they said they +were going perfect strangers. He was afraid to +enter into those particulars in the note he sent +by them, lest they should contrive to open and +read it: and the letter he since wrote me to +say how little he himself knew of them, and to +apologise for the liberty he had taken, by explaining +that they made such a point of his +giving them a line to some friend, that he did +not know how to refuse, was unfortunately de<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>layed, +waiting for a frank (he knows I don't like +postages), till with my usual silly goodnature +I had taken a great deal of trouble about those +worthless people. Their vulgarity too disgusted +me all the time; yet they so overwhelmed me +with their thanks, their gratitude, as they called +it, that I literally did not know how to shake +them off."</p> + +<p>"Really my dear madam," said Lady Arden, +"you are quite too goodnatured."</p> + +<p>"That has always been my weak point," replied +Mrs. Dorothea: "when I see that it is in +my power to serve people, I am fool enough +to fancy that alone gives them a claim upon +me."</p> + +<p>And such was really the case, for poor Mrs. +Dorothea, though she had been all her life +threatening to grow wise, in other words selfish,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span> +had never yet attained to any degree of proficiency +in this art of self-defence, if we may so +term it. Too great goodnature was indeed her +only apology for being still at fifty-five, what +people of the world emphatically call young! +For she had not been all her days blinded by +the dazzling sunshine of unclouded prosperity; +on the contrary, her horizon had been frequently +overshadowed by those unfavourable changes, +from which, as variableness of weather teaches +the sailor seamanship, knowledge of the world is +in general collected.</p> + +<p>"But we were speaking of Jane," proceeded +Mrs. Dorothea, "I have not the least doubt of +my niece's good sense. Indeed Jane is a sweet +girl, as amiable as sensible. I was only afraid +that Lord Darlingford had rather a jealous +temper."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I hope not!" her ladyship replied, again +sighing, "and you know, my dear Mrs. Arden, +the impossibility of having every thing one's own +way in this world. The connection, establishment, +and all that, are in the highest degree +desirable. And then between ourselves, Lord +Nelthorpe has not behaved very well to poor +Jane."</p> + +<p>"In that respect, it is so far fortunate," said +Mrs. Dorothea, "that she is now making a still +higher connection. And then Sir James, with +his fifteen thousand per annum, will certainly be +a splendid match for Louisa; but she must mind +what she is about, and not laugh at him as she +now does after they are married."</p> + +<p>"Of course she will have too much good sense +for that," replied Lady Arden; but her eyes +filled with silent tears as she thought of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> +infinite sacrifice Louisa would make, if she did +indeed marry Sir James.</p> + +<p>The three sisters had followed Alfred into the +garden, and were collecting flowers to supply +the vases in the drawing-room, and laughing in +their usual light-hearted way, if but a blossom +fell to the ground instead of into the basket +held out to catch it. Caroline the while was +standing in her mother's drawing-room, behind +a Venetian blind, through which unseen she was +observing their movements, and envying their +happiness, which to her appeared to be satisfactorily +accounted for by Alfred's being their +brother. How fervently did she wish at the +moment that she too were his sister, were it but +that she might be privileged to go out and join +the cheerful group, on which she thus wistfully +gazed.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> + +<p>With her solitary musing, however, a thrill +pleasure mingled, when from time to time she +saw Alfred steal a glance of interest at the very +window where she stood; and which, from the +blind being down, he suspected was occupied by +Caroline.</p> + +<p>The Arden girls, at the moment, were all occupied +plucking blossoms from various parts of +a long trailing branch of woodbine, which as +it hung from above their heads, it cost them an +effort to reach.</p> + +<p>"Look, look! Caroline," cried Lady Palliser, +who was standing at another window, "how like +they are to the drawings of the graces. I must +go and see Lady Arden directly, and send them +all cards; for I am determined to have those +three nice girls to do the graces at my fancy +ball."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> + +<p>Out of this mere whim of Lady Palliser's +arose a visiting acquaintance with the Ardens.</p> + +<p>Alfred and Caroline were, therefore, more +than ever together, a consequence which Lady +Palliser made no effort whatever to prevent. +The fact was that her ladyship was in the habit +of considering Caroline, who was but seventeen, +a mere child; while her own excessive vanity, +and Alfred's unremitting efforts to make himself +agreeable to her for Caroline's sake, had completely +deceived her into a belief that he was +under the dominion of one of those absurd boy +passions, which very young men sometimes conceive +for women much older than themselves; +particularly if they happened to be, as her ladyship +well knew she was, still extremely beautiful. +And though Lady Palliser was too proud +and too cold to have the most remote idea of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> +making a fool of herself, she looked forward to +seeing our hero in despair at her feet as to the +<i>denouement</i> of an excellent jest; while in the +meantime she amused herself by drawing him +on to commit every absurdity she could devise. +And such, no doubt, if meant as attentions to herself, +would have been many humble assiduities, +which, for Caroline's sake, he willingly paid her +ladyship.</p> + +<p>During the progress of this amiable proceeding, +the honest-hearted Alfred received every +symptom of kindliness of manner, as an indication +of maternal feeling, and as a proof that +Lady Palliser already considered him her future +son-in-law.</p> + +<p>One evening they happened to be alone, when +he was about to take his departure; her ladyship, +on bidding him good night, held towards him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span> +her beautiful white hand in a very coquettish, +but, as he thought, in the most frank, obliging +manner possible. The idea struck him, that +considering his comparative want of fortune, it +might be more honourable in him to make some +disclosure of the state of his feelings to Lady +Palliser, previously to addressing Caroline herself; +accordingly, in a paroxysm of grateful and dutiful +affection, he seized her ladyship's proffered +hand, respectfully pressed it to his lips, and began +to murmur something about his own unworthiness. +Lady Palliser, snatching her hand +away, laughed and said, "Go, you foolish child."</p> + +<p>Alfred, thus discouraged for the moment, took +his departure in silence, with some idea that +Lady Palliser, however kindly and liberally +disposed towards his humble pretensions, +very possibly thought both Caroline and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span> +himself too young at present. What else could +she mean by calling him a foolish child? Little +did he dream of the construction put on his manner +by his intended mother-in-law.</p> + +<p>As little had he suspected on former occasions, +that her ladyship had believed him to be making +a complete fool of himself, and had been in proportion +well amused, when, in conversation with +her, while every word was intended for the ear of +our heroine, who sat silently by at her drawing, +he had ventured on topics, which when alone with +Caroline he dared not introduce; and eloquently +painted his idea of an ardent, genuine, and worthy +attachment, and the devotion of a whole +life consequent upon it till he had became +breathless with agitation: yet, seeing that +Lady Palliser only smiled at the uncontrollable +warmth which quite carried him<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> +away, he believed that he was tacitly approved +of, and so thoroughly understood, that explanation, +whenever the proper time for it should +arrive, would be merely matter of form.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVII" id="CHAPTER_XVII"></a>CHAPTER XVII.</h2> + + +<p>The triumphs of Aunt Dorothea over all +her enemies, particularly the Salters, were so +numerous, that to avoid prolixity we have not +recounted them. As for Miss Salter, she had +brought on a most inconvenient pain in the +back of her neck by the reiterated bows with +which she had again and again, morning after +morning, vainly endeavoured to draw the attention +of Mrs. Dorothea Arden.</p> + +<p>One day, however, when that lady was driving +up and down the High-street, seated at her<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span> +ease in her sister, Lady Arden's peculiarly +splendid open barouche, she beheld, trudging +along the flag-way and coming towards her, +Mr. and the Misses Salter, with countenances +which betrayed that they were not insensible +to the heat of the weather; and shoes so +assimilated by dust to the dust on which +they trod, as to be nearly invisible. Mrs. +Dorothea was not aware that the Salters had +ever before seen her in this elegant carriage: +so anxious was she therefore that they should +do so now, that on the impulse of the moment, +in defiance of having long since given them the +cut direct, she made an almost involuntary, yet +very conspicuous bow. Electrified and delighted, +the whole party stopped short and performed no +less than three bows each in return; while +Miss Salter, who had by much the greatest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span> +portion of moral courage of the whole trio, +added even a kiss of the hand.</p> + +<p>Miss Dorothea had not been long returned +home when she received a card of invitation +from the Misses Salter to a quadrille party, +accompanied by a long servile note, to say +that they were much concerned at not having +had earlier it in their power to offer some +attention to her friends, Lady Arden and +family, and also to her friend Lady Palliser, +and begging to know if their waiting upon, +and sending cards of invitation to these respective +ladies would be agreeable.</p> + +<p>To this was added a hint, that indeed the +party was in a great measure made for her +friends and would be very <i>select</i>.</p> + +<p>To the invitation for herself, Mrs. Dorothea +sent a formal rejection, without assigning any<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span> +reason. Of the absurd and forward proffer +of <i>attention</i> to her <i>friends</i> she took no notice.</p> + +<p>Nor were those dignified proceedings the +sole mode of vengeance practised by Mrs. +Dorothea against her pitiful foes; for much +as she was herself engaged at present with +more agreeable occupations, she had placed +the affair from the commencement in such +able hands, namely, those of her prime minister, +Sarah, that no circumstance, however minute, +had been lost sight of.</p> + +<p>The origin of the Salters, by its coarsest +appellation, had been diligently disseminated +in every servant's hall, and thence arisen to +the respective dining and drawing-rooms, till +it had reached the ears of many, who else had +never known that there were such people in +existence as the Salters.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span></p> + +<p>What was if possible worse, Sir William +Orm's servant in particular had been put on +his guard about the deception practised on him +by Mrs. Johnson, respecting the young ladies' +fortunes; on which Sir William had without +the slightest ceremony cut the connexion altogether. +He never called or even left a card; +he never joined them any where, and as to the +bows he gave them in return for those they +made to him from a mile off, they were really, +except to persons in desperate circumstances, +not worth having.</p> + +<p>Sir James, it may be remembered, had deserted +on the very first morning he had encountered +Louisa Arden; so that disconsolate +indeed were now the pair who had so lately +congratulated themselves on having two +baronets for their lovers.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span></p> + +<p>Their <i>select</i> acquaintance too, the Shawbridges +and Whaleworthys, began to play +fine; for in a watering place a title is a title, +whether got by accident or by cheese, and though +both beef and cheese, like all other necessaries, +are sad vulgar things, experience had taught +even the innocent hearted Lady Whaleworthy, +that with a certain class, and she poor woman +dreamed of no better, a title could cover a +multitude of <i>cheeses</i>.</p> + +<p>Not so, alas, with the Misses Salter's <i>family +secret</i>, which seemed for the present to have +abolished all variety of diet, for (crying injustice!) +while scarcely any body would visit +Mr. Salter, Mr. Salter's beef was, to quote +Sarah's polite pun, "in every body's mouth!"</p> + +<p>People could not even propound the flattering +probability of his having amassed a large<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span> +fortune without some one more witty than +elegant adding the characteristic remark, that +while salting his beef it was supposed he had +taken care to save his bacon.</p> + +<p>To complete the unfortunate position of the +family, Mr. Salter had unluckily found it +necessary of late, in consequence of an aggravation +of his old complaint of the eyelids, to +wear, protruding from beneath the brim of his +white hat, a <i>green</i> silk shade, which gave occasion +to the idlers on the Mountpelier-walk, +green being the well known colour of disappointment, +to assert that he had done so in +consequence of the cruel desertion of Lady +Flamborough, who had, simultaneously with +the appearance of the said badge of despair, +jilted him for a half-pay lieutenant; a gentleman +who having received a hint to retire<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span> +from the service of his Majesty, for reasons +best known to himself and his brother officers, +had come to Cheltenham to devote himself to +the service of the ladies.</p> + +<p>Nor had poor Mr. Salter, while dragged +every day to the walks by his daughters, who +now had no one else to walk with, a chance +of forgetting his fair deceiver; for there she +was to be seen morning and evening as gaily +<i>undressed</i> as ever, flaunting away and smiling +and languishing as usual; her white ostrich +feathers too, at the highly improper instigation +of the breezes, mingling from time to time with +the bright red whiskers of the ci-devant +lieutenant; while she, ungrateful woman, had +the barbarity to pass poor Mr. Salter again +and again, without so much as a recognition. +"And that after," as he himself remarked,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> +"having had the face to eat his good dinners;" +the remembrance of the cost of which now +added bitterness to the thoughts of slighted +love.</p> + +<p>This was the morning too of the very day, +or rather evening, fixed for Lady Palliser's +fancy ball, with the expectation of which the +whole town was ringing. Even the walks +were thinned by its prospective influence, or +rather picked of fashionables; for those who +were to be there, were keeping themselves up, +that they might be quite fresh for an occasion +to which the very capriciousness of her ladyship's +character had lent, in anticipation at +least, a more than common interest.</p> + +<p>The Misses Salter, after weighing for two or +three turns the poor chance which sad experience +had taught them there was of their picking up a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> +beau of any kind, against the certain disgrace +of showing by their wretchedness of fatigue +that they were not to be among the <i>élite</i> of the +evening, decided on going home to their +breakfast, which social meal commenced in a +sulk and ended in a storm.</p> + +<p>Miss Grace began again about the improvidence +of cutting Mrs. Dorothea in the premature +manner they had done. "And it was +all your fault, Eliza," she continued, "that insolent +temper of yours is always longing so for +an opportunity to break out; and yet there is +nobody that can sneak and cringe in the mean +fawning manner that you can when you think +there is any thing to be got by a person. If +my advice had been taken, we would have been +acquainted with all these genteel people, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> +going to this ball to-night, no doubt. To do +Mrs. Dorothea justice, she was quite indefatigable +in her kindness, and in getting +people to call on us and invite us as long as we +showed her any kind of gratitude; so we have +ourselves to thank, or rather you for it all."</p> + +<p>"Your advice indeed, you fool!" was all +Miss Salter could find to say; having, as she +could not help knowing, the worst of the +argument.</p> + +<p>"It all comes of <i>pride</i>, and upstartishness, +and nonsense," said Mr. Salter. "Grace, the +girl, however, is so far right; Mrs. Dorothea +Arden is a very worthy gentlewoman, and +showed us a great deal more civility than in +our station of life we had any right to look +for; and it certainly was our place to be very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> +grateful for it, and if we have not been so it +is no fault of mine; I knew nothing of the +carryings on of you Misses with your boarding-school +breeding forsooth."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVIII" id="CHAPTER_XVIII"></a>CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> + + +<p>In consequence of the expected ball in the +evening, neither the Palliser nor Arden party had +been at the walks in the morning. But soon +after breakfast Alfred called at Lady Palliser's +with his usual offering of sweets.</p> + +<p>Caroline had just entered the drawing-room, +and was proceeding towards a conservatory at +its further extremity, when the appearance of +Alfred arrested her steps.</p> + +<p>He assisted her in arranging the flowers he +had brought, and in selecting from them the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> +favoured few she was to wear herself. This +task drew from him some playful remark, more +love-like than rational, on the good fortune of +the happy blossoms thus chosen.</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser had been particularly harsh +that morning about some trifle, and Caroline +was consequently in very bad spirits.</p> + +<p>"Why should it be good fortune to be chosen +by me," she said, "when I am myself the most +unfortunate of beings? The poor flowers that +I choose," she added with a faint effort to laugh, +fearful she had said too much, "will be the +first to fade away," quoting Moore's little +song.</p> + +<p> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">"Or the young gazelle, with its soft black eye,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 1em;">If it <i>loved you well would be sure to die</i>,"</span><br /> +</p> + +<p>proceeded Alfred, humming the air and continuing +the quotation; then in a half playful, half<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> +tender whisper, he subjoined, "The death-warrant +of many of whom your ladyship little +thinks would be already signed and sealed were +this the case." But perceiving while he spoke +that though Caroline tried to smile her lip trembled, +he checked himself, and with an altered +tone exclaimed, "I beg a thousand pardons! +You are—you seem—what can have—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing," she replied, "only other +young people are light-hearted and cheerful +together; there are your sisters for instance, +how happy they always seem to be; and how +kind to you all—how indulgent, how affectionate, +Lady Arden appears. While I have +neither sister, nor brother, and yet my mother"—here +checking herself, she added hesitatingly, +"I dare say—it must be my own fault—I suppose +I don't deserve to be loved—but I am<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span> +quite sure that—that—my mother does not love +me—and oh, if you knew how miserable the +thought makes me!"</p> + +<p>"You cannot be serious," he said.</p> + +<p>"I am indeed!" she replied, looking up +with innocent earnestness, while her eyes swam +in tears.</p> + +<p>Alfred caught her hand, pressed it to his lips, +talked incoherently about the impossibility of +knowing without loving her, then of his own +unworthiness, his presumption, his poverty, his +insignificance, &c. &c.; his being in short a +younger son; and at length wound up all by +making, notwithstanding, a passionate declaration +of his love. If affection the most devoted, +the most unalterable, had any value in her eyes, +affection that would study her every wish, +affection such as he was convinced no lover had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span> +ever felt before; if such affection could in any +degree compensate for the absence of every +other pretension, such, unable longer to suppress +his feeling, he now ventured to lay at her feet.</p> + +<p>Caroline trembled and remained silent. He +entreated her to speak, to relieve him from +the fear that he had offended her past forgiveness +by the very mention of his perhaps too +daring suit.</p> + +<p>"Does—my mother—know?" she whispered +at last, "because—if not—I fear—"</p> + +<p>"Lady Palliser I think," he replied, "must +know, must understand; nay, I have ventured +to allude slightly to the subject, and have even +been presumptuous enough to translate her +ladyship's kindly and indulgent admission of +my constant visits as, however liberal on her +part, a tacit consent to my addresses."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, I hope you are right!" exclaimed Caroline, +with an inadvertent earnestness which called +forth from Alfred gratitude the most profuse, expressed, +not indeed loudly, but in whispers so tender, +so eloquent, that for some moments, Caroline, +forgetting every thing but their import, felt +a happiness she had never known before. New +and delightful prospects of futurity seemed +opening before her youthful imagination, hitherto +so cruelly depressed. Her countenance, +though covered with blushes, and studiously +turned away to hide them, so far indicated what +was passing within, as to encourage Alfred in +adding,</p> + +<p>"To-morrow, then, when Lady Palliser may +possibly be at home, may I venture to speak to +her ladyship on this subject?"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> + +<p>After a short silence, Caroline replied with +hesitation,</p> + +<p>"Yes—I—suppose—you had better."</p> + +<p>But she sighed heavily as she said so, for she +dreaded the strange and whimsical temper of +Lady Palliser; yet she now found that a feeling +of consolation accompanied what had hitherto +been her greatest sorrow, the sense of her +mother's want of affection; for perhaps, she +thought, she may not care enough about me +to mind what I do! Here all her efforts at self-possession +gave way, and she yielded to a passion +of tears.</p> + +<p>Alfred had been holding her hand, and anxiously +watching her countenance; he became +alarmed, and began to suspect, that perhaps +she was herself undecided. "What can this<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span> +mean?" he cried. "You do not repent of the +permission you have given me? Caroline! +say you do not! Say I am wrong in this!"</p> + +<p>She raised her eyes and moved her lips to +reply, when a loud electrifying knock was heard +at the hall door. The look however had so far +reassured Alfred, that he again pressed her +hand to his lips, and repeated with an inquiring +tone, "To-morrow, then?" Footsteps were heard +in the hall; the drawing-room door opened, and +Alfred hastily disappeared, while a servant entering, +laid cards on the table and retired.</p> + +<p>Caroline was hastening towards the conservatory +to take refuge there till her agitation +should subside, when the Venetian blind which +hung over its entrance was moved aside, and her +mother appeared before her, scorn and rage depicted +in her countenance.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> + +<p>Our heroine, her footsteps thus unexpectedly +arrested, stopped short in the centre of the +apartment, and stood trembling from head to +foot.</p> + +<p>From behind the Venetian blind, Lady Palliser +had witnessed the whole of the interview +between the lovers.</p> + +<p>She was not herself previously aware that the +heartless coquetry in which she had been indulging +had taken so strong a hold even of her +bad feelings; but disappointed vanity was perhaps +a mortification she had never known before. +She therefore scarcely herself understood +the species of rage with which she was now +animated; the almost hatred with which she +now looked on the perfect loveliness of her +blushing, trembling child. Of course, on prudential +considerations she would have disap<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>proved +of the match at any rate; and of this +she now made an excuse to herself.</p> + +<p>She stepped forward, and when close before +Caroline, stamped her foot, uttered an ironical, +hysterical laugh, and almost gasping for breath, +stood some moments ere she could well articulate.</p> + +<p>"You piece of premature impudence!" were +the first words she at length pronounced. After +pausing again for a moment, she recommenced +with a sneer, "So you have made your arrangement. +I must congratulate you on Mr. Arden's +obliging acceptance of your liberal offer, of +heart, hand, and fortune!"</p> + +<p>Caroline looked the most innocent astonishment.</p> + +<p>"You really do not understand me," proceeded +her ladyship, in the same tone of mock<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>ery. +"Are you then not aware that I have been +a witness to the scene which has just passed? +and have, of course, heard your modest ladyship +stating to Mr. Arden how much at a loss +you were for some one to love you, forsooth! +Barefaced enough, certainly! Upon which the +young man could not in common politeness do +less than offer his services. Besides, it was +much too good a thing to be rejected; few +younger brothers, and therefore beggars, would +refuse the hand of an heiress of your rank and +fortune. Go! you disgrace to your family and +sex; go to your room, and remain there till you +have my permission to leave it. As for Mr. +Arden, I shall give orders that he is never again +admitted beneath this roof. Should you hereafter +meet him in society do not dare to recognise +him. Go!"<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span></p> + +<p>Caroline was moving towards the door, without +attempting a reply, well aware that remonstrance +or entreaty would be perfectly vain.</p> + +<p>"Stay!—I have changed my mind," recommenced +her ladyship. "Mr. Arden comes to-morrow, +it seems—let him come—I shall not +see him. Receive him yourself, reject him yourself, +now and for ever! Tell him that on reflection +you have repented of your folly; and that +the subject must not be even mentioned to me. +Let the interview take place in this room—let +your rejection be distinct, and let him suppose +it comes from yourself. I shall be again +in the conservatory—I shall hear and see all +that passes; and on your peril, by word or look, +say more or less than I have commanded."</p> + +<p>Caroline flung herself on her knees, and with +clasped hands and streaming eyes looked up in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> +her mother's face. "Oh, do not, do not," she +exclaimed, "ask me to see him, and in all else +I will submit!"</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser laughed out with malicious +irony, saying, "So you offer conditional obedience. +Do," she proceeded, frowning fiercely, +and extending her clenched hand in the attitude +of a fury, "precisely as I have commanded!"</p> + +<p>"This evening," continued her ladyship, with +affected composure, looking contemptuously +down on Caroline, who was sobbing ready to +break her heart, "this evening, deport yourself +as though nothing had happened: dance as +much as usual; and do not dare to have red +eyes, or to show the slightest depression of manner. +Should Mr. Arden make any allusion to +what has occurred this morning, merely tell<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span> +him to say nothing more on the subject till to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Here Lady Palliser quitted the apartment, +while Caroline remained on her knees, overwhelmed +by utter despair, and shedding, with +all the innocent vehemence of childhood, the +large pure tears, which like summer showers fall +so abundantly from the eyes of the young in +their first sorrow.</p> + +<p>The alternative of daring to disobey her harsh +and heartless mother never once presented itself +to her mind as possible.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIX" id="CHAPTER_XIX"></a>CHAPTER XIX.</h2> + + +<p>It was night—arrivals had commenced—the +lights, the music, the decorations, the sight and +scent of the flowers, all added to the aching of +Caroline's temples and the confusion of her +ideas, as she stood in a sort of waking dream, +conscious only of wretchedness, near the door +of the first of the reception rooms, courtesying +with a mechanical smile to each new group that +appeared. She would have given the world to +have been any where else, but this was the post +her mother had commanded her to fill.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> + +<p>When the ladies of the Arden party entered, +she felt a childish impulse to fling herself into +the bosom of Lady Arden, and drawing all the +daughters round her, entreat them to hide her +from her cruel mother.</p> + +<p>Alfred next appeared, accompanied by Sir +Willoughby and Mr. Geoffery Arden. The +two latter named gentlemen had been expected +for some days, but had arrived only about two +hours before.</p> + +<p>Alfred presented both, and some unmeaning +conversation passed about the heat of London, +how long they had been on the road, &c. Our +hero, the moment he came in, missed the flowers +Caroline had promised to wear, and felt disappointed. +If she had forgotten them in the +hurry of dressing it was no very flattering token +of her regard. If, on the other hand, Lady<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> +Palliser had noticed and forbid her wearing +them, it was a bad symptom of his ultimate +success. He longed for an opportunity of venturing +some playful reproach which might lead +to an explanation. When his companions moved +on a step or two he drew very near, and asked +in an emphatic whisper, if the chosen blossoms +had faded already. A rush of colour, which the +peculiar fairness of Caroline's complexion already +described made the more remarkable, +covered her cheeks in a moment; but she attempted +no reply. After a short and somewhat +anxious pause Alfred asked her to dance; she +looked up suddenly but vacantly, as if scarcely +comprehending what he had said, but still spoke +not. He was just about to repeat his words, +when Willoughby, who had been conversing +with Lady Palliser, turned round and made the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> +same request. Caroline, glancing towards her +mother, and seeing her eye upon her, started, +assented quickly, took Willoughby's arm, and +walked to the quadrille.</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser noted the chagrin of our hero +with secret triumph, and suddenly forming one +of her usually whimsical and tyrannical resolves, +determined, as an appropriate punishment for +the lovers, to marry her daughter to Sir Willoughby, +whose match in town she had heard +it confidently reported was off. Though he +was but a baronet, his immense property made +it at least an eligible marriage; and such, little +as she cared about Caroline, she had always +considered it a necessary part of etiquette some +time or other to provide.</p> + +<p>That Alfred, however, might ascribe Caroline's +change to her own caprice, and be the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span> +more mortified, Lady Palliser took his arm, +walked about with him for a considerable time, +and treated him with more than her usual +cordiality.</p> + +<p>It had the desired effect, it threw him into +complete despair; he could not now even console +himself with the thought that Caroline was +acting under the influence of her mother.</p> + +<p>When the dancing had ceased, and Caroline +was seated with her evidently delighted partner +on a distant sofa, Lady Palliser led our hero up +to her, and said, "Come, Caroline, I have no +notion of giving up old friends for new ones +altogether: you must dance one set with poor +Alfred; do see how forlorn he looks."</p> + +<p>Caroline was utterly confounded: had her +mother forgiven them—was she going to relent.</p> + +<p>Such happy thoughts, however, were soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span> +scattered, for Lady Palliser, on pretext of arranging +a stray ringlet, drawing very near, +whispered, with a menacing frown, "Take care +how you behave, and what you say." The +frown and whisper destroying as they did the +momentary hope, caused Caroline, on taking +Alfred's arm, to look so much disappointed that +it was impossible not to infer that she would +rather have remained on the sofa. Yet Alfred +could not bring himself to believe this! he was +miserable, however, and did not know what to +think; while he was so much occupied forming +painful conjectures, that he himself behaved +strangely and coldly.</p> + +<p>Caroline thought with intense agony of the +task she had to perform in the morning, while +with a feeling allied to terror she stole from +time to time a momentary glance at the features<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> +of him she must so soon mortally offend; to +whom she must so soon give apparently just +cause to view her henceforward with hatred +and contempt. She even fancied that his countenance +wore already a severity of expression +she had never seen in it before. She bewildered +herself too with the thought, that if she +could get an opportunity and venture just to +whisper, "Mr. Arden, don't mind any thing +I am obliged to say to you in the morning," it +might prevent his thinking so very very ill of +her as he must otherwise do. This sentence +she repeated to herself above an hundred times +during the quadrille, yet whenever she was +going to address it to Alfred, and more than +once she moved her lips to begin, she either +caught her mother's eye turned upon her, or +she fancied it might be, and dared not look to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> +see lest it should give her a conscious and +guilty appearance; or the impression that Alfred +was already displeased became so strong +as to deprive her of the courage to speak to +him; besides all which, her heart at each +abortive attempt she made to articulate, leaped +up into her throat, and by its excessive fluttering +quite choked her utterance, till the convenient +moment was gone by. On the music +ceasing, Lady Palliser came up and took her +away, as if in great haste to make some arrangement, +yet, in so obliging a manner, and +with so many pretty excuses, that Alfred +thought her ladyship at least was unchanged.</p> + +<p>And so must Caroline, he told himself again +and again; "it can be but fancy on my part, or +rather, all that seems strange and altered in +her manner must proceed from her extreme<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> +delicacy, her excessive timidity, her consciousness +that we now perfectly understand each +other's thoughts makes her fearful to meet my +eye, at least with others present; makes her +afraid that all the world will know the moment +they see us together what is passing in our hearts. +I can well imagine one so gentle, so young, so +fearful, feeling the newness of her situation, +almost as though she were already a bride; +having listened but this very morning, for the +first time in her life, I should suppose favourably, +to the accent of a lover."</p> + +<p>Alfred had wandered into the conservatory, +where, amid the intoxicating odours of ten thousand +exotics—pursuing this train of thought—he +luxuriated for a time in dream-like meditations +on the delicacy, the devotion, the exclusive +tenderness, which must necessarily charac<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>terise +the attachment of a being so pure, so +innocent, so unpractised in the world's ways +as Caroline—his Caroline! Yes, he was now +entitled to combine with her idea this endearing +epithet.</p> + +<p>He was standing the while with his arms +folded and his eyes unconsciously uplifted to a +brilliant lamp, as if lost in contemplation of +its brightness.</p> + +<p>A change in the music broke his reverie; +when his discerning vision passing along a +vista of orange trees, found its way into the +drawing-room, and fell on a group preparing to +waltz. Among these, and occupying the very +spot hallowed to memory by the interview of +the morning, he beheld Caroline standing with +the arm of Willoughby round her slender waist, +and her hand resting on his shoulder—a mo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>ment +after the couple had launched amid the +tide of changing forms; but Alfred's eye still +traced them as they floated round and round +the prescribed circle, till, what with the moving +scene, and his own thoughts of agony, his brain +went round also. He had never been able to prevail +with Caroline to waltz, her plea of refusal +had always been that she did not waltz. Was +she then changed in every sentiment—in every +opinion—in every feeling! Had she become +hardened to the world—lost to personal delicacy—lost +to affection—lost to him! What had +she—what had she not become! and all within +a few short hours.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XX" id="CHAPTER_XX"></a>CHAPTER XX.</h2> + + +<p>In vain had our heroine, when Sir Willoughby +had asked her to waltz, pleaded the same excuse +alluded to in our last chapter. Lady Palliser, +who was near, and heard Sir Willoughby's +request, interfered, and commanded compliance; +while poor Caroline, who seems to have been +born but to be the victim of her mother's caprices, +was led away to join the gay circle, +trembling and broken-hearted.</p> + +<p>The report that Willoughby's marriage had been +broken off was quite true: he had written the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span> +account to Alfred a day or two before. The +lady had the very day previous to that fixed for +the wedding eloped with her former lover; while +Sir Willoughby had found himself, his preparations +being all made, in rather an absurd situation.</p> + +<p>The newspapers, too, had taken unwarrantable +liberties with his name, and made some +witty comments on the superior personal attractions +of his rival.</p> + +<p>His vanity it was which had in the first instance +been gratified—his vanity now suffered +proportionately. And so irritable was his temper +and so depressed his spirits, on his arrival in +Cheltenham, that Alfred, who had but just returned +from his interview with Caroline, felt +that it would be mistimed to mention her, or +allude at all at present to his own happier pros<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>pects. +He limited the confidential conversation, +therefore, to kind condolence with his +brother, being too delicate to remind Willoughby +that he might have escaped this mortification +had he taken his advice.</p> + +<p>Thus was the foundation unintentionally laid +of a concealment which finally led to many disastrous +consequences.</p> + +<p>The moment Willoughby was introduced to +Caroline he was captivated by her beauty. After +they had danced together, when our heroine +was so unexpectedly desired by her mother to +dance with Alfred, Geoffery Arden, who may be +termed Willoughby's evil genius, took possession +of the seat beside him on the sofa, which +had been just vacated by Caroline; and well +knowing his cousin's weak point, said, "Well, +that is one of the most pointed things I ever saw."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span></p> + +<p>"To what do you allude?" asked Willoughby.</p> + +<p>"Did you not see how mortified her ladyship +looked at having her flirtation with you disturbed."</p> + +<p>"Flirtation, indeed!" repeated Willoughby, +laughing; "the acquaintance is rather short for +that, I should think."</p> + +<p>"Nay, we hear of love at first sight; and it +was certainly something very like it. You were +not many minutes in the room when you asked +Lady Caroline to dance; and I don't know +whether you noticed it, but a moment or two +before Alfred, who has been so long acquainted, +had made the same request; the lady pretended +not to hear: she heard, however, when you +spoke, and consented with marked alacrity."</p> + +<p>Willoughby's vanity, which had been so lately +wounded, gladly welcomed suggestions so flat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span>tering. +To woo and win the young, the beautiful, +the rich Lady Caroline Montague, might +well silence the jeers of those who were disposed +to make impertinent comments on his late +disappointment.</p> + +<p>As for Geoffery Arden's motive for offering +the incense of flattery to Willoughby, it was the +same which in most cases governs most men—self-interest. +It was by the grossest flattery +that he had long since made himself necessary +to his cousin; and by the same means he still +sought to retain an influence over him, which, +in a pecuniary point of view, was particularly +convenient to himself. On the present occasion +also, he had seen with half a glance sufficient +to make him suspect, at least, that Lady Caroline +Montague was an object of interest to +Alfred. If he was right in his conjecture, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span> +circumstance might afford a favourable opportunity +for sowing the seeds of dissension between +the brothers, an object of which he never +lost sight, well knowing that his own influence +and that of Alfred could never go hand in hand—the +one being for evil, the other for good.</p> + +<p>Added to this, it was always more or less an +object with him to throw obstacles in the way +of any love affair of either of the brothers; for +though he was not so romantic as to expect by +such means to succeed in preserving them both +old bachelors, should they reach old age—for +such a chance could not be very important +to him, who was so much their senior—it +was just as well to keep the book of fate +open as long as possible. There was no use +in increasing the chances against himself. +The fewer names, in short, above his own<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> +on the list of even improbable advantages the +better.</p> + +<p>While the cousins continued to occupy their +sofa, and observe the dancers, Geoffery was eloquent +in the praises of Caroline's beauty; quoting, +as he well might, many high authorities for +her being the acknowledged belle of the late +season in town. He knew that weak men, with +all their obstinate devotion to their own opinions, +unconsciously see with the eyes, hear with the +ears, and even speak in the language of others; +and that their love most especially is a mere +reflection!</p> + +<p>Indeed, to gain an entire ascendency over +weak people only requires a little management; +but unfortunately it is of that uncandid sort +which their best friends are the least likely to +adopt.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span></p> + +<p>If you say to an ill-governed child, "My +dear, you have eaten enough of that cake, give +it me, and take this pretty toy to play with." +The child says, "No, I won't; it's not a pretty +toy," and eats faster than before. But lay +down the toy carelessly within his sight, and if +he has eaten sufficiently, he will drop his cake +on the floor, and fly to seize the toy.</p> + +<p>Men and women of weak minds are but children +of a larger growth.</p> + +<p>When the company had all retired, Lady +Palliser thus addressed her daughter: "Your +avoiding to dance with Mr. Arden was quite +unnecessary. I have no desire that your manners +towards him in society should be at all +altered: such conduct would draw down remarks +which I do not choose should be made. +As for to-morrow," continued her ladyship,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span> +"remember that I shall witness the scene; +therefore let your obedience be perfect! Also, +if you have any regard to decency left, take +care that no folly on your part gives Mr. Arden +an opportunity of boasting that Lady Caroline +Montague, in despite of the impropriety of the +alliance, was indelicately ready to fling herself +into his arms, if Lady Palliser had not interfered."</p> + +<p>Her ladyship here quitted the room; and +Caroline, her ideas confused by this new view +of the subject, stood transfixed to the spot, +till aroused from her reverie by the entrance of +servants to extinguish the lights.</p> + +<p>She retired, but it may be believed not to +rest. She flung herself on her bed without undressing, +and wept away the early morning, the +brightness of which entering freely through the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> +shutterless windows of a Cheltenham bed-room, +shone with incongruous lustre alike on her glittering +ornaments and her falling tears. We +speak of morning, because the night, of course, +had been over before the ball concluded.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXI" id="CHAPTER_XXI"></a>CHAPTER XXI.</h2> + + +<p>Alfred had no opportunity for private conversation +with his brother before he went to +his appointment at Lady Palliser's; nor indeed +did he now desire it till he should have come +to some explanation with Caroline.</p> + +<p>In strange perplexity of spirits, trying in +vain to persuade himself that he had every thing +to hope and nothing to fear, he repaired to Jessamine +Bower.</p> + +<p>On entering the drawing-room he perceived +Caroline, seated and alone. When he was an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span>nounced, +she did not move. He approached; +her eyes still remained fixed on the ground, +while the paleness of her complexion was +even more remarkable than usual, and a +very slight but universal tremor pervaded her +whole frame. He stood before her, and as he +did so, trembled himself with undefined apprehension.</p> + +<p>"Good heavens, Caroline!" he exclaimed, +sinking on one knee, and attempting to take her +hand. She withdrew it hastily, and her cheeks +crimsoned while she cast one involuntary glance +in the direction of the conservatory. Alfred +rose, folded his arms, and stood for a moment +silent, then said—"If I have been presumptuous, +Lady Caroline, I have much to plead in +my excuse, and the interview of yesterday in +particular; I was certainly led to hope for a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> +more favourable reception, however little I may +be deserving of it."</p> + +<p>"I was—to blame," said Caroline, in a voice +scarcely articulate, and still without looking up.</p> + +<p>"Is it possible! Do I interpret you right? +Were those hopes, to me so full of joy, altogether +fallacious? But no, Caroline, I will not, +I cannot believe it! Lady Palliser objects, and +you deem it your duty to submit: even this +thought would be happiness, compared with +that of your indifference! Or—or—"</p> + +<p>"My caprice!" said Caroline, looking up almost +wildly for a moment, "Yes, think it my +caprice!"</p> + +<p>"I cannot believe it," he replied.</p> + +<p>There was a considerable pause, during which +he anxiously observed Caroline, and perceived +that silent tears were stealing down her cheeks.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Those tears are not caused by caprice," he +said in a tone of tenderness; "in compassion +say," he added with sudden and vehement earnestness, +"that you are acting in obedience to +Lady Palliser's commands, and I too will submit." +While speaking again he sank on his knee +before her, and tried to take both her hands. +The terror however with which she resisted, hastily +rising as she did so—the more effectually to +avoid him—so much for the moment resembled +aversion, that he rose as hastily, and looking his +amazement, said with a hysterical intonation of +voice, "If it is indeed so, I have a thousand +apologies to offer to Lady Caroline Montague +for my impertinent intrusiveness. To retire, +however, and offend no more, will perhaps be +better than entering further into the subject." +He was about to depart, when pausing he said,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span> +"I will ask one question—Am I rejected? Do +you finally withdraw the hopes you yesterday +bestowed?"</p> + +<p>"I do," she replied.</p> + +<p>He stood for a few moments to master his +emotion, then pronouncing a haughty good morning, +hastily quitted the room and the house. +In a few moments after, he was pacing, without +plan or intention, one of the many shady +and usually quite solitary walks, which branch +off in every direction from the general scene +of gaiety, and near to which both villas stood.</p> + +<p>His pride, as well as every tenderer and worthier +feeling, was wounded beyond description. +He now appeared, even to himself, in the light +of one who had indelicately, unfeelingly, and +presumptuously sought a match of worldly advantage, +to which he had no pretension; and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> +though he could acquit himself of interested +views in so doing, he felt that it would be a romance +and absurdity to expect so candid an interpretation +from any one else. The one continued +dream, which had made up his whole +existence for many weeks past, was now dissipated +in an instant. Nay, he sought in vain +among his own meditations for the apologies, +even to himself, which had before seemed +sufficient. Caroline, so silent, so fearful at +the commencement of their acquaintance, had +seemed to derive a new existence from his +growing attentions, while Lady Palliser, instead +of checking those attentions, and showing +alarm at the visible pleasure with which her +daughter received them, had herself given him +what he then considered the most unequivocal +encouragement, being always the first to make<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> +intercourse easy to both, by desiring the always +timid Caroline to dance with him, walk with +him, and sing with him. And then the silent +glow of secret pleasure with which the welcome +command was obeyed, confirmed sometimes +perhaps by a momentary expression caught +when the eyes accidentally met, or at other +times merely by an alacrity of movement, or +cheerfulness of tone in obeying or replying, +which, notwithstanding, betrayed volumes in a +character too fearful and gentle to let itself be +regularly read aloud, yet too artless, too unpractised, +to know how utterly to seal its +pages.</p> + +<p>While such things had been, the prejudices +of society had faded from his mind; he had +believed it not impossible that where an only +child already possessed immense estates, a pa<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span>rent +might prefer the happiness of that child to +the unnecessary addition of other estates. Now +all the artificial estimates of life and manners, +taught by early education, returned in their +fullest force, and he thought himself a madman +ever to have entertained such an opinion.</p> + +<p>He now believed that every one who knew +he had had the presumption to pay his addresses +to Lady Caroline Montague, would reprobate +him and say, that because he was a +younger brother, and of course a beggar, he +wanted to make his fortune by marrying an +heiress. How bitterly did he now regret that +he had ever had the rash folly to confess his +passion. Yet, so thoroughly disinterested had +that passion been, that he had even for the +time lost sight of the possibility of being suspected +by others of motives of which he was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span> +himself incapable: all that through the happy +intoxication of his feelings had presented itself +respecting fortune, was a vaguely delightful +remembrance that his poverty could never entail +any privations on Caroline. What was +now to be done? The wretched state of his +feelings would have induced him to quit +Cheltenham immediately, but wounded pride +prompted him to remain; he wished to let +Lady Caroline Montague see that her caprices +should not govern his conduct; that he could +behave with composure in her society—with +polite self-possession even towards herself. +But in this first moment of just resentment, +he knew not the difficulty of the task he courted. +He resolved to conceal the whole affair from +Willoughby, and if his mother and sisters persisted +in making allusion to the subject of his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> +admiration of Lady Caroline Montague, to assure +them gravely that he never meant, in +his circumstances, to subject himself to the suspicion +of seeking an heiress because she was an +heiress.</p> + +<p>Having come to so dignified a resolve, he +flattered himself for the moment that he was +almost composed. Scarcely however had he +arrived at this conclusion, than fond memory, +more at leisure than it had been during the late +angry burst of disappointed passion, began retracing +scenes, recalling looks, repeating words, +recounting circumstances, till his mind again +became a troubled sea, from amidst the breakers +of which he beheld, but now with all the +aggravated feelings of one sent adrift in a bark +without rudder or oar, tantalizing views, but +too distant to admit a hope of reaching a smiling<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span> +happy shore—a haven of bliss to fancy's eye, +which appeared the more perfect now that it +was unattainable.</p> + +<p>At one time he stopped short, and stood for +about ten minutes like an absolute statue, quite +unconscious of any outward object. He was +asking himself, if it were not still possible that +Caroline was acting under the influence of Lady +Palliser and if there might not come a time when +that influence would cease?<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXII" id="CHAPTER_XXII"></a>CHAPTER XXII.</h2> + + +<p>No language can paint the utter desolation of +poor Caroline's mind; for she was too young, +too inexperienced, too much accustomed from +infancy, to be the unmurmuring slave of her +mother's capricious tyranny to have any thing +like a just estimate of her own situation.</p> + +<p>Had she ventured to think, which she had +never yet done, that when of age she should be +her own mistress, she would, as very young +people do when they look forward three or four +years, have thought the period so remote as to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span> +be scarcely an object of hope; while she would +still have trembled at the thought of venturing +at any time, however distant, to disobey her +mother, unless indeed she could be quite sure +of never seeing her again.</p> + +<p>Lady Palliser's plan of government when +Caroline was a mere infant, had been a system +of terror; nor had any thing in her subsequent +conduct tended to soften that first impression. +Frowns and menacing attitudes had been used +towards the baby before it could understand +words, if when occasionally brought into its +mother's presence it had happened to stretch +its little hand towards any attractive object. +Hours of solitary imprisonment in a dark room +had been inflicted on the child, for but a fancied +dilatoriness of movement in the execution +of a command, till poor Caroline had learned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span> +to start with nervous alarm, and fly with the +alacrity of terror at the very sound of her mother's +voice; while it was melancholy to see, +during the seemingly willing movement the +little innocent face of the child filled with the +contradictory expressions of anxiety and dread.</p> + +<p>Thus had early associations followed up by +constant tyranny, imposed at the dictates of a +temper unreasonable, capricious, and unfeeling, +taught Caroline to view with a sinking of the +heart the very smiles of her mother's countenance, +as played off in company; none of them +she knew were intended for her, even when +their light, perchance, was turned upon her.</p> + +<p>Overweening, all-engrossing vanity, was Lady +Palliser's ruling passion; society therefore in +which she could be the object of universal admiration +was her only element. Not that she<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> +was what is commonly called a flirt:—she was +too haughty—too exacting of general adoration +for such a condescension towards any individual +in particular; while yet within her +hidden thoughts, concealed beneath an appearance +of statue-like coldness, she had a secret +delight in imagining every man with whom she +was acquainted, as much in love with her as he +dared to be, and withheld from a declaration of his +passion only by her own haughty reserve: nay, +so far did she carry this dream of vanity, that +she felt more or less of resentment towards every +man of her acquaintance who married or attached +himself to any other woman.</p> + +<p>Such was the person with whom poor +Caroline had hitherto spent every domestic +hour she could remember. Her home, which +had thus never been a happy one, now by con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span>trast +with the vague hopes in which she had +latterly ventured to indulge, presented to her +imagination a long perspective of tenfold dreariness. +The frowns in private, the artificial +smiles in public of her unkind parent, were +all that she anticipated in future. Her very +youth seemed an aggravation of her misery, +for the grave itself, which, in her present +exaggerated and hopeless state of feeling, +was she believed, the only refuge to which +she could look forward, appeared at an immeasurable +distance, the path to it stretching +before her mind's eye an interminable pilgrimage +of weariness.</p> + +<p>We do not mean to support these views of +the subject as rational or just; but Caroline +in experience and knowledge of the world, as +well as in chancery phraseology, was still an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span> +infant; even her love had at present something +in it of the feelings of the child turning to the +kind and gentle, as a refuge from the harshness +of the more severe; and with the idea of +Alfred was blended thoughts of his sisters and +of Lady Arden, and of their happy home—that +scene of cheerfulness and general goodwill, +which she had latterly enjoyed the privilege of +entering without ceremony, and which she had +never quitted without regret.</p> + +<p>The most severe, however, of all her sufferings +was the thought that Alfred must now +hate and despise her.</p> + +<p>She was shut up in her own apartment +weeping bitterly and giving way to a succession +of dreary reflections, when she received a summons +from her mother to appear in the drawing-room. +So much was she accustomed to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> +obey implicitly that she did not dare to excuse +herself.</p> + +<p>On descending, she found with Lady Palliser, +Sir Willoughby Arden and his cousin +Geoffery. Willoughby was turning over new +songs and professing himself a great admirer +of music; the true secret of which was that +he sang remarkably well himself. After some +trivial conversation, he discovered several duets +in which he had often taken a part with his +sisters, and intreated that Caroline would try +one of them. She excused herself on the plea +of a headache caused by the music, lights, +and late hours of the previous evening; but +Lady Palliser interfering, she was compelled to +make a wretched attempt; the manner spiritless, +the voice tremulous and even out of tune. +Willoughby's performance, however, was really<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> +good; he was therefore quite delighted. As +the song was being concluded, Lady and the +Misses Arden came in, and the latter being +prevailed on to assist Willoughby with some +more of his favourite duets, the visit was prolonged +into quite a morning concert.</p> + +<p>When the Ardens were about to take +their departure for the avowed purpose of a +walk, Lady Palliser insisted on Caroline's accompanying +them, saying that the air would +take away her headache. Caroline made a +faint effort to excuse herself, but in this, as in +every thing, was obliged to submit.</p> + +<p>They soon met and were joined by Lord +Darlingford and Sir James Lindsey; and it +not being an hour at which any part of the +walks was particularly crowded, they wandered<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span> +on to where the shade by its coolness was +inviting.</p> + +<p>Willoughby attached himself entirely to our +heroine, with whom he already fancied himself +in love. Lord Darlingford walked soberly +beside Jane, who after many relapses of a +hope, fainter at each return, had resigned her +early dream of first and mutual love, and was +now quietly receiving his serious addresses. +She had at length brought her mind to anticipate, +with a placid sort of happiness, the hope +of obtaining for life the companionship and +protection of a friend whom she could respect; +together with the certainty of securing a perfectly +eligible establishment, and thus escaping all +those miseries inflicted by the unfeeling world's +scorn on the poor and the unprotected;—miseries<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> +against which her mother and her aunt had so +often warned her.</p> + +<p>Louisa was attended by Sir James, her expected +marriage with whom was now the +universal theme. She had herself, however, +by no means made up her mind; she could not +even approach a decision, her meditations on +the subject always ending in a fruitless wish +that Henry were the elder brother.</p> + +<p>Madeline, who did not happen to have a +lover present walked and talked with her cousin +Geoffery.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Dorothea had been called for as they +passed her door; she was the companion of +Lady Arden.</p> + +<p>Arranged in the order we have described, +our party came suddenly upon Alfred, standing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> +where we last left him, and having just brought +his solitary musings to the final summing +up with which we concluded the last +chapter.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span></p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XXIII" id="CHAPTER_XXIII"></a>CHAPTER XXIII.</h2> + + +<p>Alfred could not without an appearance of +great singularity avoid joining the party; he +turned, therefore, and making his salutation to +Caroline, and what other recognitions were necessary, +in as hurried a manner as possible, took the +unoccupied side of Madeline. Geoffery saw a +good deal, and suspected more. "Where have +you been all the morning, Alfred?" he said. "We +have had some delightful music at Lady Palliser's."</p> + +<p>"Indeed!" replied our hero.</p> + +<p>"Yes," added Willoughby, "Lady Caroline<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> +was so obliging as to try one or two charming +duets, in which her ladyship permitted me to +attempt a part."</p> + +<p>Alfred could scarcely credit that he heard +aright—was it possible!—could Caroline indeed +be so utterly devoid of feeling? What, but a +few moments after having driven him from her +presence, overwhelmed with despair by her capricious +perfidy? However strangely changed, +however indifferent she had herself become, had +she not even the grace to compassionate the sufferings +she had wilfully inflicted? Could she within +the very same half hour be in such exuberant +spirits that it was necessary to exhaust them by +singing for the amusement of her morning +visitors? Or was it indeed possible, that young +as she was, she had already learned worldly +wisdom sufficient to prefer the possessor of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> +Arden estates to his landless younger brother? +So indeed it would appear. Had she not last night +danced with Willoughby in preference to himself?—Had +she not afterwards departed from her +usual line of conduct to waltz with him also?—This +morning, had not every thought and feeling +undergone an evident and sudden revolution. +That prudential considerations had been strongly +represented to Caroline he made no doubt; it +was highly improbable that such views had +arisen spontaneously in her own mind; but +of what value could the merely fanciful preference +be that could be so easily turned aside? +To believe Caroline worthless cost him a more +cruel pang than even the knowledge that she +was lost to him for ever.</p> + +<p>As soon as the Arden family had reached home, +after having left Caroline at Lady Palliser's,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> +and parted from Lord Darlingford and Sir +James at the door, the sisters began as usual +to banter Alfred about his love; and Lady +Arden observed laughingly, "But you seem to +have quite resigned your post to Willoughby." +Alfred made a strong effort to treat the subject +with seeming carelessness, and replied generally, +that younger brothers had no pretensions.</p> + +<p>"That is," replied his mother, "as the lady +may think. And I am sure Willoughby would +be very sorry to interfere with your prospects; +an heiress can be no object to him."</p> + +<p>Willoughby looked amazed. Alfred begged +Lady Arden would not treat the subject with +such unnecessary solemnity, and assured his +brother, with an earnestness that surprised the +ladies of the family, that he had not the most +distant intention of ever addressing Lady Caro<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span>line +Montague, nor the slightest reason to suppose +that if he were guilty of so silly a presumption, +his forwardness would not meet with the +repulse it should deserve.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that," said Geoffery; "it must +depend on the share of encouragement a lady +pleases to give."</p> + +<p>"Lady Caroline Montague," observed Willoughby, +"is certainly much to be admired; at +the same time," he added, with evident pique, +"I should be sorry, were I ever to enter the +lists among her ladyship's adorers, to owe my +success to being an elder brother, as my mother +would infer!"</p> + +<p>The girls persisted in laughing, and declaring +there must have been a lover's quarrel; for +that Alfred did not speak of Lady Caroline +in the least like the way he used to do.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There is certainly a great change," said +Mrs. Dorothea; "every thing appeared to be +going on just as Alfred's best friends could +have wished."</p> + +<p>"How busy people make themselves," thought +Willoughby, "but they shall not influence my +conduct."</p> + +<p>To avoid the painful topic, Alfred sauntered +into the lawn by one of the open French +windows. He was almost instantly followed +by Willoughby, who took his arm and walked +for some time up and down in silence.</p> + +<p>"I wish Alfred you would be candid with +me," said Willoughby at last, "I certainly admire +Lady Caroline Montague, but mine is the +admiration—the acquaintance of a day—an +hour. If you are seriously attached, still more, +if the attachment is, as my mother and sisters<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span> +seem to think, mutual, tell me so honestly, +and I am sure you will do me the justice to +believe, that had I the vanity to suppose I +could succeed in such an attempt, I would be +the last being in existence to wish to interfere +with your happiness; so far from it, that if +fortune is the obstacle, say so, and I will make +a settlement on you so splendid, as to leave no +room for objection on that head."</p> + +<p>Alfred, quite overcome by his brother's generosity, +was unable to articulate; he drew +Willoughby's arm closer to his side in token of +his gratitude, and they walked on a little, till +finding themselves sheltered from the immediate +view of the windows by a drooping +acacia-tree, they paused by a sort of mutual +consent, and Alfred, making an effort to master +his emotion, said—"I feel Willoughby, if pos<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>sible, +more gratitude than if I were about to +accept and be made happy by your noble offer. +I feel too," he added, hesitating, "that I—owe +it to your generous nature to make a confession, +which else I had gladly avoided. I—I have +been already rejected—rejected not by Lady +Palliser on the plea of want of fortune, but +by Lady Caroline Montague herself. You are, +therefore, of course—free—to—to—" but he +could not bring himself to give the palpable +form of words to the remainder of the inference.</p> + +<p>"Rejected already! and by Lady Caroline +herself!" repeated Willoughby. "Thank heaven +then, my interference at least can never +be alleged. What occurred before my arrival +cannot be laid to my charge. This, under +whatever circumstances may arise, will be an +infinite consolation to my mind."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span></p> + +<p>Alfred did not judge it necessary to correct +the slight error in chronology which his brother +had made, and a protracted silence followed; at +length Willoughby said, "Do you think it probable, +Alfred, that you will be induced to renew +your addresses?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not!" replied Alfred.</p> + +<p>"In that case," said Willoughby, again breaking +the silence, "who may or who may not ultimately +succeed in making themselves acceptable +to Lady Caroline Montague can in no wise +affect your happiness?"</p> + +<p>"My happiness," replied Alfred, in a strange +hurried manner, "is quite irrelevant to the present +subject: but I am not, I trust, so selfish +as to feel any desire to condemn a lady to a +life of celibacy, merely because—but let us lay +aside this painful subject; I shall endeavour as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> +quickly as possible to forget all things connected +with it, except, indeed, the feelings of +heartfelt gratitude so justly due to you, my dear +Willoughby."</p> + +<p>While this conversation was passing in the +lawn, Geoffery, whom we left in the drawing-room +with the ladies of the family, addressed +Mrs. Dorothea Arden thus:</p> + +<p>"So you really think it will be a match +between Alfred and Lady Caroline Montague?"</p> + +<p>"I should think so, certainly," replied Mrs. +Dorothea; "his attentions have been very +marked, and have been received with decided +approbation, both by mother and daughter; and +I am sure that he is, poor fellow, very sincerely +attached."</p> + +<p>"We all thought it quite settled," said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> +Jane. Her sisters echoed nearly the same sentiment.</p> + +<p>"There can be no doubt," observed Lady +Arden, "that Alfred would have a right to +consider himself very ill treated, if any objection +to his pretensions were started at this late period."</p> + +<p>"There was a great difference, however, last +night," said Louisa, "in Lady Caroline's manner."</p> + +<p>"And a still greater this morning," added +Madeline.</p> + +<p>"Your ladyship thinks Alfred attached to +Lady Caroline?" asked Geoffrey.</p> + +<p>"Unquestionably!" replied Lady Arden. +"If the affair should not go on, it will be a +very serious disappointment to him, I am convinced."<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span></p> + +<p>"And her ladyship received him well up to +last night?" persisted Geoffrey.</p> + +<p>"I should certainly say so," Lady Arden +replied.</p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p class="center">END OF VOL. I.<br /></p> + +<hr style="width: 45%;" /> + +<p class="center">C. WHITING, BEAUFORT HOUSE, STRAND.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's Dilemmas of Pride, (VOL 1 OF 3), by Margracia Loudon + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DILEMMAS OF PRIDE, (VOL 1 OF 3) *** + +***** This file should be named 35769-h.htm or 35769-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/5/7/6/35769/ + +Produced by Heather Clark and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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