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+*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40619 ***
+
+                        FANNY BURNEY
+
+                         _Camilla_
+
+                            OR
+
+                   _A Picture of Youth_
+
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+
+    CAMILLA, OR A PICTURE OF YOUTH
+
+    DEDICATION                                             3
+
+    ADVERTISEMENT                                          5
+
+
+    VOLUME I
+
+      BOOK I
+
+        I. A Family Scene                                  7
+
+       II. Comic Gambols                                  14
+
+      III. Consequences                                   26
+
+       IV. Studies of a grown Gentleman                   33
+
+        V. Schooling of a young Gentleman                 41
+
+       VI. Tuition of a young Lady                        44
+
+      VII. Lost Labour                                    49
+
+
+      BOOK II
+
+        I. New Projects                                   53
+
+       II. New Characters                                 60
+
+      III. A Family Breakfast                             78
+
+       IV. A Public Breakfast                             82
+
+        V. A Raffle                                       96
+
+       VI. A Barn                                        109
+
+      VII. A Declaration                                 112
+
+     VIII. An answer                                     117
+
+       IX. An Explication                                123
+
+        X. A Panic                                       125
+
+       XI. Two Lovers                                    133
+
+      XII. Two Doctors                                   139
+
+     XIII. Two Ways of looking at the same Thing         147
+
+      XIV. Two Retreats                                  152
+
+       XV. Two Sides of a Question                       157
+
+
+    VOLUME II
+
+      BOOK III
+
+        I. A few kind Offices                            163
+
+       II. A Pro and a Con                               173
+
+      III. An Author's Notion of Travelling              180
+
+       IV. An internal Detection                         189
+
+        V. An Author's Opinion of Visiting               197
+
+       VI. An Author's Idea of Order                     206
+
+      VII. A Maternal Eye                                215
+
+     VIII. Modern Ideas of Duty                          222
+
+       IX. A Few Embarrassments                          230
+
+        X. Modern Ideas of Life                          238
+
+       XI. Modern Notions of Penitence                   244
+
+      XII. Airs and Graces                               249
+
+     XIII. Attic Adventures                              257
+
+
+      BOOK IV
+
+        I. A few Explanations                            266
+
+       II. Specimens of Taste                            274
+
+      III. A few Compliments                             283
+
+       IV. The Danger of Disguise                        291
+
+        V. Strictures on Deformity                       299
+
+       VI. Strictures on Beauty                          305
+
+      VII. The Pleadings of Pity                         311
+
+     VIII. The disastrous Buskins                        317
+
+       IX. Three Golden Maxims                           324
+
+
+    VOLUME III
+
+      BOOK V
+
+        I. A Pursuer                                     333
+
+       II. An Adviser                                    338
+
+      III. Various Confabulations                        343
+
+       IV. A Dodging                                     351
+
+        V. A Sermon                                      355
+
+       VI. A Chat                                        362
+
+      VII. A Recall                                      369
+
+     VIII. A Youth of the Times                          375
+
+
+      BOOK VI
+
+        I. A Walk by Moonlight                           386
+
+       II. The Pantiles                                  391
+
+      III. Mount Ephraim                                 400
+
+       IV. Knowle                                        408
+
+        V. Mount Pleasant                                419
+
+       VI. The accomplished Monkies                      427
+
+      VII. The Rooms                                     438
+
+     VIII. Ways to the Heart                             446
+
+       IX. Counsels for Conquest                         453
+
+        X. Strictures upon the Ton                       462
+
+       XI. Traits of Character                           469
+
+      XII. Traits of Eccentricity                        482
+
+     XIII. Traits of Instruction                         490
+
+      XIV. A Demander                                    496
+
+       XV. An Accorder                                   503
+
+      XVI. An Helper                                     512
+
+
+    VOLUME IV
+
+      BOOK VII
+
+        I. The right Style of Arguing                    521
+
+       II. A Council                                     525
+
+      III. A Proposal of Marriage                        531
+
+       IV. A Bull-Dog                                    535
+
+        V. An Oak Tree                                   541
+
+       VI. A Call of the House                           547
+
+      VII. The Triumph of Pride                          555
+
+     VIII. A Summons to Happiness                        561
+
+       IX. Offs and Ons                                  570
+
+        X. Resolutions                                   576
+
+       XI. Ease and Freedom                              583
+
+      XII. Dilemmas                                      590
+
+     XIII. Live and Learn                                596
+
+
+      BOOK VIII
+
+        I. A Way to make Friends                         604
+
+       II. A Rage of Obliging                            612
+
+      III. A Pleasant Adventure                          621
+
+       IV. An Author's Time-keeper                       628
+
+        V. An agreeable Hearing                          633
+
+       VI. Ideas upon Marriage                           642
+
+      VII. How to treat a Defamer                        646
+
+     VIII. The Power of Prepossession                    655
+
+       IX. A Scuffle                                     661
+
+        X. A Youthful Effusion                           669
+
+       XI. The Computations of Self-Love                 679
+
+      XII. Juvenile Calculations                         685
+
+
+    VOLUME V
+
+      BOOK IX
+
+        I. A Water Party                                 695
+
+       II. Touches of Wit and Humour                     710
+
+      III. An Adieu                                      720
+
+       IV. A modest Request                              727
+
+        V. A Self-dissection                             736
+
+       VI. A Reckoning                                   740
+
+      VII. Brides and no Brides                          750
+
+     VIII. A Hint for Debtors                            757
+
+       IX. A Lover's Eye                                 766
+
+        X. A Bride's Resolves                            776
+
+       XI. The Workings of Sorrow                        784
+
+
+      BOOK X
+
+        I. A Surprise                                    793
+
+       II. A Narrative                                   799
+
+      III. The Progress of Dissipation                   808
+
+       IV. Hints upon National Prejudice                 816
+
+        V. The Operation of Terror                       827
+
+       VI. The Reverse of a Mask                         840
+
+      VII. A new View of an Old Mansion                  849
+
+     VIII. A last Resource                               855
+
+       IX. A Spectacle                                   865
+
+        X. A Vision                                      874
+
+       XI. Means to still Agitation                      878
+
+      XII. Means to obtain a Boon                        885
+
+     XIII. Questions and Answers                         892
+
+      XIV. The last Touches of the Picture               903
+
+
+
+
+CAMILLA:
+
+OR,
+
+A PICTURE OF YOUTH
+
+BY
+
+THE AUTHOR OF
+
+_EVELINA_ and _CECILIA_
+
+
+
+
+TO THE
+
+QUEEN
+
+
+MADAM,
+
+That Goodness inspires a confidence, which, by divesting respect of
+terror, excites attachment to Greatness, the presentation of this little
+Work to Your Majesty must truly, however humbly, evince; and though a
+public manifestation of duty and regard from an obscure Individual may
+betray a proud ambition, it is, I trust, but a venial--I am sure it is a
+natural one.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In those to whom Your Majesty is known but by exaltation of Rank, it may
+raise, perhaps, some surprise, that scenes, characters, and incidents,
+which have reference only to common life, should be brought into so
+august a presence; but the inhabitant of a retired cottage, who there
+receives the benign permission which at Your Majesty's feet casts this
+humble offering, bears in mind recollections which must live there while
+'memory holds its seat,' of a benevolence withheld from no condition,
+and delighting in all ways to speed the progress of Morality, through
+whatever channel it could flow, to whatever port it might steer. I blush
+at the inference I seem here to leave open of annexing undue importance
+to a production of apparently so light a kind--yet if my hope, my
+view--however fallacious they may eventually prove, extended not beyond
+whiling away an idle hour, should I dare seek such patronage?
+
+With the deepest gratitude, and most heart-felt respect, I am,
+
+MADAM,
+
+Your MAJESTY'S
+
+Most obedient, most obliged,
+
+And most dutiful servant,
+
+F. d'ARBLAY.
+
+BOOKHAM,
+
+June 28, 1796
+
+
+
+
+ADVERTISEMENT
+
+
+The Author of this little Work cannot, in the anxious moment of
+committing it to its fate, refuse herself the indulgence of expressing
+some portion of the gratitude with which she is filled, by the highly
+favourable reception given to her _TWO_ former attempts in this species
+of composition; nor forbear pouring forth her thanks to the many Friends
+whose kind zeal has forwarded the present undertaking:--from amongst
+whom she knows not how to resist selecting and gratifying herself by
+naming the Hon. Mrs. BOSCAWEN, Mrs. CREWE, and Mrs. LOCKE.
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME I
+
+BOOK I
+
+
+The historian of human life finds less of difficulty and of intricacy to
+develop, in its accidents and adventures, than the investigator of the
+human heart in its feelings and its changes. In vain may Fortune wave
+her many-coloured banner, alternately regaling and dismaying, with hues
+that seem glowing with all the creation's felicities, or with tints that
+appear stained with ingredients of unmixt horrors; her most rapid
+vicissitudes, her most unassimilating eccentricities, are mocked,
+laughed at, and distanced by the wilder wonders of the Heart of man;
+that amazing assemblage of all possible contrarieties, in which one
+thing alone is steady--the perverseness of spirit which grafts desire on
+what is denied. Its qualities are indefinable, its resources
+unfathomable, its weaknesses indefensible. In our neighbours we cannot
+judge, in ourselves we dare not trust it. We lose ere we learn to
+appreciate, and ere we can comprehend it we must be born again. Its
+capacity o'er-leaps all limit, while its futility includes every
+absurdity. It lives its own surprise--it ceases to beat--and the void is
+inscrutable! In one grand and general view, who can display such a
+portrait? Fairly, however faintly, to delineate some of its features, is
+the sole and discriminate province of the pen which would trace nature,
+yet blot out personality.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A Family Scene_
+
+
+Repose is not more welcome to the worn and to the aged, to the sick and
+to the unhappy, than danger, difficulty, and toil to the young and
+adventurous. Danger they encounter but as the forerunner of success;
+difficulty, as the spur of ingenuity; and toil, as the herald of honour.
+The experience which teaches the lesson of truth, and the blessings of
+tranquillity, comes not in the shape of warning nor of wisdom; from such
+they turn aside, defying or disbelieving. 'Tis in the bitterness of
+personal proof alone, in suffering and in feeling, in erring and in
+repenting, that experience comes home with conviction, or impresses to
+any use.
+
+In the bosom of her respectable family resided Camilla. Nature, with a
+bounty the most profuse, had been lavish to her of attractions; Fortune,
+with a moderation yet kinder, had placed her between luxury and
+indigence. Her abode was in the parsonage-house of Etherington,
+beautifully situated in the unequal county of Hampshire, and in the
+vicinity of the varied landscapes of the New Forest. Her father, the
+rector, was the younger son of the house of Tyrold. The living, though
+not considerable, enabled its incumbent to attain every rational object
+of his modest and circumscribed wishes; to bestow upon a deserving wife
+whatever her own forbearance declined not; and to educate a lovely race
+of one son and three daughters, with that expansive propriety, which
+unites improvement for the future with present enjoyment.
+
+In goodness of heart, and in principles of piety, this exemplary couple
+was bound to each other by the most perfect unison of character, though
+in their tempers there was a contrast which had scarce the gradation of
+a single shade to smooth off its abrupt dissimilitude. Mr. Tyrold,
+gentle with wisdom, and benign in virtue, saw with compassion all
+imperfections but his own, and there doubled the severity which to
+others he spared. Yet the mildness that urged him to pity blinded him
+not to approve; his equity was unerring, though his judgment was
+indulgent. His partner had a firmness of mind which nothing could shake:
+calamity found her resolute; even prosperity was powerless to lull her
+duties asleep. The exalted character of her husband was the pride of her
+existence, and the source of her happiness. He was not merely her
+standard of excellence, but of endurance, since her sense of his worth
+was the criterion for her opinion of all others. This instigated a
+spirit of comparison, which is almost always uncandid, and which here
+could rarely escape proving injurious. Such, at its very best, is the
+unskilfulness of our fallible nature, that even the noble principle
+which impels our love of right, misleads us but into new deviations,
+when its ambition presumes to point at perfection. In this instance,
+however, distinctness of disposition stifled not reciprocity of
+affection--that magnetic concentration of all marriage felicity;--Mr.
+Tyrold revered while he softened the rigid virtues of his wife, who
+adored while she fortified the melting humanity of her husband.
+
+Thus, in an interchange of happiness the most deserved, and of parental
+occupations the most promising, passed the first married years of this
+blest and blessing pair. An event then came to pass extremely
+interesting at the moment, and yet more important in its consequences.
+This was the receipt of a letter from the elder brother of Mr. Tyrold,
+containing information that he meant to remove into Hampshire.
+
+Sir Hugh Tyrold was a baronet, who resided upon the hereditary estate of
+the family in Yorkshire. He was many years older than Mr. Tyrold, who
+had never seen him since his marriage; religious duties, prudence, and
+domestic affairs having from that period detained him at his benefice;
+while a passion for field sports had, with equal constancy, kept his
+brother stationary.
+
+The baronet began his letter with kind enquiries after the welfare of
+Mr. Tyrold and his family, and then entered upon the state of his own
+affairs, briefly narrating, that he had lost his health, and, not
+knowing what to do with himself, had resolved to change his habitation,
+and settle near his relations. The Cleves' estate, which he heard was
+just by Etherington, being then upon sale, he desired his brother to
+make the purchase for him out of hand; and then to prepare Mrs. Tyrold,
+with whom he was yet unacquainted, though he took it for granted she was
+a woman of great learning, to receive a mere poor country squire, who
+knew no more of hic, hæc, hoc, than the baby unborn. He begged him to
+provide a proper apartment for their niece Indiana Lynmere, whom he
+should bring with him, and another for their nephew Clermont, who was to
+follow at the next holidays; and not to forget Mrs. Margland, Indiana's
+governess, she being rather the most particular in point of pleasing
+amongst them.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, extremely gratified by this unexpected renewal of fraternal
+intercourse, wrote the warmest thanks to his brother, and executed the
+commission with the utmost alacrity. A noble mansion, with an extensive
+pleasure-ground, scarce four miles distant from the parsonage-house of
+Etherington, was bought, fitted up, and made ready for his reception in
+the course of a few months. The baronet, impatient to take possession of
+his new territory, arrived speedily after, with his niece Indiana, and
+was welcomed at the gate of the park by Mr. Tyrold and his whole family.
+
+Sir Hugh Tyrold inherited from his ancestors an unincumbered estate of
+£.5000 per annum; which he enjoyed with ease and affluence to himself,
+and disseminated with a good will so generous, that he appeared to think
+his personal prosperity, and that of all who surrounded him, bestowed
+but to be shared in common, rather from general right, than through his
+own dispensing bounty. His temper was unalterably sweet, and every
+thought of his breast was laid open to the world with an almost
+infantine artlessness. But his talents bore no proportion to the
+goodness of his heart, an insuperable want of quickness, and of
+application in his early days, having left him, at a later period,
+wholly uncultivated, and singularly self-formed.
+
+A dearth of all sedentary resources became, when his youth passed away,
+his own constant reproach. Health failed him in the meridian of his
+life, from the consequences of a wound in his side, occasioned by a fall
+from his horse; exercise, therefore, and active diversions, were of
+necessity relinquished, and as these had hitherto occupied all his time,
+except that portion which he delighted to devote to hospitality and
+neighbourly offices, now equally beyond his strength, he found himself
+at once deprived of all employment, and destitute of all comfort. Nor
+did any plan occur to him to solace his misfortunes, till he
+accidentally read in the newspapers that the Cleves' estate was upon
+sale.
+
+Indiana, the niece who accompanied him, a beautiful little girl, was the
+orphan daughter of a deceased sister, who, at the death of her parents,
+had, with Clermont, an only brother, been left to the guardianship of
+Sir Hugh; with the charge of a small estate for the son of scarce £.200
+a-year, and the sum of £.1000 for the fortune of the daughter.
+
+The meeting was a source of tender pleasure to Mr. Tyrold; and gave
+birth in his young family to that eager joy which is so naturally
+attached, by our happiest early prejudices, to the first sight of near
+relations. Mrs. Tyrold received Sir Hugh with the complacency due to the
+brother of her husband; who now rose higher than ever in her
+estimation, from a fraternal comparison to the unavoidable disadvantage
+of the baronet; though she was not insensible to the fair future
+prospects of her children, which seemed the probable result of his
+change of abode.
+
+Sir Hugh himself, notwithstanding his best affections were all opened by
+the sight of so many claimants to their kindness, was the only dejected
+person of the group.
+
+Though too good in his nature for envy, a severe self-upbraiding
+followed his view of the happiness of his brother; he regretted he had
+not married at the same age, that he might have owned as fine a family,
+and repined against the unfortunate privileges of his birth-right,
+which, by indulging him in his first youth with whatever he could covet,
+drove from his attention that modest foresight, which prepares for later
+years the consolation they are sure to require.
+
+By degrees, however, the satisfaction spread around him found some place
+in his own breast, and he acknowledged himself sensibly revived by so
+endearing a reception; though he candidly avowed, that if he had not
+been at a loss what to do, he should never have had a thought of taking
+so long a journey. 'But the not having made,' cried he, 'the proper
+proficiency in my youth for the filling up my time, has put me quite
+behind-hand.'
+
+He caressed all the children with great fondness, and was much struck
+with the beauty of his three nieces, particularly with that of Camilla,
+Mr. Tyrold's second daughter; 'yet she is not,' he cried, 'so pretty as
+her little sister Eugenia, nor much better than t'other sister Lavinia;
+and not one of the three is half so great a beauty as my little Indiana;
+so I can't well make out what it is that's so catching in her; but
+there's something in her little mouth that quite wins me; though she
+looks as if she was half laughing at me too: which can't very well be,
+neither; for I suppose, as yet, at least, she knows no more of books and
+studying than her uncle. And that's little enough, God knows, for I
+never took to them in proper season; which I have been sorry enough for,
+upon coming to discretion.'
+
+Then addressing himself to the boy, he exhorted him to work hard while
+yet in his youth, and related sundry anecdotes of the industry and merit
+of his father when at the same age, though left quite to himself, as, to
+his great misfortune, he had been also, 'which brought about,' he
+continued, 'my being this present _ignoramus_ that you see me; which
+would not have happened, if my good forefathers had been pleased to keep
+a sharper look out upon my education.'
+
+Lionel, the little boy, casting a comic glance at Camilla, begged to
+know what his uncle meant by a sharper look out?
+
+'Mean, my dear? why correction, to be sure; for all that, they tell me,
+is to be done by the rod; so there, at least, I might have stood as good
+a chance as my neighbours.'
+
+'And pray, uncle,' cried Lionel, pursing up his mouth to hide his
+laughter, 'did you always like the thoughts of it so well?'
+
+'Why no, my dear, I can't pretend to that; at your age I had no more
+taste for it than you have: but there's a proper season for every thing.
+However, though I tell you this for a warning, perhaps you may do
+without it; for, by what I hear, the rising generation's got to a much
+greater pitch since my time.'
+
+He then added, he must advise him, as a friend, to be upon his guard, as
+his Cousin, Clermont Lynmere, who was coming home from Eton school next
+Christmas for the holidays, would turn out the very mirror of
+scholarship; for he had given directions to have him study both night
+and day, except what might be taken off for eating and sleeping:
+'Because,' he continued, 'having proved the bad of knowing nothing in my
+own case, I have the more right to intermeddle with others. And he will
+thank me enough when once he has got over his classics. And I hope, my
+dear little boy, you see it in the same light too; which, however, is
+what I can't expect.'
+
+The house was now examined; the fair little Indiana took possession of
+her apartment; Miss Margland was satisfied with the attention that had
+been paid her; and Sir Hugh was rejoiced to find a room for Clermont
+that had no window but a skylight, by which means his studies, he
+observed, would receive no interruption from gaping and staring about
+him. And, when the night advanced, Mr. Tyrold had the happiness of
+leaving him with some prospect of recovering his spirits.
+
+The revival, however, lasted but during the novelty of the scene;
+depression returned with the feelings of ill health; and the happier lot
+of his brother, though born to almost nothing, filled him with incessent
+repentance of his own mismanagement.
+
+In some measure to atone for this, he resolved to collect himself a
+family in his own house; and the young Camilla, whose dawning archness
+of expression had instinctively caught him, he now demanded of her
+parents, to come and reside with him and Indiana at Cleves; 'for
+certainly,' he said, 'for such a young little thing, she looks full of
+amusement.'
+
+Mrs. Tyrold objected against reposing a trust so precious where its
+value could so ill be appreciated. Camilla was, in secret, the fondest
+hope of her mother, though the rigour of her justice scarce permitted
+the partiality to beat even in her own breast. Nor did the happy little
+person need the avowed distinction. The tide of youthful glee flowed
+jocund from her heart, and the transparency of her fine blue veins
+almost shewed the velocity of its current. Every look was a smile, every
+step was a spring, every thought was a hope, every feeling was joy! and
+the early felicity of her mind was without allay. O blissful state of
+innocence, purity, and delight, why must it fleet so fast? why scarcely
+but by retrospection is its happiness known?
+
+Mr. Tyrold, while his tenderest hopes encircled the same object, saw the
+proposal in a fairer light, from the love he bore to his brother. It
+seemed certain such a residence would secure her an ample fortune; the
+governess to whom Indiana was entrusted would take care of his little
+girl; though removed from the hourly instructions, she would still be
+within reach of the general superintendance of her mother, into whose
+power he cast the uncontrolled liberty to reclaim her, if there started
+any occasion. His children had no provision ascertained, should his life
+be too short to fulfil his own personal schemes of economy in their
+favour: and while to an argument so incontrovertible Mrs. Tyrold was
+silent, he begged her also to reflect, that, persuasive as were the
+attractions of elegance and refinement, no just parental expectations
+could be essentially disappointed, where the great moral lessons were
+practically inculcated, by a uniform view of goodness of heart, and
+firmness of principle. These his brother possessed in an eminent degree;
+and if his character had nothing more from which their daughter could
+derive benefit, it undoubtedly had not a point from which she could
+receive injury.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold now yielded; she never resisted a remonstrance of her
+husband; and as her sense of duty impelled her also never to murmur, she
+retired to her own room, to conceal with how ill a grace she complied.
+
+Had this lady been united to a man whom she despised, she would yet
+have obeyed him, and as scrupulously, though not as happily, as she
+obeyed her honoured partner. She considered the vow taken at the altar
+to her husband, as a voluntary vestal would have held one taken to her
+Maker; and no dissent in opinion exculpated, in her mind, the least
+deviation from his will.
+
+But here, where an admiration almost adoring was fixt of the character
+to which she submitted, she was sure to applaud the motives which swayed
+him, however little their consequences met her sentiments: and even
+where the contrariety was wholly repugnant to her judgment, the genuine
+warmth of her just affection made every compliance, and every
+forbearance, not merely exempt from pain, but if to him any
+satisfaction, a sacrifice soothing to her heart.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, whose whole soul was deeply affected by her excellencies,
+gratefully felt his power, and religiously studied not to abuse it: he
+respected what he owed to her conscience, he tenderly returned what he
+was indebted to her affection. To render her virtues conducive to her
+happiness, to soften her duties by the highest sense of their merit,
+were the first and most sacred objects of his solicitude in life.
+
+When the lively and lovely little girl, mingling the tears of separation
+with all the childish rapture which novelty, to a much later period
+inspires, was preparing to change her home, 'Remember,' cried Mr.
+Tyrold, to her anxious mother, 'that on you, my Georgiana, devolves the
+sole charge, the unlimited judgment, to again bring her under this roof,
+the first moment she appears to you in any danger from having quitted
+it.'
+
+The prompt and thankful acceptance of Mrs. Tyrold did justice to the
+sincerity of this offer: and the cheerful acquiescence of lessened
+reluctance, raised her higher in that esteem to which her constant mind
+invariably looked up, as the summit of her chosen ambition.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_Comic Gambols_
+
+
+Delighted with this acquisition to his household, Sir Hugh again
+revived. 'My dear brother and sister,' he cried, when next the family
+visited Cleves, 'this proves the most fortunate step I have ever taken
+since I was born. Camilla's a little jewel; she jumps and skips about
+till she makes my eyes ache with looking after her, for fear of her
+breaking her neck. I must keep a sharp watch, or she'll put poor
+Indiana's nose quite out of joint, which God forbid. However, she's the
+life of us all, for I'm sorry to say it, but I think, my dear brother,
+poor Indiana promises to turn out rather dull.'
+
+The sprightly little girl, thus possessed of the heart, soon guided the
+will of her uncle. He could refuse nothing to her endearing entreaty,
+and felt every indulgence repaid by the enchantment of her gaiety.
+Indiana, his first idol, lost her power to please him, though no
+essential kindness was abated in his conduct. He still acknowledged that
+her beauty was the most complete; but he found in Camilla a variety that
+was captivation. Her form and her mind were of equal elasticity. Her
+playful countenance rekindled his spirits, the cheerfulness of her
+animated voice awakened him to its own joy. He doated upon detaining her
+by his side, or delighted to gratify her if she wished to be absent. She
+exhilarated him with pleasure, she supplied him with ideas, and from the
+morning's first dawn to the evening's latest close, his eye followed her
+lightspringing figure, or his ear vibrated with her sportive sounds;
+catching, as it listened, in successive rotation, the spontaneous laugh,
+the unconscious bound, the genuine glee of childhood's fearless
+happiness, uncurbed by severity, untamed by misfortune.
+
+This ascendance was soon pointed out by the servants to Indiana, who
+sometimes shewed her resentment in unexplained and pouting sullenness,
+and at others, let all pass unnoticed, with unreflecting forgetfulness.
+But her mind was soon empoisoned with a jealousy of more permanent
+seriousness; in less than a month after the residence of Camilla at
+Cleves, Sir Hugh took the resolution of making her his heiress.
+
+Even Mr. Tyrold, notwithstanding his fondness for Camilla, remonstrated
+against a partiality so injurious to his nephew and niece, as well as to
+the rest of his family. And Mrs. Tyrold, though her secret heart
+subscribed, without wonder, to a predilection in favour of Camilla, was
+maternally disturbed for her other children, and felt her justice
+sensibly shocked at a blight so unmerited to the hopes cherished by
+Indiana and Clermont Lynmere: for though the fruits of this change of
+plan would be reaped by her little darling, they were robbed of all
+their sweetness to a mind so correct, by their undeserved bitterness
+towards the first expectants.
+
+Sir Hugh, however, was immoveable; he would provide handsomely, he said,
+for Indiana and Clermont, by settling a thousand pounds a year between
+them; and he would bequeath capital legacies amongst the rest of his
+nephews and nieces: but as to the bulk of his fortune, it should all go
+to Camilla; for how else could he make her amends for having amused him?
+or how, when he was gone, should he prove to her he loved her the best?
+
+Sir Hugh could keep nothing secret; Camilla was soon informed of the
+riches she was destined to inherit; and servants, who now with added
+respect attended her, took frequent opportunities of impressing her with
+the expectation, by the favours they begged from her in reversion.
+
+The happy young heiress heard them with little concern: interest and
+ambition could find no room in a mind, which to dance, sing, and play
+could enliven to rapture. Yet the continued repetition of requests soon
+made the idea of patronage familiar to her, and though wholly uninfected
+with one thought of power or consequence, she sometimes regaled her
+fancy with the presents she should make amongst her friends; designing a
+coach for her mamma, that she might oftener go abroad; an horse for her
+brother Lionel, which she knew to be his most passionate wish; a new
+bureau, with a lock and key, for her eldest sister Lavinia; innumerable
+trinkets for her cousin Indiana; dolls and toys without end for her
+little sister Eugenia; and a new library of new books, finely bound and
+gilt, for her papa. But these munificent donations looked forward to no
+other date than the anticipation of womanhood. If an hint were surmised
+of her surviving her uncle, an impetuous shower of tears dampt all her
+gay schemes, deluged every airy castle, and shewed the instinctive
+gratitude which kindness can awaken, even in the unthinking period of
+earliest youth, in those bosoms it has ever the power to animate.
+
+Her ensuing birth-day, upon which she would enter her tenth year, was to
+announce to the adjoining country her uncle's splendid plan in her
+favour. Her brother and sisters were invited to keep it with her at
+Cleves; but Sir Hugh declined asking either her father or mother, that
+his own time, without restraint, might be dedicated to the promotion of
+her festivity; he even requested of Miss Margland, that she would not
+appear that day, lest her presence should curb the children's spirits.
+
+The gay little party, consisting of Lavinia, who was two years older,
+and Eugenia, who was two years younger than Camilla, with her beautiful
+cousin, who was exactly of her own age, her brother Lionel, who counted
+three years more, and Edgar Mandlebert, a ward of Mr. Tyrold's, all
+assembled at Cleves upon this important occasion, at eight o'clock in
+the morning, to breakfast.
+
+Edgar Mandlebert, an uncommonly spirited and manly boy, now thirteen
+years of age, was heir to one of the finest estates in the county. He
+was the only son of a bosom friend of Mr. Tyrold, to whose guardianship
+he had been consigned almost from his infancy, and who superintended the
+care of his education with as much zeal, though not as much oeconomy,
+as that of his own son. He placed him under the tuition of Dr.
+Marchmont, a man of consummate learning, and he sent for him to
+Etherington twice in every year, where he assiduously kept up his
+studies by his own personal instructions. 'I leave him rich, my dear
+friend,' said his father, when on his death-bed he recommended him to
+Mr. Tyrold, 'and you, I trust, will make him good, and see him happy;
+and should hereafter a daughter of your own, from frequent intercourse,
+become mistress of his affections, do not oppose such a union from a
+disparity of fortune, which a daughter of yours, and of your
+incomparable partner's, can hardly fail to counterbalance in merit.' Mr.
+Tyrold, though too noble to avail himself of a declaration so generous,
+by forming any plan to bring such a connection to bear, felt
+conscientiously absolved from using any measures of frustration, and
+determined, as the young people grew up, neither to promote nor impede
+any rising regard.
+
+The estate of Beech Park was not all that young Mandlebert inherited;
+the friendship of its late owner for Mr. Tyrold, seemed instinctively
+transfused into his breast, and he paid back the parental tenderness
+with which he was watched and cherished, by a fondness and veneration
+truly filial.
+
+Whatever could indulge or delight the little set was brought forth upon
+this joyous meeting; fruits, sweetmeats, and cakes; cards, trinkets, and
+blind fidlers, were all at the unlimited command of the fairy mistress
+of the ceremonies. But unbounded as were the transports of the jovial
+little group, they could scarcely keep pace with the enjoyment of Sir
+Hugh; he entered into all their plays, he forgot all his pains, he
+laughed because they laughed, and suffered his darling little girl to
+govern and direct him at her pleasure. She made him whiskers of cork,
+powdered his brown bob, and covered a thread paper with black ribbon to
+hang to it for a queue. She metamorphosed him into a female, accoutring
+him with her fine new cap, while she enveloped her own small head in his
+wig; and then, tying the maid's apron round his waist, put a rattle into
+his hand, and Eugenia's doll upon his lap, which she told him was a baby
+that he must nurse and amuse.
+
+The excess of merriment thus excited spread through the whole house.
+Lionel called in the servants to see this comical sight, and the
+servants indulged their numerous guests with a peep at it from the
+windows. Sir Hugh, meanwhile, resolved to object to nothing, performed
+every part assigned him, joined in their hearty laughs at the grotesque
+figure they made of him, and cordially encouraged all their proceedings,
+assuring them he had not been so much diverted himself since his fall
+from his horse, and advising them, with great zeal, to be merry while
+they could: 'For you will never, my dears,' said he, 'be younger, never
+while you live; no more, for that matter, shall I, neither, for all I am
+so much older, which, in that point, makes no difference.'
+
+He grew weary, however, first; and stretching himself his full length,
+with a prodigious yawn, 'Heigh ho!' he cried, 'Camilla, my dear, do take
+away poor Doll, for fear I should let it slip.'
+
+The little gigglers, almost in convulsions of laughter, entreated him to
+nurse it some time longer; but he frankly answered, 'No, my dears, no; I
+can play no more now, if I'd ever so fain, for I'm tired to death, which
+is really a pity; so you must either go out with me my airing, for a
+rest to your merry little sides, or stay and play by yourselves till I
+come back, which I think will put you all into fevers; but, however,
+nobody shall trouble your little souls with advice to-day; there are
+days enough in the year for teazing, without this one.'
+
+Camilla instantly decided for the airing, and without a dissentient
+voice: so entirely had the extreme good humour of Sir Hugh won the
+hearts of the little party, that they felt as if the whole of their
+entertainment depended upon his presence. The carriage, therefore, was
+ordered for the baronet and his four nieces, and Lionel and Edgar
+Mandlebert, at the request of Camilla, were gratified with horses.
+
+Camilla was desired to fix their route, and while she hesitated from the
+variety in her choice, Lionel proposed to Edgar that they should take a
+view of his house, park, and gardens, which were only three miles from
+Cleves. Edgar referred the matter to Indiana, to whose already exquisite
+beauty his juvenile admiration paid its most early obeisance. Indiana
+approved; the little heroine of the day assented with pleasure and they
+immediately set out upon the happy expedition.
+
+The two boys the whole way came with offerings of wild honeysuckle and
+sweetbriar, the grateful nosegays of all-diffusing nature, to the coach
+windows, each carefully presenting the most fragrant to Indiana; for
+Lionel, even more than sympathising with Edgar, declared his sisters to
+be mere frights in comparison with his fair cousin. Their partiality,
+however, struggled vainly against that of Sir Hugh, who still, in every
+the most trivial particular, gave the preference to Camilla.
+
+The baronet had ordered that his own garden chair should follow him to
+young Mandlebert's park, that he might take Camilla by his side, and go
+about the grounds without fatigue; the rest were to walk. Here Indiana
+received again the homage of her two young beaus; they pointed out to
+her the most beautiful prospects, they gathered her the fairest flowers,
+they loaded her with the best and ripest fruits.
+
+This was no sooner observed by Sir Hugh, than hastily stopping his
+chair, he called after them aloud, 'Holloa! come hither, my boys! here,
+you Mr. young Mandlebert, what are you all about? Why don't you bring
+that best bunch of grapes to Camilla?'
+
+'I have already promised it to Miss Lynmere, Sir.'
+
+'O ho, have you so? well, give it her then if you have. I have no right
+to rob you of your choice. Indiana, my dear, how do you like this
+place?'
+
+'Very much, indeed, uncle; I never saw any place I liked so much in my
+life.'
+
+'I am sure else,' said Edgar, 'I should never care for it again myself.'
+
+'O, I could look at it for ever,' cried Indiana, 'and not be tired!'
+
+Sir Hugh gravely paused at these speeches, and regarded them in turn
+with much steadiness, as if settling their future destinies; but ever
+unable to keep a single thought to himself, he presently burst forth
+aloud with his new mental arrangement, saying: 'Well, my dears, well;
+this is not quite the thing I had taken a fancy to in my own private
+brain, but it's all for the best, there's no doubt; though the estate
+being just in my neighbourhood, would have made it more suitable for
+Camilla; I mean provided we could have bought, among us, the odd three
+miles between the Parks; which how many acres they make, I can't pretend
+to say, without the proper calculation; but if it was all joined, it
+would be the finest domain in the county, as far as I know to the
+contrary: nevertheless, my dear young Mr. Mandlebert, you have a right
+to choose for yourself; for as to beauty, 'tis mere fancy; not but what
+Indiana has one or other the prettiest face I ever saw, though I think
+Camilla's so much prettier; I mean in point of winningness. However,
+there's no fear as to my consent, for nothing can be a greater pleasure
+to me than having two such good girls, both being cousins, live so near
+that they may overlook one another from park to park, all day long, by
+the mode of a telescope.'
+
+Edgar, perfectly understanding him, blushed deeply, and, forgetting what
+he had just declared, offered his grapes to Lavinia. Indiana, conceiving
+herself already mistress of so fine a place, smiled with approving
+complacency; and the rest were too much occupied with the objects around
+them, to listen to so long a speech.
+
+They then all moved on; but, soon after, Lionel, flying up to his
+uncle's chair, informed Camilla he had just heard from the gardener,
+that only half a mile off, at Northwick, there was a fair, to which he
+begged she would ask to go. She found no difficulty in obliging him; and
+Sir Hugh was incapable of hesitating at whatever she could desire. The
+carriage and the horses for the boys were again ordered, and to the
+regret of only Edgar and Indiana, the beautiful plantations of Beech
+Park were relinquished for the fair.
+
+They had hardly proceeded twenty yards, when the smiles that had
+brightened the face of Lavinia, the eldest daughter of Mr. Tyrold, were
+suddenly overcast, giving place to a look of dismay, which seemed the
+effect of some abruptly painful recollection; and the moment Sir Hugh
+perceived it, and enquired the cause, the tears rolled fast down her
+cheeks, and she said she had been guilty of a great sin, and could never
+forgive herself.
+
+They all eagerly endeavoured to console her, Camilla fondly taking her
+hand, little Eugenia sympathetically crying over and kissing her,
+Indiana begging to know what was the matter, and Sir Hugh, holding out
+to her the finest peach from his stores for Camilla, and saying, 'Don't
+cry so, my dear, don't cry: take a little bit of peach; I dare say you
+are not so bad as you think for.'
+
+The weeping young penitent besought leave to get out of the coach with
+Camilla, to whom alone she could explain herself. Camilla almost opened
+the door herself, to hasten the discovery; and the moment they had run
+up a bank by the road side, 'Tell me what it is, my dear Lavinia,' she
+cried, 'and I am sure my uncle will do anything in the world to help
+you.'
+
+'O Camilla,' she answered, 'I have disobeyed mamma! and I did not mean
+it in the least--but I have forgot all her commands!--She charged me not
+to let Eugenia stir out from Cleves, because of the small pox--and she
+has been already at Beech Park--and now, how can I tell the poor little
+thing she must not go to the fair?'
+
+'Don't vex yourself about that,' cried Camilla, kindly kissing the tears
+off her cheeks, 'for I will stay behind, and play with Eugenia myself,
+if my uncle will drive us back to Beech Park; and then all the rest may
+go to the fair, and take us up again in the way home.'
+
+With this expedient she flew to the coach, charging the two boys, who
+with great curiosity had ridden to the bank side, and listened to all
+that had passed, to comfort Lavinia.
+
+'Lionel,' cried Edgar, 'do you know, while Camilla was speaking so
+kindly to Lavinia, I thought she looked almost as pretty as your
+cousin?' Lionel would by no means subscribe to this opinion, but Edgar
+would not retract.
+
+Camilla, jumping into the carriage, threw her arms around the neck of
+her uncle, and whispered to him all that had passed. 'Poor innocent
+little dear!' cried he, 'is that all?' it's just nothing, considering
+her young age.'
+
+Then, looking out of the window, 'Lavinia,' he said, 'you have done no
+more harm than what's quite natural; and so I shall tell your mamma; who
+is a woman of sense, and won't expect such a young head as yours to be
+of the same age as hers and mine. But come into the coach, my dear;
+we'll just drive as far as Northwick, for an airing, and then back
+again.'
+
+The extreme delicacy of the constitution of Eugenia had hitherto
+deterred Mrs. Tyrold from innoculating her; she had therefore
+scrupulously kept her from all miscellaneous intercourse in the
+neighbourhood: but as the weakness of her infancy was now promising to
+change into health and strength, she meant to give to that terrible
+disease its best chance, and the only security it allows from perpetual
+alarm, immediately after the heats of the present autumn should be over.
+
+Lavinia, unused to disobedience, could not be happy in practising it:
+she entreated, therefore, to return immediately to Cleves. Sir Hugh
+complied; premising only that they must none of them expect him to be of
+their play-party again till after dinner.
+
+The coachman then received fresh orders: but, the moment they were
+communicated to the two boys, Lionel, protesting he would not lose the
+fair, said he should soon overtake them, and, regardless of all
+remonstrances, put spurs to his horse, and galloped off.
+
+Sir Hugh, looking after him with great alarm, exclaimed, 'Now he is
+going to break all his bones! which is always the case with those young
+boys, when first they get a horseback.'
+
+Camilla, terrified that she had begged this boon, requested that the
+servant might directly ride after him.
+
+'Yes, my dear, if you wish it,' answered Sir Hugh; 'only we have but
+this one man for us all, because of the rest staying to get the ball and
+supper ready; so that if we should be overturned ourselves, here's never
+a soul to pick us up.'
+
+Edgar offered to ride on alone, and persuade the truant to return.
+
+'Thank you, my dear, thank you,' answered Sir Hugh, 'you are as good a
+boy as any I know, but, in point of horsemanship, one's as ignorant as
+t'other, as far as I can tell; so we may only see both your sculls
+fractured instead of one, in the midst of your galloping; which God
+forbid for either.'
+
+'Then let us all go together,' cried Indiana, 'and bring him back.'
+
+'But do not let us get out of the coach, uncle,' said Lavinia; 'pray do
+not let us get out!'
+
+Sir Hugh agreed; though he added, that as to the small pox, he could by
+no means see it in the same light, for he had no notion of people's
+taking diseases upon themselves. 'Besides,' continued he, 'she will be
+sure to have it when her time comes, whether she is moped up or no; and
+how did people do before these new modes of making themselves sick of
+their own accord?'
+
+Pitying, however, the uneasiness of Lavinia, when they came near the
+town, he called to the footman, and said, 'Hark'ee, Jacob, do you ride
+on first, and keep a sharp look out that nobody has the small pox.'
+
+The fair being held in the suburbs, they soon arrived at some straggling
+booths, and the coach, at the instance of Lavinia, was stopt.
+
+Indiana now earnestly solicited leave to alight and see the fair; and
+Edgar offered to be her esquire. Sir Hugh consented, but desired that
+Lavinia and Camilla might be also of the party. Lavinia tried vainly to
+excuse herself; he assured her it would raise her spirits, and bid her
+be under no apprehension, for he would stay and amuse the little Eugenia
+himself, and take care that she came to no harm.
+
+They were no sooner gone, however, than the little girl cried to follow;
+Sir Hugh, compassionately kissing her, owned she had as good a right as
+any of them, and declared it was a hard thing to have her punished for
+other people's particularities. This concession served only to make her
+tears flow the faster; till, unable to bear the sight, he said he could
+not answer to his conscience the vexing such a young thing, and,
+promising she should have whatever she liked, if she would cry no more,
+he ordered the coachman to drive to the first booth where there were any
+toys to be sold.
+
+Here, having no footman to bring the trinkets to the coach, he alighted,
+and, suffering the little girl, for whom he had not a fear himself, to
+accompany him, he entered the booth, and told her to take whatever hit
+her fancy, for she should have as many playthings as she could carry.
+
+Her grief now gave way to ecstasy, and her little hands could soon
+scarcely sustain the loaded skirt of her white frock. Sir Hugh,
+determining to make the rest of the children equally happy, was
+selecting presents for them all, when the little group, ignorant whom
+they should encounter, advanced towards the same booth: but he had
+hardly time to exclaim, 'Oho! have you caught us?' when the innocent
+voice of Eugenia, calling out, 'Little boy; what's the matter with your
+face, little boy?' drew his attention another way, and he perceived a
+child apparently just recovering from the small pox.
+
+Edgar, who at the same instant saw the same dreaded sight, darted
+forward, seized Eugenia in his arms, and, in defiance of her playthings
+and her struggles, carried her back to the coach; while Lavinia, in an
+agony of terror, ran up to the little boy, and, crying out, 'O go away!
+go away!' dragged him out of the booth, and, perfectly unconscious what
+she did, covered his head with her frock, and held him fast with both
+her hands.
+
+Sir Hugh, all aghast, hurried out of the booth, but could scarce support
+himself from emotion; and, while he leaned upon his stick, ejaculating,
+'Lord help us! what poor creatures we are, we poor mortals!' Edgar had
+the presence of mind to make Indiana and Camilla go directly to the
+carriage. He then prevailed with Sir Hugh to enter it also, and ran back
+for Lavinia. But when he perceived the situation into which distress and
+affright had driven her, and saw her sobbing over the child, whom she
+still held confined, with an idea of hiding him from Eugenia, he was
+instantly sensible of the danger of her joining her little sister.
+Extremely perplexed for them all, and afraid, by going from the sick
+child, he might himself carry the infection to the coach, he sent a man
+to Sir Hugh to know what was to be done.
+
+Sir Hugh, totally overset by the unexpected accident, and
+conscience-struck at his own wilful share in risking it, was utterly
+helpless, and could only answer, that he wished young Mr. Edgar would
+give him his advice.
+
+Edgar, thus called upon, now first felt the abilities which his short
+life had not hitherto brought into use: he begged Sir Hugh would return
+immediately to Cleves, and keep Eugenia there for a few days with
+Camilla and her cousin; while he undertook to go himself in search of
+Lionel, with whose assistance he would convey Lavinia back to
+Etherington, without seeing her little sister; since she must now be as
+full of contagion as the poor object who had just had the disease.
+
+Sir Hugh, much relieved, sent him word he had no doubt he would become
+the first scholar of the age; and desired he would get a chaise for
+himself and Lavinia, and let the footman take charge of his horse.
+
+He then ordered the coach to Cleves.
+
+Edgar fulfilled the injunctions of Sir Hugh with alacrity; but had a
+very difficult task to find Lionel, and one far more painful to appease
+Lavinia, whose apprehensions were so great as they advanced towards
+Etherington, that, to sooth and comfort her, he ordered the postilion to
+drive first to a farm-house near Cleves, whence he forwarded a boy to
+Sir Hugh, with entreaties that he would write a few lines to Mrs.
+Tyrold, in exculpation of her sorrowing daughter.
+
+Sir Hugh complied, but was so little in the habit of writing, that he
+sent over a messenger to desire they would dine at the farm-house, in
+order to give him time to compose his epistle.
+
+Early in the afternoon, he conveyed to them the following letter:
+
+     _To Mrs._ Tyrold _at the Parsonage House, belonging to the Reverend
+     Rector, Mr._ Tyrold, _for the Time being, at_ Etherington _in_
+     Hampshire.
+
+     DEAR SISTER,
+
+     I am no remarkable good writer, in comparison with my brother,
+     which you will excuse from my deficiencies, as it is my only
+     apology. I beg you will not be angry with little Lavinia, as she
+     did nothing in the whole business, except wanting to do right, only
+     not mentioning it in the beginning, which is very excusable in the
+     light of a fault; the wisest of us having been youths ourselves
+     once, and the most learned being subject to do wrong, but how much
+     so the ignorant? of which I may speak more properly. However, as
+     she would certainly have caught the small pox herself, except from
+     the lucky circumstance of having had it before, I think it best to
+     keep Eugenia a few days at Cleves, for the sake of her infection.
+     Not but what if she should have it, I trust your sense won't fret
+     about it, as it is only in the course of Nature; which, if she had
+     been innoculated, is more than any man could say; even a physician.
+     So the whole being my own fault, without the least meaning to
+     offend, if any thing comes of it, I hope, my dear sister, you won't
+     take it ill, especially of poor little Lavinia, for 'tis hard if
+     such young things may not be happy at their time of life, before
+     having done harm to a human soul. Poor dears! 'tis soon enough to
+     be unhappy after being wicked; which, God knows, we are all liable
+     to be in the proper season. I beg my love to my brother; and
+     remain,
+
+     Dear sister,
+
+     Your affectionate brother,
+
+     HUGH TYROLD.
+
+     _P.S._ It is but justice to my brother to mention that young Master
+     Mandlebert's behaviour has done the greatest honour to the
+     classics; which must be a great satisfaction to a person having the
+     care of his education.
+
+The rest of the day lost all its delights to the young heiress from this
+unfortunate adventure. The deprivation of three of the party, with the
+well-grounded fear of Mrs. Tyrold's just blame, were greater
+mortifications to those that remained, than even the ball and supper
+could remove. And Sir Hugh, to whom their lowered spirits were
+sufficiently depressing, had an additional, though hardly to himself
+acknowledged, weight upon his mind, relative to Eugenia and the small
+pox.
+
+The contrition of the trembling Lavinia could not but obtain from Mrs.
+Tyrold the pardon it deserved: but she could make no allowance for the
+extreme want of consideration in Sir Hugh; and anxiously waited the time
+when she might call back Eugenia from the management of a person whom
+she considered as more childish than her children themselves.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_Consequences_
+
+
+Every precaution being taken with regard to Lavinia and her clothes, for
+warding off infection to Eugenia, if as yet she had escaped it; Mrs.
+Tyrold fixed a day for fetching her little daughter from Cleves. Sir
+Hugh, at the earnest entreaty of Camilla, invited the young party to
+come again early that morning, that some amends might be made them for
+their recent disappointment of the ball and supper, by a holiday, and a
+little sport, previous to the arrival of Mrs. Tyrold; to whom he
+voluntarily pledged his word, that Eugenia should not again be taken
+abroad, nor suffered to appear before any strangers.
+
+Various gambols were now again enacted by the once more happy group; but
+all was conducted with as much security as gaiety, till Lionel proposed
+the amusement of riding upon a plank in the park.
+
+A plank was immediately procured by the gardener, and placed upon the
+trunk of an old oak, where it parted into two thick branches.
+
+The boys and the three eldest girls balanced one another in turn, with
+great delight and dexterity; but Sir Hugh feared committing the little
+Eugenia, for whom he was grown very anxious, amongst them, till the
+repinings of the child demolished his prudence. The difficulty how to
+indulge her with safety was, nevertheless, considerable: and, after
+various experiments, he resolved to trust her to nobody but himself;
+and, placing her upon his lap, occupied one end of the plank, and
+desired that as many of the rest as were necessary to make the weight
+equal, would seat themselves upon the other.
+
+This diversion was short, but its consequences were long. Edgar
+Mandlebert, who superintended the balance, poised it with great
+exactness; yet no sooner was Sir Hugh elevated, than, becoming
+exceedingly giddy, he involuntarily loosened his hold of Eugenia, who
+fell from his arms to the ground.
+
+In the agitation of his fright, he stooped forward to save her, but lost
+his equilibrium; and, instead of rescuing, followed her.
+
+The greatest confusion ensued; Edgar, with admirable adroitness,
+preserved the elder girls from suffering by the accident; and Lionel
+took care of himself by leaping instantly from the plank: Sir Hugh,
+extremely bruised, could not get up without pain; but all concern and
+attention soon centred in the little Eugenia, whose incessant cries
+raised apprehensions of some more than common mischief.
+
+She was carried to the house in the arms of Edgar, and delivered to the
+governess. She screamed the whole time she was undressing; and Edgar,
+convinced she had received some injury, galloped off, unbid, for a
+surgeon: but what was the horror of Sir Hugh, upon hearing him
+pronounce, that her left shoulder was put out, and that one of her knees
+was dislocated!
+
+In an agony of remorse, he shut himself up in his room, without power
+to issue a command, or listen to a question: nor could he be prevailed
+upon to open his door, till the arrival of Mrs. Tyrold.
+
+Hastily then rushing out, he hurried to meet her; and, snatching both
+her hands, and pressing them between his own, he burst into a passionate
+flood of tears, and sobbed out: 'Hate me, my dear sister, for you can't
+help it! for I am sorry to tell it you, but I believe I have been the
+death of poor Eugenia, that never hurt a fly in her life!'
+
+Pale, and struck with dread, yet always possessing her presence of mind,
+Mrs. Tyrold disengaged herself, and demanded where she might find her?
+Sir Hugh could make no rational answer; but Edgar, who had run down
+stairs, purposing to communicate the tidings more gently, briefly stated
+the misfortune, and conducted her to the poor little sufferer.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold, though nearly overpowered by a sight so affecting, still
+preserved her faculties for better uses than lamentation. She held the
+child in her arms while the necessary operations were performing by the
+surgeon; she put her to bed, and watched by her side the whole night;
+during which, in defiance of all precautions, a high fever came on, and
+she grew worse every moment.
+
+The next morning, while still in this alarming state, the unfortunate
+little innocent exhibited undoubted symptoms of the small pox.
+
+Mr. Tyrold now also established himself at Cleves, to share the parental
+task of nursing the afflicted child, whose room he never left, except to
+give consolation to his unhappy brother, who lived wholly in his own
+apartment, refusing the sight even of Camilla, and calling himself a
+monster too wicked to look at any thing that was good; though the
+affectionate little girl, pining at the exclusion, continually presented
+herself at his door.
+
+The disease bore every prognostic of fatal consequences, and the fond
+parents soon lost all hope, though they redoubled every attention.
+
+Sir Hugh then gave himself up wholly to despair: he darkened his room,
+refused all food but bread and water, permitted no one to approach him,
+and reviled himself invariably with the contrition of a wilful murderer.
+
+In this state of self-punishment he persevered, till the distemper
+unexpectedly took a sudden and happy turn, and the surgeon made known,
+that his patient might possibly recover.
+
+The joy of Sir Hugh was now as frantic as his grief had been the moment
+before: he hastened to his drawing-room, commanded that the whole house
+should be illuminated; promised a year's wages to all his servants; bid
+his house-keeper distribute beef and broth throughout the village; and
+sent directions that the bells of the three nearest parish churches
+should be rung for a day and a night. But when Mr. Tyrold, to avert the
+horror of any wholly unprepared disappointment, represented the still
+precarious state of Eugenia, and the many changes yet to be feared; he
+desperately reversed all his orders, returned sadly to his dark room,
+and protested he would never more rejoice, till Mrs. Tyrold herself
+should come to him with good news.
+
+This anxiously waited æra at length arrived; Eugenia, though seamed and
+even scarred by the horrible disorder, was declared out of danger; and
+Mrs. Tyrold, burying her anguish at the alteration, in her joy for the
+safety of her child, with an heart overflowing from pious gratitude,
+became the messenger of peace; and, holding out her hand to Sir Hugh,
+assured him the little Eugenia would soon be well.
+
+Sir Hugh, in an ecstasy which no power could check, forgot every pain
+and infirmity to hurry up to the apartment of the little girl, that he
+might kneel, he said, at her feet, and there give thanks for her
+recovery: but the moment he entered the room, and saw the dreadful havoc
+grim disease had made on her face; not a trace of her beauty left, no
+resemblance by which he could have known her; he shrunk back, wrung his
+hands, called himself the most sinful of all created beings, and in the
+deepest despondence, sunk into a chair and wept aloud.
+
+Eugenia soon began to cry also, though unconscious for what cause; and
+Mrs. Tyrold remonstrated to Sir Hugh upon the uselessness of such
+transports, calmly beseeching him to retire and compose himself.
+
+'Yes, sister,' he answered, 'yes, I'll go away, for I am sure, I do not
+want to look at her again; but to think of its being all my doing!--O
+brother! O sister! why don't you both kill me in return? And what amends
+can I make her? what amends, except a poor little trifle of money?--And
+as to that, she shall have it, God knows, every penny I am worth, the
+moment I am gone; ay, that she shall, to a single shilling, if I die
+tomorrow!'
+
+Starting up with revived courage from this idea, he ventured again to
+turn his head towards Eugenia, exclaiming: 'O, if she does but get well!
+does but ease my poor conscience by making me out not to be a murderer,
+a guinea for every pit in that poor face will I settle on her out of
+hand; yes, before I so much as breathe again, for fear of dying in the
+mean time!'
+
+Mrs. Tyrold scarce noticed this declaration; but his brother endeavoured
+to dissuade him from so sudden and partial a measure: he would not,
+however, listen; he made what speed he could down stairs, called hastily
+for his hat and stick, commanded all his servants to attend him, and
+muttering frequent ejaculations to himself, that he would not trust to
+changing his mind, he proceeded to the family chapel, and approaching
+with eager steps to the altar, knelt down, and bidding every one hear
+and witness what he said, made a solemn vow, 'That if he might be
+cleared of the crime of murder, by the recovery of Eugenia, he would
+atone what he could for the ill he had done her, by bequeathing to her
+every thing he possessed in the world, in estate, cash, and property,
+without the deduction of a sixpence.'
+
+He told all present to remember and witness this, in case of an apoplexy
+before his new will could be written down.
+
+Returning then to the house, lightened, he said, from a load of
+self-reproach, which had rendered the last fortnight insupportable to
+him, he sent for the attorney of a neighbouring town, and went upstairs,
+with a firmer mind, to wait his arrival in the sick room.
+
+'O my dear uncle,' cried his long banished Camilla, who hearing him upon
+the stairs, skipt lightly after him, 'how glad I am to see you again! I
+almost thought I should see you no more!'
+
+Here ended at once the just acquired tranquility of Sir Hugh; all his
+satisfaction forsook him at the appearance of his little darling; he
+considered her as an innocent creature whom he was preparing to injure;
+he could not bear to look at her; his heart smote him in her favour; his
+eyes filled with tears; he was unable to go on, and with slow and
+trembling steps, he moved again towards his own room.
+
+'My dearest uncle!' cried Camilla, holding by his coat, and hanging upon
+his arm, 'won't you speak to me?'
+
+'Yes, my dear, to be sure I will,' he answered, endeavouring to hide his
+emotion, 'only not now; so don't follow me Camilla, for I'm going to be
+remarkably busy!'
+
+'O uncle!' she cried, plaintively, 'and I have not seen you so long!
+And I have wished so to see you! and I have been so unhappy about
+Eugenia! and you have always locked your door; and I would not rap hard
+at it, for fear you should be asleep: But why would you not see me,
+uncle? and why will you send me away?'
+
+'My dear Camilla,' he replied, with increased agitation, 'I have used
+you very ill; I have been your worst enemy, which is the very reason I
+don't care to see you; so go away, I beg, for I am bad enough without
+all this. But I give you my thanks for all your little playful gambols,
+having nothing better now to offer you; which is but a poor return from
+an uncle to a niece!'
+
+He then shut himself into his room, leaving Camilla drowned in tears at
+the outside of the door.
+
+Wretched in reflecting upon the shock and disappointment which the new
+disposition of his affairs must occasion her, he had not fortitude to
+inform her of his intention. He desired to speak with Edgar Mandlebert,
+who, with all the Tyrold family, resided, for the present, at Cleves,
+and abruptly related to him the new destination he had just vowed of his
+wealth; beseeching that he would break it in the softest manner to his
+poor little favourite, assuring her she would be always the first in his
+love, though a point of mere conscience had forced him to make choice of
+another heiress.
+
+Edgar, whose zeal to serve and oblige had never been put to so severe a
+test, hesitated how to obey this injunction; yet he would not refuse it,
+as he found that all the servants of the house were enabled, if they
+pleased, to anticipate more incautiously the ill news. He followed her,
+therefore, into the garden, whither she had wandered to weep unobserved;
+but he stopt short at sight of her distress, conceiving his errand to be
+already known to her, and determined to consult with Indiana, to whom he
+communicated his terrible embassy, entreating her to devise some
+consolation for her poor cousin.
+
+Indiana felt too much chagrined at her own part in this transaction, to
+give her attention to Camilla; she murmured without scruple at the
+deprivation of what she had once expected for herself, and at another
+time for her brother; and expressed much resentment at the behaviour of
+her uncle, mingled with something very near repining, not merely at his
+late preference of Camilla, but even at the recovery of the little
+Eugenia. Edgar heard her with surprise, and wondered to find how much
+less her beauty attracted him from the failure of her good nature.
+
+He now pursued the weeping Camilla, who, dispersing her tears at his
+approach, pretended to be picking some lavender, and keeping her eyes
+steadfastly upon the bush, asked him if he would have any? He took a
+sprig, but spoke to her in a voice of such involuntary compassion, that
+she soon lost her self-command, and the big drops again rolled fast down
+her cheeks. Extremely concerned, he strove gently to sooth her; but the
+expressions of regret at her uncle's avoidance, which then escaped her,
+soon convinced him his own task was still to be performed. With anxious
+fear of the consequences of a blow so unlooked for, he executed it with
+all the speed, yet all the consideration in his power. Camilla, the
+moment she understood him, passionately clasped her hands, and
+exclaimed: 'O if that is all! If my uncle indeed loves me as well as
+before all this; I am sure I can never, never be so wicked, as to envy
+poor little Eugenia, who has suffered so much, and almost been dying,
+because she will be richer than I shall be!'
+
+Edgar, delighted and relieved, thought she was grown a thousand times
+more beautiful than Indiana; and eagerly taking her hand, ran with her
+to the apartment of the poor disconsolate Sir Hugh; where his own eyes
+soon overflowed from tenderness and admiration, at the uncommon scene he
+witnessed, of the generous affection with which Camilla consoled the
+fond distress of her uncle, though springing from her own disappointment
+and loss.
+
+They stayed till the arrival of the attorney, who took the directions of
+Sir Hugh, and drew up, for his immediate satisfaction, a short deed,
+making over, according to his vow, all he should die possessed of,
+without any let or qualification whatsoever, to his niece Eugenia. This
+was properly signed and sealed, and Sir Hugh hastened up stairs with a
+copy of it to Mr. Tyrold.
+
+All remonstrance was ineffectual; his conscience, he protested, could no
+other way be appeased; his noble little Camilla had forgiven him her ill
+usage, and he could now bear to look at the change for the worse in
+Eugenia, without finding his heart-strings ready to burst at the sight.
+'You,' he cried, 'brother, who do not know what it is I have suffered
+through my conscience, can't tell what it is to get a little ease; for
+if she had died, you might all have had the comfort to say 'twas I
+murdered her, which would have given you the satisfaction of having had
+no hand in it. But then, what would have become of poor me, having it
+all upon my own head? However, now thank Heaven, I have no need to care
+about the matter; for as to the mere loss of beauty, pretty as it is to
+look at, I hope it is no such great injury, as she'll have a splendid
+fortune, which is certainly a better thing, in point of lasting. For as
+to beauty, Lord help us! what is it? except just to the eye.'
+
+He then walked up to the child, intending to kiss her, but stopt and
+sighed involuntarily as he looked at her, saying: 'After all, she's not
+like the same thing! no more than I am myself. I shall never think I
+know her again, never as long as I live! I can't so much as believe her
+to be the same, though I am sure of its being true. However, it shall
+make no change in my love for her, poor little dear, for it's all my own
+doing; though innocently enough, as to any meaning, God knows!'
+
+It was still some time before the little girl recovered, and then a new
+misfortune became daily more palpable, from some latent and incurable
+mischief, owing to her fall, which made her grow up with one leg shorter
+than the other, and her whole figure diminutive and deformed: These
+additional evils reconciled her parents to the partial will of her
+uncle, which they now, indeed, thought less wanting in equity, since no
+other reparation could be offered to the innocent sufferer for ills so
+insurmountable.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_Studies of a grown Gentleman_
+
+
+When the tumult of this affair subsided, Mr. Tyrold and his family
+prepared to re-establish themselves at Etherington; and Mrs. Tyrold, the
+great inducement for the separation being over, was earnest to take home
+again the disinherited Camilla. Sir Hugh, whose pleasure in her sight
+was how embittered by regret and remorse, had not courage to make the
+smallest opposition; yet he spent the day of her departure in groans and
+penitence. He thought it right, however, to detain Eugenia, who, as his
+decided heiress, was left to be brought up at Cleves.
+
+The loss of the amusing society of his favourite; the disappointment he
+had inflicted upon her, and the sweetness with which she had borne it,
+preyed incessantly upon his spirits; and he knew not how to employ
+himself, which way to direct his thoughts, nor in what manner to beguile
+one moment of his time, after the children were gone to rest.
+
+The view of the constant resources which his brother found in
+literature, augmented his melancholy at his own imperfections; and the
+steady industry with which Mr. Tyrold, in early youth, had attained
+them, and which, while devoted to field sports, he had often observed
+with wonder and pity, he now looked back to with self-reproach, and
+recognised in its effect with a reverence almost awful.
+
+His imagination, neither regulated by wisdom, nor disciplined by
+experience, having once taken this turn, he soon fancied that every
+earthly misfortune originated in a carelessness of learning, and that
+all he wished, and all he wanted, upbraided him with his ignorance. If
+disease and pain afflicted him, he lamented the juvenile inattention
+that had robbed him of acquirements which might have taught him not to
+regard them; if the word scholar was named in his presence, he heaved
+the deepest sigh; if an article in a newspaper, with which he was
+unacquainted, was discussed, he reviled his early heedlessness of study;
+and the mention of a common pamphlet, which was unknown to him, gave him
+a sensation of disgrace: even inevitable calamities he attributed to the
+negligence of his education, and construed every error, and every evil
+of his life, to his youthful disrespect of Greek and Latin.
+
+Such was the state of his mind, when his ordinary maladies had the
+serious aggravation of a violent fit of the gout.
+
+In the midst of the acute anguish, and useless repentance, which now
+alternately ravaged his happiness, it suddenly occurred to him, that,
+perhaps, with proper instruction, he might even yet obtain a sufficient
+portion of this enviable knowledge, to enable him to pass his evenings
+with some similarity to his brother.
+
+Revived by this suggestion, he sent for Mr. Tyrold, to communicate to
+him his idea, and to beg he would put him into a way to recover his lost
+time, by recommending to him a tutor, with whom he might set about a
+course of studies:--'Not that I want,' cried he, 'to make any particular
+great figure as a scholar; but if I could only learn just enough to
+amuse me at odd hours, and make me forget the gout, it's as much as I
+desire.'
+
+The total impossibility that such a project should answer its given
+purpose, deterred not Mr. Tyrold from listening to his request. The mild
+philosophy of his character saw whatever was lenient to human sufferings
+as eligible, and looked no further for any obstacles to the wishes of
+another, than to investigate if their gratification would be compatible
+with innocence. He wrote, therefore, to a college associate of his
+younger years, whom he knew to be severely embarrassed in his affairs,
+and made proposals for settling him in the house of his brother. These
+were not merely gratefully accepted by his old friend, but drew forth a
+confession that he was daily menaced with a public arrest for debts,
+which he had incurred without luxury or extravagance, from mere
+ignorance of the value of money, and of oeconomy.
+
+In the award of cool reason, to attend to what is impracticable, appears
+a folly which no inducement can excuse. Mrs. Tyrold treated this scheme
+with calm, but complete contempt. She allowed no palliation for a
+measure of which the abortive end was glaring; to hearken to it
+displeased her, as a false indulgence of childish vanity; and her
+understanding felt shocked that Mr. Tyrold would deign to humour his
+brother in an enterprise which must inevitably terminate in a fruitless
+consumption of time.
+
+Sir Hugh soon, but without anger, saw her disapprobation of his plan;
+her opinions, from a high superiority to all deceit, were as unreserved
+as those of the baronet, from a nature incapable of caution. He told her
+he was sorry to perceive that she thought he should make no proficiency,
+but entreated her to take notice there was at least no great presumption
+in his attempt, as he meant to begin with the very beginning, and to go
+no farther at the first than any young little school-boy; for he should
+give himself fair play, by trying his hand with the rudiments, which
+would no sooner be run over, than the rest would become plain sailing:
+'And if once,' he added, 'I should conquer the mastery of the classics,
+I shall make but very short work of all the rest.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold saw, as forcibly as his wife, the utter impossibility that
+Sir Hugh could now repair the omissions of his youth; but he was willing
+to console his want of knowledge, and sooth his mortifications; and
+while he grieved for his bodily infirmities, and pitied his mental
+repinings, he considered his idea as not illaudable, though injudicious,
+and in favour of its blamelessness, forgave its absurdity.
+
+He was gratified, also, in offering an honourable provision to a man of
+learning in distress, whose time and attention could not fail to deserve
+it, if dedicated to his brother, in whatever way they might be bestowed.
+
+He took care to be at Cleves on the day Dr. Orkborne, this gentleman,
+was expected, and he presented him to Sir Hugh with every mark of
+regard, as a companion in whose conversation, he flattered himself, pain
+might be lightened, and seclusion from mixt company cheerfully
+supported.
+
+Dr. Orkborne expressed his gratitude for the kindness of Mr. Tyrold, and
+promised to make it his first study to merit the high consideration with
+which he had been called from his retirement.
+
+A scholastic education was all that had been given to Dr. Orkborne by
+his friends; and though in that their hopes were answered, no prosperity
+followed. His labours had been seconded by industry, but not enforced by
+talents; and they soon found how wide the difference between acquiring
+stores, and bringing them into use. Application, operating upon a
+retentive memory, had enabled him to lay by the most ample hoards of
+erudition; but these, though they rendered him respectable amongst the
+learned, proved nearly nugatory in his progress through the world, from
+a total want of skill and penetration to know how or where they might
+turn to any account. Nevertheless, his character was unexceptionable,
+his manners were quiet, and his fortune was ruined. These were the
+motives which induced rather the benevolence than the selection of Mr.
+Tyrold to name him to his brother, in the hope that, while an asylum at
+Cleves would exonerate him from all pecuniary hardships, his very
+deficiency in brilliancy of parts, and knowledge of mankind, which
+though differently modified, was equal to that of Sir Hugh himself,
+would obviate regret of more cultivated society, and facilitate their
+reciprocal satisfaction.
+
+The introduction over, Mr. Tyrold sought by general topics to forward
+their acquaintance, before any allusion should be made to the professed
+plan of Sir Hugh; but Sir Hugh was too well pleased with its ingenuity
+to be ashamed of its avowal; he began, therefore, immediately to descant
+upon the indolence of his early years, and to impeach the want of
+timely severity in his instructors: 'For there is an old saying,' he
+cried, 'but remarkably true, That learning is better than house or land;
+which I am an instance of myself, for I have house and land plenty, yet
+don't know what to do with them properly, nor with myself neither, for
+want of a little notion of things to guide me by.' His brother, he
+added, had been too partial in thinking him already fitted for such a
+master as Dr. Orkborne; though he promised, notwithstanding his time of
+life, to become the most docile of pupils, and he hoped before long to
+do no discredit to the Doctor as his tutor.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, whose own benign countenance could scarce refrain from a
+smile at this unqualified opening, endeavoured to divert to some other
+subject the grave astonishment of Dr. Orkborne, who, previously aware of
+the age and ill health of the baronet, naturally concluded himself
+called upon to solace the privacy of his life by reading or discourse,
+but suggested not the most distant surmise he could be summoned as a
+preceptor.
+
+Sir Hugh, however, far from palliating any design, disguised not even a
+feeling; he plunged deeper and deeper in the acknowledgment of his
+ignorance, and soon set wholly apart the delicate circumspection of his
+brother, by demanding of Dr. Orkborne what book he thought he had best
+buy for a beginning?
+
+Receiving from the wondering Doctor no answer, he good humouredly added,
+'Come, don't be ashamed to name the easiest, for this reason; you must
+know my plan is one of my own, which it is right to tell you. As fast as
+I get on, I intend, for the sake of remembering my lesson, to send for
+one of my nephews, and teach it all over again to him myself; which will
+be doing service to us all at once.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold now, though for a few moments he looked down, thought it best
+to leave the matter to its own course, and Dr. Orkborne to his own
+observations; fully persuaded, that the smiles Sir Hugh might excite
+would be transient, and that no serious or lasting ridicule could be
+attached to his character, in the mind of a worthy man, to whom time and
+opportunity would be allowed for an acquaintance with its habitual
+beneficence. He excused himself, therefore, from staying any longer,
+somewhat to the distress of Dr. Orkborne, but hardly with the notice of
+the baronet, whose eagerness in his new pursuit completely engrossed
+him.
+
+His late adventure, and his new heiress, now tormented him no more;
+Indiana was forgotten, Camilla but little thought of, and his whole mind
+became exclusively occupied by this fruitful expedient for retrieving
+his lost time.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, whose life had been spent in any study rather than that of
+human nature, was so little able to enter into the character of Sir
+Hugh, that nothing less than the respect he knew to be due to Mr.
+Tyrold, could have saved him, upon his first reception, from a suspicion
+that he had been summoned in mere mockery. The situation, however, was
+peculiarly desirable to him, and the experiment, in the beginning,
+corresponded with the hopes of Mr. Tyrold. Placed suddenly in ease and
+affluence, Dr. Orkborne, with the most profound desire to please, sought
+to sustain so convenient a post, by obliging the patron, whom he soon
+saw it would be vain to attempt improving; while Sir Hugh, in return,
+professed himself the most fortunate of men, that he had now met with a
+scholar who had the good nature not to despise him.
+
+Relief from care thus combining with opportunity, Dr. Orkborne was
+scarce settled, ere he determined upon the execution of a long,
+critical, and difficult work in philology, which he had often had in
+contemplation, but never found leisure to undertake. By this means he
+had a constant resource for himself; and the baronet, observing that
+time never hung heavy upon his hands, conceived a yet higher admiration
+of learning, and felt his spirits proportionably re-animated by the fair
+prospect of participating in such advantages.
+
+From this dream, however, he was soon awakened; a parcel, by the
+direction of Dr. Orkborne, arrived from his bookseller, with materials
+for going to work.
+
+Sir Hugh then sent off a message to the parsonage-house, informing his
+brother and his family, that they must not be surprised if they did not
+see or hear of him for some time, as he had got his hands quite full,
+and should be particularly engaged for a week or two to come.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, still but imperfectly conceiving the extent, either of the
+plan, or of the simplicity of his new pupil, proposed, as soon as the
+packet was opened, that they should read together; but Sir Hugh replied,
+that he would do the whole in order, and by no means skip the
+rudiments.
+
+The disappointment which followed, may be easily imagined; with neither
+quickness to learn, nor memory to retain, he aimed at being initiated in
+the elements of a dead language, for which youth only can find time and
+application, and even youth but by compulsion. His head soon became
+confused, his ideas were all perplexed, his attention was vainly
+strained, and his faculties were totally disordered.
+
+Astonished at his own disturbance, which he attributed solely to not
+getting yet into the right mode, he laughed off his chagrin, but was
+steady in his perseverance; and continued wholly shut up from his family
+and friends, with a zeal worthy better success.
+
+Lesson after lesson, however, only aggravated his difficulties, till his
+intellects grew so embarrassed he scarce knew if he slept or waked. His
+nights became infected by the perturbation of the day; his health
+visibly suffered from the restlessness of both, and all his flattering
+hopes of new and unknown happiness were ere long exchanged for despair.
+
+He now sent for his brother, and desired to speak with him alone; when,
+catching him fast by the hand, and looking piteously in his face, 'Do
+you know, my dear brother,' he cried, 'I find myself turning out as
+sheer a blockhead as ever, for all I have got so many more years over my
+head than when I began all this hard jingle jangle before?'
+
+Mr. Tyrold, with greater concern than surprise, endeavoured to re-assure
+and console him, by pointing out a road more attainable for reaping
+benefit from the presence of Dr. Orkborne, than the impracticable path
+into which he had erroneously entered.
+
+'Ah! no, my dear brother,' he answered; 'if I don't succeed this way, I
+am sure I shall succeed no other; for as to pains, I could not have
+taken more if I had been afraid to be flogged once a-day: and that
+gentleman has done all he can, too, as far as I know to the contrary.
+But I really think whatever's the meaning of it, there's some people
+can't learn.'
+
+Then, shaking his head, he added, in a low voice: 'To say the truth, I
+might as well have given it up from the very first, for any great
+comfort I found in it, if it had not been for fear of hurting that
+gentleman; however, don't let the poor gentleman know that; for I've no
+right to turn him off upon nothing, merely for the fault of my having no
+head, which how can he help?'
+
+Mr. Tyrold agreed in the justice of this reflection, and undertook to
+deliberate upon some conciliatory expedient.
+
+Sir Hugh heartily thanked him; 'But only in the mean time that you are
+thinking,' cried he, 'how shall I bring it about to stop him from coming
+to me with all those books for my study? For, do you know, my dear
+brother, because I asked him to buy me one for my beginning, he sent for
+a full score? And when he comes to me about my lesson, he brings them
+all upon me together: which is one thing, for ought I know, that helps
+to confuse me; for I am wondering all the while when I shall get through
+with them. However, say nothing of all this before the poor gentleman,
+for fear he should take it as a hint; which might put him out of heart:
+for which reason I'd rather take another lesson, Lord help me!--than vex
+him.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold promised his best consideration, and to see him again the
+next morning. But he had hardly left Cleves ten minutes, when a man and
+horse came galloping after him, with a petition that he would return
+without delay.
+
+The baronet received him with a countenance renovated with
+self-complacency. 'I won't trouble you,' he cried, 'to think any more;
+for now I have got a plan of my own, which I will tell you. Not to throw
+this good gentleman entirely away, I intend having a sort of a kind of
+school set up here in my sick room, and so to let all my nephews come,
+and say their tasks to him in my hearing; and then, who knows but I may
+pick up a little amongst them myself, without all this hard study?'
+
+Mr. Tyrold stated the obvious objections to so wild a scheme; but he
+besought him not to oppose it, as there was no other way for him to get
+rid of his tutoring, without sending off Dr. Orkborne. He desired,
+therefore, that Lionel might come instantly to Cleves; saying, 'I shall
+write myself to Eton, by the means of the Doctor, to tell the Master I
+shall take Clermont entirely home after the next holidays, for the sake
+of having him study under my own eye.'
+
+He then entreated him to prepare Dr. Orkborne for his new avocation.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, who saw that in this plan the inventor alone could be
+disappointed, made no further remonstrance, and communicated the design
+to Dr. Orkborne; who, growing now deeply engaged in his own undertaking,
+was perfectly indifferent to whom or to what his occasional attendance
+might be given.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_Schooling of a young Gentleman_
+
+
+Mrs. Tyrold expressed much astonishment that her husband could afford
+any countenance to this new plan. 'Your expectations from it,' she
+cried, 'can be no higher than my own; you have certainly some influence
+with your brother; why, then, will you suffer him thus egregiously to
+expose himself?'
+
+'I cannot protect his pride,' answered Mr. Tyrold, 'at the expence of
+his comfort. His faculties want some object, his thoughts some
+employment. Inaction bodily and intellectual pervading the same
+character, cannot but fix disgust upon every stage and every state of
+life. Vice alone is worse than such double inertion. Where mental vigour
+can be kept alive without offence to religion and virtue, innocence as
+well as happiness is promoted; and the starter of difficulties with
+regard to the means which point to such an end, inadvertently risks
+both. To save the mind from preying inwardly upon itself, it must be
+encouraged to some outward pursuit. There is no other way to elude
+apathy, or escape discontent; none other to guard the temper from that
+quarrel with itself, which ultimately ends in quarrelling with all
+mankind.'
+
+'But may you not, by refusing to send him your son, induce him to seek
+recreation in some more rational way?'
+
+'Recreation, my dear Georgiana, must be spontaneous. Bidden pleasures
+fly the perversity of our tastes. Let us take care, then, scrupulously,
+of our duties, but suffer our amusements to take care of themselves. A
+project, a pastime, such as this, is, at least, as harmless as it is
+hopeless, since the utmost sport of wit, or acrimony of malice, can only
+fasten a laugh upon it: and how few are the diversions of the rich and
+indolent that can so lightly be acquitted!'
+
+Lionel, the new young student, speedily, though but little to her
+satisfaction, abetted the judgment of his mother. He was no sooner
+summoned to Cleves, than, enchanted to find himself a fellow-pupil with
+his uncle, he conceived the highest ideas of his own premature genius:
+and when this vanity, from the avowed ignorance of the artless baronet,
+subsided, it was only replaced by a sovereign contempt of his new
+associate. He made the most pompous display of his own little
+acquirements; he took every opportunity to ask questions of Sir Hugh
+which he knew he could not answer; and he would sometimes, with an arch
+mock solemnity, carry his exercise to him, and beg his assistance.
+
+Sir Hugh bore this juvenile impertinence with unshaken good humour. But
+the spirits of Lionel were too mutinous for such lenity: he grew bolder
+in his attacks, and more fearless of consequences; and in a very short
+time, his uncle seemed to him little more than the butt at which he
+might level the shafts of his rising triumph; till tired, at length,
+though not angry, the baronet applied to Dr. Orkborne, and begged he
+would teach him, out of hand, some small little smattering of Latin
+sentences, by which he might make the young pedant think better of him.
+
+Dr. Orkborne complied, and wrote him a few brief exercises; but these,
+after toiling day and night to learn, he pronounced so ill, and so
+constantly mis-applied, that, far from impressing his fellow-labourer
+with more respect, the moment he uttered a single word of his new
+lesson, the boy almost rolled upon the floor with convulsive merriment.
+
+Sir Hugh, with whom these phrases neither lost nor gained by mistaking
+one word for another, appealed to Dr. Orkborne to remedy what he
+conceived to be an unaccountable failure. Dr. Orkborne, absorbed in his
+new personal pursuit, to which he daily grew more devoted, was earnest
+to be as little as possible interrupted, and therefore only advised him
+to study his last lesson, before he pressed for any thing new.
+
+Study, however, was unavailing, and he heard this injunction with
+despair; but finding it constantly repeated upon every application for
+help, he was seized again with a horror of the whole attempt, and begged
+to consult with Mr. Tyrold.
+
+'This gentleman you have recommended to me for my tutor,' he cried, 'is
+certainly a great scholar; I don't mean to doubt that the least in the
+world, being no judge: and he is complaisant enough too, considering all
+that; but yet I have rather a suspicion he is afraid I shall make no
+hand of it; which is a thing so disheartening to a person in the line of
+improvement, that, to tell you the honest truth, I am thinking of giving
+the whole up at a blow; for, Lord help me! what shall I be the better
+for knowing Latin and Greek? It's not worth a man's while to think of
+it, after being a boy. And so, if you please, I'd rather you'd take
+Lionel home again.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold agreed; but asked what he meant to do further concerning the
+Doctor?
+
+'Why that, brother, is the very thing my poor ignorant head wants your
+advice for: because, as to that plan about our learning all together, I
+see it won't do; for either the boys will grow up to be no better
+scholars than their uncle, which is to say, none at all; or else they'll
+hold everybody cheap, when they meet with a person knowing nothing; so
+I'll have no more hand in it. And I shall really be glad enough to get
+such a thing off my mind; for it's been weight enough upon it from the
+beginning.'
+
+He then desired the opinion of Mr. Tyrold what step he should take to
+prevent the arrival of Clermont Lynmere, whom, he said, he dreaded to
+see, being determined to have no more little boys about him for some
+time to come.
+
+Mr. Tyrold recommended re-settling him at Eton: but Sir Hugh declared he
+could not possibly do that, because the poor little fellow had written
+him word he was glad to leave school. 'And I don't doubt,' he added,
+'but he'll make the best figure of us all; because I had him put in the
+right mode from the first; though, I must needs own, I had as lieve see
+him a mere dunce all his life, supposing I should live so long, which
+God forbid in regard to his dying, as have him turn out a mere coxcomb
+of a pedant, laughing and grinning at everybody that can't spell a Greek
+noun.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold promised to take the matter into consideration; but early the
+next morning, the baronet again summoned him, and joyfully made known,
+that a scheme had come into his own head, which answered all purposes.
+In the first place, he said, he had really taken so prodigious a dislike
+to learning, that he was determined to send Clermont over the seas, to
+finish his Greek and Latin; not because he was fond of foreign parts,
+but for fear, if he should let him come to Cleves, the great distaste he
+had now conceived against those sort of languages, might disgust the
+poor boy from his book. And he had most luckily recollected, in the
+middle of the night, that he had a dear friend, one Mr. Westwyn, who was
+going the very next month to carry his own son to Leipsic; which was
+just what had put the thought into his head; because, by that means,
+Clermont might be removed from one studying place to t'other, without
+loss of time.
+
+'But for all that,' he continued, 'as this good gentleman here has been
+doing no harm, I won't have him become a sufferer for my changing my
+mind: and so, not to affront him by giving him nothing to do, which
+would be like saying, "You may go your ways," I intend he should try
+Indiana.'
+
+Observing Mr. Tyrold now look with the extremest surprise, he added; 'To
+be sure, being a girl, it is rather out of the way; but as there is
+never another boy, what can I do? Besides I shan't so much mind her
+getting a little learning, because she's not likely to make much hand of
+it. And this one thing, I can tell you, which I have learnt of my own
+accord; I'll never press a person to set about studying at my time of
+life as long as I live, knowing what a plague it is.'
+
+Lionel returned to Etherington with his father, and the rest of the
+scheme was put into execution without delay. Mr. Westwyn conveyed
+Clermont from Eton to Leipsic, where he settled him with the preceptor
+and masters appointed for his own son; and Dr. Orkborne was desired to
+become the tutor of Indiana.
+
+At first, quitting his learned residence, the Doctor might indignantly
+have blushed at the proposition of an employment so much beneath his
+abilities: but he now heard it without the smallest emotion; sedately
+revolving in his mind, that his literary work would not be affected by
+the ignorance or absurdity of his several pupils.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_Tuition of a young Lady_
+
+
+The fair Indiana participated not in the philosophy of her preceptor.
+The first mention of taking lessons produced an aversion unconquerable
+to their teacher; and the first question he asked her at the appointed
+hour for study, was answered by a burst of tears.
+
+To Dr. Orkborne this sorrow would have proved no impediment to their
+proceeding, as he hardly noticed it; but Sir Hugh, extremely affected,
+kindly kissed her, and said he would beg her off for this time. The next
+day, however, gave rise but to a similar scene; and the next which
+followed would precisely have resembled it, had not the promise of some
+new finery of attire dispersed the pearly drops that were preparing to
+fall.
+
+The uncommon beauty of Indiana had made her infancy adored, and her
+childhood indulged by almost all who had seen her. The brilliant picture
+she presented to the eye by her smiles and her spirits, rendered the
+devastation caused by crying, pouting, or fretfulness so striking, and
+so painful to behold, that not alone her uncle, but every servant in the
+house, and every stranger who visited it, granted to her lamentations
+whatever they demanded, to relieve their own impatience at the loss of
+so pleasing an image. Accustomed, therefore, never to weep without
+advantage, she was in the constant habit of giving unbridled vent to her
+tears upon the smallest contradiction, well knowing that not to spoil
+her pretty eyes by crying, was the current maxim of the whole house.
+
+Unused, by this means, to any trouble or application, the purposed
+tuition of Dr. Orkborne appeared a burden to her intolerable; yet
+weeping, her standing resource, was with him utterly vain; her tears
+were unimportant to one who had taken no notice of her smiles; and
+intent upon his own learned ruminations, he never even looked at her.
+
+Bribery, day after day, could procure but a few instants' attention,
+given so unwillingly, and so speedily withdrawn, that trinkets, dress,
+and excursions were soon exhausted, without the smallest advancement.
+The general indulgence of the baronet made partial favours of small
+efficacy; and Indiana was sooner tired of receiving, than he of
+presenting his offerings.
+
+She applied, therefore, at length, to the governess, whose
+expostulations, she knew by experience, were precisely what Sir Hugh
+most sedulously aimed to avoid.
+
+Miss Margland was a woman of family and fashion, but reduced, through
+the gaming and extravagance of her father, to such indigence, that,
+after sundry failures in higher attempts, she was compelled to acquiesce
+in the good offices of her friends, which placed her as a governess in
+the house of Sir Hugh.
+
+To Indiana, however, she was but nominally a tutress; neglected in her
+own education, there was nothing she could teach, though, born and bred
+in the circle of fashion, she imagined she had nothing to learn. And,
+while a mind proudly shallow kept her unacquainted with her own
+deficiencies, her former rank in society imposed an equal ignorance of
+them upon Sir Hugh. But, notwithstanding he implicitly gave her credit
+for possessing whatever she assumed, he found her of a temper so
+unpleasant, and so irritable to offence, that he made it a rule never to
+differ from her. The irksomeness of this restraint induced him to keep
+as much as possible out of her way; though respect and pity for her
+birth and her misfortunes, led him to resolve never to part with her
+till Indiana was married.
+
+The spirit of Miss Margland was as haughty as her intellects were weak;
+and her disposition was so querulous, that, in her constant suspicion of
+humiliation, she seemed always looking for an affront, and ready primed
+for a contest.
+
+She seized with pleasure the opportunity offered her by Indiana, of
+remonstrating against this new system of education; readily allowing,
+that any accomplishment beyond what she had herself acquired, would be
+completely a work of supererogation. She represented dictatorily her
+objections to the baronet. Miss Lynmere, she said, though both beautiful
+and well brought up, could never cope with so great a disadvantage as
+the knowledge of Latin: 'Consider, Sir,' she cried, 'what an obstacle it
+will prove to her making her way in the great world, when she comes to
+be of a proper age for thinking of an establishment. What gentleman will
+you ever find that will bear with a learned wife? except some mere
+downright fogrum, no young lady of fashion could endure.'
+
+She then spoke of the danger of injuring her beauty by study; and ran
+over all the qualifications really necessary for a young lady to attain,
+which consisted simply of an enumeration of all she had herself
+attempted; a little music, a little drawing, and a little dancing; which
+should all, she added, be but slightly pursued, to distinguish a lady of
+fashion from an artist.
+
+Sir Hugh, a good deal disturbed, because unable to answer her, thought
+it would be best to interest Dr. Orkborne in his plan, and to beg him to
+reconcile her to its execution. He sent, therefore, a message to the
+Doctor, to beg to speak with him immediately.
+
+Dr. Orkborne promised to wait upon him without delay: but he was at that
+moment hunting for a passage in a Greek author, and presently forgot
+both the promise and the request.
+
+Sir Hugh, concluding nothing but sickness could detain him, went to his
+apartment; where, finding him perfectly well, he stared at him a moment;
+and then, sitting down, begged him to make no apology, for he could
+tell his business there as well as any where else.
+
+He gave a long and copious relation of the objections of Miss Margland,
+earnestly begging Dr. Orkborne would save him from such another
+harangue, it being bad for his health, by undertaking to give her the
+proper notion of things himself.
+
+The Doctor, who had just found the passage for which he had been
+seeking, heard not one word that he said.
+
+Sir Hugh, receiving no answer, imagined him to be weighing the substance
+of his narration; and, therefore, bidding him not worry his brain too
+much, offered him half an hour to fix upon what should be done; and
+returned quietly to his own room.
+
+Here he sat, counting the minutes, with his watch in his hand, till the
+time stipulated arrived: but finding Dr. Orkborne let it pass without
+any notice, he again took the trouble of going back to his apartment.
+
+He then eagerly asked what plan he had formed?
+
+Dr. Orkborne, much incommoded by this second interruption, coldly begged
+to know his pleasure.
+
+Sir Hugh, with great patience, though much surprise, repeated the whole,
+word for word, over again: but the history was far too long for Dr.
+Orkborne, whose attention, after the first sentence or two, was
+completely restored to his Greek quotation, which he was in the act of
+transcribing when Sir Hugh re-entered the room.
+
+The baronet, at length, more categorically said, 'Don't be so shy of
+speaking out, Doctor; though I am afraid, by your silence, you've rather
+a notion poor Indiana will never get on; which, perhaps, makes you think
+it not worth while contradicting Mrs. Margland? Come, speak out!--Is
+that the case with the poor girl?'
+
+'Yes, sir,' answered Dr. Orkborne, with great composure; though
+perfectly unconscious of the proposition to which he assented.
+
+'Lack a-day! if I was not always afraid she had rather a turn to being a
+dunce! So it's your opinion it won't do, then?'
+
+'Yes, sir,' again replied the Doctor; his eye the whole time fastened
+upon the passage which occupied his thoughts.
+
+'Why then we are all at a stand again! This is worse than I thought for!
+So the poor dear girl has really no head?--Hay, Doctor?--Do speak,
+pray?--Don't mind vexing me. Say so at once, if you can't help thinking
+it.'
+
+Another extorted, 'Yes, sir,' completely overset Sir Hugh; who, imputing
+the absent and perplexed air with which it was pronounced to an
+unwillingness to give pain, shook him by the hand, and, quitting the
+room, ordered his carriage, and set off for Etherington.
+
+'Oh, brother,' he cried; 'Indiana's the best girl in the world, as well
+as the prettiest; but, do you know, Dr. Orkborne says she has got no
+brains! So there's an end of that scheme! However, I have now thought of
+another that will settle all differences.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold hoped it was an entire discontinuance of all pupilage and
+tutorship; and that Dr. Orkborne might henceforth be considered as a
+mere family friend.
+
+'No, no, my dear brother, no! 'tis a better thing than that, as you
+shall hear. You must know I have often been concerned to think how glum
+poor Clermont will look when he hears of my will in favour of Eugenia;
+which was my chief reason in my own private mind, for not caring to see
+him before he went abroad; but I have made myself quite easy about him
+now, by resolving to set little Eugenia upon learning the classics.'
+
+'Eugenia! and of what benefit will that prove to Clermont?'
+
+'Why, as soon as she grows a little old, that is to say, a young woman,
+I intend, with your good will and my sister's, to marry her to
+Clermont.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold smiled, but declared his entire concurrence, if the young
+people, when they grew up, wished for the alliance.
+
+'As to that,' said he, 'I mean to make sure work, by having them
+educated exactly to fit one another. I shall order Clermont to think of
+nothing but his studies till the proper time; and as to Eugenia, I shall
+make her a wife after his own heart, by the help of this gentleman; for
+I intend to bid him teach her just like a man, which, as she's so young,
+may be done from the beginning, the same as if she was a boy.'
+
+He then enumerated the advantages of this project, which would save
+Clermont from all disappointment, by still making over to him his whole
+fortune, with a wife ready formed into a complete scholar for him into
+the bargain. It would also hinder Eugenia from being a prey to some sop
+for her money, who, being no relation, could not have so good a right to
+it; and it would prevent any affront to Dr. Orkborne, by keeping him a
+constant tight task in hand.
+
+Mr. Tyrold forbore to chagrin him with any strong expostulation, and he
+returned, therefore, to Cleves in full glee. He repaired immediately to
+the apartment of the Doctor, who, only by what was now said, was
+apprized of what had passed before. Somewhat, therefore, alarmed, to
+understand that the studies of Indiana were to be relinquished, he
+exerted all the alacrity in his power for accepting his new little
+pupil: not from any idea of preference; for he concluded that incapacity
+of Indiana to be rather that of her sex than of an individual; but from
+conceiving that his commodious abode at Cleves depended upon his
+retaining one scholar in the family. Eugenia therefore was called, and
+the lessons were begun.
+
+The little girl, who was naturally of a thoughtful turn, and whose state
+of health deprived her of most childish amusements, was well contented
+with the arrangement, and soon made a progress so satisfactory to Dr.
+Orkborne, that Sir Hugh, letting his mind now rest from all other
+schemes, became fully and happily occupied by the prosecution of his
+last suggestion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_Lost Labour_
+
+
+From this period, the families of Etherington and Cleves lived in the
+enjoyment of uninterrupted harmony and repose, till Eugenia, the most
+juvenile of the set, had attained her fifteenth year.
+
+Sir Hugh then wrote to Leipsic, desiring his nephew Lynmere to return
+home without delay. 'Not that I intend,' he said to Mr. Tyrold,
+'marrying them together at this young age, Eugenia being but a child,
+except in point of Latin; though I assure you, my dear brother, she's
+the most sensible of the whole, poor Indiana being nothing to her, for
+all her prettiness; but the thing is, the sooner Clermont comes over,
+the sooner they may begin forming the proper regard.'
+
+The knowledge of this projected alliance was by no means confined to Sir
+Hugh and Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold; it was known throughout the family, though
+never publicly announced, and understood from her childhood by Eugenia
+herself, though Mrs. Tyrold had exerted her utmost authority to prevent
+Sir Hugh from apprizing her of it in form. It was nevertheless, the joy
+of his heart to prepare the young people for each other: and his scheme
+received every encouragement he could desire, from the zeal and uncommon
+progress in her studies made by Eugenia; which most happily corresponded
+with all his injunctions to Leipsic, for the application and
+acquirements of Clermont.
+
+Thus circumstanced, it was a blow to him the most unexpected, to receive
+from the young bridegroom elect, in answer to his summons home, a
+petition to make the tour of Europe, while yet on the continent.
+
+'What!' cried Sir Hugh, 'and is this all his care for us? after so many
+years separation from his kin and kind, has he no natural longings to
+see his native land? no yearnings to know his own relations from
+strangers?'
+
+Eugenia, notwithstanding her extreme youth, secretly applauded and
+admired a search of knowledge she would gladly have participated [in];
+though she was not incurious to see the youth she considered as her
+destined partner for life, and to whom all her literary labours had been
+directed: for the never-failing method of Sir Hugh to stimulate her if
+she was idle, had been to assure her that, unless she worked harder, her
+cousin Clermont would eclipse her.
+
+She had now acquired a decided taste for study, which, however unusual
+for her age, most fortunately rescued from weariness or sadness the
+sedentary life, which a weak state of health compelled her to lead. This
+induced her to look with pleasure upon Clermont as the object of her
+emulation, and to prosecute every plan for her improvement, with that
+vigour which accompanies a pursuit of our own choice; the only labour
+that asks no relaxation.
+
+Steady occupations, such as these, kept off all attention to her
+personal misfortunes, which Sir Hugh had strictly ordered should never
+be alluded to; first, he said, for fear they should vex her; and next,
+lest they should make her hate him, for being their cause. Those
+incidents, therefore, from never being named, glided imperceptibly from
+her thoughts; and she grew up as unconscious as she was innocent, that,
+though born with a beauty which surpassed that of her lovely sisters,
+disease and accident had robbed her of that charm ere she knew she
+possessed it. But neither disease nor accident had power over her mind;
+there, in its purest proportions, moral beauty preserved its first
+energy. The equanimity of her temper made her seem, though a female,
+born to be a practical philosopher; her abilities and her sentiments
+were each of the highest class, uniting the best adorned intellects with
+the best principled virtues.
+
+The dissatisfaction of Sir Hugh with his nephew reached not to
+prohibition: his consent was painful, but his remittances were generous,
+and Clermont had three years allowed him for his travels through Europe.
+
+Yet this permission was no sooner granted than the baronet again became
+dejected. Three years appeared to him to be endless: he could hardly
+persuade himself to look forward to them with expectation of life; and
+all the learned labours he had promoted seemed vain and unpromising, ill
+requiting his toils, and still less answering his hopes. Even the
+studious turn of Eugenia, hitherto his first delight, he now thought
+served but to render her unsociable; and the time she devoted to study,
+he began to regret as lost to himself; nor could he suggest any possible
+consolation for his drooping spirits, till it occurred to him that
+Camilla might again enliven him.
+
+This idea, and the order for his carriage, were the birth of the same
+moment; and, upon entering the study of Mr. Tyrold, he abruptly
+exclaimed, 'My dear brother, I must have Camilla back! Indiana says
+nothing to amuse me; and Eugenia is so bookish, I might as well live
+with an old woman; which God forbid I should object to, only I like
+Camilla better.'
+
+This request was by no means welcome to Mr. Tyrold, and utterly
+distasteful to his lady. Camilla was now just seventeen years of age,
+and attractively lovely; but of a character that called for more
+attention to its developement than to its formation; though of a
+disposition so engaging, that affection kept pace with watchfulness, and
+her fond parents knew as little for their own sakes as for her's how to
+part with her.
+
+Her qualities had a power which, without consciousness how, or
+consideration why, governed her whole family. The airy thoughtlessness
+of her nature was a source of perpetual amusement; and, if sometimes her
+vivacity raised a fear for her discretion, the innocence of her mind
+reassured them after every alarm. The interest which she excited served
+to render her the first object of the house; it was just short of
+solicitude, yet kept it constantly alive. Her spirits were volatile,
+but her heart was tender; her gaiety had a fascination; her persuasion
+was irresistible.
+
+To give her now up to Sir Hugh, seemed to Mrs. Tyrold rather impossible
+than disagreeable; but he was too urgent with his brother to be wholly
+refused. She was granted him, therefore, as a guest, for the three
+ensuing months, to aid him to dissipate his immediate disappointment,
+from the procrastinated absence of Clermont.
+
+Sir Hugh received back his first favourite with all the fond glee of a
+ductile imagination, which in every new good sees a refuge from every
+past or present evil. But, as the extremest distaste of all literature
+now succeeded those sanguine views which had lately made it his
+exclusive object, the first words he spoke upon her arrival were, to
+inform her she must learn no Latin; and the first step which followed
+her welcome, was a solemn charge to Dr. Orkborne, that he must give her
+no lessons.
+
+The gaiety, the spirit, the playful good humour of Camilla, had lost
+nothing of their charm by added years, though her understanding had been
+sedulously cultivated, and her principles modelled by the pure and
+practical tenets of her exemplary parents. The delight of Sir Hugh in
+regaining her, consisted not merely of the renovation of his first
+prejudice in her favour; it was strengthened by the restoration it
+afforded his own mind to its natural state, and the relief of being
+disburthened of a task he was so ill calculated to undertake, as
+superintending, in any sort, intellectual pursuits.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK II
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_New Projects_
+
+
+The baronet would, at length, have enjoyed perfect contentment, had he
+not been molested by the teasing spirit of Miss Margland, now daily at
+work in proposing a journey to London, and in representing as an
+indispensable duty, that the young ladies should see and be seen, in a
+manner suitable to their situation in life.
+
+Miss Margland, equally void either of taste or of resources for the
+country, had languished and fretted away twelve years in its bosom, with
+no other opening to any satisfaction beyond a maintenance, except what
+she secretly nourished in her hopes, that, when her beautiful pupil was
+grown up, she should accompany her to the metropolis. Her former
+connections and acquaintance in high life still continued to be the
+stationary pride of her heart, the constant theme of her discourse, and
+the perpetual allusion of some lamentation and regret. This excursion,
+therefore, in prospect, had been her sole support during her retirement;
+nor had she failed to instruct her fair disciple to aid her scheme,
+though she had kept from her its private motive.
+
+Most successfully, indeed, had she instilled into the youthful breast of
+Indiana, a wondering curiosity to see the place which she described as
+the sole residence of elegance and fashion, and an eager impatience to
+exhibit there a person which she was assured would meet with universal
+homage.
+
+But neither the exhortations of the governess, nor the wishes of her
+pupil, could in this point move Sir Hugh. He had a fixt aversion to
+London, and to all public places, and had constantly some disaster to
+relate of every visit he had accidentally made to them. The amusements
+which had decided his partiality for the country were now, indeed, no
+longer within his reach; but his sanguine temper, which occasionally
+entertained him with hopes of a recovery, determined him always to keep
+upon the right spot, he said, for sport, in the case of any sudden and
+favourable change in his health.
+
+Upon the visit of Camilla, Miss Margland grew yet more urgent, expecting
+through her powerful influence to gain her point. She strove, therefore,
+to engage her intercession, but Camilla, careless, easy, and gay, had no
+wish about the matter, and could not be brought into the cabal.
+
+This disappointment so much soured and provoked Miss Margland, that she
+lost the usual discretion she had hitherto practised, of confining her
+remonstrances to those times when she saw Sir Hugh alone. Such
+opportunities, indeed, weary of the use she made of them, the baronet
+contrived daily to lessen; but every meeting now, whether public or
+private, was seized alike for the same purpose, and the necessity of
+_bringing the young ladies out_, and the duty of _thinking of their
+establishment_, were the sentences with which he was so regularly
+assailed, that the moment he saw her he prepared to hear them, and
+commonly with a heavy sigh anticipated their fatigue to his spirits.
+
+No arguments, however, relative to disposing of the young ladies, had
+any weight with him; he had long planned to give Eugenia to Clermont
+Lynmere, and he depended upon Edgar Mandlebert for Indiana, while with
+regard to Camilla, to keep her unmarried, that he might detain her under
+his own roof, was the favourite wish of his heart. Nevertheless, this
+perpetual persecution became by degrees insupportable, and, unused to be
+deaf to any claimant, he was upon the point of constrained compliance,
+when his passion for forming schemes came again to his aid, upon hearing
+that Edgar Mandlebert, after a twelvemonth's absence, was just returned
+to Etherington.
+
+This youth had been making the tour of England, Wales, and Scotland,
+with Dr. Marchmont, who had been induced by Mr. Tyrold to relinquish all
+other avocations, and devote to him his whole time.
+
+Sir Hugh hastening, upon this news, to the parsonage-house, said: 'Don't
+imagine, brother, I am going to make any complaint against Mrs.
+Margland, for she is an excellent governess, and I have no fault to find
+with her, except her making too many objections, which I take to be her
+worst part; but as every body has something, it would be very unfair to
+quarrel with her for such a mere nothing, especially as she can't help
+it, after so many years going on the same way, without coming to a stop;
+but the thing I have thought of now may set it all to rights, which I
+hope you'll approve, and especially my sister.'
+
+He then explained, that as he had fixt upon marrying Eugenia to Clermont
+Lynmere, she was put so completely under the care of Dr. Orkborne, in
+order to make her fit for the young scholar, that Miss Margland was of
+little or no use to her. He meant, therefore, to bring forward
+immediately the marriage of Indiana with young Mandlebert, and then to
+ask Miss Margland to go and live with them entirely, as he could very
+well spare her: 'This,' he continued, 'Indiana can't object to, from the
+point of having had her so long; and young Mr. Edgar's remarkably
+complaisant, for such a young youth, which I saw a great while ago. By
+this means, Mrs. Margland will get her main end of going to London,
+which she may show off to the young bride, without my budging from home,
+Lord help me! being a thing I don't much like, to be taken about to
+dances and shews, now that I am not a boy; so then Camilla will be left
+to stay with me, for my own companion; which I assure you I desire no
+better, though she knows no more, as the Doctor tells me, of the
+classics, than my old spaniel; which, to give every one his due, is much
+the same with myself.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold, with a very unpleasant astonishment, enquired further into
+his meaning concerning Mandlebert; but his surprise ended in a smile,
+when he heard the juvenile circumstances upon which alone Sir Hugh built
+his expectations. To argue with him, however, was always fruitless; he
+had found out, he said, the intentions of Edgar from the first, and he
+came now to invite him to pass a month at Cleves, for the sake of
+cutting the courtship short, by letting him see Indiana every day, so
+that no time might be lost in coming to the conclusion.
+
+The first wish of the secret heart of Mr. Tyrold was, that one of his
+own daughters should be the choice of his ward; he did not, therefore,
+totally unmoved, hear this project for Indiana, though its basis was so
+little alarming.
+
+Edgar, who was now just of age, was receiving the last cares of his
+guardian, and taking into his own hands his fortune and affairs. He was
+at Etherington, at present, only for that purpose, Beech Park being
+already fitted up for his residence.
+
+Sir Hugh, desiring to speak with him, most cordially made his
+invitation: 'Besides myself,' he cried, 'whom I only mention first, as
+being master of the house, which I hope is my excuse for it, you will
+meet three very good young girls, not to mention Dr. Orkborne and Miss
+Margland, who are rather not of the youngest at present, whatever they
+may have been in former times; and they will all, myself included, make
+you as welcome as themselves.'
+
+Edgar accepted the proposal with pleasure, and agreed to wait upon him
+the next day, Mr. Tyrold consenting that they should transact their
+mutual business at Etherington, by morning rides.
+
+At dinner Sir Hugh told the family at Cleves the new guest they were so
+soon to expect, assuring them he was become a very fine young gentleman,
+and bidding Indiana, with a significant nod, hold up her head.
+
+Indiana wanted no charge upon this subject; she fully understood the
+views of her uncle, and it was now some years since she had heard the
+name of Beech Park without a smile or a blush.
+
+Upon the arrival of the young man, Sir Hugh summoned his household to
+meet him in the hall, where he received him with an hearty welcome, and,
+in the flutter of his spirits, introduced him to them all, as if this
+had been his first appearance in the family; remarking, that a full week
+of shyness might be saved, by making acquaintance with the whole set in
+a clump.
+
+From eagerness irrepressible, he began with Indiana, apologising when he
+had done, by saying it was only because she was oldest, having the
+advantage of three weeks over Camilla: 'For which, however,' he added,
+'I must beg pardon of Mrs. Margland and Dr. Orkborne, who, to be sure,
+must be pretty much older.'
+
+He next presented him to Camilla; and then, taking him apart, begged, in
+a whisper, that he would not seem to notice the ugliness of Eugenia,
+which, he said, was never mentioned in her hearing, by his particular
+order; 'though, to be sure,' he added, 'since that small-pox, she's
+grown plain enough, in point of beauty, considering how pretty she was
+before. However, she's a remarkable good girl, and with regard to Virgil
+and those others will pose you in a second, for aught I know to the
+contrary, being but an indifferent judge in things of that sort, from
+leaving off my own studies rather short, on account of the gout; besides
+some other reasons.'
+
+Edgar assured him these introductions were by no means necessary, a
+single twelvemonth's absence being very insufficient to obliterate from
+his memory his best and earliest friends.
+
+Edgar Mandlebert was a young man who, if possessed neither of fortune
+nor its expectations, must from his person and his manners have been as
+attractive to the young, as from his morals and his conduct to those of
+riper years. His disposition was serious and meditative; but liberal,
+open, and candid. He was observant of the errors of others, and watched
+till he nearly eradicated his own. But though with difficulty he
+bestowed admiration, he diffused, both in words and deeds, such general
+amity and good will, that if the strictness of his character inspired
+general respect, its virtues could no less fail engaging the kinder mede
+of affection. When to merit of a species so rare were added a fine
+estate and a large independent fortune, it is not easy to decide whether
+in prosperity or desert he was most distinguished.
+
+The first week which he spent at Cleves, was passed with a gaiety as
+unremitting as it was innocent. All parties felt his arrival as an
+acquisition: Indiana thought the hour of public exhibition, long
+promised by Miss Margland, at length fast approaching; Camilla, who
+escaped all expectation for herself, from being informed of what was
+entertained by her cousin, enjoyed the tranquil pleasure of undesigning
+friendship, unchequered either by hope or fear; Eugenia met with a
+respect for her acquirements that redoubled her ambition to increase
+them; Sir Hugh looked forward with joy to the happy disposal of Indiana,
+and a blameless riddance of Miss Margland; who, on her part, with an
+almost boundless satisfaction, saw her near return to a town life, from
+the high favour in which she stood with the supposed bride elect; even
+Dr. Orkborne, though he disdained with so young a scholar to enter into
+much philological disquisition, was gratified by a presence which
+afforded a little relief to the stores of his burdened memory, from
+authorizing some occasional utterance of the learned recollections,
+which for many years had encumbered it without vent. Edgar, meanwhile,
+obliging and obliged, received pleasure from them all; for though not
+blind to any of their imperfections, they had not a merit which he
+failed to discern.
+
+The second week opened with a plan which promised a scene more lively,
+though it broke into the calm retirement of this peaceful party. Lionel,
+who was now at Etherington, to spend his university vacation, rode over
+to Cleves, to inform Edgar, that there would be a ball the next evening
+at Northwick, at which the officers of the ---- regiment, which was
+quartered in the neighbourhood, and all the beaux and belles of the
+county, were expected to assemble.
+
+Miss Margland, who was present, struck with a desire that Indiana might
+make her first public appearance in the county, at a ball where Edgar
+might be her partner, went instantly to Sir Hugh to impart the idea. Sir
+Hugh, though averse to all public places, consented to the plan, from
+the hope of accelerating the affair; but declared, that if there was any
+amusement, his little Camilla should not be left out. Eugenia, won by
+the novelty of a first expedition of this sort, made her own request to
+be included; Lionel undertook to procure tickets, and Miss Margland had
+the welcome labour of arranging their dress, for which Sir Hugh, to
+atone for the shortness of the time, gave her powers unlimited.
+
+Indiana was almost distracted with joy at this event. Miss Margland
+assured her, that now was the moment for fixing her conquest of
+Mandlebert, by adroitly displaying to him the admiration she could not
+but excite, in the numerous strangers before whom she would appear; she
+gave her various instructions how to set off her person to most
+advantage, and she delighted Sir Hugh with assurances of what this
+evening would effect: 'There is nothing, Sir,' said she, 'so conducive
+towards a right understanding between persons of fashion, as a ball. A
+gentleman may spend months and months in this drowsy way in the country,
+and always think one day will do as well as another for his declaration;
+but when he sees a young lady admired and noticed by others, he falls
+naturally into making her the same compliments, and the affair goes into
+a regular train, without his almost thinking of it.'
+
+Sir Hugh listened to this doctrine with every desire to give it credit;
+and though the occupations of the toilette left him alone the whole of
+the assembly day, he was as happy in the prospect of their diversion, as
+they were themselves in its preparation.
+
+When the young ladies were ready, they repaired to the apartment of the
+baronet, to shew themselves, and to take leave. Edgar and Lionel were
+waiting to meet them upon the stairs. Indiana had never yet looked so
+lovely; Camilla, with all her attractions, was eclipsed; and Eugenia
+could only have served as a foil, even to those who had no pretensions
+to beauty.
+
+Edgar, nevertheless, asked Camilla to dance with him; she willingly,
+though not without wonder, consented. Lionel desired the hand of his
+fair cousin; but Indiana, self-destined to Edgar, whose address to
+Camilla, she had not heard, made him no answer, and ran on to present
+herself to her uncle; who, struck with admiration as he beheld her,
+cried, 'Indiana, my dear, you really look prettier than I could even
+have guessed; and yet I always knew there was no fault to be found with
+the outside; nor indeed with the inside neither, Mr. Mandlebert, so I
+don't mean anything by that; only, by use, one is apt to put the outside
+first.'
+
+Lionel was now hurrying them away, when Sir Hugh calling to Edgar, said:
+'Pray, young Mr. Mandlebert, take as much care of her as possible; which
+I am sure you will do of your own accord.'
+
+Edgar, with some surprise, answered, he should be happy to take whatever
+care was in his power of all the ladies; 'but,' added he, 'for my own
+particular charge to-night, I have engaged Miss Camilla.'
+
+'And how came you to do that? Don't you know I let them all go on
+purpose for the sake of your dancing with Indiana, which I mean as a
+particular favour?'
+
+'Sir,' replied Edgar, a little embarrassed, 'you are very good; but as
+Lionel cannot dance with his sisters, he has engaged Miss Lynmere
+himself.'
+
+'Pho, pho, what do you mind Lionel for? not but what he's a very good
+lad; only I had rather have you and Indiana dance together, which I dare
+say so had she.'
+
+Edgar, somewhat distressed, looked at Camilla: 'O, as to me,' cried she,
+gaily, 'pray let me take my chance; if I should not dance at all, the
+whole will be so new to me, that I am sure of entertainment.'
+
+'You are the best good girl, without the smallest exception,' said Sir
+Hugh, 'that ever I have known in the world; and so you always were; by
+which I mean nothing as to Indiana, who is just such another, except in
+some points; and so here's her hand, young Mr. Mandlebert, and if you
+think you shall meet a prettier partner at the ball, I beg when you get
+her there, you will tell her so fairly, and give her up.'
+
+Edgar, who had hardly yet looked at her, was now himself struck with the
+unusual resplendence of her beauty, and telling Camilla he saw she was
+glad to be at liberty, protested he could not but rejoice to be spared a
+decision for himself, where the choice would have been so difficult.
+
+'Well then, now go,' cried the delighted baronet; 'Lionel will find
+himself a partner, I have no doubt, because he is nothing particular in
+point of shyness; and as to Camilla, she'll want nothing but to hear the
+fiddlers to be as merry as a grig, which what it is I never knew: so I
+have no concern,' added he, in a low voice, to Edgar, 'except for little
+Eugenia, and poor Mrs. Margland; for Eugenia being so plain, which is no
+fault of her's, on account of the small-pox, many a person may overlook
+her from that objection; and as to Mrs. Margland, being with all these
+young chickens, I am afraid people will think her rather one of the
+oldest for a dancing match; which I say in no disrespect, for oldness
+gives one no choice.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_New Characters_
+
+
+The dancing was not yet begun, but the company was met, and the
+sprightly violins were employed to quicken their motions, when the
+Cleves party entered the ball room. They were distinguished immediately
+by a large party of officers, who assured Lionel, with whom they were
+acquainted, that they had impatiently been expected.
+
+'I shall recompense you for waiting,' answered he, in a whisper, 'by
+introducing you to the rich heiress of Cleves, who now makes her first
+appearance from the nursery; though no! upon farther thoughts, I will
+only tell you she is one of our set, and leave it to your own ingenuity
+to find her out.'
+
+While this was passing, Indiana, fluttering with all the secret triumph
+of conscious beauty, attended by Edgar, and guarded by Miss Margland,
+walked up the room, through a crowd of admiring spectators; in whom a
+new figure, without half her loveliness, would have excited the same
+curiosity, that her extreme inexperience attributed solely to her
+peculiar charms. Camilla and Eugenia followed rather as if in her train,
+than of her party; but Lionel kept entirely with the officers, insisting
+upon their guessing which was the heiress; to whom, while he purposely
+misled their conjectures, he urged them to make their court, by
+enumerating the present possessions of Sir Hugh, and her future
+expectations.
+
+Camilla, however, passed not long unnoticed, though the splendor of
+Indiana's appearance cast her at first on the back ground; a
+circumstance which, by impressing her with a sensation of inferiority,
+divested her mind of all personal considerations, and gave to her air
+and countenance a graceful simplicity, a disengaged openness, and a
+guileless freedom from affectation, that rendered her, to the observant
+eye, as captivating upon examination, as Indiana, from the first glance,
+was brilliant and alluring. And thus, as they patrolled the room,
+Indiana excited an unmixt admiration, Camilla awakened an endless
+variety of remark; while each being seen for the first time, and every
+one else of the company for at least the second, all attention was their
+own, whether for criticism or for praise. To Indiana this answered, in
+fulfilling her expectations; by Camilla, it was unheeded, for, not
+awaiting, she did not perceive it; yet both felt equal satisfaction. The
+eyes of Camilla sparkled with delight as she surveyed all around her the
+gay novelty of the scene; the heart of Indiana beat with a pleasure
+wholly new, as she discovered that all surrounding her regarded her as
+the principal object.
+
+Eugenia, meanwhile, had not even the negative felicity to pass
+unobserved; impertinent witticisms upon her face, person, and walk,
+though not uttered so audibly as to be distinctly heard, ran round the
+room in a confused murmur, and produced a disposition for sneering in
+the satirical, and for tittering in the giddy, that made her as valuable
+an acquisition to the company at large, who collect for any amusement,
+indifferent to its nature, as her fair cousin proved to the admirers of
+beauty, and her sister to the developers of expression. She was
+shielded, however, herself, from all undeserved mortifications, by not
+suspecting any were meant for her, and by a mind delightedly
+pre-occupied with that sudden expansion of ideas, with which new scenery
+and new objects charm a youthful imagination.
+
+When they had taken two or three turns up and down the room, the
+saunterers were called upon to give place to the dancers. Edgar then led
+out Indiana, and the master of the ceremonies brought Major Cerwood to
+Camilla.
+
+Eugenia, wholly left out, became the exclusive charge of Miss Margland;
+she felt no resentment of neglect, for she had formed no species of
+expectation. She looked on with perfect contentment, and the motley and
+quick changing group afforded her ample entertainment.
+
+Miss Margland was not so passive; she seized the opportunity of
+inveighing very angrily against the mismanagement of Sir Hugh: 'If you
+had all,' she cried, 'been taken to town, and properly brought out,
+according to my advice, such a disgrace as this could never have
+happened; everybody would have known who you were, and then, there is no
+doubt, you might have had partners enough; however, I heartily hope you
+won't be asked to dance all the evening, that he may be convinced who
+was in the right; besides, the more you are tired, the more you may see,
+against another time, Miss Eugenia, that it is better to listen a little
+to people's opinions, when they speak only for your own advantage, than
+to go on with just the same indifference, as if you had no proper person
+to consult with.'
+
+Eugenia was too well amused to heed this remonstrance; and long
+accustomed to hear the voice of Miss Margland without profit or
+pleasure, her ear received its sound, but her attention included not its
+purpose.
+
+Indiana and Camilla, in this public essay, acquitted themselves with all
+the merits, and all the faults common to a first exhibition. The
+spectators upon such occasions, though never equally observant, are
+never afterwards so lenient. Whatever fails is attributed to modesty,
+more winning than the utmost success of excellence. Timidity solicits
+that mercy which pride is most gratified to grant; the blushes of
+juvenile shame atone for the deficiencies which cause them; and
+awkwardness itself, in the unfounded terrors of youth, is perhaps more
+interesting than grace.
+
+Indiana could with difficulty keep to the figure of the dance, from the
+exulting, yet unpractised certainty of attracting all eyes; and Camilla
+perpetually turned wrong, from the mere flutter of fear, which made her
+expect she should never turn right. Major Cerwood, her partner, with a
+view to encourage her, was profuse in his compliments; but, as new to
+what she heard as what she performed, she was only the more confused by
+the double claim to her attention.
+
+Edgar, meanwhile, was most assiduous to aid his fair partner. Miss
+Margland, though scarcely even superficial in general knowledge, was
+conversant in the practical detail of the hackneyed mode of forming
+matrimonial engagements; she judged, therefore, rightly, that her pupil
+would be seen to most advantage, in the distinction of that adulation by
+which new beholders would stamp new value on her charms. From the time
+of his first boyish gallantry, on the ill-fated birth-day of Camilla,
+Indiana had never so much struck young Mandlebert, as while he attended
+her up the assembly-room. Miss Margland observed this with triumph, and
+prophesied the speediest conclusion to her long and weary sojourn at
+Cleves, in the much wished-for journey to London, with a bride ready
+made, and an establishment ready formed.
+
+When the two first dances were over, the gentlemen were desired to
+change partners. Major Cerwood asked the hand of Indiana, and Edgar
+repaired to Camilla: 'Do you bear malice?' he cried, with a smile, 'or
+may I now make the claim that Sir Hugh relinquished for me?'
+
+'O yes,' answered she, with alacrity, when informed of the plan of
+change; 'and I wish there was any body else, that would dance with me
+afterwards, instead of that Major.'
+
+'I dare believe,' said he, laughing 'there are many bodies else, who
+would oblige you, if your declaration were heard. But what has the Major
+done to you? Has he admired you without knowing how to keep is own
+counsel?'
+
+'No, no; only he has treated me like a country simpleton, and made me as
+many fine speeches, as if he had been talking to Indiana.'
+
+'You think, then, Indiana would have swallowed flattery with less
+difficulty?'
+
+'No, indeed! but I think the same things said to her would no longer
+have been so extravagant.'
+
+Edgar, to whom the sun-beams of the mind gave a glow which not all the
+sparkling rays of the brightest eyes could emit, respected her modesty
+too highly to combat it, and, dropping the subject, enquired what was
+become of Eugenia.
+
+'O poor Eugenia!' cried she, 'I see nothing of her, and I am very much
+afraid she has had no better partner all this time than Miss Margland.'
+
+Edgar, turning round, presently discerned her; she was still looking on,
+with an air of the most perfect composure, examining the various
+parties, totally without suspicion of the examination she was herself
+sustaining; while Miss Margland was vainly pouring in her ears
+observations, or exhortations, evidently of a complaining nature.
+
+'There is something truly respectable,' said Edgar, 'in the innate
+philosophy with which she bears such neglect.'
+
+'Yet I wish it were put less to the proof;' said Camilla. 'I would give
+the world somebody would take her out!'
+
+'You don't think she would dance?'
+
+'O yes she would! her lameness is no impediment; for she never thinks of
+it. We all learnt together at Cleves. Dancing gives her a little more
+exertion, and therefore a little more fatigue than other people, but
+that is all.'
+
+'After these two dances then--'
+
+'Will you be her partner?' interrupted Camilla, 'O go to her at once!
+immediately! and you will give me twenty times more pleasure than I can
+have in dancing myself.'
+
+She then flew to a form, and eagerly seated herself where she perceived
+the first vacancy, to stop any debate, and enforce his consent.
+
+The dance, which had been delayed by a dispute about the tune, was now
+beginning. Edgar, looking after her with affected reproach, but real
+admiration, asked the hand of Eugenia; who gave it with readiness and
+pleasure; for, though contented as a spectatress, she experienced an
+agreeable surprise in becoming a party engaged.
+
+Camilla, happy in her own good humour, now looked at her neighbours; one
+of which was an elderly lady, who, wholly employed in examining and
+admiring the performance of her own daughters, saw nothing else in the
+room. The other was a gentleman, much distinguished by his figure and
+appearance, and dressed so completely in the extreme of fashion, as more
+than to border upon foppery. The ease and negligence of his air denoted
+a self-settled superiority to all about him; yet, from time to time,
+there was an archness in the glance of his eye, that promised, under a
+deep and wilful veil of conceit and affectation, a secret disposition to
+deride the very follies he was practising. He was now lounging against
+the wainscoat; with one hand on his side, and the other upon his
+eye-lids, occupying the space, without using the seat, to the left of
+Camilla.
+
+Miss Margland, perceiving what she regarded as a fair vacancy, made up
+to the spot, and saying, 'Sir, by your leave,' was preparing to take
+possession of the place, when the gentleman, as if without seeing her,
+dropt suddenly into it himself, and, pouring a profusion of _eau suave_
+upon his handkerchief, exclaimed: 'What a vastly bad room this is for
+dancing!'
+
+Camilla, concluding herself addressed, turned round to him; but, seeing
+he was sniffing up the _eau suave_, without looking at her, imagined he
+meant to speak to Miss Margland.
+
+Miss Margland was of the same opinion, and, with some pique at his
+seizing thus her intended seat, rather sharply answered: 'Yes, sir, and
+it's a vast bad room for _not_ dancing; for if every body would dance
+that ought, there would be accommodation sufficient for other people.'
+
+'Incomparably well observed!' cried he, collecting some bonbons from a
+bonboniere, and swallowing one after another with great rapidity: 'But
+won't you sit down? You must be enormously tired. Let me supplicate you
+to sit down.'
+
+Miss Margland, supposing he meant to make amends for his inattention, by
+delivering up the place, civilly thanked him, and said she should not be
+sorry, for she had stood a good while.
+
+'Have you, indeed?' cried he, sprinkling some jessamine drops upon his
+hands; 'how horribly abominable? Why don't some of those Mercuries,
+those Ganymedes, those waiters, I believe you call them, get you a
+chair?'
+
+Miss Margland, excessively affronted, turned her back to him; and
+Camilla made an offer of her own seat; but, as she had been dancing, and
+would probably dance again, Miss Margland would not let her rise.
+
+'Shall I call to one of those Barbarians, those Goths, those Vandals?'
+cried the same gentleman, who now was spirting lavender water all about
+him, with grimaces that proclaimed forcibly his opinion of the want of
+perfume in the room: 'Do pray let me harangue them a little for you upon
+their inordinate want of sensibility.'
+
+Miss Margland deigned not any answer; but of that he took no notice, and
+presently called out, though without raising his voice, 'Here, Mr.
+Waiter! Purveyor, Surveyor, or whatsoever other title "_please thine
+ear_," art thou deaf? why dost not bring this lady a chair? Those people
+are most amazing hard of hearing! Shall I call again? Waiter, I say!'
+still speaking rather lower than louder; 'Don't I stun you by this
+shocking vociferation?'
+
+'Sir, you're vastly--obliging!' cried Miss Margland, unable longer to
+hold silence, yet with a look and manner that would much better have
+accorded with vastly--_impertinent_.
+
+She then pursued a waiter herself, and procured a chair.
+
+Casting his eyes next upon Camilla, he examined her with much attention.
+Abashed, she turned away her head; but not choosing to lose his object,
+he called it back again, by familiarly saying, 'How is Sir Hugh?'
+
+A good deal surprised, she exclaimed, 'Do you know my uncle, sir?'
+
+'Not in the least, ma'am,' he coolly answered.
+
+Camilla, much wondering, was then forced into conversation with Miss
+Margland: but, without paying any regard to her surprise, he presently
+said, 'It's most extremely worth your while to take a glance at that
+inimitably good figure. Is it not exquisite? Can you suppose any thing
+beyond it?'
+
+Camilla, looking at the person to whom he pointed, and who was
+sufficiently ludicrous, from an air of vulgar solemnity, and a dress
+stiffly new, though completely old-fashioned, felt disposed to join in
+his laugh, had she not been disconcerted by the mingled liberty and
+oddity of his attack.
+
+'Sir,' said Miss Margland, winking at her to be silent, though eager to
+answer in her stead, 'the mixt company one always meets at these public
+balls, makes them very unfit for ladies of fashion, for there's no
+knowing who one may either dance with or speak to.'
+
+'Vastly true, ma'am,' cried he, superciliously dropping his eyes, not to
+look at her.
+
+Miss Margland, perceiving this, bridled resentfully, and again talked on
+with Camilla; till another exclamation interrupted them. 'O pray,' cried
+he, 'I do entreat you look at that group! Is it not past compare? If
+ever you held a pencil in your life, I beg and beseech you to take a
+memorandum of that tall may-pole. Have you ever seen any thing so
+excessively delectable?'
+
+Camilla could not forbear smiling; but Miss Margland, taking all reply
+upon herself, said: 'Caricatures, sir, are by no means pleasing for
+young ladies to be taking, at their first coming out: one does not know
+who may be next, if once they get into that habit!'
+
+'Immeasurably well spoken, ma'am,' returned he; and, rising with a look
+of disgust, he sauntered to another part of the room.
+
+Miss Margland, extremely provoked, said she was sure he was some Irish
+fortune-hunter, dressed out in all he was worth; and charged Camilla to
+take no manner of notice of him.
+
+When the two second dances were over, Edgar, conducting Eugenia to Miss
+Margland, said to Camilla: 'Now, at least, if there is not a spell
+against it, will you dance with me?'
+
+'And if there is one, too,' cried she, gaily; 'for I am perfectly
+disposed to help breaking it.'
+
+She rose, and they were again going to take their places, when Miss
+Margland, reproachfully calling after Edgar, demanded what he had done
+with Miss Lynmere?
+
+At the same moment, led by Major Cerwood, who was paying her in full all
+the arrears of that gallantry Miss Margland had taught her to regret
+hitherto missing, Indiana joined them; the Major, in making his bow,
+lamenting the rules of the assembly, that compelled him to relinquish
+her hand.
+
+'Mr. Mandlebert,' said Miss Margland, 'you see Miss Lynmere is again
+disengaged.'
+
+'Yes, ma'am,' answered Edgar, drawing Camilla away; 'and every gentleman
+in the room will be happy to see it too.'
+
+'Stop, Miss Camilla!' cried Miss Margland; 'I thought, Mr. Mandlebert,
+Sir Hugh had put Miss Lynmere under your protection?'
+
+'O it does not signify!' said Indiana, colouring high with a new raised
+sense of importance; 'I don't at all doubt but one or other of the
+officers will take care of me.'
+
+Edgar, though somewhat disconcerted, would still have proceeded; but
+Camilla, alarmed by the frowns of Miss Margland, begged him to lead out
+her cousin, and, promising to be in readiness for the next two dances,
+glided back to her seat. He upbraided her in vain; Miss Margland looked
+pleased, and Indiana was so much piqued, that he found it necessary to
+direct all his attention to appeasing her, as he led her to join the
+dance.
+
+A gentleman now, eminently distinguished by personal beauty, approached
+the ladies that remained, and, in the most respectful manner, began
+conversing with Miss Margland; who received his attentions so
+gratefully, that, when he told her he only waited to see the master of
+the ceremonies at leisure, in order to have the honour of begging the
+hand of one of her young ladies, his civilities so conquered all her
+pride of etiquette, that she assured him there was no sort of occasion
+for such a formality, with a person of his appearance and manners; and
+was bidding Camilla rise, who was innocently preparing to obey, when, to
+the surprise of them all, he addressed himself to Eugenia.
+
+'There!' cried Miss Margland, exultingly, when they were gone; 'that
+gentleman is completely a gentleman. I saw it from the beginning. How
+different to that impertinent fop that spoke to us just now! He has the
+politeness to take out Miss Eugenia, because he sees plainly nobody else
+will think of it, except just Mr. Mandlebert, or some such old
+acquaintance.'
+
+Major Cerwood was now advancing towards Camilla, with that species of
+smiling and bowing manner, which is the usual precursor of an invitation
+to a fair partner; when the gentleman whom Miss Margland had just called
+an impertinent fop, with a sudden swing, not to be eluded, cast himself
+between the Major and Camilla, as if he had not observed his approach;
+and spoke to her in a voice so low, that, though she concluded he asked
+her to dance, she could not distinctly hear a word he said.
+
+A good deal confused, she looked at him for an explanation; while the
+Major, from her air of attention, supposing himself too late, retreated.
+
+Her new beau then, carelessly seating himself by her side, indolently
+said: 'What a heat! I have not the most distant idea how you can bear
+it!'
+
+Camilla found it impossible to keep her countenance at such a result of
+a whisper, though she complied with the injunctions of Miss Margland, in
+avoiding mutual discourse with a stranger of so showy an appearance.
+
+'Yet they are dancing on,' he continued, 'just as if the Greenland snows
+were inviting their exercise! I should really like to find out what
+those people are made of. Can you possibly imagine their composition?'
+
+Heedless of receiving no answer, he soon after added: 'I am vastly glad
+you don't like dancing.'
+
+'Me?' cried Camilla, surprised out of her caution.
+
+'Yes; you hold it in antipathy, don't you?'
+
+'No, indeed! far from it.'
+
+'Don't you really?' cried he, starting back; 'that's amazingly
+extraordinary! surprising in the extreme! Will you have the goodness to
+tell me what you like in it?'
+
+'Sir,' interfered Miss Margland, 'there's nothing but what's very
+natural in a young lady's taking pleasure in an elegant accomplishment;
+provided she is secure from any improper partner, or company.'
+
+'Irrefragably just, ma'am!' answered he; affecting to take a pinch of
+snuff, and turning his head another way.
+
+Here Lionel, hastily running up to Camilla, whispered, 'I have made a
+fine confusion among the red-coats about the heiress of Cleves! I have
+put them all upon different scents.'
+
+He was then going back, when a faint laugh from the neighbour of Camilla
+detained him; 'Look, I adjure you,' cried he, addressing her, 'if
+there's not that delightful creature again, with his bran-new clothes?
+and they sit upon him so tight, he can't turn round his vastly droll
+figure, except like a puppet with one jerk for the whole body. He is
+really an immense treat: I should like of all things in nature, to know
+who he can be.'
+
+A waiter then passing with a glass of water for a lady, he stopt him in
+his way, exclaiming: 'Pray, my extremely good friend, can you tell me
+who that agreeable person is, that stands there, with the air of a
+poker?'
+
+'Yes, sir,' answered the man; 'I know him very well. His name is
+Dubster. He's quite a gentleman to my knowledge, and has very good
+fortunes.'
+
+'Camilla,' cried Lionel, 'will you have him for a partner?' And,
+immediately hastening up to him, he said two or three words in a low
+voice, and skipped back to the dance.
+
+Mr. Dubster then walked up to her, and, with an air conspicuously
+aukward, solemnly said, 'So you want to dance, ma'am?'
+
+Convinced he had been sent to her by Lionel, but by no means chusing to
+display herself with a figure distinguished only as a mark for ridicule;
+she looked down to conceal her ever-ready smiles, and said she had been
+dancing some time.
+
+'But if you like to dance again, ma'am,' said he, 'I am very ready to
+oblige you.'
+
+She now saw that this offer had been requested as a favour; and, while
+half provoked, half diverted, grew embarrassed how to get rid of him,
+without involving a necessity to refuse afterwards Edgar, and every
+other; for Miss Margland had informed her of the general rules upon
+these occasions. She looked, therefore, at that lady for counsel; while
+her neighbour, sticking his hands in his sides, surveyed him from head
+to foot, with an expression of such undisguised amusement, that Mr.
+Dubster, who could not help observing it, cast towards him, from time to
+time, a look of the most angry surprise.
+
+Miss Margland approving, as well understanding the appeal, now
+authoritatively interfered, saying: 'Sir, I suppose you know the
+etiquette in public places?'
+
+'The what, ma'am?' cried he, staring.
+
+'You know, I suppose, sir, that no young lady of any consideration
+dances with a gentleman that is a stranger to her, without he's brought
+to her by the master of the ceremonies?'
+
+'O as to that, ma'am, I have no objection. I'll go see for him, if
+you've a mind. It makes no difference to me.'
+
+And away he went.
+
+'So you really intend dancing with him?' cried Camilla's neighbour.
+''Twill be a vastly good sight. I have not the most remote conception
+how he will bear the pulling and jostling about. Bend he cannot; but I
+am immensely afraid he will break. I would give fifty guineas for his
+portrait. He is indubitably put together without joints.'
+
+Mr. Dubster now returned, and, with a look of some disturbance, said to
+Miss Margland: 'Ma'am, I don't know which is the master of the
+ceremonies. I can't find him out; for I don't know as ever I see him.'
+
+'O pray,' cried Camilla eagerly, 'do not take the trouble of looking for
+him; 'twill answer no purpose.'
+
+'Why I think so too, ma'am,' said he, misunderstanding her; 'for as I
+don't know the gentleman myself, he could go no great way towards making
+us better acquainted with one another: so we may just as well take our
+skip at once.'
+
+Camilla now looked extremely foolish; and Miss Margland was again
+preparing an obstacle, when Mr. Dubster started one himself. 'The worst
+is,' cried he, 'I have lost one of my gloves, and I am sure I had two
+when I came. I suppose I may have dropt it in the other room. If you
+shan't mind it, I'll dance without it; for I don't mind those things
+myself of a straw.'
+
+'O! sir,' cried Miss Margland, 'that's such a thing as never was heard
+of. I can't possibly consent to let Miss Camilla dance in such a manner
+as that.'
+
+'Why then, if you like it better, ma'am, I'll go back and look for it.'
+
+Again Camilla would have declined giving him any trouble; but he seemed
+persuaded it was only from shyness, and would not listen. 'Though the
+worst is,' he said, 'you're losing so much time. However, I'll give a
+good hunt; unless, indeed, that gentleman, who is doing nothing himself,
+except looking on at us all, would be kind enough to lend me his.'
+
+'I rather fancy, sir,' cried the gentleman, immediately recovering from
+a laughing fit, and surveying the requester with supercilious contempt;
+'I rather suspect they would not perfectly fit you.'
+
+'Why then,' cried he, 'I think I'll go and ask Tom Hicks to lend me a
+pair; for it's a pity to let the young lady lose her dance for such a
+small trifle as that.'
+
+Camilla began remonstrating; but he tranquilly walked away.
+
+'You are superlatively in the good graces of fortune to-night,' cried
+her new friend, 'superlatively to a degree: you may not meet with such
+an invaluably uncommon object in twenty lustres.'
+
+'Certainly,' said Miss Margland, 'there's a great want of regulation at
+balls, to prevent low people from asking who they will to dance with
+them. It's bad enough one can't keep people one knows nothing of from
+speaking to one.'
+
+'Admirably hit off! admirable in the extreme!' he answered; suddenly
+twisting himself round, and beginning a whispering conversation with a
+gentleman on his other side.
+
+Mr. Dubster soon came again, saying, somewhat dolorously, 'I have looked
+high and low for my glove, but I am no nearer. I dare say somebody has
+picked it up, out of a joke, and put it in their pocket. And as to Tom
+Hicks, where he can be hid, I can't tell, unless he has hanged himself;
+for I can't find him no more than my glove. However, I've got a boy to
+go and get me a pair; if all the shops a'n't shut up.'
+
+Camilla, fearing to be involved in a necessity of dancing with him,
+expressed herself very sorry for this step; but, again misconceiving her
+motive, he begged her not to mind it; saying, 'A pair of gloves here or
+there is no great matter. All I am concerned for is, putting you off so
+long from having a little pleasure, for I dare say the boy won't come
+till the next two batches; so if that gentleman that looks so
+particular at me, has a mind to jig it with you a bit himself, in the
+interim, I won't be his hindrance.'
+
+Receiving no answer, he bent his head lower down, and said, in a louder
+voice, 'Pray, sir, did you hear me?'
+
+'Sir, you are ineffably good!' was the reply; without a look, or any
+further notice.
+
+Much affronted, he said no more, but stood pouting and stiff before
+Camilla, till the second dance was over, and another general separation
+of partners took place. 'I thought how it would be, ma'am,' he then
+cried; 'for I know it's no such easy matter to find shops open at this
+time of night; for if people's 'prentices can't take a little pleasure
+by now, they can't never.'
+
+Tea being at this time ordered, the whole party collected to remove to
+the next room. Lionel, seeing Mr. Dubster standing by Camilla, with a
+rapturous laugh, cried, 'Well, sister, have you been dancing?'
+
+Camilla, though laughing too, reproachfully shook her head at him; while
+Mr. Dubster gravely said, 'It's no fault of mine, sir, that the lady's
+sitting still; for I come and offered myself to her the moment you told
+me she wanted a partner; but I happened of the misfortune of losing one
+of my gloves, and not being able to find Tom Hicks, I've been waiting
+all this while for a boy as has promised to get me a pair; though, I
+suppose he's fell down in the dark and broke his skull, by his not
+coming. And, indeed, if that elderly lady had not been so particular, I
+might as well have done without; for, if I had one on, nobody would have
+been the wiser but that t'other might have been in my pocket.'
+
+This speech, spoken without any ceremony in the hearing of Miss
+Margland, to the visible and undisguised delight of Lionel, so much
+enraged her, that, hastily calling him aside, she peremptorily demanded
+how he came to bring such a vulgar partner to his sister?
+
+'Because you took no care to get her a better,' he answered, heedlessly.
+
+Camilla also began to remonstrate; but, without hearing her, he
+courteously addressed himself to Mr. Dubster, and told him he was sure
+Miss Margland and his sister would expect the pleasure of his company to
+join their party at tea.
+
+Miss Margland frowned in vain; Mr. Dubster bowed, as at a compliment but
+his due; observing he should then be close at hand for his partner; and
+they were proceeding to the tea-room, when the finer new acquaintance of
+Camilla called after Mr. Dubster: 'Pray, my good sir, who may this
+Signor Thomaso be, that has the honour to stand so high in your good
+graces?'
+
+'Mine, sir?' cried Mr. Dubster; 'I know no Signor Thomaso, nor Signor
+nothing else neither: so I don't know what you mean.'
+
+'Did not I hear you dilating, my very good sir, upon a certain Mr. Tom
+somebody?'
+
+'What, I suppose then, sir, if the truth be known, you would say Tom
+Hicks?'
+
+'Very probably, sir: though I am not of the first accuracy as the
+gentleman's nomenclator.'
+
+'What? don't you know him, sir? why he's the head waiter!'
+
+Then, following the rest of the party, he was placed, by the assistance
+of Lionel, next to Camilla, in utter defiance of all the angry glances
+of Miss Margland, who herself invited the handsome partner of Eugenia to
+join their group, and reaped some consolation in his willing civilities;
+till the attention of the whole assembly was called, or rather commanded
+by a new object.
+
+A lady, not young, but still handsome, with an air of fashion easy
+almost to insolence, with a complete but becoming undress, with a
+work-bag hanging on her arm, whence she was carelessly knotting, entered
+the ball-room alone, and, walking straight through it to the large
+folding glass doors of the tea-room, there stopt, and took a general
+survey of the company, with a look that announced a decided superiority
+to all she saw, and a perfect indifference to what opinion she incurred
+in return.
+
+She was immediately joined by all the officers, and several other
+gentlemen, whose eagerness to shew themselves of her acquaintance marked
+her for a woman of some consequence; though she took little other notice
+of them, than that of giving to each some frivolous commission; telling
+one to hold her work-bag; bidding another fetch her a chair; a third,
+ask for a glass of water; and a fourth, take care of her cloak. She then
+planted herself just without the folding-doors, declaring there could be
+no breathing in the smaller apartment, and sent about the gentlemen for
+various refreshments; all which she rejected when they arrived, with
+extreme contempt, and a thousand fantastic grimaces.
+
+The tea-table at which Miss Margland presided being nearest to these
+folding-doors, she and her party heard, from time to time, most of what
+was said, especially by the newly arrived lady; who, though she now and
+then spoke for several minutes in a laughing whisper, to some one she
+called to her side, uttered most of her remarks, and all her commands
+quite aloud, with that sort of deliberate ease which belongs to the most
+determined negligence of who heard, or who escaped hearing her, who were
+pleased, or who were offended.
+
+Camilla and Eugenia were soon wholly engrossed by this new personage;
+and Lionel, seeing her surrounded by the most fashionable men of the
+assembly, forgot Mr. Dubster and his gloves, in an eagerness to be
+introduced to her.
+
+Colonel Andover, to whom he applied, willingly gratified him: 'Give me
+leave, Mrs. Arlbery,' cried he, to the lady, who was then conversing
+with General Kinsale, 'to present to you Mr. Tyrold.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake don't speak to me just now,' cried she; 'the General
+is telling me the most interesting thing in the world. Go on, dear
+General!'
+
+Lionel, who, if guided by his own natural judgment, would have conceived
+this to be the height of ill-breeding or of ignorance, no sooner saw
+Colonel Andover bow in smiling submission to her orders, than he
+concluded himself all in the dark with respect to the last licences of
+fashion: and, while contentedly he waited her leisure for his reception,
+he ran over in his own mind the triumph with which he should carry to
+Oxford the newest flourish of the _bon ton_.
+
+In a few minutes, after gaily laughing with the General, she turned
+suddenly to Colonel Andover, and, striking him on the arm with her fan,
+exclaimed: 'Well, now, Colonel, what is it you would say?'
+
+'Mr. Tyrold,' he answered, 'is very ambitious of the honour of being
+introduced to you.'
+
+'With all my heart. Which is he?' And then, nodding to Lionel's bow,
+'You live, I think,' she added, 'in this neighbourhood? By the way,
+Colonel, how came you never to bring Mr. Tyrold to me before? Mr.
+Tyrold, I flatter myself you intend to take this very ill.'
+
+Lionel was beginning to express his sense of the loss he had suffered by
+the delay, when, again, patting the Colonel, 'Only look, I beg you,' she
+cried, 'at that insupportable Sir Sedley Clarendel! how he sits at his
+ease there! amusing his ridiculous fancy with every creature he sees.
+Yet what an elegant posture the animal has found out! I make no doubt he
+would as soon forfeit his estate as give up that attitude. I must make
+him come to me immediately for that very reason;--do go to him, good
+Andover, and say I want him directly.'
+
+The Colonel obeyed; but not so the gentleman he addressed, who was the
+new acquaintance of Camilla. He only bowed to the message, and, kissing
+his hand across the room to the lady, desired the Colonel to tell her he
+was ineffably tired; but would incontestably have the honour to throw
+himself at her feet the next morning.
+
+'O, intolerable!' cried she, 'he grows more conceited every hour. Yet
+what an agreeable wretch it is! There's nothing like him. I cannot
+possibly do without him. Andover, tell him if he does not come this
+moment he kills me.'
+
+'And is that a message,' said General Kinsale, 'to cure him of being
+conceited?'
+
+'O, Heaven forbid, my good General, I should cure him! That would
+utterly spoil him. His conceit is precisely what enchants me. Rob him of
+that, and you lose all hold of him.'
+
+'Is it then necessary to keep him a fop, in order to retain him in your
+chains?'
+
+'O, he is not in my chains, I promise you. A fop, my dear General, wears
+no chains but his own. However, I like to have him, because he is so
+hard to be got; and I am fond of conversing with him, because he is so
+ridiculous. Fetch him, therefore, Colonel, without delay.'
+
+This second embassy prevailed; he shrugged his shoulders, but arose to
+follow the Colonel.
+
+'See, madam, your victory!' said the General. 'What would not a military
+man give for such talents of command?'
+
+'Ay, but look with what magnificent tardiness he obeys orders! There is
+something quite irresistible in his impertinence; 'tis so conscious and
+so piquant. I think, General, 'tis a little like my own.'
+
+Sir Sedley now advancing, seized the back of a chair, which he twirled
+round for a resting place to his elbow, and exclaimed, 'You know
+yourself invincible!' with an air that shewed him languidly prepared for
+her reproaches: but, to his own surprise, and that of all around him,
+she only, with a smile and a nod, cried, 'How do do?' and immediately
+turning wholly away from him, addressed herself to Colonel Andover,
+desiring him to give her the history of who was in the tea-room.
+
+At this time a young Ensign, who had been engaged at a late dinner in
+the neighbourhood, stroamed into the ballroom, with the most visible
+marks of his unfitness for appearing in it; and, in total ignorance of
+his own condition, went up to Colonel Andover, and, clapping him upon
+the back, called out, with a loud oath, 'Colonel, I hope you have taken
+care to secure to me the prettiest little young angel in the room? You
+know with what sincerity I despise an old hag.'
+
+The Colonel, with some concern, advised him to retire; but, insensible
+to his counsel, he uttered oath upon oath, and added, 'I'm not to be
+played upon, Colonel. Beauty in a pretty girl is as necessary an
+ingredient, as honour in a brave soldier; and I could find in my heart
+to sink down to the bottom of the Channel every fellow without one, and
+every dear creature without the other.'
+
+Then, in defiance of all remonstrance, he staggered into the tea-room;
+and, after a short survey, stopt opposite to Indiana, and, swearing
+aloud she was the handsomest angel he had ever beheld, begged her hand
+without further ceremony; assuring her he had broken up the best party
+that had yet been made for him in the county, merely for the joy of
+dancing with her.
+
+Indiana, to whom not the smallest doubt of the truth of this assertion
+occurred; and who, not suspecting he was intoxicated, thought his manner
+the most spirited and gallant she had ever seen, was readily accepting
+his offer; when Edgar, who saw her danger, started up, and exclaimed:
+'This lady, sir, is engaged to dance the next two dances with me.'
+
+'The lady did not tell me so, sir!' cried the Ensign, firing.
+
+'Miss Lynmere,' replied Edgar, coolly, 'will pardon me, that on this
+occasion, my memory has an interest to be better than her's. I believe
+it is time for us to take our places.'
+
+He then whispered a brief excuse to Camilla, and hurried Indiana to the
+ballroom.
+
+The Ensign, who knew not that she had danced with him the last time, was
+obliged to submit; while Indiana, not conjecturing the motive that now
+impelled Edgar, was in a yet brighter blaze of beauty, from an
+exhilarating notion that there was a contest for the honour of her
+hand.
+
+Camilla, once more disappointed of Edgar, had now no resource against
+Mr. Dubster, but the non-arrival of the gloves; for he had talked so
+publicly of waiting for them to dance with her, that every one regarded
+her as engaged.
+
+No new proposition being made for Eugenia, Miss Margland permitted her
+again to be led out by the handsome stranger.
+
+When she was gone, Mr. Dubster, who kept constantly close to Camilla,
+said: 'They tell me, ma'am, that ugly little body's a great fortune.'
+
+Camilla very innocently asked who he meant.
+
+'Why that little lame thing, that was here drinking tea with you. Tom
+Hicks says she'll have a power of money.'
+
+Camilla, whose sister was deservedly dear to her, looked much
+displeased; but Mr. Dubster, not perceiving it, continued: 'He
+recommended it to me to dance with her myself, from the first, upon that
+account. But I says to him, says I, I had no notion that a person, who
+had such a hobble in their gait, would think of such a thing as going to
+dancing. But there I was out, for as to the women, asking your pardon,
+ma'am, there's nothing will put 'em off from their pleasure. But,
+however, for my part, I had no thought of dancing at all, if it had not
+been for that young gentleman's asking me; for I'm not over fond of such
+jiggets, as they've no great use in 'em; only I happened to be this way,
+upon a little matter of business, so I thought I might as well come and
+see the hop, as Tom Hicks could contrive to get me a ticket.'
+
+This was the sort of discourse with which Camilla was regaled till the
+two dances were over; and then, begging her to sit still till he came
+back, he quitted her, to see what he could do about his gloves.
+
+Edgar, when he returned with Indiana, addressed himself privately to
+Miss Margland, whom he advised to take the young ladies immediately
+home; as it would not be possible for him, a second time, to break
+through the rules of the assembly, and Indiana must, therefore,
+inevitably accept the young Ensign, who already was following and
+claiming her, and whose condition was obviously improper for the society
+of ladies.
+
+Miss Margland, extremely pleased with him, for thus protecting her
+pupil, instantly agreed; and, collecting her three young charges,
+hastened them down stairs; though the young Ensign, inflamed with angry
+disappointment, uttered the most bitter lamentations at their sudden
+departure; and though Mr. Dubster, pursuing them to the coach door,
+called out to Camilla, in a tone of pique and vexation, 'Why, what are
+you going for now, ma'am, when I have just got a new pair of gloves,
+that I have bought o' purpose?'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_A Family Breakfast_
+
+
+In their way home, Edgar apologised to Camilla for again foregoing the
+promised pleasure of dancing with her, by explaining the situation of
+the Ensign.
+
+Camilla, internally persuaded that any reason would suffice for such an
+arrangement, where Indiana was its object, scarce listened to an excuse
+which she considered as unnecessary.
+
+Indiana was eager to view in the glass how her dress and ornaments had
+borne the shaking of the dance, and curiously impatient to look anew at
+a face and a figure of which no self-vanity, nor even the adulation of
+Miss Margland, had taught her a consciousness, such as she had acquired
+from the adventures of this night. She hastened, therefore, to her
+apartment as soon as she arrived at Cleves, and there indulged in an
+examination which forbade all surprise, and commanded equal justice for
+the admirers and the admired.
+
+Miss Margland, anxious to make her own report to Sir Hugh, accompanied
+Camilla and Eugenia to his room, where he was still sitting up for them.
+
+She expatiated upon the behaviour of young Mandlebert, in terms that
+filled the baronet with satisfaction. She exulted in the success of her
+own measures; and, sinking the circumstance of the intended impartiality
+of Edgar, enlarged upon his dancing, out of his turn, with Indiana, as
+at an event which manifested his serious designs beyond all possibility
+of mistake.
+
+Sir Hugh, in the fulness of his content, promised that when the wedding
+day arrived, they should all have as fine new gowns as the bride
+herself.
+
+The next morning, not considering that every one else would require
+unusual repose, he got up before his customary hour, from an involuntary
+hope of accelerating his favourite project; but he had long the
+breakfast parlour to himself, and became so fatigued and discomfited by
+fasting and waiting, that when Indiana, who appeared last, but for whom
+he insisted upon staying, entered the room, he said: 'My dear, I could
+really find a pleasure in giving you a little scold, if it were not for
+setting a bad example, which God forbid! And, indeed, it's not so much
+your fault as the ball's, to which I can never be a sincere friend,
+unless it be just to answer some particular purpose.'
+
+Miss Margland defended her pupil, and called upon Mandlebert for
+assistance, which he readily gave. Sir Hugh then was not merely appeased
+but gratified, and declared, the next moment, with a marked smile at
+Indiana, that his breakfast [he] had not relished so well for a
+twelvemonth, owing to the advantage of not beginning till he had got an
+appetite.
+
+Soon after, Lionel, galloping across the park, hastily dismounted, and
+scampered into the parlour.
+
+The zealot for every species of sport, the candidate for every order of
+whim, was the light-hearted mirthful Lionel. A stranger to reflection,
+and incapable of care, laughter seemed not merely the bent of his
+humour, but the necessity of his existence: he pursued it at all
+seasons, he indulged it upon all occasions. With excellent natural
+parts, he trifled away all improvement; without any ill temper, he
+spared no one's feelings. Yet, though not radically vicious, nor
+deliberately malevolent, the egotism which urged him to make his own
+amusement his first pursuit, sacrificed his best friends and first
+duties, if they stood in its way.
+
+'Come, my little girls, come!' cried he, as he entered the room; 'get
+your hats and cloaks as fast as possible; there is a public breakfast at
+Northwick, and you are all expected without delay.'
+
+This sudden invitation occasioned a general commotion. Indiana gave an
+involuntary jump; Camilla and Eugenia looked delighted; and Miss
+Margland seemed ready to second the proposition; but Sir Hugh, with some
+surprise, exclaimed: 'A public breakfast, my dear boy! why where's the
+need of that, when we have got so good a private one?'
+
+'O, let us go! let us go, uncle!' cried Indiana. 'Miss Margland, do pray
+speak to my uncle to let us go!'
+
+'Indeed, sir,' said Miss Margland, 'it is time now, in all conscience,
+for the young ladies to see a little more of the world, and that it
+should be known who they are. I am sure they have been immured long
+enough, and I only wish you had been at the ball last night, sir,
+yourself!'
+
+'Me, Mrs. Margland! Lord help me! what should I do at such a thing as
+that, with all this gout in my hip?'
+
+'You would have seen, sir, the fine effects of keeping the young ladies
+out of society in this manner. Miss Camilla, if I had not prevented it,
+would have danced with I don't know who; and as to Miss Eugenia, she was
+as near as possible to not dancing at all, owing to nobody's knowing who
+she was.'
+
+Sir Hugh had no time to reply to this attack, from the urgency of
+Indiana, and the impetuosity of Lionel, who, applying to Camilla, said:
+'Come, child, ask my uncle yourself, and then we shall go at once.'
+
+Camilla readily made it her own request.
+
+'My dear,' answered Sir Hugh, 'I can't be so unnatural to deny you a
+little pleasure, knowing you to be such a merry little whirligig; not
+but what you'd enjoy yourself just as much at home, if they'd let you
+alone. However, as Indiana's head is so much turned upon it, for which I
+beg you won't think the worse of her, Mr. Mandlebert, it being no more
+than the common fault of a young person no older than her; why, you must
+all go, I think, provided you are not satisfied already, which, by the
+breakfast you have made, I should think likely enough to be the case.'
+
+They then eagerly arose, and the females hastened to make some change in
+their dress. Sir Hugh, calling Eugenia back, said: 'As to you, my little
+classic, I make but small doubt you will be half ready to break your
+heart at missing your lesson, knowing hic, hæc, hoc, to be dearer to
+you, and for good reasons enough, too, in the end, than all the hopping
+and skipping in the world; so if you had rather stay away, don't mind
+all those dunces; for so I must needs call them, in comparison to you
+and Dr. Orkborne, though without the least meaning to undervalue them.'
+
+Eugenia frankly acknowledged she had been much amused the preceding
+evening, and wished to be again of the party.
+
+'Why then, if that's the case,' said the baronet, the best way will be
+for Dr. Orkborne to be your squire; by which means you may have a little
+study as you go along, to the end that the less time may be thrown away
+in doing nothing.'
+
+Eugenia, who perceived no objection to this idea, assented, and went
+quietly up stairs, to prepare for setting out. Sir Hugh, by no means
+connecting the laughter of Lionel, nor the smile of Edgar, with his
+proposal, gravely repeated it to Dr. Orkborne, adding: 'And if you want
+a nice pair of gloves, Doctor, not that I make the offer in any
+detriment to your own, but I had six new pair come home just before my
+gout, which, I can assure you, have never seen the light since, and are
+as much at your service as if I had bespoke them on purpose.'
+
+The mirth of Lionel grew now so outrageous, that Dr. Orkborne, much
+offended, walked out of the room without making any answer.
+
+'There is something,' cried Sir Hugh, after a pause, 'in these men of
+learning, prodigious nice to deal with; however, not understanding them,
+in point of their maxims, it's likely enough I may have done something
+wrong; for he could not have seemed much more affronted, if I had told
+him I had six new pair of gloves lying by me, which he should be never
+the better for.'
+
+When they were all ready, Sir Hugh calling to Edgar, said: 'Now as I
+don't much chuse to have my girls go to these sort of places often,
+which is a prudence that I dare say you approve as much as myself, I
+would wish to have the most made of them at once; and, therefore, as
+I've no doubt but they'll strike up a dance, after having eat what they
+think proper, why I would advise you, Mr. Mandlebert, to let Indiana
+trip it away till she's heartily tired, for else she'll never give it
+up, with a good grace, of her own accord.'
+
+'Certainly, sir,' answered Edgar, 'I shall not hurry the ladies.'
+
+'O, as to any of the rest,' interrupted Sir Hugh, 'they'll be as soon
+satisfied as yourself, except,' lowering his voice, 'Mrs. Margland, who,
+between friends, seems to me as glad of one of those freaks, as when she
+was but sixteen; which how long it is since she was no more I can't
+pretend to say, being a point she never mentions.'
+
+Then addressing them in general: 'I wish you a good breakfast,' he
+cried, 'with all my heart, which I think you pretty well deserve,
+considering you go so far for it, with one close at your elbow, but just
+swallowed. And so, my dear Indiana, I hope you won't tire Mr. Mandlebert
+more than can't be avoided.'
+
+'How came you to engage Indiana again, Mandlebert?' cried Lionel, in
+their way to the carriage.
+
+'Because,' said Miss Margland, finding he hesitated, 'there is no other
+partner so proper for Miss Lynmere.'
+
+'And pray what's the matter with me? why am not I as proper as
+Mandlebert?'
+
+'Because you are her relation, to be sure!'
+
+'Well,' cried he, vaulting his horse, 'if I meet but the charming widow,
+I shall care for none of you.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_A Public Breakfast_
+
+
+The unfitting, however customary, occasion of this speedy repetition of
+public amusement in the town of Northwick, was, that the county assizes
+were now held there; and the arrival of the Judges of the land, to hear
+causes which kept life or death suspended, was the signal for
+entertainment to the surrounding neighbourhood: a hardening of human
+feelings against human crimes and human miseries, at which reflection
+revolts, however habit may persevere.
+
+The young men, who rode on first, joined the ladies as they entered the
+town, and told them to drive straight to the ballroom, where the company
+had assembled, in consequence of a shower of rain which had forced them
+from the public garden intended for the breakfast.
+
+Here, as they stopt, a poor woman, nearly in rags, with one child by her
+side, and another in her arms, approached the carriage, and presenting a
+petition, besought the ladies to read or hear her case. Eugenia, with
+the ready impulse of generous affluence, instantly felt for her purse;
+but Miss Margland, angrily holding her hand, said, with authority: 'Miss
+Eugenia, never encourage beggars; you don't know the mischief you may do
+by it.' Eugenia reluctantly desisted, but made a sign to her footman to
+give something for her. Edgar then alighting, advanced to hand them from
+the coach, while Lionel ran forward to settle their tickets of
+admittance.
+
+The woman now grew more urgent in her supplications, and Miss Margland
+in her remonstrances against attending to them.
+
+Indiana, who was placed under the care of Edgar, enchanted to again
+display herself where sure of again being admired, neither heard nor saw
+the petitioner; but dimpling and smiling, quickened her motions towards
+the assembly room: while Camilla, who was last, stopping short, said:
+'What is the matter, poor woman?' and took her paper to examine.
+
+Miss Margland, snatching it from her, threw it on the ground,
+peremptorily saying: 'Miss Camilla, if once you begin such a thing as
+that, there will be no end to it; so come along with the rest of your
+company, like other people.'
+
+She then haughtily proceeded; but Camilla, brought up by her admirable
+parents never to pass distress without inquiry, nor to refuse giving at
+all, because she could give but little, remained with the poor object,
+and repeated her question. The woman, shedding a torrent of tears, said
+she was wife to one of the prisoners who was to be tried the next day,
+and who expected to lose his life, or be transported, for only one bad
+action of stealing a leg of mutton; which, though she knew it to be a
+sin, was not without excuse, being a first offence, and committed in
+poverty and sickness. And this, she was told, the Judges would take into
+consideration; but her husband was now so ill, that he could not feed on
+the gaol allowance, and not having wherewithal to buy any other, would
+either die before his trial, or be too weak to make known his sad story
+in his own behalf, for want of some wine or some broth to support him in
+the meanwhile.
+
+Camilla, hastily giving her a shilling, took one of her petitions, and
+promising to do all in her power to serve her, left the poor creature
+almost choaked with sobbing joy. She was flying to join her party, when
+she perceived Edgar at her side. 'I came to see,' cried he, with
+glistening eyes, 'if you were running away from us; but you were doing
+far better in not thinking of us at all.'
+
+Camilla, accustomed from her earliest childhood to attend to the
+indigent and unhappy, felt neither retreating shame, nor parading pride
+in the office; she gave him the petition of the poor woman, and begged
+he would consider if there was any thing that could be done for her
+husband.
+
+'I have received a paper from herself,' he answered, 'before you
+alighted; and I hope I should not have neglected it: but I will now take
+yours, that my memory may run no risk.'
+
+They then went on to the assembly room.
+
+The company, which was numerous, was already seated at breakfast.
+Indiana and Camilla, now first surveyed by daylight, again attracted all
+eyes; but, in the simplicity of undress, the superiority of Indiana was
+no longer wholly unrivalled, though the general voice was still strongly
+in her favour.
+
+Indiana was a beauty of so regular a cast, that her face had no feature,
+no look to which criticism could point as susceptible of improvement, or
+on which admiration could dwell with more delight than on the rest. No
+statuary could have modelled her form with more exquisite symmetry; no
+painter have harmonised her complexion with greater brilliancy of
+colouring. But here ended the liberality of nature, which, in not
+sullying this fair workmanship by inclosing in it what was bad,
+contentedly left it vacant of whatever was noble and desirable.
+
+The beauty of Camilla, though neither perfect nor regular, had an
+influence so peculiar on the beholder, it was hard to catch its fault;
+and the cynic connoisseur, who might persevere in seeking it, would
+involuntarily surrender the strict rules of his art to the predominance
+of its loveliness. Even judgment itself, the coolest and last betrayed
+of our faculties, she took by surprise, though it was not till she was
+absent the seizure was detected. Her disposition was ardent in
+sincerity, her mind untainted with evil. The reigning and radical defect
+of her character--an imagination that submitted to no control--proved
+not any antidote against her attractions; it caught, by its force and
+fire, the quick-kindling admiration of the lively; it possessed, by
+magnetic pervasion, the witchery to create sympathy in the most serious.
+
+In their march up the room, Camilla was spoken to by a person from the
+tea-table, who was distinct from every other, by being particularly ill
+dressed; and who, though she did not know him, asked her how she did,
+with a familiar look of intimacy. She slightly curtsied, and endeavoured
+to draw her party more nimbly on; when another person, equally
+conspicuous, though from being accoutred in the opposite extreme of full
+dress, quitting his seat, formally made up to her, and drawing on a
+stiff pair of new gloves as he spoke, said: 'So you are come at last,
+ma'am! I began to think you would not come at all, begging that
+gentleman's pardon, who told me to the contrary last night, when I
+thought, thinks I, here I've bought these new gloves, for no reason but
+to oblige the young lady, and now I might as well not have bought 'em at
+all.'
+
+Camilla, ready to laugh, yet much provoked at this renewed claim from
+her old persecutor, Mr. Dubster, looked vainly for redress at the
+mischievous Lionel, who archly answered: 'O, ay, true, sister; I told
+the gentleman, last night, you would be sure to make him amends this
+morning for putting him to so much expence.'
+
+'I'm sure, Sir,' said Mr. Dubster, 'I did not speak for that, expence
+being no great matter to me at this time; only nobody likes to fool away
+their money for nothing.'
+
+Edgar having now, at the end of one of the tables, secured places for
+the ladies, Lionel again, in defiance of the frowns of Miss Margland,
+invited Mr. Dubster to join them: even the appealing looks of Camilla
+served but to increase her brother's ludicrous diversion, in coupling
+her with so ridiculous a companion; who, without seeming at all aware of
+the liberty he was taking, engrossed her wholly.
+
+'So I see, ma'am,' he cried, pointing to Eugenia, 'you've brought that
+limping little body with you again? Tom Hicks had like to have took me
+in finely about her! He thought she was the great fortune of these here
+parts; and if it had not been for the young gentleman, I might have
+known no better neither, for there's half the room in the same scrape at
+this minute.'
+
+Observing Camilla regard him with an unpleasant surprise, he more
+solemnly added: 'I ask pardon, ma'am, for mentioning the thing, which I
+only do in excuse for what I said last night, not knowing then you was
+the fortune yourself.'
+
+An eager sign of silence from Lionel, forbade her explaining this
+mistake; Mr. Dubster, therefore, proceeded:
+
+'When Tom Hicks told me about it, I said at the time, says I, she looks
+more like to some sort of a humble young person, just brought out of a
+little good-nature to see the company, and the like of that; for she's
+not a bit like a lady of fortunes, with that nudging look; and I said to
+Tom Hicks, by way of joke, says I, if I was to think of her, which I
+don't think I shall, at least she would not be much in my way, for she
+could not follow a body much about, because of that hitch in her gait,
+for I'm a pretty good walker.'
+
+Here the ill dressed man, who had already spoken to Camilla, quitting
+his seat, strolled up to her, and fastening his eyes upon her face,
+though without bowing, made some speech about the weather, with the
+lounging freedom of manner of a confirmed old acquaintance. His whole
+appearance had an air of even wilful slovenliness: His hair was
+uncombed; he was in boots, which were covered with mud; his coat seemed
+to have been designedly [immersed] in powder, and his universal
+negligence was not only shabby but uncleanly. Astonished and offended by
+his forwardness, Camilla turned entirely away from him.
+
+Not disconcerted by this distance, he procured a chair, upon which he
+cast himself, perfectly at his ease, immediately behind her.
+
+Just as the general breakfast was over, and the waiters were summoned to
+clear away the tables, and prepare the room for dancing, the lady who
+had so strikingly made her appearance the preceding evening, again
+entered. She was alone, as before, and walked up the room with the same
+decided air of indifference to all opinion; sometimes knotting with as
+much diligence and earnestness as if her subsistence depended upon the
+rapidity of her work; and at other times stopping short, she applied to
+her eye a near-sighted glass, which hung to her finger, and intently
+examined some particular person or group; then, with a look of absence,
+as if she had not seen a creature, she hummed an opera song to herself,
+and proceeded. Her rouge was remarkably well put on, and her claim to
+being still a fine woman, though past her prime, was as obvious as it
+was conscious: Her dress was more fantastic and studied than the night
+before, in the same proportion as that of every other person present was
+more simple and quiet; and the commanding air of her countenance, and
+the easiness of her carriage, spoke a confirmed internal assurance, that
+her charms and her power were absolute, wherever she thought their
+exertion worth her trouble.
+
+When she came to the head of the room, she turned about, and, with her
+glass, surveyed the whole company; then smilingly advancing to the
+sloven, whom Camilla was shunning, she called out: 'O! are you there?
+what rural deity could break your rest so early?'
+
+'None!' answered he, rubbing his eyes; 'I am invulnerably asleep at this
+very moment! In the very centre of the morphetic dominions. But how
+barbarously late you are! I should never have come to this vastly
+horrid place before my ride, if I had imagined you could be so
+excruciating.'
+
+Struck with a jargon of which she could not suspect two persons to be
+capable, Camilla turned round to her slighted neighbour, and with the
+greatest surprise recognised, upon examination, the most brilliant beau
+of the preceding evening, in the worst dressed man of the present
+morning.
+
+The lady now, again holding her glass to her eye, which she directed
+without scruple towards Camilla and her party, said: 'Who have you got
+there?'
+
+Camilla looked hastily away, and her whole set, abashed by so unseasoned
+an inquiry, cast down their eyes.
+
+'Hey!' cried he, calmly viewing them, as if for the first time himself:
+'Why, I'll tell you!' Then making her bend to hear his whisper, which,
+nevertheless, was by no means intended for her own ear alone, he added:
+'Two little things as pretty as angels, and two others as ugly as--I say
+no more!'
+
+'O, I take in the full force of your metaphor!' cried she, laughing;
+'and acknowledge the truth of its contrast.'
+
+Camilla alone, as they meant, had heard them; and ashamed for herself,
+and provoked to find Eugenia coupled with Miss Margland, she endeavoured
+to converse with some of her own society; but their attention was
+entirely engaged by the whispers; nor could she, for more than a minute,
+deny her own curiosity the pleasure of observing them.
+
+They now spoke together for some time in low voices, laughing
+immoderately at the occasional sallies of each other; Sir Sedley
+Clarendel sitting at his ease, Mrs. Arlbery standing, and knotting by
+his side.
+
+The officers, and almost all the beaux, began to crowd to this spot; but
+neither the gentleman nor the lady interrupted their discourse to return
+or receive any salutations. Lionel, who with much eagerness had quitted
+an inside seat at a long table, to pay his court to Mrs. Arlbery, could
+catch neither her eye nor her ear for his bow or his compliment.
+
+Sir Sedley, at last, looking up in her face and smiling, said: 'A'n't
+you shockingly tired?'
+
+'To death!' answered she, coolly.
+
+'Why then, I am afraid, I must positively do the thing that's old
+fashioned.'
+
+And rising, and making her a very elegant bow, he presented her his
+seat, adding: 'There, ma'am! I have the honour to give you my chair--at
+the risk of my reputation.'
+
+'I should have thought,' cried Lionel, now getting forward, 'that
+omitting to give it would rather have risked your reputation.'
+
+'It is possible you could be born before all that was over?' said Mrs.
+Arlbery, dropping carelessly upon the chair as she perceived Lionel,
+whom she honoured with a nod: 'How do do, Mr. Tyrold? are you just come
+in?' But turning again to Sir Sedley, without waiting for his answer, 'I
+swear, you barbarian,' she cried, 'you have really almost killed me with
+fatigue.'
+
+'Have I indeed?' said he, smiling.
+
+Mr. Dubster now, leaning over the table, solemnly said: 'I am sure I
+should have offered the lady my own place, if I had not been so tired
+myself; but Tom Hicks over-persuaded me to dance a bit before you came
+in, ma'am,' addressing Camilla, 'for you have lost a deal of dancing by
+coming so late; for they all fell to as soon as ever they come; and, as
+I'm not over and above used to it, it soon makes one a little stiffish,
+as one may say; and indeed, the lady's much better off in getting a
+chair, for one sits mighty little at one's ease on these here benches,
+with nothing to lean one's back against.'
+
+'And who's that?' cried Mrs. Arlbery to Sir Sedley, looking Mr. Dubster
+full in the face.
+
+Sir Sedley made some answer in a whisper, which proved highly
+entertaining to them both. Mr. Dubster, with an air much offended, said
+to Camilla: 'People's laughing and whispering, which one don't know what
+it's about, is not one of the politest things, I know, for polite people
+to do; and, in my mind, they ought to be above it.'
+
+This resentment excited Lionel to join in the laugh; and Mr. Dubster,
+with great gravity of manner, rose, and said to Camilla: 'When you are
+ready to dance, ma'am, I am willing to be your partner, and I shan't
+engage myself to nobody else; but I shall go to t'other end of the room
+till you choose to stand up; for I don't much care to stay here, only to
+be laughed at, when I don't know what it's for.'
+
+They now all left the table; and Lionel eagerly begged permission to
+introduce his sisters and cousin to Mrs. Arlbery, who readily consented
+to the proposal.
+
+Indiana advanced with pleasure into a circle of beaux, whose eyes were
+most assiduous to welcome her. Camilla, though a little alarmed in being
+presented to a lady of so singular a deportment, had yet a curiosity to
+see more of her, that willingly seconded her brother's motion. And
+Eugenia, to whose early reflecting mind every new character and new
+scene opened a fresh fund for thought, if not for knowledge, was charmed
+to take a nearer view of what promised such food for observation. But
+Miss Margland began an angry remonstrance against the proceedings of
+Lionel, in thus taking out of her hands the direction of her charges.
+What she urged, however, was vain: Lionel was only diverted by her
+wrath, and the three young ladies, as they had not requested the
+introduction, did not feel themselves responsible for its taking effect.
+
+Lionel led them on: Mrs. Arlbery half rose to return their curtsies; and
+gave them a reception so full of vivacity and good humour, that they
+soon forgot the ill will with which Miss Margland had suffered them to
+quit her; and even lost all recollection that it belonged to them to
+return to her. The satisfaction of Indiana, indeed, flowed simply from
+the glances of admiration which every where met her eye; but Eugenia
+attended to every word, and every motion of Mrs. Arlbery, with that sort
+of earnestness which marks an intelligent child at a first play; and
+Camilla, still more struck by the novelty of this new acquaintance,
+scarce permitted herself to breathe, lest she should lose anything she
+said.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery perceived their youthful wonder, and felt a propensity to
+increase it, which strengthened all her powers, and called forth all her
+faculties. Wit she possessed at will; and, with exertions which rendered
+it uncommonly brilliant, she displayed it, now to them, now to the
+gentlemen, with a gaiety so fantastic, a raillery so arch, a spirit of
+satire so seasoned with a delight in coquetry, and a certain negligence
+of air so enlivened by a whimsical pleasantry, that she could not have
+failed to strike with admiration even the most hackneyed seekers of
+character; much less the inexperienced young creatures now presented to
+her; who, with open eyes and ears, regarded her as a phenomenon, upon
+finding that the splendor of her talents equalled the singularity of her
+manners.
+
+When the room was prepared for dancing, Major Cerwood brought to Indiana
+Mr. Macdersey, the young Ensign who had so improperly addressed her at
+the ball; and, after a formal apology, in his name, for what had passed,
+begged the honour of her hand for him this morning. Indiana, flattered
+and fluttered together by this ceremony, almost forgot Edgar, who stood
+quietly but watchfully aloof, and was actually giving her consent when,
+meeting his eye, she recollected she was already engaged. Mr. Macdersey
+hoped for more success another time, and Edgar advanced to lead his fair
+partner to her place.
+
+Major Cerwood offered himself to Camilla; but Mr. Dubster coming
+forward, pulled him by the elbow, and making a stiff low bow, said:
+'Sir, I ask your pardon for taking the liberty of giving you such a jog,
+but the young lady's been engaged to me ever so long.' The Major looked
+surprised; but, observing that Camilla coloured, he bowed respectfully
+and retreated.
+
+Camilla, ashamed of her beau, determined not to dance at all: though she
+saw, with much vexation, upon the general dispersion, Miss Margland
+approach to claim her. Educated in all the harmony of contentment and
+benevolence, she had a horror of a temper so irascible, that made it a
+penance to remain a moment in its vicinity. Mr. Dubster, however, left
+her not alone to it: when she positively refused his hand, he said it
+was equal agreeable to him to have only a little dish of chat with her;
+and composedly stationed himself before her. Eugenia had already been
+taken out by the handsome stranger, with whom she had danced the evening
+before; and Lionel, bewitched with Mrs. Arlbery, enlisted himself
+entirely in her train; and with Sir Sedley Clarendel, and almost every
+man of any consequence in the room, declined all dancing for the
+pleasure of attending her.
+
+Mr. Dubster, unacquainted with the natural high spirits of Camilla,
+inferred nothing to his own disadvantage from her silence, but talked
+incessantly himself with perfect complacency. 'Do you know, ma'am,'
+cried he, 'just as that elderly lady, that, I suppose, is your mamma,
+took you all away in that hurry last night, up comes the boy with my new
+pair of gloves! but, though I run down directly to tell you of it, there
+was no making the old lady stop; which I was fool to try at; for as to
+women, I know their obstinacy of old. But what I grudged the most was,
+as soon as I come up again, as ill luck would have it, Tom Hicks finds
+me my own t'other glove! So there I had two pair, when I might as well
+have had never a one!'
+
+Observing that Eugenia was dancing, 'Lack a-day!' he exclaimed, 'I'll
+lay a wager that poor gentleman has been took in, just as I was
+yesterday! He thinks that young lady that's had the small-pox so bad, is
+you, ma'am! 'Twould be a fine joke if such a mistake as that should get
+the little lame duck, as I call her, a husband! He'd be in a fine hobble
+when he found he'd got nothing but her ugly face for his bargain.
+Though, provided she'd had the rhino, it would not much have signified:
+for, as to being pretty or not, it's not great matter in a wife. A man
+soon tires of seeing nothing but the same face, if it's one of the
+best.'
+
+Camilla here, in the midst of her chagrin, could not forbear asking him
+if he was married? 'Yes, ma'am,' answered he calmly, 'I've had two wives
+to my share already; so I know what I'm speaking of; though I've buried
+them both. Why it was all along of my wives, what with the money I had
+with one, and what with the money I had with the other, that I got out
+of business so soon.'
+
+'You were very much obliged to them, then?'
+
+'Why, yes, ma'am, as to that, I can't say to the contrary, now that
+they're gone: but I can't say I had much comfort with 'em while they
+lived. They was always a thinking they had a right to what they had a
+mind, because of what they brought me; so that I had enough to do to
+scrape a little matter together, in case of outliving them. One of 'em
+has not been dead above a twelvemonth, or there about; these are the
+first clothes I've bought since I left off my blacks.'
+
+When Indiana past them, he expressed his admiration of her beauty. 'That
+young lady, ma'am,' he said, 'cuts you all up, sure enough. She's as
+fine a piece of red and white as ever I see. I could think of such a
+young lady as that myself, if I did not remember that I thought no more
+of my wife that was pretty, than of my wife that was ugly, after the
+first month or so. Beauty goes for a mere nothing in matrimony, when
+once one's used to it. Besides, I've no great thoughts at present of
+entering into the state again of one while, at any rate, being but just
+got to be a little comfortable.'
+
+The second dance was now called, when Mrs. Arlbery, coming suddenly
+behind Camilla, said, in a low voice, 'Do you know who you are talking
+with?'
+
+'No, ma'am!'
+
+'A young tinker, my dear! that's all!' And, with a provoking nod, she
+retreated.
+
+Camilla, half ready to laugh, half to cry, restrained herself with
+difficulty from running after her; and Mr. Dubster, observing that she
+abruptly turned away, and would listen no more, again claimed her for
+his partner; and, upon her absolute refusal, surprised and affronted,
+walked off in silence. She was then finally condemned to the morose
+society of Miss Margland: and invectives against Sir Hugh for
+mismanagement, and Lionel, with whom now that lady was at open war, for
+impertinence, filled up the rest of her time, till the company was
+informed that refreshments were served in the card-room.
+
+Thither, immediately, every body flocked, with as much speed and
+avidity, as if they had learnt to appreciate the blessing of plenty, by
+the experience of want. Such is the vacancy of dissipated pleasure,
+that, never satisfied with what it possesses, an opening always remains
+for something yet to be tried, and, on that something still to come, all
+enjoyment seems to depend.
+
+The day beginning now to clear, the sashes of a large bow-window were
+thrown up. Sir Sedley Clarendel sauntered thither, and instantly
+everybody followed, as if there were no breathing anywhere else;
+declaring, while they pressed upon one another almost to suffocation,
+that nothing was so reviving as the fresh air: and, in a minute, not a
+creature was to be seen in any other part of the room.
+
+Here, in full view, stood sundry hapless relations of the poorer part of
+the prisoners to be tried the next morning, who, with supplicating hands
+and eyes, implored the compassion of the company, whom their very
+calamities assembled for amusement.
+
+Nobody took any notice of them; nobody appeared even to see them: but,
+one by one, all glided gently away, and the bow-window was presently the
+only empty space in the apartment.
+
+Camilla, contented with having already presented her mite, and Eugenia,
+with having given her's in commission, retired unaffectedly with the
+rest; while Miss Margland, shrugging up her shoulders, and declaring
+there was no end of beggars, pompously added, 'However, we gave before
+we came in.'
+
+Presently, a paper was handed about, to collect half guineas for a
+raffle. A beautiful locket, set round with pearls, ornamented at the top
+with a little knot of small brilliants, and very elegantly shaped, with
+a space left for a braid of hair, or a cypher, was produced; and, as if
+by magnetic power, attracted into almost every hand the capricious
+coin, which distress, but the moment before had repelled.
+
+Miss Margland lamented she had only guineas or silver, but suffered
+Edgar to be her paymaster; privately resolving, that, if she won the
+locket, she would remember the debt: Eugenia, amused in seeing the
+humour of all that was going forward, readily put in; Indiana, satisfied
+her uncle would repay the expences of the day, with a heart panting from
+hope of the prize, did the same; but Camilla hung back, totally unused
+to hazard upon what was unnecessary the little allowance she had been
+taught to spend sparingly upon herself, that something might be always
+in her power to bestow upon others. The character of this raffle was not
+of that interesting nature which calls forth from the affluent and easy
+respect as well as aid: the prize belonged to no one whom adversity
+compelled to change what once was an innocent luxury, into the means of
+subsistence; it was the mere common mode of getting rid of a mere common
+bauble, which no one had thought worth the full price affixed to it by
+its toyman. She knew not, however, till now, how hard to resist was the
+contagion of example, and felt a struggle in her self-denial, that made
+her, when she put the locket down, withdraw from the crowd, and resolve
+not to look at it again.
+
+Edgar, who had observed her, read her secret conflict with an emotion
+which impelled him to follow her, that he might express his admiration;
+but he was stopt by Mrs. Arlbery, who just then hastily attacked her
+with, 'What have you done with your friend the tinker, my dear?'
+
+Camilla, laughing, though extremely ashamed, said, she knew nothing at
+all about him.
+
+'You talked with him, then, by way of experiment, to see how you might
+like him?'
+
+'No, indeed! I merely answered him when I could not help it; but still I
+thought, at a ball, gentlemen only would present themselves.'
+
+'And how many couple,' said Mrs. Arlbery, smiling, 'do you calculate
+would, in that case, stand up?'
+
+She then ordered one of the beaux who attended her, to bring her a
+chair, and told another to fetch her the locket. Edgar was again
+advancing to Camilla, when Lionel, whose desire to obtain the good
+graces of Mrs. Arlbery, had suggested to him an anticipation of her
+commands, pushed forward with the locket.
+
+'Well, really, it is not ugly,' cried she, taking it in her hand: 'Have
+you put in yet, Miss Tyrold?'
+
+'No, ma'am.'
+
+'O, I am vastly glad of that; for now we will try our fortune together.'
+
+Camilla, though secretly blushing at what she felt was an extravagance,
+could not withstand this invitation: she gave her half guinea.
+
+Edgar, disappointed, retreated in silence.
+
+The money being collected, and the names of the rafflers taken down,
+information was given, that the prize was to be thrown for in three days
+time, at one o'clock at noon, in the shop of a bookseller at Northwick.
+
+Some of the company now departed; others prepared for a last dance. Miss
+Margland desired Lionel to see for their carriage; but Lionel had no
+greater joy than to disregard her. Indiana asked earnestly to stay
+longer; Miss Margland said, she could only give way to her request, upon
+condition her partner should be Mr. Mandlebert. It was in vain she urged
+that she was already engaged to Colonel Andover; Miss Margland was
+inexorable, and Edgar, laughing, said, he should certainly have the
+whole corps upon his back; but the honour was sufficient to
+counterbalance the risk, and he would, therefore, beg the Colonel's
+patience.
+
+'Mr. Mandlebert,' said Miss Margland, 'I know enough of quarrels at
+balls about partners, and ladies changing their minds, to know how to
+act pretty well in those cases: I shall desire, therefore, to speak to
+the Colonel myself, and not trust two gentlemen together upon such a
+nice matter.'
+
+She then beckoned to the Colonel, who stood at a little distance, and,
+taking him apart, told him, she flattered herself he would not be
+offended, if Miss Lynmere should dance again with Mr. Mandlebert, though
+rather out of rule, as there were particular reasons for it.
+
+The Colonel, with a smile, said he perceived Mr. Mandlebert was the
+happy man, and acquiesced.
+
+A general murmur now ran buzzing round the room, that Mr. Mandlebert and
+Miss Lynmere were publicly contracted to each other; and, amongst many
+who heard with displeasure that the young beauty was betrothed before
+she was exhibited to view, Mr. Macdersey appeared to suffer the most
+serious mortification.
+
+As soon as this dance was over, Edgar conducted his ladies to an
+apartment below stairs, and went in search of the carriage.
+
+He did not return for some time. Miss Margland, as usual, grumbled; but
+Camilla, perceiving Mrs. Arlbery, rejoiced in the delay; and stationed
+herself by her side, all alive in attending to the pleasantry with which
+she was amusing herself and those around her.
+
+When Edgar, who seemed out of breath from running, came back, he made
+but short answers to the murmurs of Miss Margland; and, hastening to
+Camilla, said: 'I have been with your petitioner:--she has all that can
+comfort her for the present; and I have learnt the name of her husband's
+counsel. You will be so good as to excuse me at dinner to Sir Hugh. I
+shall remain here till I can judge what may be done.'
+
+The attention of Camilla was now effectually withdrawn from Mrs.
+Arlbery, and the purest delight of which human feelings are susceptible,
+took sudden and sole possession of her youthful mind, in the idea of
+being instrumental to the preservation of a fellow-creature.
+
+Edgar saw, in the change, yet brightness of her countenance, what passed
+within;--and his disappointment concerning the raffle was immediately
+forgotten.
+
+A short consultation followed, in which both spoke with so much energy,
+as not only to overpower the remonstrances of Miss Margland for their
+departure, but to catch the notice of Mrs. Arlbery, who, coming forward,
+and leaning her hand on the shoulder of Camilla, said: 'Tell me what it
+is that has thus animated you? Have you heard any good tidings of your
+new friend?'
+
+Camilla instantly and eagerly related the subject that occupied them,
+without observing that the whole company around were smiling, at her
+earnestness in a cause of such common distress.
+
+'You are new, my dear,' said Mrs. Arlbery, patting her cheek, 'very new;
+but I take the whim sometimes of being charitable myself, for a little
+variety. It always looks pretty; and begging is no bad way of shewing
+off one's powers. So give me your documents, and I'll give you my
+eloquence.'
+
+Camilla presented her the petition, and she invited Mandlebert to dine
+with her. Miss Margland then led the way, and the female party returned
+to Cleves.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_A Raffle_
+
+
+It was late when Edgar returned to Cleves. Camilla flew to meet him. He
+told her everything relative to her petitioner was in the most
+prosperous train; he had seen the prisoner, heard the particulars of his
+story, which all tended to his exculpation; and Mrs. Arlbery had
+contrived to make acquaintance with his counsel, whom she found
+perfectly well disposed to exert himself in the cause, and whom she had
+invited to a splendid supper. The trial was to take place the next
+morning.
+
+Camilla, already powerfully struck with Mrs. Arlbery, was enchanted to
+find her thus active in benevolence.
+
+Edgar was to dine with that lady the next day, and to learn the event of
+their joint exertions.
+
+This proved all that could be wished. The prosecution had been mild: the
+judge and jury had been touched with compassion; and the venial offender
+had been released with a gentle reprimand.
+
+Mandlebert returned to communicate these tidings to Camilla, with a
+pleasure exactly in unison with her own. Mrs. Arlbery, he avowed, had
+been as zealous as himself; and had manifested a charity of disposition
+which the flightiness of her manners had not let him to expect.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next object of attention was the raffle, which was to take place the
+following morning.
+
+Sir Hugh was averse to letting his nieces go abroad again so soon: but
+Miss Margland, extremely anxious about her own chance for the prize,
+solemnly asserted its necessity; inveighed against the mismanagement of
+everything at Cleves, stifled all her complaints of Lionel, and
+pronounced a positive decision, that, to carry Indiana to public places,
+was the sole method of promoting the match.
+
+Sir Hugh then, willing to believe, and yet more willing to get rid of
+disputing with her, no longer withheld his consent.
+
+They were advanced within half a mile of Northwick, when a sick man,
+painfully supported by a woman with a child in her arms, caught their
+eyes. The ready hand of Eugenia was immediately in her pocket; Camilla,
+looking more intently upon the group, perceived another child, and
+presently recognised the wife of the prisoner. She called to the
+coachman to stop, and Edgar, at the same moment, rode up to the
+carriage.
+
+Miss Margland angrily ordered the man to drive on, saying, she was quite
+sick of being thus for ever infested with beggars; who really came so
+often, they were no better than pick-pockets.
+
+'O, don't refuse to let me speak to them!' cried Camilla; 'it will be
+such a pleasure to see their joy!'
+
+'O yes! they look in much joy indeed! they seem as if they had not eat a
+morsel these three weeks! Drive on, I say, coachman! I like no such
+melancholy sights, for my part. They always make me ill. I wonder how
+any body can bear them.'
+
+'But we may help them; we may assist them!' said Camilla, with
+increasing earnestness.
+
+'And pray, when they have got all our money, who is to help us?'
+
+Eugenia, delighted to give, but unhabituated to any other exertion,
+flung half a crown to them; and Indiana, begging to look out, said,
+'Dear! I never saw a prisoner before!'
+
+Encouraged by an expressive look from Camilla, Edgar dismounted to hand
+her from the carriage, affecting not to hear the remonstrances of Miss
+Margland, though she scrupled not to deliver them very audibly. Eugenia
+languished to join them, but could not venture to disobey a direct
+command; and Indiana, observing the road to be very dusty, submitted, to
+save a pair of beautiful new shoes.
+
+Camilla had all the gratification she promised herself, in witnessing
+the happiness of the poor petitioner. He was crawling to Cleves, with
+his family, to offer thanks. They were penniless, sick, and wretched;
+yet the preservation of the poor man seemed to make misery light to them
+all. Edgar desired to know what were their designs for the future. The
+man answered that he should not dare go back to his own country, because
+there his disgrace was known, and he should procure no work; nor,
+indeed, was he now able to do any. 'So we must make up our minds to beg
+from door to door, and in the streets, and on the high road,' he
+continued; 'till I get back a little strength; and can earn a living
+more creditably.'
+
+'But as long as we have kept you alive, and saved you from being
+transported,' said his wife, 'for which all thanks be due to this good
+gentleman, we shall mind no hardships, and never go astray again, in
+wicked unthinkingness of this great mercy.'
+
+Edgar inquired what had been their former occupations; they answered,
+they had both been day-workers in the field, till a fit of sickness had
+hindered the poor man from getting his livelihood: penury and hunger
+then pressing hard upon them all, he had been tempted to commit the
+offence for which he was taken, and brought to death's door. 'But as
+now,' he added, 'I have been saved, I shall make it a warning for the
+time to come, and never give myself up to so bad a course again.'
+
+Edgar asked the woman what money she had left.
+
+'Ah, sir, none! for we had things to pay, and people to satisfy, and so
+everything you and the good ladies gave us, is all gone; for, while
+anything was left us, they would not be easy. But this is no great
+mischief now, as my husband is not taken away from us, and is come to a
+right sense.'
+
+'I believe,' said Edgar, 'you are very good sort of people, however
+distress had misguided you.'
+
+He then put something into the man's hand, and Eugenia, who from the
+carriage window heard what passed, flung him another half crown; Camilla
+added a shilling, and turning suddenly away, walked a few paces from
+them all.
+
+Edgar, gently following, inquired if anything was the matter; her eyes
+were full of tears: 'I was thinking,' she cried, 'what my dear father
+would have said, had he seen me giving half a guinea for a toy, and a
+shilling to such poor starving people as these!'
+
+'Why, what would he have said?' cried Edgar, charmed with her penitence,
+though joining in the apprehended censure.
+
+'He would more than ever have pitied those who want money, in seeing it
+so squandered by one who should better have remembered his lessons! O,
+if I could but recover that half guinea!'
+
+'Will you give me leave to get it back for you?'
+
+'Leave? you would lay me under the greatest obligation! How far half a
+guinea would go here, in poverty such as this!'
+
+He assured her he could regain it without difficulty; and then, telling
+the poor people to postpone their walk to Cleves till the evening, when
+Camilla meant to prepare her uncle, also, to assist them, he handed her
+to the coach, with feelings yet more pleased than her own, and galloped
+forward to execute his commission.
+
+He was ready at the door of the library to receive them. As they
+alighted, Camilla eagerly cried: 'Well! have you succeeded?'
+
+'Can you trust yourself to this spot, and to a review of the
+allurement,' answered he, smiling, and holding half a guinea between his
+fingers, 'yet be content to see your chance for the prize withdrawn?'
+
+'O give it me! give it me!' cried she, almost seizing it from him, 'my
+dear father will be so glad to hear I have not spent it so foolishly.'
+
+The rafflers were not yet assembled; no one was in the shop but a well
+dressed elegant young man, who was reading at a table, and who neither
+raised his eyes at their entrance, nor suffered their discourse to
+interrupt his attention; yet though abstracted from outward objects, his
+studiousness was not of a solemn cast; he seemed wrapt in what he was
+reading with a pleasure amounting to ecstasy. He started, acted, smiled,
+and looked pensive in turn, while his features were thrown into a
+thousand different expressions, and his person was almost writhed with
+perpetually varying gestures. From time to time his rapture broke forth
+into loud exclamations of 'Exquisite! exquisite!' while he beat the
+leaves of the book violently with his hands, in token of applause, or
+lifting them up to his lips, almost devoured with kisses the passages
+that charmed him. Sometimes he read a few words aloud, calling out
+'Heavenly!' and vehemently stamping his approbation with his feet; then
+suddenly shutting up the book, folded his arms, and casting his eyes
+towards the ceiling, uttered: 'O too much! too much! there is no
+standing it!' yet again, the next minute, opened it and resumed the
+lecture.
+
+The youthful group was much diverted with this unintended exhibition. To
+Eugenia alone it did not appear ridiculous; she simply envied his
+transports, and only wished to discover by what book they were excited.
+Edgar and Camilla amused themselves with conjecturing various authors;
+Indiana and Miss Margland required no such aid to pass their time,
+while, with at least equal delight, they contemplated the hoped-for
+prize.
+
+Lionel now bounced in: 'Why what,' cried he, 'are you all doing in this
+musty old shop, when Mrs. Arlbery and all the world are enjoying the air
+on the public walks?'
+
+Camilla was instantly for joining that lady; but Eugenia felt an
+unconquerable curiosity to learn the running title of the book. She
+stole softly round to look over the shoulder of the reader, and her
+respect for his raptures increased, when she saw they were raised by
+Thomson's Seasons.
+
+Neither this approach, nor the loud call of Lionel, had interrupted the
+attention of the young student, who perceived and regarded nothing but
+what he was about; and though occasionally he ceased reading to indulge
+in passionate ejaculations, he seemed to hold everything else beneath
+his consideration.
+
+Lionel, drawn to observe him from the circuit made by Eugenia,
+exclaimed: 'What, Melmond! why, how long have you been in Hampshire?'
+
+The youth, surprised from his absence of mind by the sound of his own
+name, looked up and said: 'Who's that?'
+
+'Why, when the deuce did you come into this part of the world?' cried
+Lionel, approaching him to shake hands.
+
+'O! for pity's sake,' answered he, with energy, 'don't interrupt me!'
+
+'Why not? have not you enough of that dry work at Oxford? Come, come,
+have done with this boyish stuff, and behave like a man.'
+
+'You distract me,' answered Melmond, motioning him away; 'I am in a
+scene that entrances me to Elysium! I have never read it since I could
+appreciate it.'
+
+'What! old Thomson?' said Lionel, peeping over him; 'why, I never read
+him at all. Come, man! (giving him a slap on the shoulder) come along
+with me, and I'll shew you something more worth looking at.'
+
+'You will drive me mad, if you break in upon this episode! 'tis a
+picture of all that is divine upon earth! hear it, only hear it!'
+
+He then began the truly elegant and feeling description that concludes
+Thomson's Spring; and though Lionel, with a loud shout, cried: 'Do you
+think I come hither for such fogrum stuff as that?' and ran out of the
+shop; the 'wrapt enthusiast' continued reading aloud, too much delighted
+with the pathos of his own voice in expressing the sentiments of the
+poet, to deny himself a regale so soothing to his ears.
+
+Eugenia, enchanted, stood on tiptoe to hear him, her uplifted finger
+petitioning silence all around, and her heart fondly repeating, O just
+such a youth be Clermont! just such his passion for reading! just such
+his fervour for poetry! just such his exaltation of delight in literary
+yet domestic felicity!
+
+Mandlebert, also, caught by the rehearsal of his favourite picture of a
+scheme of human happiness, which no time, no repetition can make vapid
+to a feeling heart, stood pleased and attentive to hear him; even
+Indiana, though she listened not to the matter, was struck by the manner
+in which it was delivered, which so resembled dramatic recitation, that
+she thought herself at a play, and full of wonder, advanced straight
+before him, to look full in his face, and watch the motions of his right
+arm, with which he acted incessantly, while the left held his book. Miss
+Margland concluded he was a strolling player, and did not suffer him to
+draw her eyes from the locket. But when, at the words
+
+                                ----content,
+    Retirement, rural quiet, friendship, books,
+    Ease and alternate labour, useful life,
+    Progressive virtue, and approving Heaven,
+
+Mandlebert turned softly round to read their impression on the
+countenance of Camilla--she was gone!
+
+Attracted by her wish to see more of Mrs. Arlbery, she had run out of
+the shop after Lionel, before she either knew what was reading, or was
+missed by those the reader had engaged. Edgar, though disappointed,
+wondered he should have stayed himself to listen to what had long been
+familiar to him, and was quietly gliding away when he saw her returning.
+He then went back to his post, wondering, with still less satisfaction,
+how she could absent herself from hearing what so well was worth her
+studying.
+
+The young man, when he came to the concluding line:
+
+    _To scenes where love and bliss immortal reign!_
+
+rose, let fall the book, clasped his hands with a theatrical air, and
+was casting his eyes upwards in a fervent and willing trance, when he
+perceived Indiana standing immediately before him.
+
+Surprised and ashamed, his sublimity suddenly forsook him; his arms
+dropt, and his hands were slipt into his waistcoat pockets.
+
+But, the very next moment, the sensation of shame and of self was
+superseded by the fair object that had thus aroused him. Her beauty, her
+youth, her attitude of examination, struck him at first with an
+amazement that presently gave place to an admiration as violent as it
+was sudden. He started back, bowed profoundly, without any pretence for
+bowing at all, and then rivetting his eyes, in which his whole soul
+seemed centred, on her lovely face, stood viewing her with a look of
+homage, motionless, yet enraptured.
+
+Indiana, still conceiving this to be some sort of acting, unabashed kept
+her post, expecting every moment he would begin spouting something more.
+But the enthusiasm of the young Oxonian had changed its object; the
+charms of poetry yielded to the superior charms of beauty, and while he
+gazed on the fair Indiana, his fervent mind fancied her some being of
+celestial order, wonderfully accorded to his view: How, or for what
+purpose, he as little knew as cared. The play of imagination, in the
+romance of early youth, is rarely interrupted with scruples of
+probability.
+
+This scene of dumb transport and unfixed expectation, was broken up
+neither by the admirer nor the admired, but by the entrance of Mrs.
+Arlbery, Sir Sedley Clarendel, Lionel, the officers, and many of the
+rest of the company that had been present at the public breakfast: Nor
+would even this intrusion have disengaged the young Oxonian from his
+devout and ecstatic adoration, had it been equally indifferent to
+Indiana; but the appearance of a party of gay officers was not, to her,
+a matter of little moment. Eager for the notice in which she delighted,
+she looked round in full confidence of receiving it. The rapture of the
+Oxonian, as she had seen it kindled while he was reading, she attributed
+to something she did not understand, and took in it, therefore, no part;
+but the adulation of the officers was by no means ambiguous, and its
+acceptance was as obvious as its presentation.
+
+Willingly, therefore, as well as immediately encompassed, she received a
+thousand compliments, and in the gratification of hearing them,
+completely forgot her late short surprise; but the Oxonian, more
+forcibly struck, ardently followed her with his eyes, started back
+theatrically at every change of attitude which displayed her fine
+figure, and at her smiles smiled again, from the uncontrollable sympathy
+of a fascinated imagination.
+
+Miss Margland felt not small pride in seeing her pupil thus
+distinguished, since it marked the shrewdness of her capacity in
+foretelling the effect of bringing her forth. Anxious to share in a
+consequence to which she had industriously contributed, she paradingly
+forced her way through the group, and calling the attention of Indiana
+to herself, said: 'I am glad you came away, my dear; for I am sure that
+man is only a poor strolling player.'
+
+'Dear! let me look at him again!' cried Indiana; 'for I never saw a
+player before; only at a play.'
+
+She then turned back to examine him.
+
+Enchanted to again meet her eyes, the youth bowed with intense respect,
+and advanced a few paces, as if with intention to speak to her, though
+immediately and with still more precipitance he retreated, from being
+ready with nothing to say.
+
+Lionel, going up to him, and pulling him by the arm, cried: 'Why, man!
+what's come to you? These are worse heroics than I have seen you in
+yet.'
+
+The bright eyes of Indiana being still fixed upon him, he disdained all
+notice of Lionel, beyond a silent repulse.
+
+Indiana, having now satisfied her curiosity, restored her attention to
+the beaux that surrounded her. The Oxonian, half sighing, unfolded his
+clasped hands, one of which he reposed upon the shoulder of Lionel.
+
+'Come, prithee, be a little less in alt,' cried Lionel, 'and answer a
+man when he speaks to you. Where did you leave Smythson?'
+
+'Who is that divinity; can you tell me?' said the Oxonian in a low and
+respectful tone of inquiry.
+
+'What divinity?'
+
+'What divinity? insensible Tyrold! tasteless! adamantine! Look, look
+yonder, and ask me again if you can!'
+
+'O what; my cousin Indiana?'
+
+'Your cousin? have you any affinity with such a creature as that? O
+Tyrold! I glory in your acquaintance! she is all I ever read of! all I
+ever conceived! she is beauty in its very essence! she is elegance,
+delicacy, and sensibility personified!'
+
+'All very true,' said Lionel; 'but how should you know anything of her
+besides her beauty?'
+
+'How? by looking at her! Can you view that countenance and ask me how?
+Are not those eyes all soul? Does not that mouth promise every thing
+that is intelligent? Can those lips ever move but to diffuse sweetness
+and smiles? I must not look at her again! another glance may set me
+raving!'
+
+'May?' cried Lionel, laughing; 'why what have you been doing all this
+time? However, be a little less in the sublime, and I'll introduce you
+to her.'
+
+'Is it possible? shall I owe to you so celestial a happiness? O Tyrold!
+you bind me to you for life!'
+
+Lionel, heartily hallowing, then brought him forward to Indiana: 'Miss
+Lynmere,' he cried, 'a fellow student of mine, though somewhat more
+given to study than your poor cousin, most humbly begs the honour of
+kissing your toe.'
+
+The uncommon lowness of the bow which the Oxonian, ignorant of what
+Lionel would say, was making, led Miss Margland to imagine he was really
+going to perform that popish ceremony; and hastily pulling Lionel by the
+sleeve, she angrily said: 'Mr. Lionel, I desire to know by whose
+authority you present such actor-men to a young lady under my care.'
+
+Lionel, almost in convulsions, repeated this aloud; and the young
+student, who had just, in a voice of the deepest interest and respect,
+begun, 'The high honour, madam;' hearing an universal laugh from the
+company, stopt short, utterly disconcerted, and after a few vainly
+stammering attempts, bowed again, and was silent.
+
+Edgar, who in this distress, read an ingenuousness of nature that
+counterpoised its romantic enthusiasm, felt for the young man, and
+taking Lionel by the arm, said: 'Will you not introduce me also to your
+friend?'
+
+'Mr. Melmond of Brazen Nose! Mr. Mandlebert of Beech Park!' cried
+Lionel, flourishing, and bowing from one to the other.
+
+Edgar shook hands with the youth, and hoped they should be better
+acquainted.
+
+Camilla, gliding round, whispered him: 'How like my dear father was
+that! to give relief to embarrassment, instead of joining in the laugh
+which excites it!'
+
+Edgar, touched by a comparison to the person he most honoured,
+gratefully looked his acknowledgment; and all displeasure at her flight,
+even from Thomson's scene of conjugal felicity, was erased from his
+mind.
+
+The company grew impatient for the raffle, though some of the
+subscribers were not arrived. It was voted, at the proposition of Mrs.
+Arlbery, that the master of the shop should represent, as their turns
+came round, those who were absent.
+
+While this was settling, Edgar, in some confusion, drew Camilla to the
+door, saying: 'To avoid any perplexity about your throwing, suppose you
+step into the haberdasher's shop that is over the way?'
+
+Camilla, who already had felt very awkward with respect to her withdrawn
+subscription, gladly agreed to the proposal, and begging him to explain
+the matter to Miss Margland, tript across the street, while the rafflers
+were crowding to the point of action.
+
+Here she sat, making some small purchases, till the business was over:
+The whole party then came forth into the street, and all in a body
+poured into the haberdasher's shop, smiling, bowing, and of one accord
+wishing her joy.
+
+Concluding this to be in derision of her desertion, she rallied as well
+as she was able; but Mrs. Arlbery, who entered the last, and held the
+locket in her hand, said: 'Miss Tyrold, I heartily wish you equally
+brilliant success, in the next, and far more dangerous lottery, in
+which, I presume, you will try your fate.' And presented her the prize.
+
+Camilla, colouring, laughing, and unwillingly taking it, said: 'I
+suppose, ma'am--I hope--it is yours?' And she looked about for Edgar to
+assist her; but, he was gone to hasten the carriage.
+
+Every body crowded round her to take a last sight of the beautiful
+locket. Eager to get rid of it, she put it into the hands of Indiana,
+who regarded it with a partiality which her numerous admirers had
+courted, individually, in vain; though the young Oxonian, by his
+dramatic emotions, had engaged more of her attention than she had yet
+bestowed elsewhere. Eugenia too, caught by his eccentricity, was
+powerfully impelled to watch and admire him; and not the less, in the
+unenvying innocency of her heart, for his evident predilection in favour
+of her cousin. This youth was not, however, suffered to engross her; the
+stranger by whom she had already been distinguished at the ball and
+public breakfast, was one in the group, and resumed a claim upon her
+notice, too flattering in its manner to be repulsed, and too new to her
+extreme inexperience to be obtrusive.
+
+Meanwhile, Camilla gathered from Major Cerwood, that the prize had
+really fallen to her lot. Edgar had excused her not staying to throw for
+herself, but the general proxy, the bookseller, had been successful in
+her name.
+
+In great perplexity how to account for this incident, she apprehended
+Edgar had made some mistake, and determined, through his means, to
+restore the locket to the subscription.
+
+The carriage of Mrs. Arlbery was first ready; but, pushing away the
+throng of beaux offering assistance, she went up to Camilla, and said:
+'Fair object of the spleen of all around, will you bring a little of
+your influence with good fortune to my domain, and come and dine with
+me?'
+
+Delighted at the proposal, Camilla looked at Miss Margland; but Miss
+Margland, not being included in the invitation, frowned a refusal.
+
+Edgar now entered and announced the coach of Sir Hugh.
+
+'Make use of it as you can,' said Mrs. Arlbery; 'there is room for one
+more to go back than it brought; so pray do the honours prettily.
+Clarendel! take care of Miss Tyrold to my coach.'
+
+Sir Sedley smiled, and played with his watch chain, but did not move.
+
+'O you laziest of all lazy wretches!' cried Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+'I shall reverse the epithet, and be the alertest of the alert,' said
+Major Cerwood; 'if the commission may be devolved to myself.'
+
+'Positively not for the world! there is nothing so pleasant as working
+the indolent; except, indeed, making the restless keep quiet; so, come
+forth, Clarendel! be civil, and strike us all with astonishment!'
+
+'My adored Mrs. Arlbery!' cried he, (hoisting himself upon the shop
+counter, and swinging a switch to and fro, with a languid motion) your
+maxims are all of the first superlative, except this; but nobody's civil
+now, you know; 'tis a fogramity quite out.'
+
+'So you absolutely won't stir, then?'
+
+'O pray! pray!' answered he, putting on his hat and folding his arms, 'a
+little mercy! 'tis so vastly insufferably hot! Calcutta must be in the
+frigid zone to this shop! a very ice-house!'
+
+Camilla, who never imagined rudeness could make a feature of
+affectation, internally attributed this refusal to his pique that she
+had disregarded him at the public breakfast, and would have made him
+some apology, but knew not in what manner to word it.
+
+The Major again came forward, but Miss Margland, advancing also, said:
+'Miss Camilla! you won't think of dining out unknown to Sir Hugh?'
+
+'I am sure,' cried Mrs. Arlbery, 'you will have the goodness to speak
+for me to Sir Hugh.' Then, turning to Lionel, 'Mr. Tyrold,' she added,
+'you must go with us, that you may conduct your sister safe home. Don't
+be affronted; I shall invite you for your own sake another time. Come,
+you abominable Clarendel! awake! and give a little spring to our
+motions.'
+
+'You are most incommodiously cruel!' answered he; 'but I am bound to be
+your slave.' Then calling to one of the apprentices in the shop: 'My
+vastly good boy,' he cried, 'do you want to see me irrecoverably subdued
+by this immensely inhuman heat?'
+
+The boy stared; and said, 'Sir.'
+
+'If not, do get me a glass of water.'
+
+'O worse and worse!' said Mrs. Arlbery; 'your whims are insupportable. I
+give you up! Major! advance.'
+
+The Major, with alacrity, offered his hand; Camilla hesitated; she
+wished passionately to go, yet felt she had no authority for such a
+measure. The name, though not the person of Mrs. Arlbery, was known both
+at Cleves and at Etherington, as belonging to the owner of a capital
+house in the neighbourhood; and though the invitation was without form,
+Camilla was too young to be withheld by ceremony. Her uncle, she was
+sure, could refuse her nothing; and she thought, as she was only a
+visitor at Cleves, Miss Margland had no right to control her; the
+pleasure, therefore, of the scheme, soon conquered every smaller
+difficulty, and, looking away from her party, she suffered herself to be
+led to the coach.
+
+Miss Margland as she passed, said aloud: 'Remember! I give no consent to
+this!'
+
+But Eugenia, on the other side, whispered: 'Don't be uneasy; I will
+explain to my uncle how it all happened.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery was following, when Indiana exclaimed: 'Cousin Camilla,
+what am I to do with your locket?'
+
+Camilla had wholly forgotten it; she called to Edgar, who slowly, and
+with a seriousness very unusual, obeyed her summons.
+
+'There has been some great mistake,' said she, 'about the locket. I
+suppose they neglected to scratch out my name from the subscription; for
+Major Cerwood says it really came to me. Will you be so good as to
+return it to the bookseller?'
+
+The gravity of Edgar immediately vanished: 'Are you so ready,' he said,
+'even when it is in your possession, to part with so pretty a trinket?'
+
+'You know it cannot be mine, for here is my half guinea.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery then got into the coach; but Camilla, still farther
+recollecting herself, again called to Edgar, and holding out the half
+guinea, said: 'How shall I get this to the poor people?'
+
+'They were to come,' he answered, 'to Cleves this afternoon.'
+
+'Will you, then, give it them for me?'
+
+'No commission to Mr. Mandlebert!' interrupted Mrs. Arlbery; 'for he
+must positively dine with us.'
+
+Mandlebert bowed a pleased assent, and Camilla applied to Eugenia; but
+Miss Margland, in deep wrath, refused to let her move a step.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery then ordered the coach to drive home. Camilla, begging a
+moment's delay, desired Edgar to approach nearer, and said, in a low
+voice: 'I cannot bear to let those poor expectants toil so far for
+nothing. I will sooner go back to Cleves myself. I shall not sleep all
+night if I disappoint them. Pray, invent some excuse for me.'
+
+'If you have set your heart upon this visit,' answered Mandlebert, with
+vivacity, though in a whisper, 'I will ride over myself to Cleves, and
+arrange all to your wishes; but if not, certainly there can need no
+invention, to decline an invitation of which Sir Hugh has no knowledge.'
+
+Camilla, who at the beginning of this speech felt the highest glee, sunk
+involuntarily at its conclusion, and turning with a blank countenance to
+Mrs. Arlbery, stammeringly said: 'Can you, will you--be so very good, as
+not to take it ill if I don't go with you?'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, surprised, very coldly answered: 'Certainly not! I would
+be no restraint upon you. I hate restraint myself.' She then ordered the
+footman to open the door; and Camilla, too much abashed to offer any
+apology, was handed out by Edgar.
+
+'Amiable Camilla!' said he, in conducting her back to Miss Margland,
+'this is a self-conquest that I alone, perhaps, expected from you!'
+
+Cheared by such approbation, she forgot her disappointment, and
+regardless of Miss Margland and her ill humour, jumped into her uncle's
+coach, and was the gayest of the party that returned to Cleves.
+
+Edgar took the locket from Indiana, and promised to rectify the mistake;
+and then, lest Mrs. Arlbery should be offended with them all, rode to
+her house without any fresh invitation, accompanied by Lionel; whose
+anger against Camilla, for suffering Miss Margland to gain a victory,
+was his theme the whole ride.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_A Barn_
+
+
+The first care of Camilla was to interest Sir Hugh in the misfortunes of
+the prisoner and his family; her next, to relate the invitation of Mrs.
+Arlbery, and to beg permission that she might wait upon the lady the
+next morning, with apologies for her abrupt retreat, and with
+acknowledgments for the services done to the poor woman; which first the
+Oxonian, and then the raffle, had driven from her mind. Sir Hugh readily
+consented, blaming her for supposing it possible he could ever hesitate
+in what could give her any pleasure.
+
+Before the tea-party broke up, Edgar returned. He told Camilla he had
+stolen away the instant the dinner was over, to avoid any mistake about
+the poor people, whom he had just overtaken by the park-gate, and
+conducted to the great barn, where he had directed them to wait for
+orders.
+
+'I'll run to them immediately,' cried she, 'for my half guinea is in an
+agony to be gone!'
+
+'The barn! my dear young Mr. Mandlebert!' exclaimed Sir Hugh; 'and why
+did you not bring them to the servants' hall? My little girl has been
+telling me all their history; and, God forbid, I should turn
+hard-hearted, because of their wanting a leg of mutton, in preference to
+being starved; though they might have no great right to it, according to
+the forms of law; which, however, is not much impediment to the calls of
+nature, when a man sees a butcher's stall well covered, and has got
+nothing within him, except his own poor craving appetite; which is a
+thing I always take into consideration; though, God forbid, I should
+protect a thief, no man's property being another's, whether he's poor or
+rich.'
+
+He then gave Camilla three guineas to deliver to them from himself, to
+set them a little a-going in an honest way, that they might not, he
+said, repent leaving off bad actions. Her joy was so excessive, that she
+passionately embraced his knees: and Edgar, while he looked on, could
+nearly have bent to her his own, with admiration of her generous nature.
+Eugenia desired to accompany her; and Indiana, rising also, said: 'Dear!
+I wonder how they will look in the barn! I should like to see them too.'
+
+Miss Margland made no opposition, and they set out.
+
+Camilla, leading the way, with a fleetness that mocked all equality, ran
+into the barn, and saw the whole party, according to their several
+powers, enjoying themselves. The poor man, stretched upon straw, was
+resting his aching limbs; his wife, by his side, was giving nourishment
+to her baby; and the other child, a little boy of three years old, was
+jumping and turning head over heels, with the true glee of unspoilt
+nature, superior to poverty and distress.
+
+To the gay heart of Camilla whatever was sportive was attractive; she
+flew to the little fellow, whose skin was clean and bright, in the midst
+of his rags and wretchedness, and, making herself his play-mate, bid the
+woman finish feeding her child, told the man to repose himself
+undisturbed, and began dancing with the little boy, not less delighted
+than himself at the festive exercise.
+
+Miss Margland cast up her hands and eyes as she entered, and poured
+forth a warm remonstrance against so demeaning a condescension: but
+Camilla, in whose composition pride had no share, though spirit was a
+principal ingredient, danced on unheeding, to the equal amaze and
+enchantment of the poor man and woman, at the honour done to their
+little son.
+
+Edgar came in last; he had given his arm to Eugenia, who was always in
+the rear if unassisted. Miss Margland appealed to him upon the
+impropriety of the behaviour of Camilla, adding, 'If I had had the
+bringing up a young lady who could so degrade herself, I protest I
+should blush to shew my face: but you cannot, I am sure, fail remarking
+the difference of Miss Lynmere's conduct.'
+
+Edgar attended with an air of complacency, which he thought due to the
+situation of Miss Margland in the family, yet kept his eyes fixt upon
+Camilla, with an expression that, to the least discernment, would have
+evinced his utmost approbation of her innocent gaiety: but Miss
+Margland was amongst that numerous tribe, who, content as well as
+occupied with making observations upon others, have neither the power,
+nor thought, of developing those that are returned upon themselves.
+
+Camilla at length, wholly out of breath, gave over; but perceiving that
+the baby was no longer at its mother's breast, flew to the poor woman,
+and, taking the child in her arms, said: 'Come, I can nurse and rest at
+the same time; I assure you the baby will be safe with me, for I nurse
+all the children in our neighbourhood.' She then fondled the poor little
+half-starved child to her bosom, quieting, and kissing, and cooing over
+it.
+
+Miss Margland was still more incensed; but Edgar could attend to her no
+longer. Charmed with the youthful nurse, and seeing in her unaffected
+attitudes, a thousand graces he had never before remarked, and reading
+in her fondness for children the genuine sweetness of her character, he
+could not bear to have the pleasing reflections revolving in his mind
+interrupted by the spleen of Miss Margland, and, slipping away, posted
+himself behind the baby's father, where he could look on undisturbed,
+certain it was a vicinity to which Miss Margland would not follow him.
+
+Had this scene lasted till Camilla was tired, its period would not have
+been very short; but Miss Margland, finding her exhortations vain,
+suddenly called out: 'Miss Lynmere! Miss Eugenia! come away directly!
+It's ten to one but these people have all got the gaol distemper!'
+
+Edgar, quick as lightning at this sound, flew to Camilla, and snatched
+the child from her arms. Indiana, with a scream, ran out of the barn;
+Miss Margland hurried after; and Eugenia, following, earnestly entreated
+Camilla not to stay another moment.
+
+'And what is there to be alarmed at?' cried she; 'I always nurse poor
+children when I see them at home; and my father never prohibits me.'
+
+'There may be some reason, however,' said Edgar, while still he tenderly
+held the baby himself, 'for the present apprehension: I beg you,
+therefore, to hasten away.'
+
+'At least,' said she, 'before I depart, let me execute my commission.'
+And then, with the kindest good wishes for their better fortune, she put
+her uncle's three guineas into the hands of the poor man, and her own
+rescued half guinea into those of his wife; and, desiring Edgar not to
+remain himself where he would not suffer her to stay, ran to give her
+arm to Eugenia; leaving it a doubtful point, whether the good humour
+accompanying her alms, made the most pleased impression upon their
+receivers, or upon their observer.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_A Declaration_
+
+
+At night, while they were enjoying the bright beams of the moon, from an
+apartment in the front of the house, they observed a strange footman, in
+a superb livery, ride towards the servants hall; and presently a letter
+was delivered to Miss Margland.
+
+She opened it with an air of exulting consequence; one which was
+inclosed, she put into her pocket, and read the other three or four
+times over, with looks of importance and complacency. She then pompously
+demanded a private audience with Sir Hugh, and the young party left the
+room.
+
+'Well, sir!' she cried, proudly, 'you may now see if I judged right as
+to taking the young ladies a little into the world. Please to look at
+this letter, sir:'
+
+     _To Miss_ Margland, _at Sir_ Hugh Tyrold'_s_, _Bart._ Cleves,
+     Hampshire.
+
+     MADAM,
+
+     With the most profound respect I presume to address you, though
+     only upon the strength of that marked politeness which shines forth
+     in your deportment. I have the highest ambition to offer a few
+     lines to the perusal of Miss Eugenia Tyrold, previous to presenting
+     myself to Sir Hugh. My reasons will be contained in the letter
+     which I take the liberty to put into your hands. It is only under
+     your protection, madam, I can aim at approaching that young lady,
+     as all that I have either seen or heard convinces me of her
+     extraordinary happiness in being under your direction. Your
+     influence, madam, I should therefore esteem as an honour, and I
+     leave it wholly to your own choice, whether to read what I have
+     addressed to that young lady before or after she has deigned to
+     cast an eye upon it herself. I remain, with the most profound
+     respect,
+
+     Madam,
+     your most obedient,
+     and obliged servant,
+     ALPHONSO BELLAMY.
+
+     I shall take the liberty to send my servant for an answer tomorrow
+     evening.
+
+'This, sir,' continued Miss Margland, when Sir Hugh had read the letter;
+'this is the exact conduct of a gentleman; all open, all respectful. No
+attempt at any clandestine intercourse. All is addressed where it ought
+to be, to the person most proper to superintend such an affair. This is
+that very same gentleman whose politeness I mentioned to you, and who
+danced with Miss Eugenia at Northwick, when nobody else took any notice
+of her. This is--'
+
+'Why then this is one of the most untoward things,' cried Sir Hugh, who,
+vainly waiting for a pause, began to speak without one, 'that has ever
+come to bear; for where's the use of Eugenia's making poor young fellows
+fall in love with her for nothing? which I hold to be a pity, provided
+it's sincere, which I take for granted.'
+
+'As to that, sir, I can't say I see the reason why Miss Eugenia should
+not be allowed to look about her, and have some choice; especially as
+the young gentleman abroad has no fortune; at least none answerable to
+her expectations.'
+
+'But that's the very reason for my marrying them together. For as he has
+not had the small-pox himself, that is, not in the natural way; which,
+Lord help me! I thought the best, owing to my want of knowledge; why
+he'll the more readily excuse her face not being one of the prettiest,
+for her kindness in putting up with his having so little money; being a
+thing some people think a good deal of.'
+
+'But, sir, won't it be very hard upon poor Miss Eugenia, if a better
+offer should come, that she must not listen to it, only because of a
+person she has never seen, though he has no estate?'
+
+'Mrs. Margland,' said Sir Hugh, (with some heat,) 'this is the very
+thing that I would sooner have given a crown than have had happen! Who
+knows but Eugenia may take a fancy to this young jackanapes? who, for
+aught I know, may be as good a man as another, for which I beg his
+pardon; but, as he is nothing to me, and my nephew's my nephew, why am I
+to have the best scheme I ever made knocked on the head, for a person I
+had as lieve were twitched into the Red Sea? which, however, is a thing
+I should not say, being what I would not do.'
+
+Miss Margland took from her pocket the letter designed for Eugenia, and
+was going to break the seal; but Sir Hugh, preventing her, said: 'No,
+Miss Margland; Eugenia shall read her own letters. I have not had her
+taught all this time, by one of the first scholars of the age, as far as
+I can tell, to put that affront upon her.'
+
+He then rang the bell, and sent for Eugenia.
+
+Miss Margland stated the utter impropriety of suffering any young lady
+to read a letter of that sort, till proposals had been laid before her
+parents and guardians. But Sir Hugh spoke no more till Eugenia appeared.
+
+'My dear,' he then said, 'here is a letter just come to put your
+education to the trial; which, I make no doubt, will stand the test
+properly: therefore, in regard to the answer, you shall write it all
+yourself, being qualified in a manner to which I have no right to
+pretend; though I shall go to-morrow to my brother, which will give me a
+better insight; his head being one of the best.'
+
+Eugenia, greatly surprised, opened the letter, and read it with visible
+emotion.
+
+'Well, my dear, and what do you say to it?'
+
+Without answering, she read it again.
+
+Sir Hugh repeated the question.
+
+'Indeed, sir,' said she, (in a tone of sadness,) 'it is something that
+afflicts me very much!'
+
+'Lord help us!' cried Sir Hugh, 'this comes of going to a ball! which,
+begging Miss Margland's pardon, is the last time it shall be done.'
+
+Miss Margland was beginning a vehement defence of herself; but Sir Hugh
+interrupted it, by desiring to see the letter.
+
+Eugenia, with increased confusion, folded it up, and said: 'Indeed,
+sir--Indeed, uncle--it is a very improper letter for me to shew.'
+
+'Well, that,' cried Miss Margland, 'is a thing I could never have
+imagined! that a gentleman, who is so much the gentleman, should write
+an improper letter!'
+
+'No, no,' interrupted she, 'not improper--perhaps--for him to
+write,--but for me to exhibit.'
+
+'O, if that's all, my dear,' said Sir Hugh, 'if it's only because of a
+few compliments, I beg you not to mind them, because of their having no
+meaning; which is a thing common enough in the way of making love, by
+what I hear; though such a young thing as you can know nothing of the
+matter, your learning not going in that line; nor Dr. Orkborne's
+neither, if one may judge; which, God forbid I should find fault with,
+being no business of mine.'
+
+He then again asked to see the letter; and Eugenia, ashamed to refuse,
+gave it, and went out of the room.
+
+     _To Miss_ Eugenia Tyrold, Cleves.
+
+     MADAM,
+
+     The delicacy of your highly cultivated mind awes even the violent
+     passion which you inspire. And to this I entreat you to attribute
+     the trembling fear which deters me from the honour of waiting upon
+     Sir Hugh, while uncertain, if my addressing him might not raise
+     your displeasure. I forbear, therefore, to lay before him my
+     pretensions for soliciting your favour, from the deepest
+     apprehension you might think I presumed too far, upon an
+     acquaintance, to my unhappiness, so short; yet, as I feel it to
+     have excited in me the most lasting attachment, from my fixed
+     admiration of your virtues and talents, I cannot endure to run the
+     risk of incurring your aversion. Allow me then, once more, under
+     the sanction of that excellent lady in whose care I have had the
+     honour of seeing you, to entreat one moment's audience, that I may
+     be graced with your own commands about waiting upon Sir Hugh,
+     without which, I should hold myself ungenerous and unworthy to
+     approach him; since I should blush to throw myself at your feet
+     from an authority which you do not permit. I beseech you, madam, to
+     remember, that I shall be miserable till I know my doom; but still,
+     that the heart, not the hand, can alone bestow happiness on a
+     disinterested mind.
+
+     I have the honour to be,
+     Madam,
+     your most devoted and obedient humble servant,
+     ALPHONSO BELLAMY.
+
+Sir Hugh, when he had finished the letter, heaved a sigh, and leant his
+head upon his hand, considering whether or not to let it be seen by Miss
+Margland; who, however, not feeling secure what his determination might
+be, had so contrived to sit at the table as to read it at the same time
+with himself. Nor had she weighed the interest of her curiosity amiss;
+Sir Hugh, dreading a debate with her, soon put the letter into his
+pocket-book, and again sent for Eugenia.
+
+Eugenia excused herself from returning, pleaded a head-ache, and went to
+bed.
+
+Sir Hugh was in the deepest alarm; though the evening was far advanced,
+he could scarce refrain from going to Etherington directly; he ordered
+his carriage to be at the door at eight o'clock the next morning; and
+sent a second order, a moment after, that it should not be later than
+half past seven.
+
+He then summoned Camilla, and, giving her the letter, bid her run with
+it to her sister, for fear it was that she was fretting for. And soon
+after, he went to bed, that he might be ready in the morning.
+
+Eugenia, meanwhile, felt the placid composure of her mind now for the
+first time shaken. The assiduities of this young man had already pleased
+and interested her; but, though gratified by them in his presence, they
+occurred to her no more in his absence. With the Oxonian she had been
+far more struck; his energy, his sentiments, his passion for literature,
+would instantly have riveted him in her fairest favour, had she not so
+completely regarded herself as the wife of Clermont Lynmere, that she
+denied her imagination any power over her reason.
+
+This letter, however, filled her with sensations wholly new. She now
+first reflected seriously upon the nature of her situation with regard
+to Clermont, for whom she seemed bespoken by her uncle, without the
+smallest knowledge how they might approve or suit each other. Perhaps he
+might dislike her; she must then have the mortification of being
+refused: perhaps he might excite her own antipathy; she must then either
+disappoint her uncle, or become a miserable sacrifice.
+
+Here, on the contrary, she conceived herself an elected object. The
+difference of being accepted, or being chosen, worked forcibly upon her
+mind; and, all that was delicate, feminine, or dignified in her notions,
+rose in favour of him who sought, when opposed to him who could only
+consent to receive her. Generous, too, he appeared to her, in forbearing
+to apply to Sir Hugh, without her permission; disinterested, in
+declaring he did not wish for her hand without her heart; and noble, in
+not seeking her in a clandestine manner, but referring every thing to
+Miss Margland.
+
+The idea also of exciting an ardent passion, lost none of its force from
+its novelty to her expectations. It was not that she had hitherto
+supposed it impossible; she had done less; she had not thought of it
+all. Nor came it now with any triumph to her modest and unassuming mind;
+all it brought with it was gratitude towards Bellamy, and a something
+soothing towards herself, which, though inexplicable to her reason, was
+irresistible to her feelings.
+
+When Camilla entered with the letter, she bashfully asked her, if she
+wished to read it? Camilla eagerly cried: 'O, yes.' But, having finished
+it, said: 'It is not such a letter as Edgar Mandlebert would have
+written.'
+
+'I am sure, then,' said Eugenia, colouring, 'I am sorry to have received
+it.'
+
+'Do you not observe every day,' said Camilla, 'the distance, the
+delicacy of his behaviour to Indiana, though Miss Margland says their
+marriage is fixed; how free from all distinction that might confuse her?
+This declaration, on the contrary, is so abrupt--and from so new an
+acquaintance--'
+
+'Certainly, then, I won't answer it,' said Eugenia, much discomposed;
+'it had not struck me thus at first reading; but I see now all its
+impropriety.'
+
+She then bid good night to Camilla; who, concluding her the appropriated
+wife of Clermont, had uttered her opinion without scruple.
+
+Eugenia now again read the letter; but not again with pleasure. She
+thought it forward and presumptuous; and the only gratification that
+remained upon her mind, was an half conscious scarce admitted, and, even
+to herself, unacknowledged charm, in a belief, that she possessed the
+power to inspire an animated regard.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_An Answer_
+
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold and Lavinia were at breakfast when Sir Hugh entered
+their parlour, the next morning. 'Brother,' he cried, 'I have something
+of great importance to tell you, which it is very fit my sister should
+hear too; for which reason, I make no doubt but my dear Lavinia's good
+sense will leave the room, without waiting for a hint.'
+
+Lavinia instantly retired.
+
+'O, my dear brother,' continued the baronet; 'do you know here's a young
+chap, who appears to be a rather good sort of man, which is so much the
+worse, who has been falling in love with Eugenia?'
+
+He then delivered the two letters to Mr. Tyrold.
+
+'Now the only thing that hurts me in this business is, that this young
+man, who Miss Margland calls a person of fashion, writes as well as
+Clermont would do himself; though that is what I shall never own to
+Eugenia, which I hope is no sin being all for her own sake; that is to
+say, for Clermont's.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold, after attentively reading the letters, gave them to his
+wife, and made many inquiries concerning their writer, and his
+acquaintance with Eugenia and Miss Margland.
+
+'Why it was all brought about,' said Sir Hugh, 'by their going to a ball
+and a public breakfast; which is a thing my little Camilla is not at all
+to blame for, because if nobody had put it in her head, she would not
+have known there was a thing of the kind. And, indeed, it was but
+natural in poor Lionel neither, to set her agog, the chief fault lying
+in the assizes; to which my particular objection is against the lawyers,
+who come into a town to hang and transport the poor, by way of keeping
+the peace, and then encourage the rich to make all the noise and riot
+they can, by their own junkettings; for which, however, being generally,
+I believe, pretty good scholars, I make no doubt but they have their own
+reasons.'
+
+'I flatter myself,' said Mrs. Tyrold, scarce deigning to finish the
+letters, 'Eugenia, young as she is, will need no counsel how to estimate
+a writer such as this. What must the man be, who, presuming upon his
+personal influence, ventures to claim her concurrence in an application
+to her friends, though he has seen her but twice, and knows her to be
+destitute of the smallest knowledge of his principles, his character, or
+his situation in life?'
+
+'Good lack!' cried the baronet, 'what a prodigious poor head I must
+have! here I could hardly sleep all night, for thinking what a fine
+letter this jackanapes, which I shall make no more apology for calling
+him, had been writing, fearing it would cut up poor Clermont in her
+opinion, for all his grand tour.'
+
+Perfectly restored to ease, he now bad them good morning; but Mr. Tyrold
+entreated him to stay till they had settled how to get rid of the
+business.
+
+'My dear brother,' he answered, 'I want no more help now, since I have
+got your opinion, that is, my sister's, which I take it for granted is
+the same. I make no doubt but Eugenia will pretty near have writ her
+foul copy by the time I get home, which Dr. Orkborne may overlook for
+her, to the end that this Mr. Upstart may have no more fault to find
+against it.'
+
+They both desired to dine at Cleves, that they might speak themselves
+with Eugenia.
+
+'And how,' said Mr. Tyrold, with a strong secret emotion, 'how goes on
+Edgar with Indiana?'
+
+'Vastly well, vastly well indeed! not that I pretend to speak for
+myself, being rather too dull in these matters, owing to never entering
+upon them in the right season, as I intend to tell other young men doing
+the same.'
+
+He then, in warm terms, narrated the accounts given him by Miss Margland
+of the security of the conquest of Indiana.
+
+Mr. Tyrold fixed his hour for expecting the carriage, and the baronet
+desired that Lavinia should be of the party; 'because,' he said, 'I see
+she has the proper discretion, when she is wanted to go out of the way;
+which must be the same with Camilla and Indiana, too, to-day, as well as
+with young Mr. Edgar; for I don't think it prudent to trust such new
+beginners with every thing that goes on, till they get a little older.'
+
+The anxiety of Mr. Tyrold, concerning Bellamy, was now mingled with a
+cruel regret in relation to Mandlebert. Even his own upright conduct
+could scarce console him for the loss of his favourite hope, and he
+almost repented that he had not been more active in endeavouring to
+preserve it.
+
+All that passed in his mind was read and participated in by his partner,
+whose displeasure was greater, though her mortification could but be
+equal. 'That Edgar,' said she, 'should have kept his heart wholly
+untouched, would less have moved my wonder; he has a peculiar, though
+unconscious delicacy in his nature, which results not from insolence nor
+presumption, but from his own invariable and familiar exercise of every
+virtue and of every duty: the smallest deviation is offensive, and even
+the least inaccuracy is painful to him. Was it possible, then, to be
+prepared for such an election as this? He has disgraced my expectations;
+he has played the common part of a mere common young man, whose eye is
+his sole governor.'
+
+'My Georgiana,' said Mr. Tyrold, 'I am deeply disappointed. Our two
+eldest girls are but slightly provided for; and Eugenia is far more
+dangerously circumstanced, in standing so conspicuously apart, as a
+prize to some adventurer. One of these three precious cares I had fondly
+concluded certain of protection and happiness; for which ever I might
+have bestowed upon Edgar Mandlebert, I should have considered as the
+most fortunate of her sex. Let us, however, rejoice for Indiana; no one
+can more need a protector; and, next to my own three girls, there is no
+one for whom I am so much interested. I grieve, however, for Edgar
+himself, whose excellent judgment will, in time, assert its rights,
+though passion, at this period, has set it aside.'
+
+'I am too angry with him for pity,' said Mrs. Tyrold; 'nor is his
+understanding of a class that has any claim to such lenity: I had often
+thought our gentle Lavinia almost born to be his wife, and no one could
+more truly have deserved him. But the soft perfection of her character
+relieves me from any apprehension for her conduct, and almost all my
+solicitude devolves upon Camilla. For our poor Eugenia I had never
+indulged a hope of his choice; though that valuable, unfortunate girl,
+with every unearned defect about her, intrinsically merits him, with all
+his advantages, his accomplishments, and his virtues: but to appreciate
+her, uninfluenced by pecuniary views, to which he is every way superior,
+was too much to expect from so young a man. My wishes, therefore, had
+guided him to our Camilla, that sweet, open, generous, inconsiderate
+girl, whose feelings are all virtues, but whose impulses have no
+restraints: I have not a fear for her, when she can act with
+deliberation; but fear is almost all I have left, when I consider her as
+led by the start of the moment. With him, however, she would have been
+the safest, and with him--next alone to her mother, the happiest of her
+sex.'
+
+The kindest acknowledgments repaid this sympathy of sentiment, and they
+agreed that their felicity would have been almost too complete for this
+lower world, if such an event had come to pass. 'Nevertheless its
+failure,' added Mrs. Tyrold, 'is almost incredible, and wholly
+unpardonable. That Indiana should vanquish where Lavinia and Camilla
+have failed! I feel indignant at such a triumph of mere external
+unintelligent beauty.'
+
+Eugenia received her parents with the most bashful confusion; yet they
+found, upon conversing with her, it was merely from youthful shame, and
+not from any dangerous prepossession. The observations of Camilla had
+broken that spell with which a first declaration of regard is apt to
+entangle unreflecting inexperience; and by teaching her to less value
+the votary, had made the conquest less an object of satisfaction. She
+was gratified by the permission of her uncle to write her own answer,
+which was now produced.
+
+     _To_ Alphonso Bellamy, _Esq._
+
+     SIR,
+
+     I am highly sensible to the honour of your partiality, which I
+     regret it is not possible for me to deserve. Be not, therefore,
+     offended, and still less suffer yourself to be afflicted, when I
+     confess I have only my poor thanks to offer, and poor esteem to
+     return, for your unmerited goodness. Dwell not, sir, upon this
+     disappointment, but receive my best wishes for your restored
+     happiness; for never can I forget a distinction to which I have so
+     little claim. Believe me,
+
+    Sir,
+    Your very much obliged,
+    and most grateful humble servant,
+    EUGENIA TYROLD.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, who delighted to see how completely, in her studies with Dr.
+Orkborne, she had escaped any pedantry or affectation, and even
+preserved all the native humility of her artless character, returned her
+the letter with an affectionate embrace, and told her he could desire no
+alteration but that of omitting the word _grateful_ at the conclusion.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold was far less satisfied. She wished it to be completely
+re-written; protesting, that a man who, in all probability, was a mere
+fortune-hunter, would infer from so gentle a dismission encouragement
+rather than repulse.
+
+Sir Hugh said there was one thing only he desired to have added, which
+was a hint of a pre-engagement with a relation of her own.
+
+Eugenia, at this, coloured and retreated; and Mrs. Tyrold reminded the
+baronet, with some displeasure, of his promise to guard the secret of
+his project. Sir Hugh, a little disturbed, said it never broke out from
+him but by accident, which he would take care should never get the upper
+hand again. He would not, however, consent to have the letter altered,
+which he said would be an affront to the learning of Eugenia, unless it
+were done by Dr. Orkborne himself, who, being her master, had a right to
+correct her first penmanship.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, being called upon, slightly glanced his eye over the
+letter, but made no emendation, saying: 'I believe it will do very
+sufficiently; but I have only concerned myself with the progress of Miss
+Eugenia in the Greek and Latin languages; any body can teach her
+English.'
+
+The fond parents finished their visit in full satisfaction with their
+irreproachable Eugenia, and with the joy of seeing their darling Camilla
+as happy and as disengaged as when she had left them; but Mandlebert had
+spent the day abroad, and escaped, therefore, the observations with
+which they had meant to have investigated his sentiments. Indiana, with
+whom they conversed more than usual, and with the most scrutinizing
+attention, offered nothing either in manner or matter to rescue his
+decision from their censure: Mrs. Tyrold, therefore, rejoiced at his
+absence, lest a coolness she knew not how to repress, should have led
+him to surmise her disappointment. Her husband besought her to be
+guarded: 'We had no right,' he said, 'to the disposal of his heart; and
+Indiana, however he may find her inadequate to his future expectations,
+will not disgrace his present choice. She is beautiful, she is young,
+and she is innocent; this in early life is sufficient for felicity; and
+Edgar is yet too new in the world to be aware how much of life remains
+when youth is gone, and too unpractised to foresee, that beauty loses
+its power even before it loses its charms, and that the season of
+declining nature sighs deeply for the support which sympathy and
+intelligence can alone bestow.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_An Explication_
+
+
+The visit which Camilla had designed this morning to Mrs. Arlbery, she
+had been induced to relinquish through a speech made to her by Lionel.
+'You have done for yourself, now!' said he, exultingly; 'so you may be
+governed by that scare-crow, Miss Margland, at your leisure. Do you know
+you were not once mentioned again at the Grove, neither by Mrs. Arlbery
+nor any body else? and they all agreed Indiana was the finest girl in
+the world.'
+
+Camilla, though of the same opinion with respect to Indiana, concluded
+Mrs. Arlbery was offended by her retreat, and lost all courage for
+offering any apology.
+
+Edgar did not return to Cleves till some time after the departure of Mr.
+and Mrs. Tyrold, when he met Miss Margland and the young ladies
+strolling in the park.
+
+Camilla, running to meet him, asked if he had restored the locket to the
+right owner.
+
+'No,' answered he, smiling, 'not yet.'
+
+'What can be done then? my half guinea is gone; and, to confess the
+truth, I have not another I can well spare!'
+
+He made no immediate reply; but, after speaking to the rest of the
+party, walked on towards the house.
+
+Camilla, in some perplexity, following him, exclaimed: 'Pray tell me
+what I must do? indeed I am quite uneasy.'
+
+'You would really have me give the locket to its rightful proprietor?'
+
+'To be sure I would!'
+
+'My commission, then, is soon executed.' And taking a little shagreen
+case from his waistcoat pocket, he put it into her hand.
+
+'What can you mean? is there still any mistake?'
+
+'None but what you may immediately rectify, by simply retaining your own
+prize.'
+
+Camilla, opening the case, saw the locket, and perceived under the
+crystal a light knot of braided hair. But while she looked at it, he
+hurried into the house.
+
+She ran after him, and insisted upon an explanation, declaring it to be
+utterly impossible that the locket and the half guinea should belong to
+the same person.
+
+'You must not then,' he said, 'be angry, if you find I have managed, at
+last, but aukwardly. When I came to the library, the master of the
+raffle told me it was against all rule to refund a subscription.' He
+stopt.
+
+'The half guinea you put into my hand, then,' cried she, colouring, 'was
+your own?'
+
+'My dear Miss Camilla, there is no other occasion upon which I would
+have hazarded such a liberty; but as the money was for a charity, and as
+I had undertaken what I could not perform, I rather ventured to replace
+it, than suffer the poor objects for whom it was destined, to miss your
+kind intention.'
+
+'You have certainly done right,' said she (feeling for her purse); 'but
+you must not, for that reason, make me a second time do wrong.'
+
+'You will not so much hurt me?' replied he, gravely; 'you will not
+reprove me as if I were a stranger, a mere common acquaintance? Where
+could the money have been so well bestowed? It is not you, but those
+poor people who are in my debt. So many were the chances against your
+gaining the prize, that it was an event I had not even taken into
+consideration: I had merely induced you to leave the shop, that you
+might not have the surprise of finding your name was not withdrawn; the
+rest was accident; and surely you will not punish me that I have paid to
+the poor the penalty of my own ill weighed officiousness?'
+
+Camilla put up her purse, but, with some spirit, said: 'There is another
+way to settle the matter which cannot hurt you; if I do not pay you my
+half guinea, you must at least keep the fruits of your own.' And she
+returned him the locket.
+
+'And what,' cried he, laughing 'must I do with it? would you have me
+wear it myself?'
+
+'Give it,' answered she, innocently, 'to Indiana.'
+
+'No;' replied he, (reddening and putting it down upon a table,) but
+_you_ may, if you believe her value will be greater than your own for
+the hair of your two sisters.'
+
+Camilla, surprised, again looked at it, and recognized the hair of
+Lavinia and Eugenia.
+
+'And how in the world did you get this hair?'
+
+'I told them both the accident that had happened, and begged them to
+contribute their assistance to obtain your pardon.'
+
+'Is it possible,' cried she, with vivacity, 'you could add to all your
+trouble so kind a thought?' and, without a moment's further hesitation,
+she accepted the prize, returning him the most animated thanks, and
+flying to Eugenia to inquire further into the matter, and then to her
+uncle, to shew him her new acquisition.
+
+Sir Hugh, like herself, immediately said: 'But why did he not give it to
+Indiana?'
+
+'I suppose,' said Eugenia, 'because Camilla had herself drawn the prize,
+and he had only added our hair to it.'
+
+This perfectly satisfied the baronet; but Indiana could by no means
+understand why it had not been managed better; and Miss Margland, with
+much ill will, nourished a private opinion that the prize might perhaps
+have been her own, had not Mandlebert interfered. However, as there
+seemed some collusion which she could not develope, her conscience
+wholly acquitted her of any necessity to refund her borrowed half
+guinea.
+
+Camilla, meanwhile, decorated herself with the locket, and had nothing
+in her possession which gave her equal delight.
+
+Miss Margland now became, internally, less sanguine, with regard to the
+preference of Edgar for Indiana; but she concealed from Sir Hugh a doubt
+so unpleasant, through an unconquerable repugnance to acknowledge it
+possible she could have formed a wrong judgment.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_A Panic_
+
+
+Upon the ensuing Sunday, Edgar proposed that a party should be made to
+visit a new little cottage, which he had just fitted up. This was agreed
+to; and as it was not above a mile from the parish church, Sir Hugh
+ordered that his low garden phaeton should be in readiness, after the
+service, to convey himself and Eugenia thither. The rest, as the weather
+was fine, desired to walk.
+
+They went to the church, as usual, in a coach and a chaise, which were
+dismissed as soon as they alighted: but before that period, Eugenia,
+with a sigh, had observed, that Melmond, the young Oxonian, was
+strolling the same way, and had seen, with a blush, that Bellamy was by
+his side.
+
+The two gentlemen recognised them as they were crossing the church-yard.
+The Oxonian bowed profoundly, but stood aloof: Bellamy bowed also, but
+immediately approached; and as Sir Hugh, at that moment, accidentally
+let fall his stick, darted forward to recover and present it him.
+
+The baronet, from surprise at his quick motion, dropt his handkerchief
+in receiving his cane; this also Bellamy, attentively shaking, restored
+to him: and Sir Hugh, who could accept no civility unrequited, said:
+'Sir, if you are a stranger, as I imagine, not knowing your face, you
+are welcome to a place in my pew, provided you don't get a seat in a
+better; which I'm pretty much afraid you can't, mine being the best.'
+
+The invitation was promptly accepted.
+
+Miss Margland, always happy to be of consequence, was hastening to Sir
+Hugh, to put him upon his guard; when a respectful offer from Bellamy to
+assist her down the steps, induced her to remit her design to a future
+opportunity. Any attentions from a young man were now so new to her as
+to seem a call upon her gratitude; nor had her charms ever been so
+attractive as to render them common.
+
+Edgar and Indiana, knowing nothing of his late declaration, thought
+nothing of his present admission; to Dr. Orkborne he was an utter
+stranger; but Camilla had recourse to her fan to conceal a smile; and
+Eugenia was in the utmost confusion. She felt at a loss how to meet his
+eyes, and seated herself as much as possible out of his way.
+
+A few minutes after, looking up towards the gallery, she perceived, in
+one of the furthest rows, young Melmond; his eyes fixt upon their pew,
+but withdrawn the instant he was observed, and his air the most
+melancholy and dejected.
+
+Again a half sigh escaped the tender Eugenia. How delicate, how elegant,
+thought she, is this retired behaviour! what refinement results from a
+true literary taste! O such be Clermont! if he resemble not this
+Oxonian--I must be wretched for life!
+
+These ideas, which unavoidably, though unwillingly, interrupted her
+devotion, were again broken in upon, when the service was nearly over,
+by the appearance of Lionel. He had ridden five miles to join them,
+merely not to be thought in leading-strings, by staying at Etherington
+to hear his father; though the name and the excellence of the preaching
+of Mr. Tyrold, attracted to his church all strangers who had power to
+reach it:--so vehement in early youth is the eagerness to appear
+independant, and so general is the belief that all merit must be sought
+from a distance.
+
+The deeper understanding of Mandlebert rendered him superior to this
+common puerility: and, though the preacher at Cleves church was his own
+tutor, Dr. Marchmont, from whom he was scarce yet emancipated, he
+listened to him with reverence, and would have travelled any distance,
+and taken cheerfully any trouble, that would in the best and strongest
+manner have marked the respect with which he attended to his doctrine.
+
+Dr. Marchmont was a man of the highest intellectual accomplishments,
+uniting deep learning with general knowledge, and the graceful exterior
+of a man of the world, with the erudition and science of a fellow of a
+college. He obtained the esteem of the scholar wherever he was known,
+and caught the approbation of the most uncultivated wherever he was
+seen.
+
+When the service was over, Edgar proposed that Dr. Marchmont should join
+the party to the cottage. Sir Hugh was most willing, and they sauntered
+about the church, while the Doctor retired to the vestry to take off his
+gown.
+
+During this interval, Eugenia, who had a passion for reading epitaphs
+and inscriptions, became so intently engaged in decyphering some old
+verses on an antique tablet, that she perceived not when Dr. Marchmont
+was ready, nor when the party was leaving the church: and before any of
+the rest missed her, Bellamy suddenly took the opportunity of her being
+out of sight of all others, to drop on one knee, and passionately seize
+her hand, exclaiming: 'O madam!--' When hearing an approaching step, he
+hastily arose; but parted not with her hand till he had pressed it to
+his lips.
+
+The astonished Eugenia, though at first all emotion, was completely
+recovered by this action. His kneeling and his 'O madam!' had every
+chance to affect her; but his kissing her hand she thought a liberty the
+most unpardonable. She resented it as an injury to Clermont, that would
+risk his life should he ever know it, and a blot to her own delicacy, as
+irreparable as it was irremediable.
+
+Bellamy, who, from her letter, had augured nothing of hardness of heart,
+tenderly solicited her forgiveness; but she made him no answer; silent
+and offended she walked away, and, losing her timidity in her
+displeasure, went up to her uncle, and whispered: 'Sir, the gentleman
+you invited into your pew, is Mr. Bellamy!'
+
+The consternation of Sir Hugh was extreme: he had concluded him a
+stranger to the whole party because a stranger to himself; and the
+discovery of his mistake made him next conclude, that he had risked a
+breach of the marriage he so much desired by his own indiscretion. He
+took Eugenia immediately under his arm, as if fearful she might else be
+conveyed away for Scotland before his eyes, and hurrying to the church
+porch, called aloud for his phaeton.
+
+The phaeton was not arrived.
+
+Still more dismayed, he walked on with Eugenia to the railing round the
+church-yard, motioning with his left hand that no one should follow.
+
+Edgar, Lionel, and Bellamy marched to the road, listening for the sound
+of horses, but they heard none; and the carriages of the neighbouring
+gentry, from which they might have hoped any assistance, had been driven
+away while they had waited for Dr. Marchmont.
+
+Meanwhile, the eyes of Eugenia again caught the young Oxonian, who was
+wandering around the church-yard: neither was he unobserved by Indiana,
+who, though she participated not in the turn of reasoning, or taste for
+the romantic, which awakened in Eugenia so forcible a sympathy, was yet
+highly gratified by his apparent devotion to her charms: and had not
+Miss Margland narrowly watched and tutored her, would easily have been
+attracted from the cold civilities of Edgar, to the magnetism of
+animated admiration.
+
+In these circumstances, a few minutes appeared many hours to Sir Hugh,
+and he presently exclaimed: 'There's no possibility of waiting here the
+whole day long, not knowing what may be the end!' Then, calling to Dr.
+Orkborne, he said to him in a low voice, 'My good friend, here's
+happened a sad thing; that young man I asked into my pew, for which I
+take proper shame to myself, is the same person that wanted to make
+Eugenia give up Clermont Lynmere, her own natural relation, and mine
+into the bargain, for the sake of a stranger to us all; which I hold to
+be rather uncommendable, considering we know nothing about him; though
+there's no denying his being handsome enough to look at; which, however,
+is no certainty of his making a good husband; so I'll tell you a mode
+I've thought of, which I think to be a pretty good one, for parting them
+out of hand.'
+
+Dr. Orkborne, who had just taken out his tablets, in order to enter some
+hints relative to his great work, begged him to say no more till he had
+finished his sentence. The baronet looked much distressed, but
+consented: and when he had done, went on:
+
+'Why, if you will hold Eugenia, I'll go up to the rest, and send them on
+to the cottage; and when they are gone, I shall get rid of this young
+chap, by telling him Eugenia and I want to be alone.'
+
+Dr. Orkborne assented; and Sir Hugh, advancing to the group, made his
+proposition, adding: 'Eugenia and I will overtake you as soon as the
+garden-chair comes, which, I dare say, won't be long, Robert being so
+behind-hand already.' Then, turning to Bellamy, 'I am sorry, sir,' he
+said, 'I can't possibly ask you to stay with us, because of something my
+little niece and I have got to talk about, which we had rather nobody
+should hear, being an affair of our own: but I thank you for your
+civility, sir, in picking up my stick and my pocket handkerchief, and I
+wish you a very good morning and a pleasant walk, which I hope you won't
+take ill.'
+
+Bellamy bowed, and, saying he by no means intended to intrude himself
+into the company, slowly drew back.
+
+Edgar then pointed out a path through the fields that would considerably
+abridge the walk, if the ladies could manage to cross over a dirty lane
+on the other side of the church-yard.
+
+The baronet, who was in high spirits at the success of his scheme,
+declared that if there was a short cut, they should not part company,
+for he could walk it himself. Edgar assured him it could not be more
+than half a mile, and offered him the use of his arm.
+
+'No, no, my good young friend,' answered he, smiling significantly;
+'take care of Indiana! I have got a good stick, which I hold to be worth
+any arm in Christendom, except for not being alive; so take care of
+Indiana, I say.'
+
+Edgar bowed, but with a silence and gravity not unmixt with surprise;
+and Sir Hugh, a little struck, hastily added, 'Nay, nay, I mean no
+harm!'
+
+'No, sir,' said Edgar, recovering, 'you can mean nothing but good, when
+you give me so fair a charge.' And he placed himself at the side of
+Indiana.
+
+'Well then, now,' cried Sir Hugh, 'I'll marshal you all; and, first, for
+my little Camilla, who shall come to my proper share; for she's
+certainly the best companion of the whole; which I hope nobody will take
+for a slight, all of us not being the same, without any fault of our
+own. Dr. Orkborne shall keep to Eugenia, because, if there should be a
+want of conversation, they can go over some of their lessons. Lionel
+shall take the care of Mrs. Margland, it being always right for the
+young to help people a little stricken; and as for the odd one, Dr.
+Marchmont, why he may join little Camilla and me; for as she's none of
+the steadiest, and I am none of the strongest, it is but fair the one
+over should be between us.'
+
+Everybody professed obedience but Lionel; who, with a loud laugh, called
+to Edgar to change partners.
+
+'We are all under orders,' answered he, quietly, 'and I must not be the
+first to mutiny.'
+
+Indiana smiled with triumph; but Miss Margland, firing with anger,
+declared she wanted no help, and would accept none.
+
+Sir Hugh was now beginning an expostulation with his nephew; but Lionel
+preferred compliance to hearing it; yet, to obviate the ridicule which
+he was persuaded would follow such an acquiescence, he strided up to
+Miss Margland with hasty steps, and dropping on one knee, in the dust,
+seized and kissed her hand; but precipitately rising, and shaking
+himself, called out: 'My dear ma'am, have you never a little
+cloaths-brush in your pocket? I can't kneel again else!'
+
+Miss Margland wrathfully turned from him; and the party proceeded to a
+small gate, at the back of the church, that opened to the lane mentioned
+by Edgar, over which, when the rest of the company had passed, into a
+beautiful meadow, Lionel offered his hand for conducting Miss Margland,
+who rejected it disdainfully.
+
+'Then, you will be sure to fall,' said he.
+
+'Not unless you do something to make me.'
+
+'You will be sure to fall,' he repeated coolly.
+
+Much alarmed, she protested she would not get over before him.
+
+He absolutely refused to go first.
+
+The whole party stopt; and Bellamy, who had hitherto stood still and
+back, now ventured to approach, and in the most courteous manner, to
+offer his services to Miss Margland. She looked victoriously around her;
+but as he had spoken in a low voice, only said: 'Sir?' to make him
+repeat his proposal more audibly. He complied, and the impertinencies
+of Lionel rendered his civility irresistible: 'I am glad,' she cried,
+'there is still one gentleman left in the world!' And accepted his
+assistance, though her persecutor whispered that her spark was a dead
+man! and strutted significantly away.
+
+Half frightened, half suspecting she was laughed at, she repeated softly
+to Sir Hugh the menace of his nephew, begging that, to prevent mischief,
+she might still retain Bellamy.
+
+'Lord be good unto me!' cried he, 'what amazing fools the boys of now
+a-days are grown! with all their learning, and teaching, and classics at
+their tongue's end for nothing! However, not to set them together by the
+ears, till they grow a little wiser, which, I take it, won't be of one
+while, why you must e'en let this strange gentleman walk with you till
+t'other boy's further off. However, this one thing pray mind! (lowering
+his voice,) keep him all to yourself! if he does but so much as look at
+Eugenia, give him to understand it's a thing I sha'n't take very kind of
+him.'
+
+Beckoning then to Dr. Orkborne, he uneasily said: 'As I am now obliged
+to have that young fellow along with us, for the sake of preventing an
+affray, about nobody knows what, which is the common reason of quarrels
+among those raw young fry, I beg you to keep a particular sharp look
+out, that he does not take the opportunity to run off with Eugenia.'
+
+The spirit of the baronet had over-rated his strength; and he was forced
+to sit upon the lower step of a broad stile at the other end of the
+meadow: while Miss Margland, who leant her tall thin figure against a
+five-barred gate, willingly obviated his solicitude about Eugenia, by
+keeping Bellamy in close and unabating conference with herself.
+
+A circumstance in the scenery before him now struck Dr. Orkborne with
+some resemblance to a verse in one of Virgil's Eclogues, which he
+thought might be happily applied to illustrate a passage in his own
+work; taking out, therefore, his tablets, he begged Eugenia not to move,
+and wrote his quotation; which, leading him on to some reflections upon
+the subject, soon drove his charge from his thoughts, and consigned him
+solely to his pencil.
+
+Eugenia willingly kept her place at his side: offended by Bellamy, she
+would give him no chance of speaking with her, and the protection under
+which her uncle had placed her she deemed sacred.
+
+Here they remained but a short time, when their ears received the shock
+of a prodigious roar from a bull in the field adjoining. Miss Margland
+screamed, and hid her face with her hands. Indiana, taught by her
+lessons to nourish every fear as becoming, shriekt still louder, and ran
+swiftly away, deaf to all that Edgar, who attended her, could urge.
+Eugenia, to whom Bellamy instantly hastened, seeing the beast furiously
+make towards the gate, almost unconsciously accepted his assistance, to
+accelerate her flight from its vicinity; while Dr. Orkborne, intent upon
+his annotations, calmly wrote on, sensible there was some disturbance,
+but determining to evade inquiring whence it arose, till he had secured
+what he meant to transmit to posterity from the treachery of his memory.
+
+Camilla, the least frightened, because the most enured to such sounds,
+from the habits and the instruction of her rural life and education,
+adhered firmly to Sir Hugh, who began blessing himself with some alarm;
+but whom Dr. Marchmont re-assured, by saying the gate was secured, and
+too high for the bull to leap, even supposing it a vicious animal.
+
+The first panic was still in its meridian, when Lionel, rushing past the
+beast, which he had secretly been tormenting, skipt over the gate, with
+every appearance of terror, and called out: 'Save yourselves all! Miss
+Margland in particular; for here's a mad bull!'
+
+A second astounding bellow put a stop to any question, and wholly
+checked the immediate impulse of Miss Margland to ask why she was thus
+selected; she snatched her hands from her face, not doubting she should
+see her esquire soothingly standing by her side; but, though internally
+surprised and shocked to find herself deserted, she gathered strength to
+run from the gate with the nimbleness of youth, and, flying to the
+stile, regardless of Sir Hugh, and forgetting all her charges, scrambled
+over it, and ran on from the noise, without looking to the right or the
+left.
+
+Sir Hugh, whom Lionel's information, and Miss Margland's pushing past
+him, had extremely terrified, was now also getting over the stile, with
+the assistance of Dr. Marchmont, ejaculating: 'Lord help us! what a poor
+race we are! No safety for us! if we only come out once in a dozen
+years, we must meet with a mad bull!'
+
+He had, however, insisted that Camilla should jump over first, saying,
+'There's no need of all of us being tost, my dear girl, because, of my
+slowness, which is no fault of mine, but of Robert's not being in the
+way; which must needs make the poor fellow unhappy enough, when he hears
+of it: which, no doubt, I shall let him do, according to his deserts.'
+
+The other side of the stile brought them to the high road. Lionel, who
+had only wished to torment Miss Margland, felt his heart smite him, when
+he saw the fright of his uncle, and flew to acquaint him that he had
+made a mistake, for the bull was only angry, not mad.
+
+The unsuspicious baronet thanked him for his good news, and sat upon a
+bank till the party could be collected.
+
+This, however, was not soon to be done; the dispersion from the meadow
+having been made in every possible direction.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_Two Lovers_
+
+
+Indiana, intent but upon running on, had nearly reached the church-yard,
+without hearkening to one word of the expostulating Mandlebert; when,
+leaning over a tombstone, on which she had herself leant while waiting
+for the carriage, she perceived the young Oxonian. An instinctive spirit
+of coquetry made her now increase her pace; he heard the rustling of
+female approach, and looked up: her beauty, heightened by her flight,
+which animated her complexion, while it displayed her fine form, seemed
+more than ever celestial to the enamoured student; who darted forward
+from an impulse of irresistible surprise. 'O Heaven!' she cried, panting
+and stopping as he met her; 'I shall die! I shall die!--I am pursued by
+a mad bull!'
+
+Edgar would have explained, that all was safe; but Melmond neither heard
+nor saw him.--'O, give me, then,' he cried, emphatically; 'give me the
+ecstasy to protect--to save you!'
+
+His out-spread arms shewed his intention to bear her away; but Edgar,
+placing himself between them, said: 'Pardon me, sir! this lady is under
+my care!'
+
+'O don't fight about me! don't quarrel!' cried Indiana, with an
+apprehension half simple, half affected.
+
+'No, Madam!' answered Melmond, respectfully retreating; 'I know too--too
+well! my little claim in such a dispute!--Permit me, however, to assist
+you, Mr. Mandlebert, in your search of refuge; and deign, madam, to
+endure me in your sight, till this alarm passes away.'
+
+Indiana, by no means insensible to this language, looked with some
+elation at Edgar, to see how he bore it.
+
+Edgar was not surprised; he had already observed the potent impression
+made by the beauty of Indiana upon the Oxonian; and was struck, in
+defiance of its romance and suddenness, with its air of sincerity; he
+only, therefore, gently answered, that there was not the least cause of
+fear.
+
+'O, how can you say so?' said Indiana; 'how can you take so little
+interest in me?'
+
+'At least, at least,' cried Melmond, trembling with eagerness,
+'condescend to accept a double guard!--Refuse not, Mr. Mandlebert, to
+suffer any attendance!'
+
+Mandlebert, a little embarrassed, answered: 'I have no authority to
+decide for Miss Lynmere: but, certainly, I see no occasion for my
+assistance.'
+
+Melmond fervently clasped his hands, and exclaimed: 'Do not, do not,
+madam, command me to leave you till all danger is over!'
+
+The little heart of Indiana beat high with triumph; she thought
+Mandlebert jealous: Miss Margland had often told her there was no surer
+way to quicken him: and, even independently of this idea, the spirit,
+the ardour, the admiration of the Oxonian, had a power upon her mind
+that needed no auxiliary for delighting it.
+
+She curtsied her consent; but declared she would never go back the same
+way. They proceeded, therefore, by a little round to the high road,
+which led to the field in which the party had been dispersed.
+
+Indiana was full of starts, little shrieks, and palpitations; every one
+of which rendered her, in the eyes of the Oxonian, more and more
+captivating; and, while Edgar walked gravely on, reflecting, with some
+uneasiness, upon being thus drawn in to suffer the attendance of a youth
+so nearly a stranger, upon a young lady actually under his protection;
+Melmond was continually ejaculating in return to her perpetual
+apprehensions, 'What lovely timidity!--What bewitching softness!--What
+feminine, what beautiful delicacy!--How sweet in terror!--How
+soul-piercing in alarm!'
+
+These exclamations were nearly enchanting to Indiana, whose only fear
+was, lest they should not be heard by Edgar; and, whenever they ceased,
+whenever a pause and respectful silence took their place, new starts,
+fresh palpitations, and designed false steps, again called them forth;
+while the smile with which she repaid their enthusiastic speaker, was
+fuel to his flame, but poison to his peace.
+
+They had not proceeded far, when they were met by Miss Margland, who, in
+equal trepidation from anger and from fear, was still making the best of
+her way from the bellowing of the bull. Edgar inquired for Sir Hugh, and
+the rest of the party; but she could speak only of Lionel; his insolence
+and his ill usage; protesting nothing but her regard for Indiana, could
+induce her to live a moment longer under his uncle's roof.
+
+'But where,' again cried Edgar, 'where is Sir Hugh? and where are the
+ladies?'
+
+'Tossed by the bull,' answered she, pettishly, 'for aught I know; I did
+not choose to stay and be tossed myself; and a person like Mr. Lionel
+can soon make such a beast point at one, if he takes it into his
+humour.'
+
+Edgar then begged they might hasten to their company; but Miss Margland
+positively refused to go back: and Indiana, always ready to second any
+alarm, declared, she should quite sink with fright, if they went within
+a hundred yards of that horrid field. Edgar still pleaded that the
+baronet would expect them; but Melmond, in softer tones, spoke of fears,
+sensibility, and dangers; and Edgar soon found he was talking to the
+winds.
+
+All now that remained to prevent further separations was, that Edgar
+should run on to the party, and acquaint them that Miss Margland and
+Indiana would wait for them upon the high road.
+
+Melmond, meanwhile, felt in paradise; even the presence of Miss Margland
+could not restrain his rapture, upon a casualty that gave him such a
+charge, though it forced him to forbear making the direct and open
+declaration of his passion, with which his heart was burning, and his
+tongue quivering. He attended them both with the most fervent respect,
+evidently very gratifying to the object of his adoration, though not
+noticed by Miss Margland, who was wholly absorbed by her own
+provocations.
+
+Edgar soon reached the bank by the road's side, upon which the baronet,
+Dr. Marchmont, Lionel, and Camilla were seated. 'Lord help us!'
+exclaimed Sir Hugh, aghast at his approach, 'if here is not young Mr.
+Edgar without Indiana! This is a thing I could never have expected from
+you, young Mr. Edgar! that you should leave her, I don't know where, and
+come without her!'
+
+Edgar assured him she was safe, and under the care of Miss Margland, but
+that neither of them could be prevailed with to come farther: he had,
+therefore, advanced to inquire after the rest of the party, and to
+arrange where they should all assemble.
+
+'You have done very right, then, my dear Mr. Edgar, as you always do, as
+far as I can make out, when I come to the bottom. And now I am quite
+easy about Indiana. But as to Eugenia, what Dr. Orkborne has done with
+her is more than I can devise; unless, indeed, they are got to studying
+some of their Greek verbs, and so forgot us all, which is likely enough;
+only I had rather they had taken another time, not much caring to stay
+here longer than I can help.'
+
+Edgar said, he would make a circuit in search of them; but, first,
+addressing Camilla, 'You alone,' he cried, with an approving smile,
+'have remained thus quiet, while all else have been scampering apart,
+making _confusion worse confounded_.'
+
+'I have lived too completely in the country to be afraid of cattle,' she
+answered; 'and Dr. Marchmont assured me there was no danger.'
+
+'You can listen, then, even when you are alarmed,' said he,
+expressively, 'to the voice of reason!'
+
+Camilla raised her eyes, and looked at him, but dropt them again without
+making any answer: Can _you_, she thought, have been pleading it in
+vain? How I wonder at Indiana?
+
+He then set out to seek Eugenia, recommending the same office to Lionel
+by another route; but Lionel no sooner gathered where Miss Margland
+might be met with, than his repentance was forgotten, and he quitted
+everything to encounter her.
+
+Edgar spent near half an hour in his search, without the smallest
+success; he was then seriously uneasy, and returning to the party, when
+a countryman, to whom he was known, told him he had seen Miss Eugenia
+Tyrold, with a very handsome fine town gentleman, going into a farm
+house.
+
+Edgar flew to the spot, and through a window, as he advanced, perceived
+Eugenia seated, and Bellamy kneeling before her.
+
+Amazed and concerned, he abruptly made his way into the apartment.
+Bellamy rose in the utmost confusion, and Eugenia, starting and
+colouring, caught Edgar by the arm, but could not speak.
+
+He told her that her uncle and the whole company were waiting for her in
+great anxiety.
+
+'And where, where,' cried she, 'are they? I have been in agonies about
+them all! and I could not prevail--I could not--this gentleman said the
+risk was so great--he would not suffer me--but he has sent for a chaise,
+though I told him I had a thousand times rather hazard my life amongst
+them, and with them, than save it alone!'
+
+'They are all perfectly safe, nor has there ever been any danger.'
+
+'I was told--I was assured--' said Bellamy, 'that a mad bull was running
+wild about the country; and I thought it, therefore, advisable to send
+for a chaise from the nearest inn, that I might return this young lady
+to her friends.'
+
+Edgar made no answer, but offered his arm to conduct Eugenia to her
+uncle. She accepted it, and Bellamy attended on her other side.
+
+Edgar was silent the whole way. The attitude in which he had surprised
+Bellamy, by assuring him of the nature of his pretensions, had awakened
+doubts the most alarming of the destination in view for the chaise which
+he had ordered; and he believed that Eugenia was either to have been
+beguiled, or betrayed, into a journey the most remote from the home to
+which she belonged.
+
+Eugenia increased his suspicions by the mere confusion which deterred
+her from removing them. Bellamy had assured her she was in the most
+eminent personal danger, and had hurried her from field to field, with
+an idea that the dreaded animal was in full pursuit. When carried,
+however, into the farm house, she lost all apprehension for herself in
+fears for her friends, and insisted upon sharing their fate. Bellamy,
+who immediately ordered a chaise, then cast himself at her feet, to
+entreat she would not throw away her life by so rash a measure.
+
+Exhausted, from her lameness, she was forced to sit still, and such was
+their situation at the entrance of Edgar. She wished extremely to
+explain what had been the object of the solicitation of Bellamy, and to
+clear him, as well as herself, from any further surmises; but she was
+ashamed to begin the subject. Edgar had seen a man at her feet, and she
+thought, herself, it was a cruel injury to Clermont, though she knew not
+how to refuse it forgiveness, since it was merely to supplicate she
+would save her own life.
+
+Bellamy, therefore, was the only one who spoke; and his unanswered
+observations contributed but little to enliven the walk.
+
+When they came within sight of the party, the baronet was again seized
+with the extremest dismay. 'Why now, what's this?' cried he; 'here's
+nothing but blunders. Pray, Sir, who gave you authority to take my niece
+from her own tutor? for so I may call him, though more properly
+speaking, he came amongst us to be mine; which, however, is no affair
+but of our own.'
+
+'Sir,' answered Bellamy, advancing and bowing; 'I hope I have had the
+happiness of rather doing service than mischief; I saw the young lady
+upon the point of destruction, and I hastened her to a place of
+security, from whence I had ordered a post-chaise, to convey her safe to
+your house.'
+
+'Yes, my dear uncle,' said Eugenia, recovering from her embarrassment;
+'I have occasioned this gentleman infinite trouble; and though Mr.
+Mandlebert assures us there was no real danger, he thought there was,
+and therefore I must always hold myself to be greatly obliged to him.'
+
+'Well, if that's the case, I must be obliged to him too; which, to tell
+you the truth, is not a thing I am remarkably fond of having happened.
+But where's Dr. Orkborne? I hope he's come to no harm, by his not
+shewing himself?'
+
+'At the moment of terror,' said Eugenia, 'I accepted the first offer of
+assistance, concluding we were all hurrying away at the same time; but I
+saw Dr. Orkborne no more afterwards.'
+
+'I can't say that was over and above kind of him, nor careful neither,'
+cried Sir Hugh, 'considering some particular reasons; however, where is
+he now?'
+
+Nobody could say; no one had seen or observed him.
+
+'Why then, ten to one, poor gentleman!' exclaimed the baronet, 'but he's
+the very person himself who's tossed, while we are all of us running
+away for nothing!'
+
+A suspicion now occurred to Dr. Marchmont, which led him to return over
+the stile into the field where the confusion had begun; and there, on
+the exact spot where he had first taken out his tablets, calmly stood
+Dr. Orkborne; looking now upon his writing, now up to the sky, but
+seeing nothing any where, from intense absorption of thought upon the
+illustration he was framing.
+
+Awakened from his reverie by the Doctor, his first recollection was of
+Eugenia; he had not doubted her remaining quietly by his side, and the
+moment he looked round and missed her, he felt considerable compunction.
+The good Doctor, however, assured him all were safe, and conducted him
+to the group.
+
+'So here you are,' said the baronet, 'and no more tossed than myself,
+for which I am sincerely thankful, though I can't say I think you have
+taken much care of my niece, nobody knowing what might have become of
+her, if it had not been for that strange gentleman, that I never saw
+before.'
+
+He then formally placed Eugenia under the care of Dr. Marchmont.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, piqued by this transfer, sullenly followed, and now gave
+to her, pertinaciously, his undivided attention. Drawn by a total
+revulsion of ideas from the chain of thinking that had led him to
+composition, he relinquished his annotations in resentment of this
+dismission, when he might have pursued them uninterruptedly without
+neglect of other avocations.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_Two Doctors_
+
+
+A council was now held upon what course must next be taken. Both Sir
+Hugh and Eugenia were too much fatigued to walk any further; yet it was
+concluded that the garden chair, by some mistake, was gone straight to
+the cottage. Edgar, therefore, proposed running thither to bring it
+round for them, while Dr. Orkborne should go forward for Miss Margland
+and Indiana, and conduct them by the high road to the same place; where
+the whole party might at length re-assemble. Sir Hugh approved the plan,
+and he set off instantly.
+
+But not so Dr. Orkborne; he thought himself disgraced by being sent from
+one post to another; and though Eugenia was nothing to him, in
+competition with his tablets and his work, his own instructions had so
+raised her in his mind, that he thought her the only female worthy a
+moment of his time. Indiana he looked upon with ineffable contempt; the
+incapacity she had shewn during the short time she was under his
+pupillage, had convinced him of the futility of her whole sex, from
+which he held Eugenia to be a partial exception; and Miss Margland, who
+never spoke to him but in a voice of haughty superiority, and whom he
+never answered, but with an air of solemn superciliousness, was his
+rooted aversion. He could not brook being employed in the service of
+either; he stood, therefore, motionless, till Sir Hugh repeated the
+proposition.
+
+Not caring to disoblige him, he then, without speaking, slowly and
+unwillingly moved forwards.
+
+'I see,' said the baronet, softened rather than offended, 'he does not
+much like to leave his little scholar, which is but natural; though I
+took it rather unkind his letting the poor thing run against the very
+horns of the bull, as one may say, if it had not been for a mere
+accidental passenger. However, one must always make allowance for a man
+that takes much to his studies, those things generally turning the head
+pretty much into a narrow compass.'
+
+He then called after him, and said if the walk would tire him, he would
+wait till they came of themselves, which no doubt they would soon do, as
+Lionel was gone for them.
+
+Dr. Orkborne gladly stopt; but Dr. Marchmont, seeing little likelihood
+of a general meeting without some trouble, offered to take the
+commission upon himself, with a politeness that seemed to shew it to be
+a wish of his own.
+
+Sir Hugh accepted his kindness with thanks; and Dr. Orkborne, though
+secretly disconcerted by such superior alacrity in so learned a man, was
+well content to reinstate himself by the side of his pupil.
+
+Sir Hugh, who saw the eyes of Bellamy constantly turned towards Eugenia,
+thought his presence highly dangerous, and with much tribulation, said:
+'As I find, sir, we may all have to stay here, I don't know how long, I
+hope you won't be affronted, after my best thanks for your keeping my
+niece from the bull, if I don't make any particular point of begging
+the favour of you to stay much longer with us.'
+
+Bellamy, extremely chagrined, cast an appealing look at Eugenia, and
+expressing his regret that his services were inadmissible, made his
+retreat with undisguised reluctance.
+
+Eugenia, persuaded she owed him a serious obligation for his care, as
+well as for his partiality, felt the sincerest concern at his apparent
+distress, and contributed far more than she intended to its removal, by
+the gentle countenance with which she received his sorrowful glance.
+
+Bellamy, hastily overtaking Dr. Marchmont, darted on before him in
+search of Miss Margland and Indiana, who, far from advancing, were
+pacing their way back to the church-yard. Lionel had joined them, and
+the incensed Miss Margland had encouraged the glad attendance of the
+Oxonian, as a protection to herself.
+
+The sight of Bellamy by no means tended to disperse the storm: She
+resented his deserting her while she was in danger, and desired to see
+no more of him. But when he had respectfully suffered her wrath to vent
+itself, he made apologies, with an obsequiousness so rare to her, and a
+deference so strikingly contrasted with the daring ridicule of Lionel,
+that she did not long oppose the potent charm of adulation--a charm
+which, however it may be sweetened by novelty, seldom loses its effect
+by any familiarity.
+
+During these contests, Indiana was left wholly to young Melmond, and the
+temptation was too strong for his impassioned feelings to withstand: 'O
+fairest,' he cried, 'fairest and most beautiful of all created beings!
+Can I resist--no! this one, one effusion--the first and the last! The
+sensibility of your mind will plead for me--I read it in those heavenly
+eyes--they emit mercy in their beauty! they are as radiant with goodness
+as with loveliness! alas! I trespass--I blush and dare not hope your
+forgiveness.'
+
+He stopt, terrified at his own presumption; but the looks of Indiana
+were never more beautiful, and never less formidable. A milder doom,
+therefore, seemed suddenly to burst upon his view. Elated and
+enraptured, he vehemently exclaimed: 'Oh, were my lot not irrevocably
+miserable! were the smallest ray of light to beam upon my
+despondence!'--
+
+Indiana still spoke not a word, but she withdrew not her smiles; and the
+enraptured student, lifted into the highest bliss by the permission
+even of a doubt, walked on, transported, by her side, too happy in
+suspence to wish an explanation.
+
+In this manner they proceeded, till they were joined by Dr. Marchmont.
+The task he had attempted was beyond his power of performance; Miss
+Margland was inexorable; she declared nothing should induce her to go a
+step towards the field inhabited by the bull, and every assurance of
+safety the Doctor could urge was ineffectual.
+
+He next assailed Indiana; but her first terror, soothed by the
+compassion and admiration of Melmond, was now revived, and she
+protested, almost with tears, that to go within a hundred yards of that
+dreadful meadow would make her undoubtedly faint away. The tender
+commiseration of Melmond confirmed her apprehensions, and she soon
+looked upon Dr. Marchmont as a barbarian for making the proposal.
+
+The Doctor then commended them to the care of Lionel, and returned with
+this repulse to Sir Hugh.
+
+The baronet, incapable of being angry with any one he conceived to be
+frightened, said they should be pressed no more, for he would give up
+going to the cottage, and put his best foot forward to walk on to them
+himself; adding he was so overjoyed to have got rid of that young spark,
+that he had no fear but that he, and poor Eugenia, too, should both do
+as well as they could.
+
+They proceeded very slowly, the baronet leaning upon Dr. Marchmont, and
+Eugenia upon Dr. Orkborne, who watchful, with no small alarm, of the
+behaviour of the only man he had yet seen with any internal respect,
+since he left the university, sacrificed completely his notes and his
+tablets to emulate his attentions.
+
+When they approached the church-yard, in which Miss Margland and her
+party had halted, Sir Hugh perceived Bellamy. He stopt short, calling
+out, with extreme chagrin, 'Lord help us! what a thing it is to rejoice!
+which one never knows the right season to do, on the score of meeting
+with disappointments!'
+
+Then, after a little meditation, 'There is but one thing,' he cried, 'to
+be done, which is to guard from the first against any more mischief,
+having already had enough of it for one morning, not to say more than I
+could have wished by half: So do you, good Dr. Marchmont, take Eugenia
+under your own care, and I'll make shift with Dr. Orkborne for myself;
+for, in the case he should take again to writing or thinking, it will be
+nothing to me to keep still till he has done; provided it should happen
+at a place where I can sit down.'
+
+Dr. Orkborne had never felt so deeply hurt; the same commission
+transferred to Edgar, or to Lionel, would have failed to affect him; he
+considered them as of an age fitted for such frivolous employment, which
+he thought as much below his dignity, as the young men themselves were
+beneath his competition; but the comfort of contempt, a species of
+consolation ever ready to offer itself to the impulsive pride of man,
+was here an alleviation he could not call to his aid; the character of
+Dr. Marchmont stood as high in erudition as his own; and, though his
+acquaintance with him was merely personal, the fame of his learning, the
+only attribute to which fame, in his conception, belonged, had reached
+him from authority too unquestionable for doubt. The urbanity,
+therefore, of his manners, his general diffusion of discourse, and his
+universal complaisance, filled him with astonishment, and raised an
+emotion of envy which no other person would have been deemed worthy of
+exciting.
+
+But though his long and fixed residence at Cleves had now removed the
+timid circumspection with which he first sought to ensure his
+establishment, he yet would not venture any positive refusal to the
+baronet; he resigned, therefore, his young charge to his new and
+formidable opponent, and even exerted himself to mark some alacrity in
+assisting Sir Hugh. But his whole real attention was upon Dr. Marchmont,
+whom his eye followed in every motion, to discover, if possible, by what
+art unknown he had acquired such a command over his thoughts and
+understanding, as to bear patiently, nay pleasantly, with the idle and
+unequal companions of general society.
+
+Dr. Marchmont, who was rector of Cleves, had been introduced to Sir Hugh
+upon the baronet's settling in the large mansion-house of that village;
+but he had not visited at the house, nor had his company been solicited.
+Sir Hugh, who could never separate understanding from learning, nor want
+of education from folly, concluded that such a man as Dr. Marchmont must
+necessarily despise him; and though the extreme sweetness of his temper
+made him draw the conclusion without resentment, it so effectually
+prevented all wish of any intercourse, that they had never conversed
+together till this morning; and his surprise, now, at such civilities
+and good humour in so great a scholar, differed only from that of Dr.
+Orkborne, in being accompanied with admiration instead of envy.
+
+Eugenia thus disposed of, they were proceeding, when Sir Hugh next
+observed the young Oxonian: He was speaking with Indiana, to whom his
+passionate devotion was glaring from his looks, air, and whole manner.
+
+'Lord held me!' exclaimed he; 'if there is not another of those new
+chaps, that nobody knows anything about, talking to Indiana! and, for
+aught I can tell to the contrary, making love to her! I think I never
+took such a bad walk as this before, since the hour I was born, in point
+of unluckiness. Robert will have enough to answer for, which he must
+expect to hear; and indeed I am not much obliged to Mrs. Margland
+herself, and so I must needs tell her, though it is not what I much like
+to do.'
+
+He then made a sign to Miss Margland to approach him: 'Mrs. Margland,'
+he cried, 'I should not have taken the liberty to beckon you in this
+manner, but that I think it right to ask you what those two young
+gentlemen, that I never saw before, do in the church-yard; which is a
+thing I think rather odd.'
+
+'As to that gentleman, sir,' she answered, bridling, 'who was standing
+by me, he is the only person I have found to protect me from Mr. Lionel,
+whose behaviour, sir, I must freely tell you--'
+
+'Why certainly, Mrs. Margland, I can't deny but he's rather a little
+over and above giddy; but I am sure your understanding won't mind it, in
+consideration of his being young enough to be your son, in the case of
+your having been married time enough.'
+
+He then desired Indiana would come to him.
+
+The rapture of the Oxonian was converted into torture by this summons;
+and the suspence which the moment before he had gilded with the gay
+colours of hope, he felt would be no longer supportable when deprived of
+the sight of his divinity. Scarce could he refrain from casting himself
+publicly at her feet, and pouring forth the wishes of his heart. But
+when again the call was repeated, and he saw her look another way, as if
+desirous not to attend to it, the impulse of quick rising joy dispersed
+his small remains of forbearance, and precipitately clasping his hands,
+'O go not!' he passionately exclaimed; 'leave me not in this abyss of
+suffering! Fairest and most beautiful! tell me at least, if my death is
+inevitable! if no time--no constancy--no adoration--may ever dare hope
+to penetrate that gentlest of bosoms!'
+
+Indiana herself was now, for the first time, sensible of a little
+emotion; the animation of this address delighted her; it was new, and
+its effect was highly pleasing. How cold, she thought, is Edgar! She
+made not any answer, but permitted her eyes to meet his with the most
+languishing softness.
+
+Melmond trembled through his whole frame; despair flew him, and
+expectation wore her brightest plumage: 'O pronounce but one word,' he
+cried, 'one single word!--are, are you--O say not yes!--irrevocably
+engaged?--lost to all hope--all possibility for ever?'
+
+Indiana again licensed her fine eyes with their most melting powers, and
+all self-control was finally over with her impassioned lover; who,
+mingling prayers for her favour, with adoration of her beauty, heeded
+not who heard him, and forgot every presence but her own.
+
+Miss Margland, who, engrossed by personal resentment and debates, had
+not remarked the rising courage and energy of Melmond, had just turned
+to Indiana, upon the second call of Sir Hugh, and became now utterly
+confounded by the sight of her willing attention: 'Miss Lynmere,' cried
+she, angrily, 'what are you thinking of? Suppose Mr. Mandlebert should
+come, what might be the consequence?'
+
+'Mandlebert?' repeated Melmond, while the blood forsook his cheeks; 'is
+it then even so?--is all over?--all decided? is my destiny black and
+ireful for ever?'
+
+Indiana still more and more struck with him, looked down, internally
+uttering: Ah! were this charming youth but master of Beech Park!
+
+At this instant, the rapid approach of a carriage caught their ears; and
+eager to avoid making a decisive reply, she ran to the church-yard gate
+to look at it, exclaiming: 'Dear! what an elegant chariot.' When it came
+up to the party, it stopt, and, opening the door himself, Edgar jumped
+hastily out of it.
+
+The Oxonian stood aghast: but Indiana, springing forward, and losing in
+curiosity every other sensation, cried: 'Dear! Mr. Mandlebert, whose
+beautiful new carriage is that?'
+
+'Yours,' answered he, gallantly, 'if you will honour it with any
+commands.'
+
+She then observed his crest and cypher were on the panels; and another
+entire new set of ideas took instant possession of her mind. She
+received literally an answer which he had made in gay courtesy, and held
+out her hand to be helped into the chariot.
+
+Edgar, though surprised and even startled at this unexpected
+appropriation of his civility, could not recede; but the moment he had
+seated her, hastily turned round, to inquire who else was most fatigued.
+
+The Oxonian now felt lost! suddenly, abruptly, but irretrievably lost!
+The cypher he saw--the question 'whose carriage is that?' he heard--the
+answer '_yours_' made him gasp for breath, and the instantaneous
+acceptance stung him to the soul. Wholly in desperation, he rushed to
+the opposite window of the chariot, and calling out, 'enough,
+cruel!--cruel!--enough--I will see you no more!' hurried out of sight.
+
+Indiana, who, for the first time, thought herself mistress of a new and
+elegant equipage, was so busily employed in examining the trappings and
+the lining, that she bore his departure without a sigh; though but an
+instant before it might have cost her something near one.
+
+Eugenia had been touched more deeply. She was ignorant of what had
+passed, but she had seen the agitation of Melmond, and the moment he
+disappeared, she ejaculated secretly: 'Ah! had he conceived the
+prepossession of Bellamy! where had been my steadiness? where, O
+Clermont! thy security!--'
+
+The scrupulous delicacy of her mind was shocked at this suggestion, and
+she rejoiced she had not been put to such a trial.
+
+Edgar now explained, that when he arrived at the cottage, he found, as
+he had foreseen, the garden chair waiting there, by mistake, and Robert
+in much distress, having just discovered that an accident had happened
+to one of the wheels. He had run on, therefore, himself, to Beech Park,
+for his own new chariot, which was lately arrived from town, making
+Robert follow with Sir Hugh's horses, as his own were out at grass.
+
+It was dinner-time, and Sir Hugh, equally vexed and fatigued, resolved
+to return straight home. He accepted, therefore, a place in the chariot,
+bid Eugenia follow him, and Robert make haste; solemnly adding to the
+latter: 'I had fully intended making you the proper lecture upon your
+not coming in time; but as it has turned out not to be your fault, on
+account of an accident, I shall say no more; except to give you a hint
+not to do such a thing again, because we have all been upon the point
+of being tossed by a mad bull; which would certainly have happened, but
+for the lucky chance of its turning out a false alarm.'
+
+The remainder of the party proceeded without further adventure. Edgar
+attended Camilla; Miss Margland adhered to Bellamy: Lionel, who durst
+not venture at any new frolic, but with whom time lingered when none was
+passing, retreated; Dr. Marchmont, who was near his home, soon also made
+his bow; and Dr. Orkborne, who was glad to be alone, ruminated with
+wonder upon what appeared to him a phenomenon, a man of learning who
+could deign to please and seem pleased where books were not the subject
+of discourse, and where scholastic attainments were not required to
+elucidate a single sentence.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_Two Ways of looking at the same Thing_
+
+
+When the party arrived at Cleves, Camilla, who had observed that Edgar
+seemed much disappointed by the breaking up of the cottage expedition,
+proposed that it should take place in the evening; and her uncle, though
+too much fatigued to venture out again himself, consented, or rather
+insisted, that the excursion should be made without him.
+
+Before they set out, Edgar desired to speak with Sir Hugh in private.
+
+Sir Hugh concluded it was to make his proposals of marriage for Indiana;
+and had not patience to step into his own apartment, but told them all
+to retire, with a nod at Indiana, which prepared not only herself but
+Miss Margland, Camilla, and Eugenia to join in his expectation.
+
+Indiana, though a good deal fluttered, flew to a window, to see if the
+new chariot was in sight; and then, turning to Miss Margland, asked,
+'Pray, should I refuse him at first?'
+
+Miss Margland spared not for proper instructions; and immediately began
+a negociation with the fair questioner, for continuing to live with her.
+
+Eugenia was occupied in reflecting with pity upon the idleness of
+Indiana, which so ill had fitted her for becoming the companion of
+Mandlebert.
+
+Camilla, unusually thoughtful, walked alone into the garden, and sought
+a path least in sight.
+
+Sir Hugh, meanwhile, was most unpleasantly undeceived. Edgar, without
+naming Indiana, informed him of the situation in which he had surprised
+Bellamy, and of his suspicions with regard to the destination of the
+chaise, but for his own timely arrival at the farm-house; adding, that
+his gratitude to Mr. Tyrold, his respect for himself, and his affection
+for all the family, made him think it is duty to reveal these
+circumstances without delay.
+
+The baronet shuddered with horror; and declared he would instantly send
+an express to bring Clermont home, that Eugenia might be married out of
+hand; and, in the mean time, that he would have every window in the
+house barred, and keep her locked up in her room.
+
+Edgar dissuaded him from so violent a measure; but advised him to speak
+with his niece upon the danger she had probably escaped, and of which
+she seemed wholly unconscious; to prevail with her not to go out again
+this evening, and to send for Mr. Tyrold, and acquaint him with the
+affair.
+
+Sir Hugh thanked him for his counsel, and implicitly acted by his
+opinion.
+
+He then ordered the coach for Miss Margland, Indiana, and Camilla.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, finding neither Sir Hugh nor Eugenia of the party,
+declined joining it. Lionel was returned to Etherington; and Edgar rode
+on before, to invite Dr. Marchmont, with the consent of the Baronet, to
+take the fourth place in the carriage.
+
+Arrived at the rectory, he went straight, by prescriptive privilege,
+into the study of Dr. Marchmont, whom he found immersed in books and
+papers, which, immediately, at the request of Edgar, he put aside; not
+without regret to quit them, though wholly without reluctance to oblige.
+
+Edgar had ridden so hard, that they had some time to wait for the coach.
+But he did not appear anxious for its arrival; though he wore a look
+that was far from implying him to be free from anxiety.
+
+He was silent,--he hemmed,--he was silent again,--and again he
+hemmed,--and then, gently laying his hand upon the shoulder of the
+Doctor, while his eyes, full of meaning, were fixed upon his face;
+'Doctor,' he cried, 'you would hardly have known these young
+ladies?--they are all grown from children into women since you saw them
+last.'
+
+'Yes,' answered the Doctor, 'and very charming women. Indiana has a
+beauty so exquisite, it is scarce possible to look away from it a
+moment: Eugenia joins so much innocence with information, that the mind
+must itself be deformed that could dwell upon her personal defects,
+after conversing with her: Camilla'--
+
+He paused, and Edgar hastily turned another way, not to look at him, nor
+be looked at, while he proceeded:
+
+'Camilla,' he presently continued, 'seems the most inartificially sweet,
+the most unobtrusively gay, and the most attractively lovely of almost
+any young creature I ever beheld.'
+
+With a heart all expanded, and a face full of sensibility, Edgar now
+turned to him, and seizing, involuntarily, his hand, which he eagerly
+shook, 'You think her, then,'--he cried,--but suddenly stopt, dropt his
+hand, coughed two or three times; and, taking out his pocket
+handkerchief, seemed tormented with a violent cold.
+
+Dr. Marchmont affectionately embraced him. 'My dear young young friend,'
+he cried, 'I see the situation of your mind--and think every possible
+happiness promises to be yours; yet, if you have taken no positive step,
+suffer me to speak with you before you proceed.'
+
+'Far from having taken any positive step, I have not yet even formed any
+resolution.'
+
+Here the carriage stopt for the Doctor, who repeated, 'Yes! I think
+every possible happiness promises to be yours!' before he went on to the
+ladies. Edgar, in a trepidation too great to be seen by them, kept
+behind till they drove off, though he then galloped so fast, that he
+arrived at the cottage before them: the words, 'I think every possible
+happiness promises to be yours,' vibrating the whole time in his ears.
+
+When the coach arrived, Edgar handed out Miss Margland and Indiana;
+leaving Camilla to the Doctor; willing to let him see more of her, and
+by no means displeased to avoid his eyes at that moment himself.
+
+Indiana was in the most sprightly spirits she had ever experienced; she
+concluded herself on the verge of becoming mistress of a fine place and
+a large fortune; she had received adulation all the morning that had
+raised her beauty higher than ever in her own estimation; and she
+secretly revolved, with delight, various articles of ornament and of
+luxury, which she had long wished to possess, and which now, for her
+wedding clothes, she should have riches sufficient to purchase.
+
+Miss Margland, too, was all smoothness, complacency, and courtesy.
+
+Camilla, alone, was grave; Camilla, who, by nature, was gay.
+
+'Dear! is this the cottage we have been coming to all this time?' cried
+Indiana, upon entering; 'Lord! I thought it would have been something
+quite pretty.'
+
+'And what sort of prettiness,' said Edgar, 'did you expect from a
+cottage?'
+
+'Dear, I don't know--but I thought we were come on purpose to see
+something extraordinary?'
+
+Camilla, who followed, made an exclamation far different; an exclamation
+of pleasure, surprise, and vivacity, that restored for an instant, all
+her native gaiety: for no sooner had she crossed the threshold, than she
+recognised, in a woman who was curtsying low to receive her, and whom
+Indiana had passed without observing, the wife of the poor prisoner for
+whom she had interceded with Mandlebert.
+
+'How I rejoice to see you!' cried she, 'and to see you here! and how
+much better you look! and how comfortable you seem! I hope you are now
+all well?'
+
+'Ah, madam,' answered the woman; 'we owe everything to that good young
+gentleman! he has put us in this nice new cottage, and employs us in his
+service. Blessings on his head! I am sure he will be paid for it!'
+
+Edgar, somewhat agitated, occupied himself with jumping the little boy;
+Camilla looked round with rapture; Indiana seemed wonder-struck, without
+knowing why; Dr. Marchmont narrowly watched them all; and Miss Margland,
+expecting a new collection would be next proposed for setting them up,
+nimbly re-crossed the threshold, to examine the prospect without.
+
+The husband, now in decent garb, and much recovered, though still weak
+and emaciated, advanced to Camilla, to make his humble acknowledgments,
+that she had recommended them to their kind benefactor.
+
+'No!' cried Camilla; 'you owe me nothing! your own distress recommended
+you;--your own distress--and Mr. Mandlebert's generosity.'
+
+Then, going up to Edgar, 'It is your happy fate,' she said, in an accent
+of admiration, 'to act all that my father so often plans and wishes, but
+which his income will not allow him to execute.'
+
+'You see,' answered he, gratefully, 'how little suffices for content! I
+have scarce done anything--yet how relieved, how satisfied are these
+poor people! This hut was fortunately vacant'--
+
+'O, madam!' interrupted the poor woman, 'if you knew but how that good
+gentleman has done it all! how kindly he has used us, and made everybody
+else use us! and let nobody taunt us with our bad faults!--and what good
+he has done to my poor sick husband! and how he has clothed my poor
+little half naked children! and, what is more than all, saved us from
+the shame of an ill life.'--
+
+Camilla felt the tears start into her eyes;--she hastily snatched the
+little babe into her arms; and, while her kisses hid her face, Happy,
+and thrice happy Indiana! with a soft sigh, was the silent ejaculation
+of her heart.
+
+She seated herself on a stool, and, without speaking or hearing any
+thing more, devoted herself to the baby.
+
+Indiana, meanwhile, whose confidence in her own situation gave her
+courage to utter whatever first occurred to her, having made a general
+survey of the place and people, with an air of disappointment, now
+amused herself with an inspection more minute, taking up and casting
+down everything that was portable, without any regard either to
+deranging its neatness, or endangering its safety:--exclaiming, as she
+made her round of investigation, 'Dear! Crockery ware! how ugly!--Lord,
+what little mean chairs!--Is that your best gown, good woman?--Dear,
+what an ugly pattern!--Well, I would not wear such a thing to save my
+life!--Have you got nothing better than this for a floor-cloth?--Only
+look at those curtains! Did you ever see such frights?--Lord! do you eat
+off these platters? I am sure I could sooner die! I should not mind
+starving half as much!'
+
+Miss Margland, hoping the collection was now either made or
+relinquished, ventured to re-enter, and inquire if they never meant to
+return home? Camilla unwillingly gave up the baby; but would not depart
+without looking over the cottage, where everything she saw excited a
+sensation of pleasure. 'How neat is this! How tidy that!' were her
+continual exclamations; 'How bright you have rubbed your saucepans! How
+clean every thing is all round! How soon you will all get well in this
+healthy and comfortable little dwelling!'
+
+Edgar, in a low voice, then told Dr. Marchmont the history of his new
+cottagers, saying: 'You will not, I hope, disapprove what I have done?
+Their natures seemed so much disposed to good, I could not bear to let
+their wants turn them again to evil.'
+
+'You have certainly done right,' answered the Doctor; 'to give money
+without inquiry, or further aid, to those who have adopted bad
+practices, is, to them, but temptation, and to society an injury; but to
+give them both the counsel and the means to pursue a right course, is,
+to them, perhaps, salvation, and to the community, the greatest
+service.'
+
+Indiana and Miss Margland, quite wearied, both got into the carriage;
+Edgar, having deposited them, returned to Camilla, who kissed both the
+children, poured forth good wishes upon the father and mother; and,
+then, gave him her hand. Enchanted, he took it, exclaiming; 'Ah! who is
+like you! so lively--yet so feeling!'
+
+Struck and penetrated, she made no answer: Alas! she thought, I fear he
+is not quite satisfied with Indiana!
+
+Dr. Marchmont was set down at his own house; where, he begged to have a
+conference with Edgar the next morning.
+
+The whole way home, the benevolence of Edgar occupied the mind of
+Camilla; and, not in the present instance, the less, that its object had
+been originally of her own pointing out.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+_Two Retreats_
+
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold had obeyed the summons of Sir Hugh, whom they found
+in extreme tribulation; persuaded by his fears not only of the design of
+Bellamy, but of its inevitable success. His brother, however, who knew
+his alarms to be generally as unfounded as his hopes; and Mrs. Tyrold,
+who almost undisguisedly despised both; no sooner heard his account,
+than, declining to discuss it, they sent for Eugenia. She related the
+transaction with a confusion so innocent, that it was easy to discern
+shame alone had hitherto caused her silence; and with a simplicity so
+unaffected, that not a doubt could rest upon their minds, but that her
+heart was as disengaged as her intentions had been irreproachable. Yet
+they were not the less struck with the danger she had incurred; and,
+while her father blessed Mandlebert for her preservation, her mother was
+so sensible to his care for the family welfare and honour, that the
+anger she had conceived against him subsided, though the regret to which
+it had owed its birth increased.
+
+Mr. Tyrold gave his daughter some slight cautions and general advice;
+but thought it wisest, since he found her tranquil and unsuspicious, not
+to raise apprehensions that might disturb her composure, nor awaken
+ideas of which the termination must be doubtful.
+
+Her mother deemed the matter to be undeserving the least serious alarm.
+The man had appeared to her from the beginning to be a despicable
+adventurer; and her lofty contempt of all low arts made her conclude her
+well-principled Eugenia as superior to their snares as to their
+practice.
+
+This conference completely quieted the fears of Sir Hugh; who
+relinquished his design of sending for Clermont, and imagined Edgar to
+have been too severe in his judgment of Bellamy, who had only knelt in
+pure compassion, to prevail with Eugenia to take care of her life.
+
+The rector and his lady were already gone before the cottage group came
+home. Edgar was anxious to inquire of Sir Hugh what had passed. The
+three females, concluding he had still something to say relative to his
+proposals, by tacit agreement, retired to their own rooms.
+
+They were not, however, as concurrent in their eagerness to re-assemble.
+Miss Margland and Indiana watched the moment when they might appease
+their burning curiosity by descending: but Eugenia wished to prolong her
+absence, that she might recover from the embarrassment she had just
+suffered; and Camilla determined not to appear again till the next
+morning.
+
+For the first time in her life after the shortest separation, she
+forbore to seek Eugenia, [who] she supposed would have gathered all the
+particular of the approaching nuptials. She felt no desire to hear them.
+It was a period to which, hitherto, she had looked forward as to a
+thing of course; but this day it had struck her that Edgar and Indiana
+could not be happy together.--She had even surmised, from his last
+speech, that he lamented, in secret, the connexion he had formed.
+
+The gentlest pity took possession of her breast; an increasing
+admiration succeeded to her pity. She could not bear to witness so
+unequal a scene, as the full satisfaction of Sir Hugh contrasted with
+the seriousness, perhaps repentance, of Edgar. She pleaded an head-ache,
+and went to bed.
+
+The morning did not find her less averse to hear the confirmation of the
+suspected news. On the contrary, her repugnance to have it ascertained
+became stronger. She did not ask herself why; she did not consider the
+uselessness of flying for one hour what she must encounter the next. The
+present moment was all she could weigh; and, to procrastinate any evil,
+seemed, to her ardent and active imagination, to conquer it. Again,
+therefore, she planned a visit to Mrs. Arlbery; though she had given it
+up so long, from the discouragement of Lionel, that she felt more of
+shame than of pleasure in the idea of making so tardy an apology; but
+she could think of no other place to which the whole party would not
+accompany her; and to avoid them and their communications, for however
+short a space of time, was now her sole aim.
+
+Before breakfast, she repaired to the apartment of her uncle; her
+request was granted, as soon as heard; and she ordered the chaise.
+
+Indiana and Miss Margland, meanwhile, had learnt from the baronet, that
+the proposals were not yet made. Miss Margland softened the
+disappointment of Indiana, by suggesting that her admirer was probably
+waiting the arrival of some elegant trinket, that he destined to present
+her upon his declaration: but she was by no means free from doubt and
+suspicion herself. She languished to quit Cleves, and Sir Hugh had
+almost thought her accountable for the slowness of Mandlebert's
+proceedings. To keep up her own consequence, she had again repeated her
+assurances, that all was in a prosperous train; though she had
+frequently, with strong private uneasiness, observed the eyes of Edgar
+fixed upon Camilla, with an attention far more pointed than she had ever
+remarked in them when their direction was towards her fair pupil.
+
+Camilla hurried over her breakfast in expectation of the chaise, and in
+dread continual, lest her cousin should call her aside, to acquaint her
+that all was arranged. Edgar perceived, with surprise, that she was
+going out alone; and, no sooner gathered whither, than, drawing her to
+one of the windows, he earnestly said: 'Is it by appointment you wait
+upon Mrs. Arlbery?'
+
+'No.'
+
+'Does she at all expect you this morning?'
+
+'No.'
+
+'Would it, then, be asking too much, if I should entreat you to postpone
+your visit for a short time?'
+
+The whole design of Camilla was to absent herself immediately; yet she
+hated to say no. She looked disturbed, and was silent.
+
+'Have you made any further acquaintance with her since the morning of
+the raffle?'
+
+'No, none; but I wish excessively to know more of her.'
+
+'She is certainly, very--agreeable,' said he, with some hesitation;
+'but, whether she is all Mrs. Tyrold would approve'--
+
+'I hope you know no harm of her?--If you do, pray keep it to
+yourself!--for it would quite afflict me to hear anything to her
+disadvantage.'
+
+'I should be grieved, indeed, to be the messenger of affliction to you;
+but I hope there may be no occasion; I only beg a day or two's patience;
+and, in the meanwhile, I can give you this assurance; she is undoubtedly
+a woman of character. I saw she had charmed you, and I made some
+immediate inquiries. Her reputation is without taint.'
+
+'A thousand, thousand thanks,' cried Camilla, gaily, 'for taking so much
+trouble; and ten thousand more for finding it needless!'
+
+Edgar could not forbear laughing, but answered, he was not yet so
+certain it was needless; since exemption from actual blemish could only
+be a negative recommendation: he should very soon, he added, see a lady
+upon whose judgment he could rely, and who would frankly satisfy him
+with respect to some other particulars, which, he owned, he considered
+as essential to be known, before any intimacy should be formed.
+
+Wishing to comply with his request, yet impatient to leave the house,
+Camilla stood suspended till the chaise was announced.
+
+'I think,' cried she, with a look and tone of irresolution, 'my going
+this once can draw on no ill consequence?'
+
+Edgar only dropt his eyes.
+
+'You are not of that opinion?'
+
+'I have a very particular engagement this morning,' he replied; 'but I
+will readily give it up, and ride off instantly to make my application
+to this lady, if it is possible you can defer only till tomorrow your
+visit. Will you suffer me to ask such a delay? It will greatly oblige
+me.'
+
+'Why, then,--I will defer it till to-morrow,--or till to-morrow week!'
+cried she, wholly vanquished; 'I insist, therefore, that you do not
+postpone your business.'
+
+She then desired the servant, who was taking away the breakfast
+equipage, to order the chaise to be put up.
+
+Edgar, subdued in his turn, caught her hand: but, instantly,
+recollecting himself, hastily let it go; and, throwing up the window
+sash, abruptly exclaimed: 'I never saw such fine weather:--I hope it
+will not rain!'
+
+He then rapidly wished them all good morning, and mounted his horse.
+
+Miss Margland, who, sideling towards the window, on pretence of
+examining a print, had heard and seen all that had passed, was almost
+overpowered with rage, by the conviction she received that her
+apprehensions were not groundless. She feared losing all weight both
+with the baronet and with Indiana, if she made this acknowledgment, and
+retreated, confounded, to her own room, to consider what path to pursue
+at so dangerous a crisis; wearing a scowl upon her face, that was always
+an indication she would not be followed.
+
+Camilla also went to her chamber, in a perturbation at once pleasing and
+painful. She was sorry to have missed her excursion, but she was happy
+to have obliged Edgar; she was delighted he could take such interest in
+her conduct and affairs, yet dreaded, more than ever, a private
+conversation with Indiana;--Indiana, who, every moment, appeared to her
+less and less calculated to bestow felicity upon Edgar Mandlebert.
+
+She seated herself at a window, and soon, through the trees, perceived
+him galloping away. 'Too--too amiable Edgar!' she cried, earnestly
+looking after him, with her hands clasped, and tears starting into her
+eyes.
+
+Frightened at her own tenderness, she rose, shut the window, and walked
+to another end of the apartment.
+
+She took up a book; but she could not read: 'Too--too amiable Edgar!'
+again escaped her. She went to her piano-forte; she could not play:
+'Too--too amiable Edgar!' broke forth in defiance of all struggle.
+
+Alarmed and ashamed, even to herself, she resolved to dissipate her
+ideas by a long walk; and not to come out of the park, till the first
+dinner-bell summoned her to dress.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+_Two Sides of a Question_
+
+
+The intention of Edgar had been to ride to Mrs. Needham, the lady of
+whom he meant to ask the information to which he had alluded; but a
+charm too potent for resistance demanded his immediate liberation from
+the promise to Dr. Marchmont, which bound him to proceed no further till
+they had again conversed together.
+
+He galloped, therefore, to the parsonage-house of Cleves, and entering
+the study of the Doctor, and taking him by the hand, with the most
+animated gesture; 'My dear and honoured friend,' he cried, 'I come to
+you now without hesitation, and free from every painful embarrassment of
+lurking irresolution! I come to you decided, and upon grounds which
+cannot offend you, though the decision anticipates your counsel. I come
+to you, in fine, my dear Doctor, my good and kind friend, to confess
+that yesterday you saw right, with regard to the situation of my mind,
+and that, to-day, I have only your felicitations to beg, upon my
+confirmed, my irrevocable choice!'
+
+Dr. Marchmont embraced him: 'May you then,' he cried, 'be as happy, my
+dear young friend, as you deserve! I can wish you nothing higher.'
+
+'Last night,' continued Edgar, 'I felt all doubt die away: captivating
+as I have ever thought her, so soft, so gentle, so touchingly sweet, as
+last night, I had never yet beheld her; you witnessed it, my dear
+Doctor? you saw her with the baby in her arms? how beautiful, how
+endearing a sight!'
+
+The Doctor looked assentingly, but did not speak.
+
+'Yet even last night was short of the feelings she excited this morning.
+My dear friend! she was upon the point of making an excursion from
+which she had promised herself peculiar pleasure, and to see a lady for
+whom she had conceived the warmest admiration--I begged her to
+postpone--perhaps relinquish entirely the visit--she had obtained leave
+from Sir Hugh--the carriage was at the door--would you, could you
+believe such sweetness with such vivacity? she complied with my request,
+and complied with a grace that has rivetted her--I own it--that has
+rivetted her to my soul!'
+
+Doctor Marchmont smiled, but rather pensively than rejoicingly; and
+Edgar, receiving no answer, walked for some time about the room,
+silently enjoying his own thoughts.
+
+Returning then to the Doctor, 'My dear friend,' he cried, 'I understood
+you wished to speak with me?'
+
+'Yes--but I thought you disengaged.'
+
+'So, except mentally, I am still.'
+
+'Does she not yet know her conquest?'
+
+'She does not even guess it.'
+
+Dr. Marchmont now rising, with much energy said: 'Hear me then, my dear
+and most valued young friend; forbear to declare yourself, make no
+overtures to her relations, raise no expectations even in her own
+breast, and let not rumour surmise your passion to the world, till her
+heart is better known to you.'
+
+Edgar, starting and amazed, with great emotion exclaimed: 'What do you
+mean, my good Doctor? do you suspect any prior engagement? any fatal
+prepossession?'--
+
+'I suspect nothing. I do not know her. I mean not, therefore, the
+propensities alone, but the worth, also, of her heart; deception is
+easy, and I must not see you thrown away.'
+
+'Let me, then, be her guarantee!' cried Edgar, with firmness; 'for I
+know her well! I have known her from her childhood, and cannot be
+deceived. I fear nothing--except my own powers of engaging her regard. I
+can trace to a certainty, even from my boyish remarks, her fair, open,
+artless, and disinterested character.'
+
+He then gave a recital of the nobleness of her sentiments and conduct
+when only nine years old; contrasting the relation with the sullen and
+ungenerous behaviour of Indiana at the same age.
+
+Dr. Marchmont listened to the account with attention and pleasure, but
+not with an air of that full conviction which Edgar expected. 'All
+this,' he said, 'is highly prophetic of good, and confirms me in the
+opinion I expressed last night, that every possible happiness promises
+to be yours.'
+
+'Yet, still,' said Edgar, a little chagrined, 'there seems some drawback
+to your entire approbation?'
+
+'To your choice I have none.'
+
+'You perplex me, Doctor! I know not to what you object, what you would
+intimate, nor what propose?'
+
+'All I have to suggest may be comprised in two points: First, That you
+will refuse confirmation even to your own intentions, till you have
+positively ascertained her actual possession of those virtues with which
+she appears to be endowed: and secondly, That if you find her gifted
+with them all, you will not solicit her acceptance till you are
+satisfied of her affection.'
+
+'My dear Doctor,' cried Edgar, half laughing, 'from what an alarm of
+wild conjecture has your explanation relieved me! Hear me, however, in
+return, and I think I can satisfy you, that, even upon your own
+conditions, not an obstacle stands in the way of my speaking to Mr.
+Tyrold this very evening.
+
+'With regard to your first article, her virtues, I have told you the
+dawning superiority of her most juvenile ideas of right; and though I
+have latterly lost sight of her, by travelling during our vacations, I
+know her to have always been under the superintendence of one of the
+first of women; and for these last three weeks, which I have spent under
+the same roof with her, I have observed her to be all that is amiable,
+sweet, natural, and generous. What then on this point remains? Nothing.
+I am irrefragably convinced of her worth.
+
+'With respect to your second condition, I own you a little embarrass me;
+yet how may I inquire into the state of her affections, without
+acknowledging her mistress of mine?'
+
+'Hold! hold!' interrupted the Doctor, 'you proceed too rapidly. The
+first article is all unsettled, while you are flying to the last.
+
+'It is true, and I again repeat it, every promise is in your favour; but
+do not mistake promise for performance. This young lady appears to be
+all excellence; for an acquaintance, for a friend, I doubt not you have
+already seen enough to establish her in your good opinion; but since it
+is only within a few hours you have taken the resolution which is to
+empower her to colour the rest of your life, you must study her, from
+this moment, with new eyes, new ears, and new thoughts. Whatever she
+does, you must ask yourself this question: "Should I like such
+behaviour in my wife?" Whatever she says, you must make yourself the
+same demand. Nothing must escape you; you must view as if you had never
+seen her before; the interrogatory, _Were she mine?_ must be present at
+every look, every word, every motion; you must forget her wholly as
+Camilla Tyrold, you must think of her only as Camilla Mandlebert; even
+justice is insufficient during this period of probation, and instead of
+inquiring, "Is this right in her?" you must simply ask, "Would it be
+pleasing to me?"'
+
+'You are apprehensive, then, of some dissimilitude of character
+prejudicial to our future happiness?'
+
+'Not of character; you have been very peculiarly situated for obviating
+all risk upon that first and most important particular. I have no doubt
+of her general worthiness; but though esteem hangs wholly upon
+character, happiness always links itself with disposition.'
+
+'You gratify me, Doctor, by naming disposition, for I can give you the
+most unequivocal assurance of her sweetness, her innocence, her
+benevolence, joined to a spirit of never-dying vivacity--an animation of
+never-ceasing good humour!'
+
+'I know you, my dear Mandlebert, to be, by nature, penetrating and
+minute in your observations; which, in your general commerce with the
+world, will protect both your understanding and your affections from the
+usual snares of youth: But here--to be even scrupulous is not enough; to
+avoid all danger of repentance, you must become positively distrustful.'
+
+'Never, Doctor, never! I would sooner renounce every prospect of
+felicity, than act a part so ungenerous, where I am conscious of such
+desert! Upon this article, therefore, we have done; I am already and
+fully convinced of her excellence. But, with respect to your second
+difficulty, that I will not seek her acceptance, till satisfied of her
+regard--there--indeed, you start an idea that comes home to my soul in
+its very inmost recesses! O Doctor!--could I hope--however
+distantly--durst I hope--the independent, unsolicited, involuntary
+possession of that most ingenuous, most inartificial of human hearts!--'
+
+'And why not? why, while so liberally you do justice to another, should
+you not learn to appreciate yourself?'
+
+A look of elation, delight, and happiness conveyed to Dr. Marchmont his
+pupil's grateful sense of this question.
+
+'I do not fear making you vain,' he continued; 'I know your
+understanding to be too solid, and your temperament too philosophic, to
+endanger your running into the common futility of priding yourself upon
+the gifts of nature, any more than upon those of fortune; 'tis in their
+uses only you can claim any applause. I will not, therefore, scruple to
+assert, you can hardly any where propose yourself with much danger of
+being rejected. You are amiable and accomplished; abounding in wealth,
+high in character; in person and appearance unexceptionable; you can
+have no doubt of the joyful approbation of her friends, nor can you
+entertain a reasonable fear of her concurrence; yet, with all this,
+pardon me, when I plainly, explicitly add, it is very possible you may
+be utterly indifferent to her.'
+
+'If so, at least,' said Edgar, in a tone and with a countenance whence
+all elation was flown, 'she will leave me master of myself; she is too
+noble to suffer any sordid motives to unite us.'
+
+'Do not depend upon that; the influence of friends, the prevalence of
+example, the early notion which every female imbibes, that a good
+establishment must be her first object in life--these are motives of
+marriage commonly sufficient for the whole sex.'
+
+'Her choice, indeed,' said Edgar, thoughtfully, 'would not, perhaps, be
+wholly uninfluenced;--I pretend not to doubt that the voice of her
+friends would be all in my favour.'
+
+'Yes,' interrupted Dr. Marchmont, 'and, be she noble as she may, Beech
+Park will be also in your favour! your mansion, your equipage, your
+domestics, even your table, will be in your favour--'
+
+'Doctor,' interrupted Edgar, in his turn, 'I know you think ill of
+women.--'
+
+'Do not let that idea weaken what I urge; I have not had reason to think
+well of them; yet I believe there are individuals who merit every
+regard: your Camilla may be one of them. Take, however, this warning
+from my experience; whatever is her appearance of worth, try and prove
+its foundation, ere you conclude it invulnerable; and whatever are your
+pretensions to her hand, do not necessarily connect them with your
+chances for her heart.'
+
+Mandlebert, filled now with a distrust of himself and of his powers,
+which he was incapable of harbouring of Camilla and her magnanimity,
+felt struck to the soul with the apprehension of failing to gain her
+affection, and wounded in every point both of honour and delicacy, from
+the bare suggestion of owing his wife to his situation in the world. He
+found no longer any difficulty in promising not to act with
+precipitance; his confidence was gone; his elevation of sentiment was
+depressed; a general mist clouded his prospects, and a suspensive
+discomfort inquieted his mind. He shook Dr. Marchmont by the hand, and
+assuring him he would weigh well all he had said, and take no measure
+till he had again consulted with him, remounted his horse, and slowly
+walked it back to Cleves.
+
+
+END OF THE FIRST VOLUME.
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME II
+
+BOOK III
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A few kind Offices_
+
+
+With deep concern Edgar revolved in his mind the suggestions of Dr.
+Marchmont; and meditation, far from diminishing, added importance to the
+arguments of his friend. To obtain the hand of an object he so highly
+admired, though but lately his sole wish, appeared now an uncertain
+blessing, a suspicious good, since the possession of her heart was no
+longer to be considered as its inseparable appendage. His very security
+of the approbation of Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold became a source of solicitude;
+and, secret from them, from her, and from all, he determined to guard
+his views, till he could find some opportunity of investigating her own
+unbiased sentiments.
+
+Such were his ruminations, when, on re-entering the Park, he perceived
+her wandering alone amidst the trees. Her figure looked so interesting,
+her air so serious, her solitude so attractive, that every maxim of
+tardy prudence, every caution of timid foresight, would instantly have
+given way to the quick feelings of generous impulse, had he not been
+restrained by his promise to Dr. Marchmont. He dismounted, and giving
+his horse to his groom, re-traced her footsteps.
+
+Camilla, almost without her own knowledge, had strolled towards the
+gate, whence she concluded Edgar to have ridden from the Park, and,
+almost without consciousness, had continued sauntering in its vicinity;
+yet she no sooner descried him, than, struck with a species of
+self-accusation for this appearance of awaiting him, she crossed over to
+the nearest path towards the house, and, for the first time, was aware
+of the approach of Edgar without hastening to meet him.
+
+He slackened his pace, to quiet his spirits, and restore his manner to
+its customary serenity, before he permitted himself to overtake her.
+'Can you,' he then cried, 'forgive me, when you hear I have been
+fulfilling my own appointment, and have postponed my promised
+investigation?'
+
+'Rather say,' she gently answered, 'could I have forgiven you, if you
+had shewn me you thought my impatience too ungovernable for any delay?'
+
+To find her thus willing to oblige him, was a new delight, and he
+expressed his acknowledgments in terms the most flattering.
+
+An unusual seriousness made her hear him almost without reply; yet peace
+and harmony revisited her mind, and, in listening to his valued praise,
+she forgot her late alarm at her own sensations, and without extending a
+thought beyond the present instant, again felt tranquil and happy: while
+to Edgar she appeared so completely all that was adorable, that he could
+only remember to repent his engagement with Dr. Marchmont.
+
+Her secret opinion that he was dissatisfied with his lot, gave a
+softness to her accents that enchanted him; while the high esteem for
+his character, which mingled with her pity, joined to a lowered sense of
+her own, from a new-born terror lest that pity were too tender, spread a
+charm wholly new over her native fire and vivacity.
+
+In a few minutes, they were overtaken by Mandlebert's gardener, who was
+bringing from Beech Park a basket of flowers for his master. They were
+selected from curious hot-house plants, and Camilla stopt to admire
+their beauty and fragrance.
+
+Edgar presented her the basket; whence she simply took a sprig of myrtle
+and geranium, conceiving the present to be designed for Indiana. 'If you
+are fond of geraniums,' said he, 'there is an almost endless variety in
+my greenhouse, and I will bring you tomorrow some specimens.'
+
+She thanked him, and while he gave orders to the gardener, Miss Margland
+and Indiana advanced from the house.
+
+Miss Margland had seen them from her window, where, in vain
+deliberation, she had been considering what step to take. But, upon
+beholding them together, she thought deliberation and patience were
+hopeless, and determined, by a decisive stroke, to break in its bud the
+connection she supposed forming, or throw upon Camilla all censure, if
+she failed, as the sole means she could devise to exculpate her own
+sagacity from impeachment. She called upon Indiana, therefore, to
+accompany her into the Park, exclaiming, in an angry tone, 'Miss
+Lynmere, I will shew you the true cause why Mr. Mandlebert does not
+declare himself--your cousin, Miss Camilla, is wheedling him away from
+you.'
+
+Indiana, whose belief in almost whatever was said, was undisturbed by
+any species of reflection, felt filled with resentment, and a sense of
+injury, and readily following, said--'I was sure there was something
+more in it than I saw, because Mr. Melmond behaved so differently. But I
+don't take it very kind of my cousin, I can tell her!'
+
+They then hurried into the Park; but, as they came without any plan,
+they were no sooner within a few yards of the meeting, than they stopt
+short, at a loss what to say or do.
+
+Edgar, vexed at their interruption, continued talking to the gardener,
+to avoid joining them; but seeing Camilla, who less than ever wished for
+their communications, walk instantly another way, he thought it would be
+improper to pursue her, and only bowing to Miss Margland and Indiana,
+went into the house.
+
+'This is worse than ever,' cried Miss Margland, 'to stalk off without
+speaking, or even offering you any of his flowers, which, I dare say,
+are only to be put into the parlour flower-pots, for the whole house.'
+
+'I'm sure I'm very glad of it,' said Indiana, for I hate flowers; but
+I'm sure Mr. Melmond would not have done so; nor Colonel Andover; nor
+Mr. Macdersey more than all.'
+
+'No, nor any body else, my dear, that had common sense, and their eyes
+open; nor Mr. Mandlebert neither, if it were not for Miss Camilla.
+However, we'll let her know we see what she is about; and let Sir Hugh
+know too: for as to the colonels, and the ensigns, and that young Oxford
+student, they won't at all do; officers are commonly worth nothing; and
+scholars, you may take my word for it, my dear, are the dullest men in
+the world. Besides, one would not give such a fine fortune as Mr.
+Mandlebert's without making a little struggle for it. You don't know how
+many pretty things you may do with it. So let us shew her we don't want
+for spirit, and speak to her at once.'
+
+These words, reviving in the mind of Indiana her wedding clothes, the
+train of servants, and the new equipage, gave fresh pique to her
+provocation: but finding some difficulty to overtake the fleet Camilla,
+whose pace kept measure with her wish to avoid them, she called after
+her, to desire she would not walk so fast.
+
+Camilla reluctantly loitered, but without stopping or turning to meet
+them, that she might still regale herself with the perfume of the
+geranium presented her by Edgar.
+
+'You're in great haste, ma'am,' said Miss Margland, 'which I own I did
+not observe to be the case just now!'
+
+Camilla, in much surprize, asked, what she meant.
+
+'My meaning is pretty plain, I believe, to any body that chose to
+understand it. However, though Miss Lynmere scorns to be her own
+champion, I cannot, as a friend, be quite so passive, nor help hinting
+to you, how little you would like such a proceeding to yourself, from
+any other person.'
+
+'What proceeding?' cried Camilla, blushing, from a dawning comprehension
+of the subject, though resenting the manner of the complaint.
+
+'Nay, only ask yourself, ma'am, only ask yourself, Miss Camilla, how you
+should like to be so supplanted, if such an establishment were forming
+for yourself, and every thing were fixt, and every body else refused,
+and nobody to hinder its all taking place, but a near relation of your
+own, who ought to be the first to help it forward. I should like to
+know, I say, Miss Camilla, how you would feel, if it were your own
+case?'
+
+Astonished and indignant at so sudden and violent an assault, Camilla
+stood suspended, whether to deign any vindication, or to walk silently
+away: yet its implications involuntarily filled her with a thousand
+other, and less offending emotions than those of anger, and a general
+confusion crimsoned her cheeks.
+
+'You cannot but be sensible, ma'am,' resumed Miss Margland, 'for sense
+is not what you want, that you have seduced Mr. Mandlebert from your
+cousin; you cannot but see he takes hardly the smallest notice of her,
+from the pains you are at to make him admire nobody but yourself.'
+
+The spirit of Camilla now rose high to her aid, at a charge thus
+impertinent and unjust. 'Miss Margland,' she cried, 'you shock and amaze
+me! I am at a loss for any motive to so cruel an accusation: but you, I
+hope at least, my dear Indiana, are convinced how much it injures me.'
+She would then have taken the hand of Indiana, but disdainfully drawing
+it back, 'I shan't break my heart about it, I assure you,' she cried,
+'you are vastly welcome to him for me; I hope I am not quite so odious,
+but I may find other people in the world besides Mr. Mandlebert!'
+
+'O, as to that,' said Miss Margland, 'I am sure you have only to look in
+order to chuse; but since this affair has been settled by your uncle, I
+can't say I think it very grateful in any person to try to overset his
+particular wishes. Poor old gentleman! I'm sure I pity him! It will go
+hard enough with him, when he comes to hear it! Such a requital!--and
+from his own niece!'
+
+This was an attack the most offensive that Camilla could receive;
+nothing could so nearly touch her as an idea of ingratitude to her
+uncle, and resting upon that, the whole tide of those feelings which
+were, in fact, divided and subdivided into many crossing channels, she
+broke forth, with great eagerness, into exclaiming, 'Miss Margland, this
+is quite barbarous! You know, and you, Indiana, cannot but know, I would
+not give my uncle the smallest pain, to be mistress of a thousand
+universes!'
+
+'Why, then,' said Miss Margland, 'should you break up a scheme which he
+has so much set his heart upon? Why are you always winning over Mr.
+Mandlebert to yourself, by all that flattery? Why are you always
+consulting him? always obliging him? always of his opinion? always ready
+to take his advice?'
+
+'Miss Margland,' replied Camilla, with the extremest agitation, 'this is
+so unexpected--so undeserved an interpretation,--my consultation, or my
+acquiescence have been merely from respect; no other thought, no other
+motive--Good God! what is it you imagine?--what guilt would you impute
+to me?'
+
+'O dear,' cried Indiana, 'pray don't suppose it signifies. If you like
+to make compliments in that manner to gentlemen, pray do it. I hope I
+shall always hold myself above it. I think it's their place to make
+compliments to me.'
+
+A resentful answer was rising to the tongue of Camilla, when she
+perceived her two little sprigs, which in her recent disorder she had
+dropt, were demolishing under the feet of Indiana, who, with apparent
+unmeaningness, but internal suspicion of their giver, had trampled upon
+them both. Hastily stooping she picked them up, and, with evident
+vexation, was blowing from them the dust and dirt, when Indiana
+scoffingly said, 'I wonder where you got that geranium?'
+
+'I don't wonder at all,' said Miss Margland, 'for Sir Hugh has none of
+that species; so one may easily guess.'
+
+Camilla felt herself blush, and letting the flowers fall, turned to
+Indiana, and said, 'Cousin, if on my account, it is possible you can
+suffer the smallest uneasiness, tell me but what I shall do--you shall
+dictate to me--you shall command me.'
+
+Indiana disclaimed all interest in her behaviour; but Miss Margland
+cried, 'What you can do, ma'am, is this, and nothing can be easier, nor
+fairer: leave off paying all that court to Mr. Mandlebert, of asking his
+advice, and follow your own way, whether he likes it or not, and go to
+see Mrs. Arlbery, and Mrs. every body else, when you have a mind,
+without waiting for his permission, or troubling yourself about what he
+thinks of it.'
+
+Camilla now trembled in every joint, and with difficulty restrained from
+tears, while, timidly, she said--'And do you, my dear Indiana, demand of
+me this conduct? and will it, at least, satisfy you?'
+
+'Me? O dear no! I demand nothing, I assure you. The whole matter is
+quite indifferent to me, and you may ask his leave for every thing in
+the world, if you chuse it. There are people enough ready to take my
+part, I hope, if you set him against me ever so much.'
+
+'Indeed, indeed, Indiana,' said Camilla, overpowered with conflicting
+sensations, 'this is using me very unkindly!' And, without waiting to
+hear another word, she hurried into the house, and flew to hide herself
+in her own room.
+
+This was the first bitter moment she had ever known. Peace, gay though
+uniform, had been the constant inmate of her breast, enjoyed without
+thought, possessed without struggle; not the subdued gift of
+accommodating philosophy, but the inborn and genial produce of youthful
+felicity's best aliment, the energy of its own animal spirits.
+
+She had, indeed, for some time past, thought Edgar, of too refined and
+too susceptible a character for the unthinking and undistinguishing
+Indiana; and for the last day or two, her regret at his fate had
+strengthened itself into an averseness of his supposed destination, that
+made the idea of it painful, and the subject repugnant to her; but she
+had never, till this very morning, distrusted the innoxiousness either
+of her pity or her regard; and, startled at the first surmise of danger,
+she had wished to fly even from herself, rather than venture to
+investigate feelings so unwelcome; yet still and invariably, she had
+concluded Edgar the future husband of Indiana.
+
+To hear there were any doubts of the intended marriage, filled her with
+emotions indefinable; to hear herself named as the cause of those
+doubts, was alarming both to her integrity and her delicacy. She felt
+the extremest anger at the unprovoked and unwarrantable harshness of
+Miss Margland, and a resentment nearly equal at the determined
+petulance, and unjustifiable aspersions of Indiana.
+
+Satisfied of the innocence of her intentions, she knew, not what
+alteration she could make in her behaviour; and, after various plans,
+concluded, that to make none would best manifest her freedom from
+self-reproach. At the summons therefore to dinner, she was the first to
+appear, eager to shew herself unmoved by the injustice of her accusers,
+and desirous to convince them she was fearless of examination.
+
+Yet, too much discomposed to talk in her usual manner, she seized upon a
+book till the party was seated. Answering then to the call of her uncle,
+with as easy an air as she could assume, she took her accustomed place
+by his side, and began, for mere employment, filling a plate from the
+dish that was nearest to her; which she gave to the footman, without any
+direction whither to carry, or enquiry if any body chose to eat it.
+
+It was taken round the table, and, though refused by all, she heaped up
+another plate, with the same diligence and speed as if it had been
+accepted.
+
+Edgar, who had been accidentally detained, only now entered, apologizing
+for being so late.
+
+Engrossed by the pride of self-defence, and the indignancy of unmerited
+unkindness, the disturbed mind of Camilla had not yet formed one
+separate reflexion, nor even admitted a distinct idea of Edgar himself,
+disengaged from the accusation in which he stood involved. But he had
+now amply his turn. The moment he appeared, the deepest blushes covered
+her face; and an emotion so powerful beat in her breast, that the
+immediate impulse of her impetuous feelings, was to declare herself ill,
+and run out of the room.
+
+With this view she rose; but ashamed of her plan, seated herself the
+next moment, though she had first overturned her plate and a sauce-boat
+in the vehemence of her haste.
+
+This accident rather recovered than disconcerted her, by affording an
+unaffected occupation, in begging pardon of Sir Hugh, who was the chief
+sufferer, changing the napkins, and restoring the table to order.
+
+'What upon earth can be the matter with Miss Camilla, I can't guess!'
+exclaimed Miss Margland, though with an expression of spite that fully
+contradicted her difficulty of conjecture.
+
+'I hope,' said Edgar surprized, 'Miss Camilla is not ill?'
+
+'I can't say I think my cousin looks very bad!' said Indiana.
+
+Camilla, who was rubbing a part of her gown upon which nothing had
+fallen, affected to be too busy to hear them: which Sir Hugh, concluding
+her silent from shame, entreated her not to think of his cloaths, which
+were worth no great matter, not being his best by two or three suits.
+Her thoughts had not waited this injunction; yet it was in vain she
+strove to behave as if nothing had happened. Her spirit instigated, but
+it would not support her; her voice grew husky, she stammered, forgot,
+as she went on, what she designed to say when she began speaking, and
+frequently was forced to stop short, with a faint laugh at herself, and
+with a colour every moment encreasing. And the very instant the cloth
+was removed, she rose, unable to constrain herself any longer, and ran
+up stairs to her own room.
+
+There all her efforts evaporated in tears. 'Cruel, cruel, Miss
+Margland,' she cried, 'unjust, unkind Indiana! how have I merited this
+treatment! What can Edgar think of my disturbance? What can I devise to
+keep from his knowledge the barbarous accusation which has caused it?'
+
+In a few minutes she heard the step of Eugenia.
+
+Ashamed, she hastily wiped her eyes; and before the door could be
+opened, was at the further end of the room, looking into one of her
+drawers.
+
+'What is it that has vexed my dearest Camilla?' cried her kind sister,
+'something I am sure has grieved her.'
+
+'I cannot guess what I have done with--I can no where find--' stammered
+Camilla, engaged in some apparent search, but too much confused to name
+anything of which she might probably be in want.
+
+Eugenia desired to assist her, but a servant came to the door, to tell
+them that the company was going to the summer-house, whither Sir Hugh
+begged they would follow.
+
+Camilla besought Eugenia to join them, and make her excuses: but,
+fearing Miss Margland would attribute her absconding to guilt, or
+cowardice, she bathed her eyes in cold water, and overtook her sister at
+the stairs of the little building.
+
+In ascending them, she heard Miss Margland say, 'I dare believe
+nothing's the matter but some whim; for to be sure as to whims, Miss
+Camilla has the most of any creature I ever saw, and Miss Lynmere the
+least; for you may imagine, Mr. Mandlebert, I have pretty good
+opportunity to see all these young people in their real colours.'
+
+Overset by this malignancy, she was again flying to the refuge of her
+own room, and the relief of tears, when the conviction of such positive
+ill-will in Miss Margland, for which she could assign no reason, but her
+unjust and exclusive partiality to Indiana, checked her precipitancy.
+She feared she would construe to still another whim her non-appearance,
+and resuming a little fresh strength from fresh resentment, turned back;
+but the various keen sensations she experienced as she entered the
+summer-house, rendered this little action the most severe stretch of
+fortitude, her short and happy life had yet called upon her to make.
+
+Sir Hugh addressed her some kind enquiries, which she hastily answered,
+while she pretended to be busy in preparing to wind some sewing silk
+upon cards.
+
+She could have chosen no employment less adapted to display the cool
+indifference she wished to manifest to Miss Margland and Indiana. She
+pulled the silk the wrong way, twisted, twirled, and entangled it
+continually; and while she talked volubly of what she was about, as if
+it were the sole subject of her thoughts, her shaking hands shewed her
+whole frame disordered, and her high colour betrayed her strong internal
+emotion.
+
+Edgar looked at her with surprize and concern. What had dropt from Miss
+Margland of her whims, he had heard with disdain; for, without
+suspecting her of malice to Camilla, he concluded her warped by her
+prejudice in favour of Indiana. Dr. Marchmont, however, had bid him
+judge by proof, not appearance; and he resolved therefore to investigate
+the cause of this disquiet, before he acted upon his belief in its
+blamelessness.
+
+Having completely spoilt one skein, she threw it aside, and saying 'the
+weather's so fine, I cannot bear to stay within,'--left her silk, her
+winders, and her work-bag, on the first chair, and skipt down the
+stairs.
+
+Sir Hugh declined walking, but would let nobody remain with him. Edgar,
+as if studying the clouds, glided down first. Camilla, perceiving him,
+bent her head, and began gathering some flowers. He stood by her a
+moment in silence, and then said: 'To-morrow morning, without fail, I
+will wait upon Mrs. Needham.'
+
+'Pray take your own time. I am not in any haste.'
+
+'You are very good, and I am more obliged to you than I can express, for
+suffering my officious interference with such patience.'
+
+A rustling of silk made Camilla now look up, and she perceived Miss
+Margland leaning half out of the window of the summer-house, from
+earnestness to catch what she said.
+
+Angry thus to be watched, and persuaded that both innocence and dignity
+called upon her to make no change in her open consideration for Edgar,
+she answered, in a voice that strove to be more audible, but that
+irresistibly trembled, 'I beg you will impartially consult your own
+judgment, and decide as you think right.'
+
+Edgar, now, became as little composed as herself: the power with which
+she invested him, possessed a charm to dissolve every hesitating doubt;
+and when, upon her raising her head, he perceived the redness of her
+eyes, and found that the perturbation which had perplexed him was
+mingled with some affliction, the most tender anxiety filled his mind,
+and though somewhat checked by the vicinity of Miss Margland, his voice
+expressed the warmest solicitude, as he said, 'I know not how to thank
+you for this sweetness; but I fear something disturbs you?--I fear you
+are not well, or are not happy?'
+
+Camilla again bent over the flowers; but it was not to scent their
+fragrance; she sought only a hiding place for her eyes, which were
+gushing with tears; and though she wished to fly a thousand miles off,
+she had not courage to take a single step, nor force to trust her voice
+with the shortest reply.
+
+'You will not speak? yet you do not deny that you have some
+uneasiness?--Could I give it but the smallest relief, how fortunate I
+should think myself!--And is it quite impossible?--Do you forbid me to
+ask what it is?--forbid me the indulgence even to suggest----'
+
+'Ask nothing! suggest nothing! and think of it no more!' interrupted
+Camilla, 'if you would not make me quite----'
+
+She stopt suddenly, not to utter the word unhappy, of which she felt the
+improper strength at the moment it was quivering on her lips, and
+leaving her sentence unfinished, abruptly walked away.
+
+Edgar could not presume to follow, yet felt her conquest irresistible.
+Her self-denial with regard to Mrs. Arlbery won his highest approbation;
+her compliance with his wishes convinced him of her esteem; and her
+distress, so new and so unaccountable, centered every wish of his heart
+in a desire to solace, and to revive her.
+
+To obtain this privilege hastened at once and determined his measures;
+he excused himself, therefore, from walking, and went instantly to his
+chamber, to reclaim, by a hasty letter to Dr. Marchmont, his
+procrastinating promise.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_A Pro and a Con_
+
+
+With a pen flowing quick from feelings of the most generous warmth,
+Edgar wrote the following letter:
+
+     _To Dr._ Marchmont.
+
+     Accuse me not of precipitance, my dear Doctor, nor believe me
+     capable of forgetting the wisdom of your suggestions, nor of
+     lightly weighing those evils with which your zeal has encompassed
+     me, though I write at this instant to confess a total contrariety
+     of sentiment, to call back every promise of delay, and to make an
+     unqualified avowal, that the period of caution is past! Camilla is
+     not happy--something, I know not what, has disturbed the gay
+     serenity of her bosom: she has forbid me to enquire the cause;--one
+     way only remains to give me a claim to her confidence.--O Doctor!
+     wonder not if cold, tardy, suspicious--I had nearly said unfeeling,
+     caution, shrinks at such a moment, from the rising influence of
+     warmer sympathy, which bids me sooth her in distress, shield her
+     from danger, strengthen all her virtues, and participate in their
+     emanations!
+
+     You will not do me the injustice to think me either impelled or
+     blinded by external enchantments; you know me to have withstood
+     their yet fuller blaze in her cousin: O no! were she despoiled of
+     all personal attraction by the same ravaging distemper that has
+     been so fierce with her poor sister; were a similar cruel accident
+     to rob her form of all symmetry, she would yet be more fascinating
+     to my soul, by one single look, one single word, one sweet beaming
+     smile, diffusing all the gaiety it displays, than all of beauty,
+     all of elegance, all of rank, all of wealth, the whole kingdom, in
+     some wonderful aggregate, could oppose to her.
+
+     Her face, her form, however penetrating in loveliness, aid, but do
+     not constitute, her charms; no, 'tis the quick intelligence of soul
+     that mounts to her eyes, 'tis the spirit checked by sweetness, the
+     sweetness animated by spirit, the nature so nobly above all
+     artifice, all study--O Doctor! restore to me immediately every
+     vestige, every trait of any promise, any acquiescence, any idea the
+     most distant, that can be construed into a compliance with one
+     moment's requisition of delay!
+
+     EDGAR MANDLEBERT.
+
+     _Cleves Park, Friday Evening._
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla, meanwhile, shut up in her room, wept almost without cessation,
+from a sense of general unhappiness, though fixed to no point, and from
+a disturbance of mind, a confusion of ideas and of feelings, that
+rendered her incapable of reflection. She was again followed by Eugenia,
+and could no longer refuse, to her tender anxiety, a short detail of the
+attack which occasioned her disorder; happy, at least, in reciting it,
+that by unfolding the cause, there no longer remained any necessity to
+repress the effects of her affliction.
+
+To her great surprise, however, Eugenia only said: 'And is this all, my
+dear Camilla?'
+
+'All!' exclaimed Camilla.
+
+'Yes, is it all?--I was afraid some great misfortune had happened.'
+
+'And what could happen more painful, more shocking, more cruel?'
+
+'A thousand things! for this is nothing but a mere mistake; and you
+should not make yourself unhappy about it, because you are not to
+blame.'
+
+'Is it then nothing to be accused of designs and intentions so
+criminal?'
+
+'If the accusation were just, it might indeed make you wretched: but it
+is Miss Margland only who has any reason to be afflicted; for it is she
+alone who has been in the wrong.'
+
+Struck with this plain but uncontrovertible truth, Camilla wiped her
+eyes, and strove to recover some composure; but finding her tears still
+force their way, 'It is not,' she cried, with some hesitation, 'it is
+not the aspersions of Miss Margland alone that give me so much
+vexation--the unkindness of Indiana--'
+
+'Indeed she is highly reprehensible; and so I will tell her;--but still,
+if she has any fears, however ill-founded, of losing Edgar, you cannot
+but pardon--you must even pity her.'
+
+Struck again, and still more forcibly, by this second truth, Camilla,
+ashamed of her grief, made a stronger and more serious effort to repress
+it; and receiving soon afterwards a summons from her uncle, her spirit
+rose once more to the relief of her dejection, upon seeing him seated
+between Miss Margland and Indiana, and discerning that they had been
+making some successful complaint, by the air of triumph with which they
+waited her approach.
+
+'My dear Camilla,' he cried, with a look of much disturbance, 'here's a
+sad ado, I find; though I don't mean to blame you, nor young Mr.
+Mandlebert neither, taste being a fault one can't avoid; not but what a
+person's changing their mind is what I can't commend in any one, which I
+shall certainly let him know, not doubting to bring him round by means
+of his own sense: only, my dear, in the meanwhile, I must beg you not to
+stand in your cousin's way.'
+
+'Indeed, my dear uncle, I do not merit this imputation; I am not capable
+of such treachery!' indignantly answered Camilla.
+
+'Treachery! Lord help us! treachery!' cried Sir Hugh, fondly embracing
+her, 'don't I know you are as innocent as the baby unborn? and more
+innocent too, from the advantage of having more sense to guide you by!
+treachery, my dear Camilla! why, I think there's nobody so good in the
+wide world!--by which I mean no reflections, never thinking it right to
+make any.'
+
+Indiana, sullenly pouting, spoke not a word; but Miss Margland, with a
+tone of plausibility that was some covert to its malice, said 'Why then
+all may be well, and the young ladies as good friends as ever, and Mr.
+Mandlebert return to the conduct of a gentleman, only just by Miss
+Camilla's doing as she would be done by; for nothing that all of us can
+say will have any effect, if she does not discourage him from dangling
+about after her in the manner he does now, speaking to nobody else, and
+always asking her opinion about every trifle, which is certainly doing
+no great justice to Miss Lynmere.'
+
+Indiana, with a toss of the head, protested his notice was the last
+thing she desired.
+
+'My dear Indiana,' said Sir Hugh, 'don't mind all that outward shew. Mr.
+Mandlebert is a very good boy, and as to your cousin Camilla, I am sure
+I need not put you in mind how much she is the same; but I really think,
+whatever's the reason, the young youths of now-a-days grow backwarder
+and backwarder. Though I can't say but what in my time it was just the
+same; witness myself; which is what I have been sorry for often enough,
+though I have left off repenting it now, because it's of no use; age
+being a thing there's no getting ahead of.'
+
+'Well, then, all that remains is this,' said Miss Margland, 'let Miss
+Camilla keep out of Mr. Mandlebert's way; and let her order the
+carriage, and go to Mrs. Arlbery's to-morrow, and take no notice of his
+likings and dislikings; and I'll be bound for it he will soon think no
+more of her, and then, of course, he will give the proper attention to
+Miss Lynmere.'
+
+'O, if that's all,' cried Sir Hugh, 'my dear Camilla, I am sure, will do
+it, and as much again too, to make her cousin easy. And so now, I hope,
+all is settled, and my two good girls will kiss one another, and be
+friends; which I am sure I am myself, with all my heart.'
+
+Camilla hung her head, in speechless perturbation, at a task which
+appeared to her equally hard and unjust; but while fear and shame kept
+her silent, Sir Hugh drew her to Indiana, and a cold, yet unavoidable
+salute, gave a species of tacit consent to a plan which she did not dare
+oppose, from the very strength of the desire that urged her opposition.
+
+They then separated; Sir Hugh delighted, Miss Margland triumphant,
+Indiana half satisfied, half affronted, and Camilla with a mind so
+crowded, a heart so full, she scarcely breathed. Sensations the most
+contrary, of pain, pleasure, hope, and terror, at once assailed her.
+Edgar, of whom so long she had only thought as of the destined husband
+of Indiana, she now heard named with suspicions of another regard, to
+which she did not dare give full extension; yet of which the most
+distant surmise made her consider herself, for a moment, as the happiest
+of human beings, though she held herself the next as the most culpable
+for even wishing it.
+
+She found Eugenia still in her room, who, perceiving her increased
+emotion, tenderly enquired, if there were any new cause.
+
+'Alas! yes, my dearest Eugenia! they have been exacting from me the most
+cruel of sacrifices! They order me to fly from Edgar Mandlebert--to
+resist his advice--to take the very measures I have promised to
+forbear--to disoblige, to slight, to behave to him even offensively! my
+uncle himself, lenient, kind, indulgent as he is, my uncle himself has
+been prevailed with to inflict upon me this terrible injunction.'
+
+'My uncle,' answered Eugenia, 'is incapable of giving pain to any body,
+and least of all to you, whom he loves with such fondness; he has not
+therefore comprehended the affair; he only considers, in general, that
+to please or to displease Edgar Mandlebert can be a matter of no moment
+to you, when compared with its importance to Indiana.'
+
+'It is a thousand and a thousand, a million and a million times more
+important to me, than it can ever be to her!' exclaimed the ardent
+Camilla, 'for she values not his kindness, she knows not his worth, she
+is insensible to his virtues!'
+
+'You judge too hastily, my dear Camilla; she has not indeed your warmth
+of heart; but if she did not wish the union to take place, why would she
+shew all this disquiet in the apprehension of its breach?'
+
+Camilla, surprised into recollection, endeavoured to become calmer.
+
+'You, indeed,' continued the temperate Eugenia, 'if so situated, would
+not so have behaved; you would not have been so unjust; and you could
+not have been so weak; but still, if you had received, however
+causelessly, any alarm for the affection of the man you meant to marry,
+and that man were as amiable as Edgar, you would have been equally
+disturbed.'
+
+Camilla, convinced, yet shocked, felt the flutter of her heart give a
+thousand hues to her face, and walking to the window, leaned far out to
+gasp for breath.
+
+'Weigh the request more coolly, and you cannot refuse a short
+compliance. I am sure you would not make Indiana unhappy.'
+
+'O, no! not for the world!' cried she, struggling to seem more
+reasonable than she felt.
+
+'Yet how can she be otherwise, if she imagines you have more of the
+notice and esteem of Edgar than herself?'
+
+Camilla now had not a word to say; the subject dropt; she took up a
+book, and by earnest internal remonstrances, commanded herself to appear
+at tea-time with tolerable serenity.
+
+The evening was passed in spiritless conversation, or in listening to
+the piano-forte, upon which Indiana, with the utmost difficulty, played
+some very easy lessons.
+
+At night, the following answer arrived from Dr. Marchmont:
+
+     _To_ Edgar Mandlebert, _Esq._
+
+     _Parsonage House, Cleves,
+     Friday Night._
+     MY DEAR FRIEND,
+
+     I must be thankful, in a moment of such enthusiasm, that you can
+     pay the attention of even recollecting those evils with which my
+     zeal only has, you think, encompassed you. I cannot insist upon the
+     practice of caution which you deem unfounded; but as you wait my
+     answer, I will once more open upon my sentiments, and communicate
+     my wishes. It is now only I can speak them; the instant you have
+     informed the young lady of your own, silences them for ever. Your
+     honour and her happiness become then entangled in each other, and I
+     know not which I would least willingly assail. What in all men is
+     base, would to you, I believe, be impossible--to trifle with such
+     favour as may be the growth of your own undisguised partiality.
+
+     Your present vehemence to ascertain the permanent possession of one
+     you conceive formed for your felicity, obscures, to your now
+     absorbed faculties, the thousand nameless, but tenacious,
+     delicacies annexed by your species of character to your powers of
+     enjoyment. In two words, then, let me tell you, what, in a short
+     time, you will daily tell yourself: you cannot be happy if not
+     exclusively loved; for you cannot excite, you cannot bestow
+     happiness.
+
+     By exclusively, I do not mean to the exclusion of other connections
+     and regard; far from it; those who covet in a bride the oblivion of
+     all former friendships, all early affections, weaken the finest
+     ties of humanity, and dissolve the first compact of unregistered
+     but genuine integrity. The husband, who would rather rationally
+     than with romance be loved himself, should seek to cherish, not
+     obliterate the kind feelings of nature in its first expansions.
+     These, where properly bestowed, are the guarantees to that constant
+     and respectable tenderness, which a narrow and selfish jealousy
+     rarely fails to convert into distaste and disgust.
+
+     The partiality which I mean you to ascertain, injures not these
+     prior claims; I mean but a partiality exclusive of your situation
+     in life, and of all declaration of your passion: a partiality, in
+     fine, that is appropriate to yourself, not to the rank in the world
+     with which you may tempt her ambition, nor to the blandishments of
+     flattery, which only soften the heart by intoxicating the
+     understanding.
+
+     Observe, therefore, if your general character, and usual conduct,
+     strike her mind; if her esteem is yours without the attraction of
+     assiduity and adulation; if your natural disposition and manners
+     make your society grateful to her, and your approbation desirable.
+
+     It is thus alone you can secure your own contentment; for it is
+     thus alone your reflecting mind can snatch from the time to come
+     the dangerous surmises of a dubious retrospection.
+
+     Remember, you can always advance; you can never, in honour, go
+     back; and believe me when I tell you, that the mere simple avowal
+     of preference, which only ultimately binds the man, is frequently
+     what first captivates the woman. If her mind is not previously
+     occupied, it operates with such seductive sway, it so soothes, so
+     flatters, so bewitches her self-complacency, that while she
+     listens, she imperceptibly fancies she participates in sentiments,
+     which, but the minute before, occurred not even to her imagination;
+     and while her hand is the recompence of her own eulogy, she is not
+     herself aware if she has bestowed it where her esteem and regard,
+     unbiassed by the eloquence of acknowledged admiration, would have
+     wished it sought, or if it has simply been the boon of her own
+     gratified vanity.
+
+     I now no longer urge your acquiescence, my dear friend; I merely
+     entreat you twice to peruse what I have written, and then leave you
+     to act by the result of such perusal.
+
+     I remain
+     Your truly faithful and obliged
+     GABRIEL MARCHMONT.
+
+Edgar ran through this letter with an impatience wholly foreign to his
+general character. 'Why,' cried he, 'will he thus obtrude upon me these
+fastidious doubts and causeless difficulties? I begged but the
+restitution of my promise, and he gives it me in words that nearly
+annihilate my power of using it.'
+
+Disappointed and displeased, he hastily put it into his pocket-book,
+resolving to seek Camilla, and commit the consequences of an interview
+to the impulses it might awaken.
+
+He was half way down stairs, when the sentence finishing with, 'you
+cannot excite, you cannot bestow happiness,' confusedly recurred to him:
+'If in that,' thought he, 'I fail, I am a stranger to it myself, and a
+stranger for ever;' and, returning to his room, he re-opened the letter
+to look for the passage.
+
+The sentence lost nothing by being read a second time; he paused upon it
+dejectedly, and presently re-read the whole epistle.
+
+'He is not quite wrong!' cried he, pensively; 'there is nothing very
+unreasonable in what he urges: true, indeed, it is, that I can never be
+happy myself, if her happiness is not entwined around my own.'
+
+The first blight thus borne to that ardent glee with which the
+imagination rewards its own elevated speculations, he yet a third time
+read the letter.
+
+'He is right!' he then cried; 'I will investigate her sentiments, and
+know what are my chances for her regard; what I owe to real approbation;
+and what merely to intimacy of situation. I will postpone all
+explanation till my visit here expires, and devote the probationary
+interval, to an examination which shall obviate all danger of either
+deceiving my own reason, or of beguiling her inconsiderate acceptance.'
+
+This settled, he rejoiced in a mastery over his eagerness, which he
+considered as complete, since it would defer for no less than a week the
+declaration of his passion.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_An Author's Notion of Travelling_
+
+
+The next morning Camilla, sad and unwilling to appear, was the last who
+entered the breakfast-parlour. Edgar instantly discerned the continued
+unhappiness, which an assumed smile concealed from the unsuspicious Sir
+Hugh, and the week of delay before him seemed an outrage to all his
+wishes.
+
+While she was drinking her first cup of tea, a servant came in, and told
+her the carriage was ready.
+
+She coloured, but nobody spoke, and the servant retired. Edgar was going
+to ask the design for the morning, when Miss Margland said--'Miss
+Camilla, as the horses have got to go and return, you had better not
+keep them waiting.'
+
+Colouring still more deeply, she was going to disclaim having ordered
+them, though well aware for what purpose they were come, when Sir Hugh
+said--'I think, my dear, you had best take Eugenia with you, which may
+serve you as a companion to talk to, in case you want to say anything by
+the way, which I take for granted; young people not much liking to hold
+their tongues for a long while together, which is very natural, having
+so little to think of.'
+
+'Miss Eugenia, then,' cried Miss Margland, before Camilla could reply,
+'run for your cloak as soon as you have finished your breakfast.'
+
+Eugenia, hoping to aid her sister in performing a task, which she
+considered as a peace-offering to Indiana, said, she had already done.
+
+Camilla now lost all courage for resistance; but feeling her chagrin
+almost intolerable, quitted the room with her tea undrunk, and without
+making known if she should return or not.
+
+Eugenia followed, and Edgar, much amazed, said, he had forgotten to
+order his horse for his morning's ride, and hastily made off: determined
+to be ready to hand the sisters to the carriage, and learn whither it
+was to drive.
+
+Camilla, who, in flying to her room, thought of nothing less than
+preparing for an excursion which she now detested, was again surprised
+in tears by Eugenia.
+
+'What, my dearest Camilla,' she cried, 'can thus continually affect you?
+you cannot be so unhappy without some cause!--why will you not trust
+your Eugenia?'
+
+'I cannot talk,' she answered, ashamed to repeat reasons which she knew
+Eugenia held to be inadequate to her concern--'If there is no resource
+against this persecution--if I must render myself hateful to give them
+satisfaction, let us, at least, be gone immediately, and let me be
+spared seeing the person I so ungratefully offend.'
+
+She then hurried down stairs; but finding Edgar in waiting, still more
+quickly hurried back, and in an agony, for which she attempted not to
+account, cast herself into a chair, and told Eugenia, that if Miss
+Margland did not contrive to call Edgar away, the universe could not
+prevail with her to pass him in such defiance.
+
+'My dear Camilla,' said Eugenia, surprized, yet compassionately, 'if
+this visit is become so painful to you, relinquish it at once.'
+
+'Ah, no! for that cruel Miss Margland will then accuse me of staying
+away only to follow the counsel of Edgar.'
+
+She stopt; for the countenance of Eugenia said--'_And is that not your
+motive?_' A sudden consciousness took place of her distress; she hid her
+face, in the hope of concealing her emotion, and with as calm a voice as
+she could attain, said, the moment they could pass unobserved she would
+set off.
+
+Eugenia went downstairs.
+
+'Alas! alas!' she then cried, 'into what misery has this barbarous Miss
+Margland thrown me! Eugenia herself seems now to suspect something
+wrong; and so, I suppose, will my uncle; and I can only convince them of
+my innocence by acting towards Edgar as a monster.--Ah! I would sooner a
+thousand times let them all think me guilty!'
+
+Eugenia had met Miss Margland in the hall, who, impatient for their
+departure, passed her, and ascended the stairs.
+
+At the sound of her footsteps, the horror of her reproaches and
+insinuations conquered every other feeling, and Camilla, starting up,
+rushed forward, and saying 'Good morning!' ran off.
+
+Edgar was still at the door, and came forward to offer her his hand.
+'Pray take care of Eugenia,' she cried, abruptly passing him, and
+darting, unaided, into the chaise. Edgar, astonished, obeyed, and gave
+his more welcome assistance to Eugenia; but when both were seated,
+said--'Where shall I tell the postillion to drive?'
+
+Camilla, who was pulling one of the green blinds up, and again letting
+it down, twenty times in a minute, affected not to hear him; but Eugenia
+answered, 'to the Grove, to Mrs. Arlbery's.'
+
+The postillion had already received his orders from Miss Margland, and
+drove off; leaving Edgar mute with surprise, disappointment and
+mortification.
+
+Miss Margland was just behind him, and conceived this the fortunate
+instant for eradicating from his mind every favourable pre-possession
+for Camilla; assuming, therefore, an air of concern, she said--'So, you
+have found Miss Camilla out, in spite of all her precautions! she would
+fain not have had you know her frolic.'
+
+'Not know it! has there, then, been any plan? did Miss Camilla
+intend----'
+
+'O, she intends nothing in the world for two minutes together! only she
+did not like you should find out her fickleness. You know, I told you,
+before, she was all whim; and so you will find. You may always take my
+opinion, be assured. Miss Lynmere is the only one among them that is
+always the same, always good, always amiable.'
+
+'And is not Miss----' he was going to say Camilla, but checking himself,
+finished with--'Miss Eugenia, at least, always equal, always
+consistent?'
+
+'Why, she is better than Miss Camilla; but not one among them has any
+steadiness, or real sweetness, but Miss Lynmere. As to Miss Camilla, if
+she has not her own way, there's no enduring her, she frets, and is so
+cross. When you put her off, in that friendly manner, from gadding after
+a new acquaintance so improper for her, you set her into such an ill
+humour, that she has done nothing but cry, as you may have seen by her
+eyes, and worry herself and all of us round, except you, ever since; but
+she was afraid of you, for fear you should take her to task, which she
+hates of all things.'
+
+Half incredulous, yet half shocked, Edgar turned from this harangue in
+silent disgust. He knew the splenetic nature of Miss Margland, and
+trusted she might be wrong; but he knew, too, her opportunities for
+observation, and dreaded lest she might be right. Camilla had been
+certainly low spirited, weeping, and restless; was it possible it could
+be for so slight, so unmeaning a cause? His wish was to follow her on
+horseback; but this, unauthorized, might betray too much anxiety: he
+tried not to think of what had been said by Dr. Marchmont, while this
+cloud hung over her disposition and sincerity; for whatever might be
+the malignity of Miss Margland, the breach of a promise, of which the
+voluntary sweetness had so lately proved his final captivation, could
+not be doubted, and called aloud for explanation.
+
+He mounted, however, his horse, to make his promised enquiries of Mrs.
+Needham; for though the time was already past for impeding the
+acquaintance from taking place, its progress might yet be stopt, should
+it be found incompatible with propriety.
+
+The young ladies had scarce left the Park, when Sir Hugh, recollecting a
+promise he had made to Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold, of never suffering Eugenia
+to go abroad unattended by some gentleman, while Bellamy remained in the
+country, sent hastily to beg that Edgar would follow the carriage.
+
+Edgar was out of sight, and there was no chance of overtaking him.
+
+'Lack-a-day!' said Sir Hugh, 'those young folks can never walk a horse
+but full gallop!' He then resolved to ask Dr. Orkborne to go after his
+pupil, and ride by the side of the chaise. He ordered a horse to be
+saddled; and, to lose no time by messages, the tardiness of which he had
+already experienced with this gentleman, he went himself to his
+apartment, and after several vain rappings at his door, entered the room
+unbid, saying--'Good Dr. Orkborne, unless you are dead, which God
+forbid! I think it's something uncomfortable that you can't speak to a
+person waiting at your door; not that I pretend to doubt but you may
+have your proper reasons, being what I can't judge.'
+
+He then begged he would get booted and spurred instantly, and follow his
+two nieces to Mrs. Arlbery's, in order to take care of Eugenia; adding,
+'though I'm afraid, Doctor, by your look, you don't much listen to me,
+which I am sorry for; my not being able to speak like Horace and Virgil
+being no fault of mine, but of my poor capacity, which no man can be
+said to be answerable for.'
+
+He then again entreated him to set off.
+
+'Only a moment, sir! I only beg you'll accord me one moment!' cried the
+Doctor, with a fretful sigh; while, screening his eyes with his left
+hand, he endeavoured hastily to make a memorandum of his ideas, before
+he forced them to any other subject.
+
+'Really, Dr. Orkborne,' said Sir Hugh, somewhat displeased, 'I must
+needs remark, for a friend, I think this rather slow: however, I can't
+say I am much disappointed, now, that I did not turn out a scholar
+myself, for I see, plain enough, you learned men think nothing of any
+consequence but Homer and such; which, however, I don't mean to take
+ill, knowing it was like enough to have been my own case.'
+
+He then left the room, intending to send a man and horse after the
+chaise, to desire his two nieces to return immediately.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, who, though copiously stored with the works of the
+ancients, had a sluggish understanding, and no imagination, was entirely
+overset by this intrusion. The chain of his observations was utterly
+broken; he strove vainly to rescue from oblivion the slow ripening
+fruits of his tardy conceptions, and, proportioning his estimation of
+their value by their labour, he not only considered his own loss as
+irreparable, but the whole world to be injured by so unfortunate an
+interruption.
+
+The recollection, however, which refused to assist his fame, was
+importunate in reminding him that the present offender was his patron;
+and his total want of skill in character kept from him the just
+confidence he would otherwise have placed in the unalterable goodness of
+heart of Sir Hugh, whom, though he despised for his ignorance, he feared
+for his power.
+
+Uneasy, therefore, at his exit, which he concluded to be made in wrath,
+he uttered a dolorous groan over his papers, and compelled himself to
+follow, with an apology, the innocent enemy of his glory.
+
+Sir Hugh, who never harboured displeasure for two minutes in his life,
+was more inclined to offer an excuse himself for what he had dropt
+against learning, than to resist the slightest concession from the
+Doctor, whom he only begged to make haste, the horse being already at
+the door. But Dr. Orkborne, as soon as he comprehended what was desired,
+revived from the weight of sacrificing so much time; he had never been
+on horseback since he was fifteen years of age, and declared, to the
+wondering baronet, he could not risk his neck by undertaking such a
+journey.
+
+In high satisfaction, he would then have returned to his room, persuaded
+that, when his mind was disembarrassed, a parallel between two ancient
+authors which, with much painful stretch of thought, he had suggested,
+and which, with the most elaborate difficulty, he was arranging and
+drawing up, would recur again to his memory: but Sir Hugh, always eager
+in expedients, said, he should follow in the coach, which might be ready
+time enough for him to arrive at Mrs. Arlbery's before the visit was
+over, and to bring Eugenia safe back; 'which,' cried he, 'is the main
+point, for the sake of seeing that she goes no where else.'
+
+Dr. Orkborne, looking extremely blank at this unexpected proposition,
+stood still.
+
+'Won't you go, then, my good friend?'
+
+The Doctor, after a long pause, and in a most dejected tone, sighed out,
+'Yes, sir, certainly, with the greatest--alacrity.'
+
+Sir Hugh, who took everything literally that seemed right or
+good-natured, thanked him, and ordered the horses to be put to the coach
+with all possible expedition.
+
+It was soon at the door, and Dr. Orkborne, who had spent in his room the
+intervening period, in moaning the loss of the time that was to succeed,
+and in an opinion that two hours of this morning would have been of more
+value to him than two years when it was gone, reluctantly obeyed the
+call that obliged him to descend: but he had no sooner entered the
+carriage, and found he was to have it to himself, than leaping suddenly
+from it, as the groom, who was to attend him, was preparing to shut the
+door, he hastened back to his chamber to collect a packet of books and
+papers, through the means of which he hoped to recall those flowers of
+rhetoric, upon which he was willing to risk his future reputation.
+
+The astonished groom, concluding something had frightened him, jumped
+into the coach to find the cause of his flight; but Sir Hugh, who was
+advancing to give his final directions, called out, with some
+displeasure 'Hollo, there, you Jacob! if Dr. Orkborne thinks to get you
+to go for my nieces in place of himself, it's what I don't approve;
+which, however, you need not take amiss, one man being no more born with
+a livery upon his back than another; which God forbid I should think
+otherwise. Nevertheless, my little girls must have a proper respect
+shewn them; which, it's surprising Dr. Orkborne should not know as well
+as me.'
+
+And, much disconcerted, he walked to the parlour, to ruminate upon some
+other measure.
+
+'I am sure, your honour,' said Jacob, following him, 'I got in with no
+ill intention; but what it was as come across the Doctor I don't know;
+but just as I was a going to shut the door, without saying never a word,
+out he pops, and runs upstairs again; so I only got in to see if
+something had hurt him; but I can't find nothing of no sort.'
+
+Then, putting to the door, and looking sagaciously, 'Please your
+honour,' he continued, 'I dare say it's only some maggot got into his
+brain from over reading and writing; for all the maids think he'll soon
+be cracked.'
+
+'That's very wrong of them, Jacob; and I desire you'll tell them they
+must not think any such thing.'
+
+'Why, your honour don't know half, or you'd be afraid too,' said Jacob,
+lowering his voice; 'he's like nothing you ever see. He won't let a
+chair nor a table be dusted in his room, though they are covered over
+with cobwebs, because he says, it takes him such a time to put his
+things to rights again; though all the while what he calls being to
+rights is just the contrary; for it's a mere higgledy piggledy, one
+thing heaped o'top of t'other, as if he did it for fun.'
+
+The baronet gravely answered, that if there were not the proper shelves
+for his books he would order more.
+
+'Why, your honour, that's not the quarter, as I tell you! why, when
+they're cleaning out his room, if they happen but to sweep away a bit of
+paper as big as my hand, he'll make believe they've done him as much
+mischief as if they'd stole a thousand pound. It would make your honour
+stare to hear him. Mary says, she's sure he has never been quite right
+ever since he come to the house.'
+
+'But I desire you'll tell Mary I don't approve of that opinion. Dr.
+Orkborne is one of the first scholars in the world, as I am credibly
+informed; and I beg you'll all respect him accordingly.'
+
+'Why, your honour, if it i'n't owing to something of that sort, why does
+he behave so unaccountable? I myself heard him making such a noise at
+the maids one day, that I spoke to Mary afterwards, and asked her what
+was the matter?--"Laws, nobody knows," says she, "but here's the Doctor
+been all in a huff again; I was just a dusting his desk (says she) and
+so I happened to wipe down a little bundle of papers, all nothing but
+mere scraps, and he took on as if they'd been so many guineas (says she)
+and he kept me there for an hour looking for them, and scolding, and
+telling such a heap of fibs, that if he was not out of his head, would
+be a shame for a gentleman to say" (says she).'
+
+'Fie, fie, Jacob! and tell Mary fie, too. He is a very learned
+gentleman, and no more a story-teller than I am myself; which God
+forbid.'
+
+'Why, your honour, how could this here be true? he told the maids how
+they had undone him, and the like, only because of their throwing down
+them few bits of papers; though they are ready to make oath they picked
+them up, almost every one; and that they were all of a crump, and of no
+manner of use.'
+
+'Well, well, say no more about it, good Jacob, but go and give my
+compliments to Dr. Orkborne, and ask him, what's the reason of his
+changing his mind; I mean, provided it's no secret.'
+
+Jacob returned in two minutes, with uplifted hands and eyes; 'your
+honour,' cried he, 'now you'll believe me another time! he is worse than
+ever, and I'll be bound he'll break out before another quarter.'
+
+'Why, what's the matter?'
+
+'Why, as sure as I'm here, he's getting together ever so many books, and
+stuffing his pockets, and cramming them under his arms, just as if he
+was a porter! and when I gave him your honour's message, I suppose it
+put him out, for he said, "Don't hurry me so, I'm a coming;" making
+believe as if he was only a preparing for going out, in the stead of
+making that fool of himself.'
+
+Sir Hugh, now really alarmed, bid him not mention the matter to anyone;
+and was going upstairs himself, when he saw Dr. Orkborne, heavily laden
+with books in each hand, and bulging from both coat pockets, slowly and
+carefully coming down.
+
+'Bless me,' cried he, rather fearfully, 'my dear sir, what are you going
+to do with all that library?'
+
+Dr. Orkborne, wishing him good morning, without attending to his
+question, proceeding to the carriage, calling to Jacob, who stood aloof,
+to make haste and open the door.
+
+Jacob obeyed, but with a significant look at his master, that said, 'you
+see how it is, sir!'
+
+Sir Hugh following him, gently put his hand upon his shoulder, and
+mildly said, 'My dear friend, to be sure you know best, but I don't see
+the use of loading yourself in that manner for nothing.'
+
+'It is a great loss of time, sir, to travel without books,' answered the
+Doctor, quietly arranging them in the coach.
+
+'Travel, my good friend? Why, you don't call it travelling to go four or
+five miles? why, if you had known me before my fall--However, I don't
+mean to make any comparisons, you gentlemen scholars being no particular
+good horsemen. However, if you were to go one hundred miles instead of
+four or five, you could not get through more than one of those books,
+read as hard as you please; unless you skip half, which I suppose you
+solid heads leave to the lower ignoramusses.'
+
+'It is not for reading, sir, that I take all these books, but merely to
+look into. There are many of them I shall never read in my life, but I
+shall want them all.'
+
+Sir Hugh now stared with increased perplexity; but Dr. Orkborne, as
+eager to go, since his books were to accompany him, as before to stay,
+told Jacob to bid the coachman make haste. Jacob looked at his master,
+who ordered him to mount his mare, and the carriage drove off.
+
+The baronet, in some uneasiness, seated himself in the hall, to ruminate
+upon what he had just heard. The quietness and usual manner of speaking
+and looking of Dr. Orkborne, which he had remarked, removed any
+immediate apprehensions from the assertions of Jacob and Mary; but still
+he did not like the suggestion; and the carrying off so many books, when
+he acknowledged he did not mean to read one of them, disturbed him.
+
+In every shadow of perplexity, his first wish was to consult with his
+brother; and if he had not parted with both his carriages, he would
+instantly have set off for Etherington. He sent, however, an express for
+Mr. Tyrold, begging to see him at Cleves with all speed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_An internal Detection_
+
+
+When the chaise drove from Cleves Park, all attempt at any disguise was
+over with Camilla, who alive only to the horror of appearing ungrateful
+to Edgar, wept without controul; and, leaning back in the carriage,
+entreated Eugenia to dispense with all conversation.
+
+Eugenia, filled with pity, wondered, but complied, and they travelled
+near four miles in silence; when, perceiving, over the paling round a
+paddock, Mrs. Arlbery and a party of company, Camilla dried her eyes,
+and prepared for her visit, of which the impetuosity of her feelings
+had retarded all previous consideration.
+
+Eugenia, with true concern, saw the unfitness of her sister to appear,
+and proposed walking the rest of the way, in the hope that a little air
+and exercise might compose her spirits.
+
+She agreed; they alighted, and bidding the footman keep with the
+carriage, which they ordered should drive slowly behind, they proceeded
+gently, arm in arm, along a clean raised bank by the side of the road,
+with a pace suiting at once the infirmity of Eugenia, and the wish of
+delay in Camilla.
+
+The sound of voices reached them from within the paddock, though a thick
+shrubbery prevented their seeing the interlocutors.
+
+'Can you make out the arms?' said one.
+
+'No,' answered another, 'but I can see the postillion's livery, and I am
+certain it is Sir Hugh Tyrold's.'
+
+'Then it is not coming hither,' said a third voice, which they
+recollected for Mrs. Arlbery's; 'we don't visit: though I should not
+dislike to see the old baronet. They tell me [he] is a humorist; and I
+have a taste for all oddities: but then he has a house full of females,
+and females I never admit in a morning, except when I have secured some
+men to take the entertaining them off my hands.'
+
+'Whither is Bellamy running?' cried another voice, 'he's off without a
+word.'
+
+'Gone in hopes of a rencounter, I doubt not,' answered Mrs. Arlbery; 'he
+made palpable aim at one of the divinities of Cleves at the ball.'
+
+Eugenia now grew uneasy. 'Let us be quick,' she whispered 'and enter the
+house!'
+
+'Divinities! Lord! are they divinities?' said a girlish female voice;
+'pray how old are they?'
+
+'I fancy about seventeen.'
+
+'Seventeen! gracious! I thought they'd been quite young; I wonder they
+a'n't married!'
+
+'I presume, then, you intend to be more expeditious?' said another,
+whose voice spoke him to be General Kinsale.
+
+'Gracious! I hope so, for I hate an old bride. I'll never marry at all,
+if I stay till I am eighteen.'
+
+'A story goes about,' said the General, 'that Sir Hugh Tyrold has
+selected one of his nieces for his sole heiress; but no two people agree
+which it is; they have asserted it of each.'
+
+'I was mightily taken with one of the girls,' said Mrs. Arlbery; 'there
+was something so pleasant in her looks and manner, that I even felt
+inclined to forgive her being younger and prettier than myself; but she
+turned out also to be more whimsical--and that there was no enduring.'
+
+Camilla, extremely ashamed, was now upon the point of begging Eugenia to
+return, when a new speech seized all her attention.
+
+'Do you know, General, when that beautiful automaton, Miss Lynmere, is
+to marry young Mandlebert?'
+
+'Immediately, I understand; I am told he has fitted up his house very
+elegantly for her reception.'
+
+A deep sigh escaped Camilla at such publicity in the report and belief
+of the engagement of Edgar with her cousin, and brought with it a
+consciousness too strong for any further self-disguise, that her
+distress flowed not all from an unjust accusation: the sound alone of
+the union struck as a dagger at her heart, and told her,
+incontrovertibly, who was its master.
+
+Her sensations were now most painful: she grew pale, she became sick,
+and was obliged, in her turn, to lean upon Eugenia, who, affrighted to
+see her thus strangely disordered, besought her to go back to the
+chaise.
+
+She consented, and begged to pass a few minutes there alone. Eugenia
+therefore stayed without, walking slowly upon the bank.
+
+Camilla, getting into the carriage, pulled up the blinds, and, no longer
+self-deceived, lamented in a new burst of sorrow, her unhappy fate, and
+unpropitious attachment.
+
+This consciousness, however, became soon a call upon her integrity, and
+her regret was succeeded by a summons upon propriety. She gave herself
+up as lost to all personal felicity, but hoped she had discovered the
+tendency of her affliction, in time to avoid the dangers, and the errors
+to which it might lead. She determined to struggle without cessation for
+the conquest of a partiality she deemed it treachery to indulge; and to
+appease any pain she now blushed to have caused to Indiana, by strictly
+following the hard prescription of Miss Margland, and the obvious
+opinion of Eugenia, in shunning the society, and no longer coveting the
+approbation of Edgar. 'Such, my dear father,' she cried, 'would be your
+lesson, if I dared consult you! such, my most honoured mother, would be
+your conduct, if thus cruelly situated!'
+
+This thought thrilled through every vein with pleasure, in a sense of
+filial desert, and her sole desire was to return immediately to those
+incomparable parents, under whose roof she had experienced nothing but
+happiness, and in whose bosoms she hoped to bury every tumultuous
+disturbance.
+
+These ideas and resolutions, dejecting, yet solacing, occupied her to
+the forgetfulness of her intended visit, and even of Eugenia, till the
+words: 'Pray let me come to you, my dear Camilla!' made her let down the
+blinds.
+
+She then perceived Mr. Bellamy earnestly addressing her sister.
+
+He had advanced suddenly towards her, by a short cut from the paddock,
+of which she was not aware, when she was about twenty yards from the
+chaise.
+
+She made an effort to avoid him; but he planted himself in the way of
+her retreat, though with an air of supplication, with which she strove
+in vain to be angry.
+
+He warmly represented the cruelty of thus flying him, entreated but the
+privilege of addressing her as a common acquaintance; and promised, upon
+that condition, to submit unmurmuring to her rejection.
+
+Eugenia, though in secret she thought this request but equitable, made
+him no answer.
+
+'O madam,' he cried, 'what have I not suffered since your barbarous
+letter! why will you be so amiable, yet so inexorable?'
+
+She attempted to quicken her pace; but again, in the same manner,
+stopping her, he exclaimed: 'Do not kill me by this disdain! I ask not
+now for favour or encouragement--I know my hard doom--I ask only to
+converse with you--though, alas! it was by conversing with you I lost my
+heart.'
+
+Eugenia felt softened; and her countenance, which had forfeited nothing
+of expression, though every thing of beauty, soon shewed Bellamy his
+advantage. He pursued it eagerly; depicted his passion, deprecated her
+severity, extolled her virtues and accomplishments, and bewailed his
+unhappy, hopeless flame.
+
+Eugenia, knowing that all she said, and believing that all she heard
+issued from the fountain of truth, became extremely distressed. 'Let me
+pass, I conjure you, Sir,' she cried, 'and do not take it ill--but I
+cannot hear you any longer.'
+
+The vivacity of bright hope flashed into the sparkling eyes of Bellamy,
+at so gentle a remonstrance; and entreaties for lenity, declarations of
+passion, professions of submission, and practice of resistance, assailed
+the young Eugenia with a rapidity that confounded her: she heard him
+with scarce any opposition, from a fear of irritating his feelings,
+joined to a juvenile embarrassment how to treat with more severity so
+sincere and so humble a suppliant.
+
+From this situation, to the extreme provocation of Bellamy, she was
+relieved by the appearance of Major Cerwood, who having observed, from
+the paddock, the slow motion of the carriage, had come forth to find out
+the cause.
+
+Eugenia seized the moment of interruption to press forward, and make the
+call to her sister already mentioned; Bellamy accompanying and pleading,
+but no longer venturing to stop her: he handed her, therefore, to the
+chaise, where Major Cerwood also paid his compliments to the two ladies;
+and hearing they were going to the seat of Mrs. Arlbery, whither Camilla
+now forced herself, though more unwillingly than ever, he ran on, with
+Bellamy, to be ready to hand them from the carriage.
+
+They were shewn into a parlour, while a servant went into the garden to
+call his mistress.
+
+This interval was not neglected by either of the gentlemen, for Bellamy
+was scarce more eager to engage the attention of Eugenia, than the Major
+to force that of Camilla. By Lionel he had been informed she was heiress
+of Cleves; he deemed, therefore, the opportunity by no means to be
+thrown away, of making, what he believed required opportunity alone, a
+conquest of her young heart. Accustomed to think compliments always
+welcome to the fair, he construed her sadness into softness, and imputed
+her silence to the confusing impression made upon an inexperienced rural
+beauty, by the first assiduities of a man of figure and gallantry.
+
+In about a quarter of an hour the servant of Mrs. Arlbery slowly
+returned, and, with some hesitation, said his lady was not at home. The
+gentlemen looked provoked, and Camilla and Eugenia, much disconcerted at
+so evident a denial, left their names, and returned to their carriage.
+
+The journey back to Cleves was mute and dejected: Camilla was shocked at
+the conscious state of her own mind, and Eugenia was equally pensive.
+She began to think with anxiety of a contract with a person wholly
+unknown, and to consider the passion and constancy of Bellamy as the
+emanations of a truly elevated mind, and meriting her most serious
+gratitude.
+
+At the hall door they were eagerly met by Sir Hugh, who, with infinite
+surprise, enquired where they had left Dr. Orkborne.
+
+'Dr. Orkborne?' they repeated, 'we have not even seen him.'
+
+'Not seen him? did not he come to fetch you?'
+
+'No, Sir.'
+
+'Why, he went to Mrs. Arlbery's on purpose! And what he stays for at
+that lady's, now you are both come away, is a thing I can't pretend to
+judge of; unless he has stopt to read one of those books he took with
+him; which is what I dare say is the case.'
+
+'He cannot be at Mrs. Arlbery's, Sir,' said Eugenia, 'for we have but
+this moment left her house.'
+
+'He must be there, my dear girls, for he's no where else. I saw him set
+out myself, which, however, I shan't mention the particulars of, having
+sent for my brother, whom I expect every minute.'
+
+They then concluded he had gone by another road, as there were two ways
+to the Grove.
+
+Edgar did not return to Cleves till the family were assembling to
+dinner. His visit to Mrs. Needham had occasioned him a new disturbance.
+She had rallied him upon the general rumour of his approaching marriage;
+and his confusion, from believing his partiality for Camilla detected,
+was construed into a confirmation of the report concerning Indiana. His
+disavowal was rather serious than strong, and involuntarily mixt with
+such warm eulogiums of the object he imagined to be meant, that Mrs.
+Needham, who had only named _a certain fair one at Cleves_, laughed at
+his denial, and thought the engagement undoubted.
+
+With respect to his enquiries relative to Mrs. Arlbery, Mrs. Needham
+said, that she was a woman far more agreeable to the men, than to her
+own sex; that she was full of caprice, coquetry, and singularity; yet,
+though she abused the gift, she possessed an excellent and uncommon
+understanding. She was guilty of no vices, but utterly careless of
+appearances, and though her character was wholly unimpeached, she had
+offended or frightened almost all the county around, by a wilful
+strangeness of behaviour, resulting from an undaunted determination to
+follow in every thing the bent of her own humour.
+
+Edgar justly deemed this a dangerous acquaintance for Camilla, whose
+natural thoughtlessness and vivacity made him dread the least
+imprudence in the connexions she might form; yet, as the reputation of
+Mrs. Arlbery was unsullied, he felt how difficult would be the task of
+demonstrating the perils he feared.
+
+Sir Hugh, during the dinner, was exceedingly disturbed. 'What Dr.
+Orkborne can be doing with himself,' said he, 'is more than any man can
+tell, for he certainly would not stay at the lady's, when he found you
+were both come away; so that I begin to think it's ten to one but he's
+gone nobody knows where! for why else should he take all those books?
+which is a thing I have been thinking of ever since; especially as he
+owned himself he should never read one half of them. If he has taken
+something amiss, I am very ready to ask his pardon; though what it can
+be I don't pretend to guess.'
+
+Miss Margland said, he was so often doing something or other that was
+ill-bred, that she was not at all surprised he should stay out at dinner
+time. He had never yet fetched her a chair, nor opened the door for her,
+since he came to the house; so that she did not know what was too bad to
+expect.
+
+As they were rising from the table, a note arrived from Mr. Tyrold, with
+an excuse, that important business would prevent his coming to Cleves
+till the next day. Camilla then begged permission to go in the chaise
+that was to fetch him, flattering herself something might occur to
+detain her, when at Etherington. Sir Hugh readily assented, and
+composing himself for his afternoon nap, desired to be awaked if Dr.
+Orkborne came back.
+
+All now left the room except Camilla, who, taking up a book, stood still
+at a window, till she was aroused by the voice of Edgar, who, from the
+Park, asked her what she was reading.
+
+She turned over the leaves, ashamed at the question, to look for the
+title; she had held the book mechanically, and knew not what it was.
+
+He then produced the promised nosegay, which had been brought by his
+gardener during her excursion. She softly lifted up the sash, pointing
+to her sleeping uncle; he gave it her with a silent little bow, and
+walked away; much disappointed to miss an opportunity from which he had
+hoped for some explanation.
+
+She held it in her hand some time, scarcely sensible she had taken it,
+till, presently, she saw its buds bedewed with her falling tears.
+
+She shook them off, and pressed the nosegay to her bosom. 'This, at
+least,' she cried, 'I may accept, for it was offered me before that
+barbarous attack. Ah! they know not the innocence of my regard, or they
+would not so wrong it! The universe could not tempt me to injure my
+cousin, though it is true, I have valued the kindness of Edgar--and I
+must always value it!--These flowers are more precious to me, coming
+from his hands, and reared in his grounds, than all the gems of the East
+could be from any other possessor. But where is the guilt of such a
+preference? And who that knows him could help feeling it?'
+
+Sir Hugh now awakening from a short slumber, exclaimed--'I have just
+found out the reason why this poor gentleman has made off; I mean,
+provided he is really gone away, which, however, I hope not: but I
+think, by his bringing down all those books, he meant to give me a broad
+hint, that he had got no proper book-case to keep them in; which the
+maids as good as think too.'
+
+Then, calling upon Camilla, he asked if she was not of that opinion.
+
+'Y--e--s, Sir,' she hesitatingly answered.
+
+'Well, then, my dear, if we all think the same, I'll give orders
+immediately for getting the better of that fault.'
+
+Miss Margland, curious to know how Camilla was detained, now re-entered
+the room. Struck with the fond and melancholy air with which she was
+bending over her nosegay, she abruptly demanded--'Pray, where might you
+get those flowers?'
+
+Covered with shame, she could make no answer.
+
+'O, Miss Camilla! Miss Camilla!--ought not those flowers to belong to
+Miss Lynmere?'
+
+'Mr. Mandlebert had promised me them yesterday morning,' answered she,
+in a voice scarce audible.
+
+'And is this fair, Ma'am?--can you reckon it honourable?--I'll be judged
+by Sir Hugh himself. Do you think it right, Sir, that Miss Camilla
+should accept nosegays every day from Mr. Mandlebert, when her cousin
+has had never a one at all?'
+
+'Why, it's not her fault, you know, Miss Margland, if young Mr.
+Mandlebert chuses to give them to her. However, if that vexes Indiana,
+I'm sure my niece will make them over to her with the greatest pleasure;
+for I never knew the thing she would not part with, much more a mere
+little smell at the nose, which, whether one has it or not, can't much
+matter after it's over.'
+
+Miss Margland now exultingly held out her hand: the decision was
+obliged to be prompt; Camilla delivered up the flowers, and ran into her
+own room.
+
+The sacrifice, cried she, is now complete! Edgar will conclude I hate
+him, and believe Indiana loves him!--no matter!--it is fitting he should
+think both. I will be steady this last evening, and to-morrow I will
+quit this fatal roof!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_An Author's Opinion of Visiting_
+
+
+When summoned to tea, Camilla, upon entering the parlour, found Sir Hugh
+in mournful discourse with Edgar upon the non-appearance of Dr.
+Orkborne. Edgar felt a momentary disappointment that she did not honour
+his flowers with wearing them; but consoled himself with supposing she
+had preserved them in water. In a few minutes, however, Indiana appeared
+with them in her bosom.
+
+Almost petrified, he turned towards Camilla, who, affecting an air of
+unconcern, amused herself with patting a favourite old terrier of her
+uncle's.
+
+As soon as he could disengage himself from the Baronet, he leant also
+over the dog, and, in a low voice, said--'You have discarded, then, my
+poor flowers?'
+
+'Have I not done right?' answered she, in the same tone; 'are they not
+where you must be far happier to see them?'
+
+'Is it possible,' exclaimed he, 'Miss Camilla Tyrold can suppose----'.
+He stopt, for surprised off his guard, he was speaking loud, and he saw
+Miss Margland approaching.
+
+'Don't you think, Mr. Mandlebert,' said she, 'that Miss Lynmere becomes
+a bouquet very much? she took a fancy to those flowers, and I think they
+are quite the thing for her.'
+
+'She does them,' he coldly answered, 'too much honour.'
+
+Ah, Heaven! he loves her not! thought Camilla, and, while trembling
+between hope and terror at the suggestion, determined to redouble her
+circumspection, not to confirm the suspicion that his indifference was
+produced by her efforts to attach him to herself.
+
+She had soon what she conceived to be an occasion for its exertion. When
+he handed her some cakes, he said--'You would think it, I conclude,
+impertinent to hear anything more concerning Mrs. Arlbery, now you have
+positively opened an acquaintance with her?'
+
+She felt the justice of this implied reproach of her broken promise; but
+she saw herself constantly watched by Miss Margland, and repressing the
+apology she was sighing to offer, only answered--'You have nothing, you
+own, to say against her reputation--and as to any thing else----'
+
+'True,' interrupted he, 'my information on that point is all still in
+her favour: but can it be Miss Camilla Tyrold, who holds that to be the
+sole question upon which intimacy ought to depend? Does she account as
+nothing manners, disposition, way of life?'
+
+'No, not absolutely as nothing,' said she, rising; 'but taste settles
+all those things, and mine is entirely in her favour.'
+
+Edgar gravely begged her pardon, for so officiously resuming an irksome
+subject; and returning to Sir Hugh, endeavoured to listen to his
+lamentations and conjectures about Dr. Orkborne.
+
+He felt, however, deeply hurt. In naming Mrs. Arlbery, he had flattered
+himself he had opened an opportunity for which she must herself be
+waiting, to explain the motives of her late visit; but her light answer
+put an end to that hope, and her quitting her seat shewed her impatient
+of further counsel.
+
+Not a word that fell from Sir Hugh reached his ear: but he bowed from
+time to time, and the good Baronet had no doubt of his attention. His
+eyes were perpetually following Camilla, though they met not a glance
+from her in return. She played with the terrier, talked with Eugenia,
+looked out of the window, turned over some books, and did everything
+with an air of negligence, that while it covered absence and anxiety,
+displayed a studied avoidance of his notice.
+
+The less he could account for this, the more it offended him. And dwells
+caprice, thought he, while his eye followed her, even there! in that
+fair composition!--where may I look for singleness of mind, for
+nobleness of simplicity, if caprice, mere girlish, unmeaning caprice,
+dwell there!
+
+The moment she had finished her tea, she left the room, to shorten her
+cruel task. Struck with the broken sentence of 'is it possible Miss
+Camilla Tyrold can suppose----' the soft hope that his heart was
+untouched by Indiana, seized her delighted imagination; but the
+recollection of Miss Margland's assertions, that it was the real right
+of her cousin, soon robbed the hope of all happiness, and she could only
+repeat--To-morrow I will go!--I ought not to think of him!--I had rather
+be away--to-morrow I will go!
+
+She had hardly quitted the parlour, when the distant sound of a carriage
+roused Sir Hugh from his fears; and, followed by Edgar and the ladies,
+he made what haste he could into the courtyard, where, to his infinite
+satisfaction, he saw his coach driving in.
+
+He ordered it should stop immediately, and called out--'Pray, Dr.
+Orkborne, are you there?'
+
+Dr. Orkborne looked out of the window, and bowed respectfully.
+
+'Good lack, I could never have thought I should be so glad to see you!
+which you must excuse, in point of being no relation. You are heartily
+welcome, I assure you; I was afraid I should never see you again; for,
+to tell you the honest truth, which I would not say a word of before, I
+had got a notion you were going out of your mind.'
+
+The Doctor took not the smallest heed of his speech, and the carriage
+drove up to the door. Sir Hugh then seating himself under the portico,
+said--'Pray, Dr. Orkborne, before you go to your studies, may I just ask
+you how you came to stay out all day? and why you never fetched Eugenia?
+for I take it for granted it's no secret, on the account Jacob was with
+you; besides the coachman and horses.'
+
+Dr. Orkborne, though not at all discomposed by these questions, nor by
+his reception, answered, that he must first collect his books.
+
+'The poor girls,' continued the Baronet, 'came home quite blank; not
+that they knew a word of my asking you to go for them, till I told them;
+which was lucky enough, for the sake of not frightening them. However,
+where you can have been, particularly with regard to your dinner, which,
+I suppose, you have gone without, is what I can't guess; unless you'd be
+kind enough to tell me.'
+
+The Doctor, too busy to hear him, was packing up his books.
+
+'Come, never mind your books,' said Sir Hugh; 'Jacob can carry them for
+you, or Bob, or any body. Here, Bob, (calling to the postillion, who,
+with all the rest of the servants, had been drawn by curiosity into the
+courtyard) whisk me up those books, and take them into the Doctor's
+room; I mean, provided you can find a place for them, which I am sorry
+to say there is none; owing to my not knowing better in point of taking
+the proper care; which I shall be sure to do for the future.'
+
+The boy obeyed, and mounting one step of the coach, took what were
+within his reach; which, when the Doctor observed, he snatched away with
+great displeasure, saying, very solemnly, he had rather at any time be
+knocked down, than see any body touch one of his books or papers.
+
+Jacob, coming forward, whispered his master not to interfere; assuring
+him, he was but just got out of one of his tantrums.
+
+Sir Hugh, a little startled, rose to return to the parlour, begging Dr.
+Orkborne to take his own time, and not hurry himself.
+
+He then beckoned Jacob to follow him.
+
+'There is certainly something in all this,' said he to Edgar, 'beyond
+what my poor wit can comprehend: but I'll hear what Jacob has to say
+before I form a complete judgment; though, to be sure, his lugging out
+all those books to go but four or five miles, has but an odd look; which
+is what I don't like to say.'
+
+Jacob now was called upon to give a narrative of the day's adventures.
+'Why, your Honour,' said he, 'as soon as we come to the Grove, I goes up
+to the coach door, to ask the Doctor if he would get out, or only send
+in to let the young ladies know he was come for them; but he was got so
+deep into some of his larning, that, I dare say, I bawled it three good
+times in his ears, before he so much as lifted up his head; and then it
+was only to say, I put him out! and to it he went again, just as if I'd
+said never a word; till, at last, I was so plaguy mad, I gives the coach
+such a jog, to bring him to himself like, that it jerked the pencil and
+paper out of his hand. So then he went straight into one of his takings,
+pretending I had made him forget all his thoughts, and such like out of
+the way talk, after his old way. So when I found he was going off in
+that manner, I thought it only time lost to say no more to him, and so I
+turned me about not to mind him; when I sees a whole heap of company at
+a parlour window, laughing so hearty, that I was sure they had heard us.
+And a fine comely lady, as clever as ever you see, that I found after
+was the lady of the house, bid me come to the window, and asked what I
+wanted. So I told her we was come for two of the Miss Tyrolds. Why, says
+she, they've been gone a quarter of an hour, by the opposite road. So
+then I was coming away, but she made me a sign to come into the parlour,
+for all it was brimful of fine company, dressed all like I don't know
+what. It was as pretty a sight as you'd wish to see. And then, your
+honour, they all begun upon me at once! there was such a clatter, I
+thought I'd been turned into a booth at a fair; and merry enough they
+all was sure!--'specially the lady, who never opened her lips, but what
+they all laughed: but as to all what they asked me, I could as soon
+conjure a ghost as call a quarter of it to mind.'
+
+'Try, however,' said Edgar, curious for further information of whatever
+related to Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+'Why as to that, 'squire,' answered Jacob, with an arch look, 'I am not
+so sure and certain you'd like to hear it all.'
+
+'No? and why not?'
+
+'O! pray tell, Jacob,' cried Miss Margland; 'did they say anything of
+Mr. Mandlebert?'
+
+'Yes, and of more than Mr. Mandlebert,' said Jacob, grinning.
+
+'Do tell, do tell,' cried Indiana, eagerly.
+
+'I'm afeard, Miss!'
+
+Every body assured him no offence should be taken.
+
+'Well, then, if you must needs know, there was not one of you, but what
+they had a pluck at.--Pray, says one of them, what does the old
+gentleman do with all those books and papers in the coach?--That's what
+nobody knows, says I, unless his head's cracked, which is Mary's
+opinion.--Then they all laughed more and more, and the lady of the house
+said:--Pray can he really read?--Whoo! says I, why he does nothing else;
+he's at it from morning till night, and Mary says she's sure before long
+he'll give up his meat and drink for it.--I've always heard he was a
+quiz, says another, or a quoz, or some such word; but I did not know he
+was such a book-worm.--The old quoz is generous, however, I hear, says
+another, pray do you find him so?--As to that, I can't say, says I, for
+I never see the colour of his money.--No! then, what are you such a fool
+as to serve him for?--So, then, your honour, I found, owing to the coach
+and the arms, and the like, they thought all the time it was your honour
+was in the coach. I hope your honour don't take it amiss of me?'
+
+'Not at all Jacob; only I don't know why they call me an old quiz and
+quoz for; never having offended them; which I take rather unkind;
+especially not knowing what it means.'
+
+'Why, your honour, they're such comical sort of folks; they don't mind
+what they say of nobody. Not but what the lady of the house is a rare
+gentlewoman. Your honour could not help liking her. I warrant she's made
+many a man's heart ache, and then jumped for joy when she'd done. And as
+to her eyes, I think in my born days I never see nothing like 'em: they
+shines like two candles on a dark night afar off on the common----.'
+
+'Why Jacob,' said Sir Hugh, 'I see you have lost your heart. However, go
+on.'
+
+'Why, as soon as I found out what they meant--That my master? says I,
+no, God be thanked! What should I have to live upon if a was? Not so
+much as a cobweb! for there would not be wherewithal for a spider to
+make it.'
+
+Here Sir Hugh, with much displeasure, interrupted him; 'As to the poor
+gentleman's being poor,' said he, 'it's no fault of his own, for he'd be
+rich if he could, I make no doubt; never having heard he was a gambler.
+Besides which, I always respect a man the more for being poor, knowing
+how little a rich man may have in him; which I can judge by my own
+case.'
+
+Jacob proceeded.
+
+'Well, if it is not Sir Hugh, says one of them, who is it?--Why, it's
+only our Latin master, says I; upon which they all set up as jolly a
+laugh again as ever I heard in my days. Jobbins, they're pure
+merry!--And who learns Latin! says one, I hope they don't let him work
+at poor old Sir Hugh? No, says I, they tried their hands with him at
+first, but he thanked 'em for nothing. He soon grew tired on't.--So then
+they said, who learns now, says they, do you?--Me! says I, no, God be
+praised, I don't know _A_ from _B_, which is the way my head's so clear,
+never having muddled it with what I don't understand.--And so then they
+all said I was a brave fellow; and they ordered me a glass of wine.'
+
+What a set! thought Edgar, is this, idle, dissipated, curious--for
+Camilla to associate with!--the lively, the unthinking, the
+inexperienced Camilla!
+
+'So then they asked me, says they, does Miss Lynmere learn, says
+they?--Not, as I know of, says I, she's no great turn for her book, as
+ever I heard of; which I hope Miss you won't take ill, for they all
+said, no, to be sure, she's too handsome for that.'
+
+Indiana looked uncertain whether to be flattered or offended.
+
+'But you have not told us what they said of Mr. Mandlebert yet?' cried
+Miss Margland.
+
+'No, I must come to you first, Miss,' answered he, 'for that's what they
+come upon next. But mayhap I must not tell?'
+
+'O yes, you may;' said she, growing a little apprehensive of some
+affront, but determined not to seem hurt by it; 'I am very indifferent
+to any thing they can say of me, assure yourself!'
+
+'Why, I suppose, says they, this Latin master studies chiefly with the
+governess?--They'd study fisty-cuffs I believe, if they did, says I, for
+she hates him like poison; and there's no great love lost between them.'
+
+'And what right had you to say that, Mr. Jacob? I did not ask what you
+said. Not that I care, I promise you!'
+
+'Why, some how, they got it all out; they were so merry and so full of
+their fun, I could not be behind hand. But I hope no offence?'
+
+'O dear no! I'm sure it's not worth while.'
+
+'They said worse than I did,' resumed Jacob, 'by a deal; they said, says
+they, she looks duced crabbed--she looks just as if she was always
+eating a sour apple, says the lady; she looks--'
+
+'Well, well, I don't want to hear any more of their opinions. I may look
+as I please I hope. I hate such gossiping.'
+
+'So then they said, pray does Miss Camilla learn? says they;--Lord love
+her, no! says I.'
+
+'And what said they to that?' cried Edgar.
+
+'Why, they said, they hoped not, and they were glad to hear it, for they
+liked her the best of all. And what does the ugly one do? says they.--'
+
+'Come, we have heard enough now,' interrupted Edgar, greatly shocked for
+poor Eugenia, who fortunately, however, had retired with Camilla.
+
+Sir Hugh too, angrily broke in upon him, saying: 'I won't have my niece
+called ugly, Jacob! you know it's against my commands such a thing's
+being mentioned.'
+
+'Why, I told 'em so, sir,' said Jacob; 'ugly one, says I, she you call
+the ugly one, is one of the best ladies in the land. She's ready to lend
+a hand to every mortal soul; she's just like my master for that. And as
+to learning, I make no quæry she can talk you over the Latin grammar as
+fast as e'er a gentleman here. So then they laughed harder than ever,
+and said they should be afeard to speak to her, and a deal more I can't
+call to mind.--So then they come to Mr. Mandlebert. Pray, says they,
+what's he doing among you all this time?--Why, nothing particular, says
+I, he's only squiring about our young ladies.--But when is this wedding
+to be? says another. So then I said--'
+
+'What did you say?' cried Edgar hastily.
+
+'Why--nothing,' answered Jacob, drawing back.
+
+'Tell us, however, what they said,' cried Miss Margland.
+
+'Why, they said, says they, everything has been ready some time at Beech
+Park;--and they'll make as handsome a couple as ever was seen.'
+
+'What stuff is this!' cried Edgar, 'do prithee have done.'--
+
+'No, no,' said Miss Margland; 'go on, Jacob!'
+
+Indiana, conscious and glowing at the words handsome couple, could not
+restrain a simper; but Edgar, thinking only of Camilla, did not
+understand it.
+
+'He'll have trouble enough, says one of the gentlemen,' continued Jacob,
+'to take care of so pretty a wife.--She'll be worth a little trouble,
+says another, for I think she is the most beautifullest girl I ever
+see--Take my word of it, says the lady of the house, young Mandlebert is
+a man who won't be made a fool of; he'll have his own way, for all her
+beauty.'
+
+'What a character to give of me to young ladies!' cried Edgar, doubtful,
+in his turn, whether to be hurt or gratified.
+
+'O she did not stop at that, sir,' resumed Jacob, 'for she said, I make
+no question, says she, but in half a year he'll lock her up.'
+
+Indiana, surprized, gave an involuntary little shriek: but Edgar, not
+imputing it to any appropriate alarm, was filled with resentment against
+Mrs. Arlbery. What incomprehensible injustice! he said to himself: O
+Camilla! is it possible any event, any circumstance upon earth, could
+induce me to practise such an outrage? to degenerate into such a savage?
+
+'Is this all?' asked Miss Margland.
+
+'No, ma'am; but I don't know if Miss will like to hear the rest.'
+
+'O yes,' said Indiana, 'if it's about me, I don't mind.'
+
+'Why, they all said, Miss, you'd make the most finest bride that ever
+was seen, and they did not wonder at Mr. Mandlebert's chusing you; but
+for all that--.'
+
+He stopt, and Edgar, who, following the bent of his own thoughts, had
+till now concluded Camilla to be meant, was utterly confounded by
+discovering his mistake. The presence of Indiana redoubled the
+awkwardness of the situation, and her blushes, and the increased lustre
+of her eyes, did not make the report seem either unwelcome, or perfectly
+new to her.
+
+Miss Margland raised her head triumphantly. This was precisely such a
+circumstance as she flattered herself would prove decisive.
+
+The Baronet, equally pleased, returned her nod of congratulation, and
+nodding himself towards Edgar, said; 'you're blown, you see! but what
+matters secrets about nothing? which, Lord help me, I never knew how to
+keep.'
+
+Edgar was now still more disconcerted, and, from mere distress what to
+say or do, bid Jacob go on.
+
+'Why then, they said a deal more, how pretty she was, he continued, but
+they did not know how it would turn out, for the young lady was so much
+admired, that her husband had need look sharp after her; and if--'
+
+'What complete impertinence!' cried Edgar, walking about the room; 'I
+really can listen no longer.'
+
+'If he had done wisely, says the lady of the house, he would have left
+the professed beauty, and taken that pretty Camilla.'
+
+Edgar surprized, stopt short; this seemed to him less impertinent.
+
+'Camilla is a charming creature, says she; though she may want a little
+watching too; but so does every thing that is worth having.'
+
+That woman does not want discernment, thought Edgar, nor she does not
+want taste.--I can never totally dislike her, if she does such justice
+to Camilla.
+
+He now again invited Jacob to proceed; but Indiana, with a pouting lip,
+walked out of the room, and Miss Margland said, there was not need to be
+hearing him all night.
+
+Jacob, therefore, when no more either interrupted or encouraged, soon
+finished his narrative. Mrs. Arlbery, amused by watching Dr. Orkborne,
+had insisted, for an experiment, that Jacob should not return to the
+coach till he was missed and called for; and so intense was the
+application of the Doctor to what he was composing, that this did not
+happen till the whole family had dined; Jacob and the coachman, at the
+invitation of Mrs. Arlbery, having partaken of the servants' fare,
+equally pleased with the regale and the joke. Dr. Orkborne then,
+suddenly recollecting himself, demanded why the young ladies were so
+late, and was much discomposed and astonished when he heard they were
+gone. Mrs. Arlbery invited him into the house, and offered him
+refreshments, while she ordered water and a feed of corn for the horses;
+but he only fretted a little, and then went on again with his studies.
+
+Sir Hugh now sent some cold dinner into the Doctor's room, and declared
+he should always approve his niece's acquaintance with Mrs. Arlbery, as
+she was so kind to his servants and his animals.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_An Author's Idea of Order_
+
+
+Not a bosom of the Cleves party enjoyed much tranquillity this evening.
+Miss Margland, though to the Baronet she would not recede from her first
+assertions, strove vainly to palliate to herself the ill grace and
+evident dissatisfaction with which Edgar had met the report. To save her
+own credit, however, was always her primary consideration; she resolved,
+therefore, to cast upon unfair play in Camilla, or upon the instability
+of Edgar, all the blame really due to her own undiscerning
+self-sufficiency.
+
+Indiana thought so little for herself, that she adopted, of course,
+every opinion of Miss Margland; yet the immoveable coldness of Edgar,
+contrasted frequently in her remembrance by the fervour of Melmond and
+of Macdersey, became more and more distasteful to her; and Mrs.
+Arlbery's idea, that she should be locked up in half a year, made her
+look upon him alternately as something to shun or to over-reach. She
+even wished to refuse him:--but Beech Park, the equipage, the servants,
+the bridal habiliment.--No! she could enjoy those, if not him. And
+neither her own feelings, nor the lessons of Miss Margland, had taught
+her to look upon marriage in any nobler point of view.
+
+But the person most deeply dissatisfied this evening was Edgar. He now
+saw that, deceived by his own consciousness, he had misunderstood Mrs.
+Needham, who, as well as Mrs. Arlbery, he was convinced concluded him
+engaged to Indiana. He had observed with concern the approving credulity
+of Sir Hugh, and though glad to find his real plan, and all his wishes
+unsuspected, the false report excited his fears, lest Indiana should
+give it any credit, and secretly hurt his delicacy for the honour of his
+taste.
+
+All the influence of pecuniary motives to which he deemed Camilla
+superior, occurred to him in the very words of Dr. Marchmont for
+Indiana; whose capacity he saw was as shallow as her person was
+beautiful. Yet the admiration with which she had already made her first
+appearance in the world, might naturally induce her belief of his
+reported devotion. If, therefore, his situation appeared to her to be
+eligible, she had probably settled to accept him.
+
+The most timid female delicacy was not more scrupulous, than the manly
+honour of Edgar to avoid this species of misapprehension; and though
+perfectly confident his behaviour had been as irreproachable as it was
+undesigning, the least idea of any self-delusion on the part of Indiana,
+seemed a call upon his integrity for the most unequivocal manifestation
+of his intentions. Yet any declaration by words, with whatever care
+selected, might be construed into an implication that he concluded the
+decision in his own hands. And though he could scarcely doubt the fact,
+he justly held nothing so offensive as the palpable presumption. One
+only line of conduct appeared to him, therefore, unexceptionable; which
+was wholly to avoid her, till the rumour sunk into its own nothingness.
+
+This demanded from him a sacrifice the most painful, that of retiring
+from Cleves in utter ignorance of the sentiments of Camilla; yet it
+seemed the more necessary, since he now, with much uneasiness,
+recollected many circumstances which his absorbed mind had hitherto
+suffered to pass unnoticed, that led him to fear Sir Hugh himself, and
+the whole party, entertained the same notion.
+
+He was shocked to consider Camilla involved in such a deception, though
+delighted by the idea he might perhaps owe to an explanation, some marks
+of that preference for which Dr. Marchmont had taught him to wait, and
+which he now hoped might lie dormant from the persuasion of his
+engagement. To clear this mistake was, therefore, every way essential,
+as otherwise the very purity of her character must be in his disfavour.
+
+Still, however, the visit to the Grove hung upon his mind, and he
+resolved to investigate its cause the following morning, before he made
+his retreat.
+
+Early the next day, Camilla sent to hasten the chaise which was to fetch
+Mr. Tyrold, and begged leave of her uncle to breakfast at Etherington.
+His assent was always ready; and believing every evil would yield to
+absence, she eagerly, and even with happiness set off.
+
+When the rest of the party assembled without her, Edgar, surprised,
+enquired if she were well? Miss Margland answered yes; but for the sake
+of what she loved best in the world, a frolic, she was gone in the
+chaise to Etherington. Edgar could not prevail with himself to depart
+till he had spoken with her, and privately deferred his purposed
+leave-taking till noon.
+
+During this report, Sir Hugh was anxiously engaged in some business he
+seemed to wish to conceal. He spoke little, but nodded frequently to
+himself, with an air of approving his own ideas; he summoned Jacob to
+him repeatedly, with whom he held various whispering conferences; and
+desired Miss Margland, who made the tea, not to pour it out too fast, as
+he was in no hurry to have breakfast over.
+
+When nothing he could urge succeeded, in making any of the company eat
+or drink any thing more, he pulled Edgar by the sleeve; and, in an eager
+but low voice, said, 'My dear Mr. Edgar, I have a great favour to beg of
+you, which is only that you will do something to divert Dr. Orkborne.'
+
+'I should be very happy, Sir,' cried Edgar, smiling, 'but I much doubt
+my capability.'
+
+'Why, my dear Mr. Edgar, it's only to keep him from finding out my new
+surprise till it's got ready. And if you will but just spout out to him
+a bit or two of Virgil and Horace, or some of those Greek and Latin
+language-masters, he'll be in no hurry to budge, I promise you.'
+
+A request from Sir Hugh, who with the most prompt alacrity met the
+wishes of everyone, was by Edgar held to be indisputable. He advanced,
+therefore, to Dr. Orkborne, who was feeling for his tablets, which he
+commonly examined in his way up the stairs, and started a doubt, of
+which he begged an exposition, upon a passage of Virgil.
+
+Dr. Orkborne willingly stopt, and displayed, with no small satisfaction,
+an erudition, that did him nearly as much honour in the ears of the
+ignorant and admiring Sir Hugh, as in those of the cultivated and
+well-judging Edgar. 'Ah!' said the Baronet, sighing, though addressing
+himself to no one, 'if I had but addicted myself to these studies in due
+season, I might have understood all this too! though now I can't for my
+life make out much sense of what they're talking of; nor a little
+neither, indeed, as to that; thanks to my own idleness; to which,
+however, I am not much obliged.'
+
+Unfortunately, the discussion soon led to some points of comparison,
+that demanded a review of various authors, and the doctor proposed
+adjourning to his own apartment. The Baronet winked at Edgar, who would
+have changed the discourse, or himself have sought the books, or have
+been satisfied without them; but Dr. Orkborne was as eager here, as in
+other matters he was slow and phlegmatic; and, regardless of all
+opposition, was making off, when Sir Hugh, catching him by the arm,
+exclaimed, 'My good friend, I beg it as a particular favour, you won't
+stir a step!'
+
+'Not stir a step, Sir?' repeated the doctor, amazed.
+
+'That is, not to your own room.'
+
+'Not go to my own room, Sir?'
+
+The Baronet gently begged him not to take it amiss, and presently, upon
+the appearance of Jacob, who entered with a significant smile, said, he
+would keep him no longer.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, to whom nothing was so irksome as a moment's detention
+from his books and papers, instantly departed, inviting Edgar to
+accompany him; but without troubling himself to inquire for what end he
+had been held back.
+
+When they were gone, Sir Hugh, rubbing his hands, said, 'Well, I think
+this good gentleman won't go about the country again, with all his books
+fastened about him, to shew he has nowhere to put them: for as to his
+telling me he only took them to look at, I am not quite such an
+ignoramus, with all my ignorance, as to believe such a thing as that,
+especially of a regular bred scholar.'
+
+A loud and angry sound of voices from above here interrupted the pleased
+harangue of the Baronet; Miss Margland opened the door to listen, and,
+with no small delight, heard words, scarce intelligible for rage,
+breaking from Dr. Orkborne, whose anger, while Edgar was endeavouring
+to moderate, Jacob and Mary were vociferously resenting.
+
+Sir Hugh, all astonished, feared there was some mistake. He had sent,
+the preceding day, as far as Winchester, for two bookcases, which he had
+ordered should arrive early, and be put up during the breakfast; and he
+had directed Mary to place upon the shelves, with great care, all the
+loose books and papers she found dispersed about the room, as neatly as
+possible: after which Jacob was to give notice when all was arranged.
+
+The words now 'If I must have my manuscripts rummaged at pleasure, by
+every dunce in the house, I would rather lie in the street!' distinctly
+caught their ears. Sir Hugh was thunderstruck with amazement and
+disappointment, but said nothing. Miss Margland looked all spite and
+pleasure, and Eugenia all concern.
+
+Louder yet, and with accents of encreasing asperity, the Doctor next
+exclaimed 'A twelvemonth's hard labour will not repair this mischief! I
+should have been much more obliged to you if you had blown out my
+brains!'
+
+The Baronet, aghast, cried, 'Lord help us! I think I had best go and get
+the shelves pulled down again, what I have done not being meant to
+offend, being what will cost me ten pounds and upwards.'
+
+He then, though somewhat irresolute, whether or not to proceed, moved
+towards the foot of the stairs; but there a new storm of rage startled
+him. 'I wish you had been all of you annihilated ere ever you had
+entered my room! I had rather have lost my ears than that manuscript! I
+wish with all my heart you had been at the bottom of the sea, every one
+of you, before you had touched it!'
+
+'If you won't believe me, it can't be helped,' said Mary; 'but if I was
+to tell it you over and over, I've done nothing to no mortal thing. I
+only just swept the room after the carpenter was gone, for it was all in
+such a pickle it was a shame to be seen.'
+
+'You have ruined me!' cried he, 'you have swept it behind the fire, I
+make not a moment's doubt; and I had rather you had given me a bowl of
+poison! you can make me no reparation; it was a clue to a whole
+section.'
+
+'Well, I won't make no more words about it,' said Mary, angrily; 'but
+I'm sure I never so much as touched it with a pair of tongs, for I never
+see it; nor I don't so much as know it if I do.'
+
+'Why, it's a piece of paper written all over; look! just such another as
+this: I left it on the table, by this corner--'
+
+'O! that?' cried Mary; 'yes, I remember that.'
+
+'Well, where is it? What have you done with it?'
+
+'Why, I happened of a little accident about that;--for as I was a
+sweeping under the table, the broom knocked the ink down; but, by good
+luck, it only fell upon that little morsel of paper.'
+
+'Little morsel of paper? it's more precious than a whole library! But
+what did you do with it? what is become of it? whatever condition it is
+in, if you have but saved it--where is it, I say?'
+
+'Why--it was all over ink, and good for nothing, so I did not think of
+your missing it--so I throwed it behind the fire.'
+
+'I wish you had been thrown there yourself with all my heart! But if
+ever you bring a broom into my room again--'
+
+'Why, I did nothing but what my master ordered--'
+
+'Or if ever you touch a paper, or a book of mine, again--'
+
+'My master said himself--'
+
+'Your master's a blockhead! and you are another--go away, I say!'
+
+Mary now hurried out of the room, enraged for her master, and frightened
+for herself; and Edgar, not aware Sir Hugh was within hearing, soon
+succeeded in calming the doctor, by mildly listening to his
+lamentations.
+
+Sir Hugh, extremely shocked, sat upon the stairs to recover himself.
+Miss Margland, who never felt so virtuous, and never so elated, as when
+witnessing the imperfections or improprieties of others, descanted
+largely against ingratitude; treating an unmeaning sally of passion as a
+serious mark of turpitude: but Eugenia, ashamed for Dr. Orkborne, to
+whom, as her preceptor, she felt a constant disposition to be partial,
+determined to endeavour to induce him to make some apology. She glided,
+therefore, past her uncle, and tapped at the doctor's door.
+
+Mary, seeing her master so invitingly in her way, could by no means
+resist her desire of appeal and complaint; and, descending the stairs,
+begged his honour to hear her.
+
+'Mary,' said he, rising, and returning to the parlour, 'you need not
+tell me a word, for I have heard it all myself; by which it may be truly
+said, listeners never hear good of themselves; so I've got the proper
+punishment; for which reason, I hope you won't look upon it as an
+example.'
+
+'I am sure, Sir,' said Mary, 'if your honour can excuse his speaking so
+disrespectful, it's what nobody else can; and if it was not for thinking
+as his head's got a crack in it, there is not a servant among us as
+would not affront him for it.'
+
+The Baronet interrupted her with a serious lecture upon the civility he
+expected for all his guests; and she promised to restrain her wrath;
+'But only, sir,' she continued, 'if your honour had seen the bit of
+paper as he made such a noise at me for, your honour would not have
+believed it. Not a soul could have read it. My Tom would ha' been well
+licked if he'd wrote no better at school. And as to his being a
+twelvemonth a scrawling such another, I'll no more believe it than I'll
+fly. It's as great a fib as ever was told.'
+
+Sir Hugh begged her to be quiet, and to think no more of the matter.
+
+'No, your honour, I hope I'm not a person as bears malice; only I could
+not but speak of it, because he behaves more comical every day. I
+thought he'd ha' beat me over and over. And as to the stories he tells
+about them little bits of paper, mortal patience can't bear it no
+longer.'
+
+The remonstrance of Eugenia took immediate effect. Dr. Orkborne, shocked
+and alarmed at the expression which had escaped him, protested himself
+willing to make the humblest reparation, and truly declared, he had been
+so greatly disturbed by the loss he had just sustained, that he not
+merely did not mean, but did not know what he had said.
+
+Edgar was the bearer of his apology, which Sir Hugh accepted with his
+usual good humour. 'His calling me a blockhead,' cried he, 'is a thing I
+have no right to resent, because I take it for granted, he would not
+have said it, if he had not thought it; and a man's thoughts are his
+castle, and ought to be free.'
+
+Edgar repeated the protestation, that he had been hurried on by passion,
+and spoke without meaning.
+
+'Why, then, my dear Mr. Edgar, I must fairly own I don't see the great
+superiorness of learning, if it can't keep a man's temper out of a
+passion. However, say nothing of the sort to poor Clermont, upon his
+coming over, who I expect won't speak one word in ten I shall
+understand; which, however, as it's all been done for the best, I would
+not have the poor boy discouraged in.'
+
+He then sent a kind message by Edgar to Dr. Orkborne, desiring him not
+to mind such a trifle.
+
+This conciliating office was congenial to the disposition of Edgar, and
+softened his impatience for the return of Camilla, but when, soon after,
+a note arrived from Mr. Tyrold, requesting Sir Hugh to dispense with
+seeing him till the next day, and apologising for keeping his daughter,
+he felt equally disappointed and provoked, though he determined not to
+delay any longer his departure. He gave orders, therefore, for his
+horses immediately, and with all the less regret, for knowing Camilla no
+longer in the circle he was to quit.
+
+The ladies were in the parlour with Sir Hugh, who was sorrowfully
+brooding over his brother's note, when he entered it to take leave.
+Addressing himself somewhat rapidly to the Baronet, he told him he was
+under an unpleasant necessity, to relinquish some days of the month's
+sojourn intended for him. He made acknowledgments full of regard for his
+kindness and hospitality; and then, only bowing to the ladies, left the
+room, before the astonished Sir Hugh comprehended he was going.
+
+'Well,' cried Miss Margland, 'this is curious indeed! He has flown off
+from everything, without even an apology!'
+
+'I hope he is not really gone?' said Eugenia, walking to the window.
+
+'I'm sure I don't care what he does,' cried Indiana, 'he's welcome to go
+or to stay. I'm grown quite sick of him, for my part.'
+
+'Gone?' said Sir Hugh, recovering breath; 'it's impossible! Why, he
+never has said one word to me of the day, nor the settlements, nor all
+those things!'
+
+He then rang the bell, and sent to desire Mr. Mandlebert might be called
+immediately.
+
+Edgar, who was mounting his horse, obeyed with some chagrin. As soon as
+he re-entered the room, Sir Hugh cried; 'My dear Mr. young Edgar, it's
+something amazing to me you should think of going away without coming to
+an explanation?'
+
+'An explanation, sir?'
+
+'Yes, don't you know what I mean?'
+
+'Not in the least, sir,' cried Edgar, staggered by a doubt whether he
+suspected what he felt for Camilla, or referred to what was reported of
+Indiana.
+
+'Why, then, my pretty dear,' said Sir Hugh to Indiana, 'you won't
+object, I hope, to taking a little walk in the garden, provided it is
+not disagreeable to you; for you had better not hear what we are going
+to talk about before your face.'
+
+Indiana, pouting her beautiful under lip, and scornfully passing Edgar,
+complied. Eugenia accompanied her; but Miss Margland kept her ground.
+
+Sir Hugh, always unwilling to make any attack, and at a loss how to
+begin, simply said; 'Why, I thought Mr. Mandlebert, you would stay with
+us till next year?'
+
+Edgar only bowed.
+
+'Why, then, suppose you do?'
+
+'Most probably, sir, I shall by that time be upon the Continent. If some
+particular circumstance does not occur, I purpose shortly making the
+tour of Europe.'
+
+Sir Hugh now lost all guard and all restraint, and with undisguised
+displeasure exclaimed; 'So here's just the second part of Clermont! at
+the moment I sent for him home, thinking he would come to put the finish
+to all my cares about Eugenia, he sends me word he must travel!--And
+though the poor girl took it very well, from knowing nothing of the
+matter, I can't say I take it very kind of you, Mr. young Edgar, to come
+and do just the same by Indiana!'
+
+The surprize of Edgar was unspeakable: that Sir Hugh should wish the
+relation of Jacob, with respect to Indiana, confirmed, he could not
+wonder; but that his wishes should have amounted to expectations, and
+that he should deem his niece ill used by their failure, gave him the
+most poignant astonishment.
+
+Miss Margland, taking advantage of his silent consternation, began now
+to pour forth very volubly, the most pointed reflections upon the injury
+done to young ladies by reports of this nature, which were always sure
+to keep off all other offers. There was no end, she said, to the
+admirers who had deserted Indiana in despair; and she questioned if she
+would ever have any more, from the general belief of her being actually
+pre-engaged.
+
+Edgar, whose sense of honour was tenaciously delicate, heard her with a
+mixture of concern for Indiana, and indignation against herself, that
+kept her long uninterrupted; for though burning to assert the integrity
+of his conduct, the fear of uttering a word that might be offensive to
+Indiana, embarrassed and checked him.
+
+Sir Hugh, who in seeing him overpowered, concluded he was relenting, now
+kindly took his hand, and said: 'My dear Mr. Mandlebert, if you are
+sorry for what you were intending, of going away, and leaving us all in
+the lurch, why, you shall never hear a word more about it, for I will
+make friends for you with Indiana, and beg of Miss Margland that she'll
+do us the favour to say no more.'
+
+Edgar, affectionately pressing the hand of the Baronet, uttered the
+warmest expressions of personal regard, and protested he should always
+think it an honour to have been held worthy of pretending to any
+alliance in his family; but he knew not how the present mistake had been
+made, or report had arisen: he could boast of no partiality from Miss
+Lynmere, nor had he ever addressed her with any particular views: yet,
+as it was the opinion of Miss Margland, that the rumour, however false,
+might prevent the approach of some deserving object, he now finally
+determined to become, for awhile, a stranger at Cleves, however painful
+such self-denial must prove.
+
+He then precipitately left the room, and, in five minutes, had galloped
+out of the Park.
+
+The rest of the morning was spent by Sir Hugh in the utmost
+discomposure; and by Miss Margland in alternate abuse of Camilla and of
+Edgar; while Indiana passed from a piqued and short disappointment, to
+the consolatory idea that Melmond might now re-appear.
+
+Edgar rode strait to Beech Park, where he busied himself the whole day
+in viewing alterations and improvements; but where nothing answered his
+expectations, since Camilla had disappointed them. That sun-beam, which
+had gilded the place to his eyes, was now over-clouded, and the first
+possession of his own domain, was his first day of discontent.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_A Maternal Eye_
+
+
+The vivacity with which Camilla quitted Cleves, was sunk before she
+reached Etherington. She had quitted also Edgar, quitted him offended,
+and in doubt if it might ever be right she should vindicate herself in
+his opinion. Yet all seemed strange and unintelligible that regarded the
+asserted nuptials: his indifference was palpable; she believed him to
+have been unaccountably drawn in, and her heart softly whispered, it was
+herself he preferred.
+
+From this soothing but dangerous idea, she struggled to turn her
+thoughts. She anticipated the remorse of holding the affections of the
+husband of her cousin, and determined to use every possible method to
+forget him--unless, which she strove vainly not to hope, the reported
+alliance should never take place.
+
+These reflections so completely engrossed her the whole way, that she
+arrived at the Parsonage House, without the smallest mental preparation
+how to account for her return, or how to plead for remaining at
+Etherington. Foresight, the offspring of Judgment, or the disciple of
+Experience, made no part of the character of Camilla, whose impetuous
+disposition was open to every danger of indiscretion, though her genuine
+love of virtue glowed warm with juvenile ardour.
+
+She entered, therefore, the breakfast parlour in a state of sudden
+perplexity what to say; Mr. Tyrold was alone and writing. He looked
+surprized, but embraced her with his accustomed affection, and enquired
+to what he owed her present sight.
+
+She made no answer; but embraced him again, and enquired after her
+mother.
+
+'She is well,' he replied: 'but, tell me, is your uncle impatient of my
+delay? It has been wholly unavoidable. I have been deeply engaged; and
+deeply chagrined. Your poor mother would be still more disturbed, if the
+nobleness of her mind did not support her.'
+
+Camilla, extremely grieved, earnestly enquired what had happened.
+
+He then informed her that Mrs. Tyrold, the very next morning, must
+abruptly quit them all and set out for Lisbon to her sick brother, Mr.
+Relvil.
+
+'Is he so much worse?'
+
+'No: I even hope he is better. An act of folly has brought this to bear.
+Do not now desire particulars. I will finish my letter, and then return
+with you for a few minutes to Cleves. The carriage must wait.'
+
+'Suffer me first to ask, does Lavinia go with my mother?'
+
+'No, she can only take old Ambrose. Lavinia must supply her place at
+home.'
+
+'Ah! my dearest father, and may not I, too, stay with you and assist
+her?'
+
+'If my brother will spare you, my dear child, there is nothing can so
+much contribute to wile away to me your mother's absence.'
+
+Enchanted thus, without any explanation, to have gained her point, she
+completely revived; though when Mrs. Tyrold, whom she almost worshipped,
+entered the room, in all the hurry of preparing for her long journey,
+she shed a torrent of tears in her arms.
+
+'This good girl,' said Mr. Tyrold, 'is herself desirous to quit the
+present gaieties of Cleves, to try to enliven my solitude till we all
+may meet again.'
+
+The conscious and artless Camilla could not bear this undeserved praise.
+She quitted her mother, and returning to Mr. Tyrold, 'O my father!' she
+cried, 'if you will take me again under your beloved roof, it is for my
+sake--not your's--I beg to return!'
+
+'She is right,' said Mrs. Tyrold; 'there is no merit in having an heart;
+she could have none, if to be with you were not her first
+gratification.'
+
+'Yes, indeed, my dear mother, it would always be so, even if no other
+inducement--.' She stopt short, confused.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, who continued writing, did not heed this little blunder; but
+his wife, whose quickness of apprehension and depth of observation, were
+always alive, even in the midst of business, cares, and other
+attentions, turned hastily to her daughter, and asked to what 'other
+inducement' she alluded.
+
+Camilla, distressed, hung her head, and would have forborne making any
+answer.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold, then, putting down various packets which she was sorting
+and selecting, came suddenly up to her, and taking both her hands,
+looked earnestly in her face, saying: 'My Camilla! something has
+disquieted you?--your countenance is not itself. Tell me, my dear girl,
+what brought you hither this morning? and what is it you mean by some
+other inducement?'
+
+'Do not ask me now, my dearest mother,' answered she, in a faltering
+voice; 'when you come back again, no doubt all will be over; and
+then--'
+
+'And is that the time, Camilla, to speak to your best friends? would it
+not be more judicious to be explicit with them, while what affects you
+is still depending?'
+
+Camilla, hiding her face on her mother's bosom, burst afresh into tears.
+
+'Alas!' cried Mrs. Tyrold, 'what new evil is hovering? If it must invade
+me again through one of my children, tell me, at least, Camilla, it is
+not wilfully that you, too, afflict me? and afflict the best of
+fathers?'
+
+Mr. Tyrold, dropping his pen, looked at them both with the most
+apprehensive anxiety.
+
+'No, my dearest mother,' said Camilla, endeavouring to meet her eyes;
+'not wilfully,--but something has happened--I can hardly myself tell how
+or what--but indeed Cleves, now--' she hesitated.
+
+'How is my brother?' demanded Mr. Tyrold.
+
+'O! all that is good and kind! and I grieve to quit him--but, indeed,
+Cleves, now--' Again she hesitated.
+
+'Ah, my dear child!' said Mrs. Tyrold, 'I always feared that
+residence!--you are too young, too inconsiderate, too innocent, indeed,
+to be left so utterly to yourself.--Forgive me, my dear Mr. Tyrold; I do
+not mean to reflect upon your brother, but he is not _you_!--and with
+you alone, this dear inexperienced girl can be secure from all harm.
+Tell me, however, what it is--?'
+
+Camilla, in the extremest confusion changed colour, but tried vainly to
+speak. Mr. Tyrold, suspended from all employment, waited fearfully some
+explanation.
+
+'We have no time,' said Mrs. Tyrold, 'for delay;--you know I am going
+abroad,--and cannot ascertain my return; though all my heart left behind
+me, with my children and their father, will urge every acceleration in
+my power.'
+
+Camilla wept again, fondly folding her arms round her mother; 'I had
+hoped,' she cried, 'that I should have come home to peace, comfort,
+tranquillity! to both of you, my dearest father and mother, and to all
+my unbroken happiness under your roof!--How little did I dream of so
+cruel a separation!'
+
+'Console yourself, my Camilla, that you have not been its cause; may
+Heaven ever spare me evil in your shape at least!--you say it is nothing
+wilful? I can bear everything else.'
+
+'We will not,' said Mr. Tyrold, 'press her; she will tell us all in her
+own way, and at her own time. Forced confidence is neither fair nor
+flattering. I will excuse her return to my brother, and she will the
+sooner be able to give her account for finding herself not hurried.'
+
+'Calm yourself, then,' said Mrs. Tyrold, 'as your indulgent father
+permits, and I will proceed with my preparations.'
+
+Camilla now, somewhat recovering, declared she had almost nothing to
+say; but her mother continued packing up, and her father went on with
+his letter.
+
+She had now time to consider that her own fears and emotion were
+involving her in unnecessary confessions; she resolved, therefore, to
+repress the fulness of her heart, and to acknowledge only the accusation
+of Miss Margland. And in a few minutes, without waiting for further
+enquiry, she gathered courage to open upon the subject; and with as much
+ease and quietness as she could command, related, in general terms, the
+charge brought against her, and her consequent desire to quit Cleves,
+'till,----till----' Here she stopt for breath. Mr. Tyrold instantly
+finished the sentence, 'till the marriage has taken place?'
+
+She coloured, and faintly uttered, 'Yes.'
+
+'You are right, my child,' said he, 'and you have acted with a prudence
+which does you honour. Neither the ablest reasoning, nor the most
+upright conduct, can so completely obliterate a surmise of this nature,
+from a suspicious mind, as absence. You shall remain, therefore, with
+me, till your cousin is settled in her new habitation. Do you know if
+the day is fixed?'
+
+'No, sir,' she answered, while the roses fled her cheeks at a question
+which implied so firm a belief of the union.
+
+'Do not suffer this affair to occasion you any further uneasiness,' he
+continued; 'it is the inherent and unalienable compact of Innocence with
+Truth, to hold themselves immovably superior to the calumny of false
+imputations. But I will go myself to Cleves, and set this whole matter
+right.'
+
+'And will you, too, sir, have the goodness--' She was going to say, _to
+make my peace with Edgar_; but the fear of misinterpretation checked
+her, and she turned away.
+
+He gently enquired what she meant; she avoided any explanation, and he
+resumed his writing.
+
+Ah me! thought she, will the time ever come, when with openness, with
+propriety, I may clear myself of caprice to Edgar?
+
+Less patient, because more alarmed than her husband, Mrs. Tyrold
+followed her to the window. She saw a tear in her eye, and again she
+took both her hands: 'Have you, my Camilla,' she cried, 'have you told
+us all? Can unjust impertinence so greatly have disturbed you? Is there
+no sting belonging to this wound that you are covering from our sight,
+though it may precisely be the spot that calls most for some healing
+balm?'
+
+Again the cheeks of Camilla received their fugitive roses. 'My dearest
+mother,' she cried, 'is not this enough?--to be accused--suspected--and
+to fear--'
+
+She stammered, and would have withdrawn her hands; but Mrs. Tyrold,
+still holding them, said, 'To fear what? speak out, my best child! open
+to us your whole heart!--Where else will you find repositories so
+tender?'
+
+Tears again flowed down the burning cheeks of Camilla, and dropping her
+eyes, 'Ah, my mother!' she cried, 'you will think me so frivolous--you
+will blush so for your daughter--if I own--if I dare confess--'
+
+Again she stopped, terrified at the conjectures to which this opening
+might give birth; but when further and fondly pressed by her mother, she
+added, 'It is not alone these unjust surmises,--nor even Indiana's
+unkind concurrence in them--but also--I have been afraid--I must have
+made a strange--a capricious--an ungrateful appearance in the eyes of
+Edgar Mandlebert.'
+
+Here her voice dropt; but presently recovering, she rapidly continued,
+'I know it is very immaterial--and I am sensible how foolish it may
+sound--but I shall also think of it no more now,--and therefore, as I
+have told the whole--'
+
+She looked up, conscience struck at these last words, to see if they
+proved satisfactory; she caught, in the countenance of her mother, an
+expression of deep commiseration, which was followed by a thousand
+maternal caresses of unusual softness, though unaccompanied by any
+words.
+
+Penetrated, yet distressed, she gratefully received them, but rejoiced
+when, at length, Mr. Tyrold, rising, said, 'Go, my love, upstairs to
+your sister; your mother, else, will never proceed with her business.'
+
+She gladly ran off, and soon, by a concise narration, satisfied Lavinia,
+and then calmed her own troubled mind.
+
+Mr. Tyrold now, though evidently much affected himself, strove to
+compose his wife. 'Alas!' cried she, 'do you not see what thus has
+touched me? Do you not perceive that our lovely girl, more just to his
+worth than its possessor, has given her whole heart to Edgar
+Mandlebert?'
+
+'I perceived it through your emotion, but I had not discovered it
+myself. I grieve, now, that the probability of such an event had not
+struck me in time to have kept them apart for its prevention.'
+
+'I grieve for nothing,' cried she, warmly, 'but the infatuated blindness
+of that self-lost young man. What a wife would Camilla have made him in
+every stage of their united career! And how unfortunately has she
+sympathised in my sentiments, that he alone seemed worthy to replace the
+first and best protector she must relinquish when she quits this house!
+What will he find in Indiana but a beautiful doll, uninterested in his
+feelings, unmoved by his excellencies, and incapable of comprehending
+him if he speaks either of business or literature!'
+
+'Yet many wives of this description,' replied Mr. Tyrold, 'are more
+pleasing in the eyes of their husbands than women who are either better
+informed in intellect, or more alive in sensation; and it is not an
+uncommon idea amongst men, that where, both in temper and affairs, there
+is least participation, there is most repose. But this is not the case
+with Edgar.'
+
+'No! he has a nobler resemblance than this portrait would allow him; a
+resemblance which made me hope from him a far higher style of choice. He
+prepares himself, however, his own ample punishment; for he has too much
+understanding not to sicken of mere personal allurements, and too much
+generosity to be flattered, or satisfied, by mere passive intellectual
+inferiority. Neither a mistress nor a slave can make him happy; a
+companion is what he requires; and for that, in a very few months, how
+vainly his secret soul may sigh, and _think of our Camilla_!'
+
+They then settled, that it would be now essential to the peace of their
+child to keep her as much as possible from his sight; and determined not
+to send her back to Cleves to apologize for the new plan, but to take
+upon themselves that whole charge. 'Her nature,' said Mrs. Tyrold, 'is
+so gay, so prompt for happiness, that I have little fear but in absence
+she will soon cease to dwell upon him. Fear, indeed, I have, but it is
+of a deeper evil than this early impression; I fear for her future lot!
+With whom can we trust her?--She will not endure negligence; and those
+she cannot respect she will soon despise. What a prospect for her,
+then, with our present race of young men! their frivolous fickleness
+nauseates whatever they can reach; they have a weak shame of asserting,
+or even listening to what is right, and a shallow pride in professing
+what is wrong. How must this ingenuous girl forget all she has yet seen,
+heard, or felt, ere she can encounter wickedness, or even weakness, and
+disguise her abhorrence or contempt?'
+
+'My dear Georgiana, let us never look forward to evil.'
+
+'Will it not be doubly hard to bear, if it come upon us without
+preparation?'
+
+'I think not. Terror shakes, and apprehension depresses: hope nerves as
+well as gladdens us. Remember always, I do not by hope mean presumption;
+I mean simply a cheerful trust in heaven.'
+
+'I must always yield,' cried Mrs. Tyrold, 'to your superior wisdom, and
+reflecting piety; and if I cannot conquer my fears, at least I will
+neither court nor indulge them.'
+
+The thanks of a grateful husband repaid this compliance. They sent for
+Camilla, to acquaint her they would make her excuses at Cleves: she gave
+a ready though melancholy consent, and the virtue of her motives drew
+tears from her idolizing mother, as she clasped her to her heart.
+
+They then set out together, that Mr. Tyrold might arrange this business
+with Sir Hugh, of whom and of Eugenia Mrs. Tyrold was to take leave.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_Modern Ideas of Duty_
+
+
+Camilla now felt more permanently revived, because better satisfied with
+the rectitude of her conduct. She could no longer be accused of
+interfering between Edgar and Indiana; that affair would take its
+natural course, and, be it what it might, while absent from both
+parties, she concluded she should at least escape all censure.
+
+Peaceably, therefore, she returned to take possession of her usual
+apartment, affectionately accompanied by her eldest sister.
+
+The form and the mind of Lavinia were in the most perfect harmony. Her
+polished complexion was fair, clear, and transparent; her features were
+of the extremest delicacy, her eyes of the softest blue, and her smile
+displayed internal serenity. The unruffled sweetness of her disposition
+bore the same character of modest excellence. Joy, hope, and prosperity,
+sickness, sorrow, and disappointment, assailed alike in vain the uniform
+gentleness of her temper: yet though thus exempt from all natural
+turbulence, either of pleasure or of pain, the meekness of her
+composition degenerated not into insensibility; it was open to all the
+feminine feelings of pity, of sympathy, and of tenderness.
+
+Thus copiously gifted with 'all her sex's softness,' her society would
+have contributed to restore Camilla to repose, had they continued
+together without interruption; but, in a few minutes, the room door was
+opened, and Lionel, rushing into the apartment, called out, 'How do, do,
+my girls? how do, do?' and shook them each by the hand, with a swing
+that nearly brought them to the ground.
+
+Camilla always rejoiced at his sight; but Lavinia gravely said, 'I
+thought, brother, you had been at Dr. Marchmont's?'
+
+'All in good time, my dear! I shall certainly visit the old gentleman
+before long.'
+
+'Did you not sleep there, then, last night?'
+
+'No, child.'
+
+'Good God, Lionel!--if my mother--'
+
+'My dear little Lavinia,' cried he, chucking her under the chin, 'I have
+a vast notion of making visits at my own time, instead of my mamma's.'
+
+'O Lionel! and can you, just now----'
+
+'Come, come,' interrupted he, 'don't let us waste our precious minutes
+in old moralizing. If I had not luckily been hard by, I should not have
+known the coast was clear. Pray where are they gone, tantivying?'
+
+'To Cleves.'
+
+'To Cleves! what a happy escape! I was upon the point of going thither
+myself. Camilla, what is the matter with thee?'
+
+'Nothing--I am only thinking--pray when do you go to Oxford?'
+
+'Pho, pho,--what do you talk of Oxford for? you are grown quite stupid,
+girl. I believe you have lived too long with Miss Margland. Pray how
+does that dear creature do? I am afraid she will grow melancholy from
+not seeing me so long. Is she as pretty as she used to be? I have some
+notion of sending her a suitor.'
+
+'O brother,' said Lavinia, 'is it possible you can have such spirits?'
+
+'O hang it, if one is not merry when one can, what is the world good
+for? besides, I do assure you, I fretted so consumed hard at first, that
+for the life of me I can fret no longer.'
+
+'But why are you not at Dr. Marchmont's?'
+
+'Because, my dear, you have no conception the pleasure those old doctors
+take in lecturing a youngster who is in any disgrace.'
+
+'Disgrace!' repeated Camilla.
+
+'At all events,' said Lavinia, 'I beseech you to be a little careful; I
+would not have my poor mother find you here for the world.'
+
+'O, as to that, I defy her to desire the meeting less than I do. But
+come, let's talk of something else. How go on the classics? Is my old
+friend, Dr. Orkborne, as chatty and amusing as ever?'
+
+'My dear Lionel,' said Camilla, 'I am filled with apprehension and
+perplexity. Why should my mother wish not to see you? And why--and how
+is it possible you can wish not to see her?'
+
+'What, don't you know it all?'
+
+'I know only that something must be wrong; but how, what, or which way,
+I have not heard.'
+
+'Has not Lavinia told you, then?
+
+'No,' answered Lavinia; 'I could be in no haste to give her pain.'
+
+'You are a good girl enough. But how came you hither, Camilla? and what
+is the reason you have not seen my mother yourself?'
+
+'Not seen her! I have been with her this half hour.'
+
+'What! and in all that time did not she tell you?'
+
+'She did not name you.'
+
+'Is it possible!--Well, she's a noble creature! I wonder how she could
+ever have such a son as me. And I am still less like my father than her.
+I suppose I was changed in the cradle. Will you countenance me, young
+ladies, if some villainous attorney or exciseman should by and by come
+to own me?'
+
+'Dear Lionel,' cried Camilla, 'do explain to me what has happened. You
+make me think it important and trifling twenty times in a minute.'
+
+'O, a horrid business!--Lavinia must tell it you. I'll go away till she
+has done. Don't despise me, Camilla; I am confounded sorry, I promise
+you.'
+
+He then hurried out of the room, evidently feeling more emotion than he
+cared to display.
+
+Yet Lavinia had but just begun her relation, when he abruptly returned.
+'Come, I had better tell it you myself,' cried he, 'for she'll make such
+a dismal ditty of it, that it won't be over this half year; the sooner
+we have done with it the better; it will only put you out of spirits.'
+
+Then, sitting down, and taking her hand, he began, 'You must know I was
+in rather a bad scrape at Oxford last year--'
+
+'Last year! and you never told us of it before!'
+
+'O, 'twas about something you would not understand, so I shall not
+mention particulars now. It is enough for you to know that two or three
+of us wanted a little cash!--well, so--in short, I sent a
+letter--somewhat of a threatening sort--to poor old uncle Relvil!'--
+
+'O Lionel!'
+
+'O, I did not sign it,--it was only begging a little money, which he can
+afford to spare very well; and just telling him, if he did not come to a
+place I mentioned, he would have his brains blown out.'--
+
+'How horrible!'
+
+'Pho, pho,--he had only to send the money, you know, and then his brains
+might keep their place; besides, you can't suppose there was gunpowder
+in the words. So I got this copied, and took the proper measures for
+concealment, and,--would you believe it! the poor old gull was fool
+enough actually to send the money where he was bid?'
+
+'Fie, Lionel!' cried Lavinia; 'do you call him a fool because you
+terrified him?'
+
+'Yes, to be sure, my dear; and you both think him so too, only you don't
+hold it pretty to say so. Do you suppose, if he had had half the wit of
+his sister, he would have done it? I believe, in my conscience, there
+was some odd mistake in their births, and that my mother took away the
+brains of the man, and left the woman's for the noddle of my poor
+uncle.'
+
+'Fie, fie, brother!' said Lavinia again; 'you know how sickly he has
+always been from his birth, and how soon therefore he might be alarmed.'
+
+'Why, yes, Lavinia--I believe it was a very bad thing--and I would give
+half my little finger I had not done it. But it's over, you know; so
+what signifies making the worst of it?'
+
+'And did he not discover you?'
+
+'No; I gave him particular orders, in my letter, not to attempt anything
+of that sort, assuring him there were spies about him to watch his
+proceedings. The good old ass took it all for gospel. So there the
+matter dropt. However, as ill luck would have it, about three months ago
+we wanted another sum--'
+
+'And could you again--'
+
+'Why, my dear, it was only taking a little of my own fortune beforehand,
+for I am his heir; so we all agreed it was merely robbing myself; for we
+had several consultations about it, and one of us is to be a lawyer.'
+
+'But you give me some pleasure here,' said Camilla; 'for I had never
+heard that my uncle had made you his heir.'
+
+'No more have I neither, my dear; but I take it for granted. Besides,
+our little lawyer put it into my head. Well, we wrote again, and told
+the poor old gentleman--for which I assure you I am heartily
+repentant--that if he did not send me double the sum, in the same
+manner, without delay, his house was to be burnt to the ground the first
+night that he and all his family were asleep in bed.--Now don't make
+faces and shruggings, for, I promise you, I think already I deserve to
+be hanged for giving him the fright; though I would not really have hurt
+him, all the time, for half his fortune. And who could have guessed he
+would have bit so easily? The money, however, came, and we thought it
+all secure, and agreed to get the same sum annually.'
+
+'Annually!' repeated Camilla, with uplifted hands.
+
+'Yes, my dear. You have no conception how convenient it would have been
+for our extra expenses. But, unluckily, uncle grew worse, and went
+abroad, and then consulted with some crab of a friend, and that friend
+with some demagogue of a magistrate, and so all is blown!--However, we
+had managed it so cleverly, it cost them near three months to find it
+out, owing, I must confess, to poor uncle's cowardice in not making his
+enquiries before the money was carried off, and he himself over the seas
+and far away. The other particulars Lavinia must give you; for I have
+talked of it now till I have made myself quite sick. Do tell me
+something diverting to drive it a little out of my head. Have you seen
+any thing of my enchanting widow lately?'
+
+'No, she does not desire to be seen by me. She would not admit me.'
+
+'She is frankness itself, and does not pretend to care a fig for any of
+her own sex.--O, but, Camilla, I have wanted to ask you this great
+while, if you think there is any truth in this rumour, that Mandlebert
+intends to propose to Indiana?'
+
+'To propose! I thought it had all long since been settled.'
+
+'Ay, so the world says; but I don't believe a word of it. Do you think,
+if that were the case, he would not have owned it to me? There's nothing
+fixed yet, depend upon it.'
+
+Camilla, struck, amazed, and delighted, involuntarily embraced her
+brother; though, recollecting herself almost at the same moment, she
+endeavoured to turn off the resistless impulse into taking leave, and
+hurrying him away.
+
+Lionel, who to want of solidity and penetration principally owed the
+errors of his conduct, was easily put upon a wrong scent, and assured
+her he would take care to be off in time. 'But what,' cried he, 'has
+carried them to Cleves? Are they gone to tell tales? Because I have lost
+one uncle by my own fault, must I lose another by their's?'
+
+'No,' answered Lavinia, 'they have determined not to name you. They have
+settled that my uncle Hugh shall never be told of the affair, nor
+anybody else, if they can help it, except your sisters, and Dr.
+Marchmont.'
+
+'Well, they are good souls,' cried he, attempting to laugh, though his
+eyes were glistening; 'I wish I deserved them better; I wish, too, it
+was not so dull to be good. I can be merry and harmless here at the same
+time,--and so I can at Cleves;--but at Oxford--or in London,--your merry
+blades there--I can't deny it, my dear sisters--your merry blades there
+are but sad fellows. Yet there is such fun, such spirit, such sport
+amongst them, I cannot for my life keep out of their way. Besides, you
+have no conception, young ladies, what a bye word you become among them
+if they catch you flinching.'
+
+'I would not for the world say anything to pain you, my dear brother,'
+cried Lavinia; 'but yet I must hope that, in future, your first study
+will be to resist such dangerous examples, and to drop such unworthy
+friends?'
+
+'If it is not to tell tales, then, for what else are they gone to
+Cleves, just at this time?'
+
+'For my mother to take leave of Eugenia and my uncle before her
+journey.'
+
+'Journey! Why whither is she going?'
+
+'Abroad.'
+
+'The deuce she is!--And what for?'
+
+'To try to make your peace with her brother; or at least to nurse him
+herself till he is tolerably recovered.'
+
+Lionel slapped his hat over his eyes, and saying, 'This is too much!--if
+I were a man I should shoot myself!'--rushed out of the room.
+
+The two sisters rapidly followed him, and caught his arm before he could
+quit the house. They earnestly besought him to return, to compose
+himself, and to promise he would commit no rash action.
+
+'My dear sisters,' cried he, 'I am worked just now only as I ought to
+be; but I will give you any promise you please. However, though I have
+never listened to my father as I ought to have listened, he has
+implanted in my mind a horror of suicide, that will make me live my
+natural life, be it as good for nothing as it may.'
+
+He then suffered his sisters to lead him back to their room, where he
+cast himself upon a chair, in painful rumination upon his own
+unworthiness, and his parents' excellence; but the tender soothings of
+Lavinia and Camilla, who trembled lest his remorse should urge him to
+some act of violence, soon drew him from reflections of which he hated
+the intrusion; and he attended, with complacency, to their youthful
+security of perfect reconciliations, and re-established happiness.
+
+With reciprocal exultation, the eyes of the sisters congratulated each
+other on having saved him from despair: and seeing him now calm, and,
+they hoped, safe, they mutually, though tacitly, agreed to obtrude no
+further upon meditations that might be useful to him, and remained
+silently by his side.
+
+For some minutes all were profoundly still; Lionel then suddenly started
+up; the sisters, affrighted, hastily arose at the same instant; when
+stretching himself and yawning, he called out, 'Pr'ythee, Camilla, what
+is become of that smug Mr. Dubster?'
+
+Speechless with amazement, they looked earnestly in his face, and feared
+he was raving.
+
+They were soon, however undeceived; the tide of penitence and sorrow
+was turned in his buoyant spirits, and he was only restored to his
+natural volatile self.
+
+'You used him most shabbily,' he continued, 'and he was a very pretty
+fellow. The next time I have nothing better to do, I'll send him to you,
+that you may make it up.'
+
+This quick return of gaiety caused a sigh to Lavinia, and much surprise
+to Camilla; but neither of them could prevail with him to depart, till
+Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold were every moment expected; they then, though with
+infinite difficulty, procured his promise that he would go straight to
+Dr. Marchmont, according to an arrangement made for that purpose by Mrs.
+Tyrold herself.
+
+Lavinia, when he was gone, related some circumstances of this affair
+which he had omitted. Mr. Relvil, the elder brother of Mrs. Tyrold, was
+a country gentleman of some fortune, but of weak parts, and an invalid
+from his infancy. He had suffered these incendiary letters to prey upon
+his repose, without venturing to produce them to any one, from a terror
+of the menaces hurled against him by the writer, till at length he
+became so completely hypochondriac, that his rest was utterly broken,
+and, to preserve his very existence, he resolved upon visiting another
+climate.
+
+The day that he set out for Lisbon, his destined harbour, he delivered
+his anonymous letters to a friend, to whom he left in charge to
+discover, if possible, their author.
+
+This discovery, by the usual means of enquiries and rewards, was soon
+made; but the moment Mr. Relvil learnt that the culprit was his nephew,
+he wrote over to Mrs. Tyrold a statement of the transaction, declaring
+he should disinherit Lionel from every shilling of his estate. His
+health was so much impaired, he said, by the disturbance this had given
+to his mind, that he should be obliged to spend the ensuing year in
+Portugal; and he even felt uncertain if he might ever return to his own
+country.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold, astonished and indignant, severely questioned her son, who
+covered, with shame, surprise, and repentance, confessed his guilt.
+Shocked and grieved in the extreme, she ordered him from her sight, and
+wrote to Dr. Marchmont to receive him. She then settled with Mr. Tyrold
+the plan of her journey and voyage, hoping by so immediately following,
+and herself nursing her incensed brother, to soften his wrath, and avert
+its final ill consequences.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_A Few Embarrassments_
+
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold returned to Etherington somewhat relieved in their
+spirits, though perplexed in their opinions. They had heard from Sir
+Hugh, that Edgar had decidedly disavowed any pretensions to Indiana, and
+had voluntarily retreated from Cleves, that his disavowal might risk no
+misconstruction, either in the family or the neighbourhood.
+
+This insensibility to beauty the most exquisite wanted no advocate with
+Mrs. Tyrold. Once more she conceived some hope of what she wished, and
+she determined upon seeing Edgar before her departure. The displeasure
+she had nourished against him vanished, and justice to his general
+worth, with an affection nearly maternal to his person, took again their
+wonted place in her bosom, and made her deem herself unkind in having
+purposed to quit the kingdom without bidding him farewell.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, whom professional duty and native inclination alike made a
+man of peace, was ever happy to second all conciliatory measures, and
+the first to propose them, where his voice had any chance of being
+heard. He sent a note, therefore, to invite Edgar to call the next
+morning; and Mrs. Tyrold deferred her hour of setting off till noon.
+
+Her own natural and immediate impulse, had been to carry Camilla with
+her abroad; but when she considered that her sole errand was to nurse
+and appease an offended sick man, whose chamber she meant not to quit
+till she returned to her family, she gave up the pleasure she would
+herself have found in the scheme, to her fears for the health and
+spirits of her darling child, joined to the superior joy of leaving such
+a solace with her husband.
+
+Sir Hugh had heard the petition for postponing the further visit of
+Camilla almost with despondence; but Mr. Tyrold restored him completely
+to confidence, with respect to his doubts concerning Dr. Orkborne, with
+whom he held a long and satisfactory conversation; and his own
+benevolent heart received a sensible pleasure, when, upon examining
+Indiana with regard to Edgar, he found her, though piqued and pouting,
+untouched either in affection or happiness.
+
+Early the next morning Edgar came. Mrs. Tyrold had taken measures for
+employing Camilla upstairs, where she did not even hear that he entered
+the house.
+
+He was received with kindness, and told of the sudden journey, though
+not of its motives. He heard of it with unfeigned concern, and earnestly
+solicited to be the companion of the voyage, if no better male protector
+were appointed.
+
+Mr. Tyrold folded his arms around him at this grateful proposal, while
+his wife, animated off her guard, warmly exclaimed--'My dear, excellent
+Edgar! you are indeed the model, the true son of your guardian!'
+
+Sorry for what had escaped her, from her internal reference to Lionel,
+she looked anxiously to see if he comprehended her; but the mantling
+blood which mounted quick into his cheeks, while his eyes sought the
+ground, soon told her there was another mode of affinity, which at that
+moment had struck him.
+
+Willing to establish whether this idea were right, she now considered
+how she might name Camilla; but her husband, who for no possible purpose
+could witness distress without seeking to alleviate it, declined his
+kind offer, and began a discourse upon the passage to Lisbon.
+
+This gave Edgar time to recover, and, in a few seconds, something of
+moment seemed abruptly to occur to him, and scarcely saying adieu, he
+hurried to remount his horse.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold was perplexed; but she could take not steps towards an
+explanation, without infringing the delicacy she felt due to her
+daughter: she suffered him, therefore, to depart.
+
+She then proceeded with her preparations, which entirely occupied her
+till the chaise was at the gate; when, as the little party, their eyes
+and their hearts all full, were taking a last farewell, the parlour door
+was hastily opened, and Dr. Marchmont and Edgar entered the room.
+
+All were surprised, but none so much as Camilla, who, forgetting, in
+sudden emotion, every thing but former kindness and intimacy,
+delightedly exclaimed--'Edgar! O how happy, my dearest mother!--I was
+afraid you would go without seeing him!'
+
+Edgar turned to her with a quickness that could only be exceeded by his
+pleasure; her voice, her manner, her unlooked-for interest in his
+appearance, penetrated to his very soul. 'Is it possible,' he cried,
+'you could have the goodness to wish me this gratification? At a moment
+such as this, could you----?' think of me, he would have added; but Dr.
+Marchmont, coming forward, begged him to account for their intrusion.
+
+Almost overpowered by his own sudden emotion, he could scarce recollect
+its motive himself; while Camilla, fearful and repentant that she had
+broken her deliberate and well-principled resolutions, retreated to the
+window.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold witnessed the involuntary movements which betrayed
+their mutual regard with the tenderest satisfaction; and the complacency
+of their attention, when Edgar advanced to them, soon removed his
+embarrassment.
+
+He then briefly acquainted them, that finding Mrs. Tyrold would not
+accept him for her chevalier, he had ridden hard to the parsonage of
+Cleves, whence he hoped he had brought her one too unexceptionable for
+rejection.
+
+Dr. Marchmont, with great warmth, then made a proffer of his services,
+declaring he had long desired an opportunity to visit Portugal; and
+protesting that, besides the pleasure of complying with any wish of Mr.
+Mandlebert's, it would give him the most serious happiness to shew his
+gratitude for the many kind offices he owed to Mr. Tyrold, and his high
+personal respect for his lady; he should require but one day for his
+preparations, and for securing the performance of the church duty at
+Cleves during his absence.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold were equally struck by the goodness of Dr.
+Marchmont, and the attentive kindness of Edgar. Mrs. Tyrold,
+nevertheless, would immediately have declined the scheme; but her
+husband interposed. Her travelling, he said, with such a guard, would be
+as conducive to his peace at home, as to her safety abroad. 'And with
+respect,' cried he, 'to obligation, I hold it as much a moral duty not
+to refuse receiving good offices, as not to avoid administering them.
+That species of independence, which proudly flies all ties of gratitude,
+is inimical to the social compact of civilized life, which subsists but
+by reciprocity of services.'
+
+Mrs. Tyrold now opposed the scheme no longer, and the chaise was ordered
+for the next day.
+
+Dr. Marchmont hurried home to settle his affairs; but Edgar begged a
+short conference with Mr. Tyrold.
+
+Every maternal hope was now awake in Mrs. Tyrold, who concluded this
+request was to demand Camilla in marriage; and her husband himself, not
+without trepidation, took Edgar into his study.
+
+But Edgar, though his heart was again wholly Camilla's, had received a
+look from Dr. Marchmont that guarded him from any immediate declaration.
+He simply opened upon the late misconception at Cleves; vindicated
+himself from any versatility of conduct, and affirmed, that both his
+attentions and his regard for Indiana had never been either more or less
+than they still continued. All this was spoken with a plainness to which
+the integrity of his character gave a weight superior to any
+protestations.
+
+'My dear Edgar,' said Mr. Tyrold, 'I am convinced of your probity. The
+tenor of your life is its guarantee, and any other defence is a
+degradation. There is, indeed, no perfidy so unjustifiable, as that
+which wins but to desert the affections of an innocent female. It is
+still, if possible, more cowardly than it is cruel; for the greater her
+worth, and the more exquisite her feelings, the stronger will be the
+impulse of her delicacy to suffer uncomplaining; and the deluder of her
+esteem commonly confides, for averting her reproach, to the very
+sensibility through which he has ensnared her good opinion.'
+
+'No one,' said Edgar, 'can more sincerely concur in this sentiment than
+myself; and, I trust, there is no situation, and no character, that
+could prompt me to deviate in this point. Here, in particular, my
+understanding must have been as defective as my morals, to have betrayed
+me into such an enterprise.'
+
+'How do you mean?'
+
+'I beg pardon, my dear sir; but, though I have a sort of family regard
+for Miss Lynmere, and though I think her beauty is transcendent, her
+heart, I believe----' he hesitated.
+
+'Do you think her heart invulnerable?'--
+
+'Why--no--not positively, perhaps,' answered he, embarrassed, 'not
+positively invulnerable; but certainly I do not think it composed of
+those finely subtle sensations which elude all vigilance, and become
+imperceptibly the prey of every assailing sympathy; for itself,
+therefore, I believe it not in much danger; and, for others--I see not
+in it that magnetic attraction which charms away all caution, beguiles
+all security, enwraps the imagination, and masters the reason!----'
+
+The chain of thinking which, from painting what he thought insensible in
+Indiana, led him to describe what he felt to be resistless in Camilla,
+made him finish the last sentence with an energy that surprised Mr.
+Tyrold into a smile.
+
+'You seem deeply,' he said, 'to have studied the subject.'
+
+'But not under the guidance of Miss Lynmere,' he answered, rising, and
+colouring, the moment he had spoken, in the fear he had betrayed
+himself.
+
+'I rejoice, then, the more,' replied Mr. Tyrold, calmly, 'in her own
+slackness of susceptibility.'
+
+'Yes,' cried Edgar, recovering, and quietly re-placing himself; 'it is
+her own security, and it is the security of all who surround her; though
+to those, indeed, there was also another, a still greater, in the
+contrast which----' he stopt, confused at his own meaning; yet
+presently, almost irresistibly, added--'Not that I think the utmost
+vivacity of sentiment, nor all the charm of soul, though eternally
+beaming in the eyes, playing in every feature, glowing in the
+complection, and brightening every smile----' he stopt again,
+overpowered with the consciousness of the picture he was portraying; but
+Mr. Tyrold continuing silent, he was obliged, though he scarce knew what
+he said, to go on. 'Nothing, in short, so selfishly are we formed,--that
+nothing, not even the loveliest of the lovely, can be truly bewitching,
+in which we do not hope or expect some participation.--I believe I have
+not made myself very clear?--However, it is not material--I simply meant
+to explain my retreat from Cleves. And, indeed, it is barbarous, at a
+season such as this, to detain you a moment from your family.'
+
+He then hastily took leave.
+
+Mr. Tyrold was sensibly touched by this scene. He saw, through a
+discourse so perplexed, and a manner so confused, that his daughter had
+made a forcible impression upon the heart of Mandlebert, but could not
+comprehend why he seemed struggling to conceal it. What had dropt from
+him appeared to imply a distrust of exciting mutual regard; yet this,
+after his own observations upon Camilla, was inconceivable. He
+regretted, that at a period so critical, she must part with her mother,
+with whom again he now determined to consult.
+
+Edgar, who hitherto had opened his whole heart upon every occasion to
+Mr. Tyrold, felt hurt and distressed at this first withholding of
+confidence. It was, however, unavoidable, in his present situation.
+
+He went back to the parlour to take leave once more of Mrs. Tyrold;
+but, opening the door, found Camilla there alone. She was looking out of
+the window, and had not heard his entrance.
+
+This was not a sight to still his perturbed spirits; on the contrary,
+the moment seemed to him so favourable, that it irresistibly occurred to
+him to seize it for removing every doubt.
+
+Camilla, who had not even missed her mother and sister from the room,
+was contemplating the horse of Edgar, and internally arraigning herself
+for the dangerous pleasure she had felt and manifested at the sight of
+his master.
+
+He gently shut the door, and approaching her, said, 'Do I see again the
+same frank and amiable friend, who in earliest days, who always, indeed,
+till--'
+
+Camilla, turning round, startled to behold him so near, and that no one
+else remained in the room, blushed excessively, and without hearing what
+he said, shut the window; yet opened it the same minute, stammering out
+something, but she herself knew not what, concerning the weather.
+
+The gentlest thoughts crossed the mind of Edgar at this evident
+embarrassment, and the most generous alacrity prompted him to hasten his
+purpose. He drew a chair near her, and, in penetrating accents, said:
+'Will you suffer me, will you, can you permit me, to take the privilege
+of our long friendship, and honestly to speak to you upon what has
+passed within these last few days at Cleves?'
+
+She could not answer: surprise, doubt, fear of self-deception, and hope
+of some happy explanation, all suddenly conspired to confound and to
+silence her.
+
+'You cannot, I think, forget,' he soon resumed, 'that you had
+condescended to put into my hands the management and decision of the new
+acquaintance you are anxious to form? My memory, at least, will never be
+unfaithful to a testimony so grateful to me, of your entire reliance
+upon the deep, the unspeakable interest I have ever taken, and ever must
+take, in my invaluable guardian, and in every branch of his respected
+and beloved family.'
+
+Camilla now began to breathe. This last expression, though zealous in
+friendliness, had nothing of appropriate partiality; and in losing her
+hope she resumed her calmness.
+
+Edgar observed, though he understood not, the change; but as he wished
+to satisfy his mind before he indulged his inclination, he endeavoured
+not to be sorry to see her mistress of herself during the discussion. He
+wished her but to answer him with openness: she still, however, only
+listened, while she rose and looked about the room for some work. Edgar,
+somewhat disconcerted, waited for her again sitting down; and after a
+few minutes spent in a useless search, she drew a chair to a table at
+some distance.
+
+Gravely then following, he stood opposite to her, and, after a little
+pause, said, 'I perceive you think I go too far? you think that the
+intimacy of childhood, and the attachment of adolescence, should expire
+with the juvenile sports and intercourse which nourished them, rather
+than ripen into solid friendship and permanent confidence?'
+
+'Do not say so,' cried she, with emotion; 'believe me, unless you knew
+all that had passed, and all my motives, you should judge nothing of
+these last few days, but think of me only, whether well or ill, as you
+thought of me a week ago.'
+
+The most laboured and explicit defence could not more immediately have
+satisfied his mind than this speech. Suspicion vanished, trust and
+admiration took its place, and once more drawing a chair by her side,
+'My dear Miss Camilla,' he cried, 'forgive my having thus harped upon
+this subject; I here promise you I will name it no more.'
+
+'And I,' cried she, delighted, 'promise you'--she was going to add, that
+she would give up Mrs. Arlbery, if he found reason to disapprove the
+acquaintance; but the parlour door opened, and Miss Margland stalked
+into the room.
+
+Sir Hugh was going to send a messenger to enquire how and when Mrs.
+Tyrold had set out; but Miss Margland, from various motives of
+curiosity, offered her services, and came herself. So totally, however,
+had both Edgar and Camilla been engrossed by each other, that they had
+not heard the carriage drive up to the garden gate, which, with the door
+of the house, being always open, required neither knocker nor bell.
+
+A spectre could not more have startled or shocked Camilla. She jumped
+up, with an exclamation nearly amounting to a scream, and involuntarily
+seated herself at the other end of the room.
+
+Edgar, though not equally embarrassed, was still more provoked; but he
+rose, and got her a chair, and enquired after the health of Sir Hugh.
+
+'He is very poorly, indeed,' answered she, with an austere air, 'and no
+wonder!'
+
+'Is my uncle ill?' cried Camilla, alarmed.
+
+Miss Margland deigned no reply.
+
+The rest of the family, who had seen the carriage from the windows, now
+entered the room, and during the mutual enquiries and account which
+followed, Edgar, believing himself unobserved, glided round to Camilla,
+and in a low voice, said, 'The promise--I think I guess its gratifying
+import--I shall not, I hope, lose, through this cruel intrusion?'
+
+Camilla, who saw no eyes but those of Miss Margland, which were severely
+fastened upon her, affected not to hear him, and planted herself in the
+group out of his way.
+
+He anxiously waited for another opportunity to put in his claim; but he
+waited in vain; Camilla, who from the entrance of Miss Margland had had
+the depressing feel of self-accusation, sedulously avoided him; and
+though he loitered till he was ashamed of remaining in the house at a
+period so busy, Miss Margland, by indications not to be mistaken, shewed
+herself bent upon out-staying him; he was obliged, therefore, to depart;
+though, no sooner was he gone, than, having nothing more to scrutinize,
+she went also.
+
+But little doubt now remained with the watchful parents of the mutual
+attachment of Edgar and Camilla, to which the only apparent obstacle
+seemed, a diffidence on the part of Edgar with respect to her internal
+sympathy. Pleased with the modesty of such a fear in so accomplished a
+young man, Mr. Tyrold protested that, if the superior fortune were on
+the side of Camilla, he would himself clear it up, and point out the
+mistake. His wife gloried in the virtuous delicacy of her daughter, that
+so properly, till it was called for, concealed her tenderness from the
+object who so deservingly inspired it; yet they agreed, that though she
+could not, at present, meet Edgar too often, she should be kept wholly
+ignorant of their wishes and expectations, lest they should still be
+crushed by any unforeseen casualty: and that, meanwhile, she should be
+allowed every safe and innocent recreation, that might lighten her mind
+from its depression, and restore her spirits to their native vivacity.
+
+Early the next morning Dr. Marchmont came to Etherington, and brought
+with him Lionel, by the express direction of his father, who never
+objected to admit the faulty to his presence; his hopes of doing good
+were more potent from kindness than from severity, from example than
+from precept: yet he attempted not to conquer the averseness of Mrs.
+Tyrold to an interview; he knew it proceeded not from an inexorable
+nature, but from a repugnance insurmountable to the sight of a beloved
+object in disgrace.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold quitted her husband with the most cruel regret, and her
+darling Camilla with the tenderest inquietude; she affectionately
+embraced the unexceptionable Lavinia, with whom she left a message for
+her brother, which she strictly charged her to deliver, without
+softening or omitting one word.
+
+And then, attended by Dr. Marchmont, she set forward on her journey
+towards Falmouth: whence a packet, in a few days, she was informed,
+would sail for Lisbon.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_Modern Ideas of Life_
+
+
+Grieved at this separation, Mr. Tyrold retired to his study; and his two
+daughters went to the apartment of Lionel, to comfort him under the
+weight of his misconduct.
+
+They found him sincerely affected and repentant; yet eager to hear that
+his mother was actually gone. Ill as he felt himself to deserve such an
+exertion for his future welfare, and poignant as were his shame and
+sorrow to have parted her from his excellent father, he thought all evil
+preferable to encountering her eye, or listening to her admonitions.
+
+Though unaffectedly beloved, Mrs. Tyrold was deeply feared by all her
+children, Camilla alone excepted; by Lionel, from his horror of reproof;
+by Lavinia, from the timidity of her humility; and by Eugenia, from her
+high sense of parental superiority. Camilla alone escaped the contagion;
+for while too innocent, too undesigning, wilfully to excite displeasure,
+she was too gay and too light-hearted to admit apprehension without
+cause.
+
+The gentle Lavinia knew not how to perform her painful task of
+delivering the message with which she was commissioned. The sight of
+Lionel in dejection was as sad as it was new to her, and she resolved,
+in conjunction with Camilla, to spare him till the next day, when his
+feelings might be less acute. They each sat down, therefore, to work,
+silent and compassionate; while he, ejaculating blessings upon his
+parents, and calling for just vengeance upon himself, stroamed up and
+down the room, biting his knuckles, and now and then striking his
+forehead.
+
+This lasted about ten minutes: and then, suddenly advancing to his
+sisters, and snatching a hand of each: 'Come, girls,' he cried, 'now
+let's talk of other things.'
+
+Too young to have developed the character of Lionel, they were again as
+much astonished as they had been the preceding day: but his defects,
+though not originally of the heart, were of a species that soon tend to
+harden it. They had their rise in a total aversion to reflection, a wish
+to distinguish himself from his retired, and, he thought, unfashionable
+relations, and an unfortunate coalition with some unprincipled young
+men, who, because flashy and gay, could lead him to whatever they
+proposed. Yet, when mischief or misfortune ensued from his wanton
+faults, he was always far more sorry than he thought it manly to own;
+but as his actions were without judgment, his repentance was without
+principle; and he was ready for some new enterprise the moment the
+difficulties of an old one subsided.
+
+Camilla, who, from her affection to him, read his character through the
+innocence of her own, met his returning gaiety with a pleasure that was
+proportioned to her pain at his depression; but Lavinia saw it with
+discomfort, as the signal for executing her charge, and, with extreme
+reluctance, gave him to understand she had a command to fulfil to him
+from his mother.
+
+The powers of conscience were again then instantly at work; he felt what
+he had deserved, he dreaded to hear what he had provoked; and trembling
+and drawing back, entreated her to wait one half hour before she entered
+upon the business.
+
+She chearfully consented; and Camilla proposed extending the reprieve to
+the next day: but not two minutes elapsed, before Lionel protested he
+could not bear the suspense, and urged an immediate communication.
+
+'She can have said nothing,' cried he, 'worse than I expect, or than I
+merit. Probe me then without delay. She is acting by me like an angel,
+and if she were to command me to turn anchoret, I know I ought to obey
+her.'
+
+With much hesitation, Lavinia then began. 'My mother says, my dear
+Lionel, the fraud you have practised--'
+
+'The fraud! what a horrid word! why it was a mere trick! a joke! a
+frolic! just to make an old hunks open his purse-strings for his natural
+heir. I am astonished at my mother! I really don't care if I don't hear
+another syllable.'
+
+'Well, then, my dear Lionel, I will wait till you are calmer: my mother,
+I am sure did not mean to irritate, but to convince.'
+
+'My mother,' continued he, striding about the room, 'makes no
+allowances. She has no faults herself, and for that reason she thinks
+nobody else should have any. Besides, how should she know what it is to
+be a young man? and to want a little cash, and not know how to get it?'
+
+'But I am sure,' said Lavinia, 'if you wanted it for any proper purpose,
+my father would have denied himself everything, in order to supply you.'
+
+'Yes, yes; but suppose I want it for a purpose that is not proper, how
+am I to get it then?'
+
+'Why, then, my dear Lionel, surely you must be sensible you ought to go
+without it,' cried the sisters, in a breath.
+
+'Ay, that's as you girls say, that know nothing of the matter. If a
+young man, when he goes into the world, was to make such a speech as
+that, he would be pointed at. Besides, who must he live with? You don't
+suppose he is to shut himself up, with a few musty books, sleeping over
+the fire, under pretence of study, all day long, do you? like young
+Melmond, who knows no more of the world than one of you do?'
+
+'Indeed,' said Camilla, 'he seemed to me an amiable and modest young
+man, though very romantic.'
+
+'O, I dare say he did! I could have laid any wager of that. He's just a
+girl's man, just the very thing, all sentiment, and poetry and heroics.
+But we, my little dear, we lads of spirit, hold all that amazing cheap.
+I assure you, I would as soon be seen trying on a lady's cap at a glass,
+as poring over a crazy old author when I could help it. I warrant you
+think, because one is at the university, one must all be book-worms?'
+
+'Why, what else do you go there for but to study?'
+
+'Every thing in the world, my dear.'
+
+'But are there not sometimes young men who are scholars without being
+book-worms?' cried Camilla, half colouring; 'is not--is not Edgar
+Mandlebert--'
+
+'O yes, yes; an odd thing of that sort happens now and then. Mandlebert
+has spirit enough to carry it off pretty well, without being
+ridiculous; though he is as deep, for his time, as e'er an old fellow of
+a college. But then this is no rule for others. You must not expect an
+Edgar Mandlebert at every turn.'
+
+Ah no! thought Camilla.
+
+'But, Edgar,' said Lavinia, 'has had an extraordinary education, as well
+as possessing extraordinary talents and goodness: and you, too, my dear
+Lionel, to fulfil what may be expected from you, should look back to
+your father, who was brought up at the same university, and is now
+considered as one of the first men it has produced. While he was
+respected by the learned for his application, he was loved even by the
+indolent for his candour and kindness of heart. And though his income,
+as you know, was so small, he never ran in debt, and by an exact but
+open oeconomy, escaped all imputation of meanness: while by forbearing
+either to conceal, or repine at his limited fortune, he blunted even the
+raillery of the dissipated, by frankly and good humouredly meeting it
+half way. How often have I heard my dear mother tell you this!'
+
+'Yes; but all this, child, is nothing to the purpose; my father is no
+more like other men than if he had been born in another planet, and my
+attempting to resemble him, is as great a joke, as if you were to dress
+up Miss Margland in Indiana's flowers and feathers, and then expect
+people to call her a beauty.'
+
+'We do not say you resemble my father, now,' said Camilla, archly; 'but
+is there any reason why you should not try to do it by and by?'
+
+'O yes! a little one! nature, nature, my dear, is in the way. I was born
+a bit of a buck. I have no manner of natural taste for study, and
+poring, and expounding, and black-letter work. I am a light, airy spark,
+at your service, not quite so wise as I am merry;--but let that pass. My
+father, you know, is firm as a rock. He minds neither wind nor weather,
+nor fleerer nor sneerer: but this firmness, look ye, he has kept all to
+himself; not a whit of it do I inherit; every wind that blows veers me
+about, and makes me look some new way.'
+
+Soon after, gathering courage from curiosity, he desired to hear the
+message at once.
+
+Lavinia, unwillingly complying, then repeated: 'The fraud which you have
+practised, my mother says, whether from wanton folly to give pain, or
+from rapacious discontent to gain money, she will leave without comment,
+satisfied that if you have any heart at all, its effects must bring its
+remorse, since it has dangerously encreased the infirmities of your
+uncle, driven him to a foreign land, and forced your mother to forsake
+her home and family in his pursuit, unless she were willing to see you
+punished by the entire disinheritance with which you are threatened.
+But----'
+
+'O, no more! no more! I am ready to shoot myself already! My dear,
+excellent mother! what do I not owe you! I had never seen, never thought
+of the business in this solemn way before. I meant nothing at first but
+a silly joke, and all this mischief has followed unaccountably. I assure
+you, I had no notion at the beginning he would have minded the letter;
+and afterwards, Jack Whiston persuaded me, the money was as good as my
+own, and that it was nothing but a little cribbing from myself. I will
+never trust him again; I see the whole now in its true and atrocious
+colours.--I will devote myself in future to make all the amends in my
+power to my dear incomparable mother.'
+
+The sisters affectionately encouraged this idea, which produced near a
+quarter of an hour's serious thinking and penitence.
+
+He then begged to hear the rest; and Lavinia continued.
+
+'But since you are re-admitted, said my mother, to Etherington, by the
+clemency of your forbearing father, she charges you to remember, you can
+only repay his goodness by an application the most intense to those
+studies you have hitherto neglected, and of which your neglect has been
+the cause of all your errors; by committing to idle amusements the time
+that innocently, as well as profitably, ought to have been dedicated to
+the attainment of knowledge. She charges you also to ask yourself,
+since, during the vacation, your father himself is your tutor, upon what
+pretext you can justify wasting his valuable time, however little you
+may respect your own?--Finally--'
+
+'I never wasted his time! I never desired to have any instruction in the
+vacations. 'Tis the most deuced thing in life to be studying so hard
+incessantly. The waste of time is all his own affair;--his own
+choice--not mine, I assure you! Go on, however.'
+
+'Finally, she adjures you to consider, that if you still persevere to
+consume your time in wilful negligence, to bury all thought in idle
+gaiety, and to act without either reflection or principle, the career of
+faults which begins but in unthinking folly, will terminate in shame, in
+guilt, and in ruin! And though such a declension of all good, must
+involve your family in your affliction, your disgrace, she bids me say,
+will ultimately fall but where it ought; since your own want of personal
+sensibility to the horror of your conduct, will neither harden nor blind
+any human being besides yourself. This is all.'
+
+'And enough too,' cried he, reddening: 'I am a very wretch!--I believe
+that--though I am sure I can't tell how; for I never intend any harm,
+never think, never dream of hurting any mortal! But as to study--I must
+own to you, I hate it most deucedly. Anything else--if my mother had but
+exacted any thing else--with what joy I would have shewn my
+obedience!--If she had ordered me to be horse-ponded, I do protest to
+you, I would not have demurred.'
+
+'How always you run into the ridiculous!' cried Camilla.
+
+'I was never so serious in my life; not that I should like to be
+horse-ponded in the least, though I would submit to it for a punishment,
+and out of duty: but then, when it was done, it would be over: now the
+deuce of study is, there is no end of it! And it does so little for one!
+one can go through life so well without it! There is not above here and
+there an old codger that asks one a question that can bring it into any
+play. And then, a turn upon one's heel, or looking at one's watch, or
+wondering at one's short memory, or happening to forget just that one
+single passage, carries off the whole in two minutes, as completely as
+if one had been working one's whole life to get ready for the assault.
+And pray, now, tell me, how can it be worth one's best days, one's
+gayest hours, the very flower of one's life--all to be sacrificed to
+plodding over musty grammars and lexicons, merely to cut a figure just
+for about two minutes once or twice in a year?'
+
+The sisters, brought up with an early reverence for learning, as forming
+a distinguished part of the accomplishments of their father, could not
+subscribe to this argument. But they laughed; and that was ever
+sufficient for Lionel, who, though sincerely, in private, he loved and
+honoured his father, never bestowed upon him one voluntary moment that
+frolic or folly invited elsewhere.
+
+Lavinia and Camilla, perfectly relieved now from all fears for their
+brother, repaired to the study of their father, anxious to endeavour to
+chear him, and to accelerate a meeting and reconciliation for Lionel;
+but they found him desirous to be alone, though kindly, and unsolicited,
+he promised to admit his son before dinner.
+
+Lionel heard this with a just awe; but gave it no time for deep
+impression. It was still very early, and he could settle himself to
+nothing during the hours yet to pass before the interview. He persuaded
+his sisters, therefore, to walk out with him, to while away at once
+expectation and retrospection.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_Modern Notions of Penitence_
+
+
+They set out with no other plan than to take a three hours' stroll.
+Lionel led the way, and they journeyed through various pleasant lanes
+and meadows, till, about three miles distance from Etherington, upon
+ascending a beautiful little hill, they espied, fifty yards off, the
+Grove, and a party of company sauntering round its grounds.
+
+He immediately proposed making a visit to Mrs. Arlbery; but Lavinia
+declined presenting herself to a lady who was unknown to her mother; and
+Camilla, impressed with the promise she had intended for Edgar, which
+she was sure, though unpronounced, he had comprehended, dissented also
+from the motion.
+
+He then said he would go alone; for his spirits were so low from
+vexation and regret, that they wanted recruit; and he would return to
+them by the time they would be sufficiently rested to walk home.
+
+To this they agreed; and amused themselves with watching to see him join
+the group; in which, however, they were no sooner gratified, than, to
+their great confusion, they perceived that he pointed them out, and that
+all eyes were immediately directed towards the hill.
+
+Vexed and astonished at his quick passing penitence, they hastened down
+the declivity, and ran on till a lane, with an high hedge on each side,
+sheltered them from view.
+
+But Lionel, soon pursuing them, said he brought the indisputable orders
+of his invincible widow to convoy them to the mansion. She never, she
+had owned, admitted formal visitors, but whatever was abrupt and out of
+the way, won her heart.
+
+To the prudent Lavinia, this invitation was by no means alluring. Mrs.
+Tyrold, from keeping no carriage, visited but little, and the Grove was
+not included in her small circle; Lavinia, therefore, though she knew
+not how to be peremptory, was steady in refusal; and Camilla, who would
+naturally with pleasure have yielded, had a stronger motive for
+firmness, than any with which she was gifted by discretion, in her wish
+to oblige Mandlebert. But Lionel would listen to neither of them; and
+when he found his insistance insufficient, seized Lavinia by one arm,
+and Camilla by the other, and dragged them up the hill, in defiance of
+their entreaties, and in full view of the party. He then left the more
+pleading, though less resisting, Lavinia alone; but pulled Camilla down
+by the opposite side, with a velocity that, though meant but to bring
+her to the verge of a small rivulet, forced her into the midst of it so
+rapidly that he could not himself at last stop: and wetted her so
+completely, that she could with difficulty, when she got across it, walk
+on.
+
+The violent spirits of Lionel always carried him beyond his own
+intentions; he was now really sorry for what he had done: and Lavinia,
+who had quietly followed, was uneasy from the fear of some ill
+consequence to her sister.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, who had seen the transaction, came forth now herself, to
+invite them all into her house, and offer a fire and dry clothing to
+Camilla; not sparing, however, her well-merited raillery at the awkward
+exploit of young Tyrold.
+
+Camilla, ashamed to be thus seen, would have hidden herself behind her
+sister, and retreated; but even Lavinia now, fearing for her health,
+joined in the request, and she was obliged to enter the house.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery took her upstairs, to her own apartment, and supplied her
+immediately with a complete change of apparel; protesting that Lionel
+should be punished for his frolic, by a solitary walk to Etherington, to
+announce that she would keep his two sisters for the day.
+
+Opposition was vain; she was gay, good humoured, and pleasant, but she
+would not be denied. She meant not, however, to inflict the serious
+penalty which the face of Lionel proclaimed him to be suffering, when he
+prepared to depart; and the sisters, who read in it his dread of meeting
+Mr. Tyrold alone, in the present circumstances of his affairs, conferred
+together, and agreed that Lavinia should accompany him, both to
+intercede for returning favour from his father, and to explain the
+accident of Camilla's staying at the Grove. Mrs. Arlbery, meanwhile,
+promised to restore her young guest safe at night in her own carriage.
+
+Notwithstanding the pleasure with which Camilla, in any other situation,
+would have renewed this acquaintance, was now changed into reluctance,
+she was far from insensible to the flattering kindness with which Mrs.
+Arlbery received and entertained her, nor to the frankness with which
+she confessed, that her invisibility the other morning, had resulted
+solely from pique that the visit had not been made sooner.
+
+Camilla would have attempted some apology for the delay, but she assured
+her apologies were what she neither took nor gave; and then laughingly
+added--'We will try one another to day, and if we find it won't do--we
+will shake hands and part. That, you must know, is my mode; and is it
+not vastly better than keeping up an acquaintance that proves dull,
+merely because it has been begun?'
+
+She then ordered away all her visitors, without the smallest ceremony;
+telling them, however, they might come back in the evening, only
+desiring they would not be early. Camilla stared; but they all submitted
+as to a thing of course.
+
+'You are not used to my way, I perceive,' cried she, smiling; 'yet, I
+can nevertheless assure you, you can do nothing so much for your
+happiness as to adopt it. You are made a slave in a moment by the world,
+if you don't begin life by defying it. Take your own way, follow your
+own humour, and you and the world will both go on just as well, as if
+you ask its will and pleasure for everything you do, and want, and
+think.'
+
+She then expressed herself delighted with Lionel, for bringing them
+together by this short cut, which abolished a world of formalities, not
+more customary than fatiguing. 'I pass, I know,' continued she, 'for a
+mere creature of whim; but, believe me, there is no small touch of
+philosophy in the composition of my vagaries. Extremes, you know, have a
+mighty knack of meeting. Thus I, like the sage, though not with
+sage-like motives, save time that must otherwise be wasted; brave rules
+that would murder common sense; and when I have made people stare, turn
+another way that I may laugh.'
+
+She then, in a graver strain, and in a manner that proved the laws of
+politeness all her own, where she chose, for any particular purpose, or
+inclination, to exert them, hoped this profession of her faith would
+plead her excuse, that she had thus incongruously made her fair guest a
+second time enter her house, before her first visit was acknowledged;
+and enquired whether it were to be returned to Etherington or at Cleves.
+
+Camilla answered, she was now at home, on account of her mother's being
+obliged to make a voyage to Lisbon.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery said, she would certainly, then, wait upon her at
+Etherington; and very civilly regretted having no acquaintance with Mrs.
+Tyrold; archly, however, adding: 'As we have no where met, I could not
+seek her at her own house without running too great a risk; for then,
+whether I had liked her or not, I must have received her, you know, into
+mine. So, you see, I am not quite without prudence, whatever the dear
+world says to the contrary.'
+
+She then spoke of the ball, public breakfast, and raffle; chatting both
+upon persons and things with an easy gaiety, and sprightly negligence,
+extremely amusing to Camilla, and which soon, in despite of the
+unwillingness with which she had entered her house, brought back her
+original propensity to make the acquaintance, and left no regret for
+what Lionel had done, except what rested upon the repugnance of Edgar to
+his intercourse. As he could not, however, reproach what was begun
+without her concurrence, he would see, she hoped, like herself, that
+common civility henceforward would exact its continuance.
+
+In proportion as her pleasure from this accidental commerce was
+awakened, and her early partiality revived, her own spirits re-animated,
+and, in the course of the many hours they now spent completely together,
+she was set so entirely at her ease, by the good humour of Mrs. Arlbery,
+that she lost all fear of her wit. She found it rather playful than
+satirical; rather seeking to amuse than to disconcert; and though
+sometimes, from the resistless pleasure of uttering a _bon mot_ she
+thought more of its brilliancy than of the pain it might inflict, this
+happened but rarely, and was more commonly succeeded by regret than by
+triumph.
+
+Camilla soon observed she had, personally, nothing to apprehend,
+peculiar partiality supplying the place of general delicacy, in
+shielding her from every shaft that even pleasantry could render
+poignant. The embarrassment, therefore, which, in ingenuous youth,
+checks the attempt to please, by fear of failure, or shame of exertion,
+gave way to natural spirits, which gaily rising from entertainment
+received, restored her vivacity, and gradually, though unconsciously,
+enabled her to do justice to her own abilities, by unaffectedly calling
+forth the mingled sweetness and intelligence of her character; and Mrs.
+Arlbery, charmed with all she observed, and flattered by all she
+inspired, felt such satisfaction in her evident conquest, that before
+the _tête-à-tête_ was closed, their admiration was become nearly
+mutual.
+
+When the evening party was announced, they both heard with surprise that
+the day was so far advanced. 'They can wait, however,' said Mrs.
+Arlbery, 'for I know they have nothing to do.'
+
+She then invited Camilla to return to her the next day for a week.
+
+Camilla felt well disposed to comply, hoping soon to reason from Edgar
+his prejudice against a connection that afforded her such singular
+pleasure; but to leave her father at this period was far from every
+wish. She excused herself, therefore, saying, she had still six weeks
+due to her uncle at Cleves, before any other engagement could take
+place.
+
+'Well, then, when you quit your home for Sir Hugh, will you beg off a
+few days from him, and set them down to my account?'
+
+'If my uncle pleases--'
+
+'If he pleases?' repeated she, laughing; 'pray never give that _If_ into
+his decision; you only put contradiction into people's heads, by asking
+what pleases them. Say at once, My good uncle, Mrs. Arlbery has invited
+me to indulge her with a few days at the Grove; so to-morrow I shall go
+to her. Will you promise me this?'
+
+'Dear madam, no! my uncle would think me mad.'
+
+'And suppose he should! A little alarm now and then keeps life from
+stagnation. They call me mad, I know, sometimes; wild, flighty, and what
+not; yet you see how harmless I am, though I afford food for such
+notable commentary.'
+
+'But can you really like such things should be said of you?'
+
+'I adore the frankness of that question! why, n--o,--I rather think I
+don't. But I'm not sure. However, to prevent their minding me, I must
+mind them. And it's vastly more irksome to give up one's own way, than
+to hear a few impertinent remarks. And as to the world, depend upon it,
+my dear Miss Tyrold, the more you see of it, the less you will care for
+it.'
+
+She then said she would leave her to re-invest herself in her own
+attire, and go downstairs, to see what the poor simple souls, who had
+had no more wit than to come back thus at her call, had found to do with
+themselves.
+
+Camilla, having only her common morning dress, and even that utterly
+spoilt, begged that her appearance might be dispensed with; but Mrs.
+Arlbery, exclaiming, 'Why, there are only men; you don't mind men, I
+hope!' ashamed, she promised to get ready; yet she had not sufficient
+courage to descend, till her gay hostess came back, and accompanied her
+to the drawing room.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_Airs and Graces_
+
+
+Upon entering the room, Camilla saw again the Officers who had been
+there in the morning, and who were now joined by Sir Sedley Clarendel.
+She was met at the door by Major Cerwood, who seemed waiting for her
+appearance, and who made her his compliments with an air that studiously
+proclaimed his devotion. She seated herself by the side of Mrs. Arlbery,
+to look on at a game of chess, played by Sir Sedley and General Kinsale.
+
+'Clarendel,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'you have not the least in the world the
+air of knowing what you are about.'
+
+'Pardon me, ma'am,' said the General, 'he has been at least half an hour
+contemplating this very move,--for which, as you see, I now check-mate
+him. Pray, Sir Sedley, how came you, at last, to do no better?'
+
+'Thinking of other things, my dear General. 'Tis impossible in the
+extreme to keep one's faculties pinioned down to the abstruse vagaries
+of this brain-besieging game. My head would be deranged past redress, if
+I did not allow it to visit the four quarters of the globe once, at
+least, between every move.'
+
+'You do not play so slow, then, from deliberating upon your chances, but
+from forgetting them?'
+
+'Defined, my dear General, to scrupulosity! Those exquisite little
+moments we steal from any given occupation, for the pleasure of
+speculating in secret upon something wholly foreign to it, are
+resistless to deliciousness.'
+
+'I entreat, and command you then,' cried Mrs. Arlbery, 'to make your
+speculations public. Nothing will more amuse me, than to have the least
+intimation of the subjects of your reveries.'
+
+'My dear Mrs. Arlbery! your demand is the very quintessence of
+impossibility! Tell the subject of a reverie! know you not it wafts one
+at once out of the world, and the world's powers of expression? while
+all it substitutes is as evanescent as it is delectable. To attempt the
+least description would be a presumption of the first monstrousness.'
+
+'O never heed that! presumption will not precisely be a novelty to you;
+answer me, therefore, my dear Clarendel, without all this conceit. You
+know I hate procrastination; and procrastinators still worse.'
+
+'Softly, dearest madam, softly! There is nothing in nature so horribly
+shocking to me as the least hurry. My poor nerves seek repose after any
+turbulent words, or jarring sounds, with the same craving for rest that
+my body experiences after the jolts, and concussions of a long winded
+chase. By the way, does anybody want a good hunter? I have the first,
+perhaps, in Europe; but I would sell it a surprising bargain, for I am
+excruciatingly tired of it.'
+
+All the gentlemen grouped round him to hear further particulars, except
+Mr. Macdersey, the young Ensign, who had so unguardedly exposed himself
+at the Northwick ball, and who now, approaching Camilla, fervently
+exclaimed; 'How happy I should have been, madam, if I had had the good
+fortune to see you meet with that accident this morning, instead of
+being looking another way! I might then have had the pleasure to assist
+you. And O! how much more if it had been your divine cousin! I hope that
+fair angel is in perfect health! O what a beautiful creature she is! her
+outside is the completest diamond I ever saw! and if her inside is the
+same, which I dare say it is, by her smiles and delicate dimples, she
+must be a paragon upon earth!'
+
+'There is at least something very inartificial in your praise,' said
+General Kinsale, 'when you make your panegyric of an absent lady to a
+present one.'
+
+'O General, there is not a lady living can bear any comparison with her.
+I have never had her out of my thoughts from the first darling moment
+that ever I saw her, which has made me the most miserable of men ever
+since. Her eyes so beautiful, her mouth so divine, her nose so
+heavenly!--'
+
+'And how,' cried Sir Sedley, 'is the tip of her chin?'
+
+'No joking, sir!' said the Ensign, reddening; 'she is a piece of
+perfection not to be laughed at; she has never had her fellow upon the
+face of the earth; and she never will have it while the earth holds,
+upon account of there being no such person above ground.'
+
+'And pray,' cried Sir Sedley, carelessly, 'how can you be sure of that?'
+
+'How! why by being certain,' answered the inflamed admirer; 'for though
+I have been looking out for pretty women from morning to night, ever
+since I was conscious of the right use of my eyes, I never yet saw her
+parallel.'
+
+A servant was now bringing in the tea; but his lady ordered him to set
+it down in the next room, whence the gentlemen should fetch it as it was
+wanted.
+
+Major Cerwood took in charge all attendance upon Camilla; but he was
+not, therefore, exempt from the assiduities required by Mrs. Arlbery,
+for whom the homage of the General, the Colonel, and the Ensign, were
+insufficient; and who, had a score more been present, would have found
+occupation for them all. Sir Sedley alone was excepted from her
+commands; for knowing they would be issued to him in vain, she contented
+herself with only interchanging glances of triumph with him, at the
+submission of every vassal but himself.
+
+'Heavens!' cried she, to Colonel Andover, who had hastened to present
+her the first cup, 'you surely think I have nerves for a public orator!
+If I should taste but one drop of this tea, I might envy the repose of
+the next man who robs on the highway. Major Cerwood, will you try if you
+can do any better for me?'
+
+The Major obeyed, but not with more success. 'What in the world have you
+brought me?' cried she; 'Is it tea? It looks prodigiously as if just
+imported out of the slop bason. For pity sake, Macdersey, arise, and
+give me your help; you will at least never bring me such maudlin stuff
+as this. Even your tea will have some character; it will be very good or
+very bad; very hot or very cold; very strong or very weak; for you are
+always in flames of fire, or flakes of snow.'
+
+'You do me justice, ma'am; there is nothing upon the face of the earth
+so insipid as a medium. Give me love or hate! a friend that will go to
+jail for me, or an enemy that will run me through the body! Riches to
+chuck guineas about like halfpence, or poverty to beg in a ditch!
+Liberty wild as the four winds, or an oar to work in a galley! Misery to
+tear my heart into an hundred thousand millions of atoms, or joy to make
+my soul dance into my brain! Every thing has some gratification, except
+a medium. 'Tis a poor little soul that is satisfied between happiness
+and despair.'
+
+He then flew to bring her a dish of tea.
+
+'My dear Macdersey,' cried she, in receiving it, 'this is according to
+your system indeed; for 'tis a compound of strong, and rich, and sweet,
+to cloy an alderman, making altogether so luscious a syrup, that our
+spring would be exhausted before I could slake my thirst, if I should
+taste it only a second time. Do, dear General, see if it is not possible
+to get me some beverage that I can swallow.'
+
+The youngest man present was not more active than the General in this
+service; but Mrs. Arlbery, casting herself despondingly back the moment
+she had tasted what he brought her, exclaimed, 'Why this is worst of
+all! If you can do no better for me, General, than this, tell me, at
+least, for mercy's sake, when some other regiment will be quartered
+here?'
+
+'What a cruelty,' said the Major, looking with a sigh towards Camilla,
+'to remind your unhappy prey they are but birds of passage!'
+
+'O, all the better, Major. If you understand your own interest you will
+be as eager to break up your quarters, as I can be to see your
+successors march into them. I have now heard all your compliments, and
+you have heard all my repartees; both sides, therefore, want new
+auditors. A great many things I have said to you will do vastly well
+again for a new corps; and, to do you justice, some few things you have
+said yourselves may do again in a new county.'
+
+Then, addressing Camilla, she proposed, though without moving, that they
+should converse with one another, and leave the men to take care of
+themselves. 'And excessively they will be obliged to me,' she continued,
+without lowering her voice, 'for giving this little holiday to their
+poor brains; for, I assure you, they have not known what to say this
+half hour. Indeed, since the first fortnight they were quartered here,
+they have not, upon an average, said above one new thing in three days.
+But one's obliged to take up with Officers in the country, because
+there's almost nothing else. Can you recommend me any agreeable new
+people?'
+
+'O no, ma'am! I have hardly any acquaintance, except immediately round
+the rectory; but, fortunately, my own family is so large, that I have
+never been distressed for society.'
+
+'O, ay, true! your own family, begin with that; do, pray, give me a
+little history of your own family?'
+
+'I have no history, ma'am, to give, for my father's retired life----'
+
+'O, I have seen your father, and I have heard him preach, and I like him
+very much. There's something in him there's no turning into ridicule.'
+
+Camilla, though surprised, was delighted by such a testimony to the
+respectability of her father; and, with more courage, said--'And, I am
+sure, if you knew my mother, you would allow her the same exemption.'
+
+'So I hear; therefore, we won't talk of them. It's a delightful thing to
+think of perfection; but it's vastly more amusing to talk of errors and
+absurdities. To begin with your eldest sister, then--but no; she seems
+in just the same predicament as your father and mother: so we'll let her
+rest, too.'
+
+'Indeed she is; she is as faultless----'
+
+'O, not a word more then; she won't do for me at all. But, pray, is
+there not a single soul in all the round of your large family, that can
+afford a body a little innocent diversion?'
+
+'Ah, madam,' said Camilla, shaking her head; 'I fear, on the contrary,
+if they came under your examination, there is not one in whom you would
+not discern some foible!'
+
+'I should not like them at all the worse for that; for, between
+ourselves, my dear Miss Tyrold, I am half afraid they might find a
+foible or two in return in me; so you must not be angry if I beg the
+favour of you to indulge me with a few of their defects.'
+
+'Indulge you!'
+
+'Yes, for when so many of a family are perfect, if you can't find me one
+or two that have a little speck of mortality, you must not wonder if I
+take flight at your very name. In charity, therefore, if you would not
+drop my acquaintance, tell me their vulnerable parts.'
+
+Camilla laughed at this ridiculous reasoning, but would not enter into
+its consequences.
+
+'Well, then, if you will not assist me, don't take it ill that I assist
+myself. In the first place, there's your brother; I don't ask you to
+tell me any thing of him; I have seen him! and I confess to you he does
+not put me into utter despair! he does not alarm me into flying all his
+race.'
+
+Camilla tried vainly to look grave.
+
+'I have seen another, too, your cousin, I think; Miss Lynmere, that's
+engaged to young Mandlebert.'
+
+Camilla now tried as vainly to look gay.
+
+'She's prodigiously pretty. Pray, is not she a great fool?'
+
+'Ma'am?'
+
+'I beg your pardon! but I don't suppose you are responsible for the
+intellects of all your generation. However, she'll do vastly well; you
+need not be uneasy for her. A face like that will take very good care of
+itself. I am glad she is engaged, for your sake, though I am sorry for
+Mandlebert; that is, if, as his class of countenance generally predicts,
+he marries with any notion of expecting to be happy.'
+
+'But why, ma'am,' cried Camilla, checking a sigh, 'are you glad for my
+sake?'
+
+'Because there are two reasons why she would be wonderfully in your way;
+she is not only prettier than you, but sillier.'
+
+'And would both those reasons,' cried Camilla, again laughing, 'make
+against me?'
+
+'O, intolerably, with the men! They are always enchanted with something
+that is both pretty and silly; because they can so easily please and so
+soon disconcert it; and when they have made the little blooming fools
+blush and look down, they feel nobly superior, and pride themselves in
+victory. Dear creatures! I delight in their taste; for it brings them a
+plentiful harvest of repentance, when it is their connubial criterion;
+the pretty flies off, and the silly remains, and a man then has a choice
+companion for life left on his hands!'
+
+The young Ensign here could no longer be silent: 'I am sure and
+certain,' cried he, warmly, 'Miss Lynmere is incapable to be a fool! and
+when she marries, if her husband thinks her so, it's only a sign he's a
+blockhead himself.'
+
+'He'll be exactly of your opinion for the first month or two,' answered
+Mrs. Arlbery, 'or even if he is not, he'll like her just as well. A man
+looks enchanted while his beautiful young bride talks nonsense; it comes
+so prettily from her ruby lips, and she blushes and dimples with such
+lovely attraction while she utters it; he casts his eyes around him
+with conscious elation to see her admirers, and his enviers; but he has
+amply his turn for looking like a fool himself, when youth and beauty
+take flight, and when his ugly old wife exposes her ignorance or folly
+at every word.'
+
+'The contrast of beginning and end,' said the General, 'is almost always
+melancholy. But how rarely does any man,--nay, I had nearly said, or any
+woman--think a moment of the time to come, or of any time but the
+present day, in marrying?'
+
+'Except with respect to fortune!' cried Mrs. Arlbery, 'and there,
+methinks, you men, at least, are commonly sufficiently provident. I
+don't think reflection is generally what you want in that point.'
+
+'As to reflection,' exclaimed Mr. Macdersey, ''tis the thing in the
+world I look upon to be the meanest! a man capable of reflection, where
+a beautiful young creature is in question, can have no soul nor vitals.
+For my part, 'tis my only misfortune that I cannot get at that lovely
+girl, to ask her for her private opinion of me at once, that I might
+either get a licence tomorrow, or drive her out of my head before sleep
+overtakes me another night.'
+
+'Your passions, my good Macdersey,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'considering
+their violence, seem tolerably obedient. Can you really be so fond, or
+so forgetful at such short warning?'
+
+'Yes, but it's with a pain that breaks my heart every time.'
+
+'You contrive, however, to get it pretty soon mended!'
+
+'That, madam, is a power that has come upon me by degrees; I have paid
+dear enough for it!--nobody ever found it harder than I did at the
+beginning; for the first two or three times I took my disappointments so
+to heart, that I should have been bound for ever to any friend that
+would have had the good nature to blow my brains out.'
+
+'But now you are so much in the habit of experiencing these little
+failures, that they pass on as things of course?'
+
+'No, madam, you injure me, and in the tenderest point; for, as long as I
+have the least hope, my passion's as violent as ever; but you would not
+be so unreasonable as to have a man love on, when it can answer no end?
+It's no better than making him unhappy for a joke. There's no sense in
+such a thing.'
+
+'By the way, my dear Miss Tyrold, and _apropos_ to this Miss Lynmere,'
+said Mrs. Arlbery, 'do tell me something about Mr. Mandlebert--what is
+he?--what does he do always amongst you?'
+
+'He--he!--' cried Camilla, stammering, 'he was a ward of my father's--'
+
+'O, I don't mean all that; but what is his style?--his class?--is he
+agreeable?'
+
+'I believe--he is generally thought so.'
+
+'If he is, do pray, then, draw him into my society, for I am terribly in
+want of recruits. These poor gentlemen you see here are very good sort
+of men; but they have a trick of sleeping with their eyes wide open, and
+fancy all the time they are awake; and, indeed, I find it hard to
+persuade them to the contrary, though I often ask them for their dreams.
+By the way, can't you contrive, some or other amongst you, to make the
+room a little cooler?'
+
+'Shall I open this window?' said the Major.
+
+'Nay, nay, don't ask me; I had rather bear six times the heat, than give
+my own directions: nothing in the world fatigues me so much as telling
+stupid people how to set about things. Colonel, don't you see I have no
+fan?'
+
+'I'll fetch it directly--have you left it in the dining-parlour?'
+
+'Do you really think I would not send a footman at once, if I must
+perplex myself with all that recollection? My dear Miss Tyrold, did you
+ever see any poor people, that pretended at all to walk about, and
+mingle with the rest of the world, like living creatures, so completely
+lethargic?--'tis really quite melancholy! I am sure you have good nature
+enough to pity them. It requires my utmost ingenuity to keep them in any
+employment; and if I left them to themselves, they would stand before
+the fire all the winter, and lounge upon sofas all the summer. And that
+indolence of body so entirely unnerves the mind, that they find as
+little to say as to do. Upon the whole, 'tis really a paltry race, the
+men of the present times. However, as we have got no better, and as the
+women are worse, I do all I can to make them less insufferable to me.'
+
+'And do you really think the women are worse?' cried Camilla.
+
+'Not in themselves, my dear; but worse to me, because I cannot possibly
+take the same liberties with them. Macdersey, I wish I had my salts.
+
+'It shall be the happiness of my life to find them, be they hid where
+they may; only tell me where I may have the pleasure to go and look for
+them.'
+
+'Nay, that's your affair.'
+
+'Why, then, if they are to be found from the garret to the cellar, be
+sure I am a dead man, if I do not bring them you!'
+
+This mode of displaying airs and graces was so perfectly new to Camilla,
+that the commands issued, and the obedience paid, were equally amusing
+to her. Brought up herself to be contented with whatever came in her
+way, in preference either to giving trouble, or finding fault, the
+ridiculous, yet playful wilfulness with which she saw Mrs. Arlbery send
+every one upon her errands, yet object to what every one performed,
+presented to her a scene of such whimsical gaiety, that her concern at
+the accident which had made her innocently violate her intended
+engagement with Edgar, was completely changed into pleasure, that thus,
+without any possible self blame, an acquaintance she had so earnestly
+desired was even by necessity established: and she returned home at
+night with spirits all revived, and eloquent in praise of her new
+favourite.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_Attic Adventures_
+
+
+Mr. Tyrold, according to the system of recreation which he had settled
+with his wife, saw with satisfaction the pleasure with which Camilla
+began this new acquaintance, in the hope it would help to support her
+spirits during the interval of suspense with regard to the purposes of
+Mandlebert. Mrs. Arlbery was unknown to him, except by general fame;
+which told him she was a woman of reputation as well as fashion, and
+that though her manners were lively, her heart was friendly, and her
+hand ever open to charity.
+
+Upon admitting Lionel again to his presence, he spoke forcibly, though
+with brevity, upon the culpability of his conduct. What he had done, he
+said, let him colour it to himself with what levity he might, was not
+only a robbery, but a robbery of the most atrocious and unjustifiable
+class; adding terror to violation of property, and playing upon the
+susceptibility of the weakness and infirmities, which he ought to have
+been the first to have sheltered and sheathed. Had the action contained
+no purpose but a frolic, even then the situation of the object on whom
+it fell, rendered it inhuman; but as its aim and end was to obtain
+money, it was dishonourable to his character, and criminal by the laws
+of his country. 'Yet shudder no more,' continued he, 'young man, at the
+justice to which they make you amenable, than at having deserved, though
+you escape it! From this day, however, I will name it no more. Feeble
+must be all I could utter, compared with what the least reflection must
+make you feel! Your uncle, in a broken state of health, is sent abroad;
+your mother, though too justly incensed to see you, sacrifices her
+happiness to serve you!'
+
+Lionel, for a few hours, was in despair after this harangue; but as they
+passed away, he strove to drive it from his mind, persuading himself it
+was useless to dwell upon what was irretrievable.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, the following day, made her visit at Etherington, and
+invited the two sisters to a breakfast she was to give the next morning.
+Mr. Tyrold, who with surprize and concern at a coldness so dilatory,
+found a second day wearing away without a visit from Mandlebert, gladly
+consented to allow of an amusement, that might shake from Camilla the
+pensiveness into which, at times, he saw her falling.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery had declared she hated ceremony in the summer; guarded,
+therefore, by Lionel, the sisters walked to the Grove. From the little
+hill they had again to pass, they observed a group of company upon the
+leads of her house, which were flat, and balustraded round; and when
+they presented themselves at the door, they were met by Major Cerwood,
+who conducted them to the scene of business.
+
+It was the end of July, and the weather was sultry; but though the
+height of the place upon which the present party was collected, gave
+some freshness to the air, the heat reflected from the lead would have
+been nearly intolerable, had it not been obviated by an awning, and by
+matts, in the part where seats and refreshments were arranged. French
+horns and clarinets were played during the repast.
+
+This little entertainment had for motive a young lady's quitting her
+boarding school. Miss Dennel, a niece, by marriage, of Mrs. Arlbery,
+who, at the age of fourteen, came to preside at the house and table of
+her father, had begged to be felicitated by her aunt, upon the joyful
+occasion, with a ball: but Mrs. Arlbery declared she never gave any
+entertainments in which she did not expect to play the principal part
+herself; and that balls and concerts were therefore excluded from her
+list of home diversions. It was vastly well to see others shine
+superior, she said, elsewhere, but she could not be so accommodating as
+to perform Nobody under her own roof. She offered her, however, a
+breakfast, with full choice of its cakes and refreshments; which, with
+leave to fix upon the spot where it should be given, was all the
+youthful pleader could obtain.
+
+The Etherington trio met with a reception the most polite, and Camilla
+was distinguished by marks of peculiar favour. Few guests were added to
+the party she had met there before, except the young lady who was its
+present foundress; and whose voice she recollected to have heard, in the
+enquiries which had reached her ear from within the paddock.
+
+Miss Dennel was a pretty, blooming, tall girl, but as childish in
+intellect as in experience; though self-persuaded she was a woman in
+both, since she was called from school to sit at the head of her
+father's table.
+
+Camilla required nothing further for entertainment than to listen to her
+new friend; Lavinia, though more amazed than amused, always modestly
+hung back as a mere looker on; and the company in general made their
+diversion from viewing, through various glasses, the seats of the
+neighbouring gentlemen, and reviewing, with yet more scrutiny, their
+characters and circumstances. But Lionel, ever restless, seized the
+opportunity to patrol the attic regions of the house, where, meeting
+with a capacious lumber room, he returned to assure the whole party it
+would make an admirable theatre, and to ask who would come forth to
+spout with him.
+
+Mr. Macdersey said, he did not know one word of any part, but he could
+never refuse anything that might contribute to the company's pleasure.
+
+Away they sped together, and in a few minutes reversed the face of
+everything. Old sofas, bedsteads, and trunks, large family chests, deal
+boxes and hampers, carpets and curtains rolled up for the summer, tables
+with two legs, and chairs without bottoms, were truckled from the middle
+to one end of the room, and arranged to form a semi-circle, with seats
+in front, for a pit. Carpets were then uncovered and untied, to be
+spread for the stage, and curtains, with as little mercy, were unfurled,
+and hung up to make a scene.
+
+They then applied to Miss Dennel, who had followed to peep at what they
+were about, and asked if she thought the audience might be admitted.
+
+She declared she had never seen any place so neat and elegant in her
+life.
+
+Such an opinion could not but be decisive; and they prepared to
+re-ascend; when the sight of a small door, near the entrance of the
+large apartment, excited the ever ready curiosity of Lionel, who, though
+the key was on the outside, contrived to turn it wrong; but while
+endeavouring to rectify by force what he had spoilt by aukwardness, a
+sudden noise from within startled them all, and occasioned quick and
+reiterated screams from Miss Dennel, who, with the utmost velocity burst
+back upon the company on the leads, calling out; 'O Lord! how glad I am
+I'm coming back alive! Mr. Macdersey and young Mr. Tyrold are very
+likely killed! for they've just found I don't know how many robbers shut
+up in a dark closet!'
+
+The gentlemen waited for no explanation to this unintelligible story,
+but hastened to the spot; and Mrs. Arlbery ordered all the servants who
+were in waiting to follow and assist.
+
+Miss Dennel then entreated to have the trap door through which they
+ascended, from a small staircase, to the leads, double locked till the
+gentlemen should declare upon their honours that the thieves were all
+dead.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery would not listen to this, but waited with Lavinia and
+Camilla the event.
+
+The gentlemen, meanwhile, reached the scene of action, at the moment
+when Macdersey, striking first his foot, and then his whole person
+against the door, had forced it open with such sudden violence, that he
+fell over a pail of water into the adjoining room.
+
+The servants arriving at the same time, announced that this was merely a
+closet for mops, brooms, and pails, belonging to the housemaid: and it
+appeared, upon examination, that the noise from within, had simply been
+produced by the falling down of a broom, occasioned by their shaking the
+door in endeavouring to force the lock.
+
+The Ensign, wetted or splashed all over, was in a fury; and, turning to
+Lionel, who laughed vociferously, whilst the rest of the gentlemen were
+scarce less moderate, and the servants joined in the chorus,
+peremptorily demanded to know if he had put the pail there on purpose;
+'In which case, sir,' said he, 'you must never let me see you laugh
+again to the longest hour you have to live!'
+
+'My good Macdersey,' said the General, 'go into another room, and have
+your cloaths wiped and dried; it will be time enough then to settle who
+shall laugh longest.'
+
+'General,' said he, 'I scorn to mind being either wet or dry; a soldier
+ought to be above such delicate effeminacy: it is not, therefore, the
+sousing I regard, provided I can once be clear it was not done for a
+joke.'
+
+Lionel, when he could speak, declared, that far from placing the pail
+there on purpose, he had not known there was such a closet in the house,
+nor had ever been up those stairs till they all mounted them together.
+
+'I am perfectly satisfied, then, my good friend,' said the Ensign,
+shaking him by the hand with an heartiness that gave him no small share
+of the pail's contents; 'when a gentleman tells me a thing seriously, I
+make it a point to believe him; especially if he has a good honest
+countenance, that assures me he would not refuse me satisfaction, in the
+case he had meant to make game of me.'
+
+'And do you always terminate your jests with the ceremony of a tilting
+match?' cried Sir Sedley.
+
+'Yes, Sir! if I'm made a joke of by a man of any honour. For, to tell
+you a piece of my mind, there's no one thing upon earth I hate like a
+joke; unless it's against another person; and then it only gives me a
+little joy inwardly; for I make it a point of complaisance not to laugh
+out: except where I happen to wish for a little private conversation
+with the person that gives me the diversion.'
+
+'Facetious in the extreme!' cried Sir Sedley, 'an infallibly excellent
+mode to make a man die of laughter? Droll to the utmost!'
+
+'With regard to that, Sir, I have no objection to a little wit or
+humour, provided a person has the politeness to laugh only at himself,
+and his own particular friends and relations; but if once he takes the
+liberty to turn me into ridicule, I look upon it as an affront, and
+expect the proper reparation.'
+
+'O, to refuse that would be without bowels to a degree!'
+
+Lionel now ran up stairs, to beg the ladies would come and see the
+theatre; but suddenly exclaimed, as he looked around, 'Ah ha!' and
+hastily galloped down, and to the bottom of the house. Mrs. Arlbery
+descended with her young party, and the Ensign, in mock heroics,
+solemnly prostrated himself to Miss Dennel, pouring into her delighted
+ears, from various shreds and scraps of different tragedies, the most
+high flown and egregiously ill-adapted complements: while the Major,
+less absurdly, though scarce less passionately, made Camilla his Juliet,
+and whispered the tenderest lines of Romeo.
+
+Lionel presently running, out of breath, up stairs again, cried: 'Mrs.
+Arlbery, I have drawn you in a new beau.'
+
+'Have you?' cried she, coolly; 'why then I permit you to draw him out
+again. Had you told me he had forced himself in, you had made him
+welcome. But I foster only willing slaves. So off, if you please, with
+your boast and your beau.'
+
+'I can't, upon my word, ma'am, for he is at my heels.'
+
+Mandlebert, at the same moment, not hearing what passed, made his
+appearance.
+
+The surprised and always unguarded Camilla, uttered an involuntary
+exclamation, which instantly catching his ear, drew his eye towards the
+exclaimer, and there fixed it; with an astonishment which suspended
+wholly his half made bow, and beginning address to Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+Lionel had descried him upon the little hill before the house; where, as
+he was passing on, his own attention had been caught by the sound of
+horns and clarinets, just as, without any explanation, Lionel flew to
+tell him he was wanted, and almost forced him off his horse, and up the
+stairs.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, in common with those who dispense with all forms for
+themselves, exacted them punctiliously from all others. The visit
+therefore of Mandlebert not being designed for her, afforded her at
+first no gratification, and produced rather a contrary feeling, when she
+observed the total absence of all pleasure in the surprise with which he
+met Camilla at her house. She gave him a reception of cold civility, and
+then chatted almost wholly with the General, or Sir Sedley.
+
+Edgar scarce saw whether he was received or not; his bow was mechanical,
+his apology for his intrusion was unintelligible. Amazement at seeing
+Camilla under this roof, disappointment at her breach of implied
+promise, and mortification at the air of being at home, which he
+thought he remarked in her situation, though at an acquaintance he had
+taken so much pains to keep aloof from her, all conspired to displease
+and perplex him; and though his eyes could with difficulty look any
+other way, he neither spoke to nor approached her.
+
+Nor was even thus meeting her all he had to give him disturbance; the
+palpable devoirs of Major Cerwood incensed as well astonished him; for,
+under pretext of only following the humour of the day, in affecting to
+act the hero in love, the Major assailed her, without reserve, with
+declarations of his passion, which though his words passed off as
+quotations, his looks and manner made appropriate. How, already, thought
+Edgar, has he obtained such a privilege? such confidence? To have
+uttered one such sentence, my tongue would have trembled, my lips would
+have quivered!
+
+Camilla felt confounded by his presence, from the consciousness of the
+ill opinion she must excite by this second apparent disregard of a given
+engagement. She would fain have explained to him it's history; but she
+could not free herself from the Major, whose theatrical effusions were
+not now to be repressed, since, at first, she had unthinkingly attended
+to them.
+
+Lionel joined with Macdersey in directing similar heroics to Miss
+Dennel, who, simply enchanted, called out: 'I'm determined when I've a
+house of my own, I'll have just such a room as this at the top of it, on
+purpose to act a play every night.'
+
+'And when, my dear,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'do you expect to have a house
+of your own?'
+
+'O, as soon as I am married, you know.'
+
+'Is your marrying, then, already decided?'
+
+'Dear no, not that I know of, aunt. I'm sure I never trouble myself
+about it; only I suppose it will happen some day or other.'
+
+'And when it does, you are very sure your husband will approve your
+acting plays every night?'
+
+'O, as to that, I shan't ask him. Whenever I'm married I'll be my own
+mistress, that I'm resolved upon. But papa's so monstrous cross, he says
+he won't let me act plays now.'
+
+'Papas and mamas,' cried Sir Sedley, 'are ever most egregiously in the
+way. 'Tis prodigiously surprising they have never yet been banished
+society. I know no mark more irrefragable of the supineness of mankind.'
+
+Then rising, and exclaiming: 'What savage heat! I wish the weather had
+a little feeling!' he broke up the party by ordering his curricle, and
+being the first to depart.
+
+'That creature,' cried Mrs. Arlbery, 'if one had the least care for him,
+is exactly an animal to drive one mad! He labours harder to be affected
+than any ploughman does for his dinner. And, completely as his conceit
+obscures it, he has every endowment nature can bestow, except common
+sense!'
+
+They now all descended to take leave, except the Ensign and Lionel, who
+went, arm in arm, prowling about, to view all the garrets, followed on
+tip-toe by Miss Dennel. Lavinia called vainly after her brother; but
+Camilla, hoping every instant she might clear her conduct to Edgar, was
+not sorry to be detained.
+
+They had not, however, been five minutes in the parlour, before a
+violent and angry noise from above, induced them all to remount to the
+top of the house; and there, upon entering a garret whence it issued,
+they saw Miss Dennel, decorated with the Ensign's cocked hat and
+feather, yet looking pale with fright; Lionel accoutred in the maid's
+cloaths, and almost in a convulsion of laughter; and Macdersey, in a
+rage utterly incomprehensible, with the coachman's large bob-wig hanging
+loose upon his head.
+
+It was sometime before it was possible to gather, that having all
+paraded into various garrets, in search of adventures, Lionel, after
+attiring himself in the maid's gown, cap, and apron, had suddenly
+deposited upon Miss Dennel's head the Ensign's cocked hat, replacing it
+with the coachman's best wig upon the toupee of Macdersey; whose
+resentment was so violent at this liberty, that it was still some
+minutes before he could give it articulation.
+
+The effect of this full buckled bob-jerom which stuck hollow from the
+young face and powdered locks of the Ensign, was irresistibly ludicrous;
+yet he would have deemed it a greater indignity to take it quietly off,
+than to be viewed in it by thousands; though when he saw the disposition
+of the whole company to sympathise with Lionel, his wrath rose yet
+higher, and stamping with passion, he fiercely said to him--'Take it
+off, sir!--take it off my head!'
+
+Lionel, holding this too imperious a command to be obeyed, only shouted
+louder. Macdersey then, incensed beyond endurance, lowered his voice
+with stifled choler, and putting his arms a-kimbo, said--'If you take me
+for a fool, sir, I shall demand satisfaction; for it's what I never put
+up with!'
+
+Then, turning to the rest, he solemnly added--'I beg pardon of all the
+worthy company for speaking this little whisper, which certainly I
+should scorn to do before ladies, if it had not been a secret.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, alarmed at the serious consequences now threatening this
+folly, said--'No, no; I allow of no secrets in my house, but what are
+entrusted to myself. I insist, therefore, upon being umpire in this
+cause.'
+
+'Madam,' said Macdersey, 'I hope never to become such a debased brute of
+the creation, as to contradict the commands of a fair lady: except when
+it's upon a point of honour. But I can't consent to pass for a fool; and
+still more not for a poltroon--You'll excuse the little hint.'
+
+Then, while making a profound and ceremonious bow, his wig fell over his
+head on the ground.
+
+'This is very unlucky,' cried he, with a look of vexation; 'for
+certainly, and to be sure no human mortal should have made me take it
+off myself, before I was righted.'
+
+Camilla, picking it up, to render the affair merely burlesque, pulled
+off the maid's cap from her brother's head, and put on the wig in its
+place, saying--'There, Lionel, you have played the part of _Lady Wrong
+Head_ long enough; be so good now as to perform that of _Sir Francis_.'
+
+This ended the business, and the whole party, in curricles, on
+horseback, or on foot, departed from the Grove.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK IV
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A Few Explanations_
+
+
+The last words of Dr. Marchmont, in taking leave of Edgar, were
+injunctions to circumspection, and representations of the difficulty of
+drawing back with honour, if once any incautious eagerness betrayed his
+partiality. To this counsel he was impelled to submit, lest he should
+risk for Camilla a report similar to that which for Indiana had given
+him so much disturbance. There, indeed, he felt himself wholly
+blameless. His admiration was but such as he always experienced at sight
+of a beautiful picture, nor had it ever been demonstrated in any more
+serious manner. He had distinguished her by no particular attention,
+singled her out by no pointed address, taken no pains to engage her good
+opinion, and manifested no flattering pleasure at her approach or
+presence.
+
+His sense of right was too just to mislead him into giving himself
+similar absolution with respect to Camilla. He had never, indeed,
+indulged a voluntary vent to his preference; but the candour of his
+character convinced him that what so forcibly he had felt, he must
+occasionally have betrayed. Yet the idea excited regret without remorse;
+for though it had been his wish, as well as intention, to conceal his
+best hopes, till they were ratified by his judgment, he had the
+conscious integrity of knowing that, should her heart become his prize,
+his dearest view in life would be to solicit her hand.
+
+To preserve, therefore, the appearance of an undesigning friend of the
+house, he had forced himself to refrain, for two days, from any visit to
+the rectory, whither he was repairing, when thus, unlooked and unwished
+for, he surprized Camilla at the Grove.
+
+Disappointed and disapproving feelings kept him, while there, aloof from
+her; by continual suggestions, that her character was of no stability,
+that Dr. Marchmont was right in his doubts, and Miss Margland herself
+not wrong in accusing her of caprice; and when he perceived, upon her
+preparing to walk home with her brother and sister, that Major Cerwood
+stept forward to attend her, he indignantly resolved to arrange without
+delay his continental excursion. But again, when, as she quitted the
+room, he saw her head half turned round, with an eye of enquiry if he
+followed, he determined frankly, and at once, in his capacity of a
+friend, to request some explanation of this meeting.
+
+The assiduities of the Major made it difficult to speak to her; but the
+aid of her desire for a conversation, which was equally anxious, and
+less guarded than his own, anticipated his principal investigation, by
+urging her, voluntarily to seize an opportunity of relating to him the
+history of her first visit to Mrs. Arlbery; and of assuring him that the
+second was indispensably its consequence.
+
+Softened by this apparent earnestness for his good opinion, all his
+interest and all his tenderness for her returned; and though much
+chagrined at the accident, or rather mischief, which had thus
+established the acquaintance, he had too little to say, whatever he had
+to feel, of positive weight against it, to propose its now being
+relinquished. He thanked her impressively for so ready an explanation;
+and then gently added; 'I know your predilection in favour of this lady,
+and I will say nothing to disturb it; but as she is yet new to you, and
+as all residence, all intercourse, from your own home or relations, is
+new to you also--tell me, candidly, sincerely tell me, can you
+condescend to suffer an old friend, though in the person of but a young
+man, to offer you, from time to time, a hint, a little counsel, a few
+brief words of occasional advice? and even, perhaps, now and then, to
+torment you into a little serious reflection?'
+
+'If you,' cried she, gaily, 'will give me the reflection, I promise, to
+the best of my power, to give you in return, the seriousness; but I can
+by no means engage for both!'
+
+'O, never, but from your own prudence,' he answered, gratefully, 'may
+your delightful vivacity know a curb! If now I seem myself to fear it,
+it is not from moroseness, it is not from insensibility to its
+charm----'
+
+He was stopt here by Macdersey, who, suddenly overtaking him, entreated
+an immediate short conference upon a matter of moment.
+
+Though cruelly vexed by the interruption, he could not refuse to turn
+back with him; and Camilla again was left wholly to the gallant Major;
+but her heart felt so light that she had thus cleared herself to Edgar,
+so gratified by his request to become himself her monitor, and so
+enchanted to find her acquaintance with Mrs. Arlbery no longer disputed,
+that she was too happy to admit any vexation; and the Major had never
+thought her so charming, though of the Major she thought not one moment.
+
+Macdersey, with a long, ceremonious, and not very clear apology,
+confessed he had called Mandlebert aside only to enquire into the
+certain truth, if it were not a positive secret, of his intended
+nuptials with the beautiful Miss Lynmere. Mandlebert, with surprize, but
+without any hesitation, declared himself wholly without any pretensions
+to that lady. Macdersey then embraced him, and they parted mutually
+satisfied.
+
+It seemed now too late to Mandlebert to go to Etherington till the next
+day, whither, as soon as he had breakfasted, he then rode.
+
+According to his general custom, he went immediately to the study, where
+he met with a calm, but kind reception from Mr. Tyrold; and after half
+an hour's conversation, upon Lisbon, Dr. Marchmont, and Mrs. Tyrold, he
+left him to seek his young friends.
+
+In the parlour, he found Lavinia alone; but before he could enquire for
+her sister, who was accidentally up stairs, Lionel, just dismounted from
+his horse, appeared.
+
+'O, ho, Edgar!' cried he, 'you are here, are you? this would make fine
+confusion, if that beauty of nature, Miss Margland, should happen to
+call. They've just sent for you to Beech Park. I don't know what's to be
+done to you; but if you have an inclination to save poor Camilla's eyes,
+or cap, at least, from that meek, tender creature, you'll set off for
+Cleves before they know you are in this house.'
+
+Edgar amazed, desired an explanation; but he protested the wrath of Miss
+Margland had been so comical, and given him so much diversion, that he
+had not been able to get at any particulars; he only knew there was a
+great commotion, and that Edgar was declared in love with some of his
+sisters or cousins, and Miss Margland was in a rage that it was not with
+herself; and that, in short, because he only happened to drop a hint of
+the latter notion, that delectable paragon had given him so violent a
+blow with her fine eyes, that in order to vent an ungovernable fit of
+laughter, without the risk of having the house pulled about his ears, he
+had hastily mounted his horse, and galloped off.
+
+The contempt of Edgar for Miss Margland would have made him disdain
+another question, if the name of Camilla had not been mingled in this
+relation; no question, however, could procure further information.
+Lionel, enchanted that he had tormented Miss Margland, understood
+nothing more of the matter, and could only repeat his own merry sayings,
+and their effect.
+
+Lavinia expressed, most innocently, her curiosity to know what this
+meant; and was going for Camilla, to assist in some conjecture; but
+Edgar, who by this strange story had lost his composure, felt unequal to
+hearing it discussed in her presence, and, pleading sudden haste, rode
+away.
+
+He did not, however, go to Cleves; he hardly knew if Lionel had not
+amused him with a feigned story; but he no sooner arrived at Beech Park,
+then he found a message from Sir Hugh, begging to see him with all
+speed.
+
+The young Ensign was the cause of this present summons and disturbance.
+Elated by the declaration of Mandlebert, that the rumour of his contract
+was void of foundation, and buoyed up by Mrs. Arlbery, to whom he
+returned with the communication, he resolved to make his advances in
+form. He presented himself, therefore, at Cleves, where he asked an
+audience of Sir Hugh, and at once, with his accustomed vehemence,
+declared himself bound eternally, life and soul, to his fair niece, Miss
+Lynmere; and desired that, in order to pay his addresses to her, he
+might be permitted to see her at odd times, when he was off duty.
+
+Sir Hugh was scarce able to understand him, from his volubility, and the
+extravagance of his phrases and gestures; but he imputed them to his
+violent passion, and therefore answered him with great gentleness,
+assuring him he did not mean to doubt his being a proper alliance for
+his niece, though he had never heard of him before; but begging he would
+not be affronted if he could not accept him, not knowing yet quite
+clearly if she were not engaged to a young gentleman in the
+neighbourhood.
+
+The Ensign now loudly proclaimed his own news: Mandlebert had protested
+himself free, and the whole county already rang with the mistake.
+
+Sir Hugh, who always at a loss how to say no, thought this would have
+been a good answer, now sent for Miss Margland, and desired her to speak
+herself with the young gentleman.
+
+Miss Margland, much gratified, asked Macdersey if she could look at his
+rent roll.
+
+He had nothing of the kind at hand, he said, not being yet come to his
+estate, which was in Ireland, and was still the property of a first
+cousin, who was not yet dead.
+
+Miss Margland, promising he should have an answer in a few days, then
+dismissed him; but more irritated than ever against Mandlebert, from the
+contrast of his power to make settlements, she burst forth into her old
+declarations of his ill usage of Miss Lynmere; attributing it wholly to
+the contrivances of Camilla, whom she had herself, she said, surprized
+wheedling Edgar into her snares, when she called last at Etherington;
+and who, she doubted not, they should soon hear was going to be married
+to him.
+
+Sir Hugh always understood literally whatever was said; these assertions
+therefore of ill humour, merely made to vent black bile, affected him
+deeply for the honour and welfare of Camilla, and he hastily sent a
+messenger for Edgar, determining to beg, if that were the case, he would
+openly own the whole, and not leave all the blame to fall all upon his
+poor niece.
+
+At this period, Lionel had called, and, by inflaming Miss Margland, had
+aggravated the general disturbance.
+
+When Edgar arrived, Sir Hugh told him of the affair, assuring him he
+should never have taken amiss his preferring Camilla, which he thought
+but natural, if he had only done it from the first.
+
+Edgar, though easily through all this he saw the malignant yet shallow
+offices of Miss Margland, found himself, with infinite vexation,
+compelled to declare off equally from both the charges; conscious, that
+till the very moment of his proposals, he must appear to have no
+preference nor designs. He spoke, therefore, with the utmost respect of
+the young ladies, but again said it was uncertain if he should not
+travel before he formed any establishment.
+
+The business thus explicitly decided, nothing more could be done: but
+Miss Margland was somewhat appeased, when she heard that her pupil was
+not so disgracefully to be supplanted.
+
+Indiana herself, to whom Edgar had never seemed agreeable, soon forgot
+she had ever thought of him; and elated by the acquisition of a new
+lover, doubted not, but, in a short time, the publication of her liberty
+would prove slavery to all mankind.
+
+Early the next morning, the carriage of Sir Hugh arrived at the rectory
+for Camilla. She never refused an invitation from her uncle, but she
+felt so little equal to passing a whole day in the presence of Miss
+Margland, after the unaccountable, yet alarming relation she had
+gathered from Lionel, that she entreated him to accompany her, and to
+manage that she should return with him as soon as the horses were fed
+and rested.
+
+Lionel, ever good humoured, and ready to oblige, willingly complied; but
+demanded that she should go with him, in their way back, to see a new
+house which he wanted to examine.
+
+Sir Hugh received her with his usual affection, Indiana with
+indifference, and Miss Margland with a malicious smile: but Eugenia,
+soon taking her aside, disclosed to her that Edgar, the day before, had
+publicly and openly disclaimed any views upon Indiana, and had declared
+himself without any passion whatever, and free from all inclination or
+intention but to travel.
+
+The blush of pleasure, with which Camilla heard the first sentence of
+this speech, became the tingle of shame at the second, and whitened into
+surprise and sorrow at the last.
+
+Eugenia, though she saw some disturbance, understood not these changes.
+Early absorbed in the study of literature and languages, under the
+direction of a preceptor who had never mingled with the world, her
+capacity had been occupied in constant work for her memory; but her
+judgment and penetration had been wholly unexercised. Like her uncle,
+she concluded every body, and every thing to be precisely what they
+appeared; and though, in that given point of view, she had keener
+intellects to discern, and more skill to appreciate persons and
+characters, she was as unpractised as himself in those discriminative
+powers, which dive into their own conceptions to discover the latent
+springs, the multifarious and contradictory sources of human actions and
+propensities.
+
+Upon their return to the company, Miss Margland chose to relate the
+history herself. Mr. Mandlebert, she said, had not only thought proper
+to acknowledge his utter insensibility to Miss Lynmere, but had declared
+his indifference for every woman under the sun, and protested he held
+them all cheap alike. 'So I would advise nobody,' she continued, 'to
+flatter themselves with making a conquest of him, for they may take my
+word for it, he won't be caught very easily.'
+
+Camilla disdained to understand this but in a general sense, and made no
+answer. Indiana, pouting her lip, said she was sure she did not want to
+catch him: she did not fear having offers enough without him, if she
+should happen to chuse to marry.
+
+'Certainly,' said Miss Margland, 'there's no doubt of that; and this
+young officer's coming the very moment he heard of your being at
+liberty, is a proof that the only reason of your having had no more
+proposals, is owing to Mr. Mandlebert. So I don't speak for you, but for
+any body else, that may suppose they may please the difficult gentleman
+better.'
+
+Camilla now breathed hard with resentment; but still was silent, and
+Indiana, answering only for herself, said: 'O, yes! I can't say I'm much
+frightened. I dare say if Mr. Melmond had known, ... but he thought like
+everybody else ... however, I'm sure, I'm very glad of it, only I wish
+he had spoke a little sooner, for I suppose Mr. Melmond thinks me as
+much out of his reach as if I was married. Not that I care about it;
+only it's provoking.'
+
+'No, my dear,' said Miss Margland, 'it would be quite below your dignity
+to think about him, without knowing better who he is, or what are his
+expectations and connexions. As to this young officer, I shall take
+proper care to make enquiries, before he has his answer. He belongs to a
+very good family; for he's related to Lord O'Lerney, and I have friends
+in Ireland who can acquaint me with his situation and fortune. There's
+time enough to look about you; only as Mr. Mandlebert has behaved so
+unhandsomely, I hope none of the family will give him their countenance.
+I am sure it will be to no purpose, if any body should think of doing it
+by way of having any design upon him. It will be lost labour, I can tell
+them.'
+
+'As to that, I am quite easy,' said Indiana, tossing her head, 'any body
+is welcome to him for me;--my cousin, or any body else.'
+
+Camilla, now, absolutely called upon to speak, with all the spirit she
+could assume, said, 'With regard to me, there is no occasion to remind
+me how much I am out of the question; yet suffer me to say, respect for
+myself would secure me from forming such plans as you surmise, if no
+other sense of propriety could save me from such humiliation.'
+
+'Now, my dear, you speak properly,' said Miss Margland, taking her hand;
+'and I hope you will have the spirit to shew him you care no more for
+him than he cares for you.'
+
+'I hope so too,' answered Camilla, turning pale; 'but I don't suppose--I
+can't imagine--that it is very likely he should have mentioned anything
+good or bad--with regard to his care for me?'
+
+This was painfully uttered, but from a curiosity irrepressible.
+
+'As to that, my dear, don't deceive yourself; for the question was put
+home to him very properly, that you might know what you had to expect,
+and not keep off other engagements from a false notion.'
+
+'This indeed,' said Camilla, colouring with indignation, 'this has been
+a most useless, a most causeless enquiry!'
+
+'I am very glad you treat the matter as it deserves, for I like to see
+young ladies behave with dignity.'
+
+'And pray, then, what--was there any--did he make--was there any--any
+answer--to this--to--.'
+
+'O, yes, he answered without any great ceremony, I can assure you! He
+said, in so many words, that he thought no more of you than of our
+cousin, and was going abroad to divert and amuse himself, better than by
+entering into marriage, with either one or other of you; or with any
+body else.'
+
+Camilla felt half killed by this answer; and presently quitting the
+room, ran out into the garden, and to a walk far from the house, before
+she had power to breathe, or recollection to be aware of the sensibility
+she was betraying.
+
+She then as hastily went back, secretly resolving never more to think of
+him, and to shew both to himself and to the world, by every means in her
+power, her perfect indifference.
+
+She could not, however, endure to encounter Miss Margland again, but
+called for Lionel, and begged him to hurry the coachman.
+
+Lionel complied--she took a hasty leave of her uncle, and only saying,
+'Good by, good by!' to the rest, made her escape.
+
+Sir Hugh, ever unsuspicious, thought her merely afraid to detain her
+brother; but Eugenia, calm, affectionate, and divested of cares for
+herself, saw evidently that something was wrong, though she divined not
+what, and entreated leave to go with her sister to Etherington, and
+thence return, without keeping out the horses.
+
+Sir Hugh was well pleased, and the two sisters and Lionel set off
+together.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_Specimens of Taste_
+
+
+The presence of Lionel stifled the enquiries of Eugenia; and pride, all
+up in arms, absorbed every softer feeling in Camilla.
+
+When they had driven half a mile, 'Now, young ladies,' said he, 'I shall
+treat you with a frolic.' He then stopt the carriage, and told the
+coachman to drive to Cornfield; saying, 'Tis but two miles about, and
+Coachy won't mind that; will you Coachy?'
+
+The coachman, looking forward to half a crown, said his horses would be
+all the better for a little more exercise; and Jacob, familiarly fond of
+Lionel from a boy, made no difficulty.
+
+Lionel desired his sisters to ask no questions, assuring them he had
+great designs, and a most agreeable surprise in view for them.
+
+In pursuance of his directions, they drove on till they came before a
+small house, just new fronted with deep red bricks, containing, on the
+ground floor, two little bow windows, in a sharp triangular form,
+enclosing a door ornamented with small panes of glass, cut in various
+shapes; on the first story, a little balcony, decorated in the middle
+and at each corner with leaden images of Cupids; and, in the attic
+story, a very small venetian window, partly formed with minute panes of
+glass, and partly with glazed tiles; representing, in blue and white,
+various devices of dogs and cats, mice and birds, rats and ferrets, as
+emblems of the conjugal state.
+
+'Well, young ladies, what say you to this?' cried he, 'does it hit your
+fancy? If it does, 'tis your own!'
+
+Eugenia asked what he meant.
+
+'Mean? to make a present of it to which ever is the best girl, and can
+first cry bo! to a goose. Come, don't look disdainfully. Eugenia, what
+say you? won't it be better to be mistress of this little neat, tight,
+snug box, and a pretty little tidy husband, that belongs to it, than to
+pore all day long over a Latin theme with old Dr. Orkborne? I have often
+thought my poor uncle was certainly out of his wits, when he set us
+all, men, women, and children, to learn Latin, or else be whipt by the
+old doctor. But we all soon got our necks out of the collar, except poor
+Eugenia, and she's had to work for us all. However, here's an
+opportunity--see but what a pretty place--not quite finished, to be
+sure, but look at that lake? how cool, how rural, how refreshing!'
+
+'Lake?' repeated Eugenia, 'I see nothing but a very dirty little pond,
+with a mass of rubbish in the middle. Indeed I see nothing else but
+rubbish all round, and every where.'
+
+'That's the very beauty of the thing, my dear; it's all in the exact
+state for being finished under your own eye, and according to your own
+taste.'
+
+'To whom does it belong?'
+
+'It's uninhabited yet; but it's preparing for a very spruce young spark,
+that I advise you both to set your caps at. Hold! I see somebody
+peeping; I'll go and get some news for you.'
+
+He then jumped from the coach, and ran up five deep narrow steps, formed
+of single large rough stones, which mounted so much above the threshold
+of the house, that upon opening the door, there appeared a stool to
+assist all comers to reach the floor of the passage.
+
+Eugenia, with some curiosity, looked out, and saw her brother, after
+nearly forcing his entrance, speak to a very mean little man, dressed in
+old dirty cloaths, who seemed willing to hide himself behind the door,
+but whom he almost dragged forward, saying aloud, 'O, I can take no
+excuse, I insist upon your shewing the house. I have brought two young
+ladies on purpose to see it; and who knows but one of them may take a
+fancy to it, and make you a happy man for life.'
+
+'As to that, sir,' said the man, still endeavouring to retreat, 'I can't
+say as I've quite made my mind up yet as to the marriage ceremony. I've
+known partly enough of the state already; but if ever I marry again,
+which is a moot point, I sha'n't do it hand over head, like a boy,
+without knowing what I'm about. However, it's time enough o'conscience
+to think of that, when my house is done, and my workmen is off my
+hands.'
+
+Camilla now, by the language and the voice, gathered that this was Mr.
+Dubster.
+
+'Pho, pho,' answered Lionel, 'you must not be so hard-hearted when fair
+ladies are in the case. Besides, one of them is that pretty girl you
+flirted with at Northwick. She's a sister of mine, and I shall take it
+very ill if you don't hand her out of the coach, and do the honours of
+your place to her.'
+
+Camilla, much provoked, earnestly called to her brother, but utterly in
+vain.
+
+'Lauk-a-day! why it is not half finished,' said Mr. Dubster; 'nor a
+quarter neither: and as to that young lady, I can't say as it was much
+in my mind to be over civil to her any more, begging pardon, after her
+giving me the slip in that manner. I can't say as I think it was over
+and above handsome, letting me get my gloves. Not that I mind it in the
+least, as to that.'
+
+'Pho, pho, man, you must never bear malice against a fair lady. Besides,
+she's come now on purpose to make her excuses.'
+
+'O, that's another thing; if the young lady's sorry, I sha'n't think of
+holding out. Besides, I can't say but what I thought her agreeable
+enough, if it had not been for her behaving so comical just at the last.
+Not that I mean in the least to make any complaint, by way of getting of
+the young lady scolded.'
+
+'You must make friends now, man, and think no more of it;' cried Lionel,
+who would have drawn him to the carriage; but he protested he was quite
+ashamed to be seen in such a dishabille, and should go first and dress
+himself. Lionel, on the contrary, declaring nothing so manly, nor so
+becoming, as a neglect of outward appearance, pulled him to the coach
+door, notwithstanding all his efforts to disengage himself, and the most
+bashful distortions with which he strove to sneak behind his conductor.
+
+'Ladies,' said he, 'Mr. Dubster desires to have the honour of walking
+over his house and grounds with you.'
+
+Camilla declared she had no time to alight; but Lionel insisted, and
+soon forced them both from the coach.
+
+Mr. Dubster, no longer stiff, starched, and proud, as when full dressed,
+was sunk into the smallest insignificance; and when they were compelled
+to enter his grounds, through a small Chinese gate, painted of a deep
+blue, would entirely have kept out of sight; but for a whisper from
+Lionel, that the ladies had owned they thought he looked to particular
+advantage in that careless attire.
+
+Encouraged by this, he came boldly forward, and suddenly facing them,
+made a low bow saying: 'Young ladies, your humble.'
+
+They courtsied slightly, and Camilla said she was very sorry to break in
+upon him.
+
+'O, it don't much matter,' cried he, extremely pleased by this civility,
+'I only hope, young ladies, you won't take umbrage at my receiving you
+in this pickle; but you've popt upon me unawares, as one may say. And my
+best coat is at this very minute at Tom Hicks's, nicely packed and
+papered up, and tied all round, in a drawer of his, up stairs, in his
+room. And I'd have gone for it with the greatest pleasure in life, to
+shew my respect, if the young gentleman would have let me.'
+
+And then, recollecting Eugenia, 'Good lauk, ma'am,' said he, in a low
+voice to Camilla, 'that's that same lame little lady as I saw at the
+ball?'
+
+'That lady, sir,' answered she, provoked, 'is my sister.'
+
+'Mercy's me!' exclaimed he, lifting up his hands, 'I wish I'd known as
+much at the time. I'm sure, ma'am, if I'd thought the young lady was any
+ways related to you, I would not have said a word disrespectful upon no
+account.'
+
+Lionel asked how long he had had this place.
+
+'Only a little while. I happened of it quite lucky. A friend of mine was
+just being turned out of it, in default of payment, and so I got it a
+bargain. I intend to fit it up a little in taste, and then, whether I
+like it or no, I can always let it.'
+
+They were now, by Lionel, dragged into the house, which was yet
+unfurnished, half papered, and half white washed. The workmen, Mr.
+Dubster said, were just gone to dinner, and he rejoiced that they had
+happened to come so conveniently, when he should be no loser by leaving
+the men to themselves, in order to oblige the young ladies with his
+company.
+
+He insisted upon shewing them not only every room, but every closet,
+every cupboard, every nook, corner, and hiding place; praising their
+utility, and enumerating all their possible appropriations, with the
+most minute encomiums.
+
+'But I'm quite sorry,' cried he, 'young ladies, to think as I've nothing
+to offer you. I eats my dinner always at the Globe, having nobody here
+to cook. However I'd have had a morsel of cake or so, if the young
+gentleman had been so kind as to give me an item beforehand of your
+intending me the favour. But as to getting things into the house hap
+hazard, really everything is so dear--it's quite out of reason.'
+
+The scampering of horses now carrying them to a window, they saw some
+hounds in full cry, followed by horse-men in full gallop. Lionel
+declared he would borrow Jacob's mare, and join them, while his sisters
+walked about the grounds: but Camilla, taking him aside, made a serious
+expostulation, protesting that her father, with all his indulgence, and
+even her uncle himself, would be certainly displeased, if he left them
+alone with this man; of whom they knew nothing but his very low trade.
+
+'Why what is his trade?'
+
+'A tinker's: Mrs. Arlbery told me so.'
+
+He laughed violently at this information, protesting he was rejoiced to
+find so much money could be made by the tinkering business, which he was
+determined to follow in his next distress for cash: yet added, he feared
+this was only the malice of Mrs. Arlbery, for Dubster, he had been told,
+had kept a shop for ready made wigs.
+
+He gave up, however, his project, forgetting the chace when he no longer
+heard the hounds, and desired Mr. Dubster to proceed in shewing his
+lions?
+
+'Lauk a day! sir, I've got no lions, nor tygers neither. It's a deal of
+expence keeping them animals; and though I know they reckon me near, I
+sha'n't do no such thing; for if a man does not take a little care of
+his money when once he has got it, especially if it's honestly, I think
+he's a fool for his pains; begging pardon for speaking my mind so
+freely.'
+
+He then led them again to the front of the house, where he desired they
+would look at his pond. 'This,' said he, 'is what I value the most of
+all, except my summer house and my labyrinth. I shall stock it well; and
+many a good dinner I hope to eat from it. It gets me an appetite,
+sometimes, I think, only to look at it.'
+
+''Tis a beautiful piece of water,' said Lionel, 'and may be useful to
+the outside as well as the inside, for, if you go in head foremost, you
+may bathe as well as feed from it.'
+
+'No, I sha'n't do that, sir, I'm not over and above fond of water at
+best. However, I shall have a swan.'
+
+'A swan? why sure you won't be contented with only one?'
+
+'O yes, I shall. It will only be made of wood, painted over in white.
+There's no end of feeding them things if one has 'em alive. Besides it
+will look just as pretty; and won't bite. And I know a friend of mine
+that one of them creatures flew at, and gave him such a bang as almost
+broke his leg, only for throwing a stone at it, out of mere play. They
+are mortal spiteful, if you happen to hurt them when you're in their
+reach.'
+
+He then begged them to go over to his island, which proved to be what
+Eugenia had taken for a mass of rubbish. They would fain have been
+excused crossing a plank which he called a bridge, but Lionel would not
+be denied.
+
+'Now here,' said he, 'when my island's finished, I shall have something
+these young ladies will like; and that's a lamb.'
+
+'Alive, or dead?' cried Lionel.
+
+'Alive,' he replied, 'for I shall have good pasture in a little bit of
+ground just by, where I shall keep me a cow; and here will be grass
+enough upon my island to keep it from starving on Sundays, and for now
+and then, when I've somebody come to see me. And when it's fit for
+killing, I can change it with the farmer down the lane, for another
+young one, by a bargain I've agreed with him for already; for I don't
+love to run no risks about a thing for mere pleasure.'
+
+'Your place will be quite a paradise,' said Lionel.
+
+'Why, indeed, sir, I think I've earned having a little recreeting, for I
+worked hard enough for it, before I happened of meeting with my first
+wife.'
+
+'O, ho! so you began with marrying a fortune?'
+
+'Yes, sir, and very pretty she was too, if she had not been so puny. But
+she was always ailing. She cost me a mort of money to the potecary
+before she went off. And she was a tedious while a dying, poor soul!'
+
+'Your first wife? surely you have not been twice married already?'
+
+'Yes, I have. My second wife brought me a very pretty fortune too. I
+can't say but I've rather had the luck of it, as far as I've gone yet
+awhile.'
+
+They now repassed the plank, and were conducted to an angle, in which a
+bench was placed close to the chinese rails, which was somewhat shaded
+by a willow, that grew in a little piece of stagnant water on the other
+side. A syringa was planted in front, and a broom-tree on the right
+united it with the willow; in the middle there was a deal table.
+
+'Now, young ladies,' said Mr. Dubster, 'if you have a taste to breathe a
+little fresh country air, here's where I advise you to take your rest.
+When I come to this place first, my arbour, as I call this, had no look
+out, but just to the fields, so I cut away them lilacs, and now there's
+a good pretty look out. And it's a thing not to be believed what a sight
+of people and coaches, and gentlemen's whiskeys and stages, and flys,
+and wagons, and all sorts of things as ever you can think of, goes by
+all day long. I often think people's got but little to do at home.'
+
+Next, he desired to lead them to his grotto, which he said was but just
+begun. It was, indeed, as yet, nothing but a little square hole, dug
+into a chalky soil, down into which, no steps being yet made, he slid as
+well as he could, to the no small whitening of his old brown coat, which
+already was thread bare.
+
+He begged the ladies to follow, that he might shew them the devices he
+had marked out with his own hand, and from his own head, for fitting up
+the inside. Lionel would not suffer his sisters to refuse compliance,
+though Mr. Dubster himself cautioned them to come carefully, 'in
+particular,' he said, 'the little lady, as she has happened of an ugly
+accident already, as I judge, in one of her hips, and 'twould be pity,
+at her time of life, if she should happen of another at t'other side.'
+
+Eugenia, not aware this misfortune was so glaring, felt much hurt by
+this speech; and Camilla, very angry with its speaker, sought to silence
+him by a resentful look; but not observing it; 'Pray, ma'am,' he
+continued, 'was it a fall? or was you born so?'
+
+Eugenia looked struck and surprized; and Camilla hastily whispered it
+was a fall, and bid him say no more about it; but, not understanding
+her, 'I take it, then,' he said, 'that was what stinted your growth so,
+Miss? for, I take it, you're not much above the dwarf as they shew at
+Exeter Change? Much of a muchness, I guess. Did you ever see him,
+ma'am?'
+
+'No, sir.'
+
+'It would be a good sight enough to see you together. He'd think himself
+a man in a minute. You must have had the small pox mortal bad, ma'am. I
+suppose you'd the conflint sort?'
+
+Camilla here, without waiting for help, slid down into the intended
+grotto, and asked a thousand questions to change the subject; while
+Eugenia, much disconcerted, slowly followed, aided by Lionel.
+
+Mr. Dubster then displayed the ingenious intermixture of circles and
+diamonds projected for the embellishment of his grotto; the first of
+which were to be formed with cockle-shells, which he meant to colour
+with blue paint; and the second he proposed shaping with bits of shining
+black coal. The spaces between would each have an oyster-shell in the
+middle, and here and there he designed to leave the chalk to itself,
+which would always, he observed, make the grotto light and cheery.
+Shells he said, unluckily, he did not happen to have; but as he had
+thoughts of taking a little pleasure some summer at Brighthelmstone or
+Margate, for he intended to see all those places, he should make a
+collection then; being told he might have as curious shells, and pebbles
+too, as a man could wish to look at, only for the trouble of picking
+them up off the shore.
+
+They next went to what he called his labyrinth, which was a little walk
+he was cutting, zig-zag, through some brushwood, so low that no person
+above three foot height could be hid by it. Every step they took here,
+cost a rent to some lace or some muslin of one of the sisters; which Mr.
+Dubster observed with a delight he could not conceal; saying this was a
+true country walk, and would do them both a great deal of good; and
+adding: 'we that live in town, would give our ears for such a thing as
+this.' And though they could never proceed a yard at a time, from the
+continual necessity of disentangling their dress from thorns and briars,
+he exultingly boasted that he should give them a good appetite for their
+dinner; and asked if this rural ramble did not make them begin to feel
+hungry. 'For my part,' continued he, 'if once I get settled a bit, I
+shall take a turn in this zig-zag every day before dinner, which may
+save me my five grains of rhubarb, that the doctor ordered me for my
+stomach, since my having my illness, which come upon me almost as soon
+as I was a gentleman; from change of life, I believe, for I never knew
+no other reason; and none of the doctors could tell me nothing about it.
+But a man that's had a deal to do, feels quite unked at first, when he's
+only got to look and stare about him, and just walk from one room to
+another, without no employment.'
+
+Lionel said he hoped, at least, he would not require his rhubarb to get
+down his dinner to day.
+
+'I hope so too, 'squire,' answered he, licking his lips, 'for I've
+ordered a pretty good one, I can tell you; beef steaks and onions; and I
+don't know what's better. Tom Hicks is to dine with me at the Globe, as
+soon as I've give my workmen their tasks, and seen after a young lad
+that's to do me a job there, by my grotto. Tom Hicks is a very good
+fellow; I like him best of any acquaintance I've made in these here
+parts. Indeed, I've made no other, on account of the unconvenience of
+dressing, while I'm so much about with my workmen. So I keep pretty
+incog from the genteel; and Tom does well enough in the interim.'
+
+He then requested them to make haste to his summer-house, because his
+workmen would be soon returned, and he could not then spare a moment
+longer, without spoiling his own dinner.
+
+'My summer-house,' said he, 'is not above half complete yet; but it will
+be very pretty when it's done. Only I've got no stairs yet to it; but
+there's a very good ladder, if the ladies a'n't afraid.'
+
+The ladies both desired to be excused mounting; but Lionel protested he
+would not have his friend affronted; and as neither of them were in the
+habit of resisting him, nor of investigating with seriousness any thing
+that he proposed, they were soon teized into acquiescence, and he
+assisted them to ascend.
+
+Mr. Dubster followed.
+
+The summer-house was, as yet, no more than a shell; without windows,
+scarcely roofed, and composed of lath and plaister, not half dry. It
+looked on to the high road, and Mr. Dubster assured them, that, on
+market days, the people passed so thick, there was no seeing them for
+the dust.
+
+Here they had soon cause to repent their facility,--that dangerous, yet
+venial, because natural fault of youth;--for hardly had they entered
+this place, ere a distant glimpse of a fleet stag, and a party of
+sportsmen, incited Lionel to scamper down; and calling out: 'I shall be
+back presently,' he made off towards the house, dragging the ladder
+after him.
+
+The sisters eagerly and almost angrily remonstrated; but to no purpose;
+and while they were still entreating him to return and supposing him,
+though out of sight, within hearing, they suddenly perceived him passing
+the window by the high road, on horse-back, switch in hand, and looking
+in the utmost glee. 'I have borrowed Jacob's mare,' he cried, 'for just
+half an hour's sport, and sent Jacob and Coachy to get a little
+refreshment at the next public house; but don't be impatient; I shan't
+be long.'
+
+Off then, he galloped, laughing; in defiance of the serious entreaties
+of his sisters, and without staying to hear even one sentence of the
+formal exhortations of Mr. Dubster.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_A few Compliments_
+
+
+The two young ladies and Mr. Dubster, left thus together, and so
+situated that separation without assistance was impossible, looked at
+one another for some time in nearly equal dismay; and then Mr. Dubster,
+with much displeasure, exclaimed--'Them young gentlemen are as full of
+mischief, as an egg's full of meat! Who'd have thought of a person's
+going to do such a thing as this?--it's mortal convenient, making me
+leave my workmen at this rate; for I dare say they're come, or coming,
+by this time. I wish I'd tied the ladder to this here rafter.'
+
+The sisters, though equally provoked, thought it necessary to make some
+apology for the wild behaviour of their brother.
+
+'O, young ladies,' said he, formally waving his hand by way of a bow, 'I
+don't in the least mean to blame you about it, for you're very welcome
+to stay as long as it's agreeable; only I hope he'll come back by my
+dinner time; for a cold beef-steak is one or other the worst morsel I
+know.'
+
+He then kept an unremitting watch from one window to another, for some
+passenger from whom he could claim aid; but, much as he had boasted of
+the numbers perpetually in sight, he now dolorously confessed, that,
+sometimes, not a soul came near the place for half a day together: 'And,
+as to my workmen,' continued he, 'the deuce can't make 'em hear if once
+they begin their knocking and hammering.'
+
+And then, with a smirk at the idea, he added--'I'll tell you what; I'd
+best give a good squall at once, and then if they are come, I may catch
+'em; in the proviso you won't mind it, young ladies.'
+
+This scheme was put immediately into practice; but though the sisters
+were obliged to stop their ears from his vociferation, it answered no
+purpose.
+
+'Well, I'll bet you what you will,' cried he, 'they are all deaf:
+however, it's as well as it is, for if they was to come, and see me
+hoisted up in this cage, like, they'd only make a joke of it; and then
+they'd mind me no more than a pin never again. It's surprising how them
+young gentlemen never think of nothing. If he'd served me so when I was
+a 'prentice, he'd have paid pretty dear for his frolic; master would
+have charged him half a day's work, as sure as a gun.'
+
+Soon after, while looking out of the window, 'I do think,' he exclaimed,
+'I see somebody!--It shall go hard but what I'll make 'em come to us.'
+
+He then shouted with great violence; but the person crossed a stile into
+a field, without seeing or hearing him.
+
+This provoked him very seriously; and turning to Camilla, rather
+indignantly, he said--'Really, ma'am, I wish you'd tell your brother, I
+should take it as a favour he'd never serve me o' this manner no more!'
+
+She hoped, she said, he would in future be more considerate.
+
+'It's a great hindrance to business, ma'am, such things; and it's a
+sheer love of mischief, too, begging pardon, for it's of no manner of
+use to him, no more than it is to us.'
+
+He then desired, that if any body should pass by again, they might all
+squall out at once; saying, it was odds, then, but they might be heard.
+
+'Not that it's over agreeable, at the best,' added he; 'for if one was
+to stop any poor person, and make 'em come round, and look for the
+ladder, one could not be off giving them something: and as to any of the
+gentlefolks, one might beg and pray as long as one would before they'd
+stir a step for one: and as to any of one's acquaintance, if they was to
+go by, it's ten to one but they'd only fall a laughing. People's
+generally ill-natured when they sees one in jeopardy.'
+
+Eugenia, already thoughtful and discomposed, now grew uneasy, lest her
+uncle should be surprised at her long absence; this a little appeased
+Mr. Dubster, who, with less resentment, said--'So I see, then, we're all
+in the same quandary! However, don't mind it, young ladies; you can have
+no great matters to do with your time, I take it; so it does not so much
+signify. But a man's quite different. He looks like a fool, as one may
+say, poked up in such a place as this, to be stared at by all comers and
+goers; only nobody happens to pass by.'
+
+His lamentations now were happily interrupted by the appearance of three
+women and a boy, who, with baskets on their heads, were returning from
+the next market town. With infinite satisfaction, he prepared to assail
+them, saying, he should now have some chance to get a bit of dinner: and
+assuring the ladies, that if they should like a little scrap for a
+relish, he should be very willing to send 'em it by their footman; 'For
+it's a long while,' said he, 'young ladies, to be fasting, that's the
+truth of it.'
+
+The market women now approached, and were most clamourously hailed,
+before their own loud discourse, and the singing and whistling of the
+boy, permitted their hearing the appeal.
+
+'Pray, will you be so kind,' said Mr. Dubster, when he had made them
+stop, 'as to step round by the house, and see if you can see the
+workmen; and if you can, tell 'em a young gentleman, as come here while
+they was at dinner, has taken away the ladder, and left us stuck up here
+in the lurch.'
+
+The women all laughed, and said it was a good merry trick; but were
+preparing to follow his directions, when Mr. Dubster called after the
+boy, who loitered behind, with an encouraging nod: 'If you'll bring the
+ladder with you upon your shoulders, my lad, I'll give you a
+half-penny!'
+
+The boy was well contented; but the women, a little alarmed, turned back
+and said--'And what will you give to us, master?' 'Give?' repeated he, a
+little embarrassed; 'why, I'll give--why I'll thank you kindly; and it
+won't be much out of your way, for the house is only round there.'
+
+'You'll thank us kindly, will you?' said one of the women; it's like you
+may! But what will you do over and above?'
+
+'Do? why it's no great matter, just to stop at the house as you go by,
+and tell 'em----'
+
+Here Eugenia whispered she would herself satisfy them, and begged he
+would let them make their own terms.
+
+'No, Miss, no; I don't like to see nobody's money fooled away, no more
+than my own. However, as you are so generous, I'll agree with 'em to
+give 'em a pot of beer.'
+
+He then, with some parade, made this concession; but said, he must see
+the ladder, before the money should be laid down.
+
+'A pot of beer for four!--a pot of beer for four!' they all exclaimed in
+a breath; and down everyone put her basket, and set her arms a-kembo,
+unanimously declaring, they would shame him for such stinginess.
+
+The most violent abuse now followed, the boy imitating them, and every
+other sentence concluding with--'A pot of beer for four!--ha!'
+
+Camilla and Eugenia, both frightened, besought that they might have any
+thing, and every thing, that could appease them; but Mr. Dubster was
+inflexible not to submit to imposition, because of a few foul words;
+'For, dear heart,' said he, 'what harm will they do us!--they an't of no
+consequence.'
+
+Then, addressing them again, 'As to four,' he cried, 'that's one over
+the bargain, for I did not reckon the boy for nothing.'
+
+'You didn't, didn't you?' cried the boy; 'i'cod, I hope I'm as good as
+you, any day in the year!'
+
+'You'll thank us kindly, will you?' said one of the women; 'I'fackens,
+and so you shall, when we're fools enough to sarve you!--A pot of beer
+for four!'
+
+'We help you down!--we get you a ladder!' cried another; 'yes, forsooth,
+it's like we may!--no, stay where you are like a toad in a hole as you
+be!'
+
+Camilla and Eugenia now, tired of vain application to Mr. Dubster, who
+heard all this abuse with the most sedate unconcern, advanced themselves
+to the window; and Eugenia, ever foremost where money was to be given,
+began--'Good women----' when, with a violent loud shout, they called
+out--'What! are you all in Hob's pound? Well, they as will may let you
+out for we; so I wish you a merry time of it!'
+
+Eugenia began again her--'Good women----' when the boy exclaimed--'What
+were you put up there for, Miss? to frighten the crows?'
+
+Eugenia, not understanding him, was once more re-commencing; but the
+first woman said--'I suppose you think we'll sarve you for looking
+at?--no need to be paid?'
+
+'Yes, yes,' cried the second, 'Miss may go to market with her beauty;
+she'll not want for nothing if she'll shew her pretty face!'
+
+'She need not be afeard of it, however,' said the third, 'for 'twill
+never be no worse. Only take care, Miss, you don't catch the small pox!'
+
+'O fegs, that would be pity!' cried the boy, 'for fear Miss should be
+marked.'
+
+Eugenia, astonished and confounded, made no farther attempt; but
+Camilla, though at that moment she could have inflicted any punishment
+upon such unprovoked assailants, affected to give but little weight to
+what they said, and gently drew her away.
+
+'Hoity, toity!' cried one of the women, as she moved off, 'why, Miss, do
+you walk upon your knees?'
+
+'Why my Poll would make two of her,' said another, 'though she's only
+nine years old.'
+
+'She won't take much for cloaths,' cried another, 'that's one good
+thing.'
+
+'I'd answer to make her a gown out of my apron,' said the third.
+
+'Your apron?' cried another, 'your pocket handkerchief you mean!--why
+she'd be lost in your apron, and you might look half an hour before
+you'd find her.'
+
+Eugenia, to whom such language was utterly new, was now in such visible
+consternation, that Camilla, affrighted, earnestly charged Mr. Dubster
+to find any means, either of menace or of reward, to make them depart.
+
+'Lauk, don't mind them, ma'am,' cried he, following Eugenia, 'they can't
+do you no hurt; though they are rather rude, I must needs confess the
+truth, to say such things to your face. But one must not expect people
+to be over polite, so far from London. However, I see the sporting
+gentry coming round, over that way, yonder; and I warrant they'll gallop
+'em off. Hark'ee, Mistresses! them gentlemen that are coming here, shall
+take you before the justice, for affronting Sir Hugh's Tyrold's
+Heiresses to all his fortunes.
+
+The women, to whom the name and generous deeds of Sir Hugh Tyrold were
+familiar, were now quieted and dismayed. They offered some aukward
+apologies, of not guessing such young ladies could be posted up in such
+a place; and hoped it would be no detriment to them at the ensuing
+Christmas, when the good Baronet gave away beef and beer; but Mr.
+Dubster pompously ordered them to make off, saying, he would not accept
+the ladder from them now, for the gentry that were coming would get it
+for nothing: 'So troop off,' cried he; 'and as for you,' to the boy,
+'you shall have your jacket well trimmed, I promise you: I know who you
+are, well enough; and I'll tell your master of you, as sure as you're
+alive.'
+
+Away then, with complete, though not well-principled repentance, they
+all marched.
+
+Mr. Dubster, turning round with exultation, cried--'I only said that to
+frighten them, for I never see 'em before, as I know of. But I don't
+mind 'em of a rush; and I hope you don't neither. Though I can't pretend
+it's over agreeable being made fun of. If I see anybody snigger at me, I
+always ask 'em what it's for; for I'd as lieve they'd let it alone.'
+
+Eugenia, who, as there was no seat, had sunk upon the floor for rest and
+for refuge, remained silent, and seemed almost petrified; while Camilla,
+affectionately leaning over her, began talking upon other subjects, in
+hopes to dissipate a shock she was ashamed to console.
+
+She made no reply, no comment; but, sighed deeply.
+
+'Lauk!' cried Mr. Dubster, 'what's the matter with the young lady! I
+hope she don't go for to take to heart what them old women says? she'll
+be never the worse to look at, because of their impudence. Besides,
+fretting does no good to nothing. If you'll only come and stand here,
+where I do, Miss, you may have a peep at ever so many dogs, and all the
+gentlemen, riding helter skelter round that hill. It's a pretty sight
+enough for them as has nothing better to mind. I don't know but I might
+make one among them myself, now and then, if it was not for the
+expensiveness of hiring of a horse.'
+
+Here some of the party came galloping towards them; and Mr. Dubster made
+so loud an outcry, that two or three of the sportsmen looked up, and one
+of them, riding close to the summer-house, perceived the two young
+ladies, and, instantly dismounting, fastened his horse to a tree, and
+contrived to scramble up into the little unfinished building.
+
+Camilla then saw it was Major Cerwood. She explained to him the
+mischievous frolick of her brother, and accepted his offered services to
+find the ladder and the carriage.
+
+Eugenia meanwhile rose and courtsied in answer to his enquiries after
+her health, and then, gravely fixing her eyes upon the ground, took no
+further notice of him.
+
+The object of the Major was not Eugenia; her taciturnity therefore did
+not affect him; but pleased to be shut up with Camilla, he soon found
+out that though to mount had been easy, to descend would be difficult;
+and, after various mock efforts, pronounced it would be necessary to
+wait till some assistance arrived from below: adding, young Mr. Tyrold
+would soon return, as he had seen him in the hunt.
+
+Camilla, whose concern now was all for her sister, heard this with
+indifference; but Mr. Dubster lost all patience. 'So here,' said he, 'I
+may stay, and let Tom Hicks eat up all my dinner! for I can't expect him
+to fast, because of this young gentleman's comical tricks. I've half a
+mind to give a jump down myself, and go look for the ladder; only I'm
+not over light. Besides, if one should break one's leg, it's but a hard
+thing upon a man to be a cripple in the middle of life. It's no such
+great hindrance to a lady, so I don't say it out of disrespect; because
+ladies can't do much at the best.'
+
+The Major, finding Dubster was his host, thought it necessary to take
+some notice of him, and ask him if he never rode out.
+
+'Why no, not much of that, Sir,' he answered; 'for when a man's not over
+used to riding, one's apt to get a bad tumble sometimes. I believe it's
+as well let alone. I never see as there was much wit in breaking one's
+neck before one's time. Besides, half them gentlemen are no better than
+sharpers, begging pardon, for all they look as if they could knock one
+down.'
+
+'How do you mean sharpers, Sir?'
+
+'Why they don't pay everyone his own, not one in ten of them. And
+they're as proud as Lucifer. If I was to go among them to-morrow, I'll
+lay a wager they'd take no notice of me: unless I was to ask them to
+dinner. And a man may soon eat up his substance, if he's so over
+complaisant.'
+
+'Surely, Major,' cried Camilla, 'my brother cannot be much longer before
+he joins us?--remembers us rather.'
+
+'Who else could desert or forget you?' cried the Major.
+
+'It's a moot point whether he'll come or no, I see that,' said Mr.
+Dubster, quite enraged; 'them young 'squires never know what to do for
+their fun. I must needs say I think it's pity but what he'd been brought
+up to some calling. 'Twould have steadied him a little, I warrant. He
+don't seem to know much of the troubles of life.'
+
+A shower of rain now revived his hopes that the fear of being wet might
+bring him back; not considering how little sportsmen regard wet jackets.
+
+'However,' continued he, 'it's really a piece of good luck that he was
+not taken with a fancy to leave us upon my island; and then we might all
+have been soused by this here rain: and he could just as well have
+walked off with my bridge as with the ladder.'
+
+Here, to his inexpressible relief, Lionel, from the road, hailed them;
+and Camilla, with emotion the most violent, perceived Edgar was by his
+side.
+
+Mr. Dubster, however, angry as well as glad, very solemnly said, 'I
+wonder, Sir, what you think my workmen has been doing all this time,
+with nobody to look after them? Besides that I promised a pot o'beer to
+a lad to wheel me away all that rubbish that I'd cut out of my grotto;
+and it's a good half day's work, do it who will; and ten to one if
+they've stirred a nail, all left to themselves so.'
+
+'Pho, pho, man, you've been too happy, I hope, to trouble your mind
+about business. How do do my little girls? how you have been
+entertained?'
+
+'This is a better joke to you than to us 'squire; but pray, Sir, begging
+pardon, how come you to forget what I told you about the Globe? I know
+very well that they say it's quite alley-mode to make fun, but I can't
+pretend as I'm over fond of the custom.'
+
+He then desired that, at least, if he would not get the ladder himself,
+he would tell that other gentleman, that was with him, what he had done
+with it.
+
+Edgar, having met Lionel, and heard from him how and where he had left
+his sisters, had impatiently ridden with him to their relief; but when
+he saw that the Major made one in the little party, and that he was
+standing by Camilla, he felt hurt and amazed, and proceeded no farther.
+
+Camilla believed herself careless of his opinion; what she had heard
+from Miss Margland of his professed indifference, gave her now as much
+resentment, as at first it had caused her grief. She thought such a
+declaration an unprovoked indignity; she deigned not even to look at
+him, resolved for ever to avoid him; yet to prove herself, at the same
+time, unmortified and disengaged, talked cheerfully with the Major.
+
+Lionel now, producing the ladder, ran up it to help his sisters to
+descend; and Edgar, dismounting, could not resist entering the grounds,
+to offer them his hand as they came down.
+
+Eugenia was first assisted; for Camilla talked on with the Major, as if
+not hearing she was called: and Mr. Dubster, his complaisance wholly
+worn out, next followed, bowing low to everyone separately, and begging
+pardon, but saying he could really afford to waste no more time, without
+going to give a little look after his workmen, to see if they were alive
+or dead.
+
+At this time the horse of the Major, by some accident, breaking loose,
+his master was forced to run down, and Lionel scampered after to assist
+him.
+
+Camilla remained alone; Edgar, slowly mounting the ladder, gravely
+offered his services; but, hastily leaning out of the window, she
+pretended to be too much occupied in watching the motions of the Major
+and his horse, to hear or attend to any thing else.
+
+A sigh now tore the heart of Edgar, from doubt if this were preference
+to the Major, or the first dawn of incipient coquetry; but he called not
+upon her again; he stood quietly behind, till the horse was seized, and
+the Major re-ascended the ladder. They then stood at each side of it,
+with offers of assistance.
+
+This appeared to Camilla a fortunate moment for making a spirited
+display of her indifference: she gave her hand to the Major, and,
+slightly courtesying to Edgar as she passed, was conducted to the
+carriage of her uncle.
+
+Lionel again was the only one who spoke in the short route to
+Etherington, whence Eugenia, without alighting, returned to Cleves.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_The Danger of Disguise_
+
+
+Edgar remained behind, almost petrified: he stood in the little
+building, looking after them, yet neither descending nor stirring, till
+one of the workmen advanced to fetch the ladder. He then hastily quitted
+the spot, mounted his horse, and galloped after the carriage; though
+without any actual design to follow it, or any formed purpose whither to
+go.
+
+The sight, however, of the Major, pursuing the same route, made him,
+with deep disgust, turn about, and take the shortest road to Beech Park.
+
+He hardly breathed the whole way from indignation; yet his wrath was
+without definition, and nearly beyond comprehensibility even to himself,
+till suddenly recurring to the lovely smile with which Camilla had
+accepted the assistance of Major Cerwood, he involuntarily clasped his
+hands and called out: 'O happy Major!'
+
+Awakened by his ejaculation to the true state of his feelings, he
+started as from a sword held at his breast. 'Jealousy!' he cried, 'am I
+reduced to so humiliating a passion? Am I capable of love without trust?
+Unhappy enough to cherish it with hope? No! I will not be such a slave
+to the delusions of inclination. I will abandon neither my honour nor my
+judgment to my wishes. It is not alone even her heart that can fully
+satisfy me; its delicacy must be mine as well as its preference.
+Jealousy is a passion for which my mind is not framed, and which I must
+not find a torment, but an impossibility!'
+
+He now began to fear he had made a choice the most injudicious, and that
+coquetry and caprice had only waited opportunity, to take place of
+candour and frankness.
+
+Yet, recollecting the disclaiming speeches he had been compelled to make
+at Cleves, he thought, if she had heard them, she might be actuated by
+resentment. Even then, however, her manner of shewing it was alarming,
+and fraught with mischief. He reflected with fresh repugnance upon the
+gay and dissipated society with which she was newly mixing, and which,
+from her extreme openness and facility, might so easily, yet so fatally,
+sully the fair artlessness of her mind.
+
+He then felt tempted to hint to Mr. Tyrold, who, viewing all things, and
+all people in the best light, rarely foresaw danger, and never suspected
+deception, the expediency of her breaking off this intercourse, till she
+could pursue it under the security of her mother's penetrating
+protection. But it occurred to him next, it was possible the Major might
+have pleased her. Ardent as were his own views, they had never been
+declared, while those of the Major seemed proclaimed without reserve. He
+felt his face tingle at the idea, though it nearly made his heart cease
+to beat; and determined to satisfy his conjecture ere he took any
+measure for himself.
+
+To speak to her openly, he thought the surest as well as fairest way,
+and resolved, with whatever anguish, should he find the Major favoured,
+to aid her choice in his fraternal character, and then travel till he
+should forget her in every other.
+
+For this purpose, it was necessary to make immediate enquiry into the
+situation of the Major, and then, if she would hear him, relate to her
+the result; well assured to gather the state of her heart upon this
+subject, by her manner of attending to the least word by which it should
+be introduced.
+
+Camilla, meanwhile, was somewhat comforted by the exertion she had
+shewn, and by her hopes it had struck Edgar with respect.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next morning, Sir Hugh sent for her again, and begged she would pass
+the whole day with her sister Eugenia, and use all her pretty ways to
+amuse her; for she had returned home, the preceding morning, quite moped
+with melancholy, and had continued pining ever since; refusing to leave
+her room, even for meals, yet giving no reason for her behaviour. What
+had come to her he could not tell; but to see her so, went to his heart;
+for she had always, he said, till now, been chearful and even tempered,
+though thinking over her learning made her not much of a young person.
+
+Camilla flew up stairs, and found her, with a look of despondence,
+seated in a corner of her room, which she had darkened by nearly
+shutting all the shutters.
+
+She knew but too well the rude shock she had received, and sought to
+revive her with every expression of soothing kindness. But she shook her
+head, and continued mute, melancholy, and wrapt in meditation.
+
+More than an hour was spent thus, the strict orders of Sir Hugh
+forbidding them any intrusion: but when, at length, Camilla ventured to
+say, 'Is it possible, my dearest Eugenia, the passing insolence of two
+or three brutal wretches can affect you thus deeply?' She awakened from
+her silent trance, and raising her head, while something bordering upon
+resentment began to kindle in her breast, cried, 'Spare me this
+question, Camilla, and I will spare you all reproach.'
+
+'What reproach, my dear sister,' cried Camilla, amazed, 'what reproach
+have I merited?'
+
+'The reproach,' answered she, solemnly; 'that, from me, all my family
+merit! the reproach of representing to me, that thousands resembled me!
+of assuring me I had nothing peculiar to myself, though I was so unlike
+all my family--of deluding me into utter ignorance of my unhappy
+defects, and then casting me, all unconscious and unprepared, into the
+wide world to hear them!'
+
+She would now have shut herself into her book-closet; but Camilla,
+forcing her way, and almost kneeling to be heard, conjured her to drive
+such cruel ideas from her mind, and to treat the barbarous insults that
+she had suffered with the contempt they deserved.
+
+'Camilla,' said she, firmly; 'I am no longer to be deceived nor trifled
+with. I will no more expose to the light a form and face so hideous:--I
+will retire from all mankind, and end my destined course in a solitude
+that no one shall discover.'
+
+Camilla, terrified, besought her to form no such plan, bewailed the
+unfortunate adventure of the preceding day, inveighed against the
+inhuman women, and pleaded the love of all her family with the most
+energetic affection.
+
+'Those women,' said she, calmly, 'are not to blame; they have been
+untutored, but not false; and they have only uttered such truths as I
+ought to have learnt from my cradle. My own blindness has been
+infatuated; but it sprung from inattention and ignorance.--It is now
+removed!--Leave me, Camilla; give notice to my Uncle he must find me
+some retreat. Tell all that has passed to my father. I will myself write
+to my mother--and when my mind is more subdued, and when sincerely and
+unaffectedly I can forgive you all from my heart, I may consent to see
+you again.'
+
+She then positively insisted upon being left.
+
+Camilla, penetrated with her undeserved, yet irremediable distress,
+still continued at her door, supplicating for re-admittance in the
+softest terms; but without any success till the second dinner bell
+summoned her down stairs. She then fervently called upon her sister to
+speak once more, and tell her what she must do, and what say?
+
+Eugenia steadily answered: 'You have already my commission: I have no
+change to make in it.'
+
+Unable to obtain anything further, she painfully descended: but the
+voice of her Uncle no sooner reached her ears from the dining parlour,
+than, shocked to convey to him so terrible a message, she again ran up
+stairs, and casting herself against her sister's door, called out
+'Eugenia, I dare not obey you! would you kill my poor Uncle? My Uncle,
+who loves us all so tenderly? Would you afflict--would you make him
+unhappy?'
+
+'No, not for the universe!' she answered, opening the door; and then,
+more gently, yet not less steadfastly, looking at her, 'I know,' she
+continued, 'you are all very good; I know all was meant for the best; I
+know I must be a monster not to love you for the very error to which I
+am a victim.--I forgive you therefore all! and I blush to have felt
+angry.--But yet--at the age of fifteen--at the instant of entering into
+the world--at the approach of forming a connection which--O Camilla!
+what a time, what a period, to discover--to know--that I cannot even be
+seen without being derided and offended!'
+
+Her voice here faltered, and, running to the window curtain, she
+entwined herself in its folds, and called out: 'O hide me! hide me! from
+every human eye, from every thing that lives and breathes! Pursue me,
+persecute me no longer, but suffer me to abide by myself, till my
+fortitude is better strengthened to meet my destiny!'
+
+The least impatience from Eugenia was too rare to be opposed; and
+Camilla, who, in common with all her family, notwithstanding her extreme
+youth, respected as much as she loved her, sought only to appease her by
+promising compliance. She gave to her, therefore, an unresisted, though
+unreturned embrace, and went to the dining-parlour.
+
+Sir Hugh was much disappointed to see her without her sister; but she
+evaded any account of her commission till the meal was over, and then
+begged to speak with him alone.
+
+Gently and gradually she disclosed the source of the sadness of Eugenia:
+but Sir Hugh heard it with a dismay that almost overwhelmed him. All his
+contrition for the evils of which, unhappily, he had been the cause,
+returned with severest force, and far from opposing her scheme of
+retreat, he empowered Camilla to offer her any residence she chose; and
+to tell her he would keep out of her sight, as the cause of all her
+misfortunes; or give her the immediate possession and disposal of his
+whole estate, if that would make her better amends than to wait till his
+death.
+
+This message was no sooner delivered to Eugenia, than losing at once
+every angry impression, she hastened down stairs, and casting herself at
+the knees of her Uncle, begged him to pardon her design, and promised
+never to leave him while she lived.
+
+Sir Hugh, most affectionately embracing her, said--'You are too good, my
+dear, a great deal too good, to one who has used you so ill, at the very
+time when you were too young to help yourself. I have not a word to
+offer in my own behalf; except to hope you will forgive me, for the sake
+of its being all done out of pure ignorance.'
+
+'Alas, my dearest Uncle! all I owe to your intentions, is the deepest
+gratitude; and it is your's from the bottom of my heart. Chance alone
+was my enemy; and all I have to regret is, that no one was sincere
+enough, kind enough, considerate enough, to instruct me of the extent of
+my misfortunes, and prepare me for the attacks to which I am liable.'
+
+'My dear girl,' said he, while tears started into his eyes, 'what you
+say nobody can reply to; and I find I have been doing you one wrong
+after another, instead of the least good: for all this was by my own
+order; which it is but fair to your brothers and sisters, and father and
+mother, and the servants, to confess. God knows, I have faults enough of
+my own upon my head, without taking another of pretending to have none!'
+
+Eugenia now sought to condole him in her turn, voluntarily promising to
+mix with the family as usual, and only desiring to be excused from going
+abroad, or seeing any strangers.
+
+'My dear,' said he, 'you shall judge just what you think fit, which is
+the least thing I can do for you, after your being so kind as to forgive
+me; which I hope to do nothing in future not to deserve more; meaning
+always to ask my brother's advice; which might have saved me all my
+worst actions, if I had done it sooner: for I've used poor Camilla no
+better; except not giving her the small pox, and that bad fall. But
+don't hate me, my dears, if you can help it, for it was none of it done
+for want of love; only not knowing how to shew it in the proper manner;
+which I hope you'll excuse for the score of my bad education.'
+
+'O, my Uncle!' cried Camilla, throwing her arms round his neck, while
+Eugenia embraced his knees, 'what language is this for nieces who owe so
+much to your goodness, and who, next to their parents, love you more
+than anything upon earth!'
+
+'You are both the best little girls in the world, my dears, and I need
+have nothing upon my conscience if you two pass it over; which is a
+great relief to me; for there's nobody else I've used so bad as you two
+young girls; which, God knows, goes to my heart whenever I think of
+it.--Poor little innocents!--what had you ever done to provoke me?'
+
+The two sisters, with the most virtuous emulation, vied with each other
+in demonstrative affection, till he was tolerably consoled.
+
+The rest of the day was ruffled but for one moment; upon Sir Hugh's
+answering, to a proposition of Miss Margland for a party to the next
+Middleton races,--that there was no refusing to let Eugenia take that
+pleasure, after her behaving so nobly: her face was then again overcast
+with the deepest gloom; and she begged not to hear of the races, nor of
+any other place, public or private, for going abroad, as she meant
+during the rest of her life, immoveably to remain at home.
+
+He looked much concerned, but assured her she should be mistress in
+every thing.
+
+Camilla left them in the evening, with a promise to return the next day;
+and with every anxiety of her own, lost in pity for her innocent and
+unfortunate sister.
+
+She was soon, however, called back to herself, when, with what light yet
+remained, she saw Edgar ride up to the coach door.
+
+With indefatigable pains he had devoted the day to the search of
+information concerning the Major. Of Mrs. Arlbery he had learned, that
+he was a man of fashion, but small fortune; and from the Ensign he had
+gathered, that even that small fortune was gone, and that the estate in
+which it was vested, had been mortgaged for three thousand pounds, to
+pay certain debts of honour.
+
+Edgar had already been to the Parsonage House, but hearing Camilla was
+at Cleves, had made a short visit, and determined to walk his horse upon
+the road till he met the carriage of Sir Hugh; believing he could have
+no better opportunity of seeing her alone.
+
+Yet when the coach, upon his riding up to the door, stopt, he found
+himself in an embarrassment for which he was unprepared. He asked how
+she did; desired news of the health of all the family one by one; and
+then, struck by the coldness of her answers, suffered the carriage to
+drive on.
+
+Confounded at so sudden a loss of all presence of mind, he continued,
+for a minute or two, just where she left him; and then galloped after
+the coach, and again presented himself at its window.
+
+In a voice and manner the most hurried, he apologised for this second
+detention. 'But, I believe,' he said, 'some genius of officiousness has
+to-day taken possession of me, for I began it upon a Quixote sort of
+enterprise, and a spirit of knight-errantry seems willing to accompany
+me through it to the end.'
+
+He stopt; but she did not speak. Her first sensation at his sight had
+been wholly indignant: but when she found he had something to say which
+he knew not how to pronounce, her curiosity was awakened, and she looked
+earnest for an explanation.
+
+'I know,' he resumed, with considerable hesitation, 'that to give advice
+and to give pain is commonly the same thing:--I do not, therefore,
+mean--I have no intention--though so lately you allowed me a privilege
+never to be forgotten'--
+
+He could not get on; and his embarrassment, and this recollection, soon
+robbed Camilla of every angry emotion. She looked down, but her
+countenance was full of sensibility, and Edgar, recovering his voice,
+proceeded--
+
+'My Quixotism, I was going to say, of this morning, though for a person
+of whom I know almost nothing, would urge me to every possible
+effort--were I certain the result would give pleasure to the person for
+whom alone--since with regard to himself,--I--it is merely----'
+
+Involved in expressions he knew not how to clear or to finish, he was
+again without breath: and Camilla, raising her eyes, looked at him with
+astonishment.
+
+Endeavouring then to laugh, 'One would think,' cried he, 'this same
+Quixotism had taken possession of my intellects, and rendered them as
+confused as if, instead of an agent, I were a principal.'--
+
+Still wholly in the dark as to his aim, yet, satisfied by these last
+words, it had no reference to himself, she now lost enough of the
+acuteness of her curiosity to dare avow what yet remained; and begged
+him, without further preface, to be more explicit.
+
+Stammering, he then said, that the evident admiration with which a
+certain gentleman was seen to sigh in her train, had awakened for him an
+interest, which had induced some inquiries into the state of his
+prospects and expectations. 'These,' he continued, 'turn out to be,
+though not high, nor by any means adequate to--to----however they are
+such as some previous friendly exertions, with settled future
+oeconomy, might render more propitious: and for those previous
+exertions--Mr. Tyrold has a claim which it would be the pride and
+happiness of my life to see him honour;--if--if--'
+
+The if almost dropt inarticulated: but he added--'I shall make some
+further enquiries before I venture to say any more.'
+
+'For yourself, then, be they made, Sir!' cried she, suddenly seizing the
+whole of the meaning--'not for me?--whoever this person may be to whom
+you allude--to me he is utterly indifferent.'
+
+A flash of involuntary delight beamed in the eyes of Edgar at these
+words: he had almost thanked her, he had almost dropt the reins of his
+horse to clasp his hands: but filled only with her own emotions, without
+watching his, or waiting for any answer, she coldly bid him good night,
+and called to the coachman to drive fast home.
+
+Edgar, however, was left with a sunbeam of the most lively delight. 'He
+is wholly indifferent to her,' he cried, 'she is angry at my
+interference; she has but acted a part in the apparent preference--and
+for _me_, perhaps, acted it!'
+
+Momentary, however, was the pleasure such a thought could afford
+him;--'O, Camilla,' he cried, 'if, indeed, I might hope from you any
+partiality, why act any part at all?--how plain, how easy, how direct
+your road to my heart, if but straightly pursued!'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_Strictures on Deformity_
+
+
+Camilla went on to Etherington in deep distress; every ray of hope was
+chaced from her prospects, with a certainty more cruel, though less
+offensive, to her feelings, than the crush given them by Miss Margland.
+He cares not for me! she cried; he even destines me for another! He is
+the willing agent of the Major; he would portion me, I suppose, for him,
+to accelerate the impossibility of ever thinking of me! And I imagined
+he loved me!--what a dream!--what a dream!--how has he deceived me!--or,
+alas! how have I deceived myself!
+
+She rejoiced, however, that she had made so decided an answer with
+regard to Major Cerwood, whom she could not doubt to be the person
+meant, and who, presented in such a point of view, grew utterly odious
+to her.
+
+The tale she had to relate to Mr. Tyrold, of the sufferings and sad
+resolution of Eugenia, obviated all comment upon her own disturbance. He
+was wounded to the heart by the recital. 'Alas!' he cried, 'your wise
+and excellent mother always foresaw some mischief would ensue, from the
+extreme caution used to keep this dear unfortunate child ignorant of her
+peculiar situation. This dreadful shake might have been palliated, at
+least, if not spared, by the lessons of fortitude that noble woman would
+have inculcated in her young and ductile mind. But I could not resist
+the painful entreaties of my poor brother, who, thinking himself the
+author of her calamities, believed he was responsible for saving her
+from feeling them; and, imagining all the world as soft-hearted as
+himself, concluded, that what her own family would not tell her, she
+could never hear elsewhere. But who should leave any events to the
+caprices of chance, which the precautions of foresight can determine?'
+
+These reflections, and the thoughts of her sister, led at once and aided
+Camilla to stifle her own unhappiness; and for three days following, she
+devoted herself wholly to Eugenia.
+
+On the morning of the fourth, instead of sending the carriage, Sir Hugh
+arrived himself to fetch Camilla, and to tell his brother, he must come
+also, to give comfort to Eugenia; for, though he had thought the worst
+was over, because she appeared quiet in his presence, he had just
+surprised her in tears, by coming upon her unawares. He had done all he
+could, he said, in vain; and nothing remained but for Mr. Tyrold to try
+his hand himself: 'For it is but justice,' he added, 'to Dr. Orkborne,
+to say she is wiser than all our poor heads put together; so that there
+is no answering her for want of sense.' He then told him to be sure to
+put one of his best sermons in his pocket to read to her.
+
+Mr. Tyrold was extremely touched for his poor Eugenia, yet said he had
+half an hour's business to transact in the neighbourhood, before he
+could go to Cleves. Sir Hugh waited his time, and all three then
+proceeded together.
+
+Eugenia received her Father with a deliberate coldness that shocked him.
+He saw how profound was the impression made upon her mind, not merely of
+her personal evils, but of what she conceived to be the misconduct of
+her friends.
+
+After a little general discourse, in which she bore no share, he
+proposed walking in the park; meaning there to take her aside, with less
+formality than he could otherwise desire to speak with her alone.
+
+The ladies and Sir Hugh immediately looked for their hats or gloves: but
+Eugenia, saying she had a slight head-ache, walked away to her room.
+
+'This, my dear brother,' cried Sir Hugh, sorrowfully following her with
+his eyes, 'is the very thing I wanted you for; she says she'll never
+more stir out of these doors as long as she's alive; which is a sad
+thing to say, considering her young years; and nobody knowing how
+Clermont may approve it. However, it's well I've had him brought up from
+the beginning to the classics, which I rejoice at every day more and
+more, it being the only wise thing I ever did of my own head; for as to
+talking Latin and Greek, which I suppose is what they will chiefly be
+doing, there's no doubt but they may do it just as well in a room as in
+the fields, or the streets.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold, after a little consideration, followed her. He tapped at her
+door; she asked, in a tone of displeasure, who was there?--'Your Father,
+my dear,' he answered; and then, hastily opening it, she proposed
+returning with him down stairs.
+
+'No,' he said; 'I wish to converse with you alone. The opinion I have
+long cherished of your heart and your understanding, I come now to put
+to the proof.'
+
+Eugenia, certain of the subject to which he would lead, and feeling she
+could not have more to hear than to say, gave him a chair, and
+composedly seated herself next to him.
+
+'My dear Eugenia,' said he, taking her passive hand, 'this is the moment
+that more grievously than ever I lament the absence of your invaluable
+Mother. All I have to offer to your consideration she could much better
+have laid before you; and her dictates would have met with the attention
+they so completely deserve.'
+
+'Was my Mother, then, Sir,' said she, reproachfully, 'unapprized of the
+worldly darkness in which I have been brought up? Is she unacquainted
+that a little knowledge of books and languages is what alone I have been
+taught?'
+
+'We are all but too apt,' answered Mr. Tyrold, mildly, though surprised,
+'to deem nothing worth attaining but what we have missed, nothing worth
+possessing but what we are denied. How many are there, amongst the
+untaught and unaccomplished, who would think an escape such as yours, of
+all intellectual darkness, a compensation for every other evil!'
+
+'They could think so only, Sir, while, like me, they lived immured
+always in the same house, were seen always by the same people, and were
+total strangers to the sensations they might excite in any others.'
+
+'My dear Eugenia, grieved as I am at the present subject of your
+ruminations, I rejoice to see in you a power of reflection, and of
+combination, so far above your years. And it is a soothing idea to me to
+dwell upon the ultimate benevolence of Providence, even in circumstances
+the most afflicting: for if chance has been unkind to you, Nature seems,
+with fostering foresight, to have endowed you with precisely those
+powers that may best set aside her malignity.'
+
+'I see, Sir,' cried she, a little moved, 'the kindness of your
+intention; but pardon me if I anticipate to you its ill success. I have
+thought too much upon my situation and my destiny to admit any
+fallacious comfort. Can you, indeed, when once her eyes are opened, can
+you expect to reconcile to existence a poor young creature who sees
+herself an object of derision and disgust? Who, without committing any
+crime, without offending any human being, finds she cannot appear but to
+be pointed at, scoffed and insulted!'
+
+'O my child! with what a picture do you wound my heart, and tear your
+own peace and happiness! Wretches who in such a light can view outward
+deficiencies cannot merit a thought, are below even contempt, and ought
+not to be disdained, but forgotten. Make a conquest, then, my Eugenia,
+of yourself; be as superior in your feelings as in your understanding,
+and remember what Addison admirably says in one of the Spectators: 'A
+too acute sensibility of personal defects, is one of the greatest
+weaknesses of self-love.'
+
+'I should be sorry, Sir, you should attribute to vanity what I now
+suffer. No! it is simply the effect of never hearing, never knowing,
+that so severe a call was to be made upon my fortitude, and therefore
+never arming myself to sustain it.'
+
+Then, suddenly, and with great emotion clasping her hands: 'O if ever I
+have a family of my own,' she cried, 'my first care shall be to tell my
+daughters of all their infirmities! They shall be familiar, from their
+childhood, to their every defect--Ah! they must be odious indeed if they
+resemble their poor mother!'
+
+'My dearest Eugenia! let them but resemble you mentally, and there is no
+person, whose approbation is worth deserving, that will not love and
+respect them. Good and evil are much more equally divided in this world
+than you are yet aware: none possess the first without alloy, nor the
+second without palliation. Indiana, for example, now in the full bloom
+of all that beauty can bestow, tell me, and ask yourself strictly, would
+you change with Indiana?'
+
+'With Indiana?' she exclaimed; 'O! I would forfeit every other good to
+change with Indiana! Indiana, who never appears but to be admired, who
+never speaks but to be applauded.'
+
+'Yet a little, yet a moment, question, and understand yourself before
+you settle you would change with her. Look forward, and look inward.
+Look forward, that you may view the short life of admiration and
+applause for such attractions from others, and their inutility to their
+possessor in every moment of solitude or repose; and look inward, that
+you may learn to value your own peculiar riches, for times of
+retirement, and for days of infirmity and age!'
+
+'Indeed, Sir,--and pray believe me, I do not mean to repine I have not
+the beauty of Indiana; I know and have always heard her loveliness is
+beyond all comparison. I have no more, therefore, thought of envying it,
+than of envying the brightness of the sun. I knew, too, I bore no
+competition with my sisters; but I never dreamt of competition. I knew I
+was not handsome, but I supposed many people besides not handsome, and
+that I should pass with the rest; and I concluded the world to be full
+of people who had been sufferers as well as myself, by disease or
+accident. These have been occasionally my passing thoughts; but the
+subject never seized my mind; I never reflected upon it at all, till
+abuse, without provocation, all at once opened my eyes, and shewed me to
+myself! Bear with me, then, my father, in this first dawn of terrible
+conviction! Many have been unfortunate,--but none unfortunate like me!
+Many have met with evils--but who with an accumulation like mine!'
+
+Mr. Tyrold, extremely affected, embraced her with the utmost tenderness:
+'My dear, deserving, excellent child,' he cried, 'what would I not
+endure, what sacrifice not make, to soothe this cruel disturbance, till
+time and your own understanding can exert their powers?' Then, while
+straining her to his breast with the fondest parental commiseration, the
+tears, with which his eyes were overflowing, bedewed her cheeks.
+
+Eugenia felt them, and, sinking to the ground, pressed his knees. 'O my
+father,' she cried, 'a tear from your revered eyes afflicts me more than
+all else! Let me not draw forth another, lest I should become not only
+unhappy, but guilty. Dry them up, my dearest father--let me kiss them
+away.'
+
+'Tell me, then, my poor girl, you will struggle against this ineffectual
+sorrow! Tell me you will assert that fortitude which only waits for your
+exertion; and tell me you will forgive the misjudging compassion which
+feared to impress you earlier with pain!'
+
+'I will do all, every thing you desire! my injustice is subdued! my
+complaints shall be hushed! you have conquered me, my beloved father!
+Your indulgence, your lenity shall take place of every hardship, and
+leave me nothing but filial affection!'
+
+Seizing this grateful moment, he then required of her to relinquish her
+melancholy scheme of seclusion from the world: 'The shyness and the
+fears which gave birth to it,' said he, 'will but grow upon you if
+listened to; and they are not worthy the courage I would instil into
+your bosom--the courage, my Eugenia, of virtue--the courage to pass by,
+as if unheard, the insolence of the hard-hearted, and ignorance of the
+vulgar. Happiness is in your power, though beauty is not; and on that to
+set too high a value would be pardonable only in a weak and frivolous
+mind; since, whatever is the involuntary admiration with which it meets,
+every estimable quality and accomplishment is attainable without it: and
+though, which I cannot deny, its immediate influence is universal, yet
+in every competition and in every decision of esteem, the superior, the
+elegant, the better part of mankind give their suffrages to merit alone.
+And you, in particular, will find yourself, through life, rather the
+more than the less valued, by every mind capable of justice and
+compassion, for misfortunes which no guilt has incurred.'
+
+Observing her now to be softened, though not absolutely consoled, he
+rang the bell, and begged the servant, who answered it, to request his
+brother would order the coach immediately, as he was obliged to return
+home; 'And you, my love,' said he, 'shall accompany me; it will be the
+least exertion you can make in first breaking through your averseness to
+quit the house.'
+
+Eugenia would not resist; but her compliance was evidently repugnant to
+her inclination; and in going to the glass to put on her hat, she turned
+aside from it in shuddering, and hid her face with both her hands.
+
+'My dearest child,' cried Mr. Tyrold, wrapping her again in his arms,
+'this strong susceptibility will soon wear away; but you cannot be too
+speedy nor too firm in resisting it. The omission of what never was in
+our power cannot cause remorse, and the bewailing what never can become
+in our power cannot afford comfort. Imagine but what would have been the
+fate of Indiana, had your situations been reversed, and had she, who can
+never acquire your capacity, and therefore never attain your knowledge,
+lost that beauty which is her all; but which to you, even if retained,
+could have been but a secondary gift. How short will be the reign of
+that all! how useless in sickness! how unavailing in solitude! how
+inadequate to long life! how forgotten, or repiningly remembered in old
+age! You will live to feel pity for all you now covet and admire; to
+grow sensible to a lot more lastingly happy in your own acquirements and
+powers; and to exclaim, with contrition and wonder, Time was when I
+would have changed with the poor mind-dependent Indiana!'
+
+The carriage was now announced; Eugenia, with reluctant steps,
+descended; Camilla was called to join them, and Sir Hugh saw them set
+off with the utmost delight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_Strictures on Beauty_
+
+
+To lengthen the airing, Mr. Tyrold ordered the carriage by a new road;
+and to induce Eugenia to break yet another spell, in walking as well as
+riding, he proposed their alighting, when they came to a lane, and
+leaving the coach in waiting while they took a short stroll.
+
+He walked between his daughters a considerable way, passing, wherever it
+was possible, close to cottages, labourers, and children. Eugenia
+submitted with a sigh, but held down her head, affrighted at every fresh
+object they encountered, till, upon approaching a small miserable hut,
+at the door of which several children were playing, an unlucky boy
+called out, 'O come! come! look!--here's the little hump-back
+gentlewoman!'
+
+She then, clinging to her father, could not stir another step, and cast
+upon him a look of appeal and reproach that almost overset him; but,
+after speaking to her some words of kindness, he urged her to go on, and
+alone, saying, 'Throw only a shilling to the senseless little crew, and
+let Camilla follow and give nothing, and see which will become the most
+popular.'
+
+They both obeyed, Eugenia fearfully and with quickness casting amongst
+them some silver, and Camilla quietly walking on.
+
+'O, I have got a sixpence!' cried one; 'and I've got a shilling!' said
+another; while the mother of the little tribe came from her wash-tub,
+and called out, 'God bless your ladyship!' and the father quitted a
+little garden at the side of his cottage, to bow down to the ground, and
+cry, 'Heaven reward you, good madam! you'll have a blessing go with you,
+go where you will!'
+
+The children then, dancing up to Camilla, begged her charity; but when,
+seconding the palpable intention of her father, she said she had nothing
+for them, they looked highly dissatisfied, while they redoubled their
+blessings to Eugenia.
+
+'See, my child,' said Mr. Tyrold, now joining them, 'how cheaply
+preference, and even flattery, may be purchased!'
+
+'Ah, Sir!' she answered, recovered from her terrour, yet deep in
+reflection, 'this is only by bribery, and gross bribery, too! And what
+pleasure, or what confidence can accrue from preference so earned!'
+
+'The means, my dear Eugenia, are not beneath the objects: if it is only
+from those who unite native hardness with uncultured minds and manners,
+that civility is to be obtained by such sordid materials, remember,
+also, it is from such only it can ever fail you. In the lowest life,
+equally with the highest, wherever nature has been kind, sympathy
+springs spontaneously for whatever is unfortunate, and respect for
+whatever seems innocent. Steel yourself, then, firmly to withstand
+attacks from the cruel and unfeeling, and rest perfectly secure you will
+have none other to apprehend.'
+
+The clear and excellent capacity of Eugenia, comprehended in this
+lesson, and its illustration, all the satisfaction Mr. Tyrold hoped to
+impart; and she was ruminating upon it with abated despondence, when, as
+they came to a small house, surrounded with a high wall, Mr. Tyrold,
+looking through an iron gate at a female figure who stood at one of the
+windows, exclaimed--'What a beautiful creature! I have rarely, I think
+seen a more perfect face.'
+
+Eugenia felt so much hurt by this untimely sight, that, after a single
+glance, which confirmed the truth of what he said, she bent her eyes
+another way; while Camilla herself was astonished that her kind father
+should call their attention to beauty, at so sore and critical a
+juncture.
+
+'The examination of a fine picture,' said he, fixing his eyes upon the
+window, and standing still at the iron gate, 'is a constant as well as
+exquisite pleasure; for we look at it with an internal security, that
+such as it appears to us to-day, it will appear again tomorrow, and
+tomorrow, and tomorrow; but in the pleasure given by the examination of
+a fine face, there is always, to a contemplative mind, some little
+mixture of pain; an idea of its fragility steals upon our admiration,
+and blends with it something like solicitude; the consciousness how
+short a time we can view it perfect, how quickly its brilliancy of bloom
+will be blown, and how ultimately it will be nothing.--'
+
+'You would have me, Sir,' said Eugenia, now raising her eyes, 'learn to
+see beauty with unconcern, by depreciating its value? I feel your kind
+intention; but it does not come home to me; reasoning such as this may
+be equally applicable to any thing else, and degrade whatever is
+desirable into insignificance.'
+
+'No, my dear child, there is nothing, either in its possession or its
+loss, that can be compared with beauty; nothing so evanescent, and
+nothing that leaves behind it a contrast which impresses such regret. It
+cannot be forgotten, since the same features still remain, though they
+are robbed of their effect upon the beholder; the same complexion is
+there, though faded into a tint bearing no resemblance with its original
+state; and the same eyes present themselves to the view, though bereft
+of all the lustre that had rendered them captivating.'
+
+'Ah, Sir! this is an argument but formed for the moment. Is not the loss
+of youth the same to every body? and is not age equally unwelcome to the
+ugly and to the handsome?'
+
+'For activity, for strength, and for purposes of use, certainly, my dear
+girl, there can be no difference; but for motives to mental regret,
+there can be no comparison. To those who are commonly moulded, the
+gradual growth of decay brings with it its gradual endurance, because
+little is missed from day to day; hope is not roughly chilled, nor
+expectation rudely blasted; they see their friends, their connections,
+their contemporaries, declining by the same laws, and they yield to the
+immutable and general lot rather imperceptibly than resignedly; but it
+is not so with the beauty; her loss is not only general, but peculiar;
+and it is the peculiar, not the general evil, that constitutes all
+hardship. Health, strength, agility, and animal spirits, she may
+sorrowing feel diminish; but she hears everyone complain of similar
+failures, and she misses them unmurmuring, though not unlamenting; but
+of beauty, every declension is marked with something painful to
+self-love. The change manifested by the mirror might patiently be borne;
+but the change manifested in the eyes of every beholder, gives a shock
+that does violence to every pristine feeling.'
+
+'This may certainly, sir, be cruel; trying at least; but then,--what a
+youth has she first passed! Mortification comes upon her, at least, in
+succession; she does not begin the world with it,--a stranger at all
+periods to anything happier!'
+
+'Ah, my child! the happiness caused by personal attractions pays a dear
+after-price! The soldier who enters the field of battle requires not
+more courage, though of a different nature, than the faded beauty who
+enters an assembly-room. To be wholly disregarded, after engaging every
+eye; to be unassisted, after being habituated to seeing crowds anxiously
+offer their services; to be unheard, after monopolising every ear--can
+you, indeed, persuade yourself a change such as this demands but
+ordinary firmness? Yet the altered female who calls for it, has the
+least chance to obtain it; for even where nature has endowed her with
+fortitude, the world and its flatteries have almost uniformly enervated
+it, before the season of its exertion.'
+
+'All this may be true,' said Eugenia, with a sigh; 'and to me, however
+sad in itself, it may prove consolatory; and yet--forgive my sincerity,
+when I own--I would purchase a better appearance at any price, any
+expence, any payment, the world could impose!'
+
+Mr. Tyrold was preparing an answer, when the door of the house, which he
+had still continued facing, was opened, and the beautiful figure, which
+had for some time retired from the window, rushed suddenly upon a lawn
+before the gate against which they were leaning.
+
+Not seeing them, she sat down upon the grass, which she plucked up by
+hands full, and strewed over her fine flowing hair.
+
+Camilla, fearing they should seem impertinent, would have retreated; but
+Eugenia, much struck, sadly, yet with earnestness, compelled herself to
+regard the object before her, who was young, fair, of a tall and
+striking figure, with features delicately regular.
+
+A sigh, not to be checked, acknowledged how little either reasoning or
+eloquence could subdue a wish to resemble such an appearance, when the
+young person, flinging herself suddenly upon her face, threw her white
+arms over her head, and sobbed aloud with violence.
+
+Astonished, and deeply concerned, Eugenia internally said, alas! what a
+world is this! even beauty so exquisite, without waiting for age or
+change, may be thus miserable!
+
+She feared to speak, lest she should be heard; but she looked up to her
+father, with an eye that spoke concession, and with an interest for the
+fair afflicted, which seemed to request his assistance.
+
+He motioned to her to be quiet; when the young person, abruptly half
+rising, burst into a fit of loud, shrill, and discordant laughter.
+
+Eugenia now, utterly confounded, would have drawn her father away; but
+he was intently engaged in his observations, and steadily kept his
+place.
+
+In two minutes, the laugh ceased all at once, and the young creature,
+hastily rising, began turning round with a velocity that no machine
+could have exceeded.
+
+The sisters now fearfully interchanged looks that shewed they thought
+her mad, and both endeavoured to draw Mr. Tyrold from the gate, but in
+vain; he made them hold by his arms, and stood still.
+
+Without seeming giddy, she next began to jump; and he now could only
+detain his daughters, by shewing them the gate, at which they stood, was
+locked.
+
+In another minute, she perceived them, and, coming eagerly forward,
+dropt several low courtesies, saying, at every fresh bend--'Good
+day!--Good day!--Good day!'
+
+Equally trembling, they now both turned pale with fear; but Mr. Tyrold,
+who was still immovable, answered her by a bow, and asked if she were
+well.
+
+'Give me a shilling!' was her reply, while the slaver drivelled
+unrestrained from her mouth, rendering utterly disgusting a chin that a
+statuary might have wished to model.
+
+'Do you live at this house!' said Mr. Tyrold.
+
+'Yes, please--yes, please--yes, please,' she answered, twenty times
+following, and almost black in the face before she would allow herself
+to take another breath.
+
+A cat now appearing at the door, she seized it, and tried to twine it
+round her neck with great fondling, wholly unresisting the scratches
+which tore her fine skin.
+
+Next, capering forward with it towards the gate, 'Look! look!' she
+cried, 'here's puss!--here's puss!--here's puss!'
+
+Then, letting it fall, she tore her handkerchief off her neck, put it
+over her face, strained it as tight as she was able, and tied it under
+her chin; and then struck her head with both her hands, making a noise
+that resembled nothing human.
+
+'Take, take me away, my father!' cried Eugenia, 'I see, I feel your
+awful lesson! but impress it no further, lest I die in receiving it!'
+
+Mr. Tyrold immediately moved off without speaking; Camilla, penetrated
+for her sister, observed the same silence; and Eugenia, hanging upon her
+father, and absorbed in profound rumination, only by the depth of her
+sighs made her existence known; and thus, without the interchange of a
+word, slowly and pensively they walked back to the carriage.
+
+Eugenia broke the silence as soon as they were seated: 'O, my father!'
+she exclaimed, 'what a sight have you made me witness! how dread a
+reproof have you given to my repining spirit! Did you know this unhappy
+beauty was at that house? Did you lead me thither purposely to display
+to me her shocking imbecility?'
+
+'Relying upon the excellence of your understanding, I ventured upon an
+experiment more powerful, I well knew, than all that reason could urge;
+an experiment not only striking at the moment, but which, by playing
+upon the imagination, as well as convincing the judgment, must make an
+impression that can never be effaced. I have been informed for some
+time, that this poor girl was in our neighbourhood; she was born an
+idiot, and therefore, having never known brighter days, is insensible to
+her terrible state. Her friends are opulent, and that house is taken,
+and a woman is paid, to keep her in existence and in obscurity. I had
+heard of her uncommon beauty, and when the news reached me of my dear
+Eugenia's distress, the idea of this meeting occurred to me; I rode to
+the house, and engaged the woman to detain her unfortunate charge at the
+window till we appeared, and then to let her loose into the garden.
+Poor, ill fated young creature! it has been, indeed, a melancholy
+sight.'
+
+'A sight,' cried Eugenia, 'to come home to me with shame!--O, my dear
+Father! your prescription strikes to the root of my disease!--shall I
+ever again dare murmur!--will any egotism ever again make me believe no
+lot so hapless as my own! I will think of her when I am discontented; I
+will call to my mind this spectacle of human degradation--and submit, at
+least with calmness, to my lighter evils and milder fate.'
+
+'My excellent child! this is just what I expected from the candour of
+your temper, and the rectitude of your sentiments. You have seen, here,
+the value of intellects in viewing the horrour of their loss; and you
+have witnessed, that beauty, without mind, is more dreadful than any
+deformity. You have seized my application, and left me nothing to
+enforce; my dear, my excellent child! you have left for your fond Father
+nothing but tender approbation! With the utmost thankfulness to
+Providence, I have marked from your earliest childhood, the native
+justness of your understanding; which, with your studious inclination to
+sedentary accomplishments, has proved a reviving source of consolation
+to your mother and to me, for the cruel accidents we have incessantly
+lamented. How will that admirable mother rejoice in the recital I have
+to make to her! What pride will she take in a daughter so worthily her
+own, so resembling her in nobleness of nature, and a superior way of
+thinking! Her tears, my child, like mine, will thank you for your
+exertions! she will strain you to her fond bosom, as your father strains
+you at this moment!'
+
+'Yes, Sir,' cried Eugenia, 'your kind task is now completed with your
+vanquished Eugenia! her thoughts, her occupations, her happiness, shall
+henceforth all be centred in filial gratitude and contentment.'
+
+The affectionate Camilla, throwing her arms about them both, bathed each
+with the tears of joy and admiration, which this soothing conclusion to
+an adventure so severe excited.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_The Pleadings of Pity_
+
+
+To oblige Mr. Tyrold, who had made the arrangement with Sir Hugh,
+Eugenia consented to dine and spend the day at Etherington, which she
+quitted at night in a temper of mind perfectly composed.
+
+Camilla was deeply penetrated by the whole of this affair. The
+sufferings, so utterly unearned by fault or by folly, of a sister so
+dear to her, and the affecting fortitude which, so quickly upon her
+wounds, and at so early a period of life, she already began to display,
+made her blush at the dejection into which she was herself cast by every
+evil, and resolve to become in future more worthy of the father and the
+sister, who at this moment absorbed all her admiration.
+
+Too reasonable, in such a frame of mind, to plan forgetting Mandlebert,
+she now only determined to think of him as she had thought before her
+affections became entangled; to think of him, in short, as he seemed
+himself to desire; to seek his friendly offices and advice, but to
+reject every offered establishment, and to live single for life.
+
+Gratified by indulgent praise, and sustained by exerted virtue, the
+revived Eugenia had nearly reached Cleves, on her return, when the
+carriage was stopt by a gentleman on horseback, who, approaching the
+coach window, said, in a low voice, as if unwilling to be heard by the
+servants--'O, Madam! has Fate set aside her cruelty? and does Fortune
+permit me to live once more?'
+
+She then recollected Mr. Bellamy. She had only her maid in the carriage,
+who was sent for her by Sir Hugh, Miss Margland being otherwise engaged.
+
+All that had so lately passed upon her person and appearance being full
+upon her mind, she involuntarily shrunk back, hiding her face with her
+cloak.
+
+Bellamy, by no means conceiving this mark of emotion to be unfavourable,
+steadied his horse, by leaning one hand on the coach-window, and said,
+in a yet lower voice--'O, Madam! is it possible you can hate me so
+barbarously?--will you not even deign to look at me, though I have so
+long been banished from your presence?'
+
+Eugenia, during this speech, called to mind, that though new, in some
+measure, to herself, she was not so to this gentleman, and ventured to
+uncover her face; when the grief painted on the fine features of
+Bellamy, so forcibly touched her, that she softly answered--'No, Sir,
+indeed I do not hate you; I am incapable of such ingratitude; but I
+conjure--I beseech you to forget me!'
+
+'Forget you?--O, Madam! you command an impossibility!--No, I am
+constancy itself, and not all the world united shall tear you from my
+heart!'
+
+Jacob, who caught a word or two, now rode up to the other window, and as
+Eugenia began--'Conquer, Sir, I entreat you, this ill-fated
+partiality!--' told her the horses had been hard-worked, and must go
+home.
+
+As Jacob was the oracle of Sir Hugh about his horses, his will was
+prescriptive law: Eugenia never disputed it, and only saying--'Think of
+me, Sir, no more!' bid the coachman drive on.
+
+Bellamy, respectfully submitting, continued, with his hat in his hand,
+as the maid informed her mistress, looking after the carriage till it
+was out of sight.
+
+A tender sorrow now stole upon the just revived tranquillity of the
+gentle and generous Eugenia. 'Ah!' thought she, 'I have rendered, little
+as I seem worthy of such power, I have rendered this amiable man
+miserable, though possibly, and probably, he is the only man in
+existence whom I could render happy!--Ah! how may I dare expect from
+Clermont a similar passion?'
+
+Molly Mill, a very young girl, and daughter of a poor tenant of Sir
+Hugh, interrupted these reflections from time to time, with remarks upon
+their object. 'Dearee me, Miss,' she cried, 'what a fine gentleman that
+was!--he sighed like to split his heart when you said, don't think about
+me no more. He's some loveyer, like, I'm sure.'
+
+Eugenia returned home so much moved by this incident, that Sir Hugh,
+believing his brother himself had failed to revive her, was disturbed
+all anew with acute contrition for her disasters, and feeling very
+unwell, went to bed before supper time.
+
+Eugenia retired also; and after spending the evening in soft compassion
+for Bellamy, and unfixed apprehensions and distaste for young Lynmere,
+was preparing to go to bed, when Molly Mill, out of breath with haste,
+brought her a letter.
+
+She eagerly opened it, whilst enquiring whence it came.
+
+'O, Miss, the fine gentleman--that same fine gentleman--brought it
+himself: and he sent for me out, and I did not know who I was to go to,
+for Mary only said a boy wanted me; but the boy said, I must come with
+him to the stile; and when I come there, who should I see but the fine
+gentleman himself! And he gave me this letter, and he asked me to give
+it you--and see! look Miss! what I got for my trouble!'
+
+She then exhibited a half-guinea.
+
+'You have not done right, Molly, in accepting it. Money is bribery; and
+you should have known that the letter was improperly addressed, if
+bribery was requisite to make it delivered.'
+
+'Dearee me, Miss, what's half-a-guinea to such a gentleman as that? I
+dare say he's got his pockets full of them!'
+
+'I shall not read it, certainly,' cried Eugenia, 'now I know this
+circumstance. Give me the wax--I will seal it again.'
+
+She then hesitated whether she ought to return it, or shew it to her
+uncle, or commit it to the flames.
+
+That to which she was most unwilling, appeared, to the strictness of her
+principles, to be most proper: she therefore determined that the next
+morning she would relate her evening's adventure, and deliver the unread
+letter to Sir Hugh.
+
+Had this epistle not perplexed her, she had meant never to name its
+writer. Persuaded her last words had finally dismissed him, she thought
+it a high point of female delicacy never to publish an unsuccessful
+conquest.
+
+This resolution taken, she went to bed, satisfied with herself, but
+extremely grieved at the sufferings she was preparing for one who so
+singularly loved her.
+
+The next morning, however, her uncle did not rise to breakfast, and was
+so low spirited, that fearing to disturb him, she deemed it most prudent
+to defer the communication.
+
+But when, after she had taken her lesson from Dr. Orkborne, she returned
+to her room, she found Molly Mill impatiently waiting for her: 'O,
+Miss,' she cried, 'here's another letter for you! and you must read it
+directly, for the gentleman says if you don't it will be the death of
+him.'
+
+'Why did you receive another letter?' said Eugenia, displeased.
+
+'Dearee me, Miss, how could I help it? if you'd seen the taking he was
+in, you'd have took it yourself. He was all of a quake, and ready to go
+down of his two knees. Dearee me, if it did not make my heart go pit-pat
+to see him! He was like to go out of his mind, he said, and the tears,
+poor gentleman, were all in his eyes.'
+
+Eugenia now turned away, strongly affected by this description.
+
+'Do, Miss,' continued Molly, 'write him a little scrap, if it's never so
+scratched and bad. He'll take it kinder than nothing. Do, Miss, do.
+Don't be ill-natured. And just read this little letter, do, Miss,
+do;--it won't take you much time, you reads so nice and fast.'
+
+'Why,' cried Eugenia, 'did you go to him again? how could you so
+incautiously entrust yourself to the conduct of a strange boy?'
+
+'A strange boy! dearee me, Miss, don't you know it was Tommy Hodd? I
+knows him well enough; I knows all the boys, I warrant me, round about
+here. Come, Miss, here's pen and ink; you'll run it off before one can
+count five, when you've a mind to it. He'll be in a sad taking till he
+sees me come back.'
+
+'Come back? is it possible you have been so imprudent as to have
+promised to see him again?'
+
+'Dearee me, yes, Miss! he'd have made away with himself if I had not.
+He'd been there ever since six in the morning, without nothing to eat or
+drink, a riding up and down the road, till he could see me coming to the
+stile. And he says he'll keep a riding there all day long, and all night
+too, till I goes to him.'
+
+Eugenia conceived herself now in a situation of unexampled distress. She
+forced Molly Mill to leave her, that she might deliberate what course to
+pursue.
+
+Having read no novels, her imagination had never been awakened to scenes
+of this kind; and what she had gathered upon such subjects in the poetry
+and history she had studied with Dr. Orkborne, had only impressed her
+fancy in proportion as love bore the character of heroism, and the lover
+that of an hero. Though highly therefore romantic, her romance was not
+the common adoption of a circulating library: it was simply that of
+elevated sentiments, formed by animated credulity playing upon youthful
+inexperience.
+
+'Alas!' cried she, 'what a conflict is mine! I must refuse a man who
+adores me to distraction, in disregard of my unhappy defects, to cast
+myself under the guidance of one who, perhaps, may estimate beauty so
+highly as to despise me for its want!'
+
+This idea pleaded so powerfully for Bellamy, that something like a wish
+to open his letters, obtained pardon to her little maid for having
+brought them. She suppressed, however, the desire, though she held them
+alternately to her eyes, conjecturing their contents, and bewailing for
+their impassioned writer the cruel answer they must receive.
+
+Though checked by shame, she had some desire to consult Camilla; but she
+could not see her in time, Mrs. Arlbery having insisted upon carrying
+her in the evening to a play, which was to be performed, for one night
+only, by a company of passing strollers at Northwick.
+
+'My decision,' she cried, 'must be my own, and must be immediate. Ah!
+how leave a man such as this, to wander night and day neglected and
+uncertain of his fate! With tears he sent me his letters!--what must not
+have been his despair when such was his sensibility? tears in a
+man!--tears, too, that could not be restrained even till his messenger
+was out of sight!--how touching!--'
+
+Her own then fell, in tender commiseration, and it was with extreme
+repugnance she compelled herself to take such measures as she thought
+her duty required. She sealed the two letters in an empty cover, and
+having directed them to Mr. Bellamy, summoned Molly Mill, and told her
+to convey them to the gentleman, and positively acquaint him she must
+receive no more, and that those which were returned had never been read.
+She bid her, however, add, that she should always wish for his
+happiness, and be grateful for his kind partiality; though she earnestly
+conjured him to vanquish a regard which she did not deserve, and must
+never return.
+
+Molly Mill would fain have remonstrated; but Eugenia, with that firmness
+which, even in the first youth, accompanies a consciousness of
+preferring duty to inclination, silenced, and sent her off.
+
+Relieved for herself, now the struggle was over, she secretly rejoiced
+that it was not for Melmond she had so hard a part to act: and this
+idea, while it rendered Bellamy less an object of regret, diminished
+also something of her pity for his conflict, by reminding her of the
+success which had attended her own similar exertions.
+
+But when Molly returned, her distress was renewed: she brought her these
+words, written with a pencil upon the back of her own cover:
+
+     'I do not dare, cruellest of your sex, to write you another letter;
+     but if you would save me from the abyss of destruction, you will
+     let me hear my final doom from your own mouth. I ask nothing more!
+     Ah! walk but one moment in the park, near the pales; deny not your
+     miserable adorer this last single request, and he will fly this
+     fatal climate which has swallowed up his repose for ever! But, till
+     then, here he will stay, and never quit the spot whence he sends
+     you these lines, till you have deigned to pronounce verbally his
+     doom, though he should famish for want of food!
+
+     ALPHONSO BELLAMY.'
+
+Eugenia read this with horrour and compassion. She imagined he perhaps
+thought her confined, and would therefore believe no answer that did not
+issue immediately from her own lips. She sent Molly to him again with
+the same message; but Molly returned with a yet worse account of his
+desperation, and a strong assurance, that if she would only utter to him
+a single word, he would obey, depart, and live upon it the rest of his
+life.
+
+This completely softened her. Rather than imperiously suffer such a
+pattern of respectful constancy to perish, she consented to speak her
+own negative. But fearing she might be moved to some sympathy by his
+grief, she resolved to be accompanied by Camilla, and deferred,
+therefore, the interview till the next day.
+
+Molly brought back his humble acknowledgments for this concession, and
+an account that, at last, slowly and sadly, he had ridden away.
+
+Her feelings were now better satisfied than her understanding. She
+feared what she had granted was a favour; yet her heart was too tender
+to reproach a compliance made upon such conditions, and to prevent such
+evils.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_The disastrous Buskins_
+
+
+Camilla, though her personal sorrows were blunted by the view of the
+calamities and resignation of her sister, was so little disposed for
+amusement, that she had accepted the invitation of Mrs. Arlbery, only
+from wanting spirit to resist its urgency. Mr. Tyrold was well pleased
+that such a recreation came in her way, but desired Lavinia might be of
+the party: not only that she might partake of the same pleasure, but
+from a greater security in her prudence, than in that of her naturally
+thoughtless sister.
+
+The town of Etherington afforded no theatre; and the room fitted up for
+the night's performance could contain but two boxes, one of which was
+secured for Mrs. Arlbery and her friends.
+
+The attentive Major was ready to offer his hand to Camilla upon her
+arrival. The rest of the officers were in the box.
+
+The play was Othello; and so miserably represented, that Lavinia would
+willingly have retired after the first scene: but the native spirits of
+Camilla revisited her in the view of the ludicrous personages of the
+drama. And they were soon joined by Sir Sedley Clarendel, whose quaint
+conceits and remarks assisted the risibility of the scene. She thought
+him the least comprehensible person she had ever known; but as he was
+totally indifferent to her, his oddity entertained without tormenting
+her.
+
+The actors were of the lowest strolling kind, and so utterly without
+merit, that they had never yet met with sufficient encouragement to
+remain one week in the same place. They had only a single scene for the
+whole performance, which depictured a camp, and which here served for a
+street, a senate, a city, a castle, and a bed-chamber.
+
+The dresses were almost equally parsimonious, everyone being obliged to
+take what would fit him, from a wardrobe that did not allow quite two
+dresses a person for all the plays they had to enact. Othello,
+therefore, was equipped as king Richard the third, save that instead of
+a regal front he had a black wig, to imitate wool: while his face had
+been begrimed with a smoked cork.
+
+Iago wore a suit of cloaths originally made for Lord Foppington:
+Brabantio had borrowed the armour of Hamlet's Ghost: Cassio, the
+Lieutenant General in the christian army, had only been able to equip
+himself in Osmyn's Turkish vest; and Roderigo, accoutred in the garment
+of Shylock, came forth a complete Jew.
+
+Desdemona, attired more suitably to her fate than to her expectations,
+went through the whole of her part, except the last scene, in the sable
+weeds of Isabella. And Amelia was fain to content herself with the habit
+of the first witch in Macbeth.
+
+The gestures, both of the gentlemen and ladies, were as outrageous as if
+meant rather to intimidate the audience, than to shew their own
+animation; and the men approached each other so closely with arms
+a-kimbo, or double fists, that Sir Sedley, with pretended alarm, said
+they were giving challenges for a boxing match.
+
+The ladies also, in the energy of their desire not to be eclipsed, took
+so much exercise in their action, that they tore out the sleeves of
+their gowns; which, though pinned up every time they left the stage,
+completely exposed their shoulders at the end of every act; and they
+raised their arms so high while facing each other, that Sir Sedley
+expressed frequent fears they meant to finish by pulling caps.
+
+So imperfect were they also in their parts, that the prompter was the
+only person from whom any single speech passed without a blunder.
+
+Iago, who was the master of the troop, was the sole performer who spoke
+not with a provincial dialect; the rest all betrayed their birth and
+parentage the first line they uttered.
+
+Cassio proclaimed himself from Norfolk:
+
+    The Deuk dew greet yew, General,
+    -----------
+    Being not at yew're lodging to be feund--
+    The senate sent above tree several quests, &c.
+
+Othello himself proved a true Londoner; and with his famed soldier-like
+eloquence in the senate-scene, thus began his celebrated defence.
+
+    Most potent, grawe, and rewerend Seignors,
+    My wery noble and approwed good masters,
+    That I have ta'en avay this old man's darter--
+    I vill a round, unwarnish'd tale deliver
+    Of my whole course of love; vhat drugs, vhat charms,
+    Vhat conjuration, and vhat mighty magic
+    I von his darter with----
+    Her father lov'd me, oft inwited me----
+    ----My story being done,
+    She gave me for my pains a vorld of sighs,
+    She svore in faith 'tvas strange, 'tvas passing strange,
+    'Tvas pitiful, 't'vas vondrous pitiful;
+    She vish'd she had not heard it; yet she vish'd
+    That Heawen had made her such a man.----
+    This only is the vitchcraft I have us'd;
+    Here comes the lady, let her vitness it.
+
+This happily making the gentle Desdemona recognised, notwithstanding her
+appearance was so little bridal, her Somersetshire father cried:
+
+        I preay you hear 'ur zpeak.
+    If a confez that a waz half the woer
+    Deztruction on my head, if my bead bleame
+    Light o' the mon!
+
+His daughter, in the Worcestershire pronunciation, answered:
+
+                Noble father,
+    Hi do perceive ere a divided duty;
+    To you hi howe my life hand heducation,
+    My life hand heducation both do teach me
+    Ow to respect you. You're the lord hof duty;
+    Hi'm itherto your daughter: but ere's my usband!----
+
+The fond Othello then exclaimed:
+
+        Your woices, lords! beseech you let her vill
+    Have a free vay!-- -- --
+
+And Brabantio took leave with
+
+    Look to'ur, Moor! if th' azt eyez to zee;
+    A haz deceiv'd 'ur veather, and may thee.--
+
+They were detained so long between the first and second act, that Sir
+Sedley said he feared poor Desdemona had lost the thread-paper from
+which she was to mend her gown, and recommended to the two young ladies
+to have the charity to go and assist her. 'Consider,' he said, 'the
+trepidation of a fair bride but just entered into her shackles. Who
+knows but Othello may be giving her a strapping, in private, for wearing
+out her cloaths so fast! you young ladies think nothing of these little
+conjugal freedoms.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, though for some time she had been as well diverted by the
+play as Camilla, less new to such exhibitions, was soon tired of the
+sameness of the blunders, and, at the end of the fourth act, proposed
+retiring. But Camilla, who had long not felt so much entertained, looked
+so disappointed, that her good humour overcame her fatigue, and she was
+insisting upon staying; when a gentleman, who visited them from the
+opposite box, proposed that the young ladies should be carried home by
+his mother, a lady who lived at Etherington, and was acquainted at the
+rectory, and who intended to stay out not only the play but the farce.
+Lavinia consented; the son went with the proposition, and the business
+was soon arranged. Mrs. Arlbery, who had three miles to go beyond the
+parsonage-house, and who, though she delighted to oblige, was but
+little in the habit of practising self-denial, then consigned the young
+ladies to General Kinsale, to be conducted to the opposite box, and was
+handed by Colonel Andover to her coach.
+
+The General guarded the eldest sister; the Major took care of Camilla:
+but they were all stopt in their passage by the sudden seizure of a
+pickpocket, and forced hastily back to the box they had quitted.
+
+This commotion, though it had disturbed all the audience, had not stopt
+the performance; and Desdemona being just now discovered in bed,
+Camilla, not to lose the interesting scene, persuaded her sister to wait
+till the play was over, before they attempted again to cross to the
+opposite box; into which, in a few minutes after, she saw Mandlebert
+enter.
+
+They had both already seated themselves as much out of sight as
+possible; and Camilla now began to regret she had not accompanied Mrs.
+Arlbery. She had thought only of the play and its entertainment, till
+the sight of Mandlebert told her that her situation was improper; and
+the idea only occurred to her by considering that it would occur to him.
+
+Mandlebert had dined out with a party of men, and had stept in to see
+what was going forwards, without any knowledge whom he should meet: he
+instantly discerned Lavinia, and felt anxious to know why Camilla was
+not with her, and why she sat so much out of sight: but Camilla so
+completely hid herself, he could only see there was a female, whom he
+concluded to be some Etherington lady; and he determined to make further
+enquiry when the act should be over.
+
+The performance now became so truly ludicrous, that Camilla,
+notwithstanding all her uneasiness, was excited to almost perpetual
+laughter.
+
+Desdemona, either from the effect of a bad cold, or to give more of
+nature to her repose, breathed so hard, as to raise a general laugh in
+the audience; Sir Sedley, stopping his ears, exclaimed, 'O! if she
+snores I shall plead for her no more, if she tear her gown to tatters!
+Suffocation is much too lenient for her. She's an immense horrid
+personage! nasal to alarm!'
+
+Othello then entered, with a tallow candle in his hand, staring and
+dropping grease at every step; and, having just declared he would not
+
+    Scar that vhiter skin of hers than snow,
+
+perceived a thief in the candle, which made it run down so fast over his
+hand, and the sleeve of his coat, that, the moment not being yet arrived
+for extinguishing it, he was forced to lay down his sword, and, for want
+of better means, snuff it with his fingers.
+
+Sir Sedley now protested himself completely disordered: 'I must be
+gone,' cried he, 'incontinently; this exceeds resistance: I shan't be
+alive in another minute. Are you able to form a notion of anything more
+annihilating? If I did not build upon the pleasure of seeing him stop up
+those distressing nostrils of the gentle Desdemona, I could not breathe
+here another instant.'
+
+But just after, while Othello leant over the bed to say--
+
+              Vhen I've pluck'd the rose
+    I cannot give it wital growth again,
+    It needs must vither----
+
+his black locks caught fire.
+
+The candle now fell from his hand, and he attempted to pull off his wig;
+but it had been tied close on, to appear more natural, and his fright
+disabled him; he therefore flung himself upon the bed, and rolled the
+coverlid over his head.
+
+Desdemona, excessively frightened, started up, and jumped out, shrieking
+aloud--'O, Lord! I shall be burnt!'
+
+This noble Venetian Dame then exhibited, beneath an old white satin
+bedgown, made to cover her arms and breast, the dress in which she had
+equipped herself, between the acts, to be ready for trampling home;
+namely, a dirty red and white linen gown, an old blue stuff quilted
+coat, and black shoes and stockings.
+
+In this pitiable condition, she was running, screaming, off the stage,
+when Othello, having quenched the fire, unconscious that half his curls
+had fallen a sacrifice to the flames, hastily pursued her, and, in a
+violent passion, called her a fool, and brought her back to the bed; in
+which he assisted her to compose herself, and then went behind the
+scenes to light his candle; which having done, he gravely returned, and,
+very carefully putting it down, renewed his part with the line.
+
+    Be thus vhen thou art dead, and I vill kill thee
+    And love thee after--
+
+Amidst roars of laughter from the whole audience, who, when he kissed
+her, almost with one voice called out--'Ay ay, that's right--kiss and
+friends!'
+
+And when he said--
+
+    I must veep----
+
+'So must I too, my good friend,' cried Sir Sedley, wiping his eyes, 'for
+never yet did sorrow cost me more salt rheum! Poor Blacky! thou hast
+been most indissolubly comic, I confess. Thou hast unstrung me to a
+degree. A baby of half an hour might demolish me.'
+
+And again, when Othello exclaimed--
+
+    She vakes!
+
+'The deuce she does?' cried Sir Sedley, 'what! has she been asleep again
+already? She's a very caricatura of Morpheus. Ay, do thy worst, honest
+Mungo. I can't possibly beg her off. I would sooner snift thy farthing
+candle once a day, than sustain that nasal cadence ever more.'
+
+'He's the finest fellow upon the face of the earth,' cried Mr.
+Macdersey, who had listened to the whole play with the most serious
+interest; 'the instant he suspects his wife, he cuts her off without
+ceremony; though she's dearer to him than his eye sight, and beautiful
+as an angel. How I envy him!'
+
+'Don't you think 'twould have been as well,' said General Kinsale, 'if
+he'd first made some little enquiry?'
+
+'He can do that afterwards, General; and then nobody will dare surmise
+it's out of weakness. For to be sure and certain, he ought to right her
+fame; that's no more than his duty, after once he has satisfied his own.
+But a man's honour is dearest to him of all things. A wife's a bauble to
+it--not worth a thought.'
+
+The suffocating was now beginning but just as Desdemona begged to be
+spared--
+
+    But alf han our--
+
+the door-keeper forced his way into the pit, and called out--'Pray, is
+one Miss Tyrold here in the play-house?'
+
+The sisters, in much amazement hung back, entreating the gentlemen to
+screen them; and the man, receiving no answer, went away.
+
+While wondering what this could mean, the play was finished, when one of
+the comedians, a brother of the Worcestershire Desdemona, came to the
+pit door, calling out--'Hi'm desired to hask hif Miss Camilla Tyrold's
+hany way ere hin the ouse, for hi'm hordered to call er hout, for her
+Huncle's hill and dying.'
+
+A piercing shriek from Camilla now completed the interruption of all
+attention to the performance, and betrayed her hiding place.
+Concealment, indeed, was banished her thoughts, and she would herself
+have opened the box door to rush out, had not the Major anticipated her,
+seizing, at the same time, her hand to conduct her through the crowd.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_Three Golden Maxims_
+
+
+Lavinia, almost equally terrified, followed her sister; and Sir Sedley,
+burying all foppery in compassion and good nature, was foremost to
+accompany and assist. Camilla had no thought but to get instantly to
+Cleves; she considered not how; she only forced herself rapidly on,
+persuaded she could walk it in ten minutes, and ejaculating incessantly,
+'My Uncle!--my dear Uncle!'--
+
+They almost instantly encountered Edgar, who, upon the fatal call, had
+darted round to meet them, and finding each provided with an attendant,
+inquired whose carriage he should seek?
+
+Camilla, in a broken voice, answered she had no carriage, and should
+walk.
+
+'Walk?' he repeated; 'you are near five miles from Cleves!'
+
+Scarce in her senses, she hurried on without reply.
+
+'What carriage did you come in, Miss Tyrold?' said Edgar to Lavinia.
+
+'We came with Mrs. Arlbery.'
+
+'Mrs. Arlbery?--she has been gone this half hour; I met her as I
+entered.'
+
+Camilla had now rushed out of doors, still handed by the Major.
+
+'If you have no carriage in waiting,' said Edgar, 'make use, I beseech
+you, of mine!'
+
+'O, gladly! O, thankfully!' cried Camilla, almost sobbing out her words.
+
+He flew then to call for his chaise, and the door-keeper, for whom Sir
+Sedley had inquired, came to them, accompanied by Jacob.
+
+'O, Jacob!' she cried, breaking violently from the Major, 'tell
+me!--tell me!--my Uncle!--my dearest Uncle!'
+
+Jacob, in a tone of deep and unfeigned sorrow, said, his Master had been
+seized suddenly with the gout in his stomach, and that the doctor, who
+had been instantly fetched, had owned there was little hope.
+
+She could hear no more; the shock overpowered her, and she sunk nearly
+senseless into the arms of her sister.
+
+She was recovered, however, almost in a minute, and carried by Edgar
+into his chaise, in which he placed her between himself and the weeping
+Lavinia; hastily telling the two gentlemen, that his intimate connection
+with the family authorized his assisting and attending them at such a
+period.
+
+This was too well known to be disputed; and Sir Sedley and the Major,
+with great concern, uttered their good wishes and retreated.
+
+Jacob had already been for Mr. Tyrold, who had set off instantaneously
+on horseback.
+
+Camilla spoke not a word the first mile, which was spent in an hysteric
+sobbing: but, recovering a little afterwards, and sinking on the
+shoulder of her sister, 'O, Lavinia!' she cried, 'should we lose my
+Uncle----'
+
+A shower of tears wetted the neck of Lavinia, who mingled with them her
+own, though less violently, from having less connection with Sir Hugh,
+and a sensibility less ungovernable.
+
+She called herself upon the postillion to drive faster, and pressed
+Edgar continually to hurry him; but though he gave every charge she
+could desire, so much swifter were her wishes than any possible speed,
+that twenty times she entreated to get out, believing she could walk
+quicker than the horses galloped.
+
+When they arrived at the park gate, she was with difficulty held back
+from opening the chaise door; and when, at length, they stopt at the
+house porch, she could not wait for the step, and before Edgar could
+either precede or prevent her, threw herself into the arms of Jacob,
+who, having just dismounted, was fortunately at hand to save her from
+falling.
+
+She stopt not to ask any question; 'My Uncle!--my Uncle!' she cried,
+impetuously, and, rushing past all she met, was in his room in a moment.
+
+Edgar, though he could not obstruct, followed her close, dreading lest
+Sir Hugh might already be no more, and determined, in that case, to
+force her from the fatal spot.
+
+Eugenia, who heard her footstep, received her at the door, but took her
+immediately from the room, softly whispering, while her arms were thrown
+round her waist--'He will live! he will live, my sister! his agonies are
+over--he is fallen asleep, and he will live!'
+
+This was too sudden a joy for the desponding Camilla, whose breath
+instantly stopt, and who must have fallen upon the floor, had she not
+been caught by Edgar; who, though his own eyes copiously overflowed with
+delight, at such unexpected good news of the universally beloved
+Baronet, had strength and exertion sufficient to carry her downstairs
+into the parlour, accompanied by Eugenia.
+
+There, hartshorn and water presently revived her, and then, regardless
+of the presence of Edgar, she cast herself upon her knees, to utter a
+fervent thanksgiving, in which Eugenia, with equal piety, though more
+composure, joined.
+
+Edgar had never yet beheld her in a light so resplendent--What a heart,
+thought he, is here! what feelings, what tenderness, what animation!--O,
+what a heart!--were it possible to touch it!
+
+The two sisters went both gently up stairs, encouraging and
+congratulating each other in soft whispers, and stationed themselves in
+an ante-room: Mr. Tyrold, by medical counsel, giving directions that no
+one but himself should enter the sick chamber.
+
+Edgar, though he only saw the domestics, could not persuade himself to
+leave the house till near two o'clock in the morning: and by six, his
+anxiety brought him thither again. He then heard, that the Baronet had
+passed a night of more pain than danger, the gout having been expelled
+his stomach, though it had been threatening almost every other part.
+
+Three days and nights passed in this manner; during which, Edgar saw so
+much of the tender affections, and softer character of Camilla, that
+nothing could have withheld him from manifesting his entire sympathy in
+her feelings, but the unaccountable circumstance of her starting forth
+from a back seat at the play, where she had sat concealed, attended by
+the Major, and without any matron protectress.
+
+Miss Margland, meanwhile, scowled at him, and Indiana pouted in vain.
+His earnest solicitude for Sir Hugh surmounted every such obstacle to
+his present visits at Cleves; and he spent there almost the whole of his
+time.
+
+On the fourth day of the attack, Sir Hugh had a sleep of five hours'
+continuance, from which he awoke so much revived, that he raised himself
+in his bed, and called out--'My dear Brother! you are still here?--you
+are very good to me, indeed; poor sinner that I am! to forgive me for
+all my bad behaviour to your Children.'
+
+'My dearest Brother! my Children, like myself, owe you nothing but
+kindness and beneficence; and, like myself, feel for you nothing but
+gratitude and tenderness.'
+
+'They are very good, very good indeed,' said Sir Hugh, with a deep sigh;
+'but Eugenia!--poor little Eugenia has nearly been the death of me;
+though not meaning it in the least, being all her life as innocent as a
+lamb.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold assured him, that Eugenia was attached to him with the most
+unalterable fondness. But Sir Hugh said, that the sight of her,
+returning from Etherington, with nearly the same sadness as ever, had
+wounded him to the heart, by shewing him she would never recover; which
+had brought back upon him all his first contrition, about the smallpox,
+and the fall from the plank, and had caused his conscience to give him
+so many twitches, that it never let him rest a moment, till the gout
+seized upon his stomach, and almost took him off at once.
+
+Mr. Tyrold attributed solely to his own strong imagination the idea of
+the continuance of the dejection of Eugenia, as she had left Etherington
+calm, and almost chearful. He instantly, therefore, fetched her,
+intimating the species of consolation she could afford.
+
+'Kindest of Uncles!' cried she, 'is it possible you can ever, for a
+moment, have doubted the grateful affection with which your goodness has
+impressed me from my childhood? Do me more justice, I beseech you, my
+dearest Uncle! recover from this terrible attack, and you shall soon see
+your Eugenia restored to all the happiness you can wish her.'
+
+'Nobody has got such kind nieces as me!' cried Sir Hugh, again
+dissolving into tenderness; 'for all nobody has deserved so ill of them.
+My generous little Camilla, forgave me from the very first, before her
+young soul had any guile in it, which, God knows, it never has had to
+this hour, no more than your own. However, this I can tell you, which
+may serve to keep you from repenting being good, and that is, that your
+kindness to your poor Uncle may be the means of saving a christian's
+life; which, for a young person at your age, is as much as can be
+expected: for I think, I may yet get about again, if I could once be
+assured I should see you as happy as you used to be; and you've been the
+contentedest little thing, till those unlucky market-women, that ever
+was seen: always speaking up for the servants, and the poor, from the
+time you were eight years old. And never letting me be angry, but taking
+every body's part, and thinking them all as good as yourself, and only
+wanting to make them as happy.'
+
+'Ah, my dear Uncle! how kind a memory is yours! retaining only what can
+give pleasure, and burying in oblivion whatever might cause pain!--'
+
+'Is my Uncle well enough to speak?' cried Camilla, softly opening the
+door, 'and may I--for one single moment,--see him?----'
+
+'That's the voice of my dear Camilla!' said Sir Hugh; 'come in, my
+little love, for I shan't shock your tender heart now, for I'm going to
+get better.'
+
+Camilla, in an ecstasy, was instantly at his bedside, passionately
+exclaiming, 'My dear, dear Uncle! will you indeed recover?--'
+
+Sir Hugh, throwing his feeble arms round her neck, and leaning his head
+upon her shoulder, could only faintly articulate, 'If God pleases, I
+shall, my little darling, my heart's delight and joy! But don't vex,
+whether I do or not, for it is but in the course of nature for a man to
+die, even in his youth; but how much more when he comes to be old?
+Though I know you can't help missing me, in particular at the first,
+because of all your goodness to me.'
+
+'Missing you? O my Uncle! we can never be happy again without you! never
+never!--when your loved countenance no longer smiles upon us,--when your
+kind voice no longer assembles us around you!----'
+
+'My dear child--my own little Camilla,' cried Sir Hugh, in a faint
+voice, 'I am ready to die!'
+
+Mr. Tyrold here forced her away, and his brother grew so much worse,
+that a dangerous relapse took place, and for three days more, the
+physician, the nurse, and Mr. Tyrold, were alone allowed to enter his
+room.
+
+During this time, the whole family suffered the truest grief, and
+Camilla was inconsolable.
+
+When again he began to revive, he called Mr. Tyrold to him, and said
+that this second shake persuaded him he had but a short time more for
+this world; and begged therefore he would prepare him for his exit.
+
+Mr. Tyrold complied, and found, with more happiness than surprise, his
+perfect and chearful resignation either to live or to die, rejoicing as
+much as himself, in the innocent benevolence of his past days.
+
+Composed and strengthened by religious duties, he then desired to see
+Eugenia and Indiana, that he might give them his last exhortations and
+counsel, in case of a speedy end.
+
+Mr. Tyrold would fain have spared him this touching exertion, but he
+declared he could not go off with a clear conscience, unless he told
+them the advice which he had been thinking of for them, between whiles,
+during all his illness.
+
+Mr. Tyrold then feared that opposition might but discompose him, and
+summoned his youngest daughter and his niece, charging them both to
+repress their affliction, lest it should accelerate what they most
+dreaded.
+
+Camilla, always upon the watch, glided in with them, supplicating her
+Father not to deny her admittance; though fearful of her impetuous
+sorrows, he wished her to retreat; but Sir Hugh no sooner heard her
+murmuring voice, than he declared he would have her refused nothing,
+though he had meant to take a particular leave of her alone, for the
+last thing of all.
+
+Gratefully thanking him, she advanced trembling to his bedside; solemnly
+promising her Father that no expression of her grief should again risk
+agitating a life and health so precious.
+
+Sir Hugh then desired to have Lavinia called also, because, though he
+had thought of nothing to say to her, she might be hurt, after he was
+gone, in being left out.
+
+He was then raised by pillows and sat upright, and they knelt round his
+bed. Mr. Tyrold entreated him to be concise, and insisted upon the
+extremest forbearance and fortitude in his little audience. He seated
+himself at some distance, and Sir Hugh, after swallowing a cordial
+medicine, began:
+
+'My dear Nieces, I have sent for you all upon a particular account,
+which I beg you to listen to, because, God only knows whether I may ever
+be able to give you so much advice again. I see you all look very
+melancholy, which I take very kind of you. However don't cry, my little
+dears, for we must all go off, so it matters but little the day or the
+hour; dying being, besides, the greatest comfort of us all, taking us
+off from our cares; as my Brother will explain to you better than me.
+
+'The chief of what I have got to say, in regard to what I have been
+studying in my illness, is for you two, my dear Eugenia and Indiana;
+because, having brought you both up, I can't get it out of my head what
+you'll do, when I am no longer here to keep you out of the danger of bad
+designers.
+
+'My hope had been to have seen you both married while I was alive and
+amongst you, and I made as many plans as my poor head knew how, to bring
+it about; but we've all been disappointed alike, for which reason we
+must put up with it properly.
+
+'What I have now last of all, to say to you, my little dears, is three
+maxims, which may serve for you all four alike, though I thought of
+them, at first, only for you two.
+
+'In the first place, _Never be proud_: if you are, your superiors
+will laugh at you, your equals won't love you, and your dependants
+will hate you. And what is there for poor mortal man to be proud
+of?--Riches!----why they are but a charge, and if we don't use them
+well, we may envy the poor beggar that has so much less to answer
+for.--Beauty!----why, we can neither get it when we haven't it; nor keep
+it when we have it.--Power!----why we scarce ever use it one way, but
+what we are sorry we did not use it another!
+
+'In the second place, _Never trust a Flatterer_. If a man makes you a
+great many compliments, always suspect him of some bad design, and never
+believe him your friend, till he tells you of some of your faults. Poor
+little things! you little imagine how many you have, for all you're so
+good!
+
+'In the third place, _Do no harm to others, for the sake of any good it
+may do to yourselves_; because the good will last you but a little
+while; and the repentance will stick by you as long as you live; and
+what is worse, a great while longer, and beyond any count the best
+Almanack-maker knows how to reckon.
+
+'And now, my dear Nieces, this is all; except the recommending to my
+dear Eugenia to be kind to my poor servants, who have all used me so
+well, knowing I have nothing to leave them.'
+
+Eugenia, suppressing her sobs, promised to retain them all, as long as
+they should desire to remain with her, and to provide for them
+afterwards.
+
+'I know, you'll forget nobody, my dear little girl,' cried the Baronet,
+'which makes me die contented; not even Mrs. Margland, a little
+particularity not being to be considered at one's last end: and much
+less Dr. Orkborne, who has so much a better right from you. As to
+Indiana, she'll have her own little fortune when she comes of age; and I
+dare say her pretty face will marry her before long.--And as to
+Clermont, he'll come off rather short, finding I leave him nothing; but
+you'll make up for the deficiency, by giving him the whole, as well as a
+good wife. As to Lionel, I leave him my blessing; and as to any other
+legacy I never happened to promise him any; which is very good luck for
+me, as well as my best excuse; and I may say the same to my dear
+Lavinia, which is the reason I called her in, because she may not often
+have an opportunity to hear a man speak upon his death-bed. However all
+I wish for is, that I could leave you all equal shares, as well as give
+Eugenia the whole.'
+
+'O my dear Uncle!' exclaimed Eugenia, 'make a new Will immediately! do
+everything your tenderness can dictate!--or tell me what I shall do in
+your name, and every word, every wish shall be sacredly obeyed!'
+
+'Dear, generous, noble girl! no! I won't take from you a shilling! keep
+it all--nobody will spend it so well;--and I can't give you back your
+beauty; so keep it, my dear, all, for my oath's sake, when I am gone;
+and don't make me die under a prevaricating; which would be but a
+grievous thing for a person to do; unless he was but a bad believer:
+which, God help us! there are enough, without my helping to make more.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold now again remonstrated, motioning to the weeping group to be
+gone.
+
+'Ah! my dear Brother!' said Sir Hugh, 'you are the only right person
+that ought to have had it all, if it had not been for my poor weak
+brain, that made me always be looking askew instead of strait forward.
+And indeed I always meant you to have had it for your life, till the
+smallpox put all things out of my head. However, I hope you won't object
+to preach my funeral sermon, for all my bad faults, for nobody else will
+speak of me so kindly; which may serve as a better lesson for those I
+leave behind.'
+
+Tears flowed fast down the cheeks of Mr. Tyrold, as he uttered whatever
+he could suggest most tenderly soothing to his Brother: and the young
+mourners, not daring to resist, were all gliding away, except Camilla,
+whose hand was fast grasped in that of her Uncle.
+
+'Ah, my Camilla,' cried he, as she would gently have withdrawn it, 'how
+shall I part with my little dear darling? this is the worst twitch to me
+of all, with all my contentedness! And the more because I know you love
+your poor old Uncle, just as well as if he had left you all he was
+worth, though you won't get one penny by his death!'
+
+'O my dear, dearest Uncle--' exclaimed Camilla, in a passionate flood of
+tears; when Mr. Tyrold, assuring them both the consequences might be
+fatal, tore her away from the bed and the room.
+
+
+END OF THE SECOND VOLUME.
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME III
+
+
+
+
+BOOK V
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A Pursuer_
+
+
+Notwithstanding the fears so justly excited from the mixt emotions and
+exertions of Sir Hugh, Mr. Tyrold had the happiness to see him fall into
+a tranquil sleep, from which he awoke without any return of pain; his
+night was quiet; the next day was still better; and the day following he
+was pronounced out of danger.
+
+The rapture which this declaration excited in the house, and diffused
+throughout the neighbourhood, when communicated to the worthy baronet,
+gave a gladness to his heart that recompensed all he had suffered.
+
+The delight of Camilla exceeded whatever she had yet experienced: her
+life had lost half its value in her estimation, while she believed that
+of her uncle to be in danger.
+
+No one single quality is perhaps so endearing, from man to man, as
+good-nature. Talents excite more admiration; wisdom, more respect; and
+virtue, more esteem: but with admiration envy is apt to mingle, and fear
+with respect; while esteem, though always honourable, is often cold: but
+good-nature gives pleasure without any allay; ease, confidence, and
+happy carelessness, without the pain of obligation, without the exertion
+of gratitude.
+
+If joy was in some more tumultuous, content was with none so penetrating
+as with Eugenia. Apprised now that she had been the immediate cause of
+the sufferings of her uncle, his loss would have given to her peace a
+blow irrecoverable; and she determined to bend the whole of her thoughts
+to his wishes, his comfort, his entire restoration.
+
+To this end all her virtue was called in aid; a fear, next to aversion,
+having seized her of Clermont, from the apprehension she might never
+inspire in him such love as she had inspired in Bellamy, nor see in him,
+as in young Melmond, such merit as might raise similar sentiments for
+himself.
+
+Molly Mill had not failed to paint to her the disappointment of Bellamy
+in not seeing her; but she was too much engrossed by the dangerous state
+of her uncle, to feel any compunction in her breach of promise; though
+touched with the account of his continual sufferings, she became very
+gentle in her reprimands to Molly for again meeting him; and, though
+Molly again disobeyed, she again was pardoned. He came daily to the lane
+behind the park pales, to hear news of the health of Sir Hugh, without
+pressing either for an interview or a letter; and Eugenia grew more and
+more moved by his respectful obsequiousness. She had yet said nothing to
+Camilla upon the subject; not only because a dearer interest mutually
+occupied them, but from a secret shame of naming a lover at a period so
+ungenial.
+
+But now that Sir Hugh was in a fair way of recovery, her situation
+became alarming to herself. Openly, and before the whole house, she had
+solemnly been assigned to Clermont Lynmere; and, little as she wished
+the connexion, she thought it, from circumstances, her duty not to
+refuse it. Yet this gentleman had attended her so long, had endured so
+many disappointments, and borne them so much to her satisfaction, that,
+though she lamented her concession as an injury to Clermont, and grew
+ashamed to name it even to Camilla, she believed it would be cruelty
+unheard of to break it. She determined, therefore, to see him, to
+pronounce a farewell, and then to bend all her thoughts to the partner
+destined her by her friends.
+
+Molly Mill was alone to accompany her to give her negative, her good
+wishes, and her solemn declaration that she could never again see or
+hear of him more. He could deem it no indelicacy that she suffered Molly
+to be present, since she was the negociator of his own choice.
+
+Molly carried him, therefore, this news, with a previous condition that
+he was not to detain her mistress one minute. He promised all
+submission; and the next morning, after breakfast, Eugenia, in extreme
+dejection at the ungrateful task she had to perform, called for Molly,
+and walked forth.
+
+Camilla, who was then accidentally in her own room, was, soon after,
+summoned by three smart raps to her chamber door.
+
+There, to her great surprise, she saw Edgar, who, after a hasty apology,
+begged to have a few minutes conference with her alone.
+
+She descended with him into the parlour, which was vacant.
+
+'You suspect, perhaps,' said he, in an hurried manner, though attempting
+to smile, 'that I mean to fatigue you with some troublesome advice; I
+must, therefore, by an abrupt question, explain myself. Does Mr. Bellamy
+still continue his pretensions to your sister Eugenia?'
+
+Startled in a moment from all thoughts of self, that at first had been
+rushing with violence to her heart, Camilla answered, 'No! why do you
+ask?'
+
+'I will tell you: In my regular visits here of late, I have almost
+constantly met him, either on foot or on horseback, in the vicinity of
+the park. I suspected he watched to see Eugenia; but I knew she now
+never left the house; and concluded he was ignorant of the late general
+confinement. This moment, however, upon my entrance, I saw him again;
+and, as he hastily turned away upon meeting my eye, I dismounted, gave
+my horse to my man, and determined to satisfy myself which way he was
+strolling. I then followed him to the little lane to the right of the
+park, where I perceived an empty post-chaise-and-four in waiting: he
+advanced, and spoke with the postillion--I came instantly into the house
+by the little gate. This may be accidental; yet it has alarmed me; and I
+ventured, therefore, thus suddenly to apply to you, in order to urge you
+to give a caution to Eugenia, not to walk out, just at present,
+unattended.'
+
+Camilla thanked him, and ran eagerly to speak to her sister; but she was
+not in her room; nor was she with her uncle; nor yet with Dr. Orkborne.
+She returned uneasily to the parlour, and said she would seek her in the
+park.
+
+Edgar followed; but they looked around for her in vain: he then, deeming
+the danger urgent, left her, to hasten to the spot where he had seen the
+post-chaise.
+
+Camilla ran on alone; and, when she reached the park gate, perceived her
+sister, Molly Mill, and Bellamy, in the lane.
+
+They heard her quick approach, and turned round.
+
+The countenance of Bellamy exhibited the darkest disappointment, and
+that of Eugenia the most excessive confusion. 'Now then, Sir,' she
+cried, 'delay our separation no longer.'
+
+'Ah, permit me,' said he, in a low voice, 'permit me to hope you will
+hear my last sad sentence, my final misery, another day!--I will defer
+my mournful departure for that melancholy joy, which is the last I shall
+feel in my wretched existence!'
+
+He sighed so deeply, that Eugenia, who seemed already in much sorrow,
+could not utter an abrupt refusal; and, as Camilla now advanced, she
+turned from him, without attempting to say any thing further.
+
+Camilla, in the delight of finding her sister safe, after the horrible
+apprehensions she had just experienced, could not speak to her for
+tears.
+
+Abashed at once, and amazed, Eugenia faintly asked what so affected her?
+She gave no explanation, but begged her to turn immediately back.
+
+Eugenia consented; and Bellamy, bowing to them both profoundly, with
+quick steps walked away.
+
+Camilla asked a thousand questions; but Eugenia seemed unable to answer
+them.
+
+In a few minutes they were joined by Edgar, who, walking hastily up to
+them, took Camilla apart.
+
+He told her he firmly believed a villainous scheme to have been laid: he
+had found the chaise still in waiting, and asked the postillion to whom
+he belonged. The man said he was paid for what he did; and refused
+giving any account of himself. Bellamy then appeared: he seemed
+confounded at his sight; but neither of them spoke; and he left him and
+his chaise, and his postillion, to console one another. He doubted not,
+he said, but the design had been to carry Eugenia off, and he had
+probably only pretended to take leave, that the chaise might advance,
+and the postillion aid the elopement: though finding help at hand, he
+had been forced to give up his scheme.
+
+Camilla even with rapture blest his fortunate presence; but was
+confounded with perplexity at the conduct of Eugenia. Edgar, who feared
+her heart was entangled by an object who sought only her wealth,
+proposed dismissing Molly Mill, that he might tell her himself the
+opinion he had conceived of Bellamy.
+
+Camilla overtook her sister, who had walked on without listening to or
+regarding them; and, sending away Molly, told her Edgar wished
+immediately to converse with her, upon something of the utmost
+importance.
+
+'You know my high esteem of him,' she answered; 'but my mind is now
+occupied upon a business of which he has no information, and I entreat
+that you will neither of you interrupt me.'
+
+Camilla, utterly at a loss what to conjecture, joined Mandlebert alone,
+and told him her ill success. He thought every thing was to be feared
+from the present state of the affair, and proposed revealing at once all
+he knew of it to Mr. Tyrold: but Camilla desired him to take no step
+till she had again expostulated with her sister, who might else be
+seriously hurt or offended. He complied, and said he would continue in
+the house, park, or environs, incessantly upon the watch, till some
+decisive measure were adopted.
+
+Joining Eugenia then again, she asked if she meant seriously to
+encourage the addresses of Bellamy.
+
+'By no means,' she quietly answered.
+
+'My dear Eugenia, I cannot at all understand you; but it seems clear to
+me that the arrival of Edgar has saved you from some dreadful violence.'
+
+'You hurt me, Camilla, by this prejudice. From whom should I dread
+violence? from a man who--but too fatally for his peace--values me more
+than his life?'
+
+'If I could be sure of his sincerity,' said Camilla, 'I should be the
+last to think ill of him: but reflect a little, at least, upon the risk
+that you have run; my dear Eugenia! there was a post-chaise in waiting,
+not twenty yards from where I stopt you!'
+
+'Ah, you little know Bellamy! that chaise was only to convey him away;
+to convey him, Camilla, to an eternal banishment!'
+
+'But why, then, had he prevailed with you to quit the park?'
+
+'You will call me vain if I tell you.'
+
+'No; I shall only think you kind and confidential.'
+
+'Do me then the justice,' said Eugenia, blushing, 'to believe me as much
+surprised as yourself at his most unmerited passion: but he told me,
+that if I only cast my eyes upon the vehicle which was to part him from
+me for ever, it would not only make it less abhorrent to him, but
+probably prevent the loss of his senses.'
+
+'My dear Eugenia,' said Camilla, half smiling, 'this is a violent
+passion, indeed, for so short an acquaintance!'
+
+'I knew you would say that,' answered she, disconcerted; 'and it was
+just what I observed to him myself: but he satisfied me that the reason
+of his feelings being so impetuous was, that this was the first and only
+time he had ever been in love.--So handsome as he is!--what a choice for
+him to make!'
+
+Camilla, tenderly embracing her, declared, 'the choice was all that did
+him honour in the affair.'
+
+'He never,' said she, a little comforted, 'makes me any compliments; I
+should else disregard, if not disdain him: but indeed he seems,
+notwithstanding his own extraordinary manly beauty, to be wholly
+superior to external considerations.'
+
+Camilla now forbore expressing farther doubt, from the fear of painful
+misapprehension; but earnestly entreated her to suffer Edgar to be
+entrusted and consulted: she decidedly, however, refused her consent. 'I
+require no advice,' cried she, 'for I am devoted to my uncle's will: to
+speak then of this affair would be the most cruel indelicacy, in
+publishing a conquest which, since it is rejected, I ought silently,
+though gratefully, to bury in my own heart.'
+
+She then related the history of all that had passed to Camilla; but
+solemnly declared she would never, to any other human being, but him who
+should hereafter be entitled to her whole heart, betray the secret of
+the unhappy Bellamy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_An Adviser_
+
+
+The wish of Camilla was to lay this whole affair before her father; but
+she checked it, from an apprehension she might seem displaying her duty
+and confidence at the expence of those of her sister; whose motives for
+concealment were intentionally the most pure, however, practically, they
+might be erroneous; and whom she both pitied and revered for her
+proposed submission to her uncle, in opposition to her palpable
+reluctance.
+
+She saw not, however, any obstacle to consulting with Edgar, since he
+was already apprised of the business, and since his services might be
+essentially useful to her sister: while, with respect to herself, there
+seemed, at this time, more of dignity in meeting than shunning his
+friendly intercourse, since his regard for her seemed to have lost all
+its peculiarity. He has precisely, cried she, the same sentiments for my
+sisters as for me,--he is equally kind, disinterested, and indifferent
+to us all! anxious alike for Eugenia with Mr. Bellamy, and for me with
+the detestable Major! Be it so!--we can no where obtain a better friend;
+and I should blush, indeed, if I could not treat as a brother one who
+can treat me as a sister.
+
+Tranquil, though not gay, she returned to converse with him; but when
+she had related what had passed, he confessed that his uneasiness upon
+the subject was increased. The heart of Eugenia appeared to him
+positively entangled; and he besought Camilla not to lose a moment in
+acquainting Mr. Tyrold with her situation.
+
+She pleaded against giving this pain to her sister with energetic
+affection: her arguments failed to convince, but her eloquence
+powerfully touched him; and he contented himself with only entreating
+that she would again try to aid him with an opportunity of conversing
+with Eugenia.
+
+This she could not refuse; nor could he then resist the opportunity to
+inquire why Mrs. Arlbery had left her and Lavinia at the play. She
+thanked him for remembering his character of her monitor, and
+acknowledged the fault to be her own, with a candour so unaffected,
+that, captivated by the soft seriousness of her manner, he flattered
+himself his fear of the Major was a chimæra, and hoped that, as soon as
+Sir Hugh was able to again join his family, no impediment would remain
+to his begging the united blessings of the two brothers to his views.
+
+When Camilla told her sister the request of Edgar, she immediately
+suspected the attachment of Bellamy had been betrayed to him; and
+Camilla, incapable of any duplicity, related precisely how the matter
+had passed. Eugenia, always just, no sooner heard than she forgave it,
+and accompanied her sister immediately down stairs.
+
+'I must rest all my hope of pardon,' cried Edgar, 'for the part I am
+taking, to your conviction of its motive; a filial love and gratitude to
+Mr. Tyrold, a fraternal affection and interest for all his family.'
+
+'My own sisterly feelings,' she answered, 'make me both comprehend and
+thank your kind solicitude: but, believe me, it is now founded in error.
+I am shocked to find you informed of this unhappy transaction; and I
+charge and beseech that no interference may wound its ill-fated object,
+by suffering him to surmise your knowledge of his humiliating
+situation.'
+
+'I would not for the world give you pain,' answered Edgar: 'but permit
+me to be faithful to the brotherly character in which I consider myself
+to stand with you ... all.'
+
+A blush had overspread his face at the word Brotherly; while at that of
+_all_, which recovered him, a still deeper stained the cheeks of
+Camilla: but neither of them looked at the other; and Eugenia was too
+self-absorbed to observe either.
+
+'Your utter inexperience in life,' he continued, 'makes me, though but
+just giving up leading-strings myself, an adept in the comparison.
+Suffer me then, as such, to represent to you my fears, that your
+innocence and goodness may expose you to imposition. You must not judge
+all characters by the ingenuousness of your own; nor conclude, however
+rationally and worthily a mind such as yours might--may--and will
+inspire a disinterested regard, that there is no danger of any other,
+and that mercenary views are out of the question, because mercenary
+principles are not declared.'
+
+'I will not say your inference is severe,' replied Eugenia, 'because you
+know not the person of whom you speak: but permit me to make this
+irrefragable vindication of his freedom from all sordid motives; he has
+never once named the word fortune, neither to make any inquiries into
+mine, nor any professions concerning his own. Had he any inducement to
+duplicity, he might have asserted to me what he pleased, since I have no
+means of detection.'
+
+'Your situation,' said Edgar, 'is pretty generally known; and for
+his ... pardon me if I hint it may be possible that silence is no virtue.
+However, since I am unacquainted, you say, with his character, will you
+give me leave to make myself better informed?'
+
+'There needs no investigation; to me it is perfectly known.'
+
+'Forgive me if I ask how!'
+
+'By his letters and by his conversation.'
+
+A smile which stole upon the features of Edgar obliged him to turn his
+head another way; but presently recovering, 'My dear Miss Eugenia,' he
+cried, 'will it not be most consonant to your high principles, and
+scrupulous delicacy, to lay the whole of what has passed before Mr.
+Tyrold?'
+
+'Undoubtedly, if my part were not strait forward. Had I the least
+hesitation, my father should be my immediate and decisive umpire.
+But ... I am not at liberty even for deliberation!--I am not ... I
+know ... at my own disposal!'--
+
+She blushed and looked down, confused; but presently, with firmness,
+added, 'It is not, indeed, fit that I should be; my uncle completely
+merits to be in all things my director. To know his wishes, therefore,
+is not only to know, but to be satisfied with my doom. Such being my
+situation, you cannot misunderstand my defence of this unhappy young
+man. It is but simple justice to rescue an amiable person from calumny.'
+
+'Let us allow all this,' said Edgar; 'still I see no reason why Mr.
+Tyrold....'
+
+'Mr. Mandlebert,' interrupted she, 'you must do what you judge right. I
+can desire no one to abstain from pursuing the dictates of their own
+sense of honour. I leave you, therefore, unshackled: but there is no
+consideration which, in my opinion, can justify a female in spreading,
+even to her nearest connexions, an unrequited partiality. If, therefore,
+I am forced to inflict this undue mortification, upon a person to whom I
+hold myself so much obliged, an uneasiness will remain upon my mind,
+destructive of my forgetfulness of an event which I would fain banish
+from my memory.'
+
+She then refused to be any longer detained.
+
+'How I love the perfect innocence, and how I reverence the respectable
+singularity of that charming character!' cried Edgar; 'yet how vain are
+all arguments against such a combination of fearless credulity, and
+enthusiastic reasoning? What can we determine?'
+
+'I am happy to retort upon you that question,' replied Camilla; 'for I
+am every way afraid to act myself, lest I should hurt this dear sister,
+or do wrong by my yet dearer father.'
+
+'What a responsibility you cast upon me! I will not, however, shrink
+from it, for the path seems far plainer to me since I have had this
+conversation. Eugenia is at present safe; I see, now, distinctly, her
+heart is yet untouched. The readiness with which she met the subject,
+the openness with which she avows her esteem, the unembarrassed, though
+modest simplicity with which she speaks of his passion and his distress,
+all shew that her pity results from generosity, not from love. Had it
+been otherwise, with all her steadiness, all her philosophy, some
+agitation and anxiety would have betrayed her secret soul. The internal
+workings of hopes and fears, the sensitive alarms of repressed
+consciousness....' A deep glow, which heated his face, forced him here
+to break off; and, abruptly leaving his sentence unfinished, he hastily
+began another.
+
+'We must not, nevertheless, regard this as security for the future,
+though it is safety for the present; nor trust her unsuspicious
+generosity of mind to the dangerous assault of artful distress. I speak
+without reserve of this man; for though I know him not, as she
+remonstrated, I cannot, from the whole circumstances of his clandestine
+conduct, doubt his being an adventurer.... You say nothing? tell me, I
+beg, your opinion.'
+
+Camilla had not heard one word of this last speech. Struck with his
+discrimination between the actual and the possible state of Eugenia's
+mind, and with the effect the definition had produced upon himself, her
+attention was irresistibly seized by a new train of ideas, till finding
+he waited for an answer, she mechanically repeated his last word
+'opinion?'
+
+He saw her absence of mind, and suspected his own too palpable
+disturbance had occasioned it: but in what degree, or from what
+sensations, he could not conjecture. They were both some time silent;
+and then, recollecting herself, she said it was earnestly her wish to
+avoid disobliging her sister, by a communication, which, made by any one
+but herself, must put her into a disgraceful point of view.
+
+Edgar, after a pause, said, they must yield, then, to her present
+fervour, and hope her sounder judgment, when less played upon, would see
+clearer. It appeared to him, indeed, that she was so free, at this
+moment, from any dangerous impression, that it might, perhaps, be even
+safer to submit quietly to her request, than to urge the generous
+romance of her temper to new workings. He undertook, meantime, to keep a
+constant watch upon the motions of Bellamy, to make sedulous inquiries
+into his character and situation in life, and to find out for what
+ostensible purpose he was in Hampshire: entreating leave to communicate
+constantly to Camilla what he might gather, and to consult with her,
+from time to time, upon what measures should be pursued: yet ultimately
+confessing, that if Eugenia did not steadily persist in refusing any
+further rejections, he should hold himself bound in conscience to
+communicate the whole to Mr. Tyrold.
+
+Camilla was pleased, and even thankful for the extreme friendliness and
+kind moderation of this arrangement; yet she left him mournfully, in a
+confirmed belief his regard for the whole family was equal.
+
+Eugenia, much gratified, promised she would henceforth take no step with
+which Edgar should not first be acquainted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_Various Confabulations_
+
+
+Mr. Tyrold saw, at first, the renewed visits of Edgar at Cleves with
+extreme satisfaction; but while all his hopes were alive from an
+intercourse almost perpetual, he perceived, with surprise and
+perplexity, that his daughter became more and more pensive after every
+interview: and as Edgar, this evening, quitted the house, he observed
+tears start into her eyes as she went up stairs to her own room.
+
+Alarmed and disappointed, he thought it now high time to investigate the
+state of the affair, and to encourage or prevent future meetings, as it
+appeared to him to be propitious or hopeless.
+
+Penetrated with the goodness, while lamenting the indifference of Edgar,
+Camilla had just reached her room; when, as she turned round to shut her
+door, Mr. Tyrold appeared before her.
+
+Hastily, with the back of her hand, brushing off the tears from her
+eyes, she said, 'May I go to my uncle, Sir?... can my uncle admit me?'
+
+'He can always admit you,' he answered; 'but, just now, you must forget
+him a moment, and consign yourself to your father.'
+
+He then entered, shut the door, and making her sit down by him, said,
+'What is this sorrow that assails my Camilla? Why is the light heart of
+my dear and happy child thus dejected?'
+
+Speech and truth were always one with Camilla; who, as she could not in
+this instance declare what were her feelings, remained mute and
+confounded.
+
+'Hesitate not, my dear girl,' cried he kindly, 'to unbosom your griefs
+or your apprehensions, where they will be received with all the
+tenderness due to such a confidence, and held sacred from every human
+inspection; unless you permit me yourself to entrust your best and
+wisest friend.'
+
+Camilla now trembled, but could not even attempt to speak.
+
+He saw her disorder, and presently added, 'I will forbear to probe your
+feelings, when you have satisfied me in one doubt;--Is the sadness I
+have of late remarked in you the effect of secret personal disturbance,
+or of disappointed expectation?'
+
+Camilla could neither answer nor look up: she was convinced, by this
+question, that the subject of her melancholy was understood, and felt
+wholly overcome by the deeply distressing confusion, with which wounded
+pride and unaffected virgin modesty impress a youthful female, in the
+idea of being suspected of a misplaced, or an unrequited partiality.
+
+Her silence, a suffocating sigh, and her earnest endeavour to hide her
+face, easily explained to Mr. Tyrold all that passed within; and
+respecting rather than wishing to conquer a shame flowing from fearful
+delicacy, 'I would spare you,' he said, 'all investigation whatever,
+could I be certain you are not called into any action; but, in that
+case, I know not that I can justify to myself so implicit a confidence,
+in youth and inexperience so untried in difficulties, so unused to evil
+or embarrassment as yours. Tell me then, my dear Camilla, do you sigh
+under the weight of any disingenuous conduct? or do you suffer from some
+suspence which you have no means of terminating?'
+
+'My dearest father, no!' cried she, sinking upon his breast. 'I have no
+suspence!'
+
+She gasped for breath.
+
+'And how has it been removed, my child?' said Mr. Tyrold, in a mournful
+tone; 'has any deception, any ungenerous art....'
+
+'O no, no!... he is incapable ... he is superior ... he....' She stopt
+abruptly; shocked at the avowal these few words at once inferred of her
+partiality, of its hopelessness, and of its object.
+
+She walked, confused, to a corner of the room, and, leaning against the
+wainscot, enveloped her face in her handkerchief, with the most painful
+sensations of shame.
+
+Mr. Tyrold remained in deep meditation. Her regard for Edgar he had
+already considered as undoubted, and her undisguised acknowledgment
+excited his tenderest sympathy: but to find she thought it without
+return, and without hope, penetrated him with grief. Not only his own
+fond view of the attractions of his daughter, but all he had observed,
+even from his childhood, in Edgar, had induced him to believe she was
+irresistibly formed to captivate him; and what had lately passed had
+seemed a confirmation of all he had expected. Camilla, nevertheless,
+exculpated him from all blame; and, while touched by her artlessness,
+and honouring her truth, he felt, at least, some consolation to find
+that Edgar, whom he loved as a son, was untainted by deceit, unaccused
+of any evil. He concluded that some unfortunate secret entanglement, or
+some mystery not yet to be developed, directed compulsatorily his
+conduct, and checked the dictates of his taste and inclination.
+
+Gently, at length, approaching her, 'My dearest child,' he said, 'I will
+ask you nothing further; all that is absolutely essential for me to
+know, I have gathered. You will never, I am certain, forget the noble
+mother whom you are bound to revere in imitating, nor the affectionate
+father whom your ingenuousness renders the most indulgent of your
+friends. Dry up your tears then, my Camilla, and command your best
+strength to conceal for ever their source, and, most especially ... from
+its cause.'
+
+He then embraced, and left her.
+
+'Yes, my dearest father,' cried she, as she shut the door, 'most perfect
+and most lenient of human beings! yes, I will obey your dictates; I will
+hide till I can conquer this weak emotion, and no one shall ever know,
+and Edgar least of all, that a daughter of yours has a feeling she ought
+to disguise!'
+
+Elevated by the kindness of a father so adored, to deserve his good
+opinion now included every wish. The least severity would have chilled
+her confidence, the least reproof would have discouraged all effort to
+self-conquest; but, while his softness had soothed, his approbation had
+invigorated her; and her feelings received additional energy from the
+conscious generosity with which she had represented Edgar as blameless.
+Blameless, however, in her own breast, she could not deem him: his
+looks, his voice, his manner, ... words that occasionally dropt from
+him, and meanings yet more expressive which his eyes or his attentions
+had taken in charge, all, from time to time, had told a flattering tale,
+which, though timidity and anxious earnestness had obscured from her
+perfect comprehension, her hopes and her sympathy had prevented from
+wholly escaping her. Yet what, internally, she could not defend she
+forgave; and, acquitting him of all intentional deceit, concluded that
+what he had felt for her, he had thought too slight and immaterial to
+deserve repressing on his own part, or notice on her's. To continue with
+him her present sisterly conduct was all she had to study, not doubting
+but that what as yet was effort, would in time become natural.
+
+Strengthened thus in fortitude, she descended cheerfully to supper,
+where Mr. Tyrold, though he saw with pain that her spirits were
+constrained, felt the fondest satisfaction in the virtue of her
+exertion.
+
+Her night passed in the consolation of self-applause. My dear father,
+thought she, will see I strive to merit his lenity, and that soothing
+consideration with the honourable friendship of Edgar, will be
+sufficient for the happiness of my future life, in the single and
+tranquil state in which it will be spent.
+
+Thus comforted, she again met the eye of Mr. Tyrold the next day at
+breakfast; in the midst of which repast Edgar entered the parlour. The
+tea she was drinking was then rather gulped than sipped; yet she
+maintained an air of unconcern, and returned his salutation with
+apparent composure.
+
+Edgar, while addressing to Mr. Tyrold his inquiries concerning Sir Hugh,
+saw, from the window, his servant, whom he had out-galloped, thrown with
+violence from his horse. He rushed out of the parlour; and the first
+person to rise, with involuntary intent to follow him, was Camilla. But,
+as she reached the hall-door, she saw that the man was safe, and
+perceived that her father was the only person who had left the room
+besides herself. Ashamed, she returned, and found the female party
+collected at the windows.
+
+Hoping to retrieve the error of her eagerness, she seated herself at the
+table, and affected to finish her breakfast.
+
+Eugenia told her they had discovered the cause of the accident, which
+had been owing to a sharp stone that had penetrated into the horse's
+hoof, and which Edgar was now endeavouring to extract.
+
+A general scream, just then, from the window party, and a cry from
+Eugenia of 'O Edgar!' carried her again to the hall-door with the
+swiftness of lightning, calling out, 'Where?... What?... Good
+Heaven!...'
+
+Molly Mill, accidentally there before her, said, as she approached, that
+the horse had kicked Mr. Mandlebert upon the shoulder.
+
+Every thing but tenderness and terror was now forgotten by Camilla; she
+darted forward with unrestrained velocity, and would have given, in a
+moment, the most transporting amazement to Edgar, and to herself the
+deepest shame, but that Mr. Tyrold, who alone had his face that way,
+stopt, and led her back to the house, saying, 'There is no mischief; a
+bee stung the poor animal at the instant the stone was extracted, and
+the surprise and pain made it kick; but, fortunately, without any bad
+effect. I wish to know how your uncle is; I should be glad you would go
+and sit with him till I can come.'
+
+With these words he left her; and, though abashed and overset, she found
+no sensation so powerful as joy for the safety of Edgar.
+
+Still, however, too little at ease for conversing with her uncle, she
+went straight to her own chamber, and flew involuntarily to a window,
+whence the first object that met her eyes was her father, who was
+anxiously looking up. She retreated, utterly confounded, and threw
+herself upon a chair at the other end of the room.
+
+Shame now was her only sensation. The indiscretion of her first
+surprise, she knew, he must forgive, though she blushed at its
+recollection; but a solicitude so pertinacious, an indulgence so
+repeated of feelings he had enjoined her to combat ... how could she
+hope for his pardon? or how obtain her own, to have forfeited an
+approbation so precious?
+
+She could not go to her uncle; she would have remained where she was
+till summoned to dinner, if the house-maid, after finishing all her
+other work, had not a third time returned to inquire if she might clean
+her room.
+
+She then determined to repair to the library, where she was certain only
+to encounter Eugenia, who would not torment, or Dr. Orkborne, who would
+not perceive her: but at the bottom of the stairs she was stopt by Miss
+Margland, who, with a malicious smile, asked if she was going to hold
+the bason?
+
+'What bason?' cried she, surprised.
+
+'The bason for the surgeon.'
+
+'What surgeon?' repeated she, alarmed.
+
+'Mr. Burton, who is come to bleed Mr. Mandlebert.'
+
+She asked nothing more. She felt extremely faint, but made her way into
+the park, to avoid further conference.
+
+Here, in the most painful suspence, dying for information, yet shirking
+whoever could give it her, she remained, till she saw the departure of
+the surgeon. She then went round by a back way to the apartment of
+Eugenia, who informed her that the contusion, though not dangerous, was
+violent, and that Mr. Tyrold had insisted upon immediate bleeding. The
+surgeon had assured them this precaution would prevent any ill
+consequence; but Sir Hugh, hearing from the servants what had happened,
+had desired that Edgar would not return home till the next day.
+
+The joy of Camilla, that nothing was more serious, banished all that was
+disagreeable from her thoughts, till she was called back to reflections
+less consoling, by meeting Mr. Tyrold, as she was returning to her own
+room; who, with a gravity unusual, desired to speak with her, and
+preceded her into the chamber.
+
+Trembling, and filled with shame, she followed, shut the door, and
+remained at it without daring to look up.
+
+'My dear Camilla,' cried he with earnestness, 'let me not hope in vain
+for that exertion you have promised me, and to which I know you to be
+fully equal. Risk not, my dear girl, to others, those outward marks of
+sensibility which, to common or unfeeling observers, seem but the effect
+of an unbecoming remissness in the self-command which should dignify
+every female who would do herself honour. I had hoped, in this house at
+least, you would not have been misunderstood; but I have this moment
+been undeceived: Miss Margland has just expressed a species of
+compassion for what she presumes to be the present state of your mind,
+that has given me the severest pain.'
+
+He stopt, for Camilla looked thunderstruck.
+
+Approaching her, then, with a look of concern, and a voice of
+tenderness, he kindly took her hand, and added: 'I do not tell you this
+in displeasure, but to put you upon your guard. You will hear from
+Eugenia that we shall not dine alone; and from what I have dropt you
+will gather how little you can hope to escape scrutiny. Exert yourself
+to obviate all humiliating surmises, and you will amply be repaid by the
+balm of self-approbation.'
+
+He then kissed her, and quitted the room.
+
+She now remained in utter despair: the least idea of disgrace totally
+broke her spirit, and she sat upon the same spot on which Mr. Tyrold had
+left her, till the ringing of the second dinner bell.
+
+She then gloomily resolved to plead an head-ache, and not to appear.
+
+When a footman tapt at her door, to acquaint her every body was seated
+at the table, she sent down this excuse: forming to herself the further
+determination, that the same should suffice for the evening, and for the
+next morning, that she might avoid the sight of Edgar, in presence
+either of her father or Miss Margland.
+
+Eugenia, with kind alarm, came to know what was the matter, and informed
+her, that Sir Hugh had been so much concerned at the accident of Edgar,
+that he had insisted upon seeing him, and, after heartily shaking hands,
+had promised to think no more of past mistakes and disappointments, as
+they had now been cleared up to the county, and desired him to take up
+his abode at Cleves for a week.
+
+Camilla heard this with mixt pleasure and pain. She rejoiced that Edgar
+should be upon his former terms with her beloved uncle; but how preserve
+the caution demanded from her for so long a period, in the constant
+sight of her now watchful father, and the malicious Miss Margland?
+
+She had added to her own difficulties by this present absconding, and,
+with severe self-blame, resolved to descend to tea. But, while settling
+how to act, after her sister had left her, she was struck with hearing
+the name of Mandlebert pronounced by Mary, the house-maid, who was
+talking with Molly Mill upon the landing place. Why it had been spoken
+she knew not; but Molly answered: 'Dearee me, never mind; I'll help you
+to do his room, if Nanny don't come in time. My little mistress would
+rather do it herself, than he should want for anything.'
+
+'Why, it's natural enough,' said Mary, 'for young ladies to like young
+gentlemen; and there's none other comes a nigh 'em, which I often thinks
+dull enough for our young misses. And, to be certain, Mr. Mandlebert
+would be as pretty a match for one of 'em as a body could desire.'
+
+'And his man,' said Molly, 'is as pretty a gentleman sort of person, to
+my mind, as his master. I'm sure I'm as glad as my young lady when they
+comes to the house.'
+
+'O, as to Miss Eugeny,' said Mary, 'I believe, in my conscience, she
+likes our crack-headed old Doctor as well as e'er a young gentleman in
+Christendom; for there she'll sit with him, hour by hour, poring over
+such a heap of stuff as never was seed, reading, first one, then
+t'other, God knows what; for I believe never nobody heard the like of it
+before; and all the time never give the old Doctor a cross word.--'
+
+'She never given nobody a cross word,' interrupted Molly; 'if I was Mr.
+Mandlebert, I'd sooner have her than any of 'em, for all she's such a
+nidging little thing.'
+
+'For certain,' said Mary, 'she's very good, and a deal of good she does,
+to all as asks her; but Miss Camilla for my money. She's all alive and
+merry, and makes poor master young again to look at her. I wish Mr.
+Mandlebert would have her, for I have overheard Miss Margland telling
+Miss Lynmere she was desperate fond of him, and did all she could to get
+him.'
+
+Camilla felt flushed with the deepest resentment, and could scarcely
+command herself to forbear charging Miss Margland with this persecuting
+cruelty.
+
+Nanny, the under house-maid, now joining them, said she had been
+detained to finish altering a curtain for Miss Margland. 'And the cross
+old Frump,' she added, 'is in a worse spite than ever, and she kept
+abusing that sweet Mr. Mandlebert to Miss Lynmere all the while, till
+she went down to dinner, and she said she was sure it was all Miss
+Camilla's doings his staying here again, for she could come over master
+for any thing: and she said she supposed it was to have another catch at
+the young 'Squire's heart, but she hoped he would not be such a fool.'
+
+'I'm sure I wish he would,' cried Molly Mill, 'if it was only to spite
+her, she's such a nasty old viper. And Miss Camilla's always so
+good-natured, and so affable, she'd make him a very agreeable wife, I
+dare say.'
+
+'And she's mortal fond of him, that's true,' said Mary, 'for when they
+was both here, I always see her a running to the window, to see who was
+a coming into the park, when he was rode out; and when he was in the
+house, she never so much as went to peep, if there come six horses, one
+after t'other. And she was always a saying, "Mary, who's in the parlour?
+Mary, who's below?" while he was here; but before he come, duce a bite
+did she ask about nobody.'
+
+'I like when I meets her,' said Molly Mill, 'to tell her Mr.
+Mandlebert's here, Miss; or Mr. Mandlebert's there, Miss;--Dearee me,
+one may almost see one self in her eyes, it makes them shine so.'
+
+Camilla could endure no more; she arose, and walked about the room; and
+the maids, who had concluded her at dinner, hearing her step, hurried
+away, to finish their gossiping in the room of Mandlebert.
+
+Camilla now felt wholly sunk; the persecutions of Miss Margland seemed
+nothing to this blow: they were cruel, she could therefore repine at
+them; they were unprovoked, she could therefore repel them: but to find
+her secret feelings, thus generally spread, and familiarity commented
+upon, from her own unguarded conduct, exhausted, at once, patience,
+fortitude, and hope, and left her no wish but to quit Cleves while Edgar
+should remain there.
+
+Certain, however, that her father would not permit her to return to
+Etherington alone, a visit to Mrs. Arlbery was the sole refuge she could
+suggest; and she determined to solicit his permission to accept
+immediately the invitation of that lady.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_A Dodging_
+
+
+Camilla waited in the apartment of Mr. Tyrold till he came up stairs,
+and then begged his leave to spend a few days at the Grove; hinting,
+when he hesitated, though with a confusion that was hardly short of
+torture, at what had passed amongst the servants.
+
+He heard her with the tenderest pity, and the kindest praise of her
+sincerity; and, deeply as he was shocked to find her thus generally
+betrayed, he was too compassionate to point out, at so suffering a
+moment, the indiscretions from which such observations must have
+originated. Yet he saw consequences the most unpleasant in this rumour
+of her attachment; and though he still privately hoped that the
+behaviour of Mandlebert was the effect of some transient embarrassment,
+he wished her removed from all intercourse with him that was not sought
+by himself, while the incertitude of his intentions militated against
+her struggles for indifference. The result, therefore, of a short
+deliberation was to accede to her request.
+
+Camilla then wrote her proposition to Mrs. Arlbery, which Mr. Tyrold
+sent immediately by a stable-boy of the baronet's.
+
+The answer was most obliging; Mrs. Arlbery said she would herself fetch
+her the next morning, and keep her till one of them should be tired.
+
+The relief which this, at first, brought to Camilla, in the week's
+exertions it would spare, was soon succeeded by the most acute
+uneasiness for the critical situation of Eugenia, and the undoubted
+disapprobation of Edgar. To quit her sister at a period when she might
+serve her; ... to forsake Cleves at the moment Edgar was restored to it,
+seemed selfish even to herself, and to him must appear unpardonable.
+'Alas!' she cried, 'how for ever I repent my hasty actions! Why have I
+not better struggled against my unfortunate feelings?'
+
+She now almost hated her whole scheme, regretted its success, wished
+herself suffering every uneasiness Miss Margland could inflict, and all
+the shame of being watched and pitied by every servant in the house, in
+preference to deserting Eugenia, and making Mandlebert deem her
+unworthy. But self-upbraiding was all that followed her contrition: Mrs.
+Arlbery was to fetch her by appointment; and it was now too late to
+trifle with the conceding goodness of her father.
+
+She did not dare excuse herself from appearing at breakfast the next
+morning, lest Mr. Tyrold should think her utterly incorrigible to his
+exhortations.
+
+Edgar earnestly inquired after her health as she entered the room; she
+slightly answered she was better; and began eating, with an apparent
+eagerness of appetite: while he, who had expected some kind words upon
+his own accident, surprised and disappointed, could swallow nothing.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, seeing and pitying what passed in her mind, gave her a
+commission, that enabled her, soon, to leave the room without
+affectation; and, happy to escape, she determined to go down stairs no
+more till Mrs. Arlbery arrived. She wished to have conversed first upon
+the affairs of Eugenia with Edgar: but to name to him whither she was
+herself going, when she could not possibly name why; to give to him a
+surprise that must recoil upon herself in disapprobation, was more than
+she could endure. She had invested him with full powers to counsel and
+to censure her; he would naturally use them to dissuade her from a visit
+so ill-timed; and what could she urge in opposition to his arguments
+that would not seem trifling or wilful?
+
+The present moment was all that occupied, the present evil all that ever
+alarmed the breast of Camilla: to avoid him, therefore, now, was the
+whole of her desire, unmolested with one anxiety how she might better
+meet him hereafter.
+
+She watched at her window till she saw the groom of Mrs. Arlbery gallop
+into the Park. She hastened then to take leave of Sir Hugh, whom Mr.
+Tyrold had prepared for her departure; but, at the door of his
+apartment, she encountered Edgar.
+
+'You are going out?' cried he, perceiving an alteration in her dress.
+
+'I am ... just going to ... to speak to my uncle,' cried she, stammering
+and entering the room at the same moment.
+
+Sir Hugh kindly wished her much amusement, and hoped she would make him
+long amends when he was better. She took leave; but again, on the
+landing-place, met Edgar, who, anxious and perlexed, watched to speak to
+her before she descended the stairs. Eagerly advancing, 'Do you walk?'
+he cried; 'may I ask? or ... am I indiscreet?'
+
+She answered she had something to say to Eugenia, but should be back in
+an instant. She then flew to the chamber of her sister, and conjured her
+to consult Edgar in whatever should occur during her absence. Eugenia
+solemnly consented.
+
+Jacob presently tapped at the door, to announce that Mrs. Arlbery was
+waiting below in her carriage.
+
+How to pass or escape Edgar became now her greatest difficulty; she
+could suggest nothing to palliate to him the step she was taking, yet
+could still less bear to leave him to wild conjecture and certain blame:
+and she was standing irresolute and thoughtful, when Mr. Tyrold came to
+summon her.
+
+After mildly representing the indecorum of detaining any one she was to
+receive by appointment, he took her apart, and putting a packet into her
+hand, 'I would not,' he said, 'agitate your spirits this morning, by
+entering upon any topic that might disturb you: I have therefore put
+upon paper what I most desire you to consider. You will find it a little
+sermon upon the difficulties and the conduct of the female heart. Read
+it alone, and with attention. And now, my dearest girl, go quietly into
+the parlour, and let one brief and cheerful good-morrow serve for every
+body alike.'
+
+He then returned to his brother.
+
+She made Eugenia accompany her down stairs, to avoid any solitary attack
+from Edgar; he suffered them to pass; but followed to the parlour, where
+she hastily bid adieu to Miss Margland and Indiana; but was stopt from
+running off by the former, who said, 'I wish I had known you intended
+going out, for I designed asking Sir Hugh for the chariot for myself
+this morning, to make a very particular visit.'
+
+Camilla, in a hesitating voice, said she should not use her uncle's
+chariot.
+
+'You walk then?'
+
+'No, ... ma'am ... but--there is--there is a carriage--I believe, now at
+the door.'
+
+'O dear, whose?' cried Indiana; 'do, pray, tell me where you are going?'
+while Edgar, still more curious than either, held out his hand to
+conduct her, that he might obtain better information.
+
+'I am very glad your head-ache is so well,' said Miss Margland; 'but,
+pray--is Mr. Mandlebert to be your chaperon?'
+
+They both blushed, though both affected not to hear her: but, before
+they could quit the room, Indiana, who had run to a bow-window,
+exclaimed, 'Dear! if there is not Mrs. Arlbery in a beautiful high
+phaeton!'
+
+Edgar, astonished, was now as involuntarily drawing back, as Camilla,
+involuntarily, was hurrying on: but Miss Margland, insisting upon an
+answer, desired to know if she should return to dinner?
+
+She stammered out, No. Miss Margland pursued her to ask at what time the
+chariot was to fetch her; and forced from her a confession that she
+should be away for some days.
+
+She was now permitted to proceed. Edgar, impressed with the deepest
+displeasure, leading her in silence across the hall: but, stopping an
+instant at the door, 'This excursion,' he gravely said, 'will rescue you
+from no little intended importunity: I had purposed tormenting you, from
+time to time, for your opinion and directions with respect to Miss
+Eugenia.'
+
+And then, bowing coldly to Mrs. Arlbery, who eagerly called out to
+welcome her, he placed her in the phaeton, which instantly drove off.
+
+He looked after them for some time, almost incredulous of her departure:
+but, as his amazement subsided into certainty, the most indignant
+disappointment succeeded. That she could leave Cleves at the very moment
+he was reinstated in its society, seemed conviction to him of her
+indifference; and that she could leave it in the present state of the
+affairs of Eugenia, made him conclude her so great a slave to the love
+of pleasure, that every duty and all propriety were to be sacrificed to
+its pursuit. 'I will think of her,' cried he, 'no more! She concealed
+from me her plan, lest I should torment her with admonitions: the
+glaring homage of the Major is better adapted to her taste,--She flies
+from my sincerity to receive his adulation,--I have been deceived in her
+disposition,--I will think of her no more!'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_A Sermon_
+
+
+The kind reception of Mrs. Arlbery, and all the animation of her
+discourse, were thrown away upon Camilla. An absent smile, and a few
+faint acknowledgments of her goodness were all she could return: Eugenia
+abandoned when she might have been served, Edgar contemning when he
+might have been approving ... these were the images of her mind, which
+resisted entrance to all other.
+
+Tired of fruitless attempts to amuse her, Mrs. Arlbery, upon their
+arrival at the Grove, conducted her to an apartment prepared for her,
+and made use of no persuasion that she would leave it before dinner.
+
+Camilla then, too unhappy to fear any injunction, and resigned to
+whatever she might receive, read the discourse of Mr. Tyrold.
+
+     _For Miss_ Camilla Tyrold.
+
+     It is not my intention to enumerate, my dear Camilla, the many
+     blessings of your situation; your heart is just and affectionate,
+     and will not forget them: I mean but to place before you your
+     immediate duties, satisfied that the review will ensure their
+     performance.
+
+     Unused to, because undeserving control, your days, to this period,
+     have been as gay as your spirits. It is now first that your
+     tranquillity is ruffled; it is now, therefore, that your fortitude
+     has its first debt to pay for its hitherto happy exemption.
+
+     Those who weigh the calamities of life only by the positive, the
+     substantial, or the irremediable mischiefs which they produce,
+     regard the first sorrows of early youth as too trifling for
+     compassion. They do not enough consider that it is the suffering,
+     not its abstract cause, which demands human commiseration. The man
+     who loses his whole fortune, yet possesses firmness, philosophy, a
+     disdain of ambition, and an accommodation to circumstances, is less
+     an object of contemplative pity, than the person who, without one
+     real deprivation, one actual evil, is first, or is suddenly forced
+     to recognise the fallacy of a cherished and darling hope.
+
+     That its foundation has always been shallow is no mitigation of
+     disappointment to him who had only viewed it in its
+     super-structure. Nor is its downfall less terrible to its
+     visionary elevator, because others had seen it from the beginning
+     as a folly or a chimæra; its dissolution should be estimated, not
+     by its romance in the unimpassioned examination of a rational
+     looker on, but by its believed promise of felicity to its credulous
+     projector.
+
+     Is my Camilla in this predicament? had she wove her own destiny in
+     the speculation of her wishes? Alas! to blame her, I must first
+     forget, that delusion, while in force, has all the semblance of
+     reality, and takes the same hold upon the faculties as truth. Nor
+     is it till the spell is broken, till the perversion of reason and
+     error of judgment become wilful, that Scorn ought to point 'its
+     finger' or Censure its severity.
+
+     But of this I have no fear. The love of right is implanted
+     indelibly in your nature, and your own peace is as dependant as
+     mine and as your mother's upon its constant culture.
+
+     Your conduct hitherto has been committed to yourself. Satisfied
+     with establishing your principles upon the adamantine pillars of
+     religion and conscience, we have not feared leaving you the entire
+     possession of general liberty. Nor do I mean to withdraw it, though
+     the present state of your affairs, and what for some time past I
+     have painfully observed of your precipitance, oblige me to add
+     partial counsel to standing precept, and exhortation to advice. I
+     shall give them, however, with diffidence, fairly acknowledging and
+     blending my own perplexities with yours.
+
+     The temporal destiny of woman is enwrapt in still more impenetrable
+     obscurity than that of man. She begins her career by being involved
+     in all the worldly accidents of a parent; she continues it by being
+     associated in all that may environ a husband: and the difficulties
+     arising from this doubly appendant state, are augmented by the next
+     to impossibility, that the first dependance should pave the way for
+     the ultimate. What parent yet has been gifted with the foresight to
+     say, 'I will educate my daughter for the station to which she shall
+     belong?' Let us even suppose that station to be fixed by himself,
+     rarely as the chances of life authorise such a presumption; his
+     daughter all duty, and the partner of his own selection solicitous
+     of the alliance: is he at all more secure he has provided even for
+     her external welfare? What, in this sublunary existence, is the
+     state from which she shall neither rise nor fall? Who shall say
+     that in a few years, a few months, perhaps less, the situation in
+     which the prosperity of his own views has placed her, may not
+     change for one more humble than he has fitted her for enduring, or
+     more exalted than he has accomplished her for sustaining? The
+     conscience, indeed, of the father is not responsible for events,
+     but the infelicity of the daughter is not less a subject of pity.
+
+     Again, if none of these outward and obvious vicissitudes occur, the
+     proper education of a female, either for use or for happiness, is
+     still to seek, still a problem beyond human solution; since its
+     refinement, or its negligence, can only prove to her a good or an
+     evil, according to the humour of the husband into whose hands she
+     may fall. If fashioned to shine in the great world, he may deem the
+     metropolis all turbulence; if endowed with every resource for
+     retirement, he may think the country distasteful. And though her
+     talents, her acquirements, may in either of these cases be set
+     aside, with an only silent regret of wasted youth and application;
+     the turn of mind which they have induced, the appreciation which
+     they have taught of time, of pleasure, or of utility, will have
+     nurtured inclinations and opinions not so ductile to new sentiments
+     and employments, and either submission becomes a hardship, or
+     resistance generates dissention.
+
+     If such are the parental embarrassments, against which neither
+     wisdom nor experience can guard, who should view the filial without
+     sympathy and tenderness?
+
+     You have been brought up, my dear child, without any specific
+     expectation. Your mother and myself, mutually deliberating upon the
+     uncertainty of the female fate, determined to educate our girls
+     with as much simplicity as is compatible with instruction, as much
+     docility for various life as may accord with invariable principles,
+     and as much accommodation with the world at large, as may combine
+     with a just distinction of selected society. We hoped, thus, should
+     your lots be elevated, to secure you from either exulting
+     arrogance, or bashful insignificance; or should they, as is more
+     probable, be lowly, to instil into your understandings and
+     characters such a portion of intellectual vigour as should make you
+     enter into an humbler scene without debasement, helplessness, or
+     repining.
+
+     It is now, Camilla, we must demand your exertions in return. Let
+     not these cares, to fit you for the world as you may find it, be
+     utterly annihilated from doing you good, by the uncombated sway of
+     an unavailing, however well-placed attachment.
+
+     We will not here canvass the equity of that freedom by which women
+     as well as men should be allowed to dispose of their own
+     affections. There cannot, in nature, in theory, nor even in common
+     sense, be a doubt of their equal right: but disquisitions on this
+     point will remain rather curious than important, till the
+     speculatist can superinduce to the abstract truth of the position
+     some proof of its practicability.
+
+     Meanwhile, it is enough for every modest and reasonable young woman
+     to consider, that where there are two parties, choice can belong
+     only to one of them: and then let her call upon all her feelings of
+     delicacy, all her notions of propriety, to decide: Since Man must
+     choose Woman, or Woman Man, which should come forward to make the
+     choice? Which should retire to be chosen?
+
+     A prepossession directed towards a virtuous and deserving object
+     wears, in its first approach, the appearance of a mere tribute of
+     justice to merit. It seems, therefore, too natural, perhaps too
+     generous, to be considered either as a folly or a crime. It is only
+     its encouragement where it is not reciprocal, that can make it
+     incur the first epithet, or where it ought not to be reciprocal
+     that can brand it with the second. With respect to this last, I
+     know of nothing to apprehend:--with regard to the first--I grieve
+     to wound my dearest Camilla, yet where there has been no subject
+     for complaint, there can have been none for expectation.
+
+     Struggle then against yourself as you would struggle against an
+     enemy. Refuse to listen to a wish, to dwell even upon a
+     possibility, that opens to your present idea of happiness. All that
+     in future may be realised probably hangs upon this conflict. I mean
+     not to propose to you in the course of a few days to reinstate
+     yourself in the perfect security of a disengaged mind. I know too
+     much of the human heart to be ignorant that the acceleration, or
+     delay, must depend upon circumstance: I can only require from you
+     what depends upon yourself, a steady and courageous warfare against
+     the two dangerous underminers of your peace and of your fame,
+     imprudence and impatience. You have champions with which to
+     encounter them that cannot fail of success, ... good sense and
+     delicacy.
+
+     Good sense will shew you the power of self-conquest, and point out
+     its means. It will instruct you to curb those unguarded movements
+     which lay you open to the strictures of others. It will talk to you
+     of those boundaries which custom forbids your sex to pass, and the
+     hazard of any individual attempt to transgress them. It will tell
+     you, that where allowed only a negative choice, it is your own best
+     interest to combat against a positive wish. It will bid you, by
+     constant occupation, vary those thoughts that now take but one
+     direction, and multiply those interests which now recognise but one
+     object: and it will soon convince you, that it is not strength of
+     mind which you want, but reflection, to obtain a strict and
+     unremitting control over your passions.
+
+     This last word will pain, but let it not shock you. You have no
+     passions, my innocent girl, at which you need blush, though enough
+     at which I must tremble!--For in what consists your constraint,
+     your forbearance? your wish is your guide, your impulse is your
+     action. Alas! never yet was mortal created so perfect, that every
+     wish was virtuous, or every impulse wise!
+
+     Does a secret murmur here demand: if a discerning predilection is
+     no crime, why, internally at least, may it not be cherished? whom
+     can it injure or offend, that, in the hidden recesses of my own
+     breast, I nourish superior preference of superior worth?
+
+     This is the question with which every young woman beguiles her
+     fancy; this is the common but seductive opiate, with which
+     inclination lulls reason.
+
+     The answer may be safely comprised in a brief appeal to her own
+     breast.
+
+     I do not desire her to be insensible to merit; I do not even demand
+     she should confine her social affections to her own sex, since the
+     most innocent esteem is equally compatible, though not equally
+     general with ours: I require of her simply, that, in her secret
+     hours, when pride has no dominion, and disguise would answer no
+     purpose, she will ask herself this question, 'Could I calmly hear
+     that this elect of my heart was united to another? Were I to be
+     informed that the indissoluble knot was tied, which annihilates all
+     my own future possibilities, would the news occasion me no
+     affliction?' This, and this alone, is the test by which she may
+     judge the danger, or the harmlessness of her attachment.
+
+     I have now endeavoured to point out the obligations which you may
+     owe to good sense. Your obligations to delicacy will be but their
+     consequence.
+
+     Delicacy is an attribute so peculiarly feminine, that were your
+     reflections less agitated by your feelings, you could delineate
+     more distinctly than myself its appropriate laws, its minute
+     exactions, its sensitive refinements. Here, therefore, I seek but
+     to bring back to your memory what livelier sensations have
+     inadvertently driven from it.
+
+     You may imagine, in the innocency of your heart, that what you
+     would rather perish than utter can never, since untold, be
+     suspected: and, at present, I am equally sanguine in believing no
+     surmise to have been conceived where most it would shock you: yet
+     credit me when I assure you, that you can make no greater mistake,
+     than to suppose that you have any security beyond what sedulously
+     you must earn by the most indefatigable vigilance. There are so
+     many ways of communication independent of speech, that silence is
+     but one point in the ordinances of discretion. You have nothing, in
+     so modest a character, to apprehend from vanity or presumption; you
+     may easily, therefore, continue the guardian of your own dignity:
+     but you must keep in mind, that our perceptions want but little
+     quickening to discern what may flatter them; and it is mutual to
+     either sex to be to no gratification so alive, as to that of a
+     conscious ascendance over the other.
+
+     Nevertheless, the female who, upon the softening blandishment of an
+     undisguised prepossession, builds her expectation of its
+     reciprocity, is, in common, most cruelly deceived. It is not that
+     she has failed to awaken tenderness; but it has been tenderness
+     without respect: nor yet that the person thus elated has been
+     insensible to flattery; but it has been a flattery to raise
+     himself, not its exciter in his esteem. The partiality which we
+     feel inspires diffidence: that which we create has a contrary
+     effect. A certainty of success in many destroys, in all weakens,
+     its charm: the bashful excepted, to whom it gives courage; and the
+     indolent, to whom it saves trouble.
+
+     Carefully, then, beyond all other care, shut up every avenue by
+     which a secret which should die untold can further escape you.
+     Avoid every species of particularity; neither shun nor seek any
+     intercourse apparently; and in such meetings as general prudence
+     may render necessary, or as accident may make inevitable, endeavour
+     to behave with the same open esteem as in your days of
+     unconsciousness. The least unusual attention would not be more
+     suspicious to the world, than the least undue reserve to the
+     subject of our discussion. Coldness or distance could only be
+     imputed to resentment; and resentment, since you have received no
+     offence, how, should it be investigated, could you vindicate? or
+     how, should it be passed in silence, secure from being attributed
+     to pique and disappointment?
+
+     There is also another motive, important to us all, which calls for
+     the most rigid circumspection. The person in question is not merely
+     amiable; he is also rich: mankind at large, therefore, would not
+     give merely to a sense of excellence any obvious predilection. This
+     hint will, I know, powerfully operate upon your disinterested
+     spirit.
+
+     Never from personal experience may you gather, how far from
+     soothing, how wide from honourable, is the species of compassion
+     ordinarily diffused by the discovery of an unreturned female
+     regard. That it should be felt unsought may be considered as a mark
+     of discerning sensibility; but that it should be betrayed uncalled
+     for, is commonly, however ungenerously, imagined rather to indicate
+     ungoverned passions, than refined selection. This is often both
+     cruel and unjust; yet, let me ask--Is the world a proper confident
+     for such a secret? Can the woman who has permitted it to go abroad,
+     reasonably demand that consideration and respect from the
+     community, in which she has been wanting to herself? To me it would
+     be unnecessary to observe, that her indiscretion may have been the
+     effect of an inadvertence which owes its origin to artlessness, not
+     to forwardness: She is judged by those, who, hardened in the ways
+     of men, accustom themselves to trace in evil every motive to
+     action; or by those, who, preferring ridicule to humanity, seek
+     rather to amuse themselves wittily with her susceptibility, than to
+     feel for its innocence and simplicity.
+
+     In a state of utter constraint, to appear natural is, however, an
+     effort too difficult to be long sustained; and neither precept,
+     example, nor disposition, have enured my poor child to the
+     performance of any studied part. Discriminate, nevertheless,
+     between hypocrisy and discretion. The first is a vice; the second a
+     conciliation to virtue. It is the bond that keeps society from
+     disunion; the veil that shades our weakness from exposure, giving
+     time for that interior correction, which the publication of our
+     infirmities would else, with respect to mankind, make of no avail.
+
+     It were better no doubt, worthier, nobler, to meet the scrutiny of
+     our fellow-creatures by consent, as we encounter, per force, the
+     all-viewing eye of our Creator: but since for this we are not
+     sufficiently without blemish, we must allow to our unstable
+     virtues all the encouragement that can prop them. The event of
+     discovered faults is more frequently callousness than amendment;
+     and propriety of example is as much a duty to our fellow-creatures,
+     as purity of intention is a debt to ourselves.
+
+     To delicacy, in fine, your present exertions will owe their future
+     recompence, be your ultimate lot in life what it may. Should you,
+     in the course of time, belong to another, you will be shielded from
+     the regret that a former attachment had been published; or should
+     you continue mistress of yourself, from a blush that the world is
+     acquainted it was not by your choice.
+
+     I shall now conclude this little discourse by calling upon you to
+     annex to whatever I have offered you of precept, the constant
+     remembrance of your mother for example.
+
+     In our joint names, therefore, I adjure you, my dearest Camilla,
+     not to embitter the present innocence of your suffering by
+     imprudence that may attach to it censure, nor by indulgence that
+     may make it fasten upon your vitals! Imprudence cannot but end in
+     the demolition of that dignified equanimity, and modest propriety,
+     which we wish to be uniformly remarked as the attributes of your
+     character: and indulgence, by fixing, may envenom a dart that as
+     yet may be gently withdrawn, from a wound which kindness may heal,
+     and time may close; but which, if neglected, may wear away, in
+     corroding disturbance, all your life's comfort to yourself, and all
+     its social purposes to your friends and to the world.
+
+     AUGUSTUS TYROLD.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_A Chat_
+
+
+The calm sadness with which Camilla had opened her letter was soon
+broken in upon by the interest of its contents, the view it displayed of
+her duties, her shame at her recent failures, and her fears for their
+future execution; and yet more than all, by the full decision in which
+it seemed written, that the unhappy partiality she had exposed, had been
+always, and would for ever remain unreturned.
+
+She started at the intimation how near she stood to detection even from
+Edgar himself, and pride, reason, modesty, all arose to strengthen her
+with resolution, to guard every future conflict from his observation.
+
+The article concerning fortune touched her to the quick. Nothing
+appeared to her so degrading as the most distant idea that such a
+circumstance could have any force with her. But the justice done to
+Edgar she gloried in, as an apology for her feelings, and exculpatory of
+her weakness. Her tears flowed fast at every expression of kindness to
+herself, her burning blushes dried them up as they were falling, at
+every hint of her feebleness, and the hopelessness of its cause; but
+wholly subdued by the last paragraph, which with reverence she pressed
+to her lips, she offered up the most solemn vows of a strict and entire
+observance of every injunction which the letter contained.
+
+She was thus employed, unnoticing the passage of time, when Mrs. Arlbery
+tapped at her door, and asked if she wished to dine in her own room.
+
+Surprised at the question, and ashamed to be thus seen, she was
+beginning a thousand apologies for not being yet dressed: but Mrs.
+Arlbery, interrupting her, said, 'I never listen to excuses. 'Tis the
+only battery that overpowers me. If, by any mischance, and in an evil
+hour, some country cousin, not knowing my ways, or some antediluvian
+prig, not minding them, happen to fall upon me with formal speeches,
+where I can make no escape, a fit of yawning takes me immediately, and I
+am demolished for the rest of the day.'
+
+Camilla, attempting to smile, promised to play the country cousin no
+more. Mrs. Arlbery then observed she had been weeping; and taking her
+hand, with an examining look, 'My lovely young friend,' she cried, 'this
+will never do!'
+
+'What, ma'am?... how?... what?...'
+
+'Nay, nay, don't be frightened. Come down to dinner, and we'll talk over
+the hows? and the whats? afterwards. Never mind your dress; we go no
+where this evening; and I make a point not to suffer any body to change
+their attire in my house, merely because the afternoon is taking place
+of the morning. It seems to me a miserable compliment to the mistress of
+a mansion, to see her guests only equip themselves for the table. For my
+part, I deem the garb that is good enough for me, good enough for my
+geese and turkies ... apple and oyster-sauce included.'
+
+Camilla then followed her down stairs, where she found no company but
+Sir Sedley Clarendel.
+
+'Come, my dear Miss Tyrold,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'you and I may now
+consider ourselves as _tête-à-tête_; Sir Sedley won't be much in our
+way. He hears and sees nothing but himself.'
+
+'Ecstatically flattering that!' cried Sir Sedley; 'dulcet to every
+nerve!'
+
+'O, I know you listen just now, because you are yourself my theme. But
+the moment I take another, you will forget we are either of us in the
+room.'
+
+'Inhuman to the quick!' cried he; 'barbarous to a point!'
+
+'This is a creature so strange, Miss Tyrold,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'that I
+must positively initiate you a little into his character;--or, rather,
+into its own caricature; for as to character, he has had none
+intelligible these three years.--See but how he smiles at the very
+prospect of being portrayed, in defiance of all his efforts to look
+unconcerned! yet he knows I shall shew him no mercy. But, like all other
+egotists, the only thing to really disconcert him, would be to take no
+notice of him. Make him but the first subject of discourse, and praise
+or abuse are pretty much the same to him.'
+
+'O shocking! shocking! killing past resuscitation! Abominably horrid, I
+protest!'
+
+'O I have not begun yet. This is an observation to suit thousands. But
+do not fear; you shall have all your appropriations. Miss Tyrold, you
+are to be auditor and judge: and I will save you the time and the
+trouble which decyphering this animal, so truly a non-descript, might
+cost you.'
+
+'What a tremendous exordium! distressing to a degree! I am agued with
+trepidation!
+
+'O you wretch! you know you are enchanted. But no further interruption!
+I send you to Coventry for the next ten minutes.'
+
+'This man, my dear Miss Tyrold, whom we are about to delineate, was
+meant by nature, and prepared by art, for something greatly superior to
+what he now appears: but, unhappily, he had neither solidity of
+judgment, nor humility of disposition, for bearing meekly the early
+advantages with which he set out in life; a fine person, fine parts, and
+a fine estate, all dashed into consciousness at the presuming age of one
+and twenty. By this aggregate of wealthy, of mental, and of personal
+prosperity, he has become at once self spoilt, and world spoilt. Had
+you known him, as I have done, before he was seized with this systematic
+affectation, which, I am satisfied, causes him more study than the
+united pedants of both universities could inflict upon him, you would
+have seen the most delightful creature breathing! a creature combining,
+in one animated composition, the very essences of spirit, of gaiety, and
+of intelligence. But now, with every thing within his reach, nothing
+seems worth his attainment. He has not sufficient energy to make use of
+his own powers. He has no one to command him, and he is too indolent to
+command himself. He has therefore turned fop from mere wantonness of
+time and of talents; from having nothing to do, no one to care for, and
+no one to please. Take from him half his wit, and by lessening his
+presumption, you will cure him of all his folly. Rob him of his fortune,
+and by forcing him into exertion, you will make him one of the first men
+of his day. Deface and maim his features and figure, and by letting him
+see that to appear and be admired is not the same thing, you will render
+him irresistible.'
+
+'Have you done?' cried the baronet smiling.
+
+'I protest,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'I believe you are a little touched! And
+I don't at all want to reform you. A perfect character only lulls me to
+sleep.'
+
+'Obliging in the superlative! I must then take as a consolation, that I
+have never given you a nap?'
+
+'Never, Clarendel, I assure you; and yet I don't hate you! Vice is
+detestable; I banish all its appearances from my coteries; and I would
+banish its reality, too, were I sure I should then have any thing but
+empty chairs in my drawing-room--but foibles make all the charm of
+society. They are the only support of convivial raillery, and domestic
+wit. If formerly, therefore, you more excited my admiration, it is now,
+believe me, you contribute most to my entertainment.'
+
+'Condoling to a phenomenon! I have really, then, the vastly prodigious
+honour to be exalted in your fair graces to the level of a mountebank? a
+quack doctor? his merry Andrew? or any other such respectable buffoon?'
+
+'Piqued! piqued! I declare! this exceeds my highest ambition. But I must
+not weaken the impression by dwelling upon it.'
+
+She then asked Camilla if she had any message for Cleves, as one of her
+servants was going close to the park gate.
+
+Camilla, glad to withdraw, said she would write a few words to her
+father, and retired for that purpose.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+'What in the world, my dear Clarendel,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'can I do
+with this poor thing? She has lost all her sprightliness, and vapours me
+but to look at her. She has all the symptoms upon her of being in the
+full meridian of that common girlish disease, an hopeless passion.'
+
+'Poor little tender dove!' cried the baronet. ''Twould be odious to cure
+her. Unfeeling to excess. What in nature can be half so mellifluously
+interesting? I shall now look at her with most prodigious softness.
+Ought one not to sigh as she approaches?'
+
+'The matter to be sure is silly enough,' answered Mrs. Arlbery; 'but,
+this nonsense apart, she is a charming girl. Besides, I perceive I am a
+violent favourite with her; and flattery, my dear Clarendel, will work
+its way, even with me! I really owe her a good turn: Else I should no
+longer endure her; for the tender passion has terribly flattened her. If
+we can't restore her spirits, she will be a mere dead weight to me.'
+
+'O a very crush! a cannon ball would be a butterfly in the comparison!
+But who is the irresistible? What form has the little blind traitor
+assumed?'
+
+'O, assure yourself, that of the first young man who has come in her
+sight. Every damsel, as she enters the world, has some picture ready
+painted upon her imagination, of an object worthy to enslave her: and
+before any experience forms her judgment, or any comparison her taste,
+she is the dupe of the first youth who presents himself to her, in the
+firm persuasion of her ductile fancy, that he is just the model it had
+previously created.'
+
+She then added, she had little doubt but young Mandlebert was the hero,
+from their private conferences after the raffle, and from her blushes
+when forced to name him.
+
+'Nay, nay, this is not the first incongruity!' said the young baronet,
+'not romantic to outrage. Beech Park has nothing very horrific in it.
+Nothing invincibly beyond the standard of a young lady's philosophy.'
+
+'Depend upon it, that's the very idea its master has conceived of the
+matter himself. You wealthy Cavaliers rarely want flappers to remind
+you of your advantages. That Mandlebert, you must know, is my aversion.
+He has just that air and reputation of faultlessness that gives me the
+spleen. I hope, for her sake, he won't think of her; he will lead her a
+terrible life. A man who piques himself upon his perfections, finds no
+mode so convenient and ready for displaying them, as proving all about
+him to be constantly in the wrong. However, a character of that stamp
+rarely marries; especially if he is rich, and has no obstacles in his
+way. What can I do, then, for this poor thing? The very nature of her
+malady is to make her entertain false hopes. I am quite bent upon curing
+them. The only difficulty, according to custom, is how. I wish you would
+take her in hand yourself.'
+
+'I?... preposterous in the extreme! what particle of chance should I
+have against Mandlebert?'
+
+'O you vain wretch! to be sure you don't know, that though he is rich,
+you are richer? and, doubtless, you never took notice, that though he is
+handsome, you are handsomer? As to manners, there is little to choose
+between you, for he is as much too correct, as you are too fantastic. In
+conversation, too, you are nearly upon a par, for he is as regularly too
+right, as you are ridiculously too wrong,--but O the charm of dear
+amusing wrong, over dull commanding right! you have but to address
+yourself to her with a little flattering distinction, and Mandlebert
+ever after will appear to her a pedant.'
+
+'What a wicked sort of sprite is a female wit!' cried Sir Sedley,
+'breathing only in mischief! a very will-o'-the-wisp, personified and
+petticoated, shining but to lead astray. Dangerous past all fathom! Have
+the goodness, however, my fair Jack-o'-lanthorn, to intimate what you
+mean I should do with this languishing dulcinea, should I deliver her
+from thraldom? You don't advise me, I presume, to take unto myself a
+wife? I protest I am shivered to the utmost point north at the bare
+suggestion! frozen to an icicle!'
+
+'No, no; I know you far too confirmed an egotist for any thing but an
+old bachelor. Nor is there the least necessity to yoke the poor child to
+the conjugal plough so early. The only sacrifice I demand from you is a
+little attention; the only good I aim at for her, is to open her eyes,
+which have now a film before them, and to let her see that Mandlebert
+has no other pre-eminence, than that of having been the first young man
+with whom she became acquainted. Never imagine I want her to fall in
+love with you. Heaven help the poor victim to such a complication of
+caprice!'
+
+'Nay, now I am full south again! burning with shame and choler! How you
+navigate my sensations from cold to heat at pleasure! Cooke was a mere
+river water-man to you. My blood chills or boils at your command. Every
+sentence is a new climate. You waft me from extreme to extreme, with a
+rapidity absolutely dizzying. A balloon is a broad-wheeled wagon to
+you.'
+
+'Come, come, jargon apart, will you make yourself of any use? The cure
+of a romantic first flame is a better surety to subsequent discretion,
+than all the exhortations of all the fathers, and mothers, and
+guardians, and maiden aunts in the universe. Save her now, and you serve
+her for life;--besides giving me a prodigious pleasure in robbing that
+frigid Mandlebert of such a conquest.'
+
+'Unhappy young swain! I pity him to immensity. How has he fallen thus
+under the rigour of your wrath? Do you banish him your favour, like
+another Aristides, to relieve your ear from hearing him called the
+Just?'
+
+'Was ever allusion so impertinent? or, what is worse, for aught I can
+determine, so true? for, certainly, he has given me no offence; yet I
+feel I should be enchanted to humble him. Don't be concerned for him,
+however; you may assure yourself he hates me. There is a certain spring
+in our propensities to one another, that involuntarily opens and shuts
+in almost exact harmony, whether of approbation or antipathy. Except,
+indeed, in the one article of love, which, distinguishing nothing, is
+ready to grasp at any thing.'
+
+'But why have you not recourse to the gallant cockade?'
+
+'The Major? O, I have observed, already, she receives his devoirs
+without emotion; which, for a girl who has seen nothing of the world, is
+respectable enough, his red coat considered. Whether the man has any
+meaning himself, or whether he knows there is such a thing, I cannot
+tell: but as I do not wish to see her surrounded with brats, while a
+mere brat herself, it is not worth inquiry. You are the thing,
+Clarendel, the very thing! You are just agreeable enough to annul her
+puerile fascination, yet not interesting enough to involve her in any
+new danger.'
+
+'Flattering past imitability! divine Arlberiana!'
+
+'Girls, in general,' continued she, 'are insupportable nuisances to
+women. If you do not set them to prate about their admirers, or their
+admired, they die of weariness;--if you do, the weariness reverberates
+upon yourself.'
+
+Camilla here returned. She had written a few lines to Eugenia, to
+enforce her reliance upon Edgar, with an earnest request to be sent for
+immediately, if any new difficulty occurred. And she had addressed a few
+warmly grateful words to her father, engaging to follow his every
+injunction with her best ability.
+
+Sir Sedley now rung for his carriage; and Camilla, for the rest of the
+evening, exerted herself to receive more cheerfully the kind civilities
+of her lively hostess.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_A Recall_
+
+
+After two days passed with tolerable, though not natural cheerfulness at
+the Grove, Camilla was surprised by the arrival of the carriage of Sir
+Hugh with a short note from Eugenia.
+
+     _To Miss_ Camilla Tyrold.
+
+     An incident has happened that overpowers me with sadness and
+     horror. I cannot write. I send the chariot. O! come and pass an
+     hour or two at Cleves with your distressed.
+
+     EUGENIA!
+
+Camilla could scarcely stop to leave a message for Mrs. Arlbery, before
+she flew to the carriage; nor even inquire for her uncle at Cleves,
+before she ran to the apartment of Eugenia, and, with a thousand tender
+caresses, desired to know what had thus cruelly afflicted her.
+
+'Alas!' she answered, 'my uncle has written to Clermont to come
+over,--and informed him with what view!'
+
+She then related, that Indiana, the preceding day, had prevailed with
+Sir Hugh to let her go to the Middleton races; and she found he would be
+quite unhappy if she refused to be also of the party. That they had been
+joined by Bellamy on the race ground, who only, however, spoke to Miss
+Margland, as Edgar, watchful and uneasy, scarce let him even see anyone
+else. But the horses having taken fright, while they were in a great
+crowd, Bellamy had persuaded Miss Margland to alight, while the coach
+passed a terrible concourse of carriages; and, in that interval, he had
+contrived to whisper a claim upon her tacit promise of viewing the
+chaise which was for ever to convey him away from her; and, though her
+engagement to Edgar made her refuse, he had drawn her, she knows not
+herself how, from her party, and, while she was angrily remonstrating,
+and he seemed in the utmost despair at her displeasure, Edgar, who had
+been at first eluded by being on horseback, dismounted, forced his way
+to her, and almost carried her back to the coach, leaving Bellamy, who
+she was sure had no sinister design, nearly dead with grief at being
+unworthily suspected. Edgar, she however added, was fixed in believing
+he meant to convey her away; and Jacob, asserting he saw him purposely
+frighten the horses, had told his surmises to Sir Hugh; which he had
+corroborated by an account that the same gentleman had stopt to converse
+with her in her last return from Etherington. Sir Hugh, terrified, had
+declared he would no longer live without Clermont upon the spot. She had
+felt too much for his disturbance to oppose him at the moment, but had
+not imagined his plan would immediately be put into execution, till,
+early this morning, he had sent for her, and produced his letter of
+recall, which had taken him, he said, the whole night to compose and
+finish. Urged by surprise and dissatisfaction, she was beginning a
+little remonstrance; but found it made him so extremely unhappy, that,
+in the fear of a relapse, she desisted; and, with a shock she knew not
+when she should overcome, saw the fatal letter delivered for the post.
+
+Camilla, with much commiseration, inquired if she had consulted with
+Edgar. Yes, she answered; and he had extorted her permission to relate
+the whole transaction to her father, though in a manner wide from
+justice to the ill-fated Bellamy; whose design might be extraordinary,
+but whose character, she was convinced, was honourable.
+
+Camilla, whose education, though private, had not like that of Eugenia,
+been secluded and studious, was far less credulous than her sister,
+though equally artless. She knew, too, with regard to this affair, the
+opinion of Edgar, and to know and be guided by it was imperceptibly one.
+She declared herself, therefore, openly against Bellamy, and made her
+motives consist in a commentary upon his proceedings.
+
+Eugenia warmly defended him, declaring the judgment of Camilla, and that
+of all her friends, to be formed in the dark; for that none of them
+could have doubted a moment his goodness or his honour, had they seen
+the distracted suffering that was marked in his countenance.
+
+'And what,' cried Camilla, 'says my father to all this?'
+
+'He says just what Edgar says:--he is all that is kind and good, but he
+has never beheld Bellamy--how, then, should he know him?'
+
+A message came now from Sir Hugh to Camilla, that he would see her
+before she went, but that he was resting at present from the fatigue of
+writing a letter. He sent her, however, with his love, the foul copy, to
+amuse her till she could come to him.
+
+     _To_ Clermont Lynmere _Esq._
+
+     Dear Nephew,
+
+     I have had a very dangerous illness, and the doctors themselves are
+     all surprised that I recovered; but a greater doctor than them was
+     pleased to save me, for which I thank God. But as this attack has
+     made me think more than ever I thought before, I am willing to turn
+     my thoughts to good account.
+
+     Now, as I have not the gift of writing, at which, thank God, I have
+     left off repining, from the reason of its great troublesomeness in
+     acquiring, I can't pretend to any thing of a fine letter, but shall
+     proceed to business.
+
+     My dear Clermont, I write now to desire you would come over out of
+     hand; which I hope you won't take unkind, foreign parts being no
+     great pleasure to see, in comparison of old England; besides which,
+     I have another apology to offer, which is, having a fine prize in
+     view for you; which is the more essential, owing to some unlucky
+     circumstances, in which I did not behave quite as well as I wish,
+     though very unwillingly; which I mention to you as a warning.
+     However, you have no need to be cast down, for this prize will set
+     all right, and make you as rich as a lord, at the same time that
+     you are as wise as a philosopher. And as learning, though I have
+     the proper respect for it, won't serve to make the pot boil, you
+     must needs be glad of more substantial fuel; for there's no living
+     upon air, however you students may affect to think eating mere
+     gluttony.
+
+     Now, this prize is no other than your cousin Eugenia Tyrold, whom I
+     don't tell you is a beauty; but if you are the sensible lad I take
+     you for, you won't think the worse of her for wanting such frail
+     perfections. Besides, we should not be too nice amongst relations,
+     for if we are, what can we expect from the wide world? So I beg you
+     to come over with all convenient speed, for fear of her falling a
+     prey to some sharper, many such being to be found; especially at
+     horse-races, and so forth. I remain,
+
+     Dear nephew,
+     Your affectionate uncle,
+
+     HUGH TYROLD.
+
+Eugenia, from motives of delicacy and of shame, declined reading the
+copy as she had declined reading the letter; but looked so extremely
+unhappy, that Camilla offered to plead with her uncle, and use her
+utmost influence that he would countermand the recall.
+
+'No,' answered she, 'no! 'tis a point of duty and gratitude, and I must
+bear its consequences.'
+
+She was now called down to Mr. Tyrold. Camilla accompanied her.
+
+He told her he had gathered, from the kind zeal and inquiries of Edgar,
+that Bellamy had certainly laid a premeditated plan for carrying her
+off, if she went to the races; which, as the whole neighbourhood was
+there, might reasonably be expected.
+
+Eugenia, with fervour, protested such wickedness was impossible.
+
+'I am unwilling, my dear child,' he answered, 'to adulterate the purity
+of your thoughts and expectations, by inculcating suspicions; but,
+though nature has blessed you with an uncommon understanding, remember,
+in judgment you are still but fifteen, and in experience but a child.
+One thing, however, tell me candidly, is it from love of justice, or is
+it for your happiness you combat thus ardently for the integrity of this
+young man?'
+
+'For my justice, Sir!' said she firmly.
+
+'And no latent reason mingles with and enforces it?'
+
+'None, believe me! save only what gratitude dictates.'
+
+'If your heart, then, is your own, my dear girl, do not be uneasy at the
+letter to Clermont. Your uncle is the last man upon earth to put any
+constraint upon your inclinations; and need I add to my dearest Eugenia,
+I am the last father to thwart or distress them? Resume, therefore,
+your courage and composure; be just to your friends, and happy in
+yourself.'
+
+Reason was never thrown away upon Eugenia. Her mind was a soil which
+received and naturalized all that was sown in it. She promised to look
+forward with more cheerfulness, and to dwell no longer upon this
+agitating transaction.
+
+Edgar now came in. He was going to Beech Park to meet Bellamy. He was
+charged with a long message for him from Sir Hugh; and an order to
+inform him that his niece was engaged; which, however, he declined
+undertaking, without first consulting her.
+
+This was almost too severe a trial of the duty and fortitude of Eugenia.
+She coloured, and was quitting the room in silence: but presently
+turning back, 'My uncle,' she cried, 'is too ill now for argument, and
+he is too dear to me for opposition:--Say, then, just what you think
+will most conduce to his tranquillity and recovery.'
+
+Her father embraced her; Camilla shed tears; and Edgar, in earnest
+admiration, kissed her hand. She received their applause with
+sensibility, but looked down with a secret deduction from its force, as
+she internally uttered, 'My task is not so difficult as they believe!
+touched as I am with the constancy of Bellamy--It is not Melmond who
+loves me! it is not Melmond I reject!--'
+
+Edgar was immediately setting off, but, stopping him--'One thing alone I
+beg,' she said; 'do not communicate your intelligence abruptly. Soften
+it by assurances of my kind wishes.--Yet, to prevent any deception, any
+future hope--say to him--if you think it right--that I shall regard
+myself, henceforward, as if already in that holy state so sacred to one
+only object.'
+
+She blushed, and left them, followed by Camilla.
+
+'If born but yesterday,' cried Mr. Tyrold, while his eyes glistened,
+'she could not be more perfectly free from guile.'
+
+'Yet that,' said Edgar, 'is but half her praise; she is perfectly free,
+also, from self! she is made up of disinterested qualities and liberal
+sensations. To the most genuine simplicity, she joins the most singular
+philosophy; and to knowledge and cultivation, the most uncommon, adds
+all the modesty as well as innocence of her extreme youth and
+inexperience.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold subscribed with frankness to this just praise of his
+highly-valued daughter; and they then conferred upon the steps to be
+taken with Bellamy, whom neither of them scrupled to pronounce a mere
+fortune-hunter. All the inquiries of Edgar were ineffectual to learn any
+particulars of his situation. He said he was travelling for his
+amusement; but he had no recommendation to anyone; though, by being
+constantly well-dressed, and keeping a shewy footman, he had contrived
+to make acquaintance almost universally in the neighbourhood. Mr. Tyrold
+determined to accompany Edgar to Beech Park himself, and there, in the
+most peremptory terms, to assure him of the serious measures that would
+ensue, if he desisted not from his pursuit.
+
+He then went to take leave of Camilla, who had been making a visit to
+her uncle, and was returning to the Grove.
+
+He had seen with concern the frigid air with which Edgar had bowed to
+her upon his entrance, and with compassion the changed countenance with
+which she had received his formal salutation. His hope of the alliance
+now sunk; and so favourite a wish could not be relinquished without
+severe disappointment; yet his own was immaterial to him when he looked
+at Camilla, and saw in her expressive eyes the struggle of her soul to
+disguise her wounded feelings. He now regretted that she had not
+accompanied her mother abroad; and desired nothing so earnestly as any
+means to remove her from all intercourse with Mandlebert. He seconded,
+therefore, her speed to be gone, happy she would be placed where
+exertion would be indispensable; and gently, yet clearly, intimated his
+wish that she should remain at the Grove, till she could meet Edgar
+without raising pain in her own bosom, or exciting suspicions in his.
+Cruelly mortified, she silently acquiesced. He then said whatever was
+most kind to give her courage; but, dejected by her conscious failure,
+and afflicted by the change in Edgar, she returned to Mrs. Arlbery in a
+state of mind the most melancholy.
+
+And here, nothing could be less exhilarating nor less seasonable than
+the first news she heard.
+
+The regiment of General Kinsale was ordered into Kent, in the
+neighbourhood of Tunbridge: It was the season for drinking the water of
+that spring; and Mr. Dennel was going thither with his daughter. Sir
+Sedley Clarendel conceived it would be serviceable also to his own
+health; and had suddenly proposed to Mrs. Arlbery forming a party to
+pass a few weeks there. With a vivacity always ready for any new
+project, she instantly agreed to it, and the journey was settled to
+take place in three days. When Camilla was informed of this intended
+excursion, the disappointment with which it overpowered her was too
+potent for disguise: and Mrs. Arlbery was so much struck with it, that,
+during coffee, she took Sir Sedley apart, and said; 'I feel such concern
+for the dismal alteration of that sweet girl, that I could prevail with
+myself, all love-lorn as she is, to take her with me to Tunbridge, if
+you will aid my hardy enterprise of driving that frozen composition of
+premature wisdom from her mind. If you are not as invulnerable as
+himself, you cannot refuse me this little sleight of gallantry.'
+
+Sir Sedley gave a laughing assent, declaring, at the same time, with the
+strongest professed diffidence, his conscious inability. Mrs. Arlbery,
+in high spirits, said she scarce knew which would most delight her, to
+mortify Edgar, or restore Camilla to gaiety and independance. Yet she
+would watch, she said, that matters went no further than just to shake
+off a whining first love; for the last thing upon earth she intended was
+to entangle her in a second.
+
+Camilla received the invitation with pleasure yet anxiety: for though
+glad to be spared returning to Cleves in a state of disturbance so
+suspicious, she was bitterly agitated in reflecting upon the dislike of
+Edgar to Mrs. Arlbery, the pains he had taken to prevent her mingling
+with this society, and the probably final period to his esteem and
+good-will, that would prove the result of her accompanying such a party
+to a place of amusement.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_A Youth of the Times_
+
+
+Mrs. Arlbery accompanied Camilla the next day to Cleves, to ask
+permission of Mr. Tyrold for the excursion. She would trust the request
+to none but herself, conscious of powers of persuasion unused to
+repulse.
+
+Mr. Tyrold was distressed by the proposition: he was not satisfied in
+trusting his unguarded Camilla to the dissipation of a public place,
+except under the wing of her mother; though he felt eager to remove her
+from Edgar, and rejoiced in any opportunity to allow her a change of
+scene, that might revive her natural spirits, and unchain her heart from
+its unhappy subjection.
+
+Perceiving him undetermined, Mrs. Arlbery called forth all her artillery
+of eloquence and grace, to forward her conquest. The licence she allowed
+herself in common of fantastic command, gave way to the more feminine
+attraction of soft pleading: her satire, which, though never malignant,
+was often alarming, was relinquished for a sportive gaiety that diffused
+general animation; and Mr. Tyrold soon, though not caught like his
+daughter, ceased to wonder that his daughter had been caught.
+
+In this indecision he took Camilla apart, and bade her tell him, without
+fear or reserve, her own feelings, her own wishes, her own opinion upon
+this scheme. She held such a call too serious and too kind for disguise:
+she hid her face upon his shoulder and wept; he soothed and encouraged
+her to confidence; and, in broken accents, she then acknowledged herself
+unequal, as yet, to fulfilling his injunctions of appearing cheerful and
+easy, though sensible of their wisdom.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, with a heavy heart, saw how much deeper was her wound, than
+the airiness of her nature had prepared him to expect, and could no
+longer hesitate in granting his consent. He saw it was her wish to go;
+but he saw that the pleasures of a public place had no share in exciting
+it. To avoid betraying her conscious mortification was her sole and
+innocent motive; and though he would rather have sent her to a more
+private spot, and have trusted her to a more retired character; he yet
+thought it possible, that what opportunity presented unsought, might,
+eventually, prove more beneficial than what his own choice would have
+dictated; for public amusements, to the young and unhackneyed, give
+entertainment without requiring exertion; and spirits lively as those of
+Mrs. Arlbery create nearly as much gaiety as they display.
+
+Fixed, now, for the journey, he carried Camilla to her uncle to take
+leave. The prospect of not seeing her again for six weeks was gloomy to
+Sir Hugh; though he bore it better at this moment, when his fancy was
+occupied by arranging preparations for the return of Clermont, than he
+could have done at almost any other. He put into her hand a fifty pound
+Bank note for her expences, and when, with mingled modesty and
+dejection, she would have returned the whole, as unnecessary even to her
+wishes, Mr. Tyrold, interfering, made her accept twenty pounds. Sir
+Hugh pressed forward the original sum in vain; his brother, though
+always averse to refuse his smallest desire, thought it here a duty to
+be firm, that the excursion, which he granted as a relief to her
+sadness, might not lead to pleasures ever after beyond her reach, nor to
+their concomitant extravagance. She could not, he knew, reside at
+Tunbridge with the oeconomy and simplicity to which she was accustomed
+at Etherington; but he charged her to let no temptation make her forget
+the moderate income of which alone she was certain; assuring her, that
+where a young woman's expences exceeded her known expectations, those
+who were foremost to praise her elegance, would most fear to form any
+connection with her, and most despise or deride her in any calamity.
+
+Camilla found no difficulty in promising the most exact observance of
+this instruction; her heart seemed in sackcloth and ashes, and she cared
+not in what manner her person should be arrayed.
+
+Sir Hugh earnestly enjoined her not to fail to be at Cleves upon the
+arrival of Clermont, intimating that the nuptials would immediately take
+place.
+
+She then sought Eugenia, whom she found with Dr. Orkborne, in a state of
+mind so perfectly calm and composed, as equally to surprise and rejoice
+her. She saw with pleasure that all Bellamy had inspired was the most
+artless compassion; for since his dismission had now positively been
+given, and Clermont was actually summoned, she devoted her thoughts
+solely to the approaching event, with the firm, though early wisdom
+which distinguished her character.
+
+Indiana joined them; and, in a low voice, said to Camilla, 'Pray,
+cousin, do you know where Mr. Macdersey is? because I am sadly afraid
+he's dead.'
+
+Camilla, surprised, desired to know why she had such an apprehension?
+
+'Because he told me he'd shoot himself through the brains if I was
+cruel--and I am sure I had no great choice given me: for, between
+ourselves, Miss Margland gave all the answers for me, without once
+stopping to ask me what I should chuse. So if he has really done it, the
+fault is more her's than mine.'
+
+She then said, that, just after Camilla's departure the preceding day,
+Mr. Macdersey arrived, and insisted upon seeing her, and speaking to Sir
+Hugh, as he was ordered into Kent, and could not go so far in suspence.
+Sir Hugh was not well enough to admit him; and Miss Margland, upon whom
+the office devolved, took upon her to give him a positive refusal; and
+though she went into the room while he was there, never once would let
+her make an answer for herself.
+
+Miss Margland, she added, had frightened Sir Hugh into forbidding him
+the house, by comparing him with Mr. Bellamy; but Mr. Macdersey had
+frightened them all enough, in return, as he went away, by saying, that
+as soon as ever Sir Hugh was well, he would call him out, because of his
+sending him word down stairs not to come to Cleves any more, for he had
+been disturbed enough already by another Irish fortune-hunter, that came
+after another of his nieces; and he was the more sure Mr. Macdersey was
+one of them, because of his being a real Irishman, while Mr. Bellamy was
+only an Englishman. 'But don't you think now, cousin,' she continued,
+'Miss Margland might as well have let me speak for myself?'
+
+Camilla inquired if she was sorry for the rejection.
+
+'N ... o,' she answered, with some hesitation; 'for Miss Margland says
+he's got no rent-roll; besides, I don't think he's so agreeable as Mr.
+Melmond; only Mr. Melmond's worth little or no fortune they say: for
+Miss Margland inquired about it, after Mr. Mandlebert behaved so. Else I
+can't say I thought Mr. Melmond disagreeable.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery now sent to hasten Camilla, who, in returning to the
+parlour, met Edgar. He had just gathered her intended excursion, and,
+sick at heart, had left the room. Camilla felt the consciousness of a
+guilty person at his sight; but he only slightly bowed; and coldly
+saying, 'I hope you will have much pleasure at Tunbridge,' went on to
+his own room.
+
+And there, replete with resentment for the whole of her late conduct, he
+again blessed Dr. Marchmont for his preservation from her toils; and,
+concluding the excursion was for the sake of the Major, whose regiment
+he knew to be just ordered into Kent, he centered every former hope in
+the one single wish that he might never see her more.
+
+Camilla, shocked by such obvious displeasure, quitted Cleves with still
+increasing sadness; and Mrs. Arlbery would heartily have repented her
+invitation, but for her dependance upon Sir Sedley Clarendel.
+
+At Etherington they stopt, that Camilla might prepare her package for
+Tunbridge. Mrs. Arlbery would not alight.
+
+While Camilla, with a maid-servant, was examining her drawers, the
+chamber door was opened by Lionel, for whom she had just inquired, and
+who, telling her he wanted to speak to her in private, turned the maid
+out of the room.
+
+Camilla begged him to be quick, as Mrs. Arlbery was waiting.
+
+'Why then, my dear little girl,' cried he, 'the chief substance of the
+matter is neither more nor less than this: I want a little money.'
+
+'My dear brother,' said Camilla, pleasure again kindling in her eyes as
+she opened her pocket-book, 'you could never have applied to me so
+opportunely. I have just got twenty pounds, and I do not want twenty
+shillings. Take it, I beseech you, any part, or all.'
+
+Lionel paused and seemed half choaked. 'Camilla,' he cried presently,
+'you are an excellent girl. If you were as old and ugly as Miss
+Margland, I really believe I should think you young and pretty. But this
+sum is nothing. A drop of water to the ocean.'
+
+Camilla now, drawing back, disappointed and displeased, asked how it was
+possible he should want more.
+
+'More, my dear child? why I want two or three cool hundred.'
+
+'Two or three hundred?' repeated she, amazed.
+
+'Nay, nay, don't be frightened. My uncle will give you two or three
+thousand, you know that. And I really want the money. It's no joke, I
+assure you. It's a case of real distress.'
+
+'Distress? impossible! what distress can you have to so prodigious an
+amount?'
+
+'Prodigious! poor little innocent! dost think two or three hundred
+prodigious?'
+
+'And what is become of the large sums extorted from my uncle Relvil?'
+
+'O that was for quite another thing. That was for debts. That's gone and
+over. This is for a perfectly different purpose.'
+
+'And will nothing--O Lionel!--nothing touch you? My poor mother's
+quitting England ... her separation from my father and her family ... my
+uncle Relvil's severe attack ... will nothing move you to more
+thoughtful, more praise-worthy conduct?'
+
+'Camilla, no preaching! I might as well cast myself upon the old ones at
+once. I come to you in preference, on purpose to avoid sermonising.
+However, for your satisfaction, and to spur you to serve me, I can
+assure you I have avoided all new debts since the last little deposit of
+the poor sick hypochondriac miser, who is pining away at the loss of a
+few guineas, that he had neither spirit nor health to have spent for
+himself.'
+
+'Is this your reasoning, your repentance, Lionel, upon such a
+catastrophe?'
+
+'My dear girl, I am heartily concerned at the whole business, only, as
+it's over, I don't like talking of it. This is the last scrape I shall
+ever be in while I live. But if you won't help me, I am undone. You know
+your influence with my uncle. Do, there's a dear girl, use it for your
+brother! I have not a dependance in the world, now, but upon you!'
+
+'Certainly I will do whatever I can for you,' said she, sighing; 'but
+indeed, my dear Lionel, your manner of going on makes my very heart
+ache! However, let this twenty pounds be in part, and tell me your very
+smallest calculation for what must be added?'
+
+'Two hundred. A farthing less will be of no use; and three will be of
+thrice the service. But mind!... you must not say it's for me!'
+
+'How, then, can I ask for it?'
+
+'O, vamp up some dismal ditty.'
+
+'No, Lionel!' exclaimed she, turning away from him; 'you propose what
+you know to be impracticable.'
+
+'Well, then, if you must needs say it's for me, tell him he must not for
+his life own it to the old ones.'
+
+'In the same breath, must I beg and command?'
+
+'O, I always make that my bargain. I should else be put into the lecture
+room, and not let loose again till I was made a milk-sop. They'd talk me
+so into the vapours, I should not be able to act like a man for a month
+to come.'
+
+'A man, Lionel?'
+
+'Yes, a man of the world, my dear; a knowing one.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery now sent to hasten her, and he extorted a promise that she
+would go to Cleves the next morning, and procure a draft for the money,
+if possible, to be ready for his calling at the Grove in the afternoon.
+
+She felt this more deeply than she had time or courage to own to
+Lionel, but her increased melancholy was all imputed to reflections
+concerning Mandlebert by Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+That lady lent her chaise the next morning, with her usual promptitude
+of good humour, and Camilla went to Cleves, with a reluctance that never
+before accompanied her desire to oblige.
+
+Her visit was received most kindly by all the family, as merely an
+additional leave taking; in which light, though she was too sincere to
+place it, she suffered it to pass. Having no chance of being alone with
+her uncle by accident, she was forced to beg him, in a whisper, to
+request a _tête-à-tête_ with her: and she then, covered with all the
+confusion of a partner in his extravagance, made the petition of Lionel.
+
+Sir Hugh seemed much surprised, but protested he would rather part with
+his coat and waistcoat than refuse anything to Camilla. He gave her
+instantly a draft upon his banker for two hundred pounds; but added, he
+should take it very kind of her, if she would beg Lionel to ask him for
+no more this year, as he was really so hard run, he should not else be
+able to make proper preparations for the wedding, till his next rents
+became due.
+
+Camilla was now surprised in her turn; and Sir Hugh then confessed,
+that, between presents and petitions, his nephew had had no less than
+five hundred pounds from him the preceding year, unknown to his parents;
+and that for this year, the sum she requested made the seventh hundred;
+without the least account for what purpose it was given.
+
+Camilla now heartily repented being a partner in a business so
+rapacious, so unjustifiable, and so mysterious; but, kindly interrupting
+her apology, 'Don't be concerned, my dear,' he cried, 'for there's no
+help for these things; though what the young boys do with all their
+money now-a-days, is odd enough, being what I can't make out. However,
+he'll soon be wiser, so we must not be too severe with him; though I
+told him, the last time, I had rather he would not ask me so often;
+which was being almost too sharp, I'm afraid, considering his youngness;
+for one can't expect him to be an old man at once.'
+
+Camilla gave voluntarily her word no such application should find her
+its ambassadress again: and though he would have dispensed with the
+promise, she made it the more readily as a guard against her own
+facility.
+
+'At least,' cried the baronet, 'say nothing to my poor brother, and more
+especially to your mother; it being but vexatious to such good parents
+to hear of such idleness, not knowing what to think of it; for it is a
+great secret, he says, what he does with it all; for which reason one
+can't expect him to tell it. My poor brother, to be sure, had rather he
+should be studying _hic_, _hæc_, _hoc_; but, Lord help him! I believe he
+knows no more of that than I do myself; and I never could make out much
+meaning of it, any further than it's being Latin; though I suppose, at
+the time, Dr. Orkborne might explain it to me, taking it for granted he
+did what was right.'
+
+Camilla was most willing to agree to concealing from her parents what
+she knew must so painfully afflict them, though she determined to assume
+sufficient courage to expostulate most seriously with her brother,
+against whom she felt sensations of the most painful anger.
+
+Again she now took leave; but upon re-entering the parlour, found Edgar
+there alone.
+
+Involuntarily she was retiring; but the counsel of her father recurring
+to her, she compelled herself to advance, and say, 'How good you have
+been to Eugenia! how greatly are we all indebted for your kind vigilance
+and exertion!'
+
+Edgar, who was reading, and knew not she was in the house, was
+surprised, both by her sight and her address, out of all his
+resolutions; and, with a softness of voice he meant evermore to deny
+himself, answered, 'To me? can any of the Tyrold family talk of being
+indebted to me?--my own obligations to all, to every individual of that
+name, have been the pride, have been--hitherto--the happiness of my
+life!--'
+
+The word 'hitherto,' which had escaped, affected him: he stopt,
+recollected himself, and presently, more drily added, 'Those obligations
+would be still much increased, if I might flatter myself that one of
+that race, to whom I have ventured to play the officious part of a
+brother, could forget those lectures, she can else, I fear, with
+difficulty pardon.'
+
+'You have found me unworthy your counsel,' answered Camilla, gravely,
+and looking down; 'you have therefore concluded I resent it: but we are
+not always completely wrong, even when wide from being right. I have
+not been culpable of quite so much folly as not to feel what I have owed
+to your good offices; nor am I now guilty of the injustice to blame
+their being withdrawn. You do surely what is wisest, though
+not--perhaps--what is kindest.'
+
+To these last words she forced a smile; and, wishing him good morning,
+hurried away.
+
+Amazed past expression, and touched to the soul, he remained, a few
+instants, immoveable; then, resolving to follow her, and almost
+resolving to throw himself at her feet, he opened the door she had shut
+after her: he saw her still in the hall, but she was in the arms of her
+father and sisters, who had all descended, upon hearing she had left Sir
+Hugh, and of whom she was now taking leave.
+
+Upon his appearance, she said she could no longer keep the carriage;
+but, as she hastened from the hall, he saw that her eyes were swimming
+in tears.
+
+Her father saw it too, with less surprise, but more pain. He knew her
+short and voluntary absence from her friends could not excite them: his
+heart ached with paternal concern for her; and, motioning everybody else
+to remain in the hall, he walked with her to the carriage himself,
+saying, in a low voice, as he put her in, 'Be of better courage, my
+dearest child. Endeavour to take pleasure where you are going--and to
+forget what you are leaving: and, if you wish to feel or to give
+contentment upon earth, remember always, you must seek to make
+circumstance contribute to happiness, not happiness subservient to
+circumstance.'
+
+Camilla, bathing his hand with her tears, promised this maxim should
+never quit her mind till they met again.
+
+She then drove off.
+
+'Yes,' she cried, 'I must indeed study it; Edgar cares no more what
+becomes of me! resentment next to antipathy has taken place of his
+friendship and esteem!'
+
+She wrote down in her pocket-book the last words of her father; she
+resolved to read them daily, and to make them the current lesson of her
+future and disappointed life.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Lionel, too impatient to wait for the afternoon, was already at the
+Grove, and handed her from the chaise. But, stopping her in the portico,
+'Well,' he cried, 'where's my draft?'
+
+'Before I give it you,' said she, seriously, and walking from the
+servants, 'I must entreat to speak a few words to you.'
+
+'You have really got it, then?' cried he, in a rapture; 'you are a
+charming girl! the most charming girl I know in the world! I won't take
+your poor twenty pounds: I would not touch it for the world. But come,
+where's the draft? Is it for the two or the three?'
+
+'For the two; and surely, my dear Lionel--'
+
+'For the two? O, plague take it!--only for the two?--And when will you
+get me the odd third?'
+
+'O brother! O Lionel! what a question! Will you make me repent, instead
+of rejoice, in the pleasure I have to assist you?'
+
+'Why, when he was about it, why could he not as well come down like a
+gentleman at once? I am sure I always behaved very handsomely to him.'
+
+'How do you mean?'
+
+'Why, I never frightened him; never put him beside his poor wits, like
+t'other poor nuncle. I don't remember I ever did him an ill turn in my
+life, except wanting Dr. Pothook, there, to flog him a little for not
+learning his book. It would have been a rare sight if he had!--Don't you
+think so?'
+
+'Rare, indeed, I hope!'
+
+'Why, now, what could he have done, if the Doctor had really performed
+it? He could not in justice have found fault, when he put himself to
+school to him. But he'd have felt a little queer. Don't you think he
+would?'
+
+'You only want to make me laugh, to prevent my speaking to the purpose;
+but I am not disposed to laugh; and therefore--'
+
+'O, if you are not disposed to laugh, you are no company for me. Give me
+my draft, therefore.'
+
+'If you will not hear, I hope, at least, Lionel, you will think; and
+that may be much more efficacious. Shall I put up the twenty? I really
+do not want it. And it is all, all, all I can ever procure you! Remember
+that!'
+
+'What?--all?--this all?--what, not even the other little mean hundred?'
+
+'No, my dear brother! I have promised my uncle no further application--'
+
+'Why what a stingy, fusty old codger, to draw such a promise from you!'
+
+'Hold, hold, Lionel! I cannot endure to hear you speak in such a manner
+of such an uncle! the best, the most benevolent, the most indulgent--'
+
+'Lord, child, don't be so precise and old maidish. Don't you know it's a
+relief to a man's mind to swear, and say a few cutting things when he's
+in a passion? when all the time he would no more do harm to the people
+he swears at, than you would, that mince out all your words as if you
+were talking treason, and thought every man a spy that heard you.
+Besides, how is a man the worse for a little friendly curse or two,
+provided he does not hear it? It's a very innocent refreshment to a
+man's mind, my dear; only you know nothing of the world.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery now approaching, he hastily took the draft, and, after a
+little hesitation, the twenty pounds, telling her, if she would not ask
+for him, she must ask for herself, and that he felt no compunction, as
+he was certain she might draw upon her uncle for every guinea he was
+worth.
+
+He then heartily embraced her; said she was the best girl in the world,
+when she did not mount the pulpit, and rode off.
+
+Camilla felt no concern at the loss of her twenty pounds: lowered and
+unhappy, she was rather glad than sorry that her means for being abroad
+were diminished, and that to keep her own room would soon be most
+convenient.
+
+The next day was fixed for the journey.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VI
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A Walk by Moonlight_
+
+
+Mrs. Arlbery and Camilla set off in the coach of Mr. Dennel, widower of
+a deceased sister of the husband of Mrs. Arlbery, whom she was induced
+to admit of the party that he might aid in bearing the expenses, as she
+could not, from some family considerations, refuse taking her niece into
+her coterie. Sir Sedley Clarendel drove his own phaeton; but instead of
+joining them, according to the condition which occasioned the treaty,
+cantered away his ponies from the very first stage, and left word, where
+he changed horses, that he should proceed to the hotel upon the
+Pantiles.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery was nearly provoked to return to the Grove. With Mr. Dennel
+she did not think it worth while to converse; her niece she regarded as
+almost an idiot; and Camilla was so spiritless, that, had not Sir Sedley
+acceded to her plan, this was the last period in which she would have
+chosen her for a companion.
+
+They travelled very quietly to within a few miles of Tunbridge, when an
+accident happened to one of the wheels of the carriage, that the
+coachman said would take some hours to repair. They were drawn on, with
+difficulty, to a small inn upon the road, whence they were obliged to
+send a man and horse to Tunbridge for chaises.
+
+As they were destined, now, to spend some time in this place, Mrs.
+Arlbery retired to write letters, and Mr. Dennel to read newspapers;
+and, invited by a bright moon, Camilla and Miss Dennel wandered from a
+little garden to an adjoining meadow, which conducted them to a lane,
+rendered so beautiful by the strong masses of shade with which the trees
+intercepted the resplendent whiteness of the moon, that they walked on,
+catching fresh openings with fresh pleasure, till the feet of Miss
+Dennel grew as weary with the length of the way, unbroken by any
+company, as the ears of Camilla with her incessant prattling, unaided by
+any idea. Miss Dennel proposed to sit down, and, while relieving herself
+by a fit of yawning and stretching, Camilla strolled a little further in
+search of a safe and dry spot.
+
+Miss Dennel, following in a moment, on tiptoe, and trembling, whispered
+that she was sure she heard a voice. Camilla, with a smile, asked if
+only themselves were privileged to enjoy so sweet a night? 'Hush!' cried
+she, 'hush! I hear it again!' They listened; and, in a minute, a soft
+plaintive tone reached their ears, too distant to be articulate, but
+undoubtedly female.
+
+'I dare say it's a robber!' exclaimed Miss Dennel shaking; 'If you don't
+run back, I shall die!'
+
+Camilla assured her, from the gentleness of the sound, she must be
+mistaken; and pressed her to advance a few steps further, in case it
+should be anybody ill.
+
+'But you know,' said Miss Dennel, speaking low, 'people say that
+sometimes there are noises in the air, without its being anybody?
+Suppose it should be that?'
+
+Still, though almost imperceptibly, Camilla drew her on, till, again
+listening, they distinctly heard the words, 'My lovely friend.'
+
+'La! how pretty!' said Miss Dennel; 'let's go a little nearer.'
+
+They advanced, and presently, again stopping heard, 'Could pity pour
+balm into my woes, how sweetly would they be alleviated by your's, my
+lovely friend?'
+
+Miss Dennel now looked enchanted, and eagerly led the way herself.
+
+In a few minutes, arriving at the end of the lane, which opened upon a
+wild and romantic common, they caught a glimpse of a figure in white.
+
+Miss Dennel turned pale. 'Dear!' cried she, in the lowest whisper, 'what
+is it?'
+
+'A lady,' answered Camilla, equally cautious not to be heard, though
+totally without alarm.
+
+'Are you sure of that?' said Miss Dennel, shrinking back, and pulling
+her companion to accompany her.
+
+'Do you think it's a ghost?' cried Camilla, unresisting the retreat, yet
+walking backwards to keep the form in sight.
+
+'Fie! how can you talk so shocking? all in the dark so, except only for
+the moon?'
+
+'Your's, my lovely friend!' was now again pronounced in the tenderest
+accent.
+
+'She's talking to herself!' exclaimed Miss Dennel; 'Lord, how
+frightful!' and she clung close to Camilla, who, mounting a little
+hillock of stones, presently perceived that the lady was reading a
+letter.
+
+Miss Dennel, tranquillised by hearing this, was again content to stop,
+when their ears were suddenly struck by a piercing shriek.
+
+'O Lord! we shall be murdered!' cried she, screaming still louder
+herself.
+
+They both ran back some paces down the lane, Camilla determining to send
+somebody from the inn to inquire what all this meant: but presently,
+through an opening in the common, they perceived the form in white
+darting forwards, with an air wild and terrified. Camilla stopt, struck
+with compassion and curiosity at once; Miss Dennel could not quit her,
+but after the first glance, hid her face, faintly articulating, 'O,
+don't let it see us! don't let it see us! I am sure it's nothing
+natural! I dare say it's somebody walking!'
+
+The next instant, they perceived a man, looking earnestly around, as if
+to discover who had echoed the scream; the place they occupied was in
+the shade, and he did not observe them. He soon rushed hastily on, and
+seized the white garment of the flying figure, which appeared, both by
+its dress and form, to be an elegant female. She clasped her hands in
+supplication, cast up her eyes towards heaven, and again shrieked aloud.
+
+Camilla, who possessed that fine internal power of the thinking and
+feeling mind to adopt courage for terror, where any eminent service may
+be the result of immediate exertion, was preparing to spring to her
+relief; while Miss Dennel, in extreme agony holding her, murmured out,
+'Let's run away! let's run away! she's going to be murdered!' when they
+saw the man prostrate himself at the lady's feet, in the humblest
+subjection.
+
+Camilla stopt her flight; and Miss Dennel, appeased, called out; 'La!
+his kneeling! how pretty it looks! I dare say it's a lover. How I wish
+one could hear what he says!'
+
+An exclamation, however, from the lady, uttered in a tone of mingled
+affright and disgust, of 'leave me! leave me!' was again the signal to
+Miss Dennel of retreat, but of Camilla to advance.
+
+The rustling of the leaves, caused by her attempt to make way through
+the breach, caught the ears of the suppliant, who hastily arose; while
+the lady folded her arms across her breast, and seemed ejaculating the
+most fervent thanks for this relief.
+
+Camilla now forced a passage through the hedge, and the lady, as she saw
+her approach, called out, in a voice the most touching, 'Surely 'tis
+some pitying Angel, mercifully come to my rescue!'
+
+The pursuer drew back, and Camilla, in the gentlest words, besought the
+lady to accompany her to the friends she had just left, who would be
+happy to protect her.
+
+She gratefully accepted the proposal, and Camilla then ventured to look
+round, to see if the object of this alarm had retreated: but, with an
+astonishment that almost confounded her, she perceived him, a few yards
+off, taking a pinch of snuff, and humming an opera air.
+
+The lady, then, snatching up her letter, which had fallen to the ground,
+touched it with her lips, and carefully folding, put it into her bosom,
+tenderly ejaculating, 'I have preserved thee!... O from what danger!
+what violation!'
+
+Then pressing the hand of Camilla, 'You have saved me,' she cried, 'from
+the calamity of losing what is more dear than I have words to express!
+Take me but where I may be shielded from that wretch, and what shall I
+not owe to you?'
+
+The moon now shining full upon her face, Camilla saw seated on it youth,
+sensibility, and beauty. Her pleasure, involuntarily rather than
+rationally, was redoubled that she had proved serviceable to her, as, in
+equal proportion, was her abhorrence of the man who had caused the
+disturbance.
+
+The three females were now proceeding, when the offender, with a
+careless air, and yet more careless bow, advancing towards them,
+negligently said, 'Shall I have the honour to see you safe home,
+ladies?'
+
+Camilla felt indignant; Miss Dennel again screamed; and the stranger,
+with a look of horror and disgust, said; 'Persecute me no more!'
+
+'O hang it! O curse it!' cried he, swinging his cane to and fro, 'don't
+be serious. I only meant to frighten you about the letter.'
+
+The lady deigned no answer, but murmured to herself 'that letter is more
+precious to me than life or light!'
+
+They now walked on; and, when they entered the lane, they had the
+pleasure to observe they were not pursued. She then said to Camilla,
+'You must be surprised to see any one out, and unprotected, at this late
+hour; but I had employed myself, unthinkingly, in reading some letters
+from a dear and absent friend, and forgot the quick passage of time.'
+
+A man in a livery now appearing at some distance, she hastily summoned
+him, and demanded where was the carriage?
+
+In the road, he answered, where she had left it, at the end of the lane.
+
+She then took the hand of Camilla, and with a smile of the utmost
+softness said, 'When the shock I have suffered is a little over, I must
+surely cease to lament I have sustained it, since it has brought to me
+such sweet succour. Where may I find you tomorrow, to repeat my thanks?'
+
+Camilla answered, 'she was going to Tunbridge immediately, but knew not
+yet where she should lodge.'
+
+'Tunbridge!' she repeated; I am there myself; I shall easily find you
+out tomorrow morning, for I shall know no rest till I have seen you
+again.'
+
+She then asked her name, and, with the most touching acknowledgments,
+took leave.
+
+Camilla recounted her adventure to Mrs. Arlbery, with an animated
+description of the fair Incognita, and with the most heart-felt delight
+of having, though but accidentally, proved of service to her. Mrs.
+Arlbery laughed heartily at the recital, assuring her she doubted not
+but she had made acquaintance with some dangerous fair one, who was
+playing upon her inexperience, and utterly unfit to be known to her.
+Camilla warmly vindicated her innocence, from the whole of her
+appearance, as well as from the impossibility of her knowing that her
+scream could be heard: yet was perplexed how to account for her not
+naming herself, and for the mystery of the carriage and servant in
+waiting so far off. These latter she concluded to belong to her father,
+as she looked too young to have any sort of establishment of her own.
+
+'What I don't understand in the matter is, that there reading of letters
+by the light of the moon;' said Mr. Dennel. 'Where's the necessity of
+doing that, for a person that can afford to keep her own coach and
+servants?'
+
+Mr. Dennel was a man as unfavoured by nature as he was uncultivated by
+art. He had been accepted as a husband by the sister of Mr. Arlbery,
+merely on account of a large fortune, which he had acquired in
+business. The marriage, like most others made upon such terms, was as
+little happy in its progression as honourable in its commencement; and
+Miss Dennel, born and educated amidst domestic dissention, which robbed
+her of all will of her own, by the constant denial of one parent to what
+was accorded by the other, possessed too little reflexion to benefit by
+observing the misery of an alliance not mentally assorted; and grew up
+with no other desire but to enter the state herself, from an ardent
+impatience to shake off the slavery she experienced in singleness. The
+recent death of her mother had given her, indeed, somewhat more liberty;
+but she had not sufficient sense to endure any restraint, and languished
+for the complete power which she imagined a house and servants of her
+own would afford.
+
+When they arrived at the hotel, in Tunbridge, Mrs. Arlbery heard, with
+some indignation, that Sir Sedley Clarendel was gone to the rooms,
+without demonstrating, by any sort of inquiry, the smallest solicitude
+at her non-appearance.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_The Pantiles_
+
+
+A servant tapt early at the door of Camilla, the next morning, to
+acquaint her that a lady, who called herself the person that had been so
+much obliged to her the preceding day, begged the honour of being
+admitted.
+
+Camilla was sorry, after the suspicions of Mrs. Arlbery, that she did
+not send up her name; yet, already partially disposed, her prepossession
+was not likely to be destroyed by the figure that now appeared.
+
+A beautiful young creature, with an air of the most attractive softness,
+eyes of the most expressive loveliness, and a manner which by every look
+and every motion announced a soul 'tremblingly alive,' glided gently
+into the room, and advancing, with a graceful confidence of kindness,
+took both her hands, and pressing them to her heart, said, 'What
+happiness so soon to have found you! to be able to pour forth all the
+gratitude I owe you, and the esteem with which I am already inspired!'
+
+Camilla was struck with admiration and pleasure; and gave way to the
+most lively delight at the fortunate accident which occasioned her
+walking out in a place entirely unknown to her; declaring she should
+ever look back to that event as to one of the marked blessings of her
+life.
+
+'If you,' answered the fair stranger, 'have the benevolence thus to
+value our meeting, how should it be appreciated by one who is so
+eternally indebted to it? I had not perceived the approach of that
+person. He broke in upon me when least a creature so ungenial was
+present to my thoughts. I was reading a letter from the most amiable of
+friends, the most refined--perhaps--of human beings!'
+
+Camilla, impatient for some explanation, answered, 'I hope, at least,
+that friend will be spared hearing of your alarm?'
+
+'I hope so! for his own griefs already overwhelm him. Never may it be my
+sad lot to wound where I mean only to console.'
+
+At the words _his own_, Camilla felt herself blush. She had imagined it
+was some female friend. She now found her mistake, and knew not what to
+imagine next.
+
+'I had retired,' she continued, 'from the glare of company, and the
+weight of uninteresting conversation, to read, at leisure and in
+solitude, this dear letter--heart-breaking from its own woes,
+heart-soothing to mine! In a place such as this, seclusion is difficult.
+I drove some miles off, and ordered my carriage to wait in the high
+road, while I strolled alone upon the common. I delight in a solitary
+ramble by moonlight. I can then indulge in uninterrupted rumination, and
+solace my melancholy by pronouncing aloud such sentences, and such
+names, as in the world I cannot utter. How exquisitely sweet do they
+sound to ears unaccustomed to such vibrations!'
+
+Camilla was all astonishment and perplexity. A male friend so beloved,
+who seemed to be neither father, brother, nor husband; a carriage at her
+command, though without naming one relation to whom either that or
+herself might belong; and sentiments so tender she was almost ashamed to
+listen to them; all conspired to excite a wonder that painfully prayed
+for relief: and in the hope to obtain it, with some hesitation, she
+said, 'I should have sought you myself this morning, for the pleasure of
+inquiring after your safety, but that I was ignorant by what name to
+make my search.'
+
+The fair unknown looked down for a moment, with an air that shewed a
+perfect consciousness of the inquiry meant by this speech; but turning
+aside the embarrassment it seemed to cause her, she presently raised her
+head, and said, 'I had no difficulty to find you, for my servant,
+happily, made his inquiry at once at this hotel.'
+
+Disappointed and surprised by this evasion, Camilla saw now an evident
+mystery, but knew not how to press forward any investigation. She began,
+therefore, to speak of other things, and her fair guest, who had every
+mark of an education rather sedulously than naturally cultivated, joined
+readily in a conversation less personal.
+
+They did not speak of Tunbridge, of public places, nor diversions; their
+themes, all chosen by the stranger, were friendship, confidence, and
+sensibility, which she illustrated and enlivened by quotations from
+favourite poets, aptly introduced and feelingly recited; yet always
+uttered with a sigh, and an air of tender melancholy. Camilla was now in
+a state so depressed, that, notwithstanding her native vivacity, she
+fell as imperceptibly into the plaintive style of her new acquaintance,
+who seemed habitually pensive, as if sympathy rather than accident had
+brought them together.
+
+Yet when chance led to some mention of the adventure of the preceding
+evening, and the lady made again an animated eulogium of the friend
+whose letter she was perusing; she hazarded, with an half smile, saying:
+'I hope--for his own sake, this friend is some sage and aged personage?'
+
+'O no!' she answered; 'he is in the bloom of youth.'
+
+Camilla, again a little disconcerted, paused; and the lady went on.
+
+'It was in Wales I first met him; upon a spot so beautiful that painting
+can never do it justice. I have made, however, a little sketch of it,
+which, some day or other, I will shew you, if you will have the goodness
+to let me see more of you.'
+
+Camilla could not refrain from an eager affirmative; and the
+conversation was then interrupted by a message from Mrs. Arlbery, who
+always breakfasted in her own room, to announce that she was going out
+lodging-hunting.
+
+Camilla would rather have remained with her new acquaintance, better
+adapted to her present turn of mind than Mrs. Arlbery; but this was
+impossible, and the lovely stranger hastened away, saying she would
+call herself the next morning to shew the way to her house, where she
+hoped they might pass together many soothing and consolatory hours.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla found Mrs. Arlbery by no means in her usual high spirits. The
+opening of her Tunbridge campaign had so far from answered its trouble
+and expence, that she heartily repented having quitted the Grove. The
+Officers either were not arrived in the neighbourhood, or were wholly
+engaged in military business; Camilla, instead of contributing to the
+life of the excursion, seemed to hang heavily both upon that, and upon
+herself; and Sir Sedley Clarendel, whose own proposition had brought it
+to bear, had not yet made his appearance, though lodging in the same
+hotel.
+
+Thus vexatiously disappointed, she was ill-disposed to listen with
+pleasure to the history Camilla thought it indispensable to relate of
+her recent visit: and in answer to all praise of this fair Incognita,
+only replied by asking her name and connexions. Camilla felt extremely
+foolish in confessing she had not yet learnt them. Mrs. Arlbery then
+laughed unmercifully at her commendations, but concluded with saying:
+'Follow, however, your own humour; I hate to torment or be tormented:
+only take care not to be seen with her.'
+
+Camilla rejoiced she did not exact any further restriction, and hoped
+all raillery would soon be set aside, by an honourable explanation.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+They now repaired to the Pantiles, where the gay company and gay shops
+afforded some amusement to Camilla, and to Miss Dennel a wonder and
+delight, that kept her mouth open, and her head jerking from object to
+object, so incessantly, that she saw nothing distinctly, from the
+eagerness of her fear lest anything should escape her.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, meeting with an old acquaintance in the bookseller's shop,
+there sat down with him, while the two young ladies loitered at the
+window of a toy-shop, struck with just admiration of the beauty and
+ingenuity of the Tunbridge ware it presented to their view; till
+Camilla, in a party of young men who were strolling down the Pantiles,
+and who went into the bookseller's shop, distinguished the offender of
+the fair unknown.
+
+To avoid following, or being recollected by a person so odious to her,
+she entered the toy-shop with Miss Dennel, where she amused herself,
+till Mrs. Arlbery came in search of her, in selecting such various
+little articles for purchase as she imagined would amount to about half
+a crown; but which were put up for her at a guinea. This a little
+disconcerted her: though, as she was still unusually rich, from Mr.
+Tyrold's having advanced her next quarterly allowance, she consoled
+herself that they would serve for little keep-sakes for her sisters and
+her cousin: yet she determined, when next she entered a shop for
+convenience, to put nothing apart as a buyer, till she had inquired its
+price.
+
+The assaulter, Lord Newford, a young nobleman of the _ton_, after taking
+a staring survey of every thing and every body around, and seeing no one
+of more consequence, followed Mrs. Arlbery, with whom formerly he had
+been slightly acquainted, to the toy-shop. He asked her how she did,
+without touching his hat; and how long she had been at Tunbridge,
+without waiting for an answer; and said he was happy to have the
+pleasure of seeing her, without once looking at her.
+
+To his first sentence, Mrs. Arlbery made a civil answer; but, repenting
+it upon the two sentences that succeeded, she heard them without seeming
+to listen, and fixing her eyes upon him, when he had done, coolly said,
+'Pray have you seen any thing of my servant?'
+
+Lord Newford, somewhat surprised, replied, 'No.'
+
+'Do look for him, then,' cried she, negligently, 'there's a good man.'
+
+Lord Newford, a little piqued, and a little confused at feeling so, said
+he should be proud to obey her; and turning short off to his companion,
+cried, 'Come, Offy, why dost loiter? where shall we ride this morning?'
+And, taking him by the arm, quitted the Pantiles.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, laughing heartily, now felt her spirits a little revive;
+'I doat,' she cried, 'upon meeting, now and then, with insolence, for I
+have a little taste for it myself, which I make some conscience of not
+indulging unprovoked.'
+
+They then proceeded to the milliner's, to equip themselves for going to
+the rooms at night. Mrs. Arlbery and Miss Dennel, who were both rich,
+gave large orders: Camilla, indifferent to every thing except to avoid
+appearing in a manner that might disgrace her party, told the milliner
+to choose for her what she thought fashionable that was most reasonable.
+She was soon fitted up with what was too pretty to disapprove, and
+desiring immediately to pay her bill, found it amounted to five guineas;
+though she had imagined she should have change out of two.
+
+She had only six, and some silver; but was ashamed to dispute, or desire
+any alteration; she paid the money; and only determined to apply to
+another person than the seller, when next she wanted any thing
+reasonable.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery now ordered the carriage, and they drove to Mount Pleasant,
+where she hired a house for the season, to which they were to remove the
+next day.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In the evening, they went to the Rooms, where the decidedly fashionable
+mien and manner of Mrs. Arlbery, attracted more general notice and
+admiration than the youthful captivation of Camilla, or the pretty face
+and expensive attire of Miss Dennel.
+
+Dressed by the milliner of the day, Camilla could not fail to pass
+uncensured, at least, with respect to her appearance; but her eyes
+wanted their usual lustre, from the sadness of her heart, and she never
+looked less herself, nor to less advantage.
+
+The master of the ceremonies brought to her Sir Theophilus Jarard; but
+as she had seen him the companion of Lord Newford, to whom she had
+conceived a strong aversion, she declined dancing. He looked surprised,
+but rather offended than disappointed, and with a little laugh, half
+contemptuous, as if ashamed of having offered himself, stalked away.
+
+Sir Sedley Clarendel was now sauntering into the room. Mrs. Arlbery,
+willing to shew her young friend in a favourable point of view to him,
+though more from pique at his distance, than from any thought at that
+moment of Camilla, told her she must positively accept Sir Theophilus,
+whose asking her must be regarded as a particular distinction, for he
+was notoriously a man of the _ton_. And, heedless of her objections,
+told Mr. Dennel to call him back.
+
+'How can I do that,' said Mr. Dennel, 'after seeing her refuse him with
+my own eyes?'
+
+'O, nobody cares about a man's eyes,' said Mrs. Arlbery; 'go and tell
+him Miss Tyrold has changed her mind, and chooses to dance.'
+
+'As to her changing her mind,' he answered, 'that's likely enough; but I
+don't see how it's any reason I should go of a fool's errand.'
+
+'Pho, pho, go directly; or you sha'n't dine before eight o'clock for the
+whole Tunbridge season.'
+
+'Nay,' said Mr. Dennel, who had an horror of late hours, 'if you will
+promise we shall dine more in reason'--
+
+'Yes, yes,' cried Mrs. Arlbery, hurrying him off, notwithstanding the
+reiterated remonstrances of Camilla.
+
+'See, my dear,' she then added, laughing, 'how many weapons you must
+have in use, if you would govern that strange animal called man! yet
+never despair of victory; for, depend upon it, there is not one of the
+race that, with a little address, you may not bring to your feet.'
+
+Camilla, who had no wish but for one single votary, and whose heart was
+sunk from her failure in obtaining that one, listened with so little
+interest or spirit, that Mrs. Arlbery, quite provoked, resolved not to
+throw away another idea upon her for the rest of the evening. And
+therefore, as her niece went completely and constantly for nothing with
+her, she spoke no more, till, to her great relief, she was joined by
+General Kinsale.
+
+Mr. Dennel returned with an air not more pleased with his embassy, than
+her own appeared with her auditress. The gentleman, he said, had joined
+two others, and they were all laughing so violently together, that he
+could not find an opportunity to deliver his message, for they seemed as
+if they would only make a joke of it.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery then saw that he had got between Lord Newford and Sir
+Sedley, and that they were all three amusing themselves, without
+ceremony or disguise, at the expense of every creature in the room; up
+and down which they strolled, arm in arm, looking familiarly at every
+body, but speaking to nobody; whispering one another in hoarse low
+voices, and then laughing immoderately loud: while nothing was
+distinctly heard, but from time to time, 'What in the world is become of
+Mrs. Berlinton to-night?' or else, 'How stupid the Rooms are without
+Lady Alithea.'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, who, like the rest of the world, saw her own defects in
+as glaring colours, and criticised them with as much animated ridicule
+as those of her neighbours, when exhibited by others, no sooner found
+she was neglected by this set, than she raved against the prevailing ill
+manners of the leaders in the _ton_, with as much asperity of censure,
+as if never for a moment betrayed herself, by fashion, by caprice, nor
+by vanity, to similar foibles. 'Yet, after all,' cried she presently,
+'to see fools behave like fools, I am well content. I have no anger,
+therefore, against Lord Newford, nor Sir Theophilus Jarard; if they were
+not noticed for being impertinent, how could they expect to be noticed
+at all? When there is but one line that can bring them forward, I rather
+respect them that they have found it out. But what shall we say to Sir
+Sedley Clarendel? A man as much their superior in capacity as in powers
+of pleasing? 'Tis a miserable thing, my dear General, to see the dearth
+of character there is in the world. Pope has bewailed it in women;
+believe me, he might have extended his lamentation. You may see, indeed,
+one man grave, and another gay; but with no more "mark or likelihood,"
+no more distinction of colouring, than what simply belongs to a dismal
+face or a merry one: and with just as little light and shade, just as
+abrupt a skip from one to the other, as separates inevitably the old man
+from the young one. We are almost all, my good General, of a nature so
+pitifully plastic, that we act from circumstances, and are fashioned by
+situation.'
+
+Then, laughing at her own pique, 'General,' she added, 'shall I make you
+a confession? I am not at all sure, if that wretched Sir Sedley had
+behaved as he ought to have done, and been at my feet all the evening,
+that I should not, at this very moment, be amused in the same manner
+that he is himself! yet it would be very abominable, I own.'
+
+'This is candid, however.'
+
+'O, we all acknowledge our faults, now; 'tis the mode of the day: but
+the acknowledgment passes for current payment; and therefore we never
+amend them. On the contrary, they take but deeper root, by losing all
+chance of concealment. Yet I am vexed to see that odious Sir Sedley shew
+so silly a passion for being a man of the _ton_, as to suffer himself to
+be led in a string by those two poor paltry creatures, who are not more
+troublesome as fops, than tiresome as fools, merely because they are
+better known than himself upon the turf and at the clubs.'
+
+Here, she was joined by Lord O'Lerney and the honourable Mr. Ormsby.
+And, in the next saunter of the _tonnish_ triumvirs, Lord Newford,
+suddenly seeing with whom she was associated, stopt, and looking at her
+with an air of surprise, exclaimed, 'God bless me! Mrs. Arlbery! I hope
+you are perfectly well?'
+
+'Infinitely indebted to your lordship's solicitude!' she answered,
+rather sarcastically. But, without noticing her manner, he desired to be
+one in her tea-party, which she was then rising to form.
+
+She accepted the offer, with a glance of consciousness at the General,
+who, as he conducted her, said: 'I did not expect so much grace would so
+immediately have been accorded.'
+
+'Alas! my dear General, what can one do? These _tonnish_ people,
+cordially as I despise them, lead the world; and if one has not a few of
+them in one's train, 'twere as well turn hermit. However, mark how he
+will fare with me! But don't judge from the opening.'
+
+She now made his lordship so many gay compliments, and mingled so much
+personal civility with the general entertainment of her discourse, that,
+as soon as they rose from tea, he professed his intention of sitting by
+her, for the rest of the evening.
+
+She immediately declared herself tired to death of the Rooms, and
+calling upon Miss Dennel and Camilla, abruptly made her exit.
+
+The General, again her conductor, asked how she could leave thus a
+conquest so newly made.
+
+'I leave,' she answered, 'only to secure it. He will be piqued that I
+should go, and that pique will keep me in his head till to-morrow. 'Tis
+well, my dear General, to put any thing there! But if I had stayed a
+moment longer, my contempt might have broken forth into satire, or my
+weariness into yawning: and I should then inevitably have been cut by
+the _ton_ party for the rest of the season.'
+
+Miss Dennel, who had been dancing, and was again engaged to dance,
+remonstrated against retiring so soon; but Mrs. Arlbery had a regular
+system never to listen to her. Camilla, whom nothing had diverted, was
+content to retreat.
+
+At the door stood Sir Sedley Clarendel, who, as if now first perceiving
+them, said to Mrs. Arlbery, 'Ah! my fair friend!--And how long have you
+been at the Wells?'
+
+'Intolerable wretch!' cried she, taking him apart, 'is it thus you keep
+your conditions? did you draw me into bringing this poor love-sick thing
+with me, only to sigh me into the vapours?'
+
+'My dear madam!' exclaimed he, in a tone of expostulation, 'who can
+think of the same scheme two days together? Could you possibly form a
+notion of anything so patriarchal?'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Before they retired to their chambers at the hotel, Camilla told Mrs.
+Arlbery how shocking to her was the sight, much more any acquaintance
+with Lord Newford, who was the person that had so much terrified the
+lady she had met on their journey. Mrs. Arlbery assured her he should be
+exiled her society, if, upon investigation, he was found the aggressor;
+but while there appeared so much mystery in the complaint and the
+conduct of this unknown lady, she should postpone his banishment.
+
+Camilla was obliged to submit: but scarce rested till she saw again her
+new favourite the next morning.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_Mount Ephraim_
+
+
+This expected guest arrived early. Camilla received her with the only
+sensation of pleasure she had experienced at Tunbridge. Yet what she
+excited seemed still stronger: the fair stranger besought her friendship
+as a solace to her existence, and hung upon her as upon a treasure long
+lost, and dearly recovered. Camilla soon caught the infection of her
+softness, and felt a similar desire to cultivate her regard. She found
+her beauty attractive, her voice melodious, and her manners bewitchingly
+caressing.
+
+Fearing, nevertheless, while yet in ignorance of her connexions, to
+provoke further ridicule from Mrs. Arlbery by going abroad with her, she
+proposed deferring to return her visit till another day: the lady
+consented, and they spent together two hours, which each thought had
+been but two minutes, when Mrs. Arlbery summoned Camilla to a walk.
+
+The fair unknown then took leave, saying her servant was in waiting; and
+Camilla and Mrs. Arlbery went to the bookseller's.
+
+Here, that lady was soon joined by Lord O'Lerney and General Kinsale,
+who were warm admirers of her vivacity and observations. Mr. Dennel took
+up the Daily Advertiser; his daughter stationed herself at the door to
+see the walkers upon the Pantiles; Sir Theophilus Jarard, under colour
+of looking at a popular pamphlet, was indulging in a nap in a corner;
+Lord Newford, noticing nothing, except his own figure as he past a
+mirrour, was shuffling loud about the floor, which was not much
+embellished by the scraping of his boots; and Sir Sedley Clarendel,
+lounging upon a chair in the middle of the shop, sat eating _bon bons_.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, for some time, confined her talents to general remarks:
+but finding these failed to move a muscle in the face of Sir Sedley, at
+whom they were directed, she suddenly exclaimed: 'Pray, my Lord
+O'Lerney, do you know any thing of Sir Sedley Clarendel?'
+
+'Not so much,' answered his Lordship, 'as I could wish; but I hope to
+improve my acquaintance with him.'
+
+'Why then, my lord, I am much afraid you will conclude, when you see him
+in one of those reveries, from the total vacancy of his air, that he is
+thinking of nothing. But pray permit me to take his part. Those apparent
+cogitations, to which he is so much addicted, are moments only of
+pretended torpor, but of real torment, devoted, not as they appear, to
+supine insipidity, but to painful secret labour how next he may call
+himself into notice. Nevertheless, my lord, don't let what I have said
+hurt him in your opinion; he is quaint, to be sure, but there's no harm
+in him. He lives in my neighbourhood; and, I assure your lordship, he
+is, upon the whole, what may be called a very good sort of man.'
+
+Here she yawned violently; and Sir Sedley, unable to maintain his
+position, twice crossed his legs, and then arose and took up a book:
+while Lord Newford burst into so loud a laugh, that he awakened Sir
+Theophilus Jarard, by echoing, 'A good sort of man! O poor Clary!... O
+hang it!... O curse it!... poor Clary!'
+
+'What's the matter with Clary?' cried Sir Theophilus, rubbing his eyes;
+'I have been boring myself with this pamphlet, till I hardly know
+whether I am awake or asleep.'
+
+'Why, he's a good sort of man!' replied Lord Newford.
+
+Sir Sedley, though he expected, and even hoped for some pointed
+strictures, and could have defied even abuse, could not stand this
+mortifying praise; and, asking for the subscription books, which,
+already, he had twice examined, said: 'Is there any body here one
+knows?'
+
+'O, ay, have you any names?' cried Lord Newford, seizing them first; and
+with some right, as they were the only books in the shop he ever read.
+
+'Come, I'll be generous,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'and add another signature
+against your lordship's next lecture.'
+
+She then wrote her name, and threw down half-a-guinea. Camilla, to whom
+the book was next presented, concluded this the established custom, and,
+from mere timidity, did the same; though somewhat disturbed to leave
+herself no more gold than she gave. Miss Dennel followed; but her
+father, who said he did not come to Tunbridge to read, which he could do
+at home, positively refused to subscribe.
+
+Sir Theophilus now, turning, or rather, tossing over the leaves, cried:
+'I see no name here one knows any thing of, but Lady Alithea Selmore.'
+
+'Why, there's nobody else here,' said Lord Newford, 'not a soul!'
+
+Almost every body present bowed; but wholly indifferent to reproof, he
+again whistled, again streamed up and down the room, and again took a
+bold and full survey of himself in the looking-glass.
+
+'On the contrary,' cried Sir Sedley, 'I hear there is a most
+extraordinary fine creature lately arrived, who is invincible to a
+degree.'
+
+'O that's Mrs. Berlinton;' said Sir Theophilus; 'yes, she's a pretty
+little thing.'
+
+'She's very beautiful indeed,' said Lord O'Lerney.
+
+'Where can one see her?' cried Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+'If she is not at the Rooms to-night,' said Sir Sedley, 'I shall be
+stupified to petrifaction. They tell me she is a marvel of the first
+water; turning all heads by her beauty, winning all hearts by her
+sweetness, fascinating all attention by her talents, and setting all
+fashions by her elegance.'
+
+'This paragon,' cried Mrs. Arlbery, to Camilla, 'can be no other than
+your mysterious fair. The description just suits your own.'
+
+'But my fair mysterious,' said Camilla, 'is of a disposition the most
+retired, and seems so young, I don't at all think her married.'
+
+'This divinity,' said Sir Sedley, 'for the blessing of everyone, yet
+
+    Lord of Himself, uncumber'd by a Wife[1],
+
+[Footnote 1: Dryden]
+
+is safely noosed; and amongst her attributes are two others cruel to
+desperation; she excited every hope by a sposo properly detestable--yet
+gives birth to despair, by a coldness the most shivering.'
+
+'And what,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'is this Lady Alithea Selmore?'
+
+'Lady Alithea Selmore,' drily, but with a smile, answered General
+Kinsale.
+
+'Nay, nay, that's not to be mentioned irreverently,' returned Mrs.
+Arlbery; 'a title goes for a vast deal, where there is nothing else;
+and, where there is something, doubles its value.
+
+Mr. Dennel, saying he found, by the newspaper, a house was to be sold
+upon Mount Ephraim, which promised to be a pretty good bargain, proposed
+walking thither, to examine what sort of condition it was in.
+
+Lord O'Lerney inquired if Camilla had yet seen Mount Ephraim. No, she
+answered; and a general party was made for an airing. Sir Sedley ordered
+his phaeton; Mrs. Arlbery drove Camilla in her's; Miss Dennel walked
+with her father; and the rest of the gentlemen went on horseback.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Arrived at Mount Ephraim, they all agreed to alight, and enjoy the view
+and pure air of the hill, while Mr. Dennel visited the house. But, just
+as Mrs. Arlbery had descended from the phaeton, her horses, taking
+fright at some object that suddenly struck them, reared up, in a manner
+alarming to the spectators, and still more terrific to Camilla, in whose
+hands Mrs. Arlbery had left the reins: and the servant, who stood at the
+horses' heads, received a kick that laid him flat on the ground.
+
+'O, jump out! jump out!' cried Miss Dennel, 'or else you'll be
+murdered!'
+
+'No! no! keep your seat, and hold the reins!' cried Mrs. Arlbery: 'For
+heaven's sake, don't jump out!'
+
+Camilla, mentally giddy, but personally courageous, was sufficiently
+mistress of herself to obey the last injunction, though with infinite
+labour, difficulty, and terror, the horses plunging and flouncing
+incessantly.
+
+'Don't you think she'll be killed?' cried Lord Newford, dismounting,
+lest his own horse should also take fright. 'Do you think one could
+help her?' said Sir Theophilus Jarard, steadily holding the bridle of
+his mare from the same apprehension.
+
+Lord O'Lerney was already on foot to afford her assistance, when the
+horses, suddenly turning round, gave to the beholders the dreadful
+menace of going down the steep declivity of Mount Ephraim full gallop.
+
+Camilla now, appalled, had no longer power to hold the reins; she let
+them go, with an idea of flinging herself out of the carriage, when Sir
+Sedley, who had darted like lightning from his phaeton, presented
+himself at the horses' heads, on the moment of their turning, and, at
+the visible and imminent hazard of his life, happily stopt them while
+she jumped to the ground. They then, with a fury that presently dashed
+the phaeton to pieces, plunged down the hill.
+
+The fright of Camilla had not robbed her of her senses, and the exertion
+and humanity of Sir Sedley seemed to restore to him the full possession
+of his own: yet one of his knees was so much hurt, that he sunk upon the
+grass.
+
+Penetrated with surprise, as well as gratitude, Camilla, notwithstanding
+her own tremor, was the first to make the most anxious inquiries:
+secretly, however, sighing to herself: Ah! had Edgar thus rescued me!
+yet struck equally with a sense of obligation and of danger, from the
+horrible, if not fatal mischief she had escaped, and from the
+extraordinary hazard and kindness by which she had been saved, she
+expressed her concern and acknowledgments with a softness, that even Sir
+Sedley himself could not listen to unmoved.
+
+He received, indeed, from this adventure, almost every species of
+pleasure of which his mind was capable. His natural courage, which he
+had nearly annihilated, as well as forgotten, by the effeminate part he
+was systematically playing, seemed to rejoice in being again exercised;
+his good nature was delighted by the essential service he had performed;
+his vanity was gratified by the publicity of the praise it brought
+forth; and his heart itself experienced something like an original
+feeling, unspoilt by the apathy of satiety, from the sensibility he had
+awakened in the young and lovely Camilla.
+
+The party immediately flocked around him, and he was conveyed to a house
+belonging to Lord O'Lerney, who resided upon Mount Ephraim, and his
+lordship's carriage was ordered to take him to his apartment at the
+hotel.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, whose high spirits were totally subdued by the terror with
+which she had been seized at the danger of Camilla, was so delighted by
+her rescue, and the courage with which it was effected, that all her
+spleen against Sir Sedley was changed into the warmest approbation. When
+he was put into the coach, she insisted upon seeing him safe to the
+hotel; Camilla, with her usual inartificial quickness, seconding the
+motion, and Lord O'Lerney, a nobleman far more distinguished by
+benevolence and urbanity than by his rank, taking the fourth place
+himself. The servant, who was considerably hurt, he desired might remain
+at his house.
+
+In descending Mount Ephraim, Camilla turned giddy with the view of what
+she had escaped, and cast her eyes with doubled thankfulness upon Sir
+Sedley as her preserver. Fragments of the phaeton were strewed upon the
+road; one of the horses [lay] dead at the bottom of the hill; and the
+other was so much injured as to be totally disabled for future service.
+
+When they came to the hotel, they all alighted with the young baronet,
+Camilla with as little thought, as Mrs. Arlbery with little care for
+doing any thing that was unusual. They waited in an adjoining apartment
+till they were assured nothing of any consequence was the matter, and
+Lord O'Lerney then carried them to their new lodging upon Mount
+Pleasant.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery bore her own share in this accident with perfect
+good-humour, saying it would do her infinite good, by making her a rigid
+oeconomist; for she could neither live without a phaeton, nor yet
+build one, and buy ponies, but by parsimonious savings from all other
+expenses.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At night they went again to the Rooms. But Mrs. Arlbery found in them as
+little amusement as Camilla. Sir Sedley was not there, either to attack
+or to flatter; the celebrated Mrs. Berlinton still appeared not to
+undergo a scrutiny; and Lady Alithea Selmore sat at the upper end of the
+apartment, attended by all the beaux, except the General, now at
+Tunbridge.
+
+This was not to be supported. She arose, and declaring she would take
+her tea with the invalid, bid the General escort her to his room.
+
+In their way out, she perceived the assembly books. Recollecting she had
+not subscribed, she entered her name, but protested she could afford but
+half-a-guinea, upon her present new and avaricious plan.
+
+Camilla, with much secret consternation, concluded it impossible to give
+less; and a few shillings were now all that remained in her purse. Her
+uneasiness, however, presently passed away, upon recollecting she should
+want no more money, as she was now free of the rooms, and of the
+library, and equipped in attire for the whole time she should stay.
+
+Miss Dennel put down a guinea; but her father, telling her half-a-crown
+would have done, said, for that reason, he should himself pay nothing.
+
+Sir Sedley received them with the most unaffected pleasure: forced upon
+solitude, and by no means free from pain, he had found no resource but
+in reading, which of late had been his least occupation, except the mere
+politics of the day. Even reflection had discovered its way to him,
+though a long banished guest, which had quitted her post, to make room
+for affectation, vanity, and every species of frivolity. Reduced,
+however, to be reasonable, even by this short confinement, he now felt
+the obligation of their charitable visit, and set his foppery and
+conceit apart, from a desire to entertain them. Camilla had not
+conceived he had the power of being so pleasantly natural; and the
+strong feeling of gratitude in her ever warm heart made her contribute
+what she was able to the cheerfulness of the evening.
+
+Some time after, General Kinsale was called out, and presently returned
+with Major Cerwood, just arrived from the regiment; who, with some
+apology to Sir Sedley, hoped he might be pardoned for the liberty he
+took, upon hearing who was at the hotel, of preferring such society to
+the Rooms.
+
+As the Major had nothing in him either brilliant or offensive, his
+sight, after the first salutations, was almost all of which the company
+was sensible.
+
+Camilla, his sole object, he could not approach; she sat between the
+baronet and Mrs. Arlbery; and all her looks and all her attention were
+divided between them.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, emerging from the mortifications of neglect, which she had
+experienced, almost for the first time in her life, at the Rooms, was
+unusually alive and entertaining; Sir Sedley kept pace with her, and
+the discourse was so whimsical, that Camilla, amused, and willing to
+encourage a sensation so natural to her, after a sadness till now, for
+so long a time unremitting, once more heard and welcomed the sound of
+her own laughter.
+
+It was instantly, however, and strangely checked; a sigh, so deep that
+it might rather be called a groan, made its way through the wainscot of
+the next apartment.
+
+Much raillery followed the sight of her changed countenance; the hotel
+was pronounced to be haunted, and by a ghost reduced to that plight from
+her cruelty. But the good-humour and gaiety of the conversation soon
+brought her again to its tone; and time passed with general hilarity,
+till they observed that Miss Dennel, who, having no young female to talk
+with of her own views and affairs, was thoroughly tired, had fallen fast
+asleep upon her chair.
+
+Her father was already gone home to a hot supper, which he had ordered
+in his own room, and meant to eat before their return; Mrs. Arlbery, to
+his great discomfort, allowing nothing to appear at night but fruit or
+oysters.
+
+They now took leave, Mrs. Arlbery conducted by the General, and Camilla,
+by the Major; while Miss Dennel, unassisted and half asleep, stumbled,
+screamed, and fell, just before she reached the staircase.
+
+The General was first to aid her; the Major, not choosing to quit
+Camilla; who, looking round at a light which came from the room whence
+the sigh they had heard had issued, perceived, as it glared in her eyes,
+it was held by Edgar.
+
+Astonishment, pleasure, hope, and shame, took alternate rapid possession
+of her mind; but the last sensation was the first that visibly operated,
+and she snatched her hand involuntarily from the Major.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery exclaimed, 'Bless me, Mr. Mandlebert! are you the ghost we
+heard sighing in that room yonder?'
+
+Mandlebert attempted to make some slight answer; but his voice refused
+all sound.
+
+She went on, then, to the carriage of Mr. Dennel, followed by her young
+ladies, and drove off for Mount Pleasant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_Knowle_
+
+
+The last words of Camilla to Mandlebert, in quitting Cleves, and the
+tears with which he saw her eyes overflowing, had annihilated all his
+resentment, and left him no wish but to serve her. Her distinction
+between what was wisest and what was kindest, had penetrated him to the
+quick. To be thought capable of severity towards so sweet a young
+creature, the daughter of his guardian, his juvenile companion, and
+earliest favourite, made him detestable in his own eyes. He languished
+to follow her, to apologise for what had hurt her, and to vow to her a
+fair and disinterested friendship for the rest of his life: and he only
+forced himself, from decency, to stay out his promised week with the
+baronet, before he set out for Tunbridge.
+
+Upon his arrival, which was late, he went immediately to the Rooms; but
+he only saw her name in the books, and learnt, upon inquiring for Mrs.
+Arlbery, that she and her party were already retired.
+
+Glad to find her so sober in hours, he went to the hotel, meaning
+quietly to read till bed-time, and to call upon her the next morning.
+
+In a few moments, a voice struck his ear that effectually interrupted
+his studies. It was the voice of Camilla. Camilla at an hotel at past
+eleven o'clock! He knew she did not lodge there; he had seen, in the
+books, the direction of Mrs. Arlbery at Mount Pleasant. Mrs. Arlbery's
+voice he also distinguished, Sir Sedley Clarendel's, General Kinsale's,
+and, least of all welcome, ... the Major's.
+
+Perhaps, however, some lady, some intimate friend of Mrs. Arlbery, was
+just arrived, and had made them spend the evening there. He rang for his
+man, and bid him inquire who had taken the next room, ... and learnt it
+was Sir Sedley Clarendel.
+
+To visit a young man at an hotel; rich, handsome, and splendid; and with
+a _chaperon_ so far from past her prime, so elegant, so coquetish, so
+alluring, and still so pretty; and to meet there a flashy Officer, her
+open pursuer and avowed admirer--'Tis true, he had concluded, Tunbridge
+and the Major were one; but not thus, not with such glaring impropriety;
+his love, he told himself, was past; but his esteem was still
+susceptible, and now grievously wounded.
+
+To read was impossible. To hold his watch in his hand, and count the
+minutes she still stayed, was all to which his faculties were equal. No
+words distinctly reached him; that the conversation was lively, the tone
+of every voice announced, but when that of Camilla struck him by its
+laughter, the depth of his concern drew from him a sigh that was heard
+into the next apartment.
+
+Of this, with infinite vexation, he was himself aware, from the sudden
+silence and pause of all discourse which ensued. Ashamed both of what he
+felt and what he betrayed, he grew more upon his guard, and hoped it
+might never be known to whom the room belonged.
+
+When, however, as they were retiring, a scream reached his ear, though
+he knew it was not the voice of Camilla, he could not command himself,
+and rushed forth with a light; but the lady who screamed was as little
+noticed as thought of: the Major was holding the hand of Camilla, and
+his eye could take in no more: he saw not even that Mrs. Arlbery was
+there; and when roused by her question, all voice was denied him for
+answer; he stood motionless even after they had descended the stairs,
+till the steps of the General and the Major, retiring to their chambers,
+brought to him some recollection, and enabled him to retreat.
+
+Fully now, as well as cruelly convinced, of the unabated force of his
+unhappy passion, he spent the night in extreme wretchedness; and all
+that was not swallowed up in repining and regret, was devoted to
+ruminate upon what possible means he could suggest, to restore to
+himself the tranquillity of indifference.
+
+The confusion of Camilla persuaded him she thought she was acting wrong;
+but whether from disapprobation of the character of the Major, or from
+any pecuniary obstacles to their union, he could not devise. To assist
+the marriage according to his former plan, would best, he still
+believed, sooth his internal sufferings, if once he could fancy the
+Major at all worthy of such a wife. But Camilla, with all her
+inconsistencies, he thought a treasure unequalled: and to contribute to
+bestow her on a man who, probably, only prized her for her beauty, he
+now persuaded himself would rather be culpable than generous.
+
+Upon the whole, therefore, he could resolve only upon a complete change
+of his last system; to seek, instead of avoiding her; to familiarise
+himself with her faults, till he ceased to doat upon her virtues; to
+discover if her difficulties were mental or worldly; to enforce them if
+the first, and ... whatever it might cost him--to invalidate them if the
+last.
+
+This plan, the only one he could form, abated his misery. It reconciled
+him to residing where Camilla resided, it was easy to him, therefore, to
+conclude it the least objectionable.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla, meanwhile, in her way to Mount Pleasant, spoke not a syllable.
+Dismay that Edgar should have seen her so situated, while in ignorance
+how it had happened, made an uneasiness the most terrible combat the
+perplexed pleasure, that lightened, yet palpitated in her bosom, from
+the view of Edgar at Tunbridge, and from the sigh which had reached her
+ears. Yet, was it for her he sighed? was it not, rather, from some
+secret inquietude, in which she was wholly uninterested, and might never
+know? Still, however, he was at Tunbridge; still, therefore, she might
+hope something relative to herself induced his coming; and she
+determined, with respect to her own behaviour, to observe the
+injunctions of her father, whose letter she would regularly read every
+morning.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, also, spoke not; the unexpected sight of Mandlebert
+occupied all her thoughts; yet, though his confusion was suspicious, she
+could not, ultimately, believe he loved Camilla, as she could suggest no
+possible impediment to his proclaiming any regard he entertained. His
+sigh she imagined as likely to be mere lassitude as love; and supposed,
+that having long discovered the partiality of Camilla, his vanity had
+been confounded by the devoirs of the Major.
+
+Miss Dennel, therefore, was the only one whose voice was heard during
+the ride; for now completely awaked, she talked without cessation of the
+fright she had endured. 'La, I thought,' cried she, 'when I tumbled
+down, somebody threw me down on purpose, and was going to kill me! dear
+me! I thought I should have died! And then I thought it was a robber;
+and then I thought that candle that come was a ghost! O la! I never was
+so frightened in my life!'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next morning they went, as usual, to the Pantiles, and Mrs. Arlbery
+took her seat in the bookseller's shop, where the usual beaux were
+encountered; and where, presently, Edgar entering, addressed to her some
+discourse, and made some general inquiries after the health of Camilla.
+
+It was a cruel drawback to her hopes to see him first thus in public:
+but the manner of Mrs. Arlbery at the hotel, he had thought repulsive;
+he had observed that she seemed offended with him since the rencounter
+at the breakfast given for Miss Dennel; and he now wished for some
+encouragement for renewing his rights to the acquaintance.
+
+Sir Sedley, though with the assistance of a stick he had reached the
+library, was not sufficiently at his ease to again mount his horse; a
+carriage expedition was therefore agitating for the morning, and to see
+Knowle being fixed upon, equipages and horses were ordered.
+
+While they waited their arrival. Lady Alithea Selmore, and a very shewy
+train of ladies and gentlemen, came into the library. Sir Sedley, losing
+the easy, natural manner which had just so much pleased Camilla, resumed
+his affectation, indolence, and inattention, and flung himself back in
+his chair, without finishing a speech he had begun, or listening to an
+inquiry why he stopt short. His friends, Lord Newford and Sir Theophilus
+Jarard, shuffled up to her ladyship; and Sir Sedley, muttering to
+himself life would not be life without being introduced to her, got up,
+and seizing Lord Newford by the shoulder, whispered what he called the
+height of his ambition, and was presented without delay.
+
+He then entered into a little abrupt, half articulated conversation with
+Lady Alithea, who, by a certain toss of the chin, a short and half
+scornful laugh, and a supercilious dropping of the eye, gave to every
+sentence she uttered the air of a _bon mot_; and after each, as
+regularly stopt for some testimony of admiration, as a favourite actress
+in some scene in which every speech is applauded. What she said, indeed,
+had no other mark than what this manner gave to it; for it was neither
+good nor bad, wise nor foolish, sprightly nor dull. It was what, if
+naturally spoken, would have passed, as it deserved, without censure or
+praise. This manner, however, prevailed not only upon her auditors, but
+herself, to believe that something of wit, of _finesse_, of peculiarity,
+accompanied her every phrase. Thought, properly speaking, there was none
+in any thing she pronounced: her speeches were all replies, which her
+admirers dignified by the name of repartees, and which mechanically and
+regularly flowed from some word, not idea, that preceded.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, having listened some time, turned entirely away, though
+with less contempt of her ladyship than of her hearers. Her own
+auditors, however, except the faithful General, had all deserted her.
+Even the Major, curious to attend to a lady of some celebrity, had
+quitted the chair of Camilla; and Edgar himself, imagining, from this
+universal devotion, there was something well worth an audience, had
+joined the group.
+
+'We are terribly in the back ground, General!' cried Mrs. Arlbery, in a
+low voice. 'What must be done to save our reputations?'
+
+The General, laughing, said, he feared they were lost irretrievably; but
+added that he preferred defeat with her, to victory without her.
+
+'Your gallantry, my dear General,' cried she, with a sudden air of glee,
+'shall be rewarded! Follow me close, and you shall see the fortune of
+the day reversed.'
+
+Rising then, she advanced softly, and with an air of respect, towards
+the party, and fixing herself just opposite to Lady Alithea, with looks
+of the most profound attention, stood still, as if in admiring
+expectation.
+
+Lady Alithea, who had regarded this approach as an intrusion that
+strongly manifested ignorance of high life, thought much better of it
+when she remarked the almost veneration of her air. She deemed it,
+however, wholly beneath her to speak when thus attended to; till,
+observing the patient admiration with which even a single word seemed to
+be hoped for, she began to pardon what appeared to be a mere tribute to
+her fame; and upon Sir Theophilus Jarard's saying, 'I don't think we
+have had such a bore of a season as this, these five years;' could not
+refuse herself the pleasure of replying: 'I did not imagine, Sir
+Theophilus, you were already able to count by lustres.'
+
+Her own air of complacency announced the happiness of this answer. The
+company, as usual, took the hint, and approbation was buzzed around her.
+Lord Newford gave a loud laugh, without the least conception why; and
+Sir Theophilus, after paying the same compliment, wished, as it
+concerned himself, to know what had been said; and glided to the other
+end of the shop, to look for the word lustre in Entick's dictionary.
+
+But this triumph was even less than momentary; Mrs. Arlbery, gently
+raising her shoulders with her head, indulged herself in a smile that
+favoured yet more of pity than derision; and, with a hasty glance at the
+General, that spoke an eagerness to compare notes with him, hurried out
+of the shop; her eyes dropt, as if fearful to trust her countenance to
+an instant's investigation.
+
+Lady Alithea felt herself blush. The confusion was painful and unusual
+to her. She drew her glove off and on; she dabbed a highly scented
+pocket handkerchief repeatedly to her nose; she wondered what it was
+o'clock; took her watch in her hand, without recollecting to examine it;
+and then wondered if it would rain, though not a cloud was to be
+discerned in the sky.
+
+To see her thus completely disconcerted, gave a weight to the
+mischievous malice of Mrs. Arlbery, of which the smallest presence of
+mind would have robbed it. Her admirers, one by one, dwindled away, with
+lessened esteem for her talents; and, finding herself presently alone in
+the shop with Sir Theophilus Jarard, she said, 'Pray, Sir Theophilus, do
+you know anything of that queer woman?'
+
+The words _queer woman_ were guides sufficient to Sir Theophilus, who
+answered, 'No! I have seen her, somewhere, by accident, but--she is
+quite out of our line.'
+
+This reply was a sensible gratification to Lady Alithea, who, having
+heard her warmly admired by Lord O'Lerney, had been the more susceptible
+to her ridicule. Rudeness she could have despised without emotion; but
+contempt had something in it of insolence; a commodity she held herself
+born to dispense, not receive.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When Mrs. Arlbery arrived, laughing, at the bottom of the Pantiles, she
+found Edgar making inquiries of the time and manner of drinking the
+mineral water.
+
+Camilla heard him, also, and with deep apprehensions for his health. He
+did not however look ill; and a second sadness, not less deep, ensued,
+that she could now retain no hope of being herself his inducement to
+this journey.
+
+But egotism was no part of her composition; when she saw, therefore, the
+next minute, Sir Sedley Clarendel advance limping, and heard him ask if
+his phaeton were ready, she approached him, saying, 'Will you venture,
+Sir Sedley, in your phaeton?'
+
+'There's no sort of reason why not,' answered he, sensibly flattered;
+'yet I had certainly rather go as you go!'
+
+'Then that,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'must be in Dennel's coach, with him and
+my little niece here: and then I'll drive the General in your phaeton.'
+
+'Agreed!' cried Sir Sedley, seating himself on one of the forms; and
+then, taking from a paper some tickets, added; 'I want a few guineas.'
+
+'So do I!' exclaimed Mrs. Arlbery; 'do you know where such sort of
+things are to be met with?'
+
+'Lady Alithea Selmore has promised to disperse some twenty tickets for
+the master of the ceremonies' ball, and she commands me to help. How
+many shall I give you?'
+
+'Ask Mr. Dennel,' answered she negligently; 'he's the only paymaster
+just now.'
+
+Mr. Dennel turned round, and was going to walk away; but Mrs. Arlbery,
+taking him by the arm, said: 'My good friend, how many tickets shall Sir
+Sedley give you?'
+
+'Me!--none at all.'
+
+'O fie! every body goes to the master of the ceremonies' ball. Come, you
+shall have six. You can't possibly take less.'
+
+'Six! What should I do with them?'
+
+'Why, you and your daughter will use two, and four you must give away.'
+
+'What for?'
+
+'Was ever such a question? To do what's proper and right, and handsome
+and gallant.'
+
+'O, as to all that, it's what I don't understand. It's out of my way.'
+
+He would then have made off; but Mrs. Arlbery, piqued to succeed, held
+him fast, and said: 'Come, if you'll be good, I'll be good too, and you
+shall have a plain joint of meat at the bottom of the table every day
+for a fortnight.'
+
+Mr. Dennel softened a little here into something like a smile; and drew
+two guineas from his purse; but more there was no obtaining.
+
+'Come,' cried Sir Sedley, 'you have canvassed well so far. Now for your
+fair self.'
+
+'You are a shocking creature!' cried she; 'don't you know I am turned
+miser?'
+
+Yet she gave her guinea.
+
+'But the fair Tyrold does not also, I trust, assume that character?'
+
+Camilla had felt very uneasy during this contest; and now, colouring,
+said she did not mean to go to the ball.
+
+'Can you ever expect, then,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'to have a partner at
+any other? You don't know the rules of these places. The master of the
+ceremonies is always a gentleman, and every body is eager to shew him
+every possible respect.'
+
+Camilla was now still more distressed; and stammered out, that she
+believed the fewer balls she went to, the better her father would be
+pleased.
+
+'Your father, my dear, is a very wise man, and a very good man, and a
+very excellent preacher: but what does he know of Tunbridge Wells?
+Certainly not so much as my dairy maid, for she has heard John talk of
+them; but as to your father, depend upon it, the sole knowledge he has
+ever obtained, is from some treatise upon its mineral waters; which,
+very possibly, he can analyse as well as a physician: but for the
+regulation of a country dance, be assured he will do much better to make
+you over to Sir Sedley, or to me.'
+
+Camilla laughed faintly, and feeling in her pocket to take out her
+pocket handkerchief, by way of something to do, Mrs. Arlbery concluded
+she was seeking her purse, and suddenly putting her hand upon her arm to
+prevent her, said, 'No, no! if you don't wish to go, or choose to go, or
+approve of going, I cannot, in sober earnestness, see you compelled.
+Nothing is so detestable as forcing people to be amused. Come, now for
+Knowle.'
+
+Sir Sedley was then putting up his tickets; but the Major, taking one of
+them out of his hand, presented it to Camilla, saying: 'Let the ladies
+take their tickets now, and settle with us afterwards.'
+
+Camilla felt extremely provoked, yet not knowing how to resist, took the
+ticket; but, turning pointedly from the Major to Sir Sedley, said: 'I am
+your debtor, then, sir, a guinea--the smallest part, indeed, of what I
+owe you, though all I can pay!' And she then resolved to borrow that sum
+immediately of Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+Sir Sedley began to think she grew handsomer every moment: and,
+contrary to his established and systematic inattention, upon hearing the
+sound of the carriages, conducted her himself to Mr. Dennel's coach,
+which he ascended after her.
+
+Edgar, unable to withstand joining the party, had ordered his horse
+during the debate about the tickets.
+
+Lords O'Lerney and Newford, and Sir Theophilus Jarard, and Major
+Cerwood, went also on horseback.
+
+Sir Sedley made it his study to procure amusement for Camilla during the
+ride; and while he humoured alternately the loquacious folly of Miss
+Dennel, and the under-bred positiveness of her father, intermingled with
+both comic sarcasms against himself, and pointed annotations upon the
+times, that somewhat diverted her solicitude and perplexity.
+
+She forgot them however, more naturally, in examining the noble antique
+mansion, pictures, and curiosities of Knowle; and in paying the tribute
+that taste must ever pay to the works exhibited there of Sir Joshua
+Reynolds.
+
+The house viewed, they all proceeded to the park, where, enchanted with
+the noble old trees which venerably adorn it, they strolled delightedly,
+till they came within sight of an elegant white form, as far distant as
+their eyes could reach, reading under an oak.
+
+Camilla instantly thought of her moonlight friend; but Sir Theophilus
+called out, 'Faith, there's the divine Berlinton!'
+
+'Is there, faith?' exclaimed Lord Newford, suddenly rushing forward to
+satisfy himself if it were true.
+
+Deeming this an ill-bred and unauthorised intrusion, they all stopt. The
+studious fair, profoundly absorbed by her book, did not hear his
+lordship's footsteps, till his coat rustled in her ears. Raising then
+her eyes, she screamed, dropt her book, and darting up, flew towards the
+wood, with a velocity far exceeding his own, though without seeming to
+know, or consider, whither her flight might lead her.
+
+Camilla, certain now this was her new friend, felt an indignation the
+most lively against Lord Newford, and involuntarily sprung forward. It
+was evident the fair fugitive had perceived none of the party but him
+she sought to avoid; notwithstanding Lord Newford himself, when
+convinced who it was, ceased his pursuit, and seemed almost to find out
+there was such a sensation as shame; though by various antics, of
+swinging his cane, looking up in the air, shaking his pocket
+handkerchief, and sticking his arms a-kimbo, he thought it essential to
+his credit to disguise it.
+
+Camilla had no chance to reach the flying beauty, but by calling to her
+to stop; which she did instantly at the sound of her voice, and, turning
+round with a look of rapture, ran into her arms.
+
+The Major, whose devoirs to Camilla always sought, not avoided the
+public eye, eagerly pursued her. Edgar, cruelly envying a licence he
+concluded to result from his happy situation, looked on in silent amaze;
+but listened with no small attention to the remarks that now fell from
+Mrs. Arlbery, who said she was sure this must be the fair Incognita that
+Miss Tyrold had met with upon the road; and gave a lively relation of
+that adventure.
+
+He could not hear without delight the benevolent courage thus manifested
+by Camilla, nor without terror the danger to which it might have exposed
+her. But Lord O'Lerney, with an air of extreme surprise, exclaimed: 'Is
+it possible Lord Newford could give any cause of alarm to Mrs.
+Berlinton?'
+
+'Is she then, my lord, a woman of character?' cried Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+'Untainted!' he answered solemnly; 'as spotless, I believe, as her
+beauty: and if you have seen her, you will allow that to be no small
+praise. She comes from a most respectable family in Wales, and has been
+married but a few months.'
+
+'Married, my lord? my fair female Quixote assured me she was single.'
+
+'No, poor thing! she was carried from the nursery to the altar, and, I
+fear, not very judiciously nor happily.'
+
+'Dear!' cried Miss Dennel, 'i'n't she happy?'
+
+'I never presume to judge,' answered his lordship, smiling; 'but she has
+always something melancholy in her air.'
+
+'Pray how old is she?' said Miss Dennel.
+
+'Eighteen.'
+
+'Dear! and married?--La! I wonder what makes her unhappy!'
+
+'Not a husband, certainly!' said Mrs. Arlbery, laughing, 'that is
+against all chance and probability.'
+
+'Well, I'm resolved when I'm married myself, I won't be unhappy.'
+
+'And how will you help it?'
+
+'O, because I'm determined I won't. I think it's very hard if I may'nt
+have my own way when I'm married.'
+
+''Twill at least be very singular!' answered Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+Camilla now returned to her party, having first conducted her new friend
+towards a door in the park where her carriage was waiting.
+
+'At length, my dear,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'your fair mysterious has, I
+suppose, avowed herself?'
+
+'I made no inquiry,' answered she, painfully looking down.
+
+'I can tell you who she is, then, myself,' said Miss Dennel; 'she is
+Mrs. Berlinton, and she's come out of Wales, and she's married, and
+she's eighteen.'
+
+'Married!' repeated Camilla, blushing from internal surprise at the
+conversations she had held with her.
+
+'Yes; your fair Incognita is neither more nor less,' said Mrs. Arlbery,
+'than the honourable Mrs. Berlinton, wife to Lord Berlinton's brother,
+and, next only to Lady Alithea Selmore, the first toast, and the
+reigning cry of the Wells for this season.'
+
+Camilla, who had seen and considered her in almost every other point of
+view, heard this with less of pleasure than astonishment. When a further
+investigation brought forth from Lord O'Lerney that her maiden name was
+Melmond, Mrs. Arlbery exclaimed: 'O, then, I cease to play the idiot,
+and wonder! I know the Melmonds well. They are all half crazy, romantic,
+love-lorn, studious, and sentimental. One of them was in Hampshire this
+summer, but so immensely "melancholy and gentleman-like[2]," that I
+never took him into my society.'
+
+[Footnote 2: Ben Jonson]
+
+''Twas the brother of this young lady, I doubt not,' said Lord O'Lerney;
+'he is a young man of very good parts, and of an exemplary character;
+but strong in his feelings, and wild in pursuit of whatever excites
+them.'
+
+'When will you introduce me to your new friend, Miss Tyrold?' said Mrs.
+Arlbery; 'or, rather,' (turning to Lord Newford,) 'I hope your lordship
+will do me that honour; I hear you are very kind to her; and take much
+care to convince her of the ill effects and danger of the evening air.'
+
+'O hang it! O curse it!' cried his lordship; 'why does a woman walk by
+moon-light?'
+
+'Why, rather, should man,' said Lord O'Lerney, 'impede so natural a
+recreation?'
+
+The age of Lord O'Lerney, which more than doubled that of Lord Newford,
+made this question supported, and even drew forth the condescension of
+an attempted exculpation. 'I vow, my lord,' he cried, 'I had no
+intention but to look at a letter; and that I thought, she only read in
+public to excite curiosity.'
+
+'O but you knelt to her!' cried Miss Dennel, 'you knelt to her! I saw
+you! and why did you do that, when you knew she was married, and you
+could not be her lover?'
+
+The party being now disposed to return to the Wells, Mrs. Arlbery called
+upon the General to attend her to the phaeton. Camilla, impatient to pay
+Sir Sedley, followed to speak to her; but, not aware of her wish, Mrs.
+Arlbery hurried laughingly on, saying, 'Come, General, let us be gone,
+that the coach may be last, and then Dennel must pay the fees! That will
+be a good guinea towards my ponies!'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_Mount Pleasant_
+
+
+The shame and distress natural to every unhackneyed mind, in any
+necessity of soliciting a pecuniary favour, had now, in that of Camilla,
+the additional difficulty of coping against the avowed desire of Mrs.
+Arlbery not to open her purse.
+
+When they arrived at Mount Pleasant, she saw all the horsemen alighted,
+and in conversation with that lady; and Edgar move towards the carriage,
+palpably with a design to hand her out: but as the Major advanced, he
+retreated, and, finding himself unnoticed by Mrs. Arlbery, remounted his
+horse. Provoked and chagrined, she sprung forwards alone, and when
+pursued by the Major, with some of his usual compliments, turned from
+him impatiently and went up stairs.
+
+Intent in thinking only of Edgar, she was not herself aware of this
+abruptness, till Mrs. Arlbery, following her to her chamber, said, 'Why
+were you so suddenly haughty to the Major, my dear Miss Tyrold? Has he
+offended you?'
+
+Much surprised, she answered, no; but, forced by further questions, to
+be more explicit, confessed she wished to distance him, as his behaviour
+had been remarked.
+
+'Remarked! how? by whom?'
+
+She coloured, and was again hardly pressed before she answered, 'Mr.
+Mandlebert--once--named it to me.'
+
+'O, ho, did he?' said Mrs. Arlbery, surprised in her turn; 'why then, my
+dear, depend upon it, he loves you himself.'
+
+'Me!--Mr. Mandlebert!--' exclaimed Camilla, doubting what she heard.
+
+'Nay, why not?'
+
+'Why not?' repeated she in an excess of perturbation; 'O, he is too
+good! too excelling! he sees all my faults--points them out himself--'
+
+'Does he?...' said Mrs. Arlbery thoughtfully, and pausing: 'nay,
+then,--if so--he wishes to marry you!'
+
+'Me, ma'am!' cried Camilla, blushing high with mingled delight at the
+idea, and displeasure at its free expression.
+
+'Why, else, should he caution you against another?'
+
+'From goodness, from kindness, from generosity!--'
+
+'No, no; those are not the characteristics of young men who counsel
+young women! We all heard he was engaged to your beautiful
+vacant-looking cousin; but I suppose he grew sick of her. A very young
+man seldom likes a silly wife. It is generally when he is further
+advanced in life that he takes that depraved taste. He then flatters
+himself a fool will be easier to govern.'
+
+She now went away to dress; leaving Camilla a new creature; changed in
+all her hopes, though overwhelmed with shame at the freedom of this
+attack, and determined to exert her utmost strength of mind, not to
+expose to view the secret pleasure with which it filled her.
+
+She was, however, so absent when they met again, that Mrs. Arlbery,
+shaking her head, said: 'Ah, my fair friend! what have you been thinking
+of?'
+
+Excessively ashamed, she endeavoured to brighten up. The General and Sir
+Sedley had been invited to dinner. The latter was engaged in the evening
+to Lady Alithea Selmore, who gave tea at her own lodgings. 'The Rooms,
+then, will be quite empty,' said Mrs. Arlbery; 'so we had better go to
+the play.'
+
+Mr. Dennel had no objection, and Sir Sedley promised to attend them, as
+it would be time enough for her ladyship afterwards.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+So completely was Camilla absorbed in her new ideas, that she forgot
+both her borrowed guinea, and the state of her purse, till she arrived
+at the theatre. The recollection was then too late; and she had no
+resource against completely emptying it.
+
+She was too happy however, at this instant, to admit any regret. The
+sagacity of Mrs. Arlbery she thought infallible; and the sight of Edgar
+in a box just facing her, banished every other consideration.
+
+The theatre was almost without company. The assembly at Lady Alithea
+Selmore's had made it unfashionable, and when the play was over, Edgar
+found easily a place in the box.
+
+Lord Newford and Sir Theophilus Jarard looked in just after, and
+affected not to know the piece was begun. Sir Sedley retired to his
+toilette, and Mr. Dennel to seek his carriage.
+
+Some bills now got into the box, and were read by Sir Theophilus,
+announcing a superb exhibition of wild beasts for the next day,
+consisting chiefly of monkies who could perform various feats, and a
+famous ourang outang, just landed from Africa.
+
+Lord Newford said he would go if he had but two more days to live. Sir
+Theophilus echoed him. Mr. Dennel expressed some curiosity; Miss Dennel,
+though she protested she should be frightened out of her wits, said she
+would not stay at home; Mrs. Arlbery confessed it would be an amusing
+sight to see so many representations of the dear human race; but Camilla
+spoke not: and scarce heard even the subject of discourse.
+
+'You,' cried the Major, addressing her, 'will be there?'
+
+'Where?' demanded she.
+
+'To see this curious collection of animals.'
+
+'It will be curious, undoubtedly,' said Edgar, pleased that she made no
+answer; 'but 'tis a species of curiosity not likely to attract the most
+elegant spectators; and rather, perhaps, adapted to give pleasure to
+naturalists, than to young ladies.'
+
+Softened, at this moment, in every feeling of her heart towards Edgar,
+she turned to him, and said, 'Do you think it would be wrong to go?'
+
+'Wrong,' repeated he, surprised though gratified, 'is perhaps too hard a
+word; but, I fear, at an itinerant show, such as this, a young lady
+would run some chance of finding herself in a neighbourhood that might
+seem rather strange to her.'
+
+'Most certainly then,' cried she, with quickness, 'I will not go!'
+
+The astonished Edgar looked at her with earnestness, and saw the
+simplicity of sincerity on her countenance. He looked then at the Major;
+who, accustomed to frequent failures in his solicitations, exhibited no
+change of features. Again he looked at Camilla, and her eyes met his
+with a sweetness of expression that passed straight to his heart.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery now led the way to the coach; the forwardness of the Major,
+though in her own despight, procured him the hand of Camilla; but she
+had left upon Edgar an impression renovating to all his esteem. She is
+still, he thought, the same; candid, open, flexible; still, therefore,
+let me follow her, with such counsel as I am able to give. She has
+accused me of unkindness;--She was right! I retreated from her service
+at the moment when, in honour, I was bound to continue in it. How
+selfish was such conduct! how like such common love as seeks only its
+own gratification, not the happiness or welfare of its object! Could
+she, though but lately so dear to me, that all the felicity of my life
+seemed to hang upon her, become as nothing, because destined to another?
+No! Her father has been my father, and so long as she retains his
+respected name, I will watch by her unceasingly.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+In their way home, one of the horses tired, and could not be made to
+drag the carriage up to Mount Pleasant. They were therefore obliged to
+alight and walk. Mrs. Arlbery took the arm of Mr. Dennel, which she did
+not spare, and his daughter, almost crying with sleep and fatigue, made
+the same use of Camilla's. She protested she had never been so long upon
+her feet in her life as that very morning in Knowle Park, and, though
+she leant upon her companion with as little scruple as upon a walking
+stick, she frequently stopt short, and declared she should stay upon the
+road all night, for she could not move another step: and they were still
+far from the summit, when she insisted upon sitting down, saying
+fretfully, 'I am sure I wish I was married! Nobody minds me. I am sure
+if I was, I would not be served so. I'm resolved I'll always have two
+coaches, one to come after me, and one to ride in; for I'm determined I
+won't marry a man that has not a great fortune. I'm sure papa could
+afford it too, if he'd a mind; only he won't. Every body vexes me. I'm
+sure I'm ready to cry!'
+
+Mr. Dennel and Mrs. Arlbery, who neither of them, at any time, took the
+smallest notice of what she said, passed on, and left the whole weight
+both of her person and her complaints to Camilla. The latter, however,
+now reached the ears of a fat, tidy, neat looking elderly woman, who, in
+a large black bonnet, and a blue checked apron, was going their way; she
+approached them, and in a good-humoured voice, said: 'What! poor dear!
+why you seem tired to death? come, get up, my dear; be of good heart,
+and you shall hold by my arm; for that t'other poor thing's almost
+hauled to pieces.'
+
+Miss Dennel accepted both the pity and the proposal; and the substantial
+arm of her new friend, gave her far superior aid to the slight one of
+Camilla.
+
+'Well, and how did you like the play, my dears?' cried the woman.
+
+'La!' said Miss Dennel, 'how should you know we were at the play?'
+
+'O, I have a little bird,' answered she, sagaciously nodding, 'that
+tells me everything! you sat in the stage box?'
+
+'Dear! so we did! How can you tell that? Was you in the gallery?'
+
+'No, my dear, nor yet in the pit neither. And you had three gentlemen
+behind you, besides that gentleman that's going up the Mount?'
+
+'Dear! So we had! But how do you know? did you peep at us behind the
+scenes?'
+
+'No, my dear; I never went behind the scenes. But come, I hope you'll do
+now, for you ha'n't much further to go.'
+
+'Dear! how do you know that?'
+
+'Because you live at that pretty house, there, up Mount Pleasant, that's
+got the little closet window.'
+
+'La, yes! who told you so?'
+
+'And there's a pretty cat belonging to the house, all streaked brown and
+black?'
+
+'O, la!' exclaimed Miss Dennel, half screaming, and letting go her arm,
+'I dare say you're a fortune-teller! Pray, don't speak to me till we get
+to the light!'
+
+She now hung back, so terrified that neither Camilla could encourage,
+nor the woman appease her; and she was going to run down the hill,
+forgetting all her weariness, to seek refuge from the servants, when
+the woman said, 'Why what's here to do? Why see, my dear, if I must let
+you into the secret--you must know--but don't tell it to the world!--I'm
+a gentlewoman!' She then removed her checked apron, and shewed a white
+muslin one, embroidered and flounced.
+
+Miss Dennel was now struck with a surprise, of which Camilla bore an
+equal share. Their new acquaintance appeared herself in some confusion,
+but having exacted a promise not to be discovered to _the world_, she
+told them, she lodged at a house upon Mount Pleasant, just by their's,
+whence she often saw them; that, having a ticket given her, by a friend,
+for the play, she dressed herself and went into a box, with some very
+genteel company, who kept their coach, and who sat her down afterwards
+at another friend's, where she pretended she should be fetched: 'But I
+do my own way,' continued she, 'and nobody knows a word of the matter:
+for I keep a large bonnet, and cloak, and a checked apron, and a pair of
+clogs, or pattens, always at this friend's; and then when I have put
+them on, people take me for a mere common person, and I walk on, ever so
+late, and nobody speaks to me; and so by that means I get my pleasure,
+and save my money; and yet always appear like a gentlewoman when I'm
+known.'
+
+She then again charged them to be discreet, saying that if this were
+spread to _the world_, she should be quite undone, for many ladies that
+took her about with them, would notice her no more. At the same time, as
+she wished to make acquaintance with such pretty young ladies, she
+proposed that they should all three meet in a walk before the house, the
+next morning, and talk together as if for the first time.
+
+Camilla, who detested all tricks, declined entering into this
+engagement; but Miss Dennel, charmed with the ingenuity of her new
+acquaintance, accepted the appointment.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla had, however, her own new friend for the opening of the next
+day. 'Ah! my sweet protectress!' cried she, throwing her arms about her
+neck, 'what am I not destined to owe you? The very sight of that man is
+horror to me. Amiable, generous creature! what a sight was yours, when
+turning round, I met your eyes, and beheld him no more!'
+
+'Your alarm, at which I cannot wonder,' said Camilla, 'prevented your
+seeing your safety; for Lord Newford was with a large party.'
+
+'O, he is obnoxious to my view! wherever I may see him, in public or in
+private, I shall fly him. He would have torn from me the loved
+characters of my heart's best correspondent!--'
+
+Camilla now felt a little shocked, and colouring and interrupting her,
+said: 'Is it possible, Mrs. Berlinton--' and stopt not knowing how to go
+on.
+
+'Ah! you know me, then! You know my connexions and my situation!' cried
+she, hiding her face on Camilla's bosom: 'tell me, at least, tell me,
+you do not therefore contemn and abhor me?'
+
+'Heaven forbid!' said Camilla, terrified at such a preparation; 'what
+can I hear that can give you so cruel an idea?'
+
+'Alas! know you not I have prophaned at the altar my plighted vows to
+the most odious of men? That I have formed an alliance I despise? and
+that I bear a name I think of with disgust, and hate ever to own?'
+
+Camilla, thunderstruck, answered; 'No, indeed! I know nothing of all
+this!'
+
+'Ah! guard yourself, then, well,' cried she, bursting into tears, 'from
+a similar fate! My friends are kind and good, but the temptation of
+seeing me rich beguiled them. I was disinterested and contented myself,
+but young and inexperienced; and I yielded to their pleadings, unaware
+of their consequences. Alas! I was utterly ignorant both of myself and
+the world! I knew not how essential to my own peace was an amiable
+companion; and I knew not, then,--that the world contained one just
+formed to make me happy!'
+
+She now hung down her head, weeping and desponding. Camilla sought to
+sooth her, but was so amazed, so fearful, and so perplext, she scarce
+knew what either to say or to think.
+
+The fair mourner, at length, a little recovering, added: 'Let me not
+agitate your gentle bosom with my sorrows. I regard you as an angel sent
+to console them; but it must be by mitigating, not partaking of them.'
+
+Camilla was sensibly touched; and though strangely at a loss what to
+judge, felt her affections deeply interested.
+
+'I dreaded,' she continued, 'to tell you my name, for I dreaded to sink
+myself into your contempt, by your knowledge of an alliance you must
+deem so mercenary. 'Twas folly to hope you would not hear it; yet I
+wished first to obtain, at least, your good will. The dear lost name of
+Melmond is all I love to pronounce! That name, I believe, is known to
+you; so may be, also, perhaps, my brother's unhappy story?'
+
+Melmond, she then said, believing Miss Lynmere betrothed to Mr.
+Mandlebert, had quitted Hampshire in misery, to finish his vacation in
+Wales, with their mutual friends. There he heard that the rumour was
+false; and would instantly have returned and thrown himself at the feet
+of the young lady, by whose cousin, Mr. Lionel Tyrold, he had been told
+she was to inherit a large fortune; when this second report, also, was
+contradicted, and he learnt that Miss Lynmere had almost nothing; 'My
+brother,' added she, 'with the true spirit of true sentiment, was but
+the more urgent to pursue her; but our relations interfered--and he,
+like me, is doomed to endless anguish!'
+
+The accident, she said, of the preceding morning, was owing to her being
+engaged in reading Rowe's letters from the dead to the living; which had
+so infinitely enchanted her, that, desiring to peruse them without
+interruption, yet fearing to again wander in search of a rural retreat,
+she had driven to Knowle; where, hearing the noble family was absent,
+she had asked leave to view the park, and there had taken out her
+delicious book, which she was enjoying in the highest luxury of solitude
+and sweet air, when Lord Newford broke in upon her.
+
+Camilla enquired if she feared any bad consequences, by telling Mr.
+Berlinton of his impertinence.
+
+'Heaven forbid,' she answered, 'that I should be condemned to speak to
+Mr. Berlinton of anything that concerns or befalls me! I see him as
+little as I am able, and speak to him as seldom.'
+
+Camilla heard this with grief, but durst not further press a subject so
+delicate. They continued together till noon, and then reluctantly
+parted, upon a message from Mrs. Arlbery that the carriages were
+waiting. Mrs. Berlinton declined being introduced to that lady, which
+would only, she said, occasion interruptions to their future
+_tête-à-têtes_.
+
+Neither the thoughtlessness of the disposition, nor the gaiety of the
+imagination of Camilla, could disguise from her understanding the
+glaring eccentricity of this conduct and character: but she saw them
+with more of interest than blame; the various attractions with which
+they were mixed, blending in her opinion something between pity and
+admiration, more captivating, though more dangerous, to the fond fancy
+of youth, than the most solid respect, and best founded esteem.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_The accomplished Monkies_
+
+
+When Camilla descended, she found Sir Sedley Clarendel and General
+Kinsale in attendance; and saw, from the parlour window, Miss Dennel
+sauntering before the house, with the newly made acquaintance of the
+preceding evening.
+
+The Baronet, who was to drive Mrs. Arlbery, enquired if Camilla would
+not prefer, also, an open carriage. Mrs. Arlbery seconded the motion.
+Miss Dennel, then, running to her father, exclaimed, 'Pray, papa, let's
+take this lady I've been talking with in the coach with us. She's the
+good-naturedest creature I ever knew.'
+
+'Who is she? what's her name?'
+
+'O, I don't know that, papa; but I'll go and ask her.'
+
+Flying then back, 'Pray, ma'am,' she cried, 'what's your name? because
+papa wants to know.'
+
+'Why, my dear, my name's Mittin. So you may think of me when you put on
+your gloves.'
+
+'Papa, her name's Mittin,' cried Miss Dennel, scampering again to her
+father.
+
+'Well, and who is she?'
+
+'O, la, I'm sure I can't tell, only she's a gentlewoman.'
+
+'And how do you know that?'
+
+'She told me so herself.'
+
+'And where does she live?'
+
+'Just by, papa, at that house you see there.'
+
+'O, well, if she's a neighbour, that's enough. I've no more to say.'
+
+'O, then, I'll ask her!' cried Miss Dennel, jumping, 'dear! I'm so glad!
+'twould have been so dull, only papa and I. I'm resolved, when I've a
+house of my own, I'll never go alone any where with papa.'
+
+This being muttered, the invitation was made and accepted, and the
+parties set forward.
+
+The ride was perfectly pleasing to Camilla, now revived and cheerful;
+Sir Sedley was free from airs; Mrs. Arlbery drew them into conversation
+with one another, and none of them were glad when Mr. Dennel, called
+'stop! or you'll drive too far.'
+
+Camilla, who, supposing she was going, as usual, to the Pantiles, had
+got into the phaeton without inquiry; and who, finding afterwards her
+mistake, concluded they were merely taking an airing, now observed she
+was advancing towards a crowd, and presently perceived a booth, and an
+immense sign hung out from it, exhibiting a man monkey, or ourang
+outang.
+
+Though excessively fluttered, she courageously, and at once, told Mrs.
+Arlbery she begged to be excused proceeding.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, who had heard, at the play, the general objections of
+Mandlebert, though she had not attended to her answer, conjectured her
+reason for retreating, and laughed, but said she would not oppose her.
+
+Camilla then begged to wait in Mr. Dennel's carriage, that she might
+keep no one else from the show. Sir Sedley, saying it would be an
+excruciatingly vulgar sight, proposed they should all return; but she
+pleaded strongly against breaking up the party, though, while she was
+handed out, to go back to the coach, the Dennels and Mrs. Mittin had
+alighted, and it had driven off.
+
+The chagrin of Camilla was so palpable, that Mrs. Arlbery herself agreed
+to resign the scheme; and Sir Sedley, who drew up to them, said he
+should rejoice in being delivered from it: but Miss Dennel, who was
+waiting without the booth for her aunt, was ready to cry at the thought
+of losing the sight, which Mrs. Mittin had assured her was extremely
+pretty; and, after some discussion, Camilla was reduced to beg she might
+do no mischief, and consent to make one.
+
+A more immediate distress now occurred to her; she heard Mr. Dennel call
+out to the man stationed at the entrance of the booth, 'What's to pay?'
+and recollected she had no money left.
+
+'What your Honor pleases,' was the answer, 'but gentlefolks gives
+half-a-crown.'
+
+'I'm sure it's well worth it,' said Mrs. Mittin, 'for it's one of the
+most curious things you ever saw. You can't give less, sir.' And she
+passed nimbly by, without paying at all: but added, 'I had a ticket the
+first day, and now I come every day for nothing, if it don't rain, for
+one only need to pay at first.'
+
+Mr. Dennel and his daughter followed, and Camilla was beginning a
+hesitating speech to Mrs. Arlbery, as that lady, not attending to her,
+said to Mr. Dennel: 'Well, frank me also; but take care what you pay;
+I'm not at all sure I shall ever return it. All I save goes to my
+ponies.' And, handed by the General, she crossed the barrier; not
+hearing the voice of her young friend, which was timidly beseeching her
+to stop.
+
+Camilla was now in extreme confusion. She put her hand into her pocket,
+took it out, felt again, and again brought forth the hand empty.
+
+The Major, who was before her, and who watched her, begged leave to
+settle with the booth-keeper; but Camilla, to whom he grew daily more
+irksome, again preferred a short obligation to the Baronet, and
+blushingly asked if he would once more be her banker?
+
+Sir Sedley, by no means suspecting the necessity that urged this
+condescension, was surprised and delighted, and almost without knowing
+it himself, became all that was attentive, obliging, and pleasing.
+
+Before they were seated, the young Ensign, Mr. Macdersey, issuing from a
+group of gentlemen, addressed himself to Camilla, though with an air
+that spoke him much discomposed and out of spirits. 'I hope you are
+well, Miss Camilla Tyrold,' he cried; 'and have left all your family
+well? particularly the loveliest of your sex, that angel of beauty, the
+divine Miss Lynmere?'
+
+'Except the company present!' said Mrs. Arlbery; 'always except the
+company present, when you talk of beauty to women.'
+
+'I would not except even the company absent!' replied he, with warmth;
+but was interrupted from proceeding, by what the master of the booth
+called his _Consort of Musics_: in which not less than twenty monkies
+contributed their part; one dreadfully scraping a bow across the strings
+of a vile kit, another beating a drum, another with a fife, a fourth
+with a bagpipe, and the sixteen remainder striking together tongs,
+shovels, and pokers, by way of marrowbones and cleavers. Every body
+stopt their ears, though no one could forbear laughing at their various
+contortions, and horrible grimaces, till the master of the booth, to
+keep them, he said, in tune, dealt about such fierce blows with a stick,
+that they set up a general howling, which he called the _Wocal_ part of
+his _Consort_, not more stunning to the ear, than offensive to all
+humanity. The audience applauded by loud shouts, but Mrs. Arlbery,
+disgusted, rose to quit the booth. Camilla eagerly started up to second
+the motion, but her eyes still more expeditiously turned from the door,
+upon encountering those of Edgar; who, having met the empty coach of Mr.
+Dennel, had not been able to refrain from inquiring where its company
+had been deposited; nor, upon hearing it was at the _accomplished
+Monkies_, from hastening to the spot, to satisfy himself if or not
+Camilla had been steady to her declaration. But he witnessed at once the
+propriety of his advice, and its failure.
+
+The master of the booth could not endure to see the departure of the
+most brilliant part of his spectators, and made an harangue, promising
+the company, at large, if they would submit to postponing the _Consort_,
+in order to oblige his friends the Quality, they should have it, with
+the newest squalls in taste, afterwards.
+
+The people laughed and clapped, and Mrs. Arlbery sat down.
+
+In a few minutes, the performers were ready for a new exhibition. They
+were dressed up as soldiers, who, headed by a corporal, came forward to
+do their exercises.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, laughing, told the General, as he was upon duty, he should
+himself take the command: the General, a pleasant, yet cool and sensible
+man, did not laugh less; but the Ensign, more warm tempered, and wrong
+headed, seeing a feather in a monkey's cap, of the same colour, by
+chance, as in his own, fired with hasty indignation, and rising, called
+out to the master of the booth: 'What do you mean by this, sir? do you
+mean to put an affront upon our corps?'
+
+The man, startled, was going most humbly to protest his innocence of any
+such design; but the laugh raised against the Ensign amongst the
+audience gave him more courage, and he only simpered without speaking.
+
+'What do you mean by grinning at me, sir?' said Macdersey; 'do you want
+me to cane you?'
+
+'Cane me!' cried the man enraged, 'by what rights?'
+
+Macdersey, easily put off all guard, was stepping over the benches, with
+his cane uplifted, when his next neighbour, tightly holding him, said,
+in a half whisper, 'If you'll take my advice, you'd a deal better
+provoke him to strike the first blow.'
+
+Macdersey, far more irritated by this counsel than by the original
+offence, fiercely looked back, calling out 'The first blow! What do you
+mean by that, sir?'
+
+'No offence, sir,' answered the person, who was no other than the slow
+and solemn Mr. Dubster; 'but only to give you a hint for your own good;
+for if you strike first, being in his own house, as one may say, he may
+take the law of you.'
+
+'The law!' repeated the fiery Ensign; 'the law was made for poltroons: a
+man of honour does not know what it means.'
+
+'If you talk at that rate, sir,' said Dubster, in a low voice, 'it may
+bring you into trouble.'
+
+'And who are you, sir, that take upon you the presumption to give me
+your opinion?'
+
+'Who am I, sir? I am a gentleman, if you must needs know.'
+
+'A gentleman! who made you so?'
+
+'Who made me so? why leaving off business! what would you have make me
+so? you may tell me if you are any better, if you come to that.'
+
+Macdersey, of an ancient and respectable family, incensed past measure,
+was turning back upon Mr. Dubster; when the General, taking him gently
+by the hand, begged he would recollect himself.
+
+'That's very true, sir, very true, General!' cried he, profoundly
+bowing; 'what you say is very true. I have no right to put myself into a
+passion before my superior officer, unless he puts me into it himself;
+in which case 'tis his own fault. So I beg your pardon, General, with
+all my heart. And I'll go out of the booth without another half
+syllable. But if ever I detect any of those monkies mocking us, and
+wearing our feathers, when you a'n't by, I sha'n't put up with it so
+mildly. I hope you'll excuse me, General.'
+
+He then bowed to him again, and begged pardon of all the ladies; but, in
+quitting the booth, contemptuously said to Mr. Dubster: 'As to you, you
+little dirty fellow, you a'n't worth my notice.'
+
+'Little dirty fellow!' repeated Mr. Dubster, when he was gone; 'How come
+you to think of that? why I'm as clean as hands can make me!'
+
+'Come, sir, come,' said Mrs. Mittin, reaching over to him, and stroking
+his arm, 'don't be angry; these things will happen, sometimes, in public
+companies; but gentlemen should be above minding them. He meant no harm,
+I dare say.'
+
+'O, as to that, ma'am,' answered Mr. Dubster proudly, 'I don't much care
+if he did or not: it's no odds to me. Only I don't know much what right
+he has to defame me. I wonder who he thinks he is that he may break the
+peace for nothing. I can't say I'm much a friend to such behaviour.
+Treating people with so little ceremony.'
+
+'I protest,' cried Sir Sedley to Camilla, ''tis your favourite swain
+from the Northwick assembly! wafted on some zephyr of Hope, he has
+pursued you to Tunbridge. I flatter myself he has brought his last bran
+new cloaths to claim your fair hand at the master of the ceremonies'
+ball.'
+
+'Hush! hush!' cried Camilla, in a low voice; 'he will take you literally
+should he hear you!'
+
+Mr. Dubster, now perceiving her, bowed low from the place where he
+stood, and called out, 'How do you do, ma'am? I ask pardon for not
+speaking to you before; but I can't say as I see you.'
+
+Camilla was forced to bow, though she made no answer. But he continued
+with his usual steadiness; 'Why, that was but a unked morning we was
+together so long, ma'am, in my new summer-house. We was in fine
+jeopardy, that's the truth of it. Pray, how does the young gentleman do
+as took away our ladder?'
+
+'What a delectable acquaintance!' cried Sir Sedley; 'would you have the
+cruelty to keep such a treasure to yourself? present me, I supplicate!'
+
+'O, I know you well enough, sir,' said Mr. Dubster, who overheard him;
+'I see you at the hop at the White Hart; and I believe you know me
+pretty well too, sir, if I may take account by your staring. Not that I
+mind it in the least.'
+
+'Come, come, don't be touchy,' said Mrs. Mittin; 'can't you be
+good-natured, and hold your tongue? what signifies taking things amiss?
+It only breeds ill words.'
+
+'That's very sensibly observed upon!' said Mr. Dennel; 'I don't know
+when I've heard any thing more sensibly said.'
+
+'O, as to that, I don't take it amiss in the least,' cried Mr. Dubster;
+'if the gentleman's a mind to stare, let him stare. Only I should like
+to know what it's for. It's no better than child's play, as one may say,
+making one look foolish for nothing.'
+
+The ourang outang was now announced, and Mrs. Arlbery immediately left
+the booth, accompanied by her party, and speedily followed by Edgar.
+
+Neither of the carriages were in waiting, but they would not return to
+the booth. Sir Sedley, to whom standing was still rather inconvenient,
+begged a cast in the carriage of a friend, who was accidentally passing
+by.
+
+Macdersey, who joined them, said he had been considering what that
+fellow had proposed to him, of taking the first blow, and found he could
+not put up with it: and upon the appearance of Mr. Dubster, who in
+quitting the booth was preparing, with his usual leisurely solemnity, to
+approach Camilla, darted forward and seizing him by the collar,
+exclaimed, 'Retract, sir! Retract!'
+
+Mr. Dubster stared, at first, without speech or opposition; but being
+released by the Major, whom the General begged to interfere, he angrily
+said: 'Pray, sir, what business have you to take hold of a body in such
+a manner as that? It's an assault, sir, and so I can prove. And I'm glad
+of it; for now I can serve you as I did another gentleman once before,
+that I smarted out of a good ten pound out of his pocket, for a knock he
+gave me, for a mere nothing, just like this here pulling one by the
+collar, nobody knows why.'
+
+The Major, endeavouring to quiet Macdersey, advised him to despise so
+low a person.
+
+'So I will, my dear friend,' he returned, 'as soon as ever I have given
+him the proper chastisement for his ignorance. But I must do that first.
+You won't take it ill, Major.'
+
+'I believe,' cried Mr. Dubster, holding up both his hands, 'the like of
+this was never heard of! Here's a gentleman, as he calls himself, ready
+to take away my life, with his own good will, for nothing but giving him
+a little bit of advice! However, it's all one to me. The law is open to
+all. And if any one plays their tricks upon me, they shall pay for their
+fun. I'm none of your tame ones to put up with such a thing for nothing.
+I'm above that, I promise you.'
+
+'Don't talk, sir, don't talk!' cried Macdersey; 'it's a thing I can't
+bear from a mean person, to be talked to. I had a hundred thousand times
+rather stand to be shot at.'
+
+'Not talk, sir? I should be glad to know what right you has to hinder
+me, provided I say nothing against the law? And as to being a mean
+person, it's more than you can prove, for I'm sure you don't know who I
+am, nor nothing about me. I may be a lord, for any thing you know,
+though I don't pretend to say I am. But as to what people take me for,
+that behave so out of character, it's what I sha'n't trouble my head
+about. They may take me for a chimney-sweeper, or they may take me for a
+duke; which they like. I sha'n't tell them whether I'm one or t'other,
+or whether I'm neither. And as to not talking, I shall hold my tongue
+when I think proper.'
+
+'Ask my pardon this instant, fellow!' cried the Ensign, whom the Major,
+at the motion of the General, now caught by the arm, and hurried from
+the spot: Mrs. Mittin, at the same moment pulling away Mr. Dubster, and
+notably expounding to him the advantages of patience and good humour.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, wearied both of this squabble and of waiting, took the arm
+of the General, and said she would walk home; Miss Dennel lovingly held
+by Mrs. Mittin, with whom her father also assorted, and by whom Mr.
+Dubster was drawn on.
+
+Camilla alone had no immediate companion, as the Major was occupied by
+the Ensign. Edgar saw her disengaged. He trembled, he wavered; he wished
+the Major back; he wished him still more at a distance too remote ever
+to return; he thought he would instantly mount his horse, and gallop
+towards Beech Park; but the horse was not ready, and Camilla was in
+sight;--and, in less than a minute, he found himself, scarce knowing
+how, at her side.
+
+Camilla felt a pleasure that bounded to her heart, though the late
+assertions of Mrs. Arlbery prepared her to expect him. He knew not,
+however, what to say; he felt mortified and disappointed, and when he
+had uttered something scarce intelligible about the weather, he walked
+on in silence.
+
+Camilla, whose present train of thoughts had no discordant tendency,
+broke through this strangeness herself, and said: 'How frivolous I must
+appear to you! but indeed I was at the very door of the booth, before I
+knew whither the party was going.'
+
+'You did not, I hope, at least,' he cried, 'when you had entered it,
+deem me too rigid, too austere, that I thought the species, both of
+company and of entertainment, ill calculated for a young lady?'
+
+'Rigid! austere!' repeated she; 'I never thought you either! never--and
+if once again--' she stopt; embarrassed, ashamed.
+
+'If once again what?' cried he in a tremulous voice; 'what would Miss
+Camilla say?--would she again--Is there yet--What would Miss Camilla
+say?--'
+
+Camilla felt confounded, both with ideas of what he meant to allude to,
+and what construction he had put upon her half finished sentence.
+Impatient, however, to clear that, 'If once more,' she cried, 'you could
+prevail with yourself--now and then--from time to time--to give me an
+hint, an idea--of what you think right--I will promise, if not a
+constant observance, at least a never-failing sense of your kindness.'
+
+The revulsion in the heart, in the whole frame of Edgar, was almost too
+powerful for restraint: he panted for an immediate explanation of every
+past and every present difficulty, and a final avowal that she was
+either self-destined to the Major, or that he had no rival to fear: But
+before he could make any answer, a sudden and violent shower broke up
+the conference, and grouped the whole party under a large tree.
+
+This interruption, however, had no power upon their thoughts; neither of
+them heard a word that was saying; each ruminated intently, though
+confusedly, upon what already was passed. Yet where the wind
+precipitated the rain, Edgar stationed himself, and held his hat to
+intercept its passage to Camilla; and as her eye involuntarily was
+caught by the shower that pattered upon his head and shoulders, she
+insensibly pressed nearer to the trunk of the tree, to afford more
+shelter to him from its branches.
+
+The rest of the party partook not of this taciturnity: Mr. Dubster,
+staring Mrs. Mittin full in the face, exclaimed: 'I think I ought to
+know you, ma'am, asking your pardon?'
+
+'No matter for that!' cried she, turning with quickness to Camilla;
+'Lord, miss--I don't know your name,--how your poor hat is all I don't
+know how! as limp, and as flimzy, as if it had been in a wash-tub!'
+
+'I've just bethought me,' continued he, 'where it was we used to see one
+another, and all the whole manner of it. I've got it as clear in my head
+as if it was but yesterday. Don't you remember--'
+
+'Can't you stand a little out, there?' interrupted she; 'what signifies
+a man's old coat? don't you see how you let all the rain come upon this
+young lady? you should never think of yourself, but only of what you can
+do to be obliging.'
+
+'A very good rule, that! a very good one indeed!' said Mr. Dennel; 'I
+wish everybody would mind it.'
+
+'I'm as willing to mind it, I believe,' said Mr. Dubster, 'as my
+neighbours; but as to being wet through, for mere complaisance, I don't
+think it fair to expect such a thing of nobody. Besides, this is not
+such an old coat as you may think for. If you was to see what I wear at
+home, I promise you would not think so bad of it. I don't say it's my
+best; who'd be fool then, to wear it every day? However, I believe it's
+pretty nigh as good as that I had on that night I saw you at Mrs.
+Purdle's, when, you know, one of your pattens--'
+
+'Come, come, what's the man talking about? one person should not take
+all the conversation up so. Dear miss ... do tell me your name?... I am
+so sorry for your hat, I can't but think of it; it looks as dingy!...'
+
+'Why, now, you won't make me believe,' said Mr. Dubster, 'you've forgot
+how your patten broke; and how I squeezed my finger under the iron? And
+how I'd like to have lost the use of it? There would have been a fine
+job! And how Mrs. Purdle....'
+
+'I'm sure the shower's over,' cried Mrs. Mittin, 'and if we stay here,
+we shall have all the droppings of the leaves upon us. Poor miss
+thing-o-me's hat is spoilt already. There's no need to make it worse.'
+
+'And how Mrs. Purdle,' he continued, 'was obliged to lend you a pair of
+shoes and stockings, because you was wet through your feet? And how they
+would not fit you, and kept tumbling off? And how, when somebody come to
+fetch you in their own coach, you made us say you was taken ill, because
+you was so daubed with mud and mire, you was ashamed to shew yourself?
+And how....'
+
+'I can't think what you are talking of,' said Mrs. Mittin; 'but come,
+let's you and I go a little way on, to see if the rain's over.' She then
+went some paces from the tree, and said: 'What signifies running on so,
+Mr. Dubster, about things nobody knows anything of? It's tiring all the
+company to death. You should never talk about your own fingers, and
+hap-hazards, to genteel people. You should only talk about agreeable
+subjects as I do. See how they all like me! That gentleman brought me to
+the monkies in his own coach.'
+
+'As to that,' answered he, gravely, 'I did not mean, in the least, to
+say anything disagreeable; only I thought it odd you should not seem to
+know me again, considering Mrs. Purdle used----'
+
+'Why you've no nous, Mr. Dubster; Mrs. Purdle's a very good sort of
+woman and the best friend I have in the world, perhaps, at the bottom;
+but she i'n't a sort of person to talk of before gentlefolks. You should
+talk to great people about their own affairs, and what you can do to
+please them, and find out how you can serve them, if you'd be treated
+genteelly by them, as I am. Why, I go every where, and see every thing,
+and it costs me nothing. A friend, a lady of great fashion, took me one
+day to the monkies, and paid for me; and I've gone since, whenever I
+will, for nothing.'
+
+'Nobody treats me to nothing,' answered he, in a melancholy voice,
+'whatever's the reason: except when I make friends with somebody that
+can let me in free, sometimes. And I get a peep, now and then, at what
+goes forward, that way.'
+
+'But you are rich enough to pay for yourself now, Mr. Dubster; good
+lack! if I had such a fortune as yours, I'd go all the world over, and
+thanks to nobody.'
+
+'And how long would you be rich then, Mrs. Mittin? Who'd give you your
+money again when you'd spent it? I got mine hard enough. I sha'n't fool
+it away in a hurry, I promise you!'
+
+'I can't say I see that, Mr. Dubster, when two of your wives died so
+soon, and left you so handsome.'
+
+'Why, yes, I don't say to the contrary of that; but then, think of the
+time before, when I was 'prentice!--'
+
+The shower was now over, and the party proceeded as before.
+
+Edgar, uncertain, irresolute, walked on in silence: yet attentive,
+assiduous, even tenderly watchful to guide, guard, and assist his fair
+companion in her way. The name of the Major trembled perpetually upon
+his lips; but fear what might be the result of his inquiries stopt his
+speech till they approached the house; when he commanded voice to say:
+'You permit, then, the renewal of my old privilege?--'
+
+'Permit! I wish for it!'
+
+They were now at the door. Edgar, not daring to speak again to Camilla,
+and not able to address any one else, took his leave; enchanted that he
+was authorized, once more, to inform himself with openness of the state
+of her affairs, and of her conduct. And Camilla, dwelling with delight
+upon the discernment of Mrs. Arlbery, blest the happy penetration that
+had endowed her with courage to speak again to Edgar in terms of
+friendship and confidence.
+
+Mrs. Mittin, declaring she could not eat till she had seen what could be
+done for the hat of Miss Tyrold, accompanied her upstairs, took it off
+herself, wiped it, smoothed, and tried to new arrange it; and, at last,
+failing to succeed, insisted upon taking it home, to put it in order,
+and promised to return it in the morning time enough for the Pantiles.
+Camilla was much ashamed; but she had no means to buy another, and she
+had now lost her indifference to going abroad. She thought, therefore,
+this new acquaintance at least as useful as she was officious, and
+accepted her civility with thanks.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_The Rooms_
+
+
+The evening, as usual, was destined to the Rooms. The first object
+Camilla perceived upon her entrance was Edgar, and the smile with which
+she met his eye brought him instantly to her side. That smile was not
+less radiant for his nearer approach; nor was his pleasure in it less
+animated for observing that Major Cerwood was not of her party, nor as
+yet in the room. The opportunity seemed inviting to engage her himself;
+to suggest and to find it irresistible was the same thing, and he
+inquired if her whole evening were arranged, or she would go down two
+dances with an old friend.
+
+The softness of her assent was even exquisite delight to him; and, as
+they all walked up and down the apartment, though he addressed her but
+little, and though she spoke but in answer, every word he uttered she
+received as couching some gentle meaning, and every syllable she
+replied, he thought conveyed something of flattering interest: and
+although all was upon open and unavoidable subjects, he had no eyes but
+for her, she had no attention but for him.
+
+This quiet, yet heart-felt intercourse, was soon a little interrupted by
+the appearance of a large and striking party, led on by Lady Alithea
+Selmore; for which every body made way, to which every body turned, and
+which, passing by all the company without seeming conscious there was
+any to pass, formed a mass at the upper end of the room, with an air and
+manner of such exclusive attention to their chief, or to one another,
+that common observation would have concluded some film before their eyes
+obstructed their discerning that they were not the sole engrossers of
+the apartment.
+
+But such was not the judgment formed of them by Mrs. Arlbery, who,
+forced by the stream to give them passage, paid herself for the
+condescension by a commentary upon the passengers. 'Those good people,'
+said she, 'strive to make us believe we are nothing to them. They strive
+even to believe it themselves. But this is the mere semblance worn by
+pride and affectation, to veil internal fatigue. They come hither to
+recruit their exhausted powers, not, indeed, by joining in our society,
+but by a view of new objects for their senses, and the flattering idea,
+for their minds, of the envy or admiration they excite. They are all
+people of some consequence, and many of them are people of title: but
+these are far the most supportable of the group; their privileged
+superiority over the rest is so marked and indisputable, that they are
+saved the trouble either of claiming or ascertaining it: but those who
+approach their rank without reaching it, live in a constant struggle to
+make known their importance. Indeed, I have often seen that people of
+title are less gratified with the sound of their own honours, than
+people of no title in pronouncing them.'
+
+Sir Sedley Clarendel was of this set. Like the rest he passed Mrs.
+Arlbery without seeming to notice her, and was passing Camilla in the
+same manner; but not aware this was only to be fine, like the party to
+which he belonged, she very innocently spoke to him herself, to hope he
+got safe to his lodgings, without feeling any further ill effect from
+his accident.
+
+Sir Sedley, though internally much gratified by this interest in his
+safety, which in Camilla was the result of having herself endangered it,
+looked as if he scarce recollected her, and making hastily a kind of
+half bow, walked on with his company.
+
+Camilla, who had no view, nor one serious thought concerning him, was
+rather amused than displeased by his caprices; and was preparing to
+relate the history of his lameness to Edgar, who seemed surprised and
+even hurt by her addressing him, and by his so slightly passing her,
+when the entrance of another splendid party interrupted all discourse.
+
+And here, to her utter amaze, she beheld, as chief of the group, her
+romantic new friend; not leading, indeed, like Lady Alithea Selmore, a
+train, but surrounded by admirers, who, seeking no eye but hers, seemed
+dim and humble planets, moving round a radiant sun.
+
+Camilla now, forgetting Sir Sedley, would have taken this moment to
+narrate her adventure with Mrs. Berlinton, had not her design been
+defeated by the approach of the Major. He belonged to this last group,
+but was the only one that separated from it. He spoke to Camilla with
+his usual air of devotion, told her he had dined with Mrs. Berlinton, to
+whose husband, whom he had taken for her grandfather, he had been just
+introduced; and begged to know of Mrs. Arlbery if he might have the
+pleasure of bringing them all acquainted; an offer which Camilla,
+unauthorised by Mrs. Berlinton, had not ventured to make. Mrs. Arlbery
+declined the proposal; not anxious to mix where she had small chance of
+presiding.
+
+The party, after traversing the room, took full and exclusive possession
+of a considerable spot just below that occupied by Lady Alithea.
+
+These two companies completely engrossed all attention, amply supplying
+the rest of the assembly with topics for discourse. The set with Lady
+Alithea Selmore was, in general, haughty, supercilious, and taciturn;
+looking around with eyes determined to see neither any person nor any
+thing before them, and rarely speaking, except to applaud what fell from
+her ladyship; who far less proud, because a lover of popularity, deigned
+herself, from time to time, a slight glance at the company, to see if
+she was observed, and to enjoy its reverence.
+
+The party to which Mrs. Berlinton was the loadstone, was far more
+attractive to the disciples of nature, though less sedulously sought by
+those whom the manners and maxims of the common world had sophisticated.
+They were gay, elegant, desirous to please, because pleased themselves;
+and though some of them harboured designs deeper and more dangerous than
+any formed by the votaries of rank, they appeared to have nothing more
+in view than to decorate with flowers the present moment. The magnetic
+influence of beauty was, however, more powerful than that of the _ton_;
+for though Mrs. Berlinton, from time to time, allured a beau from Lady
+Alithea Selmore, her ladyship, during the whole season, had not one
+retaliation to boast. But, on the other hand, the females, in general,
+strove to cluster about Lady Alithea; Mrs. Berlinton leaving them no
+greater chance of rival-ship in conversation than in charms.
+
+Edgar had made way upon the approach of the Major, who wore an air of
+superior claim extremely unpleasant to him; but, since already engaged
+to Camilla, he meant to return to her when the dancing began.
+
+She concluded he left her but to speak to some acquaintance, and was,
+herself, amply occupied in observing her new friend. The light in which
+she now beheld her, admired, pursued, and adulated, elegantly adorned in
+her person, and evidently with but one rival for fame and fashion in
+Tunbridge, filled her with astonishment. Nothing could less assort with
+her passion for solitude, her fondness for literary and sentimental
+discussions, and her enthusiasm in friendship. But her surprise was
+mixed with praise and admiration, when she reflected upon the soft
+humility, and caressing sweetness of her manners, yet found her, by
+general consent, holding this elevated rank in society.
+
+The Major earnestly pressed to conduct Camilla to this coterie, assuring
+her Mrs. Berlinton would not have passed, had she seen her, for, during
+dinner, and at coffee, she had talked of nobody else. Camilla heard this
+with pleasure, but shrunk from all advances, and strove rather to hide
+than shew herself, that Mrs. Berlinton might have full liberty either to
+seek or avoid her. She wished to consult Edgar upon this acquaintance;
+though the present splendour of her appearance, and the number of her
+followers, made her fear she could never induce him to do justice to the
+sweetness and endearment of her social powers.
+
+When the Major found he pleaded in vain, he said he would at least let
+Mrs. Berlinton know where to look for her; and went himself to that
+lady.
+
+Edgar, who had felt sensibly mortified to observe, when he retreated,
+that the eyes and attention of Camilla had been wholly bestowed upon
+what he considered merely as a new scene, was now coming forward; when
+he saw Mrs. Berlinton hastily rise, suddenly break from all her
+adulators, and, with quick steps and animated gestures, traverse the
+apartment, to address Camilla, whom, taking by both her hands, which she
+pressed to her heart, she conjured, in the most flattering terms, to
+accompany her back.
+
+Camilla was much gratified; yet, from delicacy to Mrs. Arlbery,
+stimulated by the fear of missing her expected partner in the country
+dances, declined the invitation: Mrs. Berlinton looked disappointed; but
+said she would not be importunate, and returned alone.
+
+Camilla, a little disturbed, besought the Major to follow, with an
+offer of spending with her, if she pleased, the whole of the ensuing
+day.
+
+'Charming!' cried the Major, 'for I am engaged to her myself already.'
+
+To Camilla this hearing was distressing; to Edgar it was scarcely
+endurable. But she could not retract, and Edgar was stopt in the
+inquiries he meant to make concerning this striking new acquaintance, by
+an abrupt declaration from Mrs. Arlbery, that the Rooms were
+insufferable, and she would immediately go home. She then gave her hand
+to the General, and Miss Dennel took the arm of Camilla, murmuring, that
+she would never leave the Rooms at such an early hour again, when once
+she was married.
+
+To quit Edgar thus, at the very moment of renewed intercourse and amity,
+seemed too cruel; and Camilla, though with blushes, and stammering,
+whispered Mrs. Arlbery, 'What can I do, ma'am? most unfortunately I have
+engaged myself to dance?'
+
+'With whom?'
+
+'With--Mr.--Mandlebert.'
+
+'O, vastly well! Stay, then by all means: but, as he has not engaged me
+too, allow me, I beseech you, to escape. Mrs. Berlinton will, I am sure,
+be happy to take care of you.'
+
+This scheme was, to Camilla, the most pleasant that could be proposed;
+and, at the same instant, the Major returned to her, with these words
+written with a pencil upon the back of a letter.
+
+'To-morrow, and next day, and next day, come to me, my lovely friend;
+every thing, and every body fatigues me but yourself.'
+
+Camilla, obliged again to have recourse to the Major, wrote, upon the
+same paper, 'Can you have the goodness to convey me to Mount Pleasant
+to-night, if I stay?' and begged him to bring her an answer. She
+entreated, also, Mrs. Arlbery to stop till it arrived, which was almost
+in the same minute; for the eye of Mrs. Berlinton had but glanced upon
+the words, ere her soft and lovely form was again with their fair
+writer, with whom, smiling and delighted, she walked back, arm in arm,
+to her place.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery and the General, and Mr. and Miss Dennel, now left the
+room.
+
+Edgar viewed all this with amazement. He found that the young lady she
+joined was sister-in-law to a peer, and as fashionable as she was
+beautiful; but could not fathom how so great an intimacy had so suddenly
+been formed.
+
+Camilla, thus distinguished, became now herself an object of peculiar
+notice; her own personal claim to particular attention, her dejection
+had forfeited, for it had robbed her eyes of their animation, and her
+countenance of its play; but no contagion spreads with greater certainty
+nor greater speed than that of fashion; slander itself is not more sure
+of promulgation. She was now looked at by all present as if seen for the
+first time; every one discovered in her some charm, some grace, some
+excellence; those who, the minute before, had passed her with perfect
+indifference, said it was impossible to see and not be struck with her;
+and all agreed she could appear upon no spot under the sun, and not
+instinctively be singled out, as formed to shine in the highest sphere.
+
+But he by whom this transaction was observed with most pleasure, was Sir
+Sedley Clarendel. The extraordinary service he had performed for
+Camilla, and the grateful interest she had shewn him in return, had led
+him to consider her with an attention so favourable, that, without half
+her merit, or half her beauty, she could not have failed rising in his
+estimation, and exciting his regard: and she had now a superior charm
+that distanced every other; she had been asked to dance, yet refused it,
+by a man of celebrity in the _ton_; and she was publicly sought and
+caressed by the only rival at Tunbridge, in that species of renown, to
+Lady Alithea Selmore.
+
+He felt an increased desire to be presented to Mrs. Berlinton himself;
+and, gliding from his own circle as quietly as he could contrive, not to
+offend Lady Alithea, who, though she laughed at _the little Welsh
+rustic_, was watchful of her votaries, and jealous of her rising power,
+came gently behind Lord O'Lerney and whispered his request.
+
+He was received by the young beauty with that grace, and that sweetness
+which rendered her so generally bewitching, yet with an air that proved
+her already accustomed to admiration, and untouched by its intoxicating
+qualities. All that was voluntary of her attention was bestowed
+exclusively upon Camilla, though, when addressed and called upon by
+others, she answered without impatience, and looked without displeasure.
+
+This conduct, at the same time that it shewed her in a point of view the
+most amiable, raised Camilla higher and higher in the eyes of the
+by-standers: and, in a few minutes more, the general cry throughout the
+assembly was, to inquire who was the young lady thus brought forward by
+Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+Edgar heard this with increased anxiety. Has she discretion, has she
+fortitude, thought he, to withstand public distinction? Will it not
+spoil her for private life; estrange her from family concerns? render
+tasteless and insipid the conjugal and maternal characters, meant by
+Nature to form not only the most sacred of duties, but the most
+delicious of enjoyments?
+
+Very soon after, this anxiety was tinctured with a feeling more severe;
+he saw her spoken to negligently by Sir Sedley; he required, after what
+he had already himself deemed impertinence from the Baronet, that she
+should have assumed to him a distant dignity; but he perceived, on the
+contrary, that she answered him with pleasant alacrity, and, when not
+engaged by Mrs. Berlinton, attended to him, even with distinction.
+
+Alas! thought he, the degradation from the true female character is
+already begun! already the lure of fashion draws her from what she owes
+to delicacy and propriety, to give a willing reception to insolence and
+foppery!
+
+Camilla, meanwhile, unsuspicious of his remarks, and persuaded every
+civility in her power was due to Sir Sedley, was gay, pleased, and
+pleasing; happy to consider herself under the guidance, and restored to
+the amity of Edgar, and determined to acquaint him with all her affairs,
+and consult him upon all her proceedings.
+
+The dancing, for which mutually they languished, as the mutual means of
+reunion, seemed not to be the humour of the evening, and those who were
+ready for it, were not of sufficient consequence to bring it forward.
+But when Mrs. Berlinton mentioned, that she had been taking some lessons
+in a cotillon, a universal cry was raised by all her party, to try one
+immediately. She pleaded in vain her inexperience in such dances; they
+insisted there was nobody present that could criticise, that her form
+alone would compensate for every mistake of rule, and that the best
+lesson was easy practice.
+
+She was soon gained, for she was not addicted to denials; but the
+application which ensued to Camilla was acceded to less promptly. As
+there were but two other ladies in the circle of Mrs. Berlinton, her
+assistance was declared to be indispensable. She pleaded inability of
+every sort, though to dance without Edgar was her only real objection;
+for she had no false shame in being ignorant of what she never had
+learnt. But Mrs. Berlinton protested she would not rise if she were the
+only novice to be exhibited; and the Major then prepared to prostrate
+himself at the feet of Camilla; who, hastily, and ashamed, stood up, to
+prevent an action that Edgar might misinterpret.
+
+Hoping, however, now, to at least draw him into their set, she ventured
+to acknowledge to Mrs. Berlinton, that she was already engaged, in case
+she danced.
+
+The Major, who heard her, and who knew it was not to himself,
+strenuously declared this could only be for country dances, and
+therefore would not interfere with a cotillon.
+
+'Will country dances, then,' said she, blushing, 'follow?'
+
+'Certainly, if any one has spirit to begin them.'
+
+The cotillon was now played, and the preceding bow from the opposite
+Major forced her courtsie in return.
+
+The little skill in this dance of one of the performers, and the total
+want of it in another, made it a mere pleasantry to all, though the
+youth and beauty of the two who did the worst, rendered them objects of
+admiration, that left nearly unnoticed those who did best.
+
+To Camilla what belonged to pleasantry in this business was of short
+duration. When the cotillon was over, she saw nothing of Edgar. She
+looked around, mortified, disappointed. No one called for a country
+dance; and the few who had wished for it, concluding all chance over
+when a cotillon was begun, had now retired, or given it up.
+
+What was this disappointment, compared with the sufferings of Edgar?
+Something of a contest, and of entreaties, had reached his ears, while
+he had hovered near the party, or strolled up and down the room. He had
+gathered the subject was dancing, and he saw the Major most earnest with
+Camilla. He was sure it was for her hand, and concluded it was for a
+country dance; but could she forfeit her engagement? were matters so far
+advanced, as to make her so openly shew him all prevailing, all
+powerful, not only over all rivals, but, according to the world's
+established customs upon these occasions, over all decorum?
+
+Presently, he saw the Major half kneel; he saw her rise to prevent the
+prostration; and he heard the dance called.
+
+He could bear no more; pain intolerable seized, distracted him, and he
+abruptly quitted the ballroom, lest the Major should approach him with
+some happy apology, which he was unfitted to receive.
+
+He could only settle his ideas by supposing she really loved Major
+Cerwood, and had suffered her character to be infected by the indelicacy
+that made a part of his own. Yet why had she so striven to deny all
+regard, all connection? what an unaccountable want of frankness! what a
+miserable dereliction of truth!
+
+His first impulse was to set off instantly from Tunbridge; but his
+second thoughts represented the confession this would make. He was too
+proud to leave the Major, whom he despised, such a triumph, and too much
+hurt to permit Camilla herself to know him so poignantly wounded. She
+could not, indeed, but be struck by his retreat; he resolved, however,
+to try to meet with her the next day, and to speak to her with the amity
+they had so lately arranged, yet in a way that should manifest him
+wholly free from all other interest or view.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_Ways to the Heart_
+
+
+All pleasure to Camilla was completely over from the moment that Edgar
+disappeared.
+
+When she returned to Mount Pleasant, Mrs. Arlbery, whom she found alone,
+said, 'Did I not understand that you were going to dance with Mr.
+Mandlebert? How chanced he to leave you? We were kept ages waiting for
+the coach; and I saw him pass by, and walk off.'
+
+Camilla, colouring, related the history of the cotillon; and said, she
+feared, not knowing how she had been circumstanced, he was displeased.
+
+'Displeased!' cried Mrs. Arlbery, laughing; 'and do you, at seventeen,
+suffer a man to be displeased? How can you do worse when you are fifty?
+Know your own power more truly, and use it better. Men, my dear, are all
+spoilt by humility, and all conquered by gaiety. Amuse and defy
+them!--attend to that maxim, and you will have the world at your feet.'
+
+'I have no such ambition: ... but I should be sensibly hurt to make an
+old friend think ill of me.'
+
+'When an old friend,' said Mrs. Arlbery, archly, 'happens to be a young
+man, you must conduct yourself with him a little like what you are; that
+is, a young woman. And a young woman is never in her proper place, if
+such sort of old friends are not taught to know their own. From the
+instant you permit them to think of being offended, they become your
+masters; and you will find it vastly more convenient to make them your
+slaves.'
+
+Camilla pretended to understand this in a mere general sense, and wished
+her good night.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next morning, at an early hour, her chamber door was opened with
+great suddenness, and no preparation, and Mrs. Mittin tript nimbly into
+the room, with a hat in her hand.
+
+'Look here! my dear Miss Tyrold,' cried she, 'for now that other young
+lady has told me your name, and I writ it down upon paper, that I might
+not forget it again: look at your hat now! Did you ever see anything so
+much improved for the better? I declare nobody would know it! Miss
+Dennel says it's as pretty again as it was at first. I'll go and shew it
+to the other lady.'
+
+Away she went, triumphant, with the trophy of her notability; but
+presently returned, saying, 'Do, pray, Miss Tyrold, write me down that
+other lady's name upon a scrap of paper. It always goes out of my head.
+And one looks as if one knew nobody, when, one forgets people's names.'
+
+Camilla complied, and expressed her shame to have caused her so much
+trouble.
+
+'O, my dear, it's none at all. I got all the things at Mrs. Tillden's.'
+
+'Who is Mrs. Tillden?' cried Camilla, staring.
+
+'Why the milliner. Don't you know that?'
+
+'What things?' asked Camilla, alarmed.
+
+'Why these, my dear; don't you see? Why it's all new, except just the
+hat itself, and the feathers.'
+
+Camilla was now in extreme embarrassment. She had concluded Mrs. Mittin
+had only newly arranged the ornaments, and had not the smallest idea of
+incurring a debt which she had no means to discharge.
+
+'It all comes to quite a trifle,' continued Mrs. Mittin, 'for all it's
+so pretty. Mrs. Tillden's things are all monstrous cheap. I get things
+for next to nothing from her, sometimes, when they are a little past the
+mode. But then I recommend her a heap of customers. I get all my
+friends, by hook or by crook, to go to her shop.'
+
+'And what,' stammered out Camilla, 'besides my thanks, do I owe you?'
+
+'Oh nothing. She would not be paid; she said, as you was her customer,
+and had all your things of her at first, she'd put it down in your bill
+for the season.'
+
+This was, at least, some respite; though Camilla felt the disagreeable
+necessity of increasing her intended demand upon Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+Miss Dennel came with a summons from that lady to the Pantiles, whither,
+as the day was fine, she proposed they should walk.
+
+'O,' cried Mrs. Mittin, 'if you are going upon the Pantiles, you must go
+to that shop where there's the curious ear-rings that are be to raffled
+for. You'll put in to be sure.'
+
+Camilla said no, with a sigh attributed to the ear-rings, but due to a
+tender recollection of the raffle in which Edgar had procured her the
+trinket she most valued. Mrs. Mittin proposed accompanying them, and
+asked Camilla to introduce her to Mrs. Arlbery. This was very
+disagreeable; but she knew not how, after the civility she owed her, to
+refuse.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery received her with much surprize, but perfect unconcern;
+conscious of her own importance, she feared no disgrace from being seen
+with one in a lower station; and she conceived it no honour to appear
+with one in a higher.
+
+When they came to the Pantiles, Mrs. Mittin begged to introduce them to
+a view of the ear-rings, which belonged, she said, to one of her
+particular friends; and as Mrs. Arlbery caught the eye of Sir Sedley
+Clarendel in passing the window, she entered the shop.
+
+'Well,' cried Mrs. Mittin, to its master, 'don't say I bring you no
+company. I am sure you ought to let me throw for nothing, if it's only
+for good luck; for I am sure these three ladies will all put in. Come,
+Miss Dennel, do lead the way. 'Tis but half a guinea, and only look what
+a prize.'
+
+'Ask papa to pay for me!' cried Miss Dennel.
+
+'Come, good sir, come, put down the half guinea for the young lady. I'm
+sure you can't refuse her. Lord! what's half a guinea?'
+
+'That's a very bad way of reasoning,' answered Mr. Dennel; 'and what I
+did not expect from a woman of your sense.'
+
+'Why you don't think, sir, I meant that half a guinea's a trifle? No
+indeed! I know what money is better than that. I only mean half a guinea
+is nothing in comparison to ten guineas, which is the price of the
+ear-rings; and so that makes me think it's pity the young lady should
+lose an opportunity of getting them so cheap. I'm sure if they were
+dear, I should be the last to recommend them, for I think extravagance
+the greatest sin under the sun.'
+
+'Well, now you speak like the sensible woman I took you for.'
+
+A very little more eloquence of this sort was necessary, before Mr.
+Dennel put down half a guinea.
+
+'Well, I declare,' cried Mrs. Mittin, 'there's only three more names
+wanted; and when these two ladies have put in, there will be only one!
+I'm sure if I was rich enough, that one would not be far off. But come,
+ma'am, where's your half guinea? Come, Miss Tyrold, don't hold back; who
+knows but you may win? there's only nineteen against you. Lord, what's
+that?'
+
+Camilla turned away, and Mrs. Arlbery did not listen to a word; but when
+Sir Sedley said, 'They are really very pretty; won't you throw?' she
+answered, 'I must rather make a raffle with my own trinkets, than raffle
+for other people's. Think of my ponies! However, I'll put in, if Mr.
+Dennel will be my paymaster.'
+
+Mr. Dennel, turning short off, walked out of the shop.
+
+'This is a bad omen!' cried she, laughing; and then desired to look at
+the list of rafflers; when seeing amongst the names those of Lady
+Alithea Selmore and the Hon. Mrs. Berlinton, she exclaimed: ''Tis a
+coalition of all fashion and reputation! We shall be absolutely scouted,
+my dear Miss Tyrold, if we shrink. My poor ponies must wait half a
+guinea longer! Let us put in together.'
+
+Camilla answered, she had no intention to try for them.
+
+'Well, then, lend me half a guinea; for I never trust myself, now, with
+my purse.'
+
+'I have not a half guinea ... I have ... I have no ... gold ... in my
+purse,' answered Camilla, with a face deeply tinged with red.
+
+Major Cerwood, who joined the party during this discussion, intreated to
+be banker for both the ladies. Camilla positively refused any share; but
+Mrs. Mittin said it would be a shame for such a young lady to go
+without her chance, and wrote down her name next to that of Mrs.
+Arlbery; while the Major, without further question, put down a guinea
+upon the counter.
+
+Camilla could not endure this; yet, from a youthful shame of confessing
+poverty, forced herself to the ear of Mrs. Arlbery, and whispered an
+entreaty that she would pay the guinea herself.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, surprized, answered she had really come out without her
+purse; but seeing her seriously vexed, added, 'If you do not approve of
+the Major for a banker till we go home, what say you to Sir Sedley?'
+
+'I shall prefer him a thousand times!'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, in a low voice, repeated this to the young Baronet, and
+receiving his guinea, threw it down; making the Major, without the
+smallest excuse or ceremony, take back his own.
+
+This was by no means lost upon Sir Sedley; he felt flattered ... he felt
+softened; he thought Camilla looked unusually lovely; he began to wonder
+at the coldness of Mandlebert, and to lament that the first affections
+of so fair a creature should be cast away.
+
+Mandlebert himself was an object of nothing less than envy. He had
+entered the shop during the contest about the raffle, and seen Major
+Cerwood pay for Camilla as well as for Mrs. Arlbery. Confirmed in his
+notions of her positive engagement, and sick at heart from the
+confirmation, he walked further into the shop, upon pretence of looking
+at some other articles, before he could assume sufficient composure to
+speak to her.
+
+Mrs. Mittin now began woefully to repine that she could not take the
+last share for the ear-rings; and, addressing herself to Mr. Dennel, who
+re-entered as soon as he saw the money was paid for Mrs. Arlbery, she
+said, 'You see, sir, if there was somebody ready to take the last chance
+at once, this gentleman might fix a day for the throwing immediately;
+but else, it may be dawdled on, nobody knows how long; for one will be
+gone, and t'other will be gone, and there'll be no getting the people
+together; and all the pleasure of the thing is being here to throw for
+one's self: for I don't much like trusting money matters out of sight.'
+
+'If I'd thought of all that,' said Mr. Dennel, 'I should not have put
+in.'
+
+'True, sir. But here, if it was not that I don't happen to have half a
+guinea to spare just now, how nicely it might all be finished in a
+trice! For, as I have been saying to Miss Dennel, this may turn out a
+real bargain; for they'll fetch their full value at any time. And I tell
+Miss Dennel that's the only way to lay out money, upon things that will
+bring it back again if it's wanted; not upon frippery froppery, that's
+spoilt in a minute, and then i'n't worth a farthing.'
+
+'Very sensibly said,' cried Mr. Dennel; 'I'm sure she can't hear better
+advice; I'm much obliged to you for putting such sensible thoughts into
+her head.' And then, hoping she would continue her good lessons to his
+daughter, he drew out his purse, and begged her to accept a chance from
+it for the prize.
+
+Mrs. Mittin was in raptures; and the following week was settled for the
+raffle.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, who had attended to this scene with much amusement, now
+said to General Kinsale, who had taken a seat by her: 'Did I not tell
+you well, General, that all men are at the disposition of women? If even
+the shrewd monied man cannot resist, what heart shall we find
+impenetrable? The connoisseur in human characters knows, that the
+pursuit of wealth is the petrifaction of tenderness: yet yonder is my
+good brother-in-law, who thinks cash and existence one, allured even to
+squander money, merely by the address of that woman, in allowing that
+money should be the first study of life! Let even Clarendel have a care
+of himself! or, when least he suspects any danger, some fair dairy-maid
+will praise his horsemanship, or take a fancy to his favourite spaniel,
+or any other favourite that happens to be the foible of the day, and his
+invulnerability will be at her feet, and Lady Clarendel be brought
+forward in a fortnight.'
+
+Lord O'Lerney now entered the shop, accompanying a lady whose
+countenance and appearance were singularly pleasing, and who, having
+made some purchase, was quietly retiring, when the master of the shop
+inquired if she wished to look at the ear-rings; adding, that though the
+number was full, he knew of one person, who would give up her chance, in
+case it would oblige a customer.
+
+She answered she had no present occasion for ear-rings, and would not
+therefore take up either his time or her own unnecessarily; and then
+walked gently away, still attended by Lord O'Lerney.
+
+'Bless me,' cried Mrs. Arlbery, 'who is that? to hear a little plain
+common sense is so rare, it strikes one more than wit.'
+
+'It's Lady Isabella Irby, madam,' answered the master of the shop.
+
+Here Lord O'Lerney, who had only handed her to her carriage, returned.
+
+'My Lord,' cried Mrs. Arlbery, 'do you know what a curiosity you brought
+in amongst us just now? A woman of rank who looks round upon other
+people just as if she thought they were her fellow creatures?'
+
+'Fie, fie!' answered Lord O'Lerney, laughing, 'why will you suppose that
+so rare? If we have not as many women who are amiable with titles as
+without, it is only because we have not the same number from which to
+select them. They are spoilt or unspoilt, but in the same proportion as
+the rest of their sex. Their fall, or their escape, is less local than
+you imagine; it does not depend upon their titles, but upon their
+understandings.'
+
+'Well, my lord, I believe you are right. I was adopting a narrow
+prejudice, merely from indolence of thought.'
+
+'But why, my lord,' cried Sir Sedley, 'does this paragon of a divinity
+deny her example to the world? Is it in contempt of our incorrigibility?
+or in horror of our contagion?'
+
+'My dear Sir Sedley,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'don't flatter yourself with
+being so dangerous. Her ladyship does not fly you from fear, take my
+word for it. There is nothing in her air that looks as if she could only
+be good by being shut up. I dare believe she could meet you every day,
+yet be mistress of herself! Nevertheless, why, my lord, is she such a
+recluse? Why does one never see her at the Rooms?'
+
+'Never see her there, my dear madam! she is there almost every night;
+only being unintruding, she is unnoticed.'
+
+'The satire, then, my lord,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'falls upon the company.
+Why is she not surrounded by volunteer admirers? Why, with a person and
+manner so formed to charm, joined to such a character, and such rank,
+has she not her train?'
+
+'The reason, my dear madam, you could define with more sagacity than
+myself; she must be sought! And the world is so lazy, that the most easy
+of access, however valueless, is preferred to the most perfect, who must
+be pursued with any trouble.'
+
+Admirable Lord O'Lerney! thought Edgar, what a lesson is this to
+youthful females against the glare of public homage, the false
+brilliancy of unfeminine popularity!
+
+This conversation, however, which alone of any he had heard at Tunbridge
+promised him any pleasure, was interrupted by Mr. Dennel, who said the
+dinner would be spoilt, if they did not all go home.
+
+Camilla felt extremely vexed to quit the shop, without clearing up the
+history of the dance; and Edgar, seeing the persevering Major at her
+side as she departed, in urgency to put any species of period to his own
+sufferings, followed the party, and precipitately began a discourse with
+Lord O'Lerney upon making the tour of Europe. Camilla, for whom it was
+designed, intent upon planning her own defence, heard nothing that was
+said, till Lord O'Lerney asked him if his route would be through
+Switzerland, and he answered: 'My route is not quite fixed, my lord.'
+
+Startled, she now listened, and Mrs. Arlbery, whom she held by the arm,
+was equally surprised, and looked to see how she bore this intimation.
+
+'If you will walk with me to my lodgings,' replied Lord O'Lerney, 'I
+will shew you my own route, which may perhaps save you some
+difficulties. Shall you set out soon?'
+
+'I fancy within a month,' answered Edgar; and, arm in arm, they walked
+away together, as Camilla and her party quitted the Pantiles for Mount
+Pleasant.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_Counsels for Conquest_
+
+
+Fortunately for Camilla, no eye was upon her at this period but that of
+Mrs. Arlbery; her changed countenance, else, must have betrayed still
+more widely her emotion. Mrs. Arlbery saw it with real concern, and
+saying she had something to consult her about, hurried on with her
+alone.
+
+Camilla scarce knew that she did, or what she suffered; the suddenness
+of surprise, which involved so severe a disappointment, almost stupified
+her faculties. Mrs. Arlbery did not utter one word by the way, and, when
+they arrived at home, saw her to her chamber, pressed her hand, and left
+her.
+
+She now, from a sense of shame, came to her full recollection. She was
+convinced all her feelings were understood by Mrs. Arlbery; she thought
+over what her father had said upon such exposures, and hopeless of any
+honorable end to her suspences, earnestly wished herself back at
+Etherington, to hide in his revered breast her confusion and grief.
+
+Even Mrs. Arlbery she now believed had been mistaken; Edgar appeared
+never to have loved her; his attentions, his kindness, had all flowed
+from friendship; his solicitude, his counsel had been the result of
+family regard.
+
+When called to dinner, she descended with downcast eyes. She found no
+company invited; she felt thankful, yet abashed; and Mrs. Arlbery let
+her retire when the meal was over, but soon followed to beg she would
+prepare for the play.
+
+She saw her hastily putting away her handkerchief, and dispersing her
+tears. 'Ah! my dear,' cried she, taking her hand, 'I am afraid this old
+friend of yours does not much contribute to make Tunbridge Wells
+salubrious to you!'
+
+Camilla, affecting not to understand her, said she had never been in
+better health.
+
+'Of mind, do you mean, or body?' cried Mrs. Arlbery, laughing; but
+seeing she only redoubled her distress, more seriously added, 'Will you
+suffer me, my dear Miss Tyrold, to play the old friend, also, and speak
+to you with openness?'
+
+Camilla durst not say no, though she feared to say yes.
+
+'I must content myself with a tacit compliance, if I can obtain no
+other. I am really uneasy to talk with you; not, believe me, from
+officiousness nor impertinence, but from a persuasion I may be able to
+promote your happiness. You won't speak, I see? And you judge perfectly
+right; for the less you disclaim, the less I shall torment you. Permit
+me, therefore, to take for granted that you are already aware I am
+acquainted with the state of your heart.'
+
+Camilla, trembling, had now no wish but to fly; she fastened her eyes
+upon the door, and every thought was devoted to find the means of
+escape.
+
+'Nay, nay, if you look frightened in sober sadness, I am gone. But shall
+I think less, or know less, for saying nothing? It is not speech, my
+dear Miss Tyrold, that makes detections: It only proclaims them.'
+
+A sigh was all the answer of Camilla: though, assured, thus, she had
+nothing to gain by flight, she forced herself to stay.
+
+'We understand one another, I see, perfectly. Let me now, then, as
+unaffectedly go on, as if the grand explanation had been verbally made.
+That your fancy, my fair young friend, has hit upon a tormentor, I will
+not deny; yet not upon an ingrate; for this person, little as you seem
+conscious of your power, certainly loves you.'
+
+Surprised off all sort of guard, Camilla exclaimed, 'O no!--O no!'
+
+Mrs. Arlbery smiled, but went on. 'Yes, my dear, he undoubtedly does you
+that little justice; yet, if you are not well advised, his passion will
+be unavailing; and your artlessness, your facility, and your innocence,
+with his knowledge, nay, his very admiration of them, will operate but
+to separate you.'
+
+Glowing with opposing yet strong emotions at these words, the
+countenance of Camilla asked an explanation, in defiance of her earnest
+desire to look indifferent or angry.
+
+'You will wonder, and very naturally, how such attractions should work
+as repulses; but I will be plain and clear, and you must be candid and
+rational, and forgive me. These attractions, my dear, will be the source
+of this mischief, because he sees, by their means, that you are
+undoubtedly at his command.'
+
+'No, madam! no, Mrs. Arlbery!' cried Camilla, in whose pride now every
+other feeling was concentrated, 'he does not, cannot see it!--'
+
+'I would not hurt you for the world, my very amiable young friend; but
+pardon me if I say, that not to see it--he must be blinder than I
+imagine him!--blinder than ... to tell you the truth, I am much inclined
+to think any of his race.'
+
+Confounded, irritated, and wounded, Camilla remained a moment silent,
+and then, though scarce articulately, answered: 'If such is your
+opinion ... at least he shall see it ... fancy it, I mean ... no
+more!...'
+
+'Keep to that resolution, and you will behold him ... where he ought to
+be ... at your feet.'
+
+Irresistibly, though most unwillingly, appeased by this unexpected
+conclusion, she turned away to hide a blush in which anger had not
+solely a place, and suffered Mrs. Arlbery to go on.
+
+'There is but one single method to make a man of his ruminating class
+know his own mind: give him cause to fear he will lose you. Animate,
+inspirit, inspire him with doubt.'
+
+'But why, ma'am,' cried Camilla, in a faltering voice; 'why shall you
+suppose I will take any method at all?'
+
+'The apprehension you will take none is the very motive that urges me to
+speak to you. You are young enough in the world to think men come of
+themselves. But you are mistaken, my dear. That happens rarely; except
+with inflamed and hot-headed boys, whose passions are in their first
+innocence as well as violence. Mandlebert has already given the dominion
+of his to other rulers, who will take more care of his pride, though not
+of his happiness. Attend to one who has travelled further into life than
+yourself, and believe me when I assert, that his bane, and yours alike,
+is his security.'
+
+With a colour yet deeper than ever, Camilla resentfully repeated,
+'Security!'
+
+'Nay, how can he doubt? with a situation in life such as his....'
+
+'Situation in life! Do you think he can ever suppose that would have the
+least, the most minute weight with me?'
+
+'Why, it would be a very shocking supposition, I allow! but yet, somehow
+or other, that same sordid thing called money, does manage to produce
+such abundance of little comforts and pretty amusements, that one is
+apt ... to half suspect ... it may really not much add to any matrimonial
+aversion.'
+
+The very idea of such a suspicion offended Camilla beyond all else that
+had passed; Mrs. Arlbery appeared to her indelicate, unkind, and
+ungenerous, and regretting she had ever seen, and repenting she had ever
+known her, she sunk upon a chair in a passionate burst of tears.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery embraced her, begged her pardon a thousand times; assured
+her all she had uttered was the effect of esteem as well as of
+affection, since she saw her too delicate, and too inexperienced, to be
+aware either of the dangers or the advantages surrounding her; and that
+very far from meaning to hurt her, she had few things more at heart than
+the desire of proving the sincerity of her regard, and endeavouring to
+contribute to her happiness.
+
+Camilla thanked her, dried her eyes, and strove to appear composed; but
+she was too deeply affected for internal consolation: she felt herself
+degraded in being openly addressed as a love-sick girl; and injured in
+being supposed, for a moment, capable of any mercenary view. She desired
+to be excused going out, and to have the evening to herself; not on
+account of the expence of the play; she had again wholly forgotten her
+poverty; but to breathe a little alone, and indulge the sadness of her
+mind.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, unfeignedly sorry to have caused her any pain, would not
+oppose her inclination; she repeated her apologies, dragged from her an
+assurance of forgiveness, and went down stairs alone to a summons from
+Sir Sedley Clarendel.
+
+The first moments of her departure were spent by Camilla in the deepest
+dejection; from which, however, the recollection of her father, and her
+solemn engagement to him, soon after awakened her. She read again his
+injunctions, and resolving not to add to her unhappiness by any failure
+in her duty, determined to make her appearance with some spirit before
+Mrs. Arlbery set out.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+'My dear Clarendel,' cried that lady, as she entered the parlour, 'this
+poor little girl is in a more serious plight than I had conjectured. I
+have been giving her a few hints, from the stores of my worldly
+knowledge, and they appear to her so detestably mean and vulgar, that
+they have almost broken her heart. The arrival of this odious Mandlebert
+has overthrown all our schemes. We are cut up, Sir Sedley! completely
+cut up!'
+
+'O, indubitably to a degree!' cried the Baronet, with an air of mingled
+pique and conceit; 'how could it be otherwise? Exists the wight who
+could dream of competition with Mandlebert!'
+
+'Nay, now, my dear Clarendel, you enchant me. If you view his power with
+resentment, you are the man in the world to crumble it to the dust. To
+work, therefore, dear creature, without delay.'
+
+'But how must I go about it? a little instruction, for pity!'
+
+'Charming innocent! So you don't know how to try to make yourself
+agreeable?'
+
+'Not in the least! I am ignorant to a redundance.'
+
+'And were you never more adroit?'
+
+'Never. A goth in grain! Witless from the first _muling in my nurse's
+arms_!'
+
+'Come, come, a truce for a moment, with foppery, and answer me
+seriously; Were you ever in love, Clarendel? speak the truth. I am just
+seized with a passionate desire to know.'
+
+'Why ... yes ...' answered he, pulling his lips with his fingers, 'I
+think--I rather think ... I was once.'
+
+'O tell! tell! tell!'
+
+'Nay, I am not very positive. One hears it is to happen; and one is put
+upon thinking of it, while so very young, that one soon takes it for
+granted. Define it a little, and I can answer you more accurately. Pray,
+is it any thing beyond being very fond, and very silly, with a little
+touch of melancholy?'
+
+'Precise! precise! Tell me, therefore, what it was that caught you.
+Beauty? Fortune? Flattery? or Wit? Speak! speak! I die to know!'
+
+'O, I have forgotten all that these hundred years! I have not the
+smallest trace left!'
+
+'You are a terrible coxcomb, my dear Clarendel! and I am a worse myself
+for giving you so much encouragement. But, however, we must absolutely
+do something for this fair and drooping violet. She won't go even to the
+play tonight.'
+
+'Lovely lily! how shall we rear it? Tell her I beg her to be of our
+party.'
+
+'You beg her? My dear Sir Sedley! what do you talk of?'
+
+'Tell her 'tis my entreaty, my supplication!'
+
+'And you think that will make her comply?'
+
+'You will see.'
+
+'Bravo, my dear Clarendel, bravo! However, if you have the courage to
+send such a message, I have not to deliver it: but I will write it for
+you.'
+
+She then wrote,
+
+'Sir Sedley Clarendel asserts, that if you are not as inexorable as you
+are fair, you will not refuse to join our little party tonight at the
+theatre.'
+
+Camilla, after a severe conflict from this note, which she concluded to
+be the mere work of Mrs. Arlbery to draw her from retirement, sent word
+she would wait upon her.
+
+Sir Sedley heard the answer with exultation, and Mrs. Arlbery with
+surprise. She declared, however, that since he possessed this power, she
+should not suffer it to lie dormant, but make it work upon her fair
+friend, till it either excited jealousy in Mandlebert, or brought
+indifference to herself. 'My resolution,' cried she, 'is fixt; either to
+see him at her feet, or drive him from her heart.'
+
+Camilla, presently descending, looked away from Mrs. Arlbery; but,
+unsuspicious as she was undesigning, thanked the Baronet for his
+message, and told him she had already repented her solitary plan. The
+Baronet felt but the more flattered, from supposing this was said from
+the fear of flattering him.
+
+In the way to the theatre, Camilla, with much confusion, recollected her
+empty purse; but could not, before Mr. and Miss Dennel and Sir Sedley,
+prevail with herself to make it known; she could only determine to ask
+Mrs. Arlbery to pay for her at present, and defer the explanation till
+night.
+
+But, just as she alighted from the coach, Mrs. Arlbery, in her usual
+manner, said: 'Do pay for me, good Dennel; you know how I hate money.'
+
+Camilla, hurrying after her, whispered, 'May I beg you to lend me some
+silver?'
+
+'Silver! I have not carried any about with me since I lost my dear
+ponies and my pet phaeton. I am as poor as Job; and therefore bent upon
+avoiding all temptation. Somebody or other always trusts me. If they get
+paid, they bless their stars. If not,--do you hear me, Mr.
+Dennel?--'twill be all the same an hundred years hence; so what man of
+any spirit will think of it? hey, Mr. Dennel?'
+
+'But--dear madam!--pray--'
+
+'O, they'll change for you, here, my dear, without difficulty.'
+
+'But ... but ... pray stop!... I ... I have no gold neither!'
+
+'Have you done like me, then, come out without your purse?'
+
+'No!...'
+
+This single negative, and the fluttered manner, and low voice in which
+it was pronounced, gave Mrs. Arlbery the utmost astonishment. She said
+nothing, however, but called aloud to Mr. Dennel to settle for the whole
+party.
+
+Mr. Dennel, during the dialogue, had paid for himself and his daughter,
+and walked on into the box.
+
+'What a Hottentot!' exclaimed Mrs. Arlbery. 'Come, then, Clarendel, take
+pity on two poor distressed objects, and let us pass.'
+
+Sir Sedley, little suspicious of the truth, yet flattered to be always
+called upon to be the banker of Camilla, obeyed with alacrity.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery placed Camilla upon a seat before her, and motioned to the
+Baronet to remain in a row above; and then, in a low voice, said: 'My
+dear Clarendel, do you know they have let that poor girl come to
+Tunbridge without a sixpence in her pocket!'
+
+'Is it possible?'
+
+''Tis a fact. I never suspected it till suspicion was followed by
+confirmation. She had a guinea or two, I fancy, at first, just to equip
+her with one set of things to appear in; which, probably, the good
+Parson imagined would last as clean and as long at a public place as at
+his parsonage-house, where my best suit is worn about twice in a summer.
+But how that rich old uncle of hers could suffer her to come without a
+penny, I can neither account for nor forgive. I have seen her shyness
+about money-matters for some days past; but I so little conjectured the
+possibility of her distress, that I have always rather increased than
+spared it.'
+
+'Sweet little angel!' exclaimed the Baronet, in a tone of tenderness; 'I
+had indeed no idea of her situation. Heavens! I could lay half my
+fortune at her feet to set her at ease!'
+
+'Half, my dear Clarendel!' cried Mrs. Arlbery, laughing; 'nay, why not
+the whole? where will you find a more lovely companion?'
+
+'Pho, pho!--but why should it be so vastly horrid an incongruity that a
+man who, by chance, is rich, should do something for a woman who, by
+chance, is poor? How immensely impertinent is the prejudice that forbids
+so natural a use of money! why should the better half of a man's actions
+be always under the dominion of some prescriptive slavery? 'Tis hideous
+to think of. And how could he more delectably spend, or more
+ecstatically enjoy his fortune, than by so equitable a participation?'
+
+'True, Sir Sedley. And you men are all so disinterested, so pure in your
+benevolence, so free from any spirit of encroachment, that no possible
+ill consequence could ensue from such an arrangement. When once a fair
+lady had made you a civil courtesy, you would wholly forget you had ever
+obliged her. And you would let her walk her ways, and forget it also:
+especially if, by chance, she happened to be young and pretty.'
+
+This raillery was interrupted by the appearance of Edgar in an opposite
+box. 'Ah!' cried Mrs. Arlbery, 'look but at that piece of congelation
+that nothing seems to thaw! Enter the lists against him, dear Clarendel!
+He has stationed himself there merely to watch and discountenance her. I
+hate him heartily; yet he rolls in wealth, and she has nothing. I must
+bring them, therefore, together, positively: for though a husband ...
+such a fastidious one especially ... is not what I would recommend to
+her for happiness, 'tis better than poverty. And, after his cold and
+selfish manner, I am convinced he loves her. He is evidently in pursuit
+of her, though he wants generosity to act openly. Work him but with a
+little jealousy, and you will find me right.'
+
+'Me, my dear madam? me, my divine Mrs. Arlbery? Alas! with what chance?
+No! see where enters the gallant Major. Thence must issue those poignant
+darts that newly vivify the expiring embers of languishing love.'
+
+'Now don't talk such nonsense when I am really serious. You are the very
+man for the purpose: because, though you have no feeling, Mandlebert
+does not know you are without it. But those Officers are too notoriously
+unmeaning to excite a moment's real apprehension. They have a new
+dulcinea wherever they newly quarter, and carry about the few ideas they
+possess from damsel to damsel, as regularly as from town to town.'
+
+The Major was now in the box, and the conversation ended.
+
+He endeavoured, as usual, to monopolize Camilla; but while her thoughts
+were all upon Edgar, the whole she could command of her attention was
+bestowed upon Sir Sedley.
+
+This was not unobserved by Edgar, who now again wavered in believing she
+loved the Major: but the doubt brought with it no pleasure; it led him
+only the more to contemn her. Does she turn, thought he, thus, from one
+to the other, with no preference but of accident or caprice? Is her
+favour thus light of circulation? Is it now the mawkish Major, and now
+the coxcomb Clarendel? Already is she thus versed in the common
+dissipation of coquetry?... O, if so, how blest has been my escape! A
+coquette wife!...
+
+His heart swelled, and his eye no longer sought her.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At night, as soon as she went to her own room, Mrs. Arlbery followed
+her, and said: 'My dear Miss Tyrold, I know much better than you how
+many six-pences and three-pences are perpetually wanted at places such
+as these. Do suffer me to be your banker. What shall we begin our
+account with?'
+
+Camilla felt really thankful for being spared an opening upon this
+subject. She consented to borrow two guineas; but Mrs. Arlbery would not
+leave her with less than five, adding, 'I insist upon doubling it in a
+day or two. Never mind what I say about my distress, and my phaeton,
+and my ponies; 'tis only to torment Dennel, who trembles at parting with
+half-a-crown for half an hour; or else, now and then, to set other
+people a staring; which is not unamusing, when nothing else is going
+forward. But believe me, my dear young friend, were I really in
+distress, or were I really not to discharge these petty debts I incur,
+you would soon discover it by the thinness of our parties! These men
+that now so flock around us; would find some other loadstone. I know
+them pretty well, dear creatures!...'
+
+Though shocked to appear thus destitute, Camilla was somewhat relieved
+to have no debt but with Mrs. Arlbery; for she resolved to pay Sir
+Sedley and the milliner the next day, and to settle with Mrs. Arlbery
+upon her return to Etherington.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_Strictures upon the Ton_
+
+
+The next day was appointed for the master of the ceremonies' ball; which
+proved a general rendezvous of all parties, and almost all classes of
+company.
+
+Mrs. Mittin, in a morning visit to Camilla, found out that she had only
+the same cap for this occasion that she had worn upon every other; and,
+assuring her it was grown so old-fashioned, that not a lady's maid in
+Tunbridge would now be seen in it, she offered to pin her up a turban,
+which should come to next to nothing, yet should be the prettiest, and
+simplest, and cheapest thing that ever was seen.
+
+Camilla, though a stranger to vanity, and without any natural turn to
+extravagance, was neither of an age, nor a philosophy, to be unmoved by
+the apprehension of being exposed to ridicule from her dress: she
+thankfully, therefore, accepted the proposal; and Mrs. Mittin, taking a
+guinea, said, she would pay Mrs. Tillden for the hat, at the same time
+that she bought a new handkerchief for the turban.
+
+When she came back, however, she had only laid out a few shillings at
+another shop, for some articles, so cheap, she said it would have been a
+shame not to buy them; but without paying the bill, Mrs. Tillden having
+desired it might not be discharged till the young lady was leaving the
+Wells.
+
+As the turban was made up from a pattern of one prepared for Mrs.
+Berlinton, Camilla had every reason to be satisfied of its elegance. Nor
+did Mrs. Mittin involve her in much distress how her own trouble might
+be recompensed; the cap she found unfit for Camilla, she could contrive,
+she said, to alter for herself; and as a friend had given her a ticket
+for the ball, it would be mighty convenient to her, as she had nothing
+of the kind ready.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Far different were the sensations with which Edgar and Camilla saw each
+other this night, from those with which, so lately they had met in the
+same apartment. Edgar thought her degenerating into the character of a
+coquette, and Camilla, in his intended tour, anticipated a period to all
+their intercourse.
+
+She was received, meanwhile, in general, with peculiar and flattering
+attention. Sir Sedley Clarendel made up to her, with public smiles and
+courtesy; even Lord Newford and Sir Theophilus Jarard, though they
+passed by Mrs. Arlbery without speaking to her, singled out Camilla for
+their devoirs. The distinction paid her by the admired Mrs. Berlinton
+had now not only marked her as an object whom it would not be derogatory
+to treat with civility, but as one who might, hence-forward, be regarded
+herself as admitted into _certain circles_.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, though every way a woman of fashion, they conceived to be
+somewhat wanting in _ton_, since she presided in no party, was unnoticed
+by Lady Alithea Selmore, and unknown to Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+_Ton_, in the scale of connoisseurs in the _certain circles_, is as much
+above fashion, as fashion is above fortune: for though the latter is an
+ingredient that all alike covet to possess, it is courted without being
+respected, and desired without being honoured, except only by those who,
+from earliest life, have been taught to earn it as a business. _Ton_,
+meanwhile, is as attainable without birth as without understanding,
+though in all the _certain circles_ it takes place of either. To define
+what it is, would be as difficult to the most renowned of its votaries,
+as to an utter stranger to its attributes. That those who call
+themselves of the _ton_ either lead, or hold cheap all others, is
+obtrusively evident: but how and by what art they attain such
+pre-eminence, they would be perplexed to explain. That some whim has
+happily called forth imitators; that some strange phrase has been
+adopted; that something odd in dress has become popular; that some
+beauty, or some deformity, no matter which, has found annotators; may
+commonly be traced as the origin of their first public notice. But to
+whichever of these accidents their early fame may be attributed, its
+establishment and its glory is built upon vanity that knows no
+deficiency, or insolence that knows no blush.
+
+Notwithstanding her high superiority both in capacity and knowledge,
+Mrs. Arlbery felt piqued by this behaviour, though she laughed at
+herself for heeding it. 'Nevertheless,' cried she, 'those who shew
+contempt, even though themselves are the most contemptible, always seem
+on the higher ground. Yet 'tis only, with regard to these animals of the
+_ton_, that nobody combats them. Their presumption is so notorious,
+that, either by disgust or alarm, it keeps off reprehension. Let anyone
+boldly, and face to face, venture to be more uncivil than themselves,
+and they would be overpowered at once. Their valour is no better than
+that of a barking cur, who affrights all that go on without looking at
+him, but who, the moment he is turned upon with a stamp and a fierce
+look, retreats himself, amazed, afraid, and ashamed.'
+
+'If you, Mrs. Arlbery,' said the General, 'would undertake to tutor
+them, what good you might do!'
+
+'O, Heavens, General, suspect me not of such reforming Quixotism! I have
+not the smallest desire to do them any good, believe me! If nature has
+given them no sense of propriety, why should I be more liberal? I only
+want to punish them; and that not, alas! from virtue, but from spite!'
+
+The conversation of the two men of the _ton_ with Camilla was soon over.
+It was made up of a few disjointed sentences, abusing Tunbridge, and
+praising the German Spa, in cant words, emphatically and conceitedly
+pronounced, and brought round upon every occasion, and in every speech,
+with so precise an exclusion of all other terms, that their vocabulary
+scarce consisted of forty words in totality.
+
+Edgar occupied the space they vacated the moment of their departure; but
+not alone; Mrs. Mittin came into it with him, eager to tell Camilla how
+everybody had admired her turban; how sweetly she looked in it; how
+everybody said, they should not have known her again, it became her so;
+and how they all agreed her head had never been so well dressed before.
+
+Edgar, when he could be heard, began speaking of Sir Sedley Clarendel;
+he felt miserable in what he thought her inconsiderate encouragement of
+such impertinence; and the delicacy which restrained him from expressing
+his opinion of the Major, had no weight with him here, as jealousy had
+no share in his dislike to the acquaintance: he believed the young
+Baronet incapable of all love but for himself, and a decidedly destined
+bachelor: without, therefore, the smallest hesitation, he plainly avowed
+that he had never met with a more thoroughly conceited fop, a more
+elaborate and self-sufficient coxcomb.
+
+'You see him only,' said Camilla, 'with the impression made by his
+general appearance; and that is all against him: I always look for his
+better qualities and rejoice in finding them. His very sight fills me
+with grateful pleasure, by reminding me of the deliverance I owe to
+him.'
+
+Edgar, amazed, intreated an explanation; and, when she had given it,
+struck and affected, clasped his hands, and exclaimed: 'How providential
+such a rescue! and how differently shall I henceforth behold him!' And,
+almost involuntarily turning to Mrs. Arlbery, he intreated to be
+presented to the young Baronet.
+
+Sir Sedley received his overtures with some surprise, but great
+civility; and then went on with a ludicrous account he was giving to
+Lord Newford and Sir Theophilus, of the quarrel of Macdersey with Mr.
+Dubster.
+
+'How awake thou art grown, Clary?' cried Sir Theophilus; 'A little while
+ago thou wast all hip and vapour; and now thou dost nothing but
+patronise fun.'
+
+'Why, yes,' answered the Baronet, 'I begin to tire of _ennui_. 'Tis
+grown so common. I saw my footman beginning it but last week.'
+
+'O, hang it! O, curse it!' cried Lord Newford, 'your footman!'
+
+'Yes, the rogue is not without parts. I don't know if I shan't give him
+some lessons, upon leaving it off myself. The only difficulty is to find
+out what, in this nether world, to do without it. How can one fill up
+one's time? Stretching, yawning, and all that, are such delicious
+ingredients for coaxing on the lazy hours!'
+
+'O, hang it, O, curse it,' cried Lord Newford; 'who can exist without
+them? I would not be bound to pass half an hour without yawning and
+stretching for the Mogul's empire. I'd rather snap short at once.'
+
+'No, no, don't snap short yet, little Newy,' cried Sir Sedley. 'As to
+me, I am never at a loss for an expedient. I am not without some
+thoughts of falling in love.'
+
+He looked at Edgar; who, not aware this was designed to catch his
+attention, naturally exclaimed: 'Thoughts! can you choose, or avoid at
+pleasure?'
+
+'Most certainly. After four-and-twenty a man is seldom taken by
+surprise; at least, not till he is past forty: and then, the fear of
+being too late, sometimes renovates the eagerness of the first youth.
+But, in general, your willing slaves are boys.'
+
+Edgar, laughing, begged a little information, how he meant to put his
+thoughts in execution.
+
+'Nothing so facile! 'Tis but to look at some fair object attentively, to
+follow her with your eyes when she quits the room; never to let them
+rest without watching for her return; filling up the interval with a few
+sighs; to which, in a short time, you grow so habituated, that they
+become natural; and then, before you are aware, a certain solicitude and
+restlessness arise, which the connoisseurs in natural history dub
+falling in love.'
+
+'These would be good hints,' said Edgar, 'to urge on waverers, who wish
+to persuade themselves to marry.'
+
+'O no, my dear sir! no! that's a mistake of the first magnitude; no man
+is in love when he marries. He may have loved before; I have even heard
+he has sometimes loved after: but at the time never. There is something
+in the formalities of the matrimonial preparations that drive away all
+the little cupidons. They rarely stand even a demand of consent--unless
+they doubt obtaining it; but a settlement! Parchments! Lawyers!--No!
+there is not a little Love in the Island of Cyprus, that is not ready to
+lend a wing to set passion, inspiration, and tenderness to flight, from
+such excruciating legalities.'
+
+'Don't prose, Clary; don't prose,' cried Sir Theophilus, gaping till his
+mouth was almost distorted.
+
+'O, killing! O, murder!' cried Lord Newford; 'what dost talk of marriage
+for?'
+
+'It seems, then,' said Edgar, 'to be much the same thing what sort of
+wife falls to a man's lot; whether the woman of his choice, or a person
+he should blush to own?'
+
+'Blush!' repeated Sir Sedley, smiling; 'no! no! A man of any fashion
+never blushes for his wife, whatever she may be. For his mistress,
+indeed, he may blush: for if there are any small failings there, his
+taste may be called in question.'
+
+'Blush about a wife!' exclaimed Lord Newford; 'O, hang it! O, curse it!
+that's too bad!'
+
+'Too bad, indeed,' cried Sir Theophilus; 'I can't possibly patronise
+blushing for a wife.'
+
+''Tis the same, then, also,' said Edgar, 'how she turns out when the
+knot is tied, whether well or ill?'
+
+'To exactitude! If he marry her for beauty, let her prove what she may,
+her face offers his apology. If for money, he needs none. But if,
+indeed, by some queer chance, he marries with a view of living with her,
+then, indeed, if his particularity gets wind, he may grow a little
+anxious for the acquittal of his oddity, in seeing her approved.'
+
+'Approved! Ha! ha!' cried Lord Newford; 'a wife approved! That's too
+bad, Clary; that's too bad!'
+
+'Poor Clary, what art prosing about?' cried Sir Theophilus. 'I can't
+possibly patronise this prosing.'
+
+The entrance of the beautiful Mrs. Berlinton and her train now
+interrupted this conversation; the young Baronet immediately joined her;
+though not till he had given his hand to Edgar, in token of his
+willingness to cultivate his acquaintance.
+
+Edgar, returning to Camilla, confessed he had too hastily judged Sir
+Sedley, when he concluded him a fool, as well as a fop; 'For,' added he,
+with a smile, 'I see, now, one of those epithets is all he merits. He is
+certainly far from deficient in parts, though he abuses the good gifts
+of nature with such pedantry of affectation and conceit.'
+
+Camilla was now intent to clear the history of the cotillon; when Mrs.
+Berlinton approaching, and, with graceful fondness, taking her hand,
+entreated to be indulged with her society: and, since she meant not to
+dance, for Edgar had not asked her, and the Major she had refused, she
+could not resist her invitation. She had lost her fear of displeasing
+Mrs. Arlbery by quitting her, from conceiving a still greater, of
+wearying by remaining with her.
+
+Edgar, anxious both to understand and to discuss this new connexion,
+hovered about the party with unremitting vigilance. But, though he could
+not either look at or listen to Mrs. Berlinton, without admiring her,
+his admiration was neither free from censure of herself, nor terrour
+for her companion: he saw her far more beautiful than prudent, more
+amiable than dignified. The females in her group were few, and little
+worthy notice; the males appeared, to a man, without disguise, though
+not without restraint, her lovers. And though no one seemed selected, no
+one seemed despised; she appeared to admit their devoirs with little
+consideration; neither modestly retiring from power, nor vainly
+displaying it.
+
+Camilla quitted not this enchantress till summoned by Mrs. Arlbery; who,
+seeing herself again, from the arrival of Lady Alithea Selmore, without
+any distinguished party, that lady drawing into her circle all people of
+any consequence not already attracted by Mrs. Berlinton, grew sick of
+the ball and the rooms, and impatient to return home. Camilla, in
+retiring, presented, folded in a paper, the guinea, half-guinea, and
+silver, she had borrowed of Sir Sedley; who received it without
+presuming at any contest; though not, after what he had heard from Mrs.
+Arlbery, without reluctance.
+
+Edgar watched the instant when Camilla moved from the gay group; but
+Mrs. Mittin watched it also; and, approaching her more speedily, because
+with less embarrassment, seized her arm before he could reach her: and
+before he could, with any discretion, glide to her other side, Miss
+Dennel was there.
+
+'Well now, young ladies,' said Mrs. Mittin, 'I'm going to tell you a
+secret. Do you know, for all I call myself Mrs. I'm single?'
+
+'Dear, la!' exclaimed Miss Dennel; 'and for all you're so old!'
+
+'So old, Miss! Who told you I was so old? I'm not so very old as you may
+think me. I'm no particular age, I assure you. Why, what made you think
+of that?'
+
+'La, I don't know; only you don't look very young.'
+
+'I can't help that, Miss Dennel. Perhaps you mayn't look young yourself
+one of these days. People can't always stand still just at a particular
+minute. Why, how old, now, do you take me to be? Come, be sincere.'
+
+'La! I'm sure I can't tell; only I thought you was an old woman.'
+
+'An old woman! Lord, my dear, people would laugh to hear you. You don't
+know what an old woman is. Why it's being a cripple, and blind, and
+deaf, and dumb, and slavering, and without a tooth. Pray, how am I like
+all that?'
+
+'Nay, I'm sure I don't know; only I thought, by the look of your face,
+you must be monstrous old.'
+
+'Lord, I can't think what you've got in your head, Miss Dennel! I never
+heard as much before, since I was born. Why the reason I'm called Mrs.
+is not because of that, I assure you; but because I'd a mind to be taken
+for a young widow, on account everybody likes a young widow; and if one
+is called Miss, people being so soon to think one an old maid, that it's
+quite disagreeable.'
+
+This discourse brought them to the carriage.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_Traits of Character_
+
+
+The following morning, Mrs. Mittin came with eager intelligence, that
+the raffle was fixed for one o'clock; and, without any scruple,
+accompanied the party to the shop, addressing herself to every one of
+the set as to a confirmed and intimate friend. But her chief supporter
+was Mr. Dennel, whose praise of her was the vehicle to his censure of
+his sister-in-law. That lady was the person in the world whom he most
+feared and disliked. He had neither spirit for the splendid manner in
+which she lived, nor parts for the vivacity of her conversation. The
+first, his love of money made him condemn as extravagant, and the latter
+his self-love made him hate, because he could not understand. He
+persuaded himself, therefore, that she had more words than meaning; and
+extolled all the obvious truths uttered by Mrs. Mittin, to shew his
+superior admiration of what, being plain and incontrovertible, he
+dignified with the panegyric of being sensible.
+
+When they came upon the Pantiles, they were accosted by Mr. Dubster; who
+having solemnly asked them, one by one, how they all did, joined Mrs.
+Mittin, saying: 'Well, I can't pretend as I'm over sorry you've got
+neither of those two comical gentlemen with you, that behaved so free to
+me for nothing. I don't think it's particular agreeable being treated
+so; though it's a thing I don't much mind. It's not worth fretting
+about.'
+
+'Well, don't say any more about it,' cried Mrs. Mittin, endeavouring to
+shake him off; 'I dare say you did something to provoke 'em, or they're
+too genteel to have taken notice of you.'
+
+'Me provoke them! why what did I do? I was just like a mere lamb, as one
+may say, at the very time that young Captain fell abusing me so, calling
+of me a little dirty fellow, without no provocation. If I'm little, or
+big, I don't see that it's any business of his. And as to dirty, I'd put
+on all clean linen but the very day before, as the people can tell you
+at the inn; so the whole was a mere piece of falsehood from one end to
+t'other.'
+
+'Well, well, what do you talk about it for any more? You should never
+take anything ill of a young gentleman. It's only aggravating him so
+much the worse.'
+
+'Aggravating him, Mrs. Mittin! why what need I mind that? Do you think
+I'm to put up with his talking of caning me, and such like, because of
+his being a young gentleman? Not I, I assure you! I'm no such person.
+And if once I feel his switch across these here shoulders, it won't be
+so well for him!'
+
+The party now entered the shop where the raffle was to be held.
+
+Edgar was already there; he had no power to keep away from any place
+where he was sure to behold Camilla; and a raffle brought to his mind
+the most tender recollections. He was now with Lord O'Lerney, in whose
+candour and benevolence of character he took great delight, and with
+whom he had joined Lady Isabella Irby, who had been drawn, as a quiet
+spectatress, to the sight, by a friend, who, having never seen the
+humours of a raffle, had entreated, through her means, to look on. He
+languished to see Camilla presented to this lady, in whose manners and
+conversation, dignity and simplicity were equally blended.
+
+While he was yet, though absently, conversing with them, Lord O'Lerney
+pointed out Camilla to Lady Isabella.
+
+'I have taken notice of her already at the Rooms;' answered her
+Ladyship; 'and I have seldom, I think, seen a more interesting young
+creature.'
+
+'The character of her countenance,' said Lord O'Lerney, 'strikes me very
+peculiarly. 'Tis so intelligent, yet so unhackneyed, so full of meaning,
+yet so artless, that, while I look at her, I feel myself involuntarily
+anxious for her welfare.'
+
+'I don't think she seems happy,' said Lady Isabella; 'Do you know who
+she is, my Lord?'
+
+Edgar, here, with difficulty suppressed a sigh. Not happy! thought he;
+ah! wherefore? what can make Camilla unhappy?
+
+'I understand she is a niece of Sir Hugh Tyrold,' answered his Lordship;
+'a Yorkshire Baronet. She is here with an acquaintance of mine, Mrs.
+Arlbery, who is one of the first women I have ever known, for wit and
+capacity. She has an excellent heart, too; though her extraordinary
+talents, and her carelessness of opinion make it sometimes, but very
+unjustly, doubted.'
+
+Edgar heard this with much pleasure. A good word from Lord O'Lerney
+quieted many fears; he hoped he had been unnecessarily alarmed; he
+determined, in future, to judge her more favourably.
+
+'I should be glad,' continued his Lordship, 'to hear this young lady
+were either well established, or returned to her friends without
+becoming an object of public notice. A young woman is no where so rarely
+respectable, or respected, as at these water-drinking places, if seen at
+them either long or often. The search of pleasure and dissipation, at a
+spot consecrated for restoring health to the sick, the infirm, and the
+suffering, carries with it an air of egotism, that does not give the
+most pleasant idea of the feeling and disposition.'
+
+'Yet, may not the sick, my Lord, be rather amended than hurt by the
+sight of gaiety around them?'
+
+'Yes, my dear Lady Isabella; and the effect, therefore, I believe to be
+beneficial. But as this is not the motive why the young and the gay seek
+these spots, it is not here they will find themselves most honoured. And
+the mixture of pain and illness with splendor and festivity, is so
+unnatural, that probably it is to that we must attribute that a young
+woman is no where so hardly judged. If she is without fortune, she is
+thought a female adventurer, seeking to sell herself for its attainment;
+if she is rich, she is supposed a willing dupe, ready for a snare, and
+only looking about for an ensnarer.'
+
+'And yet, young women seldom, I believe, my Lord, merit this severity of
+judgment. They come but hither in the summer, as they go to London in
+the winter, simply in search of amusement, without any particular
+purpose.'
+
+'True; but they do not weigh what their observers weigh for them, that
+the search of public recreation in the winter is, from long habit,
+permitted without censure; but that the summer has not, as yet,
+prescription so positively in its favour; and those who, after meeting
+them all the winter at the opera, and all the spring at Ranelagh, hear
+of them all the summer at Cheltenham, Tunbridge, &c. and all the autumn
+at Bath, are apt to inquire, when is the season for home.'
+
+'Ah, my Lord! how wide are the poor inconsiderate little flutterers from
+being aware of such a question! How necessary to youth and
+thoughtlessness is the wisdom of experience!'
+
+Why does she not come this way? thought Edgar; why does she not gather
+from these mild, yet understanding moralists, instruction that might
+benefit all her future life?
+
+'There is nothing,' said Lord O'Lerney, 'I more sincerely pity than the
+delusions surrounding young females. The strongest admirers of their
+eyes are frequently the most austere satirists of their conduct.'
+
+The entrance of Lord Newford, Sir Theophilus Jarard, and Sir Sedley
+Clarendel, all noisily talking and laughing together, interrupted any
+further conversation. The two former no sooner saw Camilla, and
+perceived neither Lady Alithea Selmore, nor Mrs. Berlinton, than they
+made up to her; and Sir Sedley, who now found she was completely
+established in the _bon ton_, felt something of pride mix with pleasure
+in publicly availing himself of his intimacy with her; and something
+like interest mix with curiosity, in examining if Edgar were struck with
+her ready attention to him.
+
+Upon Edgar, however, it made not the slightest impression. While Sir
+Sedley had appeared to him a mere fop, he had thought it degraded her;
+but how he regarded him as her preserver, it seemed both natural and
+merited.
+
+Sir Sedley, not aware of this reasoning, was somewhat piqued; and taking
+him to another part of the shop, whispered: 'I am horribly vapoured! Do
+you know I have some thoughts of trying that little girl? Do you think
+one could make anything of her?'
+
+'How? what do you mean?' cried Edgar, with sudden alarm.
+
+Sir Sedley, a little flattered, affectedly answered: 'O, if you have any
+serious designs that way, incontestably I won't interfere.'
+
+'Me!' cried Edgar, surprised and offended; 'believe me, no! I have all
+my life considered her--as my sister.'
+
+Sir Sedley saw this was spoken with effort; and negligently replied:
+'Nay you are just at the first epocha for marrying from inclination; but
+you are in the right not to perform so soon the funeral honours of
+liberty. 'Tis what you may do at any time. So many girls want
+establishments, that a man of sixty can just as easily get a wife of
+eighteen, as a man of one-and-twenty. The only inconvenience in that
+sort of alliance is, that though she begins with submitting to her
+venerated husband as prettily as to her papa, she is terribly apt to
+have a knack of running away from him, afterwards, with equal facility.'
+
+'That is rather a discouraging article, I confess,' cried Edgar, 'for
+the tardy votaries of Hymen!'
+
+'O, no! 'tis no great matter!' answered he, patting his snuffbox; 'we
+are impenetrable in the extreme to those sort of grievances now-a-days.
+We are at such prodigious expence of sensibility in public, for tales of
+sorrow told about pathetically, at a full board, that if we suffered
+much for our private concerns to boot, we must always meet one another
+with tears in our eyes. We never weep now, but at dinner, or at some
+diversion.'
+
+Lord Newford, pulling him by the arm, called out: 'Come, Clary, what art
+about, man? we want thee.'
+
+'Come, Clary! don't shirk, Clary,' cried Sir Theophilus; 'I can't
+possibly patronise this shirking.' And they hauled him to a corner of
+the shop, where all three resumed their customary laughing whispers.
+
+'You will not, perhaps, suspect, Lady Isabella,' said Lord O'Lerney,
+smiling, 'that one of that triumvirate is by no means deficient in
+parts, and can even, when he desires it, be extremely pleasing?'
+
+'Your Lordship judges right, I confess! I had not, indeed, done him such
+justice!'
+
+'See then,' said his Lordship, 'how futile an animal is man, without
+some decided character and principle!
+
+    He's every thing by turns, and nothing long[3].
+
+[Footnote 3: Dryden's Absalom and Achitophel.]
+
+Wise, foolish; virtuous, vicious; active, indolent; prodigal and
+avaricious! No contrast is too strong for him while guided but by
+accident or impulse. This gentleman also, in common with the rest of his
+_tonnish_ brethren, is now daily, though unconsciously, hoarding up a
+world of unprepared-for mortification, by not foreseeing that the more
+he is celebrated in his youth, for being the leader of the _ton_, and
+the man of the day, the earlier he will be regarded as a creature out of
+date, an old beau, and a fine gentleman of former times. But 'tis by
+reverses, such as these, that folly and impropriety pay their penalties.
+We might spare all our anger against the vanity of the beauty, or the
+conceit of the coxcomb. Are not wrinkles always in waiting to punish the
+one, and age, without honour, to chastise and degrade the other?'
+
+All the rafflers were now arrived, except Mrs. Berlinton, who was
+impatiently expected. Lady Alithea Selmore had already sent a proxy to
+throw for her in her own woman; much to the dissatisfaction of most part
+of the company. A general rising and inquietude to look out for Mrs.
+Berlinton, gave Edgar, at length, an opportunity to stand next to
+Camilla. 'How I grieve,' he cried 'you should not know Lady Isabella
+Irby! she seems to me a model for a woman of rank in her manners, and a
+model for a woman of every station in her mind. The world, I believe,
+could scarce have tempted her to so offensive a mark of superiority as
+has just been exhibited by Lady Alithea Selmore, who has ingeniously
+discovered a method of being signalised as the most important person out
+of twenty, by making herself nineteen enemies.'
+
+'I wonder,' said Camilla, 'she can think the chance of the ear-rings
+worth so high a price!'
+
+A footman, in a splendid livery, now entering, inquired for Miss Tyrold.
+She was pointed out to him by Major Cerwood, and he delivered her a
+letter from Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+The contents were to entreat she would throw for that lady, who was in
+the midst of Akenside's Pleasures of the Imagination, and could not tear
+herself away from them.
+
+Camilla blushed excessively in proclaiming she was chosen Mrs.
+Berlinton's proxy. Edgar saw with tenderness her modest confusion, and,
+with a pleasure the most touching, read the favourable impression it
+made upon Lord O'Lerney and Lady Isabella.
+
+This seemed an opportunity irresistible for venting his fears and
+cautions about Mrs. Berlinton; and, taking the bustling period in which
+the rafflers were arranging the order and manner of throwing, he said,
+in a low, and diffident tone of voice, 'You have committed to me an
+important and, I fear, an importunate office; yet, while I hold, I
+cannot persuade myself not to fulfil it; though I know that to give
+advice which opposes sentiment and feeling, is repugnant to independence
+and to delicacy. Such, therefore, I do not mean to enforce; but merely
+to offer hints--intimations--and observations--that without controlling,
+may put you upon your guard.'
+
+Camilla, affected by this unexpected address, could only look her desire
+for an explanation.
+
+'The lady,' he continued, 'whom you are presently to represent, appears
+to be uncommonly engaging?--'
+
+'Indeed she is! She is attractive, gentle, amiable.'
+
+'She seems, also, already to have caught your affection?'
+
+'Who could have withheld it, that had seen her as I have seen her? She
+is as unhappy as she is lovely....'
+
+'I have heard of your first meeting, with as much pleasure in the
+presence of mind it called forth on one side, as with doubt and
+perplexity, upon every circumstance I can gather, of the other.--'
+
+'If you knew her, you would find it impossible to hold any doubts;
+impossible to resist admiring, compassionating, and loving her!'
+
+'If my knowledge of her bribed an interest in her favour, without
+convincing me she deserved it, I ought, rather, to regret that you have
+not escaped falling into such a snare, than that I could have escaped it
+myself.'
+
+'I believe her free, nay incapable of all ill!' cried Camilla warmly;
+'though I dare not assert she is always coolly upon her guard.'
+
+'Do not let me hurt you,' said Edgar, gently; 'I have seen how lovely
+she is in person, and how pleasing in manners. And she is so young that,
+were she in a situation less exposed, want of steadiness or judgment
+might, by a little time, be set right. But here, there is surely much to
+fear from her early possession of power.... O, that some happier chance
+had brought about such a peculiar intercourse for you with Lady Isabella
+Irby! There, to the pleasure of friendship, might be added the modesty
+of retired elegance, and the security of established respectability.'
+
+'And may not this yet happen, with Mrs. Berlinton? Lady Isabella, though
+still young, is not in the extreme youth of Mrs. Berlinton: a few more
+years, therefore, may bring equal discretion; and as she has already
+every other good quality, you may hereafter equally approve her.'
+
+'Do you think, then,' said Edgar, half smiling, 'that the few years of
+difference in their age were spent by Lady Isabella in the manner they
+are now spent by Mrs. Berlinton? do you think she paved the way for her
+present dignified, though unassuming character, by permitting herself to
+be surrounded by professed admirers? by letting their sighs reach her
+ears? by suffering their eyes to fasten with open rapture on her face?
+and by holding it sufficient not to suppress such liberties, so long as
+she does not avowedly encourage them?'
+
+Camilla was startled. She had not seen her conduct in this light: yet
+her understanding refused to deny it might bear this interpretation.
+
+Charmed with the candour of her silence, Edgar continued, 'How wide from
+all that is open to similar comment, is the carriage and behaviour of
+Lady Isabella! how clear! how transparent, how free from all conjecture
+of blemish! They may each, indeed, essentially be equally innocent; and
+your opinion of Mrs. Berlinton corroborates the impression made by her
+beautiful countenance: yet how far more highly is the true feminine
+character preserved, where surmise is not raised, than where it can be
+parried! Think but of those two ladies, and mark the difference. Lady
+Isabella, addressed only where known, followed only because loved, sees
+no adulators encircling her, for adulation would alarm her; no admirers
+paying her homage, for such homage would offend her. She knows she has
+not only her own innocence to guard, but the honour of her husband.
+Whether she is happy with him or not, this deposit is equally sacred.--'
+
+He stopt; for Camilla again started. The irrepressible frankness of her
+nature revolted against denying how much this last sentence struck her,
+and she ingenuously exclaimed: 'O that this most amiable young creature
+were but more aware of this duty!'
+
+'Ah, my dear Miss Camilla,' cried Edgar, with energy, 'since you feel
+and own ... and with you, that is always one ... this baneful
+deficiency, drop, or at least suspend an intercourse too hazardous to be
+indulged with propriety! See what she may be sometime hence, ere you
+contract further intimacy. At present, unexperienced and unsuspicious,
+her dangers may be yours. You are too young for such a risk. Fly, fly
+from it, my dear Miss Camilla!... as if the voice of your mother were
+calling out to caution you!'
+
+Camilla was deeply touched. An interest so warm in her welfare was
+soothing, and the name of her mother rendered it awful; yet, thus
+united, it appeared to her more strongly than ever to announce itself as
+merely fraternal. She could not suppress a sigh; but he attributed it to
+the request he had urged, and, with much concern, added: 'What I have
+asked of you, then, is too severe?'
+
+Again irresistibly sighing, yet collecting all her force to conceal the
+secret cause, she answered, 'If she is thus exposed to danger ... if her
+situation is so perilous, ought I not rather to stay by, and help to
+support her, than by abandoning, perhaps contribute to the evil you
+think awaiting her?'
+
+'Generous Camilla!' cried he, melted into tender admiration, 'who can
+oppose so kind a design? So noble a nature!...'
+
+No more could be said, for all preliminaries had been settled, and the
+throwing being arranged to take place alphabetically, she was soon
+summoned to represent Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+From this time, Edgar could speak to her no more: even the Major could
+scarcely make way to her: the two men of the _ton_ would not quit her,
+and Sir Sedley Clarendel appeared openly devoted to her.
+
+Edgar looked on with the keenest emotion. The proof he had just received
+that her intrinsic worth was in its first state of excellence, had come
+home to his heart, and the fear of seeing her altered and spoilt, by the
+flatteries and dangers which environed her, with his wavering belief in
+her engagement with Major Cerwood, made him more wretched than ever. But
+when, some time after, she was called upon to throw for herself, the
+recollection that, from the former raffle, her half-guinea, even when
+the prize was in her hand, had been voluntarily withdrawn to be bestowed
+upon a poor family, so powerfully affected him, that he could not rest
+in the shop; he was obliged to breathe a freer air, and to hide his
+disturbance by a retreat.
+
+Her throw was the highest the dice had yet afforded. A Miss Williams
+alone came after her, whose throw was the lowest; Miss Camilla Tyrold,
+therefore, was proclaimed to be the winner.
+
+This second testimony of the favour of fortune was a most pleasant
+surprise to Camilla, and made the room resound with felicitations, till
+they were interrupted by a violent quarrel upon the Pantiles, whence the
+voice of Macdersey was heard, hollooing out: 'Don't talk, I say sir!
+don't presume to say a word!' and that of Mr. Dubster angrily answering,
+he would talk as long as he thought proper, whether it was agreeable or
+not.
+
+Sir Sedley advanced to the combatants, in order to help on the dispute;
+but Edgar, returning at the sound of high words, took the Ensign by the
+arm, and prevailed with him to accompany him up and down the Pantiles;
+while Mrs. Mittin ran to Mr. Dubster, and pulling him into the shop,
+said: 'Mr. Dubster, if I'm not ashamed of you! how can you forget
+yourself so? talking to gentlemen at such a rate!'
+
+'Why what should hinder me?' cried he; 'do you think I shall put up with
+every thing as I used to do when you first knew me, and we used to meet
+at Mr. Typton's, the tallow chandler's, in Shug-lane? no, Mrs. Mittin,
+nor no such a thing; I'm turned gentleman myself, now, as much as the
+best of 'em; for I've nothing to do, but just what I choose.'
+
+'I protest, Mr. Dubster,' cried Mrs. Mittin, taking him into a corner
+'you're enough to put a saint into a pet! how come you to think of
+talking of Mr. Typton here? before such gentlefolks? and where's the use
+of telling every body he's a tallow chandler? and as to my meeting with
+you there once or so, in a way, I desire you'll mention it no more; for
+it's so long ago, I have no recollection of it.'
+
+'No! why don't you remember--'
+
+'Fiddle, faddle, what's the good of ripping up old stories about
+nothing? when you're with genteel people, you must do as I do; never
+talk about business at all.'
+
+Macdersey now entered the shop, appeased by Edgar from shewing any
+further wrath, but wantonly inflamed by Sir Sedley, in a dispute upon
+the passion of love.
+
+'Do you always, my dear friend,' said the Baronet, 'fall in love at
+first sight?'
+
+'To be sure I do! If a man makes a scruple of that, it's ten to one but
+he's disappointed of doing it at all; because, after two or three second
+sights, the danger is you may spy out some little flaw in the dear
+angel, that takes off the zest, and hinders you to the longest day you
+have to live.'
+
+'Profoundly cogitated that! you think then, my vast dear sir, the
+passion had more conveniently be kindled first, that the flaws may
+appear after, to cure it?'
+
+'No, sir! no! when a man's once in love, those flaws don't signify,
+because he can't see them; or, if he could, at least he'd scorn to own
+them.'
+
+'Live for ever brave Ireland!' exclaimed Mrs. Arlbery; 'what cold,
+phelgmatic Englishman would have made a speech of so much gallantry?'
+
+'As to an Englishman,' said Macdersey, 'you must never mind what he says
+about the ladies, because he's too sheepish to speak out. He's just as
+often in love as his neighbours, only he's so shy he won't own it, till
+he sees if the young fair one is as much in love as himself; but a
+generous Irishman never scruples to proclaim the girl of his heart,
+though he should have twenty in a year.'
+
+'But is that perfectly delicate, my dearest sir, to the several
+Dulcineas?'
+
+'Perfectly! your Irishman is the delicatest man upon earth to the fair
+sex; for he always talks of their cruelty, if they are never so kind. He
+knows every honest heart will pity him, if it's true; and if it i'n't,
+he is too much a man of honour not to complain all one; he knows how
+agreeable it is to the dear creatures; they always take it for a
+compliment.'
+
+'Whether avowedly or clandestinely,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'still you are
+all in our chains. Even where you play the tyrant with us, we occupy all
+your thoughts; and if you have not the skill to make us happy, your next
+delight is to make us miserable; for though, now and then, you can
+contrive to hate, you can never arrive at forgetting us.'
+
+'Contrive to hate you!' repeated Macdersey; 'I could as soon contrive to
+turn the world into a potato; there is nothing upon earth, nothing under
+the whole firmament I value but beauty!'
+
+'A cheerful glass, then,' said Sir Sedley, 'you think horridly
+intolerable?'
+
+'A cheerful glass, sir! do you take me for a milk-sop? do you think I
+don't know what it is to be a man? a cheerful glass, sir, is the first
+pleasure in life; the most convivial, the most exhilarating, the most
+friendly joy of a true honest soul! what were existence without it? I
+should choose to be off in half an hour; which I should only make so
+long, not to shock my friends.'
+
+'Well, the glass is not what I patronise,' said Sir Theophilus; 'it hips
+me so consumedly the next day; no, I can't patronise the glass.'
+
+'Not patronise wine?' cried Lord Newford; 'O hang it! O curse it! that's
+too bad, Offy! but hunting! what dost think of that, little Offy?'
+
+'Too obstreperous! It rouses one at such aukward hours; no, I can't
+patronise hunting.'
+
+'Hunting!' cried Macdersey; 'O, it leaves everything behind it; 'tis the
+thing upon the earth for which I have the truest taste. I know nothing
+else that is not a bauble to it. A man is no more, in my estimation,
+than a child, or a woman, that don't enjoy it.'
+
+'Cards, then,' said Sir Sedley, 'you reprobate?'
+
+'And dice?'--cried Lord Newford--
+
+'And betting?'--cried Sir Theophilus.
+
+'Why what do you take me for, gentlemen?' replied Macdersey, hotly; 'Do
+you think I have no soul? no fire? no feeling? Do you suppose me a
+stone? a block? a lump of lead? I scorn such suspicions; I don't hold
+them worth answering. I am none of that torpid, morbid, drowsy tribe. I
+hold nobody to have an idea of life that has not rattled in his own hand
+the dear little box of promise. What ecstasy not to know if, in two
+seconds, one mayn't be worth ten thousand pounds! or else without a
+farthing! how it puts one on the rack! There's nothing to compare with
+it. I would not give up that moment to be sovereign of the East Indies!
+no, not if the West were to be put into the bargain.'
+
+'All these things,' said Mr. Dennel, 'are fit for nothing but to bring a
+man to ruin. The main chance is all that is worth thinking of. 'Tis
+money makes the mare to go; and I don't know any thing that's to be done
+without it.'
+
+'Money!' exclaimed Macdersey, 'tis the thing under heaven I hold in the
+most disdain. It won't give me a moment's concern never to see its
+colour again. I vow solemnly, if it were not just for the pleasures of
+the table, and a jolly glass with a friend, and a few horses in one's
+stable, and a little ready cash in one's purse, for odd uses, I should
+not care if the mint were sunk under ground to-morrow; money is what I
+most despise of all.'
+
+'That's talking out of reason,' said Mr. Dennel, walking out of the shop
+with great disgust.
+
+'Why, if I was to speak,' said Mr. Dubster, encouraged to come forward,
+by an observation so much to his own comprehension and taste as the
+last; 'I can't but say I think the same; for money--'
+
+'Keep your distance, sir!' cried the fiery Ensign, 'keep your distance,
+I tell you! if you don't wish I should say something to you pretty
+cutting.'
+
+This broke up the party, which else the lounging spirit of the place,
+and the general consent by which all descriptions of characters seem
+determined to occupy any spot whatever, to avoid a moment's abode in
+their lodgings, would still have detained till the dinner hour had
+forced to their respective homes. To suppress all possibility of further
+dissention, Mrs. Arlbery put Miss Dennel under the care of Macdersey,
+and bid him attend her towards Mount Pleasant.
+
+Mr. Dubster, having stared after them some time in silence, called out:
+'Keep my distance! I can't but say but what I think that young Captain
+the rudest young gentleman I ever happened to light upon! however, if he
+don't like me, I shan't take it much to heart; I can't pretend to say I
+like him any better; so he may choose; it's much the same to me; it
+breaks no squares.'
+
+Edgar, almost without knowing it, followed Camilla, but he could
+displace neither the Baronet nor the Major, who, one with a look of open
+exultation, and the other with an air of determined perseverance,
+retained each his post at her side.
+
+He saw that all her voluntary attention was to Sir Sedley, and that the
+Major had none but what was called for and inevitable. Was this
+indifference, or security? was she seeking to obtain in the Baronet a
+new adorer, or to excite jealousy, through his means, in an old one?
+Silent he walked on, perpetually exclaiming to himself: 'Can it be
+Camilla, the ingenuous, the artless Camilla, I find it so difficult to
+fathom, to comprehend, to trust?'
+
+He had not spirits to join Mrs. Arlbery, though he lamented he had not,
+at once, visited her; since it was now awkward to take such a step
+without an invitation, which she seemed by no means disposed to offer
+him. She internally resented the little desire he had ever manifested
+for her acquaintance; and they had both too much penetration not to
+perceive how wide either was from being the favourite of the other.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_Traits of Eccentricity_
+
+
+Thus passed the first eight days of the Tunbridge excursion, and another
+week succeeded without any varying event.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery now, impelled with concern for Camilla, and resentment
+against Edgar, renewed the subject of her opinion and advice upon his
+character and conduct. 'My dear young friend,' cried she, 'I cannot bear
+to see your days, your views, your feelings, thus fruitlessly consumed:
+I have observed this young man narrowly, and I am convinced he is not
+worth your consideration.'
+
+Camilla, deeply colouring, was beginning to assure her she had no need
+of this counsel; but Mrs. Arlbery, not listening, continued.
+
+'I know what you must say; yet, once more, I cannot refrain venturing at
+the liberty of lending you my experience. Turn your mind from him with
+all the expedition in your power, or its peace may be touched for the
+better half of your life. You do not see, he does not, perhaps, himself
+know, how exactly he is calculated to make you wretched. He is a
+watcher; and a watcher, restless and perturbed himself, infests all he
+pursues with uneasiness. He is without trust, and therefore without
+either courage or consistency. To-day he may be persuaded you will make
+all his happiness; to-morrow, he may fear you will give him nothing but
+misery. Yet it is not that he is jealous of any other; 'tis of the
+object of his choice he is jealous, lest she should not prove good
+enough to merit it. Such a man, after long wavering, and losing probable
+happiness in the terror of possible disappointment, will either die an
+old batchelor, with endless repinings at his own lingering
+fastidiousness, or else marry just at the eve of confinement for life,
+from a fit of the gout. He then makes, on a sudden, the first prudent
+choice in his way; a choice no longer difficult, but from the
+embarrassment of its ease; for she must have no beauty, lest she should
+be sought by others, no wit, lest others should be sought by herself;
+and no fortune, lest she should bring with it a taste of independence,
+that might curb his own will, when the strength and spirit are gone with
+which he might have curbed her's.'
+
+Camilla attempted to laugh at this portrait; but Mrs. Arlbery entreated
+her to consider it as faithful and exact. 'You have thought of him too
+much,' cried she, 'to do justice to any other, or you would not, with
+such perfect unconcern, pass by your daily increasing influence with Sir
+Sedley Clarendel.'
+
+Excessively, and very seriously offended, Camilla earnestly besought to
+be spared any hints of such a nature.
+
+'I know well,' cried she, 'how repugnant to seventeen is every idea of
+life that is rational. Let us, therefore, set aside, in our discussions,
+any thing so really beneficial, as a solid connection formed with a view
+to the worldly comforts of existence, and speak of Sir Sedley's devoirs
+merely as the instrument of teaching Mandlebert, that he is not the only
+rich, young, and handsome man in this lower sphere, who has viewed Miss
+Camilla Tyrold with complacency. Clarendel, it is true, would lose every
+charm in my estimation by losing his heart; for the earth holds nothing
+comparable for deadness of weight, with a poor soul really in
+love--except when it happens to be with oneself!--yet, to alarm the
+selfish irresolution of that impenetrable Mandlebert, I should really
+delight to behold him completely caught.'
+
+Camilla, distressed and confused, sought to parry the whole as raillery:
+but Mrs. Arlbery would not be turned aside from her subject and purpose.
+'I languish, I own,' cried she, 'to see that frozen youth worked up into
+a little sensibility. I have an instinctive aversion to those cold,
+haughty, drawing-back characters, who are made up of the egotism of
+looking out for something that is wholly devoted to them, and that has
+not a breath to breathe that is not a sigh for their perfections.'
+
+'O! this is far ...' Camilla began, meaning to say, far from the
+character of Mandlebert; but ashamed of undertaking his defence, she
+stopt short, and only mentally added, Even excellence such as his
+cannot, then, withstand prejudice!
+
+'If there is any way,' continued Mrs. Arlbery, 'of animating him for a
+moment out of himself, it can only be by giving him a dread of some
+other. The poor Major does his best; but he is not rich enough to be
+feared, unless he were more attractive. Sir Sedley will seem more
+formidable. Countenance, therefore, his present propensity to wear your
+chains, till Mandlebert perceives that he is putting them on; and
+then ... mount to the rising ground you ought to tread, and shew, at
+once, your power and your disinterestedness, by turning from the handsome
+Baronet and all his immense wealth, to mark ... since you are determined
+to indulge it ... your unbiassed preference for Mandlebert.'
+
+Camilla, irresistibly appeased by a picture so flattering to all her
+best feelings, and dearest wishes, looked down; angry with herself to
+find she felt no longer angry with Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, perceiving a point gained, determined to enforce the blow,
+and then leave her to her reflections.
+
+'Mandlebert is a creature whose whole composition is a pile of
+accumulated punctilios. He will spend his life in refining away his own
+happiness: but do not let him refine away yours. He is just a man to
+bewitch an innocent and unguarded young woman from forming any other
+connexion, and yet, when her youth and expectations have been sacrificed
+to his hesitation, ... to conceive he does not use her ill in thinking
+of her no more, because he has entered into no verbal engagement. If his
+honour cannot be arraigned of breaking any bond, ... What matters merely
+breaking her heart?'
+
+She then left the room; but Camilla dwelt upon nothing she had uttered
+except the one dear and inviting project of proving disinterestedness to
+Edgar. 'O! if once,' she cried, 'I could annihilate every mercenary
+suspicion! If once I could shew Edgar that his situation has no charms
+for me ... and it has none! none! then, indeed, I am his equal, though I
+am nothing, ... equal in what is highest, in mind, in spirit, in
+sentiment!
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+From this time the whole of her behaviour became coloured by this
+fascinating idea; and a scheme which, if proposed to her under its real
+name of coquetry, she would have fled and condemned with antipathy, when
+presented to her as a means to mark her freedom from sordid motives, she
+adopted with inconsiderate fondness. The sight, therefore, of Edgar,
+wherever she met him, became now the signal for adding spirit to the
+pleasure with which, already, and without any design, she had attended
+to the young Baronet. Exertion gave to her the gaiety of which
+solicitude had deprived her, and she appeared, in the eyes of Sir
+Sedley, every day more charming. She indulged him with the history of
+her adventure at the house of Mr. Dubster, and his prevalent taste for
+the ridiculous made the account enchant him. He cast off, in return, all
+airs of affectation, when he conversed with her separately; and though
+still, in all mixt companies, they were resumed, the real integrity, as
+well as indifference of her heart, made that a circumstance but to
+stimulate this new species of intercourse, by representing it to be
+equally void of future danger to them both.
+
+All this, however, failed of its desired end. Edgar never saw her
+engaged by Sir Sedley, but he thought her youthfully grateful, and
+esteemed her the more, or beheld her as a mere coquette, and ceased to
+esteem her at all. But never for a moment was any personal uneasiness
+excited by their mutually increasing intimacy. The conversations he had
+held, both with the Baronet and herself, had satisfied him that neither
+entertained one serious thought of the other; and he took, therefore, no
+interest in their acquaintance, beyond that which was always alive,--a
+vigilant concern for the manner in which it might operate upon her
+disposition.
+
+With respect to the Major, he was by no means so entirely at his ease.
+He saw him still the declared and undisguised pursuer of her favour; and
+though he perceived, at the same time, she rather avoided than sought
+him, he still imagined, in general, his acceptance was arranged, from
+the many preceding circumstances which had first given him that belief.
+The whole of her behaviour, nevertheless, perplexed as much as it
+grieved him, and frequently, in the same half hour, she seemed to him
+all that was most amiable for inspiring admiration, and all that was
+least to be depended upon, for retaining attachment.
+
+Yet however, from time to time, he felt alarmed or offended, he never
+ceased to experience the fondest interest in her happiness, nor the most
+tender compassion for the dangers with which he saw her environed. He
+knew, that though her understanding was excellent, her temper was so
+inconsiderate, that she rarely consulted it; and that, though her mind
+was of the purest innocence, it was unguarded by caution, and
+unprotected by reflexion. He thought her placed where far higher
+discretion, far superior experience, might risk being shaken; and he did
+not more fervently wish, than internally tremble, for her safety.
+Wherever she appeared, she was sure of distinction: ''Tis Miss Tyrold,
+the friend of Mrs. Berlinton,' was buzzed round the moment she was seen;
+and the particular favour in which she stood with some votaries of the
+_ton_, made even her artlessness, her retired education, and her
+ignorance of all that pertained to the _certain circles_, past over and
+forgiven, in consideration of her personal attractions, her youth, and
+newness.
+
+Still, however, even this celebrity was not what most he dreaded: so
+sudden and unexpected an elevation upon the heights of fashionable fame
+might make her head, indeed, giddy, but her heart he thought formed of
+materials too pure and too good to be endangered so lightly; and though
+frequently, when he saw her so circumstanced, he feared she was undone
+for private life, he could not reflect upon her principles and
+disposition, without soon recovering the belief that a short time might
+restore her mind to its native simplicity and worth. But another rock
+was in the way, against which he apprehended she might be dashed, whilst
+least suspicious of any peril.
+
+This rock, indeed, exhibited nothing to the view that could have
+affrighted any spectator less anxiously watchful, or less personally
+interested in regarding it. But youth itself, in the fervour of a strong
+attachment, is as open-eyed, as observant, and as prophetic as age, with
+all its concomitants of practice, time, and suspicion. This rock,
+indeed, far from giving notice of danger by any sharp points or rough
+prominences, displayed only the smoothest and most inviting surface: for
+it was Mrs. Berlinton, the beautiful, the accomplished, the attractive
+Mrs. Berlinton, whom he beheld as the object of the greatest risk she
+had to encounter.
+
+As he still preserved the character with which she had consented to
+invest him of her monitor, he seized every opportunity of communicating
+to her his doubts and apprehensions. But in proportion as her connexion
+with that lady increased, use to her manners and sentiments abated the
+wonderment they inspired, and they soon began to communicate an unmixt
+charm, that made all other society, that of Edgar alone excepted,
+heartless and uninteresting. Yet, in the conversations she held with him
+from time to time, she frankly related the extraordinary attachment of
+her new friend to some unknown correspondent, and confessed her own
+surprise when it first came to her knowledge.
+
+Edgar listened to the account with the most unaffected dismay, and
+represented the probable danger, and actual impropriety of such an
+intercourse, in the strongest and most eloquent terms; but he could
+neither appal her confidence, nor subdue her esteem. The openness with
+which all had originally and voluntarily been avowed, convinced her of
+the innocence with which it was felt, and all that his exhortations
+could obtain, was a remonstrance on her own part to Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+She found that lady, however, persuaded she indulged but an innocent
+friendship, which she assured her was bestowed upon a person of as much
+honour as merit, and which only with life she should relinquish, since
+it was the sole consolation of her fettered existence.
+
+Edgar, to whom this was communicated, saw with terror the ascendance
+thus acquired over her judgment as well as her affections, and became
+more watchful and more uneasy in observing the progress of this
+friendship, than all the flattering devoirs of the gay Baronet, or the
+more serious assiduities of the Major.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, indeed, was no common object, either for fear or for
+hope, for admiration or for censure. She possessed all that was most
+softly attractive, most bewitchingly beautiful, and most irresistibly
+captivating, in mind, person, and manners. But to all that was thus most
+fascinating to others, she joined unhappily all that was most dangerous
+for herself; an heart the most susceptible, sentiments the most
+romantic, and an imagination the most exalted. She had been an orphan
+from earliest years, and left, with an only brother, to the care of a
+fanatical maiden aunt, who had taught her nothing but her faith and her
+prayers, without one single lesson upon good works, or the smallest
+instruction upon the practical use of her theoretical piety. All that
+ever varied these studies were some common and ill selected novels and
+romances, which a young lady in the neighbourhood privately lent her to
+read; till her brother, upon his first vacation from the University,
+brought her the works of the Poets. These, also, it was only in secret
+she could enjoy; but, to her juvenile fancy, and irregularly principled
+mind, that did not render them more tasteless. Whatever was most
+beautifully picturesque in poetry, she saw verified in the charming
+landscapes presented to her view in the part of Wales she inhabited;
+whatever was most noble or tender in romance, she felt promptly in her
+heart, and conceived to be general; and whatever was enthusiastic in
+theology, formed the whole of her idea and her belief with respect to
+religion.
+
+Brought up thus, to think all things the most unusual and extraordinary,
+were merely common and of course; she was romantic without
+consciousness, and excentric without intention. Nothing steady or
+rational had been instilled into her mind by others; and she was too
+young, and too fanciful to have formed her own principles with any depth
+of reflection, or study of propriety. She had entered the world, by a
+sudden and most unequal marriage, in which her choice had no part, with
+only two self-formed maxims for the law of her conduct. The first of
+these was, that, from her early notions of religion, no vestal should be
+more personally chaste; the second, that, from her more recently imbibed
+ones of tenderness, her heart, since she was married without its
+concurrence, was still wholly at liberty to be disposed of by its own
+propensities, without reproach and without scruple.
+
+With such a character, where virtue had so little guide even while
+innocence presided; where the person was so alluring, and the situation
+so open to temptation, Edgar saw with almost every species of concern
+the daily increasing friendship of Camilla. Yet while he feared for her
+firmness, he knew not how to blame her fondness; nor where so much was
+amiable in its object, could he cease to wish that more were right.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Thus again lived and died another week; and the fourth succeeded with no
+actual occurrence, but a new change of opinion in Mrs. Arlbery, that
+forcibly and cruelly affected the feelings of Camilla.
+
+Uninformed of the motive that occasioned the indifference with which
+Edgar beheld the newly awakened gallantry of Sir Sedley, and the
+pleasure with which Camilla received it, Mrs. Arlbery observed his total
+unconcern, first with surprise, next with perplexity, and finally with a
+belief he was seriously resolved against forming any connection with her
+himself. This she took an early opportunity to intimate to Camilla,
+warmly exhorting her to drive him fast from her mind.
+
+Camilla assured her that no task could be more easy; but the
+disappointment of the project with respect to Sir Sedley, which she
+blushed to have adopted, hurt her in every possible direction. Coquetry
+was as foreign to the ingenuousness of her nature, as to the dignity of
+all her early maternal precepts. She had hastily encouraged the devoirs
+of the Baronet, upon the recommendation of a woman she loved and
+admired; but now, that the failure of her aim brought her to reflexion,
+she felt penitent and ashamed to have heeded any advice so contrary to
+the singleness of the doctrines of her father, and so inferior to the
+elevation of every sentiment she had ever heard from her mother. If
+Edgar had seen her design, he had surely seen it with contempt: and
+though his manner was still the most gentle, and his advice ever ready
+and friendly, the opinion of Mrs. Arlbery was corroborated by all her
+own observations, that he was decidedly estranged from her.
+
+What repentance ensued! what severity of regret! how did she canvass her
+conduct, how lament she had ever formed that fatal acquaintance with
+Mrs. Arlbery, which he had so early opposed, and which seemed eternally
+destined to lead her into measures and conduct most foreign to his
+approbation!
+
+The melancholy that now again took possession of her spirits made her
+decline going abroad, from a renewed determination to avoid all meetings
+with Edgar. Mrs. Arlbery felt provoked to find his power thus unabated,
+and Sir Sedley was astonished. He still saw her perpetually, from his
+visits at Mount Pleasant; but his vanity, that weakest yet most
+predominant feature of his character, received a shock for which no
+modesty of apprehension or fore-thought had prepared him, in finding
+that, when he saw her no more in the presence of Mandlebert, he saw her
+no more the same. She was ready still to converse with him; but no
+peculiar attention was flattering, no desire to oblige was pointed. He
+found he had been merely a passive instrument, in her estimation, to
+excite jealousy; and even as such had been powerless to produce that
+effect. The raillery which Mrs. Arlbery spared not upon the occasion
+added greatly to his pique, and his mortification was so visible, that
+Camilla perceived it, and perceived it with pain, with shame, and with
+surprise. She thought now, for the first time, that the public homage he
+had paid her had private and serious motives, and that what she imagined
+mere sportive gallantry, arose from a growing attachment.
+
+This idea had no gratifying power; believing Edgar without care for her,
+she could not hope it would stimulate his regard; and conceiving she had
+herself excited the partiality by wilful civilities, she could feel only
+reproach from a conquest, unduly, unfairly, uningenuously obtained.
+
+In proportion as these self-upbraidings made her less deserving in her
+own eyes, the merits of the young Baronet seemed to augment; and in
+considering herself as culpable for having raised his regard, she
+appeared before him with a humility that gave a softness to her look and
+manners, which soon proved as interesting to Sir Sedley as her marked
+gaiety had been flattering.
+
+When she perceived this, she felt distressed anew. To shun him was
+impossible, as Mrs. Arlbery not only gave him completely the freedom of
+her house, but assiduously promoted their belonging always to the same
+group, and being seated next to each other. There was nothing she would
+not have done to extenuate her error, and to obviate its ill effect upon
+Sir Sedley; but as she always thought herself in the wrong, and regarded
+him as injured, every effort was accompanied with a timidity that gave
+to every change a new charm, rather than any repulsive quality.
+
+In this state of total self-disapprobation, to return to Etherington was
+her only wish, and to pass the intermediate time with Mrs. Berlinton
+became her sole pleasure. But she was forced again into public to avoid
+an almost single intercourse with Sir Sedley.
+
+In meeting again with Edgar she saw him openly delighted at her sight,
+but without the least apparent solicitude, or notice, that the young
+Baronet had passed almost the whole of the interval upon Mount Pleasant.
+
+This was instantly noticed, and instantly commented upon by Mrs.
+Arlbery, who again, and strongly pointed out to Camilla, that to save
+her youth from being wasted by fruitless expectation, she must forget
+young Mandlebert, and study only her own amusement.
+
+Camilla dissented not from the opinion; but the doctrine to which it was
+easy to agree, it was difficult to put in practice; and her ardent mind
+believed itself fettered for ever, and for ever unhappy.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_Traits of Instruction_
+
+
+The sixth and last week destined for the Tunbridge sojourn was begun,
+when Mrs. Arlbery once more took her fair young guest apart, and
+intreated her attention for one final half hour. The time, she said, was
+fast advancing in which they must return to their respective homes; but
+she wished to make a full and clear representation of the advantages
+that might be reaped from this excursion, before the period for
+gathering them should be past.
+
+She would forbear, she said, entering again upon the irksome subject of
+the insensibility of Mandlebert, which was, at least, sufficiently
+glaring to prevent any delusion. But she begged leave to speak of what
+she believed had less obviously struck her, the apparent promise of a
+serious attachment from Sir Sedley Clarendel.
+
+Camilla would here instantly have broken up the conversation, but Mrs.
+Arlbery insisted upon being heard.
+
+Why, she asked, should she wilfully destine her youth to a hopeless
+waste of affection, and dearth of all permanent comfort? To sacrifice
+every consideration to the honours of constancy, might be soothing, and
+even glorious in this first season of romance; but a very short time
+would render it vapid; and the epoch of repentance was always at hand to
+succeed. With the least address, or the least genuine encouragement, it
+was now palpable she might see Sir Sedley, and his title and fortune at
+her feet.
+
+Camilla resentfully interrupted her, disclaiming with Sir Sedley, as
+with everyone else, all possibility of alliance from motives so
+degrading; and persisted, in declaring, that the most moderate
+subsistence with freedom, would be preferable to the most affluent
+obtained by any mercenary engagement.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery desired her to recollect that Sir Sedley, though rich even
+to splendour, was so young, so gay, so handsome, and so pleasant, that
+she might safely honour him with her hand, yet run no risk of being
+supposed to have made a merely interested alliance. 'I throw out this,'
+she cried, 'in conclusion, for your deepest consideration, but I must
+press it no further. Sir Sedley is evidently charmed with you at
+present; and his vanity is so potent, and, like all vanity, so easily
+assailable, that the smallest food to it, adroitly administered, would
+secure him your slave for life, and rescue you from the antediluvian
+courtship of a man, who, if he marries at all, is so deliberate in his
+progress, that he must reach his grand climacteric before he can reach
+the altar.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Far from meditating upon this discourse with any view to following its
+precepts, Camilla found it necessary to call all her original fondness
+for Mrs. Arlbery to her aid, to forgive the plainness of her attack, or
+the worldliness of her notions: and all that rested upon her mind for
+consideration was, her belief in the serious regard of Sir Sedley,
+which, as she apprehended it to be the work of her own designed
+exertions, she could only think of with contrition.
+
+These ruminations were interrupted by a call down stairs to see a
+learned bullfinch. The Dennels and Sir Sedley were present; she met the
+eyes of the latter with a sensation of shame that quickly deepened her
+whole face with crimson. He did not behold it without emotion, and
+experienced a strong curiosity to define its exact cause.
+
+He addressed himself to her with the most marked distinction; she could
+scarcely answer him; but her manner was even touchingly gentle. Sir
+Sedley could not restrain himself from following her in every motion by
+his eyes; he felt an interest concerning her that surprised him; he
+began to doubt if it had been indifference which caused her late change;
+her softness helped his vanity to recover its tone, and her confusion
+almost confirmed him that Mrs. Arlbery had been mistaken in rallying his
+failure of rivalry with Mandlebert.
+
+The bird sung various little airs, upon certain words of command, and
+mounted his highest, and descended to his lowest perch; and made
+whatever evolutions were within the circumference of his limited
+habitation, with wonderful precision.
+
+Camilla, however, was not more pleased by his adroitness, than pained to
+observe the severe aspect with which his keeper issued his orders. She
+inquired by what means he had obtained such authority.
+
+The man, with a significant wag of the head, brutally answered, 'By the
+true old way, Miss; I licks him.'
+
+'Lick him!' repeated she, with disgust; 'how is it possible you can beat
+such a poor delicate little creature?'
+
+'O, easy enough, Miss,' replied the man, grinning; 'everything's the
+better for a little beating, as I tells my wife. There's nothing so fine
+set, Miss, but what will bear it, more or less.'
+
+Sir Sedley asked with what he could strike it, that would not endanger
+its life.
+
+'That's telling, sir!' cried the man, with a sneer; 'howbeit, we've
+plenty of ill luck in the trade. No want of that. For one that I rears,
+I loses six or seven. And sometimes they be so plaguy sulky, they tempt
+me to give 'em a knock a little matter too hard, and then they'll fall
+you into a fit, like, and go off in a twinkle.'
+
+'And how can you have the cruelty,' cried Camilla, indignantly, 'to
+treat in such a manner a poor little inoffensive animal who does not
+understand what you require?'
+
+'O, yes, a does, miss, they knows what I wants as well as I do myself;
+only they're so dead tiresome at being shy. Why now this one here, as
+does all his larning to satisfaction just now, mayhap won't do nothing
+at all by an hour or two. Why sometimes you may pinch 'em to a mummy
+before you can make 'em budge.'
+
+'Pinch them!' exclaimed she; 'do you ever pinch them?'
+
+'Do I? Ay, miss. Why how do you think one larns them dumb creturs? It
+don't come to 'em natural. They are main dull of themselves. This one as
+you see here would do nothing at all, if he was not afraid of a tweak.'
+
+'Poor unhappy little thing!' cried she! 'I hope, at least, now it has
+learnt so much, its sufferings are over!'
+
+'Yes, yes, he's pretty well off. I always gives him his fill when he's
+done his day's work. But a little squeak now and then in the intrum does
+'em no harm. They're mortal cunning. One's forced to be pretty tough
+with 'em.'
+
+'How should I rejoice,' cried Camilla, 'to rescue this one poor
+unoffending and oppressed little animal from such tyranny!' Then, taking
+out her purse, she desired to know what he would have for it.
+
+The man, as a very great favour, said he would take ten guineas; though
+it would be his ruin to part with it, as it was all his livelihood; but
+he was willing to oblige the young lady.
+
+Camilla, with a constrained laugh, but a very natural blush, put up her
+purse, and said: 'Thou must linger on, then, in captivity, thou poor
+little undeserving sufferer, for I cannot help thee!'
+
+Every body protested that ten guineas was an imposition; and the man
+offered to part with it for five.
+
+Camilla, who had imagined it would have cost half a guinea, was now more
+ashamed, because equally incapable to answer such a demand; she
+declined, therefore, the composition, and the man was dismissed.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At night, when she returned to her own room from the play, she saw the
+little bullfinch, reposing in a superb cage, upon her table.
+
+Delighted first, and next perplexed, she flew to Mrs. Arlbery, and
+inquired whence it came.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery was as much amazed as herself.
+
+Questions were then asked of the servants; but none knew, or none would
+own, how the bird became thus situated.
+
+Camilla could not now doubt but Sir Sedley had given this commission to
+his servant, who could easily place the cage in her room, from his
+constant access to the house. She was enchanted to see the little animal
+relieved from so painful a life, but hesitated not a moment in resolving
+to refuse its acceptance.
+
+When Sir Sedley came the next day, she carried it down, and, with a
+smile of open pleasure, thanked him for giving her so much share in his
+generous liberality; and asked if he could take it home with him in his
+carriage, or, if she should send it to his hotel.
+
+Sir Sedley was disappointed, yet felt the propriety of her delicacy and
+her spirit. He did not deny the step he had taken, but told her that
+having hastily, from the truth of reflection her compassion had
+awakened, ordered his servant to follow the man, and buy the bird, he
+had forgotten, till it arrived, his incapability of taking care of it.
+His valet was as little at home as himself, and there was small chance,
+at an inn, that any maid would so carefully watch, as to prevent its
+falling a prey to the many cats with which it was swarming. He hoped,
+therefore, till their return to Hampshire, she would take charge of a
+little animal that owed its deliverance from slavery to her pitying
+comments.
+
+Camilla, instinctively, would with unfeigned joy, have accepted such a
+trust: but she thought she saw something archly significant in the eye
+of Mrs. Arlbery, and therefore stammered out, she was afraid she should
+herself be too little at home to secure its safety.
+
+Sir Sedley, looking extremely blank, said, it would be better to
+re-deliver it to the man, brute as he was, than to let it be
+unprotected; but, where generosity touched Camilla, reflection ever flew
+her; and off all guard at such an idea, she exclaimed she would rather
+relinquish going out again while at Tunbridge, than render his humanity
+abortive; and ran off precipitately with the bird to her chamber.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, soon following, praised her behaviour; and said, she had
+sent the Baronet away perfectly happy.
+
+Camilla, much provoked, would now have had the bird conveyed after him;
+but Mrs. Arlbery assured her, inconsistency in a woman was as
+flattering, as in a man it was tedious and alarming; and persuaded her
+to let the matter rest.
+
+Her mind, however, did not rest at the same time: in the evening, when
+the Baronet met them at the Rooms, he was not only unusually gay, but
+looked at her with an air and manner that seemed palpably to mark her as
+the cause of his satisfaction.
+
+In the deepest disturbance, she considered herself now to be in a
+difficulty the most delicate; she could not come forward to clear it up,
+without announcing expectations from his partiality which he had never
+authorised by any declaration; nor yet suffer such symptoms of his
+believing it welcome to pass unnoticed, without risking the reproach of
+using him ill, when she made known, at a later period, her indifference.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery would not aid her, for she thought the embarrassment might
+lead to a termination the most fortunate. To consult with Edgar was her
+first wish; but how open such a subject? The very thought, however, gave
+her an air of solicitude when he spoke to her, that struck him, and he
+watched for an opportunity to say, 'You have not, I hope, forgotten my
+province?... May I, in my permitted office, ask a few questions?'
+
+'O, yes!' cried she, with alacrity; 'And, when they are asked, and when
+I have answered them, if you should not be too much tired, may I ask
+some in my turn?'
+
+'Of me!' cried he, with the most gratified surprise.
+
+'Not concerning yourself!' answered she, blushing; 'but upon something
+which a little distresses me.'
+
+'When, and where may it be?' cried he, while a thousand conjectures
+rapidly succeeded to each other; 'may I call upon Mrs. Arlbery to-morrow
+morning?'
+
+'O, no! we shall be, I suppose, here again at night,' she answered;
+dreading arranging a visit Mrs. Arlbery would treat, she knew, with
+raillery the most unmerciful.
+
+There was time for no more, as that lady, suddenly tired, led the way to
+the carriage. Edgar followed her to the door, hoping and fearing, at
+once, every thing that was most interesting from a confidence so
+voluntary and so unexpected.
+
+Camilla was still more agitated; for though uncertain if she were right
+or wrong in the appeal she meant to make, to converse with him openly,
+to be guided by his counsel, and to convince him of her superiority to
+all mercenary allurements were pleasures to make her look forward to the
+approaching conference with almost trembling delight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+_A Demander_
+
+
+The next night, as the carriage was at the door, and the party preparing
+for the Rooms, the name of Mr. Tyrold was announced, and Lionel entered
+the parlour.
+
+His manner was hurried, though he appeared gay and frisky as usual;
+Camilla felt a little alarmed; but Mrs. Arlbery asked if he would
+accompany them.
+
+With all his heart, he answered, only he must first have a moment's chat
+with his sister. Then, saying they should have a letter to write
+together, he called for a pen and ink, and was taking her into another
+apartment, when Mr. Dennel objected to letting his horses wait.
+
+'Send them back for us, then,' cried Lionel, with his customary ease,
+'and we will follow you.'
+
+Mr. Dennel again objected to making his horses so often mount the hill;
+but Lionel assuring him nothing was so good for them, ran on with so
+many farrier words and phrases of the benefit they would reap from such
+light evening exercise, that, persuaded he was master of the subject,
+Mr. Dennel submitted, and the brother and sister were left
+_tête-à-tête_.
+
+At any other time, Camilla would have proposed giving up the Rooms
+entirely: but her desire to see Edgar, and the species of engagement she
+had made with him, counterbalanced every inconvenience.
+
+'My dear girl,' said Lionel, 'I am come to beg a favour. You see this
+pen and ink. Give me a sheet of paper.'
+
+She fetched him one.
+
+'That's a good child,' cried he, patting her cheek; 'so now sit down,
+and write a short letter for me. Come begin. Dear Sir.'
+
+She wrote--Dear Sir.
+
+'An unforeseen accident,--write on,--an unforeseen accident has reduced
+me to immediate distress for two hundred pounds....'
+
+Camilla let her pen drop, and rising said, 'Lionel! is this possible?'
+
+'Very possible, my dear. You know I told you I wanted another hundred
+before you left Cleves. So you must account it only as one hundred, in
+fact, at present.'
+
+'O Lionel, Lionel!' cried Camilla, clasping her hands, with a look of
+more remonstrance than any words she durst utter.
+
+'Won't you write the letter?' said he, pretending not to observe her
+emotion.
+
+'To whom is it to be addressed?'
+
+'My uncle, to be sure, my dear! What can you be thinking of? Are you in
+love, Camilla?'
+
+'My uncle again? no Lionel, no!--I have solemnly engaged myself to apply
+to him no more.'
+
+'That was, for me, my dear; but where can your thoughts be wandering?
+Why you must ask for this, as if it were for yourself.'
+
+'For myself!'
+
+'Yes, certainly. You know he won't give it else.'
+
+'Impossible! what should I want two hundred pounds for?'
+
+'O, a thousand things; say you must have some new gowns and caps, and
+hats and petticoats, and all those kind of gear. There is not the least
+difficulty; you can easily persuade him they are all worn out at such a
+place as this. Besides, I'll tell you what is still better; say you've
+been robbed; he'll soon believe it, for he thinks all public places
+filled with sharpers.'
+
+'Now you relieve me,' said she, with a sort of fearful smile, 'for I am
+sure you cannot be serious. You must be very certain I would not deceive
+or delude my uncle for a million of worlds.'
+
+'You know nothing of life, child, nothing at all. However, if you won't
+say that, tell him it's for a secret purpose. At least you can do that.
+And then, you can make him understand he must ask no questions about the
+matter. The money is all we want from him.'
+
+'This is so idle, Lionel, that I hope you speak it for mere nonsense.
+Who could demand such a sum, and refuse to account for its purpose?'
+
+'Account, my dear? Does being an uncle give a man a right to be
+impertinent? If it does, marry out of hand yourself, there's a good
+girl, and have a family at once, that I may share the same privilege. I
+shall like it of all things; who will you have?'
+
+'Pho, pho!'
+
+'Major Cerwood?'
+
+'No, never!'
+
+'I once thought Edgar Mandlebert had a sneaking kindness for you. But I
+believe it is gone off. Or else I was out.'
+
+This was not an observation to exhilarate her spirits. She sighed: but
+Lionel, concluding himself the cause, begged her not to be low-spirited,
+but to write the letter at once.
+
+She assured him she could never again consent to interfere in his
+unreasonable requests.
+
+He was undone, then, he said; for he could not live without the money.
+
+'Rather say, not with it,' cried she; 'for you keep nothing!'
+
+'Nobody does, my dear; we all go on the same way now-a-days.'
+
+'And what do you mean to be the end of it all, Lionel? How do you
+purpose living when all these resources are completely exhausted?'
+
+'When I am ruined, you mean? why how do other people live when they're
+ruined? I can but do the same; though I have not much considered the
+matter.'
+
+'Do consider it, then, dear Lionel! for all our sakes, do consider it!'
+
+'Well,--let us see.'
+
+'O, I don't mean so; I don't mean just now; in this mere idle manner.--'
+
+'O, yes, I'll do it at once, and then it will be over. Faith I don't
+well know. I have no great _gusta_ for blowing out my brains. I like the
+little dears mighty well where they are. And I can't say I shall much
+relish to consume my life and prime and vigour in the king's bench
+prison. 'Tis horribly tiresome to reside always on the same spot. Nor I
+have no great disposition to whisk off to another country. Old England's
+a pretty place enough. I like it very well; ... with a little rhino
+understood! But it's the very deuce, with an empty purse. So write the
+letter, my dear girl.'
+
+'And is this your consideration, Lionel? And is this its conclusion?'
+
+'Why what signifies dwelling upon such dismalties? If I think upon my
+ruin beforehand, I am no nearer to enjoyment now than then. Live while
+we live, my dear girl! I hate prophesying horrors. Write, I say, write!'
+
+Again she absolutely refused, pleading her promise to her uncle, and
+declaring she would keep her word.
+
+'Keep a fiddlestick!' cried he, impatiently; 'you don't know what
+mischief you may have to answer for! you may bring misery upon all our
+heads! you may make my father banish me his sight, you may make my
+mother execrate me!--'
+
+'Good Heaven!' cried Camilla interrupting him, 'what is it you talk of?
+what is it you mean?'
+
+'Just what I say; and to make you understand me better, I'll give you a
+hint of the truth; but you must lose your life twenty times before you
+reveal it--There's--there's--do you hear me?--there's a pretty girl in
+the case!'
+
+'A pretty girl!--And what has that to do with this rapacity for money?'
+
+'What an innocent question! why what a baby thou art, my dear Camilla!'
+
+'I hope you are not forming any connexion unknown to my father?'
+
+'Ha, ha, ha!' cried Lionel laughing loud: 'Why thou hast lived in that
+old parsonage-house till thou art almost too young to be rocked in a
+cradle.'
+
+'If you are entering into any engagement,' said she, still more gravely,
+'that my father must not know, and that my mother would so bitterly
+condemn,--why am I to be trusted with it?'
+
+'You understand nothing of these things, child. 'Tis the very nature of
+a father to be an hunks, and of a mother to be a bore.'
+
+'O Lionel! such a father!--such a mother!--'
+
+'As to their being perfectly good, and all that, I know it very well.
+And I am very sorry for it. A good father is a very serious misfortune
+to a poor lad like me, as the world runs; it causes one such confounded
+gripes of the conscience for every little awkward thing one does! A bad
+father would be the joy of my life; 'twould be all fair play there; the
+more he was choused the better.'
+
+'But this pretty girl, Lionel!--Are you serious? Are you really engaging
+yourself? And is she so poor? Is she so much distressed, that you
+require these immense and frequent sums for her?'
+
+Lionel laughed again, and rubbed his hands; but after a short silence
+assumed a more steady countenance, and said, 'Don't ask me any thing
+about her. It is not fit you should be so curious. And don't give a hint
+of the matter to a soul. Mind that! But as to the money, I must have it.
+And directly: I shall be blown to the deuce else.'
+
+'Lionel!' cried Camilla, shrinking, 'you make me tremble! you cannot
+surely be so wicked ... so unprincipled.... No! your connexions are
+never worse than imprudent!--you would not else be so unkind, so
+injurious as to place in me such a confidence!'
+
+The whole face of Lionel now flashed with shame, and he walked about the
+room, muttering: ''Tis true, I ought not to have done it.' And soon
+after, with still greater concern, he exclaimed: 'If this appears to you
+in such a heinous light, what will my father think of it? And how can I
+bear to let it be known to my mother?'
+
+'O never, never!' cried she emphatically; 'never let it reach the
+knowledge of either! If indeed you have been so inconsiderate, and so
+wrong--break up, at least, any such intercourse before it offends their
+ears.'
+
+'But how, my dear, can I do that, if it gets blazed abroad?'
+
+'Blazed abroad!'
+
+'Yes; and for want, only, of a few pitiful guineas.'
+
+'What can you mean? How can it depend upon a few guineas?'
+
+'Get me the guineas;--and leave the how to me.'
+
+'My dear Lionel,' cried she, affectionately, 'I would do any thing that
+is not absolutely improper to serve you; but my uncle has now nothing
+more to spare; he has told me so himself; and with what courage, then,
+in this dark, mysterious, and, I fear, worse than mysterious business,
+can I apply to him?'
+
+'My dear child, he only wants to hoard up his money to shew off poor
+Eugenia at her marriage; and you know as well as I do what a ninny he is
+for his pains; for what a poor little dowdy thing will she look, dizened
+out in jewels and laces?'
+
+'Can you speak so of Eugenia? the most amiable, the most deserving, the
+most excellent creature breathing!'
+
+'I speak it in pure friendship. I would not have her exposed. I love
+dear little Greek and Latin as well as you do. Only the difference is I
+don't talk so like an old woman; and really when you do it yourself, you
+can't think the ridiculous effect it has, when one looks at your young
+face. However, only write the request as if from yourself, and tell him
+you'll acquaint him with the reason next letter; but that the post is
+just going out now, and you have time for no more. And then, just coax
+him over a little, with, how you long to be back, and how you hate
+Tunbridge, and how you adore Cleves, and how tired you are for want of
+his bright conversation,--and you may command half his fortune.--My dear
+Camilla, you don't know from what destruction you will rescue me! Think
+too of my father, and what a shock you will save him: And think of my
+mother, whom I can never see again if you won't help me!'
+
+Camilla sighed, but let him put the pen into her hand, whence, however,
+the very next moment's reflection was urging her to cast it down, when
+he caught her in his arms in a transport of joy, called her his
+protectress from dishonour and despair, and said he would run to the
+Rooms while she wrote, just to take the opportunity of seeing them, and
+to un-order the carriage, that she might have no interruption to her
+composition, which he would come back to claim before the party
+returned, as he must set off for Cleves, and gallop all night, to
+procure the money, which the loss of a single day would render useless.
+
+All this he uttered with a rapidity that mocked every attempt at
+expostulation or answer; and then ran out of the room and out of the
+house.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Horrour at such perpetual and increasing ill conduct, grief at the
+compulsive failure of meeting Edgar, and perplexity how to extricate
+herself from her half given, but wholly seized upon engagement to write,
+took for a while nearly equally shares in tormenting Camilla. But all
+presently concentred in one domineering sentiment of sharp repentance
+for what she had apparently undertaken.
+
+To claim two hundred pounds of her uncle, in her own name, was out of
+all question. She could not, even a moment, dwell upon such a project;
+but how represent what she herself so little understood as the necessity
+of Lionel? or how ask for so large a sum, and postpone, as he desired,
+all explanation? She was incapable of any species of fraud, she detested
+even the most distant disguise. Simple supplication seemed, therefore,
+her only method; but so difficult was even this, in an affair so dark
+and unconscionable, that she began twenty letters without proceeding in
+any one of them beyond two lines.
+
+Thus far, however, her task was light to what it appeared to her upon a
+little further deliberation. That her brother had formed some unworthy
+engagement or attachment, he had not, indeed, avowed clearly, but he had
+by no means denied, and she had even omitted, in her surprise and
+consternation, exacting his promise that it should immediately be
+concluded. What, then, might she be doing by endeavouring to procure
+this money? Aiding perhaps vice and immorality, and assisting her
+misguided, if not guilty brother, to persevere in the most dangerous
+errors, if not crimes?
+
+She shuddered, she pushed away her paper, she rose from the table, she
+determined not to write another word.
+
+Yet, to permit parents she justly revered to suffer any evil she had the
+smallest chance to spare them, was dreadful to her; and what evil could
+be inflicted upon them, so deeply, so lastingly severe, as the
+conviction of any serious vices in any of their children?
+
+This, for one minute, brought her again to the table; but the next, her
+better judgment pointed out the shallowness and fallacy of such
+reasoning. To save them present pain at the risk of future anguish, to
+consult the feelings of her brother, in preference to his morality,
+would be forgetting every lesson of her life, which, from its earliest
+dawn, had imbibed a love of virtue, that made her consider whatever was
+offensive to it as equally disgusting and unhappy.
+
+To disappoint Lionel was, however, terrible. She knew well he would be
+deaf to remonstrance, ridicule all argument, and laugh off whatever she
+could urge by persuasion. She feared he would be quite outrageous to
+find his expectations thus thwarted; and the lateness of the hour when
+he would hear it, and the weight he annexed, to obtaining the money
+expeditiously, redoubled at once her regret for her momentary
+compliance, and her pity for what he would undergo through its failure.
+
+After considering in a thousand ways how to soften to him her
+recantation, she found herself so entirely without courage to encounter
+his opposition, that she resolved to write him a short letter, and then
+retire to her room, to avoid an interview.
+
+In this, she besought him to forgive her error in not sooner being
+sensible of her duty, which had taught her, upon her first reflexion,
+the impossibility of demanding two hundred pounds for herself, who
+wanted nothing, and the impracticability of demanding it for him, in so
+unintelligible a manner.
+
+Thus far only she had proceeded, from the length of time consumed in
+regret and rumination, when a violent ringing at the door, without the
+sound of any carriage, made her start up, and fly to her chamber;
+leaving her unfinished letter, with the beginnings of her several essays
+to address Sir Hugh, upon the table, to shew her various efforts, and to
+explain that they were relinquished.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+_An Accorder_
+
+
+Thus, self-confined and almost in an agony, Camilla remained for a
+quarter of an hour, without any species of interruption, and in the
+greatest amazement that Lionel forbore pursuing her, either with letter
+or message.
+
+Another violent ringing at the bell, but still without any carriage,
+then excited her attention, and presently the voice and steps of Lionel
+resounded upon the stairs, whence her name was with violence
+vociferated.
+
+She did not move; and in another minute, he was rapping at her chamber
+door, demanding admittance, or that she would instantly descend.
+
+Alarmed for her open letter and papers, she inquired who was in the
+parlour.
+
+'Not a soul,' he answered; 'I have left them all at the Rooms.'
+
+'Have you returned, then, twice?'
+
+'No. I should have been here sooner, but I met two or three old cronies,
+that would not part with me. Come, where's your letter?'
+
+'Have you not seen what I have written?'
+
+Down upon this intimation he flew, without any reply; but was presently
+back, saying he found nothing in the parlour, except a letter to
+herself.
+
+Affrighted, she followed him; but not one of her papers remained. The
+table was cleared, and nothing was to be seen but a large packet,
+addressed to her in a hand she did not know.
+
+She rang to inquire who had been in the house before her brother.
+
+The servant answered, only Sir Sedley Clarendel, who he thought had been
+there still, as he had said he should wait till Mrs. Arlbery came home.
+
+'Is it possible,' cried she, 'that a gentleman such as Sir Sedley
+Clarendel, can have permitted himself to touch my papers?'
+
+Lionel agreed that it was shocking; but said the loss of time to himself
+was still worse; without suffering her, therefore, to open her packet,
+he insisted that she should write another letter directly; adding, he
+had met the Baronet in his way from the Rooms, but had little suspected
+whence he came, or how he had been amusing himself.
+
+Camilla now hung about her brother in the greatest tribulation, but
+refused to take the pen he would have put into her hands, and, at last,
+not without tears, said: 'Forgive me, Lionel! but the papers you ought
+to have found would have explained--that I cannot write for you to my
+uncle.'
+
+Lionel heard this with the indignation of an injured man. He was
+utterly, he said, lost; and his family would be utterly disgraced, for
+ruin must be the lot of his father, or exile or imprisonment must be his
+own, if she persisted in such unkind and unnatural conduct.
+
+Terrour now bereft her of all speech or motion, till the letter, which
+Lionel had been beating about in his agitation, without knowing or
+caring what he was doing, burst open, and some written papers fell to
+the floor, which she recognised for her own.
+
+Much amazed, she seized the cover, which had only been fastened by a
+wafer that was still wet, and saw a letter within it to herself, which
+she hastily read, while a paper that was enclosed dropt down, and was
+caught by Lionel.
+
+     _To Miss_ Camilla Tyrold.
+
+     Forgive, fairest Camilla, the work of the Destinies. I came hither
+     to see if illness detained you; the papers which I enclose from
+     other curious eyes caught mine by accident. The pathetic sisterly
+     address has touched me. I have not the honour to know Mr. Lionel
+     Tyrold; let our acquaintance begin with an act of confidence on his
+     part, that must bind to him for ever his lovely sister's.
+
+     Most obedient and devoted
+     SEDLEY CLARENDEL.
+
+The loose paper, picked up by Lionel, was a draft, upon a banker, for
+two hundred pounds.
+
+While this, with speechless emotion, was perused by Camilla, Lionel,
+with unbounded joy, began jumping, skipping, leaping over every chair,
+and capering round and round the room in an ecstasy.
+
+'My dearest Lionel,' cried she, when a little recovered, 'why such joy?
+you cannot suppose it possible this can be accepted.'
+
+'Not accepted, child? do you think me out of my senses? Don't you see me
+freed from all my misfortunes at once? and neither my father grieved,
+nor my mother offended, nor poor numps fleeced?'
+
+'And when can you pay it? And what do you mean to do? And to whom will
+be the obligation? Weigh, weigh a little all this.'
+
+Lionel heard her not; his rapture was too buoyant for attention, and he
+whisked every thing out of its place, from frantic merriment, till he
+put the apartment into so much disorder, that it was scarce practicable
+to stir a step in it; now and then interrupting himself to make her low
+bows, scraping his feet all over the room, and obsequiously saying: 'My
+sister Clarendel! How does your La'ship do? my dear Lady Clarendel, pray
+afford me your La'ship's countenance.'
+
+Nothing could be less pleasant to Camilla than raillery which pointed
+out, that, even by the unreflecting Lionel, this action could be
+ascribed to but one motive. The draft, however, had fallen into his
+hands, and neither remonstrance nor petition, neither representation of
+impropriety nor persuasion, could induce him to relinquish it; he would
+only dance, sing, and pay her grotesque homage, till the coach stopt at
+the door; and then, ludicrously hoping her Ladyship would excuse his
+leaving her, for once, to play the part of the house-maid, in setting
+the room to rights, he sprang past them all, and bounded down the hill.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery was much diverted by the confusion in the parlour, and Miss
+Dennel asked a thousand questions why the chairs and tables were all
+thrown down, the china jars removed from the chimney-piece into the
+middle of the room, and the sideboard apparatus put on the chimney-piece
+in their stead.
+
+Camilla was too much confounded either to laugh or explain, and hastily
+wishing them good-night, retired to her chamber.
+
+Here, in the extremest perturbation, she saw the full extent of her
+difficulties, without perceiving any means of extrication. She had no
+hope of recovering the draft from Lionel, whom she had every reason to
+conclude already journeying from Tunbridge. What could she say the next
+day to Sir Sedley? How account for so sudden, so gross an acceptance of
+pecuniary obligation? What inference might he not draw? And how could
+she undeceive him, while retaining so improper a mark of his dependence
+upon her favour? The displeasure she felt that he should venture to
+suppose she would owe to him such a debt, rendered but still more
+palpable the species of expectation it might authorise.
+
+To destroy this illusion occupied all her attention, except what was
+imperiously seized upon by regret of missing Edgar, with whom to consult
+was more than ever her wish.
+
+In this disturbed state, when she saw Mrs. Arlbery the next morning, her
+whole care was to avoid being questioned: and that lady, who quickly
+perceived her fears by her avoidance, took the first opportunity to say
+to her, with a laugh, 'I see I must make no inquiries into the gambols
+of your brother last night: but I may put together, perhaps, certain
+circumstances that may give me a little light to the business: and if,
+as I conjecture, Clarendel spoke out to him, his wildest rioting is more
+rational than his sister's gravity.'
+
+Camilla protested they had not conversed together at all.
+
+'Nay, then, I own myself still in the dark. But I observed that
+Clarendel left the Rooms at a very early hour, and that your brother
+almost immediately followed.'
+
+Camilla ventured not any reply; and soon after retreated.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, in a few minutes, pursuing her, laughingly, and with
+sportive reproach, accused her of intending to steal a march to the
+altar of Hymen; as she had just been informed, by her maid, that Sir
+Sedley had actually been at the house last night, during her absence.
+
+Camilla seriously assured her, that she was in her chamber when he
+arrived, and had not seen him.
+
+'For what in the world, then, could he come? He was sure I was not at
+home, for he had left me at the Rooms?'
+
+Camilla again was silent; but her tingling cheeks proclaimed it was not
+for want of something to say. Mrs. Arlbery forbore to press the matter
+further; but forbore with a nod that implied _I see how it is_! and a
+smile that published the pleasure and approbation which accompanied her
+self-conviction.
+
+The vexation of Camilla would have prompted an immediate confession of
+the whole mortifying transaction, had she not been endued with a sense
+of honour, where the interests of others were concerned, that repressed
+her natural precipitance, and was more powerful even than her
+imprudence.
+
+She waited the greatest part of the morning in some little faint hope of
+seeing Lionel: but he came not, and she spent the rest of it with Mrs.
+Berlinton. She anxiously wished to meet Edgar in the way, to apologise
+for her non-appearance the preceding evening; but this did not happen;
+and her concern was not lessened by reflecting upon the superior
+interest in her health and welfare, marked by Sir Sedley, who had taken
+the trouble to walk from the Rooms to Mount Pleasant to see what was
+become of her.
+
+She returned home but barely in time to dress for dinner, and was not
+yet ready, when she saw the carriage of the Baronet drive up to the
+door.
+
+In the most terrible confusion how to meet him, what to say about the
+draft, how to mention her brother, whether to seem resentful of the
+liberty he had so unceremoniously taken, or thankful for its kindness,
+she had scarce the force to attire herself, nor, when summoned down
+stairs, to descend.
+
+This distress was but increased upon her entrance, by the sight and the
+behaviour of the Baronet; whose address to her was so marked, that it
+covered her with blushes, and whose air had an assurance that spoke a
+species of secret triumph. Offended as well as frightened, she looked
+every way to avoid him, or assumed a look of haughtiness, when forced by
+any direct speech to answer him. She soon, however, saw, by his
+continued self-complacency, and even an increase of gaiety, that he only
+regarded this as coquetry, or bashful embarrassment, since every time
+she attempted thus to rebuff him, an arch smile stole over his features,
+that displayed his different conception of her meaning.
+
+She now wished nothing so much as a prompt and positive declaration,
+that she might convince him of his mistake and her rejection. For this
+purpose, she subdued her desire of retreat, and spent the whole
+afternoon with Mrs. Arlbery and the Dennels in his company.
+
+Nevertheless, when Mrs. Arlbery, who had the same object in view, though
+with a different conclusion, contrived to draw her other guests out of
+the apartment and to leave her alone with Sir Sedley, modesty and shame
+both interfered with her desire of an explanation, and she was hastily
+retiring; but the Baronet, in a gentle voice, called after her, 'Are you
+going?'
+
+'Yes, I have forgotten something....'
+
+He rose to follow her, with a motion that seemed purporting to take her
+hand; but, gliding quickly on, she prevented him, and was almost at the
+same moment in her own chamber.
+
+With augmented severity, she now felt the impropriety of an apparent
+acceptance of so singular and unpleasant an obligation, which obviously
+misled Sir Sedley to believe her at his command.
+
+Shocked in her delicacy, and stung in her best notions of laudable
+pride, she could not rest without destroying this humiliating idea; and
+resolved to apply to Edgar for the money, and to pay the Baronet the
+next day. Her objections to betraying the extravagance of Lionel, though
+great and sincere, yielded to the still more dangerous evil of letting
+Sir Sedley continue in an errour, that might terminate in branding her
+in his opinion, with a character of inconsistency or duplicity.
+
+Edgar, too, so nearly a brother to them both, would guard the secret of
+Lionel better, in all probability, than he would guard it himself; and
+could draw no personal inferences from the trust and obligation when he
+found its sole incitement was sooner to owe an obligation to a ward of
+her father, than to a new acquaintance of her own.
+
+Pleased at the seeming necessity of an application that would lead so
+naturally to a demand of the counsel she languished to claim, she
+determined not to suffer Sir Sedley to wait even another minute under
+his mistake; but, since she now could speak of returning the money, to
+take courage for meeting what might either precede or ensue in a
+conference.
+
+Down, therefore, she went; but as she opened the parlour door, she heard
+Sir Sedley say to Mrs. Arlbery, who had just entered before her: 'O,
+fie! fie! you know she will be cruel to excruciation! you know me
+destined to despair to the last degree.'
+
+Camilla, whose so speedy re-appearance was the last sight he expected,
+was too far advanced to retreat; and the resentment that tinged her
+whole complexion shewed she had heard what he said, and had heard it
+with an application the most offensive.
+
+An immediate sensibility to his own impertinence now succeeded in its
+vain display; he looked not merely concerned, but contrite; and, in a
+voice softened nearly to timidity, attempted a general conversation, but
+kept his eyes, with an anxious expression, almost continually fixed upon
+her's.
+
+Anger with Camilla was a quick, but short-lived sensation; and this
+sudden change in the Baronet from conceit to respect, produced a change
+equally sudden in herself from disdain to inquietude. Though mortified
+in the first moment by his vanity, it was less seriously painful to her
+than any belief that under it was couched a disposition towards a really
+steady regard. With Mrs. Arlbery she was but slightly offended, though
+certain she had been assuring him of all the success he could demand:
+her way of thinking upon the subject had been openly avowed, and she did
+justice to the kindness of her motives.
+
+No opportunity, however, arose to mention the return of the draft; Mrs.
+Arlbery saw displeasure in her air, and not doubting she had heard what
+had dropt from Sir Sedley, thought the moment unfavorable for a
+_tête-à-tête_, and resolutely kept her place, till Camilla herself,
+weary of useless waiting, left the room.
+
+Following her then to her chamber, 'My dear Miss Tyrold,' she cried, 'do
+not let your extreme youth stand in the way of all your future life. A
+Baronet, rich, young, and amiable, is upon the very point of becoming
+your slave for ever; yet, because you discover him to be a little
+restive in the last agonies of his liberty, you are eager, in the
+high-flown disdain of juvenile susceptibility, to cast him and his
+fortune away; as if both were such every-day baubles, that you might
+command or reject them without thought of future consequence.'
+
+'Indeed no, dear madam; I am not actuated by pride or anger; I owe too
+much to Sir Sedley to feel either above a moment, even where I think
+them ... pardon me!... justly excited. But I should ill pay my debt, by
+accepting a lasting attachment, where certain I can return nothing but
+lasting, eternal, unchangeable indifference.'
+
+'You sacrifice, then, both him and yourself, to the fanciful delicacy of
+a first love?'
+
+'No, indeed!' cried she blushing. 'I have no thought at all but of the
+single life. And I sincerely hope Sir Sedley has no serious intentions
+towards me; for my obligations to him are so infinite, I should be
+cruelly hurt to appear to him ungrateful.'
+
+'You would appear to him, I confess, a little surprising,' said Mrs.
+Arlbery, laughing; 'for diffidence certainly is not his weak part.
+However, with all his foibles, he is a charming creature, and
+prepossession only can blind you to his merit.'
+
+Camilla again denied the charge, and strove to prevail with her to
+undeceive the Baronet from any false expectations. But she protested she
+would not be accessary to so much after-repentance; and left her.
+
+The business now wore a very serious aspect to Camilla. Mrs. Arlbery
+avowed she thought Sir Sedley in earnest, and he knew she had herself
+heard him speak with security of his success. The bullfinch had gone
+far, but the draft seemed to have riveted the persuasion. The bird it
+was now impossible to return till her departure from Tunbridge; but she
+resolved not to defer another moment putting upon her brother alone the
+obligation of the draft, to stop the further progress of such dangerous
+inference.
+
+Hastily, therefore, she wrote to him the following note:
+
+     _To Sir_ Sedley Clarendel, _Bart._
+
+     SIR,
+
+     Some particular business compelled my brother so abruptly to quit
+     Tunbridge, that he could not have the honour to first wait upon you
+     with his thanks for the loan you so unexpectedly put into his
+     hands; by mine, however, all will be restored to-morrow morning,
+     except his gratitude for your kindness.
+
+     I am, sir, in both our names,
+     your obliged humble servant,
+     CAMILLA TYROLD.
+
+     MOUNT PLEASANT,
+     Thursday Evening.
+
+She now waited till she was summoned down stairs to the carriage, and
+then gave her little letter to a servant, whom she desired to deliver it
+to Sir Sedley's man.
+
+Sir Sedley did not accompany them to the Rooms, but promised to follow.
+
+Camilla, on her arrival, with palpitating pleasure, looked round for
+Edgar. She did not, however, see him. She was accosted directly by the
+Major; who, as usual, never left her, and whose assiduity to seek her
+favour seemed increased.
+
+She next joined Mrs. Berlinton; but still she saw nothing of Edgar. Her
+eyes incessantly looked towards the door, but the object they sought
+never met them.
+
+When Sir Sedley entered, he joined the group of Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+Camilla tried to look at him and to speak to him with her customary
+civility and chearfulness, and nearly succeeded; while in him she
+observed only an expressive attention, without any marks of presumption.
+
+Thus began and thus ended the evening. Edgar never appeared.
+
+Camilla was in the utmost amaze and deepest vexation. Why did he stay
+away? was his wrath so great at her own failure the preceding night,
+that he purposely avoided her? what, also, could she do with Sir Sedley?
+how meet him the next morning without the draft she had now promised?'
+
+In this state of extreme chagrin, when she retired to her chamber, she
+found the following letter upon her table:
+
+     _To Miss_ Camilla Tyrold.
+
+     Can you think of such a trifle? or deem wealth so truly
+     contemptible, as to deny it all honourable employment? Ah, rather,
+     enchanting Camilla! deign further to aid me in dispensing it
+     worthily!
+
+     SEDLEY CLARENDEL.
+
+Camilla now was touched, penetrated, and distressed beyond what she had
+been in any former time. She looked upon this letter as a positive
+intimation of the most serious designs; and all his good qualities, as
+painted by Mrs. Arlbery, with the very singular obligation she owed to
+him, rose up formidably to support the arguments and remonstrances of
+that lady; though every feeling of her heart, every sentiment of her
+mind, and every wish of her soul, opposed their smallest weight.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+_An Helper_
+
+
+The next morning, as Camilla had accompanied Mrs. Arlbery, in earnest
+discourse, from her chamber to the hall, she heard the postman say Miss
+Tyrold as he gave in a letter. She seized it, saw the hand-writing of
+Lionel, and ran eagerly into the parlour, which was empty, to read it,
+in some hopes it would at least contain an acknowledgment of the draft,
+that might be shewn to Sir Sedley, and relieve her from the pain of
+continuing the principal in such an affair.
+
+The letter, however, was merely a sportive rhapsody, beginning; _My dear
+Lady Clarendel_; desiring her favour and protection, and telling her he
+had done what he could for her honour, by adding two trophies to the
+victorious car of Hymen, driven by the happy Baronet.
+
+Wholly at a loss how to act, she sat ruminating over this letter, till
+Mrs. Arlbery opened the door. Having no time to fold it, and dreading
+her seeing the first words, she threw her handkerchief, which was then
+in her hand, over it, upon the table, hoping presently to draw it away
+unperceived.
+
+'My dear friend,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'I am glad to see you a moment
+alone. Do you know any thing of Mandlebert?'
+
+'No!' answered she affrighted, lest any evil had happened.
+
+'Did he not take leave of you at the Rooms the other night?'
+
+'Leave of me? is he gone any where?'
+
+'He has left Tunbridge.'
+
+Camilla remained stupified.
+
+'Left it,' she continued, 'without the poor civility of a call, to ask
+if you had any letters or messages for Hampshire.'
+
+Camilla coloured high; she felt to her heart this evident coldness, and
+she knew it to be still more marked than Mrs. Arlbery could divine; for
+he was aware she wished particularly to speak with him; and though she
+had failed in her appointment, he had not inquired why.
+
+'And this is the man for whom you would relinquish all mankind? this is
+the grateful character who is to render you insensible to every body?'
+
+The disturbed mind of Camilla needed not this speech; her debt to Sir
+Sedley, cast wholly upon herself by the thoughtless Lionel; her
+inability to pay it, the impressive lines the Baronet had addressed to
+her, and the cruel and pointed indifference of Edgar, all forcibly
+united to make her wish, at this moment, her heart at her own disposal.
+
+In a few minutes, the voice of Sir Sedley, gaily singing, caught her
+ear. He was entering the hall, the street door being open. She started
+up; Mrs. Arlbery would have detained her, but she could not endure to
+encounter him, and without returning his salutation, or listening to his
+address, crossed him in the hall, and flew up stairs.
+
+There, however, she had scarcely taken breath, when she recollected the
+letter which she had left upon the table, and which the afflicting
+intelligence that Edgar had quitted Tunbridge, had made her forget she
+had received. In a terror immeasurable, lest her handkerchief should be
+drawn aside, and betray the first line, she re-descended the stairs, and
+hastily entered the room. Her shock was then inexpressible. The
+handkerchief, which her own quick motion in retiring had displaced, was
+upon the floor, the letter was in full view; the eyes of Sir Sedley were
+fixed upon his own name, with a look indefinable between pleasure and
+impertinence, and Mrs. Arlbery was laughing with all her might.
+
+She seized the letter, and was running away with it, when Mrs. Arlbery
+slipt out of the room, and Sir Sedley, shutting the door, half archly,
+half tenderly repeated, from the letter, 'My dear Lady Clarendel!'
+
+In a perfect agony, she hid her face, exclaiming: 'O Lionel! my
+foolish ... cruel brother!...'
+
+'Not foolish, not cruel, I think him,' cried Sir Sedley, taking her
+hand, 'but amiable ... he has done honour to my name, and he will use
+it, I hope, henceforth, as his own.'
+
+'Forget, forget his flippancy,' cried she, withdrawing impatiently her
+hand; 'and pardon his sister's breach of engagement for this morning. I
+hope soon, very soon, to repair it, and I hope....'
+
+She did not know what to add; she stopt, stammered, and then endeavoured
+to make her retreat.
+
+'Do not go,' cried he, gently detaining her; 'incomparable Camilla! I
+have a thousand things to say to you. Will you not hear them?'
+
+'No!' cried she, disengaging herself; 'no, no, no! I can hear
+nothing!...'
+
+'Do you fascinate then,' said he, half reproachfully, 'like the
+rattlesnake, only to destroy?'
+
+Camilla conceived this as alluding to her recent encouragement, and
+stood trembling with expectation it would be followed by a claim upon
+her justice.
+
+But Sir Sedley, who was far from any meaning so pointed, lightly added;
+'What thus agitates the fairest of creatures? can she fear a poor
+captive entangled in the witchery of her loveliness, and only the more
+enslaved the more he struggles to get free?'
+
+'Let me go,' cried she, eager to stop him; 'I beseech you, Sir Sedley!'
+
+'All beauteous Camilla!' said he, retreating yet still so as to
+intercept her passage; 'I am bound to submit; but when may I see you
+again?'
+
+'At any time,' replied she hastily; 'only let me pass now!'
+
+'At any time! adorable Camilla! be it then to-night! be it this
+evening!... be it at noon!... be it....'
+
+'No, no, no, no!' cried she, panting with shame and alarm; 'I do not
+mean at any time! I spoke without thought ... I mean....'
+
+'Speak so ever and anon,' cried he, 'if thought is my enemy! This
+evening then....'
+
+He stopt, as if irresolute how to finish his phrase, but soon added:
+'Adieu, till this evening, adieu!' and opened the door for her to pass.
+
+Triumph sat in his eye; exultation spoke in every feature; yet his voice
+betrayed constraint, and seemed checked, as if from fear of entrusting
+it with his sentiments. The fear, however, was palpably not of
+diffidence with respect to Camilla, but of indecision with regard to
+himself.
+
+Camilla, almost sinking with shame now hung back, from a dread of
+leaving him in this dangerous delusion. She sat down, and in a faltering
+voice, said: 'Sir Sedley! hear me, I beg!...'
+
+'Hear you?' cried he, gallantly casting himself at her feet; 'yes! from
+the fervid rays of the sun, to the mild lustre of the moon!...
+from....'
+
+A loud knock at the street door, and a ringing at the same time at the
+bell, made him rise, meaning to shut again the door of the parlour, but
+he was prevented by the entrance of a man into the hall, calling out, in
+a voice that reached to every part of the house, 'An express for Miss
+Camilla Tyrold.'
+
+Camilla started up, concluding it some strange intelligence concerning
+Edgar. But a letter was put into her hand, and she saw it was the
+writing of Lavinia.
+
+It was short, but most affectionate. It told her that news was just
+arrived from the Continent, which gave reason for hourly expectation of
+their cousin Lynmere at Cleves, in consequence of which Sir Hugh was
+assembling all the family to receive him. She was then, with her father,
+going thither from Etherington, where the restored health of her uncle
+had, for a week past, enabled them to reside, and she was ordered to
+send off an express to Tunbridge, to beg Camilla would prepare
+immediately for the post-chaise of Sir Hugh, which would be sent for
+her, with the Cleves housekeeper, and reach Mount Pleasant within a few
+hours after this notice.
+
+A hundred questions assailed Camilla when she had run over this letter,
+the noise of the express having brought Mrs. Arlbery and the Dennels
+into the parlour.
+
+She produced the letter, and putting it in the hands of Mrs. Arlbery,
+relieved her painful confusion, by quitting the room without again
+meeting the eyes of Sir Sedley.
+
+She could make no preparation, however, for her journey, from mingled
+desire and fear of an explanation with the Baronet before her departure.
+
+Again, therefore, in a few minutes she went down; gathering courage from
+the horror of a mistake that might lead to so much mischief.
+
+She found only Mrs. Arlbery in the parlour.
+
+Involuntarily staring, 'Where,' she cried, 'is Sir Sedley?'
+
+'He is gone,' answered Mrs. Arlbery, laughing at her earnestness; 'but
+no doubt you will soon see him at Cleves.'
+
+'Then I am undone!' cried she, bursting into tears, and running back to
+her chamber.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery instantly followed, and kindly inquired what disturbed her.
+
+'O, Mrs. Arlbery!' she cried, 'lend me, I beseech you, some aid, and
+spare me, in pity, your raillery! Sir Sedley, I fear, greatly mistakes
+me; set him right, I conjure you....'
+
+'Me, my dear? and do you think if some happy fatality is at work at this
+moment to force you to your good, I will come forth, like your evil
+genius, to counteract its operations?'
+
+'I must write, then ... yet, in this haste, this confusion, I fear to
+involve rather than extricate myself!'
+
+'Ay, write by all means; there is nothing so prettily forwards these
+affairs, as a correspondence between the parties undertaken to put an
+end to them.'
+
+She went, laughing, out of the chamber, and Camilla, who had seized a
+pen, distressfully flung it from her.
+
+What indeed could she say? he had made no direct declaration; she could
+give, therefore, no direct repulse; and though, through her brother's
+cruel want of all consideration, she was so deeply in his debt, she
+durst no longer promise its discharge; for the strange departure of
+Edgar robbed her of all courage to make to him her meditated
+application.
+
+Yet to leave Sir Sedley in this errour was every way terrible. If, which
+still seemed very possible, from his manner and behaviour, he should
+check his partiality, and make the whole of what had passed end in mere
+public-place gallantry, she must always have the mortification to know
+he had considered her as ready to accept him: If, on the contrary,
+encouraging what he felt for her, from the belief she returned his best
+opinion, he should seriously demand her hand ... how could she justify
+the apparent attention she once paid him? and how assert, while so
+hopelessly his debtor, the independence to reject one who so many ways
+seemed to hold himself secure?
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+She was broken in upon by Mrs. Mittin, who entered full of lamentation
+at the intelligence she had just heard from Miss Dennel of her sudden
+departure; which she ended with, 'But as you are going in such haste, my
+dear, you must have fifty things to do, so pray now, let me help you.
+Come, what shall I pack up for you? Where's all your things?'
+
+Camilla, incapable of doing any business for herself, accepted the
+offer.
+
+'Well then, now where's your gowns? Bless me! what a one is here? why
+it's been in the dew, and then in the dust, and then in the dew again,
+till all the bottom must be cut off; why you can never shew it amongst
+your friends; it will quite bring a disgrace upon poor Tunbridge; come,
+I think you must give it to me; I've got a piece of muslin just like
+it, and I can piece it so that it won't appear; but it will never do for
+you again.'
+
+Camilla was surprised; but her mind was filled with other matters, and
+the gown was put apart.
+
+'What! are those all your neck handkerchiefs? why, my dear Miss Tyrold,
+that's a thing you want very bad indeed; why here's one you can never
+wear again; it wants more darning than it's worth.'
+
+Camilla said she should have very good time to mend it at home.
+
+'But then, my dear, you don't consider what a bad look that will have
+amongst your friends; what will they think of poor Tunbridge, that you
+should have let it go so far? why, may be they'll never let you come
+again; the best way will be not to let them see it; suppose I take it
+off your hands? I dare say they don't know your count.'
+
+At any other time, Camilla would either have resisted these seizures, or
+have been diverted by the pretence that they were made only for her own
+benefit; but she was now glad at any rate to get rid of the care of the
+package.
+
+When this was over, and Mrs. Mittin had pretty well paid herself for her
+trouble: 'Well, my dear,' she cried, 'and what can I do for you next?
+Have you paid Mrs. Tillden, and Mr. Doust, and Mr. Tent?'
+
+These were questions that indeed roused Camilla from her reverie; she
+had not once thought of what she owed to the milliner, to her shoemaker,
+nor to her haberdasher; from all of whom she had now, through the hands
+of Mrs. Mittin, had various articles. She thanked her for reminding her
+of so necessary an attention, and said she would immediately send for
+the bills.
+
+'I'll run and pay 'em for you myself,' said Mrs. Mittin; 'for they
+always take that kind; and as I recommended them all to you, I have a
+right they should know how I stand their friend; for there's many an odd
+service they may do me in return; so I'll go for you with all my heart;
+only give me the money.'
+
+Camilla took out her purse, in which, from her debt to Sir Sedley, and
+perpetually current expences, there now remained but fifteen shillings
+of her borrowed five guineas; though latterly, she had wholly denied
+herself whatever did not seem an expence unavoidable. What to do she now
+knew not; for though all she had ordered had been trifling, she was
+sure it must amount to four or five guineas. She had repeatedly refused
+to borrow anything more of Mrs. Arlbery, always hoping every call for
+money would be the last; but she was too inexperienced to know, that in
+gay circles, and public places, the demands for wealth are endless and
+countless; and that oeconomy itself, which is always local, is there
+lavish and extravagant, compared with its character, in private scenes
+and retired life.
+
+Yet was this the last moment to apply to Mrs. Arlbery upon such a
+subject, since it would be endowing her with fresh arms to fight the
+cause of Sir Sedley. She sat still, and ruminating, till Mrs. Mittin,
+who without scruple had taken a full inventory of the contents of the
+purse, exclaimed: 'La! my dear, why sure I hope that i'n't all you've
+got left?'
+
+Camilla was fain to confess she had nothing more at Tunbridge.
+
+'Well, don't be uneasy, my dear,' cried she, 'and I'll go to 'em all,
+and be caution for you, till you get the money.'
+
+Camilla thanked her very sincerely, and again resumed her first opinion
+of her real good nature, and kindness of heart. She took her direction
+in London, whither she was soon to return, and promised, in a short
+time, to transmit the money for her to distribute, as every one of the
+shopkeepers went to the metropolis in the winter.
+
+Delighted both with the praise and the commission, Mrs. Mittin took
+leave; and Camilla determined to employ her next quarter's allowance in
+paying these debts, and frankly to beg from her uncle the five guineas
+that were due to Mrs. Arlbery.
+
+She then wrote an affectionate adieu to Mrs. Berlinton, intreating to
+hear from her at Etherington; and, while she was sealing it, Mrs.
+Arlbery came to embrace her, as the carriage was at the door.
+
+Camilla, in making her acknowledgments for the kindness she had
+received, intermingled a petition, that at least, she would not augment,
+if she refused to clear the mistake of Sir Sedley.
+
+'I believe he may safely,' she answered, 'be left to himself; though it
+is plain that, at this moment, he is in a difficulty as great as your
+own; for marriage he still resists, though he finds you resistless. I
+wish you mutually to be parted till ... pardon me, my fair friend ...
+your understandings are mutually cleared, and he is divested of what is
+too factitious, and you of what is too artless. Your situation is,
+indeed, rather whimsical; for the two mortals with whom you have to
+deal require treatment diametrically opposite; yet, humour them a little
+adroitly, and you presently gain them both. He that is proud, must be
+distanced; he that is vain, must be flattered. This is paying them with
+their own coin; but they hold no other to be current. Pride, if not
+humbled, degenerates into contempt; vanity, if not indulged, dissolves
+into indifference.'
+
+Camilla disclaimed taking any measures with respect to either; but Mrs.
+Arlbery insisted the field would be won by Sir Sedley, 'who is already,'
+she cried, 'persuaded you have for some time encouraged him, and that
+now you are fully propitious....'
+
+Camilla hastily interrupted her: 'O, Mrs. Arlbery!' she cried, 'I cannot
+endure this! add not to my disturbance by making it my own work!'
+
+She then embraced her; took leave of the Dennels, and with the
+housekeeper of Sir Hugh set out from Tunbridge for Cleves.
+
+
+END OF THE THIRD VOLUME.
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME IV
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VII
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_The right Style of Arguing_
+
+
+Camilla was received with the most tender joy by all her family, again
+re-assembled at Cleves to welcome the return of young Lynmere, who was
+expected every hour. Sir Hugh, perfectly recovered from his late
+illness, and busy, notwithstanding all remonstrance, in preparation for
+the approaching nuptials, was in spirits that exhilarated whoever saw
+him. Eugenia awaited that event with gentleness, though with varying
+sensations; from fears, lest her personal misfortunes should prove
+repulsive to Clermont, and from wishes to find him resembling Melmond in
+talents, and Bellamy in passion and constancy.
+
+Dr. Orkborne gave now his lessons with redoubled assiduity, from an
+ambition to produce to the scholastic traveller, a phenomenon of his own
+workmanship in a learned young female: nor were his toils less ready,
+nor less pleasant, for a secret surmise they would shortly end; though
+not till honour should be united with independence, for his recompence.
+But Miss Margland fretted, that this wedding would advance no London
+journey; and Indiana could not for a moment recover from her
+indignation, that the deformed and ugly Eugenia, though two years
+younger than herself, should be married before her. Lavinia had no
+thought but for the happiness of her sister; and Mr. Tyrold lamented the
+absence of his wife, who, alike from understanding and affection, was
+the only person to properly superintend this affair, but from whom Dr.
+Marchmont, just arrived, brought very faint hopes of a speedy return.
+
+Eugenia, however, was not the sole care of her father, at this period.
+The countenance of Camilla soon betrayed, to his inquiring eyes, the
+inefficacy of the Tunbridge journey. But he forbore all question; and
+left to time or her choice to unravel, if new incidents kept alive her
+inquietude, or, if no incident at all had been equally prejudicial to
+her repose.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Two days after, while Camilla, still astonished by no news, nor sight of
+Edgar, was sitting with her sisters, and recounting to them her late
+adventures, and present difficulties, with Sir Sedley Clarendel, Jacob
+brought her, in its own superb bird-cage, the learned little bullfinch;
+telling her, it had been delivered to him without any message, by a man
+who said she had left it, by mistake, at Tunbridge; whence he had had
+orders to follow her with it to Cleves park.
+
+She was much provoked thus to receive it. Mrs. Arlbery had pressed her
+to take it in her uncle's chaise, which she had firmly refused; and she
+now concluded this method was adopted, that Sir Sedley might imagine she
+detained it as his gift.
+
+In drawing out, soon after, the receptacle for the bird's nourishment,
+she perceived, written with a pencil upon the wood, these words: 'Thou
+art gone then, fair fugitive! Ah! at least, fly only where thou mayst be
+pursued!'
+
+This writing had not been visible till the machine was taken out to be
+replenished. She recollected the hand of Sir Sedley, and was now sure it
+was sent by himself, and could no longer, therefore, doubt his
+intentions being serious.
+
+With infinite perplexity she consulted with her sisters; but, when
+candidly she had related, that once, to her never-ending regret, she had
+apparently welcomed his civilities, Eugenia pronounced her rectitude to
+be engaged by that error, as strongly as her gratitude by the
+preservation of her life, and the extraordinary service done to Lionel,
+not to reject the young baronet, should he make his proposals.
+
+She heard this opinion with horror. Timid shame, and the counsel of her
+father, united to impede her naming the internal obstacle which she felt
+to be insurmountable; and, while casting up, in silence, her appealing
+eyes to Heaven for relief, from the intricacy in which she found herself
+involved, she saw Lionel galloping into the park.
+
+She flew to meet him, and he dismounted, and led his horse, to walk with
+her.
+
+She flattered herself, she might now represent the mischief he was
+doing, and obtain from him some redress. But he was more wild and
+impracticable than ever. 'Well, my dear girl,' he cried, 'when are all
+these betterings and worsings to take place? Numps has sent for me to
+see poor little Greek and Latin hobble to the altar; but, 'tis a million
+to one, if our noble baronet does not whisk you there before her. He's a
+charming fellow, faith. I had a good long confab with him this morning.'
+
+'This morning? I hope, then, you were so good, so just, as to tell him
+when you mean to pay the money you have borrowed?'
+
+'My dear child, I often think you were born but yesterday, only, by some
+accident, you came into the world, like Minerva, grown up and ready
+dressed. What makes you think I mean to pay him? Have I given him any
+bond?'
+
+'A bond? Is that necessary to justice and honour?'
+
+'If I had asked the money, you are right, my dear; I ought, then,
+certainly, to refund. But, as it now stands, 'tis his own affair. I have
+nothing to do with it: except, indeed, receiving the dear little golden
+boys, and making merry with them.'
+
+'O fie, Lionel, fie!'
+
+'Why, what had I to do with it? Do you think he would care one fig if he
+saw me sunk to the bottom of the Red Sea? No, my dear, no; you are the
+little debtor; so balance your accounts for yourself, and don't cast
+them upon your poor neighbours, who have full enough to settle of their
+own.'
+
+Camilla was thunderstruck; 'And have you been so cruel,' she cried,
+'seeing the matter in such a light, to place me in such a predicament?'
+
+'Cruel, my dear girl? why, what will it cost you, except a dimple or two
+the more? And don't you know you always look best when you smile? I
+assure you, it's a mercy he don't see you when you are giving me one of
+my lectures. It disfigures you so horribly, that he'd take fright and
+never speak to you again.'
+
+'What can I ever say, to make you hear me, or feel for me? Tell me, at
+least, what has passed this morning; and assure me that nothing new,
+nothing yet worse, has occurred.'
+
+'O no, nothing at all. All is in the fairest train possible. I dare say,
+he'll come hither, upon the grand question, before sun-set.'
+
+Camilla gasped for breath, and was some time before she could ask whence
+he drew such a conclusion.
+
+'O, because I see he's in for it. I have a pretty good eye, my dear! He
+said, too, he had such a prodigious ... friendship, I think he called
+it, for you, that he was immeasurably happy, and all that, to be of the
+least service to your brother. A fine fellow, upon my word! a fine
+generous spark as ever I saw. He charged me to call upon him freely when
+I had any little embarrassment, or difficulty, or was hard run, or
+things of that sort. He's a fine buck, I tell you, and knows the world
+perfectly, that I promise you. He's none of your drivellers, none of
+your ignoramuses. He has the true notion of things. He's just a right
+friend for me. You could not have made a better match.'
+
+Camilla, in the most solemn manner, protested herself disengaged in
+thought, word, and deed; and declared her fixed intention so to
+continue. But he only laughed at her declarations, calling them maidenly
+fibs; and, assuring her, the young baronet was so much in earnest, she
+might as well be sincere as not. 'Besides,' he added, ''tis not fair to
+trifle where a man behaves so handsomely and honourably. Consider the
+£.200!'
+
+'I shall quite lose my senses, Lionel!' cried she, in an agony; 'I shall
+quite lose my senses if you speak in this manner!'
+
+Lionel shouted aloud; 'Why, my dear girl, what is £.200 to Sir Sedley
+Clarendel? You talk as if he had twenty pound a-year for pin-money, like
+you and Lavinia, that might go with half a gown a-year, if good old
+Numps did not help you. Why, he's as rich as Croesus, child. Besides,
+he would have been quite affronted if I had talked of paying him such a
+trifle, for he offered me any thing I pleased. O, he knows the world, I
+promise you! He's none of your starched prigs. He knows life, my dear!
+He said, he could perfectly conceive how hard it must be to a lad of
+spirit, like me, to be always exact. I don't know that I ever made a
+more agreeable acquaintance in my life.'
+
+Camilla was in an agitation that made him regard her, for a moment, with
+a serious surprise; but his natural levity soon resumed its post, and,
+laughing at himself for being nearly, he said, taken in, by her childish
+freaks, he protested he would bite no more: 'For, after all, you must
+not think to make a fool of me, my dear. It won't do. I'm too knowing.
+Do you suppose, if he had not already made up his mind to the noose, and
+was not sure you had made up yours to letting it be tied, he would have
+cared for poor me, and my scrapes? No, no; whatever he does for me,
+before you are married, you may set down in your own memorandum book:
+whatever he may please to do afterwards, I am content should be charged
+to poor Pillgarlick.'
+
+He then bid her good-morrow, by the name of Lady Clarendel; and said, he
+would go and see if little Greek and Latin were as preposterous a prude
+about young Lynmere.
+
+Camilla remained almost petrified with amazement at her own situation;
+and only was deterred from immediately opening her whole heart and
+affairs to her father, with the confidence to which his indulgence
+entitled him, by the impossibility of explaining her full distress
+without betraying her brother.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_A Council_
+
+
+The next morning, Camilla, eager to try once more her influence with her
+brother, accompanied him into the park, and renewed her remonstrances,
+but with no better success; and while they were passing by a private
+gate, that opened to the high road, they saw Sir Sedley Clarendel
+driving by in his phaeton.
+
+Lionel, bursting from his sister, opened the gate, called to Sir Sedley
+to give his reins to one of his servants, and brought him, not
+unwilling, though much surprised, into the park.
+
+Camilla, in dismay unspeakable at this conduct, and the idea of such a
+meeting, had run forward instantly to hide herself in the summer-house,
+to avoid re-passing the gate in her way to the mansion; but her scheme
+was more precipitate than wise; Lionel caught a glimpse of her gown as
+she went into the little building, and shouted aloud: 'Look! look! Sir
+Sedley! there's Camilla making believe to run away from you!'
+
+'Ah, fair fugitive!' cried the baronet, springing forward, and entering
+the summer-house almost as soon as herself, 'fly only thus, where you
+may be pursued!'
+
+Camilla, utterly confounded, knew not where to cast her eyes, where to
+hide her face; and her quick-changing colour, and short-heaved breath,
+manifested an excess of confusion, that touched, flattered, and
+penetrated the baronet so deeply and so suddenly, as to put him off
+from all guard of consequences, and all recollection of matrimonial
+distaste: 'Beautiful, resistless Camilla!' he cried; 'how vain is it to
+struggle against your witchery! Assure me but of your clemency, and I
+will adore the chains that shackle me!'
+
+Camilla, wholly overcome, by sorrow, gratitude, repentance, and shame,
+sunk upon a chair, and shed a torrent of tears that she even sought not
+to restrain. The shock of refusing one, to whose error in believing
+himself acceptable she had largely contributed, or the horror of
+yielding to him her hand, while her heart was in the possession of
+another, made her almost wish, at this moment, he should divine her
+distress, that his own pride might conclude it.
+
+But far different from what would produce such an effect, were the
+feelings of pride now working in his bosom. He imagined her emotion had
+its source in causes the softest and most flattering. Every personal
+obstacle sunk before this idea, and with a seriousness in his manner he
+had not yet used: 'This evening, lovely Camilla,' he cried, 'let me beg,
+for this evening, the audience accorded me upon that which I lost at
+Tunbridge.'
+
+He was then going; but Camilla, hastily rising, cried, 'Sir Sedley, I
+beseech ...' when Lionel capering into the little apartment, danced
+round it in mad ecstasy, chanting 'Lady Clarendel, Lady Clarendel, my
+dear Lady Clarendel!'
+
+Camilla now was not confused alone. Sir Sedley himself could gladly have
+pushed him out of the building; but neither the looks of surprise and
+provocation of the baronet, nor the prayers nor reprimands of Camilla,
+could tame his wild transport. He shook hands, whether he would or not,
+with the one; he bowed most obsequiously, whether she would regard him
+or not, to the other; and still chanting the same burden, made a clamour
+that shook the little edifice to its foundation.
+
+The strong taste for ridicule, that was a prominent part of the
+character of Sir Sedley, was soon conquered by this ludicrous behaviour,
+and both his amazement and displeasure ended in a hearty fit of
+laughter. But Camilla suffered too severely to join in the mirth; she
+blushed for her brother, she blushed for herself, she hung her head in
+speechless shame, and covered her eyes with her hand.
+
+The noisy merriment of Lionel preventing any explanation, though
+rendering it every moment more necessary, Sir Sedley, repeating his
+request for the evening, took leave.
+
+Camilla looked upon his departing in this manner as her sentence to
+misery, and was pursuing him, to decline the visit; but Lionel, seizing
+her two hands, swung her round the room, in defiance of her even angry
+expostulations and sufferings, which he neither credited nor conceived,
+and then skipt after the baronet himself, who was already out of the
+park.
+
+She became now nearly frantic. She thought herself irretrievably in the
+power of Sir Sedley, and by means so forced and indelicate, that she was
+scarcely more afflicted at the event, than shocked by its circumstances;
+and though incapable to really harbour rancour against a brother she
+sincerely loved, she yet believed at this moment she never should
+forgive, nor willingly see him more.
+
+In this state she was found by Lavinia. The history was inarticulately
+told, but Lavinia could give only her pity; she saw not any avenue to an
+honourable retreat, and thought, like Eugenia, she could now only free
+herself by the breach of what should be dearer to her even than
+happiness, her probity and honour.
+
+Utterly inconsolable she remained, till again she heard the voice of
+Lionel, loudly singing in the park.
+
+'Go to him! go to him! my dearest Lavinia,' she cried, 'and, if my peace
+is dear to you, prevail with him to clear up the mistakes of Sir Sedley,
+and to prevent his dreaded, killing visit this evening!'
+
+Lavinia only answered by compliance; but, after an half hour's useless
+contest with her riotous brother, returned to her weeping sister, not
+merely successless with regard to her petition, but loaded with fresh
+ill tidings that she knew not how to impart. Lionel had only laughed at
+the repugnance of Camilla, which he regarded as something between
+childishness and affectation, and begged Lavinia to be wiser than to
+heed to it: 'Brother Sedley has desired me, however,' he added, 'not to
+speak of the matter to Numps nor my father, till he has had a little
+more conversation with his charmer; and he intends to call to-night as
+if only upon a visit to me.'
+
+When Camilla learnt, at length, this painful end of her embassy, she
+gave herself up so completely to despair, that Lavinia, affrighted, ran
+to the house for Eugenia, whose extreme youth was no impediment, in the
+minds of her liberal sisters, to their belief nor reverence of her
+superior wisdom. Her species of education had early prepossessed them
+with respect for her knowledge, and her unaffected fondness for study,
+had fixed their opinion of her extraordinary understanding. The goodness
+of her heart, the evenness of her temper, and her natural turn to
+contemplation, had established her character alike for sanctity and for
+philosophy throughout the family.
+
+She listened with the sincerest commiseration to the present state of
+the case: 'Certainly,' she cried, 'you cannot, in honour, now refuse
+him; but deal with him sincerely, and he may generously himself
+relinquish his claims. Write to him, my dear Camilla; tell him you
+grieve to afflict, yet disdain to deceive him; assure him of your
+perfect esteem and eternal gratitude; but confess, at once, your heart
+refuses to return his tenderness. Entreat him to forgive whatever he may
+have mistaken, and nobly to restore to you the liberty of which your
+obligations, without his consent, must rob you.'
+
+To Lavinia this advice appeared infallible; but Camilla, though she felt
+an entanglement which fettered herself, thought it by no means
+sufficiently direct or clear to authorise a rejection of Sir Sedley;
+since, strangely as she seemed in his power, circumstances had placed
+her there, and not his own solicitation.
+
+Yet to prevent a visit of which her knowledge seemed consent, and which
+her consent must be most seriously to authorise, she deemed as
+indispensable to her character, as to her fears. She hesitated,
+therefore, not a moment in preferring writing to a meeting; and after
+various conversations, and various essays, the following billet was
+dispatched to Clarendel Place, through the means of Molly Mill, and by
+her friend Tommy Hodd.
+
+     _To Sir_ Sedley Clarendel.
+
+     I should ill return what I owe to Sir Sedley Clarendel by causing
+     him any useless trouble I can spare him. He spoke of a visit hither
+     this evening, when I was too much hurried to represent that it
+     could not be received, as my brother's residence is at Etherington,
+     and my father and my uncle have not the honour to be known to Sir
+     Sedley. For me, my gratitude must ever be unalterable; and where
+     accident occasions a meeting, I shall be most happy to express it;
+     but I have nothing to say, nothing to offer, that could recompense
+     one moment of Sir Sedley's time given voluntarily to such a visit.
+
+     CAMILLA TYROLD.
+
+Ill as this letter satisfied her, she could devise nothing better; but
+though her sisters had both thought it too rigorous, she would not risk
+anything gentler.
+
+During the dinner, they all appeared absent and dejected; but Sir Hugh
+attributed it to the non-arrival of Clermont, in watching for whom his
+own time was completely occupied, by examining two weather-cocks, and
+walking from one to the other, to see if they agreed, or how they
+changed; Indiana was wholly engrossed in consultations with Miss
+Margland, upon the most becoming dress for a bride's maid; and Mr.
+Tyrold, having observed that his three girls had spent the morning
+together, concluded Camilla had divulged to them her unhappy perplexity,
+and felt soothed himself in considering she had soothers so affectionate
+and faithful.
+
+Early in the evening Tommy Hodd arrived, and Molly Mill brought Camilla
+the following answer of Sir Sedley.
+
+     _Miss_ Camilla Tyrold.
+
+     Ah! what in this lower sphere can be unchequered, when even a
+     correspondence with the most lovely of her sex, brings alarm with
+     its felicity? Must I come, then, to Cleves, fair Insensible, but as
+     a visitor to Mr. Lionel? Have you taken a captive only to see him
+     in fetters? Allured a victim merely to behold him bleed? Ah!
+     tomorrow, at least, permit the audience that to-day is denied, and
+     at your feet, let your slave receive his doom.
+
+     SEDLEY CLARENDEL.
+
+Camilla turned cold. She shrunk from a remonstrance she conceived she
+had merited, and regarded herself to be henceforth either culpable or
+unhappy. Unacquainted with the feminine indulgence which the world, by
+long prescription, grants to coquetry, its name was scarcely known to
+her; and she saw in its own native egotism the ungenerous desire to
+please, where she herself was indifferent, and anticipated from Sir
+Sedley reproach, if not contempt. No sophistications of custom had
+warped the first innocence of her innate sense of right, and to trifle
+with the feelings of another for any gratification of her own, made
+success bring a blush to her integrity, not exultation to her vanity.
+
+The words _victim_ and _bleeding_, much affected the tender Lavinia,
+while those of _fetters_, _captive_, and _insensible_, satisfied the
+heroic Eugenia that Sir Sedley deserved the hand of her sister; but
+neither of them spoke.
+
+'You say nothing?' cried Camilla, turning paler and paler, and sitting
+down lest she should fall.
+
+They both wept and embraced her, and Eugenia said, if, indeed, she could
+not conquer her aversion, she saw no way to elude the baronet, but by
+openly confessing her repugnance, in the conversation he demanded.
+
+Camilla saw not less strongly the necessity of being both prompt and
+explicit; but how receive Sir Sedley at Cleves? and upon what pretence
+converse with him privately? Even Lionel the next day was to return to
+the university, though his presence, if he staid, would, in all
+probability, but add to every difficulty.
+
+At length, they decided, that the conference should take place at the
+Grove; and to prevent the threatened visit of the next day, Camilla
+wrote the following answer:
+
+     _To Sir_ Sedley Clarendel.
+
+     I should be grieved, indeed, to return my obligations to Sir Sedley
+     Clarendel by meriting his serious reproach; yet I cannot have the
+     honour of seeing him at Cleves, since my brother is immediately
+     quitting it for Oxford. As soon as I hear Mrs. Arlbery is again at
+     the Grove, I shall wait upon her, and always be most happy to
+     assure Sir Sedley of my gratitude, which will be as lasting as it
+     is sincere.
+
+     CAMILLA TYROLD.
+
+Though wretched in this strange state of things, she knew not how to
+word her letter more positively, since his own, notwithstanding its
+inferences, had so much more the style of florid gallantry than plain
+truth. Molly Mill undertook that Tommy Hodd should carry it early the
+next morning.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Lionel was so enraged at the non-appearance of the young baronet at
+night, that Camilla was compelled to confess she had promised to see
+him, and to give him his answer at Mrs. Arlbery's. He was out of humour,
+nevertheless, lest Sir Sedley should be affronted by the delay, and
+feared that the best match in the whole county would prove abortive,
+from his sister's foolish trimmings, and silly ignorance of life.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_A Proposal of Marriage_
+
+
+The increasing depression of Camilla, and the melancholy of her
+sympathising sisters, though still attributed to the adverse wind by the
+compass-watching baronet, escaped not the notice of Mr. Tyrold; who,
+alarmed for the peace of his daughter, determined to watch for the first
+quiet opportunity of investigating her actual situation.
+
+Lionel, after breakfast, the next morning, was obliged to relinquish
+waiting for Clermont, and to set off for Oxford. He contrived to whisper
+to Camilla, that he hoped she would be a good girl at last, and not play
+the fool; but, finding she only sighed, he laughed at her calamitious
+state, in becoming mistress of fifteen thousand per annum, only by the
+small trouble of running over a short ceremony; and, assuring her he
+would assist her off with part of the charge, if it were too heavy for
+her, bid her inform him in time of the propitious day.
+
+Camilla, shortly after, saw from her window, galloping full speed across
+the park to the house, Major Cerwood. She suspected her tormenting
+brother to have been again at work; nor was she mistaken. He had met
+with the Major at the hotel at Tunbridge, while his spirits, always
+violent, were in a state of almost intoxication of delight, at the
+first idea of such an accession to his powers of amusement, as a new
+brother rolling in immense wealth, which he already considered as nearly
+at his own disposal. High wrought, therefore, for what he deemed good
+sport, he confirmed what he had asserted at the ball at Northwick, of
+the expectations of Camilla from Sir Hugh, by relating the public fact,
+of her having been announced, to the family and neighbourhood, for his
+uncle's heiress, at ten years of age; and only sinking, in his account,
+the revocation made so soon after in favour of Eugenia. To this, he
+added his advice, that no time was to be lost, as numberless new suitors
+were likely to pursue her from Tunbridge.
+
+The Major, upon alighting, inquired for Sir Hugh, deeming Mr. Tyrold of
+little consequence, since it was not from him Camilla was to inherit her
+fortune.
+
+The baronet, as usual, was watching the winds and the clouds; but,
+concluding whoever came would bring some news from Clermont, received
+the Major with the utmost cordiality, saying: 'I see, sir, you are a
+stranger; by which I suppose you to be just come from abroad; where, I
+hope, you left all well?'
+
+'I am just come, sir,' answered the Major, 'from Tunbridge, where I had
+the honour, through my acquaintance with Mrs. Arlbery, of meeting daily
+with your charming niece; an honour, sir, which must cause all the
+future happiness or misery of my life.'
+
+He then made a declaration, in form, of the most ardent passion for
+Camilla; mentioned his family, which was an honourable one; talked of
+his expectations with confidence, though vaguely; and desired to leave
+the disposition of the settlement wholly to the baronet; who, he hoped,
+would not refuse to see his elder brother, a gentleman of fortune in
+Lincolnshire, who would have the honour to wait upon him, at any time he
+would be so good as to appoint, upon this momentous affair.
+
+Sir Hugh heard this harangue with consternation. The Major was in the
+prime of life, his person was good, his speech was florid, his air was
+assured, and his regimentals were gay. Not a doubt of his success
+occurred to the baronet; who saw, in one blow, the darling scheme of his
+old age demolished, in the deprivation of Camilla.
+
+The Major impatiently waited for an answer; but Sir Hugh was too much
+disordered to frame one; he walked up and down the room, muttering in a
+desponding manner, to himself, 'Lord, help us! what a set of poor weak
+mortals we are, we poor men! The best schemes and plans in the world
+always coming to nothing before we can bring them about! I'll never form
+another while I live, for the sake of this one warning. Nobody knows,
+next, but what Clermont will be carrying off Eugenia to see foreign
+parts! and then comes some other of these red-coats to take away
+Indiana; and, after doing all for the best so long, I may be left all
+alone, except just for Mrs. Margland and the Doctor! that I don't take
+much pleasure in, Lord help me! except as a Christian, which I hope is
+no sin.'
+
+At length, endeavouring to compose himself, he sat down, and said, 'So
+you are come, sir, to take away from me my own particular little niece?
+which is a hard thing upon an uncle, intending her to live with him.
+However, I don't mean to find fault; but I can tell you this one thing,
+sir, which I beg you to remember; which is, if you don't make her happy,
+you'll break my heart! For she's what I love the best in the world,
+little as I've made it appear, by not leaving her a shilling. For which
+sake, however, I can't but respect you the more for coming after her,
+instead of Eugenia.'
+
+'Sir?' cried the Major, amazed.
+
+'The other two chaps,' continued he, 'that came about us not long ago,
+wanted to make their court to Eugenia and Indiana; as well as another
+that came to the house when I was ill, in the same coat as yourself, by
+what I can gather from the description; but never a one has come to
+Camilla yet, except yourself, because my brother can spare her but a
+trifle, having another young girl to provide for, besides Lionel; which
+is the most expensive of them all, poor boy! never having enough, by the
+reason Oxford is so dear, as I suppose.'
+
+The Major now wore an air of surprise and uneasiness that Sir Hugh began
+to observe, but attributed to his unpleasant reception of his proposals.
+He begged his pardon, therefore, and again assured him of his respect
+for a choice so little mercenary, which he looked upon as a mark of a
+good heart.
+
+The Major, completely staggered, and suspecting the information of
+Lionel to be ill grounded, if not purposely deluding, entreated his
+permission to wait upon him again; and offered for the present to take
+leave.
+
+Sir Hugh, in a melancholy voice, said, he would first summon his niece,
+as he could not answer it to his conscience preventing the meeting,
+unless she gave him leave.
+
+He then rang the bell, and told Jacob to call Camilla.
+
+Major Cerwood was excessively distressed. To retreat seemed impossible;
+yet to connect himself without fortune, when he thought he was
+addressing a rich heiress, was a turn of fate he scarcely knew how
+either to support or to parry. All that, in this haste, he could
+resolve, was, to let the matter pass for the moment, and then insist
+upon satisfaction from Lionel, either in clearing up the mistake, or
+taking upon himself its blame.
+
+When Camilla appeared, the disturbance of Sir Hugh still augmented; and
+he could hardly articulate, 'My dear, in the case you are willing to
+leave your family, here's a gentleman come to make his addresses to you;
+which I think it right you should know, though how I shall struggle
+through it, if I lose you, is more than my poor weak head can tell; for
+what shall I do without my dear little girl, that I thought to make the
+best comfort of my old age? which, however, I beg you not to think of,
+in case this young Captain's more agreeable.'
+
+'Ah! my dear uncle!' cried she, 'your Camilla can never return half the
+comfort she receives from you! keep me with you still, and ever! I am
+much obliged to Major Cerwood. I beg him to accept my sincerest thanks;
+but to pardon me, when I assure him, they are all I have to offer him.'
+
+Repulse was not new to the Major; who, in various country towns, had
+sought to retrieve his affairs by some prudent connection; his pride,
+however, had never so little suffered as on the present occasion, for
+his apprehension of error or imposition had removed from him all thought
+of even the possibility of a refusal; which, now, therefore,
+unexpectedly and joyfully obviated his embarrassment, and enabled him to
+quit the field by an honourable retreat. He bowed profoundly, called
+himself, without knowing what he said, the most unhappy of men; and,
+without risking one solicitation, or a moment for repentance, hastily
+took leave, with intention, immediately, to demand an explanation of
+Lionel.
+
+But he had not escaped a mile from the house, ere he gave up that
+design, from anticipating the ridicule that might follow it. To require
+satisfaction for a young lady's want of fortune, however reasonable,
+would always be derided as ludicrous. He resolved, therefore, quietly
+to put up with the rejection; and to gather his next documents
+concerning the portion of a fair damsel, from authority better to be
+relied upon than that of a brother.
+
+Sir Hugh, for some time, discovered not that he had retired. Enchanted
+by so unexpected a dismission, his favourite scheme of life seemed
+accorded to him, and he pressed Camilla to his bosom, in a transport of
+joy. 'We shall live together, now, I hope,' he cried, 'without any of
+these young chaps coming in again to part us. Not that I would object to
+your marrying, my dear girl, if it was with a relation, like Eugenia,
+or, with a neighbour, like Indiana, if it had not been for its going
+off; but to see you taken away from me by a mere stranger, coming from
+distant parts, and knowing nothing of any of us, is a thing that makes
+my heart ache but to think of; so I hope it will happen no more; for
+these trials do no good to my recovery.'
+
+Turning round, then, with a view to say something consolatory to the
+Major, he was seriously concerned to find him departed. 'I can't say,'
+he cried, 'I had any intention to send him off so short, his meaning not
+being bad, considering him in the light of a person in love; which is a
+time when a man has not much thought, except for himself, by what I can
+gather.'
+
+He then proposed a walk, to watch if Clermont were coming. The wind, he
+acknowledged, was indeed contrary; but, he did not doubt, upon such a
+particular occasion, his good lad would not mind such difficulties.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_A Bull-Dog_
+
+
+Sir Hugh called upon his other nieces to join him; purposing to stroll
+to the end of a lane which led to the London road.
+
+Camilla accompanied the party in the most mournful silence. The assuming
+letter she had received; the interview she should have to sustain; and
+her apparent dependance upon Sir Sedley, sinking her into complete
+despondence.
+
+When they came to the high road, Sir Hugh made a stop, and bid every
+body look sharp.
+
+A horseman was seen advancing full gallop. By his figure he appeared to
+be young; by his pace, in uncommon speed.
+
+'That's him,' cried Sir Hugh, striking his stick upon the ground, and
+smiling most complacently; 'I said he would not mind the wind, my dear
+Eugenia! what's the wind, or the waves either, to a lover? which is a
+thing, however, that I won't talk about; so don't be ashamed, my dear
+girl, nobody knowing what we mean.'
+
+Eugenia looked down, deeply colouring, and much regretting the lameness
+that prevented her running back, to avoid so public and discountenancing
+a meeting.
+
+The horseman now came up to them, and was preparing to turn down the
+lane; when, all at once, they perceived him to be Edgar Mandlebert.
+
+He had left Tunbridge in a manner not more abrupt than comfortless. His
+disappointment in the failure of Camilla at the Rooms had been as
+bitter, as his expectations from the promised conference had been
+animated. When Lionel appeared, he inquired if his sister were absent
+from illness.... No; she was only writing a letter. To take this moment
+for such a purpose, be the letter what it might, seemed sporting with
+his curiosity and warm interest in her affairs: and he went back,
+mortified and dejected, to his lodgings; where, just arrived by the
+stage, he found a letter from Dr. Marchmont, acquainting him with his
+return to his rectory. In this suspensive state of mind, to cast himself
+upon his sagacious friend seemed a relief the most desirable: but, while
+considering whether first to claim from Camilla her promised
+communication, the voice of Lionel issuing from the room of Major
+Cerwood, struck his ears. He darted forth, and accompanied the youth to
+his horse, who was setting out upon some expedition, in the dark; and
+then received information, under the pretence of great secrecy, that
+Major Cerwood was going immediately to ask leave of absence, and proceed
+straight to Hampshire, with his final proposals of marriage with
+Camilla. He now concluded this was the subject upon which she had meant
+to consult with him; but delicacy, pride, and hope all combated his
+interference. He determined even to avoid her, till the answer should be
+given. 'I must owe her hand,' cried he, 'to her heart, not to a contest
+such as this: and, if impartially and unbiassed, the Major is refused,
+no farther cruel doubt, no torturing hesitation, shall keep me another
+minute from her feet!' With the dawn, therefore, he set out for
+Hampshire; but, fixed to avoid Cleves, till he could learn that the
+Major's visit were over, he devoted his mornings to rides, and his
+evenings to Dr. Marchmont, till now, a mile or two from the Park, he had
+met the Major himself, and concluded the acceptance or the rejection
+decided. They merely touched their hats as they passed each other; and
+he instantly took the route which the Major was quitting.
+
+In the excess of his tribulation, he was galloping past the whole group,
+without discerning one of its figures; when Sir Hugh called out, 'Why
+it's young Mr. Edgar! So now we've walked all this way for nothing! and
+Clermont may be still at Jericho, or at Rome, for anything we know to
+the contrary!'
+
+Edgar stopt short. He felt himself shiver at sight of Camilla, but
+dismounted, gave his horse to his groom, and joined the party.
+
+Eugenia recovering, now fearlessly looked up; but Camilla, struck and
+affected, shook in every limb, and was forced to hold by Lavinia.
+
+Edgar called upon his utmost presence of mind to carry him through what
+he conceived to be a final trial. He spoke to Sir Hugh, and compelled
+himself to speak separately to every one else; but, when he addressed
+Camilla, to whom he said something not very distinctly, about Tunbridge,
+she curtsied to him slightly, and turned away, without making any
+answer. Her mind, taking suddenly a quick retrospection of all that had
+passed between them, presented him to her view as uncertain and
+delusive; and, casting upon him, internally, the whole odium of her
+present distress, and her feelings were so indignant, that, in her
+present desperate state, she deemed it beneath her to disguise them,
+either from himself or the world.
+
+Edgar, to whose troubled imagination everything painted his rival,
+concluded the Major had been heard with favour; and his own adverse
+counsel was now recollected with resentment.
+
+Sir Hugh, far more fatigued by his disappointment than by his walk, said
+he should go no further, as he found it in vain to expect Clermont; and
+accepted the arm of Edgar to aid his stick in helping him home.
+
+Camilla, still leaning upon Lavinia, mounted a little bank, which she
+knew Sir Hugh could not ascend, that she might walk on where Edgar could
+not join her; involuntarily ejaculating, 'Lavinia! if you would avoid
+deceit and treachery, look at a man as at a picture, which tells you
+only the present moment! Rely upon nothing of time to come! They are not
+like us, Lavinia. They think themselves free, if they have made no
+verbal profession; though they may have pledged themselves by looks, by
+actions, by attentions, and by manners, a thousand, and a thousand
+times!'
+
+Edgar observed her avoidance with the keenest apprehension; and,
+connecting it with her failure at the Rooms, imagined the Major had now
+influenced her to an utter aversion of him.
+
+Sir Hugh meanwhile, though wholly unheard, related, in a low voice, to
+Edgar, the history of his preparations for Clermont; begging him,
+however, to take no notice of them to Eugenia: and, then, adding, 'Very
+likely, Mr. Edgar, you are just come from Tunbridge? and, if so, you may
+have met with that young Captain that has been with us this morning;
+who, I understand to be a Major?'
+
+Edgar was thrown into the utmost trepidation; the artless openness of
+Sir Hugh gave him every reason to suppose he should immediately gather
+full intelligence, and all his peace and all his hopes might hang upon
+another word. He could only bow to the question; but before Sir Hugh
+could go on, a butcher's boy, who was riding by, from a wanton love of
+mischief, gave a signal to his attending bull-dog, to attack the old
+spaniel that accompanied Sir Hugh.
+
+Sustained by his master many a year, the proud old favourite, though
+unequal to the combat, disdained to fly; and the fierce bull-dog would
+presently have demolished him, had not Edgar, recovering all his vigour
+from his earnest desire to rescue an animal so dear to Sir Hugh, armed
+himself with the baronet's stick, and thrust it dexterously across the
+jaws of this intended antagonist.
+
+Nothing, however, could withstand the fangs of the bull-dog; they soon
+severed it, and, again, he made at the spaniel; but Edgar rushed between
+them, with no other weapons than the broken fragments of the stick: and,
+while the baronet and Eugenia screamed out to old Rover to return to
+them, and Lavinia, with more readiness of common sense, exerted the
+fullest powers of which her gentle voice was capable, to conjure the
+wicked boy to call off his dog, Camilla, who was the last to look round
+at this scene, only turned about as the incensed and disappointed
+bull-dog, missing his object, aimed at Edgar himself. Roused at once
+from her sullen calm to the most agonising sensibility, every thing and
+every body, herself most of all, were forgotten in the sight of his
+danger; and, with a piercing shriek, she darted down the bank, and
+arrived at the tremendous spot, at the same instant that the more useful
+exhortations of Lavinia, had induced the boy to withdraw the fierce
+animal; who, with all his might, and all his fury, obeyed the weak
+whistle of a little urchin he had been bred to love and respect, for
+bringing him his daily food.
+
+Camilla perceived not if the danger were impending, or over; gasping,
+pale, and agitated, she caught Mandlebert by the arm, and, in broken
+accents, half pronounced, 'O Edgar!... are you hurt?'
+
+The revulsion that had operated in her mind took now its ample turn in
+that of Mandlebert; he could hardly trust his senses, hardly believe he
+existed; yet he felt the pressure of her hand upon his arm, and saw in
+her countenance terror the most undisguised, and tenderness that went
+straight to his soul. 'Is it Camilla,' he cried, 'who thus speaks to
+me?... Is not my safety or my destruction alike indifferent to Camilla?'
+
+'O no! O no!' cried she, scarce conscious she answered at all, till
+called to recollection by his own changed looks; changed from
+incredulity and amazement to animation that lightened up every feature,
+to eyes that shot fire. Abashed, astonished, ashamed, she precipitately
+drew away her hand, and sought quietly to retire.
+
+But Edgar was no longer master of himself; he conceived he was on a
+pinnacle, whence he could only, and without any gradation, turn to
+happiness or despair. He followed her, trembling and uncertain, his joy
+fading into alarm at her retreat, his hope transforming into
+apprehension at her resumed coldness of demeanor. 'Do you repent,' he
+cried, 'that you have shewn me a little humanity?... will the Major ...
+the happy Major!... be offended you do less than detest me?'
+
+'The Major!' repeated she, looking back, surprised, 'can you think the
+Major has any influence with me?'
+
+'Ah, Heaven!' he cried, 'what do you say!...'
+
+Enchanted, affrighted, bewildered, yet silent, she hurried on; Edgar
+could not forget himself more than a moment; he forbore, therefore, to
+follow, and, though with a self-denial next to torture, returned to Sir
+Hugh, to whom his arm was doubly necessary, from the scene he had just
+witnessed, and the loss of his stick.
+
+The butcher's boy and his bull-dog were decamped; and the baronet and
+Eugenia were rivalling each other in fondling the rescued spaniel, and
+in pouring thanks and praise unlimited upon Edgar.
+
+They then walked back as before; and, as soon as they re-entered the
+mansion, the female party went upstairs, and Sir Hugh, warmly shaking
+Edgar by the hand, said: 'My dear Mr. Edgar, this is one of the happiest
+days of my life, except just that of my nephew's coming over, which it
+is but right to put before it. But here, first, my dear Camilla's
+refused that young Captain, who would have carried her the Lord knows
+where, immediately, as I make no doubt; and next, I've saved the life of
+my poor old Rover, by the means of your good-nature.'
+
+'Refused?' cried Edgar; 'my dear Sir Hugh!--did you say refused?'
+
+Sir Hugh innocently gratified him with the repetition of the word, but
+begged him not to mention it, 'For fear,' he said, 'it should hurt the
+young man when he falls in love somewhere else; which I heartily hope he
+will do soon, poor gentleman! for the sake of its not fretting him.'
+
+'Miss Camilla, then, has refused him?' again repeated Edgar, with a
+countenance that, to any man but the baronet, must have betrayed his
+whole soul.
+
+'Yes, poor gentleman! this very morning; for which I am thankful enough:
+for what do we know of those young officers, who may all be sent to the
+East Indies, or Jamaica, every day of their lives? Not but what I have
+the proper pity for him, which, I hope, is all that can be expected.'
+
+Edgar walked about the room, in a perturbation of hope, fear, and joy,
+that disabled him from all further appearance of attention. He wished to
+relate this transaction to Dr. Marchmont, yet dreaded any retarding
+advice; he languished to make Camilla herself the sole mistress of his
+destiny: the interest she had shewn for his safety seemed to admit but
+one interpretation; and, finally, he resolved to stay at Cleves till he
+could meet with her alone.
+
+Camilla had not uttered a word after the adventure of the bull-dog. The
+smallest idea that she could excite the least emotion in Edgar, brought
+a secret rapture to her heart, that, at any former period, would alone
+have sufficed to render her happy: but, at this instant of entanglement
+with another, she revolted from the indulgence of such pleasure; and
+instead of dwelling, as she would have done before, on the look, the
+accent, the manner, that were susceptible, by any construction, of
+partiality, she checked every idea that did not represent Edgar as
+unstable and consistent; and sought, with all her power, to regard him
+as Mrs. Arlbery had painted him, and to believe him, except in a few
+casual moments of caprice, insensible and hard of heart.
+
+Yet this entanglement, in which, scarce knowing how, she now seemed to
+be entwined with Sir Sedley, grew more and more terrific; and when she
+considered that her sisters themselves thought her independence gone,
+and her honour engaged, she was seized with so much wonderment, how it
+had all been brought about, that her understanding seemed to play her
+false, and she believed the whole a dream.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_An Oak Tree_
+
+
+When the sisters were summoned down stairs to dinner, planted at the
+door, ready to receive them at their entrance, stood Edgar. Lavinia and
+Eugenia addressed him as usual; but Camilla could not speak, could not
+return his salutation, could not look at him. She sat hastily down in
+her accustomed place by her uncle, and even the presence of her father
+scarcely restrained her tears, as she contrasted the hopeless
+uncertainties of Edgar, with the perilous pursuit of Sir Sedley.
+
+Edgar, for the first time, saw her avoidance without suspecting that it
+flowed from repugnance. The interest she had shewn for his safety was
+still bounding in his breast, and as, from time to time, he stole a
+glance at her, and observed her emotion, his heart whispered him the
+softest hopes, that soon the most perfect confidence would make every
+feeling reciprocal.
+
+But these hopes were not long without alloy; he soon discerned something
+that far exceeded what could give him pleasure in her perturbation; he
+read in it not merely hurry and alarm, but suffering and distress.
+
+He now ventured to look at her no more; his confidence gave place to
+pity; he saw she was unhappy, and breathed no present wish but to
+relieve and console her.
+
+When the dessert was served, she was preparing to retire; but she caught
+the eye of her father, and saw she should not long be alone; she
+re-seated herself, therefore, in haste, to postpone, at least, his
+scrutiny.
+
+Every body, at length, arose, and Sir Hugh proposed that they should all
+walk in the park, during his nap, but keep close to the pales, that they
+might listen for all passengers, in case of Clermont's coming.
+
+To this, also, Camilla could make no objection, and they set out. She
+took an arm of each sister, and indulged the heaviness of her heart in
+not uttering a word.
+
+They had not gone far, when a servant ran after Mr. Tyrold with a
+pacquet, just arrived, by a private hand, from Lisbon. He returned to
+read it in his own room; Lavinia and Eugenia accompanied him to hear its
+contents, and Camilla, for the first time, seemed the least affectionate
+of his daughters; she durst not encounter him but in the mixt company of
+all the house; she told Lavinia to make haste back with the news, and
+took the arm of Indiana.
+
+The compulsion of uninteresting discourse soon became intolerable; and
+no longer chained to the party by the awe of her father, she presently
+left Indiana to Miss Margland, and perceiving that Edgar was conversing
+with Dr. Orkborne, said she would wait for her sisters; and, turning a
+little aside, sat down upon a bench under a large oak.
+
+Here her painful struggle and unwilling forbearance ended; she gave free
+vent to her tears, and thought herself the most wretched of human
+beings; she found her heart, her aching heart, more than ever devoted to
+Mandlebert, filled with his image, revering his virtues, honouring even
+his coldness, from a persuasion she deserved not his affection, and
+sighing solely for the privilege to consign herself to his remembrance
+for life, though unknown to himself, and unsuspected by the world. The
+very idea of Sir Sedley was horror to her; she felt guilty to have
+involved herself in an intercourse so fertile of danger; she thought
+over, with severest repentance, her short, but unjustifiable deviation
+from that transparent openness, and undesigning plainness of conduct,
+which her disposition as much as her education ought to have rendered
+unchangeable. To that, alone, was owing all her actual difficulty, for
+to that alone was owing her own opinion of any claim upon her justice.
+How dearly, she cried, do I now pay for the unthinking plan with which I
+risked the peace of another, for the re-establishment of my own! She
+languished to throw herself into the arms of her father, to unbosom to
+him all her errors and distresses, and owe their extrication to his
+wisdom and kindness. She was sure he would be unmoved by the glare of a
+brilliant establishment, and that far from desiring her to sacrifice her
+feelings to wealth and shew, he would himself plead against the alliance
+when he knew the state of her mind, and recommend to her, so
+circumstanced, the single life, in the true spirit of Christian
+philosophy and moderation: but all was so closely interwoven in the
+affairs and ill conduct of her brother, that she believed herself
+engaged in honour to guard the fatal secret, though hazarding by its
+concealment impropriety and misery.
+
+These afflicting ruminations were at length interrupted by the sound of
+feet; she took her handkerchief from her eyes, expecting to see her
+sisters; she was mistaken, and beheld Mandlebert.
+
+She started and rose; she strove to chace the tears from her eyes
+without wiping them, and asked what he had done with Dr. Orkborne?
+
+'You are in grief!' cried he in a tone of sympathy; 'some evil has
+befallen you!... let me ask....'
+
+'No; I am only waiting for my sisters. They have just received letters
+from Lisbon.'
+
+'You have been weeping! you are weeping now! why do you turn away from
+me? I will not obtrusively demand your confidence ... yet, could I give
+you the most distant idea what a weight it might remove from my
+mind, ... you would find it difficult to deny yourself the pleasure of
+doing so much good!'
+
+The tears of Camilla now streamed afresh. Words so kind from Edgar, the
+cold, the hard-hearted Edgar, surprised and overset her; yet she
+endeavoured to hide her face, and made an effort to pass him.
+
+'Is not this a little unkind?' cried he, gravely; 'however, I have no
+claim to oppose you.'
+
+'Unkind!' she repeated, and involuntarily turning to him, shewed a
+countenance so disconsolate, that he lost his self-control, and taking
+her reluctant hand, said: 'O Camilla! torture me no longer!'
+
+Almost transfixed with astonishment, she looked at him for a moment in a
+speechless wonder; but the interval of doubt was short; the character of
+Edgar, for unalienable steadiness, unalterable honour, was fixed in her
+mind, like 'truths from holy writ,' and she knew, with certainty
+incontrovertible, that his fate was at her disposal, from the instant he
+acknowledged openly her power over his feelings.
+
+Every opposite sensation, that with violence the most ungovernable could
+encounter but to combat, now met in her bosom, elevating her to rapture,
+harrowing her with terror, menacing even her understanding. The most
+exquisite wish of her heart seemed accorded at a period so nearly too
+late for its acceptance, that her faculties, bewildered, confused,
+deranged, lost the capacity of clearly conceiving if still she were a
+free agent or not.
+
+He saw her excess of disorder with alarm; he sought to draw her again to
+her seat; but she put her hand upon her forehead, and leant it against
+the bark of the tree.
+
+'You will not speak to me!' cried he; 'you will not trust me! shall I
+call you cruel? No! for you are not aware of the pain you inflict, the
+anguish you make me suffer! the generosity of your nature would else,
+unbidden, impulsively interfere.'
+
+'_You_ suffer! _you!_' cried she, again distressfully, almost
+incredulously, looking at him, while her hands were uplifted with
+amazement: 'I thought you above any suffering! superior to all
+calamity!... almost to all feeling!...'
+
+'Ah, Camilla! what thus estranges you from candor? from justice? what is
+it can prompt you to goad thus a heart which almost from its first
+beating....'
+
+He stopt, desirous to check himself; while penetrated by his softness,
+and ashamed of what, in the bitterness of her spirit, she had
+pronounced, she again melted into tears, and sunk down upon the bench;
+yet holding out to him one hand, while with the other she covered her
+face: 'Forgive me,' she cried, 'I entreat ... for I scarce know what I
+say.'
+
+Such a speech, and so accompanied, might have demolished the stoicism of
+an older philosopher than Edgar; he fervently kissed her proferred hand,
+exclaiming: 'Forgive you! can Camilla use such a word? has she the
+slightest care for my opinion? the most remote concern for me, or for my
+happiness?'
+
+'Farewell! farewell!' cried she, hastily drawing away her hand, 'go now,
+I beseech you!'
+
+'What a moment to expect me to depart! O Camilla! my soul sickens of
+this suspence! End it, generous Camilla! beloved as lovely! my heart is
+all your own! use it gently, and accept it nobly!'
+
+Every other emotion, now, in the vanquished Camilla, every retrospective
+fear, every actual regret, yielded to the conquering charm of grateful
+tenderness; and restoring the hand she had withdrawn: 'O Edgar,' she
+cried, 'how little can I merit such a gift! yet I prize it ... far, far
+beyond all words!'
+
+The agitation of Edgar was, at first, too mighty and too delicious for
+speech; but his eyes, now cast up to heaven, now fixed upon her own,
+spoke the most ardent, yet purest felicity; while her hand, now held to
+his heart, now pressed to his lips, strove vainly to recover its
+liberty. 'Blest moment!' he at length uttered, 'that finishes for every
+such misery of uncertainty! that gives my life to happiness ... my
+existence to Camilla!'
+
+Again speech seemed too poor for him. Perfect satisfaction is seldom
+loquacious; its character is rather tender than gay; and where happiness
+succeeds abruptly to long solicitude and sorrow, its enjoyment is
+fearful; it softens rather than exhilarates. Sudden joy is sportive, but
+sudden happiness is awful.
+
+The pause, however, that on his side was ecstatic thankfulness, soon
+became mixt, on that of Camilla, with confusion and remorse: Sir Sedley
+returned to her memory, and with him every reflection, and every
+apprehension, that most cruelly could sully each trembling, though
+nearly gratified hope.
+
+The cloud that so soon dimmed the transient radiance of her countenance,
+was instantly perceived by Edgar; but as he was beginning the most
+anxious inquiries, the two sisters approached, and Camilla, whose hand
+he then relinquished, rushed forward, and throwing her arms around their
+necks, wept upon their bosoms.
+
+'Sweet sisters!' cried Edgar, embracing them all three in one; 'long may
+ye thus endearingly entwine each other, in the sacred links of
+affectionate affinity! Where shall I find our common father?... where
+is Mr. Tyrold?'
+
+The amazed sisters could with difficulty answer that he was with their
+uncle, to whom he was communicating news from their mother.
+
+Edgar looked tenderly at Camilla, but, perceiving her emotion, forbore
+to speak to her, though he could not deny himself the pleasure of
+snatching one kiss of the hand which hung down upon the shoulder of
+Eugenia; he then whispered to both the sisters: 'You will not, I trust,
+be my enemies?' and hurried to the house.
+
+'What can this mean?' cried Eugenia and Lavinia in a breath.
+
+'It means,' said Camilla, 'that I am the most distressed ... yet the
+happiest of human beings!'
+
+This little speech, began with the deepest sigh, but finished with the
+most refulgent smile, only added to their wonder.
+
+'I hope you have been consulting with Edgar,' said the innocent Eugenia;
+'nobody can more ably advise you, since, in generosity to Lionel, you
+are prohibited from counselling with my father.'
+
+Again the most expressive smiles played in every feature through the
+tears of Camilla, as she turned, with involuntary archness, to Eugenia,
+and answered: 'And shall I follow his counsel, my dear sister, if he
+gives me any?'
+
+'Why not? he is wise, prudent, and much attached to us all. How he can
+have supposed it possible we could be his enemies, is past all
+divination!'
+
+Gaiety was so truly the native growth of the mind of Camilla, that
+neither care nor affliction could chace it long from its home. The
+speeches of the unsuspicious Eugenia, that a moment before would have
+past unheeded, now regaled her renovated fancy with a thousand amusing
+images, which so vigorously struggled against her sadness and her
+terrors, that they were soon nearly driven from the field by their
+sportive assailants; and, by the time she reached her chamber, whither,
+lost in amaze, her sisters followed her, the surprise she had in store
+for them, the pleasure with which she knew they would sympathise in her
+happiness, and the security of Edgar's decided regard, had liberated her
+mind from the shackles of reminiscence, and restored her vivacity to its
+original spirit.
+
+Fastening, then, her door, she turned to them with a countenance of the
+brightest animation; alternately and almost wildly embraced them, and
+related the explicit declaration of Edgar; now hiding in their bosoms
+the blushes of her modest joy, now offering up to Heaven the
+thanksgiving of her artless rapture, now dissolving in the soft tears of
+the tenderest sensibility, according to the quick changing impulses of
+her natural and lively, yet feeling and susceptible character. Nor once
+did she look at the reverse of this darling portrait of chosen felicity,
+till Eugenia, with a gentle sigh, uttered: 'Unhappy Sir Sedley
+Clarendel! how may this stroke be softened to him?'
+
+'Ah Eugenia!' she cried; 'that alone is my impediment to the most
+perfect, the most unmixt content! why have you made me think of him?'
+
+'My dear Camilla,' said Eugenia, with a look of curious earnestness, and
+taking both her hands, while she seemed examining her face, 'you are
+then, it seems, in love? and with Edgar Mandlebert?'
+
+Camilla, blushing, yet laughing, broke away from her, denying the
+charge.
+
+A consultation succeeded upon the method of proceeding with the young
+baronet. Tommy Hodd was not yet returned with the answer; it was five
+miles to Clarendel Place, which made going and returning his day's work.
+She resolved to wait but this one reply, and then to acknowledge to
+Edgar the whole of her situation. The delicacy of Lavinia, and the high
+honour of Eugenia, concurred in the propriety of this confession; and
+they all saw the urgent necessity of an immediate explanation with Sir
+Sedley, whose disappointment might every hour receive added weight from
+delay. Painful, therefore, confusing and distasteful, as was the task,
+Camilla determined upon the avowal, and as completely to be guided by
+Edgar in this difficult conjuncture, as if his advice were already
+sanctioned by conjugal authority.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_A Call of the House_
+
+
+Edgar returned to the parlour with a countenance so much brightened, a
+joy so open, a confidence so manly, and an air so strongly announcing
+some interesting intelligence, that his history required no prelude.
+'Edgar,' said Mr. Tyrold, 'you have a look to disarm care of its
+corrosion. You could not take a better time to wear so cheering an
+aspect; I have just learnt that my wife can fix no sort of date for her
+return; I must borrow, therefore, some reflected happiness; and none,
+after my children, can bring its sunshine so home to my bosom as
+yourself.'
+
+'What a fortunate moment have you chosen,' cried Edgar, affectionately
+taking him by the hand, 'to express this generous pleasure in seeing me
+happy! will you repent, will you retract, when you hear in what it may
+involve you?... Dearest sir! my honoured, my parental friend! to what a
+test shall I put your kindness!... Will you give me in charge one of the
+dearest ties of your existence? will you repose in my care so large a
+portion of your peace? will you trust to me your Camilla?...'
+
+With all the ardour of her character, all the keen and quick feelings of
+her sensitive mind, scarce had Camilla herself been more struck, more
+penetrated with sudden joy, sudden wonder, sudden gratification of every
+kind, than Mr. Tyrold felt at this moment. He more than returned the
+pressure with which Edgar held his hand, and instantly answered, 'Yes,
+my excellent young friend, without hesitation, without a shadow of
+apprehension for her happiness! though she is all the fondest father can
+wish; ... and though she only who gave her to me is dearer!'
+
+Felicity and tenderness were now the sole guests in the breast of Edgar.
+He kissed with reverence the hand of Mr. Tyrold, called him by the
+honoured and endearing title of father; acknowledged that, from the
+earliest period of observation, Camilla had seemed to him the most
+amiable of human creatures; spoke with the warm devotion he sincerely
+felt for her of Mrs. Tyrold; and was breathing forth his very soul in
+tender rapture upon his happy prospects, when something between a sigh
+and a groan from the baronet, made him hastily turn round, apologise for
+not sooner addressing him, and respectfully solicit his consent.
+
+Sir Hugh was in an agitation of delight and surprise almost too potent
+for his strength. 'The Lord be good unto me,' he cried; 'have I lived to
+see such a day as this!' Then, throwing his arms about Edgar's neck,
+while his eyes were fast filling with tears, which soon ran plentifully
+down his cheeks, 'Good young Mr. Edgar!' he cried; 'good young man! and
+do you really love my poor Camilla, for all her not being worth a penny?
+And will my dear little darling come to so good an end at last, after
+being disinherited for doing nothing? And will you never vex her, nor
+speak an unkind word to her? Indeed, young Mr. Edgar, you are a noble
+boy! you are indeed; and I love you to the bottom of my old heart for
+this true good naturedness!'
+
+Then, again and again embracing him, 'This is all of a piece,' he
+continued, 'with your saving my poor old Rover, which is a thing I shall
+never forget to my longest day, being a remarkable sign of a good heart;
+the poor dog having done nothing to offend, as we can all testify. So
+that it's a surprising thing what that mastiff owed him such a grudge
+for.'
+
+Then quitting him abruptly to embrace Mr. Tyrold, 'My dear brother,' he
+cried, 'I hope your judgment approves this thing, as well as my
+sister's, when she comes to hear it, which I shall send off express,
+before I sleep another wink, for fear of accidents.'
+
+'Approve,' answered Mr. Tyrold, with a look of the most expressive
+kindness at Edgar, 'is too cold a word; I rejoice, even thankfully
+rejoice, to place my dear child in such worthy and beloved hands.'
+
+'Well, then,' cried the enchanted baronet, 'if that's the case, that we
+are all of one mind, we had better settle the business at once, all of
+us being subject to die by delay.'
+
+He then rang the bell, and ordered Jacob to summon Camilla to the
+parlour, adding, 'And all the rest too, Jacob, for I have something to
+tell them every one, which, I make no doubt, they will be very glad to
+hear, yourself included, as well as your fellow-servants, who have no
+right to be left out; only let my niece come first, being her own
+affair.'
+
+Camilla obeyed not the call without many secret sensations of distress
+and difficulty, but which, mingled with the more obvious ones of modesty
+and embarrassment, all passed for a flutter of spirits that appeared
+natural to the occasion.
+
+Mr. Tyrold could only silently embrace her: knowing what she had
+suffered, and judging thence the excess of her present satisfaction, he
+would not add to her confusion by any information of his consciousness;
+but the softness with which he held her to his bosom spoke, beyond all
+words, his heartfelt sympathy in her happiness.
+
+Camilla had no power to draw herself from his arms; but Edgar hovered
+round her, and Sir Hugh repeatedly and impatiently demanded to have his
+turn. Mr. Tyrold, gently disengaging himself from her embraces, gave
+one of her hands to Edgar, who, with grateful joy, pressed it to his
+lips. 'My children!' he then said, laying a hand upon the shoulder of
+each, 'what a sight is this to me! how precious a union! what will it be
+to your excellent mother! So long and so decidedly it has been our
+favourite earthly wish, that, were she but restored to me ... to her
+country and to her family ... I might, perhaps, require some new evil to
+prevent my forgetting where ... and what I am!'
+
+'My dear brother, I say! my dear niece! My dear Mr. young Edgar!' cried
+Sir Hugh, in the highest good humour, though with nearly exhausted
+patience, 'won't you let me put in a word? nor so much as give you my
+blessing? though I can hardly hold life and soul together for the sake
+of my joy!'
+
+Camilla cast herself into his arms, he kissed her most fondly, saying:
+'Don't forget your poor old uncle, my dear little girl, for the account
+of this young Mr. Edgar, because, good as he is, he has taken to you but
+a short time in comparison with me.'
+
+'No,' said Edgar, still tenaciously retaining the hand parentally
+bestowed upon him; 'no, dear Sir Hugh, I wish not to rob you of your
+darling. I wish but to be admitted myself into this dear and respected
+family, and to have Etherington, Cleves, and Beech Park, considered as
+our alternate and common habitations.'
+
+'You are the very best young man in the whole wide world!' cried Sir
+Hugh, almost sobbing with ecstasy; 'for you have hit upon just the very
+thing I was thinking of in my own private mind! What a mercy it is our
+not accepting that young Captain, who would have run away with her to I
+don't know where, instead of being married to the very nearest estate in
+the county, that will always be living with us!'
+
+The rest of the family now, obedient to the direction of Jacob, who had
+intimated that something extraordinary was going forward, entered the
+room.
+
+'Come in, come in,' cried Sir Hugh, 'and hear the good news; for we have
+just been upon the very point of losing the best opportunity that ever
+we had in our lives of all living together; which, I hope, we shall now
+do, without any more strangers coming upon us with their company, being
+a thing we don't desire.'
+
+'But what's the good news, uncle?' said Indiana; 'is it only about our
+living together?'
+
+'Why, yes, my dear, that's the first principle, and the other is, that
+young Mr. Edgar's going to marry Camilla; which I hope you won't take
+ill, liking being all fancy.'
+
+'Me?' cried she, with a disdainful toss of the head, though severely
+mortified; 'it's nothing to me, I'm sure!'
+
+Camilla ashamed, and Edgar embarrassed, strove now mutually to shew Sir
+Hugh they wished no more might be said: but he only embraced them again,
+and declared he had never been so full of joy before in his whole life,
+and would not be cut short.
+
+Miss Margland, extremely piqued, vented her spleen in oblique sarcasms,
+and sought to heal her offended pride by appeals for justice to her
+sagacity and foresight in the whole business.
+
+Jacob, now opening the door, said all the servants were come.
+
+Camilla tried to escape; but Sir Hugh would not permit her, and the
+house-keeper and butler led the way, followed by every other domestic of
+the house.
+
+'Well, my friends,' he cried, 'wish her joy, which I am sure you will do
+of your own accord, for she's going to be mistress of Beech Park; which
+I thought would have been the case with my other niece, till I found out
+my mistakes; which is of no consequence now, all having ended for the
+best; though unknown to us poor mortals.'
+
+The servants obeyed with alacrity, and offered their hearty
+congratulations to the blushing Camilla and happy Edgar, Molly Mill
+excepted; who, having concluded Sir Sedley Clarendel the man, doubted
+her own senses, and, instead of open felicitations, whispered Camilla,
+'Dear Miss, I've got another letter for you! It's here in my bosom.'
+
+Camilla, frightened, said: 'Hush! hush!' while Edgar, imagining the
+girl, whose simplicity and talkativeness were familiar to him, had said
+something ridiculous, entreated to be indulged with hearing her remark:
+but seeing Camilla look grave, forbore to press his request.
+
+The baronet now began an harangue upon the happiness that would accrue
+from these double unions, for which he assured them they should have
+double remembrances, though the same preparations would do for both, as
+he meant they should take place at the same time, provided Mr. Edgar
+would have the obligingness to wait for a fair wind, which he was
+expecting every hour.
+
+Camilla could now stay no longer; nor could Edgar, though adoring the
+hearty joy of Sir Hugh, refuse to aid her in absconding.
+
+He begged her permission to follow, as soon as it might be possible,
+which she tacitly accorded. She was impatient herself for the important
+conference she was planning, and felt, with increasing solicitude, that
+all her life's happiness hung upon her power to extricate herself
+honourably from the terrible embarrassment in which she was involved.
+
+She sauntered about the hall till the servants came out, anxious to
+receive the letter which Molly Mill had announced. They all sought to
+surround her with fresh good wishes; but she singled out Molly, and
+begged the rest to leave her for the present. The letter, however, was
+not unpinned from the inside of Molly's neck handkerchief, before Edgar,
+eager and gay, joined her.
+
+Trembling then, she entreated her to make haste.
+
+'La, Miss,' answered the girl, 'if you hurry me so, I shall tear it as
+sure as can be; and what will you say then, Miss?'
+
+'Well ... then ... another time will do ... take it to my room.'
+
+'No, no, Miss; the gentleman told Tommy Hodd he wanted an answer as
+quick as can be; he said, if Tommy'd come a-horseback, he'd pay for the
+horse, to make him quicker; and Tommy says he always behaves very
+handsome.'
+
+She then gave her the squeezed billet. Camilla, in great confusion, put
+it into her pocket. Edgar, who even unavoidably heard what passed, held
+back till Molly retired; and then, with an air of undisguised surprise
+and curiosity, though in a laughing tone, said, 'Must not the letter be
+read till I make my bow?'
+
+'O yes,' ... cried she, stammering, 'it may be read ... at any time.'
+And she put her hand in her pocket to reproduce it. But the idea of
+making known the strange and unexpected history she had to relate, by
+shewing so strange a correspondence, without one leading and softening
+previous circumstance, required a force and confidence of which she was
+not mistress. She twisted it, therefore, hastily round, to hide the
+hand-writing of the direction, and, then, with the same care, rolled it
+up, and encircled it with her fingers.
+
+'Shall I be jealous?' said he, gently, though disappointed.
+
+'You have much reason!' she answered, with a smile so soft, it dispersed
+every fear, yet with an attention so careful to conceal the address,
+that it kept alive every wonder. He took her other hand, and kissing it,
+cried: 'No, sweetest Camilla, such unworthy distrust shall make no part
+of our compact. Yet I own myself a little interested to know what
+gentleman has obtained a privilege I should myself prize above almost
+any other. I will leave you, however, to read the letter, and, perhaps,
+before you answer it ... but no ... I will ask nothing; I shall lose all
+pleasure in your confidence, if it is not spontaneous. I will go and
+find your sisters.'
+
+The first impulse of Camilla was, to commit to him immediately the
+unopened letter: but the fear of its contents, its style, its
+requisitions, made her terror overpower her generosity; and, though she
+looked after him with regret, she stood still to break the seal of her
+letter.
+
+     _Miss_ Camilla Tyrold.
+
+     Is it thus, O far too fair tormenter! thou delightest to torture?
+     Dost thou give wings but to clip them? raise expectation but to bid
+     it linger? fan bright the flame of hope, but to see it consume in
+     its own ashes? Another delay?... Ah! tell me how I may exist till
+     it terminates! Name to me, O fair tyrant! some period, ... or build
+     not upon longer forbearance, but expect me at your feet. You talk
+     of the Grove: its fair owner is just returned, and calls herself
+     impatient to see you. To-morrow, then, ... you will not, I trust,
+     kill me again tomorrow? With the sun, the renovating sun, I will
+     visit those precincts, nor quit them till warned away by the pale
+     light of Diana: tell me, then, to what century of that period your
+     ingenious cruelty condemns me to this expiring state, ere a
+     vivifying smile recalls me back to life?
+
+     SEDLEY CLARENDEL.
+
+The immediate presence of Edgar himself could not have made this letter
+dye the cheeks of Camilla of a deeper red. She saw that Sir Sedley
+thought her only coquetishly trifling, and she looked forward with
+nearly equal horror to clearing up a mistake that might embitter his
+future life, and to acknowledging to Edgar ... the scrupulous, the
+scrutinising, the delicate Edgar ... that such a mistake could have been
+formed.
+
+She was ruminating upon this formidable, this terrible task, when Edgar
+again appeared, accompanied by her sisters. She hurried the letter into
+her pocket. Edgar saw the action with a concern that dampt his spirits;
+he wished to obtain from her immediately the unlimited trust, which
+immediately, and for ever, he meant to repose in her. They all strolled
+together for a short time in the park; but she was anxious to retreat to
+her room, and her sisters were dying with impatience to read Sir
+Sedley's letter. Edgar, disturbed to see how little any of their
+countenances accorded with the happy feelings he had so recently
+experienced, proposed not to lengthen the walk, but flattered himself,
+upon re-entering the house, Camilla would afford him a few minutes of
+explanation. But she only, with a faint smile, said she should soon
+return to the parlour; and he saw Molly Mill eagerly waiting for her
+upon the stairs, and heard her, in reply to some question concerning
+Tommy Hodd, desire the girl to be quiet till she got to her room.
+
+Edgar could form no idea of what all this meant, yet, that some secret
+disturbance preyed upon Camilla, that some gentleman wrote to her, and
+expected impatiently an answer; and that the correspondence passed
+neither through her friends, nor by the post, but by the medium of Molly
+Mill, were circumstances not less unaccountable than unpleasant.
+
+Camilla, meanwhile, produced the letter to her sisters, beseeching their
+ablest counsel. 'See but,' she cried, 'how dreadfully unprepared is Sir
+Sedley for the event of the day! And oh!... how yet more unprepared
+must be Edgar for seeing that such a letter could ever be addressed to
+me! How shall I shew it him, my dear sisters? how help his believing I
+must have given every possible encouragement, ere Sir Sedley could have
+written to me in so assured a style?'
+
+Much deliberation ensued; but they were all so perplexed, that they were
+summoned to tea before they had come to any resolution.
+
+The counsel of Eugenia, then, prevailed; and it was settled, that
+Camilla should avoid, for the present, any communication to Edgar, lest
+it should lead to mischief between him and the young baronet, who could
+not but be mutually displeased with each other; and that the next
+morning, before she saw Edgar again, she should set out for the Grove,
+and there cast herself wholly upon the generosity of Sir Sedley; and,
+when freed from all engagement, return, and relate, without reserve,
+the whole history to Edgar; who would so soon be brother of her brother,
+that he would pardon the faults of Lionel, and who would then be in no
+danger himself from personal contest or discussion with Sir Sedley. She
+wrote, therefore, one line, to say she would see Mrs. Arlbery early the
+next day, and delivered it to Molly Mill; who promised to borrow a horse
+of the under-groom, that Tommy Hodd might be back before bed-time,
+without any obligation to Sir Sedley.
+
+She, then, went down stairs; when Edgar, disappointed by her long
+absence, sought vainly to recompense it by conversing with her. She was
+gentle, but seated herself aloof, and avoided his eyes.
+
+His desire to unravel so much mystery he thought now so legitimated by
+his peculiar situation, that he was frequently upon the point of
+soliciting for information: but, to know himself privileged, upon
+further reflexion, was sufficient to insure his forbearance. Even when
+that knot was tied which would give to him all power, he sincerely meant
+to owe all her trust to willing communication. Should he now, then, make
+her deem him exacting, and tenacious of prerogative? no; it might
+shackle the freedom of her mind in their future intercourse. He would
+quietly, therefore, wait her own time, and submit to her own
+inclination. She could not doubt his impatience; he would not compel her
+generosity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_The Triumph of Pride_
+
+
+The three sisters were retired, at night, to another council in the room
+of Camilla, when Molly Mill, with a look of dismay, burst in upon them,
+bringing, with the answer of Sir Sedley, news that Tommy Hodd, by an
+accident he could not help, had rode the horse she had borrowed for him
+of the under-groom to death.
+
+The dismay, now, spread equally to them all. What a tale would this
+misfortune unfold to Sir Hugh, to Edgar, to the whole house! The debt of
+Lionel, the correspondence with Sir Sedley, the expectations of the
+young baronet.... Camilla could not support it; she sent for Jacob to
+own to him the affair, and beg his assistance.
+
+Jacob, though getting into bed, obeyed the call. He was, however, so
+much irritated at the loss of the horse, and the boldness of the
+under-groom, in lending him without leave, that, at first, he would
+listen to no entreaties, and protested that both the boy and Molly Mill
+should be complained of to his master. The eloquence, however, of his
+three young mistresses, for so all the nieces of Sir Hugh were called by
+the servants at Cleves, soon softened his ire; he almost adored his
+master, and was affectionately attached to the young family. They begged
+him, therefore, to buy another horse, as like it as possible, and to
+contrive not to employ it when Sir Hugh was in sight, till they were
+able to clear up the history to their uncle themselves: this would not
+be difficult, as the baronet rarely visited his stables since his fall,
+from the melancholy with which he was filled by the sight of his horses.
+
+There was to be a fair for cattle in the neighbourhood the next day, and
+Jacob promised to ride over to see what bargain he could make for them.
+
+They then inquired about what money would be necessary for the purchase.
+
+The cost, he said, of poor Tom Jones was 40£.
+
+Camilla held up her hands, almost screaming. Eugenia, with more presence
+of mind, said they would see him again in the morning before he went,
+and then told Molly Mill to wait for her in her own room.
+
+'What can I now do?' cried Camilla; 'I would not add the history of this
+dreadful expence to the sad tale I have already to relate to Edgar for
+the universe! To begin my career by such a string of humiliations would
+be insupportable. Already I owe five guineas to Mrs. Arlbery, which the
+tumult of my mind since my return has prevented me from naming to my
+uncle; and I have left debts at Tunbridge that will probably take up all
+my next quarter's allowance!'
+
+'As far as these three guineas will go,' said Lavinia, taking out her
+purse, 'here, my dearest Camilla, they are; ... but how little that is!
+I never before thought my pittance too small! yet how well we all know
+my dear father cannot augment it.'
+
+Eugenia, who, in haste, had stept to her own room, now came back, and
+putting twenty guineas into the hand of Camilla, said: 'This, my beloved
+sister, is all I now have by me; but Jacob is rich and good, and will
+rejoice to pay the rest for us at present; and I shall very soon
+reimburse him, for my uncle has insisted upon making me a very
+considerable present, which I shall, now, no longer refuse.'
+
+Camilla burst into tears, and, hanging about their necks: 'O my
+sisters,' she cried, 'what goodness is yours! but how can I avail myself
+of it with any justice? Your three guineas, my Lavinia, your little
+all ... how can I bear to take?'
+
+'Do not teach me to repine, my dear Camilla, that I have no more! I am
+sure of being remembered by my uncle on the approaching occasions, and I
+can never, therefore, better spare my little store.'
+
+'You are all kindness! and you my dear Eugenia, though you have more,
+have claims upon that more, and are both expected and used to answer
+them....'
+
+'Yes, I have indeed more!' interrupted Eugenia, 'which only sisters good
+as mine could pardon; but because my uncle has made me his heiress, has
+he made me a brute? No! whatever I have, must be amongst us all in
+common, not only now, but ...' She stopt, affrighted at the idea she was
+presenting to herself, and fervently clasping her hands, exclaimed: 'O
+long ... long may it be ere I can shew my sisters all I feel for them!
+they will believe it, I am sure ... and that is far happier!'
+
+The idea this raised struck them all, at the same moment, to the heart.
+Not one of them had dry eyes, and with a sadness over-powering every
+other consideration, they sighed as heavily, and with looks as
+disconsolate, as if the uncle so dear to them were already no more.
+
+The influence of parts, the predominance of knowledge, the honour of
+learning, the captivation of talents, and even the charm of fame itself,
+all shrink in their effects before the superior force of goodness, even
+where most simple and uncultivated, for power over the social
+affections.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At an early hour, the next morning the commission, with the twenty
+guineas in hand, and the promise of the rest in a short time, were given
+to Jacob; and Camilla, then, begged permission of her father, and the
+carriage of her uncle, to visit Mrs. Arlbery, who, she had heard, was
+just returned to the Grove.
+
+Concluding she wished to be the messenger of her own affairs to that
+lady, they made no opposition, and she set off before eight o'clock,
+without entering the parlour, where Edgar, she was informed, was already
+arrived for breakfast.
+
+The little journey was terrible to her; scenes of disappointment and
+despair on the part of Sir Sedley, were anticipated by her alarmed
+imagination, and she reproached herself for every word she had ever
+spoken, every look she had ever given, that could have raised any
+presumption of her regard.
+
+The last note was written in the style of all the others, and not one
+ever expressed the smallest doubt of success; how dreadful then to break
+to him such news, at the very moment he might imagine she came to meet
+him with partial pleasure!
+
+Mrs. Arlbery was not yet risen. Camilla inquired, stammering, if any
+company were at the house. None, was the answer. She then begged leave
+to walk in the garden till Mrs. Arlbery came down stairs.
+
+She was not sorry to miss her; she dreaded her yet more than Sir Sedley
+himself, and hoped to see him alone.
+
+Nevertheless, she remained a full hour in waiting, ruminating upon the
+wonder her disappearance would give to Edgar, and nearly persuaded some
+chance had anticipated her account to Sir Sedley, whose rage and grief
+were too violent to suffer him to keep his appointment.
+
+This idea served but to add to her perturbation, when, at last, she saw
+him enter the garden.
+
+All presence of mind then forsook her; she looked around to see if she
+could escape, but his approach was too quick for avoidance. Her eyes,
+unable to encounter his, were bent upon the ground, and she stood still,
+and even trembling, till he reached her.
+
+To the prepossessed notions and vain character of Sir Sedley, these were
+symptoms by no means discouraging; with a confidence almost amounting to
+arrogance he advanced, pitying her distress, yet pitying himself still
+more for the snare in which it was involving him. He permitted his eyes
+for a moment to fasten upon her, to admire her, and to enjoy
+triumphantly her confusion in silence: 'Ah, beauteous tyrant!' he then
+cried; 'if this instant were less inappreciable, in what language could
+I upbraid thy unexampled abuse of power? thy lacerating barbarity?'
+
+He then, almost by force, took her hand; she struggled eagerly to
+recover it, but 'No,' he cried, 'fair torturer! it is now my prisoner,
+and must be punished for its inhuman sins, in the congealing and
+unmerciful lines it has portrayed for me.'
+
+And then, regardless of her resistance, which he attributed to mere
+bashfulness, he obstinately and incessantly devoured it with kisses, in
+defiance of opposition, supplication, or anger, till, suddenly and
+piercingly, she startled him with a scream, and snatched it away with a
+force irresistible.
+
+Amazed, he stared at her. Her face was almost convulsed with emotion;
+but her eyes, which appeared to be fixed, directed him to the cause. At
+the bottom of the walk, which was only a few yards distant, stood
+Mandlebert.
+
+Pale and motionless, he looked as if bereft of strength and faculties.
+Camilla had seen him the moment she raised her eyes, and her horror was
+uncontrollable. Sir Sedley, astonished at what he beheld, astonished
+what to think, drew back, with a supercilious kind of bow. Edgar,
+recalled by what he thought insolence to his recollection, advanced a
+few steps, and addressing himself to Camilla, said: 'I had the commands
+of Sir Hugh to pursue you, Miss Tyrold, to give you immediate notice
+that Mr. Lynmere is arrived.' He added no more, deigned not a look at
+Sir Sedley, but rapidly retreated, remounted his horse, and galloped
+off.
+
+Camilla looked after him till he was out of sight, with uplifted hands
+and eyes, deploring his departure, his mistake, and his resentment,
+without courage to attempt stopping him.
+
+Sir Sedley stood suspended, how to act, what to judge. If Edgar's was
+the displeasure of a discarded lover, why should it so affect Camilla?
+if of a successful one, why came she to meet him? why had she received
+and answered his notes?
+
+Finding she attempted neither to speak nor move, he again approached
+her, and saying, 'Fair Incomprehensible!...' would again have taken her
+hand; but rousing to a sense of her situation, she drew back, and with
+some dignity, but more agitation, cried: 'Sir Sedley, I blush if I am
+culpable of any part of your mistake; but suffer me now to be explicit,
+and let me be fully, finally, and not too late understood. You must
+write to me no more; I cannot answer nor read your letters. You must
+speak to me no more, except in public society; you must go further, Sir
+Sedley ... you must think of me no more.'
+
+'Horrible!' cried he, starting back; 'you distress me past measure!'
+
+'No, no, you will soon ... easily ... readily forget me.'
+
+'Inhuman! you make me unhappy past thought!'
+
+'Indeed I am inexpressibly concerned; but the whole affair....'
+
+'You shock, you annihilate me, you injure me in the tenderest point!'
+
+Camilla now, amazed, cried 'what is it you mean, sir?'
+
+'By investing me, fair barbarian, with the temerity of forming any claim
+that can call for repulse!'
+
+Utterly confounded by so unexpected a disclaiming of all design, she
+again, though from far different sensations, cast up her eyes and hands.
+And is it, she thought, for a trifler such as this, so unmeaning, so
+unfeeling, I have risked my whole of hope and happiness?
+
+She said, however, no more; for what more could be said? She coloured,
+past him, and hastily quitting the garden, told the footman to apologise
+to Mrs. Arlbery for her sudden departure, by informing her that a near
+relation was just arrived from abroad; and then got into the carriage
+and drove back to Cleves. Sir Sedley followed carelessly, yet without
+aiming at overtaking her, and intreated, negligently, to be heard, yet
+said nothing which required the smallest answer.
+
+Piqued completely, and mortified to the quick, by the conviction which
+now broke in upon him of the superior ascendance of Mandlebert, he could
+not brook to have been thought in earnest when he saw he should not have
+been accepted, nor pardon his own vanity the affront it had brought upon
+his pride. He sung aloud an opera air till the carriage of Sir Hugh was
+out of sight, and then drove his phaeton to Clarendel-Place, where he
+instantly ordered his post-chaise, and in less than an hour, set off on
+a tour to the Hebrides.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_A Summons to Happiness_
+
+
+Camilla had but just set out from Cleves, when Sir Hugh, consulting his
+weather-cocks, which a new chain of ideas had made him forget to
+examine, saw that the wind was fair for the voyage of his nephew; and
+heard, upon inquiry, that the favourable change had taken place the
+preceding day, though the general confusion of the house had prevented
+it from being heeded by any of the family.
+
+With eagerness the most excessive, he went to the room of Eugenia, and
+bid her put on a smart hat to walk out with him, as there was no knowing
+how soon a certain person might arrive.
+
+Eugenia, colouring, said she would rather stay within.
+
+'Well,' cried he, 'you'll be neater, to be sure, for not blowing about
+in the wind; so I'll go take t'other girls.'
+
+Eugenia, left alone, became exceedingly fluttered. She could not bear to
+remain in the house under the notion of so degrading a consideration as
+owing any advantage to outward appearance; and fearing her uncle, in his
+extreme openness, should give that reason for her not walking, she
+determined to take a stroll by herself in the park.
+
+She bent her steps towards a small wood at some distance from the house,
+where she meant to rest herself and read; for she had learnt of Dr.
+Orkborne never to be unprovided with a book. But she had not yet reached
+her place of intended repose, when the sound of feet made her turn
+round, and, to her utter consternation, she saw a young man, whose
+boots, whip, and foreign air, announced instantly to be Clermont
+Lynmere.
+
+She doubted not but he was sent in pursuit of her; and though youthful
+timidity prompted her to shun him, she retained sufficient command over
+herself to check it, and to stop till he came up to her; while he,
+neither quickening nor slackening his pace as he approached, passed her
+with so little attention, that she was presently convinced he had scarce
+even perceived her.
+
+Disconcerted by a meeting so strange and so ill timed, she involuntarily
+stood still, without any other power than that of looking after him.
+
+In a few minutes Molly Mill, running up to her, cried: 'Dear Miss, have
+not you seen young Mr. Lynmere? He come by t'other way just as master,
+and Miss Margland, and Miss Lynmere, and Miss Tyrold, was gone to meet
+him by the great gate; and so he said he'd come and look who he could
+find himself.'
+
+Eugenia had merely voice to order her back. The notion of having a
+figure so insignificant as to be passed, without even exciting a doubt
+[who] she might be, was cruelly mortifying. She knew not how to return
+to the house, and relate such an incident. She sat down under a tree to
+recollect herself.
+
+Presently, however, she saw the stranger turn quick about, and before
+she could rise, slightly touching his hat, without looking at her:
+'Pray, ma'am,' he said, 'do you belong to that house?' pointing to the
+mansion of Sir Hugh.
+
+Faintly she answered, 'Yes, sir;' and he then added: 'I am just arrived,
+and in search of Sir Hugh and the young ladies; one of them, they told
+me, was this way; but I can trace nobody. Have you seen any of them?'
+
+More and more confounded, she could make no reply. Inattentive to her
+embarrassment, and still looking every way around, he repeated his
+question. She then pointed towards the great gate, stammering she
+believed they went that way. 'Thank you;' he answered, with a nod, and
+then hurried off.
+
+She now thought no more of moving nor of rising; she felt a kind of
+stupor, in which, fixed, and without reflection, she remained, till,
+startled by the sound of her uncle's voice, she got up, made what haste
+she was able to the house by a private path, and ascended to her own
+room by a back stair case.
+
+That an interview to which she had so long looked forward, for which,
+with unwearied assiduity, she had so many years laboured to prepare
+herself, and which was the declared precursor of the most important æra
+of her life, should pass over so abruptly, and be circumstanced so
+aukwardly, equally dispirited and confused her.
+
+In a few minutes, Molly Mill, entering, said: 'They're all come back,
+and Sir Hugh's fit to eat the young squire up; and no wonder, for he's a
+sweet proper gentleman, as ever I see. Come, miss, I hope you'll put on
+something else, for that hat makes you look worse than any thing. I
+would not have the young squire see you such a figure for never so
+much.'
+
+The artlessness of unadorned truth, however sure in theory of extorting
+administration, rarely, in practice, fails inflicting pain or
+mortification. The simple honesty of Molly redoubled the chagrin of her
+young mistress, who, sending her away, went anxiously to the
+looking-glass, whence, in a few moments, she perceived her uncle, from
+the window, laughing, and making significant signs to some one out of
+her sight. Extremely ashamed to be so surprised, she retreated to the
+other end of the room, though not till she had heard Sir Hugh say: 'Ay,
+ay, she's getting ready for you; I told you why she would not walk out
+with us, so don't let's hurry her, though I can't but commend your being
+a little impatient, which I dare say so is she, only young girls can't
+so well talk about it.'
+
+Eugenia now found that Clermont had no suspicion he had seen her. Sir
+Hugh concluded she had not left her room, and asked no questions that
+could lead to the discovery.
+
+Presently the baronet came up stairs himself, and tapping at her door,
+said: 'Come, my dear, don't be too curious, the breakfast having been
+spoilt this hour already; besides your cousin's having nothing on
+himself but his riding dress.'
+
+Happy she could at least clear herself from so derogatory a design, she
+opened her door. Sir Hugh, surveying her with a look of surprise and
+vexation, exclaimed: 'What my dear! an't you dizen'd yet? why I thought
+to have seen you in all your best things!'
+
+'No, sir,' answered she calmly; 'I shall not dress till dinner-time.'
+
+'My dear girl,' cried he, kindly, though a little distressed how to
+explain himself; 'there's no need you should look worse than you can
+help; though you can do better things, I know, than looking well at any
+time; only what I mean is, you should let him see you to the best
+advantage at the first, for fear of his taking any dislike before he
+knows about Dr. Orkborne, and that.'
+
+'Dislike, sir!' repeated she, extremely hurt; 'if you think he will take
+any dislike ... I had better not see him at all!'
+
+'My dear girl, you quite mistake me, owing to my poor head's always
+using the wrong word; which is a remarkable thing that I can't help. But
+I don't mean in the least to doubt his being pleased with you, except
+only at the beginning, from not being used to you; for as to all your
+studies, there's no more Greek and Latin in one body's face than in
+another's; but, however, if you won't dress, there's no need to keep the
+poor boy in hot water for nothing.'
+
+He then took her hand, and rather dragged than drew her down stairs,
+saying as they went: 'I must wish you joy, though, for I assure you he's
+a very fine lad, and hardly a bit of a coxcomb.'
+
+The family was all assembled in the parlour, except Camilla, for whom
+the baronet had instantly dispatched Edgar, and Mr. Tyrold, who was not
+yet returned from a morning ride, but for whom Sir Hugh had ordered the
+great dinner bell to be rung, as a signal of something extraordinary.
+
+Young Lynmere was waiting the arrival of Eugenia with avowed and
+unbridled impatience. Far from surmising it was her he had met in the
+park, he had concluded it was one of the maids, and thought of her no
+more. He asked a thousand questions in a breath when his uncle was gone.
+Was she tall? was she short? was she plump? was she lean? was she fair?
+was she brown? was she florid? was she pale? But as he asked them of
+every body, nobody answered; yet all were in some dismay at a curiosity
+implying such entire ignorance, except Indiana, who could not, without
+simpering, foresee the amazement of her brother at her cousin's person
+and appearance.
+
+'Here's a noble girl for you!' cried Sir Hugh, opening the door with a
+flourish; 'for all she's got so many best things, she's come down in her
+worst, for the sake of looking ill at the beginning, to the end that
+there may be no fault to be found afterwards; which is the wiseness that
+does honour to her education.'
+
+This was, perhaps, the first time an harangue from the baronet had been
+thought too short; but the surprise of young Lynmere, at the view of his
+destined bride, made him wish he would speak on, merely to annul any
+necessity for speaking himself. Eugenia aimed in vain to recover the
+calmness of her nature, or to borrow what might resemble it from her
+notions of female dignity. The injudicious speech of Sir Hugh, but
+publicly forcing upon the whole party the settled purpose of the
+interview, covered her with blushes, and gave a tremor to her frame that
+obliged her precipitately to seat herself, while her joined hands
+supplicated his silence.
+
+'Well, my dear, well!' said he, kissing her, 'don't let me vex you; what
+I said having no meaning, except for the best; though your cousin might
+as well have saluted you before you sat down, I think; which, however, I
+suppose may be out of fashion now, every thing changing since my time;
+which, Lord help me! it will take me long enough to learn.'
+
+Lynmere noticed not this hint, and they all seated themselves round the
+breakfast table; Sir Hugh scarce able to refrain from crying for joy,
+and continually exclaiming: 'This is the happiest day of all my life,
+for all I've lived so long! To see us all together, at last, and my dear
+boy come home to his native old England!'
+
+Miss Margland made the tea, and young Lynmere instantly and almost
+voraciously began eating of every thing that was upon the table.
+Indiana, when she saw her brother as handsome as her cousin was
+deformed, thought the contrast so droll, she could look at neither
+without tittering; Lavinia observed, with extreme concern, the visible
+distress of her sister; Dr. Orkborne forbore to ruminate upon his work,
+in expectation, every moment, of being called upon to converse with the
+learned young traveller; but Sir Hugh alone spoke, though his delight
+and his loquacity joined to his pleasure in remarking the good old
+English appetite which his nephew had brought with him from foreign
+parts, prevented his being struck with the general taciturnity.
+
+The entrance of Mr. Tyrold proved a relief to all the party, though a
+pain to himself. He suffered in seeing the distressed confusion of
+Eugenia, and felt something little short of indignation at the
+supercilious air with which Clermont seemed to examine her; holding his
+head high and back, as if measuring his superior height, while every
+line round his mouth marked that ridicule was but suppressed by
+contempt.
+
+When Sir Hugh, at length, observed that the young traveller uttered not
+a syllable, he exclaimed: 'Lord help us! what fools it makes of us,
+being overjoyed! here am I talking all the talk to myself, while my
+young scholar says nothing! which I take to be owing to my speaking only
+English; which, however, I should not do, if it was not for the
+misfortune of knowing no other, which I can't properly call a fault,
+being out of no idleness, as that gentleman can witness for me; for I'll
+warrant nobody's taken more pains; but our heads won't always do what we
+want.'
+
+He then gave a long and melancholy detail of his studies and their
+failure.
+
+When the carriage arrived with Camilla, young Lynmere loitered to a
+window, to look at it; Eugenia arose, meaning to seize the opportunity
+to escape to her room; but seeing him turn round upon her moving, she
+again sat down, experiencing, for the first time, a sensation of shame
+for her lameness, which, hitherto, she had regularly borne with
+fortitude, when she had not forgotten from indifference: neither did she
+feel spirits to exhibit, again, before his tall and strikingly elegant
+figure, her diminutive little person.
+
+Camilla entered with traces of a disordered mind too strongly marked in
+her countenance to have escaped observation, had she been looked at with
+any attention. But Eugenia and Lynmere ingrossed all eyes and all
+thoughts. Even herself, at first sight of the husband elect of her
+sister, lost, for a moment, all personal consideration, and looked at
+him only with the interesting idea of the future fate of Eugenia. But it
+was only for a moment; when she turned round, and saw nothing of Edgar,
+when her uncle's inquiry what had become of him convinced her he was
+gone elsewhere, her heart sunk, she felt sick, and would have glided out
+of the room, had not Sir Hugh, thinking her faint for want of her
+breakfast, begged Miss Margland to make her some fresh tea; adding, 'As
+this is a day in which I intend us all to be happy alike, I beg nobody
+will go out of the room, for the sake of our enjoying it all together.'
+
+This summons to happiness produced the usual effect of such calls; a
+general silence, succeeded by a general yawning, and a universal secret
+wish of separation, to the single exception of Sir Hugh, who, after a
+pause, said, 'Why nobody speaks but me! which I really think odd enough.
+However, my dear nephew, if you don't care for our plain English
+conversation, which, indeed, after all your studies, one can't much
+wonder at, nobody can be against you and the Doctor jabbering together a
+little of your Greek and Latin.'
+
+Lynmere, letting fall his bread upon the table, leaned back in his
+chair, and, sticking his hands in his side, looked at his uncle with an
+air of astonishment.
+
+'Nay,' continued the baronet, 'I don't pretend I should be much the
+wiser for it; however, it's what I've no objection to hear: so come,
+Doctor! you're the oldest; break the ice!'
+
+A verse of Horace with which Dr. Orkborne was opening his answer, was
+stopt short, by the eager manner in which Lynmere re-seized his bread
+with one hand, while, with the other, to the great discomposure of the
+exact Miss Margland, he stretched forth for the tea-pot, to pour out a
+bason of tea; not ceasing the libation till the saucer itself,
+overcharged, sent his beverage in trickling rills from the tablecloth to
+the floor.
+
+The ladies all moved some paces from the table, to save their clothes;
+and Miss Margland reproachfully inquired if she had not made his tea to
+his liking.
+
+'Don't mind it, I beg, my dear boy,' cried Sir Hugh; 'a little slop's
+soon wiped up; and we're all friends: so don't let that stop your
+Latin.'
+
+Lynmere, noticing neither the Latin, the mischief, nor the consolation,
+finished his tea in one draught, and then said: 'Pray, sir, where do you
+keep all your newspapers?'
+
+'Newspapers, my dear nephew? I've got no newspapers: what would you have
+us do with a mere set of politics, that not one of us understand, in
+point of what may be their true drift; now we're all met together
+o'purpose to be comfortable?'
+
+'No newspapers, sir?' cried Lynmere, rising, and vehemently ringing the
+bell; and, with a scornful laugh, adding, half between his teeth, 'Ha!
+ha! live in the country without newspapers! a good joke, faith!'
+
+A servant appearing, he gave orders for all the morning papers that
+could be procured.
+
+Sir Hugh looked much amazed; but presently, starting up, said, 'My dear
+nephew, I believe I've caught your meaning, at last; for if you mean, as
+I take for granted, that we're all rather dull company, why I'll take
+your hint, and leave you and a certain person together, to make a better
+acquaintance; which you can't do so well while we're all by, on account
+of modesty.'
+
+Eugenia, frightened almost to sickness, [was] caught by her two sisters;
+and Mr. Tyrold, tenderly compassionating her apprehensions, whispered to
+Sir Hugh to dispense with a _tête-à-tête_ so early: and, taking her
+hand, accompanied her himself to her room, composing, and re-assuring
+her by the way.
+
+Sir Hugh, though vexed, then followed, to issue some particular orders;
+the rest of the party dispersed, and young Lynmere remained with his
+sister.
+
+Walking on tiptoe to the door, he shut it, and put his ear to the
+key-hole, till he no longer heard any footstep. Turning then hastily
+round, he flung himself, full length, upon a sofa, and burst into so
+violent a fit of laughter, he was forced to hold his sides.
+
+Indiana, tittering, said, 'Well, brother, how do you like her?'
+
+'Like her!' he repeated, when able to speak; 'why the old gentleman
+doats! He can never, else, seriously suppose I'll marry her.'
+
+'He! he! he! yes, but he does, indeed, brother. He's got every thing
+ready.'
+
+'Has he, faith?' cried Lynmere, again rolling on the sofa, almost
+suffocated with violent laughter: from which, suddenly recovering, he
+started up to stroam to a large looking-glass, and, standing before it,
+in an easy and most assured attitude, 'Much obliged to him, 'pon
+honour!' he exclaimed: 'Don't you think,' turning carelessly, yet in an
+elegant position, round to his sister, 'don't you think I am, Indiana?'
+
+'Me, brother? la! I'm sure I think she's the ugliest little fright, poor
+thing! I ever saw in the world, poor thing! such a little, short,
+dumpty, hump backed, crooked, limping figure of a fright ... poor
+thing!'
+
+'Yes, yes,' cried he, changing his posture, but still undauntedly
+examining himself before the glass, 'he has taken amazing care of me, I
+confess; matched me most exactly!'
+
+Then sitting down, as if to consider the matter more seriously, he took
+Indiana by the arm, and, with some displeasure, said, 'Why, what does
+the old quoz mean? Does he want me to toss him in a blanket?'
+
+Indiana tittered more than ever at this idea, till her brother angrily
+demanded of her, why she had not written herself some description of
+this young Hecate, to prepare him for her sight? Sir Hugh having merely
+given him to understand that she was not quite beautiful.
+
+Indiana had no excuse to plead, but that she did not think of it. She
+had, indeed, grown up with an aversion to writing, in common with
+whatever else gave trouble, or required attention; and her
+correspondence with her brother rarely produced more than two letters in
+a year, which were briefly upon general topics, and read by the whole
+family.
+
+She now related to him the history of the will, and the vow, which only
+in an imperfect, and but half-credited manner had reached him.
+
+His laughter than gave place to a storm of rage. He called himself
+ruined, blasted, undone; and abused Sir Hugh as a good-for-nothing
+dotard, defrauding him of his just rights and expectations.
+
+'Why, that's the reason,' said Indiana, 'he wants to marry you to cousin
+Eugenia; because, he says, it's to make you amends.'
+
+This led him to a rather more serious consideration of the affair; for,
+he protested, the money was what he could not do without. Yet, again
+parading to the glass, 'What a shame, Indiana,' he cried, 'what a shame
+would it be to make such a sacrifice? If he'll only pay a trifle of
+money for me, and give me a few odd hundreds to begin with, I'll hold
+him quit of all else, so he'll but quit me of that wizen little stump.'
+
+A newspaper, procured from the nearest public house, being now brought,
+he pinched Indiana by the chin, said she was the finest girl he had seen
+in England, and whistled off to his appointed chamber.
+
+Clermont Lynmere so entirely resembled his sister in person, that now,
+in his first youth, he might almost have been taken for her, even
+without change of dress: but the effect produced upon the beholders bore
+not the same parallel: what in her was beauty in its highest delicacy,
+in him seemed effeminacy in its lowest degradation. The brilliant
+fairness of his forehead, the transparent pink of his cheeks, the
+pouting vermillion of his lips, the liquid lustre of his languishing
+blue eyes, the minute form of his almost infantine mouth, and the snowy
+whiteness of his small hands and taper fingers, far from bearing the
+attraction which, in his sister, rendered them so lovely, made him
+considered by his own sex as an unmanly fop, and by the women, as too
+conceited to admire any thing but himself.
+
+With respect to his understanding, his superiority over his sister was
+rather in education than in parts, and in practical intercourse with the
+world, than in any higher reasoning faculties. His character, like his
+person, wanted maturing, the one being as distinct from intellectual
+decision, as the other from masculine dignity. He had youth without
+diffidence, sprightliness without wit, opinion without judgment, and
+learning without knowledge. Yet, as he contemplated his fine person in
+the glass, he thought himself without one external fault; and, early
+cast upon his own responsibility, was not conscious of one mental
+deficiency.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_Offs and Ons_
+
+
+Mr. Tyrold left Eugenia to her sisters, unwilling to speak of Lynmere
+till he had seen something more of him. Sir Hugh, also, was going, for
+he had no time, he said, to lose in his preparations: but Eugenia,
+taking his arm, besought that nothing of that kind might, at present, be
+mentioned.
+
+'Don't trouble yourself about that, my dear,' he answered; 'for it's
+what I take all into my own hands; your cousin being a person that don't
+talk much; by which, how can any thing be brought forward, if nobody
+interferes? A girl, you know, my dear, can't speak for herself, let her
+wish it never so much.'
+
+'Alas!' said Eugenia, when he was gone, 'how painfully am I situated!
+Clermont will surely suppose this precipitance all mine; and already,
+possibly, concludes it is upon my suggestion he has thus prematurely
+been called from his travels, and impeded in his praise-worthy ambition
+of studying the laws, manners, and customs of the different nations of
+Europe!'
+
+The wan countenance of Camilla soon, however, drew all observation upon
+herself, and obliged her to narrate the cruel adventure of the morning.
+
+The sisters were both petrified by the account of Sir Sedley; and their
+compassion for his expected despair was changed into disgust at his
+insulting impertinence. They were of opinion that his bird and his
+letters should immediately be returned; and their horror of any debt
+with a character mingling such presumption with such levity, made
+Eugenia promise that, as soon as she was mistress of so much money, she
+would send him, in the name of Lionel, his two hundred pounds.
+
+The bird, therefore, by Tom Hodd, was instantly conveyed to
+Clarendel-Place; but the letters Camilla retained, till she could first
+shew them to Edgar, ... if this event had not lost him to her for ever,
+and if he manifested any desire of an explanation.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Edgar himself, meanwhile, in a paroxysm of sudden misery, and torturing
+jealousy, had galloped furiously to the rector of Cleves.
+
+'O, Doctor Marchmont!' he cried, 'what a tale have I now to unfold!
+Within these last twenty-four hours I have been the most wretched ...
+the happiest ... and again the most agonized of human beings! I have
+thought Camilla bestowed upon another, ... I have believed her, ... oh,
+Doctor!... my own!... I have conceived myself at the summit of all
+earthly felicity!... I find myself, at this moment deluded and undone!'
+
+He then detailed the account, calling upon the Doctor to unravel to him
+the insupportable ænigma of his destiny; to tell him for what purpose
+Camilla had shewn him a tenderness so bewitching, at the very time she
+was carrying on a clandestine intercourse with another? with a man, who,
+though destitute neither of wit nor good qualities, it was impossible
+she should love, since she was as incapable of admiring as of
+participating in his defects? To what incomprehensible motives attribute
+such incongruities? Why accept and suffer her friends to accept him, if
+engaged to Sir Sedley? why, if seriously meaning to be his, this secret
+correspondence? Why so early, so private, so strange a meeting? 'Whence,
+Doctor Marchmont, the daring boldness of his seizing her hand? whence
+the never-to-be-forgotten licence with which he presumed to lift it to
+his lips, ... and there hardily to detain it, so as never man durst do,
+whose hopes were not all alive, from his own belief in their
+encouragement! explain, expound to me this work of darkness and
+amazement; tell me why, with every appearance of the most artless
+openness, I find her thus eternally disingenuous and unintelligible?
+why, though I have cast myself wholly into her power, she retains all
+her mystery ... she heightens it into deceit next perjury?'
+
+'Ask me, my dear young friend, why the sun does not give night, and the
+moon day; then why women practise coquetry. Alas! my season for surprise
+has long been passed! They will rather trifle, even with those they
+despise, than be candid even with those they respect. The young baronet,
+probably, has been making his court to her, or she has believed such was
+his design; but as you first came to the point, she would not hazard
+rejecting you, while uncertain if he were serious. She was, possibly,
+putting him to the test, by the account of your declaration, at the
+moment of your unseasonable intrusion.'
+
+'If this, Doctor, is your statement, and if your statement is just, in
+how despicable a lottery have I risked the peace of my life! You
+suppose then ... that, if sure of Sir Sedley ... I am discarded?'
+
+'You know what I think of your situation: can I, when to yet more riches
+I add a title, suppose that of Sir Sedley less secure?'
+
+The shuddering start, the distracted look of Edgar, with his hand
+clapped to his burning forehead, now alarmed the Doctor; who endeavoured
+to somewhat soften his sentence, dissuading him against any immediate
+measures, and advising him to pass over these first moments of emotion,
+and then coolly to suffer inquiry to take place of decision. But Edgar
+could not hear him; he shook hands with him, faintly smiled, as an
+apology for not speaking; and, hurrying off, without waiting for his
+servant, galloped towards the New Forest: leaving his absence from
+Cleves to declare his defection, and bent only to fly from Camilla, and
+all that belonged to her.
+
+All, however, that belonged to Camilla was precisely what followed him;
+pursued him in every possible form, clung to his heart-strings, almost
+maddened his senses. He could not bear to reflect; retrospection was
+torture, anticipation was horror. To lose thus, without necessity,
+without calamity, the object of his dearest wishes, ... to lose her from
+mere declension of esteem....
+
+'Any inevitable evil,' he cried, 'I could have sustained; any blow of
+fortune, however severe; any stroke of adversity, however terrible; ...
+but this ... this error of all my senses ... this deception of all my
+hopes ... this extinction of every feeling I have cherished'--
+
+He rode on yet harder, leaping over every thing, thoughtless rather than
+fearless of every danger he could encounter, and galloping with the
+speed and violence of some pursuit, though wholly without view, and
+almost without consciousness; as if, hoping by flight, to escape from
+the degenerate portrait of Camilla: but its painter was his own
+imagination, and mocked the attempt.
+
+From the other side of a five-barred gate, which, with almost frantic
+speed, he was approaching with a view to clear, a voice halloo'd to stop
+him; and, at the same time, a man who was leading one horse, and riding
+another, dismounted, and called out, 'Why, as sure as I'm alive, it's
+'Squire Mandlebert!'
+
+Edgar now, perceiving Jacob, was going to turn back to avoid him; but,
+restraining this first movement, faintly desired him to stand by, as he
+had not a moment to lose.
+
+'Good lack!' cried Jacob, with the freedom of an old servant, who had
+known him from a boy; 'why, I would not but have happened to come this
+way for never so much! why you might have broke your neck, else! Leap
+such a gate as this here? why, I can't let you do no such a thing! Miss
+Camilla's like a child of my own, as one may say; and she'll never hold
+up her head again, I'll be bound for it, if you should come to any harm;
+and, as to poor old master! 'twould go nigh to break his heart.'
+
+Struck with words which, from so faithful an old servant, could not but
+be touching, Edgar was brought suddenly to himself, and felt the claim
+of the Tyrold family for a conduct more guarded. He endeavoured to put
+his own feelings apart, and consider how best he might spare those of
+the friends of Camilla; those of Camilla herself he concluded to be out
+of his reach, except as they might simply relate to the female pride and
+vanity of refusing rather than being given up.
+
+He paused, now, to weigh how he might obviate any offence; and, after
+first resolving to write a sort of general leave-taking, and, next,
+seeing the almost insuperable objections to whatever he could state,
+determined upon gaining time for deliberation, by merely commissioning
+Jacob to carry a message to Cleves, that some sudden affairs called him,
+for the present, to a distant part of the country. This, at such a
+period, would create a surprise that might lead the way to what would
+follow: and Camilla, who could not, he thought, be much astonished,
+might then take her own measures for the defection she would see reason
+to expect.
+
+But Jacob resisted bearing the intelligence: 'Good lack, sir,' he cried,
+'what have you got in your head? something that will do you no good,
+I'll be bound, by the look of your eyes, which look as big as if they
+was both going to drop out; you'd better come yourself and tell 'em
+what's the matter, and speak a word to poor Miss Camilla, or she'll
+never believe but what some ill has betided you. Why we all knew about
+it, fast enough, before our master told us; servants have eyes as well
+as their masters; only Mary will have it she found it out at the first,
+which an't true, for I saw it by the time you'd been a week in the
+house; and if you'll take my word, squire, I don't think there's such
+another heart in the world as Miss Camilla's, except just my own old
+master's.'
+
+Edgar leant against his horse, neither speaking nor moving, yet
+involuntarily listening, while deeply sighing.
+
+'What a power of good she'll do,' continued Jacob, 'when she's mistress
+of Beech Park! I warrant she'll go about, visiting the poor, and making
+them clothes, and broths, and wine possets, and baby-linen, all day
+long. She has done it at Etherington quite from a child; and when she
+had nothing to give 'em, she used to take her thread papers and needle
+books, and sit down and work for them, and carry them bits and scraps of
+things to help 'em to patch their gowns. Why when she's got your fine
+fortunes, she'll bring a blessing upon the whole county.'
+
+Edgar felt touched; his wrath was softened into tenderness, and he
+ejaculated to himself: 'Such, indeed, I thought Camilla! active in
+charity, gentle in good works!... I thought that in putting my fortune
+into her hands, I was serving the unhappy, ... feeding the indigent, ...
+reviving the sick!'
+
+'Master,' continued Jacob, 'took a fancy to her from the very first, as
+well as I; and when master said she was coming to live with us, I asked
+to make it a holiday for all our folks, and master was as pleased as I.
+But nobody'd think what a tender heart she's got of her own, without
+knowing her, because of her singing, and laughing, and dancing so,
+except when old Miss Margland's in the way, who's what Mr. Lionel calls
+a kill-joy at any time. Howbeit, I'll take special care she shan't be by
+when I tell her of my stopping you from breaking your neck here; but I
+wish you could be in a corner yourself, to peep at her, without her
+knowing it; I'll warrant you she'll give me such a smile, you'd be fit
+to eat her!'
+
+Shaken once more in every resolution, because uncertain in every
+opinion, Edgar found the indignant desperation which had seized him
+begin to subside, and his mind again become assailable by something
+resembling hope. Almost instinctively he remounted his horse, and almost
+involuntarily ... drawn on by hearkening to the praise of Camilla, and
+fascinated by the details made by Jacob of her regard, accompanied him
+back to Cleves.
+
+As they rode into the park, and while he was earnestly endeavouring to
+form some palliation, by which he might exculpate what seemed to him so
+guilty in the strange meeting and its strange circumstances, he
+perceived Camilla herself, walking upon the lawn. He saw she had
+observed him, and saw, from her air, she seemed irresolute if to
+re-enter the house, or await him.
+
+Jacob, significantly pointing her out, offered to shew the effect he
+could produce by what he could relate; but Edgar, giving him the charge
+of his horse, earnestly besought him to retire in quiet, and to keep his
+opinions and experiments to himself.
+
+Each now, separately, and with nearly equal difficulty, strove to attain
+fortitude to seek an explanation. They approached each other; Camilla
+with her eyes fixed upon the ground, her air embarrassed, and her cheeks
+covered with blushes; Edgar with quick, but almost tottering steps, his
+eyes wildly avoiding hers, and his complexion pale even to
+indisposition.
+
+When they were met within a few yards, they stopt; Camilla still without
+courage to look up, and Edgar striving to speak, but finding no passage
+for his voice. Camilla, then, ashamed of her situation, raised her eyes,
+and forced herself to say, 'Have you been into the house? Have you seen
+my cousin Lynmere?'
+
+'No ... madam.'
+
+Struck with a cold formality that never before, from Edgar, had reached
+her ears, and shocked by the sight of his estranged and altered
+countenance, with the cruel consciousness that appearances authorised
+the most depreciating suspicions, she advanced, and holding out her
+hand, 'Edgar,' she gently cried, 'are you ill? or only angry?'
+
+'O Camilla!' he answered, 'can you deign to use to me such a word? can
+you distort my dearest affections, convulse my fairest hopes, eradicate
+every power of happiness ... yet speak with so much sweetness ... yet
+look at me with such mildness? such softness ... I had almost said ...
+such kindness?'
+
+Deeply affected, she could hardly stand. He had taken her offered hand,
+but in a manner so changed from the same action the preceding day, that
+she scarce knew if he touched while he held it, scarce felt that he
+relinquished, as almost immediately she withdrew it.
+
+But her condescension at this moment was rather a new torment than any
+solace to him. The hand which she proferred, and which the day before he
+had received as the token of permanent felicity, he had now seen in the
+possession of another, with every licence, every apparent mark of
+permitted rapture in which he had been indulged himself. He knew not to
+whom it of right belonged; and the doubt not merely banished happiness,
+but mingled resentment with misery.
+
+'I see,' cried she, after a mortified pause; 'you have lost your good
+opinion of me ... I can only, therefore....' She stopt, but his
+melancholy silence was a confirmation of her suggestion that offended
+her into more exertion, and, with sensibility raised into dignity, she
+added, 'only hope your intended tour to the Continent may take place
+without delay!'
+
+She would then have walked on to the house; but following her, 'Is all
+over?' he cried, 'and is it thus, Camilla, we part?'
+
+'Why not?' said she, suppressing a sigh, yet turning back.
+
+'What a question! cruel Camilla! Is this all the explanation you allow
+me?'
+
+'What other do you wish?'
+
+'All!... every other!... that meeting ... those letters....'
+
+'If you have any curiosity yet remaining ... only name what you desire.'
+
+'Are you indeed so good?' cried he, in a voice that shewed his soul
+again melting; 'those letters, then....'
+
+'You shall have them ... every one!' she cried, with alacrity; and
+instantly taking out her pocket-book, presented him with the prepared
+packet.
+
+Penetrated by this unexpected openness and compliance, he snatched her
+hand, with intent to press it to his lips; but again the recollection he
+had seen that liberty accorded to Sir Sedley, joined to the sight of his
+writing, checked him; he let it go; bowed his thanks with a look of
+grateful respect, and attempting no more to stop her, walked towards the
+summer-house, to peruse the letters.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_Resolutions_
+
+
+The sound of the dinner-bell, which rang in the ears of Edgar before he
+reached his intended retreat, would have been unnoticed, if not seconded
+by a message from Sir Hugh, who had seen him from his window.
+
+Compelled to obey, though in a state of suspense almost intolerable, he
+put up the important little packet, and repaired to the dining parlour;
+where, though none were equally disturbed with himself, no one was at
+ease. Young Lynmere, under an appearance of mingled assurance and
+apathy, the effect of acquired conceit, playing upon natural insipidity,
+was secretly tormented with the rueful necessity of sacrificing either a
+noble fortune, or his own fine person; Sir Hugh felt a strange
+disappointment from the whole behaviour of his nephew, though it was
+what he would not acknowledge, and could not define; Mr. Tyrold saw with
+much uneasiness the glaringly apparent unsuitableness of the intended
+alliance; Eugenia had never yet thought herself so plain and
+insignificant, and felt as if, even since the morning, the small-pox had
+renewed its ravages, and she had sunk into being shorter; Indiana and
+Miss Margland were both acutely incensed with Mandlebert; Dr. Orkborne
+saw but small reason to expect gratitude for his labours from the
+supercilious negligence of the boasted young student; Lavinia was
+disturbed for both her sisters; and Camilla felt that all she valued in
+life depended upon the next critical hour or two.
+
+In this state of general discomfort, Sir Hugh, who could never be
+silent, alone talked. Having long prepared himself to look upon this
+meeting as a day of happiness, he strove to believe, for a while, the
+whole family were peculiarly enjoying themselves; but, upon a dead
+silence, which ensued upon his taking a copious draught of Madeira and
+water, 'Why, my dear nephew,' he cried, putting down his goblet, 'you
+don't tell us any thing? which I've no doubt but you know why yourself.
+However, as we're all met o' purpose to see you, I can't say I should be
+sorry to hear the sound of your voice, provided it won't be
+disagreeable.'
+
+'We are not much--conversant, sir, in each other's connexions, I
+believe,' answered Lynmere, without ceasing a moment to eat, and to help
+himself, and ordering a fresh plate at every second mouthful; 'I have
+seen nothing, yet, of your folks hereabouts; and, I fancy, sir, you
+don't know a great deal of the people I have been used to.'
+
+Sir Hugh, having good humouredly acknowledged this to be truth, was at a
+loss what further to purpose; and, imagining the taciturnity of the rest
+of the party to proceed from an awe of the knowledge and abilities of
+his nephew, soon became himself so infected with fear and reverence,
+that, though he could not be silent, he spoke only to those who were
+next him, and in a whisper.
+
+When the dessert was served, something like a general relief was
+effected by the unexpected entrance of Dr. Marchmont. Alarmed by the
+ungoverned, and, in him, unprecedented, emotions of Edgar, he had been
+to Beech Park; and, finding he had not returned there, had ridden on, in
+the most uneasy uncertainty, to inquire for him at Cleves.
+
+Happy to see him safe, though almost smiling to see with whom, he was
+beginning some excuse for his intrusion, when the baronet saved his
+proceeding, by calling out, 'Well, this is as good a piece of good luck
+as any we've met with yet! Here's Dr. Marchmont come to wish us joy; and
+as he's as good a scholar as yourself, nephew, for any thing I know to
+the contrary, why you need not be so afraid of speaking, for the sake of
+our not understanding you; which here's five of us can do now, as well
+as yourself.'
+
+Lynmere, readily concluding Mr. Tyrold and Edgar, with the two Doctors,
+made four, glanced round the table to see who might be the fifth; when,
+supposing it Miss Margland, he withdrew his eyes with a look of
+derision, and, turning to the butler, asked what wines he might call
+for.
+
+Sir Hugh then proposed that they should all pair off; the ignorant ones
+going one way, and the learned ones staying another.
+
+It would be difficult to say which looked most averse to this
+proposition, Eugenia, or the young traveller; who hastily said, 'I
+always ride after dinner, sir. Is your groom at hand? Can he shew me
+your horses?'
+
+'My nephew little suspects,' cried Sir Hugh, winking, 'Eugenia belongs
+to the scholars! Ten to one but he thinks he's got Homer and Horace to
+himself! But here, my dear boy, as you're so fond of the classics'--
+
+Clermont, nimbly rising, and knocking down a decanter of water in his
+haste, but not turning back to look at it, nor staying to offer any
+apology, affected not to hear his uncle, and flung hastily out of the
+room, calling upon Indiana to follow him.
+
+'In the name of all the _Diavoli_,' cried he, pulling her into the park
+with him, 'what does all this mean? Is the old gentleman _non compos_?
+what's all this stuff he descants upon so freely, of scholars, and
+classics, and Homer, and Horace?'
+
+'O you must ask Eugenia, not me!' answered Indiana, scornfully.
+
+'Why, what does Eugenia know of the matter?'
+
+'Know? why every thing. She's a great scholar, and has been brought up
+by Dr. Orkborne; and she talks Greek and Latin.'
+
+'Does she so? then, by the Lord! she's no wife of mine! I'd as soon
+marry the old Doctor himself! and I'm sure he'd make me as pretty a
+wife. Greek and Latin! why I'd as soon tie myself to a rod. Pretty sort
+of dinners she'll give!'
+
+'O dear, yes, brother; she don't care what she eats; she cares for
+nothing but books, and such kind of things.'
+
+'Books! ha! ha! Books, and Latin and Greek! upon my faith, a pretty wife
+the old gentleman has been so good as to find me! why he must be a
+downright driveller!'
+
+'Ah, brother, if we had all that fortune, what a different figure we
+should cut with it!'
+
+'Why, yes, I rather flatter myself we should. No great need of five
+thousand a year to pore over books! Ha! ha! faith, this is a good hum
+enough! So he thinks to take me in, does he?'
+
+'Why, you know, she is so rich, brother....'
+
+'Rich? well, and what am I? do you see such a figure as this,' (suddenly
+skipping before her,) 'every day? Am I reduced to my last legs, think
+you? Do you suppose I can't meet with some kind old dowager any time
+these twenty years?'
+
+'La, brother, won't you have her then?'
+
+'No, faith, won't I! It's not come to that, neither. This learning is
+worse than her ugliness; 'twould make me look like a dunce in my own
+house.'
+
+He then protested he had rather lose forty estates, than so be
+sacrificed, and vowed, without venturing a direct refusal, he would soon
+sicken the old gentleman of his scheme.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Eugenia, in retreating to her room, was again accompanied by her father
+and her uncle, whom she conjured now, to name her to Clermont no more.
+
+'I can't say I admire these puttings off, my dear,' said the baronet,
+'in this our mortal state, which is always liable to end in our dying.
+Not that I pretend to tell you I think him over much alert; but there's
+no knowing but what he may have some meaning in it that we can't
+understand; a person having studied all his life, has a right to a
+little particularity.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold himself now seriously interfered, and desired that,
+henceforth, Clermont might be treated as if his visit to Cleves was
+merely to congratulate his uncle upon his recovery; and that all
+schemes, preparations, and allusions, might be put aside, unless the
+youth himself, and with a good grace, brought them forward; meanwhile,
+he and Lavinia would return without delay to Etherington, to obviate all
+appearance of waiting the decision of any plan.
+
+Sir Hugh was much discomfited by the exaction of such forbearance, yet
+could the less oppose it, from his own internal discontent with his
+nephew, which he inadvertently betrayed, by murmuring, in his way to his
+chamber, 'There's no denying but what they've got some odd-fangled new
+ways of their own, in those foreign parts; meeting a set of old
+relations for the first time, and saying nothing to them, but asking for
+the newspapers! Lord help us! caring about the wide world, so, when we
+know nothing of it, instead of one's own uncles and nephews, and
+kinspeople!'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+During this time, Edgar, almost agonised by suspence and doubt, had
+escaped to the summer-house, whither he was followed by Dr. Marchmont,
+greatly to the wonder, almost with the contempt of Dr. Orkborne; whom he
+quitted, in anxiety for his young friend, just as he had intimated a
+design to consult him upon a difficult passage in an ancient author,
+which had a place in his work, that was now nearly ready for the press.
+
+'I know well, Doctor,' said Edgar, 'that to find me here, after all that
+has passed, will make you conclude me the weakest of men ... but I
+cannot now explain how it has been brought about ... these letters must
+first tell me if Camilla and I meet more than once again.'
+
+He then hastily ran over the letters; but by no means hastily could he
+digest, nor even comprehend their contents. He thought them florid,
+affected, and presuming; yet vague, studied, with little appearance of
+sincerity, and less of explicit decision. What related to Lionel, and to
+aiding him in the disposal of his wealth, seemed least intelligible, yet
+most like serious meaning; but when he found that the interview at the
+Grove was by positive appointment, and granted to a request made with a
+forwardness and assurance so wide from all delicacy and propriety, the
+blood mounted high into his cheeks, and, precipitately putting up the
+packet, he exclaimed: 'Here, then, it ends! the last little ray of
+hesitation is extinct ... extinct to be kindled never more!'
+
+The sound of these last words caused him an emotion of sorrow he was
+unable to resist, though unwilling to betray, and he hurried out of the
+summer-house to the wood, where he strove to compose his mind to the
+last leave-taking upon which he was now determined; but so dreadful was
+the resolution which exacted from his own mouth the resignation of all
+that, till now, had been dearest to his views and hopes, that the
+afternoon was far advanced, before he could assume sufficient courage to
+direct his steps to the spot where the sacrifice was to be made.
+
+Accusing himself, then, of weakness unpardonable, he returned to the
+summer-house, to apologise to Dr. Marchmont for his abrupt retreat; but
+the Doctor had already re-entered the mansion. Thither, therefore, he
+proceeded, purposing to seek Camilla, to return her the letters of Sir
+Sedley, and to desire her commands in what manner to conduct himself
+with her father and her uncle, in acknowledging his fears that the
+projected union would fail of affording, to either party, the happiness
+which, at first, it seemed to promise.
+
+The carriage of Sir Hugh was in waiting at the door, and Mr. Tyrold and
+Lavinia were in the hall. Edgar, in no condition for such an encounter,
+would have avoided them; but Mr. Tyrold, little suspecting his desire,
+rejoiced at the meeting, saying he had had the house searched for him in
+vain, that he might shake hands with him before his return to
+Etherington.
+
+Then, taking him apart, 'My dear Edgar,' he cried, 'I have long loved
+you as tenderly, and I may now confide in you as completely, as if you
+were my son. I go hence in some inquietude; I fear my brother has been
+too hasty in making known his views with regard to Clermont; who does
+not seem equal to appreciating the worth of Eugenia, though it is
+evident he has not been slack in noticing her misfortunes. I entreat
+you, during my absence, to examine him as if you were already the
+brother of that dear child, who merits, you well know, the best and
+tenderest of husbands.'
+
+He then followed Lavinia into the carriage, prevented by his own
+occupied mind from observing the fallen countenance of Edgar, who, more
+wretched than ever, bemoaned now the kindness of which he had hitherto
+been proud, and lamented the paternal trust which he would have
+purchased the day before almost with life.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla, during this period, had gone through conflicts no less severe.
+
+Jacob, who had bought a horse, for which he had cheerfully advanced 20
+l. had informed her of the gate adventure of Edgar, and told her that,
+but for his stopping him, he was riding like mad from Cleves, and only
+sending them all a message that he could not come back.
+
+Grieved, surprised, and offended, she instantly determined she would not
+risk such another mark of his cold superiority, but restore to him his
+liberty, and leave him master of himself. 'If the severity of his
+judgment,' cried she, 'is so much more potent than the warmth of his
+affection, it shall not be his delicacy, nor his compassion, that shall
+make me his. I will neither be the wife of his repentance nor of his
+pity. I must be convinced of his unaltered love, his esteem, his
+trust ... or I shall descend to humiliation, not rise to happiness, in
+becoming his. Softness here would be meanness; submission degrading ...
+if he hesitates ... let him go!'
+
+She then, without weighing, or even seeing one objection, precipitately
+resolved to beg permission of her friends, to accept an invitation she
+had received, without as yet answering, to meet Mrs. Berlinton at
+Southampton, where that lady was going to pass some weeks. She could
+there, she thought, give the rejection which here its inviolable
+circumstances made her, for Lionel's sake, afraid to risk; or she could
+there, if a full explanation should appease him, find opportunity to
+make it with equal safety; his dislike to that acquaintance rather urged
+than impeded her plan, for her wounded spirit panted to prove its
+independence and dignity.
+
+Eugenia approved this elevation of sentiment, and doubted not it would
+shew her again in her true light to Edgar, and bring him, with added
+esteem, to her feet.
+
+Camilla wept with joy at the idea: 'Ah!' she cried, 'if such should be
+my happy fate; if, after hearing all my imprudence, my precipitance, and
+want of judgment, he should voluntarily, when wholly set free, return to
+me ... I will confess to him every feeling ... and every failing of my
+heart! I will open to him my whole soul, and cast myself ever after upon
+his generosity and his goodness.... O, my Eugenia! almost on my knees
+could I receive ... a second time ... the vows of Edgar Mandlebert!'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_Ease and Freedom_
+
+
+Lynmere, at tea-time, returned from his ride, with a fixed plan of
+frightening or disgusting the baronet from the alliance; with Eugenia,
+herself, he imagined the attempt would be vain, for he did not conceive
+it possible any woman who had eyes could be induced to reject him.
+
+Determined, therefore, to indulge, in full, both the natural presumption
+and acquired luxuriance of his character, he conducted himself in a
+manner that, to any thing short of the partiality of Sir Hugh, would
+have rendered him insupportably offensive: but Sir Hugh had so long
+cherished a reverence for what he had himself ordered with regard to his
+studies, and what he implicitly credited of his attainments, that it was
+more easy to him to doubt his senses, than to suppose so accomplished a
+scholar could do any thing but what was right.
+
+'Your horses are worth nothing, sir,' cried he, in entering; 'I never
+rode so unpleasant a beast. I don't know who has the care of your stud;
+but whoever it is, he deserves to be hanged.'
+
+Sir Hugh could not refuse, either to his justice or his kindness, to
+vindicate his faithful Jacob; and for his horses he made as many
+excuses, as if every one had been a human creature, whom he was
+recommending to his mercy, with a fear they were unworthy of his favour.
+
+Not a word was said more, except what Miss Margland, from time to time,
+extorted, by begging questions, in praise of her tea, till Lynmere,
+violently ringing the bell, called out to order a fire.
+
+Every body was surprised at this liberty, without any previous demand of
+permission from the baronet, or any inquiry into the feelings of the
+rest of the company; and Sir Hugh, in a low voice, said to Eugenia, 'I
+am a little afraid poor Mary will be rather out of humour to have the
+grate to polish again tomorrow morning, in the case my nephew should not
+like to have another fire then; which, I suppose, if the weather
+continues so hot, may very likely not be agreeable to him.'
+
+Another pause now ensued; Dr. Marchmont, who, of the whole party, was
+alone, at this time, capable of leading to a general conversation, was
+separately occupied by watching Camilla; while himself, as usual, was
+curiously and unremittingly examined by Dr. Orkborne, in whom so much
+attention to a young lady raised many private doubts of the justice of
+his scholastic fame; which soon, by what he observed of his civility
+even to Miss Margland, were confirmed nearly to scepticism.
+
+Mary, now, entering with a coal scuttle and a candle, Lynmere, with much
+displeasure, called out, 'Bring wood; I hate coals.'
+
+Mary, as much displeased, and nearly as much humoured as himself,
+answered that nothing but coals were ever burnt in that grate.
+
+'Take it all away, then, and bid my man send me my pelisse. That I made
+to cross the Alps in.'
+
+'I am very sorry, indeed, nephew,' said Sir Hugh, 'that we were not
+better prepared for your being so chilly, owing to the weather being set
+in so sultry, that we none of us much thought of having a fire; and,
+indeed, in my young time, we were never allowed thinking of such things
+before Michaelmas-day; which I suppose is quite behind-hand now. Pray,
+nephew, if it is not too much trouble to you, what's the day for
+lighting fires in foreign parts?'
+
+'There's no rule of that sort, now, sir, in modern philosophy; that kind
+of thing's completely out; entirely exploded, I give you my word.'
+
+'Well, every thing's new, Lord help me, since I was born! But pray,
+nephew, if I may ask, without tiring you too much, on account of my
+ignorance, have they fires in summer as well as winter there?'
+
+'Do you imagine there are grates and fires on the Continent, sir, the
+same as in England? ha! ha!'
+
+Sir Hugh was discountenanced from any further inquiry.
+
+Another silence ensued, broken again by a vehement ringing of the bell.
+
+When the servant appeared, 'What have you got,' cried Lynmere, 'that you
+can bring me to eat?'
+
+'Eat, nephew! why you would not eat before supper, when here's nobody
+done tea? not that I'd have you baulk your appetite, which, to be sure,
+ought to be the best judge.'
+
+The youth ordered some oysters.
+
+There were none in the house.
+
+He desired a barrel might immediately be procured; he could eat nothing
+else.
+
+Still Edgar, though frequent opportunities occurred, had no fortitude to
+address Camilla, and no spirits to speak. To her, however, his dejection
+was a revival; she read in it her power, and hoped her present plan
+would finally confirm it.
+
+A servant now came in, announcing a person who had brought two letters,
+one for Sir Hugh, the other for Miss Camilla, but who said he would
+deliver them himself. The baronet desired he might be admitted.
+
+Several minutes passed, and he did not appear. The wonder of Sir Hugh
+was awakened for his letter; but Camilla, dreading a billet from Sir
+Sedley, was in no haste.
+
+Lynmere, however, glad of an opportunity to issue orders, or make
+disturbance, furiously rang the bell, saying: 'Where are these letters?'
+
+'Jacob,' said the baronet, 'my nephew don't mean the slowness to be any
+fault of yours, it being what you can't help; only tell the person that
+brought us our letters, we should be glad to look at them, not knowing
+who they may be from.'
+
+'Why he seems but an odd sort of fish, sir; I can't much make him out;
+he's been begging some flour to put in his hair; he'll make himself so
+spruce, he says, we sha'n't know him again; I can't much think he's a
+gentleman.'
+
+He then, however, added he had made a mistake, as there was no letter
+for his master, but one for Miss Camilla, and the other for Miss
+Margland.
+
+'For me?' exclaimed Miss Margland, breaking forth from a scornful
+silence, during which her under lip had been busy to express her
+contempt of the curiosity excited upon this subject. 'Why how dare they
+not tell me it was for me? it may be from somebody of consequence,
+about something of importance, and here's half a day lost before I can
+see it!'
+
+She then rose to go in search of it herself, but opened the door upon
+Mr. Dubster.
+
+A ghost, could she have persuaded herself she had seen one, could not
+more have astonished, though it would more have dismayed her. She drew
+haughtily back, saying: 'Is there nobody else come?'
+
+The servant answered in the negative, and she retreated to her chair.
+
+Camilla alone was not perplext by this sight; she had, already, from the
+description, suggested whom she might expect, according to the
+intimation given by the ever mischievous Lionel.
+
+Miss Margland, concluding he would turn out to be some broken tradesman,
+prepared herself to expect that the letter was a petition, and watched
+for an opportunity to steal out of the room.
+
+Mr. Dubster made two or three low bows, while he had his hand upon the
+door, and two or three more when he had shut it. He then cast his eyes
+round the room, and espying Camilla, with a leering sort of smile, said:
+'O, you're there, ma'am! I should find you out in a hundred. I've got a
+letter for you, ma'am, and another for the gentlewoman I took for your
+mamma; and I was not much out in my guess, for there's no great
+difference, as one may say, between a mamma and a governess; only the
+mother's the more natural, like.'
+
+He then presented her a letter, which she hastily put up, not daring to
+venture at a public perusal, lest it might contain not merely something
+ludicrous concerning Mr. Dubster, to which she was wholly indifferent,
+but allusions to Sir Sedley Clarendel, which, in the actual situation of
+things, might be fatally unseasonable.
+
+'And now,' said Mr. Dubster, 'I must give up my t'other letter, asking
+the gentlewoman's pardon for not giving it before; only I was willing to
+give the young lady her's first, young ladies being apt to be more in a
+hurry than people a little in years.'
+
+This address did not much add to the benevolent eagerness of Miss
+Margland to read the epistle, and endeavouring to decline accepting it:
+'Really,' she said, 'unless I know what it's about, I'm not much used to
+receiving letters in that manner.'
+
+'As to what it's about,' cried he, with a half suppressed simper, and
+nodding his head on one side; 'that's a bit of a secret, as you'll see
+when you've read it.'
+
+'Indeed, good man, I wish you very well; but as to reading all the
+letters that every body brings one, it requires more time than I can
+pretend to have to spare, upon every trifling occasion.'
+
+She would then have retired; but Mr. Dubster, stopping her, said: 'Why,
+if you don't read it, ma'am, nobody'll be never the wiser for what I
+come about, for it's ungain-like to speak for one's self; and the young
+gentleman said he'd write to you, because, he said, you'd like it the
+best.'
+
+'The young gentleman? what young gentleman?'
+
+'Young squire Tyrold; he said you'd be as pleased as any thing to tell
+it to the old gentleman yourself; for you was vast fond, he said, of
+matrimony.'
+
+'Matrimony? what have I to do with matrimony?' cried Miss Margland,
+reddening and bridling; 'if it's any vulgar trick of that kind, that Mr.
+Lionel is amusing himself with, I'm not quite the right sort of person
+to be so played upon; and I desire, mister, you'll take care how you
+come to me any more upon such errands, lest you meet with your proper
+deserts.'
+
+'Dear heart! I'm not going to offer anything uncivil. As to matrimony,
+it's no great joke to a man, when once he's made his way in the world;
+it's more an affair of you ladies by half.'
+
+'Of us? upon my word! this is a compliment rather higher than I
+expected. Mr. Lionel may find, however, I have friends who will resent
+such impertinence, if he imagines he may send who he will to me with
+proposals of this sort.'
+
+'Lauk, ma'am, you need not be in such a fright for nothing! however,
+there's your letter, ma'am,' putting it upon the table; 'and when you
+are in better cue, I suppose you'll read it.'
+
+Then, advancing to Camilla: 'Now, ma'am, let's you and I have a little
+talk together; but first, by good rights, I ought to speak to your
+uncle; only I don't know which he is; 'twill be mortal kind if you'll
+help a body out.'
+
+Sir Hugh was going to answer for himself, when Lynmere, fatigued with so
+long a scene in which he had no share, had recourse to his friend the
+bell, calling out, at the same time, in a voice of impatience, 'No
+oysters yet!'
+
+Sir Hugh now began to grow unhappy for his servants; for himself he not
+only could bear any thing, but still concluded he had nothing to bear;
+but his domestics began all to wear long faces, and, accustomed to see
+them happy, he was hurt to observe the change. No partiality to his
+nephew could disguise to him, that, long used to every possible
+indulgence, it was vain to hope they would submit, without murmuring, to
+so new a bondage of continual and peremptory commands. Instead of
+attending, therefore, to Mr. Dubster, he considered what apology to
+offer to Jacob; who suspecting by whom he was summoned, did not make his
+appearance till Lynmere rung again.
+
+'Where are these oysters?' he then demanded; 'have you been eating
+them?'
+
+'No, sir,' answered he surlily; 'we're not so sharp set; we live in Old
+England; we don't come from outlandish countries.'
+
+This true John Bullism, Lynmere had neither sense to despise, nor humour
+to laugh at; and, seriously in a rage, called out, 'Sirrah, I'll break
+your bones!' and lifted up his riding switch, with which, as well as his
+boots, he had re-entered the parlour.
+
+'The Lord be good unto me!' cried Sir Hugh, 'what new ways are got into
+the world! but don't take it to heart, Jacob, for as to breaking your
+bones, after all your long services, it's a thing I sha'n't consent to;
+which I hope my nephew won't take ill.'
+
+Affronted with the master, and enraged with the man, Lynmere stroamed
+petulantly up and down the room, with loud and marked steps, that
+called, or at least disturbed the attention of every one, exclaiming, at
+every turning, 'A confounded country this! a villainous country! nothing
+to be had in it! I don't know what in the world to think of that there's
+any chance I can get!'
+
+Sir Hugh, recovering, said he was sorry he was so badly off; and desired
+Jacob not to fail procuring oysters if they were to be had within a
+mile.
+
+'A mile?... ten miles! say ten miles round,' cried Lynmere, 'or you do
+nothing; what's ten miles for a thing of that sort?'
+
+'Ten miles, nephew? what? at this time of night! why you don't think,
+with all your travelling, that when they've got ten miles there, they'll
+have ten miles to come back, and that makes count twenty.'
+
+'Well, sir, and suppose it was forty; what have such fellows to do
+better?'
+
+Sir Hugh blessed himself, and Mr. Dubster said to Camilla: 'So, ma'am,
+why you don't read your letter, neither, no more than the gentlewoman;
+however, I think you may as well see a little what's in it; though I
+suppose no great matters, being from a lady.'
+
+'A lady! what lady?' cried she, and eagerly taking it from her pocket,
+saw the hand-writing of Mrs. Berlinton, and inquired how it came into
+his possession.
+
+He answered, that happening to meet the lady's footman, whom he had
+known something of while in business, as he was going to put it to the
+post, he told him he was coming to the very house, and so took it to
+bring himself, the man being rather in a hurry to go another way; 'so I
+thought 'twas as well, ma'am,' he added, 'to save you the postage; for
+as to a day or so sooner or later, I suppose it can break no great
+squares, in you ladies letter-writing.'
+
+Camilla, hastily running it over, found it contained a most pressing
+repetition of invitation from Mrs. Berlinton for the Southampton plan,
+and information that she should make a little circuit, to call and take
+her up at Cleves, if not immediately forbidden; the time she named for
+her arrival, though four days distant from the date of her letter, would
+be now the following morning.
+
+This seemed, to the agitated spirits of Camilla, an inviting opening to
+her scheme. She gave the letter to her uncle, saying, in a fluttered
+manner, she should be happy to accompany Mrs. Berlinton, for a few days,
+if her father should not disapprove the excursion, and if he could
+himself have the goodness to spare one of the carriages to fetch her
+home, as Southampton was but sixteen miles off.
+
+While Sir Hugh, amazed at this request, yet always unable to pronounce a
+negative to what she desired, stammered, Edgar abruptly took leave.
+
+Thunderstruck by his departure, she looked affrighted, after him, with a
+sigh impossible to repress; she now first weighed the hazard of what she
+was doing, the deep game she was inconsiderately playing. Would it
+sunder ... would it unite them?... Tears started into her eyes at the
+doubt; she did not hear her uncle's answer; she rose to hurry out of the
+room; but before she could escape, the big drops rolled fast down her
+cheeks; and, when arrived at her chamber, 'I have lost him!' she cried,
+'by my own unreflecting precipitance; I have lost him, perhaps, for
+ever!'
+
+Dr. Marchmont now also took leave; Mr. Dubster desired he might speak
+with the baronet the next morning; and the family remained alone.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_Dilemmas_
+
+
+While the baronet was pondering, in the most melancholy manner, upon
+this sudden and unexpected demand of absence in Camilla, the grim
+goddess of Envy took possession of the fine features of Indiana; who
+declared she was immured alive, while her cousin went everywhere. The
+curiosity of Lynmere being excited, to inquire what was to be had or
+done at Southampton, he heard it abounded in good company, and good
+fish, and protested he must undoubtedly set out for it the next morning.
+
+Indiana then wept with vexation and anger, and Miss Margland affirmed,
+she was the only young lady in Hampshire, who had never been at
+Southampton. Sir Hugh, concluding Edgar would attend Camilla, feared it
+might hurt the other match to part Eugenia from Clermont; and, after a
+little pause, though deeply sighing at such a dispersion from Cleves,
+consented that they should all go together. Camilla, therefore, was
+commissioned to ask leave of Mr. Tyrold for Eugenia, as well as for
+herself, and to add a petition from Sir Hugh, that he and Lavinia would
+spend the time of their absence at Cleves. The baronet then, of his own
+accord, asked Dr. Orkborne to be of the party, that Eugenia, he said,
+might run over her lessons with him in a morning, for fear of forgetting
+them.
+
+A breach, however, such as this, of plans so long formed, and a
+desertion so voluntary of his house, at the very epoch he had settled
+for rendering its residence the most desirable, sent him in complete
+discomfiture to his bed. But there, in a few hours, his sanguine temper,
+and the kindness of his heart new modelled and new coloured the
+circumstances of his chagrin. He considered he should have full time to
+prepare for the double marriages; and that, with the aid of Lavinia, he
+might delight and amaze them all, with new dresses and new trinkets,
+which he could now choose without the torment of continual opposition
+from the documentising Miss Margland. Thus he restored his plastic mind
+to its usual satisfaction, and arose the next morning without a cloud
+upon his brow. The pure design of benevolence is to bestow happiness
+upon others, but its intrinsic reward is bringing happiness home!
+
+But this sweetness of nature, so aptly supplying the first calls, and
+the first virtues of philosophy, was yet more severely again tried the
+next morning: for when, forgetting the caution he had solemnly promised,
+but vainly endeavoured to observe, he intimated to Lynmere these
+purposes, the youth, blushing at the idea of being taken for the
+destined husband of Eugenia in public, preferred all risks to being
+followed by such a rumour to Southampton; and, when he found she was to
+be of the party, positively declared the match to be out of all
+question.
+
+Sir Hugh now stood aghast. Many had been his disappointments; his rage
+for forming schemes, and his credulity in persuading himself they would
+be successful, were sources not more fertile of amusement in their
+projection, than of mortification in their event: but here, the length
+of time since his plan had been arranged, joined to the very superficial
+view he had taken of any chance of its failure, had made him, by
+degrees, regard it as so fixed and settled, that it rather demanded
+congratulation than concurrence, rather waited to be enjoyed than
+executed.
+
+Lynmere took not the smallest interest in the dismay of his uncle, but,
+turning upon his heel, said he would go to the stables, to see if he
+could find something that would carry him any better than the miserable
+jade he had mounted the preceding evening.
+
+Sir Hugh remained in a kind of stupefaction. He seemed to himself to be
+bereft of every purpose of life; and robbed at once, of all view for his
+actions, all subject for his thoughts. The wide world, he believed, had
+never, hitherto, given birth to a plan so sagaciously conceived, so
+rationally combined, so infallibly secure: yet it was fallen, crushed,
+rejected!
+
+A gleam of sunshine, however, ere long, [burst] upon his despondence; it
+occurred to him, that the learned education of Eugenia was still a
+secret to her cousin; his whole scheme, therefore, might perhaps yet be
+retrieved, when Lynmere should be informed of the peculiar preparations
+made for his conjugal happiness.
+
+Fetching now a long breath, to aid the revival of his faculties and his
+spirits, he considered how to open his discourse so as to render it most
+impressive, and then sent for Clermont to attend him in his chamber.
+
+'Nephew,' cried he, upon his entrance, 'I am now going to talk to you a
+little in your own way, having something to tell you of, that, I
+believe, you won't know how to hold cheap, being a thing that belongs to
+your studies; that is to say, to your cousin's; which, I hope, is pretty
+much the same thing, at least as to the end. Now the case of what I have
+to say is this; you must know, nephew, I had always set my heart upon
+having a rich heir; but it's what did not turn out, which I am sorry
+enough for; but where's the man that's so wise as to know his own doom?
+that is, the doom of his fortune. However, that's what I should not talk
+of to you, having so little; which, I hope, you won't take to heart.
+And, indeed, it in't much worth a wise man's thinking of, when he han't
+got it, for what's a fortune, at bottom, but mere metal? And so having,
+as I said before, no heir, I'm forced, in default of it, to take up with
+an heiress. But, to the end of making all parties happy, I've had her
+brought up in the style of a boy, for the sake of your marrying her. For
+which reason, I believe, in point of the classics....'
+
+'Me, sir!' cried Lynmere, recovering from a long yawning fit, 'and what
+have I to do with marrying a girl like a boy? That's not my taste, my
+dear sir, I assure you. Besides, what has a wife to do with the
+classics? will they shew her how to order her table? I suppose when I
+want to eat, I may go to a cook's shop!'
+
+Here subsided, at once, every particle of that reverence Sir Hugh had so
+long nourished for Clermont Lynmere. To hear the classics spoken of with
+disrespect, after all the pains he had taken, all the orders he had
+given for their exclusive study and veneration, and to find the common
+calls of life, which he had believed every scholar regarded but as means
+of existence, not auxiliaries of happiness, named with preference,
+distanced, at a stroke, all high opinion of his nephew, and made way, in
+its stead, for a displeasure not wholly free from disdain.
+
+'Well, Clermont,' said he, after a pause, 'I won't keep you any longer,
+now I know your mind, which I wish I had known before, for the account
+of your cousin, who has had plague enough about it in her bringing up;
+which, however, I shall put an end to now, not seeing that any good has
+come from it.'
+
+Lynmere joyfully accepted the permission to retire, enchanted that the
+rejection was thus completely off his mind, and had incurred only so
+slight a reproof, unaccompanied with one menace, or even remonstrance.
+
+The first consternation of Sir Hugh, at the fall of this favourite
+project, was, indeed, somewhat lessened, at this moment, by the fall of
+his respectful opinion of its principal object. He sent therefore,
+hastily, for Eugenia, to whom he abruptly exclaimed, 'My dear girl,
+who'd have thought it? here's your cousin Clermont, with all his Greek
+and Latin, which I begin to bless God I don't know a word of, turning
+out a mere common nothing, thinking about his dinners and suppers! for
+which reason I beg you'll think of him no more, it not being worth your
+while; in particular, as he don't desire it.'
+
+Eugenia, at this intimation, felt nearly as much relieved as disturbed.
+To be refused was, indeed, shocking; not to her pride, she was a
+stranger to that passion; but to her delicacy, which pointed out to her,
+in strong colours, the impropriety of having been exposed to such a
+decision: nevertheless, to find herself unshackled from an alliance to
+which she looked forward with dread, without offending her uncle, to
+whom so many reasons made it dear, or militating against her own heroic
+sentiments of generosity, which revolted against wilfully depriving her
+cousin of an inheritance already offered to him, removed a weight from
+her mind, which his every word, look, and gesture, had contributed to
+increase since their first meeting.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Dr. Marchmont had ridden to Beech Park, where he had spent the night,
+though uninvited by its agitated owner, whom the very name of Mrs.
+Berlinton, annexed to an accepted party of pleasure, had driven, in
+speechless agony, from Cleves.
+
+'I wonder not,' cried he, 'at your disturbance; I feel for it, on the
+contrary, more than ever, from my observations of this evening; for I
+now see the charm, the potent charm, as well as the difficulties of your
+situation. This strange affair with Sir Sedley Clarendel cannot, in
+common foresight of what may ensue from it, be passed over without the
+most rigid scrutiny, and severest deliberation; yet, I sincerely hope,
+inquiry may produce some palliation: this young lady, I see, will not
+easily, for sweetness, for countenance, for every apparent attraction,
+be replaced: and, the first of all requisites is certainly in your
+favour; it is evident she loves you.'
+
+'Loves me?' cried Edgar, his arms involuntarily encircling him as he
+repeated the magnetising words: 'Ah! Dr. Marchmont, could she then thus
+grieve and defy me?--And yet, so too said Jacob,--that good, faithful,
+excellent old servant....'
+
+'Yes; I watched her unremittingly; and saw her so much hurt by your
+abrupt retreat, that her eyes filled with tears the moment you left the
+room.'
+
+'O, Dr. Marchmont!--and for me were they shed?--my dear--dear friend!
+withhold from me such a picture--or reconcile me completely to viewing
+no other!'
+
+'Once more, let me warn you to circumspection. The stake for which you
+are playing is life in its best part, 'tis peace of mind. That her
+manners are engaging, that her looks are captivating, and even that her
+heart is yours, admit no doubt: but the solidity or the lightness of
+that heart are yet to be proved.'
+
+'Still, Doctor, though nearly in defiance of all my senses, still I can
+doubt anything rather than the heart of Camilla! Precipitate, I know,
+she has always been reckoned; but her precipitance is of kin to her
+noblest virtues; it springs but from the unsuspicious frankness of an
+unguarded, because innocent nature. And this, in a short time, her
+understanding will correct.'
+
+'Are you sure it is adequate to the task? There is often, in early
+youth, a quickness of parts which raises expectations that are never
+realised. Their origin is but in the animal spirits, which, instead of
+ripening into judgment and sense by added years, dwindle into
+nothingness, or harden into flippancy. The character, at this period, is
+often so unstable, as to be completely new moulded by every new
+accident, or new associate. How innumerable are the lurking ill
+qualities that may lie dormant beneath the smiles of youth and beauty,
+in the season of their untried serenity! The contemporaries of half our
+fiercest viragos of fifty, may assure you that, at fifteen, they were
+all softness and sweetness. The present æra, however, my dear young
+friend, is highly favourable to all you can judiciously wish; namely,
+the entire re-establishment, or total destruction of all confidence....
+To a man of your nice feelings, there is no medium. Your love demands
+respect, or your tranquillity exacts flight from its object. Set apart
+your offence at the cultivation of an acquaintance you disapprove; be
+yourself of the party to Southampton, and there, a very little
+observation will enable you to dive into the most secret recesses of her
+character.'
+
+'Steadiness, Doctor, I do not want, nor yet, however I suffer from its
+exertion, fortitude: but a plan such as this, requires something more;
+it calls for an equivocal conduct, which, to me, would be impracticable,
+and to her, might prove delusive. No!... the openness I so much pine to
+meet with, I must, at least, not forfeit myself.'
+
+'The fervour of your integrity, my dear Mandlebert, mistakes caution for
+deceit. If, indeed, this plan had any other view than your union, it
+would not merely be cruel, but infamous: the truth, however, is you must
+either pursue her upon proof, or abandon her at once, with every chance
+of repenting such a measure.'
+
+'Alas! how torturing is hesitation! to believe myself the object of her
+regard ... to think that first of all human felicities mine, yet to find
+it so pliant ... so precarious ... to see her, with such thoughtless
+readiness, upon the point of falling into the hands of another!...
+receiving ... answering ... his letters!... letters too so confident,
+so daring! made up of insolent demands and imperious reproaches ... to
+meet him by his own appointment.... O, Dr. Marchmont! all delicious as
+is the idea of her preference ... all entwined as she is around my soul,
+how, now, how ever again, can I be happy, either to quit ... or to claim
+her?...'
+
+'This division of sentiment is what gives rise to my plan. At
+Southampton, you will see if Sir Sedley pursues her; and, as she will be
+uncertain of your intentions, you will be enabled to judge the
+singleness of her mind, and the stability of her affection, by the
+reception she gives him.'
+
+'But if ... as I think I can gather from her delivering me his letters,
+the affair, whatever it has been, with Sir Sedley, is over.... What
+then?'
+
+'You will have leisure to discuss it; and opportunity, also, to see her
+with other Sir Sedleys. Public places abound with those flutterers after
+youth and beauty; unmeaning admirers, who sigh at every new face; or
+black traitors to society, who seek but to try, and try but to publish
+their own power of conquest.'
+
+'Will you, then, my dear Doctor, be also of the party? for my sake, will
+you, once more, quit your studies and repose, to give me, upon the spot,
+your counsel, according to the varying exigence of varying
+circumstances? to aid me to prepare and compose my mind for whatever may
+be the event, and to guide even, if possible, my wavering and distracted
+thoughts?'
+
+To the importance of the period, and to a plea so serious, every
+obstacle yielded, and Dr. Marchmont agreed to accompany him to
+Southampton.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_Live and Learn_
+
+
+Before the Cleves party assembled to breakfast, after the various
+arrangements made for Southampton, Mr. Dubster arrived, and demanded an
+interview with Sir Hugh, who, attending him to the drawing-room, asked
+his pleasure.
+
+'Why, have not you read the young gentleman's letter, sir?' cried he,
+surprised, 'because, he said, he'd put it all down, clear as a pike
+staff, to save time.'
+
+Sir Hugh had not heard of it.
+
+'Why, then, if you please, sir, we'll go and ask that elderly
+gentlewoman, what she's done with it. She might as well have shewed it,
+after the young gentleman's taking the trouble to write it to her. But
+she is none of the good naturedest, I take it.'
+
+Repairing, then, to Miss Margland, after his usual bows to all the
+company, 'I ask pardon, ma'am,' he cried; 'but pray, what's the reason
+of your keeping the young gentleman's letter to yourself, which was writ
+o'purpose to let the old gentleman know what I come for?'
+
+'Because I never trouble myself with any thing that's impertinent,' she
+haughtily answered: though, in fact, when the family had retired, she
+had stolen downstairs, and read the letter; which contained a warm
+recommendation of Mr. Dubster to her favour, with abundant flippant
+offers to promote her own interest for so desirable a match, should
+Camilla prove blind to its advantages. This she had then burnt, with a
+determination never to acknowledge her condescension in opening it.
+
+The repeated calls of Mr. Dubster procuring no further satisfaction;
+'Why, then, I don't see,' he said, 'but what I'm as bad off, as if the
+young gentleman had not writ the letter, for I've got to speak for
+myself at last.'
+
+Taking Sir Hugh, then, by a button of his coat, he desired he would go
+back with him to the other parlour: and there, with much circumlocution,
+and unqualified declarations of his having given over all thoughts of
+further marrying, till the young gentleman over persuaded him of his
+being particular agreeable to the young lady, he solemnly proposed
+himself for Miss Camilla Tyrold.
+
+Sir Hugh, who perceived in this address nothing that was ridiculous, was
+somewhat drawn from reflecting on his own disappointment, by the pity he
+conceived for this hopeless suitor, to whom, with equal circumlocution
+of concern, he communicated, that his niece was on the point of marriage
+with a neighbour.
+
+'I know that,' replied Mr. Dubster, nodding sagaciously, 'the young
+gentleman having told me of the young baronight; but he said, it was all
+against her will, being only your over teasing, and the like.'
+
+'The Lord be good unto me!' exclaimed the baronet, holding up his hands;
+'if I don't think all the young boys have a mind to drive me out of my
+wits, one after t'other!'
+
+Hurrying, then, back to the breakfast parlour, and to Camilla, 'Come
+hither, my dear,' he cried, 'for here's a gentleman come to make his
+addresses to you, that won't take an answer.'
+
+Every serious thought, and every melancholy apprehension in Camilla gave
+place, at this speech, to the ludicrous image of such an admirer as Mr.
+Dubster, foisted upon her by the ridiculous machinations of Lionel. She
+took Sir Hugh by the hand, and, drawing him away to the most distant
+window, said, in a low voice, 'My dear uncle, this is a mere trick of
+Lionel; the person you see here is, I believe, a tinker.'
+
+'A tinker!' repeated Sir Hugh, quite loud, in defiance of the signs and
+hists! hists! of Camilla, 'good lack! that's a person I should never
+have thought of!' Then, walking up to Mr. Dubster, who was taking into
+his hands all the ornaments from the chimney-piece, one by one, to
+examine, 'Sir,' he said, 'you may be a very good sort of man, and I
+don't doubt but you are, for I've a proper respect for every trade in
+its way; but in point of marrying my niece, it's a thing I must beg you
+to put out of your head; it not being a proper subject to talk of to a
+young lady, from a person in that line.'
+
+'Very well, sir,' answered Mr. Dubster, stiffly, and pouting, 'it's not
+of much consequence; don't make yourself uneasy. There's nothing in what
+I was going to propose but what was quite genteel. I'd scorn to address
+a lady else. She'd have a good five hundred a-year, in case of outliving
+me.'
+
+'Good lack! five hundred a-year! who'd have thought of such a thing by
+the tinkering business?'
+
+'The what business, did you say, sir?' cried Mr. Dubster, strutting up
+to the baronet, with a solemn frown.
+
+'The tinkering business, my good friend. An't you a tinker?'
+
+'Sir!' cried Mr. Dubster, swelling, 'I did not think, when I was coming
+to make such a handsome offer, of being affronted at such a rate as
+this. Not that I mind it. It's not worth fretting about. However, as to
+a tinker, I'm no more a tinker than yourself, whatever put it in your
+head.'
+
+'Good lack, my dear,' cried the baronet, to Camilla, 'the gentleman
+quite denies it.'
+
+Camilla, though unable to refrain from laughing, confessed she had
+received the information from Mrs. Arlbery at the Northwick breakfast,
+who, she now supposed, had said it in random sport.
+
+Sir Hugh cordially begged his pardon, and asked him to take a seat at
+the breakfast table, to soften the undesigned offence.
+
+A note now arrived from Mr. Tyrold to the baronet. It contained his
+consent to return, with Lavinia, to Cleves, and his ready acquiescence
+in the little excursion to Southampton, since Miss Margland would be
+superintendant of the party; 'and since,' he added, 'they will have
+another guardian, to whom already I consign my Camilla, and, upon her
+account, my dear Eugenia also, with the same fearless confidence I
+should feel in seeing them again under the maternal wing.'
+
+Sir Hugh, who always read his letters aloud, said, when he had done:
+'See what it is to be a good boy! my brother looks upon young Mr. Edgar
+as these young girls' husband already; that is, of one of them; by which
+means the other becomes his sister; which, I'm sure, is a trouble he
+won't mind, except as a pleasure.'
+
+Camilla's distress at this speech past unnoticed, from the abrupt
+entrance of Lynmere, giving orders aloud to his servant to get ready for
+Southampton.
+
+Inflamed with triumph in his recent success in baffling his uncle, that
+youth was in the most turbulent spirits, and fixed a resolution either
+to lord it over the whole house, or regain at once his liberty for
+returning to the Continent.
+
+Forcing a chair between Sir Hugh and Camilla, he seized rapidly whatever
+looked most inviting from every plate on the table, to place upon his
+own, murmuring the whole time against the horses, declaring the stud the
+most wretched he had ever seen, and protesting the old groom must be
+turned away without loss of time.
+
+'What, Jacob?' cried the baronet; 'why, nephew, he has lived with me
+from a boy; and now he's grown old, I'd sooner rub down every horse with
+my own hand, than part with him.'
+
+'He must certainly go, sir. There's no keeping him. I may be tempted
+else to knock his brains out some day. Besides, I have a very good
+fellow I can recommend to you of my own.'
+
+'Clermont, I've no doubt of his being a good fellow, which I'm very glad
+of; but as to your always knocking out the brains of my servants, it's a
+thing I must beg you not to talk of any more, being against the law.
+Besides which, it don't sound very kind of you, considering their having
+done you no harm; never having seen your face, as one may say, except
+just to wait upon you; which can hardly be reckoned a bad office;
+besides a servant's being a man, as well as you; whether Homer and
+Horace tell you so or no.'
+
+To see Sir Hugh displeased, was a sight new to the whole house. Camilla
+and Eugenia, mutually pained for him, endeavoured, by various little
+kind offices, to divert his attention; but Indiana thought his
+displeasure proved her brother to be a wit; and Clermont rose in spirits
+and in insolence upon the same idea: too shallow to know, that of all
+the qualities with which the perversity of human nature is gifted, and
+power which is the most common to attain, and the most easy to practise,
+is the art of provoking.
+
+Jacob now appearing, Lynmere ordered some shrimps.
+
+There were none.
+
+'No shrimps? There's nothing to be had! 'Tis a wretched county this!'
+
+'You'll get nice shrimps at Southampton, sir, by what I can hear,' said
+Mr. Dubster. 'Tom Hicks says he has been sick with 'em many a day, he's
+eat such a heap. They gets 'em by hundreds, and hundreds, and hundreds
+at a time.'
+
+'Pray, nephew, how long shall you stay? because of my nieces coming back
+at the same time.'
+
+'A fortnight's enough to tire me anywhere, sir. Pray what do you all do
+with yourselves here after breakfast? What's your mode?'
+
+'Mode, nephew? we've got no particular mode that ever I heard of.
+However, among so many of us, I think it's a little hard, if you can
+find nothing to say to us; all, in a manner, your relations too.'
+
+'We take no notice of relations now, sir; that's out.'
+
+'I'm sorry for it, nephew, for a relation's a relation, whether you take
+notice of him or not. And there's ne'er an ode in Virgil will tell you
+to the contrary, as I believe.'
+
+A short silence now ensued, which was broken by a sigh from Sir Hugh,
+who ejaculated to himself, though aloud, 'I can't but think what my poor
+friend Westwyn will do, if his son's come home in this manner! caring
+for nobody, but an oyster, or a shrimp; ... unless it's a newspaper!'
+
+'And what should a man care for else, my good old friend, in a desart
+place such as this?'
+
+'Good old friend!' repeated the baronet; 'to be sure, I'm not very
+young.... However, as to that ... but you mean no harm, I know, for
+which reason I can't be so ill-natured as to take it ill. However, if
+poor Westwyn is served in this ... way.... He's my dearest friend that
+I've got, out of us all here, of my own kin, and he's got only one son,
+and he sent him to foreign parts only for cheapness; and if he should
+happen to like nothing he can get at home, it won't answer much in
+saving, to send out for things all day long.'
+
+'O don't be troubled, sir; Westwyn's but a poor creature. He'll take up
+with anything. He lived within his allowance the whole time. A mighty
+poor creature.'
+
+'I'm glad of it! glad of it, indeed!' cried Sir Hugh, with involuntary
+eagerness; 'I should have been sorry if my poor good old friend had had
+such disappointment.'
+
+'Upon my honour,' cried Lynmere, piqued, 'the quoz of the present season
+are beyond what a man could have hoped to see!'
+
+'Quoz! what's quoz, nephew?'
+
+'Why, it's a thing there's no explaining to you sort of gentlemen; and
+sometimes we say quiz, my good old sir.'
+
+Sir Hugh, now, for almost the first time in his life, felt seriously
+affronted. His utmost lenity could not palliate the wilful disrespect of
+his language; and, with a look of grave displeasure, he answered,
+'Really, nephew, I can't but say, I think you've got rather a particular
+odd way of speaking to persons. As to talking so much about people's
+being old, you'd do well to consider that's no fault in anybody; except
+one's years, which is what we can't be said to help.'
+
+'You descant too much upon words, sir; we have left off, now, using them
+with such prodigious precision. It's quite over, sir.'
+
+'O, my dear Clermont!' cried Sir Hugh, losing his short movement of
+anger in a more tender sensation of concern, 'how it goes to my heart to
+see you turn out such a jackanapes!'
+
+Lynmere, resentfully hanging back, said no more: and Mr. Dubster, having
+drunk seven dishes of tea, with a long apology between each for the
+trouble, gladly seized the moment of pause, to ask Camilla when she had
+heard from _their friend Mrs. Mittin_, adding, 'I should have brought
+you a letter from her, ma'am, myself, but that I was rather out of sorts
+with her; for happening to meet her, the day as you went, walking on
+them Pantiles, with some of her quality binding, when I was not dressed
+out quite in my best becomes, she made as if she did not know me. Not as
+it signifies. It's pretty much of a muchness to me. I remember her
+another sort of person to what she looks now, before I was a gentleman
+myself.'
+
+'Why, pray, what was you then, sir?' cried Sir Hugh, with great
+simplicity.
+
+'As to that, sir, there's no need to say whether I was one thing or
+another, as I know of; I'm not in the least ashamed of what I was.'
+
+Sir Hugh seeing him offended, was beginning an apology; but,
+interrupting him, 'No, sir,' he said, 'there's no need to say nothing
+about it. It's not a thing to take much to heart. I've been defamed
+often enough, I hope, to be above minding it. Only just this one thing,
+sir; I beg I may have the favour to be introduced to that lady as had
+the obligingness to call me a tinker, when I never was no such thing.'
+
+Breakfast now being done, the ladies retired to prepare for their
+journey.
+
+'Well,' cried Mr. Dubster, looking after Eugenia, 'that little lady will
+make no great figure at such a place as Southton. I would not have her
+look out for a husband there.'
+
+'She'd have been just the thing for me!' cried Lynmere, haughtily
+rising, and conceitedly parading his fine form up and down the room; his
+eyes catching it from looking-glass to looking-glass, by every possible
+contrivance; 'just the thing! matched to perfection!'
+
+'Lord help me! if I don't find myself in the dark about every thing!'
+cried Sir Hugh; 'who'd have thought of you scholars thinking so much of
+beauty; I should be glad to know what your classics say to that point?'
+
+'Faith, my good sir, I never trouble myself to ask. From the time we
+begin our tours, we wipe away all that stuff as fast as possible from
+our thoughts.'
+
+'Why, pray, nephew, what harm could it do to your tours?'
+
+'We want room, sir, room in the pericranium! As soon as we begin to
+travel, we give up everything to taste. And then we want clear heads.
+Clear heads, sir, for pictures, statues, busts, alto relievos, basso
+relievos, tablets, monuments, mausoleums....'
+
+'If you go on at that rate, nephew,' interrupted Sir Hugh, holding his
+ears, 'you'll put my poor head quite into a whirligig. And it's none of
+the deepest already, Lord help me!'
+
+Lynmere now, without ceremony, made off; and Mr. Dubster, left alone
+with the baronet, said they might as well proceed to business. 'So pray,
+sir, if I may make bold, in the case we come to a right understanding
+about the young lady, what do you propose to give her down?'
+
+Sir Hugh, staring, inquired what he meant.
+
+'Why, I mean, sir, what shall you give her at the first? I know she's to
+have it all at your demise; but that i'n't the bird in the hand. Now,
+when once I know that, I can make my offers, which shall be handsome or
+not, according. And that's but fair. So how much can you part with,
+sir?'
+
+'Not a guinea!' cried Sir Hugh, with some emotion; 'I can't give her
+anything! Mr. Edgar knows that.'
+
+'That's hard, indeed, sir. What nothing for a setting out? And, pray,
+sir, what may the sum total be upon your demise?'
+
+'Not a penny!' cried Sir Hugh, with still more agitation: 'Don't you
+know I've disinherited her?'
+
+'Disinherited her? why this is bad news enough! And pray, sir, what
+for?'
+
+'Nothing! She never offended me in thought, word, nor deed!'
+
+'Well, that's odd enough. And when did you do it, sir?'
+
+'The very week she was nine years old, poor thing! which I shall never
+forget as long as I live, being my worst action.'
+
+'Well, this is particular enough! And young squire Tyrold's never heard
+a word of it: which is somewhat of a wonder too.'
+
+'Not heard of it? why the whole family know it! I've settled everything
+I was worth in the world upon her younger sister, that you saw sitting
+by her.'
+
+'Well, if Tom Hicks did not as good as tell me so ever so long ago,
+though the young squire said it was all to the contrary: what for, I
+don't know; unless to take me in. But he won't find that quite so easy,
+asking his pardon. Matrimony's a good thing enough, when it's to help a
+man forward: but a person must be a fool indeed, to put himself out of
+his way for nothing.'
+
+He then formally wished the baronet a good day, and hastened from the
+house, puffed up with vain glory, at his own sagacious precautions,
+which had thus happily saved him from being tricked into unprofitable
+wedlock.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton now arrived, and, as Camilla was ready, though trembling,
+doubtful, apprehensive of the step she was taking, declined alighting. A
+general meeting was to take place at the inn: and the baronet, putting a
+twenty pound note into her hand, with the most tender blessings parted
+with his darling niece. And then, surprised at not seeing Edgar to
+breakfast, sent his butler to tell him the history of the excursion.
+
+Lynmere was already set off on horseback: and the party, consisting of
+Dr. Orkborne, Miss Margland, Indiana, and Eugenia, followed two hours
+after, in the coach of the baronet, which drove from the park as the
+chaise entered it with Mr. Tyrold and Lavinia, to supply their places.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK VIII
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A Way to make Friends_
+
+
+When Camilla appeared at the hall-door, a gentleman descended from the
+carriage of Mrs. Berlinton, with an air the most melancholy, and eyes
+bent to the earth, in the mournful bow with which he offered her his
+hand: though, when he had assisted her into the coach, he raised them,
+and, turning round, cast upon the mansion a look of desponding fondness,
+that immediately brought to her recollection young Melmond, the Oxford
+student, and the brother of her new friend.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton received her with tenderness, folding her to her breast,
+and declaring life to be now insupportable without her.
+
+The affection of Camilla was nearly reciprocal, but her pleasure had no
+chance of equal participation; nor was the suspensive state of her mind
+the only impediment; opposite to her in the carriage, and immediately
+claiming her attention, was Mrs. Mittin.
+
+The agitating events which had filled up the short interval of her
+residence at Cleves, had so completely occupied every faculty, that,
+till the affair of the horse involved her in new difficulties, her debts
+had entirely flown her remembrance; and the distressing scenes which
+immediately succeeded to that forced recollection, made its duration as
+short as it was irksome; but the sight of Mrs. Mittin brought it back
+with violence to her memory, and flashed it, with shame, upon her
+conscience.
+
+The twenty pounds, however, just given her by Sir Hugh, occurred at the
+same moment to her thoughts; and she determined to repair her
+negligence, by appropriating it into parcels for the payment of all she
+owed, before she suffered sleep again to [close] her eyes.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton informed her, that both herself and her brother had been
+summoned to Southampton to meet Mrs. Ecton, the aunt by whom she had
+been educated, who had just arrived there from Wales, upon some secret
+business, necessary for her to hear, but which could not be revealed by
+letters.
+
+The journey, though in itself short and pleasant, proved to Camilla long
+and wearisome; the beauties of the prospect were acknowledged by her
+eye, but her mind, dead to pleasure, refused to give them their merited
+effect. To the charms of nature she could not be blind; her fervent
+imagination, and the lessons of her youth, combined to do them justice;
+but she thought not of them at this moment; hill, vale, or plain, were
+uninteresting, however beautiful; it was Edgar she looked for; Edgar,
+who thus coldly had suffered her to depart, but who still, it was
+possible, might pursue; and hope, ever active, painted him, as she
+proceeded, in every distant object that caught her eye, whether living
+or inanimate, brightening, from time to time, the roses of her cheeks
+with the felicity of a speedy reconciliation; but upon every near
+approach, the flattering error was detected, and neither hill, vale, nor
+plain, could dispel the disappointment. A fine country, and diversified
+views, may soften even the keenest affliction of decided misfortune, and
+tranquillise the most gloomy sadness into resignation and composure; but
+suspense rejects the gentle palliative; 'tis an absorbent of the
+faculties that suffers them to see, hear, and feel only its own
+perplexity; and the finer the fibres of the sensibility on which it
+seizes, the more exclusive is its despotism; doubt, in a fervent mind,
+from the rapidity of its evolutions between fear in its utmost
+despondence, and hope in its fullest rapture, is little short of
+torture.
+
+They drove immediately to an elegant house, situated upon a small
+eminence, half a mile without the town of Southampton, which had already
+been secured; and Mrs. Berlinton, as soon as she had chosen the
+pleasantest apartment it afforded for Camilla, and suffered Mrs. Mittin
+to choose the next pleasant for herself, went, accompanied by her
+brother, to the lodging of Mrs. Ecton.
+
+Left alone, Camilla stationed herself at a window, believing she meant
+to look at the prospect; but her eye, faithful to her heart, roved up
+and down the high road, and took in only chaises or horsemen, till Mrs.
+Mittin, with her customary familiarity, came into the room. 'Well, my
+dear miss,' she cried, 'you're welcome to Southampton, and welcome to
+Mrs. Berlinton; she's a nice lady as ever I knew; I suppose you're
+surprised to see us so great together? but I'll tell you how it came
+about. You must know, just as you was gone, I happened to be in the
+book shop when she came in, and asked for a book; the Peruvan Letters
+she called it; and it was not at home, and she looked quite vexed, for
+she said she had looked the catalogue up and down, and saw nothing else
+she'd a mind to; so I thought it would be a good opportunity to oblige
+her, and be a way to make a prodigious genteel acquaintance besides; so
+I took down the name, and I found out the lady that had got the book,
+and I made her a visit, and I told her it was particular wanted by a
+lady that had a reason; so she let me have it, and I took it to my
+pretty lady, who was so pleased, she did not know how to thank me: So
+this got me footing in the house; and there I heard, amongst her people
+she was coming to Southampton, and was to call for you, my dear miss; so
+when I found she had not her coach full, I ask'd her to give me a cast;
+for I told her you'd be particular glad to see me, as we'd some business
+to settle together, that was a secret between only us two; so she said
+she would do anything to give you pleasure; so then I made free to ask
+her to give me a night's lodging, till I could find out some friend to
+be at; for I'd a vast mind to come to Southampton, as I could do it so
+reasonable, for I like to go every where. And I dare say, my dear miss,
+if you'll tell her 'twill oblige you, she'll make me the compliment to
+let me stay all the time, for I know nobody here; though I don't fear
+making friends, go where I will. And you know, my dear miss, you can do
+no less by me, considering what I've done for you; for I've kept all the
+good people quiet about your debts; and they say you may pay them when
+you will, as I told them you was such a rich heiress; which Mr. Dubster
+let me into the secret of, for he had had it from your brother.'
+
+Camilla now experienced the extremest repentance and shame, to find
+herself involved in any obligation with a character so forward, vulgar,
+and encroaching, and to impose such a person, through the abuse of her
+name and influence, upon the time and patience of Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+The report spread by Lionel she immediately disavowed, and, producing
+her twenty pound bank note, begged Mrs. Mittin would have the goodness
+to get it changed for her, and to discharge her accounts without delay.
+
+Surprised by this readiness, and struck by the view of the note, Mrs.
+Mittin imputed to mere reserve the denial of her expected wealth, but
+readily promised to get in the bills, and see her clear.
+
+Camilla would now have been left alone; but Mrs. Mittin thought of
+nothing less than quitting her, and she knew not how to bid her depart.
+It was uncertain when Mrs. Berlinton could return; to obviate,
+therefore, in some measure, the fatigue of such conversation, Camilla
+proposed walking.
+
+It was still but two o'clock, and the weather was delicious; every place
+that opened to any view, presented some prospect that was alluring;
+Camilla, notwithstanding her anxiety, was caught, and at intervals, at
+least, forgot all within, from admiration of all without.
+
+Mrs. Mittin led immediately to the town, and Camilla was struck with its
+neatness, and surprised by its populousness. Mrs. Mittin assured her it
+was nothing to London, and only wished she could walk her from
+Charing-cross to Temple-bar, just to shew her what it was to see a
+little of the world.
+
+'But now, my dear,' she cried, 'the thing is to find out what we've got
+to look at; so don't let's go on without knowing what we're about;
+however, these shops are all so monstrous smart, 'twill be a pleasure to
+go into them, and ask the good people what there's to see in the town.'
+
+This pretext proved so fertile to her of entertainment, in the
+opportunity it afforded of taking a near view of the various commodities
+exposed to sale, that while she entered almost every shop, with
+inquiries of what was worth seeing, she attended to no answer nor
+information, but having examined and admired all the goods within sight
+or reach, walked off, to obtain, by similar means, a similar privilege
+further on; boasting to Camilla, that, by this clever device they might
+see all that was smartest, without the expence of buying any thing.
+
+It is possible that this might safely have been repeated, from one end
+of the town to the other, had Mrs. Mittin been alone; and she seemed
+well disposed to make the experiment; but Camilla, who, absent and
+absorbed, accompanied without heeding her, was of a figure and
+appearance not quite so well adapted for indulging with impunity such
+unbridled curiosity. The shopkeepers, who, according to their several
+tastes or opinions, gave their directions to the churches, the quays,
+the market-place, the antique gates, the town-hall, &c. involuntarily
+looked at her as they answered the questioner, and not satisfied with
+the short view, followed to the door, to look again; this presently
+produced an effect that, for the whole length of the High-street, was
+amply ridiculous; every one perceiving that, whatsoever had been his
+recommendation, whether to the right, to the left, or straight forward,
+the two inquirers went no further than into the next shop, whence they
+regularly drew forth either the master or the man to make another starer
+at their singular proceeding.
+
+Some supposed they were only seeking to attract notice; others thought
+they were deranged in mind; and others, again, imagined they were
+shoplifters, and hastened back to their counters, to examine what was
+missing of their goods.
+
+Two men of the two last persuasions communicated to one another their
+opinions, each sustaining his own with a positiveness that would have
+ended in a quarrel, had it not been accommodated by a wager. To settle
+this became now so important, that business gave way to speculation, and
+the contending parties, accompanied by a young perfumer as arbitrator,
+leaving their affairs in the hands of their wives, or their domestics,
+issued forth from their repositories, to pursue and watch the curious
+travellers; laying bets by the way at almost every shop as they
+proceeded, till they reached the quay, where the ladies made a full
+stand, and their followers opened a consultation how best to decide the
+contest.
+
+Mr. Firl, a sagacious old linen-draper, who concluded them to be
+shoplifters, declared he would keep aloof, for he should detect them
+best when they least suspected they were observed.
+
+Mr. Drim, a gentle and simple haberdasher, who believed their senses
+disordered, made a circuit to face and examine them, frequently,
+however, looking back, to see that no absconding trick was played him by
+his friends. When he came up to them, the pensive and absorbed look of
+Camilla struck him as too particular to be natural; and in Mrs. Mittin
+he immediately fancied he perceived something wild, if not insane. In
+truth, an opinion preconceived of her derangement might easily authorise
+strong suspicions of confirmation, from the contented volubility with
+which she incessantly ran on, without waiting for answerers, or even
+listeners; and his observation had not taught him, that the loquacious
+desire only to speak. They exact time, not attention.
+
+Mrs. Mittin, soon observing the curiosity with which he examined them,
+looked at him so hard in return, talking the whole time, in a quick low
+voice, to Camilla, upon his oddity, that, struck with a direful panic,
+in the persuasion she was marking him for some mischief, he turned short
+about to get back to his companions; leaving Mrs. Mittin with precisely
+the same opinion of himself which he had imbibed of her.
+
+'Well, my dear,' cried she, 'this is one of the most miraclous
+adventures I've met with yet; as sure as you're alive that man that
+stares so is not right in the head! for else what should he run away
+for, all in such a hurry, after looking at us so particular for nothing?
+I'll assure you, I think the best thing we can do, is to get off as fast
+as we can, for fear of the worst.'
+
+They then sped their way from the quay; but, in turning down the first
+passage to get out of sight, they were led into one of the little rooms
+prepared for the accommodation of bathers.
+
+This seemed so secure, as well as pleasant, that Camilla, soothed by the
+tranquillity with which she could contemplate the noble Southampton
+water and its fine banks, sat down at the window, and desired not to
+walk any further.
+
+The fright with which Mr. Drim had retreated, gained no proselyte to his
+opinion; Mr. Girt, the perfumer, asserted, significantly, they were only
+idle travellers, of light character; and Mr. Firl, when in dodging them,
+he saw they went into a bathing room, offered to double his wager that
+it was to make some assortment of their spoil.
+
+This was accepted, and it was agreed that one should saunter in the
+adjoining passages to see which way they turned upon coming out, while
+the two others should patrol the beach, to watch their disappearance
+from the windows.
+
+Mrs. Mittin, meanwhile, was as much amused, though with different
+objects, as Camilla. A large mixt party of ladies and gentlemen, who had
+ordered a vessel for sailing down the water, which was not yet ready,
+now made their appearance; and their dress, their air of enjoyment,
+their outcries of impatience, the frisky gaiety of some, the noisy
+merriment of others, seemed to Mrs. Mittin marks of so much grandeur and
+happiness, that all her thoughts were at work to devise some contrivance
+for becoming of their acquaintance.
+
+Camilla also surveyed, but almost without seeing them; for the only
+image of her mind now unexpectedly met her view; Dr. Marchmont and
+Edgar, just arrived, had patrolled to the beach, where Edgar, whose
+eye, from his eagerness, appeared to be every where in a moment,
+immediately perceived her; they both bowed, and Dr. Marchmont, amazed by
+the air and figure of her companion, inquired if Mrs. Berlinton had any
+particularly vulgar relation to whom she was likely to commit her fair
+guest.
+
+Edgar, who had seen only herself, could not now forbear another glance;
+but the aspect of Mrs. Mittin, without Mrs. Berlinton, or any other more
+dignified or fitting protectress, was both unaccountable and unpleasant
+to him; he recollected having seen her at Tunbridge, where the careless
+temper, and negligent manners of Mrs. Arlbery, made all approaches easy,
+that answered any purpose of amusement or ridicule; but he could not
+conceive how Mrs. Berlinton, or Camilla herself, could be joined by such
+a companion.
+
+Mr. Firl, having remarked these two gentlemen's bows, began to fear for
+his wager; yet, thinking it authorised him to seek some information,
+approached them, and taking off his hat, said: 'You seem to be noticing
+those two ladies up there; pray, gentlemen, if you've no objection, who
+may they be?'
+
+'Why do you ask, sir?' cried Edgar, sternly.
+
+'Why, we've a wager depending upon them, sir, and I believe there's no
+gentleman will refuse to help another about a wager.'
+
+'A wager?' repeated Edgar, wishing, but vainly, to manifest no
+curiosity; 'what inducement could you have to lay a wager about them?'
+
+'Why, I believe, sir, there's nobody's a better judge than me what I've
+laid about; though I may be out, to be sure, if you know the ladies; but
+I've seen so much of their tricks, in my time, that they must be pretty
+sharp before they'll over-reach me.'
+
+'What tricks? who must be sharp? who are you talking of?'
+
+'Shoplifters, sir.'
+
+'Shoplifters! what do you mean?'
+
+'No harm, sir; I may be out, to be sure, as I say; and if so, I ask
+pardon; only, as we've laid the wager, I think I may speak before I
+pay.'
+
+The curiosity of Edgar would have been converted into ridicule, had he
+been less uneasy at seeing with whom Camilla was thus associated; Mrs.
+Mittin might certainly be a worthy woman, and, if so, must merit every
+kindness that could be shewn her; but her air and manner so strongly
+displayed the low bred society to which she had been accustomed, that
+he foresaw nothing but improper acquaintance, or demeaning adventures,
+that could ensue from such a connection at a public place.
+
+Dr. Marchmont demanded what had given rise to this suspicion.
+
+Mr. Firl answered, that they had been into every shop in the town,
+routing over every body's best goods, yet not laying out a penny.
+
+Nothing of this could Edgar comprehend, except that Camilla had suffered
+herself to be led about by Mrs. Mittin, entirely at her pleasure; but
+all further inquiry was stopt, by the voluntary and pert junction of
+Girt, the young perfumer, who, during this period, had by no means been
+idle; for perceiving, in the group waiting for a vessel, a certain
+customer by whom he knew such a subject would be well received, he
+contrived to excite his curiosity to ask some questions, which could
+only be satisfied by the history of the wager, and his own opinion that
+both parties were out.
+
+This drew all eyes to the bathing room; and new bets soon were
+circulated, consisting of every description of conjecture, or even
+possibility, except that the two objects in question were innocent: and
+for that, in a set of fourteen, only one was found who defended Camilla,
+though her face seemed the very index of purity, which still more
+strongly was painted upon it than beauty, or even than youth. Such is
+the prevalent disposition to believe in general depravity, that while
+those who are debased themselves find a consolation in thinking others
+equally worthless, those even, who are of a better sort, nourish a
+secret vanity in supposing few as good as themselves; and fully, without
+reflection, the fair candour of their minds, by aiding that insidious
+degeneracy, which robs the community of all confidence in virtue.
+
+The approach of the perfumer to Edgar had all the hardiness of vulgar
+elation, bestowed, at this moment, by the recent encouragement of having
+been permitted to propagate his facetious opinions in a society of
+gentlefolks; for though to one only amongst them, a young man of large
+fortune, by whom he was particularly patronised, he had presumed
+verbally to address himself, he had yet the pleasure to hear his account
+repeated from one to another, till not a person of the company escaped
+hearing it.
+
+'My friend Firl's been telling you, I suppose, sir,' said he, to Edgar,
+'of his foolish wager? but, take my word for it....'
+
+Here Edgar, who again had irresistibly looked up at the room, saw that
+the three gentlemen had entered it; alarmed lest these surmises should
+be productive of impertinence to Camilla, he darted quickly from the
+beach to her immediate protection.
+
+But the rapidity of his wishes were ill seconded by the uncertainty of
+his footsteps; and while, with eyes eagerly wandering all around, he
+hastily pushed forward, he was stopt by Mr. Drim, who told him to take
+care how he went on, for, in one of those bathing houses, to the best of
+his belief, there were two crazy women, one melancholy, and one stark
+wild, that had just, as he supposed, escaped from their keepers.
+
+'How shall I find my way, then, to another of the bathing houses?' cried
+Edgar.
+
+Mr. Drim undertook to shew him where he might turn, but said he must not
+lose sight of the door, because he had a bottle of port depending upon
+it; his neighbour, Mr. Firl, insisting they were only shoplifters.
+
+Edgar here stopt short and stared.
+
+Drim then assured him it was what he could not believe, as nothing was
+missing; though Mr. Firl would have it that it was days and days,
+sometimes, before people found out what was gone; but he was sure,
+himself, they were touched in the head, by their going about so wild,
+asking everybody the same questions, and minding nobody's answers.
+
+Edgar, convinced now Camilla was here again implicated, broke with
+disgust from the man, and rushed to the door he charged him to avoid.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_A Rage of Obliging_
+
+
+Camilla, from the instant she had perceived Edgar, had been in the
+utmost emotion, from doubt if his journey were to seek a reconciliation,
+or only to return her letters, and take a lasting farewell. Her first
+feeling at his sight urged her to retire: but something of a softer
+nature speedily interfered, representing, if now he should join her,
+what suffering might mutually be saved by an immediate conference. She
+kept, therefore, her seat, looking steadily straight down the water, and
+denying herself one moment's glance at anything, or person, upon the
+beach: little imagining she ingrossed, herself, the attention of all who
+paraded it. But, when the insinuations of the flippant perfumer had once
+made her looked at, her beauty, her apparently unprotected situation,
+and the account of the wager, seemed to render her an object to be
+stared at without scruple.
+
+Mrs. Mittin saw how much they were observed, but Camilla, unheeding her
+remarks, listened only to hear if any footsteps approached; but when, at
+last, some struck her ears, they were accompanied by an unknown voice,
+so loud and clamorously jovial, that, disturbed, she looked round ...
+and saw the door violently flung open, and three persons, dressed like
+gentlemen, force their way into the small dwelling place.
+
+Mr. Halder, the leader of this triumvirate, was the particular patron of
+Girt, the young perfumer; and, though his superior in birth and riches,
+was scarcely upon a par with him, from wilful neglect, in education; and
+undoubtedly beneath him in decency and conduct, notwithstanding young
+Girt piqued himself far less upon such sentimental qualifications, than
+upon his skill in cosmetics, and had less respect for unadulterated
+morals, than unadulterated powder.
+
+The second who entered, was, in every particular, still less defensible:
+he was a peer of the realm; he had a daughter married, and his age
+entitled him to be the grandfather of young Halder. In point of fortune,
+speculatists deemed them equal; for though the estate of Halder was as
+yet unincumbered with the mortgages that hung upon that of Lord
+Valhurst, they computed, with great exactness, the term of its
+superiority, since already he had inlisted in the jockey meetings, and
+belonged to the gaming clubs.
+
+The third, a young man of a serious, but pleasing demeanour, was rather
+an attendant than a partner in this intrusion. He was the only one of
+the whole party to whom the countenance of Camilla had announced
+innocence; and when Halder, instigated by the assertions of the
+facetious Girt, proposed the present measure, and Lord Valhurst, caught
+by the youthful beauty of the fair subject of discussion, acceded, this
+single champion stood forth, and modestly, yet firmly, declaring his
+opinion they were mistaken, accompanied them with a view to protect
+her, if he himself were right.
+
+Boisterously entering, Halder addressed at once to Camilla, such
+unceremonious praise of her beauty, that, affrighted and offended, she
+hastily seized the arm of Mrs. Mittin, and, in a voice of alarm, though
+with an air of command that admitted no doubt of her seriousness, and no
+appeal from her resolution, said, 'Let us go home, Mrs. Mittin,
+immediately.'
+
+Simple as were these words, their manner had an effect upon Halder to
+awe and distance him. Beauty, in the garb of virtue, is rather
+formidable than attractive to those who are natively unenlightened, as
+well as habitually degenerate: though, over such as have ever known
+better sentiments, it frequently retains its primeval power, even in
+their darkest declension of depravity.
+
+But while Halder, repulsed, stood back, and the young champion, with an
+air the most respectful, made way for her to pass; Lord Valhurst,
+shutting the door, planted himself against it.
+
+Seeing terror now take possession of every feature of her face, her
+determined protector called out: 'Make way, my Lord, I beg!' and offered
+her his hand. But Camilla, equally frightened at them all, shrunk
+appalled from his assistance, and turned towards the window, with an
+intention of demanding help from Edgar, whom she supposed still on the
+beach; but the peer, slowly moving from the door, said he was the last
+to mean to disconcert the young lady, and only wished to stop her till
+he could call for his carriage, that he might see her safe wherever she
+wished to go.
+
+Camilla had no doubt of the sincerity of this proposal, but would accept
+no aid from a stranger, even though an old man, while she hoped to
+obtain that of Edgar. Edgar, however, she saw not, and fear is generally
+precipitate: she concluded him gone; concluded herself deserted, and,
+from knowing neither, equally fearing both the young men, inclined
+towards Lord Valhurst; who, with delighted surprise, was going to take
+her under his care, when Edgar rushed forward.
+
+The pleasure that darted into her eyes announced his welcome. Halder,
+from his reception, thought the enigma of his own ill success solved;
+the other youth, supposing him her brother, no longer sought to
+interfere; but Lord Valhurst exhibited signs of such irrepressible
+mortification, that inexperience itself could not mistake the
+dishonourable views of his offered services, since, to see her in
+safety, was so evidently not their purpose. Camilla, looking at him with
+the horror he so justly excited, gave her hand to Edgar, who had
+instantly claimed it, and, without one word being uttered by either,
+hastily walked away with him, nimbly accompanied by Mrs. Mittin.
+
+The young man, whose own mind was sufficiently pure to make him give
+easy credit to the purity of another, was shocked at his undeserved
+implication in so gross an attack, and at his failure of manifesting the
+laudable motive which had made him one of the triumvirate; and, looking
+after her with mingled admiration and concern, 'Indeed, gentlemen,' he
+cried, 'you have been much to blame. You have affronted a young lady who
+carries in the whole of her appearance the marks of meriting respect.'
+
+The sensibility of Lord Valhurst was not of sufficient magnitude to
+separate into two courses: the little he possessed was already occupied
+by his disappointment, in losing the beautiful prey he believed just
+falling into his hands, and he had no emotion, therefore, to bestow upon
+his young reprover. But Halder, who, to want of feeling, added want of
+sense, roared out, with rude raillery, a gross, which he thought witty
+attack, both of the defender and the defended.
+
+The young man, with the proud probity of unhackneyed sentiment, made a
+vindication of his uncorrupt intentions; which produced but louder
+mirth, and coarser incredulity. The contest, however, was wholly
+unequal; one had nerves of the most irritable delicacy; the other had
+never yet, by any sensation, nor any accident, been admonished that
+nerves made any part of the human composition: in proportion, therefore,
+as one became more offended, the other grew more callous, till the
+chivalry of indignant honour, casting prudence, safety, and forbearance
+away, dictated a hasty challenge, which was accepted with a hoarse laugh
+of brutal senselessness of danger. Courage is of another description. It
+risks life with heroism; but it is only to preserve or pursue something,
+without which the charm of life were dissolved: it meets death with
+steadiness; but it prepares for immortality with reverence and emotion.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Edgar and Camilla continued their walk in a silence painful to both, but
+which neither knew how first to break; each wished with earnestness an
+opening to communication and confidence; but, mutually shocked by the
+recent adventure, Edgar waited the absence of Mrs. Mittin, to point out
+the impropriety and insufficiency of such a guard; and Camilla, still
+aghast with terror, had no power of any sort to begin a discourse.
+
+Their taciturnity, if not well supplied, was, at least, well contrasted
+by the volubility of Mrs. Mittin, which, as in the bathing house it had
+been incessant, in declaring, to the three intruders, that both she and
+the other young lady were persons of honour, was now no less unremitting
+in boasting how well she had checked and kept them in order.
+
+The horror of the attack she had just escaped became soon but a
+secondary suffering to Camilla, though, at the moment, it had impressed
+her more terribly than any actual event of her life, or any scene her
+creative imagination had ever painted; yet, however dreadful, it was now
+past; but who could tell the end of what remained? the mute distance of
+Edgar, her uncertainty of his intentions, her suspicions of his wished
+secession, the severe task she thought necessary to perform of giving
+him his liberty, with the anguish of a total inability to judge whether
+such a step would recall his tenderness, or precipitate his retreat,
+were suggestions which quickly succeeded, and, in a very short time,
+wholly domineered over every other.
+
+When they arrived at the house, Edgar demanded if he might hope for the
+honour of being presented, as a friend of the family, to Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+Reviving, though embarrassed, she looked assent, and went forward to
+inquire if Mrs. Berlinton were come home.
+
+The servant answered no; but delivered her a letter from that lady; she
+took it with a look of distress whether or not to invite Edgar to enter,
+which the, at this period, welcome officiousness of Mrs. Mittin
+relieved, by saying, 'Come, let us all come in, and make the parlour a
+little comfortable against Mrs. Berlinton comes home; for, I dare say,
+there's nothing as it should be. These lodging-houses always want a heap
+of things one never thinks of before hand.'
+
+They then all three entered, and Mrs. Mittin, who saw, she said, a
+thousand ways by which she might serve and oblige Mrs. Berlinton, by
+various suggestions, and even directions, which she hazarded against her
+return, busied herself to arrange the two parlours to her satisfaction;
+and, then, went up stairs, to settle, also, all there; making abundant
+apologies for leaving them, and assuring them she would be back again as
+soon as she possibly could get all in order.
+
+Her departure was a moment of extreme confusion to Camilla, who
+considered it as an invitation to her great scheme of rejection, but who
+stammered something upon every other subject, to keep that off. She
+looked at her letter, wondered what it could contain, could not imagine
+why Mrs. Berlinton should write when they must so soon meet; and spent
+in conjectures upon its contents the time which Edgar besought her to
+bestow upon their perusal.
+
+Nothing gives so much strength to an adversary as the view of timidity
+in his opponent. Edgar grew presently composed, and felt equal to his
+purposed expostulation.
+
+'You decline reading your letter till I am gone?' cried he; 'I must,
+therefore, hasten away. Yet, before I go, I earnestly wish once more to
+take upon me the office formerly allowed me, and to represent, with
+simple sincerity, my apprehensions upon what I have observed this
+morning.'
+
+The beginning of this speech had made Camilla break the seal of her
+letter; but its conclusion agitated her too much for reading it.
+
+'Is this silence,' said he, trying to smile, 'to repress me as
+arrogant, ... or to disregard me as impertinent?'
+
+'Neither!' she answered, forcing herself to look towards him with
+cheerfulness; 'it is merely ... attention.'
+
+'You are very good, and I will try to be brief, that I may put your
+patience to no longer proof than I can avoid. You know, already, all I
+can urge concerning Mrs. Berlinton; how little I wonder at the
+promptness of your admiration; yet how greatly I fear for the permanence
+of your esteem. In putting yourself under her immediate and sole
+protection, you have shewn me the complete dissonance of our judgments
+upon this subject; but I do not forget that, though you had the goodness
+to hear me, you had the right to decide for yourself. Trust indeed, even
+against warning, is so far more amiable than suspicion, that it must
+always, even though it prove unfortunate, call for praise rather than
+censure.'
+
+The confusion of Camilla was now converted into self-reproach. What she
+thought coldness, she had resented; what appeared to her to be
+haughtiness, she had resisted; but truth, in the form of gentleness,
+brought her instantly to reason, and reason could only resume its
+empire, to represent as rash and imprudent an expedition so repugnant,
+in its circumstances, to the wishes and opinions of the person whose
+approbation was most essential to her happiness. Edgar had paused; and
+her every impulse led to a candid recognition of what she felt to be
+wrong; but her precarious situation with him, the report of his intended
+flight by Jacob, the letters still detained of Sir Sedley Clarendel, and
+no explanation demanded, by which she could gather if his plighted
+honour were not now his only tie with her, curbed her design, depressed
+her courage, and, silently, she let him proceed.
+
+'Upon this subject, therefore, I must say no more, except to hint a
+wish, that the apprehensions which first induced me to name it may,
+unbidden, occur as timely heralds to exertion, should any untoward
+circumstances point to danger, alarm, or impropriety.'
+
+The new, but strong friendship of Camilla was alarmed for its delicacy
+by these words. The diffidence she felt, from conscious error, for
+herself, extended not to Mrs. Berlinton, whom, since she found
+guiltless, she believed to be blameless. She broke forth, therefore,
+into a warm eulogy, which her agitation rendered eloquent, while her own
+mind and spirits were relieved and revived, by this flight from her
+mortified self, to the friend she thought deserving her most fervent
+justification.
+
+Edgar listened attentively, and his eyes, though they expressed much of
+serious concern, shewed also an irrepressible admiration of an
+enthusiasm so ardent for a female friend of so much beauty.
+
+'May she always merit this generous warmth!' cried he; 'which must have
+excited my best wishes for her welfare, even if I had been insensible to
+her own claims upon every man of feeling. But I had meant, at this time,
+to confine my ungrateful annotations to another ... to the person who
+had just quitted the room.'
+
+'You do not mean to name her with Mrs. Berlinton? to imagine it possible
+I can have for her any similar regard? or any, indeed, at all, but such
+common good-will as all sorts and classes of people are entitled to, who
+are well meaning?'
+
+'Here, at least, then,' said Edgar, with a sigh half suppressed, 'our
+opinions may be consonant. No; I designed no such disgraceful parallel
+for your elegant favourite. My whole intention is to remonstrate ... can
+you pardon so plain a word?... against your appearing in public with a
+person so ill adapted to insure you the respect that is so every way
+your due.'
+
+'I had not the smallest idea, believe me, of appearing in public. I
+merely walked out to see the town, and to beguile, in a stroll, time,
+which, in this person's society, hung heavy upon me at home, in the
+absence of Mrs. Berlinton.'
+
+The concise simplicity of this innocent account, banished, in a moment,
+all severity of judgment; and Edgar, expressively thanking her, rose,
+and was approaching her, though scarcely knowing with what purpose, when
+Mrs. Mittin burst into the room, exclaiming: 'Well, my dear, you'll
+never guess how many things I have done since I left you. In the first
+place, there was never a wash-ball; in the next place, not a napkin nor
+a towel was in its proper place; then the tea-things were forgot; and as
+to spoons, not one could I find. And now, I've a mind to go myself to a
+shop I took good notice of, and get her a little almond powder for her
+nice white hands; which, I dare say, will please her. I've thought of a
+hundred things at least. I dare say I shall quite win her heart. And I'm
+sure of my money again, if I lay out never so much. And I don't know
+what I would not do for such a good lady.'
+
+During this harangue, Camilla, ashamed of her want of resolution,
+secretly vowed, that, if again left alone with him, she would not lose a
+moment in restoring him his liberty, that with dignity she might once
+more receive, or with fortitude for ever resign it. She thought herself,
+at this moment, capable of either; but she had only thought it, since
+his softened look and air had made her believe she had nothing to fear
+from the alternative.
+
+Mrs. Mittin soon went, though her continued and unmeaning chattery made
+the short term of her stay appear long.
+
+Each eager upon their own plan, both then involuntarily arose.
+
+Camilla spoke first. 'I have something,' she cried, 'to say, ...' but her
+voice became so husky, the inarticulate sounds died away unheard, and
+blushing at so feeble an opening, she strove, under the auspices of a
+cough, to disguise that she had spoken at all, for the purpose of
+beginning, in a more striking manner, again.
+
+This succeeded with Edgar at this moment, for he had heard her voice,
+not her words: he began, therefore, himself. 'This good lady,' he said,
+'seems bit with the rage of obliging, though not, I think, so
+heroically, as much to injure her interest. But surely she flatters
+herself with somewhat too high a recompence? The heart of Mrs. Berlinton
+is not, I fancy, framed for such a conquerer. But how, at the same time,
+is it possible conversation such as this should be heard under her roof?
+And how can it have come to pass that such a person....'
+
+'Talk of her,' interrupted Camilla, recovering her breath, 'some other
+time. Let me now inquire ... have you burnt ... I hope so!... those
+foolish ... letters ... I put into your hands?...'
+
+The countenance of Edgar was instantly overclouded. The mention of those
+letters brought fresh to his heart the bitterest, the most excruciating
+and intolerable pang it had ever experienced; it brought Camilla to his
+view no longer artless, pure, and single-minded, but engaged to, or
+trifling with, one man, while seriously accepting another. 'No, madam,'
+he solemnly said, 'I have not presumed so far. Their answers are not
+likely to meet with so violent a death, and it seemed to me that one
+part of the correspondence should be preserved for the elucidation of
+the other.'
+
+Camilla felt stung by this reply, and tremulously answered, 'Give me
+them back, then, if you please, and I will take care to see them all
+demolished together, in the same flames. Meanwhile....'
+
+'Are you sure,' interrupted Edgar, 'such a conflagration will be
+permitted? Does the man live who would have the philosophy ... the
+insensibility I must rather style it--ever to resign, after once
+possessing, marks so distinguishing of esteem? O, Camilla! I, at least,
+could not be that man!'
+
+Cut to the soul by this question, which, though softened by the last
+phrase, she deemed severely cruel, she hastily exclaimed: 'Philosophy I
+have no right to speak of ... but as to insensibility ... who is the man
+that ever more can surprise me by its display? Let me take, however,
+this opportunity....'
+
+A footman, opening the door, said, his lady had sent to beg an answer to
+her letter.
+
+Camilla, in whom anger was momentary, but the love of justice permanent,
+rejoiced at an interruption which prevented her from speaking, with
+pique and displeasure, a sentence that must lose all its purpose if not
+uttered with mildness. She would write, she said, immediately; and,
+bidding the man get her pen and ink, went to the window to read her
+letter; with a formal bow of apology to Edgar as she passed him.
+
+'I have made you angry?' cried he, when the man was gone; 'and I hate
+myself to have caused you a moment's pain. But you must feel for me,
+Camilla, in the wound you have inflicted! you know not the disorder of
+mind produced by a sudden, unlooked-for transition from felicity to
+perplexity, ... from serenity to misery!...'
+
+Camilla felt touched, yet continued reading, or rather rapidly repeating
+to herself the words of her letter, without comprehending, or even
+seeking to comprehend, the meaning of one sentence.
+
+He found himself quite unequal to enduring her displeasure; his own, all
+his cautions, all Dr. Marchmont's advice, were forgotten; and tenderly
+following her, 'Have I offended,' he cried, 'past forgiveness? Is
+Camilla immoveable? and is the journey from which I fondly hoped to date
+the renewal of every hope, the termination of every doubt, the period of
+all suffering and sorrow....'
+
+He stopt abruptly, from the entrance of the servant with pen and ink,
+and the interruption was critical: it called him to his self-command: he
+stammered out that he would not impede her writing; and, though in
+palpable confusion, took his leave: yet, at the street-door, he gave a
+ticket with his name, to the servant who attended him, for Mrs.
+Berlinton; and, with his best respects, desired she might be told he
+should do himself the honour to endeavour to see her in the evening.
+
+The recollection of Edgar came too late to his aid to answer its
+intended purpose. The tender avowal which had escaped him to Camilla, of
+the view of his journey, had first with astonishment struck her ear, and
+next with quick enchantment vibrated to her heart, which again it
+speedily taught to beat with its pristine vivacity; and joy, spirit, and
+confidence expelled in a breath all guests but themselves.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_A Pleasant Adventure_
+
+
+Camilla was again called upon for her note, before she had read the
+letter it was to answer; but relieved now from the pressure of her own
+terrifying apprehensions, she gave it complete and willing attention.
+
+It contained four sides of paper, closely yet elegantly written in the
+language of romantic sentiment. Mrs. Berlinton said she had spent, as
+yet, only a few minutes with her aunt; but they had been awfully
+important; and since she had exacted from her a promise to stay the
+whole day, she could not deny her disappointed friendship the transient
+solace of a paper conversation, to sooth the lingering interval of this
+unexpected absence. 'My soul pines to unburden the weight of its sorrows
+into thy sympathising bosom, my gentlest friend; but oh! there let them
+not sojourn! receive but to lighten, listen but to commiserate, and
+then, far, far thence dismiss them, retaining but the remembrance thou
+hast dismissed them with consolation.' She then bewailed the time lost
+to soft communication and confidence, in their journey, from the
+presence of others; for though one was a brother she so truly loved, she
+found, notwithstanding the tenderness of his nature, he had the
+prejudices of a man upon man's prerogatives, and her woes called for
+soothing not arguments; and the other, she briefly added, was but an
+accidental passenger. ''Tis in thee only, O my beauteous friend! I would
+trust the sad murmurs of my irreversible and miserable destiny, of which
+I have learnt but this moment the cruel and desperate secret cause.' She
+reserved, however, the discovery for their meeting, and called upon her
+pity for her unfortunate brother, as deeply involved in his future
+views, as she in her past, by this mystery: 'And have I written this
+much,' she burst forth, 'without speaking of the cherished correspondent
+whom so often I have described to thee? Ah! believe me not faithless to
+that partner of my chosen esteem, that noble, that resistless possessor
+of my purest friendship! No, charming Camilla, think not so degradingly
+of her whom fate, in its sole pitying interval, has cast into thy arms.'
+Two pages then ensued with this exclusive encomium, painting him chief
+in every virtue, and master of every grace. She next expressed her
+earnestness to see Indiana, [who] Camilla had told her would be at
+Southampton. 'Present me, I conjure thee, to the fair and amiable
+enslaver of my unhappy brother! I die to see, to converse with her, to
+catch from her lovely lips the modest wisdom with which he tells me they
+teem; to read in her speaking eyes the intelligence which he assures me
+illumines them.' She concluded with desiring her to give what orders she
+pleased for the coach, and the servants, and to pass the day with her
+friends.
+
+Camilla, whose own sensations were now revived to happiness, read the
+letter with all the sympathy it claimed, and felt her eyes fill with
+generous tears at the contrast of their situations; yet she highly
+blamed the tenderness expressed for the unknown correspondent, though
+its innocence she was sure must vanquish even Edgar, since its so
+constant avowal proved it might be published to all mankind. She
+answered her in language nearly as affectionate, though less inflated
+than her own, and resolved to support her with Edgar, till her sweetness
+and purity should need no champions but themselves. She was ashamed of
+the species of expectation raised for Indiana, yet knew not how to
+interfere in Melmond's idea of her capacity, lest it might seem unkind
+to represent its fallaciousness; but she was glad to find her soft
+friend seemed to have a strict guardian in her brother; and wished
+eagerly to communicate to Edgar a circumstance which she was sure would
+be so welcome to him.
+
+Impatient to see Eugenia, she accepted the offer of the carriage, and
+desirous to escape Mrs. Mittin, begged to have it immediately; but that
+notable person came to the door at the same time as the coach, and,
+without the smallest ceremony, said she would accompany her to the
+hotel, in order to take the opportunity of making acquaintance with her
+friends.
+
+Courage frequently, at least in females, becomes potent as an agent,
+where it has been feeble as a principal. Camilla, though she had wished,
+upon her own account, to repress Mrs. Mittin in the morning, had been
+too timid for such an undertaking; but now, in her anxiety to oblige
+Edgar, she gathered resolution for declining her company. She then
+found, as is generally the case with the fearful, the task less
+difficult than she had expected; for Mrs. Mittin, content with a promise
+self-made, that the introduction should take place the next day, said
+she would go and help Mrs. Berlinton's woman to unpack her lady's
+things, which would make a useful friend for her in the house, for a
+thousand odd matters.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The carriage of Sir Hugh was just driving off as Camilla arrived at the
+hotel.
+
+She hurried from Mrs. Berlinton's coach, demanding which way the company
+was gone; and being answered, by a passing waiter, up stairs, ran on at
+once, without patience or thought for asking if she should turn to the
+right or left; till seeing a gentleman standing still upon the landing
+place, and leaning upon the bannisters, she was retreating, to desire a
+conductor, when she perceived it was Dr. Orkborne; who, while the ladies
+were looking at accommodations, and inquiring about lodgings, in
+profound cogitation, and with his tablets in his hands, undisturbed by
+the various noises around him, and unmoved by the various spectators
+continually passing and repassing, was finishing a period which he had
+begun in the coach for his great work.
+
+Camilla, cheerfully greeting him, begged to know which way she should
+find Eugenia; but, making her a sign not to speak to him, he wrote on.
+Accustomed to his manner, and brought up to respect whatever belonged to
+study, from the studious life and turn of her father, she obeyed the
+mute injunction, and waited quietly by his side; till, tired of the
+delay, though unwilling to interrupt him, she glided softly about the
+passage, watching and examining if she could see any of the party, yet
+fearing to offend or mortify him if she called for a waiter.
+
+While straying about thus, as far off as she could go without losing
+sight of Dr. Orkborne, a door she had just passed was flung open, and
+she saw young Halder, whose licentious insolence had so much alarmed her
+in the bathing-house, stroam out, yawning, stretching, and swearing
+unmeaningly, but most disgustingly, at every step.
+
+Terrified at his sight, she went on, as she could not get to the Doctor
+without passing him; but the youth, recollecting her immediately, called
+out: 'Ah, ha! are you there again, you little vixen?' and pursued her.
+
+'Dr. Orkborne! Dr. Orkborne!' she rather screamed than said, 'pray come
+this way! I conjure--I beseech--I entreat--Dr. Orkborne!--'
+
+The Doctor, catching nothing of this but his name, querulously
+exclaimed: 'You molest me much!' but without raising his eyes from his
+tablets; while Halder, at the appeal, cried: 'Ay, ay, Doctor! keep your
+distance, Doctor! you are best where you are, Doctor, I can tell you,
+Doctor!'
+
+Camilla, then, too much scared to be aware she ran a far greater risk
+than she escaped, desperately sought refuge by opening the nearest door;
+though by the sudden noises upon the stairs, and in all the adjoining
+passages, it seemed as if Dr. Orkborne were the only one not alarmed by
+her cries.
+
+No one, however, could approach so soon as the person of whose chamber
+she had burst the door; who was an old gentleman, of a good and lively
+countenance, who promptly presenting himself, looked at her with some
+surprise, but good humouredly asked her what she was pleased to want in
+his room.
+
+'That gentleman,' she cried, panting and meaning to point to Dr.
+Orkborne; 'that gentleman I want, sir!' but such a medley of waiters,
+company, and servants, had in a moment assembled in the space between
+them, that the Doctor was no longer to be discerned.
+
+'Do you only open my door, then,' said he, drily, 'to tell me you want
+somebody else?'
+
+Yet when Halder, vowing he owed her an ill turn for which she should
+pay, would have seized her by the hand, he protected with his own arm,
+saying: 'Fie, boy, fie! let the girl alone! I don't like violence.'
+
+A gentleman now, forcing himself through the crowd, exclaimed: 'Miss
+Camilla Tyrold! Is it possible! what can you do here, madam?'
+
+It was Dr. Marchmont, whom the affrighted Camilla, springing forward,
+could only answer in catching by the arm.
+
+'Tyrold!' repeated the old gentleman; 'Is her name Tyrold?'
+
+Sorry now to have pronounced it in this mixt company, Dr. Marchmont
+evaded any answer; and, begging her to be composed, asked whither, or to
+whom, he might have the honour of conducting her.
+
+'Almost all my family are here,' cried she, 'but I could not make Dr.
+Orkborne shew me the way to them.'
+
+The old gentleman then, repeating 'Tyrold! why if her name is Tyrold,
+I'll take care of her myself;' invited her into his apartment.
+
+Dr. Marchmont, thanking him, said: 'This young lady has friends, who in
+all probability are now uneasily seeking her; we must lose no time in
+joining them.'
+
+'Well, but, well,' cried the old stranger, 'let her come into my room
+till the coast is clear, and then take her away in peace. Come, there's
+a good girl, come in, do! you're heartily welcome; for there's a person
+of your name that's the best friend I ever had in the world. He's gone
+from our parts, now; but he's left nothing so good behind. Pray, my
+dear, did you ever hear of a gentleman, an old Yorkshire Baronet, of
+your name?'
+
+'What! my uncle?'
+
+'Your uncle! why are you niece to Sir Hugh Tyrold?'
+
+Upon her answering yes, he clapped his hands with delight, and saying:
+'Why then I'll take care of you myself, if it's at the risk of my life!'
+carried, rather than drew her into his room, the Doctor following. Then,
+loudly shutting his door in the face of Halder, he called out: 'Enter my
+castle who dare! I shall turn a young man myself, at the age of seventy,
+to drub the first varlet that would attack the niece of my dear old
+friend!'
+
+They soon heard the passage clear, and, without deigning to listen to
+the petulant revilings with which young Halder solaced his foolish rage,
+'Why, my dear,' he continued, 'why did not you tell me your name was
+Tyrold at once? I promise you, you need carry nothing else with you into
+our parts, to see all the doors fly open to you. You make much of him, I
+hope, where he is? for he left not a dry eye for twenty miles round when
+he quitted us. I don't know how many such men you may have in Hampshire;
+but Yorkshire's a large county, yet the best man in it would find it
+hard to get a seat in Parliament, where Sir Hugh Tyrold would offer
+himself to be a candidate. We all say, in Yorkshire, he's so stuffed
+full of goodness and kindness, that there's no room left in him for
+anything else; that's our way of talking of him in Yorkshire; if you
+have a better way in Hampshire, I shall be glad to learn it; never too
+late for that; I hate pride.'
+
+No possible disturbance could make Camilla insensible to pleasure in the
+praise of her uncle, or depress her spirits from joining in his eulogy;
+and her attention, and brightening looks, drew a narrative from the old
+gentleman of the baronet's good actions and former kindnesses, so
+pleasant both to the speaker and the hearer, that the one forgot he had
+never seen her before, and the other, the frightful adventure which
+occasioned their meeting now.
+
+Dr. Marchmont at length, looking at his watch, inquired what she meant
+to do; to seek her sister and party, she answered; and, returning her
+host the warmest acknowledgments for his assistance and goodness, she
+was going; but, stopping her: 'How now?' he cried, 'don't you want to
+know who I am? Now I have told you I am a friend of your uncle, don't
+you suppose he'll ask you my name?'
+
+Camilla, smiling, assured him she wished much to be informed, but knew
+not how to trouble him with the question.
+
+'Why my name, my dear, is Westwyn, and when you say that to your uncle,
+he won't give you a sour look for your pains; take my word for that
+beforehand. I carried over his nephew and heir, a cousin, I suppose, of
+yours, to Leipsic with me, about eight years ago, along with a boy of my
+own, Hal Westwyn; a very good lad, I assure you, though I never tell him
+so to his face, for fear of puffing him up; I hate a boy puffed up; he
+commonly comes to no good; that's the only fault of my honoured friend;
+he spoils all young people--witness that same cousin of yours, that I
+can't say I much like; no more does he me; but tell your good uncle you
+have met me; and tell him I love and honour him as I ought to do; I
+don't know how to do more, or else I would; tell him this, my dear. And
+I have not forgot what he did for me once, when I was hard run; and I
+don't intend it; I'm no friend to short memories.'
+
+Camilla said, his name, and her uncle's regard for him, had long been
+familiar to her; and told him Clermont Lynmere was of the party to
+Southampton, though she knew not how to enter abruptly into an
+explanation of his mistake concerning the inheritance. Mr. Westwyn
+answered he was in no hurry to see Clermont, who was not at all to his
+taste; but would not quit Hampshire without visiting Cleves: and when he
+gathered that two more nieces of Sir Hugh were in the house, he desired
+to be presented to them.
+
+Upon re-entering the passage, to the great amusement of Dr. Marchmont,
+and serious provocation of Camilla, they perceived Dr. Orkborne,
+standing precisely where he had first stationed himself; attending no
+more to the general hubbub than to her particular entreaty, and as
+regardless of the various jolts he had received during the tumult, as of
+the obstruction he caused, by his inconvenient position, to the haste of
+the passers by. Still steadily reposing against the bannisters, he
+worked hard at refining his paragraph, persuaded, since not summoned by
+Miss Margland, he had bestowed upon it but a few minutes, though he had
+been fixed to that spot near an hour.
+
+Miss Margland received Camilla with a civility which, since her positive
+and public affiance to Edgar, she thought necessary to the mistress of
+Beech Park; but she looked upon Dr. Marchmont, whom she concluded to
+have been her advocate, with a cold ill-will, which, for Mr. Westwyn,
+she seasoned still more strongly by a portion of contemptuous
+haughtiness; from a ready disposition to believe every stranger, not
+formally announced, beneath her notice.
+
+The Doctor soon retired, and found Edgar in his apartment, just returned
+from a long stroll. He recounted to him the late transaction, with
+reiterated exhortations to circumspection, from added doubts of the
+solidity, though with new praise of the attractions of Camilla. 'She
+seems a character,' he said, 'difficult to resist, and yet more
+difficult to attach. Nothing serious appears to impress her for two
+minutes together. Let us see if the thoughtlessness and inadvertence
+thus perpetually fertile of danger, result from youthful inexperience,
+or have their source in innate levity. Time and reason will rectify the
+first; but time, and even reason, will but harden and embolden the
+latter. Prudence, therefore, must now interfere; or passion may fly,
+when the union it has formed most requires its continuance.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_An Author's Time-keeper_
+
+
+Mr. Westwyn, charmed to meet so many near relations of a long-valued
+friend, struck by the extraordinary beauty of Indiana, and by the
+sensible answers of the child, as he called Eugenia; as well as caught
+by the united loveliness of person and of mind which he observed in
+Camilla, could not bring himself to retire till the dinner was upon the
+table: pleading, in excuse for his stay, his former intimacy with Sir
+Hugh. Miss Margland, seeing in him nothing that marked fashion, strove
+to distance him by a high demeanour: but though not wanting in
+shrewdness, Mr. Westwyn was a perfectly natural man, and only thinking
+her manners disagreeable, without suspecting her intention, took but
+little notice of her, from the time he saw she could give him no
+pleasure: while with the young party, he was so much delighted, that he
+seriously regretted he had only one son to offer amongst them.
+
+When the dinner was served, Eugenia grew uneasy that Dr. Orkborne should
+be summoned, whose non-appearance she had not ventured to mention, from
+the professed hatred of his very sight avowed by Miss Margland. But
+Camilla, brought up to exert constantly her courage for the absent, told
+the waiter to call the gentleman from the head of the stairs.
+
+'My master himself, ma'am,' he answered, 'as well as me, both told the
+gentleman the company he came with were served; but he as good as bid us
+both hold our tongues. He seems to have taken a great liking to that
+place upon the stairs; though there's nothing I know of particular in
+it.'
+
+'But, if you tell him we wait dinner--' cried Eugenia; when Miss
+Margland, interrupting her said, 'I'm sure, then, you won't tell him
+true: for I beg we may all begin. I think it would be rather more
+decorous he should wait for us!'
+
+The waiter, nevertheless, went; but presently returned, somewhat
+ruffled; saying, 'The gentleman does not choose to hear me, ma'am. He
+says, if he mayn't be let alone one single minute, it will be throwing
+away all his morning. I can't say I know what he means; but he speaks
+rather froppish. I'd as lieve not go to him again, if you please.'
+
+Miss Margland declared, she wished him no better dinner than his
+pot-hooks; but did not doubt he would come just before they had done, as
+usual; and he was no more mentioned: though she never in her life eat so
+fast; and the table was ordered to be cleared of its covers, with a
+speed exactly the reverse of the patience with which the Doctor was
+indulged on similar occasions by the baronet.
+
+Miss Margland, when the cloth was removed, proposed a sally in search of
+lodgings. Camilla and Eugenia, desirous of a private conference, begged
+to remain within; though the latter sought to take care of her absent
+preceptor, before she could enjoy the conversation of her sister; and
+when Miss Margland and Indiana, in secret exultation at his dinnerless
+state, had glided, with silent simpering, past him, flew to beseech his
+consent to take some nourishment.
+
+Such, however, was his present absorption in what he was writing, that
+the voluntary kindness of his pupil was as unwelcome as the forced
+intrusion of the waiter; and he conjured her to grant him a little
+respite from such eternal tormenting, with the plaintive impatience of
+deprecating some injury.
+
+The sisters, now, equally eager to relate and to listen to their mutual
+affairs, shut themselves up in the apartment of Eugenia; who, with the
+greatest simplicity, began the discourse, by saying, 'Have you heard, my
+dear sister, that Clermont has refused me?'
+
+Camilla was severely shocked. Accustomed herself to the face and form of
+Eugenia, which, to her innocent affection, presented always the image of
+her virtuous mind and cultivated understanding, she had not presaged
+even the possibility of such an event; and, though she had seen with
+concern the inequality of their outward appearance, Clermont had seemed
+to her, in all else, so inferior to her sister, that she had repined at
+his unworthiness, but never doubted the alliance.
+
+She was distressed how to offer any consolation; but soon found none was
+required. Eugenia was composed and contented, though pensive, and not
+without some feeling of mortification. Yet anger and resentment had
+found no place in the transaction. Her equity acknowledged that Clermont
+had every right of choice: but while her candour induced her to even
+applaud his disinterestedness in relinquishing the Cleves estate, her
+capacity pointed out how terrible must be the personal defects, that so
+speedily, without one word of conversation, one trial of any sort how
+their tastes, tempers, or characters might accord, stimulated him to so
+decisive a rejection. This view of her unfortunate appearance cast her,
+at first, into a train of melancholy ideas, that would fast have led her
+to unhappiness, though wholly unmixed with any regret of Clermont, had
+not the natural philosophy of her mind come to her aid; or had her
+education been of a more worldly sort.
+
+When Camilla related her own history, her plan of making Edgar again
+completely master of his own proceedings met the entire approbation of
+Eugenia, who, with a serious smile, said, 'Take warning by me, my dear
+sister! and, little as you have reason to be brought into any comparison
+with such a one as me, anticipate the disgrace of defection!'
+
+Camilla, much touched, embraced her, sincerely wishing she were half as
+faultless as her excellent self.
+
+The return of Miss Margland and Indiana obliged them to quit their
+retreat; and they now found Dr. Orkborne in the dining-room. Having
+finished his paragraph, he had sought his party of his own accord; but,
+meeting with no one, had taken a book from his pocket, with which he
+meant to beguile the appetite he felt rising, till the hour of dinner,
+which he had not the smallest suspicion was over; for of the progress of
+time he had no knowledge but by its palpable passage from the sun to the
+moon; his watch was never wound up, and the morning and the evening were
+but announced to him by a summons to breakfast and to supper.
+
+The ladies seated themselves at the window. Indiana was enchanted by the
+concourse of gay and well-dressed people passing by, and far from
+insensible to the visible surprise and pleasure she excited in those who
+cast up their eyes at the hotel. Eugenia, to whom a great and populous
+town was entirely new, found also, in the diversity as well as novelty
+of its objects, much matter for remark and contemplation; Miss Margland
+experienced the utmost satisfaction in seeing, at last, some faces and
+some things less rustic than had been presented to her in Yorkshire or
+at Cleves; and Camilla had every hope that this place, in Edgar's own
+expression, would terminate every perplexity, and give local date to her
+life's permanent felicity.
+
+In a few minutes, a youth appeared on the opposite pavement, whose air
+was new to none of the party, yet not immediately recollected by any. It
+was striking, however, in elegance and in melancholy. Eugenia
+recollected him first, and starting back, gasped for breath; Indiana the
+next moment called out, 'Ah!... it's Mr. Melmond!' and blushing high,
+her whole face was bright and dimpled with unexpected delight.
+
+He walked on, without looking up, and Indiana, simply piqued as well as
+chagrined, said she was glad he was gone.
+
+But Eugenia looked after him with a gentle sigh, which now first she
+thought blameless, and a pleasure, which, though half mournful, she now
+suffered herself to encourage. Free from all ties that made her shun
+this partiality as culpable, she secretly told herself she might now,
+without injury to any one, indulge it for an object [whom,] little as he
+was known to her, she internally painted with all the faultless
+qualities of ideal excellence.
+
+From these meditations she was roused by Dr. Orkborne's looking rather
+wishfully round him, and exclaiming, 'Pray ... don't we dine rather
+late?'
+
+The mistake being cleared up, by Miss Margland's assuring him it was
+impossible to keep dinner waiting all day, for people who chose to stand
+whole hours upon a staircase, he felt rather discomforted: but when
+Eugenia privately ordered him a repast in his own chamber, he was amply
+consoled, by the unconstrained freedom with which he was empowered to
+have more books upon the table than plates; and to make more ink spots
+than he eat mouthfuls.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla had the mortification to find, upon her return home, that Edgar
+had made his promised visit, not only in her absence, but while Mrs.
+Berlinton was still with her aunt.
+
+The lady then communicated to Camilla the secret to which, while yet in
+ignorance of its existence, she now found she had been sacrificed. Mrs.
+Ecton, two years ago, had given her hand, in the most solemn privacy, to
+her butler, who now attended her to Southampton. To avoid disobliging a
+sick old relation, from whom she expected a considerable legacy, she had
+prevailed with her husband to consent that the marriage should not be
+divulged: but certain that whatever now might be her fortune, she had no
+power to bequeath it from her new connexion, the terror of leaving
+utterly destitute a beautiful young creature, who believed herself well
+provided for, had induced her to nearly force her acceptance of an
+almost superannuated old man of family; who, merely coveting her beauty,
+inquired not into her inclination. The same latent cause had made her
+inexorable to the pleadings of young Melmond; who, conceiving his
+fortune dependent upon the pleasure of his aunt, his certain income
+being trifling, thought it his duty to fly the fair object of his
+adoration, when he discovered the deceit of Lionel with regard to the
+inheritance of Sir Hugh. This sick old relation was now just dead, and
+had left to her sole disposal a considerable estate. The husband
+naturally refused to be kept any longer from his just rights; but the
+shame she felt of making the discovery of a marriage contracted
+clandestinely, after she was sixty years of age, with a man under
+thirty, threw her into a nervous fever. And, in this state, unable to
+reveal to her nephew an event which now affected him alone, she
+prevailed with Mr. Ulst, who was willing to revisit his original home,
+Southampton, to accompany her thither in his usual capacity, till she
+had summoned her nephew and niece, and acquainted them with the affair.
+
+To herself, Mrs. Berlinton said, the evil of this transaction had been
+over, while yet it was unknown; she had heard it, therefore, in silence,
+and forborne unavailing reproach. But her brother, to whom the blow was
+new, and the consequences were still impending, was struck with extreme
+anguish, that while thus every possible hope was extinguished with
+regard to his love, he must suddenly apply himself to some business, or
+be reduced to the most obscure poverty.
+
+Camilla heard the account with sincere concern for them both, much
+heightened for young Melmond, upon finding that, by his express desire,
+his sister now relinquished her design of cultivating an acquaintance
+with Indiana, whom he had the virtue to determine to avoid, since his
+fortune, and even his hopes, were thus irretrievably ruined.
+
+They conversed together to a late hour; and Camilla, before they parted,
+made the most earnest apologies for the liberty taken with her house by
+Mrs. Mittin: but Mrs. Berlinton, with the utmost sweetness, begged she
+might stay till all her business with her was settled; smilingly adding,
+business alone, she was sure could bring them together.
+
+Much relieved, she then determined to press Mrs. Mittin to collect and
+pay her accounts immediately; and to avoid with her, in the meanwhile,
+any further transactions.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_An agreeable Hearing_
+
+
+Early the next morning, Camilla went to the hotel, in the carriage of
+Mrs. Berlinton; eluding, though not without difficulty, the company of
+Mrs. Mittin. She found the party all in good spirits; Indiana, in
+particular, was completely elated; joined to the admiration she
+believed awaiting her in this large and fashionable town, she now knew
+she might meet there the only person who had ever excited in her
+youthful, and nearly vacant breast, any appropriate pleasure,
+super-added to the general zest of being adored. She did not, indeed,
+think of marrying any one who could not offer her a coach and four; but
+so little was she disturbed by thinking at all, that the delight of
+being adulated by the man she preferred, carried with it no idea of
+danger. Eugenia too, soothed with the delusions of her romantic but
+innocent fancy, flattered herself she might now see continually the
+object she conceived formed for meriting her ever reverential regard;
+and Miss Margland was importantly occupied upon affairs best suited to
+her taste and ancient habits, in deliberating how first to bring forth
+her fair charge with the most brilliant effect.
+
+Camilla was much embarrassed how to parry an introduction to Mrs.
+Berlinton, upon which all the females built as the foundation of their
+Southampton prosperity; the young ones, already informed she was the
+sister of Melmond, languishing to know her for his sake; and Miss
+Margland, formerly acquainted with the noble family of her husband,
+being impatient to resume her claims in similar circles; but an awkward
+beginning apology was set aside by the entrance of Edgar and Dr.
+Marchmont.
+
+Indiana now poured forth innumerable questions upon what she might look
+forward to with respect to balls and public places; Eugenia asked nearly
+as many concerning the buildings, antiquities, and prospects; and Miss
+Margland more than either, relative to the company, their genealogies
+and connexions. The two Doctors soon sat aloof, conferring upon less
+familiar matters; but Edgar only spoke in reply, and Camilla uttered not
+a word.
+
+Soon after, a voice on the stairs called out, 'O never mind shewing me
+the way; if I come to a wrong room, I'll go on till I come to a right;'
+and the next minute young Lynmere sallied into the apartment.
+
+'I could not get to you last night,' cried he; 'and I can only stay a
+moment now. I have a pretty serious business upon my hands; so if you
+can give me any breakfast, don't lose time.'
+
+Miss Margland, willing to please the brother of Indiana, readily ordered
+for him whatever the inn would afford, of which he failed not heartily
+to partake, saying, 'I have met with a good comic sort of adventure here
+already. Guess what it is?'
+
+Indiana complied; but his own wish to communicate was so much stronger
+than that of anyone to hear, that, before she could pronounce three
+words, he cried: 'Well, if you're so excessive curious, I'll tell it
+you. I'm engaged in a duel.'
+
+Indiana screamed; Miss Margland echoed her cry; Eugenia, who had looked
+down from his entrance, raised her eyes with an air of interest; Camilla
+was surprised out of her own concerns; and Edgar surveyed him with an
+astonishment not wholly unmixt with contempt; but the two Doctors went
+on with their own discourse.
+
+'Nay, nay, Dye, don't be frightened; 'tis not a duel in which I am to
+fight myself; I am only to be second. But suppose I were first? what
+signifies? these are things we have in hand so often, we don't think of
+them.'
+
+'La! brother! you don't say so?' cried Indiana: 'La! how droll!' He then
+pretended that he would tell nothing more.
+
+Camilla inquired if he had seen Mr. Westwyn, whom she had met with the
+preceding day.
+
+'Not I, faith! but that's apropos enough; for it's his son that has
+asked me to be his second.'
+
+'O, poor good old Mr. Westwyn!' cried Camilla, now much interested in
+this history; 'and can you not save him such a shock? can you not be
+mediator instead of second? he seems so fond of his son....'
+
+'O, as to him, it's no matter; he's such a harsh old hunks, I shall be
+glad to have him worked a little; I've often wanted to pull him by the
+nose, myself, he takes such liberties with me. But did you ever hear of
+such a fool as his son? he deserves to be badgered as bad as his father;
+he's going to fight with as fine an honest fellow as ever I met with,
+for nothing at all! absolutely nothing!'
+
+'Dear! how droll!' said Indiana.
+
+'But why can you not interfere?' cried Camilla: 'poor Mr. Westwyn will
+be made so unhappy if any evil befalls his son!'
+
+'O, faith, as to him, he may take it as he will; I shan't trouble my
+head about him; he has made free enough with me, I can assure you; it's
+only to have him out of the way, that the business is put off till noon;
+it was to have been in the morning, but the old tyrant took it into his
+pate to make poor Henry, who is one of your good ones, and does nothing
+to vex him on purpose, ride out with him; he has promised, however, to
+get off by twelve o'clock, when four of us are to be at a certain spot
+that I shan't name.'
+
+Camilla again began to plead the merits of the father; but Indiana more
+urgently demanded the reason of the combat. 'I dare say, brother, they
+fight about being in love with somebody? don't they, brother? now do
+tell me?'
+
+'Not a whit! it's for a girl he don't care a straw for, and never saw
+but once in his life, and don't care a farthing if he never sees again.'
+
+'Dear, how droll, brother! I thought people always fought about being in
+love with somebody they wanted to marry; and never but when she was
+excessive pretty.'
+
+'O, faith, marriage seldom deserves a fighting match; but as to being
+pretty, that's all Harry has in his excuse, so he pretends she's as
+divine as an angel.'
+
+'Dear! well, and don't you know anything more than that about it?'
+
+'No, nor he neither; he only saw her at a bathing house, where a fine
+jolly young buck was paying her a few compliments, that she affected not
+to like; and presently, in a silly dispute whether she was a girl of
+character, they had a violent quarrel, and Harry was such a fool as to
+end it with a challenge.'
+
+At the words _a bathing house_, the blood forsook the cheeks of Camilla
+with sudden personal alarm; but it mounted high into them again, upon
+hearing the nature of the dispute; though yet again it sunk, and left
+them wholly pallid, at the brief and final conviction she was the sole
+cause of this duel, and upon so disgraceful a dispute.
+
+The emotions of Edgar, though less fearful, were not less violent nor
+painful. That Camilla should be the subject of any challenge was
+shocking, but of such a one he thought a dishonour; yet to prevent, and
+with the least publicity, its effect, was the immediate occupation of
+his mind.
+
+A short pause ensued, broken presently by Clermont, who, looking at his
+watch, suddenly jumped up, and calling out, 'Faith, I shall be too
+late!' was capering out of the room; but the shame of Camilla in the
+disgrace, was overpowered by her terror of its consequences, and
+starting up, and clasping her hands, 'O cousin! O Clermont!' she cried,
+'for Heaven's sake stop this affair!'
+
+Clermont, satisfied that a sufficient alarm was raised to impede the
+transaction, without any concession on his part, declared himself bound
+in honour to attend the appointment, and, in extreme seeming haste and
+earnestness, walked off; stopping, however, when he came to the door,
+not to listen to the supplications of his cousin, but to toss off a
+fresh cup of chocolate, which a waiter was just carrying to the next
+room.
+
+Camilla now, her face varying in colour twenty times in a minute, and
+her whole frame shaking, while her eyes were cast, conscious and timid,
+on the floor, approached Edgar, and saying, 'This young man's father is
+my dear uncle's friend!...' burst into tears.
+
+Edgar, wholly dissolved, took her hand, pressed it to his lips, besought
+her, in a low voice, to dismiss her apprehensions, in the confidence of
+his most ardent exertions, and again kissing her hand, with the words,
+'Too ... O, far too dear Camilla!' hastened after Lynmere.
+
+Affected in a thousand ways, she dropt, weeping, upon a chair. Should
+the duel take place, and any fatal consequences follow, she felt she
+should never be happy again; and even, should it be prevented, its very
+suggestion, from so horrible a doubt of her character, seemed a stain
+from which it could never recover. The inconsiderate facility with which
+she had wandered about with a person so little known to her, so
+underbred, and so forward, appeared now to herself inexcusable; and she
+determined, if but spared this dreadful punishment, to pass the whole of
+her future life in unremitting caution.
+
+Eugenia, with the kindest sympathy, and Indiana and Miss Margland, with
+extreme curiosity, sought to discover the reason of her emotion; but
+while begging them to dispense with an explanation, old Mr. Westwyn was
+announced and appeared.
+
+The horrors of a culprit, the most cruel as well as criminal, seemed
+instantly the portion of the self-condemned Camilla; and, as he advanced
+with cheerful kindness, to inquire after her health, his ignorance that
+all his happiness, through her means, was that moment at stake, pierced
+her with a suffering so exquisite, that she uttered a deep groan, and
+sunk back upon her chair.
+
+An instant's recollection brought her more of fortitude, though not of
+comfort; and springing up and addressing, though not looking at Mr.
+Westwyn, who was staring at her with astonishment and concern: 'Where,
+sir,' she cried, 'is your son? If you have the least knowledge which way
+he is gone ... which way he may be traced ... pursue and force him back
+this moment!... Immediately!...'
+
+'My son!' repeated the good old gentleman, wanting no other word to
+participate in any alarm; 'what, Hal Westwyn?--'
+
+'Follow him ... seek him ... send for him ... and do not, a single
+instant, lose sight of him all day!'
+
+'My dear young lady, what do you mean? I'll send for him, to be sure, if
+you desire it; but what makes you so good as to think about my son? did
+you ever see my son? do you know my son? do you know Hal Westwyn?'
+
+'Don't ask now, dear sir! secure him first, and make what inquiries you
+please afterwards.'
+
+Mr. Westwyn, in evident consternation, walked out, Camilla herself
+opening the door; but turning back in the passage, strongly said: 'If
+the boy has been guilty of any misbehaviour, I won't support him; I
+don't like misbehaviour; it's a bad thing; I can't take to it.'
+
+'O no! no! quite the contrary!' exclaimed the agitated Camilla, 'he is
+good, kind, generous! I owe him the greatest obligation! and I desire
+nothing upon earth so much, at this moment, as to see him, and to thank
+him!'
+
+The old gentleman's eyes now filled with tears, and coming back, and
+most affectionately shaking hands with her, 'I was afraid he had
+misbehaved,' he cried; 'but he was always a good lad; and if he has done
+any thing for the niece of my dear Sir Hugh Tyrold, I shall hug him to
+my heart!' and then, in great, but pleased perturbation, he hurried
+away, saying to himself, as he went: 'I'll take him to her, to be sure;
+I desire nothing better! God bless her! If she can speak so well of my
+poor Hal, she must be the best girl living! and she shall have him ...
+yes, she shall have him, if she's a mind to him; and I don't care if she
+i'n't worth a groat; she's niece to my old friend; that's better.'
+
+Camilla speeding, but not hearing him, returned to her seat; yet could
+not answer one question, from the horrors of her fears, and her shame of
+the detail of the business.
+
+When the breakfast was over Miss Margland desired everyone would get
+ready to go to the lodgings; and, with Indiana, repaired herself to
+visit them, and give general orders. Dr. Marchmont had glided out of
+the room, in anxiety for Edgar; to the great dissatisfaction, and almost
+contempt of Dr. Orkborne, with whom he was just discussing some
+controverted points upon the shield of Achilles; which, that he could
+quit for the light concerns of a young man, added again to his surmises
+that, though he had run creditably the usual scholastic race, his
+reputation was more the effect of general ability and address, than of
+such sound and consummate learning as he himself possessed. Ruminating
+upon the ignorant injustice of mankind, in suffering such quacks in
+literature and philology to carry the palm of fame, he went to his
+chamber, to collect, from his bolster and bedside, the hoard of books
+and papers, from which, the preceding night, he had disencumbered his
+coat, waistcoat, and great coat pockets, inside and out, to review
+before he could sleep; and which now were again to encircle him, to
+facilitate their change of abode.
+
+But Eugenia would not quit her afflicted sister, who soon, in her gentle
+breast, deposited the whole of her grief, her apprehensions, and her
+plans; charging her instantly to retire, if Edgar should return, that
+whatever might be the event he should unfold, she might release him
+immediately from an engagement that his last words seemed to avow did
+not make him happy, and that probably he now repented. The design was so
+consonant to the native heroism of Eugenia, that she consented, with
+applause, to aid its execution.
+
+About half an hour, which seemed to be prolonged to twenty times the
+duration of the whole day, passed in terrible expectation; Edgar then
+appeared, and Eugenia, suspending her earnest curiosity, to comply with
+the acute feelings of her sister, retreated.
+
+Camilla could scarce breathe; she stood up, her eyes and mouth open, her
+face pale, her hands uplifted, waiting, but not daring to demand
+intelligence.
+
+Edgar, entering into her distress with a tenderness that drove from him
+his own, eagerly satisfied her: 'All,' he cried, 'is safe; the affair
+has been compromised; no duel has taken place; and the parties have
+mutually pledged themselves to forget the dispute.'
+
+Tears again, but no longer bitter, flowed copiously down her cheeks,
+while her raised eyes and clasped hands expressed the fervency of her
+thankfulness.
+
+Edgar, extremely touched, took her hand; he wished to seize a moment so
+nearly awful, to enforce upon her mind every serious subject with which
+he most desired it to be impressed; but sorrow was ever sacred to him;
+and desiring only, at this period, to console her: 'This adventure,' he
+cried, 'has now terminated so well, you must not suffer it to wound you.
+Dismiss it, sweet Camilla, from your memory!... at least till you are
+more composed.'
+
+'No, sir!' cried Camilla, to whom his softness, by restoring her hope of
+an ultimately happy conclusion, restored strength; 'it ought never to be
+dismissed from my memory; and what I am now going to say will fix it
+there indelibly.'
+
+Edgar was surprised, but pleased; his most anxious wishes seemed on the
+point of being fulfilled; he expected a voluntary explanation of every
+perplexity, a clearance of all mystery.
+
+'I am sensible that I have appeared to you,' she resumed, 'in many
+points reprehensible; in some, perhaps, inexcusable....'
+
+'Inexcusable? O no! never! never!'
+
+'The letters of Sir Sedley Clarendel I know you think I ought not to
+have received....'
+
+Edgar, biting his nails, looked down.
+
+'And, indeed, I acknowledge myself, in that affair, a most egregious
+dupe!...'
+
+She blushed; but her blush was colourless to that of Edgar. Resentment
+against Sir Sedley beat high in every vein; while disappointment to his
+delicacy, in the idea of Camilla duped by any man, seemed, in one blow,
+to detach him from her person, by a sudden dissolution of all charm to
+his mind in the connection.
+
+Camilla saw, too late, she had been too hasty in a confession which some
+apologising account should have preceded; but what her courage had
+begun, pride now aided her to support, and she continued.
+
+'For what belongs to that correspondence, and even for its being unknown
+to my friends, I may offer, perhaps, hereafter, something in
+exculpation; ... hereafter, I say, building upon your long family
+regard; for though we part ... it will be, I trust, in amity.'
+
+'Part!' repeated Edgar, recovering from his displeasure by amazement.
+
+'Yes, part,' said she, with assumed firmness; 'it would be vain to
+palliate what I cannot disguise from myself ... I am lessened in your
+esteem.' She could not go on; imperious shame took possession of her
+voice, crimsoned her very forehead, blushed even in her eyes, demolished
+her strained energy, and enfeebled her genuine spirit.
+
+But the conscious taciturnity of Edgar recalled her exertions; struck
+and afflicted by the truth she had pronounced, he could not controvert
+it; he was mute; but his look spoke keen disturbance and bitter regret.
+
+'Not so low, however, am I yet, I trust, fallen in your opinion, that
+you can wonder at the step I now take. I am aware of many errours; I
+know, too, that appearances have often cruelly misrepresented me; my
+errours you might have the candour to forget, and false appearances I
+could easily clear in my own favour--but where, and what is the talisman
+which can erase from my own remembrance that you have thought me
+unworthy?'
+
+Edgar started; but she would not give him time to speak; what she had
+last uttered was too painful to her to dwell upon, or hear answered, and
+rapidly, and in an elevated manner, she went on.
+
+'I here, therefore, solemnly release you from all tie, all engagement
+whatever with Camilla Tyrold! I shall immediately acquaint my friends
+that henceforth ... we Both are Free!'
+
+She was then retiring. Edgar, confounded by a stroke so utterly and
+every way unexpected, neither answering nor interposing, till he saw her
+hand upon the lock of the door. In a voice then, that spoke him cut to
+the soul, though without attempting to stop her, 'This then,' he cried,
+'Camilla, is your final adieu.'
+
+She turned round, and with a face glowing, and eyes glistening, held out
+to him her hand: 'I knew not if you would accept,' she said, 'a kinder
+word, or I should have assured you of my unaltered regard ... and have
+claimed the continuance of your friendship, and even ... if your
+patience is not utterly exhausted, of your watchful counsel....
+Farewell! remember me without severity! my own esteem must be permanent
+as my existence!'
+
+The door, here, was opened by Miss Margland and Indiana, and Camilla
+hastily snatched away the hand which Edgar, grasping with the fondness
+of renovated passion, secretly meant to part with no more, till a final
+reconciliation once again made it his own; but compelled to yield to
+circumstance, he suffered it to be withdrawn; and while she darted into
+the chamber of Eugenia, to hide her deep emotion from Indiana, who was
+tittering, and Miss Margland, who was sneering, at the situation in
+which she was surprised, he abruptly took leave himself, too much
+impressed by this critical scene, to labour for uninteresting discourse.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_Ideas upon Marriage_
+
+
+While, in the bosom of her faithful sister, Camilla reposed her feelings
+and her fears, alternately rejoicing and trembling in the temerity of
+the resolution she had exerted; Edgar sought his not less faithful, nor
+honourable, but far more worldly friend, Dr. Marchmont.
+
+He narrated, with extreme emotion, the scene he had just had with
+Camilla; asserting her possession of every species of excellence from
+the nobleness of her rejection, and abhorring himself for having given
+her a moment's doubt of his fullest esteem. Not a solicitude, he
+declared, now remained with him, but how to appease her displeasure,
+satisfy her dignity, and recover her favour.
+
+'Softly, softly!' said the Doctor; 'measure your steps more temperately,
+ere you run with such velocity. If this refusal is the result of an
+offended sensibility, you cannot exert yourself too warmly in its
+consolation; even if it is from pride, it has a just claim to your
+concessions, since she thinks you have injured it; yet pause before you
+act, may it not be merely from a confidence of power that loves to
+tyrannize over its slaves, by playing with their chains? or a lurking
+spirit of coquetry, that desires to regain the liberty of trifling with
+some new Sir Sedley Clarendel? or, perhaps, with Sir Sedley himself?'
+
+'Dr. Marchmont! how wretchedly ill you think of women!'
+
+'I think of them as they are! I think of them as I have found them. They
+are artful, though feeble; they are shallow, yet subtle.'
+
+'You have been unfortunate in your connexions?'
+
+'Yet who had better prospects? with energies as warm, with hopes as
+alive as your own, twice have I conducted to the altar two beings I
+thought framed for my peculiar felicity; but my peace, my happiness, and
+my honour, have been torn up by the root, exactly where I thought I had
+planted them for my whole temporal existence. This heart, which to you
+appears hard and suspicious, has been the dupe of its susceptibilities;
+first, in a creature of its own choice, next, where it believed itself
+chosen. That first, Mandlebert, had you seen her, you would have
+thought, as I thought her myself ... an angel! She was another Camilla.'
+
+'Another Camilla!'
+
+'Grace, sweetness, and beauty vied in her for pre-eminence. Yes, another
+Camilla! though I see your incredulity; I see you think my comparison
+almost profane; and that grace, sweetness, and beauty, waited the birth
+of Camilla to be made known to the world. Such, however, she was, and I
+saw and loved at once. I knew her character fair, I precipitately made
+my addresses, and concluded myself beloved in return ... because I was
+accepted!'
+
+Edgar shrunk back, and cast down his eyes.
+
+'Nor was it till the moment ... heart-breaking yet to my
+recollection!... of her sudden death, that I knew the lifeless,
+soulless, inanimate frame was all she had bestowed upon me. In the
+private drawer of her bureau, I then found a pocketbook. In the first
+leaf, I saw a gentleman's name; ... I turned over, and saw it again; I
+looked further, and still it met my view; I opened by chance, ... but
+nothing else appeared: ... there it was still, traced in every hand,
+charactered in every form, shape, and manner, the wayward, wistful eye
+could delight to fashion, for varying, yet beholding it without end:
+while, over the intermediate spaces, verses, quotations, short but
+affecting sentences, were every where scattered, bewailing the misery of
+disappointed hope, and unrequited love; of a heartless hand devoted at
+the altar; of vows enchaining liberty, not sanctifying affection! I
+then ... alas, too late! dived deeper, with, then, useless
+investigation, ... and discovered an early passion, never erased from
+her mind; ... discovered ... that I had never made her happy! that she
+was merely enduring, suffering me ... while my whole confiding soul was
+undividedly hers!...'
+
+Edgar shuddered at this picture; 'But why, then,' he cried, 'since she
+seemed amiable as well as fair, why did she accept you?'
+
+'Ask half the married women in the nation how they became wives: they
+will tell you their friends urged them; ... that they had no other
+establishment in view; ... that nothing is so uncertain as the
+repetition of matrimonial powers in women; ... and that those who
+cannot solicit what they wish, must accommodate themselves to what
+offers. This first adventure, however, is now no longer useful to you,
+though upon its hard remembrance was founded my former caution: but I am
+even myself satisfied, at present, that the earliest partiality of
+Camilla has been yours; what now you have to weigh, is the strength or
+inadequacy of her character, for guiding that partiality to your mutual
+happiness. My second melancholy history will best illustrate this
+difficulty. You may easily believe, the last of my intentions was any
+further essay in a lottery I had found so inauspicious; but, while cold
+even to apathy, it was my inevitable chance to fall in the way of a
+pleasing and innocent young creature, who gave me, unsought and
+unwished-for, her heart. The boon, nevertheless, soon caught my own: for
+what is so alluring as the voluntary affection of a virtuous woman?'
+
+'Well,' cried Edgar, 'and what now could disturb your tranquillity?'
+
+'The insufficiency of that heart to its own decision. I soon found her
+apparent predilection was simply the result of the casualty which
+brought me almost exclusively into her society, but unmarked by any
+consonance of taste, feeling, or understanding. Her inexperience had
+made her believe, since she preferred me to the few who surrounded her,
+I was the man of her choice: with equal facility I concurred in the same
+mistake; ... for what is so credulous as self-love? But such a regard,
+the child of accident, not selection, was unequal, upon the discovery of
+the dissimilarity of our dispositions, to the smallest sacrifice. My
+melancholy returned with the view of our mutual delusion; lassitude of
+pleasing was the precursor of discontent. Dissipation then, in the form
+of amusement, presented itself to her aid: retirement and books came to
+mine. My resource was safe, though solitary; hers was gay, but perilous.
+Dissipation, with its usual Proteus powers, from amusement changed its
+form to temptation, allured her into dangers, impeached her honour, and
+blighted her with disgrace. I just discerned the precipice whence she
+was falling, in time to avert the dreadful necessity of casting her off
+for ever: ... but what was our life thence forward? Cares
+unparticipated, griefs uncommunicated, stifled resentments, and
+unremitting weariness! She is now no more; and I am a lonely individual
+for the rest of my pilgrimage.
+
+'Take warning, my dear young friend, by my experience. The entire
+possession of the heart of the woman you marry is not more essential to
+your first happiness, than the complete knowledge of her disposition is
+to your ultimate peace.'
+
+Edgar thanked him, in deep concern to have awakened emotions which the
+absorption of study, and influence of literature, held generally
+dormant. The lesson, however, which they inculcated, he engaged to keep
+always present to his consideration; though, but for the strange affair
+of Sir Sedley Clarendel, he should feel confident that, in Camilla,
+there was not more of exterior attraction, than of solid excellence:
+and, with regard to their concordance of taste and humour, he had never
+seen her so gay, nor so lovely, as in scenes of active benevolence, or
+domestic life. She had promised to clear, hereafter, the transaction
+with Sir Sedley; but he could not hold back for that explanation: hurt,
+already, by his apparent scruples, she had openly named them as the
+motives of her rejection: could he, then, shew her he yet demurred,
+without forfeiting all hope of a future accommodation?
+
+'Delicacy,' said Dr. Marchmont, 'though the quality the most amiable we
+can practise in the service of others, must not take place of common
+sense, and sound judgment, for ourselves. Her dismission does not
+discard you from her society; on the contrary, it invites your
+friendship....'
+
+'Ah, Doctor! what innocence, what sweetness does that very circumstance
+display!'
+
+'Learn, however, their concomitants, ere you yield to their charms:
+learn if their source is from a present, yet accidental preference, or
+from the nobler spring of elevated sentiment. The meeting you surprised
+with Sir Sedley, the presumption you acknowledge of his letters, and the
+confession made by herself that she had submitted to be duped by him.'
+
+'O, Dr. Marchmont! what harrowing drawbacks to felicity! And how much
+must we rather pity than wonder at the errors of common young women,
+when a creature such as this is so easy to be misled!'
+
+'You must not imagine I mean a censure upon the excellent Mr. Tyrold,
+when I say she is left too much to herself: the purity of his
+principles, and the virtue of his character, must exempt him from blame;
+but his life has been both too private and too tranquil, to be aware of
+the dangers run by Female Youth, when straying from the mother's
+careful wing. All that belongs to religion, and to principle, he feels,
+and he has taught; but the impediments they have to encounter in a
+commerce with mankind, he could not point out, for he does not know. Yet
+there is nothing more certain, than that seventeen weeks is not less
+able to go alone in a nursery, than seventeen years in the world.'
+
+This suggestion but added to the bias of Edgar to take her, if possible,
+under his own immediate guidance.
+
+'Know, first,' cried the Doctor, 'if to your guidance she will give way;
+know if the affair with Sir Sedley has exculpations which render it
+single and adventitious, or if there hang upon it a lightness of
+character that may invest caprice, chance, or fickleness, with powers of
+involving such another entanglement.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_How to treat a Defamer_
+
+
+As the lodgings taken by Miss Margland could not be ready till the
+afternoon, Camilla remained with her sister; a sojourn which, while it
+consoled her with the society, and gratified her by the approbation of
+Eugenia, had yet another allurement; it detained her under the same roof
+with Edgar; and his manner of listening to her rejection, and his
+undisguised suffering before they were parted, led her to expect he
+might yet demand a conference before she quitted the hotel.
+
+In about an hour, as unpleasantly as unceremoniously, they were broken
+in upon by Mrs. Mittin.
+
+'How monstrous lucky, my dear,' cried she, to Camilla, 'that I should
+find you, and your little sister, for I suppose this is she, together! I
+went into your dining-room to ask for you, and there I met those other
+two ladies; and I've made acquaintance with 'em, I assure you, already;
+for I told them I was on a visit at the Honourable Mrs. Berlinton's. So
+I've had the opportunity to recommend some shops to 'em, and I've been
+to tell some of the good folks to send them some of their nicest goods
+for 'em to look at; for, really, since I've been bustling a little about
+here, I've found some of the good people so vastly obliging, I can't but
+take a pleasure in serving 'em, and getting 'em a few customers,
+especially as I know a little civility of that sort makes one friends
+surprisingly. Often and often have I got things under prime cost myself,
+only by helping a person on in his trade. So one can't say good nature's
+always thrown away. However, I come now on purpose to put a note into
+your own hands, from Mrs. Berlinton; for all the servants were out of
+the way, except one, and he wanted to be about something else, so I
+offered to bring it, and she was very much pleased; so I fancy it's
+about some secret, for she never offered to shew it me; but as to the
+poor man I saved from the walk, I've won his heart downright; I dare say
+he'll go of any odd errand for me, now, without vails. That's the best
+of good nature, it always comes home to one.'
+
+The note from Mrs. Berlinton contained a tender supplication for the
+return of Camilla, and a pressing and flattering invitation that her
+sister should join their little party, as the motives of honour and
+discretion which made her, at the request and for the sake of her
+brother, sacrifice her eagerness to be presented to Miss Lynmere,
+operated not to impede her acquaintance with Miss Eugenia.
+
+This proposition had exquisite charms for Eugenia. To become acquainted
+with the sister of him to whom, henceforward, she meant to devote her
+secret thoughts, enchanted her imagination. Camilla, therefore,
+negotiated the visit with Miss Margland, who, though little pleased by
+this separate invitation, knew not how to refuse her concurrence; but
+Indiana, indignant that the sister of Melmond should not, first, have
+waited upon her, and solicited her friendship, privately resolved, in
+pique of this disrespect, to punish the brother with every rigour she
+could invent.
+
+Camilla, upon her return, found Mrs. Mittin already deeply engaged in
+proposing an alteration in the dress of Eugenia, which she was aiding
+Molly Mill to accomplish; and so much she found to say and to do, to
+propose and to object to, to contrive and to alter, that, from the
+simplicity of the mistress, and the ignorance of the maid, the one was
+soon led to conclude she should have appeared improperly before Mrs.
+Berlinton, without such useful advice; and the other to believe she must
+shortly have lost her place, now her young lady was come forth into the
+world, if she had not thus miraculously met with so good a friend.
+
+During these preparations, Camilla was summoned back to the dining-room
+to receive Mr. Westwyn.
+
+She did not hear this call with serenity. The danger which, however
+unwittingly, she had caused his son, and the shocking circumstances
+which were its foundation, tingled her cheeks, and confounded her wish
+of making acknowledgments, with an horror that such an obligation could
+be possible.
+
+The door of the dining-room was open, and as soon as her steps were
+heard, Mr. Westwyn came smiling forth to receive her. She hung back
+involuntarily; but, pacing up to her, and taking her hand, 'Well, my
+good young lady,' he cried, 'I have brought you my son; but he's no
+boaster, that I can assure you, for though I told him how you wanted him
+to come to you, and was so good as to say you were so much obliged to
+him, I can't make him own he has ever seen you in his life; which I tell
+him is carrying his modesty over far; I don't like affectation ... I
+have no taste for it.'
+
+Camilla, discovering by this speech, as well as by his pleased and
+tranquil manner, that he had escaped hearing of the intended duel, and
+that his son was still ignorant whose cause he had espoused, ardently
+wished to avert farther shame by concealing herself; and, step by step,
+kept retreating back towards the room of Eugenia; though she could not
+disengage her hand from the old gentleman, who, trying to draw her on,
+said: 'Come, my dear! don't go away. Though my son won't confess what he
+has done for you, he can't make me forget that you were such a dear soul
+as to tell me yourself, of his good behaviour, and of your having such a
+kind opinion of him. And I have been telling him, and I can assure you
+I'll keep my word, that if he has done a service to the niece of my dear
+old friend, Sir Hugh Tyrold, it shall value him fifty pound a-year more
+to his income, if I straighten myself never so much. For a lad, that
+knows how to behave in that manner, will never spend his money so as to
+make his old father ashamed of him. And that's a good thing for a man to
+know.'
+
+'Indeed, sir, this is some mistake,' said the young man himself, now
+advancing into the passage, while Camilla was stammering out an excuse
+from entering; 'it's some great mistake; I have not the honour to
+know....'
+
+He was going to add Miss Tyrold, but he saw her at the same moment, and
+instantly recollecting her face, stopt, blushed, and looked amazed.
+
+The retreating effort of Camilla, her shame and her pride, all subsided
+by his view, and gave place to the more generous feelings of gratitude
+for his intuitive good opinion, and emotion for the risk he had run in
+her defence: and with an expression of captivating sweetness in her eyes
+and manner, 'That you did not know me,' she cried, 'makes the
+peculiarity of your goodness, which, indeed, I am more sensible to than
+I can express.'
+
+'Why, there! there, now! there!' cried Mr. Westwyn, while his son,
+enchanted to find whose character he had sustained, bowed almost to the
+ground with respectful gratitude for such thanks; 'only but listen! she
+says the very same things to your face, that she said behind your back!
+though I am afraid, it's only to please an old father; for if not, I
+can't for my life find out any reason why you should deny it. Come, Hal,
+speak out, Hal!'
+
+Equally at a loss how either to avow or evade what had passed in the
+presence of Camilla, young Westwyn began a stammering and awkward
+apology; but Camilla, feeling doubly his forbearance, said: 'Silence may
+in you be delicate ... but in me it would be graceless.' Then, turning
+from him to old Mr. Westwyn, 'you may be proud, sir,' she cried, 'of
+your son! It was the honour of an utter stranger he was protecting, as
+helpless as she was unknown at the time she excited his interest; nor
+had he even in view this poor mede he now receives of her thanks!'
+
+'My dearest Hal!' cried Mr. Westwyn, wringing him by the hand; 'if you
+have but one small grain of regard for me, don't persist in denying
+this! I'd give the last hundred pounds I had in the world to be sure it
+was true!'
+
+'That to hear the name of this lady,' said the young man, 'should not be
+necessary to inspire me with respect for her, who can wonder? that any
+opportunity could arise in which she should want defence, is all that
+can give any surprise.'
+
+'You own it, then, my dear Hal? you own you've done her a kindness? why
+then, my dear Hal, you've done one to me! and I can't help giving you a
+hug for it, let who will think me an old fool.'
+
+He then fervently embraced his son, who confused, though gratified,
+strove vainly to make disclaiming speeches. 'No, no, my dear Hal,' he
+cried, 'you sha'n't let yourself down with me again, I promise you,
+though you've two or three times tried to make me think nothing of you;
+but this young lady here, dear soul, speaks another language; she says
+I may be proud of my son! and I dare say she knows why, for she's a
+charming girl, as ever I saw; so I will be proud of my son! Poor dear
+Hal! thou hast got a good friend, I can tell thee, in that young lady!
+and she's niece to the best man I ever knew; and I value her good
+opinion more than anybody's.'
+
+'You are much too good,' cried Camilla, in an accent of tender pleasure,
+the result of grateful joy, that she had not been the means of
+destroying the paternal happiness of so fond a father, joined to the
+dreadful certainty how narrowly she had escaped that misery; 'you are
+much too good, and I blush even to thank you, when I think--'
+
+What she meant to add was in a moment forgotten, and that she blushed
+ceased to be metaphorical, when now, as they all three entered the
+dining-room together, the first object that met her eyes was Edgar.
+
+Their eyes met not again; delighted and conscious, she turned hers
+hastily away. He comes, thought she, to [claim] me! he will not submit
+to the separation; he comes to re-assure me of his esteem, and to
+receive once more my faithful heart!
+
+Edgar had seen, by chance, the Westwyns pass to the room of the Cleves
+party, and felt the most ardent desire to know if they would meet with
+Camilla, and what would be her reception of her young champion, whose
+sword, with extreme trouble, he had himself that morning sheathed, and
+whose gallantry he attributed to a vehement, however, sudden passion.
+Dr. Marchmont acknowledged the epoch to be highly interesting for
+observation, and, presuming upon their old right of intimacy with all
+the party, they abruptly made a second visit.
+
+Miss Margland and Indiana, who were examining some goods sent by Mrs.
+Mittin, had received them all four without much mark of civility; and
+Mr. Westwyn immediately desired Camilla to be sent for, and kept upon
+the watch, till her step made him hasten out to meet her.
+
+Edgar could not hear unmoved the dialogue which ensued; he imagined an
+amiable rival was suddenly springing up in young Westwyn, at the very
+moment of his own dismission, which he now even thought possible this
+incipient conquest had urged; and when Camilla, walking between the
+father and the son, with looks of softest sensibility, came into the
+room, he thought he had never seen her so lovely, and that her most
+bewitching smiles were purposely lavished for their captivation.
+
+With this idea, he found it impossible to speak to her; their situation,
+indeed, was too critical for any common address, and when he saw that
+she turned from him, he attempted to converse with the other ladies upon
+their purchases; and Camilla, left to her two new beaux, had the
+unavoidable appearance of being engrossed by them, though the sight of
+Edgar instantly robbed them of all her real attention.
+
+Soon after, the door was again opened, and Mr. Girt, the young perfumer,
+came, smirking and scraping, into the room, with a box of various toys,
+essences, and cosmetics, recommended by Mrs. Mittin.
+
+Ignorant of the mischief he had done her, and not even recollecting to
+have seen him, Camilla made on to look at his goods; but Edgar, to whom
+his audacious assertions were immediately brought back by his sight,
+would have made him feel the effects of his resentment, had not his
+passion for Camilla been of so solid, as well as warm a texture, as to
+induce him to prefer guarding her delicacy, to any possible display he
+could make of his feelings to others, or even to herself.
+
+Mr. Girt, in the midst of his exhibition of memorandum books, smelling
+bottles, tooth-pick cases, and pocket mirrours; with washes to
+immortalize the skin, powders becoming to all countenances, and pomatums
+to give natural tresses to old age, suddenly recollected Camilla. The
+gross mistake he had made he had already discovered, by having dodged
+her to the house of Mrs. Berlinton; but all alarm at it hid ceased, by
+finding, through a visit made to his shop by Mrs. Mittin, that she was
+uninformed he had propagated it. Not gifted with the discernment to see
+in the air and manner of Camilla her entire, though unassuming
+superiority to her accidental associate, he concluded them both to be
+relations of some of the upper domestics; and with a look and tone
+descending from the most profound adulation, with which he was
+presenting his various articles to Miss Margland and Indiana, into a
+familiarity the most facetious, 'O dear, ma'am,' he cried, 'I did not
+see you at first; I hope t'other lady's well that's been so kind as to
+recommend me? Indeed I saw her just now.'
+
+Young Westwyn, to whom, as to Edgar, the bold defamation of Girt
+occurred with his presence, but whom none of the nameless delicacies of
+the peculiar situation, and peculiar character of Edgar, restrained into
+silence, felt such a disgust at the presumption of effrontery that gave
+him courage for this facetious address, to a young lady whose innocence
+of his ill usage made him think its injury double, that, unable to
+repress his indignation, he abruptly whispered in his ear, 'Walk out of
+the room, sir!'
+
+The amazed perfumer, at this haughty and unexpected order, stared, and
+cried aloud, 'No offence, I hope, sir?'
+
+Mr. Westwyn asked what was the matter? while Camilla, crimsoned by the
+familiar assurance with which she had been addressed, retired to a
+window.
+
+'Nothing of any moment, sir,' answered Henry; and again, in a low but
+still more positive voice, he repeated his command to Girt.
+
+'Sir, I'm not used to be used in this manner!' answered he, hardily, and
+hoping, by raising his tone, for the favourable intervention of the
+company.
+
+Indiana, now, was preparing to scream, and Miss Margland was looking
+round to see whom she should reprehend; but young Westwyn, coolly
+opening the door, with a strong arm, and an able jerk, twisted the
+perfumer into the passage, saying, 'You may send somebody for your
+goods.'
+
+Girt, who equally strong, but not equally adroit as Henry, strove in
+vain to resist, vowed vengeance for this assault. Henry, without seeming
+to hear him, occupied himself with looking at what he had left. Camilla
+felt her eyes suffuse with tears; and Edgar, for the first time in his
+life, found himself visited by the baleful passion of envy.
+
+Miss Margland could not comprehend what this meant; Indiana comprehended
+but too much in finding there was some disturbance of which she was not
+the object; but Mr. Westwyn, losing his look of delight, said, with
+something of severity, 'Ha! what did you turn that man out of the room
+for?'
+
+'He is perfectly aware of my reason, sir,' said Henry; and then added it
+was a long story, which he begged to relate another time.
+
+The blank face of Mr. Westwyn shewed displeasure and mortification. He
+lifted the head of his cane to his mouth, and after biting it for some
+time, with a frowning countenance, muttered, 'I don't like to see a man
+turned out of a room. If he's done any harm, tell him so; and if it's
+worse than harm, souse him in a horsepond; I've no objection: But I
+don't like to see a man turned out of a room; it's very unmannerly; and
+I did not think Hal would do such a thing.' Then suddenly, and with a
+succinct bow, bidding them all good bye, he took a hasty leave; still,
+however, muttering, all the way along the passage, and down the stairs,
+loud enough to be heard: 'Kicking and jerking a man about does not prove
+him to be in the wrong. I thought Hal had been more of a gentleman. If I
+don't find the man turns out to be a rascal, Hal shall beg his pardon;
+for I don't like to see a man turned out of a room.'
+
+Henry, whose spirit was as irritable as it was generous, felt acutely
+this public censure, which, though satisfied he did not deserve, every
+species of propriety prohibited his explaining away. With a forced
+smile, therefore, and a silent bow, he followed his father.
+
+Miss Margland and Indiana now burst forth with a torrent of wonders,
+conjectures, and questions; but the full heart of Camilla denied her
+speech, and the carriage of Mrs. Berlinton being already at the door,
+she called upon Eugenia, and followed, perforce, by Mrs. Mittin, left
+the hotel.
+
+Edgar and Dr. Marchmont gave neither surprise nor concern by retiring
+instantly to their own apartment.
+
+'Dr. Marchmont,' said the former, in a tone of assumed moderation, 'I
+have lost Camilla! I see it plainly. This young man steps forward so
+gallantly, so ingenuously, nay so amiably, that the contrast ... chill,
+severe, and repulsive ... must render me ... in this detestable
+state ... insupportable to all her feelings. Dr. Marchmont! I have not
+a doubt of the event!'
+
+'The juncture is, indeed, perilous, and the trial of extremest hazard;
+but it is such as draws all uncertainty to a crisis, and, therefore, is
+not much to be lamented. You may safely, I think, rest upon it your
+destiny. To a general female heart a duel is the most dangerous of all
+assaults, and the most fascinating of all charms; and a duellist, though
+precisely what a woman most should dread, as most exposing her to public
+notice, is the person of all others she can, commonly, least resist. By
+this test, then, prove your Camilla. Her champion seems evidently her
+admirer, and his father her adorer. Her late engagement with you may
+possibly not reach them; or reaching but with its dissolution, serve
+only to render them more eager.'
+
+'Do you suppose him,' cried Edgar, after a pause of strong disturbance;
+'do you suppose him rich?'
+
+'Certainly not. That the addition of fifty pounds a-year to his income
+should be any object, proves his fortune to be very moderate.'
+
+'Clear her, then, at least,' said he, with a solemnity almost
+reproachful; 'clear her, at least, of every mercenary charge! If I lose
+her ...' he gasped for breath ... 'she will not, you find, be bought
+from me! and pique, anger, injustice, nay inconstancy, all are less
+debasing than the sordid corruption of which you suspected her.'
+
+'This does not, necessarily, prove her disinterested; she is too young,
+yet, to know herself the value she may hereafter set upon wealth. And,
+independent of that inexperience, there is commonly so little stability,
+so little internal hold, in the female character, that any sudden glare
+of adventitious lure, will draw them, for the moment, from any and every
+regular plan of substantial benefit. It remains, therefore, now to be
+tried, if Beech Park, and its master united, can vie with the bright and
+intoxicating incense of a life voluntarily risked, in support ... not of
+her fair fame, that was unknown to its defender ... but simply of the
+fair countenance which seemed its pledge.'
+
+Edgar, heartless and sad, attempted no further argument; he thought the
+Doctor prejudiced against the merits of Camilla; yet it appeared, even
+to himself, that her whole conduct, from the short period of his open
+avowal, had seemed a wilful series of opposition to his requests and
+opinions. And while terror for surrounding dangers gave weight to his
+disapprobation of her visiting Southampton, with a lady she knew him to
+think more attractive than safe or respectable, her sufferance of the
+vulgar and forward Mrs. Mittin, with whom again he saw her quit the
+hotel, was yet more offensive, since he could conceive for it no other
+inducement than a careless, if not determined humour, to indulge every
+impulse, in equal contempt of his counsel, and her own reflection.
+
+All blame, however, of Camilla, was short of his self-dissatisfaction,
+in the distance imposed upon him by uncertainty, and the coldness
+dictated by discretion. At a period so sensitive, when her spirit was
+alarmed, and her delicacy was wounded, that a stranger should start
+forward, to vindicate her innocence, and chastise its detractors, was
+singular, was unfortunate, was nearly intolerable; and he thought he
+could with thankfulness, have renounced half his fortune, to have been
+himself the sole protector of Camilla.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_The Power of Prepossession_
+
+
+The two sisters were silent from the hotel to the house of Mrs.
+Berlinton.... From the height of happiest expectation, raised by the
+quick return of Edgar, Camilla was sunk into the lowest despondence, by
+the abortive conclusion of the meeting: while Eugenia was absorbed in
+mute joy, and wrapt expectation. But Mrs. Mittin, undisturbed by the
+pangs of uncertainty, and unoccupied by any romantic persuasion of
+bliss, spoke amply, with respect to quantity, for all three.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, though somewhat struck at first sight of Eugenia, with
+her strange contrast to Camilla, received her with all the
+distinguishing kindness due to the sister of her friend.
+
+She had the poems of Collins in her hand; and, at their joint desire,
+instead of putting the book aside, read aloud, and with tenderest
+accent, one of his most plaintive odes.
+
+Eugenia was enraptured. Ah! thought she, this is indeed the true sister
+of the accomplished Melmond!... She shall share with him my adoration.
+My heart shall be devoted ... after my own dear family ... to the homage
+of their perfections!
+
+The ode, to her great delight, lasted till the dinner was announced,
+when Melmond appeared: but her prepossession could alone give any charm
+to his sight: he could barely recollect that he had seen her, or even
+Camilla before; he had conversed with neither; his eyes had been devoted
+to Indiana, and the despondence which had become his portion since the
+news of the marriage of his aunt, seemed but rendered the more
+peculiarly bitter, by this intimate connection with the family of an
+object so adored.
+
+Yet, though nothing could be more spiritless than the hour of dinner,
+Eugenia discovered in it no deficiency; she had previously settled, that
+the presence of Melmond could only breathe sweets and perfection, and
+the magic of prejudice works every event into its own circle of
+expectation.
+
+Melmond did not even accompany them back to the drawing-room. Eugenia
+sighed; but nobody heard her. Mrs. Mittin said, she had something of
+great consequence to do in her own room, and Mrs. Berlinton, to divert
+the languor she found creeping upon them all, had recourse to Hammond's
+elegies.
+
+These were still reading, when a servant brought in the name of Lord
+Valhurst. 'O, deny me to him! deny me to him!' cried Mrs. Berlinton;
+''tis a relation of Mr. Berlinton's, and I hate him.'
+
+The order was given, however, too late; he entered the room.
+
+The name, as Camilla knew it not, she had heard unmoved; but the sight
+of a person who had so largely contributed to shock and terrify her in
+the bathing-house, struck her with horror. Brought up with the respect
+of other times, she had risen at his entrance; but she turned suddenly
+round upon recollecting him, and instead of the courtsie she intended
+making, involuntarily moved away her chair from the part of the room to
+which he was advancing.
+
+This was unnoticed by Mrs. Berlinton, whose chagrin at his intrusion
+made her wish to walk away also; while with Lord Valhurst it only
+passed, joined to her rising, for a mark of her being but little
+accustomed to company. That Eugenia rose too was not perceived, as she
+rather lost than gained in height by standing.
+
+Most obsequiously, but most unsuccessfully, the peer made his court to
+Mrs. Berlinton; inquiring after her health, with fulsome tenderness, and
+extolling her good looks with nearly gross admiration. Mrs. Berlinton
+listened, for she was incapable of incivility; though, weary and
+disgusted, she seldom made the smallest answer.
+
+The two sisters might, with ease, equally have escaped notice, since,
+though Mrs. Berlinton occasionally addressed them the peer never turned
+from herself, had not Mrs. Mittin, abruptly entering in search of a pair
+of scissors, perceived him, and hastily called out, 'O lauk, sir, if it
+is not you! I know you again well enough! But I hope, now you see us in
+such good company as this good lady's, you'll believe me another time,
+when I tell you we're not the sort of persons you took us for! Miss
+Tyrold, my dear, I hope you've spoke to the gentleman?'
+
+Lord Valhurst with difficulty recollected Mrs. Mittin, from the very
+cursory view his otherwise occupied eyes had taken of her; but when the
+concluding words made him look at Camilla, whose youth and beauty were
+not so liable to be forgotten, he knew at once her associate, and was
+aware of the meaning of her harangue.
+
+Sorry to appear before his fair kinswoman to any disadvantage, though by
+no means displeased at an opportunity of again seeing a young creature
+he had thought so charming, he began an apology to Mrs. Mittin, while
+his eyes were fixed upon Camilla, vindicating himself from every
+intention that was not respectful, and hoping she did not so much injure
+as to mistake him.
+
+Mrs. Mittin was just beginning to answer that she knew better, when the
+words, 'Why, my Lord, how have you offended Mrs. Mittin?' dropping from
+Mrs. Berlinton, instantly new strung all her notions. To find him a
+nobleman was to find him innocent; for, though she did not quite suppose
+that a peer was not a mortal, she had never spoken to one before; and
+the power of title upon the ear, like that of beauty upon the eye, is,
+in its first novelty, all-commanding; manifold as are the drawbacks to
+the influence of either, when awe is lost by familiarity, and habitual
+reflection takes place of casual and momentary admiration. Title then,
+as well as beauty, demands mental auxiliaries; and those who possess
+either, more watched than the common race, seem of higher
+responsibility; but proportioned to the censure they draw where they
+err, is the veneration they inspire where their eminence is complete.
+Nor is this the tribute of prejudice, as those who look up to all
+superiority with envy love to aver; the impartial and candid reflectors
+upon human frailty, who, in viewing it, see with its elevation its
+surrounding temptations, will call it but the tribute of justice.
+
+To Mrs. Mittin, however, the mere sound of a title was enough; she felt
+its ascendance without examining its claims, and, dropping the lowest
+courtsie her knees could support, confusedly said, she hoped his
+lordship would excuse her speaking so quick and improperly, which she
+only did from not knowing who he was; for, if she had known him better,
+she should have been sure he was too much the gentleman to do anything
+with an ill design.
+
+His lordship courteously accepted the apology; and advanced to Camilla,
+to express his hopes she had not participated in such injurious
+suspicions.
+
+She made no answer, and Mrs. Berlinton inquired what all this meant.
+
+'I protest, my dear madam,' said the peer, 'I do not well comprehend
+myself. I only see there has been some misunderstanding; but I hope this
+young lady will believe me, when I declare, upon my honour, that I had
+no view but to offer my protection, at the time I saw her under alarm.'
+
+This was a declaration Camilla could not dispute, and even felt inclined
+to credit, from the solemnity with which it was uttered; but to discuss
+it was every way impossible, and therefore, coldly bowing her head, she
+seemed acquiescent.
+
+Lord Valhurst now pretty equally divided his attention between these two
+beautiful young women; looking at and complimenting them alternately,
+till a servant came in and said, 'The two Mr. Westwyns desire to see
+Miss Tyrold.'
+
+Camilla did not wish to avoid persons to whom she was so much obliged,
+but begged she might receive them in the next apartment, that Mrs.
+Berlinton might not be disturbed.
+
+The eager old gentleman stood with the door in one hand, and his son in
+the other, awaiting her. 'My dear young lady,' he cried, 'I have been
+hunting you out for hours. Your good governess had not a mind to give me
+your direction, thinking me, I suppose, but a troublesome old fellow;
+and I did not know which way to turn, till Hal found it out. Hal's
+pretty quick. So now, my dear young lady, let me tell you my errand;
+which I won't be tedious in, for fear, another time, you may rather not
+see me. And the more I see you, the less I like to think such a thing.
+However, with all my good will to make haste, I must premise one thing,
+as it is but fair. Hal was quite against my coming upon this business.
+But I don't think it the less right for that; and so I come. I never yet
+saw any good of a man's being ruled by his children. It only serves to
+make them think their old fathers superannuated. And if once I find Hal
+taking such a thing as that into his head, I'll cut him off with a
+shilling, well as I love him.'
+
+'Your menace, sir,' said Henry, colouring, though smiling, 'gives me no
+alarm, for I see no danger. But ... shall we not detain Miss Tyrold too
+long from her friends?'
+
+'Ay now, there comes in what I take notice to be the taste of the
+present day! a lad can hardly enter his teens, before he thinks himself
+wiser than his father, and gives him his counsel, and tells him what he
+thinks best. And, if a man i'n't upon his guard, he may be run down for
+an old dotard, before he knows where he is, and see his son setting up
+for a member of parliament, making laws for him. Now this is what I
+don't like; so I keep a tight hand upon Hal, that he mayn't do it. For
+Hal's but a boy, ma'am, though he's so clever. Not that I pretend I'd
+change him neither, for e'er an old fellow in the three kingdoms. Well,
+but, now I'll tell you what I come for. You know how angry I was about
+Hal's turning that man out of the room? well, I took all the pains I
+could to come at the bottom of the fray, intending, all the time, to
+make Hal ask the man's pardon; and now what do you think is the end?
+Why, I've found out Hal to be in the right! The man proves to be a
+worthless fellow, that has defamed the niece of my dear Sir Hugh Tyrold;
+and if Hal had lashed him with a cat-o'nine-tails, I should have been
+glad of it. I can't say I should have found fault. So you see, my dear
+young lady, I was but a cross old fellow, to be so out of sorts with
+poor Hal.'
+
+Camilla, with mingled gratitude and shame, offered her acknowledgments;
+though what she heard astonished, if possible, even more than it
+mortified her. How in the world, thought she, can I have provoked this
+slander?
+
+She knew not how little provocation is necessary for calumny; nor how
+regularly the common herd, where appearances admit two interpretations,
+decide for the worst. Girt designed her neither evil nor good; but not
+knowing who nor what she was, simply filled up the doubts in his own
+mind, by the bias of his own character.
+
+Confused as much as herself, Henry proposed immediately to retire; and,
+as Camilla did not invite them to stay, Mr. Westwyn could not refuse his
+consent: though, sending his son out first, he stopt to say, in a low
+voice, 'What do you think of Hal, my dear young lady? I'n't he a brave
+rogue? And did not you tell me I might be proud of my son? And so I am,
+I promise you! How do you think my old friend will like Hal? I shall
+take him to Cleves. He's another sort of lad to Master Clermont! I hope,
+my dear young lady, you don't like your cousin? He's but a sad spark, I
+give you my word. Not a bit like Hal.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When the carriage came for Eugenia, who was self-persuaded this day was
+the most felicitous of her life, she went so reluctantly, that Mrs.
+Berlinton, caught by her delight in the visit, though unsuspicious of
+its motive, invited her to renew it the next morning.
+
+At night, Mrs. Mittin, following Camilla to her chamber, said, 'See
+here, my dear! what do you say to this? Did you ever see a prettier
+cloak? look at the cut of it, look at the capes! look at the mode! And
+as for the lace, I don't think all Southampton can produce its fellow;
+what do you say to it, my dear?'
+
+'What every body must say to it, Mrs. Mittin; that it's remarkably
+pretty.'
+
+'Well, now try it on. There's a set! there's a fall off the shoulders!
+do but look at it in the glass. I'd really give something you could but
+see how it becomes you. Now, do pray, only tell me what you think of
+it?'
+
+'Always the same, Mrs. Mittin; that it's extremely pretty.'
+
+'Well, my dear, then, now comes out the secret! It's your own! you may
+well stare; but it's true; it's your own, my dear!'
+
+She demanded an explanation; and Mrs. Mittin said, that, having taken
+notice that her cloak looked very mean by the side of Mrs. Berlinton's,
+when she compared them together, she resolved upon surprising her with a
+new one as quick as possible. She had, therefore, got the pattern of
+Mrs. Berlinton's and cut it out, and then got the mode at an
+haberdasher's, and then the lace at a milliner's, and then set to work
+so hard, that she had got it done already.
+
+Camilla, seeing the materials were all infinitely richer than any she
+had been accustomed to wear, was extremely chagrined by such
+officiousness, and gravely inquired how much this would add to her
+debts.
+
+'I don't know yet, my dear; but I had all the things as cheap as
+possible; but as it was not all at one shop, I can't be clear as to the
+exact sum.'
+
+Camilla, who had determined to avoid even the shadow of a debt, and to
+forbear every possible expence till she had not one remaining, was now
+not merely vexed, but angry. Mrs. Mittin, however, upon whose feelings
+that most troublesome of all qualities to its possessors, delicacy,
+never obtruded, went on, extolling her own performance, and praising her
+own good nature, without discovering that either were impertinent; and,
+so far from conceiving it possible they could be unwelcome, that she
+attributed the concern of Camilla to modesty, on account of her trouble;
+and mistook her displeasure for distress, what she could do for her in
+return. And, indeed, when she finished her double panegyric upon the
+cloak and its maker, with confessing she had sat up the whole night, in
+order to get it done, Camilla considered herself as too much obliged to
+her intention to reproach any further its want of judgment; and
+concluded by merely entreating she would change her note, pay for it
+immediately, discharge her other accounts with all speed, and make no
+future purchase for her whatsoever.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_A Scuffle_
+
+
+Eugenia failed not to observe her appointment the next morning, which
+was devoted to elegiac poetry. A taste so similar operated imperceptibly
+upon Mrs. Berlinton, who detained her till she was compelled to return
+to prepare for a great ball at the public rooms; the profound
+deliberations of Miss Margland, how to exhibit her fair pupil, having
+finished, like most deliberations upon such subjects, by doing that
+which is done by every body else upon the same occasion.
+
+Sir Hugh had given directions to Miss Margland to clear his three nieces
+equally of all expenses relative to public places. Camilla, therefore,
+being entitled to a ticket, and having brought with her whatever was
+unspoilt of her Tunbridge apparel, thought this the most seasonable
+opportunity she could take for again seeing Edgar, who, in their present
+delicate situation, would no longer, probably, think it right to inquire
+for her at a stranger's.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton had not purposed appearing in public, till she had formed
+her own party; but an irrepressible curiosity to see Indiana induced her
+to accompany Camilla, with no other attendant than Lord Valhurst.
+
+Mrs. Mittin sought vainly to be of the party; Mrs. Berlinton, though
+permitting her stay in her house, and treating her with constant
+civility, had no idea of including her in her own society, which she
+aimed to have always distinguished by either rank, talents, or admirers:
+and Camilla, who now felt her integrity involved in her economy, was
+firm against every hint for assisting her with a ticket.
+
+Lord Valhurst, who alone, of the fashionable sojourners, had yet
+discovered the arrival of Mrs. Berlinton, was highly gratified by this
+opportunity of attending two such fair creatures in public.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, as usual, was the last to enter the room; for she never
+began the duties of the toilette till after tea-time. Two such youthful
+beauties were not likely to pass without observation.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, already no longer new to it, had alternately the air of
+receiving it with the most winning modesty, or of not noticing she
+received it at all: for though, but a few months since, she had scarcely
+been even seen by twenty persons, and even of those had never met a
+fixed eye without a blush, the feelings are so often the mere
+concomitants of the habits, that she could now already know herself the
+principal object of a whole assembly, without any sensation of timidity,
+or appearance of confusion. To be bold was not in her nature, which was
+soft and amiable; but admiration is a dangerous assaulter of diffidence,
+and familiarity makes almost any distinction met unmoved.
+
+Camilla was too completely engrossed by her heart, to think of her
+appearance.
+
+Lord Valhurst, from his time of life, seemed to be their father, though
+his adulating air as little suited that character as his inclination. He
+scarce knew upon which most to lavish his compliments, or to regale his
+eyes, and turned, half expiring with ecstasy, from the soft charms of
+his kinswoman, with something, he thought, resembling animation, to the
+more quickening influence of her bright-eyed companion.
+
+But the effect produced upon the company at large by the radiant beauty
+of Indiana, who had entered some time, was still more striking than any
+immediate powers from all the bewitching graces of Mrs. Berlinton, and
+all the intelligent loveliness of Camilla. Her faultless face, her
+perfect form, raised wonder in one sex, and overpowered envy in the
+other. The men looked at her, as at something almost too celestial for
+their devoirs; the women, even the most charming amongst them, saw
+themselves distanced from all pretensions to rivalry. She was followed,
+but not approached; gazed at, as if a statue, and inquired after,
+rather as a prodigy than a mortal.
+
+This awful homage spread not, however, to her party; the watchful but
+disdainful eyes of Miss Margland obtained for herself, even with usury,
+all the haughty contempt they bestowed upon others: Eugenia was
+pronounced to be a foil, brought merely in ridicule: and Dr. Orkborne,
+whom Miss Margland, though detesting, forced into the set, in preference
+to being without a man, to hand them from the carriage, and to call it
+for them at night, had a look so forlorn and distressed, while obliged
+to parade with them up and down the room, that he seemed rather a
+prisoner than an esquire, and more to require a guardian to prevent his
+escaping himself, than to serve for one in securing his young charges
+from any attack.
+
+Miss Margland augured nothing short of half a score proposals of
+marriage the next day, from the evident brilliancy of this first opening
+into life of her beautiful pupil; whose own eyes, while they dazzled all
+others, sought eagerly those of Melmond, which they meant to vanquish,
+if not annihilate.
+
+The first care of Miss Margland was to make herself and her young ladies
+known to the master of the ceremonies. Indiana needed not that
+precaution to be immediately the choice of the most elegant man in the
+room; yet she was piqued, not delighted, and Miss Margland felt still
+more irritated, that he proved to be only a baronet, though a nobleman,
+at the same time, had presented himself to Eugenia. It is true the peer
+was ruined; but his title was unimpaired; and though the fortune of the
+baronet, like his person, was in its prime, Indiana thought herself
+degraded by his hand, since the partner of her cousin was of superior
+rank.
+
+Eugenia, insensible to this honour, looked only for Melmond; not like
+Indiana, splendidly to see and kill, but silently to view and venerate.
+Melmond, however, was not there; he knew his little command over his
+passion, in presence of its object; he knew, too, that the expence of
+public places was not beyond the propriety of his income, and virtuously
+devoted his evening to his sick aunt.
+
+Edgar had waited impatiently the entrance of Camilla. His momentary
+sight of Lord Valhurst, at the bathing-room, did not bring him to his
+remembrance in his present more shewy apparel, and he was gratified to
+see only an old beau in her immediate suite. He did not deem it proper,
+as they were now circumstanced, to ask her to dance; but he quietly
+approached and bowed to her, and addressed some civil inquiries to Mrs.
+Berlinton. The Westwyns had waited for her at the door; and the father
+had immediately made her give her hand to Henry to join the dancers.
+
+'That's a charming girl,' cried old Mr. Westwyn, when she was gone; 'a
+very charming girl, I promise you. I have taken a prodigious liking to
+her; and so has Hal.'
+
+Revived by this open speech, which made him hope there was no serious
+design, Edgar smiled upon the old gentleman, who had addressed it to the
+whole remaining party; and said, 'You have not known that young lady
+long, I believe, sir?'
+
+'No, sir; but a little while; but that I don't mind. A long while and a
+short while is all one, when I like a person: for I don't think how many
+years they've got over their heads since first I saw them, but how many
+good things they've got on the inside their hearts to make me want to
+see them again. Her uncle's the dearest friend I have in the world; and
+when I go from this place, I shall make him a visit; for I'm sure of a
+welcome. But he has never seen my Hal. However, that good girl will be
+sure to speak a kind word for him, I know; for she thinks very well of
+him; she told me herself, I might be proud of my son. I can't say but
+I've loved the girl ever since for it.'
+
+Edgar was so much pleased with the perfectly natural character of this
+old gentleman, that, though alarmed at his intended call upon the favour
+of Sir Hugh, through the influence of Camilla, for Henry, he would yet
+have remained in his society, had he not been driven from it by the
+junction of young Lynmere, whose shallow insolence he thought
+insupportable.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, who declined dancing, had arrived so late, that when
+Henry led back Camilla, the company was summoned to the tea-table. She
+was languishing for an introduction to Indiana, the absence of Melmond
+obviating all present objection to their meeting; she therefore gave
+Camilla the welcome task to propose that the two parties should unite.
+
+Many years had elapsed since Miss Margland had received so sensible a
+gratification; and, in the coalition which took place, she displayed
+more of civility in a few minutes, than she had exerted during the whole
+period of her Yorkshire and Cleves residence.
+
+Notwithstanding all she had heard of her charms, Mrs. Berlinton still
+saw with surprise and admiration the exquisite face and form of the
+chosen of her brother, whom she now so sincerely bewailed, that, had her
+own wealth been personal or transferrable, she would not have hesitated
+in sharing it with him, to aid his better success.
+
+Lord Valhurst adhered tenaciously to his kinswoman; and the three
+gentlemen who had danced the last dances with Indiana, Eugenia, and
+Camilla, asserted the privilege of attending their partners at the
+tea-table.
+
+In a few minutes, Lynmere, coming up to them, with 'Well, have you got
+any thing here one can touch?' leant his hand on the edge, and his whole
+body over the table, to take a view at his ease of its contents.
+
+'Suppose there were nothing, sir?' said old Westwyn; 'look round, and
+see what you could want.'
+
+'Really, sir,' said Miss Margland, between whom and Camilla Lynmere had
+squeezed himself a place, 'you don't use much ceremony!'
+
+Having taken some tea, he found it intolerable, and said he must have a
+glass of Champagne.
+
+'La, brother!' cried Indiana, 'if you bring any wine, I can't bear to
+stay.'
+
+Miss Margland said the same; but he whistled, and looked round him
+without answering.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, who, though she had thought his uncommonly fine person
+an excuse for his intrusion, thought nothing could excuse this
+ill-breeding, proposed they should leave the tea-table, and walk.
+
+'Sit still, ladies,' said Mr. Westwyn, 'and drink your tea in peace.'
+Then, turning to Lynmere, 'I wonder,' he cried, 'you a'n't ashamed of
+yourself! If you were a son of mine, I'll tell you what; I'd lock you
+up! I'd serve you as I did when I carried you over to Leipsic, eight
+years ago. I always hated pert boys. I can't fancy 'em.'
+
+Lynmere, affecting not to hear him, though inwardly firing, called
+violently after a waiter; and, in mere futile vengeance, not only gave
+an order for Champagne, but demanded some Stilton cheese.
+
+'Cheese!' exclaimed Miss Margland, 'if you order any cheese, I can't so
+much as stay in the room. Think what a nauseous smell it will make!'
+
+The man answered, they had no Stilton cheese in the house, but the very
+best of every other sort.
+
+Lynmere, who had only given this command to shew his defiance of
+control, seized, with equal avidity, the opportunity to abuse the
+waiter; affirming he belonged to the worst served hotel in Christendom.
+
+The man walked off in dudgeon, and Mr. Westwyn, losing his anger in his
+astonishment at this effrontery, said, 'And pray, Mr. Lynmere, what do
+you pretend to know of Stilton cheese? do they make it at Leipsic? did
+you ever so much as taste it in your life?'
+
+'O, yes! excellent! excellentissimo! I can eat no other.'
+
+'Eat no other! it's well my Hal don't say the same! I'd churn him to a
+cheese himself if he did! And pray, Mr. Lynmere, be so good as to let me
+know how you got it there?'
+
+'Ways and means, sir; ways and means!'
+
+'Why you did not send across the sea for it?'
+
+'A travelled man, sir, thinks no more of what you call across the sea,
+than you, that live always over your own fire-side, think of stepping
+across a kennel.'
+
+'Well, sir, well,' said the old gentleman, now very much piqued, 'I
+can't but say I feel some concern for my old friend, to have his money
+doused about at such a rantipole rate. A boy to be sending over out of
+Germany into England for Stilton cheese! I wish it had been Hal with all
+my heart! I promise you I'd have given him enough of it. If the least
+little thought of the kind was but once to have got in his head, I'd
+have taken my best oaken stick, and have done him the good office to
+have helped it out for him: and have made him thank me after too! I hate
+daintiness; especially in boys. I have no great patience with it.'
+
+Only more incensed, Lynmere called aloud for his Champagne. The waiter
+civilly told him, it was not usual to bring wine during tea: but he
+persisted; and Mr. Westwyn, who saw the ladies all rising,
+authoritatively, told the waiter to mind no such directions. Lynmere,
+who had entered the ball-room in his riding-dress, raised a switch at
+the man, which he durst not raise at Mr. Westwyn, and protested, in a
+threatening attitude, he would lay it across his shoulders, if he obeyed
+not. The man, justly provoked, thought himself authorised to snatch if
+from him: Clermont resisted; a fierce scuffle ensued; and though Henry,
+by immediate intervention, could have parted them, Mr. Westwyn insisted
+there should be no interference, saying, 'If any body's helped, let it
+be the waiter; for he's here to do his duty: he don't come only to
+behave unmannerly, for his own pleasure. And if I see him hard run, it's
+odds but I lend him my own fist to right him.--I like fair play.'
+
+The female party, in very serious alarm at this unpleasant scene, rose
+to hurry away. Lord Valhurst was ambitious to suffice as guardian to
+both his fair charges; but Henry, when prohibited from stopping the
+affray, offered his services to Camilla, who could not refuse them; and
+Mrs. Berlinton, active and impatient, flew on foremost; with more speed
+than his lordship could follow, or even keep in sight. Indiana was
+handed out by her new adorer, the young baronet; and Eugenia was
+assisted by her new assailer, the young nobleman.
+
+Edgar, who had hurried to Camilla at the first tumult, was stung to the
+heart to see who handed her away; and, forcing a passage, followed, till
+Henry, the envied Henry, deposited her in the carriage of Mrs.
+Berlinton.
+
+The confusion in the room, meanwhile, was not likely soon to decrease,
+for old Mr. Westwyn, delighted by this mortifying chastisement to
+Clermont, would permit neither mediation nor assistance on his side;
+saying, with great glee, 'It will do him a great deal of good! My poor
+old friend will bless me for it. This is a better lesson than he got in
+all Leipsic. Let him feel that a Man's a Man; and not take it into his
+head a person's to stand still to be switched, when he's doing his duty,
+according to his calling. Switching a man is a bad thing. I can't say I
+like it. A gentleman should always use good words; and then a poor man's
+proud to serve him; or, if he's insolent for nothing, he may trounce him
+and welcome. I've no objection.'
+
+Miss Margland, meanwhile, had not been remiss in what she esteemed a
+most capital feminine accomplishment, screaming; though, in its
+exercise, she had failed of any success; since, while her voice called
+remark, her countenance repelled its effect. Yet as she saw that not one
+lady of the group retreated unattended, she thought it a disgrace to
+seem the only female, who, from internal courage, or external neglect,
+should retire alone; she therefore called upon Dr. Orkborne, conjuring,
+in a shrill and pathetic voice, meant more for all who surrounded than
+for himself, that he would protect her.
+
+The Doctor, who had kept his place in defiance of all sort of
+inconvenience, either to himself or to others; and who, with some
+curiosity, was viewing the combat, which he was mentally comparing with
+certain pugilistic games of old, was now, for the first time in the
+evening, receiving some little entertainment, and therefore composedly
+answered, 'I have a very good place here, ma'am; and I would rather not
+quit it till this scene is over.'
+
+'So you won't come, then, Doctor?' cried she, modulating into a soft
+whine the voice which rage, not terror, rendered tremulous.
+
+Dr. Orkborne, who was any thing rather than loquacious, having given one
+answer, said no more.
+
+Miss Margland appealed to all present upon the indecorum of a lady's
+being kept to witness such unbecoming violence, and upon the unheard-of
+inattention of the Doctor: but a short, 'Certainly!--' 'To be sure,
+ma'am!--' or, 'It's very shocking indeed!' with a hasty decampment from
+her neighbourhood, was all of sympathy she procured.
+
+The entrance, at length, of the master of the house, stopt the affray,
+by calling off the waiter. Clermont, then, though wishing to extirpate
+old Westwyn from the earth, and ready to eat his own flesh with fury at
+the double disgrace he had endured, affected a loud halloo, as if he had
+been contending for his amusement; and protesting Bob, the waiter, was a
+fine fellow, went off with great apparent satisfaction.
+
+'Now, then, at least, sir,' cried Miss Margland, imperiously to the
+Doctor, who, still ruminating upon the late contest, kept his seat, 'I
+suppose you'll condescend to take care of me to the coach?'
+
+'These modern clothes are very much in the way,' said the Doctor,
+gravely; 'and give a bad effect to attitudes.' He rose, however, but not
+knowing what _to take care of a lady to a coach_ meant, stood resolutely
+still, till she was forced, in desperation, to walk on alone. He then
+slowly followed, keeping many paces behind, notwithstanding her
+continually looking back; and when, with a heavy sigh at her hard fate,
+she got, unassisted, into the carriage, where her young ladies were
+waiting, he tranquilly mounted after her, tolerably reconciled to the
+loss of his evening, by some new annotations it had suggested for his
+work, relative to the games of antiquity.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_A Youthful Effusion_
+
+
+Camilla now thought herself safe in harbour; the storms all over, the
+dangers all past, and but a light gale or two wanting to make good her
+landing on the bosom of permanent repose. This gale, this propitious
+gale, she thought ready to blow at her call; for she deemed it no other
+than the breath of jealousy. She had seen Edgar, though he knew her to
+be protected, follow her to the coach, and she had seen, by the light
+afforded from the lamps of the carriage, that her safety from the crowd
+and tumult was not the sole object of his watchfulness, since though
+that, at the instant she turned round, was obviously secure, his
+countenance exhibited the strongest marks of disturbance. The secret
+spring, therefore, she now thought, that was to re-unite them, was in
+her own possession.
+
+All the counsels of Mrs. Arlbery upon this subject occurred to her; and
+imagining she had hitherto erred from a simple facility, she rejoiced in
+the accident which had pointed her to a safer path, and shewn her that,
+in the present disordered state of the opinions of Edgar, the only way
+to a lasting accommodation was to alarm his security, by asserting her
+own independence.
+
+Her difficulty, however, was still considerable as to the means. The
+severe punishment she had received, and the self blame and penitence she
+had incurred, from her experiment with Sir Sedley Clarendel, all
+rendered, too, abortive, by Edgar's contempt of the object, determined
+her to suffer no hopes, no feelings of her own, to engross her ever more
+from weighing those of another. The end, therefore, of her deliberation
+was to shew general gaiety, without appropriate favour, and to renew
+solicitude on his part by a displayed ease of mind on her own.
+
+Elated with this idea, she determined upon every possible public
+exhibition by which she could execute it to the best advantage. Mrs.
+Berlinton had but to appear, to secure the most fashionable persons at
+Southampton for her parties, and soon renewed the same course of life
+she had lived at Tunbridge, of seeing company either at home or abroad
+every day, except when some accidental plan offered a scheme of more
+novelty.
+
+Upon all these occasions, young Westwyn, though wholly unsought, and
+even unthought of by Camilla, was instinctively and incautiously the
+most alert to second her plan; he was her first partner when she danced,
+her constant attendant when she walked, and always in wait to converse
+with her when she was seated; while, not purposing to engage him, she
+perceived not his fast growing regard, and intending to be open to all
+alike, observed not the thwarting effect to her design of this peculiar
+assiduity.
+
+By old Mr. Westwyn this intercourse was yet more urgently forwarded.
+Bewitched with Camilla, he carried his son to her wherever she appeared,
+and said aloud to everybody but herself: 'If the boy and girl like one
+another, they shall have one another; and I won't inquire what she's
+worth; for she thinks so well of my son, that I'd rather he'd have her
+than an empress. Money goes but a little way to make people happy; and
+true love's not a thing to be got every day; so if she has a mind to my
+Hal, and Hal has a mind to her, why, if they have not enough, he must
+work hard and get more. I don't like to cross young people. Better let a
+man labour with his hands, than fret away his spirit. Neither a boy nor
+a girl are good for much when they've got their hearts broke.'
+
+This new experiment of Camilla, like every other deduced from false
+reasoning, and formed upon false principles, was flattering in its
+promise, pernicious in its progress, and abortive in its performance.
+Edgar saw with agony what he conceived the ascendance of a new
+attachment built upon the declension of all regard for himself; and in
+the first horror of his apprehensions, would have resisted the
+supplanter by enforcing his own final claim; but Dr. Marchmont
+represented that, since he had heard in silence his right to that claim
+solemnly withdrawn, he had better first ascertain if this apparent
+connection with young Westwyn were the motive, or only the consequence
+of that resumption: 'If the first be the case,' he added, 'you must
+trust her no more; a heart so inflammable as to be kindled into passion
+by a mere accidental blaze of gallantry and valour, can have nothing in
+consonance with the chaste purity and fidelity your character requires
+and merits: If the last, investigate whether the net in which she is
+entangling herself is that of levity, delighting in change, or of pique,
+disguising its own agitation in efforts to agitate others.'
+
+'Alas!' cried the melancholy Edgar, 'in either case, she is no more the
+artless Camilla I first adored! that fatal connection at the Grove,
+formed while her character, pure, white, and spotless, was in its
+enchanting, but dangerous state of first ductility, has already broken
+into that clear transparent singleness of mind, so beautiful in its
+total ignorance of every species of scheme, every sort of double
+measure, every idea of secret view and latent expedient!'
+
+'Repine not, however, at the connection till you know whether she owe to
+it her defects, or only their manifestation. A man should see the woman
+he would marry in many situations, ere he can judge what chance he may
+have of happiness with her in any. Though now and then 'tis a blessed,
+'tis always a perilous state; but the man who has to weather its storms,
+should not be remiss in studying the clouds which precede them.'
+
+'Ah, Doctor! by this delay ... by these experiments ... should I lose
+her!...'
+
+'If by finding her unworthy, where is the loss?'
+
+Edgar sighed, but acknowledged this question to be unanswerable.
+
+'Think, my dear young friend, what would be your sufferings to discover
+any radical, inherent failing, when irremediably hers! run not into the
+very common error of depending upon the gratitude of your wife after
+marriage, for the inequality of her fortune before your union. She who
+has no fortune at all, owes you no more for your alliance, than she who
+has thousands; for you do not marry her because she has no fortune! you
+marry her because you think she has some endowment, mental or personal,
+which you conclude will conduce to your happiness; and she, on her part,
+accepts you, because she supposes you or your situation will contribute
+to hers. The object may be different, but neither side is indebted to
+the other, since each has self, only, in contemplation; and thus, in
+fact, rich or poor, high or low, whatever be the previous distinction
+between the parties, on the hour of marriage they begin as equals. The
+obligation and the debt of gratitude can only commence when the knot is
+tied: self, then, may give way to sympathy; and whichever, from that
+moment, most considers the other, becomes immediately the creditor in
+the great account of life and happiness.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+While Camilla, in gay ignorance of danger, and awake only to hope,
+pursued her new course, Eugenia had the infinite delight of improving
+daily and even hourly in the good graces of Mrs. Berlinton; who soon
+discovered how wide from justice to that excellent young creature was
+all judgment that could be formed from her appearance. She found that
+she was as elegant in her taste for letters as herself, and far more
+deeply cultivated in their knowledge; that her manners were gentle, her
+sentiments were elevated, yet that her mind was humble; the same authors
+delighted and the same passages struck them; they met every morning;
+they thought every morning too short, and their friendship, in a very
+few days, knit by so many bands of sympathy, was as fully established as
+that which already Mrs. Berlinton had formed with Camilla.
+
+To Eugenia this treaty of amity was a delicious poison, which, while it
+enchanted her faculties by day, preyed upon her vitals by night. She
+frequently saw Melmond, and though a melancholy bow was almost all the
+notice she ever obtained from him, the countenance with which he made
+it, his air, his figure, his face, nay his very dress, for the half
+instant he bestowed upon her, occupied all her thoughts till she saw him
+again, and had another to con over and dwell upon.
+
+Melmond, inexpressibly wretched at the deprivation of all hope of
+Indiana, at the very period when fortune seemed to favour his again
+pursuing her, dreamt not of this partiality. His time was devoted to
+deliberating upon some lucrative scheme of future life, which his
+literary turn of mind rendered difficult of selection, and which his
+refined love of study and retirement made hateful to him to undertake.
+
+He was kind, however, and even consoling to his aunt, who saw his nearly
+desolate state with a compunction bitterly increased by finding she had
+thrown their joint properties, with her own person, into the hands of a
+rapacious tyrant. To soften her repentance, and allow her the soothing
+of all she could spare of her own time, Mrs. Berlinton invited her to
+her own house. Mr. Ulst, of course included in the invitation, made the
+removal with alacrity, not for the pleasure it procured his wife, but
+for the money it saved himself; and Mrs. Mittin voluntarily resigned to
+them the apartment she had chosen for her own, by way of a little
+peace-offering for her undesired length of stay; for still, though
+incessantly Camilla inquired for her account, she had received no answer
+from the creditors, and was obliged to wait for another and another
+post.
+
+Mrs. Ulst, though not well enough, at present, to see company, and at
+all times, fanatically averse to every species of recreation, could not
+entirely avoid Eugenia, whose visits were constant every morning, and
+whose expected inheritance made a similar wish occur for her nephew,
+with that which had disposed of her niece; for she flattered herself
+that if once she could see them both in possession of great wealth, her
+mind would be more at ease.
+
+She communicated this idea to Mr. Ulst, who, most willing, also, to get
+rid of the reproach of the poverty and ruin of Melmond, imparted it,
+with strong exhortation for its promotion, to the young man; but he
+heard with disdain the mercenary project, and protested he would daily
+labour for his bread, in preference to prostituting his probity, by
+soliciting a regard he could never return, for the acquirement of a
+fortune which he never could merit.
+
+Mr. Ulst, much too hard to feel this as any reflection upon himself,
+applied for the interest of Mrs. Berlinton; but she so completely
+thought with her brother, that she would not interfere, till Mr. Ulst
+made some observations upon Eugenia herself, that inclined her to waver.
+
+He soon remarked, in that young and artless character, the symptoms of
+the partiality she had conceived in favour of Melmond, which, when once
+pointed out, could not be mistaken by Mrs. Berlinton, who, though more
+than equally susceptible with Eugenia, was self-occupied, and saw
+neither her emotion at his name, nor her timid air at his approach, till
+Mr. Ulst, whose discernment had been quickened by his wishes, told her
+when, and for what, to look.
+
+Touched now, herself, by the double happiness that might ensue, from a
+gratified choice to Eugenia, and a noble fortune to her brother, she
+took up the cause, with delicacy, yet with pity; representing all the
+charming mental and intellectual accomplishments of Eugenia, and
+beseeching him not to sacrifice both his interest and his peace, in
+submitting to a hopeless passion for one object, while he inflicted all
+its horrors upon another.
+
+Melmond, amazed and softened, listened and sighed; but protested such a
+change, from all of beauty to all of deformity, was impracticable; and
+that though he revered the character she painted, and was sensible to
+the honour of such a preference, he must be base, double, and perjured,
+to take advantage of her great, yet unaccountable goodness, by heartless
+professions of feigned participation.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, to whom sentiment was irresistible, urged the matter no
+longer, but wept over her brother, with compassionate admiration.
+
+Another day only passed, when Mrs. Mittin picked up a paper upon the
+stairs, which she saw fall from the pocket of Eugenia, in drawing out
+her handkerchief, but which, determining to read ere she returned, she
+found contained these lines.
+
+'O Reason! friend of the troubled breast, guide of the wayward fancy,
+moderator of the flights of hope, and sinkings of despair, Eugenia calls
+thee!'
+
+    O! to a feeble, suppliant Maid,
+    Light of Reason, lend thy aid!
+    And with thy mild, thy lucid ray,
+        Point her the way
+    To genial calm and mental joy!
+    From Passion far! whose flashes bright
+        Startle--affright--
+        Yet ah! invite!
+    With varying powers attract, repel,
+        Now fiercely beam,
+        Now softly gleam,
+        With magic spell
+    Charm to consume, win to destroy!
+    Ah! lead her from the chequer'd glare
+        So false, so fair!--
+    Ah, quick from Passion bid her fly,
+    Its sway repulse, its wiles defy;
+    And to a feeble, suppliant heart
+    Thy aid, O Reason's light, impart!
+
+    Next, Eugenia, point thy prayer
+      That He whom all thy wishes bless,
+      Whom all thy tenderest thoughts confess,
+    Thy calm may prove, thy peace may share.
+    O, if the griefs to him assign'd,
+    To thee might pass--thy strengthened mind
+    Would meet all woe, support all pain,
+    Suffering despise, complaint disdain,
+    Brac'd with new nerves each ill would brave,
+    From Melmond but one pang to save!'
+
+Overjoyed by the possession of the important secret this little juvenile
+effusion of tenderness betrayed, Mrs. Mittin ran with it to Mrs.
+Berlinton, and without mentioning she had seen whence the paper came,
+said she had found it upon the stairs: for even those who have too
+little delicacy to attribute to treachery a clandestine indulgence of
+curiosity, have a certain instinctive sense of its unfairness, which
+they evince without avowing, by the care with which they soften their
+motives, or their manner, of according themselves this species of
+gratification.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, who scrupulously would have withheld from looking into a
+letter, could not see a copy of verses, and recognise the hand of
+Eugenia, already known to her by frequent notes, and refrain reading.
+That she should find any thing personal, did not occur to her; to
+peruse, therefore, a manuscript ode or sonnet, which the humility of
+Eugenia might never voluntarily reveal, caused her no hesitation; and
+she ran through the lines with the warmest delight, till, coming
+suddenly upon the end, she burst into tears, and flew to the apartment
+of her brother.
+
+She put the paper into his hand without a word. He read it hastily.
+Surprised, confounded, disordered, he looked at his sister for some
+explanation or comment; she was still silently in tears; he read it
+again, and with yet greater emotion; when, holding it back to her, 'Why,
+my sister,' he cried, 'why would she give you this? why would you
+deliver it? Ah! leave me, in pity, firm in integrity, though fallen in
+fortune!'
+
+'My brother, my dear brother, this matchless creature merits not so
+degrading an idea; she gave me not the precious paper ... she knows not
+I possess it; it was found upon the stairs: Ah! far from thus openly
+confessing her unhappy prepossession, she conceals it from every human
+being; even her beloved sister, I am convinced, is untrusted; upon paper
+only she has breathed it, and breathed it as you see ... with a
+generosity of soul that is equal to the delicacy of her conduct.'
+
+Melmond now felt subdued. To have excited such a regard in a mind that
+seemed so highly cultivated, and so naturally elegant, could not fail to
+touch him; and the concluding line deeply penetrated him with tender
+though melancholy gratitude. He took the hand of his sister, returned
+her the paper, and was going to say: 'Do whatever you think proper;' but
+the idea of losing all right to adore Indiana checked and silenced him;
+and mournfully telling her he required a little time for reflection, he
+entreated to be left to himself.
+
+He was not suffered to ruminate in quiet; Mrs. Mittin, proud of having
+any thing to communicate to a relation of Mrs. Berlinton's, made an
+opportunity to sit with Mrs. Ulst, purposely to communicate to her the
+discovery that Miss Eugenia Tyrold was in love with, and wrote verses
+upon, her nephew. Melmond was instantly sent for; the important secret
+was enlarged upon with remonstrances so pathetic, not to throw away such
+an invitation to the most brilliant good fortune, in order to cast
+himself, with his vainly nourished passion, upon immediate hardships, or
+lasting penury; that reason as well as interest, compelled him to
+listen; and, after a severe conflict, he gave his reluctant promise to
+see Eugenia upon her next visit, and endeavour to bias his mind to the
+connexion that seemed likely to ensue.
+
+Camilla, who was in total ignorance of the whole of this business,
+received, during the dinner, an incoherent note from her sister,
+conjuring that she would search immediately, but privately, in her own
+chamber, in the dressing-room of Mrs. Berlinton, in the hall, and upon
+the stairs, for a paper in her hand-writing, which she had somewhere
+lost, but which she besought her, by all that she held dear, not to read
+when she found; protesting she should shut herself up for ever from the
+whole world, if a syllable of what she had written on that paper were
+read by a human being.
+
+Camilla could not endure to keep her sister a moment in this suspensive
+state, and made an excuse for quitting the table that she might
+instantly seek the manuscript. Melmond and Mrs. Berlinton both
+conjectured the contents of the billet, and felt much for the modest and
+timid Eugenia; but Mrs. Mittin could not confine herself to silent
+suggestion; she rose also, and running after Camilla, said: 'My dear
+Miss, has your sister sent to you to look for any thing?'
+
+Camilla asked the meaning of her inquiry; and she then owned she had
+picked up, from the stairs, a sort of love letter, in which Miss Eugenia
+had wrote couplets upon Mr. Melmond.
+
+Inexpressibly astonished, Camilla demanded their restoration; this soon
+produced a complete explanation, and while, with equal surprise and
+concern, she learnt the secret of Eugenia, and its discovery to its
+object, she could not but respect and honour all she gathered from Mrs.
+Berlinton of the behaviour of her brother upon the detection; and his
+equal freedom from presumptuous vanity, or mercenary projects, induced
+her to believe her sister's choice, though wholly new to her, was well
+founded; and that if he could conquer his early propensity for Indiana,
+he seemed, of all the characters she knew, Edgar alone and always
+excepted, the most peculiarly formed for the happiness of Eugenia.
+
+She begged to have the paper, and entreated her sister might never know
+into whose hands it had fallen. This was cheerfully agreed to; but Mrs.
+Mittin, during the conference, had already flown to Eugenia, and amidst
+a torrent of offers of service, and professions of power to do any thing
+she pleased for her, suffered her to see that her attachment was
+betrayed to the whole house.
+
+The agony of Eugenia was excessive; and she resolved to keep her chamber
+till she returned to Cleves, that she might neither see nor be seen any
+more by Melmond nor his family. Scarce could she bear to be broken in
+upon even by Camilla, who tenderly hastened to console her. She hid her
+blushing conscious face, and protested she would inhabit only her own
+apartment for the rest of her life.
+
+The active Mrs. Mittin failed not to carry back the history of this
+resolution; and Melmond, to his unspeakable regret in being thus
+precipitated, thought himself called upon in all decency and propriety
+to an immediate declaration. He could not, however, assume fortitude to
+make it in person; nor yet was his mind sufficiently composed for
+writing; he commissioned, therefore, his sister to be the bearer of his
+overtures.
+
+He charged her to make no mention of the verses, which it was fitting
+should, on his part, pass unnoticed, though she could not but be
+sensible his present address was their consequence; he desired her
+simply to state his high reverence for her virtues and talents, and his
+consciousness of the inadequacy of his pretensions to any claim upon
+them, except what arose from the grateful integrity of esteem with which
+her happiness should become the first object of his future life, if she
+forbade not his application for the consent of Sir Hugh and Mr. Tyrold
+to solicit her favour.
+
+With respect to Indiana, he begged her, unless questioned, to be wholly
+silent. To say his flame for that adorable creature was extinguished
+would be utterly false; but his peace, as much as his honour, would lead
+him to combat, henceforth, by all the means in his power, his ill-fated
+and woe-teeming passion.
+
+This commission was in perfect consonance with the feelings of Mrs.
+Berlinton, who, though with difficulty she gained admission, executed it
+with the most tender delicacy to the terrified Eugenia, who, amazed and
+trembling, pale and incredulous, so little understood what she heard, so
+little was able to believe what she wished, that, when Mrs. Berlinton,
+with an affectionate embrace, begged her answer, she asked if it was not
+Indiana of whom she was speaking!
+
+Mrs. Berlinton then thought it right to be explicit: she acknowledged
+the early passion of her brother for that young lady, but stated that,
+long before he had ventured to think of herself, he had determined its
+conquest; and that what originally was the prudence of compulsion, was
+now, from his altered prospects in life, become choice: 'And believe
+me,' added she, 'from my long and complete knowledge of the honour and
+the delicacy of his opinion, as well as of the tenderness and gratitude
+of his nature, the woman who shall once receive his vows, will find his
+life devoted to the study of her happiness.'
+
+Eugenia flew into her arms, hung upon her bosom, wept, blushed, smiled,
+and sighed, alternately; one moment wished Indiana in possession of her
+fortune, the next thought she herself, in all but beauty, more formed
+for his felicity, and ultimately gave her tacit but transported consent
+to the application.
+
+Melmond, upon receiving it, heaved what he fondly hoped would be his
+last sigh for Indiana; and ordering his horse, set off immediately for
+Cleves and Etherington; determined frankly to state his small income and
+crushed expectations; and feeling almost equally indifferent to
+acceptance or rejection.
+
+Camilla devoted the afternoon to her agitated but enraptured sister, who
+desired her secret might spread no further, till the will of her father
+and uncle should decide its fate; but the loquacious Mrs. Mittin, having
+some cheap ribands and fine edgings to recommend to Miss Margland and
+Indiana, could by no means refrain from informing them, at the same
+time, of the discovered manuscript.
+
+'Poor thing!' cried Indiana, 'I really pity her. I don't think,'
+imperceptibly gliding towards the glass; 'I don't think, by what I have
+seen of Mr. Melmond, she has much chance; I've a notion he's rather more
+difficult.'
+
+'Really this is what I always expected!' said Miss Margland; 'It's just
+exactly what one might look for from one of your learned educations,
+which I always despised with all my heart. Writing love verses at
+fifteen! Dr. Orkborne's made a fine hand of her! I always hated him,
+from the very first. However, I've had nothing to do with the bringing
+her up, that's my consolation! I thank Heaven I never made a verse in my
+life! and I never intend it.'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_The Computations of Self-Love_
+
+
+Camilla left her sister to accompany Mrs. Berlinton to the Rooms; no
+other mode remaining for seeing Edgar, who, since her rejection, had
+held back from repeating his attempt of visiting Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+In mutual solicitude, mutual watchfulness, and mutual trials of each
+other's hearts and esteem, a week had already passed, without one hope
+being extirpated, or one doubt allayed. This evening was somewhat more,
+though less pleasantly decisive.
+
+Accident, want of due consideration, and sudden recollection, in an
+agitated moment, of the worldly doctrine of Mrs. Arlbery, had led
+Camilla, once more, into the semblance of a character, which, without
+thinking of, she was acting. Born simple and ingenuous, and bred to hold
+in horror every species of art, all idea of coquetry was foreign to her
+meaning, though an untoward contrariety of circumstances, playing upon
+feelings too potent for deliberations, had eluded her into a conduct as
+mischievous in its effects and as wide from artlessness in its
+appearance, as if she had been brought up and nourished in fashionable
+egotism.
+
+Such, however, was not Camilla: her every propensity was pure, and, when
+reflection came to her aid, her conduct was as exemplary as her wishes.
+But the ardour of her imagination, acted upon by every passing idea,
+shook her Judgment from its yet unsteady seat, and left her at the mercy
+of wayward Sensibility--that delicate, but irregular power, which now
+impels to all that is most disinterested for others, now forgets all
+mankind, to watch the pulsations of its own fancies.
+
+This evening brought her back to recollection.--Young Westwyn, urged by
+what he deemed encouragement, and prompted by his impatient father,
+spoke of his intended visit to Cleves, and introduction to Sir Hugh, in
+terms of such animated pleasure, and with a manner of such open
+admiration, that she could not mistake the serious purposes which he
+meant to imply.
+
+Alarmed, she looked at him; but the expression of his eyes was not such
+as to still her suspicions. Frightened at what now she first observed,
+she turned from him, gravely, meaning to avoid conversing with him the
+rest of the evening; but her caution came too late; her first civilities
+had flattered both him and his father into a belief of her favour, and
+this sudden drawback he imputed only to virgin modesty, which but added
+to the fervour of his devoirs.
+
+Camilla now perceived her own error: the perseverance of young Westwyn
+not merely startled, but appalled her. His character, unassuming, though
+spirited, was marked by a general decency and propriety of demeanour,
+that would not presumptuously brave distancing; and awakened her,
+therefore, to a review of her own conduct, as it related or as it might
+seem, to himself.
+
+And here, not all the guiltlessness of her intentions could exonerate
+her from blame with that finely scrutinizing monitor to which Heaven, in
+pity to those evil propensities that law cannot touch, nor society
+reclaim, has devolved its earthly jurisdiction in the human breast. With
+her hopes she could play, with her wishes she could trifle, her
+intentions she could defend, her designs she could relinquish--but with
+her conscience she could not combat. It pointed beyond the present
+moment; it took her back to her imprudence with Sir Sedley Clarendel,
+which should have taught her more circumspection; and it carried her on
+to the disappointment of Henry and his father, whom while heedlessly she
+had won, though without the most remote view to beguile, she might seem
+artfully to have caught, for the wanton vanity of rejecting.
+
+While advice and retrospection were thus alike oppressive in accusation,
+her pensive air and withdrawn smiles proved but more endearing to young
+Westwyn, whose internal interpretation was so little adapted to render
+them formidable, that his assiduities were but more tender, and allowed
+her no repose.
+
+Edgar, who with the most suffering suspense, observed her unusual
+seriousness, and its effect upon Henry, drew from it, with the customary
+ingenuity of sensitive minds to torment themselves, the same inference
+for his causeless torture, as proved to his rival a delusive blessing.
+But while thus he contemplated Henry as the most to be envied of
+mortals, a new scene called forth new surprise, and gave birth to yet
+new doubts in his mind. He saw Camilla not merely turn wholly away from
+his rival, but enter into conversation, and give, apparently, her whole
+attention to Lord Valhurst, who, it was palpable, only spoke to her of
+her charms, which, alternately with those of Mrs. Berlinton, he devoted
+his whole time to worshipping.
+
+Camilla by this action, meant simply to take the quickest road she saw
+in her power to shew young Westwyn his mistake. Lord Valhurst she held
+nearly in aversion; for, though his vindication of his upright motives
+at the bathing-house, joined to her indifference in considering him
+either guilty or innocent, made her conclude he might be blameless in
+that transaction, his perpetual compliments, enforced by staring eyes
+and tender glances, wearied and disgusted her. But he was always by her
+side, when not in the same position with Mrs. Berlinton; and while his
+readiness to engage her made this her easiest expedient, his time of
+life persuaded her it was the safest. Little aware of the effect this
+produced upon Edgar, she imagined he would not more notice her in any
+conversation with Lord Valhurst, than if she were discoursing with her
+uncle.
+
+But while she judged from the sincerity of reality, she thought not of
+the mischief of appearance. What in her was designed with innocence, was
+rendered suspicious to the observers by the looks and manner of her
+companion. The pleasure with which he found, at last, that incense
+received, which hitherto had been slighted, gave new zest to an
+adulation which, while Camilla endured merely to shew her coldness to
+young Westwyn, seemed to Edgar to be offered with a gross presumption of
+welcome, that must result from an opinion it was addressed to a
+confirmed coquette.
+
+Offended in his inmost soul by this idea, he scarce desired to know if
+she were now stimulated most by a wish to torment Henry, or himself, or
+only by the general pleasure she found in this new mode of amusement.
+'Be it,' cried he, to Dr. Marchmont, 'as it may, with me all is equally
+over! I seek not to recall an attachment liable to such intermissions,
+such commotions. What would be my peace, my tranquillity, with a
+companion so unstable? A mind all at large in its pursuits?--a
+dissipated wife!--No!--I will remain here but to let her know I
+acquiesce in her dismission, and to learn in what form she has
+communicated our breach to her friends.'
+
+Dr. Marchmont was silent, and they walked out of the room together;
+leaving the deceived Camilla persuaded he was so indifferent with regard
+to the old peer, that all her influence was lost, and all her late
+exertions were thrown away, by one evening's remissness in exciting his
+fears of a young rival.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Melmond returned to Southampton the next morning with an air of deep and
+settled melancholy. He had found the two brothers together, and the
+candour of his appearance, the plainness of his declaration, the
+openness with which he stated his situation, and his near relationship
+to Mrs. Berlinton, procured him a courteous hearing; and he soon saw
+that both the father and the uncle, though they desired time for
+consideration and inquiry, were disposed to favour him. Mr. Tyrold,
+though, to his acknowledged recent disappointment of fortune, he
+attributed his address, had so little hope that any man at once amiable
+and rich would present himself to his unfortunate Eugenia, that, when he
+saw a gentleman well educated, well allied, of pleasing manners, and
+with every external promise of a good and feeling character, modestly,
+and with no professions but of esteem and respect, seek her of her
+friends, he thought himself not even entitled to refuse him. He told
+him, however, that he could conclude upon nothing in a matter of such
+equal interest to himself and his wife, without her knowledge and
+concurrence; and that during the time he demanded before he gave a final
+answer, he required a forbearance of all intercourse, beyond that of a
+common acquaintance. His first design was immediately to send for
+Eugenia home; but the young man appeared so reasonable, so mild, so
+unlike a fortune-hunter, that, constitutionally indulgent where he
+apprehended nothing criminal, he contented himself with writing to the
+same effect to Eugenia, fully satisfied of her scrupulous punctuality,
+when once his will was known.
+
+Melmond, though thus well received, returned back to Southampton with
+any air rather than that of a bridegroom. The order, not to wait upon
+Eugenia in private, was the only part of his task he performed with
+satisfaction; for though a mind really virtuous made him wish to conquer
+his repugnance to his future partner, he felt it could not be by
+comparing her with Indiana.
+
+Eugenia received the letter of her father, written in his own and her
+uncle's name, with transport; and, to testify her grateful obedience,
+resolved to name the impending transaction to no one, and even to
+relinquish her visits to Mrs. Berlinton, and only to see Melmond when
+accident brought him before her in public.
+
+But Mrs. Mittin, through words casually dropt, or conversations not very
+delicately overheard, soon gathered the particulars of her situation,
+which happily furnished her with a new subject for a gossiping visit to
+Miss Margland and Indiana. The first of these ladies received the news
+with unconcern, rather pleased than otherwise, that the temptation of an
+heiress should be removed from any rivalry with the charms of her fair
+pupil; who, by no means, however, listened to the account with equal
+indifference. The sight of Melmond at Southampton, with the circumstance
+of his being brother to the Honourable Mrs. Berlinton, had awakened all
+the pleasure with which she had first met his impassioned admiration;
+and while she haughtily expected from every public exhibition, 'to bring
+home hearts by dozens,' the secret point she had in view, was shewing
+Melmond that her power over others was as mighty as it had been over
+himself. She had not taken the trouble to ask with what end: what was
+passed never afforded her an observation; what was to come never called
+forth an idea. Occupied only by the present moment, things gone remained
+upon her memory but as matters of fact, and all her expectations she
+looked forward to but as matters of course. To lose, therefore, a
+conquest she had thought the victim of her beauty for life, was a
+surprise nearly incredible; to lose him to Eugenia an affront scarcely
+supportable; and she waited but an opportunity to kill him with her
+disdain. But Melmond, who dreaded nothing so much as an interview,
+availed himself of the commands of Mr. Tyrold, in not going to the
+lodgings of Eugenia, and lived absorbed in a melancholy retirement,
+which books alone could a little alleviate.
+
+The conclusion of the letter of Mr. Tyrold gave to Camilla as much pain
+as every other part of it gave to Eugenia pleasure: it was an earnest
+and parentally tender prayer, that the alliance with Melmond, should his
+worth appear such as to authorise its taking place, might prove the
+counterpart to the happiness so sweetly promised from that of her sister
+with Edgar.
+
+While Camilla sighed to consider how wide from the certainty with which
+he mentioned it was such an event, she blushed that he should thus be
+uninformed of her insecurity: but while a reconciliation was not more
+her hope than her expectation with every rising sun, she could not
+endure to break his repose with the knowledge of a suspense she thought
+as disgraceful as it was unhappy. Yet her present scheme to accelerate
+its termination, became difficult even of trial.
+
+The obviously serious regard of Henry was a continual reproach to her;
+and the undisguised approbation of his father was equally painful. Yet
+she could now only escape them by turning to some other, and that other
+was necessarily Lord Valhurst, whose close siege to her notice forced
+off every assailant but himself. This the deluded Camilla thought an
+expedient the most innoxious; and gave to him so much of her time, that
+his susceptibility to the charms of youth and beauty was put to a trial
+beyond his fortitude; and, in a very few days, notwithstanding their
+disproportion in age, his embarrassed though large estates, and the
+little or no fortune which she had in view, he determined to marry her:
+for when a man of rank and riches resolves to propose himself to a woman
+who has neither, he conceives his acceptance not a matter of doubt.
+
+In any other society, his admiration of Camilla might easily, like what
+he had already experienced and forgotten for thousands of her sex, have
+escaped so grave or decided a tendency; but in Mrs. Berlinton he saw so
+much of youth and beauty bestowed upon a man whom he knew to be his own
+senior in age, that the idea of a handsome young wife was perpetually
+present to him. He weighed, like all people who seek to entice
+themselves to their own wishes, but one side of the question; and
+risked, like all who succeed in such self-seduction, the inconvenience
+of finding out the other side too late. He saw the attractions of his
+fair kinswoman; but neglected to consider of how little avail they were
+to her husband; he thought, with exultation of that husband's age, and
+almost childishness; but forgot to take into the scales, that they had
+obtained from his youthful choice only disgust and avoidance.
+
+While he waited for some trinkets, which he had ordered from town, to
+have ready for presenting with his proposals, Edgar only sought an
+opportunity and courage to take his last farewell. Whenever Camilla was
+so much engaged with others that it was impossible to approach her, he
+thought himself capable of uttering an eternal adieu; but when, by any
+opening, he saw where and how he might address her, his feet refused to
+move, his tongue became parched, and his pleading heart seemed
+exclaiming: O, not to-night! yet, yet, another day, ere Camilla is
+parted with for ever!
+
+But suddenly, soon after, Camilla ceased to appear. At the rooms, at the
+plays, at the balls, and at the private assemblies, Edgar looked for her
+in vain. Her old adulator, also, vanished from public places, while her
+young admirer and his father hovered about in them as usual, but
+spiritless, comfortless, and as if in the same search as himself.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_Juvenile Calculations_
+
+
+Mrs. Norfield, a lady whom circumstances had brought into some intimacy
+with Mrs. Berlinton upon her marriage, had endeavoured, from the first
+of her entrance into high life, to draw her into a love of play; not
+with an idea of doing her any mischief, for she was no more her enemy
+than her friend; but to answer her own purposes of having a Faro table
+under her own direction. She was a woman of fashion, and as such
+every-where received; but her fortune was small, and her passion for
+gaming inordinate; and as there was not, at this time, one Faro table at
+Southampton, whither she was ordered for her health, she was almost
+wearied into a lethargy, till her reiterated intreaties prevailed, at
+length, with Mrs. Berlinton to hold one at her own house.
+
+The fatigue of life without view, the peril of talents without prudence,
+and the satiety of pleasure without intermission, were already
+dangerously assaulting the early independence and the moment of vacancy
+and weariness was seized by Mrs. Norfield, to press the essay of a new
+mode of amusement.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton's house opened, failed not to be filled; and opened for a
+Faro table, to be filled with a peculiar set. To game has,
+unfortunately, always its attractions; to game with a perfect novice is
+not what will render it less alluring; and to see that novice rich and
+beautiful is still less likely to be repelling.
+
+Mr. Berlinton, when he made this marriage, supposed he had engaged for
+life a fair nurse to his infirmities; but when he saw her fixed
+aversion, he had not spirit to cope with it; and when she had always an
+excuse for a separation, he had not the sense to acquaint himself how
+she passed her time in his absence. A natural imbecility of mind was now
+nearly verging upon dotage, and as he rarely quitted his room but at
+meal times, she made a point never to see him in any other part of the
+day. Her antipathy rendered her obdurate, though her disposition was
+gentle, and she had now left him at Tunbridge, to meet her aunt at
+Southampton, with a knowledge he was too ill to follow her, and a
+determination, upon various pretences, to stay away from him for some
+months. The ill fate of such unequal alliances is almost daily
+exemplified in life; and though few young brides of old bridegrooms fly
+their mates thus openly and decidedly, their retainers have seldom much
+cause to rejoice in superior happiness, since they are generally
+regarded but as the gaolers of their young prey.
+
+Moderation was the last praise to which Mrs. Berlinton had any claim;
+what she entered upon through persecution, in an interval of mental
+supineness, she was soon awake to as a pleasure, and next pursued as a
+passion. Her beloved correspondent was neglected; her favourite authors
+were set aside; her country rambles were given up; balls and the rooms
+were forgotten; and Faro alone engrossed her faculties by day, and her
+dreams during the short epoch she reserved for sleep at night. She lost,
+as might be expected, as constantly as she played; but as money was not
+what she naturally valued, she disdained to weigh that circumstance;
+and so long as she had any to pay, resigned it with more grace than by
+others it was won.
+
+That Camilla was not caught by this ruinous fascination, was not simply
+the effect of necessity. Had the state of her finances been as
+flourishing as it was decayed, she would have been equally steady in
+this forbearance: her reason was fair, though her feelings frequently
+chased it from the field. She looked on, therefore, with safety, though
+not wholly with indifference; she had too much fancy not to be amused by
+the spirit of the business, and was too animated not to take part in the
+successive hopes and fears of the several competitors; but though her
+quick sensations prompted a readiness, like that of Mrs. Berlinton, to
+enter warmly into all that was presented to her, the resemblance went no
+further; what she was once convinced was wrong she was incapable of
+practising.
+
+Upon Gaming, the first feeling and the latest reflection are commonly
+one; both point its hazards to be unnecessary, its purposes rapacious,
+and its end desperate loss, or destructive gain; she not only,
+therefore, held back; she took the liberty, upon the privilege of their
+avowed friendship, to remonstrate against this dangerous pastime with
+Mrs. Berlinton. But that lady, though eminently designed to be amiable,
+had now contracted the fearful habit of giving way to every propensity;
+and finding her native notions of happiness were blighted in the bud,
+concluded that all which now remained for her was the indulgence of
+every luxury. She heard with sweetness the expostulation of her young
+friend; but she pursued her own course.
+
+In a very few days, however, while the blush of shame dyed her beautiful
+cheeks, she inquired if Camilla could lend her a little ready money.
+
+A blush of no less unpleasant feelings overspread the face of her fair
+guest, in being compelled to own she had none to lend; but she eagerly
+promised to procure some from Mrs. Mittin, who had a note in her hand to
+exchange for the payment of some small debts contracted at Tunbridge.
+Mrs. Berlinton, gathering, from her confusion, how ill she was stored,
+would not hear of applying to this resource, 'though I hate,' she cried,
+'to be indebted to that odious old cousin, of whom I was obliged to
+borrow last night.'
+
+Glaring imprudence in others is a lesson even to the most unthinking;
+Camilla, when she found that Mrs. Berlinton had lost every guinea she
+could command, ventured to renew still more forcibly her exhortations
+against the Faro table; but Mrs. Berlinton, notwithstanding she
+possessed an excellent capacity, was so little fortified with any
+practical tenets either of religion or morality, that where sentiment
+did not take the part of what was right, she had no preservative against
+what was wrong. The Faro table, therefore, was still opened; and Lord
+Valhurst, by the sums he lent, obtained every privilege of intimacy in
+the family, except that of being welcome.
+
+Against this perilous mode of proceeding Camilla was not the only
+warner. Mrs. Ulst saw with extreme repugnance the mode of life her niece
+was pursuing, and reprimanded her with severe reproach; but her
+influence was now lost; and Mrs. Berlinton, though she kindly attended
+her, and sought to alleviate her sufferings, acted as if she were not in
+existence.
+
+It was now Mrs. Mittin gained the highest point of her ambition; Mrs.
+Berlinton, tired of remonstrances she could not controvert, and would
+not observe, was extremely relieved by finding a person who would sit
+with her aunt, comply with her humours, hear her lamentations, subscribe
+to her opinions, and beguile her of her rigid fretfulness by the
+amusement of gossiping anecdotes.
+
+Mrs. Mittin had begun life as the apprentice to a small country
+milliner; but had rendered herself so useful to a sick elderly
+gentlewoman, who lodged in the house, that she left her a legacy, which,
+by sinking into an annuity, enabled her to quit her business, and set
+up, in her own conception, for a gentlewoman herself; though with so
+very small an income, that to sustain her new post, she was frequently
+reduced to far greater dependence and hardships than she experienced in
+her old one. She was good-humoured, yet laborious; gay, yet subservient;
+poor, yet dissipated. To be useful, she would submit to any drudgery; to
+become agreeable, devoted herself to any flattery. To please was her
+incessant desire, and her rage for popularity included every rank and
+class of society. The more eminent, of course, were her first objects,
+but the same aim descended to the lowest. She would work, read, go of
+errands, or cook a dinner; be a parasite, a spy, an attendant, a drudge;
+keep a secret, or spread a report; incite a quarrel, or coax contending
+parties into peace; invent any expedient, and execute any scheme ... all
+with the pretext to oblige others, but all, in fact, for simple
+egotism; as prevalent in her mind as in that of the more highly
+ambitious, though meaner and less dangerous.
+
+Camilla was much relieved when she found this officious person was no
+longer retained solely upon her account; but still she could neither
+obtain her bills, no answers ever arriving, nor the money for her twenty
+pound note, Mrs. Mittin always evading to deliver it, and asserting she
+was sure somebody would come in the stage the next day for the payment
+she had promised; and when Camilla wanted cash for any of the very few
+articles she now allowed herself to think indispensable, instead of
+restoring it into her hands, she flew out herself to purchase the goods
+that were required, and always brought them home with assurances they
+were cheaper than the shopkeepers would let her have them for herself.
+
+Camilla resisted all incitements to new dress and new ornaments, with a
+fortitude which must not be judged by the aged, nor the retired, who
+weighing only the frivolity of what she withstood, are not qualified to
+appreciate the merit of this sort of resignation; the young, the gay,
+the new in life, who know that, amongst minor calamities, none are more
+alarming to the juvenile breast than the fear of not appearing initiated
+in the reigning modes, can alone do justice to the present philosophy of
+Camilla, in seeing that all she wore, by the quick changes of fashion,
+seemed already out of date; in refusing to look at the perpetual
+diversity of apparel daily brought, by various dress modellers, for the
+approbation of Mrs. Berlinton, and in seeing that lady always newly,
+brightly, and in a distinguished manner attired, yet appearing by her
+side in exactly the same array that she had constantly worn at
+Tunbridge. Nor was Camilla indifferent to this contrast; but she
+submitted to it as the duty of her present involved situation, which
+exacted from her every privation, in preference to bestowing upon any
+new expence the only sum she could command towards clearing what was
+past.
+
+But, after a very short time, the little wardrobe exhibited a worse
+quality than that of not keeping pace with the last devices of the
+_ton_; it lost not merely its newness, but its delicacy. Alas! thought
+she, how long, in the careful and rare wear of Etherington and Cleves,
+all this would have served me; while here, in this daily use, a
+fortnight is scarce passed, yet all is spoilt and destroyed. Ah! public
+places are only for the rich!
+
+Now, therefore, Mrs. Mittin was of serious utility; she failed not to
+observe the declining state of her attire; and though she wondered at
+the parsimony which so resolutely prohibited all orders for its renewal,
+in a young lady she considered as so great an heiress, she was yet proud
+to display her various powers of proving serviceable. She turned,
+changed, rubbed, cleaned, and new made up all the several articles of
+which her dress was composed, to so much advantage, and with such
+striking effect, that for yet a few days more all seemed renewed, and by
+the arts of some few alterations, her appearance was rather more than
+less fashionable than upon her first arrival.
+
+But this could not last long; and when all, again, was fading into a
+state of decay, Mrs. Berlinton received an invitation for herself and
+her fair guest, to a great ball and supper, given upon the occasion of a
+young nobleman's coming of age, in which all the dancers, by agreement,
+were to be habited in uniform.
+
+This uniform was to be clear fine lawn, with lilac plumes and ornaments.
+
+Camilla had now, with consuming regret, passed several days without one
+sight of Edgar. This invitation, therefore, which was general to all the
+company at Southampton, was, in its first sound, delicious; but became,
+upon consideration, the reverse. Clear lawn and lilac plumes and
+ornaments she had none; how to go she knew not; yet Edgar she was sure
+would be there; how to stay away she knew less.
+
+This was a severe moment to her courage; she felt it faltering, and
+putting down the card of invitation, without the force of desiring Mrs.
+Berlinton to make her excuse, repaired to her own room, terrified by the
+preponderance of her wishes to a consent which she knew her situation
+rendered unwarrantable.
+
+There, however, though she gained time for reflection, she gathered not
+the resolution she sought. The stay at Southampton, by the desire of
+Lynmere, had been lengthened; yet only a week now remained, before she
+must return to her father and her uncle ... but how return? separated
+from Edgar? Edgar whom she still believed she had only to see again in
+some more auspicious moment, to re-conquer and fix for life! But when
+and where might that auspicious moment be looked for? not at Mrs.
+Berlinton's; there he no more attempted to visit: not at the Rooms;
+those now were decidedly relinquished, and all general invitations were
+inadequate to draw Mrs. Berlinton from her new pursuit: where, then, was
+this happy explanation to pass?
+
+When our wishes can only be gratified with difficulty, we conclude, in
+the ardour of combating their obstacle, that to lose them, is to lose
+everything, to obtain them is to ensure all good. At this ball, and this
+supper, Camilla painted Edgar completely restored to her; she was
+certain he would dance with her; she was sure he would sit by no one
+else during the repast; the many days since they had met would endear to
+him every moment they could now spend together, and her active
+imagination soon worked up scenes so important from this evening, that
+she next persuaded her belief that all chance of reconciliation hung
+wholly upon the meeting it offered.
+
+Impelled by this notion, yet wavering, dissatisfied, and uncomfortable,
+she summoned Mrs. Mittin, and entreated she would make such inquiries
+concerning the value of the ball-dress uniform, as would enable her to
+estimate its entire expence.
+
+Her hours passed now in extreme disquietude; for while all her hopes
+centred in the approaching festival, the estimate which was to determine
+her power of enjoying it was by no means easy to procure. Mrs. Mittin,
+though an adept in such matters, took more pleasure in the parade than
+in the performance of her task; and always answered to her inquiries,
+that it was impossible to speak so soon; that she must go to such
+another shop first; that she must consult with such and such a person;
+and that she must consider over more closely the orders given by Mrs.
+Berlinton, which were to be her direction, though with the stipulation
+of having materials much cheaper and more common.
+
+At length, however, she burst into her room, one morning, before she was
+dressed, saying: 'Now, my dear miss, I hope I shall make you happy;' and
+displayed, upon the bed, a beautiful piece of fine lawn.
+
+Camilla examined and admired it, asked what it was a yard, and how much
+would suffice for the dress.
+
+'Why, my dear, I'll answer for it there's enough for three whole
+dresses; why it's a whole piece; and I dare say I can get a handkerchief
+and an apron out of it into the bargain.'
+
+'But I want neither handkerchief, nor apron, nor three dresses, Mrs.
+Mittin; I shall take the smallest quantity that is possible, if I take
+any at all.'
+
+Mrs. Mittin said that the man would not cut it, and she must take the
+whole, or none.
+
+Camilla was amazed she could so far have misunderstood her as to bring
+it upon such terms, and begged she would carry it back.
+
+'Nay, if you don't take this, my dear, there's nothing in the shops that
+comes near it for less than fifteen shillings a-yard; Mrs. Berlinton
+gives eighteen for her's, and it don't look one bit to choose; and this,
+if you take it all together, you may have for ten, for all its width,
+for there's 30 yards, and the piece comes to but fifteen pound.'
+
+Camilla protested she would not, at this time, pay ten shillings a-yard
+for any gown in the world.
+
+Mrs. Mittin, who had flattered herself that the handkerchief and apron,
+at least, if not one of the gowns, would have fallen to her share, was
+much discomposed by this unexpected declaration; and disappointed,
+murmuring, and conceiving her the most avaricious of mortals, was forced
+away; leaving Camilla in complete despondence of any power to effect her
+wish with propriety.
+
+Mrs. Mittin came back late, and with a look of dismay; the man of whom
+she had had the muslin, who was a traveller, whom she had met at a
+friend's, had not waited her return; and, as she had left the fifteen
+pounds with him, for a pledge of the security of his goods, she supposed
+he had made off, to get rid of the whole piece at once.
+
+Camilla felt petrified. No possible pleasure or desire could urge her,
+deliberately, to what she deemed an extravagance; yet here, in one
+moment, she was despoiled of three parts of all she possessed, either
+for her own use, or towards the restitution of her just debts with
+others.
+
+Observing her distress, though with more displeasure than pity, from
+believing it founded in the most extraordinary covetousness, Mrs. Mittin
+proposed measuring the piece in three, and disposing of the two gowns
+she did not want to Mrs. Berlinton, or her sister and Miss Lynmere.
+
+Camilla was a little revived; but the respite of difficulty was short;
+upon opening the piece, it was found damaged; and after the first few
+yards, which Mrs. Mittin had sedulously examined, not a breadth had
+escaped some rent, fray, or mischief.
+
+The ill being now irremediable, to make up the dress in the cheapest
+manner possible was the only consolation that remained. Mrs. Mittin
+knew a mantua-maker who, to oblige her, would undertake this for a very
+small payment; and she promised to procure everything else that was
+necessary for the merest trifle.
+
+Determined, however, to risk nothing more in such hands, she now
+positively demanded that the residue of the note should be restored to
+her own keeping. Mrs. Mittin, though much affronted, honestly refunded
+the five pounds. The little articles she had occasionally brought were
+still unpaid for; but her passion for detaining the money was merely
+with a view to give herself consequence, in boasting how and by whom she
+was trusted, and now and then drawing out her purse, before those who
+had less to produce; but wholly without any design of imposition or
+fraud; all she could obtain by hints and address she conceived to be
+fair booty; but further she went not even in thought.
+
+Three days now only remained before this event-promising ball was to
+take place, and within three after it, the Southampton expedition was to
+close. Camilla scarce breathed from impatience for the important moment,
+which was preceded by an invitation to all the company, to take a sail
+on the Southampton water on the morning of the entertainment.
+
+END OF THE FOURTH VOLUME.
+
+
+
+
+VOLUME V
+
+
+BOOK IX
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A Water Party_
+
+
+The ball dress of Camilla was not yet ready, when she set out for the
+amusement of the morning. Melmond, upon this occasion, was forced into
+the excursion; his sister represented, so pathetically, the ungrateful
+ill-breeding of sequestering himself from a company of which it must so
+publicly be judged Eugenia would make one, with the impossibility of for
+ever escaping the sight of Indiana, that he could not, in common
+decency, any longer postpone the double meeting he almost equally
+dreaded.
+
+And this, with all that could aggravate its misery, from seeing the two
+objects together, immediately occurred. Sir Hugh Tyrold's coach,
+containing Miss Margland, Indiana, Eugenia, and Dr. Orkborne, was
+arrived just before that of Mrs. Berlinton; and, the morning being very
+fine, they had just alighted, to join the company assembling upon the
+beach for the expedition. Miss Margland still continued to exact the
+attendance of the Doctor, though his wry looks and sluggish pace always
+proclaimed his ill will to the task. But Clermont, the only proper beau
+for her parties, was completely unattainable. He had connected himself
+with young Halder, and his associates, from whom, while he received
+instructions relative to the stables and the dog-kennels, he returned,
+with suitable edification, lessons on the culinary art.
+
+Melmond, deeply distressed, besought his sister not to alight till the
+last moment. She pitied him too sincerely not to comply; and, in a very
+short time, she had herself an aggregate of almost all the gentlemen on
+the beach before the coach.
+
+Among these, the first to press forward were the two Westwyns, each
+enraptured to again see Camilla; and the most successful in obtaining
+notice was Lord Valhurst, with whom Camilla still thought it prudent,
+however irksome, to discourse, rather than receive again the assiduities
+of Henry: but her mind, far from them all, was hovering on the edge of
+the shore, where Edgar was walking.
+
+Edgar, for some time past, had joined the utmost uneasiness what conduct
+to pursue with regard to the friends of Camilla, to the heart-rending
+decision of parting from her for ever. He soon learnt the new and
+dangerous manner in which Mrs. Berlinton spent her evenings, and the
+idea that most naturally occurred to him, was imparting it to Mr.
+Tyrold. But in what way could he address that gentleman, without first
+knowing if Camilla had acquainted him with the step she had taken? He
+felt too strongly the severe blow it would prove, not to wish softening
+it with every palliation; and while these still lingering feelings awed
+his proceedings, his servant learnt, from Molly Mill, that Melmond had
+been favourably received at Cleves, as a suitor to Eugenia. Finding so
+near an alliance likely to take place with the brother, he gave up his
+plan of remonstrating against the sister, except in private counsel to
+Camilla; for which, and for uttering his fearful adieu, he was now
+waiting but to speak to her unobserved.
+
+Still, however, with pain unabating he saw the eager approach to her of
+Henry, with disgust that of Lord Valhurst, and with alarm the general
+herd.
+
+Lord Pervil, the young nobleman who deemed it worth while to be at the
+expence of several hundred pounds, in order to let the world know how
+old he was, now, with his mother, a widow lady, and some other
+relations, came down in a superb new equipage, to the water-side. Mrs.
+Berlinton could not be so singular, as not to join in the general crowd,
+that flocked around them with congratulations; and all parties, in a few
+minutes, were assembled on one spot.
+
+Edgar, when he had spoken to the group to which the honours of the day
+belonged, made up to Camilla, gravely enquired after her health; and
+then placed himself as near to her as he was able, in the hope of
+conferring with her when the company began to move.
+
+Her spirits now rose, and her prospects re-opened to their wished
+termination. All her regret was for Henry, who saw her present
+avoidance, and bemoaned her long absence, with a sadness that reproached
+and afflicted her.
+
+A very fine yacht, and three large pleasure-boats, were in readiness for
+this company, surrounded by various other vessels of all sorts and
+conditions, which were filled with miscellaneous parties, who meant to
+partake the same gales for their own diversion or curiosity. The invited
+set was now summoned to the water, Lord Pervil and his relations leading
+the way by a small boat to the yacht, to which Mrs. Berlinton and the
+Cleves party were particularly selected guests.
+
+Camilla, depending upon the assistance of Edgar, in passing through the
+boat to the yacht, so obviously turned from Henry, that he lost all
+courage for persevering in addressing her, and was even, though most
+unwillingly, retiring from a vicinity in which he seemed palpably
+obtrusive, had not his father insisted upon detaining him, whispering,
+'Be of good heart, Hal! the girl will come round yet.'
+
+Edgar kept equally near her, with a design that was the counterpart of
+her own wish, of offering her his hand when it was her turn to enter the
+boat; but they were both disappointed, the Peer, not waiting that
+rotation, presented her his arm as soon as Lady Pervil had led the way.
+There was no redress, though Camilla was as much provoked as either of
+the young rivals.
+
+Lord Valhurst did not long exult in his victory; the unsteadiness of the
+boat made him rather want help for himself, than find force to bestow it
+upon another, and, upon mounting at the helm to pass her on to the
+yacht, he tottered, his foot slipt, and he must have sunk between the
+two vessels, had not a waterman caught him up, and dragged him into the
+yacht, with no further misfortune than a bruised shin, wet legs and
+feet, and a deplorably rueful countenance, from mingled fright and
+mortification.
+
+Edgar, not wholly unsuspicious such an accident might happen, was
+darting into the boat to snatch Camilla from its participation, when he
+felt himself forcibly pulled back, and saw, at the same moment, Henry,
+who had also started forward, but whom nothing had retarded, anticipate
+his purpose, and aid her into the yacht.
+
+Looking round to see by what, or by whom, he had so unaccountably been
+stopt, he perceived old Mr. Westwyn, his forefinger upon his nose in
+sign of silence and secrecy, grasping him by the coat.
+
+'What is the humour of this, Sir?' cried he, indignantly.
+
+Mr. Westwyn, still making his token for discretion, and bending forward
+to speak in his ear, said, 'Do, there's a good soul, let my boy help
+that young lady. Hal will be much obliged to you, I can tell you; and
+he's a very good lad.'
+
+The nature of Edgar was too candid to suffer his wrath to resist a
+request so simple in sincerity; but deeply he sighed to find, by its
+implication, that the passion of Henry was thus still fed with hopes.
+
+The passing of other ladies, with their esquires, prevented him, who had
+no lady he wished to conduct, from making his way yet into the yacht;
+and the honest old gentleman, detained by the same reason, entered
+promptly into the history of the present situation of his son with
+regard to Camilla; relating, frankly, that he thought her the sweetest
+girl in the world, except that she did not know her own mind; for she
+had been so pleased with his son first of all, that he really thought he
+should oblige her by making it a match: 'which I could not,' added he,
+'have the heart to refuse to a girl that gave the boy such a good
+character. You'd be surprised to know how she took to him! you may be
+proud, says she to me, you may be proud of your son! which is what I
+shall never forget; for though I loved Hal just the same before, I never
+could tell but what it was only because he was my own. And I'm so afraid
+of behaving like a blind old goose, that I often snub Hal, when he's no
+more to blame than I am myself, for fear of his getting out of my hands,
+and behaving like a certain young man he has been brought up with, and
+who, I assure you, deserves to have his ears cropt ten times a day, for
+one piece of impudence or other. I should not have been sorry if he'd
+fallen into the water along with that old lord, whom I don't wish much
+good to neither; for, between friends, it seems to me that it's he that
+has put her out of conceit with my poor Hal: for all of a sudden, nobody
+can tell why nor wherefore, she takes it into her head there's nothing
+else worth listening to, but just his old compliments. And my poor Hal,
+after thinking she had such a kindness for him, that he had nothing to
+do but put on his best coat--for I told him I'd have none of his
+new-fangled modes of affronting my worthy old friend, by doing to him
+like a postillion, with a cropt head, and half a coat--after thinking
+he'd only to ask his consent, for he'd got mine without ever a word, all
+at once, without the least quarrel, or either I or Hal giving her the
+least offence, she won't so much as let him speak to her; but turns off
+to that old fellow that tumbled into the water there, and had near made
+her slip in after, if it had not been for my son's stopping her, which
+I sha'n't forget your kindness in letting him do; but what's more, she
+won't speak to me neither! though all I want is to ask her the reason of
+her behaviour! which I shall certainly do, if I can catch her any five
+minutes away from that lord; for you'll never believe what good friends
+we were, before she took so to him. We three, that is, she and I, and
+Hal, used to speak to nobody else, scarce. Poor Hal thought he'd got it
+all his own way. And I can't but own I thought as much myself; for there
+was no knowing she'd hold herself so above us, all at once. I assure
+you, if we don't bring her to, it will go pretty hard with us; for I
+like her just as well as Hal does. I'd have made over to them the best
+half of my income immediately.'
+
+Edgar had never yet felt such serious displeasure against Camilla, as
+seized him upon this artless narrative. To have trifled thus, and, as he
+believed, most wantonly, with the feelings and peace of two amiable
+persons, whether from the vanity of making a new conquest, or the
+tyranny of persecuting an old one, shewed a love of power the most
+unjustifiable, and a levity the most unpardonable. And when he
+considered himself as exactly in the same suspensive embarrassment, as a
+young man of little more than a fortnight's acquaintance, he felt
+indignantly ashamed of so humiliating a rivalry, and a strong diminution
+of regret at his present purpose.
+
+Melmond, meanwhile, pressed by his sister, seconded by his own sense of
+propriety, had forced himself to the Cleves' party; and, after bowing
+civilly to Miss Margland, who courteously smiled upon one who she
+imagined would become master of Cleves, and most profoundly to Indiana,
+who coloured, but deigned not the smallest salutation in return, offered
+his hand to Eugenia; but with a mind so absorbed, and steps so
+uncertain, that he was unable to afford her any assistance; and her
+lameness and helplessness made her so much require it, that she was in
+danger of falling every moment; yet she felt in Paradise; she thought
+him but enfeebled, as she was enfeebled herself, by a tender
+sensibility; and danger, therefore, was not merely braved, it was dear,
+it was precious to her.
+
+Indiana now consoled her mortification, with the solace of believing a
+retaliation at hand, that would overcome the otherwise indelible
+disgrace of being superseded by Eugenia in a conquest. Full of her own
+little scheme, she imperiously refused all offers of aid, and walked on
+alone, till crossing the boat, she gave a shriek at every step, made
+hazardous by her wilful rejection of assistance, and acted over again
+the charm of terror, of which she well recollected the power upon a
+former occasion.
+
+These were sounds to vibrate but too surely to the heart of Melmond; he
+turned involuntarily to look at her; her beauty had all its original
+enchantment; and he snatched away his eyes. He led on her whom still
+less he durst view; but another glance, thus surprised from him, shewed
+Indiana unguarded, unprotected; his imagination painted her immediately
+in a watery grave; and, seeing Eugenia safe, though not accommodated, he
+rushed back to the boat, and with trembling respect implored her to
+accept his aid.
+
+Triumphant, now, she conceived herself in her turn, and looking at him
+with haughty disdain, said, she chose to go alone; and when again he
+conjured her not to risk her precious safety, added, 'You know you don't
+care about it; so pray go to your Miss Eugenia Tyrold.'
+
+Young Melmond, delicate, refined, and well bred, was precisely amongst
+the first to feel, that a reply such as this must be classed amongst the
+reverse of those three epithets--had it come from any mouth but that of
+Indiana!--but love is deaf, as well as blind, to every defect of its
+chosen object, during the season of passion: from her, therefore, this
+answer, leaving unobserved the littleness and spleen which composed it,
+retained but so much of meaning as belongs to announcing jealousy, and
+in giving him that idea, filled him with sensations that almost tore him
+asunder.
+
+Urged by her pique, she contrived, and with real risk, to jump into the
+yacht alone; though, if swayed by any less potent motive, she would
+sooner have remained in the boat the whole day. But what is the strength
+which may be put upon a par with inclination? and what the general
+courage that partial enterprise will not exceed?
+
+Melmond, who only to some amiable cause could attribute whatever flowed
+from so beautiful an object, having once started the idea of jealousy,
+could give its source only to love: the impure spring of envy entered
+not into his suggestions. What, then, was his distraction, to think
+himself so greatly miserable! to believe he was secretly favoured by
+Indiana, at the instant of his first devoirs to another! Duty and
+desire were equally urgent to be heard; he shrunk in utter despondence
+from the two objects that seemed to personify both, and retreated, to
+the utmost of his power, from the sight of either.
+
+Miss Margland had more than echoed every scream of Indiana, though
+nobody had seemed to hear her. Dr. Orkborne, the only beau she could
+compel into her service, was missing; her eye and voice alike every
+where demanded him in vain; he neither appeared to her view, nor
+answered her indignant calls.--Nor, indeed, though she forced his
+attendance, had she the most remote hope of inspiriting him to any
+gallantry: but still he was a man, and she thought it a mark of
+consequence to have one in her train; nor was it by any means nothing to
+her to torment Dr. Orkborne with her reproaches. To dispositions highly
+irascible, it is frequently more gratifying to have a subject of
+complaint than of acknowledgment.
+
+The ladies being now all accommodated upon the deck, sailing orders were
+given, when an 'holla! holla!' making the company look round, Lynmere
+desired to be admitted. All the party intended for the yacht were
+already on board, and Lord Pervil told Mr. Lynmere he would find a very
+good place in one of the pleasure boats: but he answered he was just
+come from them, and preferred going in the yacht. Lord Pervil then only
+hoped the ladies would excuse being a little crowded. Edgar had already
+glided in, and Mr. Westwyn had openly declared, when asked to go to one
+of the boats, that he always went where Hal went, be it where it might.
+
+Clermont, now, elbowing his way into a group of gentlemen, and
+addressing himself to young Halder, who was amongst them, said: 'Do you
+know what they've got to eat here?'
+
+'No.'
+
+'What the deuce! have not you examined the larder? I have been looking
+over the three boats,--there's nothing upon earth!--so I came to see if
+I could do any better here.'
+
+Halder vowed if there were nothing to eat, he would sooner jump over
+board, and swim to shore, than go starving on.
+
+'Starving?' said Mr. Westwyn, 'why I saw, myself, several baskets of
+provisions taken into each of the boats.'
+
+'Only ham and fowls,' answered Clermont, contemptuously.
+
+'Only ham and fowls? why what would you have?'
+
+'O the d----l,' answered he, making faces, 'not that antediluvian stuff!
+any thing's better than ham and fowls.'
+
+'Stilton cheese, for instance?' cried Mr. Westwyn, with a wrathful
+sneer, that made Clermont, who could not endure, yet, for many reasons,
+could not resent it, hastily decamp from his vicinity.
+
+Mr. Westwyn, looking after the young epicure with an expression of angry
+scorn, now took the arm of Edgar, whose evident interest in his first
+communication encouraged further confidence, and said: 'That person that
+you see walk that way just now, is a fellow that I have a prodigious
+longing to give a good caning to. I can't say I like him; yet he's
+nephew and heir to the very best man in the three kingdoms. However, I
+heartily hope his uncle will disinherit him, for he's a poor fool as
+well as a sorry fellow. I love to speak my mind plainly.'
+
+Edgar was ill-disposed to conversation, and intent only upon Camilla,
+who was now seated between Mrs. Berlinton and Eugenia, and occupied by
+the fine prospects every where open to her; yet he explained the error
+of Clermont's being heir, as well as nephew, to Sir Hugh; at which the
+old gentleman, almost jumping with surprise and joy, said: 'Why, then
+who's to pay all his debts at Leipsic? I can't say but what I'm glad to
+hear this. I hope he'll be sent to prison, with all my heart, to teach
+him a little better manners. For my old friend will never cure him; he
+spoils young people prodigiously. I don't believe he'd so much as give
+'em a horse-whipping, let 'em do what they would. That i'n't my way. Ask
+Hal!'
+
+Here he stopt, disturbed by a new sight, which displaced Clermont from
+his thoughts.
+
+Camilla, to whom the beauties of nature had mental, as well as visual
+charms, from the blessings, as well as pleasure, she had from childhood
+been instructed to consider as surrounding them, was so enchanted by the
+delicious scenery every way courting her eyes, the transparent
+brightness of the noble piece of water upon which she was sailing, the
+richness and verdure of its banks, the still and gently gliding motion
+of the vessel, the clearness of the heavens, and the serenity of the
+air, that all her cares, for a while, would have been lost in admiring
+contemplation, had she not painfully seen the eternal watching of Henry
+for her notice, and gathered from the expression of his eyes, his
+intended expostulation. The self-reproach with which she felt how ill
+she could make her defence, joined to a sincere and generous wish to
+spare him the humiliation of a rejection, made her seek so to engage
+herself, as to prevent the possibility of his uttering two sentences
+following. But as this was difficult with Eugenia, who was lost in
+silent meditation upon her own happiness, or Mrs. Berlinton, who was
+occupied in examining the beauty so fatal to the repose of her brother,
+she had found such trouble in eluding him, that, when she saw Lord
+Valhurst advance from the cabin, where he had been drying and refreshing
+himself, she welcomed him as a resource, and, taking advantage of the
+civility she owed him for what he had suffered in esquiring her, gave
+him her sole attention; always persuaded his admiration was but a sort
+of old fashioned politeness, equally without design in itself, or
+subject for comment in others.
+
+But what is so hard to judge as the human heart? The fairest observers
+misconstrue all motives to action, where any received prepossession has
+found an hypothesis. To Edgar this conduct appeared the most degrading
+fondness for adulation, and to Mr. Westwyn a tyrannical caprice, meant
+to mortify his son. 'I hope you saw that! I hope you saw that!' cried
+he, 'for now I don't care a pin for her any longer! and if Hal is such a
+mere fool as ever to think of her any more, I'll never see his face
+again as long as I live. After looking askew at the poor boy all this
+time, to turn about and make way for that nasty old fellow; as who
+should say, I'll speak to nothing but a lord! is what I shall never
+forgive; and I wish I had never seen the girl, nor Hal neither. I can't
+say I like such ways. I can't abide 'em.'
+
+A sigh that then escaped Edgar, would have told a more discerning
+person, that he came in for his ample share in the same wish.
+
+'And, after all,' continued he, 'being a lord is no such great feat that
+ever I could learn. Hal might be a lord too, if he could get a title.
+There is nothing required for it but what any man may have; nobody asks
+after what he can do, or what he can say. If he's got a good head, it's
+well; and if he has not, it's all one. And that's what you can't say of
+such a likely young fellow as my son. You may see twenty for one that's
+as well looking. Indeed, to my mind, I don't know that ever I saw a
+prettier lad in my life. So she might do worse, I promise her, though
+she has used my son so shabbily. I don't like her the better for it, I
+assure her; and so you may tell her, if you please. I'm no great friend
+to not speaking my mind.'
+
+The fear of being too late for the evening's arrangements, made Lord
+Pervil, after a two hours sail, give orders for veering about: the
+ladies were advised to go into the cabin during this evolution, and
+Camilla was amongst those who most readily complied, for the novelty of
+viewing what she had not yet seen. But when, with the rest, she was
+returning to the deck, Lord Valhurst, who had just descended, entreated
+her to stop one moment.
+
+Not at all conjecturing his reason, she knew not how to refuse, but
+innocently begged him to speak quick, as she was in haste, not to lose
+any of the beautiful landscapes they were passing.
+
+'Ah what,' cried the enamoured peer, 'what in the world is beautiful in
+any comparison with yourself? To me no possible object can have such
+charms; and I have now no wish remaining but never to lose sight of it.'
+
+Amazed beyond all measure, she stared at him a moment in silence, and
+then, confirmed by his looks that he was serious, would have left the
+cabin with precipitance: but, preventing her from passing; 'Charming
+Miss Tyrold!' he cried, 'let the confession of my flame meet your
+favour, and I will instantly make my proposals to your friends.'
+
+To Camilla this offer appeared as little delicate, as its maker was
+attractive; yet she thought herself indebted for its general purport,
+and, as soon as her astonishment allowed her, gracefully thanked him for
+the honour of his good opinion, but entreated him to make no application
+to her friends, as it would not be in her power to concur in their
+consent.
+
+Concluding this to be modest shyness, he was beginning a passionate
+protestation of the warmth of his regard, when the effusion was stopt by
+the appearance of Edgar.
+
+Little imagining so serious a scene to be passing as the few words he
+now gathered gave him to understand, his perplexity at her not returning
+with the other ladies, made him suggest this to be a favourable moment
+to seize for following her himself, and demanding the sought, though
+dreaded conference. But when he found that his lordship, instead of
+making, as he had supposed, his usual fond, yet unmeaning compliments,
+was pompously offering his hand, he precipitately retired.
+
+No liveliness of temper had injured in Camilla the real modesty of her
+character. A sense, therefore, of obligation for this partiality
+accompanied its surprise, and was preparing her for repeating the
+rejection with acknowledgments though with firmness, when the sight of
+Edgar brought an entirely new train of feelings and ideas into her mind.
+O! happy moment! thought she; he must have heard enough of what was
+passed to know me, at least, to be disinterested! he must see, now, it
+was himself, not his situation in life, I was so prompt in
+accepting--and if again he manifests the same preference, I may receive
+it with more frankness than ever, for he will see my whole heart,
+sincerely, singly, inviolably his own!
+
+Bewitched with this notion, she escaped from the peer, and ran up to the
+deck, with a renovation of animal spirits, so high, so lively, and so
+buoyant, that she scarce knew what she said or did, from the
+uncontroulable gaiety, which made every idea dance to a happiness new
+even to her happy mind. Whoever she looked at, she smiled upon; to
+whatever was proposed, she assented: scarce could she restrain her voice
+from involuntarily singing, or her feet from instinctively dancing.
+
+Edgar, compared with what he now felt, believed that hitherto he had
+been a stranger to what wonder meant. Is this, thought he, Camilla? Has
+she wilfully fascinated this old man seriously to win him, and has she
+won him but to triumph in the vanity of her conquest? How is her
+delicacy perverted! what is become of her sensibility? Is this the
+artless Camilla? modest as she was gay, docile as she was spirited,
+gentle as she was intelligent? O how spoilt! how altered! how gone!
+
+Camilla, little suspicious of this construction, thought it would be now
+equally wrong to speak any more with either Henry or Lord Valhurst, and
+talked with all others indiscriminately, changing her object with almost
+every speech.
+
+A moment's reflection would have told her, that quietness alone, in her
+present situation, could do justice to the purity of her intentions: but
+reflection is rarely the partner of happiness in the youthful breast; it
+is commonly brought by sorrow, and flies at the first dawn of returning
+joy.
+
+Thus, while she dispensed to all around, with views the most innocent,
+her gay and almost wild felicity, the very delight to which she owed her
+animation, of believing she was evincing to Edgar with what singleness
+she was his own, gave her the appearance, in his judgment, of a
+finished, a vain, an all-accomplished coquette. The exaltation of her
+ideas brightened her eyes into a vivacity almost dazzling, gave an
+attraction to her smiles that was irresistible, the charm of fascination
+to the sound of her voice, to her air a thousand nameless graces, and to
+her manner and expression an enchantment.
+
+Powers so captivating, now for the first time united with a facility of
+intercourse, soon drew around her all the attendant admiring beaux.
+
+No animal is more gregarious than a fashionable young man, who, whatever
+may be his abilities to think, rarely decides, and still less frequently
+acts for himself. He may wish, he may appreciate, internally with
+justice and wisdom; but he only says, and only does, what some other man
+of fashion, higher in vogue, or older in courage, has said or has done
+before him.
+
+The young Lord Pervil, the star of the present day, was now drawn into
+the magic circle of Camilla; this was full sufficient to bring into it
+every minor luminary of his constellation; and even the resplendent and
+incomparable beauty of Indiana, even the soft and melting influence of
+the expressively lovely Mrs. Berlinton, gave way to the superior
+ascendance of that varied grace, and winning vivacity, which seemed
+instinctively sharing with the beholders its own pleasure and animation.
+
+To Edgar alone this gave her not new charms: he saw in her more of
+beauty, but less of interest; the sentence dictated by Dr. Marchmont, as
+the watch-word to his feelings, _were she mine_, recurred to him
+incessantly; alas! he thought, with this dissipated delight in
+admiration, what individual can make her happy? to the rational serenity
+of domestic life, she is lost!
+
+Again, as he viewed the thickening group before her, offering fresh and
+fresh incense, which her occupied mind scarce perceived, though her
+elevated spirits unconsciously encouraged, he internally exclaimed: 'O,
+if her trusting father saw her thus! her father who, with all his tender
+lenity, has not the blind indulgence of her uncle, how would he start!
+how would his sense of fair propriety be revolted!--or if her
+mother--her respectable mother, beheld thus changed, thus undignified,
+thus open to all flattery and all flatterers, her no longer peerless
+daughter--how would she blush! how would the tint of shame rob her
+impressive countenance of its noble confidence!'
+
+These thoughts were too agitating for observation; his eyes moistened
+with sadness in associating to his disappointment that of her revered
+and exemplary parents, and he retreated from her sight till the moment
+of landing; when with sudden desperation, melancholy yet determined, he
+told himself he would no longer be withheld from fulfilling his purpose.
+
+He made way, then, to the group, though with unsteady steps; his eye
+pierced through to Camilla; she caught and fixt it. He felt cold; but
+still advanced. She saw the change, but did not understand it. He
+offered her his hand before Lady Pervil arose to lead the way, lest some
+competitor should seize it; she accepted it, rather surprized by such
+sudden promptness, though encouraged by it to a still further dependance
+upon her revived and sanguine expectations.
+
+Yet deeper sunk this flattering illusion, when she found his whole frame
+was shaking, and saw his complexion every moment varying. She continued,
+though in a less disengaged manner, her sprightly discourse with the
+group; for he uttered not a word. Content that he had secured her hand,
+he waited an opportunity less public.
+
+Lady Pervil, who possessed that true politeness of a well-bred woman of
+rank, who knows herself never so much respected as when she lays aside
+mere heraldic claims to superiority, would not quit the yacht of which
+she did the honours, till every other lady was conducted to the shore.
+Edgar had else purposed to have detained Camilla in the vessel a moment
+later than her party, to hear the very few words it was his intention to
+speak. Frustrated of this design, he led her away with the rest, still
+totally silent, till her feet touched the beach: she was then, with
+seeming carelessness, withdrawing her hand, to trip off to Mrs.
+Berlinton; but Edgar, suddenly grasping it, tremulously said: 'Will it
+be too much presumption--in a rejected man--to beg the honour of three
+minutes conference with Miss Tyrold, before she joins her party?'
+
+A voice piercing from the deep could not have caused in Camilla a more
+immediate revulsion of ideas; but she was silent, in her turn, and he
+led her along the beach, while Mrs. Berlinton, attended by a train of
+beaux, went to her carriage, where, thus engaged, she contentedly
+waited.
+
+'Do not fear,' he resumed, when they had passed the crowd, 'do not fear
+to listen to me, though, once more, I venture to obtrude upon you some
+advice; let it not displease you; it is in the spirit of the purest good
+will; it is singly, solely, and disinterestedly as a friend.'
+
+Camilla was now all emotion; pale she turned, but Edgar did not look at
+her; and she strove to thank him in a common manner, and to appear cool
+and unmoved.
+
+'My opinion, my fears rather, concerning Mrs. Berlinton, as I find she
+hopes soon for a near connexion with your family, will henceforth remain
+buried in my own breast: yet, should you, to any use hereafter remember
+them, I shall rejoice: though should nothing ever recur to remind you of
+them, I shall rejoice still more. Nor will I again torment you about
+that very underbred woman who inhabits the same house, and who every
+where boasts an intimacy with its two ladies, that is heard with general
+astonishment: nor yet upon another, and far more important topic, will I
+now touch,--the present evening recreation at Mrs. Berlinton's. I know
+you are merely a spectatress, and I will not alarm your friends, nor
+dwell myself, upon collateral mischiefs, or eventual dangers, from a
+business that in three days will end, by your restoration to the most
+respectable of all protections. All that, now, I mean to enter upon, all
+that, now, I wish to enforce, a few words will comprise, and those words
+will be my--'
+
+He would have said _my last_ but his breath failed him; he stopt; he
+wanted her to seize his meaning unpronounced; and, though it came to her
+as a thunderbolt from heaven, its very horror helped her; she divined
+what he could not utter, by feeling what she could not hear.
+
+'Few, indeed,' cried he, in broken accents, 'must be these final words!
+but how can I set out upon my so long procrastinated tour, with an idea
+that you are not in perfect safety, yet without attempting to point out
+to you your danger? And yet,--that you should be surrounded by admirers
+can create no wonder;--that you should feel your power without
+displeasure, is equally natural;--I scarcely know, therefore, what I
+would urge--yet perhaps, untold, you may conceive what struggles in my
+breast, and do justice to the conflict between friendship and respect,
+where one prompts a freedom, which the other [trembles] to execute. I
+need not, I think, say, that to offend you is nearly the only thing that
+could aggravate the affliction of this parting.'--
+
+Camilla turned aside from him; but not to weep; her spirit was now
+re-wakened by resentment, that he could thus propose a separation,
+without enquiring if she persisted to desire it.
+
+'I tire you?' resumed he, mournfully; 'yet can you be angry that a
+little I linger? Farewell, however--the grave, when it closes in upon me
+can alone end my prayers for your felicity! I commit wholly to you my
+character and my conduct, with regard to your most honoured father, whom
+I beseech and conjure you to assure of my eternal gratitude and
+affection. But I am uncertain of your wishes; I will, therefore, depart
+without seeing him. When I return to this country, all will be
+forgotten--or remembered only--' _by me_, he meant to say, but he
+checked himself, and, with forced composure, went on:
+
+'That I travel not with any view of pleasure, you, who know what I
+leave--how I prize what I lose,--and how lately I thought all I most
+coveted mine for ever, will easily believe. But if earthly bliss is the
+lot of few, what right had I to expect being so selected? Severe as is
+this moment, with blessings, not with murmurs, I quit you! blessings
+which my life, could it be useful to you, should consecrate. If you were
+persuaded our dispositions would not assimilate; if mine appeared to you
+too rigorous, too ungenial, your timely precaution has spared more
+misery than it has inflicted. How could I have borne the light, when it
+had shewn me Camilla unhappy--yet Camilla my own--?'
+
+His struggle here grew vain, his voice faltered; the resentment of
+Camilla forsook her; she raised her head, and was turning to him her
+softened countenance, and filling eyes, when she saw Melmond, and a
+party of gentlemen, fast approaching her from Mrs. Berlinton. Edgar saw
+them too, and cutting short all he meant to have added, kissed, without
+knowing what he did, the lace of her cloak, and ejaculating, 'Be Heaven
+your guard, and happiness your portion!' left her hand to that of
+Melmond, which was held out to her, and slightly bowing to the whole
+party, walked slowly, and frequently looking back, away: while Camilla,
+nearly blinded now by tears that would no longer be restrained, kept her
+eyes fixedly upon the earth, and was drawn, more dead than alive, by
+Melmond to the coach.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_Touches of Wit and Humour_
+
+
+The suddenness of this blow to Camilla, at the moment when her
+expectations from Edgar were wound up to the summit of all she desired,
+would have stupefied her into a consternation beyond even affliction,
+had not the mildness of his farewell, the kindness of his prayers, and
+the friendship of his counsels, joined to the generosity of leaving
+wholly to herself the account of their separation, subdued all the pride
+that sought to stifle her tenderness, and penetrated her with an
+admiration which left not one particle of censure to diminish her
+regret.
+
+Melmond and his sister, always open to distress, and susceptible to
+pity, saw with true concern this melancholy change, and concluded that
+Mandlebert had communicated some painful intelligence.
+
+She went straight to her own room, with a sign of supplication that Mrs.
+Berlinton would not follow; and turning quick from Mrs. Mittin, who met
+her at the street door.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton yielded; but Mrs. Mittin was not easily rebuffed. She was
+loaded with lilac plumes, ribbands, and gauzes, and Camilla saw her bed
+completely covered with her new ball dress.
+
+This sight was, at first, an aggravation of her agony, by appearing to
+her as superfluous as it was expensive: but wherever hope could find an
+aperture to creep in at, it was sure of a welcome from Camilla. Edgar
+was undoubtedly invited to the ball; why should he not be there? he had
+taken leave of her, indeed, and he certainly proposed going abroad; but
+could a mere meeting once more, be so repugnant as not to be endured.
+
+The answer to this question was favourable to her wishes, for by her
+wishes it was framed: and the next play of her fertile and quick
+reviving imagination, described the meeting that would ensue, the
+accidents that would bring them into the same set, the circumstances
+that would draw them again into conversation, and the sincerity with
+which she would do justice to her unalterable esteem, by assuring him
+how injurious to it were his surmises that she thought him rigorous,
+austere, or in any single instance to blame.
+
+These hopes somewhat appeased, though their uncertainty could not banish
+her terrors, and she was able to appear at dinner tolerably composed.
+
+Another affair, immediately after, superseded them, for the present, by
+more urgent difficulties.
+
+Soon after her arrival at Southampton, a poor woman, who washed for her,
+made a petition in behalf of her brother, a petty shop-keeper, who, by
+various common, yet pitiable circumstances of unmerited ill success in
+business, was unable to give either money or security to the wholesale
+dealers, for the renewal of his exhausted stock in trade; though the
+present full season, made it rational to suppose, that, if he had his
+usual commodities, he might retrieve his credit, save himself from
+bankruptcy, and his children from beggary. These last, which were five
+in number, were all, upon various pretences, brought to Camilla, whose
+pity they excited by the innocence with which they seemed ignorant of
+requiring it; and who received them with smiles and encouragement,
+however frivolous their errands, and frequent their interruptions. But
+the goods which their father wanted to lay in, to revive his trade,
+demanded full thirty pounds, which, Camilla declared, were as absolutely
+out of her power to give as thirty thousand, though she promised to
+plead to Sir Hugh for the sum, upon her return to Cleves, and was
+prevailed with to grant her name to this promise for the wholesale
+dealers. These would trust, however, to no verbal security; and Mrs.
+Mittin, who from collateral reasons was completely a friend of the poor
+man, offered to be bound for him herself, though thirty pounds were
+nearly her year's income, provided Camilla would sign a paper, by which
+she would engage _upon her honour_, to indemnify her of any loss she
+might eventually sustain by this agreement, as soon as she was of age,
+or should find it in her power before that time.
+
+The seriousness of this clause, made Camilla refuse the responsibility,
+protesting she should have no added means in consequence of being of
+age. But Mrs. Mittin assured Higden, the poor man, as she assured all
+others, that she was heiress to immense wealth, for she had had it from
+one that had it from her own brother's own mouth; and that though she
+could not find out why she was so shy of owning it, she supposed it was
+only from the fear of being imposed upon.
+
+The steadiness of Camilla, however, could not withstand her compassion,
+when the washerwoman brought the poor children to beg for their father;
+and, certain of her uncle's bounty, she would have run a far more
+palpable risk, sooner than have assumed the force to send them weeping
+away.
+
+The stores were then delivered; and all the family poured forth their
+thanks.
+
+But this day, in quitting the dining parlour, she was stopt in the hall
+by Higden, who, in unfeigned agonies, related, that some flasks of oil,
+in a small hamper, which were amongst the miscellaneous articles of his
+just collected stores, had, by some cruel accident, been crushed, and
+their contents, finding their way into all the other packages, had
+stained or destroyed them.
+
+Camilla, to whose foresight misfortune never presented itself, heard
+this with nearly equal terror for herself, and sorrow for the poor man:
+yet her own part, in a second minute, appeared that of mere
+inconvenience, compared with his, which seemed ruin irretrievable; she
+sought, therefore, to comfort him; but could afford no further help,
+since she had painfully to beg from her uncle the sum already so
+uselessly incurred. He ventured still to press, that, if again he could
+obtain a supply, every evil chance should be guarded against; but
+Camilla had now learned that accidents were possible; and the fear which
+arises from disappointed trust, made her think of probable mischiefs
+with too acute a discernment, to deem it right to run again any hazard,
+where, if there were a failure, another, not herself, would be the
+sufferer. Yet the despair of the poor man induced her to promise she
+would write in his favour, though not act in it again unauthorised.
+
+With feelings of still augmented discomfort, from her denial, she
+repaired to her toilette; but attired herself without seeing what she
+put on, or knowing, but by Mrs. Mittin's descriptions and boastings,
+that her dress was new, of the Pervil uniform, and made precisely like
+that of Mrs. Berlinton. Her agitated spirits, suspended, not between
+hope and fear, but hope and despair, permitted no examination of its
+elegance: the recollection of its expence, and the knowledge that Edgar
+thought her degenerating into coquetry, left nothing but regret for its
+wear.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, who never before, since her marriage, had been of any
+party where her attractions had not been unrivalled, had believed
+herself superior to pleasure from personal homage, and knew not, till
+she missed it, that it made any part of her amusement in public. But the
+Beauty, when first she perceives a competitor for the adulation she has
+enjoyed exclusively, and the Statesman, at the first turn of popular
+applause to an antagonist, are the two beings who, perhaps, for the
+moment, require the most severe display of self-command, to disguise,
+under the semblance of good humour or indifference, the disappointment
+they experience in themselves, or the contempt with which they are
+seized for the changing multitude.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, though she felt no resentment against Camilla for the
+desertion she had occasioned her, felt much surprize; not to be first
+was new to her: and whoever, in any station of life, any class of
+society, has had regular and acknowledged precedency, must own a sudden
+descent to be rather awkward. Where resignation is voluntary, to give up
+the higher place may denote more greatness of mind than to retain it;
+but where imposed by others, few things are less exhilarating to the
+principal, or impress less respect upon the by-stander.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton had never been vain; but she could not be ignorant of her
+beauty; and that the world's admiration should be so wondrously fickle,
+or so curiously short-lived, as to make even the bloom of youth fade
+before the higher zest of novelty, was an earlier lesson than her mind
+was prepared to receive. She thought she had dressed herself that
+morning with too much carelessness of what was becoming, and devoted to
+this evening a greater portion of labour and study.
+
+While Camilla was impatiently waiting, Mrs. Pollard, the washerwoman,
+gained admittance to her, and bringing two interesting little children
+of from four to five years old, and an elder girl of eleven, made them
+join with herself to implore their benefactress to save them all from
+destruction.
+
+Higden having had the imprudence, in his grief, to make known his recent
+misfortune, it had reached the ears of his landlord, who already was
+watchful and suspicious, from a year and half arrears of his rent; and
+steps were immediately preparing to seize whatever was upon the premises
+the next morning; which, by bringing upon him all his other creditors,
+would infallibly immure him in the lingering hopelessness of a prison.
+
+Camilla now wavered; the debt was but eighteen pounds; the noble
+largesses of her uncle in charity, till, of late, that he had been
+somewhat drained by Lionel, were nearly unlimited.--She paused--looked
+now at the pleading group, now at her expensive dress; asked how, for
+her own hopes, she could risk so much, yet for their deliverance from
+ruin so little; and with a blush turning from the mirrour, and to the
+children with a tear, finally consented that the landlord should apply
+to her the next morning.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Lord Pervil had some time opened the ball before Mrs. Berlinton's
+arrival; but he looked every where for Camilla, to succeed to a young
+lady of quality with whom he had danced the first two dances. He could
+not, however, believe he had found, though he now soon saw and made up
+to her. The brilliancy of her eyes was dimmed by weeping, her vivacity
+was changed into dejection, sighs and looks of absence took place of
+smiles and sallies of gaiety, and her whole character seemed to have
+lost its spring and elasticity. She gave him her hand, to preserve her
+power of giving it if claimed by Edgar, and though he had thought of her
+without ceasing since she had charmed him in the yacht, till he had
+obtained it, not a lady appeared in the room, by the time these two
+dances were over, that he would not more cheerfully have chosen for two
+more: her gravity every minute encreased, her eye rolled, with restless
+anxiety, every where, except to meet his, and so little were her
+thoughts, looks, or conversation bestowed upon her partner, that instead
+of finding the animated beauty who had nearly captivated him on board
+the yacht, he seemed coupled with a fair lifeless machine, whom the
+music, perforce, put in motion; and relinquished her hand with as little
+reluctance as she withdrew it.
+
+Melmond had again, by his sister, been forced into the party, though
+with added unwillingness, from his new idea of Indiana. Now, however, to
+avoid that fair bane was impossible: Indiana was the first object to
+meet every eye, from the lustre of her beauty, and the fineness of her
+figure, each more than ever transcendently conspicuous, from the uniform
+which had obliged every other female in the room to appear in exactly
+the same attire. Yet great and unrivalled as was the admiration which
+she met, what came simply and naturally was insufficient for the thirst
+with which she now quaffed this intoxicating beverage; and to render its
+draughts still more delicious, she made Eugenia always hold by her arm.
+The contrast here to the spectators was diverting as well as striking,
+and renewed attention to her own charms, when the eye began to grow
+nearly sated with gazing. The ingenuous Eugenia, incapable of suspecting
+such a design, was always the dupe to the request, from the opinion it
+was made in kindness, to save her from fatigue in the eternal sauntering
+of a public place; and, lost to all fear, in being lost to all hope, as
+to her own appearance, cheerfully accompanied her beautiful kinswoman,
+without conjecturing that, in a company whence the illiterate and vulgar
+were excluded, personal imperfections could excite pleasantry, or be a
+subject of satire.
+
+Camilla, who still saw nothing of Edgar, yet still thought it possible
+he might come, joined them as soon as she was able. Miss Margland was
+full of complaints about Dr. Orkborne, for his affording them no
+assistance in the yacht, and not coming home even to dinner, nor to
+attend them to Lord Pervil's; and Eugenia, who was sincerely attached to
+the Doctor, from the many years he had been her preceptor, was beginning
+to express her serious uneasiness at his thus strangely vanishing; when
+Clermont, with the most obstreperous laughter, made up to them, and
+said: 'I'll tell you a monstrous good joke! the best thing you ever
+heard in your life! the old Doctor's been upon the very point of being
+drowned!--and he has not had a morsel to eat all day!'
+
+He then related that his man, having seen him composedly seated, and
+musing upon a pile of planks which were seasoning upon the beach, with
+his face turned away from the company to avoid its interruptions, had
+enquired if he had any commands at home, whither he was going: 'Not for
+meaning to do them,' continued Lynmere; 'No, no! catch Bob at that! but
+only to break in upon him; for Bob's a rare hand at a joke. He says he's
+ready to die with laughing, when he speaks to the old Doctor while he's
+studying, because he looks so much as if he wished we were all hanged.
+However, he answered tolerably civilly, and only desired that nobody
+might go into his room till he came home from the sail, for he'd forgot
+to lock it. So Bob, who smoked how the matter was, says: 'The sail, Sir,
+what are you going alone, then? for all the company's been gone these
+two hours.' So this put him in such a taking, Bob says he never laughed
+so much in his life. He jumped up as if he'd been bit: 'Gone?' says he,
+'why where's Miss Eugenia, I promised Sir Hugh not to lose sight of
+her.' So he said he'd go after her that very moment. 'Call me a boat,'
+said he: just as if he'd ordered a hackney coach; for he knows about as
+much of winds and tides as my little bay Filly, that I bought of Halder
+yesterday for fifty pounds, but that I shall make worth seventy in less
+than a month. Well, there was nothing to be had but a small fishing
+boat, so Bob winks at the man to take in a friend; for he has all those
+fellows in a string. So in went his Latinship, and off they put. Bob
+fell into such a fit of laughter, he says I might have heard him a mile
+off. I don't think Bob has his fellow upon earth for fun.'
+
+Eugenia now interrupted the narration, with a serious enquiry where Dr.
+Orkborne was at present.
+
+Lynmere, shouting at what he thought the ridicule of this concern,
+answered, that Bob had told the fisherman to go about his own business,
+unless the Doctor offered to pay him handsomely for taking him on board
+the yacht; but thinking it would be a good joke to know what was become
+of him, he had gone himself, with Halder, and some more choice blades,
+to the beach, about half an hour ago, to make Bob see if the fishing
+boat was come in; and, by good luck, they arrived at the very nick of
+time, and saw the Doctor, the fish, and the fishing-tackle, all hauled
+out together. 'And a better sight was never seen before, I promise you!'
+continued Lynmere; 'I thought I should quite have burst my sides with
+looking at him, he was so wet and so cold, and so miserable; and when I
+thought of his having had no dinner, I shouted till I was ready to roll
+on the beach--and he smelt so of the fish, that I could have hugged Bob,
+'twas such monstrous good sport. He got three half crowns in a minute
+for his ingenuity. Halder began;--and two others of us gave two more.'
+
+'Poor Dr. Orkborne! and where is he now?' said Eugenia.
+
+'Why we got about the fisherman, and then we had all the same fun over
+again: He says, that, at first, the poor gentleman was in a great
+taking, fretting and fuming, and looking out for the yacht, and seeming
+almost beside himself for hurry to get to it; but after that, he takes
+out a little red book and a pencil, and falls to writing, just as hard
+as if he'd come into the boat for nothing else; insomuch, that when they
+were just coming along-side the yacht, he never lifted up his head, nor
+listened to one word, but kept making a motion with his hand to be let
+alone: and when the man said the yacht would be passed, he bid him hold
+his peace, and not interrupt him so, in such a pettish manner, that the
+man resolved to take honest Bob's advice, and go on about his own
+business. And so he did, and the Doctor was as content as a lord, till
+he had scribbled all he could scratch out of his noddle: but then came
+the best sport of all; for when he had nothing more to write, and looked
+up, and saw the boat stock still, and the man fishing at his leisure,
+and heard the yacht had been bound homeward of a good hour, he was in
+such a perilous passion, the man says, that he actually thought he'd
+have jumped overboard. I'll bet what you will he won't ask Bob to call
+him a boat again in a hurry.'
+
+'As to his behaviour,' said Miss Margland, 'it's the last thing in the
+world to surprize me, after what I have seen myself; nor any body else,
+I believe, neither. Who is Dr. Orkborne? I doubt much if any body ever
+heard his name before. I should like to know if any body can tell who
+was his grandfather!'
+
+She then declared, if she could get any soul to fetch him, he should
+still come, if it were only that he might not pass the evening all in
+his own way, which would be just the thing to encourage him to hide
+himself out of sight, on purpose not to help them another time.
+
+Eugenia was going to beg he might not be disturbed, when Melmond, all
+alacrity to seize any means of absenting himself from the two cousins,
+who produced in him so severe a conflict, offered his services to carry
+a message to the Doctor; which, being readily accepted, he set off.
+
+Indiana and Eugenia, not wholly without similarity of sensation, looked
+after him. Indiana had now caught his eye; and though quickness was no
+part of her character, the tale it told had convinced her that her
+power, though no longer acknowledged was not extinguished; it required
+neither elemental precepts, nor sagacious perceptions, to make this
+discovery, and she exultingly determined to appease her late
+mortification, by reducing him to her feet. She stopt not to enquire
+what such a step might be to Eugenia, nor what was likely, or even
+desirable to be its event. Where narrow minds imagine they have received
+injury, they seek revenge rather than redress, from an opinion that such
+a conduct asserts their own importance.
+
+Still vainly, and wretchedly, the eyes of Camilla sought Edgar: the
+evening advanced, but he came not; yet, catching at every possible
+chance for hope, she thought some other room that they had not visited,
+might be open for company, where, finally, they might meet.
+
+Dr. Orkborne accompanied Melmond back. Miss Margland was preparing him a
+reproachful reception, but was so much offended by the fishy smell which
+he brought into the room, that she had immediate recourse to her salts,
+and besought him to stand out of her way. He complied without
+reluctance, though with high disdain.
+
+The young ladies were all dancing. Indiana had no sooner perceived
+Melmond, than she determined to engage his attention: the arts of
+coquetry require but slender parts, where the love of admiration is
+potent; she pretended, therefore, to feel extremely ill, put her hand to
+her forehead, and telling her partner, Mr. Halder, she could not stand
+another minute, hastened to Miss Margland, and cast herself, as if
+fainting, upon her neck.
+
+This had all the success with Melmond that his own lively imagination
+could give it. He flew to a side-table to get her a glass of water,
+which his trembling hand could scarce hold, but which she received from
+him with a languishing sweetness, that dissolved every tie but of love,
+and he '_hung over her enamoured_[4];' while Miss Margland related that
+she could hardly keep from fainting herself, so much she had been
+shocked and disordered by the horrid smell of Dr. Orkborne.
+
+[Footnote 4: Milton]
+
+Indiana now caught the infection, and protested she was so much worse,
+that if she had not a little air she should die. Melmond was flying to
+open a window, but a lady who sat close to it, objected; and he had then
+recourse to two folding doors, leading to a portico open to a large
+garden.
+
+Hither Indiana permitted herself to be led, and led by the thrice happy,
+yet thrice miserable Melmond. Miss Margland was accompanying them, but
+Lady Pervil, advancing to enquire what went wrong, gave her an
+opportunity irresistible to inveigh against Dr. Orkborne; and as her
+well-bred hearer, though little interested in such a detail, would not
+interrupt it, Indiana arrived alone in the portico with Melmond. Halder,
+who had danced with her, followed, but supposing Melmond the favoured
+man, walked singing off, and made the tour of the garden.
+
+This situation was to Melmond as dangerous, as to Indiana it was
+exulting. She now suddenly withdrew her hand, with an air of poignant
+disdain, which the illuminated portico and house made amply visible; and
+when, surprised and much moved, he tremblingly enquired if she were
+worse, she answered, 'Why do you ask? I am sure you do not care.'
+
+Easily deprived of all forbearance, 'Heavens!' he exclaimed, 'do I live,
+yet suffer this imputation! O divine Indiana! load me with every other
+reproach, rather than this dreadful charge of insensibility to all that
+is most lovely, most perfect upon earth!'
+
+'I thought,' said Indiana, again softening her fine eyes, 'you had quite
+forgot me, and all the vows you made to me.'
+
+'Wretch that I am,' cried Melmond nearly distracted by this charge, and
+by the regret at losing him, which seemed its purpose, 'condemned to
+every species of woe! O fair, angelic Indiana! in a cottage with you
+would I have dwelt, more delightedly, and more proudly, than any
+potentate in the most gorgeous palace: but, alas! from you--formed to
+enchant all mankind, and add grace to every dignity--from you could I
+dare ask such a sacrifice?'
+
+Indiana now listened with an attentive softness no longer factitious;
+though all her views wafted her to splendour and high life, her ear
+could not withstand the romantic sound of love and a cottage; and though
+no character was ever less formed to know and taste the blessings such a
+spot may bestow and reciprocate, she imagined she might there be happy,
+for she considered such a habitation but as a bower of eglantine and
+roses, in which she might repose and be adored all day long.
+
+Melmond saw but too quickly the relenting cast of her countenance; and
+ecstasy and despair combated which should bear sway in his breast. 'Ah,
+madam,' he cried, 'most adorable and most adored of women! you know my
+terrible situation, but you know not the sufferings, nor the constancy
+of my heart!--the persecution of friends, the pressure of distress, the
+hopelessness of my idolized Indiana--'
+
+A deep sigh interrupted him--it came not from Indiana--startled, he
+looked round--and beheld Eugenia, leaning against the door by which she
+seemed to have intended entering, pale, petrified, aghast.
+
+Shame now tied his tongue, and tingled, with quick reproach, through his
+whole frame. He looked at Indiana with despair, at Eugenia with remorse;
+injured rectitude and blushing honour urged him to the swiftest
+termination of so every way terrible a scene, and bowing low to Eugenia,
+'I durst not, madam,' he cried, 'ever hope for your pardon! yet I rather
+deluded myself than deceived you when I ventured to solicit your
+acceptance. Alas! I am a bankrupt both in fortune and in heart, and can
+only pray you will hasten to forget--that you may forbear to execrate
+me!'
+
+He then disappeared, finding a way out by the garden, to avoid
+re-entering the ball-room.
+
+Eugenia, who, in this speech, comprehended an eternal adieu, sunk upon
+the seat of the portico, cold, shivering, almost lifeless. Little
+prepared for such an event, she had followed Indiana the moment she was
+disengaged from the dance, not suspicious of any _tête-à-tête_, from
+believing Halder of the party. The energy of Melmond made her approach
+unheard; and the words she unavoidably caught, nearly turned her to
+marble.
+
+Indiana was sorry for her distress, yet felt a triumph in its cause; and
+wondered how so plain a little creature could take it into her head to
+think of marrying.
+
+Camilla now joined them, affrighted at the evident anguish of Eugenia,
+who, leaning upon her affectionate bosom, had the relief excited by
+pity, of bursting into tears, while despondingly she uttered: 'All is
+over, my sister, and over for life with Eugenia! Melmond flies and
+detests me! I am odious in his sight! I am horror to this thoughts!'
+
+Camilla wept over her in silent, but heart-breaking sympathy. Indiana
+returned to the dance: but the two suffering sisters remained in the
+portico till summoned to depart. They were insensible to the night air,
+from the fever of their minds. They spoke no more; they felt the
+insufficiency of words to express their griefs, and their mutual
+compassion was all that softened their mutual sorrows.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_An Adieu_
+
+
+Lost to all happiness, and for the first time in her life, divested of
+hope, Camilla at a late hour returned to Mrs. Berlinton's. And here,
+her heart-breaking disappointment received the cruel aggravation of the
+most severe self-reproach, when, in facing the mirror to deposit her
+ornaments upon the toilette table, she considered the expensive elegance
+of her whole dress, now, even in her own estimation, by its abortive
+purpose, rendered glaringly extravagant. Since her project had failed,
+she saw the impropriety of having risked so much in its attempt; and a
+train of just reflections ensued, to which her understanding was always
+equal, though her gaiety was seldom disposed. 'Would Edgar,' thought
+she, 'wait the event of a meeting at a ball to decide his conduct? Had
+he not every title to claim a conference with me, if he had the smallest
+inclination? Rejected as he calls himself, I had not pretended to demand
+our separation from any doubts, any displeasure of my own. From the
+moment he suffered me to quit, without reclamation, the roof under which
+I had proposed our parting, I ought to have seen it was but his own
+desire, perhaps design, I was executing. And all the reluctance he
+seemed to feel, which so weakly I attributed to regard, was but the
+expiring sensibility of the last moment of intercourse. Not with
+murmurs, he says, he will quit me--nor with murmurs will I now resign
+him!--with blessings, he says, he leaves me--O Edgar! mayest thou too be
+blest! The erring and unequal Camilla deserved thee not!'
+
+A more minute examination of her attire was not calculated to improve
+her serenity. Her robe was everywhere edged with the finest Valencienne
+lace; her lilac shoes, sash, and gloves, were richly spangled with
+silver, and finished with a silver fringe; her ear-rings and necklace
+were of lilac and gold beads; her fan and shoe roses were brilliant with
+lilac foil, and her bouquet of artificial lilac flowers, and her plumes
+of lilac feathers, were here and there tipt with the most tiny
+transparent white beads, to give them the effect of being glittering
+with the dew.
+
+Of the cost of all this she was no judge, but, certain its amount must
+be high, a warm displeasure arose against the incorrigible Mrs. Mittin,
+who had not only taken the pattern, but the value of Mrs. Berlinton's
+dress for her guide: and a yet greater dissatisfaction ensued with
+herself, for trusting the smallest commission to so vain and
+ungovernable an agent. She could only hope to hoard the payment from the
+whole of her next year's allowance, by living in so forbearing and
+retired a manner, as to require nothing for herself.
+
+The new, but all powerful guest which now assailed her, unhappiness, had
+still kept her eyes from closing, when she was called up to Mr. Tennet,
+the landlord of Higden. Her fuller knowledge of her own hopeless debts,
+could not make her faithless to her engagement; for her acquaintance
+with misery awakened but more pity for the misery of others. She
+admitted him, therefore, without demur; and found he was a land
+surveyor, who had often been employed by Sir Hugh at Cleves. He accepted
+her verbal promise to be answerable for the rent now due, declining her
+note of hand, which her minority made illegal, and engaging not to hurry
+her for the money; well satisfied, by the Tyrold character in the whole
+county, he might abide by her word of honour, founded upon the known
+munificence of her uncle.
+
+This delay was a relief, as it saved a partial demand, that must have
+forced an abrupt confession of her own debts, or have deceived the
+baronet into a belief she had nothing to solicit.
+
+When this business was transacted, she hastened to Eugenia, to console
+whose sufferings was all that could mitigate her own.
+
+One of the maids then came to say she had forgotten to inform her, that,
+some time after she had set out for Lord Pervil's a stranger, much
+muffled up, and with a hat flapped over his face so as wholly to hide
+it, had enquired for her, and seemed much disturbed when he heard she
+was at the ball, but said he would call again the next day at noon.
+
+No conjecture occurred to Camilla but that this must be Edgar; it was
+contrary to all probability; but no other image could find way to her
+mind. She hastened, inexpressibly perturbed, to her sister, determining
+to be at home before twelve o'clock, and fashioning to herself all the
+varieties such a meeting could afford; every one of which, however they
+began, ended regularly with a reconciliation.
+
+She found Eugenia weeping in bed. She embraced her with the extremest
+tenderness: 'Ah my sister!' said the unhappy mourner, 'I weep not for my
+disappointment, great as it may be--and I do not attempt describing
+it!--it is but my secondary sorrow. I weep, Camilla, for my own
+infatuation! for the folly, the blindness of which I find myself
+culpable. O Camilla! is it possible I could ever--for a moment, a single
+moment, suppose Melmond could willingly be mine! could see his exquisite
+susceptibility of every thing that is most perfect, yet persuade myself,
+he could take, by choice, the poor Eugenia for his wife! the mangled,
+deformed,--unfortunate Eugenia!'
+
+Camilla, touched to the heart, wept now more than her sister. 'That
+Eugenia,' she cried, 'has but to be known, to leave all beauty, all
+figure, every exterior advantage aloof, by the nobler, the more just
+superiority of intrinsic worth. Let our estimates but be mental, and who
+will not be proud to be placed in parallel with Eugenia?'
+
+She was then beginning her own sad relation, when an unopened letter
+upon the toilette table caught her eye. It had been placed there by
+Molly Mill, who thought her mistress asleep. Struck by the shape of the
+seal, Camilla rose to examine it: what was her palpitation, then, to see
+the cypher E M, and, turning to the other side, to perceive the hand
+writing of Edgar!
+
+She put it into her sister's hand, with expectation too big for speech.
+Eugenia opened it, and they read it silently together.
+
+     _To Miss_ EUGENIA TYROLD.
+
+     Southampton.
+
+     'Tis yet but a short time--in every account but my own--since I
+     thought myself forming a legal claim to address Miss Eugenia Tyrold
+     as my sister. Every other claim to that affectionate and endearing
+     title has been hers beyond her own memory; hers by the filial love
+     I bear her venerated parents; hers, by the tender esteem due to the
+     union of almost every virtue. These first and early ties must
+     remain for ever. Disappointment here cannot pierce her barbarous
+     shafts, fortune cannot wanton in reversing, nor can time dissolve
+     them.----
+
+'O Edgar!' exclaimed Camilla, stopping the reading, and putting her
+hand, as in benediction, upon the paper, 'do you deign to talk of
+disappointment? do you condescend to intimate you are unhappy? Ah, my
+Eugenia, you shall clear this dreadful error!--'tis to you he
+applies--you shall be peace-maker; restorer!'
+
+Eugenia dried her tears at the thought of so sweet an office, and they
+read on.
+
+     Of the other--yet nearer claim, I will not speak. You have probably
+     known longer than myself, its annihilation, and I will not pain
+     your generous heart with any view of my sufferings in such a
+     deprivation. I write but to take with my pen the leave I dare not
+     trust myself to take by word of mouth; to wish to your opening
+     prospects all the happiness that has flown mine, and to entreat you
+     to answer for me to the whole of your loved family, that its name
+     is what, through life, my ear with most reverence will hear, my
+     heart with most devotion will love.
+
+     EDGAR MANDLEBERT.
+
+At the kind wish upon her own opening prospects, Eugenia wept afresh;
+but when Camilla took the letter to press to her lips and her heart what
+he said of his sufferings, she perceived at the doubling down, two lines
+more:--
+
+     I am this moment leaving Southampton for the Isle of Wight, whence
+     I shall sail to the first port, that the first vessel with which I
+     may meet shall be bound.
+
+'No, my dear Eugenia,' cried she, then colouring, and putting down the
+letter, 'your mediation will be spared. He acquaints us he is quitting
+England. He can only mention it to avoid the persecution of an answer.
+Certainly none shall be obtruded upon him.'
+
+Eugenia pleaded that still a letter might overtake him at the Isle of
+Wight, and all misunderstanding might be rectified. 'And then, my
+sister, all may be well, and your happiness renewed.--It has not flown
+you--like that of Eugenia--from any radical cause. Her's is not only
+gone, past all resource, but has left behind it disgrace with sorrow,
+derision with disappointment!'
+
+Camilla strove to soothe her, but would no longer listen to any
+mediation; she resolved, at once, to write of the separation to her
+father, and beseech him to send for her to Etherington, and never again
+suffer her to quit that roof, where alone her peace was without
+disturbance, her conduct without reproach. Even her debts, now, she felt
+equal to avowing, for as, far from contracting new ones, she meant in
+future to reside in complete obscurity, she hoped the feelings of this
+moment would procure pardon for her indiscretions, which her own
+sedulous future oeconomy should be indefatigable to repair.
+
+Eugenia would not strive longer against a procedure which she deemed
+dignified, and the departure of Camilla was hurried by a messenger, who
+brought word that the strange man, with the flapped hat, was returned,
+and entreated her, for Heaven's sake, to let him speak with her one
+moment.
+
+Dead, now, to the hope she had entertained of this enquirer, she merely
+from his own urgency complied with his call; for her curiosity was gone
+since she now knew it could not be Edgar.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Edgar, indeed, was actually departed. His heart was loaded with sorrow,
+his prospect seemed black with despondence; but Camilla was lost to that
+perfect confidence, and unbounded esteem, he required to feel for his
+wife, and no tenderness without them, no partial good opinion, nor
+general admiration, could make him wish to lead her to the altar. 'No!'
+cried he, 'Dr. Marchmont; you judged me better than my first passion,
+and her untried steadiness enabled me to judge myself. Misery only could
+have followed my view of her in the mixt society in which the thousand
+accidents of life might occasionally have placed us. I can only be happy
+with a character as simple in the world, as in retirement; as artless at
+an assembly, as in a cottage. Without that heavenly simplicity, the
+union of all else that renders life desirable, were vain! without
+that--all her enchanting qualities, with which nothing can vie, and
+which are entwined around my heart-strings, were ineffectual to my
+peace.'
+
+'You are right,' said the Doctor, 'and your timely caution, and early
+wisdom, will protect you from the bitterness of a personal experience
+like mine. With all the charms she assembles, her character seems too
+unstable for private domestic life. When a few years more have blunted
+the wild vivacity, the floating ambition, the changing propensities
+which now render her inconsistent to others, and fluctuating even to
+herself, she may yet become as respectable, as she must always be
+amiable. But now, ... whoever takes her from the circle in which she is
+playing, will see her lost to all gaiety, though without daring to
+complain, from the restraint of bidden duties, which make the bidder a
+tyrant.'
+
+Edgar shrunk from such a part, and immediately prepared for his long
+projected tour.
+
+He had, originally, purposed visiting Mr. Tyrold before he set out, and
+conversing with him upon the state of danger in which he thought his
+daughter; but his tenderness for her feelings, during his last adieu,
+had beguiled him of this plan, lest it should prove painful, injurious,
+or inauspicious to her own views or designs in breaking to her friends
+their breach. He now addressed a few lines to his revered guardian, to
+be delivered by Dr. Marchmont; to whom he gave discretionary powers, if
+any explanation should be demanded; though clogged with an earnest
+clause, that he would neither advance, nor confess any thing that could
+hurt Camilla, even a moment, unless to avert from her some danger, or
+substantiate some good.
+
+Dr. Marchmont determined to accompany him to the Isle of Wight, whither
+he resolved to go, and wait for his baggage; and undertook the
+superintendance of his estate and affairs in his absence.
+
+When they were summoned to the little vessel, Edgar changed colour, his
+heart beat quick, and he sighed rather than breathed. He held his hand
+upon his eyes and forehead for a few minutes, in agony inexpressible,
+then silently gave his servant the letter he had written for Eugenia,
+took the Doctor by the arm, walked to the beach, and got aboard; his
+head still turned wholly towards the town, his eyes looking above it, as
+if seeking to fix the habitation of Camilla. Dr. Marchmont sought to
+draw his attention another way, but it was rivetted to the spot they
+were quitting.
+
+'I feel truly your unhappiness, my dear Mandlebert,' said he, 'that this
+young creature, with defects of so cruel a tendency, mingles qualities
+of so endearing a nature. Judge, however, the predominance of what is
+faulty, since parents so exemplary have not been able to make the scales
+weigh down on the side of right. Alas! Mr. Tyrold has himself erred, in
+committing, at so early a period, her conduct into her own reins. The
+very virtues, in the first youth, are so little regulated by reflection,
+that, were [they] not watched nor aided, they run into extremes nearly
+as pernicious, though not so unamiable as the vices. What instance more
+than this now before us can shew the futility of education, and the
+precariousness of innate worth, when the contaminating world is allowed
+to seize its inexperienced prey, before the character is fixed as well
+as formed?'
+
+A deeply assenting sigh broke from the bosom of Edgar, whose strained
+eyes held their purpose, till neither beach, nor town, nor even a spire
+of Southampton, were discernible. Again, then, for a moment, he covered
+them with his hand, and exclaimed: 'Farewell! Camilla, farewell!'
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_A modest Request_
+
+
+Quick, though without a wish of speed, was the return home of Camilla;
+she felt at this moment in that crushed and desolate state, where the
+sudden extinction of hope leaves the mind without energy to form even a
+wish. She was quick only because too nervous to be slow, and hurried on,
+so little knowing why, that when she came to Mrs. Berlinton's, she was
+running to her own room, wholly forgetting what had called her from
+Eugenia, till the servant said, 'this is the man, ma'am.'
+
+She then saw, parading up and down the hall, a figure wrapt round in a
+dark blue roquelo, with no part of his face visible, from the flaps of
+his hat.
+
+At another time she might have been startled: but she was now
+indifferent to everything, and only enquired what was his business.
+
+He made no answer but by a low bow, pointing, at the same time to the
+door of one of the parlours, and then, in a supplicating manner, putting
+together his hands, as if begging to speak to her in private.
+
+Careless, rather than courageous, she was going into an empty room with
+him, when the servant whispered her to be upon her guard, as the man had
+a very suspicious look.
+
+Stopping short, then, she again repeated her question, adding, 'I can
+hear anything you have to say where we now are.'
+
+The stranger shook his head, with a motion towards the servant, that
+seemed to demand his absence.
+
+Alas! thought she, it is some gentleman in distress, who wants to beg
+and is ashamed. I have nothing to give him! I will, at least, therefore,
+not insist upon his exposing himself. She then whispered the footman to
+keep in the hall, and near the parlour, which she entered, telling the
+incognito he might follow.
+
+But she was seriously alarmed out of her apathy, upon seeing him
+cautiously shut the door, and sedulously examine the apartment.
+
+She wanted not presence of mind, when not robbed of it by some peculiar
+and poignant feelings. She turned immediately to the bell, certain its
+first touch would bring in the footman: but, perceiving her purpose, the
+stranger seized her by the arm, and in a hoarse low voice said: 'Are you
+mad, Camilla? don't you know me?' and she recognized her brother.
+
+She expostulated upon his having so causelessly terrified her, and
+enquired why he came so disguised.
+
+He laughed heartily at her affright, and extolled his own skill in
+personating a subtle ruffian; declaring he liked to have a touch at all
+trades, in case of accidents.
+
+'And have you come hither, Lionel, only for this foolish and very
+unpleasant trick?'
+
+'O no, my dear! this was only for my opening. I have an hundred smart
+freaks in my head, any one of them worth a little trip to Southampton.
+Besides, I wanted to know what you were about. How does a certain master
+Edgar Mandlebert do? Don't blush, child. What a little sly rogue you
+have been! hey ho? Tears?--My dear Camilla! what's all this?'
+
+She entreated him to make his enquiries of Eugenia.
+
+'Well, you took me in, I promise you. I fully thought the young Baronet
+had been the man. And, really he's as fine a fellow as I ever saw.'
+
+'Do not speak of him, I beg! O Lionel!--if you knew--' She was going to
+say, how through your means, that affair has injured me--but she checked
+complaints which she now regarded as useless, and therefore degrading;
+and, wiping her eyes, asked if he had yet considered the large sum, for
+the obligation of which he had made her seem responsible to Sir Sedley,
+whom she should not know how ever to meet, nor consequently, how ever to
+visit in the county, till some payment, if not made, were at least
+arranged.
+
+'Pho, pho, my dear child, don't be so Vellum-like; you'll be fit for
+nothing, soon, but to file bills and score accounts. What's two hundred
+to him? Hang him! I wish 'twere as much again--I hate making a fuss
+about nothing. But come, tell me something to raise my spirits--I am
+horribly melancholy. I've some notion of making a little sport here with
+Miss Scare-crow. How does she go on? Waspish as ever?'
+
+'Do tell me, seriously, Lionel, what it is has brought you hither?'
+
+'Two things, my dear. The first of which is the pleasure of seeing you;
+and the second, is a little amusement I propose myself with old Dr. Hic,
+Hæc, Hoc. I find Clermont's had rare sport with him already. It's deuced
+unlucky I did not come sooner.'
+
+'Clermont? When did you see Clermont?'
+
+'Don't be curious, child. I never encourage curiosity. It always leads
+to disagreeable questions. You may tell me any thing you please, but ask
+nothing. That's my manner of dealing with little girls. How did you like
+my sending the Major to you? Was not that good fudge? What do you look
+so grave for, my dear? You're enough to give one the vapours.'
+
+Camilla attempted not to rally; she felt pierced as by a poniard at the
+very sight of Lionel. The debt he had made her contract with Sir Sedley,
+the secrecy it exacted, the correspondence it had drawn on, the cruel
+circumstances it had produced, and the heart-breaking event to which it
+had, ultimately, led, made his view excite sensations too corrosive, and
+reflections too bitter, for any enjoyment of a gaiety, which her utmost
+partiality could not disentangle from levity the most unfeeling.
+
+'Come, come, for pity's sake, be a little less stupid, I conjure you.
+How terribly you want a good shaking! shall I give you one? By the way,
+you have never thanked me for sending you that smart young tinker. You
+are horribly ungrateful to all my tender care to provide you a good
+spouse. What! not a smile? Not one dear little dimple for all my rattle?
+Nay, then, if that's the case, let's to business at once. Anything is
+better than mawkishness. I always preferred being flogged for a frolic,
+to being told I was a good boy, at the expence of sitting still, and
+learning my lesson.'
+
+'And what business, my dear Lionel? Have you really any?'
+
+'O yes, always; nobody has more; only I do it so briskly, people always
+suppose it nothing but pleasure. However, just at this minute, I am
+really in rather an ugly dilemma. You know, my dear girl, there is a
+certain little rather awkward affair of mine, which I once hinted to
+you.'--
+
+'Lionel, I hope, at least,----'
+
+'O, none of your hopes with that grave face! Hope, with a grave face,
+always means fear. Now, as I am already half shoes over in the slough
+of despond, 'twill be horrid ungenerous to poke me still lower.'
+
+Camilla now began to tremble, and would ask no questions--Lionel, when
+he had silenced her, seemed at a loss how to proceed; he walked about
+the room with quick jerks, opened and shut the window, seated himself
+upon every chair, and every table; and then, in a half passion, said:
+'so you don't want to hear any more? and you don't care a fig if I'm
+hanged or drowned?'
+
+'My spirits are not high, my dear Lionel; and my head is full, and my
+heart is oppressed: if you have any thing, therefore, important to say,
+speak, I beg without trifling.'
+
+'Nay, there's nothing new; so don't look frightened; it's all the same
+old story.'
+
+'You continue, then, that dark, mysterious connexion? O brother!'
+
+'Why she's so pretty! so monstrous pretty! besides, she doats upon me.
+You don't half conceive what a pretty fellow I am, Camilla. A sister
+never knows how to judge a man. All the women like me prodigiously.'
+
+'Indeed, Lionel, you take an undue advantage of my affection. I must
+seriously insist that you mention this subject to me no more.'
+
+'I don't intend it. I intend to finish with this once--provided you do
+me one last good turn. Will you, now? Come, don't be queer.'
+
+'I will do nothing, absolutely nothing in so improper--so shocking a
+business. Indeed, I know not how to forgive you for naming it again.'
+
+'Well, then, I'll pledge you my word and honour you shall never hear of
+it more, if you'll only grant me this one favour.'
+
+Displeased at the past, and frightened for what might be to come, she
+protested she would immediately leave the room, if he continued this
+persecution: adding, 'how affectionately I love you, I need not, I am
+sure, say; but a confidence such as this, from a brother to a sister,
+disgraces us both: and let me penetrate, but not irritate you, if I own,
+that I much doubt whether I ought not from the beginning, to have
+revealed this transaction at Etherington. Do not be angry Lionel: has
+not every consideration been surmounted by the fear of giving you pain?'
+
+Finding he still would be heard, she was peremptorily quitting the
+room; but when she had her hand upon the door, he effectually stopt her,
+by saying, 'Nay, then, if nothing will content you but getting the whole
+out at once, you may make yourself easy, the business is at end,
+for----we're blown!'
+
+'I must certainly be glad if such a business is at an end, Lionel; but
+how do you mean blown? to whom? in what manner?'
+
+'To every body, I'm afraid; for the husband's upon the point of getting
+at it.'
+
+'Husband?'
+
+'O, the deuce! I did not mean to say that: however, it's out! and as it
+must have been known sooner or later----'
+
+Camilla now had an air the nearest to severity she had ever worn:
+'Adieu, Lionel!' she cried, 'I am sorry for you, indeed; but you must
+find another hearer for this guilty history.--I will listen no more!'
+
+Lionel now detained her by force. 'How can you take up the thing so
+wrong,' said he; 'when I tell you it's over, isn't that enough? Besides,
+I promise you I have not wanted for my punishment: when you hear all,
+you'll find that.'
+
+Too sick for speech, yet too weak for resistance, she was constrained to
+return to her seat, and hear what he pleased to relate.
+
+'My adventure, my dear, was discovered entirely by the want of a little
+hush money. 'Tis the very deuce and all for a man to be in love when he
+is poor. If I had only had a little hush-money--yes, yes, I understand
+that eye! but as to those paltry sums I have had, from time to time,
+since this affair, why they could not be expected to last for ever: And
+the first went to a housemaid,--and the second to the groom,--and the
+third----'
+
+'Lionel! Lionel! is this a communication--are these particulars for me?'
+
+'Nay, I only mention it to let you know it's all gone fairly. Besides,
+as to her being a married woman, which, I see, is what you think so much
+the worst of all, I assure you, if you knew her husband, you would not
+wonder; he deserves every thing. Such a tiresome quiz! It was often
+hours before we could get rid of him. You never knew such a blockhead.
+The poor thing can't bear him. But she's fond of me to distraction. Nay,
+nay, don't frown so! If you'll believe me, Camilla, you'll quite spoil
+your face. Well, the fellow that threatens to betray us, won't keep our
+secret under three hundred pounds! There's an unconscionable knave!
+However, I thought that better than a trial too; not that she would have
+broken her heart at a separation, you'll believe; but then ... there's a
+certain horrid thing called damages! And then my father's
+particularities,--and my mother's seeing things in such strong
+lights--and a parson's son,--and all that.'--
+
+Camilla, shaking and pale, now entreated him to get her a glass of
+water, and, for a while, at least, to forbear continuing this terrible
+story.
+
+He consented to ring for the water, and then, more briefly, went on.
+
+'Finding it vain to hope any longer for entire concealment, I thought a
+private discovery less shocking than a public one; and therefore,
+telling my story as well as I could, I stated that three hundred pounds
+would save both the expences and publicity of a trial; and, with every
+possible profession of contrition and reformation, I humbly petitioned
+for that sum from my uncle.'
+
+'My poor uncle! alas! what unreasonable--unmerciful claims every way
+surround him!'
+
+'He's well revenged for mine, I promise you! There's no plague lost
+between us, as you'll own, when you've heard the end of my poor
+petition. I followed up my letter, according to my usual custom, the
+next day, in order to receive my money, knowing poor uncle hates writing
+worse than giving: well, and when I arrived, my mind just made up to a
+few gentle reprimands against naughtiness, and as many gentle promises
+to do so no more; out pops me the old butler, and says his master can't
+see me! Not see me? Why, who's with him? Your father, Sir! O,--then for
+your life, cries I, don't say I have been here--but now--Camilla will
+you think me punished or not?--My uncle had a little gout in his
+right-hand, and had made my father open and read--that very day,--all
+his letters! If ever you knew old Nick serve a poor young fellow a worse
+turn than that, tell me so? I owe him such a grudge for it, I could
+almost find [it] in my heart to turn parson myself.'
+
+Camilla could not utter a word. She dropt her head over her folded arms
+upon the table, to hide her offending brother from her sight, whom now,
+placed in opposition to her all-excellent father, she blamed beyond her
+powers, beyond what she conceived even her rights of expression.
+
+'Why now, my dear Camilla, what do you hide your face for? Do you think
+I'm not as sorry for this thing as you can be for the life of you?
+However, now comes the worst; and if you don't pity me when you hear
+this, you may depend upon it you have no bowels. I was making off as
+fast as I could, mum the word to the servants, when in comes old Jacob
+with a letter. I snatched it from him, hoping my uncle had privately
+sent me a draft--but the direction was written by my father! Don't you
+begin to feel a little for me now?'
+
+She could only raise her head to ejaculate, 'My poor--poor father!' and
+then, nearly in an agony, drop it again.
+
+'Hey-day, Camilla? how's this? what! not one word of poor, poor brother,
+too? why you are harder than flint. However, read that letter. And then,
+if you don't think me the most unhappy young fellow in existence, you
+are fit to devise tortures for the inquisition.'
+
+She took the letter eagerly, yet awfully, kissed in weeping the
+hand-writing, and read what follows:
+
+     _To_ LIONEL TYROLD, _Esq._
+
+     To have brought up my family with the purity of principle which the
+     holy profession of their father ought to inspire him to teach, has
+     been, from the hour that my paternal solicitudes commenced, the
+     most fervent of my prayers. How my hopes have been deluded you have
+     but too long known; how grossly they have failed has reached my own
+     knowledge but this moment. I here resign the vain expectation, that
+     through my son the community might bless me: may a forfeiture so
+     dread not extend to me, also, through my  daughters!--
+
+Camilla stopt, sunk upon her knees, and devoutly repeated the last
+sentence, with her own ardent supplications joined to it before she
+could proceed.
+
+     A few words more must, for the present, suffice between us.
+     Accident, by throwing into my hands this last letter to the uncle
+     whose goodness you have most unwarrantably and unfeelingly abused,
+     has given birth to an investigation, by which I have arrived at the
+     discovery of the long course of rapacity by which you have
+     pillaged from the same source. Henceforth, you will find it dry. I
+     have stated to my brother the mistake of his compliance, and
+     obtained his solemn word, that all intercourse between you, that
+     has not my previous approbation, shall here finally cease. You will
+     now, therefore, empty no more those coffers which, but for you,
+     have only been opened to the just claims of benevolence.
+
+     You will regard this detection as the wrath of ill-fortune; I view
+     it, on the contrary, as the mercy of Providence. What were further
+     pecuniary exonerations, but deeper plunges into vilifying
+     dissoluteness? If, as you intimate, the refusal of your present
+     demands will expose you to public shame, may its shock awaken
+     feelings that may restore you to private virtue! I cannot spare you
+     from disgrace, by aiding you in corruption; I cannot rescue you
+     from worldly dishonour, by hiding and abetting crimes that may
+     unfold to eternal misery. To errour I would be lenient; to
+     penitence I would be consoling; to reformation I would open my
+     arms: but to him who confesses his guilt only to save himself from
+     punishment, to him who would elude the incurred penalties of his
+     wickedness, by shamelessly soliciting a respectable old relation to
+     use bribery for its concealment,--to him, I can only say, since all
+     precepts of virtue have failed to shew thee its excellence, go!
+     learn of misfortune the evils, at least of vice! Pay to the laws of
+     society what retribution they require for their violation--and if
+     suffering should lead to contrition, and seclusion from the world
+     bring thee back to rectitude, then thou may'st find again thy
+     father
+
+     AUGUSTUS TYROLD.
+
+     Another name I mention not. I present not to this sullied page an
+     image of such purity: yet, if thy own thoughts dare paint it to thy
+     view, will not thy heart, O Lionel! smite thee and say,--From her
+     native land, from her sorrowing husband, from daughters just
+     opening into life, by my follies and indiscretions I have driven my
+     mother--by my guilt I shall make her blush to return to  them?--
+
+Camilla wept over this letter till its characters were almost effaced by
+her tears. To withhold from her father the knowledge of the misconduct
+of Lionel, what had she not suffered? what not sacrificed? yet to find
+it all unavailing, to find him thus informed of his son's wanton calls
+for money, his culpable connection, and his just fears of seeing it
+published and punished,--and to consider with all this, that Edgar,
+through these unpardonable deviations from right, was irretrievably lost
+to her, excited sorrow the most depressing for her father, and regrets
+scarce supportable for herself.
+
+'Well,' cried Lionel, 'what do you think of my case now? Don't you allow
+I pay pretty handsomely for a mere young man's gambol? I assure you I
+don't know what might have been the consequence, if Jacob had not
+afforded me a little comfort. He told me you were going to be married to
+'squire Mandlebert, and that you were all at Southton, and that he was
+sure you would do any thing in the world to get me out of jeopardy; and
+so, thinking pretty much the same myself, here I am! Well, what say you,
+Camilla? Will you speak a little word for me to Edgar?'
+
+Shame, now taking place of affliction, stopt her tears, which dried upon
+her burning cheeks, as she answered, 'He is well known to you,
+Lionel:--you can address him yourself!'
+
+'No; that's your mistake, my dear. I have a little odd money matter to
+settle with him already; and besides, we have had a sort of a falling
+out upon the subject; for when I spoke to him about it last, he gave
+himself the airs of an old justice of the peace, and said if he did not
+find the affair given up, nothing should induce him ever to help me
+again. What a mere codger that lad has turned out!'
+
+'Ah, noble Edgar! just, high-principled, and firm!' half pronounced
+Camilla, while again the icicles dissolved, and trickled down her face.
+
+'See but the different way in which things strike people! however, it is
+not very pretty in you, Camilla, to praise him for treating me so
+scurvily. But come, dost think he'll lend me the money?'
+
+'Lend,' repeated she, significantly.
+
+'Ay lend; for I shall pay it every farthing; and every thing else.'
+
+'And how? And when?'
+
+'Why,--with old unky Relvil's fortune.'
+
+'For shame, brother!'
+
+'Nay, nay, you know as well as I do, I must have it at last. Who else
+has he to leave it to? Come, will you beg the three hundred for me? He
+dare not refuse you, you know, in your day of power.'
+
+'Lionel,' cried she, with extreme emotion, 'I shall see him no more!
+nor, perhaps may you!--He has left England.'
+
+'Impossible! why Jacob told me unky was working night and day at
+preparations for your keeping the wedding at Cleves.'
+
+'I cannot talk upon this subject. I must beseech you to reserve your
+enquiries for Eugenia.'
+
+'I must go to her then, directly. I have not a moment to lose. If you
+won't make Edgar help me in this business--and I know he won't do it of
+his own accord, I am utterly done up. There will remain but one single
+thing for me. So now for my roquelo. But do only tell me, Camilla, if
+you ever knew such a poor unlucky wight? for before I came to you,
+certain it would not be easy to make that young prig do any thing he had
+already declared against, I found out cousin Clermont. What a handsome
+coxcomb that is! Well, I told him my case, for one young fellow soon
+comprehends the difficulties of another, and begged him to ask for the
+money of uncle Hugh, as if for himself, telling him, that as he was a
+new-comer, and a new beginner, he could not so readily be refused; and
+promising to serve him as good a turn myself, when he had got a little
+into our ways, and wanted it, with my good uncle Relvil. Well! what do
+you think was the next news? It's enough to make a man's hair stand on
+end, to see what a spite fortune has taken to me! Do you know he has got
+debts of his own, of one sort or another, that poor unky has never heard
+of, to the amount of upwards of a thousand pounds?'
+
+He then muffled himself up and departed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_A Self-dissection_
+
+
+Camilla remained in a state of accumulated distress, that knew not upon
+what object most to dwell: her father, shocked and irritated beyond the
+mild endurance of his character; her brother, wantonly sporting with his
+family's honour, and his own morals and reputation; her uncle, preparing
+for nuptials broken off without his knowledge; Edgar, by a thousand
+perversities of accident, of indiscretion, of misunderstanding, for ever
+parted from her;--rushed all together upon her mind, each combating for
+precedence, each individually foiled, yet all collectively triumphant.
+Nor were even these her sole subjects of affliction: yet another cause
+was added, in debts contracted from mingled thoughtlessness,
+inexperience, and generosity, augmented to she knew not what sum, and to
+be paid by she knew not what means. And this topic, which in itself
+seemed to her the least interesting, soon, by the circumstances with
+which it was connected, grew the most pressing of any. How, at a moment
+like this, could she make her purposed confession to her father, whose
+wounded mind demanded all she could offer of condolement? How call upon
+her uncle to be responsible for what she owed, when she now knew the
+enormous accounts preparing for him from Clermont, of which he was
+himself yet uninformed?
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Lionel soon returned. 'So it's really all off?' he cried; 'dame Fortune,
+methinks, has a mind to give me a taste of her art that I shan't easily
+forget. Eugenia would tell me no particulars. But, since things are
+thus, there is only one step left for poor Pillgarlick. I must whisk
+over to the Continent.'
+
+'To the Continent? without consulting my father? without--'
+
+'My father?--Why, you see he gives me up. He thinks--I thank him!--a
+little wholesome discipline will do me good. Don't you understand what
+he means by _seclusion from the world_? A prison, my dear! a gaol!
+However, I'm not quite of that opinion. I really think a man's as well
+off in a little open air. So fare thee well, child. As soon as ever my
+dear uncle Relvil says good night, I'll come home again, and wish you
+all good morning.'
+
+'Lionel! Lionel!--'
+
+'Well, well! I know it's very wrong, and all that; so say nothing. Don't
+distress me, I beg, for I hate to be hipped. Besides, old Relvil don't
+deserve much better; why can't he behave like a man, and settle an
+annuity upon himself, and an old servant, and a dog, and a cat, and a
+parrot, and then let an honest young fellow see a little of the world
+handsomely, and like a gentleman? But your bachelor uncles, and maiden
+aunts, are the most tantalizing fellows and fellowesses in the
+creation.'
+
+He then kissed her, and was going; but, earnestly detaining him, she
+conjured that he would let her first hint his design to their father,
+that at least it might be set aside, if it would still more deeply
+disturb him.
+
+'No, child, no; I know his way of reasoning already. He thinks every man
+should pay for what he owes, either with money or stripes. Now my poor
+dear little body is not of that opinion. And what would they get by
+having me shut up in prison? And I'll defy 'em to cast me in any other
+damages. I've a few debts, too, of my own, that make me a little uneasy.
+I don't mean to trades people; they can wait well enough; our credit is
+good: but a man looks horrid small, walking about, when he can't pay his
+debts of honour. However, when I disappear, perhaps my father will take
+compassion upon my character. If not, the Relvil estate shall wipe off
+all in the long run.'
+
+'And is it possible, Lionel, thus lightly, thus negligently, thus
+unmoved, you can plan such a journey? such an exile?'
+
+'Why what can I do? what can I possibly do? I am obliged to be off in my
+own defence. Unless, indeed, I marry little Miss Dennel, which I have
+once or twice thought of; for she's a monstrous fool. But then she is
+very rich. How should you like her for a sister? Nay, nay, I'm serious.
+Don't shake your head as if I was joking. What do you think of her for
+my spouse?'
+
+'She is a good girl, I believe, Lionel, though a simple one; and I
+should be sorry to see her unhappy; and how could either of you be
+otherwise, with contempt such as this?'
+
+'Bless thy heart, my little dear, what have husbands and wives to do
+with making one another unhappy? Prithee don't set about forming thy
+notions of married people from the parsonage-house, and conclude a wife
+no better than a real rib, sticking always close to a man's side. You
+grow so horrid sententious, I really begin to believe you intend to take
+out your diploma soon, and put on the surplice my father meant for his
+poor son.'
+
+'Alas, Lionel!--how changed, how hard--forgive me if I say how hard must
+you be grown, to be capable of gaiety and rattle at this period!'
+
+'You'll die an old maid, Camilla, take my word for it. And I'm really
+sorry, for you're not an ugly girl. You might have been got off. But
+come, don't look so melancholy at a little silly sport. The world is so
+full of sorrow, my dear girl, so little visited by happiness, that
+cheerfulness is almost as necessary as existence, in such a vale of
+tears.'
+
+'What can induce you to laugh, Lionel, at such words?'
+
+'I can't help it, faith! I was thinking I spoke so like a parson's son!'
+
+Camilla cast up her eyes and hands: 'Lionel,' she cried, 'what have you
+done with your heart? has it banished every natural feeling? has the
+affecting letter of the best of fathers, his cruel separation from the
+most excellent of mothers, and even your own dreadfully censurable
+conduct, served but to amuse you with ridicule and derision?'
+
+'Camilla,' cried he, taking her hands, 'you wrong me! you think I have
+no feeling, because I am not always crying. However, shall I tell you
+the truth? I hate myself! and so completely hate myself at this moment,
+that I dare not be grave! dare not suffer reflection to take hold of me,
+lest it should make life too odious for me to bear it. I have run on
+from folly to wickedness for want of thought; and now thought is ready
+to come back, I must run from that, for want of fortitude. What has
+bewitched me, I know no more than you; but I never meant to play this
+abominable part. And now, if I did not flog up my spirits to prevent
+their flagging, I suppose I should hang or drown. And, believe me, if I
+were condemned to the galleys, I should think it less than I deserve;
+for I hate myself, I repeat--I honour my father, though I have used him
+so ill; I love my mother,--for all her deuced severity,--to the bottom
+of my soul; I would cut off my left arm for Lavinia and Eugenia; and for
+thee, Camilla, I would lop off my right!--But yet, when some frolic or
+gambol comes into my way, I forget you all! clear out of my memory you
+all walk, as if I had never beheld you!'
+
+Camilla now embraced him with a deluge of tears, entreated him to
+forgive the asperity his seeming want of all feeling had drawn from her,
+and frequently to write to her, and acquaint her how he went on, and
+send his direction for her answers; that so, at least, their father
+might know how he employed himself, and have the power to give him
+counsel.
+
+'But how, my poor Lionel,' she added, 'how will you live abroad? How
+will you even travel?'
+
+'Why as to how I shall live there, I don't know; but as well as I
+deserve easily: however, as to how I shall get there, look here,' taking
+from his pocket a handful of guineas, 'that good little Eugenia has
+given me every thing, even to the last half crown, that she had at
+Southampton, to help me forward.'
+
+'Dear excellent, ever generous Eugenia! O that I could follow her
+example! but alas! I have nothing!--and worse than nothing!'
+
+They then affectionately embraced each other, and parted.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_A Reckoning_
+
+
+What Camilla experienced at this juncture she believed inadmissible of
+aggravation. Even the breaking off with Edgar seemed as a new misfortune
+from the new force which circumstances gave to its affliction. With his
+sympathising aid, how might she have softened the sorrows of her father!
+how have broken the shock of the blow Clermont was preparing for her
+uncle? But now, instead of lessening their griefs, she must herself
+inflict upon them a heavier evil than any they had yet suffered. And how
+could she reveal tidings for which they were so wholly unprepared? how
+be even intelligible in the history, without exposing the guilty Lionel
+beyond all chance of pardon?
+
+Again she went to counsel with Eugenia, who, with her usual
+disinterested affection, proposed taking the painful business upon
+herself at their return home. Camilla with tears of gratitude accepted
+the sisterly office, and resolved to devote the rest of her short time
+for Southampton to Mrs. Berlinton; who, shocked to see her evident
+unhappiness, hung over her with the most melting tenderness: bewailing
+alike the disappointment of Eugenia, and the conduct of her brother; who
+now, with exquisite misery, shut himself wholly up in his room.
+
+This compassionate kindness somewhat softened her anguish; but when the
+engagements of Mrs. Berlinton called her away, Mrs. Mittin burst briskly
+into her chamber.
+
+'Well, my dear,' cried she, 'I come with better news now than ever! only
+guess what it is!'
+
+Nothing could less conduce to the tranquillity of Camilla than such a
+desire; her conjectures always flowed into the channels of her wishes;
+and she thought immediately that Mrs. Mittin had been informed of her
+situation, and came to her with some intelligence of Edgar.
+
+Mrs. Mittin, after keeping her a full quarter of an hour in suspence, at
+last said: 'Do you know Miss Dennel's going to be married?--though she
+was fifteen only yesterday!--and I am invited to the wedding?'
+
+No surprise had ever yet produced less pleasure to Camilla, who now
+ceased to listen, though Mrs. Mittin by no means ceased to speak, till
+her attention was awakened by the following sentence: 'So, as I am to go
+to town, to shop with her, at her own papa's desire, you can give me the
+money, you know, my dear, and I can pay off your Tunbridge bills for
+you.'
+
+She then took out of her pockets some accounts, which, she said, she had
+just received; though, in fact, they had been in her possession more
+than a week: but till the invitation of Miss Dennel called her so
+pleasantly away, she had thought it prudent to keep every motive in
+reserve, that added importance to her stay.
+
+Camilla, with the utmost apprehension, took the papers into her hands;
+they were the bills from Tunbridge, of the milliner, the shoe-maker, the
+haberdasher, and the glover, and amounted altogether to sixteen pounds.
+
+The chief articles had been nearly forced upon her by Mrs. Mittin, with
+assurances of their cheapness, and representations of their necessity,
+that, joined to her entire ignorance of the enormous charges of fashion,
+had led her to imagine four or five guineas the utmost sum at which they
+could be estimated.
+
+What now, then, was her horror! if to sixteen pounds amounted the
+trifles she had had at Tunbridge, what calculation must she make of
+articles, so infinitely more valuable, that belonged to her debts at
+Southampton? And to whom now could she apply? The unhappy situation of
+her father was no longer an only reason to forbear such a call upon him:
+Lionel, still under age, was flying the kingdom with debts, which, be
+they small as they might, would, to Mr. Tyrold's limited income, be as
+heavy as the more considerable ones of her cousin upon Sir Hugh; yet who
+besides could give her aid? Eugenia, whose yearly allowance, according
+to her settled future fortune, was five times that of her sisters, had
+given what help she had in her power, before she quitted Cleves, upon
+the affair of the horse; and all that remained of a considerable present
+made for her Southampton expedition by her uncle, who in every thing
+distinguished her as his successor and heiress, she had just bestowed
+upon Lionel, even, as he had declared, to her last half crown. Mrs.
+Berlinton, whose tender friendship might, in this emergence, have
+encouraged solicitation, was involved in debts of honour, and wanted
+money for herself; and to Mrs. Arlbery, her only other acquaintance rich
+enough to give assistance, and with whom she was intimate enough to ask
+it, she already owed five guineas; and how, in conscience or decency,
+could she address her for so much more, when she saw before her no time,
+no term, upon which she could fix for restitution?
+
+In this terrible state, with no one to counsel her, and no powers of
+self-judgment, she felt a dread of going home, that rendered the coming
+day a day of horror, though to a home to which, hitherto, she had turned
+as the first joy of her happiness, or softest solace of any disturbance.
+Her filial affections were in their pristine force; her short commerce
+with the world had robbed them of none of their vivacity; her regard for
+Edgar, whom she delighted to consider as a younger Mr. Tyrold, had
+rather enlarged than divided them; but to return a burthen to an already
+burthened house, an affliction to an already afflicted parent--'No!' she
+broke out, aloud, 'I cannot go home!--I cannot carry calamity to my
+father!--He will be mild--but he will look unhappy; and I would not see
+his face in sorrow--sorrow of my own creating--for years of after joy!'
+
+She threw herself down upon the bed, hid her face with the counterpane,
+and wept, in desperate carelessness of the presence of Mrs. Mittin, and
+answering nothing that she said.
+
+In affairs of this sort, Mrs. Mittin had a quickness of apprehension,
+which, though but the attribute of ready cunning, was not inferior to
+the keenest penetration, possessed, for deeper investigations, by
+characters of more solid sagacity. From the fear which Camilla, in her
+anguish, had uttered of seeing her father, she gathered, there must be
+some severe restriction in money concerns; and, without troubling
+herself to consider what they might be, saw that to aid her at this
+moment would be the highest obligation; and immediately set at work a
+brain as fertile in worldly expedients, as it was barren of intellectual
+endowments, in forming a plan of present relief, which she concluded
+would gain her a rich and powerful friend for life.
+
+She was not long in suggesting a proposition, which Camilla started up
+eagerly to hear, almost breathless with the hope of any reprieve to her
+terrors.
+
+Mrs. Mittin, amongst her numerous friends, counted a Mr. Clykes, a
+money-lender, a man, she said, of the first credit for such matters with
+people of fashion in any difficulty. If Camilla, therefore, would
+collect her debts, this gentleman would pay them, for a handsome
+premium, and handsome interest, till she was able, at her own full
+leisure, to return the principal, with a proper present.
+
+Camilla nearly embraced her with rapture for this scheme. The premium
+she would collect as she could, and the interest she would pay from her
+allowance, certain that when her uncle was cleared from his
+embarrassments, her own might be revealed without any serious distress.
+She put, therefore, the affair wholly into the hands of Mrs. Mittin,
+besought her, the next morning, to demand all her Southampton bills, to
+add to them those for the rent and the stores of Higden, and then to
+transact the business with Mr. Clykes; promising to agree to whatever
+premium, interest, and present, he should demand, with endless
+acknowledgments to herself for so great a service.
+
+She grieved to employ a person so utterly disagreeable to Edgar; but to
+avert immediate evil was ever resistless to her ardent mind.
+
+The whole of the Southampton accounts were brought her early the next
+morning by the active Mrs. Mittin, who now concluded, that what she had
+conceived to be covetousness in Camilla, was only the fear of a hard
+tyrant of a father, who kept her so parsimoniously, that she could allow
+herself no indulgence, till the death of her uncle should endow her with
+her own rich inheritance.
+
+Had this arrangement not taken place before the arrival of the bills,
+Camilla, upon beholding them, thought she should have been driven to
+complete distraction. The ear-rings and necklace, silver fringes and
+spangles, feathers, nosegay, and shoe-roses, with the other parts of the
+dress, and the fine Valencienne edging, came to thirty-three pounds. The
+cloak also, that cheapest thing in the world, was nine guineas; and
+various small articles, which Mrs. Mittin had occasionally brought in,
+and others with which Camilla could not dispense, came to another five
+pounds. To this, the rent for Higden added eighteen; and the bill of
+stores, which had been calculated at thirty, was sent in at
+thirty-seven.
+
+The whole, therefore, with the sixteen pounds from Tunbridge, amounted
+to one hundred and eighteen pounds nine shillings.
+
+Struck to the very soul with the idea of what she must have endured to
+have presented, at such a period, so large an account, either at Cleves
+or at Etherington, she felt lifted into paradise by the escape of this
+expedient, and lost sight of every possible future difficulty, in the
+relief of avoiding so severe a present penalty.
+
+By this means, also, the tradesmen would not wait; and she had been
+educated with so just an abhorrence of receiving the goods, and
+benefiting from the labours of others, without speeding them their
+rights and their rewards, that she felt despicable as well as miserable,
+when she possessed what she had not repaid.
+
+Mrs. Mittin was now invested with full powers for the agency, which her
+journey to London would give her immediate means to execute. She was to
+meet Miss Dennel there in two days, to assist in the wedding purchases,
+and then to accompany that young lady to her father's house in
+Hampshire, whence she could visit Etherington, and finally arrange the
+transaction.
+
+Camilla, again thanking, took leave of her, to consign her few remaining
+hours to Mrs. Berlinton, who was impatient at losing one moment of the
+society she began sincerely to regret she had not more uniformly
+preferred to all other. As sad now with cares as Camilla was with
+afflictions, she had robbed her situation of nearly the only good which
+belonged to it--an affluent power to gratify every luxury, whether of
+generosity or personal indulgence. Her gaming, to want of happiness,
+added now want of money; and Camilla, with a sigh, saw something more
+wretched, because far deeper and more wilful in error than herself.
+
+They mingled their tears for their separate personal evils, with the
+kindest consolation that either could suggest for the other, till
+Camilla was told that Eugenia desired to see her in the parlour.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, ashamed, yet delighted to meet her again, went down at
+the same time. She embraced her with fondness, but ventured not to utter
+either apology or concern. Eugenia was serious but composed, sighed
+often, yet both accepted and returned her caresses.
+
+Camilla enquired if Miss Margland expected them immediately.
+
+'Yes,' she answered; 'but I have first a little business of my own to
+transact.' Then, turning to Mrs. Berlinton, and forcing a smile, 'You
+will be surprised,' she said, 'to hear me ask for ... your brother!...
+but I must see him before I can leave Southampton.'
+
+Mrs. Berlinton hung her head: 'There is certainly,' she cried,
+'no reproach he does not merit ... yet, if you knew ... the
+respect ... the ... the....'
+
+Eugenia rang the bell, making a slight apology, but not listening to
+what Mrs. Berlinton strove to say; who, colouring and uneasy, still
+attempted to utter something softening to what had passed.
+
+'Be so good,' said Eugenia, when the footman appeared, 'to tell Mr.
+Melmond I beg to speak with him.'
+
+Camilla astonished, and Mrs. Berlinton silenced, waited, in an
+unpleasant pause, the event.
+
+Eugenia, absorbed in thought, neither spoke to, nor looked at them, nor
+moved, till the door opened, and Melmond, who durst not refuse so direct
+a summons, though he would have preferred any punishment to obeying it,
+blushing, bowing, and trembling, entered the room.
+
+She then started, half heaved, and half checked a sigh, took a folded
+note out of her pocket-book, and with a faint smile, said, 'I fear my
+desire must have been painful to you; but you see me now for the last
+time--I hope!--with any ill-will.'
+
+She stopt for breath to go on; Melmond, amazed, striving vainly to
+articulate one word of excuse, one profession even of respect.
+
+'Believe me, Sir,' she then continued, 'surprise was the last sensation
+I experienced upon a late ... transaction. My extraordinary personal
+defects and deformity have been some time known to me, though--I cannot
+tell how--I had the weakness or vanity not to think of them as I ought
+to have done!----But I see I give you uneasiness, and therefore I will
+be more concise.'
+
+Melmond, confounded, had bowed down his head not to look at her, while
+Camilla and Mrs. Berlinton both wept.
+
+'The sentiments, Sir,' she then went on, 'of my cousin have never been
+declared to me; but it is not very difficult to me to divine what they
+may be. All that is certain, is the unkindness of Fortune, which forbids
+her to listen, or you to plead to them. This, Sir, shall be my
+care'--she stopt a moment, looking paler, and wanting voice; but
+presently recovering, proceeded--'my happiness, let me say, to
+endeavour to rectify. I have much influence with my kind uncle; can I
+doubt, when I represent to him that I have just escaped making two
+worthy people wretched, he will deny aiding me to make them happy? No!
+the residence already intended at Cleves will still be open, though one
+of its parties will be changed. But as my uncle, in a manner unexampled,
+has bound himself, in my favour, from any future disposition of what he
+possesses, I have ventured, Sir, upon this paper, to obviate any
+apprehensions of your friends, for the unhappy time when that generous
+uncle can no longer act for himself.'
+
+She then unfolded, and gave him the paper, which contained these words:
+
+     'I here solemnly engage myself, if Miss Indiana Lynmere accepts,
+     with the consent of Sir Hugh Tyrold, the hand of Frederic Melmond,
+     to share with them, so united, whatever fortune or estate I may be
+     endowed with, to the end of my life, and to bequeath them the same
+     equal portion by will after my death.
+
+     Signed. EUGENIA TYROLD.'
+
+Unable to read, yet conceiving the purport of the writing, Melmond was
+at her feet. She endeavoured to raise him, and though extremely
+affected, said, with an air of some pleasantry, 'Shew less surprise,
+Sir, or I shall conclude you thought me as frightful within as without!
+But no! Providence is too good to make the mind necessarily deformed
+with the body.'
+
+'Ah, Madam!' exclaimed Melmond, wholly overcome, 'the noblest as well as
+softest of human hearts I perceive to be yours----and were mine at my
+own disposal--it must find you resistless!'--
+
+'No more, no more!' interrupted she, penetrated with a pleasure in these
+words which she durst not indulge, 'you shall hear from me
+soon.--Meanwhile, be Hope your motto, Friendship shall be mine.'
+
+She was then going to hold out her hand to him; but her courage failed;
+she hastily embraced Mrs. Berlinton, took the arm of Camilla, and
+hurried out of the house, followed by the footman who had attended her.
+
+Melmond, who had seen the motion of her hand now advancing, now
+withdrawn, would have given the universe to have stamped upon it his
+grateful reverence; but his courage was still less than her own; she
+seemed to him, on the sudden, transformed to a deity, benignly employed
+to rescue and bless him, but whose transcendent goodness he could only,
+at a distance, and in all humility, adore.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton was left penetrated nearly as much as her brother, and
+doubtful if even the divine Indiana could render him as happy as the
+exalted, the incomparable Eugenia.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The two sisters found Miss Margland in extreme ill-humour waiting their
+arrival, and the whole party immediately quitted Southampton.
+
+It not seldom occurred to Miss Margland to be cross merely as a mark of
+consequence; but here the displeasure was as deep with herself as with
+others. She had entered Southampton with a persuasion her fair pupil
+would make there the establishment so long the promised mede of her
+confinement; and Indiana herself, not knowing where to stop her sanguine
+and inflated hopes, imagined that the fame of her beauty would make the
+place where it first was exhibited the resort of all of fashion in the
+nation. And the opening of the scene had answered to their fullest
+expectations: no other name was heard but Indiana Lynmere, no other
+figure was admired, no other face could bear examination.
+
+But her triumph, though splendid, was short; she soon found that the
+overtures of eyes were more ready than those of speech; and though one
+young baronet, enchanted with her beauty, immediately professed himself
+her lover, when he was disdained, in the full assurance of higher
+offers, and because a peer had addressed himself to Eugenia, she saw not
+that he was succeeded by any other, nor yet that he broke his own heart.
+Men of taste, after the first conversation, found her more admirable to
+look at than speak with; adventurers soon discovered that her personal
+charms were her only dower; the common herd were repulsed from
+approaching her by the repulsive manners of Miss Margland; and all
+evinced, that though a passion for beauty was still as fashionable as it
+was natural, the time was past when the altar of Hymen required no other
+incense to blaze upon it.
+
+The governess, therefore, and the pupil, quitted Southampton with equal
+disappointment and indignation; the first foreseeing another long and
+yawning sojourn at Cleves; the second firmly believing herself the most
+unaccountably ill-used person in the creation, that one offer only had
+reached her, and that without repetition, though admired nearly to
+adoration, she literally rather than metaphorically conceived herself a
+demi-goddess.
+
+One solitary offer to Eugenia, of an every way ruined young nobleman,
+though a blast both to the settlement and the peace of Indiana, was to
+herself wholly nugatory. Intent, at that period, upon dedicating for
+ever to Melmond her virgin heart, she was sorry, upon his account, for
+the application, but gave it not, upon her own, a moment's
+consideration. This proposition was made upon her first arrival, and was
+followed by no other. She was then, by the account given to the master
+of the ceremonies by Miss Margland, regarded as the heiress of Cleves:
+but, almost immediately after, the report spread by Mrs. Mittin, that
+Camilla was the true heiress, gained such ground amongst the
+shopkeepers, and thence travelled so rapidly from gossip to gossip, and
+house to house, that Eugenia was soon no more thought of; though a
+species of doubt was cast upon the whole party, from the double
+assertion, that kept off from Camilla, also, the fortune seekers of the
+place.
+
+But another rumour got abroad, that soon entirely cleared Eugenia, not
+merely of lovers but acquaintances; namely, her studies with Dr.
+Orkborne. This was a prevailing theme of spite with Miss Margland, when
+the Doctor had neglected and displeased her; and a topic always at hand
+for her spleen, when it was angered by other circumstances not so easy
+of blame or of mention.
+
+This, shortly, made Eugenia stared at still more than her peculiar
+appearance. The misses, in tittering, ran away from the learned lady;
+the beaux contemptuously sneering, rejoiced she was too ugly to take in
+any poor fellow to marry her. Some imagined her studies had stinted her
+growth; and all were convinced her education had made her such a fright.
+
+Of the whole party, the only one who quitted Southampton in spirits was
+Dr. Orkborne. He was delighted to be no longer under the dominion of
+Miss Margland, who, though she never left him tranquil in the possession
+of all he valued, his leisure, and his books and papers, eternally
+annoyed him with reproaches upon his absence, non-attendance, and
+ignorance of high life; asking always, when angry, 'If any one had ever
+heard who was his grandfather?'
+
+The doctor, in return, despising, like most who have it not, whatever
+belonged to noble birth, regarded her and her progenitors as the pest of
+the human race; frequently, when incensed by interruption, exclaiming,
+'Where intellect is uncultivated, what is man better than a brute, or
+woman than an idiot?'
+
+Nor was his return to his own room, books, and hours, under the roof of
+the indulgent Sir Hugh, the only relief of this removal: he knew not of
+the previous departure of Dr. Marchmont, and he was glad to quit a spot
+where he was open to a comparison which he felt to be always to his
+disadvantage.
+
+So much more powerful and more prominent is character than education,
+that no two men could be more different than Dr. Marchmont and Dr.
+Orkborne, though the same university had finished their studies, and the
+same passion, pursuit, and success in respect to learning, had raised
+and had spread their names and celebrity. The first, with all his
+scholastic endowments, was a man of the world, and a grace to society;
+the second, though in erudition equally respectable, was wholly lost to
+the general community, and alive only with his pen and his books. They
+enjoyed, indeed, in common, that happy and often sole reward of learned
+labours, the privilege of snatching some care from time, some repining
+from misfortune, by seizing for themselves, and their own exclusive use,
+the whole monopoly of mind; but they employed it not to the same
+extension. The things and people of this lower sphere were studiously,
+by Dr. Orkborne, sunk in oblivion by the domineering prevalence of the
+alternate transport and toil of intellectual occupation; Dr. Marchmont,
+on the contrary, though his education led to the same propensities,
+still held his fellow creatures to be of higher consideration than their
+productions. Without such extravagance in the pursuit of his studies, he
+knew it the happy province of literary occupations, where voluntary, to
+absorb worldly solicitudes, and banish for a while even mental
+anxieties; and though the charm may be broken by every fresh intrusion
+of calamity, it unites again with the first retirement, and, without
+diminishing the feelings of social life, has a power, from time to time,
+to set aside their sufferings.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_Brides and no Brides_
+
+
+In the hall of the Cleves mansion the party from Southampton were
+received by Sir Hugh, Mr. Tyrold, and Lavinia. The baronet greeted in
+particular the two nieces he regarded as brides elect, with an elation
+that prevented him from observing their sadness; while their confusion
+at his mistake he attributed to the mere bashfulness of their situation.
+He enquired, nevertheless, with some surprise, why the two bridegrooms
+did not attend them? which, he owned, he thought rather odd; though he
+supposed it might be only the new way.
+
+The changing colour and starting tears of the two sisters still escaped
+his kindly occupied but undiscerning eyes: while Mr. Tyrold, having
+tenderly embraced, avoided looking at them from the fear of adding to
+their blushes, and sat quiet and grave, striving to alleviate his
+present new and deep sorrow, by participating in the revived happiness
+of his brother. But Lavinia soon saw their mutual distress, and with
+apprehensive affection watched an opportunity to investigate its cause.
+
+'But come,' cried Sir Hugh, 'I sha'n't wait for those gentlemen to shew
+you what I've done for you, seeing they don't wait for me, by their
+following their own way, which, however, I suppose they may be with
+their lawyers, none of those gentleman having been here, which I think
+rather slow, considering the rooms are almost ready.'
+
+He would now have taken them round the house; but, nearly expiring with
+shame, they entreated to be excused; and, insupportably oppressed by the
+cruel discovery they had to divulge, stole apart to consult upon what
+measures they should take. They then settled that Camilla should
+accompany Mr. Tyrold to Etherington, but keep off all disclosure till
+the next morning, when Eugenia would arrive, and unfold the sad tidings.
+
+When they returned to the parlour, they found Sir Hugh, in the innocency
+of his heart, had forced Indiana, Miss Margland, and even Dr. Orkborne,
+to view his improvements for the expected nuptials, judging the
+disinterestedness of their pleasure by his own; though to the two
+ladies, nothing could be less gratifying than preparations for a scene
+in which they were to bear no part, and the Doctor thought every evil
+genius at work to detain him from his study and his manuscripts.
+
+'But what's the oddest' cried the Baronet, 'of all, is nobody's coming
+for poor Indiana; which I could never have expected, especially in the
+point of taking off little Eugenia first, whom her own cousin did not
+think pretty enough; which I can never think over and above good natured
+in him, being so difficult. However, I hope we shall soon forget that,
+now for which reason, I forgive him.'
+
+Indiana was so much piqued, she could scarce refrain from relating the
+portico history at Lord Pervil's; but the Baronet, not remarking her
+discomposure, turned to Camilla and Eugenia, smilingly exclaiming:
+'Well, my dear girls, I sha'n't mention what we have been looking at in
+your absence, because of your blushes, which I hope you approve. But we
+shall soon, I hope, see it all together, without any of your modesty's
+minding it. I shall have to pinch a little for it the rest of the year,
+which, God knows, will be a pleasure to me, for the sake of my two dear
+girls, as well as of Mr. Edgar; not to mention the new young gentleman;
+who seems a pretty kind of person too, though he is not one of our own
+relations.'
+
+He was rather disappointed when he found Camilla was to go to
+Etherington, but desired there might be a general meeting the next day,
+when he should also invite Dr. Marchmont. 'For I think' said he, 'he's
+as little proud as the best dunce amongst us; which makes me like him as
+well. And I can't say but I was as much obliged to him that day about
+the mad bull, as if he had been one of my nephews or nieces himself:
+which is what I sha'n't forget.'
+
+In the way back to Etherington, Camilla could scarce utter a word; and
+Lavinia, who had just gathered from her, in a whisper 'All is over with
+Edgar!' with divided, but silent pity, looked from her father to her
+sister, thought of her brother, and wept for all three. Mr. Tyrold alone
+was capable of any exertion. Unwilling to give Camilla, whom he
+concluded impressed with the thousand solicitudes of her impending
+change of situation, any abrupt account of her brother's cruel conduct,
+he spoke with composure though not with cheerfulness, and hoped, by a
+general gravity, to prepare, without alarming her, for the ill news he
+must inevitably relate. But he soon, however, observed an excess of
+sadness upon her countenance, far deeper than what he could attribute to
+the thoughts he had first suggested, and wholly different from an
+agitation in which though fear bears a part, hope preponderates.
+
+It now struck him that probably Lionel had been at Southampton: for so
+wide was every idea from supposing any mischief with Edgar, that, like
+Sir Hugh, upon his non-appearance, he had concluded him engaged with his
+lawyer. But of Melmond, less sure, he had been more open in enquiry, and
+with inexpressible concern, for his beloved and unfortunate Eugenia,
+gathered that the affair was ended: though her succeeding plan, by her
+own desire, Camilla left for her own explanation.
+
+When they arrived at Etherington, taking her into his study, 'Camilla,'
+he said, 'tell me, I beg ... do you know anything of Lionel?'
+
+An unrestrained burst of tears convinced him his conjecture was right,
+and he soon obtained all the particulars of the meeting, except its
+levity and flightiness. Where directly questioned, no sisterly
+tenderness could induce her to filial prevarication; but she rejoiced to
+spare her brother all exposure that mere silence could spare; and as Mr.
+Tyrold suspected not her former knowledge of his extravagance and ill
+conduct, he neither asked, nor heard, any thing beyond the last
+interview.
+
+At the plan of going abroad, he sighed heavily, but would take no
+measures to prevent it. Lionel, he saw was certain of being cast in any
+trial; and though he would not stretch out his arm to avert the
+punishment he thought deserved, he was not sorry to change the languid
+waste of imprisonment at home, for the hardships with which he might
+live upon little abroad.
+
+A calamity such as this seemed cause full sufficient for the distress of
+Camilla; Mr. Tyrold sought no other; but though she wept, now, at
+liberty, his very freedom from suspicion and enquiry increased her
+anguish. 'Your happy fate,' cried he, 'is what most, at this moment
+supports me; and to that I shall chiefly owe the support of your mother;
+whom a blow such as this will more bitterly try than the loss of our
+whole income, or even than the life itself of your brother. Her virtue
+is above misfortune, but her soul will shudder at guilt.'
+
+The horror of Camilla was nearly intolerable at this speech, and the
+dreadful disappointment which she knew yet to be awaiting her loved
+parents. 'Take comfort, my dearest girl,' said Mr. Tyrold, who saw her
+suffering, 'it is yours, for all our sakes to be cheerful, for to you we
+shall owe the worthiest of sons, at the piercing juncture when the
+weakest and most faulty fails us.'
+
+'O my father!' she cried, 'speak not such words! Lionel himself ...' she
+was going to say: has made you less unhappy than you will be made by me:
+but she durst not finish her phrase; she turned away from him her
+streaming eyes, and stopt.
+
+'My dearest child,' he cried, 'let not your rising prospects be thus
+dampt by this cruel event. The connection you have formed will be a
+consolation to us all. It binds to us for life a character already so
+dear to us; it will afford to our Lavinia, should we leave her single, a
+certain asylum; it will give to our Eugenia a counsellor that may save
+her hereafter from fraud and ruin; it may aid poor Lionel, when, some
+time hence, he returns to his country, to return to the right path,
+whence so widely he has strayed; and it will heal with lenient balm the
+wounded, bleeding bosom of a meritorious but deeply afflicted mother!
+While to your father, my Camilla....'
+
+These last words were not heard; such a mention of her mother had
+already overpowered her, and unable to let him keep up his delusion, she
+supported her shaking frame against his shoulder, and exclaimed in a
+tone of agony: 'O my father! you harrow me to the soul!--Edgar has left
+me!--has left England!--left us all!----'
+
+Shocked, yet nearly incredulous, he insisted upon looking at her: her
+countenance impelled belief. The woe it expressed could be excited by
+nothing less than the deprivation of every worldly expectation, and a
+single glance was an answer to a thousand interrogatories.
+
+Mr. Tyrold now sat down, with an air between calmness and despondence,
+saying, 'And how has this come to pass?'
+
+Again she got behind him, and in a voice scarce audible, said, Eugenia
+would, the next morning, explain all.
+
+'Very well, I will wait;' he quietly, but with palpably stifled
+emotions, answered: 'Go, my love, go to Lavinia; open to her your heart;
+you will find consolation in her kindness. My own, I confess, is now
+weighed down with sorrow! this last and unexpected stroke will demand
+some time, some solitude, to be yielded to as it ought.' He then held
+out to her his hand, which she could scarcely approach from trembling,
+and scarcely kiss for weeping, and added: 'I know what you feel for
+me--and know, too, that my loss to yours is nothing,--for yours is not
+to be estimated! you are young, however, and, with yourself, it may pass
+away ... but your mother--my heart, Camilla, is rent for your
+unfortunate mother!'
+
+He then embraced her, called Lavinia, and retired for the night.
+
+Terribly it passed with them all.
+
+The next morning, before they assembled to breakfast, Eugenia was in the
+chamber of Camilla.
+
+She entered with a bright beam upon her countenance, which, in defiance
+of the ravaging distemper that had altered her, gave it an expression
+almost celestial. It was the pure emanation of virtue, of disinterested,
+of even heroic virtue. 'Camilla!' she cried, 'all is settled with my
+uncle! Indiana ... you will not wonder--consents; and already this
+morning I have written to Mr. Mel....'
+
+With all her exaltation, her voice faltered at the name, and, with a
+faint smile, but deep blush, she called for the congratulations of her
+sister upon her speedy success.
+
+'Ah, far more than my congratulations, my esteem, my veneration is
+yours, dear and generous Eugenia! true daughter of my mother! and
+proudest recompence of my father!'
+
+She was not sufficiently serene to give any particulars of the
+transaction; and Mr. Tyrold soon sent for her to his room.
+
+Camilla, trembling and hanging over her, said: 'You will do for me, I
+know better than I could do for myself:--but spare poor Lionel--and be
+just to Edgar!'--
+
+Eugenia strictly obeyed: in sparing Lionel she spared also her father,
+whom his highly unfeeling behaviour with regard to Sir Sedley would yet
+further have incensed and grieved; and, in doing justice to Edgar, she
+flattered herself she prevented an alienation from one yet destined to
+be nearly allied to him, since time, she still hoped, would effect the
+reconciliation of Camilla with the youth whom--next to Melmond--she
+thought the most amiable upon earth.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, by this means, gathered no further intelligence than that
+they had parted upon some mutual, though slight dissatisfaction. He
+hoped, therefore, with Eugenia, they might soon meet again; and
+resolved, till he could better judge what might prove the event, to keep
+this distress from Sir Hugh.
+
+He then met Camilla with the most consolatory kindness; yet would not
+trust her ardent mind with the hopes he cherished himself, dreading
+infinitely more to give than to receive disappointment. He blamed her
+for admitting any doubts of the true regard of Edgar, in whom promise
+was always short of performance, and whom he conceived displeased by
+unjust suspicions, or offended by undue expectations of professions,
+which the very sincerity of his rational and manly character prevented
+him from making.
+
+Camilla heard in silence suggestions she could not answer, without
+relating the history of Sir Sedley: 'No, Lionel, no!' she said to
+herself, 'I will not now betray you! I have lost all!--and now the loss
+to me is irreparable, shall I blast you yet further to my poor father,
+whose deepest sigh is already for your misconduct?'
+
+The story of Eugenia herself he learnt with true admiration, and gave to
+her magnanimity its dearest mede, in her mother's promised, and his own
+immediate approbation.
+
+But Sir Hugh, notwithstanding all Eugenia could urge in favour of
+Melmond, had heard her account with grief and resentment. All, however,
+being actually ready for the double wedding, he could not, he said,
+answer to his conscience doing so much for the rest, and refusing the
+same for Indiana, whom he called upon to accept or reject the
+preparations made for her cousin.
+
+Indiana stood fluttering for a few minutes between the exultation of
+being the first bride, and the mortification of marrying a man without
+fortune or title. But the observation of Sir Hugh, upon the oddity of
+her marrying the last, she was piqued with a most earnest ambition to
+reverse. Nor did Melmond himself go for nothing in this affair, as all
+she had of heart he had been the first to touch.
+
+She retired for a short conference with Miss Margland, who was nearly in
+an equal dilemma, from unwillingness to dispose of her beautiful pupil
+without a title, and from eagerness to quit Cleves, which she thought a
+convent for dullness, and a prison for confinement. Melmond had strongly
+in his favour the received maxim amongst match-makers, that a young
+lady without fortune has a less and less chance of getting off upon
+every public appearance, which they call a public failure: their joint
+deliberations were, however, interrupted by an abrupt intrusion of Molly
+Mill, who announced she had just heard that Miss Dennel was going to be
+married.
+
+This information ended the discussion. The disgrace of a bridal
+appearance anticipated in the neighbourhood by such a chit, made Indiana
+hastily run down stairs, and tell her uncle that the merit of Melmond
+determined her to refuse every body for his sake.
+
+A man and horse, therefore, at break of day the next morning, was sent
+off by Eugenia to Southampton with these words:
+
+     _To_ FREDERIC MELMOND, _Esq._;
+
+     You will be welcome, Sir, at Cleves, where you will forget, I hope,
+     every painful sensation, in the happiness which awaits you, and
+     dismiss all retrospection, to return with sincerity the serene
+     friendship of
+
+     EUGENIA TYROLD.
+
+Mr. Tyrold now visited Cleves with only his younger daughter, and
+excused the non-appearance there, for the present, of Camilla;
+acknowledging that some peculiar incidents, which he could not yet
+explain, kept Mandlebert away, and must postpone the celebration of the
+marriage.
+
+The vexation this gave Sir Hugh, redoubled his anxiety to break to him
+the evil by degrees, if to break it to him at all should become
+indispensable.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_A Hint for Debtors_
+
+
+Mr. Tyrold was well aware that to keep from Sir Hugh the affliction of
+Camilla, he must keep from him Camilla herself: for though her sighs she
+could suppress, and her tears disperse, her voice had lost its tone, her
+countenance its gaiety; her eyes no longer sparkled, her very smiles
+betrayed anguish. He was the last to wonder at her sufferings, for Edgar
+was nearly as dear to him as herself; but he knew not, that, added to
+this annihilation of happiness, her peace was consumed by her secret
+knowledge of the blows yet impending for himself and for her uncle.
+Concealment, always abhorrent to her nature, had, till now, been unknown
+even to her thoughts; and its weight, from a species of culpability that
+seemed attached to its practice, was, at times, more dreadful to bear
+than the loss even of Edgar himself. The latter blackened every prospect
+of felicity; but the former, still more tremendous to the pure
+principles in which she had been educated, seemed to strike even at her
+innocence. The first wish of an ingenuous mind is to anticipate even
+enquiry; the feeling, therefore, that most heavily weighs it down, is
+any fear of detection.
+
+While they were at breakfast the following morning, the servant brought
+in the name of Dr. Marchmont.
+
+Camilla felt nearly fainting. Why he was come--whence--whether Edgar
+accompanied him--or sent by him any message--whether he were returned to
+Beech Park--or sailed for the Continent----were doubts that pressed so
+fast, and so vehemently upon her mind, that she feared to quit the room
+lest she should meet Edgar in the passage, and feared still more to
+continue in it, lest Dr. Marchmont should enter without him. Mr. Tyrold,
+who participated in all her feelings, and shared the same ideas, gently
+committed her to Lavinia, and went into his study to the doctor.
+
+His own illusion was there quickly destroyed. The looks of Dr. Marchmont
+boded nothing that was happy. They wore not their customary expression.
+The gravity of Mr. Tyrold shewed a mind prepared for ill news, if not
+already oppressed with it, and the doctor, after a few general speeches,
+delivered the letter from Edgar.
+
+Mr. Tyrold received it with a secret shuddering: 'Where,' he said, 'is
+Mandlebert at present?'
+
+'I believe, by this time--at the Hague.'
+
+This sentence, with the grieved, yet still air and tone of voice which
+accompanied it, was death at once to every flattering hope: he
+immediately read the letter, which, conceived in the tenderest terms of
+reverence and affection, took a short and simple, though touchingly
+respectful leave of the purposed connection, and demolished at once
+every distant view of future conciliation.
+
+He hung his head a moment, and sighed from the bottom of his heart; but
+the resignation which he summoned upon every sorrow was never deaf to
+his call, and when he had secretly ejaculated a short and silent prayer
+for fortitude to his beloved wife, he turned calmly to the doctor, and
+began conversing upon other affairs.
+
+Dr. Marchmont presumed not to manifest the commiseration with which he
+was filled. He saw the true Christian, enduring with humility
+misfortune, and the respectable parent supporting the dignity of his
+daughter by his own. To the first character, complaint was forbidden; to
+the second, it would have been degrading. He looked at him with
+veneration, but to spare further useless and painful efforts, soon took
+leave.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, shaking hands with him, said, as they were parting, 'when
+you write to Mandlebert, assure him of my constant affection. The world,
+Dr. Marchmont is too full of real evil, for me at least, to cause one
+moment of unnecessary uneasiness to any of its poor pilgrims. 'Tis
+strange, my dear doctor, this is not more generally considered, since
+the advantage would be so reciprocal from man to man. But wrapt up in
+our own short moment, we forget our neighbour's long hour! and existence
+is ultimately embittered to all, by the refined susceptibility for
+ourselves that monopolizes our feelings.'
+
+Doctor Marchmont, who in this last sentence construed a slight
+reflection upon Edgar, expressively answered, 'Our sensibility for
+others is not always dormant, because not apparent. How much of worth
+and excellence may two characters separately possess, where yet there
+are disuniting particles which impede their harmonizing with each
+other!'
+
+Mr. Tyrold, powerfully struck, saw now the general nature of the
+conceptions which had caused this lamented breach. He could not concur,
+but he would not attempt to controvert: opinion in this case must have
+even the precedence of justice. If Edgar thought his daughter of a
+disposition with which his own could not sympathise, it were vain to
+expatiate upon her virtues or her sweetness; that one doubt previously
+taken might mar their assimilating efficacy. Comprehending, therefore,
+the cause at large, he desired no detail; the words of Dr. Marchmont,
+though decisive, were not offensive, and they parted perfect friends,
+each perceiving, yet forgiving, that each cast upon the other the error
+of false reasoning; Edgar to the one, and Camilla to the other,
+appearing faultless in the separation.
+
+But not in the tasks which succeeded were their offices as easily to be
+compared. Dr. Marchmont wrote to Edgar that all was quietly
+relinquished, and his measures were honourably acquitted; while Mr.
+Tyrold, shut up in his study, spent there some of the severest minutes
+of his life, in struggling for the equanimity he coveted to pronounce to
+his daughter this last doom. Pity for her suspence accelerated his
+efforts, and he then sent for her down stairs.
+
+His utmost composure, in such an interview, was highly necessary for
+both. The pale and trembling Camilla advanced with downcast eyes; but
+when he took her in his arms, and kissed her, a sudden ray of hope shot
+across her quick imagination, and she looked up: an instant was now
+sufficient to rectify her mistake. The tenderness of her father wore no
+air of congratulation, it was the mere offspring of compassion, and the
+woe with which it was mixt, though mild, though patient, was too potent
+to require words for explanation.
+
+The glance sufficed; her head dropt, her tears in torrents bathed his
+bosom; and she retired to Lavinia while yet neither of them had spoken.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, contented with virtuous exertions, demanded not
+impossibilities; he left to nature that first grief which too early
+exhortation or controul rather inflames than appeases. He then brought
+her back to his apartment.
+
+He conjured her, there, to remember that she grieved not alone; that
+where the tears flowed not so fast from the eyes, the sources were not
+dry whence they sprung, and that bridled sorrow was sometimes the most
+suffering.
+
+'Alas, my dearest father, to think you mourn too--and for me!--will that
+lessen what I feel?'
+
+'Yes, my dear child, by a generous duty it will point out to watch that
+the excess of one affliction involve you not in another.'
+
+'What a motive,' she answered, 'for exertion! If the smallest part of
+your happiness--of my honoured mother's--depends upon mine, I shall be
+unhappy, I think, no more!'
+
+A gush of tears ill accorded with this fond declaration; but Mr. Tyrold,
+without noticing them, kindly replied, 'Let your filial affection, my
+child, check the inordinacy of your affliction, and I will accept with
+pleasure for your virtuous mother, and with thanks for myself, the
+exertion which, beginning for our sakes, may lead you to that self
+denial which is the parent of our best human actions, and approximates
+us the most to what is divine.'
+
+Broken-hearted as was Camilla, her sorrows would, at least apparently,
+have abated from consolation so tender, if all she felt had been known;
+if no latent and lurking evil had hung upon her spirits, defeating all
+argument, and blighting all comfort, by the cruel consciousness of
+concealed mischief, which while incessantly she studied the best moment
+for revealing, accident might prematurely betray.
+
+Upon this subject her thoughts were unremittingly bent, till, in a few
+days time, she received a letter from Mrs. Mittin, informing her she had
+just seen the money-lender, Mr. Clykes, who, finding her so much under
+age, would not undertake the business for less than ten per cent, nor
+without a free premium of at least twenty pounds.
+
+The latter demand, so entirely out of her power to grant, gave to her
+the mental strength she had yet sought in vain; and determining to end
+this baneful secret, she seized her own first moment of emotion to
+relate to her father the whole of her distresses, and cast herself upon
+his mercy.
+
+I shall be happier, she cried, much happier, as, with tottering steps,
+she hurried to the study; he will be lenient, I know;--and even if not,
+what displeasure can I incur so severe as the eternal apprehension of
+doing wrong?
+
+But her plan, though well formed, had fixed upon an ill-timed moment for
+its execution. She entered the room with an agitation which rather
+sought than shunned remark, that some enquiry might make an opening for
+her confession: but Mr. Tyrold was intently reading a letter, and
+examining some papers, from which he raised not his eyes at her
+approach. She stood fearfully before him till he had done; but then,
+still not looking up, he leant his head upon his hand, with a
+countenance so disturbed, that, alarmed from her design, by the
+apprehension he had received some ill tidings from Lisbon, she asked, in
+a faint voice, if the foreign post were come in?
+
+'I hope not!' he answered: 'I should look with pain, at this moment,
+upon the hand of your unhappy mother!'
+
+Camilla, affrighted, knew not now what to conjecture; but gliding into
+her pocket the letter of Mrs. Mittin, stood suspended from her purpose.
+
+'What a reception,' he presently added, 'is preparing for that noblest
+of women when her exile may end! That epoch, to which I have looked
+forward as the brightener of my every view upon earth--how is it now
+clouded!'
+
+Giving her, then, the letter and papers; 'The son,' he said, 'who once I
+had hoped would prove the guardian of his sisters, the honour of his
+mother's days, the future prop of my own--See, Camilla, on how sandy a
+foundation mortal man builds mortal hopes!'
+
+The letter was from a very respectable tradesman, containing a complaint
+that, for the three years Lionel had been at the University, he had
+never paid one bill, though he continually ordered new articles: and
+begging Mr. Tyrold would have the goodness to settle the accounts he
+enclosed; the young gentleman, after fixing a day for payment, having
+suddenly absconded without notice to any one.
+
+'The sum, you see,' continued Mr. Tyrold, 'amounts to one hundred and
+seventy-one pounds; a sum, for my income, enormous. The allowance I made
+this cruel boy, was not only adequate to all his proper wants, and
+reasonable desires, but all I could afford without distressing myself,
+or injuring my other children: yet it has served him, I imagine, but for
+pocket money! The immense sums he has extorted from both his uncles,
+must have been swallowed up at a gaming table. Into what wretched
+courses has he run! These bills, large as they are, I regard but as
+forerunners of others; all he has received he has squandered upon his
+vices, and to-morrow, and the next day, and the next, I may expect an
+encreasing list of his debts, from his hatter, his hosier, his
+shoe-maker, his taylor,--and whoever he has employed.
+
+Camilla, overwhelmed with internal shame, yet more powerful than grief
+itself, stood motionless. These expences appeared but like a second part
+of her own, with her milliner, her jeweller, and her haberdasher; which
+now seemed to herself not less wanton in extravagance.
+
+Surprised by her entire silence, Mr. Tyrold looked up. Her cheeks,
+rather livid than pale, and the deep dismay of her countenance,
+extremely affected him. The kindness of his embraces relieved her by
+melting her into tears, though the speech which accompanied them was, to
+her consciousness, but reproach: 'Let not your sisterly feelings thus
+subdue you, my dearest Camilla. Be comforted that you have given us no
+affliction yourself, save what we must feel for your own undeservedly
+altered prospects. No unthinking imprudence, no unfeeling selfishness,
+has ever, for an instant, driven from your thoughts what you owe to your
+duty, or weakened your pleasure in every endearing filial tie. Let this
+cheer you, my child; and let us all try to submit calmly to our general
+disappointment.'
+
+Praise thus ill-timed, rather probed than healed her wounds. Am I
+punished? am I punished? She internally exclaimed; but could not bear to
+meet the eyes of her father, whose indulgence she felt as if abusing,
+and whose good opinion seemed now but a delusion. Again, he made her
+over to the gentle Lavinia for comfort, and fearing serious ill effects
+from added misery, exerted himself, from this time, to appear cheerful
+when she was present.
+
+His predictions failed not to be fulfilled: the application made by one
+creditor, soon reached every other, and urged similar measures. Bills,
+therefore, came in daily, with petitions for payment; and as Lionel
+still wanted a month or two of being of age, his creditors depended with
+confidence upon the responsibility of his father.
+
+Nor here closed the claims springing from general ill conduct. Two young
+men of fashion, hard pressed for their own failures, stated to Mr.
+Tyrold the debts of honour owing them from Lionel: and three notorious
+gamesters, who had drawn in the unthinking youth to his ruin, enforced
+the same information, with a hint that, if they were left unsatisfied,
+the credit of the young man would fall the sacrifice of their ill
+treatment.
+
+The absence of Mrs. Tyrold at this period, by sparing her daily
+difficulty as well as pain, was rejoiced in by her husband; though
+never so strongly had he wanted her aiding counsel, her equal interest,
+and her consoling participation. Obliged to act without them, his
+deliberation was short and decisive for his measures, but long and
+painful for their means of execution. He at once determined to pay,
+though for the last time, all the trades people; but the manner of
+obtaining the money required more consideration.
+
+The bills, when all collected, amounted to something above five hundred
+pounds, which was but one hundred short of his full yearly income.
+
+Of this, he had always contrived to lay by an hundred pounds annually,
+which sum, with its accumulating interest, was destined to be divided
+between Lavinia and Camilla. Eugenia required nothing; and Lionel was to
+inherit the paternal little fortune. The portion of Mrs. Tyrold, which
+was small, the estate of her father having been almost all entailed upon
+Mr. Relvil, was to be divided equally amongst her children.
+
+To take from the little hoard which, with so tender a care, he had
+heaped for the daughters, so large a share for the son, and to answer
+demands so unduly raised, and ill deserved, was repulsive to his
+inclination, and shocked his strong sense of equal justice. To apply to
+Mr. Relvil would be preposterous; for though upon him dwelt all his
+ultimate hopes for Lionel, he knew him, at this moment, to be so
+suffering and so irritated by his means, that to hear of any new
+misdemeanours might incense him to an irrevocable disinheritance.
+
+With regard to Sir Hugh, nothing was too much to expect from his
+generous kindness; yet he knew that his bountiful heart had always kept
+his income from overflowing; and that, for three years past, Lionel had
+drained it without mercy. His preparations, also, for the double
+marriages had, of late, much straitened him. To take up even the
+smallest part of what, in less expensive times, he had laid by, he would
+regard as a breach of his solemn vow, by which he imagined himself bound
+to leave Eugenia the full property she would have possessed, had he died
+instantly upon making it. Reason might have shewn this a tie of
+supererogation; but where any man conceived himself obeying the dictates
+of his conscience, Mr. Tyrold held his motives too sacred for dispute.
+
+The painful result of this afflicting meditation, was laying before his
+daughters the whole of his difficulties, and demanding if they would
+willingly concur in paying their brother's bills from their appropriate
+little store, by adopting an altered plan of life, and severe
+self-denial of their present ease and elegance, to aid its speedy
+replacement.
+
+Their satisfaction in any expedient to serve their brother that seemed
+to fall upon themselves, was sincere, was even joyful: but they jointly
+besought that the sum might be freely taken up, and deducted for ever
+more from the hoard; since no earthly gratification could be so great to
+them, as contributing their mite to prevent any deprivation of domestic
+enjoyment to their beloved parents.
+
+His eyes glistened, but not from grief; it was the pleasure of virtuous
+happiness in their purity of filial affection. But though he knew their
+sincerity, he would not listen to their petition. 'You are not yet,'
+said he, 'aware what your future calls may be for money. What I have yet
+been able to save, without this unexpected seizure, would be inadequate
+to your even decent maintenance, should any accident stop short its
+encrease. Weep not, my dear children! my health is still good, and my
+prospect of lengthened life seems fair. It would be, however, a temporal
+folly as well as a spiritual presumption, to forget the precarious
+tenure of human existence. My life, my dear girls, will be happier,
+without being shorter, for making provisions for its worldly cessation.'
+
+'But, Sir! but my father!' cried Camilla, hanging over him, and losing
+in filial tenderness her personal distresses; 'if your manner of living
+is altered, and my dear mother returns home and sees you relinquishing
+any of your small, your temperate indulgencies, may it not yet more
+embitter her sufferings and her displeasure for the unhappy cause? For
+her sake then, if not for ours----'
+
+'Do not turn away, dearest Sir!' cried Lavinia; 'what mother ever
+merited to have her peace the first study of her children, if it is not
+ours?'
+
+'O Providence benign!' said Mr. Tyrold, folding them to his heart, 'how
+am I yet blessed in my children!--True and excellent daughters of my
+invaluable wife--this little narration is the solace I shall have to
+offer for the grief I must communicate.'
+
+He would not, however, hearken to their proposition; his peace, he said,
+required not only immediate measures for replacing what he must borrow,
+but also that no chasm should have lieu in funding his usual annual sum
+for them. All he would accept was the same severe forbearance he should
+instantly practice himself, and which their mother, when restored to
+them, would be the first to adopt and improve. And this, till its end
+was answered, they would all steadily continue, and then, with cheerful
+self-approvance, resume their wonted comforts.
+
+Mr. Tyrold had too frequent views of the brevity of human life to
+postpone, even from one sun to another, any action he deemed essential.
+A new general system, therefore, immediately pervaded his house. Two of
+the servants, with whom he best could dispense, were discharged; which
+hurt him more than any other privation, for he loved, and was loved by
+every domestic who lived with him. His table, always simple though
+elegant, was now reduced to plain necessaries; he parted with every
+horse, but one to whose long services he held himself a debtor; and
+whatever, throughout the whole economy of his small establishment,
+admitted simplifying, deducting, or abolishment, received, without
+delay, its requisite alteration or dismission.
+
+These new regulations were quietly, but completely, put in practice,
+before he would discharge one bill for his son; to whom, nevertheless,
+though his conduct was strict, his feelings were still lenient. He
+attributed not to moral turpitude his errours nor his crimes, but to the
+prevalence of ill example, and to an unjustifiable and dangerous levity,
+which irresistibly led him to treat with mockery and trifling the most
+serious subjects. The punishment, however, which he had now drawn upon
+himself, would yet, he hoped, touch his heart.
+
+But the debts called debts of honour, met not with similar treatment. He
+answered with spirited resentment demands he deemed highly flagitious,
+counselling those who sent them, when next they applied to an unhappy
+family to whose calamities they had contributed, to enquire first if its
+principles, as well as its fortune, made the hazards of gaming amongst
+its domestic responsibilities.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_A Lover's Eye_
+
+
+The serenity of virtue would now again have made its abode the breast of
+Mr. Tyrold, but for the constant wretchedness to which he saw his
+daughter a prey. With the benignest pity he strove to revive her; a pity
+unabated by any wonder, unalloyed with any blame. His wonder fell all
+upon Edgar, whom he considered as refining away mortal happiness, by
+dissatisfaction that it was not divine; but his censure, which he
+reserved wholly for vice, exonerated them both. Still, however, he
+flattered himself that ere long, to her youthful mind and native
+cheerfulness, tranquillity, if not felicity, would imperceptibly return,
+from such a union for exertion of filial and sisterly duties: that
+industry would sweeten rest, virtue gild privation, and self-approvance
+convert every sacrifice into enjoyment.
+
+But peace such as this was far from her bosom. While the desertion of
+Edgar had tolled the death bell to all her hopes, an unremitting
+contention disturbed her mind, whether to avow or conceal her situation
+with regard to the money-lender. The reflections of every night brought
+a dissatisfaction in her conduct, which determined her upon an openness
+the most undisguised for the following morning: but timidity, and the
+desire of reprieve from the fearful task, again, the following morning,
+regularly postponed her purpose.
+
+In the first horror occasioned by her father's distress from the bills
+of her brother, she wrote a supplicating letter to Mrs. Mittin, to
+intreat she would endeavour to quiet her creditors till she could
+arrange something for their payment. And while this produced a
+correspondence replete with danger, difficulty, and impropriety, a new
+circumstance occurred, which yet more cruelly embittered her conflicting
+emotions. Lavinia, in the virtuous eagerness of her heart to forward the
+general oeconomy, insisted wholly to relinquish, for this year, her
+appropriate allowance; declaring that, by careful management, she could
+dispense with anything new, and that the very few expences she might
+find utterly unavoidable, she would demand from time to time as they
+occurred. Camilla, at this proposition, retreated, in agony, to her
+chamber. To make the same was impossible; for how, then, find interest
+for the money-lender? yet to withstand so just an example, seemed a
+disgrace to every duty and every feeling.
+
+Lavinia, who, in her countenance and abrupt departure, read the new
+distress she had incautiously excited, with a thousand self-reproaches
+followed her. She had considered but the common cause when she spoke,
+without weighing the strange appearance of not being seconded by her
+sister: But her mind was amongst the last to covet the narrow praise of
+insidious comparison; and her concern for the proposal she had made,
+when she saw its effect, was as deep as that of Camilla in hearing it,
+though not attended with the same aggravations.
+
+Mr. Tyrold remained utterly surprized. The generous and disinterested
+nature of Camilla, made it impossible to suspect her restrained by a
+greater love of money than Lavinia; and he could not endure to suppose
+her late visits to public places, had rendered personal oeconomy more
+painful. But he would make no enquiry that might seem a reproach; nor
+suffer any privation or contribution that was not cheerful and
+voluntary.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The purchases for the wedding of Miss Dennel being now made, that young
+lady came down to the country to solemnize her nuptials, accompanied by
+Mrs. Mittin, who instantly visited Camilla. She could settle nothing,
+she said, with the money-lender, without the premium; but she had coaxed
+all the creditors, by assuring them, that, as the debtor was a great
+heiress, they were certain of their money when she came to her estate.
+Camilla could not endure to owe their forbearance to a falsehood; though
+to convince Mrs. Mittin of her errour, in contradiction to the assertion
+of Lionel, was a vain attempt. The business, however, pressed; and to
+keep back these but too just claimants was her present most fervent
+desire. Mrs. Mittin was amongst the most expert of expedient-mongers,
+and soon started a method for raising the premium. She asked to look at
+what Camilla possessed of trinkets: and the prize ear-rings of
+Tunbridge, the ear-rings and necklace of Southampton, and several small
+toys occasionally given her, were collected. The locket she also
+demanded, to make weight; but neither that, nor the peculiar gifts, as
+keep-sakes, of her father, mother, or uncle, consisting of a seal, a
+ring, and a watch, would she part with. What she would relinquish,
+however, Mrs. Mittin disposed of to one of her numerous friends; but
+they raised only, when intrinsically valued, sixteen pounds. Lavinia
+then insisted upon coming forward with a contribution of every trinket
+she was worth, save what had the same sacred motives of detention: and
+the twenty pounds, without any ceremony of acknowledgment, were
+delivered to Mr. Clykes; who then took into his own hands the payment of
+the hundred and eighteen pounds; for which he received a bond, signed by
+Camilla, and witnessed by Mrs. Mittin; and another note of hand,
+promising ten per cent. interest for the sum, till the principal were
+repaid. These two notes, he acknowledged, were mere pledges of honour,
+as the law would treat her as an infant: but he never acted without
+them, as they prevented mistakes in private dealings.
+
+This important affair arranged, Camilla felt somewhat more at ease; she
+was relieved from hourly alarms, and left the mistress to make her
+confession as circumstances directed. But she obtained not for nothing
+the agency of Mrs. Mittin, who was not a character to leave self out of
+consideration in her transactions for others; and at every visit made at
+Etherington from this time, she observed something in the apparel of
+Camilla that was utterly old fashioned, or too mean for her to wear; but
+which would do well enough for herself, when vamped up, as she knew how.
+Her obligations and inexperience made it impossible to her to resist,
+though, at this season of saving care, she gave up nothing which she
+could not have rendered useful, by industry and contrivance.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+During this unhappy period at Etherington, a brighter, though not
+unclouded scene, was exhibited at Cleves. Melmond arrived; he was
+permitted to pay his addresses to the fair Indiana, and believed
+felicity celestial accorded to him even upon earth.
+
+But this adored object herself suffered some severe repining at her
+fate, when she saw, from her window, her lover gallop into the park
+without equipage, without domestics, and mounted on a hired horse. The
+grimacing shrugs of Miss Margland shewed she entered into this
+mortification; and they were nearly conspiring to dismiss the ignoble
+pretender, when a letter, which he modestly sent up, from his sister,
+inviting Indiana to pass a few weeks in Grosvenor Square, once again
+secured the interest of the brother. She suffered, therefore, Sir Hugh
+to hand her down stairs, and the enamoured Melmond thought himself the
+most blest of men.
+
+The sight of such eager enjoyment, and the really amiable qualities of
+this youth, soon completely reconciled the Baronet to this new business;
+for he saw no reason, he said, in fact, why one niece had not as good a
+right to be married first as another. The generous and sentimental
+Eugenia never ceased her kind offices, and steadily wore an air of
+tolerable cheerfulness all day, though her pillow was nightly wetted
+with tears for her unfortunate lot.
+
+Nor, with all her native equanimity and acquired philosophy, was this a
+situation to bring back serenity. The enthusiastic raptures of Melmond
+elevated him, in her eyes, to something above human; and while his
+adoration of Indiana presented to her a picture of all she thought most
+fascinating, his grateful softness of respect to herself, was
+penetratingly touching to her already conquered heart.
+
+Indiana, meanwhile, began ere long, to catch some of the pleasure she
+inspired. The passionate animation of Melmond, soon not only resumed its
+first power, but became even essential to her. No one else had yet
+seemed to think her so completely a goddess, except Mr. Macdersey, whom
+she scarce expected ever to see again. With Melmond she could do nothing
+that did not make her appear to him still more lovely: and though her
+whims, thus indulged, became almost endless, they but kindled with fresh
+flame his admiration. If she fretted, he thought her all sensibility; if
+she pouted, all dignity; if her laughter was unmeaning, she was made up
+of innocent gaiety; if what she said was shallow, he called her the
+child of pure nature; if she were angry, how becoming was her spirit! if
+illiberal, how noble was her frankness! Her person charmed his eye, but
+his own imagination framed her mind, and while his enchanted faculties
+were the mere slaves of her beauty, they persuaded themselves they were
+vanquished by every other perfection.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mr. Tyrold had not yet related Edgar's defection to Sir Hugh; though
+from the moment the time of hope was past, he wished to end that of
+expectation. But the pressure of the affairs of Lionel detained him at
+Etherington, and he could not bear to give grief to his brother, till he
+could soften its effect by the consolation of some residence at Cleves.
+This time now arrived; and the next day was fixed for his painful task,
+in which he meant to spare Camilla any share, when Jacob begged
+immediate admittance into the study, where Mr. Tyrold and his daughters
+were drinking tea.
+
+His scared look instantly announced ill news. Mr. Tyrold was alarmed,
+Lavinia was frightened, and Camilla exclaimed, 'Jacob, speak at once!'
+
+He begged to sit down.
+
+Camilla ran to get him a chair.
+
+'Is my brother well, Jacob?' cried Mr. Tyrold.
+
+'Why, pretty well, considering, Sir,--but these are vast bad times for
+us!'
+
+'O! if my uncle is but well,' cried Camilla, relieved from her first
+dreadful doubt, 'all, I hope, will do right!'
+
+'Why, ay, Miss,' said Jacob, smiling, 'I knew you'd be master's best
+comfort; and so I told him, and so he says, for that matter himself, as
+I've got to tell you from him. But, for all that, he takes on prodigious
+bad. I never saw him in the like way, except just that time when Miss
+Geny had the small pox.'
+
+They all supplicated him to forbear further comments, and then gathered,
+that a money-agent, employed by young Lynmere, had just arrived at
+Cleves; where, with bitter complaints, he related that, having been
+duped into believing him heir to Sir Hugh Tyrold, he had been prevailed
+with to grant him money, from time to time, to pay certain bills,
+contracted not only there, but in London, for goods sent thence by his
+order, to the amount of near thirteen hundred pounds, without the
+interest, of which he should give a separate account; that he had vainly
+applied to the young gentleman for re-imbursement, who finally assured
+him he was just disinherited by his uncle. No hope, therefore, remained
+to save him from the ruin of this affair, but in the compassion of the
+Baronet, which he now came to most humbly solicit.
+
+While Mr. Tyrold, in silent surprise and concern, listened to an
+account that placed his brother in difficulties so similar to his own,
+Camilla, sinking back in her chair; looked pale, looked almost lifeless.
+The history of the debts she already knew, and had daily expected to
+hear; but the circumstance of the money-lender, and the delusion
+concerning the inheritance, so resembled her own terrible, and yet
+unknown story, that she felt personally involved in all the shame and
+horror of the relation.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, who believed her suffering all for her uncle, made further
+enquiries, while Lavinia tenderly sustained her. 'Don't take on so, dear
+Miss,' said Jacob, 'for all our hope is in you, as Master and I both
+said; and he bid me tell your papa, that if he'd only give young 'Squire
+Mandlebert a jog, to egg him on, that he might not be so shilly shally,
+as soon as ever the wedding's over, he'd accept his kind invitation to
+Beech Park, and bide there till he got clear, as one may say.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold now required no assigned motive for the excessive distress of
+his daughter, and hastened to turn Jacob from this too terribly trying
+subject, by saying, 'My brother then means to pay these demands?'
+
+'Lauk, yes, Sir! his honour pays every thing as any body asks him; only
+he says he don't know how, because of having no more money, being so
+hard run with all our preparations we have been making this last
+fortnight.'
+
+Camilla, with every moment encreasing agitation, hid her face against
+Lavinia; but Mr. Tyrold, with some energy, said: 'The interest, at
+least, I hope he will not discharge; for those dangerous vultures, who
+lie in wait for the weak or erring, to encourage their frailties or
+vices, by affording them means to pursue them, deserve much severer
+punishment, than merely losing a recompense for their iniquitous
+snares.'
+
+This was quite too much for the already disordered Camilla; she quitted
+her sister, glided out of the room, and delivered herself over as a prey
+no longer to sorrow but remorse. Her conduct seemed to have been
+precisely the conduct of Clermont, and she felt herself dreadfully
+implicated as one of the _weak or erring_, guilty of _frailties or
+vices_.
+
+That an uncle so dearly loved should believe she was forming an
+establishment which would afford him an asylum during his difficulties,
+now every prospect of that establishment was over, was so heart-piercing
+a circumstance, that to her father it seemed sufficient for the whole
+of what she endured. He made her over, therefore, to Lavinia, while he
+hastened to Cleves; for Jacob, when he had said all he was ordered to
+say, all he had gathered himself, and all he was able to suggest,
+finished with letting him know that his master begged he would set out
+that very moment.
+
+The time of his absence was spent by Camilla in an anguish that, at his
+return, seemed quite to have changed her. He was alarmed, and redoubled
+his tenderness; but his tenderness was no longer her joy. He knows not,
+she thought, whom he caresses; knows not that the wounds just beginning
+to heal for the son, are soon to be again opened for the daughter!
+
+Yet her affections were all awake to enquire after her uncle; and when
+she heard that nothing could so much sooth him as her sight, all fear of
+his comments, all terror of exertion, subsided in the possible chance of
+consoling him: and Mr. Tyrold, who thought every act of duty led to
+cheerfulness, sent to desire the carriage might fetch her the next
+morning.
+
+He passed slightly over to Camilla the scene he had himself gone
+through; but he confessed to Lavinia its difficulty and pain. Sir Hugh
+had acknowledged he had drawn his bankers dry, yet had merely current
+cash to go on till the next quarter, whence he intended to deduct the
+further expences of the weddings. Nevertheless, he was determined upon
+paying every shilling of the demand, not only for the debts, but for all
+the complicate interest. He would not listen to any reasoning upon this
+subject, because, he said, he had it upon his conscience that the first
+fault was his own, in letting poor Clermont leave the kingdom, without
+clearing up to him that he had made Eugenia his exclusive heiress. It
+was in vain Mr. Tyrold pointed out, that no future hopes of wealth could
+exculpate this unauthorized extravagance in Clermont, and no dissipation
+in Clermont could apologize for the clandestine loan, and its illegal
+interest: 'The poor boy,' said he, 'did it all, knowing no better, which
+how can I expect, when I did wrong myself, being his uncle? Though, if I
+were to have twenty more nephews and nieces in future, the first word I
+should say to them would be to tell them I should give them nothing; to
+the end that having no hope, they might all be happy one as another.'
+All, therefore, that was left for Mr. Tyrold, was to counsel him upon
+the best and shortest means of raising the sum; and for this purpose,
+he meant to be with him again the next day.
+
+This affair, however, with all its reproach for the past, and all its
+sacrifices for the time to come, by no means so deeply affected Sir Hugh
+as the blow Mr. Tyrold could no longer spare concerning Edgar. It sunk
+to his heart, dispirited him to tears, and sent him, extremely ill, to
+bed.
+
+The chaise came early the next morning, and Mr. Tyrold had the pleasure
+to see Camilla exert herself to appear less sad. Lavinia was also of the
+party, as he meant to stay the whole day.
+
+Eugenia met them in the hall, with the welcome intelligence that Sir
+Hugh, though he had passed a wretched night, was now somewhat better,
+and considerably cheered, by a visit from his old Yorkshire friend, Mr.
+Westwyn.
+
+Nevertheless, Sir Hugh dismissed him, and everybody else, to receive
+Camilla alone.
+
+She endeavoured to approach him calmly, but his own unchecked emotions
+soon overset her borrowed fortitude, and the interview proved equally
+afflicting to both. The cruel mischiefs brought upon him by Clermont,
+were as nothing in the balance of his misfortunes, when opposed to
+the sight of sorrow upon that face which, hitherto, had so
+constantly enlivened him as an image of joy: and with her, every
+self-disappointment yielded, for the moment, to the regret of losing so
+precious a blessing, as offering a refuge, in a time of difficulty, to
+an uncle so dear to her.
+
+Mr. Tyrold would not suffer this scene to be long uninterrupted; he
+entered, with a cheering countenance, that compelled them to dry their
+tears, and told them the Westwyns could not much longer be left out,
+though they remained, well contented, for the present, with Miss
+Margland and his other daughters. 'Melmond and Indiana,' added he,
+smiling, 'seem at present not beings of this lower sphere, nor to have a
+moment to spare for those who are.'
+
+'That, my dear brother,' answered the Baronet, 'is all my comfort; for
+as to all the rest of my marrying, you see what it's come to! who could
+have thought of young Mr. Edgar's turning out in the same way? I can't
+say but what I take it pretty unkind of him, letting me prepare at this
+rate for nothing; besides Beech Park's being within but a stone's throw,
+as one may say, as well as his own agreeableness. However, now I've
+seen a little more of the world, I can't say I find much difference
+between the good and the bad, with respect to their all doing alike. The
+young boys now-a-days, whatever's come to 'em, don't know what they'd be
+at. They think nothing of disappointing a person if once they've a mind
+to change their minds. All one's preparations go for nothing; which they
+never think of.'
+
+Mr. Tyrold now prevailed for the re-admission of Mr. Westwyn, who was
+accompanied by his son, and followed by the Cleves family.
+
+The cheeks of Camilla recovered their usual hue at the sight of Henry,
+from the various interesting recollections which occurred with it. She
+was seen herself with their original admiration, both by the father and
+the son, though with the former it was now mingled with anger, and with
+the latter no longer gilded with hope. Yet the complaints against her,
+which, upon his arrival, Mr. Westwyn meant to make, were soon not merely
+relinquished, but transformed into pity, upon the view of her dejected
+countenance, and silent melancholy.
+
+The Baronet, however, revived again, by seeing his old friend, whose
+humour so much resembled his own, that, in Yorkshire, he had been always
+his first favourite. Each the children of untutored nature, honest and
+open alike in their words and their dealings, their characters and their
+propensities were nearly the same, though Sir Hugh, more self-formed,
+had a language and manner of his own; and Mr. Westwyn, of a temper less
+equal and less gentle, gave way, as they arose, to such angry passions
+as the indulgent Baronet never felt.
+
+'My dear friend,' said Mr. Westwyn, 'you don't take much notice of my
+Hal, though, I'll give you my word, you won't see such another young
+fellow every day. However, it's as well not, before his face, for it
+might only make him think himself somebody: and that, while I am alive,
+I don't intend he should do. I can't bear a young fellow not dutiful.
+I've always a bad opinion of him. I can't say he pleases me.'
+
+'My dear Westwyn,' answered the Baronet, 'I've no doubt but what master
+Hal is very good, for which I am truly glad. But as to much
+over-rejoicing, now, upon the score of young boys, it's what I can't do,
+seeing they've turned out so ill, one after another, as far as I have
+had to do with them; for which, however, I hope I bear 'em no malice.
+They've enough to answer for without that, which, I hope, they'll think
+of in time.'
+
+'Why to be sure, Sir Hugh, if you set about thinking of a young fellow
+by the pattern of my friend Clermont, I can't say I'm much surprised you
+don't care to give him a good word; I can't say I am. I am pretty much
+of the same way of thinking. I love to speak the truth.' He then took
+Mr. Tyrold apart, and ran on with a history of all he had gathered,
+while at Leipsic, of the conduct and way of life of Clermont Lynmere.
+'He was a disgrace,' said he, 'even to the English name, as a Professor
+told me, that I can't remember the name of, it's so prodigious long;
+but, if it had not been for my son, he told me, they'd have thought all
+the English young fellows good for nothing, except extravagance, and
+eating and drinking! "They'd all round have got an ill name," says he,
+"if it had not been for your son," were his words which I shall never
+forget. I sent him over a noble pipe of Madeira, which I'd just got for
+myself, as soon as I came home. I took to him very much, I can't say but
+I did; he was a very good man; he had prodigiously the look of an
+Englishman. He said Hal was an ornament to the university. I took it
+very well of him. I wish he had not such a hard name. I can never call
+it to mind. I hate a hard name. I can never speak it without a blunder.'
+
+Sir Hugh now, who had been talking with Henry, called upon Mr. Westwyn,
+to beg his pardon for not speaking of him more respectfully, saying: 'I
+see he's quite agreeable, which I should have noticed from the first,
+only being what I did not know; which I hope is my excuse; my head, my
+dear friend, not getting on much, in point of quickness: though I can't
+say it's for want of pains, since you and I used to live so much
+together; but to no great end, for I always find myself in the back,
+however it happens: which your son, Master Hal, is, I see, quite the
+contrary.'
+
+Mr. Westwyn was so much gratified by this praise, that he immediately
+confessed the scheme and wish he had formed of marrying Hal to Camilla,
+only for her not approving it. Sir Hugh protested nothing could give him
+more pleasure than such a connexion, and significantly added, he had
+other nieces, besides Camilla.
+
+'Why, yes,' said Mr. Westwyn, 'and I can't keep from looking at 'em; I
+like 'em all mightily. I'm a great friend to taking from a good stock. I
+chuse to know what I'm about. That girl at Southampton hit my fancy
+prodigiously. But I'm not for the beauty. A beauty won't make a good
+wife. It takes her too much time to put her cap on. That little one,
+there, with the hump, which I don't mind, nor the limp, neither, I like
+vastly. But I'm afraid Hal won't take to her. A young man don't much
+fancy an ugly girl. He's always hankering after something pretty.
+There's that other indeed, Miss Lavinia, is as handsome a girl as I'd
+wish to see. And she seems as good, too. However, I'm not for judging
+all by the eye. I'm past that. An old man should not play the fool.
+Which I wish somebody would whisper to a certain Lord that I know of,
+that don't behave quite to my mind. I'm not fond of an old fool: nor a
+young one neither. They make me sick.'
+
+Sir Hugh heard and agreed to all this, with the same simplicity with
+which it was spoken; and, soon after, Yorkshire becoming their theme,
+Mr. Tyrold had the pleasure of seeing his brother so much re-animated by
+the revival of old scenes, ideas, and connexions, that he heartily
+joined in pressing the Mr. Westwyns to spend a fortnight at Cleves, to
+which they consented with pleasure.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_A Bride's Resolves_
+
+
+With every allowance for a grief in which so deeply he shared, Mr.
+Tyrold felt nearly bowed down with sorrow, when he observed his own
+tenderness abate of its power to console, and his exhortations of their
+influence with his miserable daughter, whose complicated afflictions
+seemed desperate to herself, and to him nearly hopeless.
+
+He now began to fear the rigid oeconomy and retirement of their
+present lives might add secret disgust or fatigue to the disappointment
+of her heart. He sighed at an idea so little in unison with all that had
+hitherto appeared of her disposition; yet remembered she was very young
+and very lively, and thought that, if caught by a love of gayer scenes
+than Etherington afforded, she was at a season of life which brings its
+own excuse for such venial ambition.
+
+He mentioned, therefore, with great kindness, their exclusion from all
+society, and proposed making an application to Mrs. Needham, a lady high
+in the esteem of Mrs. Tyrold, to have the goodness to take the charge of
+carrying them a little into the world, during the absence of their
+mother. 'I can neither exact nor desire,' he said, 'to sequester you
+from all amusement for a term so utterly indefinite as that of her
+restoration; since it is now more than ever desirable to regain the
+favour of your uncle Relvil for Lionel, who has resisted every
+profession for which I have sought to prepare him; though his idle and
+licentious courses so little fit him for contentment with the small
+patrimony he will one day inherit.'
+
+The sisters mutually and sincerely declined this proposition; Lavinia
+had too much employment to find time ever slow of passage; and Camilla,
+joined to the want of all spirit for recreation, had a dread of
+appearing in the county, lest she should meet with Sir Sedley Clarendel,
+whose two hundred pounds were amongst the evils ever present to her. The
+money which Eugenia meant to save for this account had all been given to
+Lionel; and now her marriage was at an end, and no particular sum
+expected, she must be very long in replacing it; especially as Jacob was
+first to be considered; though he had kindly protested he was in no
+haste to be paid.
+
+Mr. Tyrold was not sorry to have his proposition declined; yet saw the
+sadness of Camilla unabated, and suggested, for a transient diversity, a
+visit to the Grove; enquiring why an acquaintance begun with so much
+warmth and pleasure, seemed thus utterly relinquished. Camilla had
+herself thought with shame of her apparently ungrateful neglect of Mrs.
+Arlbery; but the five guineas she had borrowed, and forgotten to pay,
+while she might yet have asked them of Sir Hugh, and which now she had
+no ability any where to raise, made the idea of meeting with her
+painful. And thus, overwhelmed with regret and repentance for all
+around, her spirits gone, and her heart sunk, she desired never more,
+except for Cleves, to stir from Etherington.
+
+Had he seen the least symptom of her revival, Mr. Tyrold would have been
+gratified by her strengthened love of home; but this was far from being
+the case; and, upon the marriage of Miss Dennel, which was now
+celebrated, he was glad of an opportunity to force her abroad, from the
+necessity of making a congratulatory visit to the bride's aunt, Mrs.
+Arlbery.
+
+The chariot, therefore, of Sir Hugh being borrowed, she was compelled
+into this exertion; which was ill repaid by her reception from Mrs.
+Arlbery, who, hurt as well as offended by her long absence and total
+silence, wore an air of the most chilling coldness. Camilla felt sorry
+and ashamed; but too much disturbed to attempt any palliation for her
+non-appearance, and remissness of even a note or message.
+
+The room was full of morning visitors, all collected for the same
+complimentary purpose; but she was relieved with respect to her fears of
+Sir Sedley Clarendel, in hearing of his tour to the Hebrides.
+
+Her mournful countenance soon, however, dispersed the anger of Mrs.
+Arlbery. 'What,' cried she, 'has befallen you, my fair friend? if you
+are not immeasurably unhappy, you are very seriously ill.'
+
+'Yes,--no,--my spirits--have not been good--' answered she,
+stammering;--'but yours may, perhaps, assist to restore them.'
+
+The composition of Mrs. Arlbery had no particle of either malice or
+vengeance; she now threw off, therefore, all reserve, and taking her by
+the hand, said: 'shall I keep you to spend the day with me? Yes, or no?
+Peace or war?'
+
+And without waiting for an answer, she sent back the chariot, and a
+message to Mr. Tyrold, that she would carry home his daughter in the
+evening.
+
+'And now, my faithless Fair,' cried she, as soon as they were alone,
+'tell me what has led you to this abominable fickleness? with me, I
+mean! If you had grown tired of any body else, I should have thought
+nothing so natural. But you know, I suppose, that the same thing we
+philosophise into an admirable good joke for our neighbours, we moralise
+into a crime against ourselves.'
+
+'I thought,' said Camilla, attempting to smile, 'none but country
+cousins ever made apologies?'
+
+'Nay, now, I must forgive you without one word more!' answered Mrs.
+Arlbery, laughing, and shaking hands with her; 'a happy citation of one
+_bon mot_, is worth any ten offences. So, you see, you have nine to
+commit, in store, clear of all damages. But the pleasure of finding one
+has not said a good thing only for once, thence to be forgotten and die
+away in the winds, is far greater than you can yet awhile conceive. In
+the first pride of youth and beauty, our attention is all upon how we
+are looked at. But when those begin to be somewhat on the wane--when
+that barbarous time comes into play, which revenges upon poor miserable
+woman all the airs she has been playing upon silly man--our ambition,
+then, is how we are listened to. So now, cutting short reproach and
+excuse, and all the wearying round of explanation, tell me a little of
+your history since we last met.'
+
+This was the last thing Camilla meant to undertake: but she began, in a
+hesitating manner, to speak of her little debt. Mrs. Arlbery, eagerly
+interrupting her, insisted it should not be mentioned; adding: 'I go on
+vastly well again; I am breaking in two ponies, and building a new
+phaeton; and I shall soon pay for both, without the smallest
+inconvenience,--except just pinching my servants, and starving my
+visitors. But tell me something of your adventures. You are not half so
+communicative as Rumour, which has given me a thousand details of you,
+and married you and your whole set to at least half a dozen men a piece,
+since you were last at the Grove. Amongst others, it asserts, that my
+old Lord Valhurst was seriously at your feet? That prating Mrs. Mittin,
+who fastened upon my poor little niece at Tunbridge, and who is now her
+factotum, pretends that my lord's own servants spoke of it publicly at
+Mrs. Berlinton's.'
+
+This was a fact that, being thus divulged, a very few questions made
+impossible to deny; though Camilla was highly superior to the indelicacy
+and ingratitude of repaying the preference of any gentleman by
+publishing his rejection.
+
+'And what in the world, my dear child,' said Mrs. Arlbery, 'could
+provoke you to so wild an action as refusing him?'
+
+'Good Heaven, Mrs. Arlbery!'
+
+'O, what--you were not in love with him? I believe not!--but if he was
+in love with you, take my word for it, that would have done quite as
+well. 'Tis such a little while that same love lasts, even when it is
+begun with, that you have but a few months to lose, to be exactly upon a
+par with those who set out with all the quivers of Cupid, darting from
+heart to heart. He has still fortune enough left for a handsome
+settlement; you can't help outliving him, and then, think but how
+delectable would be your situation! Freedom, money at will, the choice
+of your own friends, and the enjoyment of your own humour!'
+
+'You would but try me, my dear Mrs. Arlbery; for you cannot, I'm sure,
+believe me capable of making so solemn an engagement for such mercenary
+hopes, and selfish purposes.'
+
+'This is all the romance of false reasoning. You have not sought the
+man, but the man you. You would not have solicited his acceptance, but
+yielded to his solicitation of yours. The balance is always just, where
+force is not used. The man has his reasons for chusing you; you have
+your reasons for suffering yourself to be chosen. What his are, you have
+no business to enquire; nor has he the smallest right to investigate
+yours.'
+
+This was by no means the style in which Camilla had been brought up to
+think of marriage; and Mrs. Arlbery presently added: 'You are grave? yet
+I speak but as a being of the world I live in: though I address one that
+knows nothing about it. Tell me, however, a little more of your affairs.
+What are all these marriages and no marriages, our neighbourhood is so
+busy in making and unmaking?'
+
+Camilla returned the most brief and quiet answers in her power; but was
+too late to save the delicacy of Eugenia in concealing her late double
+disappointments, the abortive preparations of Sir Hugh having travelled
+through all the adjoining country. 'Poor little dear ugly thing!' cried
+Mrs. Arlbery, 'she must certainly go off with her footman;--unless,
+indeed, that good old pedant, who teaches her that vast quantity of
+stuff she will have to unlearn, when once she goes a little about, will
+take compassion upon her and her thousands, and put them both into his
+own pockets.'
+
+This raillery was painful nearly to disgust to Camilla; who frankly
+declared she saw her sister with no eyes but those of respect and
+affection, and could not endure to hear her mentioned in so ridiculous a
+manner.
+
+'Never judge the heart of a wit,' answered she, laughing, 'by the
+tongue! We have often as good hearts, ay, and as much good nature, too,
+as the careful prosers who utter nothing but what is right, or the heavy
+thinkers who have too little fancy to say anything that is wrong. But we
+have a pleasure in our own rattle that cruelly runs away with our
+discretion.'
+
+She then more seriously apologized for what she had said, and declared
+herself an unaffected admirer of all she had heard of the good qualities
+of Eugenia.
+
+Other subjects were then taken up, till they were interrupted by a visit
+from the young bride, Mrs. Lissin.
+
+Jumping into the room, 'I'm just run away,' she cried, 'without saying a
+word to any body! I ordered my coach myself, and told my own footman to
+whisper me when it came, that I might get off, without saying a word of
+the matter. Dear! how they'll all stare when they miss me! I hope
+they'll be frightened!'
+
+'And why so, you little chit? why do you want to make them uneasy?'
+
+'O! I don't mind! I'm so glad to have my own way, I don't care for
+anything else. Dear, how do you do, Miss Camilla Tyrold? I wonder you
+have not been to see me! I had a great mind to have invited you to have
+been one of my bride's maids. But papa was so monstrous cross, he would
+not let me do hardly any thing I liked. I was never so glad in my life
+as when I went out of the house to be married! I'll never ask him about
+any one thing as long as I live again. I'll always do just what I
+chuse.'
+
+'And you are quite sure Mr. Lissin will never interfere with that
+resolution?'
+
+'O, I sha'n't let him! I dare say he would else. That's one reason I
+came out so, just now, on purpose to let him see I was my own mistress.
+And I told my coachman, and my own footman, and my maid, all three, that
+if they said one word, I'd turn 'em all away. For I intend always to
+turn 'em away when I don't like 'em. I shall never say anything to Mr.
+Lissin first, for fear of his meddling. I'm quite determined I won't be
+crossed any more, now I've servants of my own. I'm sure I've been
+crossed long enough.'
+
+Then, turning to Camilla, 'Dear,' she cried, 'how grave you look! Dear,
+I wonder you don't marry too! When I ordered my coach, just now, I was
+ready to cry for joy, to think of not having to ask papa about it. And
+to-day, at breakfast, I dare say I rung twenty times, for one thing or
+another. As fast as ever I could think of any thing, I went to ringing
+again. For when I was at papa's, every time I rang the bell, he always
+asked me what I wanted. Only think of keeping one under so!'
+
+'And what in the world said Mr. Lissin to so prodigious an uproar?'
+
+'O, he stared like any thing. But he could not say much: I intend to use
+him to it from the first, that he may never plague me, like papa, with
+asking me what's the reason for every thing. If I don't like the dinner
+to-day, I'll order a new one, to be dressed for me on purpose. And Mr.
+Lissin, and papa, and Mrs. Mittin, and the rest of 'em, may eat the old
+one. Papa never let me order the dinner at home; he always would know
+what there was himself, and have what he chose. I'm resolved I'll have
+every thing I like best, now, every day. I could not get at the cook
+alone this morning, because so many of 'em were in the way; though I
+rung for her a dozen times. But to-morrow, I'll tell her of some things
+I intend to have the whole year through; in particular, currant tarts,
+and minced veal, and mashed potatoes. I've been determined upon that
+these three years, for against I was married.'
+
+Then, taking Camilla by the hand, she begged she would accompany her to
+next room, saying, 'Pray excuse me, Aunt Arlbery, because I want to talk
+to Miss Tyrold about a secret.'
+
+When they came to another apartment, after carefully shutting the door,
+'Only think,' she cried, 'Miss Camilla Tyrold, of my marrying Mr. Lissin
+at last! Pray did you ever suspect it? I'm sure I did not. When papa
+told me of it, you can't think how I was surprised. I always thought it
+would have been Colonel Andover, or Mr. Macdersey, or else Mr. Summers;
+unless it had been Mr. Wiggan; or else your brother; but Mr. Lissin
+never once came into my head, because of his being so old. I dare say
+he's seven and twenty! only think!--But I believe he and papa had
+settled it all along, only papa never told it me, till just before hand.
+I don't like him much; do you?'
+
+'I have not the pleasure to know him: but I hope you will endeavour to
+like him better, now.'
+
+'I don't much care whether I do or not, for I shall never mind him. I
+always determined never to mind a husband. One minds one's papa because
+one can't help it: But only think of my being married before you! though
+you're seventeen years old--almost eighteen, I dare say--and I'm only
+just fifteen. I could not help thinking of it all the time I was
+dressing for a bride. You can't think how pretty my dress was. Papa made
+Mrs. Mittin buy it, because, he said, she could get every thing so
+cheap: but I made her get it the dearest she could, for all that. Papa's
+monstrous stingy.'
+
+This secret conference was broken up by a violent ringing at the gate,
+succeeded by the appearance of Mr. Lissin, who, without any ceremony,
+opened the door of the chamber into which the ladies had retired.
+
+'So, ma'am!' said he, visibly very angry, 'I have the pleasure at last
+to find you! dinner has waited till it is spoilt, and I hope, therefore,
+now, you will do us the favour to come and sit at the head of your
+table.'
+
+She looked frightened, and he took her hand, which she had not courage
+to draw back, though in a voice that spoke a sob near at hand, 'I'm
+sure,' she cried, 'this is not being treated like a married woman! and
+I'm sure if I'd known I might not do as I like, and come out when I'd a
+mind, I would not have married at all!'
+
+Mr. Lissin, with little or no apology to Mrs. Arlbery, then conveyed his
+fair bride to her coach.
+
+'Poor simple girl!' exclaimed Mrs. Arlbery. 'Mr. Lissin, who is a
+country squire of Northwick, will soon teach her another lesson, than
+that of ordering her carriage just at dinner time! The poor child took
+it into her head that, because, upon marrying, she might say, "my
+house," "my coach," and "my servants," instead of "my papa's;" and ring
+her bell for [whom] she pleased, and give her own orders, that she was
+to arrive at complete liberty and independence, and that her husband had
+merely to give her his name, and lodge in the same dwelling: and she
+will regard him soon, as a tyrant and a brute, for not letting her play
+all day long the part of a wild school girl, just come home for the
+holidays.'
+
+The rest of the visit passed without further investigation on the part
+of Mrs. Arlbery, or embarrassment on that of Camilla; who found again
+some little pleasure in the conversation which, at first, had so much
+charmed, and the kindness which even her apparent neglect had not
+extinguished.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, in two days, claimed her again. Mr. Tyrold would not
+permit her to send an excuse, and she found that lady more kindly
+disposed to her than ever; but with an undisguised compassion and
+concern in her countenance and manner. She had now learnt that Edgar was
+gone abroad; and she had learnt that Camilla had private debts, to the
+amount of one hundred and eighteen pounds.
+
+The shock of Camilla, when spoken to upon this subject, was terrible.
+She soon gathered, she had been betrayed by Mrs. Mittin, who, though she
+had made the communication as a profound secret to Mrs. Arlbery, with
+whom she had met at Mrs. Lissin's, there was every reason to suppose
+would whisper it, in the same manner, to an hundred persons besides.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery, seeing her just uneasiness, promised, in this particular,
+to obviate it herself, by a conference with Mrs. Mittin, in which she
+would represent, that her own ruin would be the consequence of divulging
+this affair, from the general opinion which would prevail, that she had
+seduced a young lady under age, to having dealings with a usurer.
+
+Camilla, deeply colouring, accepted her kind offer; but was forced upon
+a confession of the transaction; though with a shame for her trust in
+such a character as Mrs. Mittin, that made her deem the relation a
+penance almost adequate to its wrong.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_The Workings of Sorrow_
+
+
+The visit of the Westwyns to Sir Hugh shewed Lavinia in so favourable a
+light, that nothing less than the strong prepossession already conceived
+for Camilla could have guarded the heart of the son, or the wishes of
+the father, from the complete captivation of her modest beauty, her
+intrinsic worth, and the cheerful alacrity, and virtuous self-denial,
+with which she presided in the new oeconomy of the rectory. But though
+the utter demolition of hope played with Henry its usual part of
+demolishing, also, half the fervour of admiration, he still felt, in
+consequence of his late failure, a distaste of any similar attempt: and
+Mr. Westwyn, unbribed by the high praise of his son, which had won him
+in Camilla, left him master of his choice. Each, however, found a
+delight in the Tyrold society, that seconded the wishes of the Baronet
+to make them lengthen their visit.
+
+The retrenchments, by which the debts of Clermont were to be paid,
+could no longer, nevertheless, be deferred; and Mr. Tyrold was just
+setting out for Cleves, to give his counsel for their arrangement, when
+his daughters were broken in upon by Mrs. Mittin.
+
+Camilla could scarcely look at her, for displeasure at her conduct; but
+soon observed she seemed herself full of resentment and ill humour. She
+desired a private interview; and Camilla then found, that Mrs. Arlbery
+had not only represented her fault, and frightened her with its
+consequences, but occasioned, though most undesignedly, new disturbances
+and new dangers to herself: for Mrs. Mittin at length learnt, in this
+conference, with equal certainty, surprise, and provocation, that the
+inheritance of Sir Hugh was positively and entirely settled upon his
+youngest niece; and that the denials of all expectation on the part of
+Camilla, which she had always taken for closeness, conveyed but the
+simple truth. Alarmed lest she should incur the anger of Mr. Clykes, who
+was amongst her most useful friends, she had written him word of the
+discovery, with her concern at the mistake: and Mr. Clykes, judging now
+he had no chance of the gratuity finally promised for _honour_ and
+_secrecy_, and even that his principal was in danger, had sent an
+enraged answer, with an imperious declaration, that he must either
+immediately be repaid all he had laid out, or receive some security for
+its being refunded, of higher value than the note of a minor of no
+fortune nor expectations.
+
+Mrs. Mittin protested she did not know which way to turn, she was so
+sorry to have disobliged so good a friend; and broke forth into a
+vehement invective against Mr. Dubster, for pretending he knew the truth
+from young Squire Tyrold himself.
+
+Long as was her lamentation, and satisfied as she always felt to hear
+her own voice, her pause still came too soon for any reply from Camilla,
+who now felt the discovery of her situation to be inevitable,
+compulsatory and disgraceful. Self-upbraidings that she had ever
+listened to such an expedient, assailed her with the cruellest
+poignancy, mingling almost self-detestation with utter despair.
+
+In vain Mrs. Mittin pressed for some satisfaction; she was mute from
+inability to devise any; till the coachman of Mr. Lissin sent word he
+could wait no longer. She then, in a broken voice, said, 'Be so good as
+to write to Mr. Clykes, that if he will have the patience to wait a few
+days, I will prepare my friends to settle my accounts with him.'
+
+Mrs. Mittin then, recovering from her own fright in this business,
+answered, 'O, if that's the case, my dear young lady, pray don't be
+uneasy, for it grieves me to vex you; and I'll promise you I'll coax my
+good friend to wait such a matter as that; for he's a vast regard for
+me; he'll do any thing I ask him, I know.'
+
+She now went away; and Lavinia, who ran to her sister, found her in a
+state of distress, that melted her gentle heart to behold: but when she
+gathered what had passed, 'This disclosure, my dearest Camilla,' she
+cried, 'can never be so tremendous as the incessant fear of its
+discovery. Think of that, I conjure you! and endeavour to bear the one
+great shock, that will lead to after peace and ease.'
+
+'No, my dear sister, peace and ease are no more for me!--My happiness
+was already buried;--and now, all that remained of consolation will be
+cut off also, in the lost good opinion of my father and mother!--that
+destroyed--and Edgar gone--what is life to me?--I barely exist!'
+
+'And is it possible you can even a moment doubt their forgiveness? dear
+as you are to them, cherished, beloved!--'
+
+'No--not their forgiveness--but their esteem, their confidence, their
+pleasure in their daughter will all end!--think, Lavinia, of my
+mother!--when she finds I, too, have contributed to the distress and
+disturbance of my father--that on my account, too, his small income is
+again straitened, his few gratifications are diminished--O Lavinia! how
+has she strove to guard her poor tottering girl from evil! And how has
+her fondness been always the pride of my life! What a conclusion is this
+to her cares! what a reward to all the goodness of my father!'
+
+In this state of desperate wretchedness, she was still incapable to make
+the avowal which was now become indispensable, and which must require
+another loan from the store her father held so sacred. Lavinia had even
+less courage; and they determined to apply to Eugenia, who, though as
+softly feeling as either, mingled in her character a sort of heroic
+philosophy, that enabled her to execute and to endure the hardest tasks,
+where she thought them the demand of virtue. They resolved, therefore,
+the next morning, to send a note to Cleves for the carriage, and to
+commit the affair to this inexperienced and youthful female sage.
+
+Far from running, as she was wont, to meet her father upon his entrance,
+Camilla was twice sent for before she could gain strength to appear in
+his presence; nor could his utmost kindness enable her to look up.
+
+The heart of Mr. Tyrold was penetrated by her avoidance, and yet more
+sunk by her sight. His best hopes were all defeated of affording her
+parental comfort, and he was still to seek for her revival or support.
+
+He related what had passed at Cleves, with the accustomed openness with
+which he conversed with his children as his friends. Clermont, he said,
+was arrived, and had authenticated all the accounts, with so little of
+either shame or sense, that a character less determined upon indulgence
+than that of Sir Hugh, must have revolted from affording him succour, if
+merely to mortify him into repentance. The manner of making payment,
+however, had been the difficult discussion of the whole day. Sir Hugh
+was unequal to performing any thing, though ready to consent to every
+thing. When he proposed the sale of several of his numerous horses, he
+objected, that what remained would be hard worked: when he mentioned
+diminishing his table, he was afraid the poor would take it ill, as they
+were used to have his orts: and when he talked of discharging some of
+his servants, he was sure they would think it very unkind. 'His heart,'
+continued Mr. Tyrold, 'is so bountiful, and so full of kindness, that he
+pleads his tender feelings, and regretting wishes, against the sound
+reason of hard necessity. What is right, however, must only in itself
+seek what is pleasant; and there, when it ceases to look more abroad, it
+is sure to find it.'
+
+He stopt, hearing a deep sigh from Camilla, who secretly ejaculated a
+prayer that this sentence might live, henceforward, in her memory. He
+divined the wish, which devoutly he echoed, and continued:
+
+'There is so little, in fine, that he could bear to relinquish, that,
+with my utmost efforts, I could not calculate any retrenchment, to which
+he will agree, at more than an hundred a year. Yet his scruples
+concerning his vow resist all the entreaties of our disinterested
+Eugenia, to either sell out for the sum, or cut down any trees in
+Yorkshire. These difficulties, too potent for his weak frame, were again
+sinking him into that despondence which we should all sedulously guard
+against, as the most prevailing of foes to active virtue, when, to
+relieve him, I made a proposal which my dear girls will both, I trust,
+find peculiar pleasure in seconding.'
+
+Camilla had already [attempted] to raise her drooping head, conscience
+struck at what was said of despondence; and now endeavoured to join in
+the cheerful confidence expressed by Lavinia, that he could not be
+mistaken.
+
+'The little hoard, into which already we have broken for Lionel,' he
+went on, 'I have offered to lend him for present payment, as far as it
+will go, and to receive it again at stated periods. In the mean while, I
+shall accept from him the same interest as from the bank. For this I am
+to have also security. I run no risk of the little all I have to leave
+to my two girls.'
+
+He now looked at them both, expecting to see pleasure even in Camilla,
+that what was destined, hereafter, for herself, could prove of the
+smallest utility to Sir Hugh; but his disappointment, and her shock were
+equal. Too true for the most transitory disguise, the keenest anguish
+shot from her eye; and Mr. Tyrold, amazed, said: 'Is it Camilla who
+would draw back from any service to her uncle?'
+
+'Ah no!' cried she, with clasped hands, 'I would die to do him any good!
+and O!--that my death at this moment----'
+
+She stopt, affrighted, for Mr. Tyrold frowned. A frown upon a face so
+constantly benign, was new, was awful to her; but she instantly
+recollected his condemnation of wishes so desperate, and fearfully
+taking his hand, besought his forgiveness.
+
+His brow instantly resumed its serenity. 'I have nothing,' said he, 'my
+dearest child, to forgive, from the moment you recollect yourself. But
+try, for your own sake, to keep in mind, that the current sorrows,
+however acute, of current life, are but uselessly aggravated by vain
+wishes for death. The smallest kind office better proves affection than
+any words, however elevated.'
+
+The conference here broke up; something incomprehensible seemed to Mr.
+Tyrold to be blended with the grief of Camilla; and though from her
+birth she had manifested, by every opportunity, the most liberal
+disregard of wealth, the something not to be understood seemed always to
+have money for its object. What this might be, he now fervently wished
+to explore; yet still hoped, by patient kindness, to receive her
+confidence voluntarily.
+
+Camilla now was half dead; Lavinia could with difficulty sustain, but by
+no possible means revive her. What a period was this to disclose to her
+Father that she must deprive him, in part, even of his promised solace
+in his intended assistance to his brother, to satisfy debts of which he
+suspected not the existence!
+
+When forced down stairs, by a summons to supper, Mr. Tyrold, to console
+her for his momentary displeasure, redoubled his caresses; but his
+tenderness only made her weep yet more bitterly, and he looked at her
+with a heart rent with anguish. For Lavinia, for Eugenia, he would have
+felt similar grief; but their far less gay, though equally innocent
+natures, would have made the view of their affliction less strikingly
+oppressive. Camilla had, hitherto, seemed in the spring of joy yet more
+than of life. Anxiety flew at her approach, and animation took its
+place. Nothing could shake his resignation; yet to behold her constant
+sadness, severely tried his fortitude. To see tears trickling
+incessantly down the pale cheeks so lately blooming; to see her youthful
+countenance wear the haggard expression of care; to see life, in its
+wish and purposes seem at an end, 'ere, in its ordinary calculation, it
+was reckoned to have begun, drew him from every other consideration, and
+filled his whole mind with monopolizing apprehension.
+
+He now himself pressed her, for change of scene, to accept an invitation
+she had received from Mrs. Berlinton to Grosvenor Square, whither
+Indiana was going in a few days, to spend a fortnight or three weeks
+before her marriage. But she declined the excursion, as not more
+unseasonable in its expence, than ungenial to her feelings.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The following morning, while they were at their melancholy breakfast, a
+letter arrived from Lisbon, which Mr. Tyrold read with visible
+disturbance, exclaiming, from time to time, 'Lionel, thou art indeed
+punished!'
+
+The sisters were equally alarmed, but Lavinia alone could make any
+enquiry.
+
+Mr. Tyrold then informed them, their uncle Relvil had just acknowledged
+to their Mother, that he could no longer, in justice, conceal that,
+previously to his quitting England, he had privately married his
+house-keeper, to induce her to accompany him in his voyage: and that,
+during his first wrath upon the detection of Lionel, he had disinherited
+him in favour of a little boy of her own, by a former marriage, whom
+they had brought with them to Lisbon.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, though it had been his constant study to bring up his
+children without any reference to their rich uncles, had never
+internally doubted, but that the bachelor brother of Mrs. Tyrold would
+leave his fortune to the son of his only sister, who was his sole near
+relation. And Lionel, he knew, in defiance of his admonitions, had built
+upon it himself, rather as a certainty than a hope. 'He will now see,'
+said Mr. Tyrold, 'his presumption, and feel, by what he suffers, what he
+has earned. Yet culpable as he has been, he is now, also, unfortunate;
+and where crimes are followed by punishment, it is not for mortal man to
+harbour unabating resentment. I will write a few lines of comfort to
+him.'
+
+Camilla, in this concession, experienced all she could feel of
+satisfaction; but the short sensation died away at the last words of the
+letter of her Mother, which Mr. Tyrold read aloud.
+
+'You, I well know, will immediately in this evil, find for yourself, and
+impart to our children, something of instruction, if not of comfort.
+Shall I recollect this without emulation? No, I will bear up from this
+stroke, which, at least, permits my return to Etherington; where, in the
+bosom of my dear family, and supported by its honoured chief, I will
+forget my voyage, my painful absence, and my disappointment, in
+exertions of practical oeconomy, strict, but not rigid, which our good
+children will vie with each other to adopt: sedulous, all around, to
+shew in what we can most forbear. I hope almost immediately to claim my
+share in these labours, which such motives will make light, and such
+companions render precious.'
+
+In agony past repression at these words, Camilla glided out of the room.
+The return of her Mother was now horrour to her, not joy; her shattered
+nerves could not bear the interview, while under a cloud threatening to
+burst in such a storm; and she entreated Lavinia to tell her Father that
+she accepted his proposal for going to Mrs. Berlinton's; 'and there,'
+she cried, 'Lavinia, I will wait, till Eugenia has told the dreadful
+history that thus humbles me to the dust!'
+
+Lavinia was too timid to oppose reason to this suffering; and Mr.
+Tyrold, already cruelly apprehensive the obscurity of their recluse
+lives contributed to her depression, and believing she compared her
+present privations to the lost elegancies of Beech Park, sighed
+heavily, yet said he was glad she would remove from a spot in which
+reminiscence was so painful. This was not, indeed, he added, the period
+he should have selected for her visiting the capital, or residing at
+Mrs. Berlinton's; but she was too much touched by the state of her
+family, not to be guarded in her expences; and the pressure of her even
+augmenting sadness, was heavier upon his mind than any other alarm.
+
+The conscience-struck Camilla could make no profession, no promise; nor
+yet, though ardently wishing it, refuse his offered advance of her next
+quarter's allowance, lest she should be reduced again to the necessity
+of borrowing.
+
+This step once decided, brought with it something like a gloomy
+composure. 'I shall avoid,' she cried, 'at least, with my Mother, these
+killing caresses of deluded kindness that break my heart with my Father.
+She, too, would soon discover there was something darker in my sadness
+than even grief! She would be sure that even my exquisite loss could not
+render me ungrateful to all condolement; she would know that a daughter
+whom she had herself reared and instructed, would blush so unceasingly
+to publish any personal disappointment, let her feel it how she might. O
+my loved Mother! how did the delight of knowing your kind expectations
+keep me, while under your guidance in the way I ought to go! O Mother of
+my heart! what a grievous disappointment awaits your sad return! To
+find, at the first opening of your virtuous schemes of general
+saving--that I, as well as Lionel, have involved my family in
+debts--that I, as well as Clermont, have committed them clandestinely to
+a usurer!'
+
+Lavinia undertook to give Eugenia proper instructions for her
+commission; but news arrived, the next day, that Sir Hugh would take no
+denial to Eugenia's being herself of the party. This added not, however,
+to the courage of Camilla for staying, and her next determination was to
+reveal the whole by letter.
+
+Mr. Tyrold would not send her to Cleves to take leave, that her uncle
+might not be tempted to exercise his wonted, but now no longer
+convenient generosity, nor yet be exposed to the pain of withholding it.
+'You will go, now, my dear girl,' he said, 'in your pristine simplicity,
+and what can so every way become you? It is not for a scheme of
+pleasure, but for a stimulus to mental exertion, I part with you. When
+you return, your excellent Mother will aid your task, and reward its
+labour. Remember but, while in your own hands, that open oeconomy,
+springing from discretion, is always respected. It is false shame alone
+that begets ridicule.'
+
+Weeping and silent she heard him, and his fears gained ground that her
+disappointment, joined to a view of gayer life, had robbed Etherington
+of all charms to her. Bitterly he regretted he had ever suffered her to
+leave his roof, though he would not now force her stay. Compulsion could
+only detain her person; and might heighten the disgust of her mind.
+
+The little time which remained was given wholly to packing and
+preparing; and continued employment hid from Mr. Tyrold her emotion,
+which encreased every moment, till the carriage of Sir Hugh stopt at the
+gate. Lost, then, to all sensation, but the horrour of the avowal that
+must intervene 'ere they met again, with incertitude if again he would
+see her with the same kindness, she flew into his arms, rather agonised
+than affectionate; kissed his hands with fervour, kissed every separate
+finger, rested upon his shoulder, hid her face in his bosom, caught and
+pressed to her lips even the flaps of his coat, and scarce restrained
+herself from bending to kiss his feet; yet without uttering a word,
+without even shedding a tear.
+
+Strangely surprised, and deeply affected, Mr. Tyrold, straining her to
+his breast, said: 'Why, my dear child, why, my dearest Camilla, if thus
+agitated by our parting, do you leave me?'
+
+This question brought her to recollection, by the impossibility she
+found to answer it; she tore herself, therefore, away from him, embraced
+Lavinia, and hurried into the coach.
+
+
+
+
+BOOK X
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+_A Surprise_
+
+
+Camilla strove to check her grief upon entering the carriage, in which
+Miss Margland had again the charge of the young party; but the
+interrogatory of her Father, _Why will you leave me?_ was mentally
+repeated without ceasing. Ah! why, indeed! thought she, at a moment when
+every filial duty called more than ever for my stay!--Well, might he not
+divine the unnatural reason! can I believe it myself?--Believe such an
+hour arrived?--when my Mother--the best of Mothers!--is expected--when
+she returns to her family, Camilla seeks another abode! is not this a
+dream? and may I not one day awake from it?
+
+Miss Margland was in the highest good humour at this expedition: and
+Indiana was still enraptured to visit London, from old expectations
+which she knew not how to relinquish; though they were fixed to no
+point, and as fantastic as vague. Eugenia, whose dejection had made Sir
+Hugh press her into the party, found nothing in it to revive her; and
+Camilla entered Grosvenor-square with keen dissatisfaction of every
+sort. The cautions of Edgar against Mrs. Berlinton broke into all the
+little relief she might have experienced upon again seeing her. She had
+meant to keep his final exhortations constantly in her mind, and to make
+all his opinions and counsels the rule and measure of her conduct: but a
+cruel perversity of events seemed to cast her every action into an
+apparent defiance of his wishes.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, who, in a mansion the most splendid, received her with
+the same gentle sweetness she had first sought her regard, was delighted
+by the unexpected sight of Eugenia, whose visit had been settled too
+late to be announced by letter; and caressed Indiana immediately as a
+sister. Miss Margland, who came but for two days, sought with much
+adulation to obtain an invitation for a longer stay; but Mrs. Berlinton,
+though all courtesy and grace, incommoded herself with no society that
+she did not find pleasing.
+
+Melmond, who had accompanied them on horseback, was eager to engage the
+kindness of his sister for Indiana; and Mrs. Berlinton, in compliment to
+her arrival, refused all parties for the evening, and bestowed upon her
+an almost undivided attention.
+
+This was not quite so pleasant to him in proof as in hope. Passionless,
+in this case, herself, the delusions of beauty deceived not her
+understanding; and half an hour sufficed to shew Indiana to be
+frivolous, uncultivated, and unmeaning. The perfection, nevertheless, of
+her face and person, obviated either wonder or censure of the choice of
+her brother; though she could not but regret that he had not seen with
+mental eyes the truly superior Eugenia.
+
+The wretched Camilla quitted them all as soon as possible, to retire to
+her chamber, and ruminate upon her purposed letter. She meant, at first,
+to write in detail; but her difficulties accumulated as she weighed
+them. 'What a season,' cried she, 'to sink Lionel still deeper in
+disgrace! What a treachery, after voluntarily assisting him, to complain
+of, and betray him! ah! let my own faults teach me mercy for the faults
+of others!' yet, without this acknowledgment, what exculpation could she
+offer for the origin of her debts? and all she had incurred at
+Tunbridge? those of Southampton she now thought every way unpardonable.
+Even were she to relate the vain hopes which had led to the expence of
+the ball dress, could she plead, to an understanding like that of her
+Mother, that she had been deceived and played upon by such a woman as
+Mrs. Mittin? 'I am astonished now myself,' she cried, 'at that passive
+facility!--but to me, alas, thought comes only with repentance!' The
+Higden debt, both for the rent and the stores, was the only one at which
+she did not blush, since, great as was her indiscretion, in not
+enquiring into her powers before she plighted her services, it would be
+palliated by her motive.
+
+Vainly she took up her pen; not even a line could she write. 'How
+enervating,' she cried, 'is all wrong! I have been, till now, a happy
+stranger to fear! Partially favoured, and fondly confiding, I have
+looked at my dear Father, I have met my beloved Mother, with the same
+courage, and the same pleasure that I looked at and met my brother and
+my sisters, and only with more reverence. How miserable a change! I
+shudder now at the presence of the most indulgent of Fathers! I fly
+with guilty cowardice from the fondest of Mothers!'
+
+Eugenia, when able, followed her; and had no sooner heard the whole
+history, than, tenderly embracing her, she said, 'Let not this distress
+seem so desperate to you, my dearest sister! your own account points out
+to me how to relieve it, without either betraying our poor Lionel, or
+further weighing down our already heavily burthened friends.'
+
+'And how, my dear Eugenia?' cried Camilla, with fearful gratitude, and
+involuntarily reviving by the most distant idea of such a project.
+
+By adopting, she said, the same means that had been invented by Mrs.
+Mittin. She had many valuable trinkets, the annual offerings of her
+munificent uncle, the sale of which would go far enough, she could not
+doubt, towards the payment of the principal, to induce the money-lender
+to accept interest for the rest, till the general affairs of their house
+were re-established; when what remained of the sum could be discharged,
+without difficulty, by herself; now no longer wanting money, nor capable
+of receiving any pleasure from it, but by the pleasure she might give.
+
+Camilla pressed her in her arms, almost kneeling with fond
+acknowledgments, and accepted, without hesitation, her generous offer.
+
+'All, then, is arranged,' said Eugenia, with a smile so benign it seemed
+nearly beautiful; 'and to friendship, and each other, we will devote our
+future days. My spirits will revive in the revival of Camilla. To see
+her again gay will be renovation to my uncle; and who knows, my dear
+sister, but our whole family may again be blest, 'ere long, with peace?'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+The next morning they sent off a note to the money-lender, whose
+direction Camilla had received from Mrs. Mittin, entreating his patience
+for a fortnight, or three weeks, when he would receive the greatest part
+of his money, with every species of acknowledgment.
+
+Camilla, much relieved, went to sit with Mrs. Berlinton, but on entering
+the dressing room, was struck by the sight of Bellamy, just quitting
+it.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, upon her appearance, with a look of soft rapture
+approaching her, said: 'Felicitate me, loveliest Camilla!--my friend, my
+chosen friend is restored to me, and the society for which so long I
+have sighed in vain, may be once more mine!'
+
+Camilla, startled, exclaimed with earnestness, 'My dearest Mrs.
+Berlinton, pardon me, I entreat--but is Mr. Bellamy known to Mr.
+Berlinton?'
+
+'No!' answered she, disdainfully; 'but he has been seen by him. Mr.
+Berlinton is a stranger to merit or taste; and Alphonso, to him, is but
+as any other man.'
+
+'They are, however, acquainted with each other?' said Camilla.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton answered, that, after her marriage, she remained three
+months in Wales with her aunt, where Bellamy was travelling to view the
+country, and where, almost immediately after that unhappy enthralment,
+she first knew him, and first learnt the soothing charms of friendship;
+but from that period they had met no more, though they had constantly
+corresponded.
+
+Camilla was now first sensible to all the alarm with which Edgar had
+hitherto striven to impress her in vain. The impropriety of such a
+connexion, the danger of such a partiality, filled her with wonder and
+disturbance. She hesitated whether to relate or not the adventure of
+Bellamy with her sister; but the strong repugnance of Eugenia to having
+it named, and the impossibility of proving the truth of the general
+opinion of his base scheme, decided her to silence. Upon the plans and
+the sentiments, however, of Mrs. Berlinton herself, she spared not the
+extremest sincerity; but she gained no ground by the contest, though she
+lost not any kindness by the attempt.
+
+At dinner, she felt extremely disturbed by the re-appearance of Bellamy,
+[who] alone, she found, had been excepted by Mrs. Berlinton, in the
+orders of general denial to company. He seemed, himself, much struck at
+the sight of Eugenia, who blushed and looked embarrassed by his
+presence. He did not, however, address her; he confined his attentions
+to Mrs. Berlinton, or Miss Margland.
+
+The former received them with distinguishing softness; the latter, at
+first, disdainfully repelled them, from the general belief at Cleves of
+his attempted elopement with Eugenia; but afterwards, finding she was
+left wholly to a person who had no resources for entertaining her,
+namely, herself,--and knowing Eugenia safe while immediately under her
+eye, she deigned to treat him with more consideration.
+
+The opera was proposed for the evening, Mrs. Berlinton, having both
+tickets and her box at the service of her fair friends, as the lady with
+whom she had subscribed was out of town. Indiana was enchanted, Miss
+Margland was elevated, and Eugenia not unwilling to seek some
+recreation, though hopeless of finding it. But Camilla, notwithstanding
+she was lightened, at this moment, from one of her most corrosive cares,
+was too entirely miserable for any species of amusement. The same strong
+feelings that gave to pleasure, when she was happy, so high a zest,
+rendered it nearly abhorrent to her, when grief had possession of her
+mind.
+
+After dinner, when the ladies retired to dress, Camilla, with some
+uneasiness, conjured Eugenia to avoid renewing any acquaintance with
+Bellamy.
+
+Eugenia blushing, while a tear started into either eye, said she was but
+too well guarded from Bellamy, through a late transaction; which had
+exalted her to a summit of happiness, from which she could never now
+descend to any new plan of life, beyond the single state and retirement.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+At night, the whole party went to the Opera, except Camilla, who, in
+spending the evening alone, meant to ruminate upon her affairs, and
+arrange her future conduct: but Edgar, his virtues, and his loss, took
+imperious possession of all her thoughts; and while she dwelt upon his
+honour, his sincerity, and his goodness, and traced, with cherished
+recollection, every scene in which she had been engaged with him, he and
+they recurred to her as visions of all earthly felicity.
+
+Awakened from these reveries, by the sound of the carriage, and the
+rapping at the street door, she was hastening down stairs to meet her
+sister, when she heard Melmond call out from the coach: 'Is Miss Eugenia
+Tyrold come home?'
+
+'No;' the man answered; and Melmond exclaimed; 'Good Heaven!--I must run
+then back to the theatre. Do not be alarmed, my Indiana, and do not
+alarm Miss Camilla, for I will not return without her.'
+
+They all entered but himself; while Camilla, fixed to the stair upon
+which she had heard these words, remained some minutes motionless. Then,
+tottering down to the parlour, with a voice hollow from affright, and a
+face pale as death, she tremulously articulated, 'where is my sister?'
+
+They looked all aghast, and not one of them, for some time, was capable
+to give any account that was intelligible. She then gathered that, in
+coming out of the theatre, to get to the coach, they had missed her.
+None of them knew how, which way, in what manner.
+
+'And where's Mr. Bellamy?' cried she, in an agony of apprehension; 'was
+he at the Opera? where--where is he?'
+
+Miss Margland looked dismayed, and Mrs. Berlinton amazed, at this
+interrogatory; but they both said he had only been in the box at the
+beginning of the Opera, and afterwards to help them out of the crowd.
+
+'And who did he help? who? who?' exclaimed Camilla.
+
+'Me,--first--' answered Miss Margland,--'and, when we got into a great
+crowd, he took care of Miss Eugenia too.' She then added, that in this
+crowd, both she and Eugenia had been separated from Mrs. Berlinton and
+Indiana, who by Melmond and another gentleman had been handed straight
+to the carriage, without difficulty; that soon after, she had lost the
+arm of Bellamy, who, by some mistake, had turned a wrong way; but she
+got to the coach by herself; where they had waited full half an hour,
+Melmond running to and fro and searching in every direction, but in
+vain, to find Eugenia. Nor had Bellamy again appeared. They then came
+home, hoping he had put her into a chair, and that she might be arrived
+before them.
+
+'Dreadful! dreadful!' cried Camilla, sinking on the floor, 'she is
+forced away! she is lost!'
+
+When again her strength returned, she desired that some one might go
+immediately to the house or lodgings of Bellamy, to enquire if he were
+come home.
+
+This was done by a footman, who brought word he had not been seen there
+since six o'clock in the evening, when he dressed, and went out.
+
+Camilla now, confirmed in her horrible surmise, was nearly frantic. She
+bewailed her sister, her father, her uncle; she wanted herself to rush
+forth, to search Eugenia in the streets; she could scarce be detained
+within, scarce kept off from entire delirium.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+_A Narrative_
+
+
+It was four o'clock in the morning when Melmond returned. Camilla rushed
+to the street-door to meet him. His silence and his mournful air
+announced his ill success. She wrung her hands in anguish, and besought
+him to send instantly an express to Etherington, with the fatal tidings.
+
+He went himself to the nearest stables, desiring she would prepare a
+letter while he got a man and horse for the journey.
+
+In scrawling and indistinct characters she then wrote:
+
+     'O my Father--our Eugenia has disappeared! she was lost last night
+     at the Opera--Mr. Bellamy was conducting her to Mrs. Berlinton's
+     coach--but we have seen neither of them since!--what--what must we
+     do?'
+
+Melmond wrote the address, which her hand could not make legible; and
+Miss Margland prepared for the post a laboured vindication to Sir Hugh
+of her own conduct upon this occasion.
+
+Indiana was long gone to bed. She was really very sorry; but she was
+really much tired; and she could do, as she said, no good.
+
+But Mrs. Berlinton felt an alarm for Eugenia, and an astonishment
+concerning Bellamy, that would fully have wakened her faculties, had she
+been wholly unmoved by the misery of Camilla. Far other was, however,
+her nature, gentle, compassionate, and sympathising; and her own
+internal disturbance, though great even beyond her own conception why,
+sunk at sight of the excess of wretchedness which disordered her poor
+friend.
+
+There could be but one possible opinion of this disastrous adventure,
+which was, that Bellamy had spirited this young creature away, to secure
+her fortune, by her hand. Melmond again went forth, to make enquiry at
+all the stables in London, for any carriage that might have been hired
+for a late hour. And at six o'clock, in great perturbation, he came
+back, saying, he had just traced that she was put into a chaise and four
+from a hackney coach; that the chaise was hired in Piccadilly, and
+engaged for a week. He was now determined to ride post himself in the
+pursuit, that, if any accidental delay retarded them, he might recover
+her before she arrived at Gretna Green, whither he could not doubt she
+was to be conveyed: but as she could not be married by force, his
+presence might yet be in time to prevent persecution, or foul play.
+
+Camilla nearly embraced him with transport at this ray of hope, and,
+leaving his tenderest condolements for Indiana, whom he implored his
+sister to watch sedulously, he galloped northwards.
+
+His heart was most sincerely in the business; what he owed to the noble
+conduct which the high sentiments and pure regard of Eugenia had
+dictated, had excited a tender veneration, which made him hold his life
+as too small an offering to be refused for her service, if its sacrifice
+could essentially shew his gratitude. And often his secret mind had
+breathed a wish, that her love of literature had been instilled into her
+cousin; though he studiously checked, as profane, all that was not
+admiration of that most exquisite workmanship of nature.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton wanted not to be told this proceeding was wrong, yet
+still found it impossible to persuade herself Eugenia would not soon
+think it right; though Eugenia was the creature that she most revered in
+the whole world, and though, with Bellamy himself she felt irritated and
+disappointed.
+
+Camilla in every evil reverted to the loss of Edgar, whose guardian
+care, had she preserved him, would have preserved, she thought, her
+loved Eugenia.
+
+The express from Etherington brought back only a few lines written by
+Lavinia, with an account that Mr. Tyrold, in deep misery, was setting
+out post for Scotland.
+
+A week past thus in suspence, nearly intolerable to Camilla, before
+Melmond returned.
+
+Always upon the watch, she heard his voice, and flew to meet him in the
+dressing room. He was at the feet of Indiana, to whom he was pouring
+forth his ardent lamentations at this long deprivation of her sight.
+
+But joy had evidently no part in his tenderness; Camilla saw at once
+depression and evil tidings, and, sinking upon a chair, could scarcely
+pronounce, 'Have you not then found her?'
+
+'I have left her but this minute,' he answered, in a tone the most
+melancholy.
+
+'Ah! you have then seen her! you have seen my dearest Eugenia?--O, Mr.
+Melmond, why have you left her at all?'
+
+It was long before he could answer; he besought her to compose herself;
+he expressed the extremest solicitude for the uneasiness of Indiana,
+whose eternal interruptions of 'Dear! where is she?--Dear! why did not
+she come back?--Dear! who took her away?' he attributed to the agitation
+of the fondest friendship, and conjured, while tears of terror started
+into his eyes, that she would moderate the excess of her sensibility. It
+seems the peculiar province of the lover, to transfuse all that he
+himself most prizes, and thinks praise-worthy, into the breast of his
+chosen object; nor is he more blind to the defects with which she may
+abound, than prodigal in gifts of virtues which exist but in his own
+admiration.
+
+'And my Father? my poor Father!' cried Camilla, 'you have seen nothing
+of my Father?'
+
+'Pardon me; I have just left him also.'
+
+'And not with Eugenia?'
+
+'Yes; they are together.'
+
+Rapture now defied all apprehension with Camilla; the idea of Eugenia
+restored to her Father, was an idea of entire happiness; but her joy
+affected Melmond yet more than her alarm: he could not let her fasten
+upon any false expectations; he bid his sister aid him to support
+Indiana, and then, with all the gentleness of the sincerest concern,
+confessed that Eugenia was married before she was overtaken.
+
+This was a blow for which Camilla was still unprepared. She concluded it
+a forced marriage; horror froze her veins, her blood no longer flowed,
+her heart ceased to beat, she fell lifeless on the ground.
+
+Her recovery was more speedy than it was happy, and she was assisted to
+her chamber, no longer asking any questions, no longer desiring further
+information. All was over of hope: and the particulars seemed
+immaterial, since the catastrophe was as irreversible as it was
+afflicting.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton still attended her, grieved for her suffering, yet
+believing that Eugenia would be the happiest of women; though an
+indignation the most forcible mingled with her surprise at the conduct
+of Bellamy.
+
+This dread sort of chasm in the acuteness of the feelings of Camilla
+lasted not long; and Mrs. Berlinton then brought from Melmond the
+following account.
+
+With the utmost speed he could use, he could not, though a single
+horseman, overtake them. They never, as he learnt by the way, remitted
+their journey, nor stopt for the smallest refreshment but at some
+cottage. At length, in the last stage to Gretna Green, he met them upon
+their return. It was easy to him to see that his errand was vain, and
+the knot indissolubly tied, by the blinds being down, and the easy air
+with which Bellamy was looking around him.
+
+Eugenia sat back in the chaise with a handkerchief to her eyes. He stopt
+the vehicle, and told Bellamy he must speak with that lady. 'That lady,
+Sir,' he proudly answered, 'is my wife; speak to her, therefore; ... but
+in my hearing.' Eugenia at this dropt her handkerchief, and looked up.
+Her eyes were sunk into her head by weeping, and her face was a living
+picture of grief. Melmond loudly exclaimed: 'I come by the authority of
+her friends, and I demand her own account of this transaction.' 'We are
+now going to our friends,' replied he, 'ourselves, and we shall send
+them no messages.' He then ordered the postillion to drive on, telling
+him at his peril to stop no more; Eugenia, in a tone but just audible,
+saying: 'Adieu, Mr. Melmond! Adieu!'
+
+To have risked his life in her rescue, at such a moment, seemed to him
+nothing, could he but more certainly have ascertained her own wishes,
+and real situation: but as she attempted neither resistance nor
+remonstrance, he concluded Bellamy spoke truth; and if they were
+married, he could not unmarry them; and if they were going to her
+friends, they were doing all he could now exact. He resolved, however,
+to follow, and if they should turn any other road, to call for
+assistance till he could investigate the truth.
+
+They stopt occasionally for refreshments at the usual inns, and
+travelled no more in the dark; but Bellamy never lost sight of her; and
+Melmond, in watching, observed that she returned to the chaise with as
+little opposition as she quitted it, though weeping always, and never,
+for a voluntary moment, uncovering her face. Bellamy seemed always most
+assiduous in his attentions: she never appeared to repulse him, nor to
+receive from him any comfort.
+
+On the second day's journey, just as Bellamy had handed her from the
+chaise, at the inn where they meant to dine, and which Melmond, as
+usual, entered at the same time, he saw Mr. Tyrold--hurrying, but so
+shaking he could scarcely support himself, from a parlour, whence he had
+seen them alight, into the passage. The eyes, ever downcast, of
+Eugenia, perceived him not, till she was clasped, in mute agony, in his
+arms. She then looked up, saw who it was, and fainted away. Bellamy,
+though he knew him not, supposed who he might be, and his reverend
+appearance seemed to impress him with awe. Nevertheless, he was himself
+seizing the now senseless Eugenia, to convey her to some room; when Mr.
+Tyrold, reviving from indignation, fixed his eyes upon his face, and
+said: 'By what authority, Sir, do you presume to take charge of my
+daughter?'--'By the authority,' he answered, 'of a husband.' Mr. Tyrold
+said no more; he caught at the arm of Melmond, though he had not yet
+seen who he was, and Bellamy carried Eugenia into the first vacant
+parlour, followed only by the woman of the house.
+
+Melmond then, respectfully, and filled with the deepest commiseration,
+sought to make himself known to Mr. Tyrold; but he heard him not, he
+heeded no one; he sat down upon a trunk, accidentally in the passage
+where all this had passed, saying, but almost without seeming conscious
+that he spoke aloud: 'This, indeed, is a blow to break both our hearts!'
+Melmond then stood silently by, for he saw, by his folded hands and
+uplighted eyes, he was ejaculating some prayer: after which, with a
+countenance more firm, and limbs better able to sustain him, he rose,
+and moved towards the parlour into which the fainting Eugenia had been
+carried.
+
+Melmond then again spoke to him by his name. He recollected the voice,
+turned to him, and gave him his hand, which was of an icy coldness. 'You
+are very kind, Mr. Melmond,' he said; 'my poor girl'--but stopt,
+checking what he meant to add, and went to the parlour-door.
+
+It was locked. The woman of the house had left it, and said, the lady
+was recovered from her fit. Mr. Tyrold, from a thousand feelings, seemed
+unable to demand admission for himself: he desired Melmond to speak, and
+claim an audience alone for him with his daughter.
+
+Bellamy opened the door with a look evidently humbled and frightened,
+yet affecting perfect ease. When Melmond made known his commission,
+Eugenia, starting up, exclaimed: 'Yes, yes! I will see my dear Father
+alone!--and O! that this poor frame might sink to rest on his loved
+bosom!'
+
+'In a moment! in a moment!' cried Bellamy, motioning Melmond to
+withdraw; 'tell Mr. Tyrold he shall come in a moment.'
+
+Melmond was forced to retreat; but heard him hastily say, as again he
+fastened the door, 'My life, O Eugenia! is in your hands--and is it thus
+you requite my ardent love and constancy?'
+
+Mr. Tyrold now would wait but a few minutes: it was palpable Bellamy
+feared the interview; and he could fear it but from one motive: he sent
+him, therefore, word by Melmond, that if he did not immediately retire,
+and leave him to a conference alone with his daughter, he would apply no
+more for a meeting till he claimed it in a court of justice.
+
+Bellamy soon came out, bowed obsequiously to Mr. Tyrold, who passed him
+without notice, and who was then for half an hour shut up with Eugenia.
+Longer Bellamy could not endure; he broke in upon them, and left the
+room no more.
+
+Soon after, Mr. Tyrold came out, his own eyes now as red as those of the
+weeping bride. He took Melmond apart, thanked him for his kindness, but
+said nothing could be done. He entreated him therefore to return to his
+own happier affairs; adding, 'I cannot talk upon this miserable event.
+Tell Camilla, her sister is, for the present, going home with me--though
+not, alas! alone! Tell her, too, I will write to her upon my arrival at
+Etherington.'
+
+'This,' concluded Mrs. Berlinton, 'is all my brother has to relate; all
+that for himself he adds, is, that if ever, to something human, the mind
+of an angel was accorded--that mind seems enshrined in the heart of
+Eugenia!'
+
+Nothing that Camilla had yet experienced of unhappiness, had penetrated
+her with feelings of such deadly woe as this event. Eugenia, from her
+childhood, had seemed marked by calamity: her ill health, even from
+infancy, and her subsequent misfortunes, had excited in her whole house
+the tenderest pity, to which the uncommon character with which she grew
+up, had added respect and admiration. And the strange, and almost
+continual trials she had had to encounter, from the period of her
+attaining her fifteenth year, which, far from souring her mind, had
+seemed to render it more perfect, had now nearly sanctified her in the
+estimation of them all. To see her, therefore, fall, at last, a
+sacrifice to deceit or violence,--for one, if not both, had palpably put
+her into the possession of Bellamy, was a grief more piercingly wounding
+than all she had yet suffered. Whatever she had personally to bear, she
+constantly imagined some imprudence or impropriety had provoked; but
+Eugenia, while she appeared to her so blameless, that she could merit no
+evil, was so amiable, that willingly she would have borne for her their
+united portions.
+
+How it had been effected, since force would be illegal, still kept
+amazement joined to sorrow, till the promised letter arrived from Mr.
+Tyrold, with an account of the transaction.
+
+Eugenia, parted from Miss Margland by Bellamy, in the crowd, was obliged
+to accept his protection, which, till then, she had refused, to restore
+her to her company. The coach, he said, he knew, had orders to wait in
+Pall Mall, whither the other ladies would be conveyed in chairs, to
+avoid danger from the surrounding carriages. She desired to go, also, in
+a chair: but he hurried her by quick surprize into a hackney-coach,
+which, he said, would be more speedy, and bidding the man drive to Pall
+Mall, seated himself opposite to her. She had not the most remote
+suspicion of his design, as his behaviour was even coldly distant,
+though she wondered Pall Mall was so far off, and that the coachman
+drove so fast, till they stopt at a turnpike----and then, in one quick
+and decided moment, she comprehended her situation, and made an attempt
+for her own deliverance--but he prevented her from being heard.--And the
+scenes that followed she declined relating. Yet, what she would not
+recount, she could not, to the questions of her Father, deny, that
+force, from that moment, was used, to repel all her efforts for
+obtaining help, and to remove her into a chaise.
+
+Mr. Tyrold required to hear nothing more, to establish a prosecution,
+and to seize her, publickly, from Bellamy. But from this she recoiled.
+'No, my dear Father,' she continued, 'the die is cast! and I am his!
+Solemn has been my vow! sacred I must hold it!'
+
+She then briefly narrated, that though violence was used to silence her
+at every place where she sought to be rescued, every interval was
+employed, by Bellamy, in the humblest supplications for her pardon, and
+most passionate protestations of regard, all beginning and all ending in
+declaring, that to live longer without her was impossible, and pledging
+his ardent attachment for obtaining her future favour; spending the
+period from stage to stage, or turnpike to turnpike, in kneeling to
+beseech forgiveness for the desperation to which he was driven, by the
+most cruel and hopeless passion that ever seized the heart of man. When
+they were near their journey's end, he owned that his life was in her
+hands, but he was indifferent whether he lost it from the misery of
+living without her, or from her vengeance of this last struggle of his
+despair. She assured him his life was safe, and offered him pardon upon
+condition of immediate restoration to her friends; but, suddenly
+producing a pistol, 'Now then,' he said, O! amiable object of my
+constant love! bless me with your hand, or prepare to see me die at your
+feet!' And, with a terrifying oath, he bound himself not to lose her and
+outlive her loss. She besought him to be more reasonable, with the
+gentlest prayers; but his vehemence only encreased; she offered him
+every other promise he could name; but he preferred death to every other
+she should grant. She then pronounced, though in trembling, a positive
+refusal. Instantly he lifted up his pistol, and calling out; 'Forgive,
+then, O hard-hearted Eugenia, my uncontroulable passion, and shed a tear
+over the corpse I am going to prostrate at your feet!' was pointing it
+to his temple, when, overcome with horror, she caught his arm,
+exclaiming; 'Ah! stop! I consent to what you please!' It was in vain she
+strove afterwards to retract; one scene followed another, till he had
+bound her by all she herself held sacred, to rescue him from suicide, by
+consenting to the union. He found a person who performed the marriage
+ceremony on the minute of her quitting the chaise. She uttered not one
+word; she was passive, scared, and scarce alive; but resisted not the
+eventful ring, with which he encircled her finger, and seemed rousing as
+from a dream, upon hearing him call her his wife. He professed eternal
+gratitude, and eternal devotion; but no sooner was all conflict at an
+end, than, consigning herself wholly to grief, she wept without
+intermission.
+
+When Mr. Tyrold had heard her history, abhorrence of such barbarous
+force, and detestation of such foul play upon the ingenuous credulity of
+her nature, made him insist, yet more strongly, upon taking legal
+measures for procuring an immediate separation, and subsequent
+punishment; but the reiterated vows with which, since the ceremony, he
+had bound her to himself, so forcibly awed the strict conscientiousness
+of her principles, that no representations could absolve her opinion of
+what she now held her duty; and while she confessed her unhappiness at a
+connection formed by such cruel means, she conjured him not to encrease
+it, by rendering her, in her own estimation, perjured.
+
+'Patiently, therefore,' continued Mr. Tyrold, 'we must bear, what vainly
+we should combat, and bow down to those calamities of which the purpose
+is hidden, nor fancy no good is answered, because none is obvious. Man
+develops but little, though he experiences much. The time will come for
+his greater diffusion of knowledge; let him meet it without dread, by
+using worthily his actual portion. I resign myself, therefore, with
+reverence to this blow; though none yet has struck so hardly at my
+heart. We must now do what we can for this victim to her own purity, by
+seeking means to secure her future independence, and by bettering--if
+possible!--her betrayer. What a daughter, what a sister, what a friend,
+has her family thus lost! How will your poor Mother receive such killing
+tidings! Misfortune, sickness, and poverty, she has heroism to endure;
+but innocence oppressed through its own artlessness, and inexperience
+duped by villainy, will shake her utmost firmness, and harass into
+disorder her, as yet, unbroken powers of encountering adversity.
+Alas!--no evils that visited the early years of this loved child, have
+proved to her so grievous as the large fortune with which they were
+followed! We repined, my Camilla, at the deprivation you sustained at
+that period.--We owe to it, perhaps, that you have not as treacherously
+been betrayed!
+
+'How has the opening promise of our Eugenia more than answered our
+fondest expectations! Her knowledge is still less uncommon than her
+simplicity, her philosophy for herself than her zeal in the service of
+others. She is singular with sweetness, peculiar, yet not impracticable;
+generous without parade, and wise without consciousness. Yet now, so
+sacrificed seems all,--that I dwell upon her excellencies as if
+enumerating them over her tomb!'
+
+A letter from Lavinia contained some further particulars. Their Father,
+she said, finding the poor victim resolute, meant to spare Sir Hugh all
+that was possible of the detestable craft of Bellamy; and Eugenia was
+already struggling to recover her natural serenity, that she might
+appear before him without endangering his own. Bellamy talked of nothing
+but love and rapture; yet the unsuspicious Eugenia was the only person
+he deceived; for so little from the heart seemed either his looks or his
+expressions, that it was palpable he was acting a part, to all who
+believed it possible words and thoughts could be divided.
+
+A postscript to this letter was added by Eugenia herself.
+
+     'Ah, my Camilla!... where now are all our sweet promised
+     participations? But let me not talk of myself; nor do you, my
+     affectionate sister, dwell upon me at this period. One thing I
+     undertook shall yet be performed; the moment I am able to go to
+     Cleves, I will deliver, through Lavinia, what I mentioned. Does
+     anything else remain that is yet in my power? Tell me, my Camilla,
+     and think but with what joy you will give joy again to your
+
+     EUGENIA.'
+
+Broken hearted over these letters, Camilla spent her time in their
+perpetual perusal, in wiping from them her tears, and pressing with fond
+anguish to her lips the signature of her hapless sister, self-beguiled
+by her own credulous goodness, and self-devoted by her conscientious
+scruples.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+_The Progress of Dissipation_
+
+
+Mr. Clykes, by the promised payment and reward, being for the present
+appeased, Camilla still admitted some hope of waiting a more favourable
+moment for her cruel confession. She received, also, a little, though
+mournful, reprieve from terror, by a letter from Lisbon, written to
+again postpone the return of Mrs. Tyrold, at the earnest request of Mr.
+Relvil; and she flattered herself that, before her arrival, she should
+be enabled to resume those only duties which could draw her from
+despondence. She lived, meanwhile, wholly shut up from all company,
+consigned to penitence for her indiscretions, to grief for the fate of
+her sister, and to wasting regret of her own causelessly lost felicity.
+
+Indiana smiled not more sweetly upon Melmond, for Miss Margland's
+advising her to consider in time, whether the promises made by Miss
+Eugenia Tyrold would be binding to Mrs. Bellamy. She saw, nevertheless,
+no good, she said, it could do her cousin, that she should neglect such
+an opportunity of seeing London: and Miss Margland, in aid of this
+desire, spared so much trouble to Mrs. Berlinton, who soon wearied of
+Indiana, that she had the satisfaction of being invited to remain in
+Grosvenor-square till the two young ladies returned into the country.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, who indulged, in full extent, every feeling, but
+investigated none, had been piqued and hurt to extreme unhappiness at
+the late conduct of Bellamy. Attracted by his fine person, and caught by
+the first flattery which had talked to her of her own, she had easily
+been captivated by his description of the sympathy which united, and
+penetrated by his lamentations at the destiny which parted them. His
+request for her friendship had been the first circumstance, after her
+marriage, which had given her any interest in life; and soon, with the
+common effect of such dangerous expedients to while away chagrin, had
+occupied all her thoughts, and made the rest of the universe seem to her
+as a blank. But their continued separation from each other, made the day
+soon too long for mere regret; and her pliant mind, in this state of
+vacancy, had readily been bent to the new pursuit pressed upon her by
+Mrs. Norfield; which, however, upon the re-appearance of Bellamy, would
+speedily have given way to the resumption of his influence, had not his
+elopement with Eugenia left her again all at large. It destroyed an
+illusion strong though not definable; demolished a friendship ill
+conceived, and worse understood; and brought with it a disappointment
+which confused all her ideas. To be inactive was, however, impossible;
+simplicity, once given up, returned to the dissipated no more; or
+returns but when experience brings conviction. That all is hollow where
+the heart bears no part; all is peril where principle is not the guide.
+
+The Faro Table was now re-opened, and again but too powerfully sharpened
+the faculties which mortification had blunted. A company the most
+miscellaneous composed her evening assemblies, which were soon,
+nevertheless, amongst the most fashionable, as well as crowded of the
+metropolis. Whatever there, is new and splendid, is sure of a run for at
+least a season. Enquiries into what is right, or strictures upon what is
+wrong, rarely molest popularity, till the rise of some fresher luminary
+gives fashion another abode.
+
+Calamity requires not more fortitude than pleasure. What she began but
+to divert disappointment and lassitude, she continued to attain
+celebrity; and the company which Faro and Fashion brought together, she
+soon grew ambitious to collect by motives of more appropriate flattery.
+All her aim, now, was to be universally alluring; and she looked from
+object to object, in smiling discourse, till one by one, every object
+could look only at her: and grace and softness which had been secretly
+bewitching while she had the dignity to keep admiration aloof, were
+boldly declared to be invincible, since she permitted such professions
+to reach her ear.
+
+Long surrounded by gazing admirers, she became now encircled by avowed
+adorers; and what for victory she had essayed, she pursued ardently for
+pleasure. Coquetry is as fascinating to those who practise it, as to
+those whom it seduces; and she found herself, shortly, more happy by a
+conquest effected by wiles and by art, than by any devotion paid
+straight forward, and uncourted. The generality of her new ambition
+protected it from permanent ill consequences; aiming at everyone, she
+cared for no one; mortified by Bellamy, she resolved to mortify others,
+and in proportion as her smiles grew softer her heart became harder.
+
+Indiana, at this period, immersed at once from the most private retreat
+into the gayest vortex of pleasure, thought herself in the upper
+regions, where happiness, composed by her own ideas, consisted of
+perpetual admiration to unfading beauty: but though the high qualities
+with which the devotion of Melmond had gifted her had enslaved his
+reason and understanding from suspecting that so fair a form could
+enclose aught short of its own perfection, his heart was struck, and all
+his feelings were offended, when he saw her capable of dissipation upon
+a season of calamity to Eugenia; Eugenia, whom though he could not love,
+he venerated; Eugenia, whose nature he thought divine, though her
+person, unhappily, was but too human; Eugenia, to whom he owed the union
+upon which hung all his wishes ... to seek pleasure while Eugenia
+suffered, was astonishing, was incomprehensible. He felt as if every
+principle of his love were violated; he looked another way, to disguise
+his shock;--but when he looked at her again, it was forgotten.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla soon after learnt, from Lavinia, that Sir Hugh had been deeply
+affected by the history of the elopement, though it had been softened
+to him by all possible means, at the desire of the heroic Eugenia
+herself; who would now own to no one the force with which she had been
+carried off. Bellamy continued the most unremitting demonstrations of
+affection, which she received with gentleness, and appeared entirely to
+credit as sincere; but he had already absolutely refused a residence
+offered for them both at Cleves, and made Eugenia herself ask a separate
+provision of her uncle, though she could not even a moment pretend that
+the desire was her own. Sir Hugh, nevertheless, had yielded; and
+notwithstanding his present embarrassments from Clermont, had insisted
+upon settling a thousand pounds a year upon her immediately; in
+consequence of which, Bellamy had instantly taken a house at Belfont, to
+which they were already removing. Eugenia had recovered her gentle
+fortitude, seemed to submit to her destiny, and repined solely she could
+not, yet, keep her engagement with respect to the trinkets, which though
+she had openly told Bellamy were promised to a friend, he had seized to
+pack up, and said, 'he could not re-deliver till they were arranged in
+their new dwelling.' But she charged Lavinia to express her hopes that
+the detention would not last long.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+When the given three weeks expired, Indiana, infatuated with London,
+begged and obtained leave to stretch her residence there to a month.
+
+Eugenia was now settled at Belfont; but still Camilla received no
+intelligence of the promised boon, and spent her lingering hours in her
+chamber, no longer even invited thence, except at meals, by Mrs.
+Berlinton; whose extreme and encreasing dissipation, from first allowing
+no time, took off, next, all desire for social life. Surprised and hurt,
+Camilla was called off a little from herself, through concern. She
+sincerely loved Mrs. Berlinton, whom it was difficult to see and know
+with indifference, and she softly represented to her how ill she felt at
+ease in the falling off she experienced in her partiality.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton tenderly embraced her, protesting she was dear to her as
+ever; and feeling, while she spoke, her first affection return; but not
+a moment had she to bestow from her new mode of life: some party was
+always formed which she had not force of mind to break; an internal
+restlessness, from the want of some right pursuit, joined to a
+disappointment she could not own, made that party induce another; and
+though none gave her real pleasure, which her strong, however
+undisciplined and unguided feelings, shut out from such a species of
+vague life, all gave employment to expectation, and were preferable to a
+regret at once consuming and mortifying.
+
+Her gentleness, however, and her returned personal kindness, encouraged
+Camilla to repeat her admonitions, and engage assistance from Melmond,
+who, at any other period, would, uncalled, have given his whole
+attention to a sister dear at once to his honour and his heart; but
+Indiana more than occupied, she engrossed him. She now expected an
+adoration so unremitting, that if she surprised his eyes turned any
+other way even a moment, she reproached him with abated love, and it was
+the business of a day to obtain a reconciliation.
+
+Gratefully, however, at the instigation of Camilla, he resumed the
+vigilance with which, upon her first entering London the preceding year,
+he had attended to all the actions of his sister. But the difference
+already produced by the effect of flattery, the hardening of example,
+and the sway of uncontrolled early power, astonished and alarmed him. At
+her first setting out, she had hearkened to all counsel, frightened by
+every representation of danger, and humbled by every remonstrance
+against impropriety. But she now heard him with little or no emotion;
+and from beginning to listen unmoved, soon proceeded to reply and
+resist. A search, rather than a love, of pleasure had seized her young
+mind, which had now gained an ascendant that rendered contest less
+shocking, than yielding would have been painful.
+
+The tribulation of Melmond at this ill success, rested not solely upon
+his sister; he saw yet more danger for Indiana, who now seemed scarce to
+live but while arraying, or displaying herself. His passion had lost its
+novelty, and her eyes lost their beaming pleasure in listening to it;
+and the regard he had fondly expected to take place of first ecstacy, he
+now found unattainable, from want of all materials for its structure.
+His discourse, when not of her beauty, but strained her faculties; his
+reading, when compelled to hear it, but wearied her intellects. She had
+no genius to catch his meaning, and no attention to supply its place.
+
+Deeply he now thought of Eugenia, with that regret ever attached to
+frail humanity, for what is removed from possible possession. The purity
+of her love, the cultivation of her mind, and the nobleness of her
+sentiments, now bore forth a contrast to the general mental and
+intellectual littleness of Indiana, which made him blame the fastidious
+eyes that could dwell upon her face and form; and feel that, even with
+the matchless Indiana, he must sigh at their mutual perversity of fate.
+
+Nor missed he more in soul, than Indiana in adoration, who turned from
+what she now resented as coldness, to the violent praises of Macdersey,
+who became, at this period, a frequenter of Mrs. Berlinton's assemblies.
+She understood not the inevitable difference of the altered situation;
+that he who was accepted might be grateful, but could not be anxious;
+and that Melmond, while in suspense, wore the same impassioned air, and
+spoke the same impassioned feelings as Macdersey. To her, all seemed the
+change not from doubt to security, but from love to insensibility.
+
+To live always at her feet, while he thought her all-divine, was his own
+first joy and greatest pride: but when once he found his goddess had
+every mortal imperfection, his homage ceased, with amazement that ever
+it could have been excited. Those eyes, thought he, which I have gazed
+at whole days with such unreflecting admiration; and whose shape,
+colour, size, and sweet proportion still hold their pre-eminence, now,
+while retaining their first lustre, have lost all their illusory charm!
+I meet them--but to deplore their vacancy of the soul's intelligence--I
+fondly--vainly seek!
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Even when again the time arrived for returning to Cleves, Indiana,
+hanging languidly upon every minute she could steal from it, petitioned
+for a few days more from the ever-granting Baronet, which, while by her
+devoted to coquetry, admiration, and dress, were consumed by Camilla in
+almost every species of wretchedness. Mrs. Mittin wrote her word that
+Mr. Clykes was become more uneasy than ever for his money, as she had
+thought it indispensable to acquaint him of the reports in the
+neighbourhood, that Mr. Tyrold had met with misfortunes, and was
+retrenching: if he could not, therefore, be paid quickly, he must put in
+his claims elsewhere.
+
+The same post brought from Lavinia an account so afflicting of Eugenia,
+as nearly to annihilate even this deep personal distress. It was known,
+through Molly Mill, who, by the express insistance of Sir Hugh,
+continued to live with her young Mistress, that Bellamy had already, at
+Belfont, cast off the mask of pretended passion, and grossly demanded of
+her Mistress to beg money for him of Sir Hugh; acknowledging, without
+scruple, large debts, that demanded speedy payment, and pressing her to
+ask for the immediate possession of the Yorkshire estate. Her Mistress,
+though mildly, always steadily refused; which occasioned reproaches so
+rude and violent as almost to frighten her into fits; and so loud, that
+they were often heard by every servant in the house.
+
+Camilla, at this dreadful history, grew nearly indifferent to all else,
+and would have relinquished, almost unrepining, her expectations of
+personal relief, but that Lavinia, in the name of their unhappy sister,
+bid her still cherish them; assuring her she hoped yet to perform her
+engagement, as Mr. Bellamy never disputed her already given promise,
+though he had mislaid the key of the box in which the trinkets were
+deposited.
+
+Nor even here rested the misery of Camilla: another alarm stole upon her
+mind, of a nature the most dreadful.
+
+Upon the first evening of this newly-granted stay, while she was
+conversing alone with Mrs. Berlinton before the nocturnal _toilette_ of
+that lady, a servant announced Mr. Bellamy. Mrs. Berlinton blushed high,
+evidently with as much of anger as surprise; Camilla hastily
+withdrawing, to avoid an object abhorrent to her, wondered she would
+admit him: yet, anxious for any intelligence that could relate to her
+sister, enquired when he was gone, and ran towards the dressing-room to
+ask what had passed: but before she reached the door, the sound of his
+voice re-entering the hall, and of his step re-ascending the stairs,
+made her fly into the adjoining apartment, not to encounter him; where
+the instant he had shut the door, and before she could move, she heard
+him exclaim, 'You weep still, my lovely friend? Ah! can one doubt so
+injurious remain upon your mind as to suppose any thing but the cruel
+necessity of my misfortunes could have made me tarnish our celestial
+friendship with any other engagement? Ah! look at her ... and look at
+yourself!'
+
+Camilla, who, at first, had been immoveable from consternation, now
+recovered sufficiently to get back to her room. But she returned no more
+to Mrs. Berlinton, though Bellamy soon departed; her eagerness for
+information subsided in indignant sorrow. That Eugenia, the injured, the
+inestimable Eugenia, should be spoken of, by the very violator who had
+torn her from her friends, as a mere burthen attached to the wealth she
+procured him, struck at her heart as a poniard. And the impropriety to
+herself, and the wrong to Eugenia, of Mrs. Berlinton, in listening to
+such a discourse, totally sunk that lady in her esteem; though it
+determined her, as a duty due to them all around, to represent what she
+felt upon this subject; and the next day, the instant she was visible,
+she begged an audience.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton was pensive and dejected, but, as usual, open and
+unguarded; she began herself to speak of the visit of Bellamy, and to
+ask why she ran away.
+
+Camilla, without answer or hesitation, related what she had overheard;
+adding: 'O, Mrs. Berlinton! can you suffer him to talk thus? Can you
+think of my injured Eugenia--lately your own favourite friend--and bear
+to hear him?'
+
+'How injured, my ever-dear Camilla? Does she know what he says? Can it
+hurt her unheard? Can it affect her unimagined? He but solaces his
+sadness by a confidence he holds sacred; 'tis the type of our
+friendship, now dearer, he says, than ever, since reciprocated by such
+sympathy.'
+
+'You affright me, Mrs. Berlinton! what a perversion of reason to talk of
+sympathy in your situations? Did Eugenia press him to the altar? Did any
+friends solicit the alliance? Oh, Mrs. Berlinton! think but a moment,
+and your own feeling mind will paint his conduct in colours I have not
+the skill to attain!'
+
+'You are right!' cried she, blushing in her unwilling conviction: 'I
+know not how he could delude me to believe our fates resembled.
+Certainly nothing can be less similar.'
+
+Camilla was happy in this victory; but the following day, Bellamy, at
+the same hour was announced, and in the same manner was admitted;
+Camilla flying, and Mrs. Berlinton protesting she should attack his
+mistaken comparison with severity.
+
+Severity, however, was a quality with which she was unacquainted;
+Camilla, anxious in every way, hastened to her when he was gone, but
+found her dissolved in tender tears, shed, she declared, in regret of
+the uneasiness she had given him, for he had now made her fully
+sensible his destiny alone was to blame.
+
+The understanding of Camilla was highly superior to being duped by such
+flimsy sophistry, which she heard with added detestation of the
+character of Bellamy; yet perceived that no remonstrance could prevent
+his admittance, and that every interview regularly destroyed the effect
+of every exhortation.
+
+In this melancholy period, the sole satisfaction she received was
+through a letter written by Lionel from Ostend, in which he told her
+that the dread of imprisonment, or want, in a foreign country, made him
+lead a life so parsimonious, so totally deprived of all pleasure and all
+comfort, that he was almost consumed with regret for the wilfulness with
+which he had thrown away his innumerable advantages; and so much struck
+with the retrospection of the wanton follies and vices which had
+involved him in such dishonour and ruin, that he began now to think he
+had rather been mad than wicked;--so unmeaning, unreflecting, and
+unprovoked, as well as worthless, had been the course he had pursued.
+
+Camilla sent this letter immediately to her Father, who remitted to
+Lionel such a sum as must obviate distress, with such intimation for the
+future as he hoped would best encourage more solid reformation.
+
+Thus passed the time, improperly, or unhappily to all, till the third
+period fixed for the return to the country elapsed: and Camilla, finding
+the whole view of her journey abortive, saw the accumulated yet useless
+suffering involved through her ill-judged procrastination. Yet, as
+Eugenia still did not despair, even her confession was unwritten; and as
+Miss Margland and Indiana granted her request of going round by Belfont,
+which she had previously arranged from an ardent desire to embrace her
+loved sister, she still dwelt on a last hope from that interview.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+_Hints upon National Prejudice_
+
+
+With mingled disquietude and distaste, Melmond saw the reluctance of
+Indiana to quit town, and that he was less than a cypher with her upon
+the last evening's assembly, where, without deigning to bestow one look
+upon him, she chatted, smiled, and fluttered with every one else;
+undisguisedly betraying that [he] whom she should soon have alone, and
+have always, should not rob of even one precious moment this last
+splendid blaze of general admiration. He sighed; and in common with the
+hapless perverseness of mortals, thought he had _thrown away_, in
+Eugenia, _a gem richer than all her tribe_![5]
+
+[Footnote 5: Shakespeare]
+
+Camilla, whose heart, however dead to joy, was invariably open to
+tenderness, was melted with fond emotions in the idea of again meeting
+her beloved Eugenia, and ready for her journey nearly with the light.
+
+Soon after she was dressed, a house maid, tapping at her door, said,
+'Pray, Ma'am, is Miss Lynmere with you?'
+
+'No.'
+
+Presently Miss Margland came herself.
+
+'Pray, Miss Camilla, do you know any thing of Miss Lynmere? It's the
+oddest thing in the world where she can be!'
+
+Camilla, now, went forth to aid the search; Melmond, who was waiting to
+hand her into the carriage, looked amazed at the enquiry. It soon,
+however, was clear, that she was no where in the house; and, after
+sundry examinations and researches, one of the maids was brought to
+confess having aided her, in the middle of the night, to go into the
+street, where she was handed into a post chaise by Mr. Macdersey.
+
+Melmond appeared thunder struck. An action so unexpected at the period
+of a solemn engagement which waited but the journey to Cleves for being
+compleated, seemed to him, at first, incredible. But, when Miss Margland
+exclaimed 'O pursue her; Mr. Melmond! order your horse, and gallop to
+Scotland immediately!' he gravely, and rather drily answered: 'By no
+means, Ma'am! The man who has the honour of her preference, is the only
+one who can have any hope to make her happy. I have no ambition for a
+hand that has been voluntarily held out to another.'
+
+He then returned, quietly, to his own lodgings; far more indignant than
+hurt at this abrupt conclusion of a connexion which, though it had
+opened to him as a promise of Elysium, was closing with every menace of
+mutual discontent.
+
+Camilla was truly concerned; and not merely for the future risk run by
+her Cousin, in this rash flight, but for the new disappointment to her
+Uncle. She was obliged, however, to bestow her whole attention upon Miss
+Margland, whose tribulation was yet greater, and who, in losing thus her
+pupil, lost the expected reward of near thirteen years of unwilling
+attendance. She had, by no means, indeed, merited this treachery from
+Indiana, whom though incapable to instruct in much good, she had
+sedulously guarded from all evil.
+
+To return to Sir Hugh without her charge, without indeed either of the
+young ladies who were put under her care, she had not courage. Nor could
+Camilla so little feel for her distress as to request it. An express,
+therefore, was ordered to Cleves, for informing him of these ill
+tidings, with a very elaborate panegyric from Miss Margland of her own
+conduct; and a desire to know if she should remain in town till
+something transpired concerning Indiana.
+
+The express was but just gone, when a packet, which ought to have
+arrived two days before, by the stage, was delivered to Camilla. Its
+intention was merely to convey more speedily a letter from Lavinia,
+containing the terrible information that Mr. Clykes had just been at
+Etherington himself, to deliver in his accounts, and press immediate
+payment! Their Father, Lavinia said, conceived the whole some
+imposition, till the man produced the paper signed by his daughter. She
+had then been called in, and obliged to confess her knowledge of the
+transaction. She would avoid, she said, particulars that could be only
+uselessly afflicting; but the interview had ended in their Father's
+agreeing to pay, when it should be possible, the sums actually delivered
+to the creditors, and for which Mr. Clykes could produce their own
+receipts; but refusing, positively and absolutely, any gratuity
+whatsoever, from detestation of so dangerous and seductive a species of
+trade, as clandestine and illegal money-lending to minors: The man, much
+provoked, said a friend of his had been used far more handsomely by Sir
+Hugh Tyrold; but finding his remonstrances vain, acknowledged the law
+against him for the interest; but threatened to send in an account for
+his own trouble, in collecting and paying the bills, that he would
+dispute, for validity, in any court of justice to which he could be
+summoned: and, in leaving the house, he menaced an immediate writ, if
+all he could legally claim were not paid the next day; unless a new
+bond were properly signed, with a promise to abide by that already
+drawn up. Their Father, she was forced to confess, had now lent his
+every guinea, for the debts of Clermont, to Sir Hugh; and was at this
+instant, deliberating to whom he should apply; but desired, meanwhile,
+an exact statement of the debts which this man had in commission to
+discharge. The letter concluded with Lavinia's unfeigned grief in the
+task of writing it.
+
+Camilla read it with a distraction that made it wholly unintelligible to
+her; yet could not read it a second time; her eyes became dim, her
+faculties confused, and she rather felt deprived of the power of
+thinking, than filled with any new and dreadful subjects for rumination.
+
+In this state, the letter on the floor, her eyes staring around, yet
+looking vacant, and searching nothing she was called to Lord O'Lerney,
+who begged the honour of a conference with her upon business.
+
+She shook her head, in token of denial, but could not speak. The servant
+looked amazed; yet brought her a second message, that his Lordship was
+extremely sorry to torment her, but wished to communicate something
+concerning Mr. Macdersey.
+
+She then faintly articulated, 'I can see nobody.'
+
+Still the same dreadful vacuity superseded her sensibility, till, soon
+after, she received a note from Lady Isabella Irby, desiring to be
+admitted to a short conversation with her upon the part of Lord
+O'Lerney.
+
+With the name of Lady Isabella Irby recurred the remembrance that she
+was a favourite of Edgar--and bursting into tears, she consented to the
+interview; which took place immediately.
+
+The terrible state in which she appeared was naturally, though not
+justly, attributed by her ladyship to the elopement of her Cousin: while
+Camilla, called by her sight to softer regrets, beheld again, in mental
+view, the loved and gentle image of Edgar.
+
+Lady Isabella apologised politely, but briefly, for her intrusion,
+saying: 'My Lord O'Lerney, whose judgment is never in any danger, but
+where warped by his wish of giving pleasure, insists upon it that you
+will be less incommoded by a quick forced admission of me than of
+himself. Nobody else will think so: but it is not easy to refuse him: so
+here I am. The motive of this intrusion you can but too readily divine.
+Lord O'Lerney is truly concerned at this rash action in his kinsman,
+which he learnt by an accidental call at his lodgings, where various
+circumstances had just made it known. He could not rest without desiring
+to see some part of the young lady's family, and making an offer of his
+own best services with respect to some arrangement for her future
+establishment. It is for this purpose, you have been so importunately
+hurried; Lord O'Lerney wishing to make the first news that is sent to
+Sir Hugh Tyrold less alarming, by stating, at once, what he can
+communicate concerning Mr. Macdersey.'
+
+Camilla, who only now recollected that Mr. Macdersey was related to Lord
+O'Lerney, was softened into some attention, and much gratitude for his
+goodness, and for her Ladyship's benevolence in being its messenger.
+
+'Will you, then,' said Lady Isabella, 'now you understand the purport of
+his visit, see Lord O'Lerney himself? He can give you much better and
+clearer documents than I can; and it is always the best and shortest
+mode to deal with principals.'
+
+Camilla mechanically complied, and Lady Isabella sent her footman with a
+note to his Lordship, who was waiting at her house in Park-lane.
+
+The discourse still fell wholly upon Lady Isabella; Camilla, lost
+alternately in misery and absence, spoke not, heard not; yet former
+scenes, though not present circumstances, were brought to her mind by
+the object before her, and almost with reverence, she looked at the
+favourite of Edgar, in whose sweetness of countenance, good sense,
+delicacy, and propriety, she conceived herself reading every moment the
+causes of his approbation. Ah, why, thought she, while unable to reply,
+or to listen to what was said, why knew I not this charming woman, while
+yet he took an interest in my conduct and connexions! Perhaps her gentle
+wisdom might have drawn me into its own path! how would he have
+delighted to have seen me under such influence! how now, even now,--lost
+to him as I am!--would he generously rejoice, could he view the
+condescending partiality of looks and manner that seem to denote her
+disposition to kindness!
+
+Lord O'Lerney soon joined them; and after thanking Camilla for granting,
+and his Ambassadress for obtaining him an audience, said; 'I have been
+eager for the honour of a conference with Miss Tyrold, in the hope of
+somewhat alleviating the fears for the future, that may naturally join
+with displeasure for the present, from the very unadvised step of this
+morning. But, however wrong the manner in which this marriage may be
+effected, the alliance in itself will not, I hope, be so
+disadvantageous, as matches of this expeditious character prove in
+general. The actual possessions of Macdersey are, indeed, far beneath
+what Miss Lynmere, with her uncommon claims, might demand; but his
+expectations are considerable, and well founded; and his family will all
+come forward to meet her, with every mark of respect, for which, as its
+head, I shall lead the way. He is honest, honourable, and good natured;
+not particularly endowed, with judgment or discretion, but by no means
+wanting in parts, though they are rather wild and eccentric.'
+
+His Lordship then gave a full and satisfactory detail of the present
+state, and future hopes of his kinsman; and added, that it should be his
+own immediate care to endeavour to secure for the fair bride a fixed
+settlement, from the rich old cousin who had long promised to make
+Macdersey his heir. He told Camilla to write this, without delay, to the
+young lady's Uncle, with full leave to use his name and authority.
+
+'At all times,' he continued, 'it is necessary to be quick, and as
+explicit as possible, in representing what can conciliate an adventure
+of this sort, of which the clandestine measure implies on one side, if
+not on both, something wrong; but most especially it is necessary to use
+speed where the flight is made with an Hibernian; for with the English
+in general, it is nearly enough that a man should be born in Ireland, to
+decide him for a fortune-hunter. If you lived, however, in that country,
+you would see the matter pretty equally arranged; and that there are not
+more of our pennyless beaux who return laden with the commodity of rich
+wives, than of those better circumstanced who bring home wives with more
+estimable dowries.'
+
+He then added, that it was from Miss Lynmere herself he had learnt the
+residence of Camilla in Grosvenor Square; for, having made some
+acquaintance with her at one of Mrs. Berlinton's evening parties, he had
+heard she was a niece of Sir Hugh Tyrold, and immediately enquired after
+her fair kinswoman, whom he had seen at Tunbridge.
+
+Camilla thanked him for remembering her; and Lady Isabella, with a
+countenance that implied approbation in the remark, said; 'I have never
+once heard of Miss Tyrold at the assemblies of this house.'
+
+She quietly replied she had never been present at them; but a look of
+sensibility with which her eyes dropt, spoke more than she intended, of
+concern at their existence, or at least frequency.
+
+'Your lovely young Hostess,' said Lord O'Lerney, 'has entered the world
+at too early an hour to be aware of the surfeit she is preparing
+herself, by this unremitting luxury of pleasure; but I know so well her
+innocence and good qualities, that I doubt not but the error will bring
+its own cure, and she will gladly return to the literary and elegant
+intercourse, which she has just now given up for one so much more
+tumultuous.'
+
+'I am glad you still think so, my Lord;' said Lady Isabella, also
+looking down; 'she is a very sweet creature, and the little I have seen
+of her, made me, while in her sight, warmly her well-wisher.
+Nevertheless I should rather see any young person, for whom I was much
+interested,--unless endowed with the very remarkable forbearance of Miss
+Tyrold,--under her influence after the period your Lordship expects to
+return, than during its _interregnum_!'
+
+Camilla disavowed all claim to such praise, blushing both for her friend
+and herself at what was said. Lord O'Lerney, looking concerned, paused,
+and then answered, 'You know my partiality for Mrs. Berlinton: yet I
+always see with fresh respect the courage with which my dear Lady
+Isabella casts aside her native reserve and timidity, where she thinks a
+hint--an intimation--may do good, or avert dangers.'
+
+His eye was then fixed upon Camilla, who surprized, turned hastily to
+Lady Isabella, and saw a tender compassion in her countenance, that
+confirmed the interpretation of Lord O'Lerney; joined with a modest
+confusion that seemed afraid, or ashamed, of what had escaped her.
+
+Grateful for herself, but extremely grieved for the idea that seemed to
+have gone forth of Mrs. Berlinton, she felt a tear start into her eye.
+She chaced it, with as little emotion as she could shew; and Lord
+O'Lerney, with an air of gayer kindness, said; 'As we must now, Miss
+Tyrold, account ourselves to be somewhat allied, you permit me, I hope,
+to recommend my gallant Cousin to your protection with Sir Hugh? That he
+has his share of the wildness, the blunders, the eccentricities, and the
+rhodomontade, which form, with you English, our stationary national
+character, must not be denied; but he has also, what may equally, I
+hope, be given us in the lump, generosity, spirit, and good intentions.
+With all this....'
+
+He was here interrupted; the door being suddenly burst open by Mrs.
+Mittin, who entered, exclaiming, 'Lord, Miss, what a sad thing this is!
+I declare it's put me quite into a quiver! And all Winchester's quite in
+an uproar, as one may say. You never see how every body's in a turmoil!'
+
+Here ended the little interval of horrour in Camilla. Mrs. Mittin and
+Mr. Clykes seemed to her as one; yet that, already, her Cousin's
+elopement should have spread so near home, seemed impossible. 'When,'
+she cried, 'were you in Winchester? And how came this affair known to
+you?'
+
+'Known? why, my dear Miss, it was there it all happened. I come through
+it with Mr. Dennel, who was so obliging as to bring me to town, for a
+little business I've got to do; and next week he'll take me back again;
+for as to poor little Mrs. Lissin, she'll be quite lost without me. She
+don't know her right hand from her left, as one may say. But how should
+she, poor child? Why she is but a baby. What's fifteen? And she's no
+more.'
+
+'We'll talk of that,' said Camilla, colouring at her loquacious
+familiarity, 'some other time.' And attempted to beg Lord O'Lerney would
+finish what he was saying. But Mrs. Mittin, somewhat affronted, cried;
+'Lord, only think of your sitting here, talking, and making yourself so
+comfortable, just as if nothing was the matter! when every body else is
+in such a taking as never was the like! I must say, as to that, a
+gentleman more liked, and in more respect never was, I believe; and I
+can't say but what I'm very sorry myself for what Mr. Clykes has done;
+however, I told you, you know, you'd best not provoke him; for though
+there can't be a better sort of man, he'll leave no stone unturned to
+get his money.'
+
+'For Heaven's sake,' cried Camilla, startled, 'what....'
+
+'What?... Why, Lord, Miss! don't you know your Papa's took up? He's put
+in Winchester Prison, for that debt, you know.'
+
+The breath of Camilla instantly stopt, and senseless, lifeless, she sunk
+upon the floor.
+
+Lord O'Lerney quitted the room in great concern, to call some female
+assistants; but Lady Isabella remained, contributing with equal
+tenderness and judgment to her aid, though much personally affected by
+the incident.
+
+Her recovery was quick, but it was only to despair; to screams rather
+than lamentations, to cries rather than tears. Her reason felt the shock
+as forcibly as her heart; the one seemed tottering on its seat, the
+other bursting its abode. Words of alarming incoherency proclaimed the
+danger menacing her intellects, while agonies nearly convulsive
+distorted her features, and writhed her form.
+
+Unaffectedly shocked, yet not venturing, upon so slight an acquaintance,
+to interfere, Lady Isabella uttered gently but impressively her good
+wishes and concern, and glided away.
+
+The nearly distracted Camilla saw not that she went; and knew no longer
+that she had been in the room. She held her forehead one moment; called
+for death the next; and the next wildly deprecated eternal punishment.
+But as the horrour nearly intolerable of this first abrupt blow gave
+way, the desire of flying instantly to her Father was the symptom of
+restored recollection.
+
+Hastening then to Miss Margland, she conjured her, by all that was most
+affecting, to set off immediately for Winchester. But Miss Margland,
+though she spared not the most severe attacks upon the already
+self-condemned and nearly demolished Camilla, always found something
+relative to herself that was more pressing than what could regard any
+other, and declared she could not stir from town till she received an
+answer from Sir Hugh.
+
+Camilla besought at least to have the carriage; but of this she asserted
+herself at present the indisputable mistress, and as the express might
+come back in a few hours, with directions that she should set off
+immediately, she would not listen to parting with it. Camilla, frantic
+to be gone, flew then down stairs, and called to the porter in the hall,
+that some one should instantly seek her a chaise, coach, or any
+conveyance whatever, that could carry her to Winchester.
+
+She perceived not that Lady Isabella, waiting for her footman, who had,
+accidentally, gone on further, upon some message, now opened the door of
+the parlour, where Lord O'Lerney was conversing with her upon what had
+happened; she was flying back, though not knowing whither nor which way
+she turned, when Lord O'Lerney, gently stopping her, asked, why she
+would not, on such an emergence, apply for the carriage of Mrs.
+Berlinton? Lady Isabella seconded the motion, by a soft, but just hint,
+of the danger of her taking such a journey, in a hired carriage,
+entirely unprotected.
+
+She had scarce consideration enough left to either thank or understand
+them, yet mechanically followed their counsel, and went to Mrs.
+Berlinton; Lord O'Lerney, deeply touched by her distress, sending in a
+servant at the same time with his name, and following: while Lady
+Isabella, too much interested to go till something was decided, quietly
+shut herself into the parlour, there to wait his Lordship's information.
+
+The request for the carriage was, indeed, rather made by him than by
+Camilla, who, when she entered the room, and would have spoken, found
+herself deprived of the power of utterance, and looked a picture of
+speechless dismay.
+
+The tender feelings of Mrs. Berlinton were all immediately awakened by
+this sight, and she eagerly answered Lord O'Lerney, that both her
+carriage and herself should be devoted to her distressed friend: yet,
+the first emotion over, she recollected an engagement she could not
+break, though one she hesitated to mention, and at last only alluded to
+unexplained, though making known it was insurmountable; while the
+colour, of which her late hours had robbed her lovely cheeks, returned
+to them as she stammered her retractation.
+
+The next day, however, she was beginning to promise,--but Camilla, to
+whom the next minute seemed endless, flew down again to the hall, to
+supplicate the first footman she could meet, to run and order any sort
+of carriage he could find; with but barely sufficient recollection to
+refrain running out with that view herself.
+
+Lady Isabella, again coming forth, entreated to know if there were any
+commission, any possible service she could herself perform. Camilla
+thanked her, without knowing what she said; and Lord O'Lerney, who was
+descending the stairs, repeated similar offers. But wild with affright,
+or shuddering with horrour, she passed without hearing or observing him.
+
+To see a young creature in a state so deplorable, and to consider her as
+travelling without any friend or support, in so shaken a condition, to
+visit an imprisoned Father, touched these benign observers with the
+sincerest commiseration; and the connexion of a part of his family
+forming at this moment with a branch of her own, induced Lord O'Lerney
+to believe he was almost bound to take care of her himself. 'And yet,'
+said he to Lady Isabella, 'though I am old enough to be her grandfather,
+the world, should I travel with her, might impute my assistance to a
+species of admiration which I hope to experience no more--as witness my
+trusting myself so much with Lady Isabella Irby!'
+
+Lady Isabella, from the quick coincidence of similar feelings, instantly
+conceived his wishes, and paused to weigh their possibility. A short
+consideration was sufficient for this purpose. It brought to her memory
+her various engagements; but it represented at the same time to her
+benevolence that they would be all, by the performance of one good
+action,
+
+    More honour'd in the breach than the observance:
+
+She sent, therefore, a message after Camilla, entreating a short
+conference.
+
+Camilla, who was trying to comprehend some further account from Mrs.
+Mittin, silently, but hastily obeyed the call; and her look of wild
+anguish would have fixed the benign intention of Lady Isabella, had it
+been wavering. In a simple phrase, but with a manner the most delicate,
+her Ladyship then offered to conduct her to Winchester. A service so
+unexpected, a goodness so consoling, instantly brought Camilla to the
+use of her frightened away faculties, but with sensations of gratitude
+so forcible, that Lord O'Lerney with difficulty saved her from falling
+at the feet of his amiable friend, and with yet more difficulty
+restrained his own knees from doing her that homage. And still the more
+strongly he felt this active exertion, from the disappointment he had
+just endured through the failure of his favourite Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+No time was to be lost; Lady Isabella determined to do well what she
+once undertook to do at all; she went to Park-lane, to make known her
+excursion, and arrange some affairs, and then instantly returned, in her
+own post-chaise, and four horses, for Camilla; who was driven from the
+metropolis.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+_The Operation of Terror_
+
+
+Lady Isabella, for the first two or three miles, left Camilla
+uninterruptedly to her own thoughts; she then endeavoured to engage her
+in some discourse, but was soon forced to desist. Her misery exceeded
+all measure of restraint, all power of effort. Her Father in prison! and
+for her own debts! The picture was too horrible for her view, yet too
+adhesive to all her thoughts, all her feelings, all her faculties, to be
+removed from them a moment. Penetrated by what she owed to Lady
+Isabella, she frequently took her hand, pressed it between her own,
+pressed it to her lips; but could shew her no other gratitude, and force
+herself to no other exertion.
+
+It was still early, they travelled post, and with four horses, and
+arrived at Winchester before eight o'clock.
+
+Shaking, she entered the town, half fainting, half dead. Lady Isabella
+would have driven straight on to Etherington, which was but a stage
+further; but to enter the rectory, whence the Rector himself was
+torn--'No!' cried she, 'no! there where abides my Father, there alone
+will I abide! No roof shall cover my head, but that which covers his! I
+have no wish but to sink at his feet--to crawl in the dust--to confine
+myself to the hardest labour for the remnant of my miserable existence,
+so it might expiate but this guilty outrage!'
+
+Lady Isabella took not any advantage of the anguish that was thus
+bursting forth with secret history; she was too delicate and too good to
+seize such a moment for surprising confidence, and only enquired if she
+had any friend in the town, who could direct her whither to go, and
+accompany as well as direct.
+
+She knew no one with sufficient intimacy to endure presenting herself to
+them upon such an occasion; and preferred proceeding alone to the sad
+and cruel interview. Lady Isabella ordered the chaise to an hotel, where
+she was shewn into a room upstairs, whence she sent one of her own
+servants to enquire out where debtors were confined, and if Mr. Tyrold
+were in custody: charging him not to name, from whom or why he came, and
+begging Camilla to get ready a note to prepare her Father for the
+meeting, and prevent any affecting surprise. She then went to chuse
+herself a chamber, determined not to quit her voluntary charge, till she
+saw her in the hands of her own friends.
+
+Camilla could not write: to kneel, to weep, to sue, was all she could
+bear to plan; to present to him the sight of her hand writing she had
+not courage.
+
+Presently she heard a chaise drive rapidly through the inn gate: it
+might be him, perhaps released; she flew down the stairs with that wild
+hope; but no sooner had descended them, than a dread of his view took
+its place, and she ran back: she stopt, however, in the landing place,
+to hear who entered.
+
+Suddenly a voice struck her ear that made her start; that vibrated quick
+to her heart, and there seemed to arrest the springs of life; she
+thought it the voice of her Mother----
+
+It ceased to speak; and she dropt on one knee, inwardly, but fervently
+praying her senses might deceive her.
+
+Again, however, and more distinctly, it reached her; doubt then ceased,
+and terrour next to horrour took its place. What was said she knew not,
+her trepidation was too great to take in more than the sound.
+
+Prostrate she fell on the floor; but hearing a waiter say, 'Up stairs,
+madam, you may have a room to yourself.' She started, rose, and rushing
+violently back to the apartment she had quitted, bolted herself in;
+exclaiming, 'I am not worthy to see you, my Mother! I have cast my
+Father into prison--and I know you will abhor me!'
+
+She then sat down against the door, to listen if she were pursued; she
+heard a footstep, a female step; she concluded it that of her Mother;
+'She can come,' cried she, 'but to give me her malediction!' And flew
+frantic about the room, looking for any means of escape, yet perceiving
+only the window, whence she must be dashed to destruction.
+
+She now heard a hand upon the lock of the door. 'O that I could die!
+that I could die!' she cried, madly advancing to the window, and
+throwing up the sash, yet with quick instinctive repentance pulling it
+down, shuddering and exclaiming: 'Is there no death for me but
+murder--no murder but suicide?'
+
+A voice now found its way through her cries to her ear, that said, 'It
+is me, my dear Miss Tyrold; will you not admit me?'
+
+It was Lady Isabella; but her Mother might be with her: she could not,
+however, refuse to open the door, though desperately she said to
+herself: If she is there, I will pass her, and rush into the streets!
+
+Seeing, however, Lady Isabella alone, she dropt on her knees,
+ejaculating 'Thank Heaven! thank Heaven! one moment yet I am spared!'
+
+'What is it, my dear Miss Tyrold,' said Lady Isabella, 'that causes you
+this sudden agony? what can it be that thus dreadfully disorders you?'
+
+'Is she with you?' cried she, in a voice scarce audible, 'does she
+follow me? does she demand my Father?'
+
+'Rise, dear madam, and compose yourself. If you mean a Lady whom this
+minute I have passed, and whose countenance so much resembles yours,
+that I thought her at once some near relation, she is just gone from
+this house.'
+
+'Thank Heaven! thank Heaven!' again ejaculated the prostrate Camilla;
+'My Mother is spared a little longer the dreadful sight of all she must
+now most abominate upon earth!'
+
+She then begged Lady Isabella instantly to order the chaise, and return
+to town.
+
+'On the contrary,' answered her Ladyship, extremely surprised at so wild
+a request, 'Let me rather, myself, carry you to your family.'
+
+'O no, Lady Isabella, no!' cried Camilla, speaking with frightful
+rapidity, and shaking in every limb, 'all now is changed. I came to wait
+upon my Father--to humble myself at his feet--not to obtrude myself upon
+my Mother!--O Lady Isabella!--I shall have broken her heart--and I dare
+not offend her with my sight!'
+
+Lady Isabella, with the most judicious gentleness, endeavoured to render
+her more reasonable. 'I pretend not,' she said, 'to decide upon your
+situation, though I comprehend its general affliction: yet still, and at
+all events, its termination must be a meeting. Suffer me, therefore,
+rather to hasten than retard so right a measure. Allow of my mediation,
+and give me the infinite pleasure of leaving you in the hands of your
+friends.'
+
+Camilla, though scarcely able to articulate her words, declared again
+the motive to her journey was at an end; that her Father had now one to
+watch, soothe, and attend him, who had none of her dreadful drawbacks to
+consoling powers; and that she would remain at Mrs. Berlinton's till
+summoned home by their immediate commands.
+
+Lady Isabella began pleading their own rights to decide if or not the
+meeting should be deferred: but wildly interrupting her, 'You know not,'
+she cried, 'what it is you ask. I have not nerves, I have not hardiness
+to force myself into such a presence. An injured Father ... an offended
+Mother ... O Lady Isabella! if you knew how I adore--and how I have
+ruined them!...'
+
+'Let me go to them from you, myself; let me represent your situation.
+They are now probably together. That Lady whom I saw but from the
+stairs, though her countenance so much struck me, and whom I now
+conclude to be Mrs. Tyrold, said, as she passed, I shall walk; I only
+want a guide;'--
+
+'They had not, then, even met!' cried Camilla, starting up with fresh
+horrour; 'she is but just arrived--has but just been at Etherington--and
+there heard--that her husband was in prison--and in prison for the debts
+of her daughter! her guilty ... perhaps reprobated daughter!'--
+
+Again, wringing her hands, half distracted, 'O, that the earth,' she
+cried, 'had received me, ere I quitted the parental roof! Innocent I had
+then died, beloved, regretted,--no shame would have embittered my
+Father's sorrow--no wrath my Mother's--no culpable misconduct would have
+blighted with disgrace their so long--long wished-for meeting!'
+
+The compassionating, yet judicious Lady Isabella, willing to shorten the
+sufferings she pitied, made yet another effort to prevent this unadvised
+return, by proposing they should both sleep this night at Winchester,
+that Camilla might gather some particulars of her family, and some
+composure for herself, to better judge what step to pursue. But all
+desire of meeting was now converted into horrour; she was too much known
+in the neighbourhood to escape being recognized if she stayed till the
+morning, and her shattered intellects, she declared, could not bear
+passing a whole night in expectation of a discovery through some
+accident. 'Have I not already,' cried she, 'heard her voice and fled its
+sound? Judge then, Lady Isabella, if I can present myself before her!
+No, I must write, first. I have a long and dreadful history to
+relate--and then, when she has heard it--and when the rectory has again
+its reverend master--and when they find some little palliation, where
+now they can see only guilt--and when all is committed without disguise
+to their goodness--their mercy--they may say to me perhaps themselves:
+Unhappy Camilla! thou hast paid thy just penalty; come home, then, to
+thy parents' roof, thou penitent child!'
+
+Lady Isabella knew too little of the characters with which she had to
+deal, to judge if it would be right to insist any further: she ordered,
+therefore, fresh horses to her chaise, and as soon as her footman came
+back, who brought the now useless direction where Mr. Tyrold was to be
+found, they galloped out of Winchester.
+
+At Alton they stopt to sleep; and, her immediate terrour removed, she
+became more sensible of what she owed to Lady Isabella, to whom, in the
+course of the evening, she recounted frankly the whole history of her
+debts, except what related to Lionel.
+
+'Your Ladyship hears me,' said she, in conclusion, 'with the patience of
+benevolence, though I fear, with the censure of all judgment. What evils
+have accrued from want of consideration and foresight! My errours have
+all been doubled by concealment--every mischief has been augmented by
+delay. O, Lady Isabella! how sad an example shall I add to your powers
+of benign instruction!--From day to day, from hour to hour, I planned
+expedients, where I ought to have made confessions! To avoid one
+dreadful--but direct evil, what I have suffered has been nearly
+intolerable--what I have inflicted, unpardonable!'
+
+Lady Isabella, much touched by her openness and confidence, repaid them
+by all that compassion could suggest, or that a sincere disposition
+towards esteem could anticipate of kindness. She gathered the amount of
+the sum for which Mr. Tyrold was confined, and besought Camilla to let
+it less weigh upon her spirits, as she could herself undertake that Lord
+O'Lerney would accommodate him with it immediately, and wait his perfect
+leisure for re-payment. 'I have known him,' said she, 'from a child, and
+have always seen, with respect and admiration, the prompt pleasure with
+which he rather seizes than accepts every opportunity to do good.'
+
+Camilla returned the most grateful thanks; but acknowledged she had no
+apprehension but that the writ would immediately be withdrawn, as the
+county was almost filled with friends to her Father, who would come
+forward upon such an occasion. 'What rests thus upon my mind,' said she,
+'and what upon his--and upon my Mother's will rest--is the disgrace--and
+the cause! the one so public, the other so clandestine! And besides,
+though this debt will be easily discharged, its payment by a loan is
+but incurring another: and how that is to be paid, I know not indeed.
+Alas! Lady Isabella!--the Father I have thus dreadfully involved, has
+hitherto, throughout his exemplary life, held it a sacred duty to adapt
+his expences to his income!'
+
+Again Lady Isabella gave what consolation she could bestow; and in
+return for her trust, said she would speak to her with sincerity upon a
+point of much delicacy. It was of her friend, Mrs. Berlinton; 'who now,'
+said she, 'you are not, perhaps, aware, is become a general topic of
+discourse. To the platonics, with which she set out in life, she has, of
+late, joined coquetry; nor even there stops the ardour with which she
+seeks to animate her existence; to two characters, hitherto thought the
+most contradictory, the sentimental and the flirting, she unites yet a
+third, till now believed incompatible with the pleasures and pursuits of
+either; this, I need not tell you, is that of a gamestress. And when to
+three such attributes is added an open aversion to her husband, a
+professed, an even boasted hatred of his person, his name, his very
+being--what hope can be entertained, be her heart, her intentions what
+they may, that the various dangers she sets at defiance, will not
+ultimately take their revenge, and surprise her in their trammels?'
+
+Edgar himself seemed, to Camilla, to be speaking in this representation;
+and that idea made it catch her attention, in the midst of her utmost
+misery. She urged, however, all she knew, and could suggest, in favour
+of Mrs. Berlinton; and Lady Isabella expressed much concern in
+occasioning her any painful sensations. 'But who,' said she, 'can see
+you thus nearly, and not be interested in your happiness? And I have
+known, alas!--though I am still under thirty, instances innumerable of
+self-deluded young women, who trusting to their own pure intentions,
+have neither feared nor heeded the dangers which encircled them, till
+imperceptibly, from the insidious influence of levity, they have pursued
+the very course they began with disclaiming, and followed the very steps
+from which at first they unaffectedly recoiled.'
+
+Instructed and grateful, though incapable of being tranquillised,
+Camilla the next day reached Grosvenor Square long before her fair
+friend had left her downy pillow. Lady Isabella exacted a promise to be
+informed of her proceedings, and, loaded with merited acknowledgments,
+returned to her own mansion.
+
+Camilla took possession of the first room in which she found a pen and
+ink, and wrote instantly to Lavinia a short, rapid, and incoherent
+letter, upon the distraction of her mind at the dreadful calamity she
+had occasioned her Father, and the accumulated horrours to which her
+Mother had returned. She durst not present herself before them uncalled,
+not even by letter; but she would live in the strictest retirement and
+penance till they ordered her home, for which epoch, not more longed
+[for] than dreaded, she besought her sister's mediation.
+
+This sent off, she forced herself to wait upon Miss Margland, who had
+received an answer from Cleves to continue in town till Indiana wrote or
+re-appeared. She was put immediately into uncommon good-humour, by the
+ill success at the journey of Camilla, which she protested was exactly
+what she expected.
+
+Camilla then strove to recollect all she had been told by Lord O'Lerney
+of Mr. Macdersey, and to relate it to Miss Margland, who, pleased and
+surprised, undertook to write it to Sir Hugh.
+
+To three days of dreadful suspense she now saw herself inevitably
+condemned, in waiting an answer from Lavinia: but as her eyes were
+opened to remark, by the admonitions of Lady Isabella, and her attention
+was called back to the earlier cautions of Edgar, her time, though spent
+with misery, hung not upon her unoccupied. She thought herself called
+upon by every tie of friendship, faithfully and courageously to
+represent to Mrs. Berlinton her impropriety of conduct with regard to
+Bellamy, and the reports that were spread abroad to her more general
+disadvantage.
+
+Her reception from that Lady, she had thought, for the first time, cold.
+She had welcomed her, indeed, with an accustomed embrace, but her
+kindness seemed strained, her smile was faint, and the eyes which so
+softly used to second it, were averted.
+
+As soon as they were alone together, Camilla took her hand; but, without
+returning its pressure, Mrs. Berlinton presented her with a new poem for
+her evening's amusement.
+
+Camilla put it down, but while hesitating how to begin, Bellamy was
+announced. She started, and flew away, but returned when he was gone,
+and begged a conference.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton answered certainly; though she looked embarrassed, and
+added not immediately, as she was obliged to dress for the evening.
+
+Camilla entreated she might speak with her before dinner the next day.
+
+To this she received a gentle assent: but no interview at the time
+appointed took place; and when at dinner they met, no notice was taken
+of the neglect.
+
+She now saw she was pointedly avoided. Her courage, however, was called
+upon, her gratitude was indebted for past kindnesses, and her honour
+felt a double engagement. The opportunity therefore she could not obtain
+by request, she resolved to seize by surprise.
+
+Bellamy was again, however, announced; but the moment that, from her own
+chamber, she heard him descend the stairs, she flew to the
+dressing-room, and abruptly entered it.
+
+The surprise she gave was not greater than that she received. Mrs.
+Berlinton, her fine eyes streaming with tears, and her white hands
+uplifted with an air of supplication, was evidently in an act of
+devotion. Camilla drew back, and would have retired, but she hastily
+dried her eyes, and said: 'Miss Tyrold? Do you want me? where's
+Miss--Miss Margland?'
+
+'Ah! my dearest Mrs. Berlinton! my friend, as I had hoped, and by me,
+surely I trust loved for ever,' cried Camilla, throwing her arms round
+her neck, 'why this sorrow? why this distance? why this unkind
+avoidance?'
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, who, at first, had shrunk from her embrace, now fell, in
+trembling agitation, upon her breast. Camilla hoped this was the instant
+to improve; when she appeared to be, herself, calling religion to her
+aid, and when the tenderness of her appeal seemed to bring back a
+movement of her first partiality. 'Suffer, suffer me,' she therefore
+cried, 'to speak to you now! hear me, my dear and amiable friend, with
+the sweetness that first won my affection!'
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, affrighted, drew back, acknowledging herself unhappy;
+but shrinking from all discourse, and starting when Camilla named
+Bellamy, with a confusion she vainly strove to repress.
+
+Unhackneyed in the world as was Camilla, her understanding and sense of
+right stood here in the place of experience, to point out the danger and
+impropriety surrounding her friend; and catching her by the gown, as she
+would have quitted the room, 'Mrs. Berlinton,' she emphatically cried,
+'if you persist in this unhappy, this perilous intercourse, you risk
+your reputation, you risk my sister's peace, you risk even your own
+future condemnation!--O forgive me, forgive me! I see how I have
+affected you--but you would listen to no milder words!'
+
+Mrs. Berlinton had sunk upon a chair, her hands clasped upon her
+forehead, and tears running rapidly down her cheeks. Brought up with
+religious terrours, yet ill instructed in religious principles, the
+dread of future punishment nearly demolished her, though no regular
+creed of right kept her consistently or systematically in any uniform
+exercise of good. But thus forcibly surprised into sudden conscientious
+recollections, she betrayed, rather than opened her heart, and
+acknowledged that she was weeping at a denial she had given to Bellamy;
+who, molested by the impossibility of ever conversing with her
+undisturbed, had entreated her to grant him, from time to time, a few
+hours society, in a peaceful retirement. 'Nor should I--nor could I--'
+she cried, 'refuse him--for I have every reliance in his honour--but
+that the guilty world, ignorant of the purity of our friendship, might
+causelessly alarm my brother for my fame. And this, and the fear of
+any--though so groundless--uneasiness to your sister, makes me resist
+his powerful eloquence, and even my own notions of what is due to our
+exalted league of friendship.'
+
+Camilla listened with horrour to this avowal, yet saw, with compassion,
+that her friend endeavoured to persuade herself she was free from wrong;
+though with censure that she sought to gloss over, rather than
+investigate, every doubt to the contrary: but while fear was predominant
+for the event of such a situation to herself, abhorrence filled her
+whole mind against Bellamy, in every part, every plan, and every
+probability of the business.
+
+'O Mrs. Berlinton!' she cried, 'conquer this terrible infatuation, which
+obscures danger from your sight, and right from your discernment! Mr.
+Bellamy is married; and if you think, yourself, my sister would be hurt
+to know of these unhallowed leagues and bonds, you must be sure, with
+the least reflection, that they are wrong; you too, are married; and if
+Mr. Melmond would join with the world in contemning the extraordinary
+project you mention, you must feel, with the least reflexion, it ought
+not to be granted. Even were you both single, it would be equally
+improper, though not so wide spreading in its mischief. I have committed
+many errours; yet not one of them wilfully, or against conviction:
+nevertheless, the ill consequences that have ensued, tear me at this
+moment with repentant sorrow:--Ah! think then, what you--so tender, so
+susceptible, so feeling, will suffer, if with your apprehensions all
+awake, you listen to any request that may make my sister unhappy, or
+involve your deserving brother in any difficulty or hazard!'
+
+Mrs. Berlinton was now subdued. Touched, terrified, and convinced, she
+embraced Camilla, wept in her arms, and promised to see Bellamy no more.
+
+The next day arrived an answer from Lavinia, long, minute, and
+melancholy, but tenderly affectionate and replete with pity.
+
+'Ah, my sister,' she began, 'we cannot yet meet! Our Mother is in no
+state to bear any added emotion. The firmness of her whole character,
+the fortitude of her whole life, hitherto unbroken by any passion, and
+superior to any misfortune, have both given way, suddenly and
+dreadfully, to the scene following her arrival.'
+
+She then went back to particulars.
+
+Mr. Clykes, she had heard, finding his bill for his own trouble
+positively refused, had conceived the Tyrold family in danger of
+bankruptcy, by the general rumours of the joint claimants of Lionel and
+Clermont; and imagining he had no time to lose, hoped by an arrest to
+frighten their Father to terms, in order to obviate the disgrace of such
+a measure. Their Father would, however, hear of none, nor pay any thing
+above the exact amount of the signed receipts of the various creditors;
+and submitted to the confinement, in preference to applying to any
+friend to be his bail, till he could consult with a lawyer. He was
+already at Winchester, where he had given Clykes a meeting, when the
+writ was served against him. He sent a dispatch to Etherington, to
+prevent any surprise at his not returning, and to desire the affair
+might not travel to Cleves, where Lavinia was then with Sir Hugh. This
+note, addressed to the upper servant, fell into the hands of Mrs. Tyrold
+herself, the next evening, upon her sudden arrival. She had been thus
+unexpectedly brought back by the news of the flight of Bellamy with
+Eugenia: her brother was still ill; but every consideration gave way to
+the maternal; and in the hope to yet rescue her daughter from this
+violator, she set off in a packet which was just sailing. But what, upon
+descending from the chaise, was the horrour of her first news! She went
+on instantly to Winchester, and alighting at an hotel, took a guide and
+went to the place of confinement.
+
+'The meeting that ensued,' continued Lavinia, 'no one witnessed, but
+everyone may imagine. I will not therefore, wound your feelings, my
+dearest Camilla, with even touching upon my own. The impression,
+however, left upon the mind of our poor Mother, I should try vainly to
+disguise, since it has given her a shock that has forced from me the
+opening of this letter.'
+
+She then besought her to take, nevertheless, some comfort, since she had
+the unspeakable satisfaction to inform her that their Father was
+returned to the rectory. He had been liberated, from the writ's being
+withdrawn; though without his consent, without even his knowledge, and
+contrary to his wishes. Nor was it yet ascertained by whom this was
+done, though circumstances allowed no division to their conjectures.
+
+Harry Westwyn had learnt the terrible event in a ride he had
+accidentally taken to Winchester; and, upon returning to Cleves, had
+communicated it, with the most feeling circumspection, to herself. The
+excess of grief with which she had heard him, had seemed to penetrate to
+his quickly sensitive soul, 'for he is yet more amiable,' she added,
+'than his Father's partiality paints him;' they agreed not to name it to
+Sir Hugh; though Harry assured her that no less than five gentlemen in
+the vicinity had already flown to Mr. Tyrold, to conjure to be accepted
+as his bail: but he chose first to consult his lawyer upon the validity
+of the claim made against him. All their care, however, was ineffectual;
+through some of the servants, Sir Hugh was informed of the affair, and
+his affliction was despair. He accused himself as being the cause of
+this evil, from the money he had borrowed for Clermont, which might
+wholly have been avoided, had he followed his brother's advice in
+immediate and severe retrenchments. These, however, he now began, in a
+manner that threatened to rob him of every comfort; and Mr. Westwyn was
+so much affected by his distress, that, to relieve him, at least, from
+the expence of two guests and their servants, he instantly took leave,
+promising nevertheless, to yet see him again, before he returned for the
+rest of his days to his native home. In a few hours after the departure
+of these gentlemen, news arrived that Mr. Tyrold was again at the
+rectory. Mr. Clykes had suddenly sent his receipt, in full of all
+demands, and then set off for London.
+
+'There cannot be a doubt this was the deed of the generous Mr. Westwyn,
+in compact with his deserving Son,' continued Lavinia; 'they have been
+traced to Winchester; but we none of us know where, at present, to
+direct to them. The delight of my Uncle at this act of his worthy old
+friend, has extremely revived him. My Father is much dissatisfied the
+wretched Clykes should thus be paid all his fraudulent claims; but my
+Mother and my Uncle would, I believe, scarce have supported life under
+his longer confinement.'
+
+The letter thus concluded.
+
+     'My Mother, when first she heard you were in town, was herself
+     going to send for you; but when she understood that Miss Margland
+     was with you, and you lived in utter seclusion from company, she
+     said; "Since she is safe, I had rather not yet see her." Our
+     beloved Father acquiesces, for he thinks you, at present, too much
+     shaken, as well as herself, for so agitating an interview, till her
+     mind is restored to its usual firmness. Judge then, my sister,
+     since even he is for the delay, if your Lavinia can gather courage
+     to plead against it?
+
+     'You know, my dearest Camilla, her extreme and tender fondness; you
+     cannot, therefore, doubt, but her displeasure will soon pass away.
+     But when, to the dreadful pangs of finding the hapless fate of
+     Eugenia irremediable, was added the baneful sight of an adored
+     Husband in custody, you cannot wonder such complicate shocks should
+     have disordered her frame, and taught her,--even her, as my
+     imcomparable Father has just said to me, "that always to be
+     superior to calamity, demands a mental strength beyond the frail
+     texture of the human composition; though to wish, and to try for
+     it, shews we have _that within_, which aspires at a higher state,
+     and prepares us for fuller perfection".'
+
+     'Can I better finish my letter than with words such as these?
+     Adieu, then, my dear sister, I hope soon to write more cheerful
+     tidings.
+
+     'Our poor Mother is gone to Belfont. What a meeting again there!
+
+     LAVINIA TYROLD.'
+
+A wish for death, immediate death, in common with every youthful
+mourner, in the first paroxysm of violent sorrow, was the sole sensation
+which accompanied the reading, or remained after the finishing of this
+letter, with Camilla. 'Here,' she cried, falling prostrate, 'here might
+I but at once expire! close these unworthy eyes, forbidden to raise
+themselves to the authors of my existence! finish my short and culpable
+career, forgotten--since no longer cherished--by the parents I have
+offended--by the Mother who no longer wishes to see me!'
+
+She laid down her head, and her sight became dim; a convulsive
+shivering, from feelings over-strained, and nerves dreadfully shattered,
+seized her; she sighed short and quick, and thought her prayer already
+accomplishing; but the delusion soon ceased; she found life still in its
+vigour, though bereft of its joy; and death no nearer to her frame, for
+being called upon by her wishes.
+
+In the heaviness of disappointment, 'I have lived,' she cried, 'too
+long, and yet I cannot die! I am become an alien to my family, and a
+burthen to myself! ordered from my home by my Father, lest my sight
+should be destructive to my Mother--while my sister durst not even plead
+for me.... O happy Edgar! how great has been thy escape not to have
+taken for thy wife this excommunicated wretch!'--
+
+To live thus, seemed to her impossible; to pass even the day in such
+wretchedness she believed impracticable. Any, every period appeared to
+her preferable, and in the desperation of her heart, she determined
+instantly to pursue her Mother to Belfont; and there, by the gentle
+intercession of Eugenia, to obtain her pardon, or, which she thought
+immediately would follow its refusal, to sink to death at her feet.
+
+Relieved from the intenseness of her agony by this plan, and ever eager
+to pursue the first idea that arose, she flew to borrow from Mrs.
+Berlinton her post-chaise for the next morning, and to supplicate that
+Miss Margland would accompany her to Belfont; whence, if she missed Mrs.
+Tyrold, they could easily return the same day, as the distance was not
+more than thirteen miles.
+
+The chaise was accorded promptly by Mrs. Berlinton, and no regret
+expressed at the uncertainty of Camilla whether or not she should
+return; but Miss Margland, though burning with curiosity to see Eugenia
+as Mrs. Bellamy, would not quit town, from continual expectation of some
+news of Indiana.
+
+At an early hour the following morning, and feeling as if suspended but
+by a thread between life and death, Camilla set off for Belfont.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+_The Reverse of a Mask_
+
+
+The plan of Camilla was to stop within twenty yards of the house of
+Bellamy, and then send for Molly Mill. But till she gave this direction
+to the driver, she was not aware of the inconvenience of being without a
+servant, which had not previously occurred either to Mrs. Berlinton or
+herself. The man could not leave his horses, and she was compelled to
+let him draw up to the gate. There, when he rang at a bell, her terrour,
+lest she should suddenly encounter Mrs. Tyrold, made her bid him open
+the chaise door, that she might get out and walk on, before he enquired
+for Molly. But, in stepping from the carriage, she discerned, over a
+paling at some distance, Eugenia herself, alone, slowly walking, and her
+head turned another way.
+
+Every personal, and even every filial idea, was buried instantly in this
+sight. The disastrous state of this beloved and unhappy sister, and her
+own peculiar knowledge of the worthless character of the wretch who had
+betrayed her into his snares, penetrated her with an anguish that took
+thought from all else; and darting through the great gate, and thence
+through a smaller one, which opened to the spot where she saw her
+walking, she flew to her in a speechless transport of sorrow, folded her
+in her arms, and sobbed upon her shoulder.
+
+Starting, shaking, amazed, Eugenia looked at her; 'Good Heaven!' she
+exclaimed, 'is it my Sister?--Is it Camilla?--Do I, indeed, see one so
+dear to me?' And, too weak to sustain herself, she sunk, though not
+fainting, upon the turf.
+
+Camilla could not articulate a syllable. The horrour she had conceived
+against Bellamy chilled all attempt at consolation, and her own misery
+which, the preceding moment, seemed to be crushing the springs of life,
+vanished in the agonized affection with which she felt the misfortunes
+of her sister.
+
+Eugenia soon recovered, and rising, and holding her by the hand, yet
+seeming to refuse herself the emotion of returning her embraces, said,
+with a faint effort to smile; 'You have surprised me, indeed, my dear
+Camilla, and convicted me to myself of my vain philosophy. I had thought
+I should never more be moved thus again. But I see now, the affections
+are not so speedily to be all vanquished.'
+
+The melancholy conveyed by this idea of believed apathy, in a young
+creature so innocent, and but just dawning into life, still beyond
+speech, and nearly beyond sufferance, affected Camilla, who hanging over
+her, sighed out: 'My dearest!... dearest Eugenia!'
+
+'And what is it has brought to me this unexpected, but loved sight? Does
+Mr. Bellamy know you are here?'
+
+'No,' she answered, shuddering at his name.
+
+Eugenia looked pensive, looked distressed; and casting down her eyes and
+hesitating, with a deep sigh said: 'I, ... I have not the trinkets for
+my dear Sister ... Mr. Bellamy ...' she stopt.
+
+Called to her sad self by this shock, of which she strove to repress the
+emotion, Camilla recollected her own 'almost blunted purpose[6],' and
+fearfully asked if their Mother were yet at Belfont.
+
+[Footnote 6: Hamlet]
+
+'Ah, no!' she answered, clasping her hands, and leaning her head upon
+her sister's neck: 'She is gone!--The day before yesterday she was with
+me,--with me only for one hour!--yet to pass with her such another, I
+think, my dear Camilla, would soon lead me where I might learn a better
+philosophy than that I so vainly thought I had already acquired here!'
+
+Camilla, struck with awe, ventured not even at an enquiry; and they
+both, for some little time, walked on in silence.
+
+'Did she name to you,' at length, in broken accents, she asked, 'did she
+name to you, my Eugenia, ... the poor, banished ... Camilla?----'
+
+'Banished? No. How banished?'
+
+'She did not mention me?'
+
+'No. She came to me but upon one subject. She failed in her purpose, ...
+and left me.'
+
+A sigh that was nearly a groan finished this short little speech.
+
+'Ah, Heaven! my Eugenia,' cried Camilla, now in agony unresisted, 'tell
+me, then, what passed! what new disappointment had my unhappy Mother to
+sustain? And how, and by what cruel fatality, has it fallen to your
+lot ... even to yours ... to suffer her wishes to fail?'
+
+'You know nothing, then,' said Eugenia, after a pause, 'of her view--her
+errand hither?'
+
+'Nothing; but that to see you brought her not only hither, but to
+England.'
+
+'Blessed may she be!' cried Eugenia, fervently, 'and rewarded where
+rewards are just, and are permanent!'
+
+Camilla zealously joined in the prayer, yet besought to know if she
+might not be informed of the view to which she alluded?
+
+'We must go, then,' said Eugenia, 'into the house; my poor frame is yet
+feebler than my mind, and I cannot support it unaided while I make such
+a relation.'
+
+Camilla, affrighted, now gave up her request; but the generous Eugenia
+would not leave her in suspense. They went, therefore, to a parlour,
+where, shutting the doors and windows, she said, 'I must be concise, for
+both our sakes; and when you understand me, we must talk instantly of
+other things.'
+
+Camilla could give only a tacit promise; but her air shewed she would
+hold it sacred as any bond.
+
+'The idea which brought over this inestimable Parent, and which brought
+her, at a moment when she knew me to be alone, to this sad house, these
+sad arms ... Camilla! how shall I speak it? It was to exonerate me from
+my vows, as forced! to annul all my engagements, as compulsatory! and to
+restore me again ... O, Camilla! Camilla! to my Parents, my Sisters, my
+Uncle, my dearly-loved Cleves!'
+
+She gasped almost convulsively; yet though Camilla now even conjured her
+to say no more, went on: 'A proposal such as this, pressed upon me by
+one whose probity and honour hold all calamity at nought, if opposed to
+the most minute deviation from right--a proposal such as this ... ah!
+let me not go back to the one terrible half instant of demur! It was
+heart-rending, it was killing! I thought myself again in the bosom of my
+loved family!'--
+
+'And is it so utterly impossible? And can it not yet be effected?'--
+
+'No, my dear Sister, no! The horrible scenes I must go through in a
+public trial for such a purpose--the solemn vows I must set aside, the
+re-iterated promises I must break,----no, my dear Sister, no!... And
+now, we will speak of this no more.'
+
+Camilla knew too well her firmness, her enthusiasm to perform whatever
+she conceived to be her duty, to enter into any contest. Yet to see her
+thus self devoted, where even her upright Mother, and pious Father,
+those patterns of resignation to every heaven-inflicted sorrow, thought
+her ties were repealed by the very villainy which had formed them,
+seemed more melancholy, and yet harder for submission, than her first
+seizure by the worthless Bellamy.
+
+'And how bore my poor Mother ... my poor unfortunate Mother! destined
+thus to woes of every sort, though from children who adore her!--how
+bore she the deprivation of a hope that had brought her so far?'
+
+'Like herself! nobly! when once it was decided, and she saw that though,
+upon certain avowals, the law might revoke my plighted faith, it could
+not abrogate the scruples of my conscience. She thinks them
+overstrained, but she knows them to be sincere, and permitted them,
+therefore, to silence her. Unfit to be seen by any others, she hurried
+then away. And then, Camilla, began my trial! Indeed I thought, when she
+had left me, ... when my arms no more embraced her honoured knees, and
+neither her blessings, nor her sorrows soothed or wounded my ears, I
+thought I might defy all evil to assault, all woe to afflict me ever
+again! that my eyes were exhausted of every tear, and my heart was
+emptied of all power of future feeling. I seemed suddenly quite
+hardened;--transformed I thought to stone, as senseless, as immovable,
+and as cold!'
+
+The sensations of Camilla were all such as she durst not utter; but
+Eugenia, assuming some composure; added, 'Of this and of me now
+enough--speak, my dear Sister, of yourself. How have you been enabled to
+come hither? And what could you mean by saying you were banished?'
+
+'Alas! my dearest Eugenia, if my unhappy situation is unknown to you,
+why should I agitate you with new pain? my Mother, I find, spared you;
+and not only you, but me--though I have wrung her heart, tortured it by
+a sight never to be obliterated from her memory--she would not rob me of
+my beloved sister's regard; nor even name me, lest the altered tone of
+her voice should make you say, Of what Camilla does my Mother speak?'
+
+Eugenia, with earnest wonder, begged an explanation; but when Camilla
+found her wholly uninformed of the history of their Father's
+confinement, she recoiled from giving her such a shock: yet having gone
+too far entirely to recede, she rested the displeasure of their Mother
+upon the debts, and the dealings with a usurer; both sufficiently
+repugnant to the strictness and nobleness of Mrs. Tyrold, to seem ample
+justification of her displeasure.
+
+Eugenia entered into the distresses of her sister, as if exempt herself
+from all suffering: and Camilla, thus commiserating and commiserated,
+knew now how to tear herself away; for though Eugenia pressed not her
+stay, she turned pale, when a door opened, a clock struck, or any thing
+seemed to prognosticate a separation; and looked as if to part with her
+were death.
+
+At length, however, the lateness of the day forced more of resolution.
+But when Camilla then rang to give orders for the carriage, the footman
+said it had been gone more than two hours. The postillion, being left
+without any directions, thought it convenient to suppose he was done
+with; and knowing Camilla had no authority, and his lady no inclination
+to chide him, had given in her little packet, and driven off, without
+enquiry.
+
+Far from repining at this mixture of impertinence and carelessness,
+Camilla would have rejoiced in an accident that seemed to invite her
+stay, had not her sister seemed more startled than pleased by it. She
+begged, therefore, that a post chaise might be ordered; and Molly Mill,
+the only servant to whom the mistress of the house appeared willing to
+speak, received the commission. At sight of Camilla, Molly had cried
+bitterly, and beginning 'O Miss!--' seemed entering into some
+lamentation and detail; but Eugenia, checking her, half whispered: 'Good
+Molly, remember what you promised!'
+
+When Molly came back, she said that there were no horses at Belfont, and
+would be none till the next morning.
+
+The sisters involuntarily congratulated one another upon this accident,
+though they reciprocated a sigh, that to necessity alone they should owe
+their lengthened intercourse.
+
+'But, my dear mistress,' cried Molly, 'there's a lad that I know very
+well, for I always see him when I go of an errand, that's going to
+Salisbury; and he says he must go through Etherington, and if you've any
+thing you want to send he'll take it for you; and he can bring any thing
+back, for he shall be here again to morrow, for he goes post.'
+
+Eugenia, sending away Molly, said, 'Why should you not seize such an
+opportunity to address a few lines to our dear Mother? I may then have
+the satisfaction to see her answer: and if, ... as I cannot doubt, she
+tells you to return home with Miss Margland;--for she will not, I am
+sure, let you travel about alone;--what a relief will it be to me to
+know the distresses of my beloved sister are terminated! I shall paint
+your meeting in my "mind's eye," see you again restored to the sunshine
+of her fondness, and while away my solitary languor with reveries far
+more soothing than any that I have yet experienced at Belfont.'
+
+Camilla embraced her generous Sister; and always readiest for what was
+speediest, wrote these lines, directed
+
+     _To Miss_ TYROLD.
+
+     I cannot continue silent, yet to whom may I address myself? I dare
+     not apply to my Father--I scarce dare even think of my
+     Mother--Encompassed with all of guilt with which imprudence could
+     ensnare me, my courage is gone with my happiness! which way may I
+     then turn? In pity to a wretched sister, drop, O Lavinia, at the
+     feet of her I durst not name, but whom I revere, if possible, even
+     more than I have offended, this small and humble memorial of my
+     unhappy existence--my penitence, my supplication, my indescribable,
+     though merited anguish!
+
+     CAMILLA.
+
+Could the two sisters, even in this melancholy state, have continued
+together, they felt that yet from tender sympathy, consolation might
+revisit their bosoms. The day closed in; but they could not bear to
+part; and though, from hour to hour, they pronounced an adieu, they
+still sat on, talked on, and found a balm in their restored intercourse,
+so healing and so sweet, that the sun, though they hailed not its beams,
+rose while they were yet repeating Good Night!
+
+They then thought it too late to retire, mutually agreeing with how much
+greater facility they might recover their lost rest, than an opportunity
+such as this for undisturbed conversation.
+
+Every minute of this endearing commerce made separation seem harder; and
+the answer for which they waited from Etherington, anxiously and
+fearfully as it was expected, so whiled away the minutes, that it was
+noon, and no chaise had been ordered, when they heard one driving up to
+the house.
+
+Alarmed, they listened to know what it portended. 'Mr. Bellamy,' said
+Eugenia, in a low voice, 'scarce ever comes home at this hour.'
+
+'Can it be my Mother herself?' cried Camilla.
+
+In a few minutes, however, Eugenia looked pale, ''Tis his step!' she
+whispered; and presently Bellamy opened the door.
+
+Obliged to acknowledge his entrance, Camilla arose; but her parched lips
+and clammy mouth made her feel as if his sight had given her a fever,
+and she attempted not to force any speech.
+
+He did not seem surprized at seeing her, asked how she did, rather
+cavalierly than civilly: rang the bell, and gave various orders;
+addressed scarce a word to his wife, and walked whistling about the
+room.
+
+A change so gross and quick from the obsequious Bellamy Camilla had
+hitherto seen, was beyond even her worst expectations, and she conceived
+as low an opinion of his understanding and his manners, as of his
+morals.
+
+Eugenia kept her eyes rivetted to the ground; and though she tried, from
+time to time, to say something to them both, evidently required her
+utmost fortitude to remain in the room.
+
+At length; 'Miss Camilla,' he said, 'I suppose you know Miss Margland is
+gone?'
+
+'Gone? whither?--how gone?'
+
+'Why home. That is to her home, as she thinks it, Cleves. She set off
+this morning with the light.'
+
+Camilla, astonished, was now called forth from her taciturnity; 'What
+possibly,' she cried, 'can have induced this sudden journey? Has my
+uncle sent for her?'
+
+'No; your uncle has nothing to do with it. She had a letter last night
+from Mrs. Macdersey, with one enclosed for Sir Hugh, to beg pardon and
+so forth; and this morning she set off to carry it.'
+
+Camilla was confounded. Why Miss Margland had not, at least, called at
+Belfont to enquire if she would proceed with her, was beyond all her
+conjecture.
+
+Soon after, Bellamy's servant came in with a letter for Camilla, which
+had arrived after she left town, and was given to him by Mrs.
+Berlinton's butler. She retired into the next room to read it, where, to
+her great consternation, she found it was from Jacob, and had been
+written the day of Mr. Tyrold's arrest, though, as it was sent by a
+private hand, it had only now arrived. 'Things going,' he said, 'so bad
+at Cleves, on account of so many misfortunes, his master was denying
+himself all his natural comforts, and in particular he had sent to
+un-order a new pipe of Madeira, saying he would go without; though, as
+Miss might remember, it was the very wine the doctors had ordered for
+his stomach. This all the servants had taken so to heart, that they had
+resolved to buy it among 'em, and get it privately laid in, and not let
+his honour know but what it was always the same, till he had drunk so
+much he could not help himself. For this, they were to join, according
+to their wages or savings; Now I' says Jacob, 'being, by his gud
+honnur's genrosty, the ritchist ammung us, fur my kalling, wants to do
+the most, after nixt to the buttlur and huskippir, so, der Miss, awl
+I've gut beng in the funs, witch I cant sil out withowt los, if you can
+lit me have the munny fur the hurs, without ullconvenince, til Miss Geny
+that was can pay it, I shul be mutch obbleggd, poor Miss Geny nut hawing
+of a fardin, witch wil be a gret fevur to, Madm,
+
+     Yur humbbel survent til deth
+
+     JACCUB MORD.'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+So touching a mark of the fond gratitude of the Cleves' servants to
+their kind master, mingled tenderness, in defiance of all horrour, in
+the tears of Camilla; but her total inability to satisfy the just claims
+of Jacob, since now her resource even in Eugenia failed, with the grief
+of either defeating his worthy project, or making it lastingly hurtful
+to him, was amongst the severest strokes which had followed her ill
+advised schemes. To proclaim such an additional debt, was a shame from
+which she shrunk; yet to fly immediately to Cleves, and try to soothe
+her oppressed uncle, was an idea that still seemed gifted with some
+power to soothe herself. Whither indeed else could she now go? she had
+no longer either carriage or protectress in town; and what she gathered
+of the re-admission of Bellamy to Grosvenor-square, made the cautions
+and opinions of Edgar burst forcibly upon her mind, to impede, though
+most mournfully, all future return to Mrs. Berlinton.
+
+A pliancy so weak, or so wilful, seemed to announce in that lady an
+almost determined incorrigibility in wrong, however it might be checked,
+in its progress, by a mingled love of right, and a fear of ill
+consequences.
+
+'Ah Edgar!' she cried, 'had I trusted you as I ought, from the moment
+of your generous declaration--had my confidence been as firm in your
+kindness as in your honour, what misery had I been saved!--from this
+connexion--from my debts--from every wide-spreading mischief!--I could
+then have erred no more, for I should have thought but of your
+approvance!'
+
+These regrets were, as usual, resuming their absorbing powers;--for all
+other evils seemed fluctuating, but here misery was stationary; when the
+voice of Bellamy, speaking harshly to his unhappy wife, and some words
+she unavoidably caught, by which she found he was requesting that she
+would demand money of Sir Hugh, made her conclude him not aware he was
+overheard, and force herself back to the parlour. But his inattention
+upon her return was so near rudeness, that she soon felt convinced Mrs.
+Berlinton had acquainted him with her remonstrances and ill opinion: he
+seemed in guilty fear of letting her converse even a moment with
+Eugenia; and presently, though with an air of pretended unconcern, said:
+'You have no commands for the chaise I came in, Miss Camilla?'
+
+'No, Sir, ... What chaise?... Why?...' she stammered.
+
+'It's difficult sometimes to get one at this place; and these horses are
+very fresh. I bid them stay till they asked you.'
+
+This was so palpable a hint for her to depart, that she could not but
+answer she would make use of it, when she had taken leave of her sister;
+whom she now looked at with emotions near despair at her fate, and with
+difficulty restrained even its most unbridled expressions. But Bellamy
+kept close, and no private conference could take place. Eugenia merely
+said: 'Which way, my dear sister, shall you go?'
+
+'I ... I am not, fixed--to ... to Cleves, I believe,' answered she,
+scarce knowing herself what she said.
+
+'I am very glad of it,' she replied, 'for the sake of my poor--' she
+found her voice falter, and did not pronounce 'uncle;' but added, 'as
+Miss Margland has already left London, I think you right to go thither
+at once; it may abridge many difficulties; and with post-horses, you may
+be there before it is dark.'
+
+They then embraced tenderly, but parted without any further speech, and
+she set off rather mechanically than designedly for Cleves.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+_A New View of an old Mansion_
+
+
+Camilla, for some time, bestowed no thought upon what she was doing, nor
+whither she was going. A scene so dreadful as that she now quitted, and
+a character of such utter unworthiness as that with which her sister for
+life was tied, absorbed her faculties, and nearly broke her heart.
+
+When she stopt, however, at Bagshot, for fresh horses, the obligation of
+giving directions to others, made her think of herself; and, bewildered
+with uncertainty whether the step she took were right or wrong, she
+regretted she had not, at least, desired to stay till the answer arrived
+from Etherington. Yet her journey had the sanction of Eugenia's
+concurrence; and Eugenia seemed to her oracular.
+
+When she came upon the cross road leading from Winchester to Cleves, and
+felt her quick approach to the spot so loved yet dreaded, the horses
+seemed to her to fly. Twenty times she called out to the driver not to
+hurry; who as often assured her the bad roads prevented any haste; she
+wanted to form some appropriate plan and speech for every emergence; but
+she could suggest none for any. She was now at the feet of her Mother,
+now kissing the hands of her Father, now embraced again by her fond
+uncle;--and now rejected by them all. But while her fancy was at work
+alternately to soothe and to torture her, the park lodge met her eyes,
+with still no resolution taken.
+
+Vehemently she stopt the chaise. To drive in through the park would call
+a general attention, and she wished, ere her arrival were announced, to
+consult alone with Lavinia. She resolved, therefore, to get out of the
+carriage, and run by a private path, to a small door at the back of the
+house, whence she could glide to the chamber commonly appropriated to
+her sister.
+
+She told the postillion to wait, and alighting, walked quick and
+fearfully towards the lodge.
+
+She passed through the park-gate for foot passengers without notice from
+the porter. It was twilight. She saw no one; and rejoiced in the general
+vacancy. Trembling, but with celerity, she '_skimmed_,' like her
+celebrated name-sake, the turf; and annoyed only by the shadows of the
+trees, which all, as first they caught her eye, seemed the precursors
+of the approach of Mrs. Tyrold, speedily reached the mansion: but when
+she came to the little door by which she meant to enter, she found it
+fastened.
+
+To the front door she durst not go, from the numerous chances by which
+she might surprise some of the family in the hall: and to present
+herself at the servant's gate would have an appearance degrading and
+clandestine.
+
+She recollected, at last, the sash-door of a bow-window belonging to a
+room that was never occupied but in summer. Thither she went, and
+knowing the spring by which it could be opened on the outside, let
+herself into the house.
+
+With steps not to be heard, and scarce breathing, she got thence into a
+long stone passage, whence she meant to mount the back stairs.
+
+She was relieved by not meeting anyone in the way, though surprised to
+hear no foot-steps about the house, and no voices from any of the
+apartments.
+
+Cautiously she went on, looking round at every step, to avoid any sudden
+encounter; but when she came to the bed-chamber gallery, she saw that
+the door of the room of Sir Hugh, by which she must necessarily pass,
+was wide open.
+
+It was possible he might be in it: she had not courage to pass; her
+sight, thus unprepared, after so many heavy evils, might be too
+affecting for his weak frame. She turned short round, and entered a
+large apartment at the head of the stairs, called the billiard-room,
+where she resolved to wait and watch ere she ventured any further.
+
+Its aspect was to the front of the house; she stole gently to a window,
+whence she thought the melancholy of her own mind pervaded the park.
+None of her uncle's horses were in sight; no one was passing to and fro;
+and she looked vainly even for the house-dog who ordinarily patrolled
+before the mansion.
+
+She ventured to bend forwarder, to take a view of the side wings; these,
+however, presented not any sight more exhilarating nor more animated.
+Nothing was in motion, no one was visible, not even a fire blazed
+cheerfulness.
+
+She next strove to catch a glance of the windows belonging to the
+chamber of Eugenia; but her sigh, though sad, was without surprise to
+see their shutters shut. Those of Indiana were closed also. 'How
+mournfully,' cried she, 'is all changed! what of virtues are gone with
+Eugenia! what of beauty with Indiana! the one so constantly interesting!
+the other looking always so lovely!'--
+
+But deeper still was her sigh, since mingled with self-reproach, to
+perceive her own chamber also shut up. 'Alas!' she cried, 'my poor uncle
+considers us all as dead to him!' She durst not lean sufficiently
+forward to examine the drawing-room, in which she concluded the family
+assembled; but she observed, with wonder, that even the library was not
+open, though it was still too light for candles; and Dr. Orkborne, who
+usually sat there, from the forgetfulness of application, was the last
+to demand them.
+
+The fear of discovery was now combated by an anxiety to see some
+one,--any one, ... and she returned to the passage. All there was still
+quiet, and she hazarded gliding past the open door, though without
+daring to look into the room; but when she came to the chamber of
+Lavinia, which she softly entered, all was dark, and it was evidently
+not in present use.
+
+This was truly distressful. She concluded her sister was returned to
+Etherington, and knew not to whom to apply for counsel or mediation. She
+no longer, however, feared meeting her parents, who certainly had not
+made her sister quit Cleves without themselves; and, after a little
+hesitation, relying upon the ever sure lenity of her uncle, she
+determined to cast herself upon his kindness: but first to send in a
+short note, to avoid giving him any surprise.
+
+She returned down the gallery, meaning to apply for pen and ink to the
+first person she could find: she could only, she knew, meet with a
+friend; unless, by ill fortune, she should encounter Miss Margland, the
+way to whose apartment she sedulously shunned.
+
+No longer, however, quite so cautious, she stopt near the chamber of Sir
+Hugh, and convinced by the stillness it was empty, could not resist
+stepping into the apartment.
+
+It looked despoiled and forsaken. Nothing was in its wonted order; his
+favourite guns hung not over the chimney-piece; the corners of the room
+were emptied of his sticks; his great chair was in a new place; no
+cushions for his dogs were near the fire; the bedstead was naked.
+
+She now felt petrified; she sunk on the floor, to ejaculate a prayer for
+his safety, but knew not how to rise again, for terrour; nor which way
+next to turn, nor what even to conjecture.
+
+Thus she remained, till suspense grew worse than certainty, and she
+forced herself from the room to seek some explanation. It was possible
+the whole family residence might be changed to the back front of the
+house. She descended the stairs with almost equal apprehension of
+meeting any one or seeing no one. The stone passage was now nearly dark.
+It was always the first part of the house that was lighted, as its
+windows were small and high: but no preparations were now making for
+that purpose. She went to the house-keeper's room, which was at the foot
+of the stairs she had descended. The door was shut, and she could not
+open it. She tried repeatedly, but vainly, to be heard by soft taps and
+whisperings; no one answered.
+
+Amazed, confounded, she turned slowly another away; not a soul was in
+sight, not a sound within hearing. Every thing looked desolate, all the
+family seemed to be vanished.
+
+Insensibly, yet irresistibly, she now moved on towards the drawing-room.
+The door was shut. She hesitated whether or not to attempt it. She
+listened. She hoped to catch the voice of her uncle: but all was
+inviolably still.
+
+This was the only place of assembling in the evening; but her uncle
+might have dropt asleep, and she would not hazard startling him with her
+presence. She would sooner go to the hall at once, and be announced in
+the common way by a servant.
+
+But what was her astonishment in coming to the hall, to find neither
+servant, light nor fire? and the marble pavement covered with trunks,
+packing mats, straw, ropes, and boxes? Terrified and astonished, she
+thought herself walking in her sleep. She could combine no ideas, either
+good or bad, to account for such a scene, and she looked at it
+bewildered and incredulous.
+
+After a long hesitation, spent in wonder rather than thought, she at
+length determined to enter the breakfast parlour, and ring the bell:
+when the distant sound of a carriage, that was just entering the park,
+made her shut herself into the room, hastily, but silently.
+
+It advanced rapidly; she trembled; it was surely, she thought, her
+Mother.
+
+When it drove up to the portico, and she heard the house-bell ring, she
+instinctively barred her door; but finding no one approach to the call,
+while the bell was impatiently re-rung, her strong emotions of
+expectation were taking her again into the hall: but as her hand was
+upon the lock of the door, a light glimmered through the key hole. She
+heard some step advancing, and precipitately drew back.
+
+The hall-door was now opened, and a man enquired for a young lady just
+come from Alresford.
+
+'There's no young lady here at all,' was the answer, in the voice of
+Jacob.
+
+Finding it only her own driver, she ventured out; crying 'O Jacob! where
+is my dear uncle?'
+
+Jacob was, at first, incapable of all answer, through surprise at her
+strange appearance; but then said, 'O Miss Camilla! you'll go nigh to
+break your good heart when you knows it all! But how, you've got into
+the house is what I can't guess; but I wish, for my poor master's sake,
+it had been before now!'
+
+Horrour crept through every vein of Camilla, in the explanation she
+awaited of this fearful mystery. She motioned to the driver to stay,
+returned back to the parlour, and beckoned, for she could not speak, to
+Jacob to follow her.
+
+When he came, and, shutting the door, was beginning a diffuse
+lamentation, eagerness to avert lengthened suspense recovered her voice,
+and she passionately exclaimed: 'Jacob! in two words, where is my
+uncle?--Is he well?'
+
+'Why, yes, Miss Camilla, considering--' he began; but Camilla, whose
+fears had been fatal, interrupted him with fervent thanksgiving, till
+she was called back from joy by the following words:
+
+'He's gone away Miss Camilla! gone Lord knows where! given up all his
+grand house-keeping, turned off almost all his poor servants, left this
+fine place, to have it let to whoever will hire it, and is going to
+live, he says, in some poor little lodging, till he can scrape together
+wherewithal to pay off every thing for your papa.'
+
+A thunder-bolt that had instantly destroyed her, would gratefully have
+been received, in preference to this speech, by Camilla, who, casting up
+her hands and eyes, exclaimed: 'Then am I the most detestable, as well
+as the most wretched of human beings! My Father I have imprisoned!--my
+Uncle I have turned from his house and home! and for thee, O my
+Mother!--this is the reception I have prepared!'
+
+Jacob tried to console her; but his account was only added torture.
+
+The very instant he told her, that his master had received the news of
+the arrest of Mr. Tyrold, he determined upon this violent plan; and
+though the so speedy release, through the generosity of Mr. Westwyn, had
+exceedingly calmed his first emotions, he would not change his purpose,
+and protested he would never indulge himself in peace nor comfort more,
+till he had cleared off their joint debts; of which he attributed the
+whole fault to himself, from having lived up to the very verge of his
+yearly income, when he ought, he said, considering there were so many
+young people, to have always kept a few odd sums at hand for accidents.
+'We all did what we could,' continued Jacob, 'to put him off from such a
+thing, but all to no purpose; but if you'd been here, Miss Camilla,
+you'd have done more with him than all of us put together: but he called
+Miss Lavinia and all of us up to him, and said to us, I won't have
+nobody tell this to my poor little girl, meaning you, Miss Camilla, till
+I've got somewhere settled and comfortable; because of her kind heart,
+says he.'
+
+Tenderness so partial, at so suffering an instant, almost killed
+Camilla. 'O Jacob,' she cried, 'where is now my dear generous uncle? I
+will follow him in this chaise (rushing out as she spoke) I will be his
+servant, his nurse, and attend him from morning to night!'
+
+She hurried into the carriage as she spoke, and bade him give directions
+to the postillion. But when she heard he was, at present, only at
+Etherington, whence he was seeking a new abode, her head drooped, and
+she burst into tears.
+
+Jacob remained, he said, alone, to take care of all the things, and to
+shew the place to such as might come.
+
+Miss Margland had been at the house about three hours ago; and had met
+Sir Hugh, who had come over, to give directions about what he would have
+packed up; and he had read a letter from Miss Indy that was, and had
+forgiven her; but he was sore vexed Miss Margland had come without Miss
+Camilla; only she said Miss Camilla was at Mrs. Bellamy's, and she did
+not call, because she thought it would be better to go back again, and
+see more about Miss Indy, and so bring Miss Camilla next time; so she
+wheedled his master to spare the chaise again, and let her go off
+directly to settle every thing to Miss Indy's mind.
+
+Camilla now repented she had not returned to Mrs. Berlinton's, there,
+notwithstanding all objections, to have waited her recall; since there
+her parents still believed her, and thence, under the protection of
+Miss Margland, would in all probability summon her. To present herself,
+after this barbarous aggravation of the calamities she had caused,
+undemanded and unforgiven at Etherington, she thought impossible. She
+enquired if, by passing the night at Cleves, she might have any chance
+of seeing her uncle the next day. Jacob answered, no; but that Mr.
+Tyrold himself, with a gentleman from Winchester, who thought of hiring
+the house, were to be there early in the morning to take a survey of the
+premises.
+
+A meeting, thus circumstanced, with her Father, at a moment when he came
+upon so direful a business, as parting with a place of which she had
+herself occasioned the desertion, seemed to her insupportable: and she
+resolved to return immediately to Belfont, to see there if her answer
+from Lavinia contained any new directions; and if not, to again go to
+London, and await final commands; without listening ever more to any
+hopes, projects, or judgments of her own.
+
+Beseeching the worthy Jacob to pardon her non-payment, with every kind
+assurance that her uncle should know all his goodness, she told the
+postillion to take her to Belfont.
+
+He could go no further, he said, and that but a foot pace, than to
+Alresford. Jacob marvelled, but blessed her, and Camilla, ejaculating,
+'Adieu, dear happy Cleves!' was driven out of the park.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+_A Last Resource_
+
+
+To leave thus a spot where she had experienced such felicity; to see it
+naked and forlorn, despoiled of its hospitality, bereft of its
+master,--all its faithful old servants unrewarded dismissed; in disgrace
+to have re-entered its pales, and in terrour to quit them;--to fly even
+the indulgent Father, whose tenderness had withstood every evil with
+which errour and imprudence could assail him, set her now all at war
+with herself, and gave her sensations almost maddening. She reviewed her
+own conduct without mercy; and though misery after misery had followed
+every failing, all her sufferings appeared light to her repentant sense
+of her criminality; for as criminal alone, she could consider what had
+inflicted misfortunes upon persons so exemplary.
+
+She arrived at Alresford so late, with the return horses, that she was
+forced to order a room there for the night.
+
+Though too much occupied to weigh well her lonely and improper
+situation, at an inn, and at such hours, she was too uneasy to go to
+bed, and too miserable for sleep. She sat up, without attempting to
+read, write, or employ herself, patrolling her chamber in mournful
+rumination.
+
+Nearly as soon as it was light, she proceeded, and arrived at the house
+of Bellamy as the servants were opening the window-shutters.
+
+Fearfully she asked who was at home; and hearing only their mistress,
+sent for Molly Mill, and enquired for the answer from Etherington; but
+the lad had not yet brought any. She begged her to run to the inn, to
+know what had detained him; and then, ordering the chaise to wait, went
+to her sister.
+
+Eugenia was gently rejoiced to see her, though evidently with encreased
+personal unhappiness. Camilla would fain have spared her the history of
+the desertion of Cleves; but it was an act that in its own nature must
+be public; and she had no other way to account for her so speedy return.
+
+Eugenia heard it with the most piercing affliction; and, in the fulness
+of her heart, from this new blow, acknowledged the rapacity of Bellamy,
+and the barbarity with which he now scrupled not to avow the sordid
+motives of his marriage; cruelly lamenting the extreme simplicity with
+which she had been beguiled into a belief of the sincerity and violence
+of his attachment. 'For myself, however,' she continued, 'I now cease to
+murmur. How can misfortune, personally, cut me deeper? But with pity,
+indeed, I think of a new victim!'
+
+She then put into her sister's hand a written paper she had picked up
+the preceding evening in her room, and which, having no direction, and
+being in the handwriting of Mrs. Berlinton, she had thought was a former
+note to herself, accidentally dropt: but the first line undeceived her.
+
+'I yield, at length, O Bellamy, to the eloquence of your friendship! on
+Friday,--at one o'clock, I will be there--as you appoint.'
+
+Camilla, almost petrified, read the lines. She knew better than her
+sister the plan to which this was the consent; which to have been given
+after her representations and urgency, appeared so utterly
+unjustifiable, that, with equal grief and indignation, she gave up this
+unhappy friend as wilfully lost; and her whole heart recoiled from ever
+again entering her doors.
+
+Retracing, nevertheless, her many amiable qualities, she knew not how,
+without further effort, to leave her to her threatening fate; and
+determined, at all risks, to put her into the hands of her brother,
+whose timely knowledge of her danger might rescue her from public
+exposure. She wrote therefore the following note:
+
+     '_To_ FREDERIC MELMOND, _Esq._
+
+     'Watch and save,--or you will lose your sister.
+
+     C.T.'
+
+His address, from frequently hearing it, was familiar to her; she went
+herself into the hall, to give the billet to a footman for the
+post-office. She would not let her sister have any share in the
+transaction, lest it should afterwards, by any accident, be known;
+though, to give force to her warning, she risked without hesitation the
+initials of her own name.
+
+The repugnance, nevertheless, to going again to Mrs. Berlinton, pointed
+out no new refuge; and she waited, with added impatience, for the answer
+from Etherington, in hopes some positive direction might relieve her
+cruel perplexity.
+
+The answer, however, came not, and yet greater grew her distress. Molly
+Mill brought word that when the messenger, who was a post-boy, returned,
+he was immediately employed to drive a chaise to London. The people at
+the inn heard him say something of wanting to go to 'Squire Bellamy's
+with a letter; but he had not time. He was to come back however at
+night.
+
+To wait till he arrived seemed now to them both indispensable; but while
+considering at what hour to order the chaise, they heard a horseman
+gallop up to the house-door. 'Is it possible it should already be Mr.
+Bellamy?' cried Eugenia, changing colour.
+
+His voice, loud and angry, presently confirmed the suggestion. Eugenia,
+trembling, said she would let him know whom he would find; and went
+into the next room, where, as he entered, he roughly exclaimed, 'What
+have you done with what I dropt out of my pocket-book?'
+
+'There, Sir,' she answered, in the tone of firmness given by the
+ascendance of innocence over guilt, 'There it is: but how you can
+reconcile to yourself the delusions by which you must have obtained it I
+know not. I hope only, for her sake, and for yours, such words will
+never more meet my eyes.'
+
+He was beginning a violent answer in a raised voice, when Eugenia told
+him her sister was in the next room.
+
+He then, in a lowered tone, said, 'I warrant, you have shewn her my
+letter?'
+
+The veracious Eugenia was incapable of saying no; and Bellamy, unable to
+restrain his rage, though smothering his voice, through his shut teeth,
+said, 'I shall remember this, I promise you! However, if she dare ever
+speak of it, you may tell her, from me, I shall lock you up upon bread
+and water for the rest of your life, and lay it at her door. I have no
+great terms to keep with her now. What does she say about Cleves? and
+that fool your uncle, who is giving up his house to pay your father's
+debts? What has brought her back again?'
+
+'She is returning to Grosvenor-square, to Miss Margland.'
+
+'Miss Margland? There's no Miss Margland in Grosvenor-square; nor any
+body else, that desires her company I can tell her. However, go, and get
+her off, for I have other business for you.'
+
+Eugenia, then, opening the door, found her sister almost demolished with
+terrour and dismay. Silently, for some seconds, they sunk on the breast
+of each other; horrour closing all speech, drying up even their tears.
+
+'You have no message to give me!' Camilla at length whispered; 'I have,
+perforce, heard all! and I will go;--though whither--'
+
+She stopt, with a look of distress so poignant, that Eugenia, bursting
+into tears, while tenderly she clung around her, said, 'My sister! my
+Camilla! from me--from my house must you wander in search of an asylum!'
+
+Bellamy here called her back. Camilla entreated she would inquire if he
+knew whither Miss Margland was gone.
+
+He now came in himself, bowing civilly, though with constraint, and told
+her that Miss Margland was with Mrs. Macdersey, at Macdersey's own
+lodgings; but that neither of them would any more be invited to
+Grosvenor-square, after such ill-treatment of Mrs. Berlinton's brother.
+
+Can you, thought Camilla, talk of ill-treatment? while, turning to her
+sister, she said, 'Which way shall I now travel?'
+
+Bellamy abruptly asked, if she was forced to go before dinner; but not
+with an air of inviting any answer.
+
+None could she make; she looked down, to save her eyes the sight of an
+object they abhorred, embraced Eugenia, who seemed a picture of death;
+and after saying adieu, added, 'If I knew whither you thought I should
+go--that should be my guide?'
+
+'Home, my dearest sister!'
+
+'Drive then,' she cried, hurrying to the chaise, 'to Etherington.'
+
+Bellamy advancing, said, with a smile, 'I see you are not much used to
+travelling, Miss Camilla!' and gave the man a direction to Bagshot.
+
+She began, now, to feel nearly careless what became of her; her
+situation seemed equally desolate and disgraceful, and in gloomy
+despondence, when she turned from the high road, and stopt at a small
+inn, called the half-way-house, about nine miles from Etherington, she
+resolved to remain there till she received her expected answer; ardently
+hoping, if it were not yielding and favourable, the spot upon which she
+should read it, would be that upon which her existence would close.
+
+Alighting at the inn, which, from being upon a cross road, had little
+custom, and was scarce more than a large cottage, she entered a small
+parlour, discharged her chaise, and ordered a man and horse to go
+immediately to Belfont.
+
+Presently two or three gentle tappings at the door made her, though
+fearfully, say, 'Come in!' A little girl then, with incessant low
+courtesies, appeared, and looking smilingly in her face, said, 'Pray,
+ma'am, a'n't you the Lady that was so good to us?'
+
+'When? my dear? what do you mean?'
+
+'Why, that used to give us cakes and nice things, and gave 'em to Jen,
+and Bet, and Jack? and that would not let my dad be took up?'
+
+Camilla now recollected the eldest little Higden, the washerwoman's
+niece, and kindly enquired after her father, her aunt, and family.
+
+'O, they all does pure now. My dad's had no more mishaps, and he hopes,
+please God, to get on pretty well.'
+
+'Sweet hearing!' cried Camilla, 'all my purposes have not, then, been
+frustrated!'
+
+With added satisfaction she learnt also that the little girl had a good
+place, and a kind mistress. She begged her to hasten the Belfont
+messenger, giving her in charge a short note for Eugenia, with a request
+for the Etherington letter. She had spent nothing in London, save in
+some small remembrances to one or two of Mrs. Berlinton's servants; and
+though her chaise-hire had now almost emptied her purse, she thought
+every expence preferable to either lengthening her suspense, or her
+residence on the road.
+
+In answer to the demand of what she would be pleased to have, she then
+ordered tea. She had taken no regular meal for two days; and for two
+nights had not even been in bed. But the wretchedness of her mind seemed
+to render her invulnerable to fatigue.
+
+The shaken state of her nerves warped all just consideration of the
+impropriety of her present sojourn. Her judgment had no chance, where it
+had her feelings to combat, and in the despondence of believing herself
+parentally rejected, she was indifferent to appearances, and desperate
+upon all other events: nor was she brought to any recollection, till she
+was informed that the messenger, [who] she had concluded was half way to
+Belfont, could not set out till the next morning: this small and private
+inn not being able to furnish a man and horse at shorter warning.
+
+To pass a second night at an inn, seemed, even in the calculations of
+her own harassed faculties, utterly improper; and thus, driven to
+extremity, she forced herself to order a chaise for home; though with a
+repugnance to so compulsatory a meeting, that made her wish to be
+carried in it a corpse.
+
+The tardy prudence of the character naturally rash, commonly arrives but
+to point repentance that it came not before. The only pair of horses the
+little inn afforded, were now out upon other duty, and would not return
+till the next day.
+
+Almost to herself incredible seemed now her situation. She was compelled
+to order a bed, and to go up stairs to a small chamber: but she could
+not even wish to take any rest. 'I am an outcast,' she cried, 'to my
+family; my Mother would _rather not see me_; my Father forbears to
+demand me; and he--dearer to me than life!--by whom I was once chosen,
+has forgotten me!--How may I support my heavy existence? and when will
+it end?
+
+Overpowered, nevertheless, by fatigue, in the middle of the night, she
+[lay] down in her cloaths: but her slumbers were so broken by visions of
+reproach, conveyed through hideous forms, and in menaces the most
+terrific, that she gladly got up; preferring certain affliction to wild
+and fantastic horrours.
+
+Nearly as soon as it was light, she rang for little Peggy, whose
+Southampton anecdotes had secured her the utmost respect from the
+mistress of the inn, and heard that the express was set off.
+
+Dreadful and dreary, in slow and lingering misery, passed the long
+interval of his absence, though his rapid manner of travelling made it
+short for the ground he traversed. She had now, however, bought
+sufficient experience to bespeak a chaise against his return. The only
+employment in which she could engage herself, was conversing with Peggy
+Higden, who, she was glad to find, could not remember her name well
+enough to make it known, through her pronunciation.
+
+From the window, at length, she perceived a man and horse gallop up to
+the house. She darted forth, exclaiming: 'Have you brought me any
+answer?' And seizing the letter he held out, saw the hand-writing of
+Lavinia, and shut herself into her room.
+
+She opened it upon her knees, expecting to find within some lines from
+her Mother; none, however, appeared, and sad and mortified, she laid
+down the letter, and wept. 'So utterly, then,' she cried, 'have I lost
+her? Even with her pen will she not speak to me? How early is my life
+too long!'
+
+Taking up again, then, the letter, she read what follows.
+
+     '_To Miss_ CAMILLA TYROLD.
+
+     'Alas, my dear sister, why can I not answer you according to our
+     mutual wishes? My Father is at Winchester, with a lawyer, upon the
+     affairs of Indiana; and my Mother is abroad with my uncle, upon
+     business which he has asked her to transact; but even were she
+     here ... could I, while the man awaits, intercede? have you
+     forgotten your ever fearful Lavinia? All that she dares, shall be
+     done,--but that you may neither think she has been hitherto
+     neglected, nor let your hopes expect too much speed from her future
+     efforts, I am painfully reduced to own to you, what already has
+     passed. But let it not depress you; you know when she is hurt, it is
+     not lightly; but you know, also, where she loves, her displeasure,
+     once passed, is never allowed to rise again.
+
+     'Yesterday I saw her looking at your picture; the moment seemed to
+     be happy, and I ventured to say; "Ah, poor Camilla!" but she turned
+     to me with quickness, and cried; "Lament rather, Lavinia, your
+     Father! Did he merit so little trust from his child, that her
+     affairs should be withheld from him till they cast him ... where I
+     found him!... Dread, memorable sight--when may I forget it!"
+
+     'Even after this, my dear Camilla, I hazarded another word, "she
+     will be miserable," I said, "my dear Mother, till she returns."
+     "She will return," she answered, "with Miss Margland. This is no
+     season for any expence that may be avoided; and Camilla, most of
+     all, must now see the duties of oeconomy. Were her understanding
+     less good, I should less heavily weigh her errours; but she sets it
+     apart, to abandon herself to her feelings. Alas! poor thing! they
+     will now themselves be her punishers! Let her not however despond;
+     tell her, when you write, her angelic Father forgives her; and tell
+     her she has always had my prayers, and will ever have my
+     blessing;--though I am not eager, as yet, to add to her own
+     reproaches, those she may experience from my presence."
+
+     'I knew not how to introduce this to my dearest Camilla, but your
+     messenger, and his haste, now forces me to say all, and say it
+     quick. He brings, I find, the letter from Belfont, where already we
+     had heard you were removed through Miss Margland, much to the
+     approbation of my Father and my Mother, who hope your sojourn there
+     is a solace to you both. Adieu, my dearest sister--your messenger
+     cannot wait.
+
+     'LAVINIA TYROLD.'
+
+'She will not see me then!' cried Camilla, 'she cannot bear my sight! O
+Death! let me not pray to thee also in vain!'
+
+Weak from inanition, confused from want of sleep, harassed with fatigue,
+and exhausted by perturbation, she felt now so ill, that she solemnly
+believed her fatal wish quick approaching.
+
+The landlord of the inn entered to say that the chaise she had ordered
+was at the door; and put down upon the table the bill of what she had to
+pay.
+
+Whither to turn, what course to take, she knew not; though to remain
+longer at an inn, while persuaded life was on its wane, was dreadful;
+yet how present herself at home, after the letter she had received? what
+asylum was any where open to her?
+
+She begged the landlord to wait, and again read the letter of Lavinia,
+when, startled by what was said of abandoning herself to her feelings,
+she saw that her immediate duty was to state her situation to her
+parents. She desired, therefore, the chaise might be put up, and wrote
+these lines:
+
+     'I could not, unhappily, stay at Eugenia's; nor can I return to
+     Mrs. Berlinton; I am now at the half-way-house where I shall wait
+     for commands. My Lavinia will tell me what I may be ordered to do.
+     I am ill,--and earnestly I pray with an illness from which I may
+     rise no more. When my Father--my Mother, hear this, they will
+     perhaps accord me to be blest again with their sight; the brevity
+     of my career may, to their kindness, expiate its faults; they may
+     pray for me where my own prayers may be too unsanctified to be
+     heard; they may forgive me ... though my own forgiveness never more
+     will quiet this breast! Heaven bless and preserve them; their
+     unoffending daughters; and my ever loved uncle!
+
+     'CAMILLA TYROLD.'
+
+She then rang the bell, and desired this note might go by express to
+Etherington.
+
+But this, the waiter answered, was impossible; the horse on which the
+messenger had set out to Belfont, though it had only carried him the
+first stage, and brought him back the last, had galloped so hard, that
+his master would not send it out again the same day; and they had but
+that one.
+
+She begged he would see instantly for some other conveyance.
+
+The man who was come back from Belfont, he answered, would be glad to be
+discharged, as he wanted to go to rest.
+
+She then took up the bill, and upon examining the sum total, found, with
+the express, the chaise in which she came the last stage, that which she
+ordered to take her to Etherington, and the expence of her residence, it
+amounted to half a crown beyond what she possessed.
+
+She had only, she knew, to make herself known as the niece of Sir Hugh
+Tyrold, to be trusted by all the environs; but to expose herself in
+this helpless, and even pennyless state, appeared to her to be a
+degradation to every part of her family.
+
+To enclose the bill to Etherington was to secure its being paid; but the
+sentence, _Camilla most of all must now see the duties of oeconomy_,
+made her revolt from such a step.
+
+All she still possessed of pecuniary value she had in her pocket: the
+seal of her Father, the ring of her Mother, the watch of her Uncle, and
+the locket of Edgar Mandlebert. With one of these she now determined to
+part, in preference to any new exposure at Etherington, or to incurring
+the smallest debt. She desired to be left alone, and took them from her
+pocket, one by one, painfully ruminating upon which she could bear to
+lose. 'It may not, she thought, be for long; for quick, I hope, my
+course will end!--yet even for an hour,--even for the last final
+moment--to give up such dear symbols of all that has made my happiness
+in life!----'
+
+She looked at them, kissed and pressed them to her heart; spoke to them
+as if living and understanding representatives of their donors, and
+bestowed so much time in lamenting caresses and hesitation, that the
+waiter came again, while yet she was undetermined.
+
+She desired to speak with the mistress of the house.
+
+Instinctively she now put away the gifts of her parents; but between her
+uncle and Edgar she wavered. She blushed, however, at her demur, and the
+modesty of duty made her put up the watch. Taking, then, an agitating
+last view of a locket which circumstances had rendered inappreciable to
+her, 'Ah! not in vain,' she cried, 'even now shall I lose what once was
+a token so bewitching.... Dear precious locket! Edgar even yet would be
+happy you should do me one last kind office! generously, benevolently,
+he would rejoice you should spare me still one last menacing shame!'--
+
+When Mrs. Marl, the landlady, came in, deeply colouring, she put it into
+her hand, turning her eyes another way, while she said; 'Mrs. Marl, I
+have not quite money enough to pay the bill; but if you will keep this
+locket for a security, you will be sure to be paid by and by.'
+
+Mrs. Marl looked at it with great admiration, and then, with yet greater
+wonder, at Camilla. ''Tis pretty, indeed, ma'am,' she said; ''twould be
+pity to sell it. However, I'll shew it my husband.'
+
+Mr. Marl soon came himself, with looks somewhat less satisfied, 'Tis a
+fine bauble, ma'am,' cried he, 'but I don't much understand those
+things; and there's nobody here can tell me what it's worth. I'd rather
+have my money, if you please.'
+
+Weakened now in body, as well as spirits, she burst into tears. Alas!
+she thought, how little do my friends conjecture to what I am reduced!
+She offered, however, the watch, and the countenance of Mr. Marl lost
+its gloom.
+
+'This,' said he, 'is something like! A gold watch one may be sure to get
+one's own for; but such a thing as that may'n't fetch six-pence, fine as
+it looks.'
+
+Mrs. Marl objected to keeping both; but her husband said he saw no harm
+in it; and Camilla begged her note might be sent without delay.
+
+A labourer, after some search, was found, who undertook, for handsome
+pay, to carry it on foot to the rectory.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+_A Spectacle_
+
+
+The messenger returned not till midnight; what, then, was the
+consternation of Camilla that he brought no answer! She suspected he had
+not found the house; she doubted if the letter had been delivered; but
+he affirmed he had put it into the hands of a maid-servant, though, as
+it was late, he had come away directly, and not thought of waiting for
+any answer.
+
+It is not very early in life we learn how little is performed, for which
+no precaution is taken. Care is the offspring of disappointment; and
+sorrow and repentance commonly hang upon its first lessons. Unused to
+transact any sort of business for herself, she had expected, in sending
+a letter, an answer as a thing of course, and had now only herself to
+blame for not having ordered him to stay. She consoled herself, however,
+that she was known to be but nine miles distant from the rectory, and
+that any commands could be conveyed to her nearly in an hour.
+
+What they might be, became now, therefore, her sole anxiety. Would not
+her Mother write? After an avowal such as she had made of her desolate,
+if not dying condition, would she not pardon and embrace her? Was it
+not even possible she might come herself?
+
+This idea mingled emotions of a contrariety scarcely supportable. 'O
+how,' she cried, 'shall I see her? Can joy blend with such terrour? Can
+I wish her approach, yet not dare to meet her eye?--that eye which never
+yet has looked at me, but to beam with bright kindness!--though a
+kindness that, even from my childhood, seemed to say, Camilla, be
+blameless--or you break your Mother's heart!... my poor unhappy Mother!
+she has always seemed to have a presentiment, I was born to bring her to
+sorrow!'
+
+Expectation being now, for this night, wholly dead, the excess of her
+bodily fatigue urged her to take some repose: but her ever eager
+imagination made her apprehensive her friends might find her too well,
+and suspect her representation was but to alarm them into returning
+kindness. A fourth night, therefore, passed without sleep, or the
+refreshment of taking off her cloaths; and by the time the morning sun
+shone in upon her apartment, she was too seriously disordered to make
+her illness require the aid of fancy. She was full of fever, faint,
+pallid, weak, and shaken by nervous tremors. 'I think,' she cried, 'I am
+now certainly going; and never was death so welcomed by one so young. It
+will end in soft peace my brief, but stormy passage, and I shall owe to
+its solemn call the sacred blessing of my offended Mother!'
+
+Tranquillised by this hope, and this idea, she now lost all sufferings
+but those of disease: her mind grew calm, her spirits serene: all fears
+gave way to the certainty of soothing kindness, all grief was buried in
+the solemnity of expected dissolution.
+
+But this composure outlived not the first hours of the morning; as they
+vainly advanced, producing no loved presence, no letter, no summons;
+solicitude revived, disappointment sunk her heart, and dread preyed
+again upon her nerves. She started at every sound; every breath of wind
+seemed portentous; she listened upon the stairs; she dragged her feeble
+limbs to the parlour, to be nearer at hand; she forced them back again
+to her bed-room, to strain her aching eyes out of the window; but still
+no voice demanded her, and no person approached.
+
+Peggy, who repeatedly came to tell her the hour, now assured her it was
+dinner time: unable to eat, she was heedless of the hint this conveyed,
+and it obtained from her no orders, till Peggy gave her innocently to
+understand the expectations of her host and hostess; but when, at five
+o'clock, the table was served, all force and courage forsook her. To be
+left thus to herself, when her situation was known; to be abandoned at
+an inn where she had confessed she thought herself dying; 'My Mother,'
+she cried, 'cannot forgive me! my Father himself deserts me! O Edgar!
+you did well to fly so unhallowed a connexion!'
+
+She left her dinner for Peggy, and crawling up stairs, cast herself upon
+the bed, with a desperate supplication she might rise from it no more.
+'The time,' cried she, 'is past for consolation, and dead for hope! my
+parents' own prayers have been averted, and their prognostics fulfilled.
+_May the dread forfeiture_, said my dearest Father, _not extend through
+my daughters_!--Alas! Lionel himself has not brought upon him a disgrace
+such as I have done!--_May Heaven_, said my honoured Mother, _spare me
+evil under your shape at least_!--but under that it has come to her the
+most heavily!'
+
+Dissolving, then, in sorrowing regret, recollections of maternal
+tenderness bathed her pillow with her tears, and reversing all the
+inducements to her sad resignation, abolished every wish but to fall
+again at the parental feet. 'To see,' cried she, 'once more, the dear
+authors of my being! to receive their forgiveness, their blessing ... to
+view again their honoured countenances!--to hear once more their loved
+speech.... Alas! was it I that fled the voice of my Mother? That voice
+which, till that moment, had been music to my mind! and never reached my
+ear, but as the precursor of all kindness! why did I not sooner at once
+kneel at her feet, and seek my lost path under my first and best guide?'
+
+Shocked and contrite in this tardy view of the step she ought to have
+taken, she now languished to petition for pardon even for an offence
+unknown; and rising, took up a pen to relate the whole transaction. But
+her head was confused, and the attempt shewed her she was more ill than
+she had even herself suspected. She thought all rapidly advancing, and
+enthusiastically rejoiced.
+
+Yet a second time she took the pen; but it had not touched the paper,
+when a buzzing, confused, stifled sort of noise from without drew her to
+the window.
+
+She then perceived an immense crowd of people approaching slowly, and
+from a distance, towards the inn.
+
+As they advanced, she was struck to hear no encrease of noise, save from
+the nearer trampling of feet. No voice was distinguishable; no one
+spoke louder than the rest; they seemed even to tread the ground with
+caution. They consisted of labourers, workmen, beggars, women, and
+children, joined by some accidental passengers: yet the general 'hum of
+many' was all that was heard; they were silent though numerous, solemn
+though mixt.
+
+As they came near, she thought she perceived something in the midst of
+them like a bier, and caught a glimpse of a gentleman's habit. Startled,
+she drew in; but soon, upon another view, discerned clearly a
+well-dressed man, stretched out his full length, and apparently dead.
+
+Recoiling, shuddering, she hastily shut the window, 'Yet why,' she
+cried, the next moment, 'and whence this emotion? Is not death what I am
+meeting?--seeking?--desiring?--what I court? what I pray for?'
+
+She sighed, walked feebly up and down the room, breathed hard and with
+effort, and then forced herself again to open the window, determined to
+contemplate steadily the anticipating object of her fervent demand.
+
+Yet not without severe self-compulsion she flung up again the sash; but
+when she looked out, the crowd alone remained; the bier was gone.
+
+Whether carried on, or brought into the house, she now wished to know,
+with some particulars, of whom it might be, and what belonged to so
+strange and horrible an appearance.
+
+She rang for little Peggy; but Peggy came not. She rang again, but no
+one answered the bell. She opened her door, meaning to descend to her
+little parlour for information; but the murmuring buzz she had before
+heard upon the road, was now within the house, which seemed filled with
+people, all busy and occupied, yet speaking low, and appearing to
+partake of a general awe.
+
+She could not venture to encounter so many spectators; she shut her
+door, to wait quietly till this first commotion should be passed.
+
+This was not for more than an hour; when observing, from her window,
+that the crowd was dispersed, she again listened at the door, and found
+that the general disturbance was succeeded by a stillness the most
+profound.
+
+She then rang again, and little Peggy appeared, but looking pale and
+much frightened.
+
+Camilla asked what had been the matter.
+
+'O ma'am,' she answered, crying, 'here's been murder! A gentleman has
+been murdered--and nobody knows who he is, nor who has done it!'
+
+She then related that he had been found dead in a wood hard by, and one
+person calling another, and another, he had been brought to the inn to
+be owned.
+
+'And is he here now?' with an involuntary shudder asked Camilla.
+
+Yes, she answered, but her mistress had ordered her not to own it, for
+fear of frightening the young lady; and said he would soon be carried
+away.
+
+The tale was shocking, and, though scarce conscious why, Camilla desired
+Peggy to stay with her.
+
+The little girl was most willing; but she was presently called down
+stairs; and Camilla, with strong shame of nameless fears and weak
+horrour, strove to meditate to some use upon this scene.
+
+But her mind was disturbed, her composure was gone; her thoughts were
+broken, abrupt, unfixed, and all upon which she could dwell with any
+steadiness, was the desire of one more appeal to her family, that yet
+they would consent to see her, if they received it in time; or that they
+should know in what frame of mind she expired, should it bring them too
+late.
+
+With infinite difficulty, she then wrote the following lines; every
+bending down of her head making it ache nearly to distraction.
+
+     'Adieu, my dearest parents, if again it is denied me to see you!
+     Adieu, my darling sisters! my tender uncle! I ask not now your
+     forgiveness; I know I shall possess it fully; my Father never
+     withheld it,--and my Mother, if against herself alone I had sinned,
+     would have been equally lenient; would have probed but to heal,
+     have corrected, but to pardon. O tenderest of united partners!
+     bless, then, the early ashes of your erring, but adoring daughter,
+     who, from the moment she inflicted one wound upon your bosoms, has
+     found existence intolerable, and prays now but for her earthly
+     release!
+
+     'CAMILLA TYROLD.'
+
+This she gave to Peggy, with a charge that, at any expence, it might be
+conveyed to the rectory at Etherington immediately.
+
+'And shall I not,' thought she, when she had rested from this exertion,
+'and may I not at such a period, with innocence, with propriety, write
+one poor word to him who was so near becoming first to me in all
+things?'
+
+She again took her pen, but had only written 'O Edgar! in this last
+farewell be all displeasure forgotten!--from the first to the final
+moment of my short life, dear and sole possessor of my heart!'--when the
+shooting anguish of her head stopt her hand, and hastily writing the
+direction, lest she could write no more, she, with difficulty added,
+'_Not to be delivered till I am dead_;' and was forced to lie down, and
+shut all light from her strained and aching eyes.
+
+Peggy presently brought her word that all the horses were out, and every
+body was engaged, and that the note could not possibly go till the next
+day.
+
+Extremely disappointed, she begged to speak with Mrs. Marl; who sent her
+word she was much engaged, but would wait upon her as soon as she was
+able.
+
+Vainly, however, she expected her; it grew dusk; she felt herself worse
+every moment; flushed with fever, or shivering with cold, and her head
+nearly split asunder with agony. She determined to go once more down
+stairs, and offer to her host himself any reward he could claim, so he
+would undertake the immediate delivery of the letter.
+
+With difficulty she arose; with slow steps, and tottering, she
+descended; but as she approached her little parlour, she heard voices in
+it, and stopt. They spoke low, and she could not distinguish them. The
+door of an adjoining room was open, and by its stillness empty; she
+resolved to ring there, to demand to speak with Mr. Marl. But as she
+dragged her weak limbs into the apartment, she saw, stretched out upon a
+large table, the same form, dress, and figure she had seen upon the
+bier.
+
+Starting, almost fainting, but too much awed to call out, she held
+trembling by the door.
+
+The bodily feebleness which impeded her immediate retreat, gave force to
+a little mental reflexion: Do I shrink thus, thought she, from what so
+earnestly I have prayed to become ... and so soon I must represent ... a
+picture of death?
+
+She now impelled herself towards the table. A cloth covered the face;
+she stood still, hesitating if she had power to remove it: but she
+thought it a call to her own self-examination; and though mentally
+recoiling, advanced. When close to the table, she stood still, violently
+trembling. Yet she would not allow herself to retreat. She now put forth
+her hand; but it shook suspended over the linen, without courage to draw
+it aside. At length, however, with enthusiastic self-compulsion,
+slightly and fearfully, she lifted it up ... but instantly, and with
+instinctive horrour, snatched her hand away, and placed it before her
+shut eyes.
+
+She felt, now, she had tried herself beyond her courage, and, deeply
+moved, was fain to retreat; but in letting down her hand, to see her
+way, she found she had already removed the linen from a part of the
+face, and the view she unintentionally caught almost petrified her.
+
+For some instants she stood motionless, from want of strength to stir,
+but with closed eyes, that feared to confirm their first surmise; but
+when, turning from the ghastly visage, she attempted, without another
+glance, to glide away, an unavoidable view of the coat, which suddenly
+she recognized, put her conjecture beyond all doubt, that she now saw
+dead before her the husband of her sister.
+
+Resentment, in gentle minds, however merited and provoked, survives not
+the breath of the offender. With the certainty no further evil can be
+practised, perishes vengeance against the culprit, though not hatred of
+the guilt: and though, with the first movement of sisterly feelings, she
+would have said, Is Eugenia then released? the awe was too great, his
+own change was too solemn. He was now where no human eye could follow,
+no human judgment overtake him.
+
+Again she endeavoured to escape the dreadful scene, but her shaking
+limbs were refractory, and would not support her. The mortal being
+requires use to be reconciled to its own visible mortality; dismal is
+its view; grim, repulsive, terrific its aspect.
+
+But no sooner was her head turned from the dire object, than alarm for
+her sister took possession of her soul; and with what recollection she
+possessed, she determined to go to Belfont.
+
+An idea of any active service invigorates the body as well as the mind.
+She made another effort to depart, but a glance she knew not how to
+avoid shewed her, upon the coat of the right arm and right side of this
+ghastly figure, large splashes of blood.
+
+With horrour thus accumulate, she now sunk upon the floor, inwardly
+exclaiming: He is murdered indeed!... and where may be Eugenia?
+
+A woman who had in charge to watch by the corpse, but who had privately
+stolen out for some refreshment, now returning, saw with affright the
+new person in the room, and ran to call Mrs. Marl; who, alarmed also at
+the sight of the young lady, and at her deplorable condition, assisted
+the woman to remove her from the apartment, and convey her to the
+chamber, where she was laid down upon the bed, though she resisted being
+undressed, and was seized with an aguish shivering fit, while her eyes
+seemed emitting sparks of fire.
+
+'It is certainly now,' cried she, 'over, and hence I move no more!'
+
+The joy with which, a few minutes before, she would have welcomed such a
+belief, was now converted into an awe unspeakable, undefinable. The wish
+of death is commonly but disgust of life, and looks forward to nothing
+further than release from worldly care:--but the something yet
+beyond ... the something unknown, untried, yet to come, _the bourne
+whence no traveller returns_ to prepare succeeding passengers for what
+they may expect, now abruptly presented itself to her consideration, ...
+but came to scare, not to soothe.
+
+All here, she cried, I have wished to leave ... but ... have I fitted
+myself for what I am to meet?
+
+Conscience now suddenly took the reins from the hands of imagination,
+and a mist was cleared away that hitherto, obscuring every duty by
+despondence, had hidden from her own perceptions the faulty basis of her
+desire. Conscience took the reins--and a mist was cleared away that had
+concealed from her view the cruelty of this egotism.
+
+Those friends, it cried, which thus impatiently thou seekest to quit,
+have they not loved, cherished, reared thee with the most exquisite care
+and kindness? If they are offended, who has offended them? If thou art
+now abandoned, may it not be from necessity, or from accident? When thou
+hast inflicted upon them the severe pain of harbouring anger against
+what is so dear to them, wouldst thou load them with regret that they
+manifested any sensibility of thy errours? Hast thou plunged thy house
+in calamity, and will no worthier wish occur to thee, than to leave it
+to its sorrows and distress, with the aggravating pangs of causing thy
+afflicting, however blamable self-desertion? of coming to thee ...
+perhaps even now!... with mild forgiveness, and finding thee a
+self-devoted corpse?--not fallen, indeed, by the profane hand of daring
+suicide, but equally self-murdered through wilful self-neglect.
+
+Had the voice been allowed sound which spoke this dire admonition, it
+could scarcely with more horrour, or keener repentance have struck her.
+'That poor man,' she cried, 'now delivering up his account, by whatever
+hand he perished, since less principled, less instructed than myself,
+may be criminal, perhaps, with less guilt!'
+
+The thought now of her Father,--the piety he had striven to inculcate
+into her mind; his resignation to misfortune, and his trust through
+every suffering, all came home to her heart, with religious veneration;
+and making prayer succeed to remorse, guided her to what she knew would
+be his guidance if present, and she desired to hear the service for the
+sick.
+
+Peggy could not read; Mrs. Marl was too much engaged; the whole house
+had ample employment, and her request was unattainable.
+
+She then begged they would procure her a prayer-book, that she might try
+to read herself; but her eyes, heavy, aching, and dim, glared upon the
+paper, without distinguishing the print from the margin.
+
+'I am worse!' she cried faintly, 'my wish comes fast upon me! Ah! not
+for my punishment let it finally arrive!'
+
+With terror, however, even more than with malady, she now trembled. The
+horrible sight she had witnessed, brought death before her in a new
+view. She feared she had been presumptuous; she felt that her
+preparations had all been worldly, her impatience wholly selfish. She
+called back her wish, with penitence and affright: her agitation became
+torture, her regret was aggravated to remorse, her grief to despair.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+_A Vision_
+
+
+When the first violence of this paroxysm of sorrow abated, Camilla again
+strove to pray, and found that nothing so much stilled her. Yet, her
+faculties confused, hurried, and in anguish, permitted little more than
+incoherent ejaculations. Again she sighed for her Father; again the
+spirit of his instructions recurred, and she enquired who was the
+clergyman of the parish, and if he would be humane enough to come and
+pray by one who had no claim upon him as a parishioner.
+
+Peggy said he was a very good gentleman, and never refused even the
+poorest person, that begged his attendance.
+
+'O go to him, then,' cried she, 'directly! Tell him a sick and helpless
+stranger implores that he will read to her the prayers for the dying!...
+Should I yet live ... they will compose and make me better;--if not ...
+they will give me courage for my quick exit.'
+
+Peggy went forth, and she lay her beating head upon the pillow, and
+endeavoured to quiet her nerves for the sacred ceremony she demanded.
+
+It was dark, and she was alone; the corpse she had just quitted seemed
+still bleeding in full view. She closed her eyes, but still saw it; she
+opened them, but it was always there. She felt nearly stiff with
+horrour, chilled, frozen, with speechless apprehension.
+
+A slumber, feverish nearly to delirium, at length surprised her harassed
+faculties; but not to afford them rest. Death, in a visible figure,
+ghastly, pallid, severe, appeared before her, and with its hand, sharp
+and forked, struck abruptly upon her breast. She screamed--but it was
+heavy as cold, and she could not remove it. She trembled; she shrunk
+from its touch; but it had iced her heart-strings. Every vein was
+congealed; every stiffened limb stretched to its full length, was hard
+as marble: and when again she made a feeble effort to rid her oppressed
+lungs of the dire weight that had fallen upon them, a voice hollow,
+deep, and distant, dreadfully pierced her ear, calling out: 'Thou hast
+but thy own wish! Rejoice, thou murmurer, for thou diest!' Clearer,
+shriller, another voice quick vibrated in the air: 'Whither goest thou,'
+it cried, 'and whence comest thou?'
+
+A voice from within, over which she thought she had no controul, though
+it seemed issuing from her vitals, low, hoarse, and tremulous, answered,
+'Whither I go, let me rest! Whence I come from let me not look back!
+Those who gave me birth, I have deserted; my life, my vital powers I
+have rejected.' Quick then another voice assailed her, so near, so loud,
+so terrible ... she shrieked at its horrible sound. 'Prematurely,' it
+cried, 'thou art come, uncalled, unbidden; thy task unfulfilled, thy
+peace unearned. Follow, follow me! the Records of Eternity are opened.
+Come! write with thy own hand thy claims, thy merits to mercy!' A
+repelling self-accusation instantaneously overwhelmed her. 'O, no! no!
+no!' she exclaimed, 'let me not sign my own miserable insufficiency!' In
+vain was her appeal. A force unseen, yet irresistible, impelled her
+forward. She saw the immense volumes of Eternity, and her own hand
+involuntarily grasped a pen of iron, and with a velocity uncontroulable
+wrote these words: 'Without resignation, I have prayed for death: from
+impatience of displeasure, I have desired annihilation: to dry my own
+eyes, I have left ... pitiless, selfish, unnatural!... a Father the
+most indulgent, a Mother almost idolizing, to weep out their's!' Her
+head would have sunk upon the guilty characters; but her eye-lids
+refused to close, and kept them glaring before her. They became, then,
+illuminated with burning sulphur. She looked another way; but they
+partook of the same motion; she cast her eyes upwards, but she saw the
+characters still; she turned from side to side; but they were always her
+object. Loud again sounded the same direful voice: 'These are thy
+deserts; write now thy claims:--and next,--and quick,--turn over the
+immortal leaves, and read thy doom....' 'Oh, no!' she cried, 'Oh,
+no!... O, let me yet return! O, Earth, with all thy sorrows, take,
+take me once again, that better I may learn to work my way to that last
+harbour, which rejecting the criminal repiner, opens its soft bosom to
+the firm, though supplicating sufferer!' In vain again she
+called;--pleaded, knelt, wept in vain. The time, she found, was past;
+she had slighted it while in her power; it would return to her no more;
+and a thousand voices at once, with awful vibration, answered aloud to
+every prayer, 'Death was thy own desire!' Again, unlicensed by her will,
+her hand seized the iron instrument. The book was open that demanded her
+claims. She wrote with difficulty ... but saw that her pen made no mark!
+She looked upon the page, when she thought she had finished, ... but
+the paper was blank!... Voices then, by hundreds, by thousands, by
+millions, from side to side, above, below, around, called out, echoed
+and re-echoed, 'Turn over, turn over ... and read thy eternal doom!' In
+the same instant, the leaf, untouched, burst open ... and ... she awoke.
+But in a trepidation so violent, the bed shook under her, the cold
+sweat, in large drops, fell from her forehead, and her heart still
+seemed labouring under the adamantine pressure of the inflexibly cold
+grasp of death. So exalted was her imagination, so confused were all her
+thinking faculties, that she stared with wild doubt whether then, or
+whether now, what she experienced were a dream.
+
+In this suspensive state, fearing to call, to move, or almost to
+breathe, she remained, in perfect stillness, and in the dark, till
+little Peggy crept softly into the chamber.
+
+Certain then of her situation, 'This has been,' she cried, 'only a
+vision--but my conscience has abetted it, and I cannot shake it off.'
+
+When she became calmer, and further recollected herself, she anxiously
+enquired if the clergyman would not come.
+
+Peggy, hesitatingly, acknowledged he had not been sent for; her mistress
+had imagined the request proceeded from a disturbance of mind, owing to
+the sight of the corpse, and said she was sure, after a little sleep, it
+would be forgotten.
+
+'Alas!' said Camilla, disappointed, 'it is more necessary than ever! my
+senses are wandering; I seem hovering between life and death--Ah! let
+not my own fearful fancies absorb this hour of change, which religious
+rites should consecrate!'
+
+She then told Peggy to plead for her to her mistress, and assure her
+that nothing else, after the dreadful shock she had received, could
+still her mind.
+
+Mrs. Marl, not long after came into the room herself; and enquiring how
+she did, said, if she was really bent upon such a melancholy thing, the
+clergyman had luckily just called, and would read the service to her
+directly, if it would give her any comfort.
+
+'O, great and infinite comfort!' she cried, and begged he might come
+immediately, and read to her the prayer for those of whom there is but
+small hope of recovery. She would have risen, that she might kneel; but
+her limbs would not second her desire, and she was obliged to lie still
+upon the outside of the bed. Peggy drew the curtains, to shade her
+eyes, as a candle was brought into the room; but when she heard Mrs.
+Marl say: 'Come in, Sir,'--and 'here's the prayer-book;' overpowered
+with tender recollection of her Father, to whom such offices were
+frequent, she burst into an agony of tears, and hid her face upon the
+pillow.
+
+She soon, however, recovered, and the solemnity of the preparation
+overawed her sorrow. Mrs. Marl placed the light as far as possible from
+the bed, and when Camilla waved her hand in token of being ready, said,
+'Now, Sir, if you please.'
+
+He complied, though not immediately; but no sooner had he begun, no
+sooner devoutly, yet tremblingly, pronounced, _O Father of Mercies!_
+than a faint scream issued from the bed.--
+
+He stopt; but she did not speak; and after a short pause, he resumed:
+but not a second sentence was pronounced when she feebly ejaculated, 'Ah
+heaven!' and the book fell from his hands.
+
+She strove to raise her head; but could not; she opened, however, the
+side curtain, to look out; he advanced, at the same moment, to the foot
+of the bed ... fixed his eyes upon her face, and in a voice that seemed
+to come from his soul, exclaimed, 'Camilla!'
+
+With a mental emotion that, for an instant, restored her strength, she
+drew again the curtain, covered up her face, and sobbed even audibly,
+while the words, 'O Edgar!' vainly sought vent.
+
+He attempted not to unclose the curtain she had drawn, but with a deep
+groan, dropping upon his knees on the outside, cried, 'Great God!' but
+checking himself, hastily arose, and motioning to Mrs. Marl and to
+Peggy, to move out of hearing, said, through the curtain; 'O Camilla!
+what dire calamity has brought this about?--speak, I implore!--why are
+you here?--why alone? speak! speak!'
+
+He heard she was weeping, but received no answer, and with energy next
+to torture exclaimed; 'Refuse not to trust me!--recollect our long
+friendship--forgive--forget its alienation!--By all you have ever
+valued--by all your wonted generosity--I call--I appeal.... Camilla!
+Camilla!--your silence rends my soul!'
+
+Camilla had no utterance, yet could not resist this urgency, and gently
+through the opening of the curtain, put forth her feeble hand.
+
+He seemed affected to agony; he held it between each of his own, and
+while softly he uttered, 'O ever--unchangeably generous Camilla!' she
+felt it moistened with his tears.
+
+Too weak for the new sensation this excited, she drew it away, and the
+violence of her emotion menacing an hysteric fit, Mrs. Marl came back to
+her, and wringing his hands as he looked around the room, he tore
+himself away.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+_Means to still Agitation_
+
+
+Declining all aid, Camilla continued in the same position, wrapt up,
+coveting the dark, and stifling sighs that were rising into sobs, till
+she heard a gentle tap at her door.
+
+She started, but still hid herself: Mrs. Marl was already gone; Peggy
+answered the summons, and returned to the bedside, with a note in her
+hand, begging Camilla to take it, as it came from the gentleman who was
+to have read the prayers.
+
+'Is he then gone?' cried she, in a voice announcing deep disappointment.
+
+'Yes, he went directly, my dear Lady.'
+
+She threw the covering from her face, and with uplifted hands,
+exclaimed; 'O Edgar! could you see me thus ... and leave me?'--Yet
+eagerly seizing the letter, called for a candle, and strove to read it.
+But the characters seemed double to her weak and dazzled eyes, and she
+was forced to relinquish the attempt. She pressed it to her bosom, and
+again covered herself up.
+
+Something, nevertheless, like internal revival, once more, to her own
+unspeakable amazement, began fluttering at her breast. She had seen the
+beloved of her heart--dearer to her far than the life she thought
+herself resigning; seen him penetrated to anguish by her situation,
+awakened to the tenderest recollections, and upon her hand had dropt a
+testimony of his sensibility, that, dead as she had thought herself to
+the world, its views, its hopes, its cares, passed straight to her
+heart--that wonderful repository of successive emotions, whence the
+expulsion of one species of interest but makes way for the entrance of
+another; and which vainly, while yet in mortal life, builds, even from
+hour to hour, upon any chasm of mortal solicitude.
+
+While wrapt up in this reverie, poignantly agitating, yet undefinably
+soothing, upon the return of Edgar to England, and his astonishing
+appearance in her room, her attention was again aroused by another
+gentle tap at the door.
+
+Peggy opened it, and left the room; but soon came back, to beg an answer
+to the note, for which the gentleman was waiting upon the stairs.
+
+'Waiting?' she repeated, in extreme trepidation, 'is he not then gone?'
+
+'No ma'am, only out of the room; he can't go away without the answer, he
+says.'
+
+A sensation of pleasure was now so new to Camilla, as almost to be too
+potent either for her strength or her intellects. She doubted all around
+her, doubted what she heard, doubted even her existence. Edgar, could it
+be Edgar who was waiting for an answer?... who was under the same
+roof--who had been in the same room--who was now separated from her but
+by a thin wainscot?--'O no, no, no!' she cried, 'my senses all delude
+me! one vision after another beguiles my deranged imagination!' Yet she
+called Peggy to her again, again asked her if it were indeed true; and,
+bidding her once more bring the candle, the new spirit with which she
+was invigorated, enabled her to persevere in her efforts, till she made
+out the following lines; which were sealed, but not directed.
+
+     'The sorrow, the tumult of my soul, I attempt not to
+     paint.--Forgive, O Camilla! an intrusion which circumstances made
+     resistless. Deign to bury in kind oblivion all remembrance but of
+     our early friendship--our intuitive attachment, our confidence,
+     esteem, and happy juvenile intercourse; and under such
+     auspices--animated as they are innocent--permit me to hasten Mrs.
+     Tyrold to this spot, or trust me--I conjure--with the mystery of
+     this dreadful desolation--O Camilla!--by all the scenes that have
+     passed between us--by the impression indelible they have engraved
+     upon my heart, wound not the most faithful of your friends by
+     rejecting his services!
+
+     E. M.'
+
+Dissolved in tears of tenderness, relieving, nay delightful, she
+immediately sent him word that she accepted his kind office, and should
+feel eternal gratitude if he would acquaint her friends with her
+situation.
+
+Peggy soon informed her the gentleman was gone; and she then inquired
+why he had been brought to her as a clergyman.
+
+The little girl gave the account with the utmost simplicity. Her
+mistress, she said, knew the gentleman very well, who was 'Squire
+Mandlebert, and lived at a great house not many miles off; and had just
+alighted to bait his horses, as she went to ask about sending for the
+clergyman. He inquired who was ill; and her Mistress said it was a Lady
+who had gone out of her mind, by seeing a dead body, and raved of
+nothing but having prayers read to her; which her husband would do, when
+his house was clear, if the humour lasted: for they had nobody to send
+three miles off; and by drawing the curtains, she would not know if it
+was a clergyman or not. The young 'Squire then asked if she was a lodger
+or a traveller, and her mistress answered: 'She's a traveller, Sir; and
+if it had not been for Peggy's knowing her, we should have been afraid
+who she might be; for she stays here, and never pays us; only she has
+given us a watch and a locket for pledges.' Then he asked on some more
+questions, continued Peggy, and presently desired to see the locket; and
+when he had looked at it, he turned as white as a sheet, and said he
+must see the lady. Her mistress said she was laid down upon the bed, and
+she could not send in a gentleman; unless it was her husband, just to
+quiet her poor head by reading her a prayer or too. So then the 'Squire
+said he'd take the prayer book and read to her himself, if she'd spare
+time to go in the room first, and shut up the curtains. So her mistress
+said no, at first; but Peggy said the poor lady fretted on so badly,
+that presently up they came together.
+
+Ah! dear darling locket! internally cried Camilla, how from the first
+have I loved--how to the last will I prize it! Ah dear darling locket!
+how for ever--while I live--will I wear it in my bosom!
+
+A calm now took place of her agonies that made her seem in a renovated
+existence, till sleep, by gentle approaches, stole upon her again: not
+to bring to her the dread vision which accompanied its first return; nor
+yet to allow her tranquil repose. A softer form appeared before her;
+more afflictive, though not so horrible; it was the form of her Mother;
+all displeasure removed from her penetrating countenance; no longer in
+her dying child viewing the child that had offended her; yet while
+forgiving and embracing, seeing her expire in her arms.
+
+She awakened, affrighted,--she started, she sat upright; she called
+aloud upon her mother, and wildly looking round, thought she saw her at
+the foot of the bed.
+
+She crossed her eyes with her hands, to endeavour to clear her sight:
+but the object only seemed more distinct. She bent forward, seeking
+conviction, yet incredulous, though still meeting the same form.
+
+Sighing, at last, from fruitless fatigue; ''Tis wondrous odd,' she
+cried, 'but I now never know when I wake or when I sleep!'
+
+The form glided away; but with motion so palpable, she could no longer
+believe herself played upon by imagination. Awe-imprest, and
+wonder-struck, she softly opened her side curtain to look after it. It
+had stopt by a high chest of drawers, against which, leaning its head
+upon its arm, it stood erect, but seemed weeping. She could not discern
+the face; but the whole figure had the same sacred resemblance.
+
+The pulses of her head beat now with so much violence, she was forced to
+hold her temples. Doubt, dread, and hope seized every faculty at once;
+till, at length, the upraised arm of the form before her dropt, and she
+distinctly saw the profile: 'It is herself! it is my Mother!' she
+screamed, rather than pronounced, and threw herself from the bed to the
+floor.
+
+'Yes! it is your Mother!' was repeated, in a tone solemn and
+penetrating;--'to what a scene, O Camilla, returned! her house
+abandoned ... her son in exile ... her Eugenia lost ... her husband, the
+prop of all!... where she dare not name!... and thou, the child of her
+bosom!... the constant terrour, yet constant darling of her soul ...
+where, and how, does she see, does she meet thee, again--O Camilla!'
+
+Then tenderly, though with anguish, bending over her, she would have
+raised, and helped her to return to the bed: but Camilla would not be
+aided; she would not lift up her eyes; her face sought the ground, where
+leaning it upon her hands, without desiring to speak, without wishing to
+stir, torn by self-reproaches that made her deem herself unworthy to
+live, she remained speechless, immoveable.
+
+'Repress, repress,' said Mrs. Tyrold, gently, yet firmly, 'these strong
+feelings, uselessly torturing to us both. Raise your head, my poor
+girl ... raise ... and repose it upon the breast of your Mother.'
+
+'Of my Mother?' repeated Camilla, in a voice hardly audible; 'have I a
+Mother--who again will own the blast of her hopes and happiness?--the
+disgrace, the shame of the best and most injured of Fathers!'
+
+'Let us pray,' said Mrs. Tyrold, with a sigh, 'that these evils may pass
+away, and by salutary exertions, not desponding repinings, earn back our
+fugitive peace.'
+
+Again she then would have raised her; but Camilla sunk from all
+assistance: 'No,' she cried, 'I am unworthy your lenity--I am unable
+even to bear it, ...'
+
+'Camilla,' said Mrs. Tyrold, steadily, 'it is time to conquer this
+impetuous sensibility, which already, in its effects, has nearly broken
+all our hearts. With what horrour have we missed--with what agony sought
+you! Now then, that at length, we find you, excite not new terrour, by
+consigning yourself to willing despair.'
+
+Struck with extreme dread of committing yet further wrong, she lifted up
+her head, with intention to have risen; but the weak state of her body,
+forgotten by herself, and by Mrs. Tyrold unsuspected, took its turn for
+demanding attention.
+
+'Alas! my poor Child,' cried she, 'what horrible havock has this short
+absence produced! O Camilla!... with a soul of feeling like
+yours,--strong, tender, generous, and but too much alive, how is it you
+can thus have forgotten the first ties of your duty, and your heart, and
+have been wrought upon by your own sorrows to forget the sorrows you
+inflict? Why have you thus fled us? thus abandoned yourself to
+destruction? Was our anger to be set in competition with our misery? Was
+the fear of displeasure, from parents who so tenderly love you, to be
+indulged at the risk of never ending regret to the most lenient of
+Fathers? and nearly the loss of senses to a Mother who, from your birth,
+has idolized you in her inmost soul?'
+
+Bending then over her, she folded her in her arms; where Camilla,
+overpowered with the struggles of joy and contrition, sunk nearly
+lifeless.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold, seeing now her bodily feebleness, put her to bed, with
+words of soothing tenderness, no longer blended with retrospective
+investigation; conjuring her to be calm, to remember whose peace and
+happiness were encircled in her life and health, and to remit to her
+fuller strength all further interesting discourse.
+
+'Ah, my Mother!' cried Camilla, 'tell me first--if the time may ever
+come when with truth you can forgive me?'
+
+'Alas, my darling Child!' answered the generous Mother, 'I have myself
+now to pardon that I forgave thee not at first!'
+
+Camilla seemed transported to another region; with difficulty Mrs.
+Tyrold could hold her in her bed, though hovering over her pillow with
+incessant caresses: but to raise her eye only to meet that of her
+Mother--not as her fertile terrour had prophesied, darting unrelenting
+ire, but softly solicitous, and exquisitely kind; to feel one loved hand
+anxiously upon her forehead, and to glue her own lips upon the other; to
+find fears that had made existence insupportable, transformed into
+security that rendered it delicious;--with a floating, uncertain, yet
+irrepressible hope, that to Edgar she owed this restoration, caused a
+revulsion in all her feelings, that soon operated upon her frame--not,
+indeed, with tranquillity, but with rapture approaching to
+delirium:--when suddenly, a heavy, lumbering noise, appalled her. 'Ah,
+my Mother!' she faintly cried, 'our beloved Eugenia!... that noise ...
+where--and how--is Eugenia?--The wretched Mr. Bellamy is no more!'
+
+Mrs. Tyrold answered, she was acquainted with the whole dreadful
+business, and would relate it in a season of more serenity; but
+meanwhile, as repose, she well knew, never associated with suspence, she
+satisfied immediate anxiety, by assurances that Eugenia was safe, and at
+Etherington.
+
+This was a joy scarce inferior to that which so recently had transported
+her: but Mrs. Tyrold, gathering from the good Peggy, that she had not
+been in bed, nor scarce tasted food, since she had been at the
+half-way-house, refused all particulars, till she had been refreshed
+with nourishment and rest. The first immediately was ordered, and
+immediately taken; and Mrs. Tyrold, to propitiate the second, insisted
+upon total silence, and prepared to sit up with her all night.
+
+Long as the extreme agitation of her spirits distanced
+
+    '_Tir'd Nature's sweet restorer, balmy sleep_',[7]
+
+[Footnote 7: Young]
+
+the change from so much misery to heart-felt peace and joy, with the
+judicious nursing and restoratives devised by Mrs. Tyrold, for her weak
+and half famished frame, made her slumber, when at length, it arrived,
+lasted so long that, though broken by frequent starts, she awoke not
+till late the next morning.
+
+Her eyes then opened upon a felicity that again made her think herself
+in a new world. Her Mother, leaning over her, was watching her breathe,
+with hands uplifted for her preservation, and looks of fondness which
+seemed to mark that her happiness depended upon its being granted; but
+as she raised herself, to throw her arms around the loved maternal neck,
+the shadow of another form, quickly, yet gently receding, struck her
+sight; ... 'Ah, Heaven!' she exclaimed, 'who is that?'
+
+'Will you be good,' said Mrs. Tyrold, gently, 'be tranquil, be composed,
+and earn that I should tell you who has been watching by you this hour?'
+
+Camilla could not answer; certain, now, who it must be, her emotions
+became again uncontrollable; her horrour, her remorse, her
+self-abhorrence revived, and agonizingly exclaiming, ''Tis my
+Father!--O, where can I hide my head?' She strove again to envelop
+herself with the bed-curtain from all view.
+
+'Here--in his own arms--upon his own breast you shall hide it,' said Mr.
+Tyrold, returning to the bed-side, 'and all now shall be forgotten, but
+thankfulness that our afflictions seem finding their period.'
+
+'O my Father! my Father!' cried Camilla, forgetting her situation, in
+her desire to throw herself at his feet, 'can you speak to me thus,
+after the woe--the disgrace I have brought upon you?--I deserve your
+malediction!... I expected to be shut out from your heart,--I thought
+myself abandoned--I looked forward only in death to receiving your
+forgiveness!--'
+
+Mrs. Tyrold held her still, while her Father now blessed and embraced
+her, each uttering, in the same moment, whatever was softest to console
+her: but all her quick feelings were re-awakened beyond their power to
+appease them; her penitence tortured, her very gratitude tore her to
+pieces: 'O my Mother,' she cried, 'how do you forbear to spurn me? Can
+you think of what is passed, and still pronounce your pardon? Will you
+not draw it back at the sight of my injured Father? Are you not tempted
+to think I deserve eternal banishment from you both?--and to repent that
+you have not ordered it?'
+
+'No, my dearest Child, no! I lament only that I took you not at once to
+your proper security--to these arms, my Camilla, that now so fondly
+infold you! to this bosom--my darling girl!--where my heart beats your
+welcome!'
+
+'You make me too--too happy! the change is almost killing! my Mother--my
+dearest Mother!--I did not think you would permit me to ever call you so
+again! My Father I knew would pardon me, for the chief suffering was his
+own; but even he, I never expected could look at me thus benignly again!
+and hardly--hardly would he have been tried, if the evil had been
+reversed!'
+
+Mr. Tyrold exhorted her to silent composure; but finding her agitation
+over-power even her own efforts, he summoned her to join him in solemn
+thanks for her restoration.
+
+Awfully, though most gratefully, impressed by such a call, she checked
+her emotion, and devoutly obeyed: and the short but pious ceremony
+quieted her nerves, and calmed her mind.
+
+The gentlest tranquillity then took place in her breast, of the
+tumultuous joy which had first chaced her deadly affliction. The
+soothing, however serious turn, given by devotion to her changed
+sensations, softened the acute excess of rapture which mounted felicity
+nearly to agony. More eloquent, as well as safer than any speech, was
+the pause of deep gratitude, the silence of humble praise, which ensued.
+Camilla, in each hand held one of each beloved Parent; alternately she
+pressed them with grateful reverence to her lips, alternately her eye
+sought each revered countenance, and received, in the beaming fondness
+they emitted, a benediction that was balm to every woe.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+_Means to obtain a Boon_
+
+
+Mr. Tyrold was soon, by urgent claims, forced to leave them; and
+Camilla, with strong secret anxiety to know if Edgar had caused this
+blest meeting, led to a general explanation upon past events.
+
+And now, to her utter amazement, she found that her letter sent by the
+labourer had never been received.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold related, that she had no sooner read the first letter
+addressed to her through Lavinia, than, softened and affected, she wrote
+an answer of the utmost kindness to Belfont; desiring Camilla to
+continue with her sister till called for by Miss Margland, in her return
+home from Mrs. Macdersey. The visit, meanwhile to Cleves, had transpired
+through Jacob, and, much touched by, yet much blaming her travelling
+thus alone, she wrote to her a second time, charging her to remove no
+more from Belfont without Miss Margland. But, on the preceding morning,
+the first letter had been returned with a note from Eugenia, that her
+sister had set out two days before for Etherington.
+
+The moment of this intelligence, was the most dreadful to Mr. Tyrold and
+herself of their lives. Every species of conjecture was horrible. He set
+out instantly for Belfont, determining to make enquiries at every inn,
+house, and cottage, by the way; but by taking, unfortunately, the road
+through Alton, he had missed the half-way-house. In the evening, while,
+with apprehensions surpassing all description, she was waiting some
+news, a chaise drove up to the door. She flew out, but saw in it ...
+alone, cold, trembling, and scarce in her senses, Eugenia. Instantly
+imagining she came with tidings of fatal tendency concerning Camilla,
+she started back, exclaiming, 'All, then, is over?' The chaise-door had
+been opened; but Eugenia, shaking too violently to get out; only, and
+faintly, answered, 'Yes! my Mother ... all is over!--' The mistake was
+almost instantaneous death to her--though the next words of Eugenia
+cleared it up, and led to her own dreadful narrative.
+
+Bellamy, as soon as Camilla had left Belfont, had made a peremptory
+demand that his wife should claim, as if for some purpose of her own, a
+large sum of Sir Hugh. Her steady resistance sent him from the house in
+a rage; and she saw no more of him till that day at noon, when he
+returned in deeper, blacker wrath than she had ever yet seen; and vowed
+that nothing less than her going in person to her uncle with his
+request, should induce him ever to forgive her. When he found her
+resolute in refusal, he ordered a chaise, and made her get into it,
+without saying for what purpose. She saw they were travelling towards
+Cleves, but he did not once speak, except where they changed horses,
+till they came upon the cross-road, leading to the half-way-house.
+Suddenly then, bidding the postillion stop at the end of a lane, he told
+him he was going to look at a little farm, and, ordering him to wait,
+made her alight and walk down it till they were out of sight of the man
+and the carriage. Fiercely, then stopping short, 'Will you give me,' he
+cried, 'your promise, upon oath, that you will ask your Uncle for the
+money?' 'Indeed, Mr. Bellamy, I cannot!' she answered. 'Enough!' he
+cried, and took from his pocket a pistol. 'Good Heaven,' she said, 'you
+will not murder me?'--'I cannot live without the money myself,' he
+answered, 'and why should I let you?' He then felt in his waistcoat
+pocket, whence he took two bullets, telling her, she should have the
+pleasure of seeing him load the pistol; and that when one bullet had
+dispatched her, the other should disappoint the executioner. Horrour now
+conquered her, and she solemnly promised to ask whatever he dictated. 'I
+must hold the pistol to your ear,' cried he, 'while you take your oath.
+See! 'tis loaded--This is no child's play.' He then lifted it up; but,
+at the same moment, a distant voice exclaimed, 'Hold, villain! or you
+are a dead man!' Starting, and meaning to hide it within his waistcoat,
+his hand shook--the pistol went off--it shot him through the body, and
+he dropt down dead. Without sense or motion, she fell by his side; and,
+upon recovering, found herself again in the chaise. The postillion, who
+knew her, had carried her thither, and brought her on to Etherington.
+She then conjured that proper persons might go back with the driver, and
+that her Father would have the benevolence to superintend all that could
+be done that would be most respectfully decent.
+
+The postillion acknowledged that it was himself who had cried, 'Hold,
+villain! A suspicion of some mischief had occurred to him, from seeing
+the end of a pistol jerk from the pocket of the gentleman, as he got out
+of the chaise; and begging a man, who accidentally passed while he
+waited, to watch his horses, he ran down a field by the side of the
+lane, whence he heard the words: 'The pistol is loaded, and for no
+child's play!' upon which, seeing it raised, and the young Lady shrink,
+he called out. Yet Eugenia protested herself convinced that Bellamy had
+no real design against either his own life or her's, though terrour, at
+the moment, had conquered her: he had meant but to affright her into
+consent, knowing well her word once given, with whatever violence torn
+from her, would be held sacred. The rest was dreadful accident, or
+Providence in that form playing upon himself his own toils. The pious
+young Widow was so miserable at this shocking exit, and the shocking
+manner in which the remains were left exposed, that her Mother had set
+out herself to give orders in person, from the half-way-house, for
+bringing thither the body, till Mr. Tyrold could give his own
+directions. She found, however, that business already done. The man
+called by the postillion had been joined by a party of labourers, just
+leaving off work; those had gathered others; they had procured some
+broad planks which served for a bier, and had humanely conveyed the body
+to the inn, where the landlord was assured the postillion would come
+back with some account of him, though little Peggy had only learnt in
+general that he had been found murdered near a wood.
+
+'Eugenia is just now,' said Mrs. Tyrold, in conclusion, 'plunged into an
+abyss of ideas, frightful to her humanity, and oppressive to the
+tenderness of her heart. Her nature is too noble to rejoice in a release
+to herself, worked by means so horrible, and big with notions of
+retribution for the wretched culprit, at which even vengeance the most
+implacable might shudder. Nevertheless, all will imperceptibly pass
+away, save the pity inherent in all good minds for vice and its
+penalties. To know his abrupt punishment, and not to be shocked, would
+be inhuman; but to grieve with any regard for a man of such principles
+and conduct, would be an outrage to all that they have injured and
+offended.'
+
+This view of the transaction, by better reconciling Camilla to the
+ultimate lot of her sister, brought her back to reflect upon her own.
+Still she had not gathered with precision how she had been discovered.
+To pronounce the name of Edgar was impossible; but after a long pause,
+which Mrs. Tyrold had hoped was given again to repose, she ventured to
+say, 'I have not yet heard, my dearest Mother, to what benign chance I
+immediately owe my present unspeakable, unmerited happiness?'
+
+Mrs. Tyrold looked at her a moment in silence, as if to read what her
+question offered beyond its mere words: but she saw her eye hastily
+withdrawn from the examination, and her cheeks suddenly enveloped with
+the bed cloaths.
+
+Quietly, and without turning towards her again, she resumed her
+narrative.
+
+'I engaged the worthy postillion of my poor Eugenia to drive me,
+purposing to send Ambrose on with him, while I waited at the
+half-way-house: but, about two miles off, Ambrose, who rode before, was
+stopt by a gentleman, whom he met in a post chaise; when I came up to
+him, I stopt also. It was Mr. Mandlebert.'
+
+Camilla, who had looked up, now again hastily drew back, and Mrs.
+Tyrold, after a short pause, went on.
+
+'His intelligence, of course, finished my search. My first idea was to
+convey you instantly home; but the particulars I gathered made me fear
+removing you. When I entered your room, you were asleep;--I dreaded to
+surprise yet could not refrain taking a view of you, and while I looked,
+you suddenly awoke.'
+
+Ah! thought Camilla, 'tis to Edgar, then, that ultimately I owe this
+blest moment!
+
+'But my Father,' she cried, 'my dearest Mother,--how came my dear Father
+to know where you had found me?'
+
+'At Belfont he learnt the way you had set out, and that Eugenia and
+Bellamy were from home; and, without loss of time ... regardless of the
+night and of fasting, ... he returned by a route through which he traced
+you at every inn where you had changed horses. He, also, entered as you
+were sleeping--and we watched together by your side.'
+
+Again filial gratitude silenced all but itself, and sleep, the softest
+she had known for many months, soon gave to oblivion every care in
+Camilla.
+
+The changeful tide of mental spirits from misery to enjoyment, is not
+more rapid than the transition from personal danger to safety, in the
+elastic period of youth. 'Tis the epoch of extremes; and moderation, by
+which alone we learn the true use of our blessings, is a wisdom we are
+frequently only taught to appreciate when redundance no longer requires
+its practice.
+
+Camilla, from sorrow the most desolate, bounded to joy that refused a
+solicitude; and from an illness that held her suspended between delirium
+and dissolution, to ease that had no complaint. The sufferings which had
+deprived her of the benefit of rest and nourishment were no sooner
+removed, than she appeared to be at once restored to health; though to
+repair the wastes of strength some time yet was necessary.
+
+Mrs. Tyrold determined to carry her this afternoon to Etherington. The
+remains of the wretched Bellamy, in a coffin and hearse brought from
+Winchester, had been sent to Belfont in the morning: and Mr. Tyrold had
+followed, to give every direction that he should be buried as the master
+of the house; without reference to the conduct which had forfeited all
+such respect.
+
+Though the evil committed by the non-deliverance of Camilla's letter was
+now past all remedy, Mrs. Tyrold thought it every way right to endeavour
+to discover where [lay] the blame: and by the two usual modes of menace
+and promises, she learnt that the countryman, when he stopt to drink by
+the way, had, in lighting his pipe, let the letter take fire; and
+fearing to lose the recompense he had expected, had set his conscience
+apart for a crown, and returned with the eventful falsehood, which had
+made Camilla think herself abandoned, and her friends deplore her as
+lost.
+
+For the benefit of those with whom, in future, he might have to deal,
+Mrs. Tyrold took some pains to represent to him the cruel evils his
+dishonesty had produced; but, stupid rather than wicked, what he had
+done had been without weighing right from wrong, and what he heard was
+without understanding it.
+
+Camilla found, with extreme satisfaction, that Mrs. Tyrold,
+notwithstanding the strictness of the present family oeconomy, meant
+liberally to recompense Mrs. Marl, for the trouble and patience with
+which she had attended to a guest so little profitable: while Peggy, to
+whose grateful remembrance she owed the consideration she had met with
+in her deserted condition, was rewarded by a much larger sum than she
+had ever before possessed. Camilla was obliged to confess she had parted
+with two pledges for future payment: the watch was reclaimed without
+difficulty; but she shewed so much distress in naming the locket, that
+Mrs. Tyrold, though she looked anxiously surprised, demanded it without
+enquiring into its history.
+
+The excess of delight to Camilla in preparing to return to Etherington,
+rendered her insensible to all fatigue, till she was descending the
+stairs; when the recollection of the shock she had received from the
+corpse of Bellamy, made her tremble so exceedingly, that she could
+scarce walk past the door of the room in which it had been laid. 'Ah, my
+dearest Mother,' she cried, 'this house must give me always the most
+penetrating sensations: I have experienced in it the deepest grief, and
+the most heart-soothing enjoyment that ever, perhaps, gave place one to
+the other in so short a time!'
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Ambrose had announced their intended arrival, and at the door of the
+house, the timid, but affectionate Lavinia was waiting to receive them;
+and as Camilla, in alighting, met her tender embraces, a well-known
+voice reached her ears, calling out in hurried accents, 'Where is she?
+Is she come indeed? Are you quite sure?' And Sir Hugh, hobbling rather
+than walking into the hall, folded her in his feeble arms, sobbing over
+her: 'I can't believe it for joy! Poor sinner that I am, and the cause
+of all our bad doings! how can I have deserved such a thing as this, to
+have my own little Girl come back to me? which could not have made my
+heart gladder, if I had had no share in all this bad mischief! which,
+God knows I've had enough, owing to my poor head doing always for the
+worst, for all my being the oldest of us all; which is a thing I've
+often thought remarkable enough, in the point of my knowing no better;
+which however, I hope my dear little Darling will excuse for the sake of
+my love, which is never happy but in seeing her.'
+
+The heart of Camilla bounded with grateful joy at sight of this dear
+Uncle, and at so tender a reception: and while with equal emotion, and
+equal weakness, they were unable to support either each other or
+themselves, the worthy old Jacob, his eyes running over, came to help
+his Master back to the parlour, and Mrs. Tyrold and Lavinia conveyed
+thither Camilla: who was but just placed upon a sofa, by the side of her
+fond Uncle, when the door of an inner apartment was softly opened, and
+pale, wan, and meagre, Eugenia appeared at it, saying, as faintly, yet
+with open arms, she advanced to Camilla: 'Let me too--your poor
+harassed, and but half-alive Eugenia, make one in this precious scene!
+Let me see the joy of my kind Uncle--the revival of my honoured Mother,
+the happiness of my dear Lavinia--and feel even my own heart beat once
+more with delight in the bosom of its darling Sister!... my so
+mourned--but now for ever, I trust, restored to me, most dear Camilla!'
+
+Camilla, thus encircled in her Mother's, Uncle's, Sister's, arms at
+once, gasped, sighed, smiled, and shed tears in the same grateful
+minute, while fondly she strove to articulate, 'Am I again at
+Etherington and at Cleves in one? And thus indulgently received? thus
+more than forgiven? My heart wants room for its joy! my Mother! my
+Sisters! if you knew what despair has been my portion! I feared even the
+sight of my dear Uncle himself, lest the sorrows and the errours of a
+creature he so kindly loved, should have demolished his generous heart!'
+
+'Mine, my dearest little Girl?' cried the Baronet, 'why what would that
+have signified, in comparison to such a young one as yours, that ought
+to know no sorrow yet a while? God knows, it being time enough to begin:
+for it is but melancholy at best, the cares of the world; which if you
+can't keep off now, will be overtaking you at every turn.'
+
+Mrs. Tyrold entreated Camilla might be spared further conversation.
+Eugenia had already glided back to her chamber, and begged, this one
+solacing interview over, to be dispensed with from joining the family at
+present; Camilla was removed also to her chamber; and the tender Mother
+divided her time and her cares between these two recovered treasures of
+her fondest affection.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+_Questions and Answers_
+
+
+Mr. Tyrold did not return till the next day from Belfont, where, through
+the account he gave from his Daughter, the violent exit of the miserable
+Bellamy was brought in accidental death. Various circumstances had now
+acquainted him with the history of that wretched man, who was the
+younger son of the master of a great gaming-house. In his first youth,
+he had been utterly neglected, and left to run wild whither he chose;
+but his father afterwards becoming very rich, had bestowed upon him as
+good an education as the late period at which it was begun could allow.
+He was intended for a lucrative business; but he had no application, and
+could retain no post: he went into the army; but he had no courage, and
+was speedily cashiered. Inheriting a passion for the means by which the
+parental fortune had been raised, he devoted himself next to its
+pursuit, and won very largely. But as extravagance and good luck, by
+long custom, go hand in hand, he spent as fast as he acquired; and upon
+a tide of fortune in his disfavour, was tempted to reverse the chances
+by unfair play, was found out, and as ignominiously chaced from the
+field of hazard as from that of patriotism. His father was no more; his
+eldest brother would not assist him; he sold therefore his house, and
+all he possessed but his wardrobe, and, relying upon a very uncommonly
+handsome face and person, determined to seek a fairer lot, by eloping,
+if possible, with some heiress. He thought it, however, prudent not only
+to retire from London, but to make a little change in his name, which
+from Nicholas Gwigg he refined into Alphonso Bellamy. He began his
+career by a tour into Wales; where he insinuated himself into the
+acquaintance of Mrs. Ecton, just after she had married Miss Melmond to
+Mr. Berlinton: and though this was not an intercourse that could travel
+to Gretna Green, the beauty and romantic turn of the bride of so
+disproportioned a marriage, opened to his unprincipled mind a scheme yet
+more flagitious. Fortunately, however, for his fair destined prey, soon
+after the connexion was formed, she left Wales; and the search of new
+adventures carried him, by various chances, into Hampshire. But he had
+established with her, a correspondence, and when he had caught, or
+rather forced, an heiress into legal snares, the discovery of who and
+what he was, became less important, and he ventured again to town, and
+renewed his heinous plan, as well as his inveterate early habits; till
+surprised by some unpleasant recollectors, debts of honour, which he had
+found it convenient to elude upon leaving the Capital, were claimed, and
+he found it impossible to appear without satisfying such demands. Thence
+his cruel and inordinate persecution of his unhappy wife for money; and
+thence, ultimately, the brief vengeance which had reverberated upon his
+own head.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+Camilla, whose danger was the result of self-neglect, as her sufferings
+had all flowed from mental anguish, was already able to go down to the
+study upon the arrival of Mr. Tyrold: where she received, with grateful
+rapture, the tender blessings which welcomed her to the paternal
+arms--to her home--to peace--to safety--and primæval joy.
+
+Mr. Tyrold, sparing to her yet weak nerves any immediate explanations
+upon the past, called upon his wife to aid him to communicate, in the
+quietest manner, what had been done at Belfont to Eugenia; charging
+Camilla to take no part in a scene inevitably shocking.
+
+Once more in the appropriate apartment of her Father, where all her
+earliest scenes of gayest felicity had passed, but which, of late, she
+had only approached with terrour, only entered to weep, she experienced
+a delight almost awful in the renovation of her pristine confidence, and
+fearless ease. She took from her pocket--where alone she could ever bear
+to keep it--her loved locket, delighting to attribute to it this
+restoration to domestic enjoyment; though feeling at the same time, a
+renewal of suspence from the return of its donor, and from the affecting
+interview into which she had been surprised, that broke in upon even her
+filial happiness, with bitter, tyrannical regret. Yet she pressed to her
+bosom the cherished symbol of first regard, and was holding it to her
+lips, when Mrs. Tyrold, unexpectedly, re-entered the room.
+
+In extreme confusion, she shut it into its shagreen case, and was going
+to restore it to her pocket; but infolding it, with her daughter's hand,
+between each of her own, Mrs. Tyrold said, 'Shall I ever, my dear girl,
+learn the history of this locket?'
+
+'O yes, my dearest Mother,' said the blushing Camilla, 'of that--and of
+every--and of all things--you have only--you have merely--'
+
+'If it distresses you, my dear child, we will leave it to another day,'
+said Mrs. Tyrold, whose eyes Camilla saw, as she now raised her own,
+were swimming in tears.
+
+'My Mother! my dearest Mother!' cried she, with the tenderest alarm,
+'has any thing new happened?--Is Eugenia greatly affected?'
+
+'She is all, every way, and in every respect,' said Mrs. Tyrold,
+'whatever the fondest, or even the proudest Mother could wish. But I do
+not at this instant most think of her. I am not without some fears for
+my Camilla's strength, in the immediate demand that may be made upon her
+fortitude. Tell me, my child, with that sincerity which so long has been
+mutually endearing between us, tell me if you think you can see here,
+again, and as usual, without any risk to your health, one long admitted
+and welcomed as a part of the family?'
+
+She started, changed colour, looked up, cast her eyes on the floor; but
+soon seeing Mrs. Tyrold hold an handkerchief bathed in tears to her
+face, lost all dread, and even all consciousness in tender gratitude,
+and throwing her arms round her neck, 'O my Mother,' she cried, 'you
+who weep not for yourself--scarcely even in the most poignant
+sorrow--can you weep for me?--I will see--or I will avoid whoever you
+please--I shall want no fortitude, I shall fear nothing--no one--not
+even myself--now again under your protection! I will scarcely even
+think, my beloved Mother, but by your guidance!'
+
+'Compose yourself, then, my dearest girl: and, if you believe you are
+equal to behaving with firmness, I will not refuse his request of
+re-admission.'
+
+'His request?' repeated Camilla, with involuntary quickness; but finding
+Mrs. Tyrold did not notice it, gently adding, 'That person that--I
+believe--you mean--has done nothing, my dear Mother, to merit
+expulsion!--'
+
+'I am happy to hear you say so: I have been fearfully, I must own, and
+even piercingly displeased with him.'
+
+'Ah, my dear Mother! how kind was the partiality that turned your
+displeasure so wrong a way! that made you,--even you, my dear Mother,
+listen to your fondness rather than to your justice!--'
+
+She trembled at the temerity of this vindication the moment it had
+escaped her, and looking another way, spoke again of Eugenia: but Mrs.
+Tyrold now, taking both her hands, and seeking, though vainly, to meet
+her eyes, said, 'My dearest child, I grow painfully anxious to end a
+thousand doubts; to speak and to hear with no further ambiguity, nor
+reserve. If Edgar--'
+
+Camilla again changed colour, and strove to withdraw her hands.
+
+'Take courage, my dear love, and let one final explanation relieve us
+both at once. If Edgar has merited well of you, why are you parted?--If
+ill--why this solicitude my opinion of him should be unshaken?'
+
+Her head now dropt upon Mrs. Tyrold's shoulder, as she faintly answered,
+'He deserves your good opinion, my dearest Mother--for he adores you--I
+cannot be unjust to him,--though he has made me--I own--not very happy!'
+
+'Designedly, my Camilla?'
+
+'O, no, my dearest Mother!--he would not do that to an enemy!'
+
+'Speak out, then, and speak clearer, my dearest Camilla. If you think of
+him so well, and are so sure of his good intentions, what--in two
+words,--what is it that has parted you?'
+
+'Accident, my dearest Mother,--deluding appearances, ... and false
+internal reasoning on my part,--and on his, continual misconstruction! O
+my dearest Mother! how have I missed your guiding care! I had ever the
+semblance, by some cruel circumstance, some inexplicable fatality of
+incident, to neglect his counsel, oppose his judgment, deceive his
+expectations, and trifle with his regard!--Yet, with a heart faithful,
+grateful, devoted,--O my dearest Mother!--with an esteem that defies all
+comparison, ... a respect closely meliorating even to veneration!...
+Never was heart ... my dearest Mother, so truly impressed with the worth
+of another ... with the nobleness....'
+
+A buzzing noise from the adjoining parlour, sounding something between a
+struggle and a dispute, suddenly stopt her, ... and as she raised her
+head from the bosom of her Mother, in which she had seemed seeking
+shelter from the very confidence she was pouring forth, she saw the door
+opened, and the object of whom she was speaking appear at it....
+Fluttered, colouring, trembling, ... yet with eyes refulgent with joy,
+and every feature speaking ecstasy.
+
+Almost fainting with shame and surprise, she gave herself up as
+disgraced, if not dishonoured evermore, for a short, but bitter half
+moment. It was not longer. Edgar, rushing forward, and seizing the hands
+of Mrs. Tyrold, even while they were encircling her drooping, shrinking,
+half expiring Camilla, pressed them with ardent respect to his lips,
+rapidly exclaiming, 'My more than Mother! my dear, kind, excellent,
+inestimable friend!--Forgive this blest intrusion--plead for me where I
+dare not now speak--and raise your indeed maternal eyes upon the
+happiest--the most devoted of your family!'
+
+'What is it overpowers me thus this morning?' cried Mrs. Tyrold, leaning
+her head upon her clinging Camilla, while large drops fell from her
+eyes; 'Misfortune, I see, is not the greatest test of our philosophy!...
+Joy, twice to-day, has completely demolished mine!'
+
+'What goodness is this! what encouragement to hope some indulgent
+intercession here--where the sense that now breaks in upon me of
+ungenerous ... ever to be lamented--and I had nearly said, execrated
+doubt, fills me with shame and regret--and makes me--even at this soft
+reviving, heart-restoring moment, feel undeserving my own hopes!'--
+
+'Shall I ... may I leave him to make his peace?' whispered Mrs. Tyrold
+to her daughter, whose head sought concealment even to annihilation; but
+whose arms, with what force they possessed, detained her, uttering
+faintly but rapidly, 'O no, no, no!'
+
+'My more than Mother!' again cried Edgar, 'I will wait till that
+felicity may be accorded me, and put myself wholly under your kind and
+powerful influence. One thing alone I must say;--I have too much to
+answer for, to take any share of the misdemeanors of another!--I have
+not been a treacherous listener, though a wilful obtruder.... See, Mrs.
+Tyrold! who placed me in that room--who is the accomplice of my
+happiness!'
+
+With a smile that seemed to beam but the more brightly for her
+glistening eyes, Mrs. Tyrold looked to the door, and saw there, leaning
+against it, the form she most revered; surveying them all with an
+expression of satisfaction so perfect, contentment so benign, and
+pleasure mingled with so much thankfulness, that her tears now flowed
+fast from unrestrained delight; and Mr. Tyrold, approaching to press at
+once the two objects of his most exquisite tenderness to his breast,
+said, 'This surprise was not planned, but circumstances made it more
+than irresistible. It was not, however, quite fair to my Camilla, and if
+she is angry, we will be self-exiled till she can pardon us.'
+
+'This is such a dream,'--cried Camilla, as now, first, from the
+voice of her Father she believed it reality; 'so incredible ... so
+unintelligible ... I find it entirely ... impossible ... impossible
+to comprehend any thing I see or hear!'--
+
+'Let the past, ... not the present,' cried Edgar, 'be regarded as the
+dream! and generously drive it from your mind as a fever of the brain,
+with which reason had no share, and for which memory must find no
+place.'
+
+'If I could understand in the least,' said Camilla, 'what this all
+means ... what----'
+
+Mr. Tyrold now insisted that Edgar should retreat, while he made some
+explanation; and then related to his trembling, doubting, wondering
+daughter, the following circumstances.
+
+In returning from Belfont, he had stopt at the half-way-house, where he
+had received from Mrs. Marl, a letter that, had it reached him as it was
+intended, at Etherington, would have quickened the general meeting, yet
+nearly have broken his heart. It was that which, for want of a
+messenger, had never been sent, and which Peggy, in cleaning the bed
+room, had found under a table, where it had fallen, she supposes, when
+the candle was put upon it for reading prayers.
+
+'There was another letter, too!' interrupted Camilla, with quick
+blushing recollection;--'but my illness ... and all that has followed,
+made me forget them both till this very moment.... Did she say anything
+of any ... other?'
+
+'Yes; ... the other had been delivered according to its address.'
+
+'Good Heaven!'
+
+'Be not frightened, my Camilla, ... all has been beautifully directed
+for the best. My accomplice had received his early in the morning; he
+was at the house, by some fortunate hazard, when it was found, and,
+being well known there, Mrs. Marl gave it to him immediately.'
+
+'How terrible!... It was meant only in case ... I had seen no one any
+more!...'
+
+'The intent, and the event, have been happily, my child, at war. He came
+instantly hither, and enquired for me; I was not returned; he asked my
+route, and rode to follow or meet me. About an hour ago, we encountered
+upon the road: he gave his horse to his groom, and came into the chaise
+to me.'
+
+Camilla now could with difficulty listen; but her Father hastened to
+acquaint her, that Edgar, with the most generous apologies, the most
+liberal self-blame, had re-demanded his consent for a union, from which
+every doubt was wholly, and even miraculously removed, by learning thus
+the true feelings of her heart, as depicted at the awful crisis of
+expected dissolution. The returning smiles which forced their way now
+through the tears and blushes of Camilla, shewed how vainly she strove
+to mingle the regret of shame with the felicity of fond security,
+produced by this eventful accident. But when she further heard that
+Edgar, in Flanders, had met with Lionel, who, in frankly recounting his
+difficulties and adventures, had named some circumstances which had so
+shaken every opinion that had urged him to quit England, as to induce
+him instantly, from the conference, to seek a passage for his return,
+she felt all but happiness retire from her heart;--vanish even from her
+ideas.
+
+'You are not angry, then,' said Mr. Tyrold, as smilingly he read
+her delighted sensations, 'that I waited not to consult you? That
+I gave back at once my consent? That I folded him again in my
+arms?... again ... called him my son?'
+
+She could but seek the same pressure; and he continued, 'I would not
+bring him in with me; I was not aware my dear girl was so rapidly
+recovered, and I had a task to fulfil to my poor Eugenia that was still
+my first claim. But I promised within an hour, your Mother, at least,
+should welcome him. He would walk, he said, for that period. When I met
+her, I hinted at what was passing, and she followed me to our Eugenia; I
+then briefly communicated my adventure; and your Mother, my Camilla,
+lost herself in hearing it! Will you not, ... like me!... withdraw from
+her all reverence? Her eyes gushed with tears, ... she wept, as you weep
+at this moment; she was sure Edgar Mandlebert could alone preserve you
+from danger, yet make you happy--Was she wrong, my dear child? Shall we
+attack now her judgment, as well as her fortitude?'
+
+Only at her feet could Camilla shew her gratitude; to action she had
+recourse, for words were inadequate, and the tenderest caresses now
+spoke best for them all.
+
+Respect for the situation of Eugenia, who had desired, for this week, to
+live wholly up stairs and alone, determined Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold to keep
+back for some time the knowledge of this event from the family. Camilla
+was most happy to pay such an attention to her sister; but when Mr.
+Tyrold was leaving her, to consult upon it with Edgar, the ingenuousness
+of her nature urged her irresistibly to say, 'Since all this has passed,
+my dearest Father--my dearest Mother--does it not seem as if I should
+now myself----'
+
+She stopt; but she was understood; they both smiled, and Mr. Tyrold
+immediately bringing in Edgar, said, 'I find my pardon, my dear
+fellow-culprit, is already accorded; if you have doubts of your own, try
+your eloquence for yourself.'
+
+He left the room, and Mrs. Tyrold was gently rising to quietly follow,
+but Camilla, with a look of entreaty of which she knew the sincerity,
+and would not resist the earnestness, detained her.
+
+'Ah yes, stay, dearest Madam!' cried Edgar, again respectfully taking
+her hand, 'and through your unalterable goodness, let me hope to procure
+pardon for a distrust which I here for ever renounce; but which had its
+origin in my never daring to hope what, at this moment, I have the
+felicity to believe. Yet now, even now, without your kind mediation,
+this dear convalescent may plan some probationary trial at which my
+whole mind, after this long suffering, revolts. Will you be my caution,
+my dearest Mrs. Tyrold? Will you venture--and will you deign to promise,
+that if a full and generous forgiveness may be pronounced....'
+
+'Forgiveness?' in a soft voice interrupted Camilla: 'Have I any thing to
+forgive? I thought all apology--all explanation, rested on my part? and
+that my imprudencies--my rashness--my so often-erring judgment ... and
+so apparently, almost even culpable conduct....'
+
+'O, my Camilla! my now own Camilla!' cried Edgar, venturing to change
+the hand of the Mother for that of the daughter; 'what too, too touching
+words and concessions are these! Suffer me, then, to hope a kind amnesty
+may take place of retrospection, a clear, liberal, open forgiveness
+anticipate explanation and enquiry?'
+
+'Are you sure,' said Camilla, smiling, 'this is your interest, and not
+mine?... Does he not make a mistake, my dearest Mother, and turn my
+advocate, instead of his own? And can I fairly take advantage of such an
+errour.'
+
+The sun-shine of her returning smiles went warm to her Mother's heart,
+and gave a glow to the cheeks of Edgar, and a brightness to his eyes
+that irradiated his whole countenance. 'Your penetrating judgment,' said
+he, to Mrs. Tyrold, 'will take in at once more than any professions, any
+protestations can urge for me: ... you see the peace, the pardon which
+those eyes do not seek to withhold ... will you then venture, my more
+than maternal friend! my Mother, in every meaning which affection and
+reverence can give to that revered appellation--will you venture at
+once--now--upon this dear and ever after hallowed minute--to seal the
+kind consent of my truly paternal guardian, and to give me an example of
+that trust and confidence which my whole future life shall look upon as
+its lesson?'
+
+'Yes!' answered Mrs. Tyrold, instantly joining their hands, 'and with
+every security that the happiness of all our lives--my child's, my
+husband's, your's, my valued Edgar's, and my own, will all owe their
+felicity to the blessing with which I now lay my hands upon my two
+precious children!'
+
+Tears were the only language that could express the fulness of joy which
+succeeded to so much sorrow; and when Mr. Tyrold returned, and had
+united his tenderest benediction with that of his beloved wife, Edgar
+was permitted to remain alone with Camilla; and the close of his long
+doubts, and her own long perplexities, was a reciprocal confidence that
+left nothing untold, not an action unrelated, not even a thought
+unacknowledged.
+
+Edgar confessed that he no sooner had quitted her, than he suspected the
+justice of his decision; the turn which of late, he had taken,
+doubtfully to watch her every action, and suspiciously to judge her
+every motive, though it had impelled him in her presence, ceased to
+operate in her absence.--He was too noble to betray the well meant,
+though not well applied warnings of Dr. Marchmont, yet he acknowledged,
+that when left to cool reflection, a thousand palliations arose for
+every step he could not positively vindicate: and when, afterwards, from
+the frank communication of Lionel, he learnt what belonged to the
+mysterious offer of Sir Sedley Clarendel, that she would superintend the
+disposal of his fortune, and the deep obligation in which she had been
+innocently involved, his heart smote him for having judged ere he had
+investigated that transaction; and in a perturbation unspeakable of
+quick repentance, and tenderness, he set out for England. But when, at
+the half-way-house, he stopt as usual to rest his horses in his way to
+Beech Park,--what were his emotions at the sight of the locket, which
+the landlady told him had been pledged by a lady in distress! He
+besought her pardon for the manner in which he had made way to her; but
+the almost frantic anxiety which seized him to know if or not it was
+[she], and to save her, if so, from the intended intrusion of the
+landlord, made him irresistibly prefer it to the plainer mode which he
+should have adopted with any one else, of sending in his name, and some
+message. His shock at her view in such a state, he would not now revive;
+but the impropriety of bidding the landlady quit the chamber, and the
+impossibility of entering into an explanation in her hearing, alone
+repressed, at that agitated moment, the avowal of every sensation with
+which his heart was labouring. 'But when,' he added, 'shall I cease to
+rejoice that I had listened to the good landlady's history of a sick
+guest, while all conjecture was so remote from whom it might be! when I
+am tempted to turn aside from a tale of distress, I will recollect what
+I owe to having given [ear to one]!' Lost in wonder at what could have
+brought her to such a situation, and disturbed how to present himself at
+the rectory, till fixed in his plans, he had ridden to the
+half-way-house that morning, to enquire concerning the corpse that Mrs.
+Marl had mentioned--and there--while he was speaking with her, the
+little maid brought down two letters--one of them directed to himself.--
+
+'What a rapid transition,' cried he, 'was then mine, from regrets that
+robbed life of all charms, to prospects which paint it in its most vivid
+colours of happiness! from wavering the most deplorable, to resolutions
+of expiating by a whole life of devoted fondness, the barbarous
+waywardness that could deprive me, for one wilful moment, of the
+exquisite felicity of my lot!...'
+
+'But still,' said Camilla, 'I do not quite understand how you came in
+that room this morning? and how you authorized yourself to overhear my
+confessions to my Mother?'
+
+'Recollect my acknowledged accomplice before you hazard any blame! When
+I came hither ... somewhat, I confess, within my given hour, Mr. Tyrold
+received me himself at the door. He told me I was too soon, and took me
+into the front parlour. The partition is thin. I heard my name spoken by
+Mrs. Tyrold, and the gentle voice of my Camilla, in accents yet more
+gentle than even that voice ever spoke before, answering some question;
+I was not myself, at first, aware of its tenour ... but when,
+unavoidably, I gathered it ... when I heard words so beautifully
+harmonizing with what I had so lately perused--I would instantly have
+ventured into the room; but Mr. Tyrold feared surprising you--you went
+on--my fascinated soul divested me of obedience--of caution--of all but
+joy and gratitude ... and he could no longer restrain me. And now with
+which of her offenders will my Camilla quarrel?'
+
+'With neither, I believe, just at present. The conspiracy is so complex,
+and even my Mother so nearly a party concerned, that I dare not risk the
+unequal contest. I must only, in future,' added she smiling, 'speak ill
+of you ... and then you will find less pleasure in the thinness of a
+partition!'
+
+Faithfully she returned his communication, by the fullest, most candid,
+and unsparing account of every transaction of her short life, from the
+still shorter period of its being put into voluntary motion. With nearly
+breathless interest, he listened to the detail of her transactions with
+Sir Sedley Clarendel, with pity to her debts, and with horrour to her
+difficulties. But when, through the whole ingenuous narration, he found
+himself the constant object of every view, the ultimate motive to every
+action, even where least it appeared, his happiness, and his gratitude,
+made Camilla soon forget that sorrow had ever been known to her.
+
+They then spoke of her two favourites, Mrs. Arlbery, and Mrs. Berlinton;
+and though she was animated in her praise of the good qualities of the
+first, and the sweet attraction of the last, she confessed the danger,
+for one so new in the world, of chusing friends distinct from those of
+her family; and voluntarily promised, during her present season of
+inexperience, to repose the future choice of her connections, where she
+could never be happy without their approvance.
+
+The two hundred pounds to Sir Sedley Clarendel, he determined, on the
+very day that Camilla should be his, to return to the Baronet, under the
+privilege, and in the name of paying it for a brother.
+
+In conference thus softly balsamic to every past wound, and thus
+deliciously opening to that summit of earthly felicity ... confidence
+unlimited entwined around affection unbounded ... hours might have
+passed, unnumbered and unawares, had not prudence forced a separation,
+for the repose of Camilla.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+_The last Touches of the Picture_
+
+
+Late as Edgar quitted the rectory, he went not straight to Beech Park;
+every tie both of friendship and propriety carried him first to Dr.
+Marchmont; who had too much feeling to wonder at the power of his late
+incitements, and too much goodness of heart not to felicitate him upon
+their issue, though he sighed at the recollection of the disappointments
+whence his own doubting counsel originated. Twice betrayed in his
+dearest expectations, he had formed two criterions from his peculiar
+experience, by which he had settled his opinion of the whole female sex;
+and where opinion may humour systematic prepossession, who shall build
+upon his virtue or wisdom to guard the transparency of his impartiality?
+
+The following day, the Westwyns presented themselves at Etherington;
+hurried from a tour they were taking through Devonshire and Cornwall, by
+intelligence which had reached them that Sir Hugh Tyrold was ruined, and
+Cleves was to be let. They met, by chance, with Edgar alone in the
+parlour; and the joy of the old gentleman in hearing how small a part of
+the rumour was founded in fact, made him shake hands with him as
+cordially for setting him right, as Edgar welcomed his kindness, from
+the pleasure afforded by the sight of such primitive regard. But when,
+presuming upon his peculiar intimacy in the family, as ward of Mr.
+Tyrold, though without yet daring to avow his approaching nearer
+affinity, Edgar insisted upon his superior claim for supplanting them in
+taking charge of the debt of his guardian; Mr. Westwyn, almost angrily,
+protested he would let no man upon earth, let him be whose ward he
+pleased, shew more respect than himself for the brother of Sir Hugh
+Tyrold; 'And Hal thinks the same too,' he added, 'or he's no son of
+mine. And so he'll soon shew you, in a way you can't guess, I give you
+my word. At least that's my opinion.'
+
+He then took his son apart, and abruptly whispered to him, 'As that
+pretty girl you and I took such a fancy to, at Southton, served us in
+that shabby manner, because of meeting with that old Lord, it's my
+opinion you'd do the right thing to take her sister; who's pretty near
+as pretty, and gives herself no airs; and that will be shewing respect
+for my worthy old friend, now he's down in the world; which is exactly
+that he did for me when I was down myself. For if he had not lent me
+that thousand pounds I told you of, when not a relation I had would lend
+me a hundred, I might have been ruined before ever you were born. Come,
+tell me your mind Hal! off or on? don't stand shilly shally; it's what I
+can't bear; speak honestly; I won't have your choice controlled; only
+this one thing I must tell you without ceremony, I shall never think
+well of you again as long as ever I live, if you demur so much as a
+moment. It's what I can't bear; it i'n't doing a thing handsomely. I
+can't say I like it.'
+
+The appearance of Lavinia relieved the immediate embarrassment of Henry,
+while the modest pleasure with which she received them confirmed the
+partiality of both. The eagerness, however, of the father, admitted of
+no delay, and when Sir Hugh entered the room, the son's assent being
+obtained, he warmly demanded the fair Lavinia for his daughter-in-law.
+
+Sir Hugh received the proposition with the most copious satisfaction;
+Mr. and Mrs. Tyrold with equal, though more anxious delight; and Lavinia
+herself with blushing but unaffected hopes of happiness.
+
+Whatever was known to Sir Hugh, no cautions, nor even his own best
+designs, could save from being known to the whole house. Eugenia,
+therefore, was unavoidably informed of this transaction; and the
+generous pleasure with which she revived from the almost settled
+melancholy left upon her, by continual misfortunes, justified the
+impatience of Edgar to accelerate the allowed period for publishing his
+own happy history.
+
+Eugenia wept with joy at tidings so precious of her beloved sister,
+through whom, and her other dear friends, she was alone, she said,
+susceptible of joy, though to all sorrow she henceforth bid adieu, 'For
+henceforth,' she cried, 'I mean to regard myself as if already I had
+passed the busy period of youth and of life, and were only a spectatress
+of others. For this purpose, I have begun writing my memoirs, which will
+amuse my solitude, and confirm my--I hope, philosophical idea.'
+
+She then produced the opening of her intended book.
+
+     SECTION I.
+
+     'No blooming coquette, elated with adulation and triumphant with
+     conquest, here counts the glories of her eyes, or enumerates the
+     train of her adorers: no beauteous prude, repines at the fatigue of
+     admiration, nor bewails the necessity of tyranny: O gentle reader!
+     you have the story of one from whom fate has withheld all the
+     delicacy of vanity, all the regale of cruelty--!'
+
+'Here,' interrupted the young biographer, 'will follow my portrait, and
+then this further address to my readers.'
+
+     'O ye, who, young and fair, revel in the attractions of beauty, and
+     exult in the pride of admiration, say, where is your envy of the
+     heiress to whom fortune comes with such alloys? And which, however
+     distressed or impoverished, would accept my income with my personal
+     defects?
+
+     'Ye, too, O lords of the creation, mighty men! impute not to native
+     vanity the repining spirit with which I lament the loss of beauty;
+     attribute not to the innate weakness of my sex, the concern I
+     confess for my deformity; nor to feminine littleness of soul, a
+     regret of which the true source is to be traced to your own bosoms,
+     and springs from your own tastes: for the value you yourselves set
+     upon external attractions, your own neglect has taught me to know;
+     and the indifferency with which you consider all else, your own
+     duplicity has instructed me to feel.'
+
+Camilla sought to dissuade her from reflexions so afflictive, and
+retrospections so poignant; but they aided her, she said, in her task of
+acquiring composure for the regulation of her future life.
+
+Edgar now received permission to make his communication to the Baronet.
+
+The joy with which Sir Hugh heard it, was for some time over-clouded by
+doubt. 'My dear Mr. young Edgar,' he said, 'in case you don't know your
+own mind yet, in the point of its not changing again, as it did before,
+I'd as leave you would not tell me of it till you've taken the proper
+time to be at a certainty; frettings about these ups and downs, being
+what do no good to me, in point of the gout.'
+
+But when thoroughly re-assured, 'Well,' he cried, 'this is just the
+thing I should have chose out of all our misfortunes, being what makes
+me happier than ever I was in my life; except once before on the very
+same account, which all turned out to end in nothing: which, I hope,
+won't happen any more: for now I've only to pay off all our debts, and
+then I may go back again to Cleves, which I shall be glad enough to do,
+it being but an awkward thing to a man, after he's past boyhood, having
+no home of his own.'
+
+A sigh at the recollection of the change in his situation, since his
+plan was last agitated, checked his felicity, and depressed even that of
+Edgar, who, with the most tender earnestness, besought his leave to
+advance the sum requisite to return him tranquilly to his mansion; but
+who could not prevail, till Camilla joined in the petition, and
+permitted Edgar, in both their names to entreat, as their dearest wish,
+that they might be united, according to the first arrangement, from
+Cleves.
+
+This the Baronet could not resist, and preparations were rapidly made
+for re-instating him in his dwelling, and for the double marriages
+destined to take place upon his return.
+
+'Well, then, this,' cried he, as he poured upon them his tenderest
+blessings and caresses, 'is the oddest of all! My dear little Camilla,
+that I took all my fortune from, is the very person to give me hers as
+soon as ever she gets it! as well as my own house over my old head
+again, after my turning her, as one may say, out of it! which is a thing
+as curious, in point of us poor ignorant mortals, as if my brother had
+put it in a sermon.'
+
+'Such turns in the tide of fortune,' said Mr. Tyrold, 'are amongst the
+happiest lessons of humanity, where those who have served the humble and
+helpless from motives of pure disinterestedness, find they have made
+useful friends for themselves, in the perpetual vicissitudes of our
+unstable condition.'
+
+'Why, then, there's but one thing more, by what I can make out,' said
+the Baronet, 'that need be much upon my mind, and that I've been
+thinking some time about, in point of forming a scheme to get rid of,
+which I think I've got a pretty good one: for here's Lavinia going to be
+married to the very oldest friend I have in the world; that is, to his
+son, which is the same thing in point of bringing us all together; and
+my own dear little girl, to the best gentleman in the county, except for
+that one thing of going off at the first, which I dare say he did not
+mean, for which reason I shall mention it no more: and Indiana, to one
+of those young captains, that I can't pretend I know much of; but that's
+very excusable in so young a person, not having had much head from the
+beginning; which I always make allowance for; my own not being over
+extraordinary: and Eugenia, poor thing, being a widow already; for which
+God be praised; which I hope is no sin, in point of the poor lad that's
+gone not belonging to any of us, by what I can make out, except by his
+own doing whether we would or not; which, however, is neither here nor
+there, now he's gone; for Eugenia being no beauty, and Clermont having
+as good as said so, I suppose she thought she must not be too difficult;
+which is a thing young girls are apt to fall into; and boys too, for the
+matter of that; for, by what I can make out of life, I don't see but
+what a scholar thinks a girl had better be pretty than not, as much as
+another man.'
+
+'But what, my dear brother,' said Mr. Tyrold, 'is your new distress and
+new scheme?'
+
+'Why I can't say but what I'm a little put out, that Indiana should
+forget poor Mrs. Margland, in the particular of asking her to go to live
+with her; which, however, I dare say she can't help, those young
+captains commonly not over liking having elderly persons about them; not
+that I mean to guess her age, which I take to be fifty, and upwards;
+which is no point of ours. But the thing I'm thinking of is Dr.
+Orkborne, in the case of their marrying one another.'
+
+'My dear brother!... has any such idea occurred to them?'
+
+'Not as I know of; but Indiana having done with one, and Eugenia with
+the other, and me, Lord help me! not wanting either of them, why what
+can I do if they won't? the Doctor's asked to go to town, for the sake
+of printing his papers, which I begged him not to hurry, for I'm but
+little fit for learned conversation just now; though when he's here, he
+commonly says nothing; only taking out his tablets to write down
+something that comes into his head, as I suppose: which I can't say is
+very entertaining in the light of a companion. However, as to his having
+called me a blockhead, it's not what I take umbrage at, not being a wit
+being a fault of no man's, except of nature, which nobody has a right to
+be angry at. Besides, as to his having a little pride, it's what I owe
+him no ill-will for; a scholar having nothing else but his learning, is
+excusable for making the most of it. However, if they would marry one
+another, I can't but say I should take it very well of them. The only
+thing I know against it, is the mortal dislike they have to one another:
+and that, my dear brother, is the point I want to consult you about; for
+then we shall be got off all round: which would be a great thing off my
+mind.'
+
+When the happy day arrived for returning to Cleves, Sir Hugh re-took
+possession of his hospitable mansion, amidst the tenderest felicitations
+of his fond family, and the almost clamorous rejoicings of the assembled
+poor of the neighbourhood: and the following morning, Mr. Tyrold gave
+the hand of Lavinia to Harry Westwyn, and Dr. Marchmont united them; and
+Edgar, glowing with happiness, now purified from any alloy, received
+from the same revered hand, and owed to the same honoured voice, the
+final and lasting possession of the tearful, but happy Camilla.
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+What further remains to finish this small sketch of a Picture of Youth,
+may be comprised in a few pages.
+
+Indiana was more fortunate in her northern expedition, than experiments
+of that nature commonly prove. Macdersey was a man of honour, and
+possessed better claims to her than he had either language or skill to
+explain: but the good Lord O'Lerney, who, to benevolence the most
+cheerful, and keenness the least severe, joined judgment and
+generosity, acted as the guardian of his kinsman, and placed the young
+couple in competence and comfort.
+
+The profession of Macdersey obliging him to sojourn frequently in
+country quarters, Indiana, when the first novelty of _tête-à-têtes_ was
+over, wished again for the constant adulatress of her charms and
+endowments, and, to the inexpressible rapture of Sir Hugh, solicited
+Miss Margland to be her companion: and the influence of constant
+flattery was so seductive to her weak mind, that, though insensible to
+the higher motive of cherishing her in remembrance of her long cares,
+she was so spoilt by her blandishments, and so accustomed to her
+management, that she parted from her no more.
+
+Lavinia, with her deserving partner, spent a month between Cleves and
+Etherington, and then accompanied him and his fond father to their
+Yorkshire estate and residence. Like all characters of radical worth,
+she grew daily upon the esteem and affection of her new family, and
+found in her husband as marked a contrast with Clermont Lynmere, to
+annul all Hypothesis of Education, as Lord O'Lerney, cool, rational, and
+penetrating, opposed to Macdersey, wild, eccentric, and vehement,
+offered against all that is National. Brought up under the same tutor,
+the same masters, and at the same university, with equal care, equal
+expence, equal opportunities of every kind, Clermont turned out
+conceited, voluptuous, and shallow; Henry modest, full of feeling, and
+stored with intelligence.
+
+Lionel, first enraged, but next tamed, by the disinheritance which he
+had drawn upon himself, had ample subject in his disappointment to keep
+alive his repentance. And though enabled to return from banishment, by
+the ignominious condemnation, with another culprit, of the late partner
+in his guilt, he felt so lowered from his fallen prospects, and so
+gloomy from his altered spirits, that when his parents, satisfied with
+his punishment, held out the olive-branch to invite him home, he came
+forth again rather as if condemned, than forgiven; and, wholly wanting
+fortitude either to see or to avoid his former associates, he procured
+an appointment that carried him abroad, where his friends induced him to
+remain, till his bad habits, as well as bad connections, were forgotten,
+and time aided adversity in forming him a new character.
+
+Clermont, for whom his uncle bought a commission, fixed himself in the
+army; though with no greater love of his country, than was appendant to
+the opportunity it afforded of shewing his fine person to regimental
+advantage.
+
+Mrs. Arlbery was amongst the first to hasten with congratulations to
+Camilla. With too much understanding to betray her pique upon the errour
+of her judgment, as to the means of attaching Mandlebert, she had too
+much goodness of heart not to rejoice in the happiness of her young
+friend.
+
+Mrs. Lissin, who accompanied her in the wedding visit, confessed herself
+the most disappointed and distressed of human beings. She had not, she
+said, half so much liberty as when she lived with her Papa, and heartily
+repented marrying, and wished she had never thought of it. The servants
+were always teazing her for orders and directions; every thing that went
+wrong, it was always she who was asked why it was not right; when she
+wanted to be driving about all day, the coachman always said it was too
+much for the horses; when she travelled, the maids always asked her what
+must be packed up; if she happened to be out at dinner time, Mr. Lissin
+found fault with every thing's being cold: if she wanted to do something
+she liked, he said she had better let it alone; and, in fine, her
+violent desire for this state of freedom, ended in conceiving it a state
+of bondage; she found _her own house_ the house of which she must take
+the charge; being _her own mistress_, having the burthen of
+superintending a whole family, and being _married_, becoming the
+property of another, to whom she made over a legal right to treat her
+just as he pleased. And as she had chosen neither for character, nor for
+disposition, neither from sympathy nor respect, she found it hard to
+submit where she meant to become independent, and difficult to take the
+cares where she had made no provision for the solaces of domestic life.
+
+The notable Mrs. Mittin contrived soon to so usefully ingratiate herself
+in the favour of Mr. Dennel, that, in the full persuasion she would save
+him half his annual expences, he married her: but her friend, Mr.
+Clykes, was robbed in his journey home of the cash which he had so
+dishonourably gained.
+
+The first care of Edgar was to clear every debt in which Camilla had
+borne any share, and then to make over to Lavinia the little portion
+intended to be parted between the sisters. Henry would have resisted;
+but Mr. Tyrold knew the fortune of Edgar to be fully adequate to his
+generosity, and sustained the proposition. Sir Sedley Clarendel received
+his two hundred pounds without opposition, though with surprise; and was
+dubious whether to rejoice in the shackles he had escaped, or to lament
+the charmer he had lost.
+
+Sir Hugh would suffer no one but himself to clear the debts of his two
+nephews, or refund what had been advanced by his excellent old friend
+Mr. Westwyn. He called back all his servants, liberally recompensed
+their marked attachment, provided particularly for good old Jacob; and
+took upon himself the most ample reward for the postillion who meant to
+rescue Eugenia.
+
+The prisoner and his wife, now worthy established cottagers, were the
+first, at the entrance of Beech Park, to welcome the bride and
+bridegroom; and little Peggy Higden was sent for immediately, and
+placed, with extremest kindness, where she might rise in use and in
+profit.
+
+Lord O'Lerney was sedulously sought by Edgar, who had the infinite
+happiness to see Camilla a selected friend of Lady Isabella Irby, whose
+benevolent care of her in the season of her utter distress, had softly
+enchained her tenderest gratitude, and had excited in himself an almost
+adoring respect.
+
+Melmond had received in time the caution of Camilla, to prevent the
+meeting to which the baseness of Bellamy was deluding his misguided
+sister, through her own wild theories. He forbore to blast her fame by
+calling him publicly to account; and ere further arts could be
+practised, Bellamy was no more.
+
+Mrs. Berlinton, in the shock of sudden sorrow, shut herself up from the
+world. Claims of debts of honour, which she had no means to answer,
+pursued her in her retreat; she became at once the prey of grief,
+repentance, and shame; and her mind was yet young enough in wrong, to be
+penetrated by the early chastisement of calamity. Removed from the whirl
+of pleasure, which takes reflexion from action, and feeling from
+thought, she reviewed, with poignant contrition, her graceless
+misconduct with regard to Eugenia, detested her infatuation, and humbled
+herself to implore forgiveness. Her aunt seized the agitating moment of
+self-upbraiding and worldly disgust, to impress upon her fears the
+lessons of her opening life: and thus, repulsed from passion, and
+sickened of dissipation, though too illiberally instructed for cheerful
+and rational piety, she was happily snatched from utter ruin by
+protecting, though eccentric enthusiasm.
+
+Eugenia, for some time, continued in voluntary seclusion, happily
+reaping from the fruits of her education and her virtues, resources and
+reflexions for retirement, that robbed it of weariness. The name, the
+recollection of Bellamy, always made her shudder, but the peace of
+perfect innocence was soon restored to her mind. The sufferings of Mrs.
+Berlinton from self-reproach, taught her yet more fully to value the
+felicity of blamelessness; and the generous liberality of her character,
+made the first inducement she felt for exertion, the benevolence of
+giving solace to a penitent who had injured her.
+
+Melmond, long conscious of her worth, and disgusted with all that had
+rivalled it in his mind, with the fervour of sincerity, yet diffidence
+of shame and regret, now fearfully sought the favour he before had
+reluctantly received. But Eugenia retreated. She had no courage for a
+new engagement, no faith for new vows, no hope for new happiness: till
+his really exemplary character, with the sympathy of his feelings, and
+the similarity of his taste and turn of mind with her own, made the
+Tyrolds, when they perceived his ascendance, second his wishes.
+Approbation so sacred, joined to a prepossession so tender, soon
+conquered every timid difficulty in the ingenuous Eugenia; who in his
+well-earnt esteem, and grateful affection, received, at length, the
+recompence of every exerted virtue, and the solace of every past
+suffering. Melmond, in a companion delighting in all his favourite
+pursuits, and capable of joining even in his severer studies, found a
+charm to beguile from him all former regret, while reason and experience
+endeared his ultimate choice. Eugenia once loved, was loved for ever.
+Where her countenance was looked at, her complexion was forgotten; while
+her voice was heard, her figure was unobserved; where her virtues were
+known, they seemed but to be enhanced by her personal misfortunes.
+
+The Baronet was enchanted to see her thus unexpectedly happy, and soon
+transferred to Melmond the classical respect which Clermont had
+forfeited, when he concurred with Eugenia in a petition, that Dr.
+Orkborne, without further delay, might be enabled to retire to his own
+plans and pursuits, with such just and honourable consideration for
+labours he well knew how to appreciate, as his friend Mr. Tyrold should
+judge to be worthy of his acceptance.
+
+With joy expanding to that thankfulness which may be called the _beauty
+of piety_, the virtuous Tyrolds, as their first blessings, received
+these blessings of their children: and the beneficent Sir Hugh felt
+every wish so satisfied, he could scarcely occupy himself again with a
+project ... save a maxim of prudence, drawn from his own experience,
+which he daily planned teaching to the little generation rising around
+him; To avoid, from the disasters of their Uncle, the Dangers and
+Temptations, to their Descendants, of Unsettled Collateral Expectations.
+
+Thus ended the long conflicts, doubts, suspences, and sufferings of
+Edgar and Camilla; who, without one inevitable calamity, one unavoidable
+distress, so nearly fell the sacrifice to the two extremes of
+Imprudence, and Suspicion, to the natural heedlessness of youth
+unguided, or to the acquired distrust of experience that had been
+wounded. Edgar, by generous confidence, became the repository of her
+every thought; and her friends read her exquisite lot in a gaiety no
+longer to be feared: while, faithful to his word, making Etherington,
+Cleves, and Beech Park, his alternate dwellings, he rarely parted her
+from her fond Parents and enraptured Uncle. And Dr. Marchmont, as he saw
+the pure innocence, open frankness, and spotless honour of her heart,
+found her virtues, her errours, her facility, or her desperation, but A
+PICTURE OF YOUTH; and regretting the false light given by the spirit of
+comparison, in the hypothesis which he had formed from individual
+experience, acknowledged its injustice, its narrowness, and its
+arrogance. What, at last, so diversified as man? what so little to be
+judged by his fellow?
+
+
+FINIS
+
+       *       *       *       *       *
+
+[Transcriber's Note: Hyphen and spelling variations left as printed.]
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Camilla, by Fanny Burney
+
+*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 40619 ***