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diff --git a/41646-0.txt b/41646-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..07295a3 --- /dev/null +++ b/41646-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,23165 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41646 *** + +Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this + file which includes the original illustrations. + See 41646-h.htm or 41646-h.zip: + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41646/41646-h/41646-h.htm) + or + (http://www.gutenberg.org/files/41646/41646-h.zip) + + +Transcriber's note: + + There were several instances of numbered footnote markers + without matching footnotes in the original text. These have + been removed. + + Minor differences in hyphenation have been made consistent. + + + + + + EMMELINE + + THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE + + + [Illustration: '_Miss Mowbray! is it thus you fulfil the promise you + gave me?_' + (p. 103)] + + + CHARLOTTE SMITH + + * * * * * + + EMMELINE + THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE + + * * * * * + + + + +CONTENTS + + + EMMELINE, THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE + + 'To My Children' xxvii + + VOLUME I 1 + CHAPTER I 1 + CHAPTER II 7 + CHAPTER III 13 + CHAPTER IV 20 + CHAPTER V 28 + CHAPTER VI 36 + CHAPTER VII 41 + CHAPTER VIII 49 + CHAPTER IX 56 + CHAPTER X 61 + CHAPTER XI 69 + CHAPTER XII 78 + CHAPTER XIII 86 + CHAPTER XIV 100 + CHAPTER XV 107 + CHAPTER XVI 114 + + VOLUME II 119 + CHAPTER I 119 + CHAPTER II 131 + CHAPTER III 137 + CHAPTER IV 148 + CHAPTER V 152 + CHAPTER VI 161 + CHAPTER VII 169 + CHAPTER VIII 179 + CHAPTER IX 186 + CHAPTER X 194 + CHAPTER XI 201 + CHAPTER XII 218 + + VOLUME III 227 + CHAPTER I 227 + CHAPTER II 238 + CHAPTER III 248 + CHAPTER IV 262 + CHAPTER V 273 + CHAPTER VI 283 + CHAPTER VII 291 + CHAPTER VIII 296 + CHAPTER IX 301 + CHAPTER X 313 + CHAPTER XI 322 + CHAPTER XII 329 + CHAPTER XIII 337 + CHAPTER XIV 344 + + VOLUME IV 355 + CHAPTER I 355 + CHAPTER II 364 + CHAPTER III 372 + CHAPTER IV 383 + CHAPTER V 393 + CHAPTER VI 400 + CHAPTER VII 410 + CHAPTER VIII 421 + CHAPTER IX 434 + CHAPTER X 442 + CHAPTER XI 457 + CHAPTER XII 470 + CHAPTER XIII 486 + CHAPTER XIV 496 + CHAPTER XV 508 + CHAPTER XVI 525 + + EXPLANATORY NOTES 528 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS + + + '_Miss Mowbray! is it thus you fulfil the promise you + gave me?_' (p. 103) xx + + _Emmeline and Lady Adelina surprised at the appearance + of Fitz-Edward_ (p. 477) xxv + + + + + EMMELINE + + THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE + +[Illustration: _Emmeline and Lady Adelina surprised at the appearance +of Fitz-Edward_ (p. 477)] + + + VOLUME I + + + + +TO MY CHILDREN + + + O'erwhelm'd with sorrow--and sustaining long + 'The proud man's contumely, the oppressor's wrong,' + Languid despondency, and vain regret, + Must my exhausted spirit struggle yet? + Yes! robb'd myself of all that Fortune gave, + Of every hope--but shelter in the grave; + Still shall the plaintive lyre essay it's powers, + And dress the cave of Care, with Fancy's flowers; + Maternal love, the fiend Despair withstand, + Still animate the heart and guide the hand. + May you, dear objects of my tender care! + Escape the evils, I was born to bear: + Round my devoted head, while tempests roll, + Yet there--'where I have treasured up my soul,' + May the soft rays of dawning hope impart + Reviving patience to my fainting heart; + And, when it's sharp anxieties shall cease, + May I be conscious, in the realms of peace, + That every tear which swells my children's eyes, + From evils past, not present sorrows, rise. + Then, with some friend who loves to share your pain, + (For 'tis my boast, that still such friends remain,) + By filial grief, and fond remembrance prest, + You'll seek the spot where all my miseries rest, + Recall my hapless days in sad review, + The long calamities I bore for you, + And, with an happier fate, resolve to prove + How well ye merited your mother's love! + + + + + EMMELINE + + THE ORPHAN OF THE CASTLE + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +In a remote part of the county of Pembroke, is an old building, formerly +of great strength, and inhabited for centuries by the ancient family of +Mowbray; to the sole remaining branch of which it still belonged, tho' +it was, at the time this history commences, inhabited only by servants; +and the greater part of it was gone to decay. A few rooms only had been +occasionally repaired to accommodate the proprietor, when he found it +necessary to come thither to receive his rents, or to inspect the +condition of the estate; which however happened so seldom, that during +the twelve years he had been master of it, he had only once visited the +castle for a few days. The business that related to the property round +it (which was very considerable) was conducted by a steward grown grey +in the service of the family, and by an attorney from London, who came +to hold the courts. And an old housekeeper, a servant who waited on her, +the steward, and a labourer who was kept to look after his horse and +work in that part of the garden which yet bore the vestige of +cultivation, were now all its inhabitants; except a little girl, of whom +the housekeeper had the care, and who was believed to be the natural +daughter of that elder brother, by whose death Lord Montreville, the +present possessor, became entitled to the estate. + +This nobleman, while yet a younger son, was (by the partiality of his +mother, who had been an heiress, and that of some other female +relations) master of a property nearly equal to what he inherited by the +death of his brother, Mr. Mowbray. + +He had been originally designed for the law; but in consequence of being +entitled to the large estate which had been his mother's, and heir, by +will, to all her opulent family, he had quitted that profession, and at +the age of about four and twenty, had married Lady Eleonore Delamere, by +whom he had a son and two daughters. + +The illustrious family from which Lady Eleonore descended, became +extinct in the male line by the premature death of her two brothers; and +her Ladyship becoming sole heiress, her husband took the name of +Delamere; and obtaining one of the titles of the lady's father, was, at +his death, created Viscount Montreville. Mr. Mowbray died before he was +thirty, in Italy; and Lord Montreville, on taking possession of Mowbray +Castle, found there his infant daughter. + +Her mother had died soon after her birth; and she had been sent from +France, where she was born, and put under the care of Mrs. Carey, the +housekeeper, who was tenderly attached to her, having been the attendant +of Mr. Mowbray from his earliest infancy. + +Lord Montreville suffered her to remain in the situation in which he +found her, and to go by the name of Mowbray: he allowed for the trifling +charge of her board and necessary cloaths in the steward's account, the +examination of which was for some years the only circumstance that +reminded him of the existence of the unfortunate orphan. + +With no other notice from her father's family, Emmeline had attained her +twelfth year; an age at which she would have been left in the most +profound ignorance, if her uncommon understanding, and unwearied +application, had not supplied the deficiency of her instructors, and +conquered the disadvantages of her situation. + +Mrs. Carey could indeed read with tolerable fluency, and write an hand +hardly legible: and Mr. Williamson, the old steward, had been formerly a +good penman, and was still a proficient in accounts. Both were anxious +to give their little charge all the instruction they could: but without +the quickness and attention she shewed to whatever they attempted to +teach, such preceptors could have done little. + +Emmeline had a kind of intuitive knowledge; and comprehended every thing +with a facility that soon left her instructors behind her. The +precarious and neglected situation in which she lived, troubled not the +innocent Emmeline. Having never experienced any other, she felt no +uneasiness at her present lot; and on the future she was not yet old +enough to reflect. + +Mrs. Carey was to her in place of the mother she had never known; and +the old steward, she was accustomed to call father. The death of this +venerable servant was the first sorrow Emmeline ever felt: returning +late one evening, in the winter, from a neighbouring town, he attempted +to cross a ford, where the waters being extremely out, he was carried +down by the rapidity of the current. His horse was drowned; and tho' he +was himself rescued from the flood by some peasants who knew him, and +carried to the castle, he was so much bruised, and had suffered so much +from cold, that he was taken up speechless, and continued so for the few +hours he survived the accident. + +Mrs. Carey, who had lived in the same house with him near forty years, +felt the sincerest concern at his death; with which it was necessary for +her immediately to acquaint Lord Montreville. + +His Lordship directed his attorney in London to replace him with +another; to whom Mrs. Carey, with an aching heart, delivered the keys of +the steward's room and drawers. + +Her health, which was before declining, received a rude shock from the +melancholy death of Mr. Williamson; and she and her little ward had soon +the mortification of seeing he was forgotten by all but themselves. + +Frequent and severe attacks of the gout now made daily ravages in the +constitution of Mrs. Carey; and her illness recurred so often, that +Emmeline, now almost fourteen, began to reflect on what she should do, +if Mrs. Carey died: and these reflections occasionally gave her pain. +But she was not yet of an age to consider deeply, or to dwell long on +gloomy subjects. Her mind, however, gradually expanded, and her judgment +improved: for among the deserted rooms of this once noble edifice, was a +library, which had been well furnished with the books of those ages in +which they had been collected. Many of them were in black letter; and so +injured by time, that the most indefatigable antiquary could have made +nothing of them. + +From these, Emmeline turned in despair to some others of more modern +appearance; which, tho' they also had suffered from the dampness of the +room, and in some parts were almost effaced with mould, were yet +generally legible. Among them, were Spencer and Milton, two or three +volumes of the Spectator, an old edition of Shakespeare, and an odd +volume or two of Pope. + +These, together with some tracts of devotion, which she knew would be +very acceptable to Mrs. Carey, she cleaned by degrees from the dust with +which they were covered, and removed into the housekeeper's room; where +the village carpenter accommodated her with a shelf, on which, with +great pride of heart, she placed her new acquisitions. + +The dismantled windows, and broken floor of the library, prevented her +continuing there long together: but she frequently renewed her search, +and with infinite pains examined all the piles of books, some of which +lay tumbled in heaps on the floor, others promiscuously placed on the +shelves, where the swallow, the sparrow, and the daw, had found +habitations for many years: for as the present proprietor had determined +to lay out no more than was absolutely necessary to keep one end of the +castle habitable, the library, which was in the most deserted part of +it, was in a ruinous state, and had long been entirely forsaken. + +Emmeline, however, by her unwearied researches, nearly completed several +sets of books, in which instruction and amusement were happily blended. +From them she acquired a taste for poetry, and the more ornamental parts +of literature; as well as the grounds of that elegant and useful +knowledge, which, if it rendered not her life happier, enabled her to +support, with the dignity of conscious worth, those undeserved evils +with which many of her years were embittered. + +Mrs. Carey, now far advanced in life, found her infirmities daily +increase. She was often incapable of leaving her chamber for many weeks; +during which Emmeline attended her with the solicitude and affection of +a daughter; scorned not to perform the most humble offices that +contributed to her relief; and sat by her whole days, or watched her +whole nights, with the tenderest and most unwearied assiduity. + +On those evenings in summer, when her attendance could for a few hours +be dispensed with, she delighted to wander among the rocks that formed +the bold and magnificent boundary of the ocean, which spread its immense +expanse of water within half a mile of the castle. Simply dressed, and +with no other protection than Providence, she often rambled several +miles into the country, visiting the remote huts of the shepherds, among +the wildest mountains. + +During the life of Mrs. Mowbray, a small stipend had been annually +allowed for the use of the poor: this had not yet been withdrawn; and +it now passed thro' the hands of Mrs. Carey, whose enquiries into the +immediate necessities of the cottagers in the neighbourhood of the +castle, devolved to Emmeline, when she was herself unable to make them. + +The ignorant rustics, who had seen Emmeline grow up among them from her +earliest infancy, and who now beheld her with the compassion as well as +the beauty of an angel, administering to their necessities and +alleviating their misfortunes, looked upon her as a superior being, and +throughout the country she was almost adored. + +Perfectly unconscious of those attractions which now began to charm +every other eye, Emmeline had entered her sixteenth year; and the +progress of her understanding was equal to the improvement of her +person; which, tho' she was not perfectly handsome, could not be beheld +at first without pleasure, and which the more it was seen became more +interesting and engaging. + +Her figure was elegant and graceful; somewhat exceeding the middling +height. Her eyes were blue; and her hair brown. Her features not very +regular; yet there was a sweetness in her countenance, when she smiled, +more charming than the effect of the most regular features could have +given. Her countenance, open and ingenuous, expressed every emotion of +her mind: it had assumed rather a pensive cast; and tho' it occasionally +was lighted up by vivacity, had been lately frequently overclouded; when +the sufferings of her only friend called forth all the generous sympathy +of her nature. + +And now the first severe misfortune she had known was about to overtake +her. Early in the spring of that year, which was the sixteenth from her +birth, Mrs. Carey had felt an attack of the gout, which however was +short; and her health seemed for some time afterwards more settled than +it had been for many months. She was one evening preparing to go down to +the village, leaning on the arm of Emmeline, when she suddenly +complained of an acute pain in her head, and fell back into a chair. The +affrighted girl called for assistance, and endeavoured by every means in +her power to recover her, but it was impossible; the gout had seized her +head; and casting on Emmeline a look which seemed to express all she +felt at leaving her thus desolate and friendless, her venerable friend, +after a short struggle, breathed her last. + +What should Emmeline now do? In this distress (the first she had ever +known) how should she act? She saw, in the lifeless corpse before her, +the person on whom she had, from her first recollection, been accustomed +to rely; who had provided for all her wants, and prevented every care +for herself. And now she was left to perform for this dear friend the +last sad offices, and knew not what would hereafter be her own lot. + +In strong and excellent understandings there is, in every period of +life, a force which distress enables them to exert, and which prevents +their sinking under the pressure of those evils which overwhelm and +subdue minds more feeble and unequal. + +The spirits of Emmeline were yet unbroken by affliction, and her +understanding was of the first rank. She possessed this native firmness +in a degree very unusual to her age and sex. Instead therefore of giving +way to tears and exclamations, she considered how she should best +perform all she now could do for her deceased friend; and having seen +every proper care taken of her remains, and given orders for every thing +relative to them, with the solemn serenity of settled sorrow, she +retired to her room, where she began to reflect on her irreparable loss, +and the melancholy situation in which she was left; which she never had +courage to consider closely till it was actually before her. + +Painful indeed were the thoughts that now crouded on her mind; +encreasing the anguish of her spirit for her recent misfortune. She +considered herself as a being belonging to nobody; as having no right to +claim the protection of any one; no power to procure for herself the +necessaries of life. On the steward Maloney she had long looked with +disgust, from the assured and forward manner in which he thought proper +to treat her. The freedom of his behaviour, which she could with +difficulty repress while Mrs. Carey lived, might now, she feared, +approach to more insulting familiarity; to be exposed to which, entirely +in his power, and without any female companion, filled her with the most +alarming apprehensions: and the more her mind dwelt on that circumstance +the more she was terrified at the prospect before her; insomuch, that +she would immediately have quitted the house--But whither could she go? + +By abruptly leaving the asylum Lord Montreville had hitherto allowed +her, she feared she might forfeit all claim to his future protection: +and, unknown as she was to the principal inhabitants of the country, who +were few, and their houses at a great distance, she could hardly hope to +be received by any of them. + +She had therefore no choice left but to remain at the castle till she +heard from Lord Montreville: and she determined to acquaint his Lordship +of the death of Mrs. Carey, and desire to receive his commands as to +herself. + +Fatigued and oppressed, she retired to bed, but not to sleep. The image +of her expiring protectress was still before her eyes; and if exhausted +nature forced her to give way to a momentary forgetfulness, she soon +started from her imperfect slumber, and fancied she heard the voice of +Mrs. Carey, calling on her for help; and her last groan still vibrated +in her ears!--while the stillness of the night, interrupted only by the +cries of the owls which haunted the ruins, added to the gloomy and +mournful sensations of her mind. + +At length however the sun arose--the surrounding objects lost the horror +that darkness and silence had lent them--and Emmeline fell into a short +but refreshing repose. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +As soon as Emmeline arose the next morning, she addressed the following +letter to Lord Montreville. + + + 'My Lord, + + 'In the utmost affliction, I address myself to your + Lordship, to acquaint you with the death of Mrs. Carey, after an + illness of a very few moments: by which unhappy event I have lost a + friend who has indeed been a mother to me; and am now left at the + castle, ignorant of your Lordship's pleasure as to my future + residence. + + 'You will, my Lord, I doubt not, recollect that it is, at my time + of life, improper for me to reside here with Mr. Maloney; and if it + be your Lordship's intention for me to continue here, I hope you + will have the goodness to send down some proper person to fill the + place of the worthy woman I have lost. + + 'On your Lordship's humanity and consideration I depend for an + early answer: in which hope I have the honor to remain, + + your Lordship's + dutiful and most humble servant, + EMMELINE MOWBRAY.' + + _Mowbray Castle,_ + _21st May._ + + +The same post carried a letter from Mr. Maloney, informing Lord +Montreville of the housekeeper's death, and desiring directions about +_Miss_, as he elegantly termed Emmeline. + +To these letters no answers were returned for upwards of a fortnight: +during which melancholy interval, Emmeline followed to the grave the +remains of the friend of her infancy, and took a last farewel of the +only person who seemed interested for her welfare. Then returning with +streaming eyes to her own room, she threw herself on the bed, and gave +way to a torrent of tears; for her spirits were overcome by the mournful +scene to which she had just been a witness, and by the heavy forebodings +of future sorrow which oppressed her heart. + +The troublesome civilities of the steward Maloney, she soon found the +difficulty of evading. Fearful of offending him from whom she could not +escape; yet unable to keep up an intercourse of civility with a man who +would interpret it into an encouragement of his presumptuous attentions, +she was compelled to make use of an artifice; and to plead ill health as +an excuse for not dining as usual in the steward's room: and indeed her +uneasiness and grief were such as hardly made it a pretence. + +After many days of anxious expectation, the following letter arrived +from the house-steward of Lord Montreville; as on such an occasion his +Lordship did not think it necessary to write himself. + + + _Berkeley-Square_, _June_ 17, 17-- + + 'Miss, + 'My Lord orders me to acquaint you, that in consequence of your's + of the 21st ult. informing his Lordship of the old housekeeper's, + Mrs. Carey's, decease, he has directed Mrs. Grant, his Lordship's + town housekeeper, to look out for another; and Mrs. Grant has agreed + with a gentlewoman accordingly, who will be down at the castle + forthwith. My Lord is gone to Essex; but has directed me to let Mr. + Maloney know, that he is to furnish you with all things needful same + as before. By my Lord's command, from, Miss, + + your very humble servant, + RICHARD MADDOX.' + + +While Emmeline waited the expected arrival of the person to whose care +she was now to be consigned, the sister of Mrs. Carey, who was the only +relation she had, sent a nephew of her husband's to take possession of +what effects had belonged to her; in doing which, a will was found, in +which she bequeathed fifty pounds as a testimony of her tender affection +to 'Miss Emmeline Mowbray, the daughter of her late dear master;' +together with all the contents of a small chest of drawers, which stood +in her room. + +The rest of her property, which consisted of her cloaths and about two +hundred pounds, which she had saved in service, became her sister's, and +were delivered by Maloney to the young man commissioned to receive them. + +In the drawers given to her, Emmeline found some fine linen and laces, +which had belonged to her mother; and two little silk boxes covered with +nuns embroidery, which seemed not to have been opened for many years. + +Emmeline saw that they were filled with letters: some of them in a hand +which she had been shewn as her father's. But she left them uninspected, +and fastened up the caskets; her mind being yet too much affected with +her loss to be able to examine any thing which brought to her +recollection the fond solicitude of her departed friend. + +The cold and mechanical terms in which the steward's letter was written, +encreased all her uneasy fears as to her future prospects. + +Lord Montreville seemed to feel no kindness for her; nor to give any +consideration to her forlorn and comfortless situation. The officious +freedoms of Maloney encreased so much, that she was obliged to confine +herself almost entirely to her own room to avoid him; and she +determined, that if after the arrival of the companion she expected, he +continued to besiege her with so much impertinent familiarity, she would +quit the house, tho' compelled to accept the meanest service for a +subsistence. + +After a fortnight of expectation, notice was received at the castle, +that Mrs. Garnet, the housekeeper, was arrived at the market town. The +labourer, with an horse, was dispatched for her, and towards evening she +made her entry. + +To Emmeline, who had from her earliest remembrance been accustomed only +to the plainest dress, and the most simple and sober manners, the figure +and deportment of this woman appeared equally extraordinary. + +She wore a travelling dress of tawdry-coloured silk, trimmed with bright +green ribbands; and her head was covered with an immense black silk hat, +from which depended many yellow streamers; while the plumage, with +which it was plentifully adorned, hung dripping over her face, from the +effects of a thunder shower thro' which she had passed. Her hair, tho' +carefully curled and powdered on her leaving London, had been also +greatly deranged in her journey, and descended, in knotty tufts of a +dirty yellow, over her cheeks and forehead; adding to the vulgar +ferocity of a harsh countenance and a coarse complexion. Her figure was +uncommonly tall and boney; and her voice so discordant and shrill, as to +pierce the ear with the most unpleasant sensation, and compleat the +disagreeable idea her person impressed. + +Emmeline saw her enter, handed by the officious Maloney; and repressing +her astonishment, she arose, and attempted to speak to her: but the +contrast between the dirty, tawdry, and disgusting figure before her, +and the sober plainness and neat simplicity of her lost friend, struck +so forcibly on her imagination, that she burst into tears, and was +altogether unable to command her emotion. + +The steward having with great gallantry handed in the newly arrived +lady, she thus began: + +'Oh! Lord a marcy on me!--to be shore I be got here at last! But indeed +if I had a known whereabout I was a coming to, 'tis not a double the +wagers as should a hired me. Lord! why what a ramshakel ould place it +is!--and then such a monstrous long way from London! I suppose, Sir,' +(to Maloney) 'as you be the steward; and you Miss, I reckon, be the +young Miss as I be to have the care on. Why to be sure I did'nt much +expect to see a christian face in such an out of the way place. I don't +b'leve I shall stay; howsomdever do let me have some tea; and do you, +Miss, shew me whereabout I be to sleep.' + +Emmeline, struggling with her dislike, or at least desirous of +concealing it, did not venture to trust her voice with an answer; for +her heart was too full; but stepping to the door, she called to the +female servant, and ordered her to shew the lady her room. She had +herself been used to share that appropriated to Mrs. Carey; but she now +resolved to remove her bed into an apartment in one of the turrets of +the castle, which was the only unoccupied room not wholly exposed to the +weather. + +This little room had been sashed by Mrs. Mowbray on account of the +beautiful prospect it commanded between the hills, where suddenly +sinking to the South West, they made way through a long narrow valley, +fringed with copses, for a small but rapid river; which hurrying among +immense stones, and pieces of rock that seemed to have been torn from +the mountains by its violence, rushed into the sea at the distance of a +mile from the castle. + +This room, now for many years neglected, was much out of repair, but +still habitable; and tho' it was at a great distance from the rooms yet +occupied, Emmeline chose rather to take up her abode in it, than partake +of the apartment which was now to belong to Mrs. Garnet: and she found +reason to applaud herself for this determination when she heard the +exclamation Mrs. Garnet made on entering it-- + +'Lord! why 'tis but a shabbyish place; and here is two beds I see. But +that won't suit me I asshore you. I chuses to have a room to myself, if +it be ever so.' + +'Be not in any pain on that account, Madam,' said Emmeline, who had now +collected her thoughts; 'it is my intention to remove my bed, and I have +directed a person to do it immediately.' + +She then returned into the steward's room, where Maloney thus addressed +her-- + +'Sarvent again, pretty Miss! Pray how d'ye like our new housekeeper? A +smartish piece of goods upon my word for Pembrokeshire; quite a London +lady, eh, Miss?' + +'It is impossible for me, Sir, to judge of her yet.' + +'Why ay, Miss, as you justly observes, 'tis full early to know what +people be; but I hope we shall find her quite the thing; and if so be as +she's but good tempered, and agreeable, and the like, why I warrant we +shall pass this here summer as pleasant as any thing can be. And now my +dear Miss, perhaps, may'nt be so shy and distant, as she have got +another woman body to keep her company.' + +This eloquent harangue was interrupted by the return of Mrs. Garnet, +full of anxiety for her tea; and in the bustle created by the desire of +the maid and Maloney to accommodate her, Emmeline retired to her new +apartment, where she was obliged to attend to the removal of her bed and +other things; and excusing herself, under the pretence of fatigue, from +returning to the steward's room, she passed some time in melancholy +recollection and more melancholy anticipation, and then retired to rest. + +Some days passed in murmurs on the part of Mrs. Garnet, and in silence +on that of Emmeline; who, as soon as she had finished her short repasts, +always went to her own room. + +After a few weeks, she discovered that the lady grew every day more +reconciled to her situation; and from the pleasures she apparently took +in the gallantries of Maloney, and his constant assiduities to her, the +innocent Emmeline supposed there was really an attachment forming +between them, which would certainly deliver her from the displeasing +attentions of the steward. + +Occupied almost entirely by her books, of which she every day became +more enamoured, she never willingly broke in upon a tête à tête which +she fancied was equally agreeable to all parties; and she saw with +satisfaction that they regretted not her absence. + +But the motives of Maloney's attention were misunderstood. Insensible as +such a man must be supposed to the charms of the elegant and +self-cultivated mind of Emmeline, her personal beauty had made a deep +impression on his heart; and he had formed a design of marrying her, +before the death of Mrs. Carey, to whom he had once or twice mentioned +something like a hint of his wishes: but she had received all his +discourse on that topic with so much coldness, and ever so carefully +avoided any conversation that might again lead to it, that he had been +deterred from entirely explaining himself. Now, however, he thought the +time was arrived, when he might make a more successful application; for +he never doubted but that Mrs. Garnet would obtain, over the tender and +ingenuous mind of Emmeline, an influence as great as had been possessed +by Mrs. Carey. + +Nor did he apprehend that a friendless orphan, without fortune or +connections, would want much persuasion to marry a young man of handsome +figure (as he conceived himself to be,) who was established in a +profitable place, and had some dependance of his own. + +The distance which Emmeline had always obliged him to observe, he +imputed to the timidity of her nature; which he hoped would be lessened +by the free and familiar manners of her present companion, whose +conversation was very unlike what she had before been accustomed to hear +from Mrs. Carey. + +Impressed with these ideas, he paid his court most assiduously to the +housekeeper, who put down all his compliments to the account of her own +attractions; and was extremely pleased with her conquest; which she +exhausted all her eloquence and all her wardrobe to secure. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +In this situation were the inhabitants of Mowbray Castle; when, in the +beginning of July, orders were received from Lord Montreville to set +workmen immediately about repairing the whole end of the castle which +was yet habitable; as his son, Mr. Delamere, intended to come down early +in the Autumn, to shoot, for some weeks, in Wales. His Lordship added, +that it was possible he might himself be there also for a few weeks; and +therefore directed several bed-chambers to be repaired, for which he +would send down furniture from London. + +No time was lost in obeying these directions. Workmen were immediately +procured, and the utmost expedition used to put the place in a situation +to receive its master: while Emmeline, who foresaw that the arrival of +Lord Montreville would probably occasion some change in regard to +herself, and who thought that every change must be for the better, +beheld these preparations with pleasure. + +All had been ready some weeks, and the time fixed for Mr. Delamere's +journey elapsed, but he had yet given no notice of his arrival. + +At length, towards the middle of September, they were one evening +alarmed by the noise of horses on the ascent to the castle. + +Emmeline retired to her own room, fearful of she knew not what; while +Mrs. Garnet and Maloney flew eagerly to the door; where a French valet, +and an English groom with a led horse, presented themselves, and were +ushered into the old kitchen; the dimensions of which, blackened as it +was with the smoke of ages, and provided with the immense utensils of +ancient hospitality, failed not to amaze them both. + +The Frenchman expressed his wonder and dislike by several grimaces; and +then addressing himself to Mrs. Garnet, exclaimed--'Peste! Milor +croit'il qu'on peut subsister dans cette espece d'enfer? Montré moi les +apartements de Monsieur.' + +'Oh, your name is Mounseer, is it?' answered she--'Aye, I thought +so--What would you please to have, Mounseer?' + +'Diable!' cried the distressed valet; 'voici une femme aussi sauvage que +le lieu qu'elle habite. Com, com, you Jean Groom, speak littel to dis +voman pour moi.' + +With the help of John, who had been some time used to his mode of +explaining himself, Mrs. Garnet understood that Mounseer desired to be +shewn the apartments destined for his master, which he assiduously +assisted in preparing; and then seeing the women busied in following his +directions, he attempted to return to his companion; but by missing a +turning which should have carried him to the kitchen, he was bewildered +among the long galleries and obscure passages of the castle, and after +several efforts, could neither find his way back to the women, nor into +the kitchen; but continued to blunder about till the encreasing gloom, +which approaching night threw over the arched and obscure apartments, +through windows dim with painted glass, filled him with apprehension and +dismay, and he believed he should wander there the whole night; in which +fear he began to make a strange noise for assistance; to which nobody +attended, for indeed nobody for some time heard him. His terror +encreasing, he continued to traverse one of the passages, when a door at +the corner of it opened, and Emmeline came out. + +The man, whose imagination was by this time filled with ideas of +spectres, flew back at her sudden appearance, and added the contortions +of fear to his otherwise grotesque appearance, in a travelling jacket of +white cloth, laced, and his hair in papillotes. + +Emmeline, immediately comprehending that it was one of Mr. Delamere's +servants, enquired what he wanted; and the man, reassured by her voice +and figure, which there was yet light enough to discern, approached her, +and endeavoured to explain that he had lost himself; in a language, +which, though Emmeline did not understand, she knew to be French. + +She walked with him therefore to the gallery which opened to the great +staircase, from whence he could hardly mistake his way; where having +pointed it to him, she turned back towards her own room. + +But Millefleur, who had now had an opportunity to contemplate the person +of his conductress, was not disposed so easily to part with her. + +By the extreme simplicity of her dress, he believed her to be only some +fair villager, or an assistant to the housekeeper; and therefore without +ceremony he began in broken English to protest his admiration, and +seized her hand with an impertinent freedom extremely shocking to +Emmeline. + +She snatched it from him; and flying hastily back through those passages +which all his courage did not suffice to make him attempt exploring +again, she regained her turret, the door of which she instantly locked +and bolted; then breathless with fear and anger, she reflected on the +strange and unpleasant scene she had passed through, and felt greatly +humbled, to find that she was now likely to be exposed to the insolent +familiarity of servants, from which she knew not whether the presence of +the master would protect her. + +While she suffered the anguish these thoughts brought with them, +Millefleur travelled back to the kitchen; where he began an oration in +his own language on the beauty of the young woman he had met with. + +Neither Mrs. Garnet nor Maloney understood what he was saying; but John, +who had been in France, and knew a good deal of the language, told them +that he had seen a very pretty girl, in whose praise he was holding +forth. + +'Why, Lord,' exclaimed Mrs. Garnet, 'tis our Miss as Mounseer means; I +had a quite forgot the child; I'll go call her; but howsomdever Mounseer +won't be able to get a word out of her; if she's a beauty I asshore you +'tis a dumb beauty.' + +Maloney, by no means pleased with Millefleur's discovery, would +willingly have prevented the housekeeper's complaisance; but not knowing +how to do it, he was obliged to let her ascend to Emmeline, whose door +she found locked. + +'Miss! Miss!' cried she, rapping loudly, 'you must come down.' + +'Is my Lord or Mr. Delamere arrived?' enquired Emmeline. + +'No,' replied Mrs. Garnet, 'neither of em be'nt come yet; but here's my +Lord's waley de sham, and another sarvent, and you'll come down to tea +to be sure.' + +'No,' said Emmeline, 'you must excuse me, Mrs. Garnet. I am not very +well; and if I were, should decline appearing to these people, with +whom, perhaps, it may not be my Lord's design that I should associate.' + +'People!' exclaimed Mrs. Garnet; 'as to people, I do suppose that for +all one of them is a Frenchman, they be as good as other folks; and if I +am agreeable to let them drink tea in my room, sure you, Miss, mid'nt be +so squeamish. But do as you please; for my part I shan't court +beauties.' + +So saying, the angry housekeeper descended to her companions, to whom +she complained of the pride and ill manners of Miss; while Maloney +rejoiced at a reserve so favourable to the hopes he entertained. + +Emmeline determined to remain as much as possible in her own room, 'till +Lord Montreville or Mr. Delamere came, and then to solicit her removal. + +She therefore continued positively to refuse to appear to the party +below; and ordered the maid servant to bring her dinner into her own +room, which she never quitted 'till towards evening, to pursue her usual +walks. + +On the third afternoon subsequent to the arrival of Mr. Delamere's +avant-couriers, Emmeline went down to the sea side, and seating herself +on a fragment of rock, fixed her eyes insensibly on the restless waves +that broke at her feet. The low murmurs of the tide retiring on the +sands; the sighing of the wind among the rocks which hung over her head, +cloathed with long grass and marine plants; the noise of the sea fowl +going to their nests among the cliffs; threw her into a profound +reverie. + +She forgot awhile all her apprehended misfortunes, a sort of stupor took +possession of her senses, and she no longer remembered how the time had +passed there, which already exceeded two hours; though the moon, yet in +its encrease, was arisen, and threw a long line of radience on the +water. + +Thus lost in indistinct reflections, she was unconscious of the +surrounding objects, when the hasty tread of somebody on the pebbles +behind her, made her suddenly recollect herself; and though accustomed +to be so much alone, she started in some alarm in remembering the late +hour, and the solitary place where she was. + +A man approached her, in whom with satisfaction she recollected a young +peasant of the village, who was frequently employed in messages from the +castle. + +'Miss Emmy,' said the lad, 'you are wanted at home; for there is my Lord +his own self, and the young Lord, and more gentlefolks come; so Madam +Garnet sent me to look for you all about.' + +Emmeline, hurried by this intelligence, walked hastily away with the +young villager, and soon arrived at the castle. + +The wind had blown her beautiful hair about her face, and the glow of +her cheeks was heightened by exercise and apprehension. A more lovely +figure than she now appeared could hardly be imagined. She had no time +to reflect on the interview; but hastened immediately into the parlour +where Lord Montreville was sitting with his son; Mr. Fitz-Edward, who +was a young officer, his friend, distantly related to the family; and +Mr. Headly, a man celebrated for his knowledge of rural improvements, +whom Lord Montreville had brought down to have his opinion of the +possibility of rendering Mowbray Castle a residence fit for his family +for a few months in the year. + +Lord Montreville was about five and forty years old. His general +character was respectable. He had acquitted himself with honor in the +senate; and in private life had shewn great regularity and good conduct. +But he had basked perpetually in the sunshine of prosperity; and his +feelings, not naturally very acute, were blunted by having never +suffered in his own person any uneasiness which might have taught him +sensibility for that of others. + +To this cause it was probably owing, that he never reflected on the +impropriety of receiving his niece before strangers; and that he ordered +Emmeline to be introduced into the room where they were all sitting +together. + +Having once seen Emmeline a child of five or six years old; he still +formed an idea of her as a child; and adverted not to the change that +almost nine years had made in her person and manners; it was therefore +with some degree of surprize, that instead of the child he expected, he +saw a tall, elegant young woman, whose air, though timidity was the most +conspicuous in it, had yet much of dignity and grace, and in whose face +he saw the features of his brother, softened into feminine beauty. + +The apathy which prosperity had taught him, gave way for a moment to his +surprize at the enchanting figure of his niece. + +He arose, and approached her. 'Miss Mowbray! how amazingly you are +grown! I am glad to see you.' He took her hand; while Emmeline, +trembling and blushing, endeavoured to recollect herself, and said-- + +'I thank you, my Lord, and I am happy in having an opportunity of paying +my respects to your Lordship.' + +He led her to a seat, and again repeated his wonder to find her so much +grown. + +Delamere, who had been standing at the fire conversing with Fitz-Edward, +now advanced, and desired his father to introduce him; which ceremony +being passed, he drew a chair close to that in which Emmeline was +placed; and fixing his eyes on her face with a look of admiration and +enquiry that extremely abashed her, he seemed to be examining the +beauties of that lovely and interesting countenance which had so +immediately dazzled and surprized him. + +Fitz-Edward, a young soldier, related to the family of Lady Montreville, +was almost constantly the companion of Delamere, and had expectations +that the interest Lord Montreville possessed would be exerted to advance +him in his profession. His manner was very insinuating, and his person +uncommonly elegant. He affected to be a judge as well as an admirer of +beauty, and seemed to behold with approbation the fair inhabitant of the +castle; who, with heightened blushes, and averted looks, waited in +silence 'till Lord Montreville should again address her, which he at +length did. + +'I was sorry, Miss Mowbray, to hear of the death of old Carey.' + +The tears started into the eyes of Emmeline. + +'She was an excellent servant, and served the family faithfully many +years.' + +Poor Emmeline felt the tears fall on her bosom. + +'But however she was old; and had been, I suppose, long infirm. I hope +the person who now fills her place has supplied it to your +satisfaction?' + +'Ye--s, yes, my lord;' inarticulately sobbed Emmeline, quite overcome by +the mention of her old friend. + +'I dare say she does,' resumed his Lordship; 'for Grant, of whom Lady +Montreville has a very high opinion, assured her Ladyship she was well +recommended.' + +Emmeline now found her emotion very painful; she therefore rose to go, +and curtseying to Lord Montreville, tried to wish him good night. + +'A good night to you, Miss Mowbray,' said he, rising. Delamere started +from his chair; and taking her hand, desired to have the honor of +conducting her to her room. But this was a gallantry his father by no +means approved. 'No, Frederic,' said he, taking himself the hand he +held, 'you will give _me_ leave to see Miss Mowbray to the door.' He led +her thither, and then bowing, wished her again good night. + +Emmeline hurried to her room; where she endeavoured to recollect her +dissipated spirits, and to consider in what way it would be proper for +her to address Lord Montreville the next day, to urge her request of a +removal from the castle. + +Mrs. Carey had a sister who resided at Swansea in Glamorganshire; where +her husband had a little place in the excise, and where she had a small +house, part of which she had been accustomed to let to those who +frequented the place for the benefit of sea-bathing. + +She was old, and without any family of her own; and Emmeline, to whom +she was the more agreeable as being the sister of Mrs. Carey, thought +she might reside with her with propriety and comfort, if Lord +Montreville would allow her a small annual stipend for her cloaths and +board. + +While she was considering in what manner to address herself to his +Lordship the next day, the gentlemen were talking of the perfections of +the nymph of the castle; by which name Delamere toasted her at supper. + +Lord Montreville, who did not seem particularly delighted with the +praise his son so warmly bestowed, said-- + +'Why surely, Frederic, you are uncommonly eloquent on behalf of your +Welch cousin.' + +'Faith, my Lord,' answered Delamere, 'I like her so well that I think +it's a little unlucky I did not come alone. My Welch cousin is the very +thing for a tête à tête.' + +'Yes,' said Lord Montreville, carelessly, 'she is really grown a good +fine young woman. Don't you think so, George?' addressing himself to +Fitz-Edward. + +'I do indeed, my Lord,' answered he; 'and here's Mr. Headly, tho' an old +married man, absolutely petrified with admiration.' + +'Upon my soul, Headly,' continued Delamere, 'I already begin to see +great capabilities about this venerable mansion. I think I shall take to +it, as my father offers it me; especially as I suppose Miss Emmeline is +to be included in the inventory.' + +'Come, come, Frederic,' said Lord Montreville, gravely, 'no light +conversation on the subject of Miss Mowbray. She is under my care; and I +must have her treated with propriety.' + +His Lordship immediately changed the discourse, and soon after +complaining of being fatigued, retired to his chamber. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Lord Montreville, whose first object was his son, had observed, with +some alarm, the immediate impression he seemed to have received from the +beauty of Emmeline. + +The next day, he made some farther remarks on his attention to her when +they met at dinner, which gave him still more uneasiness; and he accused +himself of great indiscretion in having thrown an object, whose +loveliness he could not help acknowledging, in the way of Delamere, +whose ardent and impetuous temper he knew so well. This gave his +behaviour to Emmeline an air of coldness, and even of displeasure, which +prevented her summoning courage to speak to him in the morning of the +day after his arrival: and the evening afforded her no opportunity; for +Lord Montreville, determined to keep her as much as possible out of the +sight of Delamere, did not send for her down to supper, and had +privately resolved to remove her as soon as possible to some other +residence. + +Thus his apprehensions lest his son should form an attachment +prejudicial to his ambitious views, produced in his Lordship's mind a +resolution in regard to placing more properly his orphan niece, which no +consideration, had it related merely to herself, would probably have +effected. + +At supper, Delamere enquired eagerly for his 'lovely cousin.' To which +Lord Montreville drily answered, 'that she did not, he believed, sup +below.' + +But the manner of this enquiry, and the anxious looks Delamere directed +towards the door, together with his repeated questions, increased all +Lord Montreville's fears. + +He went to bed out of humour rather with himself than his son; and +rising early the next morning, enquired for Miss Mowbray. + +Miss Mowbray was walked out, as was her custom, very early, no one knew +whither. + +He learned also that Mr. Delamere was gone out with his gun without +Fitz-Edward; who not being very fond of field sports, had agreed to join +him at a later hour. + +He immediately fancied that Delamere and Emmeline might meet; and the +pain such a suspicion brought with it, was by him, who had hardly ever +felt an hour's uneasiness, considered as so great an evil, that he +determined to put an end to it as soon as possible. + +After an hasty breakfast in his own room, he summoned Maloney to attend +him, and went over the accounts of the estates entrusted to him, with +the state of which his Lordship declared himself well contented. And not +knowing to whom else he could apply, to enquire for a situation for +Emmeline, he told Maloney, that as Miss Mowbray was now of an age to +require some alteration in her mode of life, he was desirous of finding +for her a reputable house in some town in Wales, where she might lodge +and board. + +Maloney, encouraged by being thus consulted by his Lord, ventured, with +many bows, blushes, and stammering apologies, to disclose to Lord +Montreville his partiality to Miss Mowbray. + +And this communication he so contrived to word, that his Lordship had no +doubt of Emmeline's having allowed him to make it. + +Lord Montreville listened therefore in silence, and without any marks of +disapprobation, to the account Maloney proceeded to give of his +prospects and property. + +While he was doing so, family pride made a faint struggle in his +Lordship's breast on behalf of his deserted ward. He felt some pain in +determining, that a creature boasting a portion of the Mowbray blood, +should sink into the wife of a man of such inferior birth as Maloney. + +But when the advantages of so easily providing for her were recollected; +when he considered that Maloney would be happy to take her with a few +hundred pounds, and that all apprehensions in regard to his son would by +that means for ever be at an end; avarice and ambition, two passions +which too much influenced Lord Montreville, joined to persuade him of +the propriety of the match; and became infinitely too powerful to let +him listen to his regard to the memory of his brother or his pity for +his deserted ward. + +He thought, that as the existence of Emmeline was hardly known beyond +the walls of the castle, he should incur no censure from the world if he +consigned her to that obscurity to which the disadvantages of her birth +seemed originally to have condemned her. + +These reflections arose while Maloney, charmed to find himself listened +to, was proceeding in his discourse. + +Lord Montreville, tho' too much used to the manners of politicians to be +able to give a direct answer, at length put an end to it, by telling him +he would consider of what he had said, and talk to him farther in a few +days. + +In the mean time his Lordship desired that no part of their conversation +might transpire. + +Maloney, transported at a reception which seemed to prognosticate the +completion of his wishes, retired elated with his prospects; and Lord +Montreville summoning Mr. Headly to attend him, mounted his horse to +survey the ground on which he meditated improvements round the castle. + +The cold and almost stern civility of Lord Montreville, for the little +time Emmeline had seen him, had created despondence and uneasiness in +her bosom. + +She fancied he disliked her, unoffending as she was, and would take the +first opportunity of shaking her off: an idea which, together with the +awe she could not help feeling in his presence, made her determine as +much as possible to avoid it, 'till he should give her a proper +opportunity to speak to him, or 'till she could acquire courage to seek +it. + +At seven in the morning, she arose, after an uneasy night, and having +taken an early breakfast, betook herself to her usual walk, carrying +with her a book. + +The sun was hot, and she went to a wood which partly cloathed an high +hill near the boundary of the estate, where, intent only on her own +sorrows, she could not beguile them by attending to the fictitious and +improbable calamities of the heroine of a novel, which Mrs. Garnet +(probably forgetting to restore it to the library of some former +mistress,) had brought down among her cloaths, and which had been seized +by Emmeline as something new, at least to her. + +But her mind, overwhelmed with its own anxiety, refused its attention: +and tired with her walk, she sat down on a tree that had been felled, +reflecting on what had passed since Lord Montreville's arrival, and +considering how she might most effectually interest him in her behalf. + +Delamere, attended by a servant, had gone upon the hills in pursuit of +his game; and having had great success for some hours, he came down +about eleven o'clock into the woods, to avoid the excessive heat, which +was uncommon for the season. + +The noise he made in brushing through the underwood with his gun, and +rustling among the fading leaves, alarmed her. + +He stepped over the timber, and seating himself by her, seized her +hands. + +'Oh! my charming cousin,' cried he, 'I think myself one of the most +fortunate fellows on earth, thus to meet you.' + +Emmeline would have risen. + +'Oh! no,' continued he, 'indeed you do not go, 'till we have had a +little conversation.' + +'I cannot stay, indeed Sir,' said Emmeline--. 'I must immediately go +home.' + +'By no means; I cannot part with you.--Come, come, sit down and hear +what I have to say.' + +It was to no purpose to resist. The impetuous vehemence of Delamere was +too much for the timid civility of Emmeline; and not believing that any +thing more than common conversation or a few unmeaning compliments would +pass, she sat down with as much composure as she could command. + +But Delamere, who was really captivated at the first, and who now +thought her more beautiful than he had done in their former interviews, +hesitated not to pour forth the most extravagant professions of +admiration, in a style so unequivocal, that Emmeline, believing he meant +to insult her, burst into a passion of tears, and besought him, in a +tremulous and broken voice, not to be so cruel as to affront her, but to +suffer her to return home. + +Delamere could not see her terror without being affected. He protested, +that so far from meaning to give her pain, he should think himself too +happy if she would allow him to dedicate his whole life to her service. + +Poor Emmeline, however, continued to weep, and to beseech him to let her +go; to which, as her distress arose almost to agony, he at length +consented: and taking her arm within his, he said he would walk home +with her himself. + +To this Emmeline in vain objected. To escape was impossible. To prevail +on him to leave her equally so. She was therefore compelled to follow +him. Which she did with reluctance; while he still continued to profess +to her the most violent and serious attachment. They proceeded in this +manner along the nearest path to the castle, which lay principally among +copses that fringed the banks of the river. They had just passed through +the last, and entered the meadows which lay immediately under the castle +walls, when Lord Montreville and Headly, on horseback, appeared from a +woody lane just before them. + +At the noise of horses so near them, Emmeline looked up, and seeing +Lord Montreville, again struggled, but without success, to disengage her +hand. + +Delamere continued to walk on, and his Lordship soon came up to them. He +checked his horse, and said, somewhat sternly, 'So, Sir, where have you +been?' + +Delamere, without the least hesitation, answered--'Shooting, my Lord, +the early part of the morning; and since that, making love to my cousin, +who was so good as to sit and wait for me under a tree.' + +'For mercy's sake, Mr. Delamere,' cried Emmeline, 'consider what you +say.' + +'Waiting for you under a tree!' cried Lord Montreville, in amazement. +'Do Miss Mowbray be so good as to return home.--And you, Frederic, will, +I suppose, be back by dinner time.' + +'Yes,' answered Delamere, 'when I have conducted my cousin home, I shall +go out again, perhaps, for an hour before dinner.' + +He was then walking on, without noticing the stern and displeased looks +of his father, or the terror of poor Emmeline, who saw too evidently +that Lord Montreville was extremely angry. + +His Lordship, after a moment's pause, dismounted, gave his horse to a +servant, and joined them, telling Delamere he had some business with +Miss Mowbray, and would therefore walk with her towards the castle +himself. + +Delamere kissed her hand gayly, and assuring his father that for the +first time in his life he felt an inclination to take his business off +his hands, he beckoned to his servant to follow with his dogs, and then +leaping over the hedge that separated the meadow from the hollow lane, +he disappeared. + +Emmeline, trembling with apprehension, walked with faultering steps by +the side of Lord Montreville, who for some time was silent. He at length +said--'Your having been brought up in retirement, Miss Mowbray, has, +perhaps, prevented your being acquainted with the decorums of the world, +and the reserve which a young woman should ever strictly maintain. You +have done a very improper thing in meeting my son; and I must desire +that while you are at the castle, no such appointments may take place in +future.' + +Tho' she saw, from the first moment of his meeting them, that he had +conceived this idea, and was confirmed in it by Delamere's speech; yet +she was so much shocked and hurt by the address, that as she attempted +to answer, her voice failed her. + +The tears however, which streamed from her eyes, having a little +relieved her, she endeavoured to assure his Lordship, that till she met +Mr. Delamere in the wood that morning, she did not know even of his +having left the castle. + +'And how happened you to be where he found you, Miss Mowbray?' + +'I went thither, my Lord, with a book which I was eager to finish.' + +'Oh! I remember that Maloney told me you was a great reader; and from +some other discourse he held relative to you, I own I was the more +surprised at your indiscretion in regard to my son.' + +They were by this time arrived at the castle, and Lord Montreville +desired Emmeline to follow him into the parlour, where they both sat +down. + +His Lordship renewed the discourse. + +'This morning Maloney has been talking to me about you; and from what he +said, I concluded you had formed with him engagements which should have +prevented you from listening to the boyish and improper conversation of +Mr. Delamere.' + +'Engagements with Mr. Maloney, my Lord? Surely he could never assert +that I have ever formed engagements with him?' + +'Why not absolutely so.--I think he did not say that. But I understood +that you was by no means averse to his informing me of his attachment, +and was willing, if my consent was obtained, to become his wife. Perhaps +he has no very great advantages; yet considering your situation, which +is, you know, entirely dependent, I really think you do perfectly right +in designing to accept of the establishment he offers you.' + +'To become the wife of Maloney!--to accept of the establishment _he_ +offers me! I am humbled, I am lost indeed! No, my Lord! unhappy as I am, +I can _claim_ nothing, it is true; but if the support of an unfortunate +orphan, thrown by Providence into your care, is too troublesome, suffer +me to be myself a servant; and believe I have a mind, which tho' it will +not recoil from any situation where I can earn my bread by honest +labour, is infinitely superior to any advantages such a man as Maloney +can offer me!' + +She wept too much to be able to proceed; and sat, overwhelmed with grief +and mortification, while Lord Montreville continued to speak. + +'Why distress yourself in this manner, Miss Mowbray? I cannot see any +thing which ought to offend you, if Maloney _has_ misrepresented the +matter, and if he has not, your extraordinary emotion must look like a +consciousness of having altered your mind. + +'Your motive for doing so cannot be mistaken; but let me speak to you +explicitly.--To Mr. Delamere, _my_ son, the heir to a title and estate +which makes him a desirable match for the daughters of the first houses +in the kingdom, _you_ can have no pretensions; therefore never do +yourself so much prejudice as to let your mind glance that way. + +'Maloney tells me he has some property, and still better expectations. +He is established here in an excellent place; and should he marry you, +it shall be still more advantageous. You are (I am sorry to be obliged +to repeat it) without any dependance, but on my favour. You will +therefore do wisely to embrace a situation in which that favour may be +most effectually exerted on your behalf. + +'As you have undoubtedly encouraged Maloney, the aversion you now +pretend towards him, is artifice or coquetry. Consider before you +decide, consider thoroughly what is your situation and what your +expectations; and recollect, that as my son now means to be very +frequently at Mowbray Castle, _you_ cannot remain with propriety but as +the wife of Maloney.' + +'Neither as the wife of Maloney, nor as Emmeline Mowbray, will I stay, +my Lord, another day!' answered she, assuming more spirit than she had +yet shewn. 'I wished for an interview to entreat your Lordship would +allow me to go to some place less improper for my abode than Mowbray +Castle has long been.' + +'And whither would you go, Miss Mowbray?' + +'On that, my Lord, I wished to consult you. But since it is perhaps a +matter unworthy your attention; since it seems to signify little what +becomes of me; I must determine to hazard going to Mrs. Watkins's, who +will probably give me an asylum at least 'till I can find some one who +will receive me, or some means of providing for myself the necessaries +of life.' + +'You then positively reject the overtures of Maloney?' + +'Positively, my Lord--and for ever! I beg it may not be mentioned to me +again!' + +'And who is Mrs. Watkins?' + +'The sister of Mrs. Carey, my Lord.' + +'Where does she live?' + +'At Swansea in Glamorganshire; where she is accustomed to take in +boarders. She would, I believe, receive me.' + +After a moment's consideration, Lord Montreville said, 'that perhaps may +do, since you absolutely refuse the other plan; I would have you +therefore prepare to go thither; but I must insist on no more morning +interviews with Mr. Delamere, and that whither you are going may be kept +unknown to him. But tell me,' continued he, 'what I am to say to poor +Maloney?' + +'That you are astonished at his insolence in daring to lift his eyes to +a person bearing the name of Mowbray; and shocked at his falsehood in +presuming to assert that I ever encouraged his impertinent pretensions!' + +This effort of spirit exhausted all the courage Emmeline had been able +to raise. She arose, and attempted to reach the door; but overcome by +the violence of her agitation, was obliged to sit down in a chair near +it. + +She could no longer restrain the tears which were extorted from her by +the mortifying scene she had passed through: and her deep sighs, which +seemed ready to burst her heart, excited the compassion of Lord +Montreville; who, where his ambition was not in question, was not void +of humanity. The violent and artless sorrow of a beautiful young woman, +whose fate seemed to be in his power, affected him. + +He took her hand with kindness, and told her 'he was sorry to have said +any thing that appeared harsh.' + +His Lordship added, 'that he would have her write to Mrs. Watkins; that +a servant should be sent with the letter; and that on condition of her +concealing her abode from Delamere, she should be supplied with an +annual income equal to all her wants.' + +Then hearing Delamere's gun, which he always discharged before he +entered the house, he hastened Emmeline away, desiring she would remain +in her own apartment; where every thing necessary should be sent to +her. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Delamere and Fitz-Edward soon after entered the parlour where Lord +Montreville remained. He received his son with a coldness to which, tho' +little accustomed to it, Delamere paid no attention. + +Despotic as this beloved son had always been in the family, he felt not +the least apprehension that he had really offended his father; or +feeling it, knew that his displeasure would be so short liv'd that it +was not worth any concern. + +'Here, Fitz-Edward,' said he--'here is my father angry with me for +making love to my cousin Emmy. Faith, Sir,' (turning to Lord +Montreville,) 'I think I have the most reason to be angry at being +brought into such dangerous company; tho' your Lordship well knows how +devilishly susceptible I am, and that ever since I was ten years old I +have been dying for some nymph or other.' + +'I know that you are a strange inconsiderate boy,' answered Lord +Montreville, very gravely;--'but I must beg, Frederic, to hear no more +idle raillery on the subject of Miss Mowbray.' + +To this, Delamere gave some slight answer; and the discourse was led by +his Lordship to some other topic. + +Fitz-Edward, who was about five years older than Delamere, concealed, +under the appearance of candour and non-chalance, the libertinism of his +character. He had entered very young into the army; the younger son of +an Irish peer; and had contracted his loose morals by being thrown too +early into the world; for his heart was not originally bad. + +With a very handsome person, he had the most insinuating manners, and an +address so truly that of a man of fashion, as immediately prejudiced in +his favour those by whom he wished to be thought well of. Where he +desired to please, he seldom failed of pleasing extremely; and his +conversation was, in the general commerce of the world, elegant and +attractive. + +Delamere was very fond of his company; and Lord Montreville encouraged +the intimacy: for of whatever fashionable vices Fitz-Edward was guilty, +he contrived, by a sort of sentimental hypocrisy, to prevent their being +known to, or at least offensive to those, whose good opinion it was his +interest to cultivate. + +Delamere was of a character very opposite. Accustomed from his infancy +to the most boundless indulgences, he never formed a wish, the +gratification of which he expected to be denied: and if such a +disappointment happened, he gave way to an impetuosity of disposition +that he had never been taught to restrain, and which gave an appearance +of ferocity to a temper not otherwise bad. + +He was generous, candid, and humane; and possessed many other good +qualities, but the defects of his education had obscured them. + +Lady Montreville, who beheld in her only son the last male heir of a +very ancient and illustrious house, and who hoped to see all its glories +revive in him, could never be prevailed upon to part with him. He had +therefore a tutor in the house; and his parents themselves accompanied +him abroad. And the weakness of Lady Montreville in regard to her son, +encreased rather than diminished with his encreasing years. + +Her fondness was gratified in seeing the perfections of his person, +(which was a very fine one) while to the imperfections of his temper she +was entirely blind. + +His father was equally fond of him; and looked up to the accumulated +titles and united fortunes of his own and his wife's families, as the +point where all his ambitious views would attain their consummation. + +To watch over the conduct of this only son, seemed now to be the sole +business of his Lordship's life: and 'till now, he had no reason to fear +that his solicitude for his final establishment would be attended with +so little effect. Except a few youthful indiscretions, which were +overlooked or forgiven, Delamere had shewn no inclinations that seemed +inimical to his father's views; and Lord Montreville hoped that his +present passion for Emmeline would be forgotten as easily as many other +transient attachments which his youth, and warmth of temper, had led him +into. + +At dinner, Delamere enquired 'whether his charming cousin was always to +remain a prisoner in her own room?' + +To which Lord Montreville answered, 'that it had been her custom; and as +there was no lady with them, it was better she should continue it.' + +He then changed the discourse; and contrived to keep Delamere in sight +the whole afternoon; and by that means prevented any further enquiries +after Emmeline; who now, entirely confined to her turret, impatiently +awaited the return of the messenger who had been sent to Swansea. + +Delamere, in the mean time, had lingered frequently about the +housekeeper's room, in hopes of seeing Emmeline; but she never appeared. + +He applied to Mrs. Garnet for intelligence of her: but she had received +orders from Lord Montreville not to satisfy his enquiries. He employed +his servants therefore to discover where she was usually to be found, +and by their means was at length informed in what part of the castle her +apartment lay; and that there was a design actually on foot to send her +away, but whither he could not learn. + +The answer brought from Mrs. Watkins, by the man who had been sent to +Swansea, expressed her readiness to take the boarder offered her. + +This intelligence Lord Montreville communicated himself to Emmeline; who +received it with such artless satisfaction, that his Lordship, who had +before doubted whether some degree of coquetry was not concealed under +the apparent ingenuous innocence of his niece, now believed he had +judged too hastily. + +It remained to be considered how she could be conveyed from Mowbray +Castle without the knowledge of Delamere. She was herself ignorant of +every thing beyond its walls, and could therefore be of no use in the +consultation. His Lordship had, however, entrusted Fitz-Edward with his +uneasiness about Delamere; at which the former only laughed; and said he +by no means believed that any serious consequences were to be +apprehended: that it was mere badinage; of which he was sure Delamere +would think no more after they left Mowbray Castle; and that it was not +a matter which his Lordship should allow to make him uneasy. + +Lord Montreville however, who thought he could not too soon remedy his +own indiscretion in introducing Emmeline to his son, determined to +embrace the opportunity of putting an end to any future correspondence +between them: he therefore insisted on a promise of secresy from +Fitz-Edward; and had recourse to Headly, who from a frequent residence +among the great was the most accommodating and obsequious of their +servants. + +As he was about to leave the castle in a few days, he offered his +services to convey Miss Mowbray from thence, in a chaise of which he was +master. This proposal was eagerly accepted by Lord Montreville. And +enjoining Mr. Headly also to secresy, it was fixed that their journey +should begin the next morning save one. + +Emmeline had notice of this arrangement, which she received with the +liveliest joy. She immediately set about such preparations as were +necessary for her journey, in which she employed that and the remaining +day; which had been destined by Lord Montreville to visit another estate +that he possessed, at the distance of about twelve miles; whither +Delamere and the whole party accompanied him. + +Delamere had discovered, by his servants, that to remove Emmeline was in +agitation; and he determined to see her again in spite of his father's +precaution (which in fact only served to encrease his desire of +declaring his sentiments); but he had no idea that she was to depart so +soon, and therefore was content to go with his father, at his particular +request. + +It was late in the evening preceding that on which Emmeline was to leave +the castle, before they returned to it; and she was still busied in +providing for her journey; in doing which, she was obliged to open one +of the caskets left her by Mrs. Carey. It contained miniatures of her +father and her mother, which had been drawn at Paris before her birth; +and several letters written by Mrs. Mowbray, her grandmother, to her +mother, in consequence of the fatal step she had taken in quitting the +protection of that lady, who had brought her up, to accompany Mr. +Mowbray abroad. + +These, Emmeline had never yet seen; nor had she now courage entirely to +peruse them. The little she read, however, filled her heart with the +most painful sensations and her eyes with tears. + +While she was employed in her little arrangements, time passed +insensibly away. She heard the hollow sound of shutting the great doors +at the other end of the castle, as was usual before the servants retired +for the night: but attentive only to what was at present her greatest +concern, (making room for some favourite books in the box she meant to +take with her,) she heeded not the hour. + +A total silence had long reigned in the castle, and her almost +extinguished candle told her it was time to take some repose, when, as +she was preparing to do so, she thought she heard a rustling, and +indistinct footsteps in the passage near her room. + +She started--listened--but all was again profoundly silent; and she +supposed it had been only one of those unaccountable noises which she +had been used to hear along the dreary avenues of the castle. She began +anew to unpin her hair, when a second time the same noise in the passage +alarmed her. She listened again; and while she continued attentive, the +great clock struck two. + +Amazed to find it so late, her terror encreased; yet she endeavoured to +reason herself out of it, and to believe that it was the effect of +fancy: she heard it no more; and had almost determined to go out into +the passage to satisfy herself that her fears were groundless, when just +as she approached the door, the whispers were renewed; she saw the lock +move, and heard a violent push against it. + +The door, however, was locked. Which was no sooner perceived by the +assailant, than a violent effort with his foot forced the rusty decayed +work to give way, and Mr. Delamere burst into the room! + +Emmeline was infinitely too much terrified to speak: nor could her +trembling limbs support her. She sat down;--the colour forsook her +cheeks;--and she was not sensible that Delamere had thrown himself at +her feet, and was pouring forth the most vehement and incoherent +expressions that frantic passion could dictate. + +Recovering her recollection, she beheld Delamere kneeling before her, +holding her hands in his; and Millefleur standing behind him with a +candle. She attempted to speak; but the words died away on her lips: +while Delamere, shocked at the situation into which he had thrown her, +protested that he meant her not the smallest offence; but that having +learnt, by means of his valet, that she was to go the next morning, and +that his father intended to keep him ignorant of her future destiny, he +could not bear to reflect that he might lose her for ever; and had +therefore taken the only means in his power to speak to her, in hopes of +engaging her pity, for which he would hazard every thing. + +'Leave me, Sir! leave me!' said Emmeline, in a voice scarcely +articulate. 'Leave me instantly, or I will alarm the house!' + +'That is almost impossible!' replied Delamere; 'but I will not terrify +you more than I have done already. No, Emmeline, I wish not to alarm +you, and will quit you instantly if you will tell me that wheresoever +you are, you will permit me to see you; and will remember me with pity +and regard! My father shall not--cannot controul my conduct; nor shall +all the power on earth prevent my following you, if you will yourself +permit me. Tell me, Emmeline,--tell me you will not forget me!' + +'As what, Sir, should I remember you, but as my persecutor? as one who +has injured me beyond reparation by your wild and cruel conduct; and who +has now dared to insult me by a most unparallelled outrage.--Leave me, +Sir! I repeat to you that you must instantly quit the room!' + +She arose, and walked with tottering steps to the end of it. Delamere +followed her. She turned; and came towards the door, which was still +open, and then recollected, that as she knew the passages of the castle, +which she was convinced neither Delamere or his servant did, she might +possibly escape, and find Lord Montreville's room, which she knew to be +at the end of the East gallery. + +Delamere was a few steps behind her when she reached the door; which +hastily throwing quite open, she ran lightly thro' the passage, which +was very long and dark. + +He pursued her, imploring her to hear him but a moment; and the +Frenchman as hastily followed his master with the candle. But at the end +of the passage, a flight of broken steps led to a brick hall, which +opened to other stair-cases and galleries. + +A gust of wind blew out the candle; and Emmeline, gliding down the +steps, turned to the right, and opening a heavy nailed door, which led +by a narrow stairs to the East gallery, she let it fall after her. + +Delamere, now in total darkness, tried in vain to follow the sound. He +listened--but no longer heard the footsteps of the trembling fugitive; +and cursing his fate, and the stupidity of Millefleur, he endeavoured to +find his way back to Emmeline's room, where he thought a candle was +still burning. But his attempt was vain. He walked round the hall only +to puzzle himself; for the door by which he had entered it, he could not +regain. + +In the mean time Emmeline, breathless with fear, had reached the +gallery, and feeling her way 'till she came as she supposed to the door +of the room where Lord Montreville slept, she tapped lightly at it. + +A man's voice asked who it was? + +'It is I, my Lord,' cried Emmeline, hardly able to make herself +heard.--'Mr. Delamere pursues me.' + +Somebody opened the door.--But there was no light; and Emmeline retiring +a step from it, the person again asked who it was? + +'It is Emmeline,' replied she; who now first recollected that the voice +was not that of Lord Montreville.--She flew therefore towards the next +door, with exclamations of encreased terror; but Lord Montreville, who +was now awakened, appeared at it with a lamp in his hand; and Emmeline, +in answer to his question of what is the matter? endeavoured to say that +she was pursued by Mr. Delamere; but fear had so entirely overcome her, +that she could only sigh out his name; and gasping like a dying person, +sat down on a bench which was near the door. + +Fitz-Edward, who was the person she had first spoken to, had by this +time dressed himself, and came to her with a glass of water out of his +room; while Lord Montreville, hearing his son's name so inarticulately +pronounced, and seeing the speechless affright in which Emmeline sat +before him, conceived the most alarming apprehensions, and believed that +his son was either dead or dying. + +With great difficulty he summoned up courage enough, again to beg for +heaven's sake she would tell him what had occasioned her to leave her +room at such an hour? + +She again exclaimed, 'it is Mr. Delamere, my Lord!' + +'What of Mr. Delamere?--what of my son?' cried he, with infinite +agitation. + +'Save me from him my Lord!' answered Emmeline, a little recovered by the +water she had drank. + +'Where is he then?' said his Lordship. + +'I know not,' replied Emmeline; 'but he came to my room with his +servant, and I flew hither to implore your protection.' + +Fitz-Edward intreated Lord Montreville to be more calm, and to give Miss +Mowbray time to recollect herself. He offered to go in search of +Delamere; but his Lordship was in too much anxiety to be satisfied with +any enquiries but his own. + +He therefore said he would go down himself; but Emmeline catching his +hand, entreated him not to leave her. + +At this moment the voices of Delamere and his man were heard echoing +through the whole side of the castle; for wearied with their fruitless +attempts to escape, they both called for lights in no very gentle tone. + +Lord Montreville easily distinguished from whence the noise came; and +followed by Emmeline, whom Fitz-Edward supported, he descended into the +brick hall from whence Emmeline had effected her escape, where he found +Delamere trembling with passion, and Millefleur with fear. + +Lord Montreville could not conceal his anger and resentment.-- + +'How comes it, Sir,' cried he, addressing himself to his son, 'that you +dare thus to insult a person who is under my protection? What excess of +madness and folly has tempted you to violate the retirement of Miss +Mowbray?' + +'I mean not, my Lord,' answered Delamere, 'to attempt a concealment of +my sentiments. I love Miss Mowbray; passionately love her; and scorn to +dissimulate. I know you had a design to send her from hence; +clandestinely to send her; and I determined that she should not go 'till +I had declared my attachment to her, which I found you endeavoured +assiduously to prevent. You may certainly remove her from hence; but I +protest to you, that wherever she is, there I will endeavour to see her, +in spite of the universe.' + +Lord Montreville now felt all the force of the error he had committed in +that boundless indulgence to which he had accustomed his son. In the +first instance of any consequence in which their wishes differed, he saw +him ready to throw off the restraint of paternal authority, and daring +to avow his resolution to act as he pleased. + +This mortifying reflection arose in his mind, while, with a look of +mingled anger and amazement, he beheld Delamere, who having ordered +Millefleur to light his candle, snatched it from him, and hastily +retired. + +Emmeline, who had stood trembling the whole time behind Lord +Montreville, besought him to ring up the housekeeper, and direct her to +stay with her for the rest of the night; for she declared she would on +no account remain in her own room alone. + +His Lordship recommending her to the care of Fitz-Edward, went himself +in search of the housekeeper; and Emmeline refusing to seek a more +commodious apartment, sat down in one of the windows of the hall to wait +his return. + +Fitz-Edward, to whom she had yet hardly spoken, now entertained her with +a profusion of compliments, almost as warm as those she had heard from +Delamere; but her spirits, quite exhausted by the terror which had so +lately possessed them, could no longer support her; she was unable to +give an answer of common civility, and was very glad to see Lord +Montreville return with Mrs. Garnet; who, extremely discomposed at being +disturbed and obliged to appear in her night-cap, followed her, +grumbling, into her room; where, as Emmeline refused to go to it +herself, she took possession of her bed, and soon falling into a +profound sleep, left its melancholy owner to her sad reflections. + +She had not been many minutes indulging them, and wishing for the return +of light, before somebody was again at the door. Emmeline still +apprehending Delamere, stepped to it; and was astonished to see Lord +Montreville himself. + +He entered the room; and told her, that as his son knew of her journey +in the morning, he would probably try some means to prevent it, or at +least to trace out her abode; that it was therefore absolutely necessary +for her to be ready by day break or before, for which he had prepared +Mr. Headly; who was up, and getting ready to set out as soon as there +was light enough to make it safe. + +Emmeline, who thought she could not be gone too soon, now hastily +finished the remainder of her packing; and having dressed herself for +her journey, which notwithstanding her sleepless night she rejoiced to +find so near, she waited with impatience 'till Mr. Headly summoned her +to go. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The sun no sooner appeared above the horizon, than her conductor was +ready with his one-horse chair: and Emmeline being seated in it, and her +little baggage adjusted, she left the door of the castle; where Maloney, +who saw his favourite hopes vanish as he feared for ever, stood with a +rueful countenance to behold her departure. + +However desirous she was of quitting a residence which had long been +uneasy to her, and which was now become so extremely improper, such is +the force of early habit, that she could not bid it adieu without being +greatly affected. + +There she had passed her earliest infancy, and had known, in that period +of unconscious happiness, many delightful hours which would return no +more. + +It was endeared to her by the memory of that good friend who had +supplied to her the place of a parent; from whom alone she had ever +heard the soothing voice of maternal solicitude. And as she passed by +the village church, which had been formerly the chapel of the monastery, +and joined the castle walls, she turned her eyes, filled with tears, +towards the spot where the remains of Mrs. Carey were deposited, and +sighed deeply; a thousand tender and painful recollections crouding on +her heart. + +As she left the village, several women and children, who had heard she +was going that day, were already waiting to bid her farewell; +considering her as the last of that family, by whom they had been +employed when in health, and relieved when in sickness; they lamented +her departure as their greatest misfortune. + +The present possessor of the castle bore not the name of Mowbray, and +was not at all interested for the peasantry, among whom he was a +stranger; they therefore, in losing Emmeline, seemed to lose the last of +the race of their ancient benefactors. + +Emmeline, affected by their simple expressions of regret, returned their +good wishes with tears; and as soon as the chaise drove out of the +village, again fixed her eyes on the habitation she had quitted. + +Its venerable towers rising above the wood in which it was almost +embosomed, made one of the most magnificent features of a landscape, +which now appeared in sight. + +The road lay along the side of what would in England be called a +mountain; at its feet rolled the rapid stream that washed the castle +walls, foaming over fragments of rock; and bounded by a wood of oak and +pine; among which the ruins of the monastery, once an appendage to the +castle, reared its broken arches; and marked by grey and mouldering +walls, and mounds covered with slight vegetation, it was traced to its +connection with the castle itself, still frowning in gothic +magnificence; and stretching over several acres of ground: the citadel, +which was totally in ruins and covered with ivy, crowning the whole. +Farther to the West, beyond a bold and rocky shore, appeared the sea; +and to the East, a chain of mountains which seemed to meet the clouds; +while on the other side, a rich and beautiful vale, now variegated with +the mellowed tints of the declining year, spread its enclosures, 'till +it was lost again among the blue and barren hills. + +Headly declaimed eloquently on the charms of the prospect, which +gradually unveiled itself as the autumnal mist disappeared. But +Emmeline, tho' ever alive to the beauties of nature, was too much +occupied by her own melancholy reflections to attend to the +animadversions of her companion. + +_She_ saw nothing but the castle, of which she believed she was now +taking an eternal adieu; and her looks were fixed on it, 'till the road +winding down the hill on the other side, concealed it from her sight. + +Headly imputed her sadness to a very different cause than that of an +early and long attachment to a particular spot. He supposed that regret +at being obliged to leave Delamere, to whose passion he could not +believe her insensible, occasioned the melancholy that overwhelmed her. +He spoke to her of him, and affected to lament the uneasiness which so +violent and ungovernable a temper in an only son, might occasion to his +family. He then talked of the two young ladies, his sisters, whom he +described as the finest young women in the country, and as highly +accomplished. Emmeline sighed at the comparison between _their_ +situation and her own. + +After some hours travelling through roads which made it very fatigueing, +they arrived at a little obscure house of entertainment, and after some +refreshment, continued their journey unmolested. + +Delamere arose early, and calling for Millefleur, enquired at what hour +Miss Mowbray was to go. On hearing that she had left the castle more +than an hour, his rage and vexation broke through all the respect he +owed his father; who being acquainted by his valet of his resolution +immediately to follow the chaise, entered the room. He remonstrated with +him at first with great warmth; but Delamere, irritated by +contradiction, obstinately adhered to his resolution of immediately +pursuing the travellers. + +Lord Montreville, finding that opposition rather encreased than remedied +the violence of his son's passionate sallies, determined to try what +persuasion would do; and Delamere, whose temper was insensible to the +threats of anger, yielded to remonstrance when softened by paternal +affection; and consented to forego his intention if Lord Montreville +would tell him where Emmeline was gone. + +His Lordship, who probably thought this one of those instances in which +falsehood is excuseable if not meritorious, told him, with affected +reluctance, that she was gone to board at Bridgenorth, with Mrs. +Watkins, the sister of old Carey. + +As this account was extremely probable, Delamere readily believed it; +and having with some difficulty been prevailed upon to pass his word +that he would not immediately take any steps to see her, tranquillity +was for the present restored to the castle. + +Emmeline in the mean time, after a long and weary journey, arrived at +Swansea. Mrs. Watkins, who expected her, received her in a little but +very neat habitation, which consisted of a small room by way of +parlour, not unlike the cabin of a packet boat, and a bed-chamber over +it of the same dimensions. Of these apartments, Emmeline took +possession. Her conductor took leave of her; and she now wished to be +able to form some opinion of her new hostess; whose countenance, which +extremely resembled that of Mrs. Carey, had immediately prejudiced her +in her favour. + +Being assured by Lord Montreville of every liberal payment for the board +and lodging of Miss Mowbray, she received her with a degree of civility +almost oppressive: but Emmeline, who soon found that she possessed none +of that warmth of heart and lively interest in the happiness of others +which so much endeared to her the memory of her former friend, was very +glad when after a few days the good woman returned with her usual +avidity to the regulation of her domestic matters, and suffered Emmeline +to enjoy that solitude which she knew so well how to employ. + +Delamere, still lingering at the castle, where he seemed to stay for no +other reason than because he had there seen Emmeline, was pensive, +restless, and absent; and Lord Montreville saw with great alarm that +this impression was less likely to be effaced by time and absence than +he had supposed. + +Fitz-Edward, obliged to go to Ireland to his regiment for some time, had +taken leave of them; and the impatience of Lord Montreville to return to +town was encreased by repeated letters from his wife. + +Delamere however still evaded it; hoping that his father would set out +without him, and that he should by that means have an opportunity of +going to Bridgenorth, where he determined to solicit Emmeline to consent +to a Scottish expedition, and persuaded himself he should not meet a +refusal. + +At length Lady Montreville, yet more alarmed at the delay, directed her +eldest daughter to write to his Lordship, and to give such an account of +her health as should immediately oblige the father and son to return. + +Delamere, after such a letter, could not refuse to depart; and +comforting himself that he might be able soon to escape from the +observation of his family, and put his project in execution, he +consented to begin his journey. He determined, however, to write to Miss +Mowbray, and to desire her to direct her answer under cover to a friend +in London. + +He did so; and addressed it to her at Mrs. Watkins's, at Bridgenorth: +but soon after his arrival in town, the letter was returned to the place +from which it was dated; having been opened at the office in consequence +of no such person as Miss Mowbray or Mrs. Watkins being to be found +there. + +Delamere saw he had been deceived; but to complain was fruitless: he had +therefore no hope of discovering where Emmeline was, but by lying in +wait for some accidental intelligence. + +The family usually passed the Christmas recess at their seat in Norfolk; +whither Delamere, who at first tried to avoid being of the party, at +length agreed to accompany them, on condition of his being allowed to +perform an engagement he had made with Mr. Percival for a fortnight. +Part of this time he determined to employ in seeing Headly, who did not +live above thirty miles from thence; hoping from him to obtain +intelligence of Emmeline's abode. And that no suspicion might remain on +the mind of his father, he affected to reassume his usual gaiety, and +was to all appearance as volatile and dissipated as ever. + +While the family were in Norfolk, their acquaintance was warmly renewed +with that of Sir Francis Devereux, who was lately returned from a +residence on the Continent, whither he had been to compleat the +education of his two daughters, heiresses to his fortune, on the +embellishment of whose persons and manners all the modern elegancies of +education had been lavished. + +They were rather pretty women; and of a family almost as ancient and +illustrious as that of Mr. Delamere. Their fortunes were to be immense; +and either of them would have been a wife for Delamere, the choice of +whom would greatly have gratified the families on both sides. + +Infinite pains were taken to bring the young people frequently together; +and both the ladies seemed to allow that Delamere was a conquest worthy +their ambition. + +As he never refused to entertain them with every appearance of gallantry +and vivacity, Lord Montreville flattered himself that at length Emmeline +was forgotten; and ventured to propose to his son, a marriage with +whichever of the Miss Devereux's he should prefer. + +To which, Delamere, who had long foreseen the proposal, answered coldly, +'that he was not inclined to marry at all; or if he did, it should not +be one of those over-educated puppets.' + +So far were their acquisitions from having made any impression on his +heart, that the frivolous turn of their minds, the studied ornaments of +their persons, and the affected refinement of their manners, made him +only recollect with more passionate admiration, that native elegance of +person and mind which he had seen only in the Orphan of Mowbray Castle. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +There was, in the person and manner of Emmeline, something so +interesting, that those who were little accustomed to attach themselves +to any one, were insensibly disposed to love her, and to become +solicitous for her welfare. + +Even the insensibility with which long and uninterrupted prosperity had +encased the heart of Lord Montreville, was not entirely proof against +her attractive powers; and when he no longer apprehended the effect of +her encreasing charms on his son, he suffered himself to feel a degree +of pity and even of affection for her. + +He therefore heard with pleasure that she was contented in her present +situation; and was convinced she had kept her word in not giving any +intelligence of her residence to Delamere. To shew his approbation of +her conduct, he directed a person in town to send her down a small +collection of books; some materials for drawing; and other trifles which +he thought would be acceptable. + +Emmeline, charmed with such acquisitions, felt the most lively gratitude +for her benefactor; and having fitted up her little cabin extremely to +her satisfaction; she found, in the occupation these presents afforded +her, all that she wished, to engage her attention; and gratify her +taste. + +Sensible of the defects of her education, she applied incessantly to her +books; for of every useful and ornamental feminine employment she had +long since made herself mistress without any instruction. + +She endeavoured to cultivate a genius for drawing, which she inherited +from her father; but for want of knowing a few general rules, what she +produced had more of elegance and neatness than correctness and +knowledge. + +She knew nothing of the science of music; but her voice was soft and +sweet, and her ear exquisite. The simple songs, therefore, she had +acquired by it, she sung with a pathos which made more impression on her +hearers than those studied graces learned by long application, which +excite wonder rather than pleasure. + +Time, thus occupied, passed lightly away; Spring arrived almost +imperceptibly, and brought again weather which enabled Emmeline to +reassume her walks along the shore or among the rocks, and to indulge +that contemplative turn of mind which she had acquired in the solitude +of Mowbray Castle. + +It was on a beautiful morning of the month of April, that, taking a book +with her as usual, she went down to the sea side, and sat reading for +some hours; when, just as she was about to return home, she saw a lovely +little boy, about five years old, wandering towards the place where she +was, picking up shells and sea weeds, and appearing to be so deeply +engaged in his infantine pursuit, that he did not see her 'till she +spoke to him. + +'Whose sweet little boy are you, my love?' said she. + +The child looked at her with surprise. + +'I am my mamma's boy,' said he, 'and so is Henry,' pointing towards +another who now approached, and who seemed hardly a year younger. + +The second running up to his brother, caught his hand, and they both +walked away together, looking behind at the strange lady with some +degree of alarm. + +Their dress convinced Emmeline that they belonged to a stranger; and as +they seemed to have nobody with them, she was under some apprehension +for their safety, and therefore arose to follow them, when on turning +round the point of a rock whose projection had concealed the shore to +the left, she saw a lady walking slowly before her, whom the two little +boys had now rejoined. In her hand she held a little girl, who seemed +only learning to walk; and she was followed by a nursery maid, who held +in her arms another, yet an infant at the breast. + +The stranger, near whom Emmeline was obliged to pass, curtsyed to her as +she went by. And if Emmeline was surprised at the early appearance of +company at a time when she knew it to be so unusual, the stranger was +much more so at the uncommon elegance of her form and manner: she was +almost tempted to believe the fable of the sea nymphs, and to fancy her +one of them. + +Emmeline, on regaining her apartment, heard from the hostess, whom she +found with another neighbour, that the lady she had seen arrived the +evening before, and had taken lodgings at the house of the latter, with +an intention of staying great part of the summer. + +The next day Emmeline again met the stranger; who accosting the fair +orphan with all that ease which characterises the address of those who +have lived much in good company, they soon entered into conversation, +and Emmeline almost as soon discovered that her new acquaintance +possessed an understanding as excellent as her person and address were +captivating. + +She appeared to be not more than five or six and twenty: but her person +seemed to have suffered from sorrow that diminution of its charms, which +time could not yet have effected. Her complexion was faded and wan; her +eyes had lost their lustre; and a pensive and languid expression sat on +her countenance. + +After the first conversation, the two ladies found they liked each other +so well, that they met by agreement every day. Emmeline generally went +early to the lodgings of Mrs. Stafford, and stayed the whole day with +her; charmed to have found in her new friend, one who could supply to +her all the deficiencies of her former instructors. + +To a very superior understanding, Mrs. Stafford added the advantages of +a polished education, and all that ease of manner, which the commerce of +fashion can supply. She had read a great deal; and her mind, originally +elegant and refined, was highly cultivated, and embellished with all the +knowledge that could be acquired from the best authors in the modern +languages. Her disposition seemed to have been naturally chearful; for a +ray of vivacity would frequently light up her countenance, and a lively +and agreeable conversation call forth all its animated gaiety. But it +seldom lasted long. Some settled uneasiness lay lurking in her heart; +and when it recurred forcibly to her, as it frequently did in the midst +of the most interesting discourse, a cloud of sorrow obscured the +brilliancy of her countenance and language, and she became pensive, +silent, and absent. + +Emmeline observed this with concern; but was not yet intimate enough +with her to enquire or discover the cause. + +Sometimes, when she was herself occupied in drawing, or some other +pursuit in which Mrs. Stafford delighted to instruct her, she saw that +her friend, believing herself unobserved, gave way to all the melancholy +that oppressed her heart; and as her children were playing round her, +she would gaze mournfully on them 'till the tears streamed down her +cheeks. + +By degrees the utmost confidence took place between them on every +subject but one: Mrs. Stafford never dwelt on the cause, whatever it +was, which occasioned her to be so frequently uneasy; nor did she ever +complain of being so: but she listened with the warmest interest to the +little tale Emmeline had to relate, and told her in return as much of +her own history as she thought it necessary for her to know. + +Emmeline found that she was not a widow, as she had at first supposed; +for she spoke sometimes of her husband, and said she expected him at +Swansea. She had been married at a very early age; and they now +generally resided at an house which Mr. Stafford's father, who was still +living, had purchased for them in Dorsetshire. + +'I came hither,' said she, 'thus early in the year, at Mr. Stafford's +request, who is fond of improvements and alterations, and who intends +this summer to add considerably to our house; which is already too +large, I think, for our present fortune. I was glad to get away from the +confusion of workmen, to which I have an aversion; and anxious to let +Charles and Henry, who had the measles in the Autumn and who have been +frequently ill since, have a long course of sea-bathing. I might indeed +have gone to Weymouth or some nearer place; but I wish to avoid general +company, which I could not have done where I am sure of meeting so many +of my acquaintance. I rejoice now at my preference of Swansea, since it +has been the means of my knowing you, my dear Emmeline.' + +'And I, Madam,' returned Emmeline, 'have reason to consider the +concurrence of circumstances that brought you here as the most fortunate +for me. Yet I own to you, that the charm of such society is accompanied +with great pain, in anticipating the hour when I must again return to +that solitude I have 'till now considered as my greatest enjoyment.' + +'Ah! my dear girl!' replied Mrs. Stafford, 'check in its first +appearance a propensity which I see you frequently betray, to anticipate +displeasing or unfortunate events. When you have lived a few years +longer, you will, I fear, learn, that every day has evils enough of its +own, and that it is well for us we know nothing of those which are yet +to come. I speak from experience; for I, when not older than you now +are, had a perpetual tendency to fancy future calamities, and embittered +by that means many of those hours which would otherwise have been really +happy. Yet has not my pre-sentiments, tho' most of them have been +unhappily verified, enabled me to avoid one of those thorns with which +my path has been thickly strewn.' + +Emmeline hoped now to hear what hand had strewn them. + +Mrs. Stafford, sighing deeply, fell into a reverie; and continuing long +silent, Emmeline could not resolve to renew a conversation so evidently +painful to her. + +It was now six weeks since she had first seen Mrs. Stafford, and the +hours had passed in a series of felicity of which she had 'till then +formed no idea. + +Mrs. Stafford, delighted with the lively attachment of her young friend, +was charmed to find herself capable of adorning her ingenuous and tender +mind with all that knowledge which books or the world had qualified her +to impart. + +They read together every day: Emmeline, under the tuition of her +charming preceptress, had made some progress in French and Italian; and +she was amazed at her own success in drawing since she had received from +Mrs. Stafford rules of which she was before ignorant. + +As the summer advanced, a few stragglers came in, and it was no longer +wonderful to see a stranger. But Mrs. Stafford and Miss Mowbray, +perfectly satisfied with each other, sought not to enlarge their +society. They sometimes held short conversations with the transient +visitants of the place, but more usually avoided those walks where it +was likely they should meet them. + +Early one morning, they were returning from the bathing place together, +muffled up in their morning dresses. They had seen at a distance two +gentlemen, whom they did not particularly notice; and Emmeline, leaning +on the arm of her friend, was again anticipating all she should suffer +when the hour came which would separate them, and recollecting the +different company and conversation to which she had been condemned from +the death of Mrs. Carey to her quitting Mowbray Castle-- + +'You have not only taught me, my dear Mrs. Stafford,' said she, 'to +dread more than ever being thrown back into such company; but you have +also made me fear that I shall never relish the general conversation of +the world. As I disliked the manners of an inferior description of +people when I first knew them, because they did not resemble those of +the dear good woman who brought me up; so I shall undoubtedly be +disappointed and dissatisfied with the generality of those acquaintance +I may meet with; for I am afraid there are as few Mrs. Staffords in your +rank of life as there were Mrs. Careys in hers. However, there is no +great likelihood, I believe, at present, of my being convinced how +little they resemble you; for it is not probable I shall be taken from +hence.' + +'Perhaps,' answered Mrs. Stafford, 'you might be permitted to stay some +months next winter with me. I shall pass the whole of it in the country; +the greatest part of it probably alone; and such a companion would +assist in charming away many of those hours, which now, tho' I have more +resources than most people, sometimes are heavy and melancholy. My +children are not yet old enough to be my companions; and I know not how +it is, but I have often more pain than pleasure in being with them. When +I remember, or when I feel, how little happiness there is in the world, +I tremble for their future destiny; and in the excess of affection, +regret having introduced them into a scene of so much pain as I have +hitherto found it. But tell me, Emmeline, do you think if I apply to +Lord Montreville he will allow you to pass some time with me?' + +'Dear Madam,' said Emmeline, eagerly, 'what happiness do you offer me! +Lord Montreville would certainly think me highly honoured by such an +invitation.' + +'Shall I answer for Lord Montreville,' said a voice behind them, 'as his +immediate representative?' + +Emmeline started; and turning quickly, beheld Mr. Delamere and +Fitz-Edward. + +Delamere caught her hands in his. + +'Have I then found you, my lovely cousin?' cried he.--'Oh! happiness +unexpected!' + +He was proceeding with even more than his usual vehemence; but +Fitz-Edward thought it necessary to stop him. + +'You promised, Frederic, before I consented to come with you, that you +would desist from these extravagant flights. Come, I beg Miss Mowbray +may be permitted to speak to her other acquaintance; and that she will +do us both the honour to introduce us to her friend.' + +Emmeline had lost all courage and recollection on the appearance of +Delamere. Mrs. Stafford saw her distress; and assuming a cold and +distant manner, she said--'Miss Mowbray, I apprehend from what this +gentleman has said, that he has a message to you from Lord Montreville.' + +'Has my Lord, Sir,' said Emmeline to Delamere,--'has my Lord Montreville +been so good as to honour me with any commands?' + +'Cruel girl!' answered he; 'you know too well that my father is not +acquainted with my being here.' + +'Then you certainly ought not to be here,' said Emmeline, coolly; 'and +you must excuse me, Sir, if I beg the favor of you not to detain me, nor +attempt to renew a conversation so very improper, indeed so cruelly +injurious to me.' + +Mrs. Stafford had Emmeline's arm within her own, from the commencement +of this conversation; and she now walked hastily on with her. + +Delamere followed them, intreating to be heard; and Fitz-Edward, +addressing himself on the other side to Mrs. Stafford, besought her in a +half whisper to allow his friend only a few moments to explain himself +to Miss Mowbray. + +'No, Sir, I must be excused,' answered she--'If Miss Mowbray does me the +honour to consult me, I shall certainly advise her against committing +such an indiscretion as listening to Mr. Delamere.' + +'Ah! Madam!' said the colonel, throwing into his eyes and manner all +that insinuation of which he was so perfect a master, 'is it possible, +that with a countenance where softness and compassion seem to invite the +unhappy to trust you with their sorrows, you have a cruel and unfeeling +heart? Lay by for a moment your barbarous prudence, in favour of my +unfortunate friend; upon my honour, nothing but the conviction that his +life was at stake, would have induced me to accompany him hither; and I +pledge myself for the propriety of his conduct. He only begs to be +forgiven by Miss Mowbray for his improper treatment of her at Mowbray +Castle; to be assured she is in health and safety; and to hear that she +does not hate him for all the uneasiness he has given her; and having +done so, he promises to return to his family. Upon my soul,' continued +he, laying his hand upon his breast, 'I know not what would have been +the consequence, had I not consented to assist him in deceiving his +family and coming hither: but I have reason to think he would have made +some wild attempt to secure to himself more frequent interviews with +Miss Mowbray; and that a total disappointment of the project he had +formed for seeing her, would have been attended with a violence of +passion arising even to phrenzy.--Madness or death would perhaps have +been the event.' + +Mrs. Stafford turned her eyes on Fitz-Edward, with a look sufficiently +expressive of incredulity--'Does a modern man of fashion pretend to talk +of madness and death? You certainly imagine, Sir, that you are speaking +to some romantic inhabitant of a Welch provincial town, whose ideas are +drawn from a circulating library, and confirmed by the conversation of +the captain in quarters.' + +'Ah, madam,' said he, 'I know not to whom I have the honour of +addressing myself,' (though he knew perfectly well;) 'but I feel too +certainly that madness and death would be preferable to the misery such +coldness and cruelty as your's would inflict on me, was it my misfortune +to love as violently as Delamere; and indeed I tremble, lest in +endeavouring to assist my friend I have endangered myself.' + +Of this speech, Mrs. Stafford, who believed he did not know her, took +very little notice; and turning towards Emmeline, who had in the mean +time been listening in trembling apprehension to the ardent declarations +of Delamere, said it was time to return home. + +Delamere, without attending to her hint, renewed his importunities for +her friendship and interest with Miss Mowbray; to which, as soon as he +would allow her to answer, she said very gravely--'Sir, as Miss Mowbray +seems so much alarmed at your pursuing her hither, and as you must be +yourself sensible of it's extreme impropriety, I hope you will not +lengthen an interview which can only produce uneasiness for you both.' + +'Let us go home, for heaven's sake!' whispered Emmeline. + +'They are determined, you see, to follow us,' replied her friend; 'we +will however go.' + +By this time they were near the door; and Mrs. Stafford wishing the two +gentlemen a good morning, was hurrying with Emmeline into the house; but +Fitz-Edward took hold of her arm. + +'One word, only, madam, and we will intrude upon you no farther at +present: say that you will suffer us to see you again to-morrow.' + +'Not if I can help it, be assured, Sir.' + +'Then, madam,' said Delamere, 'you must allow me to finish now what I +have to say to Miss Mowbray.' + +'Good heaven! Sir,' exclaimed Emmeline, 'why will you thus persist in +distressing me? You are perhaps known to Mrs. Watkins; your name will be +at least known to her; and intelligence of your being here will be +instantly sent to Lord Montreville.' + +Emmeline, by no means aware that this speech implied a desire of +concealment, the motives of which might appear highly flattering to +Delamere, was soon made sensible of it's import by his answer. + +'Enough, my adorable Emmeline!' cried he eagerly, 'if I am worthy of a +thought of that sort, I am less wretched than I believed myself. I will +not now insist on a longer audience; but to-morrow I must see you +again.--Your amiable friend here will intercede for me.--I must not be +refused; and will wish you a good day before you can form so cruel a +resolution.' + +So saying, he bowed to Mrs. Stafford, kissed Emmeline's hand, and +departed with Fitz-Edward from the door. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +The two fair friends no sooner entered the house, than Emmeline threw +herself into a chair, and burst into tears. + +'Ah! my dear madam,' said she, sobbing, 'what will now become of me? +Lord Montreville will believe I have corresponded with his son; he will +withdraw all favour and confidence from me; and I shall be undone!' + +'Do not thus distress yourself,' said Mrs. Stafford, tenderly taking her +hand--'I hope the rash and cruel conduct of this young man will not have +the consequences you apprehend. Lord Montreville, from your former +conduct, will easily credit your not having encouraged this visit.' + +'Ah! my dear Mrs. Stafford,' replied Emmeline, 'you do not know Lord +Montreville. He hastily formed a notion that I made an appointment with +Mr. Delamere at Mowbray Castle, when I had not even seen him above once; +and though, from my eagerness to leave it, I believe he afterwards +thought he had been too hasty, yet so strong was that first impression, +that the slightest circumstance would, I know, renew it as forcibly as +ever: for he has one of those tempers, which having once entertained an +idea of a person's conduct or character, never really alters it, though +they see the most convincing evidence of it's fallacy. Having once +supposed I favoured the addresses of Mr. Delamere, as you know he did, +at Mowbray Castle, the present visit will convince him he was right, and +that I am the most artful as well as the most ungrateful of beings.' + +Mrs. Stafford hesitated a moment, and then said, 'I see all the evil you +apprehend. To convince Lord Montreville of your ignorance of Delamere's +design, and your total rejection of his clandestine addresses, suppose I +were to write to him? He must be prejudiced and uncandid indeed, if +after such information he is not convinced of your innocence.' + +To this proposal, Emmeline consented, with assurances of the liveliest +gratitude; and Mrs. Stafford returning to her lodgings, wrote the +following letter to Lord Montreville: + + + _Swansea, June 20._ + + 'My Lord, + + 'A short abode at this place, has given me the pleasure of knowing + Miss Mowbray, to whose worth and prudence I am happy to bear + testimony. At the request of this amiable young woman, I am now to + address your Lordship with information that Mr. Delamere came hither + yesterday with Mr. Fitz-Edward, and has again renewed those + addresses to Miss Mowbray which she knows to be so disagreeable to + your Lordship, and which cannot but be extremely prejudicial to her. + Circumstanced as she is at this place, she cannot entirely avoid + him; but she hopes your Lordship will be convinced how truly she + laments the pain this improper conduct of Mr. Delamere will give + you, and she loses not a moment in beseeching you to write to him, + or otherwise to interfere, in prevailing on him to quit Swansea; and + to prevent his continuing to distress her by a pursuit so unwelcome + to you, and so injurious to her honour and repose. + + I have the honour to be, + my Lord, + your Lordship's + most obedient servant, + C. STAFFORD.' + + +This letter being extremely approved of by Emmeline, was put into the +next day's post; and the two ladies set out for their walk at a very +early hour, flattering themselves they should return before Delamere and +Fitz-Edward (who was lately raised to the rank of lieutenant-colonel) +were abroad. But in this they deceived themselves. They were again +overtaken by their importunate pursuers, who had now agreed to vary the +mode of their attack. Fitz-Edward, who knew the power of his insidious +eloquence over the female heart, undertook to plead for his friend to +Emmeline, while Delamere was to try to interest Mrs. Stafford, and +engage her good offices in his behalf. + +They no sooner joined the ladies, than Delamere said to the +latter--'After the discouraging reception of yesterday, nothing but +being persuaded that your heart will refuse to confirm the rigour you +think yourself obliged to adopt, could make me venture, Madam, to +solicit your favour with Miss Mowbray. I now warmly implore it; and +surely'---- + +'Can you believe, Sir,' said Mrs. Stafford, interrupting him, 'that _I_ +shall ever influence Miss Mowbray to listen to you; knowing, as I do, +the aversion of your family to your entertaining any honourable views? +and having reason to believe you have yourself formed those that are +very different?' + +'You have no reason to believe so, Madam,' interrupted Delamere in his +turn; 'and must wilfully mistake me, as an excuse for your cold and +unkind manner of treating me. By heaven! I love Emmeline with a passion +as pure as it is violent; and if she would but consent to it, will marry +her in opposition to all the world. Assist me then, dear and amiable +Mrs. Stafford! assist me to conquer the unreasonable prejudice she has +conceived against a secret marriage!' + +'Never, Sir, will I counsel Miss Mowbray to accept such a proposal! +never will I advise her to unite herself with one whose family disdain +to receive her! and by clandestinely stealing into it, either disturb +it's peace, or undergo the humiliation of living the wife of a man who +dares not own her!' + +'And who, Madam, has said that I dare not own her? Does not the same +blood run in our veins? Is she not worthy, from her personal merit, of a +throne if I had a throne to offer her? And do you suppose I mean to +sacrifice the happiness of my whole life to the narrow policy or selfish +ambition of my father?' + +'Wait then, Sir, 'till time shall produce some alteration in your +favour. Emmeline is yet very young, too young indeed to marry. Perhaps, +when Lord and Lady Montreville are convinced that she only can make you +happy, they may consent to your union.' + +'You little know, Madam, the hopelessness of such an expectation. Were +it possible that any arguments, any motives could engage my father to +forego all the projects of aggrandizing his family by splendid and rich +alliances, my mother will, I know, ever be inexorable. She will not hear +the name of Emmeline. Last winter she incessantly persecuted me with +proposals of marriage, and is now bent upon persuading me to engage my +hand to Miss Otley, a relation of her own, who possesses indeed an +immense fortune, and is of rank; but who of all women living would make +me the most miserable. The fatigueing arguments I have heard about this +match, and the fruitless and incessant solicitude of my mother, convince +me I cannot, for both our sakes, too soon put an end to it.' + +Mrs. Stafford, notwithstanding the vehement plausibility of Delamere, +still declined giving to Emmeline such advice as he wished to engage her +to offer; and tho' aware of all the advantages such a marriage would +procure her friend, she would not influence her to a determination her +heart could not approve. + +While Delamere therefore was pleading vainly to her, Fitz-Edward was +exhausting in his discourse with Emmeline, all that rhetoric on behalf +of his friend, which had already succeeded so frequently for himself. +Tho' he had given way to Delamere's eagerness, and had accompanied him +in pursuit of Miss Mowbray, after a few feeble arguments against it, he +never intended to encourage him in his resolution of marrying her; which +he thought a boyish and romantic plan, and one, of which he would +probably be weary before it could be executed. But as it was a military +maxim, that in love and war all stratagems are allowable, he failed not +to lay as much stress on the honourable intentions of Delamere, as if he +had really meant to assist in carrying them into effect. + +Emmeline heard him in silence: or when an answer of some kind seemed to +be extorted from her, she told him that she referred herself entirely to +Mrs. Stafford, and would not even speak upon the subject but before her, +and as she should dictate. + +In this way several meetings passed between Delamere, the colonel, and +the two ladies; for unless the latter had wholly confined themselves, +there was no possible way of avoiding the importunate assiduity of the +gentlemen. Fitz-Edward had a servant who was an adept in such +commissions, and who was kept constantly on the watch; so that they were +traced and followed, in spite of all their endeavours to avoid it. + +Mrs. Stafford, however, persuaded Emmeline to be less uneasy at it, as +she assured her she would never leave her; and that there could be no +misrepresentation of her conduct while they were together. + +Every day they expected some consequence from Mrs. Stafford's letter to +Lord Montreville; but for ten days, though they had heard nothing, they +satisfied themselves with conjectures. + +Ten days more insensibly passed by; and they began to think it very +extraordinary that his Lordship should give no attention to an affair, +which only a few months before seemed to have occasioned him so much +serious alarm. + +In this interval, Delamere saw Emmeline every day; and Fitz-Edward, on +behalf of his friend's views, attached himself to Mrs. Stafford with an +attention as marked and as warm as that of Delamere towards Miss +Mowbray. + +He was well aware of the power a woman of her understanding must have +over an heart like Emmeline's; so new to the world, so ingenuous, and so +much inclined to indulge all the delicious enthusiasm of early +friendship. + +He had had a slight acquaintance with Mrs. Stafford when she was first +married; and knew enough of her husband to be informed of the source of +that dejection, which, through all her endeavours to conceal it, +frequently appeared; and having lived always among those who consider +attachments to married women as allowable gallantries, and having had +but too much success among them, Fitz-Edward thought he could take +advantage of Mrs. Stafford's situation, to entangle her in a connection +which would make her more indulgent to the weakness of her friend for +Delamere. + +But such was the awful, yet simple dignity of her manner, and so sacred +the purity of unaffected virtue, that he dared not hazard offending her; +while aware of the tendency of his flattering and incessant assiduity, +she was always watchful to prevent any diminution of the respect she had +a right to exact; and without affecting to shun his society, which was +extremely agreeable, she never suffered him to assume, in his +conversation with her, those freedoms which often made him admired by +others; nor allowed him to avow that libertinism of principle which she +lamented that he possessed. + +Fitz-Edward, who had at first undertaken to entertain her merely with a +view of favouring Delamere's conversation with Emmeline, almost +imperceptibly found that it had charms on his own account. He could not +be insensible of the graces of a mind so highly cultivated; and he felt +his admiration mingled with a reverence and esteem of which he had never +before been sensible: but his vanity was piqued at the coldness with +which she received his studied and delicate adulation; and, for the +first time in his life, he was obliged to acknowledge to himself, that +there might be a woman whose mind was superior to it's influence. + +Not being disposed very tranquilly to submit to this mortifying +conviction, he became more anxious to secure that partiality from Mrs. +Stafford, which, since he found it so hard to acquire, became necessary +to his happiness; and, in the hope of obtaining it, he would probably +long have persisted, had not his attention been soon afterwards diverted +to another object. + +It wanted only a few days of a month since Mrs. Stafford's letter was +dispatched to Lord Montreville. But the carelessness of the servant who +was left in charge of the house in Berkley-square was the only reason of +his not noticing it. + +Immediately after the birth-day, his Lordship had quitted London on a +visit to a nobleman in Buckinghamshire, whither his son had attended +him, and where they parted. Delamere, under pretence of seeing his +friend Percival, really went into Berkshire; and Lord Montreville, +having insisted on Delamere's joining him at the house of Lady Mary +Otley, beyond Durham, where Lady Montreville and her two daughters were +already gone, set out himself for that place, where they intended to +pass the months of July and August. He had many friends to visit on the +road; and when his Lordship arrived there, he found all his letters had, +instead of following him as he had directed, been sent immediately +thither; and instead of finding his son, or an account of his intended +arrival, he had the mortification of reading Mrs. Stafford's +information. + +Delamere had, indeed, passed a few days with Mr. Percival, and had +written to his father from thence; but he had also seen Headly, from +whom he had extorted the secret of Emmeline's residence. + +Fitz-Edward, to whose sister Mr. Percival was lately married, had joined +Delamere at the house of his brother-in-law: and Delamere persisting in +his resolution of seeing Emmeline, had, without much difficulty, +prevailed on Fitz-Edward, (who had some weeks on his hands before he was +to join his regiment in Ireland, and who had no aversion to any plan +that looked like an intrigue) to accompany him. + +They contrived to gain Mr. Percival: and Delamere, by inclosing letters +to him, which were forwarded to his father as if he had been still +there, imagined that he had prevented all probability of discovery. +Could he have persuaded Emmeline to a Scottish marriage, (which he very +firmly believed he should) he intended as soon as they were married, to +have taken her to the house of Lady Mary Otley, and to have presented +her to his father, his mother, his sisters, and Lady Mary and her +daughter, who were also his relations, as his wife. + +Lord Montreville, on reading Mrs. Stafford's letter, shut himself up in +his own apartment to consider what was to be done. + +He knew Delamere too well to believe that writing, or the agency of any +other person, would have on him the least effect. + +He was convinced therefore he must go himself; yet to return +immediately, without giving Lady Montreville some very good reason, was +impossible; nor could he think of any that would content her, but the +truth. Though he would very willingly have concealed from her what had +happened, he was obliged to send for her, and communicate to her the +intelligence received from Mrs. Stafford. + +Her Ladyship, whose pride was, if possible, more than adequate to her +high blood, and whose passions were as strong as her reason was feeble, +received this information with all those expressions of rage and +contempt which Lord Montreville had foreseen. + +Though the conduct of Emmeline was such as all her prejudice could not +misunderstand, she loaded her with harsh and injurious appellations, and +blamed his Lordship for having fostered a little reptile, who was now +likely to disgrace and ruin the family to which she pretended to belong. +She protested, that if Delamere dared to harbour so degrading an idea as +that of marrying her, she would blot him for ever from her affection, +and if possible from her memory. + +Lord Montreville was obliged to wait 'till the violence of her first +emotion had subsided, before he ventured to propose going himself to +recall Delamere. To this proposal, however, her Ladyship agreed; and +when she became a little cooler, consented readily to conceal, if +possible, from Lady Mary Otley, the reason of Lord Montreville's abrupt +departure, which was fixed for the next day; for the knowledge of it +could not have any good effect on the sentiments of Lady Mary and her +daughter; the former of whom was at present as anxious as Lady +Montreville for an union of their families. + +After some farther reflection, Lord Montreville thought that as Delamere +was extremely fond of his youngest sister, her influence might be of +great use in detaching him from his pursuit. It was therefore settled +that she should accompany his Lordship; making the most plausible story +they could, to account for a departure so unexpected; and leaving Lady +Montreville and Miss Delamere as pledges of their intended return, Lord +Montreville and his daughter Augusta set out post for London, in their +way to Swansea. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Emmeline had, for some days, complained of a slight indisposition; and +being somewhat better, had determined to walk out in the evening; but +having rather favoured and indulged her illness, as it gave her a +pretext for avoiding Delamere, whose long and vehement assiduities began +to give great uneasiness to both the ladies, she still answered to their +enquiries that she was too ill to leave her room, and in consequence of +this message, she and Mrs. Stafford, who came to sit with her, soon +afterwards saw the Colonel and Delamere ride by as if for their evening +airing. They kissed their hands as they passed; and as soon as the +ladies believed them quite out of sight, and had observed the way they +had gone, Emmeline, who had confined herself three days to her room, and +who languished for air, proposed a short walk the opposite way, to which +Mrs. Stafford consented; and as soon as the heat was a little abated, +they set out, and enjoyed a comfortable and quiet walk for near an hour; +from which they were returning, when they saw Delamere and Fitz-Edward +riding towards them. + +They dismounted, and giving their horses to their servants, joined them; +Delamere reproaching Emmeline for the artifice she had used, yet +congratulating himself on seeing her again. But his eyes eagerly running +over her person, betrayed his extreme anxiety and concern at observing +her pale and languid looks, and the lassitude of her whole frame. + +Fitz-Edward, in a whisper, made the same remarks on her appearance to +Mrs. Stafford; who answered, 'that if Mr. Delamere persisted in pursuing +her, she did not doubt but that it would end in her going into a +decline.' + +'Say rather,' answered Fitz-Edward artfully, 'that the interesting +languor on the charming countenance of your friend, arises from the +sensibility of her heart. She cannot surely see Delamere, dying for her +as he is, without feeling some disposition to answer a passion so ardent +and sincere: I know it is impossible she should. It is only your Stoic +prudence, your cold and unfeeling bosom, which can arm itself against +all the enthusiasm of love, all the tenderness of friendship. Miss +Mowbray's heart is made of softer materials; and were it not for the +inhuman reserve you have taught her, poor Delamere had long since met a +more suitable return to an attachment, of which, almost any other woman +would glory in being the object.' + +There was something in this speech particularly displeasing to Mrs. +Stafford; who answered, 'that he could not pay her a compliment more +gratifying, than when he told her she had been the means of saving Miss +Mowbray from indiscretion; though she was well convinced, that her own +excellent understanding, and purity of heart, made any monitor +unnecessary.' + +'However,' continued she, 'if you think that _my_ influence has +prevented her entering into all the wild projects of Mr. Delamere, +continue to believe, that while I am with her the same influence will +invariably be exerted to the same purpose.' + +Delamere and Emmeline, who were a few paces before them while this +dialogue was passing, were now met by Parkinson, the colonel's servant, +who addressing himself to Delamere, told him that Lord Montreville and +one of the young ladies were that moment alighted from their carriage at +the inn, and had sent to his lodgings to enquire for him. + +Mrs. Stafford advancing, heard the intelligence, and looked anxiously at +Emmeline, who turned paler than death at the thoughts of Lord +Montreville. + +Delamere was alternately red and pale. He hesitated, and tried to +flatter himself that Parkinson was mistaken; while Fitz-Edward, who +found he should be awkwardly situated between the father and son, +silently meditated his defence. + +Mrs. Stafford, who saw Emmeline ready to sink with the apprehension of +being seen walking with Delamere, intreated the gentlemen to leave them +and go to Lord Montreville; which she at length prevailed on them to do; +Delamere pressing Emmeline's hand to his lips, and protesting, with a +vehemence of manner particularly his own, that no power on earth should +oblige him to relinquish her. + +Mrs. Stafford got the trembling Emmeline home as well as she could; +where she endeavoured to strengthen her resolution and restore her +spirits, by representing to her the perfect rectitude with which she had +acted. + +But poor Delamere, who had no such consolatory reflections, felt very +uneasy, and would willingly have avoided the immediate explanation which +he saw must now take place with his father. + +He determined, however, to temporize no longer; but being absolutely +fixed in his resolution of marrying Emmeline, to tell his father so, and +to meet all the effects of his anger at once. + +In this disposition, he desired Fitz-Edward to leave him; and he entered +alone the parlour of the inn where Lord Montreville waited for him. His +countenance expressed a mixture of anger and confusion; while that of +his Lordship betrayed yet sterner symptoms of the state of his mind. + +Augusta Delamere, her eyes red with weeping, and her voice faultering +through agitation, arose, and met her brother half-way. + +'My dear brother!' said she, taking his hand. + +He kissed her cheek; and bowing to his father, sat down. + +'I have taken the trouble to come hither, Sir,' said Lord Montreville, +'in consequence of having received information of the wicked and +unworthy pursuit in which you have engaged. I command you, upon your +duty, instantly to return with me, and renounce for ever the scandalous +project of seducing an innocent young woman, whom _you_ ought rather to +respect and whom _I_ will protect.' + +'I intend ever to do both, Sir; and when she is my wife, you will be +released from the task of protecting her, and will only have to love her +as much as her merit deserves. Be assured, my Lord, I have no such +designs against the honour of Miss Mowbray as you impute to me. It is my +determined and unalterable intention to marry her. Would to God your +Lordship would conquer the unreasonable prejudice which you have +conceived against the only union which will secure the happiness of your +son, and endeavour to reconcile my mother to a marriage on which I am +resolved.' + +Having pronounced these words in a resolute tone, he arose from his +seat, bowed slightly to his father, and waving his hand to his sister, +as if to prevent her following him, he walked indignantly out of the +room. + +Lord Montreville made no effort to stop him. But the recollection of the +fatal indulgence with which he had been brought up recurred forcibly to +his Lordship's mind; and he felt his anger against his son half subdued +by the reproaches he had to make himself. The very sight of this darling +son, was so gratifying, that he almost forgot his errors when he beheld +him. + +After a moment's pause, Lord Montreville said to his daughter, 'You see, +Augusta, the disposition your brother is in. Violent measures will, I +fear, only make him desperate. We must try what can be done by Miss +Mowbray herself, who will undoubtedly consent to elude his pursuit, and +time may perhaps detach him from it entirely. For this purpose, I would +have _you_ see Emmeline to-morrow early; and having talked to her, we +can consider on what to determine. To night, try to recover your +fatigue.' + +'Let me go to night, Sir,' said his daughter.--'It is not yet more than +eight o'clock, and I am sensible of no fatigue that should prevent my +seeing the young lady immediately.' + +Lord Montreville assenting, Miss Delamere, attended by a servant, walked +to the house of Mrs. Watkins. + +The door was opened by the good woman herself; and on enquiry for Miss +Mowbray, she desired the lady to walk in, and sit down in her little +room, while she went up to let Miss know.--'For I can't tell,' said she, +(folding up a stocking she was knitting) 'whether she be well enough to +see a strange gentlewoman. She have been but poorly for this week; and +to night, after she came from walking, she was in such a taking, poor +thing, we thought she'd a had a fit; and so Madam Stafford, who is just +gone, bid her she should lie down a little and keep quiet.' + +This account, added to the disquiet of the fair mediatrix; who fancied +the heart of Emmeline could hardly fail of being of Delamere's party, +and that uneasiness at his father's arrival occasioned the agitation of +her spirits which Mrs. Watkins described. + +Mrs. Watkins returned immediately, saying that Miss Emmy would be down +in a moment. + +Emmeline instantly guessed who it was, by the description of the young +Lady and the livery of the servant who attended her: and now, with a +beating heart and uncertain step, she entered the room. + +Miss Delamere had been prepared to see a very beautiful person: but the +fair figure whom she now beheld, though less dazlingly handsome than she +expected, was yet more interesting and attractive than she would have +appeared in the highest bloom of luxuriant beauty. Her late illness had +robbed her cheeks of that tender bloom they usually boasted; timidity +and apprehension deprived her of much of the native dignity of her +manner; yet there was something in her face and deportment that +instantly prejudiced Miss Delamere in her favour, and made her +acknowledge that her brother's passion had at least personal charms for +it's excuse. + +A silent curtsey passed between the two ladies--and both being seated, +Miss Delamere began.-- + +'I believe, Miss Mowbray, you know that my father, Lord Montreville, in +consequence of a letter received from Mrs. Stafford, who is, he +understands, a friend of your's, arrived here this morning.' + +'The letter, madam, was written at my particular request; that my Lord +did not notice it sooner, has, believe me, given me great concern.' + +'I do sincerely believe it; and every body must applaud your conduct in +this affair. My father was, by accident, prevented receiving the letter +for some weeks: as soon as it reached him, we set out, and he has now +sent me to you, my dear cousin (for be assured I am delighted with the +relationship) to consult with you on what we ought to do.' + +Emmeline, consoled yet affected by this considerate speech, found +herself relieved by tears. + +'Though I am unable, madam,' said she, recovering herself, 'to advise, +be assured I am ready to do whatever you and Lord Montreville shall +dictate, to put an end to the projects your brother so perseveringly +attempts. Ah! Miss Delamere; my situation is singularly distressing. It +demands all your pity; all your father's protection!' + +'You have, you shall have both, my dear Emmeline! as well as our +admiration for your noble and heroic conduct; and I beg you will not, by +being thus uneasy, injure your health and depress your spirits.' + +This and many other consoling speeches, delivered in the persuasive +voice of friendly sympathy, almost restored Emmeline to her usual +composure; and after being together near an hour, Miss Delamere took her +leave, charmed with her new acquaintance, and convinced that she would +continue to act with the most exact obedience to the wishes of Lord +Montreville. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Lord Montreville, on hearing from his daughter what had passed between +her and Emmeline, was disposed to hope, that since she was so willing to +assist in terminating for ever the views of Delamere, they should be +able to prevail on him to relinquish them. + +While Miss Delamere was with Emmeline, his Lordship had himself waited +on Mrs. Stafford, to whom he thought himself obliged. + +He thanked her for the letter with which she had favoured him; and said, +'that having heard of the great regard with which she honoured Miss +Mowbray, he waited on her to beg her advice in the present difficult +circumstance. Since Mr. Delamere has pursued her hither,' said his +Lordship, 'she cannot remain here; but to find a situation that will be +proper for her, and concealed from him, I own appears so difficult, that +I know not on what to determine.' + +'My Lord,' answered Mrs. Stafford, 'I intended to have asked your +Lordship's permission to have been favoured with Miss Mowbray's company +for some months; and still hope to be indulged with it when I return +home. But could I go thither now, which I cannot, (my house not being in +a condition to receive me,) it would be impossible to prevent Mr. +Delamere's knowledge of her abode, if she was with me. But surely Mr. +Delamere will leave this place with you, and will not oblige Miss +Mowbray to quit her home to avoid him.' + +'Ah, madam!' answered Lord Montreville, 'you do not yet know my son. The +impetuosity of his temper, which has never been restrained, it is now +out of my power to check; whatever he determines on he will execute, and +I have too much reason to fear that opposition only serves to strengthen +his resolution. While Emmeline is here, it will be impossible to prevail +on him to quit the place: and though her behaviour has hitherto been +irreproachable and meritorious, how can I flatter myself that so young a +woman will continue steadily to refuse a marriage, which would not only +relieve her at once from the difficulties and dependance of her +situation, but raise her to an elevated rank, and a splendid fortune.' + +'To which,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'she would do honour. I do not, however, +presume to offer my opinion to your Lordship. You have, undoubtedly, +very strong reasons for your opposition to Mr. Delamere's wishes: and +his affluent fortune and future rank certainly give him a right to +expect both the one and the other in whoever he shall marry. But a more +lovely person, a better heart, a more pure and elegant mind, he will no +where meet with. Miss Mowbray will reflect as much credit as she can +borrow, on any family to which she may be allied.' + +'I acknowledge, madam, that Miss Mowbray is a very amiable young woman; +but she never can be the wife of my son; and you I am sure are too +considerate to give any encouragement to so impossible an idea.' + +After some farther conversation, Mrs. Stafford promised to endeavour to +recollect a proper situation for Miss Mowbray, where she might be +secured from the importunities of Delamere; and his Lordship took his +leave. + +By six o'clock the next morning, Delamere was at Mrs. Watkins's door; +and nobody being visible but the maid servant, he entered the parlour, +and told her he wanted to speak with Miss Mowbray; but would wait until +she arose. + +The maid told her mistress, who immediately descended; and Delamere, who +was known to her as a young Lord who was in love with Miss Emmy, was +courteously invited to her own parlour, and she offered to go up with +any message he should be pleased to send. + +He begged she would only say to Miss Mowbray that a gentleman desired to +speak to her on business of consequence. + +But the good woman, who thought she could do more justice to her +employer, told Emmeline, who was dressing herself, that 'the handsome +young Lord, as used to walk every night with her and Madam Stafford, was +below, and wanted to speak to her directly.' + +At this information, Emmeline was extremely alarmed. She considered +herself as particularly bound by what had passed the evening before +between her and Augusta Delamere, to avoid her brother; and such an +interview as he now demanded must have an appearance to Lord Montreville +of which she could not bear to think. She desired Mrs. Watkins, +therefore, to let the gentleman know that she was not well, and could +not see any body. + +'Why, Lord, Miss!' exclaimed the officious landlady, 'what can you mean +now by that? What! go for to refuse seeing such an handsome young man, +who is a Lord, and the like of that? I am sure it is so foolish, that I +shan't carry no such message.' + +'Send Betty with it then,' answered Emmeline coldly; 'let her inform the +gentleman I cannot be seen.' + +'Well,' said Mrs. Watkins, as she descended, 'it is strange nonsense, to +my fancy; but some folks never knows what they would be at.' + +She then returned to the parlour, and very reluctantly delivered the +answer to Mr. Delamere; who asked if Emmeline was really ill? + +'Ill,' said the complaisant hostess, 'I see nothing that ails her: last +night, indeed, she was in a desperate taking, and we had much ado to +hinder her from going into a fit; but to day I am sure she looks as if +she was as well as ever.' + +Delamere asked for a pen and ink, with which she immediately furnished +him; and as she officiously offered to get him some breakfast, he +accepted it to gain time. While it was preparing he sent up to Emmeline +the following note: + + + 'I came hither to entreat only one quarter of an hour's + conversation, which you cruelly deny me! You determine then, + Emmeline, to drive me to despair! + + 'You may certainly still refuse to see me; but you cannot oblige + me to quit this place, or to lose sight of your abode. My father + will, therefore, gain nothing by his ill-judged journey hither. + + 'But if you will allow me the interview I solicit, and after it + still continue to desire my absence, I will give you my promise to + go from hence to-morrow. + + F. DELAMERE.' + + +The maid was sent up with this billet to Emmeline; who, after a moment's +consideration, determined to send it to Miss Delamere, and to tell her, +in an envelope, how she was situated. + +Having enclosed it therefore, and desired the maid to go with it without +saying whither she was going, she bid her, as she went through the +house, deliver to Mr. Delamere another note, which was as follows: + + + 'Sir, + + 'Your request of an interview, I think myself obliged on every + account to refuse. I am extremely sorry you determine to persevere + in offering me proposals, to which, though they do me a very high + and undeserved honour, I never ought to listen; and excuse me if I + add, that I never will. + + EMMELINE MOWBRAY.' + + +Emmeline had not before so positively expressed her rejection of +Delamere's addresses. The peremptory stile, therefore, of this billet, +added to his extreme vexation at being overtaken by his father, and the +little hope that seemed to remain for him any way, operated altogether +on his rash and passionate disposition, and seemed to affect him with a +temporary phrenzy. He stamped about the room, dashed his head against +the wainscot, and seizing Mrs. Watkins by the arm, swore, with the most +frightful vehemence, that he would see Miss Mowbray though death were in +the way. + +The woman concluding he was mad, screamed out to her husband, who +descending from his chamber in astonishment, put himself between his +wife and the stranger, demanding his business? + +'Alack-a-day!' cried Mrs. Watkins, 'tis the young Lord. He is gone mad, +to be sure, for the love of Miss up stairs!' + +Emmeline, who in so small a house could not avoid hearing all that +passed, now thought it better to go down; for she knew enough of +Delamere to fear that the effects of his fit of passion might be very +serious; and was certain that nothing could be more improper than so +much confusion. + +She therefore descended the stairs, with trembling feet, and entered +Mrs. Watkins's parlour; where she saw Delamere, his eyes flashing fire +and his hands clenched, storming round the room, while Watkins followed +him, and bowing in his awkward way, 'begged his Honour would only please +to be pacified.' + +There was something so terrifying in the wild looks of the young man, +that Emmeline having only half opened the door, retreated again from it, +and was hastening away. But Delamere had seen her; and darting out after +her, caught her before she could escape out of the passage, and she was +compelled to return into the room with him; where, on condition of his +being more composed, she agreed to sit down and listen to him. + +Watkins and his wife having left the room, Delamere again renewed his +solicitations for a Scottish expedition. 'However averse,' said he, 'my +father and mother may at present be to our marriage, I know they will be +immediately reconciled when it is irrevocable. But if you continue to +harden your heart against me, of what advantage will it be to them? +Their ambition will still suffer; for I here swear by all that is +sacred, that then I never will marry at all; and by my dying without +posterity, their views will for ever be abortive, and their projects +disappointed.' + +To this, and every other argument Delamere used, Emmeline answered, +'that having determined never to accept of his hand, situated as she at +present was, nothing should induce her to break through a determination +which alone could secure her the approbation of her own heart.' + +He then asked her, 'whether, if the consent of Lord and Lady Montreville +could be obtained, she would continue averse to him?' + +This question she evaded, by saying, 'that it was to no purpose to +consider how she should act in an event so unlikely to happen.' + +He then again exerted all the eloquence which love rather than reason +lent him. But Emmeline combated his arguments with those of rectitude +and honour, by which she was resolutely bent to abide. + +This steadiness, originating from principles he could not controvert or +deny, seemed, while it shewed him all its hopelessness, to give new +force to his passion. He became again almost frantic, and was anew +acting the part of a madman, when Mrs. Stafford and Miss Delamere +entered the house, and enquiring for Miss Mowbray, were shewn into the +room where she was with Delamere; who, almost exhausted by the violence +of those emotions he had so boundlessly indulged, had now thrown himself +into a chair, with his head leaning against the wainscot; his hair was +dishevelled, his eyes swoln, and his countenance expressed so much +passionate sorrow, that Augusta Delamere, extremely shocked, feared to +speak to him; while Emmeline, on the opposite side of the room, sat with +her handkerchief to her eyes; and as soon as she saw Mrs. Stafford, she +threw herself into her arms and sobbed aloud. + +Delamere looked at Mrs. Stafford and his sister, but spoke to neither; +till Augusta approaching him, would have taken his hand; but he turned +from her. + +'Oh, Frederic!' cried she, 'I beseech you to consider the consequence of +all this.' + +'I consider nothing!' said he, starting up and going to the window. + +His sister followed him. + +'Go, go,' said he, turning angrily from her--'Go, leave me, leave me! +assist Lord Montreville to destroy his only son! go, and be a party in +the cruel policy that will make you and Fanny heiresses!' + +The poor girl, who really loved her brother better than any thing on +earth, was quite overwhelmed by this speech; and her tears now flowed as +fast as those of Emmeline, who continued to weep on the bosom of Mrs. +Stafford. + +Delamere looked at them both with a stern and angry countenance; then +suddenly catching his sister by the hand, which he eagerly grasped, he +said, in a low but resolute voice--'Tears, Augusta, are of no use. Do +not lament me, but try to help me. I am now going out for the whole day; +for I will not see my father only to repeat to him what I have already +said. Before I return, see what you can do towards persuading him to +consent to my marriage with Miss Mowbray; for be assured that if he does +not, the next meeting, in which I expect his answer, will be the last we +shall have.' + +He then snatched up his hat, and disengaging himself from his sister, +who attempted to detain him, he went hastily out of the house; leaving +Mrs. Stafford, Miss Mowbray, and his sister, under great uneasiness and +alarm. + +They thought it necessary immediately to inform Lord Montreville of the +whole conversation, and Miss Delamere dispatched a note to Fitz-Edward, +desiring him to attend to the motions of his friend. + +Fitz-Edward was at breakfast with Lord Montreville; who took the first +opportunity of their being alone, to reproach him with some severity for +what he had done. + +The Colonel heard him with great serenity; and then began to justify +himself, by assuring his Lordship that he had accompanied Delamere only +in hopes of being able to detach him from his pursuit, and because he +thought it preferable to his being left wholly to himself. He declared +that he meant to have given Lord Montreville information, if there had +appeared the least probability of Delamere's marriage; but that being +perfectly convinced, from the character of Emmeline, that there was +nothing to apprehend, he had every day hoped his friend would have +quitted a project in which there seemed not the least likelihood of +success, and would have returned to his family cured of his passion. + +Though this was not all strictly true, Fitz-Edward possessed a sort of +plausible and insinuating eloquence, which hardly ever failed of +removing every impression, however strong, against him; and Lord +Montreville was conversing with him with his usual confidence and +friendship, when the note from Miss Delamere was brought in. + +His Lordship, ever anxious for his son, gazed eagerly at it while +Fitz-Edward read it; and trembling, asked from whom it came? + +Fitz-Edward put it into his hand; and having ran it over in breathless +terror, his Lordship hurried out, directing all his servants to go +several ways in search of Delamere; while he entreated Fitz-Edward to +run to whatever place he was likely to be in; and went himself to Mrs. +Stafford's lodging, who was by this time returned home. + +What he heard from her of the scene of the morning, contributed to +encrease his alarm. The image of his son in all the wildness of +ungovernable passion, shook his nerves so much, that he seemed ready to +faint, yet unable to move to enquire where he was. As he could attend to +nothing else, Mrs. Stafford told him how anxiously she had thought of a +situation for Emmeline, and that she believed she had at length found +one that would do, 'if,' said she, 'your Lordship cannot prevail on him +to quit Swansea, which I think you had better attempt, though from the +scene of this morning I own I despair of it more than ever. + +'The person with whom I hope to be able to place Miss Mowbray is Mrs. +Ashwood, the sister of Mr. Stafford. She has been two years a widow, +with three children, and resides at a village near London. She has a +very good fortune; and would be happy to have with her such a companion +as Miss Mowbray, 'till I am so fortunate as to be enabled to take her +myself. As her connections and acquaintance lie in a different set of +people, and in a remote part of the country from those of Mr. Delamere, +it is improbable, that with the precaution we shall take, he will ever +discover her residence.' + +Lord Montreville expressed his sense of Mrs. Stafford's kindness in the +warmest terms. He assured her that he should never forget the friendly +part she had taken, and that if ever it was in his power to shew his +gratitude by being so happy as to have the ability to serve her or her +family, he should consider it as the most fortunate event of his life. + +Mrs. Stafford heard this as matter of course; and would have felt great +compassion for Lord Montreville, whose state of mind was truly +deplorable, but she reflected that he had really been the author of his +own misery: first, by bringing up his son in a manner that had given +such boundless scope to his passions; and now, by refusing to gratify +him in marrying a young woman, who was, in the eye of unprejudiced +reason, so perfectly unexceptionable. She advised him to try once more +to prevail on his son to leave Swansea with him; and he left her to +enquire whether Fitz-Edward had yet found Delamere, whose absence gave +him the most cruel uneasiness. + +Fitz-Edward, after a long search, had overtaken Delamere on an +unfrequented common, about a mile from the town, where he was walking +with a quick pace; and seeing Fitz-Edward, endeavoured to escape him. +But when he found he could not avoid him, he turned fiercely towards +him--'Why do you follow me, Sir? Is it not enough that you have broken +through the ties of honour and friendship in betraying me to my father? +must you still persecute me with your insidious friendship?' + +Fitz-Edward heard him with great coolness; and without much difficulty +convinced him that Miss Mowbray herself had given the information to +Lord Montreville by means of Mrs. Stafford. + +This conviction, while it added to the pain and mortification of +Delamere, greatly reconciled him to Fitz-Edward, whom he had before +suspected; and after a long conversation, which Fitz-Edward so managed +as to regain some degree of power over the passions of his impetuous +friend, he persuaded him to go and dine with Lord Montreville; having +first undertaken for his Lordship that nothing should be said on the +subject which occupied the thoughts of the father; on which condition +only the son consented to meet him. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Notwithstanding the steadiness Emmeline had hitherto shewn in rejecting +the clandestine addresses of Delamere, he still hoped they would +succeed. A degree of vanity, pardonable in a young man possessing so +many advantages of person and fortune, made him trust to those +advantages, and to his unwearied assiduity, to conquer her reluctance. +He determined therefore to persevere; and did not imagine it was likely +he could again lose sight of her by a stratagem, against which he was +now on his guard. + +As he fancied Lord Montreville and his sister designed to carry her with +them when they went, he kept a constant eye on their motions, and set +his own servant, and Fitz-Edward's valet, to watch the servants of Lord +Montreville. + +Fitz-Edward, who had been so near losing the confidence of both the +father and son, found it expedient to observe a neutrality, which it +required all his address to support; being constantly appealed to by +them both. + +Lord Montreville, he advised to adhere to moderate measures and gentle +persuasions, and to trust to Emmeline's own strength of mind and good +conduct; while to Delamere he recommended dissimulation; and advised him +to quit Swansea at present, which would prevent Emmeline's being removed +from thence, and leave it in his power at any time to see her again. + +Lord Montreville, on cooler reflection, was by no means satisfied with +Fitz-Edward. To encourage his son's project, and even to accompany him +in it, in the vain hope of detaching him from Emmeline before an +irrevocable engagement could be formed, seemed to be at least very +blameable; and if he had seen the connection likely to take place on a +less honourable footing, his conduct was more immoral, if not so +impolitic. + +Either way, Lord Montreville felt it so displeasing, that he determined +not to trust Fitz-Edward in what he now meditated, which was, to remove +Emmeline from Swansea before he and his daughter quitted it, and to +place her with the sister of Mr. Stafford; who being now arrived, had +engaged to obtain his sister's concurrence with their plan. + +A female council therefore was held on the means of Emmeline's removal; +and it was settled that a post-chaise should, on the night fixed, be in +waiting at the distance of half a mile from the town; where Emmeline +should meet it; and that a servant of Mr. Stafford should accompany her +to London, who was from thence to return to his master's house in +Dorsetshire. + +This arrangement being made three days after the arrival of Lord +Montreville, and his faithful old valet being employed to procure the +chaise, the hour arrived when poor Emmeline was again to abandon her +little home, where she had passed many tranquil and some delightful +days; and where she was to bid adieu to her two beloved friends, +uncertain when she should see them again. + +Her friendship for Mrs. Stafford was enlivened by the warmest gratitude. +To her she owed the acquisition of much useful knowledge, as well as +instruction in those elegant accomplishments to which she was naturally +so much attached, but which she had no former opportunity of acquiring. +The charms of her conversation, the purity of her heart, and the +softness of her temper, made her altogether a character which could not +be known without being beloved; and Emmeline, whose heart was open to +all the enchanting impressions of early friendship, loved her with the +truest affection. The little she had seen of Augusta Delamere, had given +that young lady the second place in her heart. They were of the same +age, within a few weeks. Augusta Delamere extremely resembled the +Mowbray family: and there was, in figure and voice, a very striking +similitude between her and Emmeline Mowbray. + +Lady Montreville, passionately attached to her son, as the heir and +representative of her family, and partial to her eldest daughter for her +great resemblance to herself, seemed on them to have exhausted all her +maternal tenderness, and to have felt for Augusta but a very inferior +share of affection. + +Of the haughty and supercilious manners which made Lady Montreville +feared and disliked, she had communicated no portion to her younger +daughter; and if she had acquired something of the family pride, her +good sense, and the sweetness of her temper, had so much corrected it, +that it was by no means displeasing. + +Elegantly formed as she was, and with a face, which, tho' less fair than +that of Emmeline was almost as interesting, her mother had yet always +expressed a disapprobation of her person; and she had therefore herself +conceived an indifferent opinion of it; and being taught to consider +herself inferior in every thing to her elder sister, she never fancied +she was superior to others; nor, though highly accomplished, and +particularly skilled in music, did she ever obtrude her acquisitions on +her friends, or anxiously seek opportunities of displaying them. + +Her heart was benevolent and tender; and her affection for her brother, +the first of it's passions. She could never discover that he had a +fault; and the error in regard to Emmeline, which his father so much +dreaded, appeared to his sister a virtue. + +She was deeply read in novels, (almost the only reading that young women +of fashion are taught to engage in;) and having from them acquired many +of her ideas, she imagined that Delamere and Emmeline were born for each +other; though she dared not appear to encourage hopes so totally +opposite to those of her family, she found, after she had once seen and +conversed with Emmeline, that she never could warmly oppose an union +which she was convinced would make her brother happy. + +She fancied that Emmeline could not be insensible to Delamere's love; +she even believed she saw many symptoms of regard for him in her manner, +and that she made the most heroic sacrifice of her love to her duty, +when she resigned him: a sacrifice which heightened, almost to +enthusiasm, the pity and esteem felt for her by Augusta Delamere; and +though they had known each other only a few days, a sisterly affection +had taken place between them. + +But from these two friends, so tenderly and justly beloved, Emmeline was +now to depart, and to be thrown among strangers, where it was improbable +she would meet with any who would supply the loss of them. Her duty +however demanded this painful effort; and she determined to execute it +with courage and resolution. + +Delamere was so perpetually about his father, that it was judged +improper for him to hold any private conference with Emmeline, lest +something should be suspected. + +His Lordship therefore sent her by Mrs. Stafford a bank note of fifty +pounds; with his thanks for the propriety of her conduct, and an +assurance, that while she continued to merit his protection, he should +consider her as his daughter, and take care to supply her with money, +and every thing else she might wish for. He desired she would not write; +lest her hand should be known, and her abode traced; but said, that in a +few weeks he would see her himself, and wished her all possible health +and happiness. + +On the night of her departure, instead of retiring to rest at the usual +hour, Emmeline dressed herself in a travelling dress, and passed some +melancholy hours waiting for the signal of her departure. + +At half past two in the morning, every thing being profoundly quiet, she +saw, from her window, her two friends, who had declared they would not +leave her 'till they saw her in the chaise. + +She took with her only a small parcel of linen, Mrs. Stafford having +engaged to forward the rest to an address agreed upon; and softly +descending the stairs for fear of alarming Mrs. Watkins, she opened the +door; and each of her friends taking an arm, they passed over two +fields, into a lane where the chaise was waiting with the servant who +was to go with her. + +The tears had streamed from her eyes during the little walk, and she was +unable to speak. The servant now opened the chaise door and let down the +step; and Emmeline kissing the hand of Mrs. Stafford, and then that of +Augusta Delamere, went hastily into it--'God bless you both!' said she, +in a faint and inarticulate voice. The servant shut the door, mounted a +post horse, and the chaise was in an instant out of sight; while the two +ladies, who at any other time would have been alarmed at being obliged +to take so late a walk, thought not of themselves; but full of concern +for poor Emmeline, went back in tears; and Miss Delamere, who had agreed +to remain the rest of that night at the lodgings of Mrs. Stafford, +retired not to rest, but to weep for the departure of her friend and the +distress of her brother. + +Emmeline, thus separated from every body she loved, pursued her journey +melancholy and repining. + +The first hour, she wept bitterly, and accused her destiny of caprice +and cruelty. But tho' to the unfortunate passion of Delamere she owed +all the inconvenience she had lately experienced, she could not resolve +to hate him; but found a degree of pity and regard perpetually mingled +itself with his idea in her heart. Yet she was not in love; and had +rather the friendship of a sister for him than any wish to be his wife. + +Had there been no impediments to their union, she would have married +him, rather to make him happy than because she thought it would make +herself so; but she would have seen him married to another, and have +rejoiced at it, if he had found felicity. + +An attachment like his, which had resisted long absence, and was +undiminished by insuperable difficulties, could hardly fail of having +it's effect on the tender and susceptible mind of Emmeline. But whatever +affection she felt, it by no means arose to what a romantic girl would +have perhaps fancied it; and she was much more unhappy at quitting the +dear Augusta than at the uncertainty she was in whether she should ever +again see Delamere. + +The parting was extremely embittered by the prohibition she had received +in regard to writing to her. But painful as it was, she determined to +forbear; and steadily to adhere to that line of duty, however difficult +to practice, that only could secure the peace of her mind, by the +acquittal of her conscience; which, as she had learned from Mrs. +Stafford, as well as from her own experience, short as it was, could +alone support her in every trial to which she might be exposed. + +She reflected on her present situation, compared to what it would have +been had she been prevailed upon to become the wife of Delamere against +the consent of his family. + +Splendid as his fortune was, and high as his rank would raise her above +her present lot of life, she thought that neither would reconcile her to +the painful circumstance of carrying uneasiness and contention into his +family; of being thrown from them with contempt, as the disgrace of +their rank and the ruin of their hopes; and of living in perpetual +apprehension lest the subsiding fondness of her husband should render +her the object of his repentance and regret. + +The regard she was sensible of for Delamere did not make her blind to +his faults; and she saw, with pain, that the ungovernable violence of +his temper frequently obscured all his good qualities, and gave his +character an appearance of ferocity, which offered no very flattering +prospect to whosoever should be his wife. + +By thus reasoning with herself, she soon became more calm, and more +reconciled to that destiny which seemed not to design her for Delamere. + +She met with no remarkable occurrence in her journey; and on the evening +of the third day arrived in town; where the servant who attended her was +ordered to dismiss the chaise, and to procure her an hackney coach, in +which she proceeded to the house of Mrs. Ashwood. + +This residence, situated in a populous village three miles from London, +bore the appearance of wealth and prosperity. The iron gate, which gave +entrance into a large court, was opened by a servant in a laced livery, +to whom Emmeline delivered the letter she had brought from Mrs. +Stafford, and after a moment's waiting the lady herself came out to +receive her. + +Emmeline, by the splendour of her dress, concluded she had left a large +company: but being ushered into a parlour, found she had been drinking +tea alone; of which, or of any other refreshment, Miss Mowbray was +desired to partake. + +Her reception of her visitor was perfectly cordial; and Emmeline soon +recovering her easy and composed manner, Mrs. Ashwood seemed very much +pleased with her guest; for there was in her countenance a passport to +all hearts. + +Mrs. Ashwood, tho' not in the bloom of life, and tho' she never had been +handsome, was so unconscious of her personal disadvantages, that she +imagined herself the object of admiration of one sex and of the +imitation of the other. With the most perfect reliance on the graces of +a figure which never struck any other person as being at all remarkable, +she dressed with an exuberance of expence; and kept all the company her +neighbourhood afforded. + +Where her ruling passions, (the love of admiration and excessive vanity) +did not interfere, she was sometimes generous and sometimes friendly. +But her ideas of her own perfections, both of person and mind, far +exceeding the truth, she had often the mortification to find that others +by no means thought of them as she did; and then her good humour was far +from invincible. + +Though Emmeline soon found her conversation very inferior to what she +had of late been accustomed to, she thought herself fortunate in having +found an asylum, the mistress of which seemed desirous of making it +agreeable; and to which she was introduced by the kindness of her +beloved Mrs. Stafford. + +But while serenity was returning to the bosom of Emmeline, that of poor +Delamere was torn with the cruellest tempest. The morning after +Emmeline's departure, Delamere, who expected no such thing, arose at his +usual hour and rode out alone, as he had frequently done. As he passed +her window, he looked up to it, and seeing it open, concluded she was in +her room. + +On his return, his father met him, and asked him to breakfast; but he +designed to attend the tea-table of Mrs. Stafford, where he thought he +should meet Emmeline, and therefore excused himself; and Lord +Montreville, who wished the discovery to be delayed to as late an hour +of the day as possible, let him go thither, where he breakfasted; and +then proposed a walk to Mrs. Stafford, which he hoped would include a +visit to Emmeline, or at least that Mrs. Stafford would not walk without +her. She excused herself, however, on pretence of having letters to +write; and Delamere went in search of Fitz-Edward, whom he could not +find. + +It was now noon, and he grew impatient at not having had even a glimpse +of Emmeline the whole morning, when he met Fitz-Edward's man, and asked +him hastily where his master was? + +The man hesitated, and looked as if he had a secret which he contained +with some uneasiness. 'Sir,' said he, 'have you seen Miss Mowbray +to-day?' + +'No--why do you ask?' + +'Because, Sir,' said the fellow, 'I shrewdly suspect that she went away +from here last night. I can't tell your Honour why I thinks so; but you +may soon know the truth on't.' + +The ardent imagination of Delamere instantly caught fire. He took it for +granted that Fitz-Edward had carried her off: and without staying to +reflect a moment, he flew to the inn where his horses were, and ordered +them to be saddled; then rushing into the room where his father and +sister were sitting together, he exclaimed--'she is gone, Sir--Emmeline +is gone!--but I will soon overtake her; and the infamous villain who has +torn her from me!' + +Lord Montreville scorned to dissimulate. He answered, 'I know she is +gone, and it was by my directions she went. You cannot overtake her; nor +is it probable you will ever see her again. Endeavour therefore to +recollect yourself, and do not forget what you owe to your family and +yourself.' + +Delamere attended but little to this remonstrance; but still +prepossessed with the idea of Fitz-Edward's being gone with her, he +swore perpetual vengeance against him, and that he would pursue him +through the world. + +With this resolution on his lips, and fury in his eyes, he quitted his +father's apartment, and at the door met Fitz-Edward himself, coming to +enquire after him. + +He was somewhat ashamed of the hasty conclusion he had made, and was +therefore more disposed to hear what Fitz-Edward had to say, who +presently convinced him that he was entirely ignorant of the flight of +Emmeline. + +Delamere now insisted, that as a proof of his friendship he would +instantly set out with him in pursuit of her. + +Fitz-Edward knew not what to do; but however seemed to consent; and +saying he would order his servant to get his horse, left him, and went +to Lord Montreville, to whom he represented the impracticability of +stopping Delamere. + +His Lordship, almost certain that Emmeline was out of the possibility of +his overtaking her, as she had now been gone thirteen hours, thought it +better for Fitz-Edward, if he could not prevent his departure, to go +with him: but he desired him to make as many artificial delays as +possible. + +Delamere, in the mean time, had been to Mrs. Stafford, and tried to +force from her the secret of Emmeline's route. But she was inexorable; +and proof against his phrenzy as well as his persuasion. She held him, +however, as long as she could, in discourse. But when he found she only +tried to make him lose time, he left her, in an agony of passion, and +mounting his horse, while his trembling servants were ordered to follow +him on pain of instant dismission, he rode out of the town without +seeing his father, leaving a message for Fitz-Edward that he had taken +the London road, and expected he would come after him instantly. + +Lord Montreville intreated Fitz-Edward to lose not a moment; and bidding +an hasty adieu to his Lordship, he ordered his horses to the door of +Mrs. Stafford, where he took a formal leave of her and her husband, +entreating permission to renew his acquaintance hereafter. Then getting +on horseback, he made as much speed as possible after Delamere; whom +with difficulty he overtook some miles forward on the London road. + +This way Delamere had taken on conjecture only; but after proceeding +some time, he had met a waggoner, whom he questioned. The man told him +of a post chaise he had met at four o'clock in the morning; and +encouraged by that to proceed, he soon heard from others enough to make +him believe he was right. + +The horses, however, at the end of forty miles, were too much fatigued +to keep pace with Delamere's impatience. He was obliged to wait three +hours before post horses could be found for himself and Fitz-Edward. His +servants were obliged to remain yet longer; and the horses which were +at length procured, were so lame and inadequate to the journey, that it +was six hours before they reached the next stage; where the same +difficulty occurred; and Delamere, between the fatigue of his body and +anxiety of his mind, found himself compelled to take some rest. + +The next day he still traced Emmeline from stage to stage, and imagined +himself very near her: but the miserable horse on which he rode, being +unable to execute his wish as to speed, and urged beyond his strength, +fell with him in a stage about sixty miles from London; by which +accident he received a contusion on his breast, and was bruised so much +that Fitz-Edward insisted on his being blooded and put to bed; and then +went to the apothecary of the village near which the accident happened, +and procuring a phial of laudanum, infused it into the wine and water +which Delamere drank, and by that artifice obtained for him the repose +he otherwise would not have been prevailed on to take. + +After having slept several hours, he desired to pursue his journey in a +post chaise; but Fitz-Edward had taken care that none should be +immediately to be had. By these delays only it was that Emmeline reached +London some hours before him. + +However, when he renewed his journey, he still continued to trace her +from stage to stage, till the last postillion who drove her was found. + +He said, that he was ordered to stop at the first stand of coaches, into +one of which the lady went, and, with the servant behind, drove away; +but the lad neither knew the number of the coach, or recollected the +coachman, or did he remember whither the coach was ordered to go. + +Delamere passed two days, questioning all the coachmen on the stand; and +in consequence of information pretended to be given by some of them, he +got into two or three quarrels by going to houses they pointed out to +him. And after offering and giving rewards which only seemed to redouble +his difficulties, he appeared to be farther than ever from any +probability of finding the fair fugitive he so anxiously sought. + +Lord Montreville and his daughter staid only two days at Swansea after +his departure. They travelled in very indifferent spirits to London; +where they found Delamere ill at the lodgings of Fitz-Edward in +Hill-street. + +Lord Montreville found there was nothing alarming in his son's +indisposition; but could not persuade him to accompany him to Lady Mary +Otley's. + +His Lordship and Miss Augusta Delamere set out therefore for that place; +leaving Delamere to the care of Fitz-Edward, who promised not to quit +him 'till he had agreed either to go to the Norfolk estate or to Mr. +Percival's. + +Lord Montreville was tolerably satisfied that he could not discover +Emmeline; and Delamere having for above a fortnight attended at all +public places without seeing her, and having found every other effort to +meet her fruitless, reluctantly agreed to go to his father's estate in +Norfolk. + +It was now almost the end of August; and Fitz-Edward, after seeing him +part of the way, took his leave of him, and again went to attend his +duty in the North of Ireland. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +While Delamere, in the deepest despondence, which he could neither +conquer or conceal, made a vain effort to divert his mind with those +amusements for which he no longer had any relish, Emmeline, at her new +residence, attracted the attention of many of Mrs. Ashwood's visitors. + +A widow, in possession of an handsome jointure, and her children amply +provided for, Mrs. Ashwood was believed to entertain no aversion to a +second marriage: and her house being so near London, was frequented by a +great number of single men; many of whom came there because it was a +pleasant jaunt from the city, where most of them resided; and others, +with hopes of amending their fortunes by an alliance with the lady +herself. + +These latter, however, were chiefly the younger sons of merchants; and +though pleased with their flattery and assiduity, Mrs. Ashwood, who had +an almost equal share of vanity and ambition, had yet given no very +decided preference to any; for she imagined her personal attractions, of +which she had a very high idea, added to the advantages of a good +income, good expectations, and opulent connections, entitled her to +marry into an higher line of life than that in which her father had +first engaged her. + +Her acquaintance, however, was yet very limited among persons of +fashion; and it was not wholly without hopes of encreasing it that she +had consented to receive Miss Mowbray, whose relationship to Lord +Montreville would, she imagined, be the means of introducing her to his +Lordship's notice and to that of his family. + +Her civility and kindness to Emmeline were unbounded for some time. And +as she was not easily convinced of her own want of beauty, she never +apprehended that she ran some risk of becoming a foil, instead of the +first figure, as she expected generally to be. + +The extreme simplicity of Emmeline's appearance, who notwithstanding the +remonstrances of Mrs. Ashwood continued to dress nearly as she did in +Wales; and her perfect ignorance of fashionable life and fashionable +accomplishments, gave her, in the eyes of many of Mrs. Ashwood's +visitors, the air of a dependant; and those who visited with a view to +the fortune of the latter, carefully avoided every appearance of +preference to Emmeline, and kept her friend in good humour with herself. + +But there were, among those who frequented her house, some men of +business; who being rather in middle life, and immensely rich, had no +other views in going thither than to pass a few hours in the country, +when their mercantile engagements prevented their leaving London +entirely; and who loved pleasure better than any thing but money. + +With one or two of these, Mrs. Ashwood and her father had at different +times encouraged overtures of marriage. But they knew and enjoyed the +pleasure their fortune and single state afforded them too well to give +those indulgences up for the advantage of increasing their incomes, +unless the object had possessed greater attractions than fell to the +share of Mrs. Ashwood; and her father could not be prevailed upon to +give her (at least while he lived) a sum of money large enough to tempt +their avarice. These overtures therefore had ended in nothing more than +an intercourse of civility. + +But Emmeline no sooner appeared, than one of these gentlemen renewed his +visits with more than his original assiduity. + +The extreme beauty of her person, and the _naivetè_ of her manners, gave +her, to him, the attractive charms of novelty; while the mystery there +seemed to be about her, piqued his curiosity. + +It was known that she was related to a noble family; but Mrs. Ashwood +had been so earnestly entreated to conceal as much as possible her real +history, lest Delamere should hear of and discover her, that she only +told it to a few friends, and it had not yet reached the knowledge of +Mr. Rochely, who had become the attendant of Mrs. Ashwood's tea table +from the first introduction of Emmeline. + +Mr. Rochely was nearer fifty than forty. His person, heavy and badly +proportioned, was not relieved by his countenance, which was dull and +ill-formed. His voice, monotonous and guttural, was fatiguing to the +ear; and the singularity of his manners, as well as the oddness of his +figure, often excited a degree of ridicule, which the respect his riches +demanded could not always stifle. + +With a person so ill calculated to inspire affection, he was very +desirous of being a favourite with the ladies; and extremely sensible of +their attractions. In the inferior ranks of life, his money had procured +him many conquests, tho' he was by no means lavish of it; and much of +the early part of his time had been passed in low amours; which did not, +however, impede his progress to the great wealth he possessed. He had +always intended to marry: but as he required many qualifications in a +wife which are hardly ever united, he had hesitated till he had long +been looked upon as an old bachelor. + +He was determined to chuse beauty, but expected also fortune. He desired +to marry a woman of family, yet feared the expensive turn of those +brought up in high life; and had a great veneration for wit and +accomplishments, but dreaded, lest in marrying a woman who possessed +them, he should be liable to be governed by superior abilities, or be +despised for the mediocrity of his own understanding. + +With such ideas, his relations saw him perpetually pursuing some +matrimonial project; but so easily frightened from his pursuit, that +they relied on his succession with the most perfect confidence. + +When first he beheld Emmeline, he was charmed with her person; her +conversation, at once innocent and lively, impressed him with the most +favourable ideas of her heart and understanding; and, brought up at a +great distance from London, she had acquired no taste for expences, no +rage for those amusements and dissipations which he so much apprehended +in a wife. + +When he came to Mrs. Ashwood's, (which was almost every afternoon) +Emmeline, who was generally at work, or drawing in the dressing-room, +never discomposed herself; but sat quietly to what she was doing; +listening with the most patient complaisance to the long and +uninteresting stories with which he endeavoured to entertain her; an +attention which greatly contributed to win the heart of Rochely; and he +was as much in love as so prudent a man could be, before he ventured to +ask himself what he intended? or what was the family and what the +fortune of the person who now occupied most of his time and a great +portion of his thoughts? + +Mrs. Ashwood, frequently engaged at the neighbouring card-tables, from +which Emmeline almost always excused herself, often left her and Mr. +Rochely to drink tea together; and when she was at home, would sometimes +make her party in another room, where the subject of laughter with her +own admirers, was the growing passion of the rich banker for the fair +stranger. + +Emmeline did not, when present, escape ridicule on this subject: but as +she had not the least idea that a man so much older than herself had any +intention of offering himself as an husband, she bore it with great +tranquillity, and continued to behave to Mr. Rochely with the attentive +civility dictated by natural good breeding; while she heard, without any +concern but on his account, the perpetual mirth and loud bursts of +laughter which followed his compliments and attentions to her. + +If he was absent a few days, the door of Mrs. Ashwood was crouded with +servants and porters with game from Mr. Rochely. And his assiduities +became at every visit more marked. + +As it was now late in the autumn, Mrs. Ashwood was desirous of shewing +Miss Mowbray some of those public places she had not yet seen; and +Emmeline (not apprehending there was any reason to fear meeting Mr. +Delamere at a season when she knew field sports kept him altogether in +the country) made no difficulty to accompany her. + +Mr. Rochely no sooner heard a party to the play proposed, than he +desired to join it; and Mrs. Ashwood, Miss Galton, (an intimate friend +of her's), with Miss Mowbray, Mr. Hanbury, (one of Mrs. Ashwood's +admirers), and Mr. Rochely, met at Drury-Lane Theatre; where Emmeline +was extremely well entertained. + +When the play was over, the box was filled with several of Mrs. +Ashwood's acquaintance, who talked to _her_, while their eyes were fixed +on her young friend; an observation that did not greatly lighten up her +countenance. + +The most conspicuous among these was a tall, thin, but extremely awkward +figure, which in a most fashionable undress, and with a glass held to +his eye, strided into the box, and bowing with a strange gesture to Mrs. +Ashwood, exclaimed--'Oh! my dear Mrs. A!--here I am!--returned from Spa +only last night; and already at your feet. So here you are? and not yet +enchained by that villainous fellow Hymen? You are a good soul, not to +give yourself away while I was at Spa. I was horridly afraid, my dear +widow! you would not have waited even to have given me a wedding +favour.' + +To this speech, as it required no answer, Mrs. Ashwood gave very little; +for besides that she was not pleased with the matter, the manner +delighted her still less. The speaker had, during the whole of it, +leaned almost across the person who was next to him, to bring his glass +nearly close to Emmeline's face. + +Emmeline, extremely discomposed, drew back; and Mr. Rochely, who sat +near her, putting away the glass softly with his hand, said very calmly +to the leaning beau--'Sir, is there any occasion to take an account of +this lady's features?' + +'Ah! my friend Rochely!' answered he familiarly, 'what are you the +lady's Cicisbeo? as we say in Italy. Here is indeed beauty enough to +draw you from the contemplation of three per cent. consols, India bonds, +omnium, scrip, and douceurs. But prithee, my old friend, is this young +lady your ward?' + +'My ward! no,' answered Rochely, 'how came you to think she was?' + +Mr. Elkerton, who fancied he had vastly the advantage in point of wit, +as well as of figure, over his antagonist, now desired to know, 'whether +the lady was his niece? though if I had not recollected' said he, 'that +you never was married, I should have taken her for your grand daughter.' + +This sarcasm had, on the features of Rochely, all the effect the +travelled man expected. But while he was preparing an answer, at which +he was never very prompt, the coach was announced to be ready, and +Emmeline, extremely weary of her situation, and disgusted even to +impatience with her new acquaintance, hastily arose to go. + +Elkerton offered to take her hand; which she drew from him without +attempting to conceal her dislike; and accepting the arm of Rochely, +followed Mrs. Ashwood; while Elkerton, determined not to lose sight of +her, seized the hand of Miss Galton, who being neither young, handsome, +or rich, had been left to go out alone: they followed the rest of the +party to the coach, where Mrs. Ashwood and Miss Mowbray were already +seated, with Mr. Hanbury; who, as he resided with his mother in the +village where Mrs. Ashwood lived, was to accompany them home. + +The coach being full, seemed to preclude all possibility of Elkerton's +admittance. But he was not so easily put off: and telling Mrs. Ashwood +he intended to go home to sup with her, he stepped immediately in, and +ordered his servant, who waited at the coach door with a flambeau, to +direct his vis-a-vis to follow. + +Rochely, who meant to have wished them a good night after seeing them to +their carriage, was too much hurt by this happy essay of assurance not +to resolve to counteract it's consequences. Elkerton, though not a +very young man, was near twenty years younger than Rochely; besides the +income of his business (for he was in trade) he had a large independent +fortune, of which he was extremely lavish; his equipages were splendid; +his house most magnificently furnished; and his cloaths the most +expensive that could be bought. + +Rochely, whose ideas of elegance, manners, or taste, were not very +refined, had no notion that the absurdity of Elkerton, or his +disagreeable person, would prevent his being a very formidable rival. He +therefore saw him with great pain accompany Emmeline home; and though he +had formed no positive designs himself, he could not bear to suppose +that another might form them with success. + +Directing therefore his chariot to follow the coach, he was set down at +the door a few minutes after Mrs. Ashwood and her party; where Emmeline, +still more displeased with Elkerton, and having been teized by his +impertinent admiration the whole way, looked as if she could have burst +into tears. + +Mrs. Ashwood, in a very ill humour, hardly attended to his flourishing +speeches with common civility; he had therefore recourse to Miss Galton, +to whom he was giving the history of his travels, which seemed to take +up much of his thoughts. + +Miss Galton, who by long dependance and repeated disappointments had +acquired the qualifications necessary for a patient hearer, acquiesced +in smiling silence to all his assertions; looked amazed in the right +place; and heard, with great complacency, his wonderful success at +cards, and the favour he was in with women of the first fashion at Spa. + +The entrance of Mr. Rochely gave no interruption to his discourse. He +bowed slightly to him without rising, and then went on, observing that +he had now seen every part of Europe worth seeing, and meant, at least +for some years, to remain in England; the ladies of which country he +preferred to every other, and therefore intended taking a wife among +them. Fortune was, he declared, to him no object; but he was determined +to marry the handsomest woman he could meet with, for whom he was now +looking out. + +As he said this, he turned his eyes towards Emmeline; who affecting not +to hear him, tho' he spoke in so loud a tone as to make it unavoidable, +was talking in a low voice to Mr. Rochely. + +Rochely placing himself close to her, had thrown his arm over the back +of her chair; and leaning forward, attended to her with an expression in +his countenance of something between apprehension and hope, that gave it +the most grotesque look imaginable. + +Mrs. Ashwood, who had been entertained apart by Mr. Hanbury, now hurried +over the supper; during which Elkerton, still full of himself, engrossed +almost all the conversation; gave a detail of the purchases he had made +abroad, and the trouble he had to land them; interspersed with _bon +mots_ of French Marquises and German Barons, and witty remarks of an +English Duke with whom he had crossed the water on his return. But +whatever story he told, himself was still forwardest in the picture; his +project of marrying an handsome wife was again repeated; and he told the +party how charming a house he had bought in Kent, and how he had +furnished his library. + +Rochely, who lay in wait to revenge himself for all the mortifications +he had suffered from him during the evening, took occasion to say, in +his grave, cold manner, 'to be sure a man of your taste and erudition, +Mr. Elkerton, cannot do without a library; but for my part, I think you +will find no books can say so much to the purpose as those kept by your +late father in Milk-street, Cheapside.' + +Elkerton turned pale at this sneer; but forcing a smile of contempt, +answered, 'You bankers have no ideas out of your compting-houses; and +rich as ye are, will never be any thing but _des bourgeois les plus +grossieres_! For my part I see no reason why--why a man's being in +business, should prevent his enjoying the _elegancies_ and _agréments_ +of life, especially if he can _afford_ it; as it is well known, I +believe, even to _you_, Sir, _that I can_.' + +'Oh! Sir,' replied Rochely, 'I know your late father was _reputed_ to +have died rich, and that no body has made a better _figure about town_ +than _you_ have, ever since.' + +'As to figure, Sir,' returned the other, 'it is true I like to have +every thing about me _comme il faut_. And though I don't make fifty per +cent. of money, as _some_ gentlemen do in _your_ way of business, I +assure you, Sir, I do nothing that I cannot very well afford.' + +Mrs. Ashwood, who thought it very likely a quarrel might ensue, here +endeavoured to put an end to such very unpleasant discourse; and +prevented Mr. Hanbury, who equally hated them both, from trying to +irritate them farther, to which he maliciously inclined. + +The hints, however, of fatigue, given by her and Miss Mowbray, obliged +Mr. Rochely to ring that his chariot might be called, which had waited +at the door; while Elkerton, who had a pair of beautiful pied horses in +his vis-à-vis, desired to have them sent for from a neighbouring +inn--'for _I_' said he, rising and strutting round the room, 'never +suffer _my_ people or _my_ horses to wait in the streets.' + +He then leant over Emmeline's chair, and began in a court tone to renew +his compliments. But she suddenly arose; and begging Mrs. Ashwood would +give her leave to retire, wished Mr. Rochely and ladies a good night; +and slightly curtseying to Elkerton, who was putting himself into the +attitude for a speech and a bow, she tripped away. + +Rochely, as soon as she was gone, hastened to his chariot; and Elkerton, +whose people were in no haste to leave the ale-house, begged to sit down +'till they came. + +Mrs. Ashwood had been the whole evening particularly out of humour, and +being no longer able to command it, answered peevishly, 'that her house +was much at his service, but that she was really so much fatigued she +must retire--however,' said she, 'Miss Galton, you will be so good as to +stay with Mr. Elkerton--good night to you, Sir!' + +He was no sooner alone with Miss Galton, than he desired her, after a +speech (which he endeavoured to season with as much flattery as it would +bear) to tell him who Emmeline was? + +'Upon my word, Sir,' answered she, 'it is more than I know. Her name is +Mowbray; and she is somehow connected with the family of Lord +Montreville; but _what_ relation,' (sneeringly answered she) 'I really +cannot pretend even to guess.' + +'A relation of Lord Montreville!' cried Elkerton; 'why I knew his +Lordship intimately when I was abroad three or four years ago. He was at +Naples with his son, his lady, and two daughters; and I was +domesticated, absolutely domesticated, among them. But pray what +relation to them can this Miss Mowbray be?' + +'Probably,' said Miss Galton, 'as you know his Lordship, you may know +what connections and family he has. I suppose she may be his cousin--or +his niece--or his----.' + +Here she hesitated and smiled; and Elkerton, whose carriage was now at +the door, and who had a clue which he thought would procure him all the +information he wanted, took leave of Miss Galton; desiring her to tell +Mrs. Ashwood that he should wait upon her again in a few days. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +Delamere continued in Norfolk only a few weeks after his father and the +family came thither. During that time, he appeared restless and +dissatisfied; his former vivacity was quite lost; he shunned society; +and passed almost all his time in the fields, under pretence of hunting +or shooting, tho' the greatest satisfaction those amusements now +afforded him was the opportunity they gave him of absenting himself from +home. He seldom returned thither 'till six or seven o'clock; dined alone +in his own apartment; and affected to be too much fatigued to be able to +meet the party who assembled to cards in the evening. + +Lady Mary Otley and her daughter, a widow lady of small fortune in the +neighbourhood, with Lord and Lady Montreville and their eldest daughter, +made up a party without him. Augusta Delamere had been left in their way +from the North, with a relation of his Lordship's who lived near +Scarborough, with whom she was to remain two months. + +The party at Audley-Hall was soon encreased by Sir Richard Crofts and +his eldest son, who came every autumn on a visit to Lord Montreville, +and who was his most intimate friend. + +Lord Montreville, during the short time he studied at the Temple, became +acquainted with Sir Richard, then clerk to an attorney in the city; who, +tho' there was a great difference in their rank, had contrived to gain +the regard and esteem of his Lordship (then Mr. Frederic Mowbray) and +was, when he came to his estate, entrusted with it's management; a trust +which he appeared to execute with such diligence and integrity, that he +soon obtained the entire confidence of his patron; and by possessing +great ductility and great activity, he was soon introduced into a higher +line of life, and saw himself the companion and friend of those, to +whom, at his setting out, he appeared only an humble retainer. + +Born in Scotland, he boasted of his ancestry, tho' his immediate +predecessors were known to be indigent and obscure; and tho' he had +neither eminent talents, nor any other education than what he had +acquired at a free-school in his native town, he had, by dint of a very +common understanding, steadily applied to the pursuit of one point; and +assisted by the friendship of Lord Montreville, acquired not only a +considerable fortune, but a seat in Parliament and a great deal of +political interest, together with the title of a Baronet. + +He had less understanding than cunning; less honesty than industry; and +tho' he knew how to talk warmly and plausibly of honour, justice, and +integrity, he was generally contented only to talk of them, seldom so +imprudent as to practice them when he could get place or profit by their +sacrifice. + +He had that sort of sagacity which enabled him to enter into the +characters of those with whom he conversed: he knew how to humour their +prejudices, and lay in wait for their foibles to turn them to his own +advantage. + +To his superiors, the cringing parasite; to those whom he thought his +inferiors, proud, supercilious, and insulting; and his heart hardening +as his prosperity encreased, he threw off, as much as he could, every +connection that reminded him of the transactions of his early life, and +affected to live only among the great, whose luxuries he could now +reach, and whose manners he tried to imitate. + +He had two sons by an early marriage with a woman of small fortune, who +was fortunately dead; for had she lived, she would probably have been +concealed, lest she should disgrace him. + +To his sons, however, he had given that sort of education which was +likely to fit them for places under government; and he had long secretly +intended the eldest for one of the Miss Delameres. + +Delamere, all warmth and openness himself, detested the narrow-minded +and selfish father; and had shewn so much coolness towards the sons, +that Sir Richard foresaw he would be a great impediment to his designs, +and had therefore the strongest motive for trying to persuade Lord +Montreville, that to send him on another tour to the Continent, would be +the best means of curing him of what this deep politician termed 'a +ridiculous and boyish whim, which his Lordship ought at all events to +put an end to before it grew of a more dangerous consequence.' + +Mr. Crofts, as he was no sportsman, passed his mornings in riding out +with Miss Delamere and Miss Otley, or attending on the elder ladies in +their airings: while Delamere, who wished equally to shun Miss Otley, +whom he determined never to marry, and Crofts, whom he despised and +hated, lived almost alone, notwithstanding the entreaties of his father +and the anger of his mother. + +Her Ladyship, who had never any command over her passions, harrassed +him, whenever they met, with sarcasms and reflections. Lady Mary, +scorning _to_ talk to a young man who was blind to the merits of her +daughter, talked _at_ him whenever she found an opportunity; and +exclaimed against the disobedience, dissipation, and ill-breeding of +modern young men: while Miss Otley affected a pretty disdain; and +flirted violently with Mr. Crofts, as if to shew him that she was +totally indifferent to his neglect. + +The temper of Delamere was eager and irritable; and he bore the +unpleasantness of this society, whenever he was forced to mix in it, +with a sort of impatient contempt. But as he hourly found it more +irksome, and the idea of Emmeline press every day more intensely on his +heart, he determined, at the end of the third week, to go to London. + +Not chusing to have any altercation with either Lord or Lady +Montreville, he one evening ordered his man to have his horses ready at +five o'clock the next day, saying he was to meet the foxhounds at some +distance from home; and having written a letter to his Lordship, in +which he told him he was going to London for a fortnight, (which letter +he left on the table in his dressing-room) he mounted his horse, and was +soon in town; but instead of going to the house of his father in +Berkley-square, he took lodgings in Pall-Mall. + +Every night he frequented those public places which were yet open, in +hopes of finding Emmeline; and his servant was constantly employed for +the same purpose; but as he had no trace of her, all his enquiries were +fruitless. + +On the night that Emmeline was at the play, he had been at Covent-garden +Theatre, and meant to have looked into the other house; but was detained +by meeting a young foreigner from whom he had received civilities at +Turin, 'till the house was empty. So narrowly did he miss finding her he +so anxiously sought. + +Elkerton, in looking about for the happy woman who was worthy the +exalted situation of being his wife, had yet seen none whom he thought +so likely to succeed to that honour as Miss Mowbray; and if she was, on +enquiry, found to be as she was represented, (related to Lord +Montreville) it would be so great an additional advantage, that he +determined in that case to lay himself and his pied horses, his house in +Kent, his library, and his fortune, all at her feet immediately. Nor did +he once suffer himself to suspect that there was a woman on earth who +could withstand such a torrent of good fortune. + +In pursuance therefore of this resolution, he determined to make enquiry +of Lord Montreville himself; of whom he had just known so much at Naples +as to receive cards of invitation to Lady Montreville's +_conversationes_. + +There, he mingled with the croud; and was slightly noticed as an +Englishman of fortune; smiled at for his affectation of company and +manners, which seemed foreign to his original line of life; and then +forgotten. + +But Elkerton conceived this to be more than introduction enough; and +dressing himself in what he thought _un disabille la plus imposante_, +and with his servants in their morning liveries, he stopped at the door +of Lord Montreville. + +'Lord Montreville was not at home.' + +'When was he expected?' + +'It was uncertain: his Lordship was at Audley-hall, and might be in town +in a fortnight; or might not come up till the meeting of Parliament.' + +'And are all the family there?' enquired Elkerton of the porter. + +'No, Sir; Mr. Delamere is in town.' + +'And when can I see Mr. Delamere?' + +The porter could not tell, as he did not live in Berkley-square. + +'Where, then, is he?' + +'At lodgings in Pall-Mall:' (for Delamere had left his direction with +his father's servants.) + +Elkerton therefore took the address with a pencil; and determined, +without farther reflection, to drive thither. + +It was about four o'clock, and in the middle of November, when Delamere +had just returned to his lodgings, to dress before he met his foreign +friend, and some other young men, to dine at a tavern in St. +James's-street, when a loud rap at the door announced a visitor. + +Millefleur having no orders to the contrary, and being dazzled with the +splendour of Elkerton's equipage, let him in; and he was humming an +Italian air out of tune, in Delamere's drawing-room, when the latter +came out in his dressing-gown and slippers to receive him. + +Delamere, on seeing the very odd figure and baboonish face of Elkerton, +instead of that of somebody he knew, stopped short and made a grave bow. + +Elkerton advancing towards him, bowed also profoundly, and said, 'I am +charmed, Sir, with being permitted the honour of paying you my devoirs.' + +Delamere concluded from his look and bow, as well as from a foreign +accent, (which Elkerton had affected 'till it was become habitual) that +the man was either a dancing master or a quack doctor, sent to him by +some of his companions, who frequently exercised on each other such +efforts of practical wit. He therefore being not without humour, bowed +again more profoundly than before; and answered, 'that the honour was +entirely his, tho' he did not know how he had deserved it.' + +'I was so fortunate, Sir,' resumed Elkerton, 'so fortunate as to--have +the honour--the happiness--of knowing Lord Montreville and Lady +Montreville a few years ago at Naples.' + +Delamere, still confirmed in his first idea, answered, 'very probably, +Sir.' + +'And, Sir,' continued Elkerton, 'I now waited upon _you_, as his +Lordship is not in town.' + +'Indeed, Sir, you are too obliging.' + +'To ask, Sir, a question, which I hope will not be deemed--be +deemed--' (a word did not immediately occur) 'be +deemed--improper--intrusive--impertinent--inquisitive--presuming----' + +'I dare say, Sir, nothing improper, intrusive, impertinent, inquisitive, +or presuming, is to be apprehended from a gentleman of your appearance.' + +Delamere expected something very ridiculous to follow this ridiculous +introduction, and with some difficulty forbore laughing. + +Elkerton went on---- + +'It relates, Sir, to a Lady.' + +'Pray, Sir, proceed. I am really impatient where a lady is concerned.' + +'You are acquainted, Sir, with a lady of the name of Ashwood, who lives +at Clapham?' + +'No, really Sir, I am not so happy.' + +'I fancy then, Sir, I have been misinformed, and beg pardon for the +trouble I have presumed to give: but I understood that the young lady +who lives with her was a relation of Lord Montreville.' + +A ray of fire seemed to flash across the imagination of Delamere, and to +inflame all his hopes. He blushed deeply, and his voice faultering with +anxiety, he cried-- + +'What?--who, Sir?--a young lady?--what young lady?' + +'Miss Mowbray, they tell me, is her name; and I understand, Sir--but I +dare say from mistake--that she is of your family.' + +Delamere could hardly breathe. He seemed as if he was in a dream, and +dared not speak for fear of awaking. + +Elkerton, led on by the questions Delamere at length summoned resolution +to ask, proceeded to inform him of all he knew; how, where, and how +often, he had seen Emmeline, and of his intentions to offer himself a +candidate for her favour--'for notwithstanding, Sir,' said he, 'that Mr. +Rochely seems to be _fort avant en ses bon graces_, I think--I hope--I +believe, that his fortune--(and yet his fortune does not perhaps so much +exceed mine as many suppose)--his fortune will hardly turn the balance +against _me_; especially if I have the sanction of Lord Montreville; to +whom I suppose (as you seem to acknowledge some affinity between Miss +Mowbray and his Lordship) it will be no harm if I apply.' + +Thro' the mind of Delamere, a thousand confused ideas rapidly passed. He +was divided between his joy at having found Emmeline, his vexation at +knowing she was surrounded by rivals, and his fear that his father +might, by the application of Elkerton to him, know that Emmeline's abode +was no longer a secret: and amidst these various sensations, he was able +only to express his dislike of Elkerton, whose presumption in thinking +of Emmeline appeared to cancel the casual obligation he owed to him for +discovering her. + +'Sir,' said he haughtily, as soon as he could a little recover his +recollection, 'I am very well assured that Lord Montreville will not +hear any proposals for Miss Mowbray. His Lordship has, in fact, no +authority over her; and besides he is at present about to leave his +house in Norfolk, and I know not when he will be in town; perhaps not +the whole winter; he is now going to visit some friends, and it will be +impossible you can have any access to him for some months. As to myself, +you will excuse me; I am engaged to dine out.' + +He rang the bell, and ordered the servant who entered to enquire for the +gentleman's carriage. Then bowing coolly to him, he went into his +dressing room, and left the mortified Elkerton to regret the little +success of an attempt which he doubted not would have excited, in the +hearts of all those related to Miss Mowbray, admiration at his +generosity, and joy for the good fortune of Emmeline: for he concluded, +by her being a companion to Mrs. Ashwood, that she had no fortune, or +any dependance but on the bounty of Lord Montreville. + +Delamere, whose ardent inclinations, whatever turn they took, were never +to be a moment restrained, rang for his servants; and dispatching one of +them with an excuse to his friends, he sent a second for an +hackney-coach. Then ordering up a cold dinner, which he hardly staid to +eat, he got into the coach, and directed it to be driven as fast as +possible to Clapham Common; where he asked for the house of Mrs. +Ashwood, and was presently at the door. + +The servant had that moment opened the iron gate, to let out a person +who had been to his mistress upon business. Delamere therefore enquiring +if Miss Mowbray was at home, entered without ringing, and telling the +servant that he had occasion to speak to Miss Mowbray only, the man +answered, 'that she was alone in the dressing room.' Thither therefore +he desired to be shewn; and without being announced, he entered the +room. + +Instead of finding her alone, he saw her sit at work by a little table, +on which were two wax candles; and by her side, with his arm, as usual, +over the back of her chair, and gazing earnestly on her face, sat Mr. +Rochely. + +Emmeline did not look up when he came in, supposing it was the servant +with tea. Delamere therefore was close to the table when she saw him. +The work dropped from her hands; she grew pale, and trembled; but not +being able to rise, she only clasped her hands together, and said +faintly, 'Oh! heaven!--Mr. Delamere!' + +'Yes, Emmeline, it is Mr. Delamere! and what is there so extraordinary +in that? I was told you were alone: may I beg the favour of a few +minutes conversation?' + +Emmeline knew not what to reply. She saw him dart an angry and +disdainful look at poor Rochely; who, alarmed by the entrance of a +stranger that appeared on such a footing of familiarity, and who +possessed the advantages of youth and a handsome person, had retreated +slowly towards the fire, and now surveyed Delamere with scrutinizing and +displeased looks; while Delamere said to Emmeline--'if you have no +particular business with this gentleman, will you go into some other +room, that I may speak to you on an affair of consequence?' + +'Sit down' said Emmeline, recovering her surprize; 'sit down, and I will +attend you presently. Tell me, how is your sister Augusta?' + +'I know not. She is in Yorkshire.' + +'And Lord Montreville?' + +'Well, I believe. But what is all this to the purpose? can I not speak +to you, but in the presence of a third person?' + +Unequivocal as this hint was, Rochely seemed determined not to go, and +Delamere as resolutely bent to affront him, if he did not. + +Emmeline therefore, who knew not what else to do, was going to comply +with his request of a private audience, when she was luckily relieved by +the entrance of Mrs. Ashwood and the tea table. + +Mrs. Ashwood, surprized at seeing a stranger, and a stranger whose +appearance had more fashion than the generality of her visitors, was +introduced to Mr. Delamere; a ceremony he would willingly have dispensed +with; and having made his bow, and muttered something about having taken +the liberty to call on his relation, he sat down by Emmeline, and in a +whisper told her he must and would speak to her alone before he went. + +Emmeline, to whose care the tea table was allotted when Miss Galton +happened not to be at Mrs. Ashwood's, now excused herself under pretence +of being obliged to make tea; and while it was passing, Mrs. Ashwood +made two or three attempts to introduce general conversation; but it +went no farther than a few insignificant sentences between her and Mr. +Rochely. + +Delamere, wholly engrossed by the tumultuous delight of having recovered +Emmeline, and by contriving how to speak to her alone, thought nothing +else worthy his attention; and sat looking at her with eyes so +expressive of his love, that Rochely, who anxiously watched him, was +convinced his solicitude was infinitely stronger than his relationship +only would have produced. + +He had at length learned, by constant attention to every hint and every +circumstance that related to Emmeline, who she was; and had even got +from Mrs. Ashwood a confused idea of Delamere's attachment to her, which +the present scene at once elucidated. + +Rochely saw in him not only a rival, but a rival so dangerous that all +his hopes seemed to vanish at once. Unconscious, 'till then, how very +indiscreetly he was in love, he was amazed at the pain he felt from this +discovery; and with a most rueful countenance, sat silent and +disconcerted. + +Mrs. Ashwood, used to be flattered and attended to, was in no good +humour with Mr. Delamere, who gave her so little of his notice: and +never perhaps were a party more uncomfortable, 'till they were enlivened +by the entrance of Miss Galton and Mr. Hanbury, with another gentleman. + +They were hardly placed, and had their tea sent round, before a loud +ring was heard, and the servant announced 'Mr. Elkerton.' + +Mr. Elkerton came dancing into the room; and having spoken to Mrs. +Ashwood and Emmeline, he slightly surveyed the company, and sat down. + +He was very near sighted, and affected to be still more so; and Delamere +having drawn his chair out of the circle, sat almost behind Emmeline; +while the portly citizen who had accompanied Mr. Hanbury sat forward, +near the table; Delamere was therefore hardly seen. + +Elkerton began to tell them how immoderately he was fatigued. 'I have +been over the whole town,' said he, 'to-day. In the morning I was +obliged to attend a boring appointment upon business relative to my +estate in Kent; and to meet my tenants, who disagreed with my steward; +and then, I went to call upon my old friend Delamere, Lord Montreville's +son, in Pall-Mall; we passed a very chearful hour discoursing of former +occurrences when we were together at Turin. Upon my word, he is a good +sensible young man. We have renewed our intimacy; and he has insisted +upon my going down with him to his father's house in Norfolk.' + +Emmeline suspended her tea making, and looked astonished. + +Mrs. Ashwood seemed surprized. + +But Delamere, who had at first felt inclined to be angry at the folly +and forwardness of Elkerton, was now so struck with the ridicule of the +circumstance, that he broke into a loud laugh. + +The eyes of the company were turned towards _him_, and Elkerton with +great indignation took his glass to survey who it was that had thus +violated the rules of good breeding; but great was his dismay and +astonishment, when he beheld the very Delamere, of whom he had spoken +with so much assurance, rise up, and advancing towards him, make a grave +bow.-- + +'Sir,' said Delamere, very solemnly, 'I cannot sufficiently express my +gratitude for your good opinion of me; nor my happiness to hear you +intend to honour me with a visit at Audley Hall. Upon my word you are +_too_ obliging, and I know not how I shall shew my gratitude!' + +The ironical tone in which this was delivered, and the discomposed looks +of the distressed Elkerton, explained the matter to the whole company; +and the laugh became general. + +Elkerton, tho' not easily disconcerted, could not stand it. After a sort +of apology to Delamere, he endeavoured to reassume his consequence. But +he had been too severely mortified; and in a few minutes arose, and +under pretence of being engaged to a rout in town, went away, nobody +attempting to stop him. + +Rochely, who hated Elkerton, could not forbear to triumph in this +discomfiture. He spoke very severely of him as a forward, impertinent, +silly fellow, who was dissipating his fortune. + +The old citizen heartily joined in exclaiming against such apostates +from the frugality of their ancestors. 'Sir,' said he to Rochely, 'we +all know that _you_ are a prudent man; and that cash at your house is, +as it were, in the Bank. Sir, you do honour to the city; but as to that +there Mr. Elkerton, one must be cautious; but for _my_ part, I wonder +how some people go on. To my certain knowledge his father didn't die so +rich as was supposed--no--not by a many thousands. Sir, I remember +him--(and I am not ashamed to say it, for every body knows _I_ have got +my money honestly, and that it's all of my own getting)--but, Sir, I +remember that man's father, and not a many years ago neither, carrying +out parcels, and sweeping the shop for old Jonathan Huggins. You knew +old Jonathan Huggins: he did not die, I think, 'till about the year +forty-one or two. You remember him, to be sure?' + +Rochely, ever tremblingly alive when his age was called in question, yet +fearing to deny a fact which he apprehended the other would enter into a +convincing detail to prove, answered that 'he slightly remembered him +when he was quite a boy.' + +But his evasion availed him nothing. The old citizen, Mr. Rugby, was now +got upon his own ground; and most inhumanly for the feelings of poor +Rochely, began to relate in whose mayoralty old Jonathan Huggins was +sheriff, and when he was mayor; who he married; who married his +daughters; and how he acquired an immense fortune, all by frugality at +setting out; and how one of his daughters, who had married a Lord +against the old man's will, had spent more in _one_ night than his +father did in a twelvemonth. + +Delamere, who sat execrating both Jonathan Huggins and his historian, at +length lost all patience; and said to Emmeline, in an half whisper, 'I +can bear this no longer: leave these tedious old fools, and let me speak +to you for two minutes only.' + +Emmeline knew not how to refuse, without hazarding some extravagance on +the part of Delamere. But as she did not like the appearance of leaving +the room abruptly, she desired Mrs. Ashwood would give her permission to +order candles in the parlour, as Mr. Delamere wished to speak with her +alone. + +As soon as the servant informed her they were ready, she went down: and +Delamere followed her, having first wished Mrs. Ashwood a good night; +who was too much displeased with the little attention he had shewn her, +to ask him to supper, tho' she was very desirous of having a man of his +fashion in the list of her acquaintance. + +Delamere and Emmeline were no sooner alone, than he began to renew, with +every argument he thought likely to move her, his entreaties for a +private marriage. He swore that he neither could or would live without +her, and that her refusal would drive him to some act of desperation. + +Emmeline feared her resolution would give way; for the comparison +between the people she had lately been among, and Delamere, was +infinitely favourable to him. Such unabated love, in a man who might +chuse among the fairest and most fortunate of women, was very seducing; +and the advantages of being his wife, instead of continuing in the +precarious situation she was now in, would have determined at once a +mind more attentive to pecuniary or selfish motives. + +But Emmeline, unshaken by such considerations, was liable to err only +from the softness of her heart. + +Delamere unhappy--Delamere wearing out in hopeless solicitude the bloom +of life, was the object she found it most difficult to contend with: and +feeble would have been her defence, had she not considered herself as +engaged in honour to Lord Montreville to refuse his son, and still more +engaged to respect the peace of the family of her dear Augusta. + +Strengthened by these reflections, she refused, tho' in the gentlest +manner, to listen to such proposals; reproached him, tho' with more +tenderness in her voice and manner than she had yet shewn, for having +left Audley Hall without the concurrence of Lord Montreville; and +entreated him to return, and try to forget her. + +'Let me perish if I do!' eagerly answered Delamere. 'No, Emmeline; if +you determine to push me to extremities, to you only will be the misery +imputable, when my mistaken parents, in vain repentance, hang over the +tomb of their only son, and see the last of his family in an early +grave. It is in your power only to save me--You refuse--farewel, then--I +wish no future regret may embitter your life, and that you may find +consolation in being the wife of some one of those persons who are, I +see, offering you all that riches can bestow. Farewel, lovely, inhuman +girl! be happy if you can--after having sacrificed to a mistaken point +of honour, the repose and the life of him who lived only to adore you.' + +So saying, he suddenly opened the door, and was leaving the room. But +Emmeline, who shuddered at the picture he had drawn of his despair, and +saw such traces of its reality on his countenance, caught his arm. + +'Stay! Mr. Delamere,' cried she, 'stay yet a moment!' + +'For what purpose?' answered he, 'since you refuse to hear me?' + +He turned back, however, into the room; and Emmeline, who fancied she +saw him the victim of his unfortunate love, could no longer command her +tears. + +Delamere threw himself at her feet, and embraced her knees. + +'Oh Emmeline!' cried he, weeping also, 'hear me for the last time. +Either consent to be mine, or let me take an eternal adieu!' + +'What would you have me do? good God! what is it you expect of me?' + +'To go with me to Scotland to-morrow--to night--directly!' + +'Oh, no! no!--Does not Lord Montreville depend upon my honour?--can I +betray a trust reposed in me?' + +'Chimeras all; founded in tyranny on his part, and weakness on yours. +_He_ had no right to exact such a promise; _you_ had no right to give +it. But however, send to him again to say I have seen you--summons him +hither to divide us--you may certainly do so if you please; but Lord +Montreville will no longer have a son; at least England, nor Europe, +will contain him no longer--I will go where my father shall hear no more +of me.' + +'Will it content you if I promise you _not_ to write to Lord +Montreville, nor to cause him to be written to; and to see you again?' + +'When?' + +'To-morrow--whenever you please.' + +Delamere, catching at this faint ray of hope, promised, if she would +allow him to come thither when he would, he would endeavour to be calm. +He made her solemnly protest that she would neither write to Lord +Montreville, or procure another to do it; and that she would not leave +Mrs. Ashwood without letting him know when and whither she went; and if +by any accident his father heard of his having found her, that she would +enter into no new engagements to conceal herself from him. + +Having procured from her these assurances, which he knew she would not +violate, and having obtained her consent to see him early the next +morning, he at her request agreed to take his leave; which he did with +less pain than he had ever before felt at quitting her; carrying with +him the delightful hope that he had made an impression on her heart, and +secure of seeing her the next day, he went home comparatively happy. + +Emmeline, who had wept excessively, was very unfit to return to the +company; but she thought her not appearing again among them would be yet +more singular. She therefore composed herself as well as she could; and +after staying a few minutes to recollect her scattered spirits, she +entered the room where they were at cards. + +Rochely, who was playing at whist with Mrs. Ashwood, Mr. Rugby, and Mr. +Hanbury, looked anxiously at her eyes; and presently losing all +attention to what he was about, and forgetting his game, he played so +extremely ill, that he lost the rubber. + +The old cit, who had three half crowns depending, and who was a +determined grumbler at cards, fell upon him without mercy; and said so +many rude things, that Rochely could not help retorting; and it was with +some difficulty Mrs. Ashwood prevented the grossest abuse being lavished +from the enraged Rugby on the enamoured banker; who desiring to give his +cards to Miss Galton, got up and ordered his carriage. + +Emmeline sat near the fire, with her handkerchief in her hand, which was +yet wet with tears. + +Rochely, with a privilege he had been used to, and which Emmeline, from +a man old enough to be her father, thought very inconsequential, took +her hand and the handkerchief it held. + +'So, Miss Mowbray,' said he, 'Mr. Delamere is your near relation?' + +'Yes, Sir.' + +'And he has brought you, I fear, some ill news of your family?' + +'No, Sir,' sighed Emmeline. + +'No death, I hope?' + +'No, Sir.' + +'Whence then, these tears?' + +Emmeline drew her hand away. + +'What a strange young man this is, to make you cry. What has he been +saying to you?' + +'Nothing, Sir.' + +'Ah! Miss Mowbray; such a lad as that is but an indifferent guardian; +pray where does his father live?' + +Miss Mowbray, not aware of the purpose of this enquiry, and glad of any +thing that looked like common conversation, answered 'at Audley Hall, in +Norfolk; and in Berkley-Square.' + +Some other questions, which seemed of no consequence, Rochely asked, and +Emmeline answered; 'till hearing his carriage was at the door, he went +away. + +'_I_ don't like your Mr. Delamere at all, Miss Mowbray,' said Mrs. +Ashwood, as soon as the game ended. 'I never saw a prouder, more +disagreeable young man in my life.' + +Emmeline smiled faintly, and said she was sorry he did not please her. + +'No, nor me neither,' said Miss Galton. 'Such haughtiness indeed!--yet I +was glad he mortified that puppy Elkerton.' + +Emmeline, who found the two friends disposed to indulge their good +nature at the expence of the company of the evening, complained of being +fatigued, and asked for a glass of wine and water: which having drank, +she retired to bed, leaving the lady of the house, who had invited Mr. +Hanbury and his friend to supper, to enjoy more stories of Jonathan +Huggins, and the pretty satyrical efforts of Miss Galton, who made her +court most effectually by ridiculing and villifying all their +acquaintance whenever it was in her power. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +When Rochely got home, he set about examining the state of his heart +exactly as he would have examined the check book of one of his +customers. + +He found himself most miserably in love. But avarice said, Miss Mowbray +had no fortune. + +By what had passed in his bosom that evening, he had discovered that he +should be wretched to see her married to another. + +But avarice enquired how he could offer to marry a woman without a +shilling? + +Love, represented that her modest, reserved, and unambitious turn, would +perhaps make her, in the end, a more profitable match than a woman +educated in expence, who might dissipate more than she brought. + +Avarice asked whether he could depend on modesty, reserve, and a retired +turn, in a girl not yet eighteen? + +After a long discussion, Love very unexpectedly put to flight the agent +of Plutus, who had, with very little interruption, reigned despoticly +over all his thoughts and actions for many years; and Rochely determined +to write to Lord Montreville, to lay his circumstances before him, and +make a formal proposal to marry Miss Mowbray. + +In pursuance of this resolution, he composed, with great pains, (for he +was remarkably slow in whatever he undertook) the following epistle.-- + + + 'My Lord, + + 'This serves to inform your Lordship, that I have seen Miss + Mowbray, and like her well enough to be willing to marry her, if + you, my Lord, have not any other views for her; and as to fortune, I + will just give your Lordship a memorandum of mine. + + 'I have sixty thousand pounds in the stocks; viz. eighteen in the + three per cent. consols. twenty in Bank stock: ten in East India + stock; and twelve in South Sea annuities. + + 'I have about forty thousand on different mortgages; all good, as + I will be ready at any time to shew you. I have houses worth about + five more. And after the death of my mother, who is near eighty, I + shall have an estate in Middlesex worth ten more. The income of my + business is near three thousand pounds a year; and my whole income + near ten thousand. + + 'My character, my Lord, is well known: and you will find, if we + agree, that I shall not limit Miss Mowbray's settlement to the + proportion of what your Lordship may please to give her, (for I + suppose you will give her something) but to what she ought to have + as my widow, if it should so happen that she survives me. + + 'I have reason to believe Miss Mowbray has no dislike to this + proposal; and hope to hear from your Lordship thereon by return of + post. + + I am, my Lord, + your Lordship's very humble servant, + HUMPHREY ROCHELY.' + + _Lombard-street, + Nov. 20th. 17--._ + + +This was going to the point at once. The letter arrived in due time at +Audley-Hall; and was received by Lord Montreville with surprise and +satisfaction. The hint of Miss Mowbray's approbation made him hope she +was yet concealed from Delamere; and as he determined to give the +earliest and strongest encouragement to this overture, from a man worth +above an hundred thousand pounds, he called a council with Sir Richard +Crofts, who knew Rochely, and who kept cash with him; and it was +determined that Lord Montreville should go to town, not only to close at +once with the opulent banker, but to get Delamere out of the way while +the marriage was in agitation, which it would otherwise be impossible to +conceal from him. To persuade him to another continental tour was what +Sir Richard advised: and agreed to go to town with his Lordship, in +order to assist in this arduous undertaking. + +Lord Montreville, however, failed not immediately to answer the letter +he had received from Mr. Rochely, in these terms-- + + + 'Sir, + + 'This day's post brought me the honour of your letter. + + 'If Miss Mowbray is as sensible as she ought to be, of so + flattering a distinction, be assured it will be one of the most + satisfactory events of my life to see her form a connection with a + gentleman truly worthy and respectable. + + 'To hasten the completion of an event so desirable, I fully intend + being in town in a very few days; when I will, with your permission, + wait on you in Lombard-street. + + 'I have the honour to be, with great esteem, + + Sir, + your most devoted, + and most obedient servant, + MONTREVILLE.' + + _Audley-Hall, Nov. 23._ + + +The haughty Peer, who derived his blood from the most antient of the +British Nobility, thus condescended to flatter opulence and to court the +alliance of riches. Nor did he think any advances he could make, beneath +him, when he hoped at once to marry his niece to advantage, and what was +yet more material, put an invincible bar between her and his son. + +While this correspondence, so inimical to Delamere's hopes, was passing +between his father and Mr. Rochely, he was every hour with Emmeline; +intoxicated with his passion, indulging the most delightful hopes, and +forgetting every thing else in the world. + +He had found it his interest to gain (by a little more attention, and +some fine speeches about elegance and grace,) the good opinion of Mrs. +Ashwood; who now declared she had been mistaken in her first idea of +him, and that he was not only quite a man of fashion, but possessed an +excellent understanding and very refined sentiments. + +The sudden death of her father had obliged her to leave home some days +before: but as soon as she was gone, Emmeline, who foresaw that Delamere +would be constantly with her, sent for Miss Galton. + +No remonstrance of her's could prevent his passing every day at the +house, from breakfast 'till a late hour in the evening. + +On the last of these days, he was there as usual; and it was past eight +at night, when Emmeline, who had learned to play on the harp, by being +present when Mrs. Ashwood received lessons on that instrument, was +singing to Delamere a little simple air of which he was particularly +fond, and into which she threw so much pathos, that lost in fond +admiration, he 'hung over her, enamoured,' when she was interrupted by +the entrance of a servant, who said that a Lord, but he forgot the name, +was below, and desired to speak with Miss Mowbray. + +If Emmeline was alarmed at the sight of Lord Montreville at Swansea, +when she had acted with the strictest attention to his wishes, she had +now much more reason to be so, when she felt herself conscious of having +given encouragement to Delamere, and had reason to fear her motives for +doing so would be misbelieved or misunderstood. + +Tho' the servant had forgotten his name, Emmeline doubted not but it was +Lord Montreville; and she had hardly time to think how she should +receive him, before his Lordship (who had impatiently followed the +servant up stairs) entered the room. + +Delamere, immovable behind Emmeline's chair, was the first object that +struck him. + +He had hoped that her residence was yet unknown to his son; and +surprise, vexation, and anger, were marked in his countenance and +attitude. + +'Miss Mowbray!' (advancing towards her) 'is it thus you fulfil the +promise you gave me? And you, Mr. Delamere--do you still obstinately +persist in this ridiculous, this unworthy attachment?' + +'I left you, my Lord,' answered Delamere, 'without deceiving you as to +my motives for doing so. I came in search of Miss Mowbray. By a +fortunate accident I found her. I have never dissimulated; nor ever mean +it in whatever relates to her. Nothing has prevented my making her +irrevocably mine, but her too scrupulous adherence to a promise _she_ +ought never to have given, and which your _Lordship_ ought never to have +extorted.' + +Emmeline, gentle as she was, had yet that proper spirit which conscious +worth seldom fails of inspiring: and knowing that she had already +sacrificed much to the respect she thought Lord Montreville entitled to, +she was hurt at finding, from his angry and contemptuous tone, as well +as words, that she was condemned unheard, and treated with harshness +where she deserved only kindness and gratitude. + +The courage of which her first surprise had deprived her, was restored +by these sensations; and she said, with great coolness, yet with less +timidity than usual, 'my Lord, I have yet done nothing in violation of +the promise I gave you. But the moment your Lordship doubts my adherence +to it, from that moment I consider it as dissolved.' + +Delamere, encouraged by an answer so flattering to his hopes, now +addressed himself to his father, who was by this time seated; and spoke +so forcibly of his invincible attachment, and his determined purpose +never to marry any other woman, that the resolution of Lord Montreville +was shaken, and would perhaps have given way, if the violent and +clamorous opposition of his wife on one hand, and the ambitious projects +and artful advice of Sir Richard Crofts on the other, had not occurred +to him. He commanded himself so far as not to irritate Delamere farther, +by reflections on the conduct of Emmeline, which he found would not be +endured; and trying to stifle his feelings under the dissimulation of +the courtier, he heard with patience all he had to urge. He even +answered him with temper; made an apology to Emmeline for any +expressions that might have given her offence; and at length threw into +his manner a composure that elated Delamere to a degree of hope hitherto +unfelt. He fancied that his father, weary of hopeless opposition, and +convinced of the merit of Emmeline, would consent to his marriage: and +his quick spirit seizing with avidity on an idea so flattering, +converted into a confirmation of it, all Lord Montreville's discourse +for the remainder of the visit: in which, by dissimulation on one part, +and favourable expectations on the other, they both seemed to return to +some degree of good humour. + +Delamere agreed to go home with his father; and Lord Montreville having +determined to return the next day to speak to Emmeline on the proposals +of Rochely, they parted; his Lordship meditating as he went home how to +prevent Delamere's interrupting the conference he wished to have on a +subject which was so near his heart. + +On his arrival at his own house, he found Sir Richard Crofts waiting for +him, whom he detained to supper. Delamere, as soon as it was over, went +to his lodgings; which Lord Montreville did not oppose, as he wished to +be alone with Sir Richard; but he desired, that after that evening +Delamere would return to his apartments in Berkley-square; which he +partly promised to do. + +Lord Montreville related to Sir Richard what had passed, and the +uneasiness he was under to find that Delamere, far from relaxing in his +determination, had openly renewed his addresses; and that Emmeline +seemed much less disposed to sacrifice his wishes to those of his +family, than he had yet found her. + +Sir Richard, himself wholly insensible to the feelings of a father, +discouraged in Lord Montreville every tendency to forgive or indulge +this indiscreet passion. And equally incapable of the generous +sentiments of a gentleman towards a woman, young, helpless, dependant, +and unfortunate, he tried to harden the heart of Lord Montreville +against his orphan niece, and advised him peremptorily to insist on her +marrying Rochely immediately, or, as the alternative, to declare to her +that from the moment of her refusal she must expect from him neither +support or countenance. + +This threat on one hand, and the affluence offered her by Rochely on the +other, must, he thought, oblige her to embrace his proposals. The +greatest difficulty seemed to be, to prevent Delamere's impetuosity from +snatching her at once out of the power of his father, by an elopement; +to which, if she preferred him to Rochely, it was very probable she +might be driven by harsh measures to consent; and that Delamere must +have in her heart a decided preference, there could be little doubt. + +Lord Montreville was apprehensive that Delamere, who had, he found, for +many days lived entirely at Mrs. Ashwood's, would be there before him in +the morning, and preclude all possibility of a private conversation with +Emmeline. + +Fitz-Edward, who could, and from the duplicity of his character would +perhaps have made a diversion in his favour, was not in town; and to +both the Mr. Crofts Delamere had an antipathy, which he took very little +pains to conceal; they therefore could not be employed to engage him. + +In this difficulty, Sir Richard offered to go himself to Miss Mowbray, +that Lord Montreville might be at liberty to detain his son; pretences +for which could not be wanting. + +His Lordship closed with this offer with pleasure; and felt himself +relieved from a painful task. His heart, though greatly changed by a +long course of good fortune, and by the habit of living among the great, +was yet not quite lost to the feelings of nature. + +His brother, than whom he was only a year younger, and whom he had loved +thro' childhood and youth with singular attachment, was not wholly +forgotten; and the softened likeness, in the countenance of Emmeline, to +one whom he had so long been used to look up to with tenderness, +frequently said as much for her to his affection, as her unprotected and +helpless state did to his honour and his compassion. Nor, whatever pains +he took to stifle his pity for his son, could he entirely reconcile to +his own heart the part he was acting. + +But of these feelings, meritorious as they were, he was ashamed, and +dared not avow them even to himself; while he was intimidated by the +supercilious spirit and unconquerable pride of Lady Montreville, and +tempted by the visions of encreasing splendour and accumulated riches +which Sir Richard perpetually presented to his imagination, and which +there was indeed but little doubt of realizing. + +The Mowbray family were known to possess abilities. Those of the +deceased Mr. Mowbray were remarkably great, tho' he had thrown away his +time and health in a course of dissipation which had made them useless. + +The talents of Lord Montreville, tho' less brilliant, were more solid. +And now in the meridian of life, with powerful connections and extensive +interest, he was courted to accept an eminent post in administration, +with a promise of a Marquisate being restored to him, which had long +lain dormant in his own family, and of the revival of which he was +extremely ambitious. + +To support such a dignity, his son's future fortune, ample as it must +be, would not, he thought, be adequate; and could only be made so by his +marrying Miss Otley or some woman of equal fortune. + +This, therefore, was the weight which entirely over-balanced all his +kindness for his niece, and confirmed his resolution to tear her from +Delamere at whatever price. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +It was much earlier than the usual hour for morning visits, when Sir +Richard Crofts was at the door of Mrs. Ashwood. + +Miss Mowbray had given no orders to be denied; and he was, on enquiring +for her, shewn into the parlour. + +As soon as the servant informed her a gentleman was below whom she found +was not Delamere, she concluded it was Lord Montreville; and with a +fearful and beating heart, went down. + +She saw, with some surprise, a middle-aged man, of no very pleasant +countenance and person, to whom she was an entire stranger; and +concluding his business was with Mrs. Ashwood, she was about to retreat, +when the gentleman advancing towards her, told her he waited on her, +commissioned by Lord Montreville. + +Emmeline sat down in silence, and Sir Richard began. + +'Miss Mowbray, I have the honour to be connected with Lord Montreville, +and entirely in his Lordship's confidence: you will please therefore to +consider what I shall say to you as coming immediately, directly, and +absolutely, from himself; and as his Lordship's decided, and +unalterable, and irrevocable intentions.' + +The abruptness of this speech shocked and distressed Emmeline. She grew +very pale; but bowing slightly to the speaker, he went on. + +'My Lord Montreville hopes and supposes, and is willing to believe, that +you have not, in direct violation of your promise solemnly given, +encouraged Mr. Delamere in the absurd, and impossible, and impracticable +project of marrying you. But however that may have been, as it is his +Lordship's firm resolution and determination never to suffer such a +connection, you have, I suppose, too much sense not to see the mischief +you must occasion, and bring on, and cause to yourself, by encouraging a +giddy, and infatuated, and ignorant, and rash young man, to resist +paternal authority.' + +Emmeline was still silent. + +'Now here is an opportunity of establishing yourself in affluence, and +reputation, and fortune, beyond what your most sanguine hopes could +offer you; and I am persuaded you will eagerly, and readily, and +immediately embrace it. Lord Montreville insists upon it; the world +expects it; and Mr. Delamere's family demand it of you.' + +'Sir!' said Emmeline, astonished at the peremptory tone and strange +purport of these words. + +'It is my custom,' resumed Sir Richard, 'when I am upon business, to +speak plainly, and straitly, and to the point. This then is what I have +to propose--You are acquainted with Mr. Rochely, the great banker?' + +'Yes, Sir.' + +'He offers to my Lord Montreville to marry you; and to make settlements +on you equal to what you might have claimed, had you a right to be +considered as a daughter of the house of Mowbray. His real fortune is +very great; his annual income superior to that of many of the nobility; +and there _can_ be no reason, indeed none will be allowed, or listened +to, or heard of, why you should not eagerly, and instantly, and joyfully +accept a proposal so infinitely superior to what you have any claim, or +right, or pretence to.' + +This was almost too much for poor Emmeline. Anger and disdain, which she +found fast rising in her bosom, restrained her tears: but her eyes +flashed indignantly on the unfeeling politician who thus so indelicately +addressed her. + +He would not give her time to speak; but seemed determined to overwhelm +her imagination at once with the contrast he placed before her. + +'If,' continued he, 'you will agree to become the wife of Mr. Rochely, +as soon as settlements can be prepared, my Lord Montreville, of whose +generosity, and greatness of mind, and liberality, too much cannot be +said, offers to consider you as being really his niece; as being really +a daughter of the Mowbray family; and, that being so considered, you may +not be taken by any man portionless, he will, on the day of marriage, +present, and settle on, and give you, three thousand pounds. + +'Now, Miss Mowbray, consider, and weigh, and reflect on this well: and +give me leave, in order that you may form a just judgment, to tell you +the consequence of your refusal. + +'My Lord Montreville, who is not obliged to give you the least +assistance, or support, or countenance, does by me declare, that if you +are so weak (to call it by no harsher name) as to refuse this +astonishing, and amazing, and singular good fortune, he shall consider +you as throwing off all duty, and regard, and attention to him; and as +one, with whose fate it will be no longer worth his while to embarrass, +perplex, and concern himself. From that moment, therefore, you must drop +the name of Mowbray, to which in fact you have no right, and take that +of your mother, whatever it be; and you must never expect from my Lord +Montreville, or the Mowbray-Delamere family, either countenance, or +support, or protection. + +'Now, Miss Mowbray, your answer. The proposition cannot admit of +deliberation, or doubt, or hesitation, and my Lord expects it by me.' + +The presence of mind which a very excellent understanding and a very +innocent heart gave to Emmeline, was never more requisite than on this +occasion. The rude and peremptory manner of the speaker; the dreadful +alternative of Rochely on one side, and indigence on the other, thus +suddenly and unexpectedly brought before her; was altogether so +overcoming, that she could not for a moment collect her spirits enough +to speak at all. She sighed; but her agitation was too great for tears; +and at length summoning all her courage, she replied-- + +'My Lord Montreville, Sir, would have been kinder, had he delivered +himself his wishes and commands. Such, however, as I now receive them, +they require no deliberation. _I will not_ marry Mr. Rochely, tho' +instead of the fortune you describe, he could offer me the world.--Lord +Montreville _may_ abandon me, but he _shall not_ make me wretched. Tell +him therefore, Sir,' (her spirit rose as she spoke) 'that the daughter +of his brother, unhappy as she is, yet boasts that nobleness of mind +which her father possessed, and disclaims the mercenary views of +becoming, from pecuniary motives, the wife of a man whom she cannot +either love or esteem. Tell him too, that if she had not inherited a +strong sense of honour, of which at least her birth does not deprive +her, she might now have been the wife of Mr. Delamere, and independant +of his Lordship's authority; and it is improbable, that one who has +sacrificed so much to integrity, should now be compelled by threats of +indigence to the basest of all actions, that of selling her person and +her happiness for a subsistence. I beg that _you, Sir_, who seem to have +delivered Lord Montreville's message, with such scrupulous exactness, +will take the trouble to be as precise in my answer; and that his +Lordship will consider it as final.' + +Having said this, with a firmness of voice and manner which resentment, +as well as a noble pride, supplied; she arose, curtseyed composedly to +Sir Richard, and went out of the room; leaving the unsuccessful +ambassador astonished at that strength of mind, and dignity of manner, +which he did not expect in so young a woman, and somewhat mortified, +that his masculine eloquence, on which he was accustomed to pride +himself, and which he thought generally unanswerable, had so entirely +fallen short of the effect he expected. + +Unwilling however to return to Lord Montreville without hopes of +success, he thought he might obtain at least some information from Mrs. +Ashwood of the likeliest means to move her untractable and high spirited +friend. He therefore rang the bell, and desired to speak with that lady. +But as she was not yet returned from the house of her father, where a +family meeting was held to inspect his will, Sir Richard failed of +attempting to secure her agency; and was obliged, however reluctantly, +to depart. + +Emmeline, whose command of herself was exerted with too much violence +not to shake her whole frame with it's effects, no sooner reached her +own chamber than she found all her courage gone, and a violent passion +of tears succeeded. + +Her deep convulsive sighs reached the ears of Miss Galton; who entered +the room, and began, in the common mode of consolation, first to enquire +why she wept? + +Emmeline answered only by weeping the more. + +Miss Galton enquired if that gentleman was Lord Montreville. + +Emmeline was unable to reply; and Miss Galton finding no gratification +to her curiosity, which, mingled with envious malignity, had long been +her ruling passion, was obliged to quit the unhappy Emmeline; which was +indeed the only favour she could do her. + +The whole morning had passed before Miss Mowbray was able to come down +stairs, and when she did, her languor and dejection were excessive. Miss +Galton only dined with her; if it might be called dining, for she eat +nothing; but just as the cloth was removed, a coach stopped, and Mrs. +Ashwood appeared, led by her brother, Mr. Stafford. + +Emmeline, who had not very lately heard from her beloved friend, now +eagerly enquired after her, and learned that the illness of one of her +children had, together with her being far advanced in her pregnancy, +prevented her coming to London with Mr. Stafford; who, tho' summoned +thither immediately on his father's death, had only arrived the evening +before; the messenger that went having missed him at his own house, and +having been obliged to follow him into another county. + +He delivered to Miss Mowbray a letter from Mrs. Stafford, with which +Emmeline, eager to read it, retired-- + + + 'Trust me, Emmeline, no abatement in my tender regard, has + occasioned my omitting to write to you: but anxiety of mind so + great, as to deprive me of all power to attend to any thing but + it's immediate object.--Your poor little friend Harry, who looked + so much recovered, and so full of health and spirits, when you left + him at Swansea, was three weeks ago seized again with one of those + fevers to which he has so repeatedly been liable, and for many days + his life appeared to be in the most immediate danger. You know how + far we are from a physician; and you know my anxiety for this first + darling of my heart; judge then, my Emmeline, of the miserable + hours I have known, between hope and fear, and the sleepless nights + I have passed at the bed side of my suffering cherub; and in my + present state I doubly feel all this anxiety and fatigue, and am + very much otherwise than well. Of myself, however, I think not, + since Harry is out of danger, and Dr. Farnaby thinks will soon be + entirely restored; but he is still so very weak, that I never quit + him even a moment. The rest of my children are well; and all who + are capable of recollection, remember and love you. + + 'And now, my dear Miss Mowbray, as the visitors who have been with + me ever since my return from Swansea, are happily departed and no + others expected, and as Mr. Stafford will be engaged in town almost + all the winter, in consequence of his father's death, will you not + come to me? _You_ only can alleviate and share a thousand anxieties + that prey on my spirits; _you_ only can sweeten the hour of my + confinement, which will happen in January; and before _you_ only I + can sigh at liberty and be forgiven. + + 'Ah! Emmeline--the death of Mr. Stafford's father, far from + producing satisfaction as increasing our fortune, brings to me only + regret and sorrow. He loved me with great affection; and I owe him a + thousand obligations. The family will have reason to regret his + loss; tho' the infirmities of the latter part of his life were not + much alleviated by their attendance or attention. + + 'Come to me, Emmeline, if possible; come, if you can, with Mr. + Stafford; or if he is detained long in town, come without him. I + will send my post-chaise to meet you at Basingstoke. Lord + Montreville cannot object to it; and Delamere, whom you have never + mentioned, has, I conclude, given way to the peremptory commands of + his father, and has determined to forget my Emmeline. + + 'Is it then probable any one can forget her? I know not of what + the volatile and thoughtless Delamere may be capable; but I know + that of all things it would be the most impossible to her truly + attached and affectionate, + + C. STAFFORD.' + + _Woodfield, Nov. 30._ + + +This letter gave great relief to the mind of the dejected Emmeline. That +her first and dearest friend, opened at this painful crisis her +consolatory bosom to receive and pity her; and that she should have the +power to share her fatigue, and lessen the weight of her anxiety during +the slow recovery of her child; seemed to be considerations which +softened all the anguish she had endured during the day. + +She was however too much disordered to go down to tea; and told Mrs. +Ashwood, who civilly came up to enquire after her, that she had a +violent pain in her head and would go to bed. + +Mrs. Ashwood, full of her increased fortune, and busied in studying to +make her deep mourning as becoming as possible, let her do as she would, +and thought no more about her. + +She had therefore time to meditate at leisure on her wayward fate: and +some surprise that Delamere had not appeared the whole day, mingled +itself with her reflections. + +Poor Delamere was not to blame. Lord Montreville had sent him very early +in the morning to desire to see him for five minutes on business of +consequence. + +Delamere, who from what had passed the evening before had indulged, +during the night, the fondest dreams of happiness, obeyed the summons +not without some hopes that he should hear all his favourable presages +confirmed. When he came, however, his father, waving all discourse that +related to Emmeline or himself, affected to consult him on a proposal he +had received for his eldest sister, which the family were disposed to +promote; and after detaining him as long as he could on this and on +other subjects, he desired him to send to his lodgings for Millefleur, +and to dress as expeditiously as possible, in order to accompany him to +dine at Lord Dornock's, a Scottish nobleman, with whom his Lordship was +deeply engaged in the depending negociation with Ministry; and who was +at his seat, about nine miles from London. + +Delamere reluctantly engaged in such a party. But however short his +father's discourse fell of what he hoped, he yet determined to get the +better of his repugnance and obey him; still flattering himself that +Lord Montreville would lead to the subject nearest his heart, or that in +the course of the day he should at least have an opportunity of +introducing it. + +They therefore set out together, on the most amicable terms, in Lord +Montreville's coach. But as they had taken up on their way a gentleman +who held a place under Lord Dornock, his presence prevented any +conversation but on general subjects, during their short journey. + +The dinner passed as such dinners generally do--too much in the secret +to touch on politics, all such discourse was carefully avoided at the +table of Lord Dornock. + +In literature they had no resource; and therefore the conversation +chiefly turned on the pleasure they were then enjoying--that of the +luxuries of the table. They determined on the merits of the venison of +the past season; settled what was the best way of preparing certain +dishes; and whose domain produced the most exquisite materials for +others. And on these topics a society of cooks could not have more +learnedly descanted. + +Delamere, not yet of an age to be initiated into the noble science of +eating, and among whose ideas of happiness the delights of gratifying +his palate had not yet been numbered, heard them with impatience and +disgust. + +He was obliged, however, to stay while the wines were criticised as +eloquently as the meats had been; and to endure a long harangue from the +master of the house, on _cote roti_ and _lacryma Christi_; and after the +elder part of the company had adjusted their various merits and +swallowed a sufficient quantity, the two noblemen retired to a private +conference; and Delamere, obliged to move into a circle of insipid +women, took refuge in cards, which he detested almost as much as the +entertainment he had just quitted. + +The hours, however slowly, wore away, and his patience was almost +exhausted: soon after ten o'clock he ventured to send to his father, to +know whether he was ready to return to town? but he received a message +in reply, 'that he had determined to stay all night where he was.' + +Vexed and angry, Delamere began to suspect that his father had some +design in thus detaining him at a distance from Emmeline; and fired by +indignation at this idea, equally scorning to submit to restraint or to +be detained by finesse, he disengaged himself from the card table, +fetched his hat, and without speaking to any body, walked to the next +village, where he got into a post-chaise and was presently in London; +but as it was almost twelve o'clock, he forbore to visit Emmeline that +night. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +As soon as there was any probability of Emmeline's being visible the +next morning, Delamere was at Clapham. + +The servant of whom he enquired for her, told him, that Miss Mowbray had +not yet rung her bell, and that as it was later than her usual hour, she +was afraid it was owing to her being ill. + +Alarmed at this intelligence, Delamere eagerly questioned her further; +and learned that the preceding morning, a gentleman who had never been +there before, had been to see Miss Mowbray, and had staid with her about +three quarters of an hour, during which he had talked very loud; and +that after he was gone, she had hastened to her own room, crying sadly, +and had seemed very much vexed the whole day afterwards. That when she +went to bed, which was early in the evening, she had sighed bitterly, +and said she was not well. The servants, won by the sweetness and +humanity with which Emmeline treated them, all seemed to consider her +health and happiness as their own concern; and the girl who delivered +this intelligence to Delamere, had been very much about her, and knowing +her better, loved her more than the others. + +Delamere could not doubt the truth of this account; yet he could not +conjecture who the stranger could be, in whose power it was thus to +distress Emmeline. But dreading lest some scheme was in agitation to +take her from him, he sat in insupportable anxiety 'till she should +summons the maid. + +Her music book lay open on a _piano forte_ in the breakfast parlour. A +song which he had a few days before desired her to learn, as being one +which particularly charmed him, seemed to have been just copied into it, +and he fancied the notes and the writing were executed with more than +her usual elegance. Under it was a little _porte feuille_ of red +morocco. Delamere took it up. It was untied; and two or three small +tinted drawings fell out. He saw the likeness of Mrs. Stafford, done +from memory; one yet more striking of his sister Augusta; and two or +three unfinished resemblances of persons he did not know, touched with +less spirit than the other two. A piece of silver paper doubled together +enclosed another; he opened it--it was a drawing of himself, done with a +pencil, and slightly tinged with a crayon; strikingly like; but it +seemed unfinished, and somewhat effaced. + +Though among so many other portraits, this could not be considered as a +very flattering distinction, Delamere, on seeing it, was not master of +his transports. He now believed Emmeline (whom he could never induce to +own that her partiality for him exceeded the bounds of friendship) yet +cherished in her heart a passion she would not avow. + +While he was indulging these sanguine and delicious hopes, he heard a +bell ring, and flew to enquire if it was that of Emmeline? + +The maid, who crossed the hall to attend it's summons, told him it was. +He stepped softly up stairs behind the servant, and waited at the door +of the chamber while she went in. + +To the question, from the maid, 'how she did?' Emmeline answered, 'much +better.' + +'Mr. Delamere is here, Madam, and begs to know whether he may see you?' + +Emmeline had expected him all the day before, and was not at all +surprised at his coming now. But she knew not what she should say to +him. To dissimulate was to her almost impossible; yet to tell him what +had passed between her and Sir Richard Crofts was to create dissentions +of the most alarming nature between him and his father; for she knew +Delamere would immediately and warmly resent the harshness of Lord +Montreville. + +She could not however determine to avoid seeing Delamere; and she +thought his Lordship was not entitled to much consideration, after the +indelicate and needless shock he had given her, by employing the +peremptory, insolent, and unfeeling Sir Richard Crofts. + +After a moment's hesitation, she told Nanny to let Mr. Delamere know +that as soon as she was dressed she would be with him in the parlour. + +Delamere, who heard the message, stepped softly down stairs, replaced +the drawings, and waited the entrance of Emmeline; who neither requiring +or accustoming herself to borrow any advantage from art or ornament, was +soon dressed in her usual simple undress. + +But to give some appearance of truth to what she intended to alledge, a +cold, in excuse for her swollen eyes and languid looks, she wrapt a +gauze hood over her head, and tied a black ribband round her throat; for +tho' she could not wholly conceal the truth from Delamere, she wished to +prevent his seeing how much it had affected her. + +When she entered the room, Delamere, who was at the door to meet her, +was astonished at the alteration he saw in her countenance. + +'You are ill, Emmeline?' said he, taking her hand. + +'I am not quite well--I have a violent cold coming.' + +'A cold?' eagerly answered Delamere, 'you have been crying--who was the +person who called on you yesterday?' + +It was now in vain to attempt concealment if she had intended it. + +'He did not tell me his name, for our conversation was very short; but +his servants told those of Mrs. Ashwood that his name is Sir Richard +Crofts.' + +'And what business could Sir Richard Crofts possibly have with you?' + +Emmeline related the conversation with great fidelity and without +comment. + +Delamere had hardly patience to hear her out. He protested he would +immediately go to Sir Richard Crofts, and not only force him to +apologize for what had passed, but promise never again to interfere +between Lord Montreville and his family. + +From executing this violent measure, Emmeline by earnest entreaty +diverted him. She had not yet recovered the shock given her by the +unwelcome interview of the preceding day; and though she had a very +excellent constitution, her sensibility of mind was so great, that when +she suffered any poignant uneasiness, it immediately affected her frame. +In the present state of her spirits, she could not hear Delamere's +vehement and passionate exclamations without tears; and when he saw how +much she was hurt, he commanded himself; spoke more calmly; and by a +rapid transition from rage to tenderness, he wept also, and bathed her +hands with his tears. + +He was not without hopes that this last effort of Lord Montreville would +effect a change in his favour; and he pleaded again for an elopement +with the warmest eloquence of love. + +But Emmeline, though she felt all the force of his arguments, had still +the courage to resist them; and all he could obtain from her was a +renewal of her former promise, neither to leave Mrs. Ashwood unknown to +him or to conceal the place of her residence; to consent to see him +wherever she should be, and positively to reject Mr. Rochely's offer. + +In return, she expected from Delamere some concessions which nothing but +the sight of her uneasiness would have induced him to grant. At length +she persuaded him to promise that he would not insult Sir Richard +Crofts, or commit any other rashness which might irritate Lord +Montreville. + +Nothing was a stronger proof of the deep root which his passion had +taken in his heart, than the influence Emmeline had obtained over his +ungovernable and violent spirit, hitherto unused to controul, and +accustomed from his infancy to exert over his own family the most +boundless despotism. + +Emmeline, tranquillized and consoled by his promises, then entreated him +to go; as the state of Mrs. Ashwood's family made visitors improper. In +this, too, he obeyed her. And as soon as he was gone, Emmeline sat down +to write to Mrs. Stafford, related briefly what had lately happened, and +told her, that as soon as Lord Montreville could be induced to settle +some yearly sum for her support, (which notwithstanding his threats she +still thought he would do, on condition of her engaging never, without +his consent, to marry Delamere,) she would set out for Woodfield. + +Lord Montreville, absorbed in politics and in a negociation with +ministry, had, on the evening when he and his son were at Lord +Dornock's, forgotten the impatient temper and particular situation of +Delamere. His non appearance at supper occasioned an enquiry, and it was +found he had left the house. It was too late for Lord Montreville to +follow him that night, and would, indeed, have been useless; but early +the next morning he was in Berkley-square, where he heard nothing of his +son. + +He received a letter from Sir Richard Crofts, relating the ill success +of his embassy; but adding, that he would bring Rochely to his Lordship +the next day, to consider together what was next to be done. A letter +also soon after arrived from Lady Montreville, to let his Lordship know +that herself and her daughter, with Lady Mary and Miss Otley, were +coming to town the next evening. + +Delamere, the tumult of whose spirits was too great immediately to +subside, took, for the first time in his life, some pains to conquer +their violence, in consideration of Emmeline. + +He sent his servants to Berkley-square, to enquire among the domestics +what had passed. He thence learned that his father had returned in the +morning from Lord Dornock's in very ill humour, and that his mother was +expected in town. An interview with either, would, he was conscious, +only be the occasion of that dissention he had promised Emmeline to +avoid. His mother, he knew, came to town determined to keep no terms +with him; and that she would incessantly harrass him with reproaches or +teize him with entreaties. He therefore determined to avoid entirely all +conversation with both; and after a short reflection on the best means +to do so, he ordered Millefleur to discharge the lodgings; told him and +his other two servants that he was going out of town, and should not +take either them or his horses; therefore would have them go to +Berkley-square, and wait there his return. He bade his valet tell Lord +Montreville that he should be absent ten days or a fortnight. Then +ordering an hackney coach, he directed it to drive to Westminster +Bridge, as if he meant there to take post: instead of which he dismissed +it at the end of Bridge-street; and walking over to the Surry side, he +presently provided himself with lodgings under the name of Mr. Oswald, a +gentleman just come from Ireland; and all traces of Mr. Delamere were +lost. + + + END OF THE FIRST VOLUME + + + + +VOLUME II + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Sir Richard Crofts brought Mr. Rochely to Lord Montreville at the time +appointed; and in consequence of the conversation then held, his +Lordship was confirmed in his resolution of persisting in the plan Sir +Richard had laid down, to force Emmeline to accept the good fortune +offered her. Lord Montreville had sent as soon as he got to town to +Delamere's lodgings, whose servants said that he had slept there, but +was then gone out. His Lordship concluded he was gone to Clapham; but as +he could not remedy his uneasiness on that head, he was obliged to +endure it. About twelve o'clock Delamere had arranged matters for his +concealment; and about three, as Lord Montreville was dressing to go +out, Millefleur, together with Delamere's footman and groom, came as +they had been ordered to Berkley-square. This circumstance was no sooner +related to Lord Montreville by his valet de chambre, than he ordered +Millefleur to be sent up. The Frenchman related to his Lordship, that +his master was certainly gone to Mr. Percival's; but Lord Montreville +concluded he was gone to Scotland, and, in a tempest of anger and +vexation, cursed the hour when he had listened to the advice of Sir +Richard Crofts, the harshness of whose proceedings had, he imagined, +precipitated the event he had so long dreaded. He was so entirely +persuaded that this conjecture was the truth, that he first gave orders +for a post-chaise and four to be ready directly; then recollecting that +if he overtook his son he had no power to force him back, he thought it +better to take with him some one who could influence Emmeline. His +youngest daughter was still in Yorkshire; Mrs. Stafford he knew not +where to find; but he supposed that Mrs. Ashwood, with whom she had +lived some months, might have power to persuade her; and not knowing +what else to do, indeed hardly knowing what he expected from the visit, +he ordered his coachman to be as expeditious as possible in conveying +him to the house of that lady. + +Mrs. Ashwood, her brother, and four or five other persons related to the +family, were at dinner. Lord Montreville entered the room; spoke to +those he knew with as much civility as he could; but not seeing Emmeline +among them, his apprehensions were confirmed. He desired they would not +disturb themselves; and declined sharing their repast; but being unable +to conceal his emotion till it was over, he said to Mrs. Ashwood--'I am +sorry, Madam, to trouble you on this unhappy business. I did hope you +would have had the goodness at least to inform me of it. What can I do?' +exclaimed he, breaking suddenly from his discourse and rising--'Good +God, what can I do?' + +The company were silent, and amazed. + +Mrs. Ashwood, however, said, 'I am sorry that any thing, my Lord, has +disturbed your Lordship. I am sure I should have been happy, my Lord, +could I have been of any service to your Lordship in whatever it is.' + +'Disturbed!' cried he, striking his forehead with his hand, 'I am +distracted! When did she go? How long has she been gone?' + +'Who, my Lord?' + +'Miss Mowbray--Emmeline--Oh! it will be impossible to overtake them!' + +'Gone! my Lord?' + +'Gone with Delamere!--Gone to Scotland!' + +'Miss Mowbray was however in the house not an hour ago,' said Miss +Galton; 'I saw her myself go up the garden just as we sat down to +dinner.' + +'Then she went to meet him!--then they went together!'--exclaimed Lord +Montreville, walking round the room. + +An assertion so positive staggered every one. They rose from table in +confusion. + +'Let us go up,' said Mrs. Ashwood; 'I can hardly think it possible, my +Lord, that Miss Mowbray is gone, unless your Lordship absolutely saw +them.' + +Yet Mrs. Ashwood remembered that Delamere had been there in the morning, +and that Emmeline had dined early alone, and had remained by herself all +the rest of the day, under pretence of sickness; and she began to +believe that all this was done to give her time to elope with Delamere. + +She went up stairs; and Lord Montreville, without knowing what he did, +followed her. The stairs were carpetted; any one ascending was hardly +heard; and Mrs. Ashwood suddenly throwing open the door of her chamber, +Lord Montreville saw her, with her handkerchief held to her face, +hanging over a packet of papers which lay on the table before her. + +Emmeline did not immediately look up--an exclamation from Lord +Montreville made her take her handkerchief from her eyes. + +She arose; tried to conceal the sorrow visible in her countenance yet +wet with tears, and assuming as much as she could her native ease and +sweetness, she advanced towards his Lordship, who still stood at the +door, amazed, and asked him if he would pardon her for desiring him to +sit down in a bed-chamber; if not, she would wait on him below. She then +went back to the table; threw the papers into the casket that was on it; +and placing a chair between that and the fire, again asked him if he +would do her the honour to sit down. + +Lord Montreville did so, but said nothing. He was ashamed of his +precipitancy; yet as Emmeline did not know it, he would not mention it; +and was yet too full of the idea to speak of any thing else. + +Mrs. Ashwood had left them--Emmeline continued silent. + +Lord Montreville, after a long pause, at length said, with a stern and +displeased countenance, 'I understand, Miss Mowbray, that my son was +here this morning.' + +'Yes, my Lord.' + +'Pray, do you know where he now is?' + +'I do not, indeed. Is he not at your Lordship's house?' + +'No; I am told by his servants that he is gone to Mr. Percival's--But +_you_--'(continued he, laying a strong emphasis on the word) '_you_, +Miss Mowbray, are I dare say better informed of his intentions than any +one else.' + +'Upon my word, my Lord,' answered Emmeline, astonished, 'I do _not_ +know. He said nothing to me of an intention to go any where; on the +contrary, he told me he should be here again to-morrow.' + +'And is it possible you are ignorant of his having left London this +morning, immediately after he returned from visiting you?' + +'My Lord, I have never yet stooped to the meanness of a falsehood. Why +should your Lordship now suppose me guilty of it? I repeat--and I hope +you will do me the justice to believe me--upon my honour I do _not_ +know whither Mr. Delamere is gone--nor do I know that he has left +London.' + +Lord Montreville could not but believe her. But while his fears were +relieved as to the elopement, they were awakened anew by the uncertainty +of what was become of his son, and what his motive could be for this +sudden disappearance. + +He thought however the present opportunity of speaking to Emmeline of +his resolution was not to be neglected. + +'However ignorant you may be, Miss Mowbray,' said he, 'of the reason of +his having quitted his lodgings, you are not to learn that his motive +for estranging himself from his family, and becoming a stranger to his +father's house, originates in his inconsiderate attachment to you. +Contrary to the assurances you gave me at Swansea, you have encouraged +this attachment; and, as I understand from Sir Richard Crofts, you +peremptorily and even rudely refuse the opportunity now offered you of +establishing yourself in rank and affluence, which no other young woman +would a moment hesitate to accept. Such a refusal cannot be owing to +mere caprice; nor could it possibly happen had you not determined, in +despite of every objection, and of bringing discord into my family, to +listen to that infatuated and rash young man.' + +'Your Lordship does not treat me with your usual candour. I have +promised you, voluntarily promised you, not to marry Mr. Delamere +without your Lordship's consent. To prevent his coming here was out of +my power; but if I really aspired to the honour of which your Lordship +thinks me ambitious, _what_ has prevented me from engaging at once with +Mr. Delamere? who has, I own to you, pressed me repeatedly to elope. My +Lord, while I am treated with kindness and confidence, I can rely upon +my own resolution to deserve it; _but_ when your Lordship, on suspicion +or misrepresentation, is induced to withdraw that kindness and +confidence--why should _I_ make a point of honour, where _you_ no longer +seem to expect it?' + +The truth of this answer, as well as it's spirit, at once hurt and +irritated Lord Montreville. + +Determined to separate Emmeline from his son, he was mortified to be +forced to acknowledge in his own breast that she merited all his +affection, and angry that she should be in the right when he wished to +have found something to blame in her conduct. Pride and self-love seemed +to resent that a little weak girl should pretend to a sense of +rectitude, and a force of understanding greater than his own. + +'Miss Mowbray,' said his Lordship sharply, 'I will be very explicit with +you--either consent to marry Mr. Rochely, whose affection does you so +much honour, or expect from me no farther kindness.' + +'Your Lordship knows,' answered Emmeline, 'that I have no friend on whom +I have the least claim but you. If you abandon me--but, my Lord, ought +you to do it?----I am indeed most friendless!' + +She could no longer command her tears--sobs obliged her to cease +speaking. + +Lord Montreville thought her resolution would give way; and trying to +divest himself of all feeling, with an effort truly political, he +determined to press his point. + +'It is in your power,' resumed he, 'not only to place yourself above all +fear of such desertion, but to engage my affection and that of my whole +family. You will be in a situation of life which I should hardly refuse +for one of the Miss Delameres. You will possess the most unbounded +affluence, and a husband who adores you. A man unexceptionable in +character; of a mature age; and whose immense fortune is every day +encreasing. You will be considered by me, and by Lady Montreville, as a +daughter of the house of Mowbray. The blemish of your birth will be +wiped off and forgotten.' + +Emmeline wept more than before. + +And his Lordship continued, 'If you absurdly refuse an offer so +infinitely above your expectations, I shall consider myself as having +more than done my duty in putting it in your way; and that your folly +and imprudence dissolve all obligation on my part. You must no longer +call yourself Mowbray; and you must forget that you ever were allowed to +be numbered among the relations of my family. Nor shall I think myself +obliged in any manner to provide for a person, who in scorn of +gratitude, prudence and reputation, throws from her an opportunity of +providing for herself.' + +Emmeline regained some degree of resolution. She looked up, her eyes +streaming with tears, and said, 'Well, my Lord! to the lowest indigence +I must then submit; for to marry Mr. Rochely is not in my power.' + +'We will suppose for a moment,' resumed Lord Montreville, 'that you +could realize the visionary hopes you have presumed to indulge of +uniting yourself to Mr. Delamere. Dear as he is to me and his mother, we +are determined from that moment to renounce him--never shall the +rebellious son who has dared to disobey us, be again admitted to our +presence!--never will we acknowledge as his wife, a person forced upon +us and introduced into our family in despite of our commands, and in +violation of duty, honour, and affection. _You_ will be the occasion of +his being loaded with the curses of both his parents, and of introducing +misery and discord into his family. Can you yourself be happy under such +circumstances? In point of fortune too you will find yourself +deceived--while _we_ live, Mr. Delamere can have but a very slender +income; and of every thing in our power we shall certainly deprive him, +both while we live, and at our decease. Consider well what I have said; +and make use of your reason. Begin by giving up to me the ridiculous +witnesses of a ridiculous and boyish passion, which must be no longer +indulged; to keep a picture of Delamere is discreditable and +indelicate--you will not refuse to relinquish it?' + +He reached over the table, and took from among two or three loose +papers, which yet lay before Emmeline, a little blue enamelled case, +which he concluded contained a miniature of Delamere, of whom several +had been drawn. Emmeline, absorbed in tears, did not oppose it. The +spring of the case was defective. It opened in his hand; and presented +to his view, not a portrait of his son, but of his brother, drawn when +he was about twenty, and at a period when he was more than a +brother--when he was the dearest friend Lord Montreville had on earth. A +likeness so striking, which he had not seen for many years, had an +immediate effect upon him. + +His brother seemed to look at him mournfully. A melancholy cast about +the eye-brows diminished the vivacity of the countenance, and the faded +colour (for the picture had been painted seven and twenty years) gave it +a look of languor and ill health; such perhaps as the original wore +before his death, when a ruined constitution threatened him for some +months, tho' his life terminated by a malignant fever in a few hours. + +The poor distrest Emmeline was the only memorial left of him; and Lord +Montreville felt her tears a reproach for his cruelty in thus +threatening to abandon to her fate, the unhappy daughter of this once +loved brother. + +Sir Richard Crofts and Lady Montreville were not by, to intercept these +sentiments of returning humanity. He found the tears fill his eyes as he +gazed on the picture. + +Emmeline, insensible of every thing, saw it not; and not conscious that +he had taken it, the purport of his last words she believed to relate to +a sketch she had herself made of Delamere. She was therefore surprized, +when Lord Montreville arising, took her hand, and in a voice that +witnessed the emotion of his soul, said--'Come, my dear Emmeline, pardon +me for thus distressing you, you shall _not_ be compelled to marry Mr. +Rochely if you have so great a dislike to him. You shall still have an +adequate support; and I trust I shall have nothing to fear from your +indiscretion in regard to Delamere.' + +'Your Lordship,' answered Emmeline, without taking her handkerchief from +her eyes, 'has never yet found me capable of falsehood: I will repeat, +if you desire it, the promise I gave you--I will even take the most +solemn oath you shall dictate, never to be the wife of Mr. Delamere, +unless your Lordship and Lady Montreville consent.' + +'I take your promise,' answered his Lordship, 'and shall rely firmly +upon it. But Emmeline, you must go from hence for your own sake; your +peace and reputation require it; Delamere must not frequent the house +where you are: you must conceal from him the place of your abode.' + +'My Lord, I will be ingenuous with you. To go from hence is what I +intend, and with your Lordship's permission I will set out immediately +for Mrs. Stafford's. But to conceal from Mr. Delamere where I am, is not +in my power; for I have given him a solemn promise to see him if he +desires it, wherever I shall be: and as I hope you depend on my honour, +it must be equally sacred whether given to him or you. You will +therefore not insist on my breaking this engagement, and I promise you +again never to violate the other.' + +With this compromise, Lord Montreville was obliged to be content. He +entreated Emmeline to see Rochely again, and hear his offers. But she +absolutely refused; assuring Lord Montreville, that were his fortune +infinitely greater, she would not marry him, tho' servitude should be +the alternative. + +His Lordship therefore forbore to press her farther. He desired, that if +Delamere wrote to her, or saw her, she would let him know, which she +readily agreed to; and he told her, that so long as she was single, and +did nothing to disoblige him, he would pay her an hundred guineas a year +in quarterly payments. He gave her a bank note of fifty pounds; and +recommending it to her to go as soon as possible to Mrs. Stafford's, he +kissed her cheek with an appearance of affection greater than he had yet +shewn, and then went home to prepare for the reception of Lady +Montreville, whose arrival he did not greatly wish for; dreading lest +her violence and ill-temper should drive his son into some new +extravagance. But as her will was not to be disputed, he submitted +without remonstrance to the alteration of the plan he had proposed; +which was, that his family should pass their Christmas in Norfolk, +whither he intended to have returned. + +The next day Delamere was again at Clapham, very early. + +Emmeline, the additional agitation of whose mind had prevented her +sleeping during the night, appeared more indisposed than she had done +the day before. + +Delamere, very much alarmed at her altered looks, anxiously enquired the +cause? And without hesitation she told him simply all that had passed; +the promise she had given to his father, to which she intended strictly +to adhere, and the arrangement she had agreed to on condition of being +persecuted no more on the score of Mr. Rochely. + +It is impossible to describe the grief and indignation of Delamere, at +hearing this relation. He saw all the hopes frustrated which he had been +so long indulging; he saw between him and all he loved, a barrier which +time only could remove; he dared not hope that Emmeline would ever be +induced to break an engagement which she considered as binding; he dared +not flatter himself with the most distant prospect of procuring the +consent of Lord and Lady Montreville, and therefore by their deaths only +could he obtain her; which if he had been unnatural enough to wish, was +yet in all probability very distant; as Lord Montreville was not more +than seven and forty, and of an excellent constitution; and Lady +Montreville three years younger. + +Passion and resentment for some moments stifled every other sentiment in +the heart of Delamere. But the impediments that thus arose to his wishes +were very far from diminishing their violence. + +The more impossible his union with Emmeline seemed to be, the more +ardently he desired it. The difficulties that might have checked, or +conquered an inferior degree of passion, served only to strengthen his, +and to render it insurmountable-- + +It was some moments before Emmeline could prevail upon him to listen to +her. She then enquired why he had concealed himself from his father, and +where he had been? + +He answered, that he had avoided Lord Montreville, because, had he met +him, he found himself incapable of commanding his temper and of +forbearing to resent his sending Sir Richard Crofts to her, which he had +promised her not to do. That therefore he had taken other lodgings in +another part of the town, where he intended to remain. + +Emmeline exhorted and implored him to return to Berkley-square. He +positively refused. He refused also to tell her where he lodged. And +complaining loudly of her cruelty and coldness, yet tenderly entreating +her to take care of her health, he left her; having first procured +permission to see her the next day, and every day till she set out for +Woodfield. + +When he was gone, Miss Mowbray wrote to Lord Montreville-- + + + 'My Lord, + + 'In pursuance of the word I passed to your Lordship, I have the + honour to acquaint you that Mr. Delamere has just left me. I + endeavoured to prevail on him to inform me where he lodges; but he + refuses to give me the least information. If it be your Lordship's + wish to see him, you will probably have an opportunity of doing it + here, as he proposed being here to-morrow; but refused to name the + hour, apprehending perhaps that you might meet him, as I did not + conceal from him that I should acquaint you with my having seen him. + + I have the honour to be, + my Lord, + your Lordship's + most obedient servant, + EMMELINE MOWBRAY.' + _Clapham, Dec. 3._ + + +Lord Montreville received this letter in her Ladyship's dressing-room. +The servant who brought it in, said it came from Clapham; and Lady +Montreville insisted on seeing its contents. She had been before +acquainted with what had passed; and bestowed on her son the severest +invectives for his obstinacy and folly. Poor Emmeline however, who was +the cause of it, was the principal object of her resentment and disdain. +Even this last instance of her rectitude, could not diminish the +prejudice which embittered the mind of Lady Montreville against her. She +lamented, whenever she deigned to speak of her, that the laws of this +country, unlike those of better regulated kingdoms, did not give people +of fashion power to remove effectually those who interfered with their +happiness, or were inimical to their views. 'If this little wretch,' +said she, 'was in France, it would not be difficult to put an end to the +trouble she has dared to give us. A _letter de cachet_ would cure the +creature of her presumption, and place her where her art and affectation +should not disturb the peace of families of high rank.' + +Lord Montreville heard these invectives without reply, but not without +pain. + +Augusta Delamere, who arrived in Berkley-square the same morning that +Lady Montreville did, felt still more hurt by her mother's determined +hatred to Emmeline, whom she languished to see, and had never ceased to +love. + +Miss Delamere inheriting all the pride of her mother, and adding to it a +sufficient share of vanity and affectation of her own, had taken a +dislike to the persecuted Emmeline, if possible more inveterate than +that of Lady Montreville. Tho' she had never seen her, she detested her; +and exerted all her influence on her mother to prevent her being +received into the family as her father's relation. Fitz-Edward had +praised her as the most interesting woman he had ever seen. Miss +Delamere had no aversion to Fitz-Edward; and tho' he had never seemed +sensible of the honour she did him, she could not divest herself wholly +of that partiality towards him, which made her heartily abhor any woman +he seemed to admire. When to this cause of dislike was added, what she +called the insolent presumption of the animal in daring to attempt +inveigling _her_ brother into the folly of marrying, she thought she +might indulge all the rancour, envy, and malignity of her heart. + +When Lady Montreville had read the letter, she threw it down on the +table contemptuously. + +'It requires no answer,' said she to the servant who waited. + +The man left the room. + +'Well, my Lord,' continued she, addressing herself to her husband, 'what +do you intend to do about this unhappy, infatuated boy?' + +'I really know not,' answered his Lordship. + +'I will tell you then,' resumed she--'Go to this girl, and let her know +that you will abandon her pennyless; force her to accept the honour Mr. +Rochely offers her; and, by shewing a little strength of mind and +resolution, break these unworthy chains with which your own want of +prudence has fettered your son.' + +'It has already been tried, Madam, without success. Consider that if I +am bound by no obligations to support this young person, I am also +without any power over her. To force her to marry Mr. Rochely is +impossible. I have however her promise that she will not enter into any +clandestine engagement with Delamere.' + +'Her promise!' exclaimed Lady Montreville.--'And are you weak enough, my +Lord, to trust to the promise of an artful, designing creature, who +seems to me to have already won over your Lordship to her party? What +want of common sense is this! If you will not again speak to her, and +that most decisively, I will do it myself! Send her to me! I will force +her not only to tell me where Delamere has had the meanness to conceal +himself, but also oblige her to relinquish the hopes she has the +insolence to indulge.' + +Miss Delamere, who wanted to see the wonderful creature that had turned +her brother's head, and who was charmed to think she should see her +humbled and mortified, promoted this plan as much as possible. Augusta, +dreading her brother's violence, dared not, and Lord Montreville would +not oppose it, as he believed her Ladyship's overwhelming rhetoric, to +which he was himself frequently accustomed to give way, might produce on +Emmeline the effect he had vainly attempted. He therefore asked Lady +Montreville, whether she really wished to see Miss Mowbray, and when? + +'I am engaged to-morrow,' answered she, 'all day. But however, as she is +a sort of person whom it will be improper to admit at any other time, +let her be here at ten o'clock in the morning. She may come up, before I +breakfast, into my dressing-room.' + +'Shall I send one of the carriages for her?' enquired his Lordship. + +'By no means,' replied the Lady. 'They will be all wanted. Let her +borrow a coach of the people she lives with. I suppose all city people +now keep coaches. Or if she cannot do that, a hack may be had.' Then +turning to her woman, who had just brought her her snuff-box, +'Brackley,' said she, 'don't forget to order the porter to admit a +young woman who will be here to-morrow, at ten o'clock; tho' she may +perhaps come in a hack.' + +Lord Montreville, who grew every hour more uneasy at Delamere's absence, +now set out in search of him himself. He called at Fitz-Edward's +lodgings; but he was not yet come to town, tho' hourly expected. His +Lordship then went to Clapham, where he hoped to meet his son; but +instead of doing so, Emmeline put into his hands the following letter-- + + + 'I intended to have seen you again to-day; but the pain I felt + after our interview yesterday, has so much disordered me, that it + is better not to repeat it. Cruel Emmeline!--to gratify my father + you throw me from you without remorse, without pity. I shall be the + victim of his ambition, and of your false and mistaken ideas of + honour. + + 'Ah! Emmeline! will the satisfaction that you fancy will arise + from this chimerical honour make you amends for the loss of such an + heart as mine! Yet think not I can withdraw it from you, cold and + cruel as you are. Alas! it is no longer in my power. But my + passions, the violence of which I cannot mitigate, prey on my frame, + and will conduct to the grave, this unhappy son, who is to be + sacrificed to the cursed politics of his family. + + 'I cannot see you, Emmeline, without a renewal of all those + sensations which tear me to pieces, and which I know affect you, + though you try to conceal it. For a day or two I will go into the + country. _Remember your promise_ not to remove any where but to Mrs. + Stafford's; and to let me know the day and hour when you set out. + You plead to me, that your promise to my father is _sacred_. I + expect that those you have passed to me shall be at least equally + so. Farewel! till we meet again. You know that seeing you, and being + permitted to love you, is all that renders supportable the existence + of your unhappy + + F. D.' + + +'This letter, my Lord,' said Emmeline, was delivered by a porter. I +spoke to the man, and asked him from whence he brought it? He said from +a coffee-house at Charing-cross.' + +'Did you answer it?' + +'No, my Lord,' said Emmeline, blushing; 'I think it required no +answer.' + +He then told her that Lady Montreville expected to see her the next day; +and named the hour. + +Emmeline, terrified as she was at the idea of such an interview, was +forced to assure him she would be punctual to it; and his Lordship took +an hasty leave, still hoping he might meet his son. He was hardly gone, +before another porter brought to Emmeline a second letter: it was from +Augusta Delamere. + + + 'At length, my dear Emmeline, I am near you, and can tell you I + still love you; tho' even that satisfaction I am forced to snatch + unknown to my mother. Oh, Emmeline! I tremble for your situation + to-morrow. The dislike that both my mother and sister have taken to + you, is inconceivable; and I am afraid that you will have a great + deal of rudeness and unkindness to encounter. I write this to + prepare you for it; and hope that your conscious innocence, and the + generosity with which you have acted, will support you. I have been + taken to task most severely by my mother for my partiality to you; + and my sister, in her contemptuous way, calls you my sweet + sentimental friend. To be sure my brother's absence is a dreadful + thing; and great allowances are to be made for my mother's + vexation; tho' I own I do not see why it should prevent her being + just. I will try to be in the room to-morrow, tho' perhaps I shall + not be permitted. Don't say you have heard from me, for the world; + but be assured I shall always love you as you deserve, and be most + truly + + your affectionate and faithful, + A. DELAMERE.' + + _Berkley-square, Dec. 5._ + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Emmeline had the convenience of Mrs. Ashwood's carriage, who agreed to +set her down in Berkley-square. She was herself sitting for her picture; +and told Miss Mowbray she would send the chariot back for her when she +got to the house of the painter. + +Exactly at ten o'clock they arrived at the door of Lord Montreville; and +Emmeline, who had been arguing herself into some degree of resolution as +she went along, yet found her courage much less than she thought she +should have occasion for; and with faultering steps and trembling nerves +she went up stairs. The man who conducted her, told her that his Lady +was not yet up, and desired her to wait in an anti-room, which was +superbly furnished and covered with glasses, in which Emmeline had +leisure to contemplate her pale and affrighted countenance. + +The longer the interview was delayed the more dreadful it appeared. She +dared not ask for Miss Augusta; yet, at every noise she heard, hoped +that amiable girl was coming to console and befriend her. But no Augusta +appeared. A servant came in, mended the fire, and went down again; then +Miss Delamere's maid, under pretence of fetching something, took a +survey of her in order to make a report to her mistress; and Emmeline +found that she was an object of curiosity to the domesticks, who had +heard from Millefleur, and from the other servants who had been at +Swansea, that this was the young woman Mr. Delamere was dying for. + +An hour and a half was now elapsed; and poor Emmeline, whose imagination +had been busied the whole time in representing every form of insult and +contempt with which she expected to be received, began to hope that Lady +Montreville had altered her intention of seeing her. + +At length, however, Mrs. Brackley, her Ladyship's woman, was heard +speaking aloud to a footman--Walter, tell that young woman she may be +admitted to see my Lady, and shew her up. + +Walter delivered his message; and the trembling Emmeline with some +difficulty followed him. + +She entered the dressing-room. Her Ladyship, in a morning dress, sat at +a table, on which was a salver with coffee. Her back was to the door, +where stood Mrs. Brackley; who, as Emmeline, hesitating, seemed ready to +shrink back, said, with a sort of condescending nod, 'There, you may go +in, Miss.' + +Emmeline entered; but did not advance. + +Lady Montreville, without rising or speaking, turned her head, and +looked at her with a scowling and disdainful countenance. + +'Humph!' said she, looking at her eldest daughter, who sat by the fire +with a newspaper in her hand--'humph!' as much as to say, I see no such +great beauty in this creature. + +Miss Delamere, whose countenance wore a sort of disdainful sneer, +smiled in answer to her mother's humph! and said, 'Would you have her +sit down, Madam?' + +'Aye,' said Lady Montreville, turning again her head towards +Emmeline--'You may sit down.' + +There was a sofa near the door. Emmeline, hardly able to stand, went to +it. + +A silence ensued. Lady Montreville sipped her coffee; and Miss Delamere +seemed intent upon the newspaper. + +'So!' cried her Ladyship, 'my son has absented himself! Upon my word, +Miss What-d'ye-call-it, (for Mowbray I don't allow that your name is) +you have a great deal to answer for. Pray what amends can you ever hope +to make to my Lord, and me, for the trouble you have been the cause of?' + +'I sincerely lament it, Madam,' answered Emmeline, forcing herself to +speak; 'and do assure you it has been on my part involuntary.' + +'Oh, no doubt on't. Your wonderful beauty is the fatal cause. You have +used no art, I dare say; no pretty finesse, learned from novels, to +inveigle a silly boy to his undoing.' + +'If I had been disposed, Madam, to take advantage of Mr. Delamere's +unhappy partiality for me--' + +'Oh dear! What you was coy? You knew your subject, no doubt, and now +make a merit of what was merely a piece of art. I detest such demure +hypocrites! Tell me,--why, if you are _not_ disposed to take advantage +of Mr. Delamere's folly, you do not accept the noble offer made you by +this banker, or whatever he is, that my Lord says is worth above an +hundred thousand pounds? The reason is evident. A little obscure +creature, bred on the Welch mountains, and who was born nobody knows +how, does not so easily refuse a man of fortune unless she has some +other views. You would like a handsome young man with a title! Yes! you +would like to hide your own obscurity in the brilliant pedigree of one +of the first families in Europe. But know, presumptuous girl, that the +whole house shall perish ere it shall thus be contaminated--know'---- +She grew inarticulate with passion; pride and malignity seemed to choak +her; and she stopped, as if to recover breath to give vent to her rage. + +Miss Delamere took the opportunity to speak-- + +'Indeed, child,' said she, 'it is hurting yourself extremely; and I am +really sorry you should be so deceived. _My_ brother can never marry +_you_; and as Lord Montreville has brought you up, under the notion of +your belonging to a part of his family, we are really interested, my +mother and I, in your not going into a bad course of life. If you do not +marry this rich city-man, what do you think is to become of you?' + +'My Lord Montreville has been so good as to assure me,' said +Emmeline--her words were so faint, that they died away upon her lips. + +'What does she say, Fanny?' asked Lady Montreville. + +'Something of my father's having assured her, Madam.' + +'Don't flatter yourself, girl,' resumed her Ladyship, 'don't deceive +yourself. If you refuse to marry this man who offers to take you, not +one shilling shall you ever receive from this family; determine +therefore at once; send to the person in question; let him come here, +and let an agreement for a settlement be directly signed between Lord +Montreville and him. Lord Montreville will in that case give you a +fortune. I will hear no objection! I _will_ have the affair closed this +morning! I _will_ have it so!' + +Lady Montreville, accustomed to undisputed power in her own family, +expected from every body an acquiescence as blind as she found from her +tradesmen and servants, who endured her ill-humour and gave way to her +caprices. But she forgot that Emmeline was equally unaccustomed to her +commands, and free from the necessity of obeying them. The gentlest and +mildest temper will revolt against insolence and oppression: and the +cruelty and unfeminine insults she had received, concluded by this +peremptory way of forcing her into a marriage from which her whole soul +recoiled, at length restored to her some portion of that proper spirit +and presence of mind which had been frightened from her. Conscious that +she deserved none of these ungenerous insults, and feeling herself +superior to her who could cruelly and wantonly inflict them, she +regained her courage. + +'If your Ladyship has nothing more to say,' said she, rising, 'I shall +have the honour to wish you a good morning; for I believe Mrs. Ashwood +has been waiting for me some time.' + +'Don't tell me of Mrs. Ashwood--but tell me where is my son? Where is +Delamere?' + +'I know not,' answered Emmeline. 'I have already told my Lord +Montreville that I am entirely ignorant.' + +'Nobody believes it!' said Miss Delamere. + +'I am sorry for it,' replied Emmeline, coolly. 'If, however, I did know, +it is not such treatment, Madam, that should compel me to give any +information.' She then opened the door and walked down stairs. A footman +met her, whom she desired to enquire for Mrs. Ashwood's carriage. Before +the man could descend to obey her, a violent ringing was heard. The +footman said it was his Lady's bell, and ran up to answer it; while +Emmeline still descending, heard somebody softly calling her. She looked +up, and saw Augusta Delamere leaning over the bannisters; she put up her +finger as if to prevent Emmeline's speaking, threw her a letter, and +immediately disappeared. + +The spirits of Emmeline were again greatly hurried by this transient +view of her friend. She put the letter hastily into her pocket, and was +got down into the hall, where she spoke to another footman to see for +her carriage; but the man whom she had met on the stairs, now came to +say his Lady must see her again. Emmeline answered that she had already +made her friend wait, and must beg to be excused returning to her +Ladyship this morning. The man however said, that he dared not disobey +his Lady, nor call up the chariot. + +Emmeline, alarmed at the idea of being detained, advanced towards the +door, told the porter (who had not heard this dialogue,) to open it, and +walked resolutely into the street. + +The two footmen followed her to the door; but contented themselves with +looking after her, without attempting to stop her. + +'She is pretty enough, however,' said one to the other, 'to excuse our +young Lord.' + +'The devil's in't if she is not,' answered the other. + +Emmeline heard this; and between vexation at their impertinence, and +fear of their following her, she found her whole strength again forsake +her. + +She walked on however towards Charles-street, looking round for Mrs. +Ashwood's carriage, but could not see it. She was totally unacquainted +with the streets, where she had never been on foot before; but +recollected that she might get an hackney-coach, which was the more +necessary, as snow was falling fast, and her muslin cloaths were already +wet almost through. + +She was picking her way, still in some hopes of seeing the carriage, +when an hackney-coach passed empty. Emmeline looked wishfully towards +it. The man stopped, and asked if she wanted a coach? She answered yes, +as eagerly as if she had been afraid of a disappointment; and hurrying +into it, told the man to drive to Clapham. + +Just as he was mounting the box, another hack passed, and a young +officer who was in it looked earnestly into that where Emmeline sat; +then calling to his driver to stop, he leaped out, and Emmeline saw +Fitz-Edward at the door of her coach. + +'Miss Mowbray!' said he--'Is it possible! alone and in this equipage, in +Berkley-square! Where is Delamere?' + +Before Emmeline had time to answer him he had opened the coach door. + +'It snows too much,' said he, 'for a comfortable conference, unless you +will give me leave to sit by you; where are you going to?' + +'To Clapham,' answered Emmeline. + +'Oh! take me with you,' said he. 'I have a thousand things to say to +you.' + +He gave her no time to refuse: but flinging half a crown to the man who +had driven him, he got into the coach which she was in, and ordered the +man to shut the door and go where he had been directed. + +Emmeline was vexed at this incident, as she was too uneasy to wish for +the presence of any one, and impatient to open the letter in her pocket. +But Fitz-Edward was not easily discouraged; and possessed, together with +perfect good breeding, a fortunate sort of assurance with which nobody +was ever long displeased. + +He enquired after Mrs. Stafford with a degree of interest for which +Emmeline felt inclined to love him. She related all she knew of her; and +her eyes reassumed their lustre, while she told him how soon she was +likely to see her. He then renewed his questions about Delamere. + +Emmeline could not dissemble; and indeed saw in this case no reason why +she should. She therefore told him ingenuously all that had happened +since they met at Swansea; most of which he already knew from Delamere. +He watched her looks however while she was speaking; and by her blushes, +her manner, and the softness of her eyes, he thought he saw evidently +enough that Delamere was no longer indifferent to her. Her indignation +at the treatment she had just received from his mother and sister, dyed +her cheeks with crimson while she related it; but when she returned to +speak of Delamere, she forgot her anger, and seemed to feel only pity +and tenderness. + +Fitz-Edward, a most perfect judge of female hearts, made his +observations on all this, with which he knew he should most effectually +gratify his friend; and in his insinuating way, he said all he could +think of to encrease her compassion for her lover, and inflame her +resentment against those who impeded a union, which he was pretty sure +Emmeline now wished for, as well as Delamere. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +When they arrived at Clapham, Emmeline found Mrs. Ashwood was not yet +returned. Fitz-Edward entreated her to sing to him; and either was, or +pretended to be, in raptures at her improvement since they had met in +the summer. + +About half an hour after four, Mrs. Ashwood came in; and throwing open +the parlour door, asked Emmeline, in no very sweet accent, 'Why she had +given her the trouble to go in her carriage to Berkley-square, if she +intended going home by any other conveyance?' + +Mrs. Ashwood was subject to causeless fits of ill-humour, to which +Emmeline was a good deal accustomed; and concluding she was now seized +with some sudden discomposure of temper, mildly answered, 'That she +supposed there had been a mistake; for that the chariot did not come for +her at the appointed time.' + +'Mistake!' replied the other lady, sharply; 'I don't know as to mistake; +but if you had chosen it, you might have staid dinner with Lady +Montreville.' + +Emmeline, without seeming to attend to the asperity of the address, +desired to introduce Colonel Fitz-Edward. + +As this short dialogue had passed without Mrs. Ashwood's having entered +the room, she had not seen the stranger, who now advanced towards her. + +The title of Colonel, added to his military air and handsome figure, +seemed to gain at once her favourable opinion; and her countenance +losing the unpleasing expression of ill-temper, immediately put on its +best smile, and an affectation of softness and complacency with which +she frequently adorned it. + +She seemed to consider the handsome young soldier as a conquest worthy +all her ambition; and finding he was the most intimate friend of +Delamere, had no apprehension that his admiration would be diverted by +the youth and attractions of Emmeline. + +Fitz-Edward presently understood her character; and with admirable +adroitness acted the part of a man afraid of being too much charmed. He +cast an arch look at Emmeline; then made to the Lady of the house some +compliments so extravagant, that only the weakest vanity could prevent +her seeing its ridicule. But Fitz-Edward, who found in a moment that +nothing was too gross to be believed, fearlessly repeated the dose; and +before dinner came in, she was in the best humour imaginable, and +pressed him so earnestly to partake of it, that, after an apology for +sitting down in his morning dishabille, he consented. + +The same unlimited flattery was continued during dinner by Fitz-Edward, +and received by the lady with the same avidity; and Emmeline, tho' +half-angry with him for the pleasure he seemed to take in making Mrs. +Ashwood absurd, could not help being amused with the scene. + +Before their repast ended, she was so much charmed with her new +acquaintance, and so much longed to shew him to her female friends, and +her other admirers, that she could not forbear pressing him to stay to a +card party, which she was to have in the evening. + +He loved the ridiculous; and, influenced by a vanity as silly as that he +delighted to expose, he took pleasure in shewing how extremely absurd he +could make women appear, who were not on other occasions void of +understanding. Tho' he had really business with Lord Montreville, who +had left several messages at his lodgings desiring to see him, and was +going thither when Emmeline met him, yet he accepted Mrs. Ashwood's +invitation, on condition of being allowed to go home to dress. + +He was no sooner gone than she flew to her toilet, and Emmeline to a +second perusal of the letter she had received from Augusta Delamere. + + + 'I am forbidden to see you, my dearest Emmeline; and perhaps may + not have an opportunity of giving you this. My heart bleeds for + you, my sweet friend. I fear my father will be prevailed upon + wholly to abandon you. They are all inventing schemes to force you + into a marriage with that odd-looking old Rochely. He has been here + once or twice, and closetted with my father; and part + of the scheme of to-day is, to persuade you to dine here with + him. But I am almost sure you will not stay; for unless my mother + can command herself more before you than she does when she is + talking about you, I think you will be frightened away. I am + certain, my dear Emmeline, from what I have heard, tho' they say + but little before me, that no endeavours will be omitted to drive + you to marry Rochely; and that they will persecute you every way, + both by persuasions, and by distressing you. But be assured, that + while Augusta Delamere has any thing, you shall share it. Indeed I + love you, not only as if you were my sister, but, I think, better. + Ah! why are there such unhappy impediments to your being really so? + At present I foresee nothing but perplexity; and have no dependance + but on you. I know you will act as you ought to do; and that you + will at last prevail with Delamere to act right too. Whoever loves + you, cannot long persist in doing ill; and surely it is very ill + done, and very cruel, for Delamere to make us all so unhappy. I + need not tell you to arm yourself with fortitude against the + attacks that will be made upon you. You have more fortitude and + resolution than I have. Situated as you have been, I know not what + _I_ should have done; but I fear it would not have been so worthy + of praise as the noble and disinterested part you have acted; + which, tho' unaccompanied with the thousand amiable qualities of + heart and understanding you possess, would ever command the esteem + and admiration of your faithful and affectionate + + AUGUSTA DELAMERE.' + + 'Do not write to me till you hear from me again; as I should incur + great displeasure if known to correspond with you. + + A. D.' + + +Charmed as Emmeline was by the tender solicitude and affectionate +simplicity of her beloved friend, the pleasure this letter gave her was +very much abated by learning that the domestic infelicity of Lord +Montreville's family fell particularly heavy on her. She now recollected +what Mrs. Ashwood had said on her first entrance into the room, when she +returned home; and concluded from thence that she had seen Lady +Montreville, tho' her whole attention was so immediately engrossed by +the Colonel, that she had no more named it. She therefore grew anxious +to hear what had been said; and her own toilet being very soon over, she +sent to desire admittance to that of Mrs. Ashwood; on receiving which, +she attended her, and begged to know whether she had seen Lady +Montreville, and what had passed? + +Mrs. Ashwood was in so happy a disposition, that she hesitated not to +oblige her; and while she finished the important business of +accommodating a pile of black feathers, jet and crape, upon her head, +'the mockery of woe' which she did not even affect to feel, she gave +Emmeline the following account, interlarded with directions to her +woman. + +'Why, my dear, you must know that when I got to Gainsborough's [_more to +the left_] he had unluckily a frightful old judge, or a bishop, or some +tedious old man with him, and I was forced to wait: I cannot tell what +possessed me, but I entirely forgot that I was to send the chariot back +for you. So the chariot [_put it a little forwarder_] staid. I thought +the tiresome man, whoever he was, would never have gone; however he went +at last [_raise the lower curl_] and then I _sot_. You cannot think how +much the likeness is improved! So when I had done [_give me the scraper; +here is some powder on my eye-brow_] I went away, thinking to call on +you; but as I went by Butler's, I remembered that I wanted some +pearl-coloured twist to finish the purse I am doing for Hanbury. I was +almost an hour matching it. Well, then I thought as I was so near +Frivolité's door, I might as well call and see whether she had put the +trimming on the white bombazeen, as you know we agreed would be most the +thing. There were a thousand people in the house; you know there is +never any possibility of getting out of that creature's room under an +hour.' [Oh! heaven! thought Emmeline, nor is there any end to the +importance you affix to trifles which interest nobody else.] 'So, +however, at last I got to Berkley-square, and stopped at the door. The +man at the door said you was gone. I thought that very odd, and desired +another servant go up and see, for I concluded it was some mistake. +After a moment or two, the footman came down again, and said if I was +the Lady Miss Mowbray lived with, his Lady desired I would walk up. Upon +my word it is a noble house! When I got into the room, there was Lady +Montreville and her daughters. Her Ladyship was extremely polite, +indeed; and after some discourse, "Mrs. Ashwood," said she, "you know +Miss Mowbray's situation: I assure you I sent for her to-day with no +other view in the world but for her own good, and you know, [_dear me! +here is a pimple on my chin that is quite hideous; give me a patch._] +you know that for her to refuse Mr. Rochely is being absolutely blind to +her own interest; because you must suppose, Mrs. Ashwood, that she is +only deceiving herself when she entertains any thoughts of my son; for +that is a thing that never can happen, nor ever shall happen; and +besides, to give my Lord and me all this trouble, is a very ungrateful +return to us for having brought her up, and many other obligations she +has received at our hands; and will be the ruin of herself; and the +greatest perverseness in the world. You, Mrs. Ashwood, are, I hear, a +very sensible woman [_where is the rouge box?_] and I dare say, now you +know how agreeable it would be to me and my Lord to have Miss Emmeline +come to her senses about Mr. Rochely, you will do your endeavours to +persuade her to act reasonably; and then, tho' she has behaved very +disrespectful and very ill, which is only to be forgiven on account of +her knowing no better, I shall countenance her, and so will my Lord." +This was, as near as I remember, Emmeline, what my Lady said to me. You +know [_the milk of roses is almost out_] you know I could not refuse to +tell her I would certainly talk to you. I was surprised to find her +Ladyship so obliging and affable, as you had told me she is reckoned so +very proud. She ordered her gentleman to give me a ticket for a rout and +a supper her Ladyship gives on Tuesday three weeks; and she said, that +as she did not doubt but that you would discover your own interest by +that time, I should take one for you. Look you, here it is.' + +'I shall be in Dorsetshire, I hope, long before Tuesday se'nnight,' said +Emmeline, laying the card coolly on the toilet. She found Mrs. Ashwood +had nothing more material to say; and being apprehensive that she +impeded the last finish which her dress and person required, she thanked +her, and went back into her own room. + +The eagerness and resolution with which Lady Montreville opposed her +son's marriage, appeared from nothing more evidently, than from her thus +endeavouring to solicit the assistance of Mrs. Ashwood, and humbling +herself to use flattery and insinuation towards a person to whom it is +probable nothing else could have induced her to speak. With persons in +trade, or their connections, or even with gentlemen, unless of very +ancient and honourable families, she seldom deigned to hold any +communication; and if she had occasion to speak to them individually, it +was generally under the appellation of 'Mr. or Mrs. I forget the name;' +for to remember the particular distinctions of such inferior beings, was +a task too heavy for Right Honourable intellects. When she spoke of such +collectively, it was under the denomination of 'the people, or the +folks.' + +With that sort of condescension that seems to say, 'I will humble myself +to your level,' and which is in fact more insolent than the most +offensive haughtiness, her Ladyship had behaved to Mrs. Ashwood; who +took it for extreme politeness, and was charmed on any terms to obtain +admission to the house of a woman of such high fashion, and who was +known to be so very nice in the choice of her company. + +In return for so much favour, she had been lavish of her assurances that +she would influence Miss Mowbray; and came home, fully determined to +talk to her sharply; believing too, that to make her feel the present +dependance and uncertainty of her situation by forcing her to bear a fit +of ill-humour, might help to determine her to embrace the affluent +fortune that would set her above it. This it was that occasioned her +harsh address to Emmeline; which would have been followed by acrimonious +reflections and rude remonstrances, under the denomination of 'necessary +truths and friendly advice,' had not the presence of Fitz-Edward, and +his subsequent enchanting conversation, driven all that Lady Montreville +had said out of her mind, and left it open only to the delightful +prospect which his compliments and praises afforded her. + +The company assembled to cards at the usual hour. Rochely was among +them; who had not seen Emmeline since the rejection of his proposal, +with which Sir Richard Crofts was obliged to acquaint him, tho' he had +softened the peremptory terms in which it had been given. He had this +evening adorned himself in a superb suit of cut velvet of many colours, +lined with sables; which tho' not in the very newest mode, had been +reckoned very magnificent at several city assemblies; and he had put it +on as well in honour of Lord Montreville, with whom he had dined, as in +hopes of moving the perverse beauty for whom he languished. But so far +was this display of clumsy affluence from having any effect on the hard +heart of Emmeline, that it rather excited her mirth. And when with a +grave and solemn aspect he advanced towards her, she felt herself so +much disposed to laugh at his figure, that she was forced to avoid him, +and took refuge at the table, round which the younger part of the +company assembled to play. + +Mrs. Ashwood had fixed Fitz-Edward to that where she herself presided; +and where she sat triumphantly enjoying his high-seasoned flattery; +while her female competitors, hearing he was the son of an Irish Earl, +and within three of being a Peer himself, contemplated her supposed +conquest with envy and vexation, which they could not conceal, and which +greatly added to her satisfaction. + +Several persons were invited to stay supper; among whom were Fitz-Edward +and Rochely. About half an hour before the card-tables broke up, a +servant brought a note to Emmeline, and told her that it required an +answer. The hand was Delamere's. + + + 'For two days I have forborne to see you, Emmeline, and have + endeavoured to argue myself into a calmer state of mind; but it + avails nothing; hopeless when with you, yet wretched without you, I + see no end to my sufferings. I have been about the door all the + evening; but find, by the carriages, that you are surrounded by + fools and coxcombs. Ah! Emmeline! that time you owe only to me; + those smiles to which only I have a right, are lavished on them; + and I am left to darkness and despair. + + 'There is a door from the garden into the stable-yard, which opens + into the fields. As I cannot come to the house (where I find there + are people who would inform Lord Montreville that I am still about + London,) for pity's sake come down to that door and speak to me. I + ask only _one_ moment; surely you will not deny me so small a + favour, and add to the anguish which consumes me. I write this from + the neighbouring public-house, and wait your answer. + + F. DELAMERE.' + + +Emmeline shuddered at this note. It was more incoherent than usual, and +seemed to be written with a trembling and uncertain hand. She had left +the card-table to read it, and was alone in the anti-room; where, while +she hesitated over it, Rochely, whose eyes were ever in search of her, +followed her. She saw him not: but wholly occupied by the purport of the +note, he approached close to her unheeded. + +'Are you determined, Miss Mowbray,' said he, 'to give me no other answer +than you sent somewhat hastily to Lord Montreville, by my friend Sir +Richard Crofts? May I ask, are you quite determined?' + +'Quite, Sir!' replied she, starting, without considering and hardly +knowing what she said; but feeling he was at that moment more odious to +her than ever, she snatched away the hand he attempted to take, and flew +out of the room like a lapwing. + +The dismayed lover shook his head, surveyed his cut velvet in the glass, +and stroaked his point ruffles, while he was trying to recollect his +scattered ideas. + +Emmeline, who had taken refuge in her bed-chamber, sat there in +breathless uncertainty, and unable to determine what to do about +Delamere. At length, she concluded on desiring Fitz-Edward to go down to +him; but knew not how to speak to the colonel on such a subject before +so many witnesses, nor did she like to send for him out of the room. She +rung for a candle, and wrote on a slip of paper. + +'Delamere is waiting at a door which opens into the fields, and insists +upon speaking to me. Pray go down to him, and endeavour to prevail on +him to return to his father. I can think of no other expedient to +prevent his engaging in some rash and improper attempt; therefore I +beseech you to go down.' + +When she had written this, she knew not how to deliver it; and for the +first time in her life had recourse to an expedient which bore the +appearance of art and dissimulation. She did not chuse to send it to +Fitz-Edward by a servant; but went down with it herself; and approaching +the table where he was settling his winnings-- + +'Here, colonel,' said she, 'is the _charade_ you desired me to write out +for you.' + +'Oh! read it colonel; pray read it;' cried Mrs. Ashwood, 'I doat upon a +_charade_ of all things in nature.' + +He answered, that 'he would reserve it for a _bon bouche_ after supper.' +Then looking significantly at Emmeline, to say he understood and would +oblige her, he strolled into the anti-room; Emmeline saying to him, as +he passed her, that she would wait his return in the parlour below. + +Fitz-Edward disappeared; and Emmeline, in hopes of escaping observation, +joined the party of some young ladies who were playing at a large table, +and affected to enter into their conversation. But she really knew +nothing that was passing; and as soon as they rose on finishing their +game, she escaped in the bustle, and ran down into the parlour, where in +five or six minutes Fitz-Edward found her. + +He wore a look of great concern; and laid down his hat as he came in, +without seeming to know what he did. + +'Have you seen Mr. Delamere, Sir?' said Emmeline. + +'Seen him!' answered he; 'I have seen him; but to no manner of purpose; +his intellects are certainly deranged; he raves like a madman, and +absolutely refuses to leave the place till he has spoken to you.' + +'Why will he not come in, then?' said Emmeline. + +'Because,' said Fitz-Edward, 'Rochely is here, who will relate it to +that meddling fellow, Sir Richard Crofts, and by that means it will get +to his father. I said every thing likely to prevail on him to be more +calm; but he will hear nothing. I know not what to do,' continued he, +rising, and walking about the room. 'I am convinced he has something in +his head of fatal consequence to himself. He protests he will stay all +night where he is. In short, he is in an absolute frenzy with the idea +of Rochely's success and his own despair.' + +'You frighten me to death,' said Emmeline. 'Tell me, colonel, what ought +I to do?' + +'Go to him,' returned Fitz-Edward; 'speak to him only a moment, and I am +persuaded he will be calm. I will go with you; and then there can be +nothing wrong in it.' + +'I _will_ go, then,' said she, rising and giving Fitz-Edward her hand, +which trembled extremely. + +'But it is very cold,' remarked he: 'had not you better take a cloak?' + +'There is my long _pelisse_ in the back parlour,' answered she. + +Fitz-Edward fetched it, wrapt her in it, and led her down stairs; and by +a garden door, they reached a sort of back stable-yard, where rubbish +and stable-litter was usually thrown, and which opened into a bye-lane, +where the garden-wall formed a sudden angle. Delamere received her with +transport, which he tried to check; and reproached her for refusing to +come down to him. + +Seizing the opportunity, as soon as he would give her leave to speak, +she very forcibly represented to him the distress of his family at his +absence, and the particular uneasiness it inflicted on his sister +Augusta. + +'I knew not,' said Delamere, 'that she was come home.' + +Emmeline told him she was, and related the purport of her letter, and +again besought him to put an end to the uncertainty and anxiety of his +family. + +Delamere heard her with some impatience; and holding her hands in his, +vehemently answered--'It is to no purpose that my father either +threatens or persuades me. He has long known my resolution; and the +unhappiness which you so warmly describe arises solely from his and my +mother's own unreasonable and capricious prejudice--prejudice founded in +pride and avarice. I do not think myself accountable for distress to +which they may so easily put an end. But as to Augusta, who really loves +me, I will write to her to make her easy. Now Emmeline, since I have +listened to you, and answered all you have to urge, hear my final +determination--_If you_ still continue firm in your chimerical and +romantic obstinacy, which you call honour, _I_ go from hence this +evening, never to return--you condemn me to perpetual exile--you give me +up to despair!' + +He called aloud, and a post-chaise and four, which had been concealed by +the projection of the wall, attended by two servants, drove round. +'There,' continued Delamere, 'there is the vehicle which I have prepared +to carry me from hence. You know whether I easily relinquish a +resolution once formed. If then you wish to save my father and mother +from the anguish of repentance when there will be no remedy--if you +desire to save from the frenzy of desperation the brother of your +Augusta, and to snatch from the extremity of wretchedness the man who +lives but to adore you, go with me--go with me to Scotland!' + +Astonished and terrified at the impetuosity with which he pressed this +unexpected proposal, Emmeline would have replied, but words were a +moment wanting. Fitz-Edward taking advantage of her silence, used every +argument which Delamere had omitted, to determine her. + +'No! no!' cried she--'never! never! I have passed my honour to Lord +Montreville. It is sacred--I cannot, I will not forfeit it!' + +'The time will come,' said Fitz-Edward, 'believe me it will, when Lord +Montreville will not only be reconciled to you, but'---- + +'And what shall reconcile me to myself? Let me go back to the house, Mr. +Delamere; or from this moment I shall consider you as having taken +advantage of my unprotected state, and even of my indiscreet confidence, +to offer me the grossest outrage. Let me go, Sir!' (struggling to get +her hand from Fitz-Edward) 'Let me go! Mr. Delamere.' + +'What! to be driven into the arms of Rochely? No, never, Emmeline! +never! I _know_ I am _not_ indifferent to you. I feel that I cannot live +without you; nay, by heaven I will not! But if I suffer this opportunity +to escape, I deserve indeed to lose you.' + +They all this while approached the chaise. Delamere had hired servants, +whom he had instructed what to do. They were ready at the door of the +carriage. Emmeline attempted in vain to retreat. Delamere threw his arms +around her; and assisted by Fitz-Edward, lifted her into it with a sort +of gentle violence. He leaped in after her, and the chaise was driven +away instantly. + +Fitz-Edward, to whom this scene was wholly unexpected, returned to the +company he had left with Mrs. Ashwood. He had not any notion of +Delamere's design when he went to him, but heartily concurred in its +execution; and tho' he did not believe Delamere intended to marry +Emmeline, yet his morals were such, that he congratulated himself on the +share he had had in putting her into his power, and went back with the +air of a man vastly satisfied with the success of his exploit. + +'Goodness! colonel,' exclaimed Mrs. Ashwood, 'supper has been waiting +for you this half hour. Upon my word we began to suspect that you and +Miss Mowbray were gone together. But pray where is she?' + +'Miss Mowbray, Madam! I really have not been so happy as to be of her +party.' + +'Why, where in the world can she be?' continued Mrs. Ashwood. 'However, +as the colonel is come we will go to supper. [_The company were standing +round the table._] I suppose Miss Mowbray will come presently; she has a +pretty romantic notion of contemplation by moonlight.' + +Supper, however, was almost over, and Miss Mowbray did not appear. Mrs. +Ashwood, engaged wholly by the gallant colonel, thought not of her; but +Rochely remarked that her absence was somewhat singular. + +'So it is I declare,' said Miss Galton; 'do Mrs. Ashwood send and +enquire for her again.' + +The chambers, the drawing-room, dressing-room, closets, and garden were +again searched. Miss Mowbray was not to be found! Mrs. Ashwood was +alarmed--Rochely in dismay--and the whole company confusedly broke up; +each retiring with their several conjectures on the sudden disappearance +of the fair Emmeline. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +For some moments after Emmeline found herself in the chaise, +astonishment and terror deprived her of speech and even of recollection. +While Delamere, no longer able to command his transports at having at +length as he hoped secured her, gave way to the wildest joy, and +congratulated himself that he had thus forced her to break a promise +which only injustice he said could have extorted, and only timidity and +ill-grounded prejudice have induced her to keep. + +'Do you then hope, Sir,' said Emmeline, 'that I shall patiently become +the victim of your rashness? Is this the respect you have sworn ever to +observe towards me? Is this the protection you have so often told me I +should find from you? And is it thus you intend to atone for all the +insults of your family which you have so repeatedly protested you would +never forgive? by inflicting a far greater insult; by ruining my +character; by degrading me in my own eyes; and forcing me either to +violate my word solemnly given to your father, or be looked upon as a +lost and abandoned creature, undone by your inhuman art. I must now, +indeed, seem to _deserve_ your mother's anger, and the scorn of your +sister; and must be supposed every way wretched and contemptible.' + +A shower of tears fell from her eyes, and her heart seemed bursting with +the pain these cruel reflections gave her. + +Delamere, by all the soothing tenderness of persuasion, by all the +rhetoric of ardent passion, tried to subdue her anger, and silence her +scruples; but the more her mind dwelt on the circumstances of her +situation, the more it recoiled from the necessity of entering under +such compulsion into an indissoluble engagement. The rash violence of +the measure which had put her in Delamere's power, while it convinced +her of his passion, yet told her, that a man who would hazard every +thing for his own gratification now, would hardly hereafter submit to +any restraint; and that the bonds in which he was so eager to engage, +would with equal violence be broken, when any new face should make a +new impression, or when time had diminished the influence of those +attractions that now enchanted him. + +Formed of the softer elements, and with a mind calculated for select +friendship and domestic felicity, rather than for the tumult of +fashionable life and the parade of titled magnificence, Emmeline coveted +not his rank, nor valued his riches. No woman perhaps can help having +some regard for a man, who she knows ardently and sincerely loves her; +and Emmeline had felt all that sort of weakness for Delamere; who in the +bloom of life, with fortune, title, person and talents that might have +commanded the loveliest and most affluent daughter of prosperity, had +forsaken every thing for her, and even secluded himself from the +companions of his former pleasures, and the indulgences his fortune and +rank afforded him, to pass his youth in unsuccessful endeavours to +obtain her. + +The partiality this consideration gave her towards him, and the +favourable comparison she was perpetually making between him and the men +she had seen since her residence near London, had created in her bosom a +sentiment warmer perhaps than friendship; yet it was not that violent +love, which carrying every thing before it, leaves the mind no longer at +liberty to see any fault in the beloved object, or any impropriety in +whatever can secure it's success, and which, scorning future +consequences, risks every thing for it's present indulgence. + +Still artless and ingenuous as when she first left the remote castle +where she had been brought up, Emmeline had not been able to conceal +this affection from Delamere. Her eyes, her manner, the circumstance of +the picture, and a thousand nameless inadvertences, had told it him +repeatedly; but now, when he seemed to have taken an ungenerous +advantage of that regard, it lost much of it's force, and resentment and +disdain succeeded. + +Delamere tried to appease her by protestations of inviolable respect, of +eternal esteem, and unalterable love. But there was something of triumph +even in his humblest entreaties, that served but to encrease the anger +Emmeline felt; and she told him that the only way to convince her he had +for her those sentiments he pretended, was to carry her back immediately +to Mrs. Ashwood's, or rather to Lord Montreville, there to acknowledge +the attempt he had made, and that it's failure had been solely owing to +her determined adherence to her word. + +Delamere, presuming on his ascendancy over her, attempted to interest +her passions rather than tranquillize her reason. He represented to her +how great would be her triumph when he presented her as his wife to the +imperious Lady Montreville, who had treated her with so much unmerited +scorn, and set her above the haughty Fanny Delamere, who had insulted +her with fancied superiority. + +But Emmeline had in her breast none of those passions that find their +gratification in humbling an enemy. Too generous for revenge; too gentle +for premeditated resentment; she saw these circumstances in a very +different light, and felt that she should be rather mortified than +elated by being forced into a family who wished to reject her. + +Sir Richard Crofts, the object of Delamere's hatred and detestation, was +the subject of those acrimonious reflections that his respect for his +father and mother prevented his throwing on them. The influence of this +man had, he said, made Lord Montreville deaf to the voice of nature, and +forgetful of his own honour; while he was plunged into the dark and +discreditable labyrinth of political intrigue, and acquired an habit of +subterfuge and duplicity unworthy a nobleman, a gentleman, or a man. + +Emmeline cared nothing about Sir Richard Crofts, and could not enter +into the bitterness of his resentment towards him. Nothing he had yet +been able to urge had shaken her resolution not to become his wife, even +tho' he should oblige her to go with him into Scotland. + +The ruder passions of anger and resentment had no influence over her +mind. While he argued with warmth, or ran into reproaches, Emmeline +found she had nothing to fear. But tho' he could not rouse her pride, or +awaken her dislike against his family, but rather found them recoil on +himself; he hoped in that sensibility of temper and that softness of +heart to which he owed all the attention she had ever shewn him, he +should find a sure resource. In her pity, an advocate for his fault--in +her love, an inducement not only to forgive but to reward him. + +And when he pleaded for compassion and forgiveness, the heart of +Emmeline felt itself no longer invulnerable. But against this dangerous +attack she endeavoured to fortify that sensible heart, by considering +the probable event of her yielding to it. + +'If I marry Delamere contrary to the consent of his family, who shall +assure me that his violent and haughty spirit will bear without anguish +and regret, that inferior and confined fortune to which his father's +displeasure will condemn him? His love, too ardent perhaps to last, will +decline; while the inconveniences of a narrow fortune will encrease; and +I, who shall be the cause of these inconveniences, shall also be the +victim. He will lament the infatuation which has estranged him from his +family, and thrown him, for some years at least, out of the rank in +which he has been used to appear; and recovered from the delirium of +love, will behold with coldness, perhaps with hatred, her to whom he +will impute his distresses. To whom can I then appeal? Not to my _own_ +heart, for it will condemn me for suffering myself to be precipitated +into a measure against my judgment; nor to _his_ family, who may answer, +"thy folly be upon thine own head;" and _I_ have _no_ father, _no_ +brother to console and receive me, if he should drive me from him as +impetuously as now he would force me to be his. I shall be deprived even +of the melancholy consolation of knowing I have not _deserved_ the +neglect which I fear I shall never be able to _bear_. But if my steady +refusal now, induces him to return, it is possible that Lord +Montreville, convinced at once of my adherence to the promise given him, +and of the improbability of Delamere's desisting, may consent to receive +me into his family; or if the inveterate prejudice of his wife still +prevents his doing so, I shall surely regain his confidence and esteem. +He will not refuse to consider me as his brother's daughter, and as +such, he will enable me to pass my days in easy competence with Mrs. +Stafford; a prospect infinitely preferable in my eyes to the splendid +visions offered me by Delamere, if they cannot be realized but at the +expence of truth and integrity.' + +Confirmed in her determination by reflections like these, Emmeline was +able to hear, without betraying any symptoms of the emotion she felt, +the animated and passionate protestations of her lover. She assumed all +the coldness and reserve which his headlong and inconsiderate attempt +deserved. She told him that his want of respect and consideration had +forfeited all the claim he might otherwise have had to her regard and +esteem; that she certainly would quit him the moment she was able; and +that tho' she might not be fortunate enough to do so before they reached +Scotland, yet it would not be in his power to compel her to be his wife. + +Delamere for some time imputed this language to sudden resentment; and +again by the humblest submissions sought to obtain her forgiveness and +to excite her pity. But having nearly exhausted her spirits by what she +had already said, she gave very little reply to his entreaties. Her +silence was however more expressive than her words. She took from him +her hand, as often as he attempted to hold it, and would not suffer him +to wipe away the tears that fell from her eyes; while to his arguments +and persuasions she coldly answered, when she answered at all, '_that +she was determined_:' and they arrived at Barnet before he had obtained +the smallest concession in his favour. + +Delamere had undertaken this enterprize rather in despair, than from any +hope of it's success, since he did not believe Emmeline would come out +to him when he requested it; and had she been either alone, or only with +Mrs. Ashwood, she certainly had not done it. Chance had befriended him +in collecting a room full of company, and still more in sending Rochely +among them. His abrupt approach while she read Delamere's note, had +hurried her out of her usual presence of mind; and Fitz-Edward, whom +mere accident had brought to Mrs. Ashwood's house, and whom she had +taken with her in hopes of his influencing Delamere to return to his +father, had contributed to her involuntary error. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Delamere had taken no precaution to secure horses on the road; and it +was not till after waiting some hours that he procured four from Barnet. +When they arrived there, it was past one o'clock; and Emmeline, who had +gone thro' a very fatigueing day, and was now overcome with the terror +and alarm of being thus hastily snatched away, could hardly sit up. She +was without an hat; and having no change of cloaths, urged the +inconvenience she must endure by being forced to go a long journey so +situated. She wished to have stopped at the first stage; but Delamere +thought, that in her present temper to hesitate was to lose her. He +consented however to go for a moment into the house, where, while he +gave a servant orders to go on to Hatfield to bespeak four horses, she +drank a glass of water; and then Delamere intreating her to return to +the chaise, she complied, for there was nobody visible at the inn but +the maid and ostler; and she saw no likelihood of any assistance, had +she applied for it. + +They hastened with great expedition to Stevenage; but before they +reached that place, Emmeline, who had ceased either to remonstrate or +complain, was so entirely overwhelmed and exhausted, that she could no +longer support herself. + +His fears for her health now exceeded his fears for losing her, and he +determined to stop for some hours; but when she made an effort to leave +the chaise she was unable, and he was obliged to lift her out of it. He +then ordered the female servants to be called up, recommended her to +their care, and entreated her to go to bed for some hours. + +Long darkness and excessive weeping had almost deprived her of sight; +her whole frame was sinking under the fatigue she had undergone both of +body and mind; and unable to struggle longer against it, she lay down in +her cloaths, desiring one of the maids to sit by her. + +Delamere came to the door of the room to enquire how she did. The woman +told him what she had requested; and desiring they would obey her in +every thing, and keep her as quiet as possible, he went not to repose +himself, but to write to Fitz-Edward. + + + 'Dear George, + + 'While my angelic Emmeline sleeps, I, who am too happy to sleep + myself, write to desire you will go to Berkley-square and keep the + good folks there from exposing themselves, or making a great bustle + about what has happened, which they will soon know. As my Lord has + long been prepossessed with the idea of a Scottish jaunt, it is very + likely he may attempt to pursue us. Say what you will to put such + plans out of his head. I shall be in London again, in a very short + time. Farewell, dear George. + + Your's, ever, + F. D.' + + +Emmeline in the mean time fell into a sleep, but it was broken and +interrupted. Her spirits had been so thoroughly discomposed, that rest +was driven from her. She dozed a moment; then suddenly started up, +forgot where she was, and looked wildly round the room. An half-formed +recollection of the events of the preceding day then seemed to recur, +and she besought the maid who sat by her to go to Mr. Delamere and tell +him she must be directly carried to Mrs. Stafford's; and having said +this, and sighed deeply, she sunk again into short insensibility. + +Thus past the remainder of the night; and before seven in the morning +Delamere was at the door, impatient to know how she had rested. + +The maid admitted him, and told him, in a low voice, that the Lady was +in a quieter sleep than she had been the whole night. He softly +approached the bed, and started in terror when he saw how ill she +looked. Her cheek, robbed of it's bloom, rested on her arm, which +appeared more bloodless than her cheek; her hair, which had been dressed +without powder, had escaped from the form in which it had been adjusted, +and half concealed her face in disordered luxuriance; her lips were +pale, and her respiration short and laborious. He stood gazing on her a +moment, and then, shocked at these symptoms of indisposition, his rapid +imagination immediately magnified them all. He concluded she was dying; +and in an agony of fear, which deprived him of every other idea, he took +up in breathless apprehension her other hand, which lay on the quilt. It +was hot, and dry; and her pulse seemed rather to flutter, than to beat +against his pressure. + +His moving her hand awakened her. She opened her eyes; but they had lost +their lustre, and were turned mournfully towards him. + +'Delamere,' said she, in a low and tremulous voice, 'Delamere, why is +all this? I believe you have destroyed me; my head is so extremely +painful. Oh! Delamere--this is cruel!--very cruel!' + +'Let me go for advice,' cried he, eagerly. 'Wretch that I am, what will +now become of me!' + +He ran down stairs; and Emmeline making an effort to recover her +recollection, tried to sit up; but her head was so giddy and confused +that it was not till after several attempts she left the bed, even with +the assistance of the servant. She then drank a glass of water; and +desiring to have more air, would have gone to the window, but could only +reach a chair near it, where she sat down, and throwing her arm on a +table, rested her head upon it. + +In a few moments Delamere returned up stairs. His wild looks, and quick, +half-formed questions, explained what passed in his mind. + +She told him faintly she was better. + +'Shall I bring up a gentleman to see you who I am assured is able in his +profession? I fear you are very ill.' + +She answered, 'no!' + +'Pray suffer him to come; he will give you something to relieve your +head.' + +'No!' + +'Do not, Emmeline--do not, I conjure you, refuse me this favour?' + +He took her hand; but when he found how feverish she was, he started +away, crying--'Oh! let him, let him come!' + +He ran down stairs to fetch him, and returned instantly with the +apothecary; a sensible, well-behaved man, of fifty, whose appearance +indicated feeling and judgement. He approached Emmeline, who still sat +with her head reclined on the table, and felt her pulse. + +'Here is too much fever indeed, Sir,' said he; 'the young lady has been +greatly hurried.' + +'But what--what is to be done, Sir?' said Delamere, eagerly interrupting +him. + +'Quiet seems absolutely necessary. Pardon me, Sir; but unless I know +your situation in regard to her, I cannot possibly advise.' + +'Sir,' said Emmeline, who had been silent rather from inability to +contend than from unconsciousness of what was passing round her--'if you +could prevail with Mr. Delamere to restore me to my friends'-- + +'Come with me, Sir,' cried Delamere; 'let me speak to you in another +room.' + +When they were alone, he conjured Mr. Lawson to tell him what he thought +of the lady? + +'Upon my word, Sir, she is in a very high fever, and it seems to be +occasioned by extreme perturbation of spirits and great fatigue. +Forgive, Sir, if I ask what particular circumstance has been the cause +of the uneasiness under which she appears to labour? If it is any little +love quarrel you cannot too soon adjust it.' + +Delamere stopped his conjectures, by telling him who he was; and gave +him in a few words the history of their expedition. + +Mr. Lawson protested to him that if she was hurried on in her present +state, it would be surprising if she survived the journey. + +'She shall stay here then,' replied Delamere, 'till she recovers her +fatigue.' + +'But, Sir,' enquired Mr. Lawson, 'after what you have told me of your +father, have you no apprehension of a pursuit?' + +His terror at Emmeline's immediate danger had obliterated for a moment +every other fear. It now recurred with redoubled violence. He remembered +that Rochely was at Mrs. Ashwood's on the evening of Emmeline's +departure; and he knew that from him Sir Richard Crofts, and +consequently Lord Montreville, would have immediate intelligence. + +He struck his hands together, exclaiming, 'She will be every way +lost!--lost irretrievably! If my father overtakes us, she will return +with him, and I shall see her no more!' + +He now gave way to such unbounded passion, walking about the room, and +striking his forehead, that Lawson began to believe his intellects were +as much deranged as the frame of the fair sufferer he had left. For some +moments he attended to nothing; but Mr. Lawson, accustomed to make +allowances for the diseases of the mind as well as those of the body, +did not lose his patience; and at length persuaded him to be calmer, by +representing that he wasted in fruitless exclamation the time which +might be employed in providing against the apprehended evil. + +'Good God! Sir,' cried he at length, 'what would you have me do?' + +'What I would earnestly recommend, Sir, is, that you quiet the young +lady's mind by telling her you will carry her whither she desires to go; +and at present desist from this journey, which I really believe you +cannot prosecute but at the hazard of her life; at present, farther +agitation may, and probably will be fatal.' + +'And so you advise me to let her stay till my father comes to tear her +from me for ever! or carry her back by the same road, where it is +probable he will meet me? Impossible! impossible!--but is she really so +very ill?' + +'Upon my life she is at this moment in a high fever. Why should I +deceive you? Trust me, it would in my opinion be the height of +inhumanity to carry her into Scotland in such a situation, _if_ you love +her'---- + +'_If_ I love her, Sir!' cried Delamere, half frantic--'talk not of _if_ +I love her! Merciful heaven!--you have no idea, Mr. Lawson, of what I +suffer at this moment!' + +'I have a perfect idea of your distress, Sir; and wish I knew how to +relieve it. Give me a moment's time to consider; if indeed the young +lady could'-- + +'What, Sir? speak!--think of something!' + +'Why I was thinking, that if she is better in a few hours, it might be +possible for you to take her to Hertford, where she may remain a day or +two, till she is able to go farther. There you would be no longer in +danger of pursuit; and if she should grow worse, which when her mind is +easier I hope will not happen, you will have excellent advice. Perhaps, +when the hurry of her spirits subsides, she may, since this _has_ +happened, consent to pursue the journey to the North; or if not, you can +from thence carry her to the friends she is so desirous of being with, +and avoid the risk of meeting on the road those you are so anxious to +shun.' + +Tho' Delamere could not think, without extreme reluctance, of +relinquishing a scheme in which he had thought himself secure of +success; yet, as there was no alternative but what would be so hazardous +to the health of Emmeline, he was compelled to accede to any which had a +probability of restoring it without putting her into the hands of his +father. + +Mr. Lawson told him it was only fifteen miles from Stevenage to +Hertford--'But how,' said he, 'will you, Sir, prevent your father's +following you thither, if he should learn at this place that you are +gone there?' + +Delamere was wholly at a loss. But Mr. Lawson, who seemed to be sent by +his good genius, said--'We must get you from hence immediately, if Miss +Mowbray is able to go. You shall pass here as my visitors. You shall +directly go to my house, and there be supplied with horses from another +inn. This will at least make it more difficult to trace your route; and +if any enquiry should be made of me, I shall know what to say.' + +Delamere, catching at any thing that promised to secure Emmeline from +the pursuit of Lord Montreville, went to her to enquire whether she was +well enough to walk to Mr. Lawson's house. + +He found her trying to adjust her hair; but her hands trembled so much, +it was with difficulty she could do it. He desired her to dismiss the +maid who was in the room; then throwing himself on his knees before her, +and taking her burning hands in his, he said--'Arbitress of my +destiny--my Emmeline! thou for whom only I exist! be tranquil--I beseech +you be tranquil! Since you determine to abide by your cruel resolution, +I will not, I dare not persist in asking you to break it. No, Emmeline! +I come only to entreat that you would quiet your too delicate mind; and +dispose of _me_ as you please. Since you cannot resolve to be mine now, +I will learn to submit--I will try to bear any thing but the seeing you +unhappy, or losing you entirely! Tell me only that you pardon what is +past, and you shall go to Mrs. Stafford's, or whithersoever you will.' + +Emmeline beheld and heard him with astonishment. But at length +comprehending that he repented of his wild attempt, and would go back, +she said hastily, as she arose from her chair--'Let us go, then, +Delamere; let us instantly go. Thank God, your heart is changed! but +every hour I continue with you, is an additional wound to my character +and my peace.' + +She attempted to reach her cloak, but could not; her strength forsook +her; her head became more giddy; she staggered, and would have fallen, +had not Delamere caught her in his arms, and supported her to the chair +she had left. + +'Hurry not yourself thus, my Emmeline,' cried he; 'in mercy to me try to +compose yourself, and spare me the sight of all this terror, for which +believe me you have no reason.' + +He sat down by her; and drawing her gently towards him, her languid head +reposed on his shoulder, and he contemplated, in silent anguish, the +ravage which only a few hours severe anxiety had made on that beauteous +and expressive countenance. + +He called to the maid, who waited in the next room, and desired her to +send up Mr. Lawson; before whose entrance a shower of tears, the first +she had shed for some hours, a little relieved the full heart of +Emmeline. + +Mr. Lawson desired Delamere would not check her tears; and in a friendly +and consolatory manner told her what Delamere proposed to do. Emmeline, +after this explanation, was still more anxious to depart; but Mr. Lawson +greatly doubted whether she was able. + +'I can walk, indeed I can,' said she, 'if you will each lend me an arm.' + +Mr. Lawson then gave her a few drops in a glass of water, which seemed +to revive her; and Delamere wrapping her carefully in her cloak, they +led her between them to a neat brick house in the town, where Mrs. +Lawson, a matron-like and well-behaved woman, and her daughter, a +genteel girl of twenty, who had been apprized of Emmeline's situation, +received her with great kindness and respect. + +Breakfast was prepared for her, but she could eat nothing. The heaviness +of her eyes, her pallid countenance, and the tenseness across her +temples, seemed to threaten the most alarming consequences. Mrs. Lawson +endeavoured to persuade her to go to bed; but her eagerness to be gone +from thence was so great, that she evidently encreased the difficulty by +endeavouring to surmount it. She had indeed considered, that if Lord +Montreville overtook them, which was not only possible but probable, all +the merit of her conduct would be lost.--She would appear to be carried +back, not by her strict adherence to her promise, but by the authority +of his Lordship; and instead of the pride and credit of a laudable and +virtuous action, would be liable to bear all the imputation of +intentional guilt. This reflection, added to the sense she could not +fail to have of her improper situation in being so long alone with +Delamere under the appearance of having voluntarily gone off with him, +made her so impatient to be gone, that she declined any repose however +necessary; and Mr. Lawson thought there was less to be feared from +indulging than from opposing her. + +Lawson therefore went himself to hasten the horses; and while he was +absent, Emmeline, who remained with his wife, expressed so much fear +that Delamere might alter his intentions of returning, and so much +uneasiness at the thoughts of being seen at another inn, in the +disordered dress she now wore, with a young man of Delamere's +appearance, that Mrs. Lawson was truly concerned for her, and +communicated to Delamere the source of the extreme anxiety she appeared +to suffer. + +He came to her; and she gently reproached him for all the inconvenience +and uneasiness he had brought upon her. Her soft complaints, and the +distress pictured on her speaking face, he felt with a degree of anguish +and self-reproach that made him happy to agree to a plan proposed by +Mrs. Lawson, which was, that she should be accommodated with cloaths of +Miss Lawson's, and that Miss Lawson herself should accompany her to +Hertford. + +This latter offer, Emmeline eagerly accepted; and Delamere, who saw how +much it soothed and relieved her, did not object to it. She was +therefore immediately equipped with a morning dress, and her agitation +of mind seemed to subside; but changing her cloaths, trifling as the +exertion was, fatigued her so much, that Mr. Lawson on his return looked +very grave; and Delamere, who watched his looks as if his existence +depended upon his opinion, was wild with apprehension. The chaises (for +Delamere had ordered one for himself, that the ladies might suffer no +inconvenience by being crouded) were ready, and Lawson recollecting that +Emmeline would require a more quiet situation than an inn could afford, +told her that he had a sister at Hertford who would receive her with +pleasure, and accommodate her at her house as long as she would +stay--'And remember,' added he, 'that Lissy is to continue with you till +you leave Hertford.' + +Emmeline, extremely sensible of all she owed to this excellent man, +could only sigh her thanks; and to shorten them, Mr. Lawson put her and +his daughter into the travelling chaise which Delamere had bought for +this expedition. Delamere followed in another; and between one and two +o'clock they arrived at Hertford, and were set down at the door of an +elegant house; where Mrs. Champness, the wife of a man of fortune, +received her niece with great affection; and having heard in another +room the history of the young lady she had with her, immediately gave +orders to have a bed-chamber prepared, and shewed the utmost solicitude +for her accommodation. + +Delamere, seeing her so well situated for the night, and happy to find +she bore her short journey with less increase of fatigue than he +apprehended, consented at her request to leave her, and went to the inn, +where he dined, and soon afterwards returned to enquire after her. + +Miss Lawson came down to him, and told him Miss Mowbray was in bed, and +had taken a medicine Mr. Lawson had sent to compose her; but that it was +yet impossible to say much of her situation. She told him he must by no +means attempt to see her for the remaining part of the day, and begged +he would himself try to take some repose: to which salutary advice +Delamere at length consented; his haggard looks and exhausted spirits +sufficiently testifying how much he wanted it. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +The evening on which Emmeline had been so suddenly missing from the +house of Mrs. Ashwood, Rochely had left it in as much anguish as his +nature was capable of feeling. + +He had not for many years so seriously thought of matrimony as since he +had seen Miss Mowbray. Her beauty first attracted him: the natural +civility of her manner was by him, who had frequently met only contempt +and derision from the young and beautiful, construed into encouragement; +and though his hopes had been greatly damped by his knowledge of +Delamere's attachment to her, yet they were almost as quickly revived by +the great encouragement to persevere, which he had received from Lord +Montreville. He fancied that the barriers between her and Delamere being +insurmountable, she could not fail of being dazzled by so splendid a +fortune as he could himself offer her. That evening, she looked more +than usually lovely, and he determined with new ardour to pursue her. +But her disappearance put an end to all his brilliant visions; and +convinced him that his wealth, on which he had so long been accustomed +to value himself, had failed of procuring him the favour of the only +woman with whom he was disposed to share it. He was too well convinced +that Delamere had carried her off: and though deprived of all hope for +himself, he was too angry at the good fortune of his rival to forbear an +attempt to disturb him in it's possession. He drove therefore from +Clapham to the house of Sir Richard Crofts, where he had the +mortification of hearing that Sir Richard was gone with Lord Montreville +to the country house of Lord Dornock, and was not expected to return +'till the next day. + +Rochely, aware that the only possible chance of preventing Delamere's +marriage was by an immediate pursuit, was greatly chagrined at this +unavoidable delay. He sat down, however, and with his usual laboured +precision wrote to Sir Richard Crofts, informing him of what had +happened. This was the operation of near an hour; and he then sent off a +man on horseback with it, who arriving at Lord Dornock's about three in +the morning, roused the family with some difficulty, and delivered to +Sir Richard the intelligence, which was immediately conveyed to Lord +Montreville; who having read Mr. Rochely's letter, could not flatter +himself with any hope that this alarm might be as groundless as one he +had before had on the same subject. + +The disobedience of his son; the broken faith of Emmeline; and the rage, +complaints, and reproaches of Lady Montreville, all arose together in +his imagination; and anger, vexation, and regret, took possession of his +heart. + +He had recourse in this, as in all other emergences, to Sir Richard +Crofts, who advised him immediately to pursue them. + +As soon therefore as the sleeping servants could be collected, and the +carriage prepared, his Lordship and Sir Richard set out for London +together.--Lord Montreville determining to follow the fugitives as +expeditiously as possible, though he hoped but little success from the +pursuit. + +Such was his apprehension of the clamours and passions of his wife, that +he could not determine to see her 'till he had at least done all that +was possible to recover her son. He therefore wrote to her a short +letter, stating briefly what had happened, and giving her hopes that he +should be able to overtake the parties before they were married. This he +ordered to be delivered to her in the morning; and directed his servant +to hasten to him with his travelling chaise and four post horses. + +The man, however, who had the care of the carriages, believing his Lord +would stay out all night, had gone out also, and taken with him the +keys. + +By this delay, and the blunders of the affrighted servants, who in their +haste only impeded each other, it was near nine o'clock before his +Lordship and Sir Richard left London. At Barnet, they heard of the +fugitives, and easily traced them from thence to Hatfield; after which +believing all farther enquiries useless, they passed through Stevenage +(having sent on before for horses,) without asking any questions which +might have led them to discover that Delamere and Emmeline had gone from +thence towards Hertford only an hour and an half before their arrival. + +This was fortunate for the pursued; for an enquiry would probably have +led to questions which Mr. Lawson would have found it very difficult to +evade. + +Lord Montreville, however, and Sir Richard, hurried on to Buckden; where +being obliged to get out for some refreshment for themselves and their +servants, his Lordship renewed the question--'At what time did a young +gentleman and lady' (describing Delamere and Emmeline) 'pass by?' + +The people told him they remembered no such persons about the time he +named. + +Lord Montreville then applied at the other houses, and made several +other enquiries; but received only a general assertion that no such +persons had been that way within the last four and twenty hours, or even +within a week. + +Sir Richard Crofts, who piqued himself upon his sagacity, told his +Lordship that stupidity, the love of falsehood, or Delamere's bribes, +might occasion this failure of intelligence; but there could be no doubt +of their being gratified with better information when they got to +Stilton. To Stilton therefore they went, but heard exactly the same +answers as they had done at the last stage. + +Sir Richard was now again to seek for some plausible conjecture that +might quiet the apprehensive anxiety of Lord Montreville, who guessed +and dreaded he knew not what. + +He now said, that as there could be no doubt of the young people's +having gone _towards_ Scotland, from the information they had obtained +at Barnet and Hatfield, it was most likely that in the apprehension of a +pursuit they had afterwards quitted the high road, and were advancing to +the borders of Scotland across the country, which must considerably +lengthen and impede their journey; therefore if they themselves +proceeded directly to the town where these marriages are usually +celebrated, the probability was that they should arrive before Delamere +and Miss Mowbray; and by such a circumstance the connection would be as +effectually prevented as it could be by their overtaking them on the +road. + +Lord Montreville, despairing of being able by any means to obstruct a +marriage on which his son seemed to be so determined, and harrassed in +mind as much as he was fatigued in body, suffered himself to be carried +forward merely through inability to determine what he could do better; +and though quite hopeless of it's success, pursued his journey. + +The innocent cause of all this trouble and anxiety remained in the mean +time at the hospitable house of Mrs. Champness; where Miss Lawson +attended her with all possible kindness and solicitude. It was indeed +impossible to be with her without loving her; unless to an heart +insensible, like that of Mrs. Ashwood, to all but her own ideal +perfections; or steeled by pride, like that of Lady Montreville. + +A night passed in quiet sleep had greatly restored her; and her fever, +though not gone, was considerably abated. Every noise, however trifling, +still made her start; her nerves were by no means restored to their +tone, and her spirits continued to be greatly affected. The idea which +seemed to press most painfully on her mind, was the blemish which the +purity of her character must sustain by her being so long absent with +Delamere--a blemish which she knew could hardly ever be removed but by +her returning as his wife. + +But to break her promise to Lord Montreville; a promise so solemnly +given; and to be compelled into a marriage which, however advantageous +and fortunate it would appear under other circumstances, would now bring +with it a severe alloy of mortification in the displeasure of his +family; was a measure which she could not determine to pursue. + +Her resentment towards Delamere for what was passed was not yet enough +subdued by his reluctant repentance, to reconcile her to the thoughts of +putting herself again into his power. Yet she could not suppose he would +suffer her to return to London alone, if she had courage to attempt it; +or was she sure that when there, Mrs. Ashwood would receive her. + +These reflections made her so restless and uneasy that she could not +conceal their source from Miss Lawson; who, tho' possessed of a very +good understanding, was too young and too little acquainted with the +world to be able to advise her. + +The handsome person and high rank of Delamere, and his violent love and +concern for Emmeline, made her suppose it impossible that she could help +returning it, or be long able to resist his importunity. She concluded +therefore that finally it would be a match; and was impressed with a +sentiment that amounted almost to veneration for Miss Mowbray, whom she +considered as a prodigy of female virtue and resolution. + +Delamere had been several times to speak to Miss Lawson; and he had +pleaded the violence of his passion with so much effect, that the +soft-hearted girl became his warm advocate with Emmeline, and +represented his tenderness and his contrition, 'till she consented (as +she was now able to sit up) to admit him. + +On his entrance, he said something, he hardly knew what, to Emmeline. +She held out her hand to him in token of forgiveness. He seized it +eagerly, and pressed it to his heart, while he gazed on her face as if +to enquire there what passed in hers. + +'Remember, Delamere,' said she, 'remember I am content to forgive your +late rash and absurd attempt, only on condition of your giving me the +most positive assurance that you will carry me directly to Mrs. +Stafford's, and there leave me.' + +Hard as these terms appeared, after the hopes he had entertained on +undertaking the journey, he was forced to submit; but it was evidently +with reluctance. + +'I do promise then,' said he, 'to take you to Mrs. Stafford's; but'---- + +'But what?' asked Emmeline. + +'Do you not mean, when you are there, to exclude me for ever?--Mrs. +Stafford is no friend of mine.' + +'I have already told you, Mr. Delamere, that I will see you wherever I +am, under certain restrictions: and tho' your late conduct might, and +indeed ought to induce me to withdraw that promise, yet I now repeat it. +But do not believe that I will therefore be persecuted as I have been; +recollect that I have already been driven from Mowbray Castle, from +Swansea, and from Mrs. Ashwood's, wholly on your account.' + +'Your remedy, my Emmeline, is, to consent to inhabit a house of your +own, and suffer me to be the first of your servants.' + +The varying colour of her complexion, to which the emotions of her mind +restored for a moment the faint tints of returning health, made Delamere +hope that her resolution was shaken; and seizing with his usual +vehemence on an idea so flattering, he was instantly on his knees before +her imploring her consent to prosecute their journey, and intreating +Miss Lawson's assistance, to move her inexorable friend. + +Emmeline was too weak to bear an address of this sort. The feebleness of +her frame ill seconded the resolution of her mind; which, +notwithstanding the struggles of pity and regard for Delamere, which she +could not entirely silence, was immoveably determined. Rallying +therefore her spirits, and summoning her fortitude to answer him, she +said--'How _can_ you, Sir, solicit a woman, whom you wish to make your +wife, to break a promise so solemn as that I have given to your father? +Could you hereafter have any dependance on one, who holds her integrity +so lightly? and should you not with great reason suspect that with her, +falsehood and deception might become habitual?' + +'Not at all,' answered Delamere. 'Your promise to my father is nugatory; +for it ought never to have been given. He took an unfair advantage of +your candour and your timidity; and all that you said ought not to bind +_you_; since it was extorted from you by _him_ who had no right to make +such conditions.' + +'What! has a father no right to decide to whom he will entrust the +happiness of his son, and the honour of his posterity? Alas! Delamere, +you argue against yourself; you only convince me that I ought not to put +the whole happiness of my life into the hands of a man, who will so +readily break thro' his first duties. The same impatient, pardon me, if +I say the same selfish spirit, which now urges you to set paternal +authority at defiance, will perhaps hereafter impel you, with as little +difficulty, to quit a wife of whom you may be weary, for any other +person whom caprice or novelty may dress in the perfections you now +fancy I possess. Ah! Delamere! shall I have a right to expect tenderness +and faith from a man whom I have assisted in making his parents unhappy; +and who has by my means embittered the evening of their lives to whom he +owes his own? Do you think that a rebellious and unfeeling son is likely +to make a good husband, a good father?' + +'Death and madness!' cried Delamere, relapsing into all the violence of +his nature--'what do you mean by all this! Selfish! rebellious! +unfeeling!--am I then _so_ worthless, _so_ detestable in your eyes?' + +His extravagant expressions of passion always terrified Emmeline; but +the paroxysm to which he now yielded, alarmed her less than it did Miss +Lawson, who never having seen such frantic behaviour before, thought him +really mad. She tremblingly besought him to sit down and be calm; while +the pale countenance of Emmeline which she shewed him, convinced him he +must subdue the violence of his transports, or hazard seeing her relapse +into that alarming state which had forced him to relinquish his project. +This observation restored his senses for a moment.--He besought her +pardon, with tears; then again cursed his own folly, and seemed on the +point of renouncing the contrition he had just assured her he felt. The +scene lasted till Emmeline, quite overcome with it, grew so faint that +she said she must go to bed; and then Delamere, again terrified at an +idea which he had forgot but the moment before, consented to retire if +she would again repeat her forgiveness. + +She gave him her hand languidly, and in silence. He kissed it; and half +in resentment, half in sorrow, left her, and returned to the inn, in a +humour which equally unfitted him for society or solitude. Obliged, +however, to remain in the latter, he brooded gloomily over his +disappointment; and believing Emmeline's life no longer in danger, he +fancied that his fears had magnified her illness. He again deprecated +his folly for having consented to relinquish the prosecution of his +journey, and for having agreed to carry her where he feared access to +her would be rendered rare and difficult, by the inflexible prudence and +watchful friendship of Mrs. Stafford. Sometimes he formed vague projects +to deceive her, and carry her again towards Scotland; then relinquished +them and formed others. He passed the night however nearly without +sleep, and the morning found him still irresolute. + +At eight o'clock, he went to the house of Mrs. Champness; and Miss +Lawson came down to him, but with a countenance in which uneasiness was +so visible, that Delamere was almost afraid of asking how Miss Mowbray +did. + +She told him that she had passed a restless and uncomfortable night, and +that the conversation he had held the evening before had been the cause +of an access of fever quite as high as the first attack; and, that tho' +she tried to conquer her weakness, and affected ability to prosecute a +journey for which she hourly grew more eager, it was easy to see that +she was as unfit for it as ever. Miss Lawson added, that if in a few +hours she was not better, she should send to Mr. Lawson to come from +Stevenage to see her. This account renewed with extreme violence all the +former terrors of Delamere, which a few hours before he had been trying +to persuade himself were groundless. + +He now reproached himself for his thoughtless cruelty; and Miss Lawson +seized this opportunity to exhort him to be more cautious for the +future, which he readily and warmly protested he would be. He promised +never again to give way to such extravagant transports, and pressed to +be admitted to see Emmeline; but Miss Lawson would by no means suffer +him to see her 'till she was more recovered from the effects of his +frenzy. + +In the afternoon, he was allowed to drink tea in Emmeline's room, and +expressed his sincere concern for his indiscretion of the evening +before. He tried, by shewing a disposition to comply with all her +wishes, to obliterate the memory of his former indiscretion. Emmeline +was willing to forget the offence, and pardon the offender, on his +renewing his promise to take her the next day towards London, on her +route into Dorsetshire; if she should be well enough to undertake the +journey. + +The spirit and fortitude of Emmeline, fatal as they were to his hopes, +commanded the respect, esteem, and almost the adoration of Delamere; +while her gentleness and kindness oppressed his heart with fondness so +extreme, that he was equally undone by the one and the other, and felt +that it every hour became more and more impossible for him to live +without her. + +It was agreed, that as it would be impossible to reach Woodfield from +Hertford, without stopping one night on the road, they would proceed +thro' London to Staines the first day, and from thence go on early the +next to the house of Mrs. Stafford. + +After lingering with her as long as he could, Delamere took his leave +for the evening, determined to observe the promises he had made her, and +never again to attempt to obtain her but by her own consent. When he +made these resolves, he really intended to adhere to them; and was +confirmed in his good resolutions when he the next morning found her +ready to trust herself with him, calm, chearful, full of confidence in +his promises, and of gentleness and kindness towards him. + +Emmeline took an affectionate leave of her amiable acquaintance, Miss +Lawson, whose uncommon kindness, on so short a knowledge of her, filled +her heart with gratitude. She promised to write to her as soon as she +got to Woodfield, and to return the cloaths she had borrowed, to which +she secretly purposed adding some present, to testify her sense of the +civilities she had received. + +Delamere enclosed, in a letter which he sent by Miss Lawson to her +father, a bank note, as an acknowledgment of his extraordinary kindness. + +They quickly arrived in London; and as Emmeline still remained in the +resolution of avoiding a return to Mrs. Ashwood, they changed horses in +Piccadilly to go on. + +Tho' by going to her former residence she might have escaped a longer +continuation, and farther journey, with Delamere, of the impropriety of +which she was very sensible; yet she declined it, because she knew that +as her adventure might be explained several ways, Mrs. Ashwood and Miss +Galton were very likely to put on it the construction least in her +favour; and she was very unwilling to be exposed to their questions and +comments, till she could, in concert with Mrs. Stafford, and with her +advice, give such an account of the affair as would put it out of their +power to indulge that malignity of remark at her expence of which she +knew they were capable. + +She therefore dispatched a servant to Mrs. Ashwood with a note for her +cloaths, whom Delamere directed to rejoin them at Staines. + +At that place they arrived early in the evening; and Emmeline, to whom +Delamere had behaved with the utmost tenderness and respect, bore her +journey without suffering any other inconvenience than some remaining +languor, which was now more visible in her looks than in her spirits. +Charmed with the thoughts of so soon seeing Mrs. Stafford, and feeling +all that delight which a consciousness of rectitude inspires, she was +more than usually chearful, and conversed with Delamere with all that +enchanting frankness and sweetness which made her general conversation +so desireable. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +As they had an hour or two on their hands, which Emmeline wished to +employ in something that might prevent Delamere from entertaining her on +the only subject he was ever willing to talk of when they were together, +she desired him to enquire for a book. He went out, and returned with +some volumes of novels, which he had borrowed of the landlord's +daughter; of which Emmeline read in some a page, and in others a +chapter, but found nothing in any, that tempted her to go regularly +through the whole. + +While she was reading, Delamere, equally unable to occupy himself with +any other object whether she was absent or present, sat looking at her +over the table which was between them. After some time passed in this +manner, their supper was brought in, and common conversation took place +while it was passing. When it was removed, Emmeline returned again to +the books, and took up one she had not before opened.--It was the +second volume of the Sorrows of Werter. She laid it down again with a +smile, saying--'That will not do for me to-night.' + +'What is it?' cried Delamere, taking it from her.--'O, I have read +it--and if _you_ have, Emmeline, you might have learned the danger of +trifling with violent and incurable passions. Tell me--could you ever be +reconciled to yourself if you should be the cause of a catastrophe +equally fatal?' + +Still meaning to turn the conversation, she answered gaily--'O, I fancy +there is very little danger of that--you know the value of your +existence too well to throw it inconsiderately away.' + +'Do not be too certain of that, Emmeline. Without you, my life is no +longer valuable--if indeed it be supportable; and should I ever be in +the situation this melancholy tale describes, how do I know that my +reason would be strong enough to preserve me from equal rashness. +Beware, Miss Mowbray--beware of the consequence of finding an Albert at +Woodfield.' + +'It is very unlikely I should find any lover there. I assure you I +desire none; nor have I any other wish than to pass the remainder of the +winter tranquilly with my friend.' + +'If then you really never wish to encourage another, and if you have any +sensibility for the pain I feel from uncertainty, why will you not +solemnly engage yourself to me, by a promise which cannot be broken but +by mutual consent?' + +'Because we are both too young to form such an engagement.--You are not +yet quite one and twenty; a time of life in which it is impossible you +can be a competent judge of what will make you really happy. I am more +than two years younger: but short as has been my knowledge of the world, +I have already seen two or three instances of marriages made in +consequence of early engagements, which have proved so little fortunate +that they have determined me never to try the experiment. Should you +bind yourself by this promise, which you now think would make you easy, +and should you hereafter repent it, which I know to be far from +improbable, pride, obstinacy, the shame of retracting your opinion, +would perhaps concur to prevent your withdrawing it; and I should +receive your hand while your heart might be attached to another. The +chains which you had yourself put on, in opposition to the wishes of +your family, you would, rather than own your error, rivet, tho' your +inclination prompted you to break them; and we should then be both +miserable.--No, Delamere--let us remain at liberty, and perhaps----' + +'It is impossible, Madam!' cried Delamere, suddenly and vehemently +interrupting her--'It is absolutely impossible you could argue thus +calmly, if you had any regard for me--Cold--cruel--insensible--unfeeling +girl! Oh! fool, fool that I am, to persist in loving a woman without an +heart, and to be unable to tear from my soul a passion that serves only +to make me perpetually wretched. Cursed be the hour I first indulged it, +and cursed the weakness of mind that cannot conquer it!' + +This new instance of ungovernable temper, so contrary to the promises he +had given her at Hertford, extremely provoked Emmeline, who answered +very gravely-- + +'If you desire, Sir, to divest yourself of this unfortunate passion, the +task is already half accomplished. Resolve, then, to conquer it wholly: +restore me to that tranquillity you have destroyed--vindicate my injured +reputation, which your headlong ardour has blemished--give me back to +the kindness and protection of your father--and determine to see me no +more.' + +This spirited and severe answer, immediately convinced Delamere he had +gone too far. He had never before seen Emmeline so much piqued, and he +hastened to appease her. + +'Pardon me!--forgive me, Emmeline! I am not master of myself when I +think of losing you! But you, who feel not any portion of the flame that +devours me, can coolly argue, while my heart is torn in pieces; and +deign not even to make any allowance for the unguarded sallies of +unconquerable passion!--the phrenzy of almost hopeless love! Sometimes, +when I think your coldness arises from determined and insurmountable +indifference--perhaps from dislike--despair and fury possess me. Would +you but say that you will live only for me--would you only promise that +no future Rochely, none of the people you have seen or may see, shall +influence you to forget me--I should, I think, be easier!' + +'You have a better opinion of yourself, Mr. Delamere,' answered +Emmeline, calmly, 'than to believe it probable. But be that as it may, I +have told you that I will neither make or receive any promises of the +nature you require. I have already suffered too much from your +extravagant passion to put it farther in your power to distress me. But +I shall be better able to reassume this conversation to-morrow--to-night +I am fatigued; and it is time for us to separate.' + +'And will you leave me, then, Emmeline?--leave me too in anger?' + +'I am not angry, Mr. Delamere--here is my hand.' + +'This hand,' exclaimed he, eagerly grasping it, 'which ought to have +been mine!--Now, even now, that you are about to tear yourself from me, +it should have been mine for ever! But I have relinquished my prize at +the moment I might have secured it; and if I lose it entirely my own +folly only will be the cause.' + +'These violent transports may terrify me, but shall not alter my +determination. Quit my hand, Mr. Delamere,' continued she, struggling to +disengage it--'I will not be detained.' + +She rang the bell; and the waiter almost instantly entering, she took a +candle and went to the apartment prepared for her: while Delamere, vexed +to have commanded himself so little, and to be so unable to adhere to +the good resolutions he had made, dared not attempt to prevent her. + +He had now again to make his peace, but would not venture to take any +steps towards it that night; and he retired to his own room, considering +how he might remain near her after she got into Dorsetshire, and +dreading the hour of even a temporary separation. + +The next morning Emmeline, impatient to be gone, dressed herself early; +and just as she was about to go down to hasten their breakfast and +departure, she saw, from a window that looked into the yard of the inn, +a phaeton and four enter it, remarkable for the profusion of expensive +and ill-fancied ornaments with which both the carriage and harness were +covered. In it were two gentlemen wrapped in great coats, as the weather +was very severe; on whom Emmeline casting a transient glance, discovered +that one of them was Elkerton. + +She was a good deal alarmed at his arrival: for she had reason to fear, +that this man, to whom she had a decided aversion, would see her, and +know that she was travelling alone with Delamere. She saw him get out, +and give directions for putting up his horses, telling the people who +came out to attend him that he should breakfast and stay there some +hours. + +Since his unfortunate _rencontre_ with Delamere at Mrs. Ashwood's, he +had almost entirely relinquished the pursuit of Emmeline. He had never +been able to shake off the ridicule his vanity had brought upon him, and +therefore had forborne to enter the circle where it had happened. He +had, however, seen Miss Mowbray once or twice in public, and she had +been too generally admired not to interest his pride in keeping up the +acquaintance, tho' she treated him always with coldness, and found it +difficult to be barely civil. She knew that he was severely mortified by +her indifference, and that in matters of scandal and gossiping no old +woman could be a greater adept. When therefore personal pique was added +to his natural love of anecdote, Emmeline apprehended so much from him, +that she determined, if possible, to escape his sight. + +To do this, however, was very difficult. She saw him and his companion +take possession of a room that had windows looking into the yard through +which she must of necessity pass, and where, when the post-chaise drew +up, they must see whoever got into it. She wrapped herself up in her +cloak, pulled her hat over her eyes, and holding up her handkerchief as +if to guard her face from the cold, she passed unobserved to the room +where Delamere was waiting breakfast. + +The remembrance of his last night's behaviour was in some measure +obliterated by the alarm she had felt at the sight of Elkerton. Delamere +looked melancholy and dejected. Emmeline speaking to him with her usual +sweetness, seemed to have forgotten the offence he had given her, and +tried to restore his good humour as if she had been the aggressor: but +he continued gloomy and pensive. + +They began their breakfast, and conversed on different subjects. + +'Did you observe,' said Emmeline, 'the phaeton which drove in just now?' + +'No--what was there remarkable about it?' + +'Nothing, but that one of the persons it contained was Elkerton, the +poor man you made so absurd at Mrs. Ashwood's, when he boasted of +knowing you. I hope I shall get away without his seeing me--I should +extremely dislike meeting him.' + +'Stupid dog!--why should you care whether you meet him or no?' + +'Because he must think it so strange that I am here with you.' + +'Let him--Of what consequence is it to us what such a puppy thinks? I +cannot possibly care about it.' + +'But _I_ do, Mr. Delamere,' said Emmeline, somewhat gravely.--'You will +recollect that I may be very much injured by the scandal such a man may +circulate.' + +'Well, well, my dear Emmeline--we will set out directly, and you will +not meet him.--I will order the chaise.' + +He went out for that purpose as soon as their breakfast ended; but a few +paces from the door was accosted by Elkerton, who feeling himself in +point of figure equal to speak to any man, addressed him with all the +confident familiarity of an old acquaintance. + +'Sir, your most obedient humble servant.' + +'Your servant, Sir;' replied Delamere, brushing by him. + +'Sir, I hope you, and my Lord and Lady Montreville, have been well since +I had last the honour of seeing you?' + +'Since you oblige me, Sir, to acknowledge the acquaintance, I must +remind you that our last meeting was attended with some circumstances +which should make you not very desirous of recollecting it.' + +'Oh, dear! very far from not wishing to remember it, I am always pleased +with such agreeable badinage from my friends, and some how or other +contrive to be even with them. Prithee, dear boy, whither are you +going?--perhaps we are travelling the same road?' + +'I hope not,' said Delamere, turning from him, and advancing towards the +bar. + +Elkerton, unabashed, followed him. + +'If we are,' continued he, 'I think you shall take me into your +post-chaise. I am going to pass a month with a friend in Hampshire; and +Jackman, who loves driving, tho' he knows nothing of the matter, +persuaded me to use an open carriage; but it is so cold, that I believe +I shall let him enjoy it alone the rest of the way. Suppose we go +together, if your destination is the Winchester road?' + +Delamere was so provoked at this forwardness, that he found he should be +unable to give a moderate answer.--He therefore turned away without +giving any. + +'Pray, Sir,' said the bar maid to Elkerton, 'who is that young +gentleman?' + +'Lord Montreville's son,' replied he; 'and one of the strangest fellows +in the world.--Sometimes we are as intimate as brothers; and now you see +he'll hardly speak to me.' + +'Perhaps, Mr. Elkerton,' said the woman, smiling, 'the young gentleman +may have very good reasons for not taking another companion in his +post-chaise.' + +Elkerton pressed her to explain herself. + +'Why you must know,' said she, 'that there's a young lady with him; one +of the prettiest young women I ever see. Last night, after they comed +here, his walet was pretty near tipsey; so he come and sot down here, +and told me how his master had hired him to go along with 'em to +Scotland; but that before they got near half way, somehow or other 'twas +settled for 'em to come back again. But don't say as I told you, Mr. +Elkerton, for that would be as much as my place is worth.' + +This intelligence awakened all the curiosity of Elkerton, together with +some hopes of being able to revenge himself on Delamere for his contempt +and rudeness. + +'Egad!' cried he, 'I'll have a peep at this beauty, however.' + +So saying, he strutted across the yard, and placed himself under a +little piazza which made a covered communication between the rooms of +the inn which were built round the yard, and along which they were +obliged to pass to get into the chaise. + +The room door opened--Delamere and Emmeline appeared at it. + +'Draw up, postillions, as close as you can,' cried the waiter. + +Delamere, holding Emmeline's hand, advanced; but on seeing Elkerton, she +stepped back into the room. + +'Come, come,' said Delamere--'never concern yourself about that +impertinent fellow.' + +Elkerton, tho' he did not distinctly hear this speech, had caught a view +of the person to whom it was addressed; and tho' her face was concealed, +her height and air convinced him it was Miss Mowbray. + +'How do you, Madam?' exclaimed he, bowing and advancing--'Miss Mowbray, +I hope I have the happiness of seeing you well.' + +'We are in haste, Sir,' said Delamere, leading Emmeline towards the +chaise. + +'Nay, my good friend,' returned Elkerton, 'allow me I beg to pay my +respects to this lady, with whom I have the honour of being +acquainted--Miss Mowbray, permit me----' + +He would have taken the hand which was disengaged; but Emmeline shrunk +from him, and stepped quickly into the chaise. + +Elkerton still advanced, and leaning almost into it, he said--'Your long +journey, I hope, has not too much fatigued you.' + +'By heaven!' exclaimed Delamere, 'this is too much! Sir, you are the +most troublesome, insolent fool, I ever met with!' + +So saying, he seized Elkerton by the collar, and twisting him suddenly +round, threw him with great violence against one of the pillars of the +piazza. + +He then got into the chaise; and taking out of his pocket two or three +cards, on which his address was written, he tossed them out of the +window; saying, with a voice that struck terror into the overthrown +knight on the ground--'You know where to hear of me if you have any +thing to say.' + +The chaise now drove quickly away; while Delamere tried to reassure +Emmeline, who was so much terrified by the suddenness of this scuffle, +that she had hardly breath to reproach him for his impetuosity. He +answered, that he had kept his temper too long with the meddling ideot, +and that to have overlooked such impertinence without resentment was not +in his nature. He tried to laugh off her apprehensions; and flattered by +the anxiety she felt for his safety, all his gaiety and good humour +seemed to return. + +But Emmeline, extremely hurt to find that Elkerton was informed of the +journey she had taken, and vexed that Delamere had engaged in a quarrel, +the event of which, if not personally dangerous to him, could not fail +of being prejudicial to her, continued very low and uneasy the rest of +their journey, reflecting on nothing with pleasure but on her +approaching interview with Mrs. Stafford. + +But this hoped-for happiness was soon converted into the most poignant +uneasiness. On their arrival at Woodfield, Emmeline had the pain of +hearing that Mrs. Stafford, who had two days before been delivered of a +daughter, had continued dangerously ill ever since. The physicians who +attended her had that day given them hopes that her illness might end +favourably; but she was still in a situation so precarious that her +attendants were in great alarm. + +As she had anxiously expected Emmeline, and expressed much astonishment +at not having heard from her the week before, which was that on which +she had purposed to be with her, and as she still continued earnestly to +enquire for news of Miss Mowbray, Mr. Stafford insisted on informing her +she was arrived; and this intelligence seemed to give her pleasure. She +desired Emmeline might come to her bed-side: but she was so weak, that +she could only in a faint voice express her pleasure at the sight of +her; and pressing her hand, begged she would not leave her. + +It was impossible Emmeline could speak to her on the subject of +Delamere, as the least emotion might have been of the most fatal +consequence; and tho' she earnestly wished he might not have been +invited to stay, she was obliged to let it take it's course. She left +her friend's room no more that evening; and gave her whole thoughts and +attention to keeping her quiet and administering her medicines, which +Mrs. Stafford seemed pleased to receive from her hands. + +Mr. Stafford was one of those unfortunate characters, who having neither +perseverance and regularity to fit them for business, or taste and +genius for more refined pursuits, seek, in every casual occurrence or +childish amusement, relief against the tedium of life. Tho' married very +early, and tho' father of a numerous family, he had thrown away the time +and money, which should have provided for them, in collecting baubles, +which he had repeatedly possessed and discarded, 'till having exhausted +every source that that species of idle folly offered, he had been +driven, by the same inability to pursue proper objects, into vices yet +more fatal to the repose of his wife, and schemes yet more destructive +to the fortune of his family. Married to a woman who was the delight of +her friends and the admiration of her acquaintance, surrounded by a +lovely and encreasing family, and possessed of every reasonable means of +happiness, he dissipated that property, which ought to have secured it's +continuance, in vague and absurd projects which he neither loved or +understood; and his temper growing more irritable in proportion as his +difficulties encreased, he sometimes treated his wife with great +harshness; and did not seem to think it necessary, even by apparent +kindness and attention, to excuse or soften to her his general ill +conduct, or his 'battening on the moor' of low and degrading debauchery. + +Mrs. Stafford, who had been married to him at fifteen, had long been +unconscious of his weakness: and when time and her own excellent +understanding pressed the fatal conviction too forcibly upon her, she +still, but fruitlessly, attempted to hide from others what she saw too +evidently herself. + +Fear for the future fate of her children, and regret to find that she +had no influence over her husband, together with the knowledge of +connections to which she had till a few months before been a stranger, +had given to Mrs. Stafford, whose temper was naturally extremely +chearful, that air of despondence, and melancholy cast of mind, which +Emmeline had remarked with so much concern on their first acquaintance. + +To such a man as Mr. Stafford, the arrival of Delamere afforded novelty, +and consequently some degree of satisfaction. He took it into his head +to be extremely civil to him, and pressed him to continue some time at +his house; but Delamere well knew that Emmeline would be made unhappy by +his remaining more than one night; as Mr. Stafford entered however so +warmly into his interest, he begged of him to recollect whether there +was not any house to be let within a few miles of Woodfield. + +Mr. Stafford instantly named a hunting seat of Sir Philip Carnaby's, +which he said would exactly suit him. It's possessor, whom some +disarrangement in his affairs had obliged to go abroad for a few years, +had ordered it to be let ready furnished, from year to year. + +Delamere went the next morning to the attorney who let it; and making an +agreement for it, ordered in all the requisites for his immediate +residence; and, till it was ready, accepted Mr. Stafford's invitation to +remain at Woodfield. + +Emmeline, who confined herself wholly to her friend's apartment, knew +nothing of this arrangement 'till it was concluded: and when she heard +it, remonstrance and objection were vain. + +The illness of Mrs. Stafford, tho' it did not gain ground, was still +very alarming, and called forth, to a painful excess, that lively +sympathy which Emmeline felt for those she loved. She continued to +attend her with the tenderest assiduity; and after five days painful +suspence, had the happiness to find her out of danger, and well enough +to hear the relation Emmeline had to make of the involuntary elopement. + +Mrs. Stafford advised her immediately to write to Lord Montreville; +which her extreme anxiety only had occasioned her so long to delay. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Lord Montreville and Sir Richard Crofts, after exhausting every mode of +enquiry at the end of their journey, without having discovered any +traces of the fugitives, returned to London. The uncertainty of what was +become of his son, and concern for the fate of Emmeline, made his +Lordship more unhappy than he had yet been: and the reception he met +with on his return home did not contribute to relieve him; he found that +no intelligence had been received of Delamere; and Lady Montreville +beset him with complaints and reproaches. The violence of her passions +had, for some months, subjected her to fits; and the evasion of her son, +and her total ignorance of what was become of him, had kept her in +perpetual agony during Lord Montreville's absence. His return after so +successless a journey encreased her sufferings, and she was of a temper +not to suffer alone, but to inflict on others some part of the pain she +felt herself. + +Lord Montreville attempted in vain to appease and console her. Nothing +but some satisfactory account of Delamere had the least chance of +succeeding; and his Lordship, who now supposed that Delamere and +Emmeline were concealed in the neighbourhood of London, determined to +persevere in every means of discovering them. + +For this purpose he had again recourse to the Crofts'; and Sir Richard +and both his sons readily undertook to assist him in his search, and +particularly the elder undertook it with the warmest zeal. + +This young man inherited all the cunning of his father, together with a +coolness of temper which supplied the place of solid understanding and +quick parts; since it always gave him time to see where his interest +lay, and steadiness to pursue it. By incessant assiduity he had acquired +the confidence of Lady Montreville, to whom his attention and attendance +were become almost necessary. + +Her Ladyship never dreamed that a man of his rank could lift his eyes to +either of her daughters, and therefore encouraged his constant +attendance on them both; while Crofts was too sensible of the value of +such an alliance not to take advantage of the opportunities that were +incessantly afforded him. + +Lady Montreville had repeatedly declared, that if Delamere married +Emmeline all that part of the fortune which she had a right to give away +should be the property of her eldest daughter. This was upwards of six +thousand pounds a year; and whether this ever happened or not, Crofts +knew that what was settled on younger children, which must at all events +be divided between the two young ladies, would make either of them a +fortune worth all attempts, independent of the connection he would form +by it with Lord Montreville, who now began to make a very considerable +figure in the political world. + +With these views, Crofts had for near two years incessantly applied +himself to conciliate the good opinion of the whole family, with so much +art that nobody suspected his designs. The slight and contemptuous +treatment he had always received from Delamere, he had affected to pass +by with the calm magnanimity of a veteran statesman; and emulating the +decided conduct and steady indifference of age, rather than yielding to +the warmth of temper natural to five and twenty, he was considered as a +very rising and promising young man by the grave politicians with whom +he associated, and by those of his own age a supercilious and solemn +coxcomb. + +He had studied the characters of the two Miss Delameres, and found that +of the eldest the fittest for his purpose; tho' the person of the +youngest, and the pride which encased the heart of the other, would have +made a less able politician decide for Augusta. But he saw that the very +pride which seemed an impediment to his hopes, might, under proper +management, contribute to their success. He saw that she really loved +nobody but herself; that her personal vanity was greater than the pride +of her rank; and that her heart was certainly on that side assailable. +He therefore, by distant hints and sighs, affected concealment; and +artful speeches gave her to understand that all his prudence had not +been able to defend him from the indiscretion of a hopeless passion. + +While he was contented to call it hopeless, Miss Delamere, tho' long +partial to Fitz-Edward, could not refuse herself the indulgence of +hearing it; and at length grew so accustomed to allow him to talk to her +of his unbounded and despairing love, that she found it very +disagreeable to be without him. + +He saw, that unless a title and great estate crossed his path, his +success, tho' it might be slow, was almost certain. But he was obliged +to proceed with caution; notwithstanding he would have been very glad +to have secured his prize before the return of Delamere to his family +threw an obstacle in his way which was the most formidable he had to +contend with. + +He affected, however, the utmost anxiety to discover him; and recited to +Lord Montreville an exhortation he intended to pronounce to him, if he +should be fortunate enough to do so. + +Nothing could be a greater proof of his Lordship's opinion of Crofts +than his entrusting him with a commission, which, if successful, could +hardly fail of irritating the fiery and ungovernable temper of Delamere, +and driving him into excesses which it would require all the philosophic +steadiness of Crofts to support without resentment. + +While Sir Richard and his two sons therefore set about the difficult +task of finding Delamere, Lord Montreville went himself to Fitz-Edward; +but heard that for many days he had not been at his apartments, that he +had taken no servants with him, and that they knew not whither he was +gone, or when he would return. + +Lord Montreville, who had depended more on the information of +Fitz-Edward than any other he hoped to obtain, left a note at his +lodgings desiring to see him as soon as he came to town, and went back +in encreased uneasiness to his own house. But among the numberless +letters which lay on his library table, the directions of which he +hastily read in a faint hope of news of Delamere, he saw one directed by +the hand of Emmeline. He tore it eagerly open--it contained an account +of all that had happened, written with such clearness and simplicity as +immediately impressed it's truth; and it is difficult to say whether +Lord Montreville's pleasure at finding his son still unmarried, or his +admiration at the greatness of his niece's mind, were the predominant +emotion. + +When the former sentiment a little subsided, and he had time to reflect +on all the heroism of her conduct, he was almost ashamed of the long +opposition he had given to his son's passion; and would, if he had not +known his wife's prejudices invincible, have acknowledged, that neither +the possession of birth or fortune could make any amends to him, who saw +and knew how to value the beauty of such a mind as that of Emmeline. The +inveterate aversion and insurmountable pride of Lady Montreville, he had +no hope of conquering; and she had too much in her power, to suffer his +Lordship to think of Delamere's losing such a large portion of his +inheritance by disobeying her. For these reasons he checked the +inclination he felt rising in his own heart to reward and receive his +niece, and thought only of taking advantage of her integrity to separate +his son from her for ever. + +He went with the letter in his hand to Lady Montreville's apartment, +where he found Mr. Crofts and the two young ladies. + +He read it to them; and when he had finished it, expressed in the +warmest terms his approbation of Miss Mowbray's conduct. Lady +Montreville testified nothing but satisfaction at what she called 'the +foolish boy's escape from ruin,' without having the generosity to +applaud _her_, whose integrity was so much the object of admiration. + +Possessing neither candour nor generosity herself, she was incapable of +loving those qualities in another; and in answer to Lord Montreville's +praises of Emmeline, which she heard with reluctance, she was not +ashamed to say, that perhaps were the whole truth known, his Lordship +would find but little reason to set up his relation's character higher +than that of his own children--to which her eldest daughter added--'Why, +to be sure, Madam, there is, as my father says, something very +extraordinary in Miss Mowbray's refusing _such a match_--that is, _if_ +she has no other attachment.' + +Augusta Delamere heard all that her father said in commendation of her +beloved Emmeline, with eyes suffused with tears, which drew on her the +anger of her mother and the malignant sneers of her sister. + +The two young ladies however were sent away, while a council was held +between Lord and Lady Montreville and Crofts, on what steps it was +immediately necessary to take. + +Several ideas were started, but none which his Lordship approved. He +determined therefore to write to his son; with whose residence at +Tylehurst, the house of Sir Philip Carnaby, Emmeline's letter acquainted +him; and wait his answer before he proceeded farther. + +With this resolution, Lady Montreville was extremely discontented; and +proposed, as the only plan on which they could depend, that his +Lordship, under pretence of placing her properly, should send Emmeline +to France, and there confine her till Delamere, hopeless of regaining +her, should consent to marry Miss Otley. + +Her Ladyship urged--'That it could not possibly do the girl any harm; +and that very worthy people had not scrupled to commit much more +violent actions where their motive was right, tho' less strong, than +that which would in this case actuate Lord Montreville, which was,' she +said, 'to save the sole remaining heir of a noble house from a degrading +and beggarly alliance.' + +'Hold! Madam,' cried Lord Montreville, who was extremely displeased at +the proposal, and with the speech with which it closed--'Remember, I beg +of you, that when you speak of the Mowbray family, you speak of one very +little if at all inferior to your own; nor should you, Lady Montreville, +forget, in the heat of your resentment, that you are a woman--a woman +too, whose birth should at least give you a liberal mind, and put you +above thinking of an action as unfeminine as inhuman. Surely, as a +mother who have daughters of your own, you should have some feeling for +this young woman; not at all their inferior, but in being born under +circumstances for which she is not to blame, and which mark with +sufficient unhappiness a life that might otherwise have done as much +honour to my family as I hope your daughters will do to your's.' + +The slightest contradiction was what Lady Montreville had never been +accustomed to bear patiently. The asperity therefore of this speech, and +the total rejection of her project, threw her into an agony of passion +which ended in an hysteric fit. + +Lord Montreville, less moved than usual, committed her to the care of +her daughters and women, and continued to talk coolly to Crofts on the +subject they were before discussing. + +After considering it in every point of view, he determined to leave +Delamere at present to his own reflections; only writing to him a calm +and expostulatory letter; such as, together with Emmeline's steadiness, +on which he now relied with the utmost confidence, might, he thought, +effect more than violent measures. His Lordship wrote also to Emmeline, +strongly expressing his admiration and regard, and his confidence and +esteem encreased her desire to deserve them. + +Mrs. Stafford was now nearly recovered; and Delamere settled at his new +house, where he always returned at night, tho' he passed almost every +day at Woodfield. + +His mornings were often occupied in those amusements of which he had +been so fond before his passion for Emmeline became the only business of +his life; and secure of seeing her continually, and of telling how he +loved her, he became more reasonable than he had hitherto been. + +The letters, however, which now arrived from Lord Montreville, a little +disturbed his felicity. They gave Emmeline an opportunity to exhort him +to return to London--to make his peace with his father, and quiet the +uneasiness of Lady Montreville, which his Lordship represented as +excessive, and as fatal to _her_ health as to the peace of the whole +family. + +Emmeline urged him by every tie of duty and affection to relieve the +anxiety of his family, and particularly to attend to the effect his +absence and disobedience had on the constitution of his mother, which +had long been extremely shaken. But to all her remonstrances, he +answered--'That he would not return, till Lady Montreville would promise +never to renew those reflections and reproaches which had driven him +from Audley-Hall; and to which he apprehended he should now be more than +ever exposed.' + +As Emmeline could not pretend to procure such an engagement from her +Ladyship, all she could do was to inform Lord Montreville of his +objection, and to leave it to him to make terms between Delamere and his +mother. + +Near a month had now elapsed since Emmeline's arrival at Woodfield; and +the returning serenity of her mind had restored to her countenance all +it's bloom and brilliancy. She had indeed no other uneasiness than what +arose from her anxiety to procure quiet to her Uncle's family, and from +her observations on the encreasing melancholy of Mrs. Stafford, for +which she knew too well how to account. + +Even this, however, often appeared alleviated by her presence, and +forgotten in her conversation; and she rejoiced in the power of +affording a temporary relief to the sorrows of one whom she so truly +loved. + +This calm was interrupted by Elkerton, by whom the affront he had +received at Staines, from Delamere, had not been forgotten, tho' he by +no means relished the thoughts of resenting it in the way his friend +Jackman, and all who heard of it, proposed. + +To risk his life and all his finery, seemed a most cruel condition; but +Jackman protested there was no other by which he could retrieve his +honour. And his friend at whose house he was, on the borders of +Hampshire, who had been an officer in the military service of the East +India Company, and had acquired a princely fortune, felt himself +inspired with all the punctilios of a soldier, and declared to Elkerton +that if he put up with this affront no man of honour could hereafter +speak to him. + +Poor Elkerton, who in the article of fighting, as well as many others, +extremely resembled '_le Bourgeois Gentilhomme_,' made all the evasions +in his power; while his _soi disant_ friends, who enjoyed his distress, +persisted in pushing him on to demand satisfaction of Delamere; but +after long debates, he determined first to ask him for an apology. There +was, he thought, some hope of obtaining it; if not, he could only in the +last extremity have recourse to the desperate expedient of a challenge. +He wrote therefore a letter to Delamere, requesting, in the civilest and +mildest terms, an apology for his behaviour at Staines; and sent it by a +servant; as it was not more than twenty miles from the house where he +was, to that Mr. Delamere had taken. + +Delamere returned a contemptuous refusal; but neither mentioned the +letter to Emmeline, nor thought again about it's writer. + +The unfortunate Elkerton, who reproached incessantly his evil stars for +having thrown this hot-headed boy in his way, could not conceal from his +friends the unaccommodating answer he had received to his pacific +overture; and it was agreed that Elkerton must either determine to fight +him, or be excluded from good company for ever. The challenge, +therefore, penned by the Asiatic hero, was copied with a trembling hand +by Elkerton; and Jackman, who had offered to be his second, set out with +him for the town near Tylehurst. + +On their arrival, Jackman took a post-chaise to carry the billet to +Delamere, leaving the terrified Elkerton to settle all his affairs, both +temporal and spiritual, against the next morning, when Delamere was +appointed to meet him on a heath near the town, at seven o'clock. + +Jackman found Delamere with Fitz-Edward, who had arrived there that day. +He delivered his letter, and Delamere immediately answered it by saying +he would not fail to attend the appointment, with his friend Colonel +Fitz-Edward. + +During Jackman's absence, Elkerton tried to argue himself into a state +of mind fit for the undertaking of the next day. But he found no +arguments gave him any sort of satisfaction, save two; one was, that as +most disputes ended with firing a brace of pistols in the air, the +probability was, that he should be as fortunate as others--the second, +that if the worst should happen, he should at least make a paragraph +worth some hazard: and that whether he killed Delamere, or fell himself, +an affair of honour with a young man of his rank would extremely +contribute to his fame. + +Neither of these reflections however had force enough to prevent his +heartily wishing there was no necessity to employ them; and he contrived +to make such a bustle with his servant about his pistols, and sent forth +so many enquiries for an able surgeon, that it was known immediately at +the inn where he was, that the gentleman was come to fight young Squire +Delamere. + +In a country town, such intelligence soon gained ground; and before +Jackman's return, every shop in it had settled the place and manner of +the combat. + +One of Mr. Stafford's servants was at the inn, which was also the post +house; where the landlady failed not to tell him what a bloody-minded +man was in the next room. The servant, who like all people of his +station delighted in the wonderful and the terrible, collected all the +particulars; which he retailed on his arrival at home, with every +exaggeration his invention would lend him. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +The maid who waited on Emmeline had no sooner heard these particulars, +than conceiving her to be more interested in the fate of Delamere than +any other person, she ran up to tell her of it; and tho' she had not +retained the name of Elkerton perfectly, Emmeline, who instantly +recollected the adventure at Staines, saw the truth at once; and was +terrified at the impending event to a degree that made her for a moment +incapable of reflection. + +To be, however remotely, or however innocently, the cause of any man's +hazarding his life, was shocking to all her feelings. But to suppose +that Lord Montreville might be made by her means the most wretched of +human beings, by the loss of an only and beloved son, was an idea which +froze her blood. + +Her regard for Delamere, which was the affection of a sister somewhat +heightened perhaps by his persevering preference of herself, her +friendship for Augusta, and her anxiety for the peace of his whole +family, added to her general tenderness of heart, all co-operated to +distress her on this occasion. As soon as she could recollect what was +best to be done, she sought Mr. Stafford, to whom she related what she +had heard, which the servant who had brought the intelligence repeated +before him. + +Mr. Stafford, at Emmeline's earnest request, set out for the house of +Delamere, who had not that day been at Woodfield because he expected +Fitz-Edward. Mr. Stafford delivered to him a pressing entreaty from +Emmeline that he would forbear to meet Elkerton, or at least delay it +'till she could speak to him; but Delamere shewing Stafford the letter +he had received, desired him to go back and make Emmeline easy as well +as he could, since to comply with her request was entirely out of his +power. To the necessity of his meeting Elkerton, Stafford assented; and +returned home to relate the little success of his embassy, while the +terror and alarm of Emmeline were only encreased by his visit. + +Such was her anxiety, that she would have gone herself to Tylehurst, if +Mrs. Stafford had not represented to her that it would be certainly +improper, and probably ineffectual. + +She passed a sleepless night, tormenting herself with a thousand +imaginary modes of misery which might arise from the meeting of the next +day. But while she continued to form and reject projects for preventing +it, seven o'clock passed, and the _rencontre_ ended without bloodshed; +the cautious valour of Elkerton having been so loud, that a magistrate +who lived in the town, and who was well known to Lord Montreville, had +heard of it, and, with a party of constables, had followed Elkerton at +some distance. They concealed themselves, by the justice's order, in a +gravel-pit near the place of combat, and there saw the ground already +possessed by Delamere and Fitz-Edward. + +The trembling challenger, with a face as pale as if Delamere's pistol +had already done it's worst, followed by Jackman, on whose undaunted +countenance he cast a rueful and imploring look, then rode slowly up, +punctual to the time. + +The usual ceremonies passed, Elkerton's blood seemed to be all gone to +his heart, to encourage it to be stout; and his knees, which trembled +most piteously, appeared to resent the desertion. He cast round the +heath a hopeless look--no succour approached! The ground was measured; +each took their post; and his trembling encreased so violently, that +Delamere apprehended very little from a pistol in so unsteady a hand. +But had he apprehended more, he was of a temper to receive it, +unshrinkingly. The moment to fire now arrived; and Elkerton, while +cocking his pistol, saw the _possé_ rise out of the gravel-pit; but he +was too far gone to be sensible of the seasonable relief; therefore, +without knowing what he was about, he fired his pistol before they could +seize his arm, and then stood like a statue, nearly insensible of the +happiness of his deliverance. + +The justice advancing himself on horseback, now put both the gentlemen +under arrest: and Elkerton seeing himself at length safe for the +present, thought he might venture to insist on standing Mr. Delamere's +fire. The more the worthy justice opposed it, the more vehement he grew: +but Delamere, who despised him too much to be really angry with him, +went off the field, telling Elkerton that any other time, when there +were fewer witnesses, he would give him what further satisfaction he +might require. He gave his honour to the justice that he would trouble +himself no farther about the affair; and Elkerton having given Jackman's +bail for his present pacific intentions, was suffered to go also. + +He returned to the house of his East Indian friend, exulting secretly in +his escape, and openly in his valour, to which latter Jackman did not +bear testimony so warmly as he thought friendship required. Determined, +however, to lose no part of the glory which he thought he had dearly +purchased by being frightened out of his wits, he wrote, in the form of +a letter, a most tremendous account of the duel to the daily papers, in +which he described all it's imaginary horrors, and ended with asserting +very roundly, that 'Mr. Elkerton had the misfortune dangerously to wound +the Hon. Frederic Delamere; and, when this account came away, there were +no hopes of his recovery.' + +Having secured himself a fame, at least, for two or three days, he set +out for London to enjoy it; never reflecting on any other consequences +than those most flattering to his ridiculous vanity. He knew he should +be talked of; and by representing what had _not_ happened, have a fair +opportunity of telling what _had_, in his own way. + +When Emmeline, who had never ceased walking about and listening, saw +Delamere and Fitz-Edward riding quietly across the lawn which led to the +house, she ran eagerly down to meet them: but the idea that Elkerton +might possibly be killed checked her joy; and when they came up to her, +breathless agitation prevented her asking what she wanted to know. +Delamere, who saw her so pale and terrified, threw himself instantly +off his horse and caught her in his arms. + +'Has no harm happened, Mr. Delamere?' + +'None in the world, my Emmeline. Nobody is hurt so much as you are; tho' +poor Elkerton was almost as much frightened. Come, pray compose +yourself--you have not yet the glory to boast of having a life lost +about you.' + +'Heaven forbid that I ever should!' answered she--'I am grateful that +there has been no mischief!--Oh! if I could describe what I have +suffered, surely you would never terrify me so again.' + +She could not restrain her tears. Delamere led her into the house; +where, while Mrs. Stafford gave her hartshorn and water, Delamere, at +her request, related exactly what had happened: and having given +Emmeline his honour that he would think no more of the affair if +Elkerton did not, the tranquillity of the house seemed to be restored, +and Delamere and Fitz-Edward were invited to dinner; where great +alteration in the looks of the latter, was remarked by both the ladies. +Nor was it in looks only that Fitz-Edward was extremely changed.--His +chearfulness was quite gone; he appeared to be ineffectually struggling +with some unconquerable uneasiness; and tho' his soft and insinuating +manners were the same, he no longer sought, by a thousand agreeable +sallies and lively anecdotes, to entertain; or whatever attempt he made +was so evidently forced, that it lost it's success. Remarkable for his +temperance at table, for which he had often endured the ridicule of his +companions, he now seemed to fly to the bottle, against his inclination, +as if in hopes to procure himself a temporary supply of spirits. + +Every day after that on which Emmeline and Mrs. Stafford made this +remark, it's justice was more evident. + +While Delamere was in the fields, Fitz-Edward would sit whole mornings +with Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline, leaning on their work-table, or looking +over Emmeline, busied with her pencil. Had his marked attention to Mrs. +Stafford continued, she would have seen his behaviour with great alarm; +but he no longer paid her those oblique yet expressive compliments of +which he used to be so lavish. It seemed, as if occupied by some other +object, he still admired and revered her, and wished to make her the +confidant of the sorrow that oppressed him. If they were accidentally +alone, he appeared on the point of telling her; then suddenly checking +himself, he changed the discourse, or abruptly left her; and as he was a +man whom it was impossible to know without receiving some impressions in +his favour, she felt, as well as Emmeline, a pity for him, which they +wished to be justified in feeling, by hearing that whatever was the +cause of his unhappiness, he had not brought it on himself by any crime +that would make their regard for him blameable.--For Emmeline, tho' she +knew that it was with no good design he had contributed to Delamere's +getting her off, yet could not persuade herself to hate him for it, when +he not only humbly solicited her forgiveness, but protested that he was +truly rejoiced, as well as astonished at her steadiness and good +conduct; and would be so far from encouraging any such attempt for the +future, that he would be the first to call Delamere to an account, could +he suppose he harboured intentions which he now considered as ungenerous +and criminal. + +These declarations had made his peace both with Emmeline and her friend; +and his languid and sentimental conversation, tho' it made him less +entertaining, did not make him less interesting to either of them. + +Mr. Stafford, ever in pursuit of some wild scheme, was now gone for a +few days into another county, to make himself acquainted with the +process of manuring land with old wigs--a mode of agriculture on which +Mr. Headly had lately written a treatise so convincing, that Mr. +Stafford was determined to adopt it on his own farm as soon as a +sufficient number of wigs could be procured for the purpose. + +During this absence, and on the fourth day after Elkerton's exploit, a +stormy morning had driven Delamere from the fields; who went into Mrs. +Stafford's dressing-room, where he found Fitz-Edward reading Cecilia to +Mrs. Stafford and Miss Mowbray while they sat at work. + +Mrs. Stafford had her two little boys at her feet; and when Delamere +appeared, she desired him to take a chair quietly, and not disturb so +sober a party. But he had not been seated five minutes, before the +children, who were extremely fond of him, crept to him, and he began to +play with them and to make such a noise, that Mrs. Stafford laughingly +threatened to send all the riotous boys into the nursery together--when +at that moment Millefleur, who had some time before come down to attend +his master, entered the room with a letter which he said came express +from Berkley-square. + +Delamere saw that his father's hand had almost illegibly directed it. He +opened it in fearful haste, and read these words-- + + + 'Before this meets you, your mother will probably be no more. A + paragraph in the newspaper, in which you are said to have been + killed in a duel, threw her into convulsions. I satisfied myself of + your safety by seeing the man with whom you fought, but your mother + is incapable of hearing it. Unhappy boy! if you would see her + alive, come away instantly. + + MONTREVILLE.' + + _Berkley-square, Feb. 29._ + + +It is impossible to say whether the consternation of Emmeline or that of +Delamere was the greatest. By the dreadful idea of having occasioned his +mother's death, every other was for a moment absorbed. He flew without +speaking down stairs, and into the stable where he had left his horse; +but the groom had carried the horse to his own stables, supposing his +master would stay 'till night. Without recollecting that he might take +one of Mr. Stafford's, he ran back into the room where Emmeline was +weeping in the arms of her friend, and clasping her wildly to his bosom, +he exclaimed--'Farewell, Emmeline! Farewell, perhaps, for ever! If I +lose my mother I shall never forgive _myself_; and shall be a wretch +unworthy of _you_. Dearest Mrs. Stafford! take care I beseech you of +her, whatever becomes of me.' + +Having said this, he ran away again without his hat, and darted across +the lawn towards his own house, meaning to go thither on foot; but +Fitz-Edward, with more presence of mind, was directing two of Mr. +Stafford's horses to be saddled, with which he soon overtook Delamere; +and proceeding together to the town, they got into a post-chaise, and +went as expeditiously as four horses could take them, towards London. + +Equally impetuous in all his feelings, his grief at the supposed +misfortune was as violent as it could have been had he been sure that +the worst had already happened. He now remembered, with infinite +self-reproach, how much uneasiness and distress he had occasioned to +Lady Montreville since he left her in November at Audley-Hall without +taking leave--and recollecting all her tenderness and affection for him +from the earliest dawn of his memory; her solicitude in his sickness, +when she had attended him herself and given up her rest and health to +contribute to his; her partial fondness, which saw merit even in his +errors; her perpetual and ardent anxiety for what she believed would +secure his happiness--he set in opposition to it his own neglect, +impatience, and disobedience; and called himself an unnatural and +ungrateful monster. + +Fitz-Edward could hardly restrain his extravagant ravings during the +journey; which having performed as expeditiously as possible, they +arrived in Berkley-square; where, when the porter opened the door to +them, Delamere had not courage to ask how his mother did; but on +Fitz-Edward's enquiry, the porter told them she was alive, and not +worse. + +Relieved by this account, Delamere sent to his father to know if he +might wait upon him. + +His Lordship answered--"That he would only see Colonel Fitz-Edward; but +that Delamere might come in, to wait 'till his mother's physicians +arrived." + +Lord Montreville was indeed so irritated against Delamere by all the +trouble and anxiety he had suffered on his account, that he determined +to shew his resentment; and in this resolution he was encouraged by Sir +Richard Crofts, who represented to him that his mother's danger, and his +father's displeasure, might together work upon his mind, and induce him +to renounce an attachment which occasioned to them both so much +unhappiness. + +It was in this hope that his Lordship refused to see his son; and while +Fitz-Edward went to him, Delamere was shewn into another room, where his +youngest sister immediately came to him. + +She received him with rapture mingled with tears; and related to him the +nature of his mother's illness, which had seized her two days before, on +her unfortunately taking up a newspaper from the breakfast-table, where +it was very confidently said that he was mortally wounded in a duel with +a person named Elkerton, of Portland-Place. That Lord Montreville had +luckily had a letter from Fitz-Edward the day before, (whom he had +forgiven the part he took in regard to Emmeline on no other condition +than that he should go down to him, and give his Lordship an account of +his conduct) and that therefore he was less alarmed, tho' very much +hurried by the paragraph. + +He had, however, gone to Elkerton's house, where he found him very +composedly receiving the enquiries of his friends, and where he insisted +on hearing exactly what had happened. + +His Lordship immediately returned to his wife; but the convulsions had +arisen to so alarming an height, that she was no longer capable of +hearing him; and she had ever since continued to have, at very short +intervals, such dreadful fits, as had entirely contracted her left side, +and left very little hope of her recovery. + +Delamere was extremely shocked at this account; and after waiting some +time, Fitz-Edward came to him, and told him that his father was +extremely angry, and absolutely refused to see him or hear his apology, +unless he would first give his honour that if Lady Montreville should +survive the illness his indiscreet rashness had brought upon her, he +would, as soon as she was out of danger, go abroad, and remain there +till he should obtain forgiveness for his past errors and leave to +return. + +The heart of Delamere was accessible only by the avenues of affection +and kindness; compulsion and threats only made him more resolutely +persist in any favourite project. Sir Richard Crofts therefore, who had +advised this measure, shewed but little knowledge of his temper, and +never was more mistaken in his politics. + +Delamere no sooner heard the message, than he knew with whom it +originated; and full of indignation at finding his father governed by a +man for whom he felt only aversion and contempt, he answered, with great +asperity--'That he came thither not to solicit any favour, but to see +his mother. That he would not be dictated to by the Crofts; but would +remain in town 'till he knew whether his mother desired to see him; and +be ready to wait on his father when he would vouchsafe to treat him as +his son.' + +He then shook hands with Fitz-Edward, kissed his sister, and walked out +of the house, in spite of their united endeavours to detain him. All +they could obtain of him was his consent to go to Fitz-Edward's +lodgings, as he had none of his own ready; from whence he sent +constantly every hour to enquire after Lady Montreville. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Emmeline, in the mean time, remained in great uneasiness at Woodfield. +Delamere, on his first arrival in town, wrote a short and confused note; +by which she only learned that Lady Montreville was alive. After some +days she received the following letter from Augusta Delamere. + + + 'I will now try, my dearest Emmeline, to give you an account of + what has passed here since my brother's arrival. + + 'My mother is happily better; knows every body, and speaks more + distinctly; her fits return less frequently; and upon the whole, the + physicians give us hopes of her recovery, but very little that she + will ever be restored to the use of the arm which is contracted. + + 'On Friday, in an interval of her fits, Sir Hugh Cathcart and Dr. + Gardner, her physicians, proposed that she should see my brother, of + whose being living nothing we could any of us say could convince + her. She repeated to Dr. Gardner, who staid with her after the other + went, that she was deceived. + + 'He assured her that she was deceived in nothing but in her sudden + and unhappy prepossession; for that Mr. Delamere had never been in + the least danger, and was actually in perfect health. + + '"He is alive!" cried my mother, mournfully--"I thank God he is + alive; but he knows my illness, and I do not see him--Ah! it is too + certain I have lost my son!" + + '"You have not been able to see him, my dear madam; but he came up + as soon as he heard of your situation, and now waits your commands + at Colonel Fitz-Edward's lodgings.--Do you wish to see him?" + + '"I do! I do wish to see him! Oh! let him come!" + + 'The agitation of her mind, however, brought on almost instantly a + return of the disorder; and before my brother's arrival, she was + insensible. + + 'Her distorted features; her hands contracted, her eyes glazed and + fixed, her livid complexion, and the agonizing expression of her + countenance, were at their height when Delamere was desired to go + into the room: my father believed that the sight of his mother in + such a situation could not but affect the feelings of her son. + + 'It did indeed affect him! He stood a moment looking at her in + silent terror; then, as if suddenly recollecting that he had been + the cause of this dreadful alteration, he turned away, clasped his + hands together, and burst into tears. + + 'My mother neither saw him or heard his loud sobs. My sister + looked at him reproachfully; and apparently to escape from her, he + came to me, and taking my hand, kissed it, and asked how long this + melancholy scene would last? + + 'The physician, who heard the question, said the fit was going + off. It did so in a few minutes. She sighed deeply; and seeing the + doctor still sitting by her, she asked if he would still perform his + promise, and let her see her son? + + 'At these words, Delamere stepped forward, and threw himself on + his knees by the bed side. He wept aloud; and eagerly kissed his + mother's hands, which he bathed in tears. + + 'She looked at him with an expression to which no description can + do justice; but unable to speak, she seemed struggling to explain + herself; and the physician, fearful of such agitation, said--"There, + madam, is Mr. Delamere; not only alive, but willing, I am persuaded, + to give you, in regard to his future conduct, any assurances that + you require to tranquillise your mind." + + '"No!" said she, sighing--"that Delamere is living, I thank + heaven!--but for the rest--I have no hopes." + + '"For the rest," resumed the doctor, "he will promise any thing if + you will only make yourself easy." + + 'At this moment my Lord entered--"You see, Sir," said he sternly + to Delamere, whom he had not seen since his arrival in London--"you + see to what extremity your madness has reduced your mother." + + 'Delamere, still on his knees, looked sorrowfully up, as if to + enquire what reparation he could make? + + 'My father, appearing to understand the question, said--"If you + would not be indeed a parricide, shew Lady Montreville that you have + a sense of your errors, and will give her no farther uneasiness." + + '"Do, Frederic," cried my sister. + + '"In what way, Sir?" said my brother, very mournfully. + + '"Tell her you will consent to fulfil all her wishes." + + '"Sir," said Delamere firmly, "if to sacrifice my own life would + restore my mother's, I would not hesitate; but if what your Lordship + means relates to Miss Otley, it is absolutely out of my power." + + '"He is already married, I doubt not," sighed my mother. + + '"Upon my soul I am not." + + '"Come, come," cried Dr. Gardner, "this is going a great deal too + far; your Ladyship is but just convinced your son is living, and my + Lord here is already talking of other matters. Tell me, madam--what + do you wish Mr. Delamere to say?" + + '"That he will not marry," eagerly interrupted my father, "but + with his mother's consent and mine." + + '"I will not, my Lord," said Delamere, sighing. + + '"That as soon as Lady Montreville is well enough to allow you to + leave her, you will go abroad for a twelvemonth or longer if I shall + judge it expedient." + + '"I will promise _that_, if your Lordship makes a point of it--if + my mother insists upon it. But, my Lord, if at the end of that time + Emmeline Mowbray is still single----my Lord, you do not expect + unconditional submission--I shall then in my turn hope that you and + my mother will make no farther opposition to my wishes." + + 'My father, who expected no concession from Delamere, had at first + asked of him more than he intended to insist on, and now appeared + eager to close with the first terms he could obtain. Accepting + therefore a delay, instead of a renunciation, he said--"Well, + Delamere, if at the end of a twelvemonth you still insist on + marrying Miss Mowbray, I will not oppose it. Lady Montreville, you + hear what your son engages for; do you agree to the terms?" + + 'My mother said, very faintly--"Yes." + + 'The promise was repeated on both sides before the physician and + Fitz-Edward, who came in at the latter part of this scene. My mother + seemed reluctantly to accede; complained of extreme faintness; and + the scene beginning to grow fatiguing to her, my brother offered to + retire. She gave him her hand, which he kissed, and at her desire + consented to return to the apartments here which he used to occupy. + My mother had that evening another attack; tho' it was much less + severe. But as the contraction does not give way to any remedies yet + used, the physicians propose sending her to Bath as soon as she is + able to bear the journey. + + 'Thus, my dearest Emmeline, I have punctually related all you + appear so anxious to know, on which I leave you to reflect. My + mother now sees my brother every day; but he has desired that + nothing may be said of the past; and their conversations are short + + and melancholy. Fitz-Edward has left London; and Frederic told + me, last night, that as soon as the physicians pronounce my mother + entirely out of danger, he shall go down to you. Ah! my lovely + friend! what a trial will his be! But I know _you_ will encourage + and support him in the task, however painful, of fulfilling the + promise he has given; and my father, who praises you incessantly, + says he is _sure_ of it. + + Adieu! my dear Miss Mowbray! + your affectionate and attached, + AUGUSTA DELAMERE.' + + _Berkley-square, March 3._ + + +A few days after the receipt of this letter, Delamere went down to +Tylehurst. Dejection was visibly marked in his air and countenance; and +all that Emmeline could say to strengthen his resolution, served only to +make him feel greater reluctance. To quit her for twelve months, to +leave her exposed to the solicitation of rivals who would not fail to +surround her, and to hazard losing her for ever, seemed so terrible to +his imagination, that the nearer the period of his promised departure +grew, the more impossible he thought it to depart. + +His ardent imagination seemed to be employed only in figuring the +variety of circumstances which might in that interval arise to separate +them for ever; and he magnified these possibilities, till he persuaded +himself that nothing but a private marriage could secure her. As he saw +how anxious she was that he should strictly adhere to the promises he +had given his father, he thought that he might induce her to consent to +this expedient, as the only one by which he could reconcile his duty and +his love. He therefore took an opportunity, when he had by the +bitterness of his complaints softened her into tears, to entreat, to +implore her to consent to marry him before he went. He urged, that as +Lord and Lady Montreville had both consented to their union at the end +of the year, if he remained in the same mind, it made in fact no +difference to _them_; because he was very sure that his inclinations +would not change, and no doubt _could_ arise but from herself. If +therefore she determined then to be his, she might as well consent to +become so immediately as to hazard the difficulties which might arise to +their marriage hereafter. + +Emmeline, tho' extremely affected by his sorrow, had still resolution +enough to treat this argument as feeble sophistry, unworthy of him and +of herself; and positively to refuse her consent to an engagement which +militated against all her assurances to Lord Montreville. + +This decisive rejection of a plan, to which, from the tender pity she +testified, he believed he should persuade her to assent, threw him into +one of those transports of agonizing passion which he could neither +conceal or contend with. He wept; he raved like a madman. He swore he +would return to his father and revoke his promise; and the endeavours of +Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline to calm his mind seemed only to encrease the +emotions with which it was torn. + +After having exhausted every mode of persuasion in vain, he was obliged +to relinquish the hope of a secret marriage, and to attempt to obtain +another concession, in which he at length succeeded. He told Emmeline, +that if she had no wish to quit him entirely, but really meant to reward +his long and ardent affection, she could not object to bind herself to +become his wife immediately on his return to England. + +Emmeline made every objection she could to this request. But she only +objected; for she saw him so hurt, that she had not the resolution to +wound him anew by a positive refusal. Mrs. Stafford too, moved by his +grief and despair, no longer supported her in her reserve; and as +_their_ steadiness seemed to give way _his_ eagerness and importunity +encreased, till they allowed him to draw up a promise in these +words--'At the end of the term prescribed by Lord Montreville, Emmeline +Mowbray hereby promises to become the wife of Frederic Delamere.' + +This, Emmeline signed with a reluctant and trembling hand; for tho' she +had an habitual friendship and affection for Delamere, and preferred him +to all the men she had yet seen, she thought this not strictly right; +and felt a pain and repugnance to it's performance, which made her more +unhappy the longer she reflected on it. + +On Delamere, however, it had a contrary effect. Tho' he still continued +greatly depressed at the thoughts of their approaching separation, he +yet assumed some degree of courage to bear it: and when the day arrived, +he bid her adieu without relapsing into those agonies he had suffered +before at the mere idea of it. + +He carried with him a miniature picture of her, and entreated her to +answer his letters; which, on the footing they now were, she could not +refuse to promise. He then tore himself from her, and went to take leave +of his mother, who still continued ill at Bath; and from thence to +London, to bid farewel to his father; after which, Fitz-Edward +accompanied him as far as Harwich, where he embarked for Holland. + +As he had before been the usual tour of France and Italy, he purposed +passing the summer in visiting Germany, and the winter at Vienna; and +early in the spring to set out thro' France on his way home, where he +purposed being on the 20th of March, when the year which he had promised +his father to pass abroad would expire. + +Lord Montreville, by obtaining this delay thought there was every +probability that his attachment to Emmeline would be conquered. And his +Lordship, as well as Lady Montreville, determined to try in the interval +to procure for Emmeline some unexceptionable marriage which it would not +be possible for her to refuse. They imagined, therefore, that their +uneasiness on this head was over: and Lady Montreville, whose mind was +greatly relieved by the persuasion, was long since out of all danger +from the fits which had so severely attacked her; but the contraction of +her joints which they had occasioned, was still so painful and +obstinate, that the physicians seemed to apprehend it might be necessary +to send her Ladyship to the waters of Barege. + +In the mean time, Lord Montreville had obtained a post in administration +which encreased his income and his power. Sir Richard Crofts possessed a +lucrative employment in the same department; and his eldest son was +become extremely necessary, from his assiduity and attention to +business, and more than ever a favourite with all Lord Montreville's +family, with whom he almost entirely lived. + +A lurking _penchant_ for Fitz-Edward, which had grown up from her +earliest recollection almost insensibly in the bosom of Miss Delamere, +had been long chilled by his evident neglect and indifference: she now +fancied she hated him, and really preferred Crofts, every way inferior +as he was. + +While the want of high birth and a title, which she had been taught to +consider as absolutely requisite to happiness, made her repress every +tendency to a serious engagement, she was extremely gratified by his +flattery; and when among other young women (from whom he affected not to +be able to stifle his unhappy passion,) she was frequently told how +much he was in love with her, she was accustomed to answer--'Ah! poor +fellow; so he is, and I heartily pity him.' + +But while Lord and Lady Montreville thought Crofts's attendance on their +daughters quite without consequence, he and his father insinuated an +intended connection between him and one of them, with so much art, that +tho' it never reached the ears of the family it was universally believed +in the world. + +A young nobleman who had passed the greater part of his life in the +army, where he had lately signalized himself by his bravery and conduct, +now returned to England on being promoted to a regiment; and having some +business to transact with Lord Montreville in his official capacity, he +was invited to the house, and greatly admired both the Miss Delameres, +whose parties he now joined at Bath. + +Crofts soon afterwards obtaining a short respite from his political +engagement, went thither also; and tho' Miss Delamere really thought +Lord Westhaven quite unexceptionable, she had been so habituated to +behave particularly to Crofts, that she could not now alter it, or +perhaps was not conscious of the familiar footing on which she allowed +him to be with her. + +Lord Westhaven, who had at first hesitated between the sprightly dignity +of the elder sister, and the soft and more bewitching graces of the +younger, no sooner saw the conduct of Miss Delamere towards Crofts, than +his doubts were at an end. Her faults of temper had been hitherto +concealed from him, and he believed her heart as good as her sister's; +indeed, according to the sentimental turn her discourse frequently took, +he might have supposed it more refined and sublime. But when he observed +her behaviour to Crofts, he thought that she must either be secretly +engaged to him, or be a decided coquet. Turning therefore all his +attention to Augusta, he soon found that her temper was as truly good as +her person was interesting, and that the too great timidity of her +manner was solely owing to her being continually checked by her mother's +partiality to her sister. + +A very short study of her character convinced him she was exactly the +woman calculated to make him happy. He told her so; and found her by no +means averse to his making the same declaration to her father and +mother. + +Lord Montreville received it with pleasure; and preliminaries were soon +settled. In about six weeks, Lord Westhaven and Miss Augusta Delamere +were married at Bath, to the infinite satisfaction of all parties except +Miss Delamere; who could not be very well pleased with the preference +shewn her younger sister by a man whose morals, person, and fortune, +were all superior to what even her own high spirit had taught her to +expect in a husband. + +Crofts, tho' he saw all apprehensions of having Lord Westhaven for a +rival were at an end, could not help fearing that so advantageous a +match for the younger, might make the elder more unwilling to accept a +simple commoner with a fortune greatly inferior. + +The removal, however, of Lady Westhaven gave him more frequent +opportunities to urge his passion. Lady Montreville was now going to +Barege, Bath having been found less serviceable than was at first hoped +for; and Delamere was written to to meet her Ladyship and her eldest +daughter at Paris, in order to accompany them thither. + +Peace having been in the interim established, Lord Westhaven found he +should return no more to his regiment, and purposed with his wife to +attend Lady Montreville part of the way, and then to go into +Switzerland, where his mother's family resided, who had been of that +country. + +Lady Westhaven was extremely gratified by this scheme; not only because +she was delighted to wait on her mother, but because she hoped it would +help to dissipate a lurking uneasiness which hung over the spirits of +her Lord, and which he told her was owing to the uncertain and +distressing situation of a beloved sister. But whenever the subject was +mentioned, he expressed so much unhappiness, that his wife had not yet +had resolution to enquire into the nature of her misfortunes, and only +knew in general that she was unfortunately married. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Emmeline had now lost her lover, at least for some time; and one of her +friends too was gone where she could seldom hear of her. These +deprivations attached her more closely than ever to Mrs. Stafford. Mr. +Stafford was gone to town; and except now and then a short and +melancholy visit from Fitz-Edward, to whom Delamere had lent his house +at Tylehurst, they saw nobody; for all the neighbouring families were in +London. They found not only society but happiness together enough to +compensate for almost every other; and passed their time in a way +particularly adapted to the taste of both. + +Adjoining to the estate where Mrs. Stafford resided, a tract of forest +land, formerly a chase and now the property of a collegiate body, deeply +indents the arable ground beyond it, and fringes the feet of the green +downs which rise above it. This part of the country is called Woodbury +Forest; and the deep shade of the beech trees with which it is covered, +is broken by wild and uncultured glens; where, among the broom, hawthorn +and birch of the waste, a few scattered cottages have been built upon +sufferance by the poor for the convenience of fewel, so amply afforded +by the surrounding woods. These humble and obscure cabbins are known +only to the sportsman and the woodcutter; for no road whatever leads +through the forest: and only such romantic wanderers as Mrs. Stafford +and Emmeline, were conscious of the beautiful walks which might be found +among these natural shrubberies and solitary shades. The two friends +were enjoying the softness of a beautiful April morning in these woods, +when, in passing near one of the cottages, they saw, at a low casement +half obscured by the pendant trees, a person sitting, whose dress and +air seemed very unlike those of the usual inhabitants of such a place. +She was intent on a paper, over which she leaned in a melancholy +posture; but on seeing the two ladies approach, she started up and +immediately disappeared. + +Tho' the distance at which they saw her, and the obscurity of the +window, prevented their distinguishing the features of the stranger, +they saw that she was young, and they fancied she was beautiful. The +same idea instantly occurred to Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline; that it was +some unfortunate young woman, whom Mr. Stafford had met with and had +concealed there. Something of the same sort had happened once before, +and Mrs. Stafford's anxiety and curiosity were both awakened by this +incident. Tho' the latter was a passion she never indulged where it's +object was the business of others, she could not repress it where it was +excited by suspicion of a circumstance which so nearly concerned +herself. + +Nor could she conceal from Emmeline her fears on this occasion; and +Emmeline, tho' unwilling to encrease them, yet knew enough of her +husband's conduct to believe they were too well founded. + +Mrs. Stafford had been accustomed to buy poultry of the woman who lived +at this cottage, and therefore went in, in hopes of finding some vestige +of the person they had seen, which might lead to an enquiry. But they +found nothing but the usual humble furniture and few conveniences of +such an house; and Mrs. Stafford forbore to enquire, lest the person she +had seen might be alarmed and take more effectual means of concealment. +But unable to rest, and growing every moment more desirous to know the +truth, and to know it before her husband, whom she expected in a few +days, returned, she arose very early the next morning, and, accompanied +by Emmeline, went to the cottage in the forest. + +The man who inhabited it was already gone out to his work, and the woman +to a neighbouring town to buy necessaries for her family. The door was +open; and the ladies received this intelligence from three little +children who were playing before it. + +They entered the low, smoky room, usually inhabited by the family. And +Mrs. Stafford, with a beating heart, determining to be satisfied, opened +a door which led from it, into that, at the window of which she knew the +stranger had appeared; and which the people of the house dignified with +the appellation of their parlour. + +In this room, on the brick floor, and surrounded by bare walls, stood a +bed, which seemed to have been brought thither for the accommodation of +some person who had not been accustomed to such an apartment. + +Mrs. Stafford saw, sleeping in it, a very young woman, pale, but +extremely beautiful; and her hand, of uncommon delicacy, lay on the +white quilt--A sight, which gave her pain for herself, and pity for the +unfortunate person before her, affected her so much, that having stood a +moment in astonishment, she stepped back to the place where Emmeline +sat, and burst into tears. + +The noise, however trifling, brought from above stairs a person +evidently a lady's maid, of very creditable appearance, who came down +hastily into the room where Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline were, saying, as +she descended the stairs--'I am coming immediately, my Lady.' But at the +sight of two strangers, she stopped in great confusion; and at the same +moment her mistress called to her. + +She hastened, without speaking, to attend the summons; and shut the door +after her. After remaining a few moments, she came out again, and asked +Mrs. Stafford if she wanted the woman of the house? + +To which Mrs. Stafford, determined whatever it cost her to know the +truth, said--'No--my business is with your lady.' + +The woman now appeared more confused than before; and said, +hesitatingly--'I--I--my lady--I fancy you are mistaken, madam.' + +'Go in, however, and let your mistress know that Mrs. Stafford desires +to speak to her.' + +The maid reluctantly and hesitatingly went in, and after staying some +time, came back. + +'My mistress, Madam, says she has not the pleasure of knowing you; and +being ill, and in bed, she hopes you will excuse her if she desires you +will acquaint her with your business by me.' + +'No,' replied Mrs. Stafford, 'I must see her myself. Tell her my +business is of consequence to us both, and that I will wait till it is +convenient to her to speak to me.' + +With this message the maid went back, with looks of great consternation, +to her mistress. They fancied they heard somebody sigh and weep +extremely. The maid came out once or twice and carried back water and +hartshorn. + +At length, after waiting near half an hour, the door opened, and the +stranger appeared, leaning on the arm of her woman. She wore a long, +white muslin morning gown, and a large muslin cap almost concealed her +face; her dark hair seemed to escape from under it, to form a decided +contrast to the extreme whiteness of her skin; and her long eye lashes +hid her eyes, which were cast down, and which bore the marks of recent +tears. If it were possible to personify languor and dejection, it could +not be done more expressively than by representing her form, her air, +her complexion, and the mournful cast of her very beautiful countenance. + +She slowly approached Mrs. Stafford, lifted up her melancholy eyes to +Emmeline, and attempted to speak. + +'I am at a loss to know, ladies,' said she, 'what can be your'----But +unable to finish the sentence, she sat down, and seemed ready to faint. +The maid held her smelling bottle to her. + +'I waited on you, Madam,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'supposing you were +acquainted--too well acquainted--with my name and business.' + +'No, upon my honour,' said the young person, 'I cannot even guess.' + +'You are very young,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'and, I fear, very +unfortunate. Be assured I wish not either to reproach or insult you; but +only to try if you cannot be prevailed upon to quit a manner of life, +which surely, to a person of your appearance, must be dreadful.' + +'It is indeed dreadful!' sighed the young woman--'nor is it the least +dreadful part of it that I am exposed to this.' + +She now fell into an agony of tears; which affected both Mrs. Stafford +and Emmeline so much, that forgetting their fears and suspicions, they +both endeavoured tenderly to console her. Having in some measure +succeeded, and Mrs. Stafford having summoned resolution to tell her what +were her apprehensions, the stranger saw that to give her a simple +detail of her real situation was the only method she had to satisfy her +doubts, and to secure her compassion and secresy; for which reason she +determined to do it; and Mrs. Stafford, whose countenance was all +ingenuousness as well as her heart, assured her she should never repent +her confidence; while Emmeline, whose looks and voice were equally +soothing and engaging to the unhappy, expressed the tenderest interest +in the fate of a young creature who seemed but little older than +herself, and to have been thrown from a very different sphere into her +present obscure and uncomfortable manner of life. + +The stranger would have attempted to relate her history to them +immediately; but her maid, a steady woman of three or four and thirty, +told her that she was certainly unable then, and begged the ladies not +to insist upon it till the evening, or the next day; adding--'My Lady +has been very poorly indeed all this week, and is continually fainting +away; and you see, ladies, how much she has been frightened this +morning, and I am sure she will not be able to go through it.' + +To the probability of this observation, the two friends assented; and +the young lady naming the next morning to gratify their curiosity, they +left her, Mrs. Stafford first offering her any thing her house afforded. +To which she replied, that at present she was tolerably well supplied, +and only conjured them to observe the strictest secresy, without which, +she said, she was undone. + +At the appointed time they returned; equally eager to hear, and, if +possible, to relieve, the sorrows of this young person, for whom they +could not help being interested, tho' they yet knew not how far she +deserved their pity. + +She had prepared her own little room as well as it would admit of to +receive them, and sat waiting their arrival with some degree of +composure. They contemplated with concern the ruins of eminent beauty +even in early youth, and saw an expression of helpless sorrow and +incurable unhappiness, which had greatly injured the original lustre and +beauty of her eyes and countenance. A heavy languor hung on her whole +frame. She tried to smile; but it was a smile of anguish; and their +looks seemed to distress and pain her. Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline, to +relieve her, took out their work; and when they were seated at it, she +hesitated--then sighed and hesitated again--and at length seemed to +enter on her story with desperate and painful resolution, as if to get +quickly and at once thro' a task which, however necessary, was extremely +distressing. She began in a low and plaintive voice; and frequently +stopped to summon courage to continue, while she wiped away the tears +that slowly fell from her eyes. + + * * * * * + +'I cannot believe I shall ever repent the confidence I am about to place +in you. My heart assures me I shall not. Perhaps I may find that pity I +dare no longer solicit from my own family; perhaps--but I must hasten to +tell you my melancholy story, before its recollection again overwhelms +me. Yet my fate has nothing in it very singular; numbers have been +victims of the same calamity, but some have been more easily forgiven +than I shall be.--Some are better able to bear infamy, and be reconciled +to disgrace. + +'My father, the late Earl of Westhaven, during the life of my +grandfather, married, while he was making the tour of Europe, a very +beautiful and amiable woman, the daughter of a man of rank in +Switzerland; who having lost his life in the French service, had left a +family without any provision, except for the eldest son. My grandfather, +extremely disobliged by this marriage, made a will by which he gave to +his only daughter every part of his extensive property, except what was +entailed, and which went with the title; with this reserve, that his +grandson should claim and inherit the whole, whenever he became Lord +Westhaven. By this will, he disinherited my father for his life; and +tho' he survived my father's marriage five years, and knew he had three +children, the two younger of whom must be inevitably impoverished by +such a disposition, he obstinately refused to alter the will he made +under the first impulse of resentment, and died before his son could +prevail upon him, by means of their general friends, to withdraw the +maledictions with which he had loaded him. + +'His death, not only hurt my father in his feelings, but irreparably in +his fortune. His sister, who was married to a Scottish nobleman, took +possession of estates to the amount of fifteen thousand a year; and all +that remained to my father, to support his rank and his encreasing +family, was little more than three thousand; and even that income he had +considerably diminished, by taking up money, which he was obliged to do +while my grandfather lived, for the actual maintenance of his family. + +'These unhappy circumstances, while they injured the health and spirits +of my father, diminished not his tenderness for his wife, whom he loved +with unabated passion. + +'To retrench as much as possible, he retired with her and his three +children to an estate, which being attached to the title, belonged to +him in Cumberland; in hopes of being able to live on the income he had +left, and to clear off the burden with which he had been compelled to +load his paternal estates. But a slow fever, the effect of sorrow, had +seized on my mother, then far advanced in her pregnancy with me; my +father, solicitous to save her in whom all his happiness was centered, +sent to London for the best advice to attend her. But their assistance +was vain; the fever encreased upon her, and she died three weeks after +my birth, leaving my father deprived of every thing that could make life +valuable in his estimation. He gave himself up to a despair equal to the +violence of his love, and would probably have fallen a victim to it, had +not the servants sent to Mr. Thirston, who had been his tutor, and for +whom he had the greatest friendship and respect. This excellent man +represented to him that it was his duty to live for the children of his +deplored Adelina; and he consented to try to live. + +'It was long before he could bear to see any of us; particularly me, +whom he beheld with a mixture of tenderness and regret. The gloomy +solitude in which he lived, where every object reminded him of her whose +smiles had rendered it a paradise, was ill calculated to meliorate his +affliction; but he could not be persuaded, for some months, to leave it, +or could he be diverted from going every evening to visit the spot where +lay the relicts of his Adelina. + +'At length Mr. Thirston prevailed on him to go abroad. But he could not +determine to leave my elder brother, then about five years old, of whom +he was passionately fond. They embarked for Naples; and he remained +abroad five years; while my sister, my brother William, and myself, were +left at Kensington, under the care of a female relation, and received +such instruction as our ages admitted. + +'My father returned to England only to place his eldest son at Eton. +Finding no relief from the sorrow which perpetually preyed on him, but +in continual change of place, he soon afterwards went again abroad, and +wandered over Europe for almost seven years longer, returning once or +twice to England in that interval to satisfy himself of our health and +the progress of our education. + +'When he last returned, my elder brother, then near eighteen, desired to +be allowed to go into the army. My father reluctantly consented; and the +regiment into which he purchased was soon after ordered abroad. The +grief the departure of his son gave him, was somewhat relieved by seeing +his elder daughter advantageously disposed of in marriage to the eldest +son of an Irish peer. The beauty of Lady Camilla was so conspicuous, and +her manners so charming, that though entirely without fortune, the +family of her husband could not object to the marriage. She went to +Ireland with her Lord; and it was long before I saw her again. + +'My brother William, who had always been designed for the navy, left me +also for a three years station in the Mediterranean; and I was now +always alone with my governess and my old relation, whose temper, soured +by disappointment and not naturally chearful, made her a very unpleasant +companion for a girl of fourteen. I learned, from masters who attended +me from London, all the usual accomplishments; but of the world I knew +nothing, and impatiently waited for the time when I should be sixteen; +for then the Dutchess of B----, who had kindly undertaken to introduce +my sister into company, had promised that she would afford me also her +countenance. I remember she smiled, and told me that as I was not less +pretty than Lady Camilla, I might probably have as good fortune, if I +was but as accomplished. To be accomplished, therefore, I endeavoured +with all my power; but the time seemed insupportably long, before this +essay was to be made. It was relieved, tho' mournfully, by frequent +visits from my father; who was accustomed to sit whole hours looking at +me, while his tears bore witness to the great resemblance I had to my +mother. My voice too, particularly when we conversed in French, +frequently made him start, as if he again heard that which he had never +ceased to remember and to regret. He would then fondly press me to his +heart, and call me his poor orphan girl, the image of his lost Adelina! + +'Tho' my mother had been now dead above fifteen years, his passion for +her memory seemed not at all abated. He had, by a long residence abroad, +paid off the debts with which he had incumbered his income, but could do +no more; and the expences necessary for young men of my brothers' rank +pressed hardly upon him. Ever since his return to England, his friends +had entreated him to attempt, by marrying a woman of fortune, to repair +the deficiency of his own; representing to him, that to provide for the +children of his Adelina, would be a better proof of his affection to her +memory than indulging a vain and useless regret. + +'He had however long escaped from their importunity by objecting, on +some pretence or other, to all the great fortunes which were pointed out +to him--his heart rejected with abhorrence every idea of a second +marriage. But my brothers every day required a larger supply of money to +support them as their birth demanded; and to their interest my father at +length determined to sacrifice the remainder of a life, which had on his +own account no longer any value. The heiress of a rich grocer in the +city was soon discovered by his assiduous friends, who was reputed to be +possessed of two hundred thousand pounds. On closer enquiry, the sum was +found to be very little if at all exaggerated by fame. Miss Jobson, with +a tall, meagre person, a countenance bordering on the horrible, and +armed with two round black eyes which she fancied beautiful, had seen +her fortieth year pass, while she attended on her papa, in +Leadenhall-street, or was dragged by two sleek coach horses to and from +Hornsey. Rich as her father was, he would not part with any thing while +he lived; and, by the assistance of two maiden sisters, had so guarded +his daughter from the dangerous attacks of Irishmen and younger +brothers, that she had reached that mature period without hearing the +soothing voice of flattery, to which she was extremely disposed to +listen. My father, yet in middle age, and with a person remarkably fine, +would have been greatly to her taste if he could have gratified, with a +better grace, her love of admiration. But his friends undertook to +court her for him; and his title still more successfully pleaded in his +favour. She made some objection to his having a family; but as I alone +remained at home, she at length agreed to undertake to be at once a +mother-in-law and a Countess. While this treaty was going on, and +settlements and jewels preparing, I was taken several times to wait on +Miss Jobson: but it was easy to see I had not the good fortune to please +her. + +'I was but just turned of fifteen, was full of gaiety and vivacity, and +possessed those personal advantages, which, if _she_ ever had any share +of them, were long since faded. She seemed conscious that the splendour +of her first appearance would be eclipsed by the unadorned simplicity of +mine; and she hated me because it was not in my power to be old and +ugly. Giddy as I then was, nothing but respect for my father prevented +my repaying with ridicule, the supercilious style in which she usually +treated me. Her vulgar manners, and awkward attempts to imitate those of +people of fashion, excited my perpetual mirth; and as her dislike of me +daily encreased, I am afraid I did not always conceal the contempt I +felt in return. Miss Jobson chose to pass some time at Tunbridge +previous to her marriage. Thither my father followed her; and I went +with him, eager to make my first appearance in public, and to see +whether the prophecies of the Duchess would be fulfilled. + +'This experiment was made in a party from Tunbridge to Lewes Races, +where I had the delight of dancing for the first time in public, and of +seeing the high and old fashioned little head of Miss Jobson, who +affected to do something which she thought was dancing also, almost at +the end of the set, while I, as an Earl's daughter, was nearly at the +top. Had I been ever accustomed to appear in public, these distinctions +would have been too familiar to have given me any pleasure; but now they +were enchanting; and, added to the universal admiration I excited, +intoxicated me with vanity. My partner, who had been introduced to me by +a man of high rank the moment I entered the room, was a gentleman from +the West of England, who was just of age, and entered into the +possession of a fortune of eight thousand a year. + +'Mr. Trelawny (for that was his name) followed us to Tunbridge, and +frequently danced with me afterwards. Educated in obscurity, and without +any prospect of the fortune to which he succeeded by a series of +improbable events, this young man had suddenly emerged into life. He +was tolerably handsome; but had a heavy, unmeaning countenance, and was +quite unformed. Several men of fashion, however, were kind enough to +undertake to initiate him into a good style of living; and for every +thing that bore the name of fashion and ton, he seemed to have a violent +attachment. To that, I owed his unfortunate prepossession in my +favour.--I was admired and followed by men whom he had been taught to +consider as the arbiters of elegance, and supreme judges of beauty and +fashion; but they could only admire--they could not afford to marry an +indigent woman of quality; and they told Trelawny that they envied him +the power of pleasing himself.--So Trelawny was talked to about me, till +he believed he was in love. In this persuasion he procured a statement +of his fortune to be shewn to my father, by one of his friends, and made +an offer to lay it at my feet; an offer which, tho' my father would have +been extremely glad to have me accept, he answered by referring Mr. +Trelawny to me. + +'I suspected no such thing; but with the thoughtless inattention of +sixteen, remembered little of the fine things which were said to me by +Trelawny at the last ball. While I was busied in inventing a new +_chapeau_ for the next, at which I intended to do more than usual +execution, my father introduced Mr. Trelawny, and left the room. I +concluded he was come to engage me for the evening, and felt disposed to +refuse him out of pure coquetry; when, with an infinite number of +blushes, and after several efforts, he made me in due form an offer of +his heart and fortune. I had never thought of any thing so serious as +matrimony; and indeed was but just out of the nursery, where I had never +been told it was necessary to think at all. I did not very well know +what to say to my admirer; and after the first speech, which I believe +he had learned by heart, he knew almost as little what to say to me; and +he was not sorry when I, in a great fright, referred him to my father, +merely because I knew not myself what answer to give him. Our +conversation ended, and he went to find my father, while I, for the +first time in my life, began to reflect on my prospects, and to consider +whether I preferred marrying Mr. Trelawny to living with Miss Jobson. To +Miss Jobson, I had a decided aversion; for Mr. Trelawny, I felt neither +love or hatred. My mind was not made up on the subject, when my father +came to me: he had seen Trelawny, and expressed himself greatly pleased +with the prudence and propriety of my answer. + +'"My Adelina knows," continued he, "that the happiness of my children is +the only wish I have on earth; and I may tell her, too, that my +solicitude for her exceeds all my other cares--solicitude, which will be +at an end if I can see her in the protection of a man of honour and +fortune. If therefore, my love, you really do not disapprove this young +man, whose fortune is splendid, and of whose character I have received +the most favourable accounts, I shall have a weight removed from my +mind, and enjoy all the tranquillity I can hope for on this side the +grave. + +'"You know how soon I am to marry Miss Jobson. A mother-in-law is seldom +beloved. I may die, and leave you unprovided for; for you know, Adelina, +the circumstances into which your grandfather's will has thrown me. Our +dear Charles, whenever he inherits my title, will repossess the fortune +of my ancestors, and will, I am sure, act generously by you and William; +but such a dependance, if not precarious, is painful; and by accepting +the proposal of Mr. Trelawny, all my apprehensions will be at an end, +and my Adelina secure of that affluence to which her merit as well as +her birth entitles her. But powerful as these considerations are, let +them not influence you if you feel any reluctance to the match. Were +they infinitely stronger, I will never again name them, if in doing so I +hazard persuading my daughter to a step which may render her for every +unhappy." + +'Tho' I was very far from feeling for Mr. Trelawny that decided +preference which would in other circumstances have induced me to accept +his hand, yet I found my father so desirous of my being settled, that as +I had no aversion to the man, I could not resolve to disappoint him. +Perhaps the prospect of escaping from the power of my mother-in-law, and +of being mistress of an affluent fortune instead of living in mortifying +dependance on her, might have too much influence on my heart. My father, +however, obtained without any difficulty my consent to close with Mr. +Trelawny's proposals. We all went to London, where Lord Westhaven +married Miss Jobson, and the settlements were preparing by which Mr. +Trelawny secured to me a jointure as great as I could have expected if +my fortune had been equal to my rank. + +'As the new Lady Westhaven was so soon to be relieved from the presence +of a daughter she did not love, she behaved to me with tolerable +civility. Occupied with her rank, she seemed to have infinite delight in +displaying it to her city acquaintance. Her Ladyship thought a coronet +so delightful an ornament, that the meanest utensils in her house were +adorned with it; and she wore it woven or worked on all her cloaths, in +the vain hope perhaps of counteracting the repelling effect of an +hideous countenance, a discordant voice, and a manner more vulgar than +either. I saw with concern that my father was not consoled by the +possession of her great fortune, for the mortification of having given +the name and place of his adored Adelina to a woman so unlike her in +mind and person. He was seldom well; seldomer at home; and seemed to +have no other delight than in hearing from his two sons and from his +eldest daughter; and when we were alone, he told me that to see me +married would also give him pleasure; but he appeared, I thought, less +anxious for the match than when it was first proposed. The preparations, +however, went on, and in six weeks were compleated. + +'In that interval, I had seen Trelawny almost every day. He always +seemed very good humoured, and was certainly very thoughtless. He loved +me, or fancied he loved me, extremely; but I sometimes suspected that it +was rather in compliance with the taste of others than his own; and that +a favourite hunter or a famous pointer were very likely to rival me. My +father sometimes laughed at his boyish fondness for such things, and the +importance he annexed to them; and sometimes I thought he looked grave +and hurt at observing it. + +'For my own part, I saw his follies; but none that I did not equally +perceive in the conduct of other young men. Tho' I had no absolute +partiality to him, I was totally indifferent to every other man. I +married him, therefore; and gave away my person before I knew I had an +heart. + +'We went immediately into Cornwall, to an old fashioned but magnificent +family seat; where I was received by Mr. Trelawny's sister, a woman some +years older than he was, and who had brought him up. The coarse +conversation of this woman, which consisted entirely in details of +family oeconomy; and the stupidity of her husband and a booby son of +fourteen, were but ill calculated to render my retirement pleasing. +Having laughed and wondered once at the uncouth figures and obsolete +notions of Mr. Trelawny's Cornish cousins, who hastened, in their best +cloaths, to congratulate him, from places whose barbarous names I could +not pronounce--and having twice entertained the voters of two boroughs +which belonged to the family; I had exhausted all the delights of +Cornwall, and prevailed on him to return to a country where I could see +a few beings like myself. + +'When I came back into the world, I was surrounded by a croud of idle +people, whose admiration flattered the vanity of Trelawny more than it +did mine; for I became accustomed to adulation, and it lost it's charms +with it's novelty. Trelawny was continually with young men of fashion, +who called themselves his friends; and who besides doing him the +kindness to advise and instruct him in the disposal of his fortune, +would have relieved him from the affections of his wife, if he had ever +possessed them. They made love to _me_, with as little scruple as they +borrowed money of _him_; and told me that neglect on the part of my +husband, well deserved to be repaid with infidelity on mine: but I felt +for these shallow libertines only disgust and contempt; and received +their professions with so much coldness, that they left me, in search of +some other giddy creature, who might not, by ill-timed prudery, belie +the promise of early coquetry. It was yet however very much the fashion +to admire me; and my husband seemed still to take some delight in +hearing and reading in the daily papers that Lady Adelina Trelawny was +the most elegant figure at Court, or that every beauty at the Opera was +eclipsed on _her_ entrance. The eagerness and avidity with which I had +entered, from the confinement of the nursery, to a life of continual +dissipation, was now considerably abated. I continued it from habit, and +because I knew not how to employ my time otherwise; but I felt a dreary +vacuity in my heart; and amid splendor and admiration was unhappy. + +'The return of my elder brother from his first campaign in America, was +the only real pleasure I had long felt. He is perhaps one of the most +elegant and accomplished young men of his time; but to be elegant and +accomplished is his least praise--His solid understanding, and his +excellent heart, are an honour to his country and to human nature. That +quick sense of honour, and that strictness of principle, which now make +my greatest terror, give a peculiar lustre and dignity to his character. +My father received him with that delight a father only can feel; and saw +and gloried with all a father's pride, in a successor worthy of his +ancestors. + +'My brother, who had always loved me extremely, tho' we had been very +little together, took up his abode at my house while he staid in +England. Trelawny seemed to feel a sort of awe before him, which made +him endeavour to hide his vices if not his weakness, while he remained +with us. He was more attentive to me than he had long been. My brother +hoped I was happy; and tho' Trelawny was a man whose conversation +afforded him no pleasure, he behaved to him with every appearance of +friendship and regard. He was soon however to return to his regiment; +and my father, who had been in a declining state of health ever since +his second marriage, appeared to grow worse as the period of separation +approached. He seemed to have waited only for this beloved son to close +his eyes; for a few days before he was again to take leave, my father +found his end very rapidly approaching. + +'Perfectly conscious of it, he settled all his affairs; and made a +provision for me and my brother William out of the money of the present +Lady Westhaven, which the marriage articles gave him a right to dispose +of after her Ladyship's death if he left no children by her; and +recommended us both to his eldest son. + +'"You will act nobly by our dear William," said he; "I have no doubt of +it; but above all, remember my poor Adelina. Camilla is happily married. +Tell her I die blessing her, and her children! But Adelina--my +unfortunate Adelina is herself but a child, and her husband is very +young and thoughtless. Watch over her honour and her repose, for the +sake of your father and that dear woman she so much resembles, your +sainted mother." + +'I was in the room, in an agony of sorrow. He called me to him. "My +daughter," said he, in a feeble voice, "remember that the honour of your +family--of your brothers--is in your hands--and remember it is +sacred.--Endeavour to deserve the happiness of being sister to such +brothers, and daughter to such a mother as yours was!" + +'I was unable to answer. I could only kiss his convulsed hands; which I +eagerly did, as if to tell him that I promised all he expected of me. My +own heart, which then made the vow, now perpetually reproaches me with +having kept it so ill! + +'A few hours afterwards, my father died. My brother, unable to announce +to me the melancholy tidings, took my hand in silence, and led me out of +the house, which was now Lady Westhaven's. He had only a few days to +stay in England, which he employed in paying the last mournful duties to +his father; and then embarked again for America, leaving his affairs to +be settled by my sister's husband, Lord Clancarryl, to whom he wrote to +come over from Ireland; for my brother William was now stationed in the +West Indies, where he obtained the command of a man of war; and my +brother Westhaven knew, that to leave any material business to Trelawny, +was to leave it to ignorance and imbecility. + +'In my husband, I had neither a friend or a companion--I had not even a +protector; for except when he was under the restraint of my brother's +presence, he was hardly ever at home. Sometimes he was gone on tours to +distant counties to attend races or hunts, to which he belonged; and +sometimes to France, where he was embarked in gaming associations with +Englishmen who lived only to disgrace their name. Left to pass my life +as the wife of such a man as Trelawny, I felt my brother's departure as +the deprivation of all I loved. But the arrival of my sister and her +husband relieved me. I had not seen them for some years; and was +delighted to meet my sister happy with a man so worthy and respectable +as Lord Clancarryl. + +'He took possession on behalf of my brother of the estate my aunt was +now obliged to resign; and as my sister was impatient to return to +Ireland, where she had left her children, they pressed me extremely to +go thither with them. Trelawny was gone out on one of his rambles; but I +wrote to him and obtained his consent--indeed he long since ceased to +trouble himself about me. + +'I attended my sister therefore to Lough Carryl; on the beautiful banks +of which her Lord had built an house, which possessing as much +magnificence as was proper to their rank, was yet contrived with an +attention to all the comforts of domestic retirement. Here Lady +Clancarryl chose to reside the whole year; and my Lord never left it but +to attend the business of Parliament at Dublin. + +'His tender attention to his wife; his ardent, yet regulated fondness +for his children; the peace and order which reigned in his house; the +delightful and easy society he sometimes collected in it, and the +chearful confidence we enjoyed in quiet family parties when without +company; made me feel with bitterness and regret the difference between +my sister's lot and mine. _Her_ husband made it the whole business of +his life to fulfill every duty of his rank, _mine_ seemed only +solicitous to degrade himself below his. One was improving his fortune +by well regulated oeconomy; the other dissipating his among gamesters +and pick-pockets. The conversation of Lord Clancarryl was sensible, +refined, and improving; Trelawny's consisted either in tiresome details +of adventures among jockies, pedigrees of horses, or scandalous and +silly anecdotes about persons of whom nobody wished to hear; or he sunk +into sullen silence, yawned, and shewed how very little relish he had +for any other discourse. + +'When I married him, I knew not to what I had condemned myself. As his +character gradually discovered itself, my reason also encreased; and +now, when I had an opportunity of comparing him to such a man as Lord +Clancarryl, I felt all the horrors of my destiny! and beheld, with a +dread from which my feeble heart recoiled, a long, long prospect of life +before me--without attachment, without friendship, without love. + +'I remained two months in Ireland; and heard nothing of Trelawny, 'till +a match having been made on the Curragh of Kildare, on which he had a +large bet depending, he came over to be present at it; and I heard with +regret that I was to return with him. While he remained in Ireland, his +disgusting manners, and continual intoxication, extremely displeased +Lord Clancarryl; and I lived in perpetual uneasiness. A few days before +we were to embark for England, George Fitz-Edward, his Lordship's +younger brother, came from the north of Ireland, where he had been with +his regiment, to Lough Carryl; but it was only a passing visit to his +family--he was going to England, and we were to sail in the same +pacquet.' + + * * * * * + +At the mention of George Fitz-Edward, Lady Adelina grew more distressed +than she had yet been in the course of her narrative. Mrs. Stafford and +Emmeline testified signs of surprize. She observed it; and asked if they +knew him? Mrs. Stafford answered, they had some acquaintance with him; +and Emmeline remarked that she either never heard or had forgotten that +his father's second title was Clancarryl. + +His very name seemed to affect Lady Adelina so much, and she appeared so +exhausted by having spoken so long, that tho' she told them she had but +little to add to her mournful story, they insisted upon her permitting +them to release her till the evening, when they would attend her again. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +They found Lady Adelina in better spirits in the evening than they had +hoped for--She seemed to have been arguing herself into the composure +necessary to go on with her story. + + * * * * * + +'As you have some acquaintance with George Fitz-Edward, I need not +describe his person or his manner; nor how decided a contrast they must +form with those of such a man as him to whom I was unhappily united. +This contrast, in spite of all my endeavours, was perpetually before my +eyes--I thought Fitz-Edward, who was agreeable as his brother, had a +heart as good; and _my_ heart involuntarily made the comparison between +what I was, and what I might have been, if my fate had reserved me for +Fitz-Edward. + +'We embarked--It was about the autumnal equinox; and before we had +sailed two leagues, the wind suddenly changing, blew from the opposite +quarter, and then from every quarter by turns. As I was always subject +to sickness in the cabin, I had lain down on the deck, on a piece of +sail-cloth, and wrapped in my _pelisse_; and Fitz-Edward sat by me. But +when the wind grew so violent that it was necessary every moment to +shift the sails, I, who was totally insensible, was in the way of the +sailors. Fitz-Edward carried me down in his arms; and having often heard +me express an abhorrence to the close beds in the cabin, by the help of +my own maid he accommodated me with one on the floor; where he continued +to watch over me, without attending to his own danger, tho' he heard the +master of the pacquet express his apprehensions that we should be driven +back on the bar, and beat to pieces. + +'Trelawny, in whom self-preservation was generally alive, whatever +became of his other feelings, had passed so jovial an evening before he +departed, that he was perfectly unconscious of his own danger. After +struggling some hours to return into the bay, it was with difficulty +accomplished about five in the morning. Fitz-Edward, with the tenderest +solicitude, saw me safe on shore, whither Trelawny was also brought. But +far from being rejoiced at our narrow escape, he cursed his ill luck, +which he said had raised this confounded storm only to prevent his +returning in time to see Clytemnestra got into proper order for the +October meeting. + +'I was so ill the next day, thro' the fear and fatigue I had undergone, +that I was absolutely unable to go on board. But nothing that related to +me could detain Trelawny, who embarked again as soon as the pacquet was +refitted, and after some grumbling at my being too ill to go, left me to +follow him by the next conveyance, and recommended me with great +coolness to the care of Fitz-Edward. + +'We staid only two days after him. Fitz-Edward, as well during the +passage as on our journey to London, behaved to me with the tenderness +of a brother; and I fancied my partiality concealed from him, because I +tried to conceal it. If he saw it, he shewed no disposition to take +advantage of it, and I therefore thought I might fearlessly indulge it. + +'When I arrived at my house in town, I found that Trelawny was absent, +and had left a letter for me desiring me to go down to a house he had +not long before purchased in Hampshire, as a hunting seat. Without +enquiring his reasons, I obeyed him. I took a melancholy leave of +Fitz-Edward, and went into Hampshire; where, as Trelawny was not there, +I betook myself to my books, and I fear to thinking too much of +Fitz-Edward. + +'After I had been there about a fortnight, I was surprized by a visit +from the object of my indiscreet contemplations. He looked distressed +and unhappy; and his first conversation seemed to be preparing me for +some ill news. I was dreadfully alarmed, and enquired eagerly for my +sister?--her husband?--her children?-- + +'"I hope, and believe they are well," answered he. "I have letters of a +very late date from my brother." + +'"Oh God!" cried I, in an agony (for his countenance still assured me +something very bad had happened) "Lord Westhaven--my brother, my dear +brother!"-- + +'"Is well too, I hope--at least I assure you I know nothing to the +contrary." + +'"Is it news from Jamaica then? Has there been an engagement. There has, +I know, and my brother William is killed." + +'"No, upon my honour," replied Fitz-Edward, "had Godolphin been killed, +I, who love him better than any man breathing, could not have brought +the intelligence--But my dear Lady Adelina, are there then no other +misfortunes but those which arise from the death of friends?" + +'"None," answered I, "but what I could very well bear. Tell me, +therefore, I conjure you tell me, and keep me no longer in suspence--I +can hear any thing since I have nothing to apprehend for the lives of +those I love." + +'"Well then," answered he, "I will tell you.--I fear things are very bad +with Mr. Trelawny. It is said that all the estate not entailed, is +already gone; and that he has even sold his life interest in the rest. +All his effects at the town house are seized; and I am afraid the same +thing will in a few hours happen here. I came therefore, lovely Lady +Adelina, to intreat you to put yourself under my protection, and to quit +this house, where it will soon be so improper for you to remain." + +'I enquired after the unhappy Trelawny? He told me he had left him +intoxicated at a gaming house in St. James's street; that he had told +him he was coming down to me, to which he had consented, tho' +Fitz-Edward said he much doubted whether he knew what he was saying. + +'Fitz-Edward then advised me to pack up every thing I wished to +preserve, and immediately to depart; for he feared that persons were +already on the road to seize the furniture and effects in execution. + +'"Gracious heaven!" cried I, "what can I do?--Whither can I go!" + +'"Trust yourself with me," cried Fitz-Edward--"dear, injured Lady +Adelina." + +'"Let me rather," answered I, "go down to Trelawny Park." + +'"Alas!" said he, "the same ruin will there overtake you. Be assured Mr. +Trelawny's creditors will equally attach his property there. You know +too, that by the sale of his boroughs he has lost his seat in +parliament, and that therefore his person will not be safe. He must +himself go abroad." + +'Doubting, and uncertain what I ought to do, I could determine on +nothing. Fitz-Edward proposed my going to Mr. Percival's, who had +married one of his sisters. They are at Bath, said he; but the house and +servants are at my disposal, and it is only five and twenty miles from +hence. Hardly knowing what I did, I consented to this proposal; and +taking my jewels and some valuable plate with me, I set out in a post +chaise with Fitz-Edward, leaving my maid to follow me the next day, and +give me an account whether our fears were verified. + +'They were but too well founded. Four hours after I had left the house, +the sheriff's officers entered it--Information which encreased my +uneasiness for the fate of the unfortunate Trelawny; in hopes of +alleviating whose miseries I would myself have gone to London, but +Fitz-Edward would not suffer me. He said it was more than probable that +my husband was already in France; that if he was yet in England, he had +no house in which to receive me, and would feel more embarrassed than +relieved by my presence. But as I continued to express great uneasiness +to know what was become of him, he offered to go to London and bring me +some certain intelligence. + +'At the end of a week, which appeared insupportably long, he returned, +and told me that with some difficulty he had discovered my unhappy +husband at the house of one of his friends, where he was concealed, and +where he had lost at picquet more than half the ready money he could +command. That with some difficulty he had convinced him of the danger as +well as folly of remaining in such a place; and had accompanied him to +Dover, whence he had seen him sail for France. + +'I told Fitz-Edward that I would instantly give up as much of my +settlement as would enable Trelawny to live in affluence, till his +affairs could be arranged; but he protested that he would not suffer me +to take any measure of that sort, till I had the advice of _his_ +brother: or, till one of my own returned to England. + +'"Do you know," said he, at the end of this conversation--"Do you know, +Lady Adelina, that I envy Trelawny his misfortunes, since they excite +such generous pity.--Good God! of what tenderness, of what affection +would not such a heart be capable, if"---- + +'Fitz-Edward had seldom hazarded an observation of this sort, tho' his +eyes had told me a thousand times that he internally made them. He could +convey into half a sentence more than others could express by the most +elaborate speeches. Alas! I listened to him with too much pleasure; for +my treacherous heart had already said more than his insidious eloquence. + +'I wrote to Lord Clancarryl, entreating him to come over. He assured me +he would do so, the moment he could leave my sister, who was very near +her time; but that in the interim his brother George would obey all my +commands, and render me every service he could himself do if present. + +'Thrown, therefore, wholly into the power of Fitz-Edward; loving him but +too well; and seeing him every hour busied in serving me--I will not +accuse him of art; I had myself too little to hide from him the fatal +secret of my heart; I could not summon resolution to fly from him, till +my error was irretrievable--till I found myself made compleatly +miserable by the consciousness of guilt. + +'After remaining there about a fortnight, I left the house of Mr. +Percival, and took a small lodging in the neighbourhood of +Cavendish-square. Fitz-Edward saw me every day.--I met him indeed with +tears and confusion; but if any accident prevented his coming, or if he +even absented himself at my own request, the anguish I felt till I again +saw him convinced me that it was no longer in my power to live without +him. + +'Trelawny had given me no directions for my conduct; nor had he even +written to me, 'till he had occasion for money. He then desired me to +send him five hundred guineas--a sum I had no immediate means of +raising, but by selling some of my jewels. This I would immediately have +done; but Fitz-Edward, who would not hear of it, brought me the money in +a few hours, and undertook to remit it, together with a letter from me, +to the unfortunate man for whom it was designed. + +'He tried too--ah, how vainly!--to persuade me, that in acting thus I +had done more than my duty to such an husband. His sophistry, aided by +my own wishes to believe him, could not quiet the incessant reproaches +with which my conscience pursued me--I remembered my father's dying +injunctions, I remembered the inflexible notions of honour inherited by +both my brothers, and I trembled at the severe account to which I might +be called. I could now no longer flatter myself that my error would be +concealed, since of its consequences I could not doubt; and while I +suffered all the terrors of remorse and apprehension, Lord Clancarryl +came over. + +'In order to take measures towards settling Trelawny's affairs, it was +necessary to send for his sister, who had a bond for five thousand +pounds, which claim was prior to every other. This woman, whom it was +extremely disagreeable to me to meet, lamented with vulgar clamour her +brother's misfortunes; which she said could never have happened if he +had not been so unlucky as to get quality notions into his head. I know +not what at first raised her suspicions; but I saw that she very +narrowly observed Fitz-Edward; and sneeringly said that it was _very +lucky_ indeed for me to have such a friend, and _quite kind_ in the +colonel to take so much trouble. She made herself thoroughly acquainted +with all that related to her brother, from the time of our parting in +Ireland; and I found that she had attempted to bribe my servant to give +her an account of my conduct; in which tho' she had failed of success, +she had found that Fitz-Edward had been constantly with me. His +attendance was indeed less remarkable when Lord Clancarryl, his brother, +was also present; but Mrs. Bancraft, determined to believe ill of me, +suffered not this circumstance to have any weight, and hinted her +suspicions of our attachment in terms so little guarded, that it was +with the utmost difficulty I could prevail on Fitz-Edward not to resent +her impertinence. + +'Lord Clancarryl despised this vulgar and disgusting woman too much to +attend to the inuendos he heard; and far from suspecting my unhappy +weakness, he continued to lay me under new obligations to Fitz-Edward by +employing him almost incessantly in the arrangement of Trelawny's +affairs. + +'On looking over the will of that relation, who had bequeathed to Mr. +Trelawny the great fortune he had possessed, I discovered the reason of +Mrs. Bancraft's attentive curiosity in regard to me--if he died without +heirs, above six thousand a year was to descend to her son, who was to +take the name. He had been now married above two years, and his bloated +and unhealthy appearance (the effect of excessive drinking) indicated +short life; and had made her for some time look forward to the +succession of the entailed estate as an event almost certain for her +son. This sufficiently explained her conduct, and encreased all my +apprehensions; for I found that avarice would stimulate malice into that +continued watchfulness which I could not now undergo without the loss of +my fame and my peace. + +'All things being settled by Lord Clancarryl in the best manner he could +dispose them for Mr. Trelawny, his Lordship pressed me to go with him to +Ireland; but conscious that I should carry only disgrace and sorrow into +the happy and respectable family of my sister, I refused, under pretence +of waiting to hear again from Trelawny before I took any resolution as +to my future residence. + +'His Lordship therefore left me, having obtained my promise to go over +to Lough Carryl in the spring. Fitz-Edward continued to see me almost +every day, attempting by the tenderest assiduity to soothe and +tranquillize my mind. But time, which alleviates all other evils, only +encreased mine; and they were now become almost insupportable. After +long deliberation, I saw no way to escape the disgrace which was about +to overwhelm me, but hiding myself from my own family and from all the +world. I determined to keep my retreat secret, even from Fitz-Edward +himself; and to punish myself for my fatal attachment by tearing myself +for ever from it's object. Could I have supported the contempt of the +world, to which it was evidently the interest of Mrs. Bancraft to expose +me, I could not bear the most distant idea of the danger to which the +life of Fitz-Edward would be liable from the resentment of my brothers. +That he might perish by the hand of Lord Westhaven or Captain Godolphin, +or that one of those dear brothers might fall by his, was a suggestion +so horrid, and yet so probable, that it was for ever before me; and I +hastened to fly into obscurity, in the hope, that if my error is +concealed till I am myself in the grave, my brothers may forgive me, and +not attempt to wash out the offence in the blood of the surviving +offender. + +'To remain, and to die here unknown, is all I now dare to wish for. My +servant having formerly known the woman who inhabits this cottage, +contrived to have a few necessaries sent hither without observation; I +have made it worth the while of the people to be secret; and as they +know not my name, I had little apprehension of being discovered. + +'I took no leave of Fitz-Edward; nor have I written to him since. I +lament the pain my sudden absence must give him; but am determined to +see him no more. Should my child live----' + + * * * * * + +Lady Adelina was now altogether unable to proceed, and fell into an +agony of distress which greatly affected her auditors. Mrs. Stafford and +Emmeline said every thing they could think of to console her, and soften +the horror she seemed to feel for her unhappy indiscretion. But she +listened in listless despondence to their discourse, and answered, that +to be reconciled to guilt, and habituated to disgrace, was to be sunk in +the last abyss of infamy. + +They left her not, however, till they saw her rather more tranquil; and +till Mrs. Stafford had prevailed upon her to accept of some books, which +she hoped might amuse her mind, and detach it awhile from the sad +subject of it's mournful contemplations. These she promised to convey to +the cottage in a way that could create no suspicion. And relieved of her +own apprehensions, yet full of concern for the fair unhappy mourner (to +whom neither she or Emmeline had given the least intimation of +Fitz-Edward's frequent residence in that country,) they returned to +Woodfield, impressed with the most earnest solicitude to soften the +calamities they had just heard related, tho' to cure them was +impossible. + + + END OF THE SECOND VOLUME + + + + +VOLUME III + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +Whenever Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline were afterwards alone, they could +think and speak of nothing but Lady Adelina. The misfortunes in which an +unhappy marriage had involved her, her friendless youth, her lovely +figure, the settled sorrow and deep regret that she seemed to feel for +the error into which her too great sensibility of heart had betrayed +her, engaged their tenderest pity, and made them both anxious to give +her all the consolation and assistance she was now capable of receiving. + +When they considered the uncertainty of her remaining long concealed +where she was, and the probability that Fitz-Edward himself might +discover her, they saw the necessity of her removal from Woodbury +Forest. But it was a proposal they could not yet make--nor had they yet +recollected any place where she might be more secure. + +Emmeline, who felt herself particularly interested by her misfortunes, +and who was more pleased with her conversation the oftener she conversed +with her, seldom failed of seeing her every day: but Mrs. Stafford, more +apprehensive of observation, could not so frequently visit her; and the +precaution of both redoubled, when Mrs. Ashwood, Miss Galton, and the +two Miss Ashwood's, arrived at Woodfield, where they declared an +intention of staying the months of June and July. + +Thither also, soon after, came the younger Mr. Crofts, who had made an +acquaintance with Mr. Stafford in London with the hope of obtaining an +invitation, which he eagerly accepted. + +Sir Richard Crofts, in the ambition of making a family, had determined +to give every advantage to his eldest son, which might authorise him to +look up to those alliances that would, he hoped, make his own obscurity +forgotten. From the first dawn of his fortune, he had considered Mr. +Crofts as it's general heir; and had very plainly told his younger son, +that a place under government, which he had procured for him, of about +three hundred a year, must be his only dependance; till he should +possess two thousand pounds, all the provision he intended making for +him at his death--as he meant not to diminish, by a more equal division, +the patrimony of his brother. He recommended to him therefore to remedy +this deficiency of fortune, by looking out for an affluent wife. + +Nature had not eminently qualified him for success in such a project; +for his person was short, thick, and ill made, and his face composed of +large broad features, two dim grey eyes, and a complexion of a dull +sallow white. A vain attempt to look like a gentleman, served only to +render the meanness of his figure more remarkable; and the qualities of +his heart and understanding were but little calculated to make his +personal imperfections forgotten. His heart was selfish, narrow, +unfeeling, and at once mean and proud; his understanding beneath +mediocrity; and his conversation consisted of quaint scraps of something +that he supposed was wit, or at least very like it. And even such +attempts to be entertaining, poor as they were, he retailed from the +office where he passed the greatest part of his time, and for a +subaltern employment in which, his education had been barely such as +fitted him. But ignorant as he was, and devoid of every estimable +accomplishment, he had an infinite deal of that inferior kind of policy +called cunning; and being accustomed to consider his establishment as +depending wholly on himself, he had acquired a habit of sacrificing +every sentiment and every passion to that one purpose; and would adopt +the opinions, and submit to the caprices of others, whenever he thought +they could promote it. He had learned the obsequious attention, the +indefatigable industry, the humble adulation which is necessary for the +under departments of political business: and while such acquisitions +gave him hopes of rising in that line, they failed not to contribute to +his success in another. He would walk from the extremity of Westminster +to Wapping, to smuggle a set of china or of quadrille boxes, for the +mother or aunt of an heiress; and would, with great temper, suffer the +old ladies to take advantage of him at cards, while he ogled the young +ones. Which, together with his being always ready to perform for them +petty services, and to flatter them without scruple, had obtained for +him the character of 'one of the best creatures breathing.' But +whatever favour these various recommendations obtained for him for a +time, from the elderly ladies, he lost his ground when his views were +discovered; and tho' he had received what he fancied encouragement from +two or three young women of fortune on their first emerging from the +nursery, yet they had no sooner acquired an handsomer or richer lover, +than 'the best creature breathing' was discarded. + +He was not however discouraged; and meeting with Mrs. Ashwood at a rout +at Lady Montreville's, he was told by Miss Delamere, who was extremely +diverted with her airs of elegance, that she was a rich widow who wanted +a husband. He enquired into the circumstances of her fortune; and being +assured she possessed such an income as would make him easy, he thought +some little advantage she had over him in point of age no diminution of +her attractions, and found it convenient to fall immediately in love. +She listened to him with complaisance; and soon discovered 'that he was +not so plain as at first he appeared to be'--soon afterwards, 'that he +was rather handsome, and vastly sensible and agreeable.' After which, he +made a rapid progress in her heart; and it was concerted between them +that he should follow her to Woodfield. + +Emmeline and Mrs. Stafford were wearied to death with the party. But the +former forbore to complain, and the latter was forced to submit, and to +smile, while anguish was frequently at her heart. + +Mrs. Ashwood talked of nothing but fashionable parties and fashionable +people, to whom her acquaintance with Lord Montreville's family had +introduced her; and she now seldom deigned to name an untitled +acquaintance--while Crofts hung on her long narratives with affected +admiration; and the two elder of her three daughters, who were all in +training to be beauties, aped their mother in vanity and impertinence. + +The eldest Miss Ashwood, now about fourteen, was an insupportable +torment to Emmeline, as she had taken it into her head to form, with +her, a sentimental friendship. She had learned all the cant of sentiment +from novels; and her mama's lovers had extremely edified her in teaching +her to express it. She talked perpetually of delicate embarrassments and +exquisite sensibilities, and had probably a lover, as she extremely +wanted a confidant; a post which Emmeline with some difficulty +declined.--Of 'the sweet novels' she had read, she just understood as +much as made her long to become the heroine of such an history herself, +and she wanted somebody to listen to her hopes of being so. But Emmeline +shrunk from her advances, and repaid her fondness with general and cool +civility; tho' Mrs. Ashwood, who loved rather to listen to Crofts than +to attend to her daughters, continually promoted the intimacy, in hopes +that she would take them off her own hands, and allow them to be the +companions of her walks. + +This, Emmeline was obliged studiously to evade, as such companions would +entirely have prevented her seeing Lady Adelina; and by repeated excuses +she not only irritated the curiosity of Mrs. Ashwood and Miss Galton, +but gave the former an additional cause of dislike to that which she had +already conceived; inasmuch as she was younger, handsomer, and more +admired than herself. + +Emmeline received frequent letters from Delamere, as warm and passionate +as his personal professions. He told her, that as his mother's health +was greatly amended, he intended soon to visit those parts of France +with which he was yet unacquainted; and should pass some time in the +Northern Provinces, from whence he entreated her to allow him to come +only for a few days to England to see her--an indulgence which he said +would enable him to bear with more tranquillity the remaining months of +his exile. + +Tho' now accustomed to consider him as her husband, Emmeline resolutely +refused to consent to this breach of his engagement to his father. She +had lately seen in her friends, Mrs. Stafford and Lady Adelina, two +melancholy instances of the frequent unhappiness of very early +marriages; and she had no inclination to hazard her own happiness in +hopes of proving an exception. She wished, therefore, rather to delay +her union with Delamere two or three years; but to him she never dared +hint at such a delay. A clandestine interview it was, however, in her +power to decline; and she answered his request by entreating him not to +think of such a journey; and represented to him that he could not expect +Lord Montreville would finally adhere to _his_ promises, if he himself +was careless of fulfilling the conditions on which his Lordship had +insisted. Having thus, as she supposed, prevented Delamere from +offending his father, and without any immediate uneasiness on her own +account, she gave up her mind to the solicitude she could not help +feeling for Lady Adelina. This occupied almost all her time when she +was alone; and gave her, when in company, an air of absence and reserve. + +Tho' Mrs. Ashwood so much encouraged the attention of James Crofts, she +had not forgotten Fitz-Edward, whom she had vainly sought at Lady +Montreville's, in hopes of renewing an acquaintance which had in it's +commencement offered her so much satisfaction. Fitz-Edward had been +amused with her absurdity at the moment, but had never thought of her +afterwards; nor would he then have bestowed so much time on a woman to +him entirely indifferent, had not he been thrown in her way by his +desire to befriend Delamere with Emmeline, on one of those days when +Lady Adelina insisted on his leaving her, to avoid the appearance of his +passing with her all his time. Happy in successful love, his gaiety then +knew no bounds; and his agreeable flattery, his lively conversation, his +fashionable manners, and his handsome person, had not since been absent +from the memory of Mrs. Ashwood. His being sometimes at the house he had +borrowed of Delamere, near Woodfield, was one of the principal +inducements to her to go thither. She indulged sanguine hopes of +securing such a conquest; and evaded giving to Crofts a positive answer, +till she had made another essay on the heart of the Colonel. + +He came, however, so seldom to Woodfield, that Mrs. Stafford had seen +him there only once since her meeting Lady Adelina; and then he appeared +to be under encreased dejection, for which she knew now, how to account. + +Emmeline had given Mrs. Stafford so indifferent an account of Lady +Adelina one evening, that she determined the next morning to see her. +She therefore went immediately after breakfast, on pretence of visiting +a poor family who had applied to her for assistance; when as Mrs. +Ashwood, Miss Galton and Emmeline, were sitting together, Colonel +Fitz-Edward was announced. + +He came down to Tylehurst only the evening before; and not knowing there +was company at Woodfield, rode over to pass an hour with the two +friends, to whom he had frequently been tempted to communicate the +source of his melancholy. + +Whether it was owing to the consciousness of Lady Adelina's mournful +story that arose in the mind of Emmeline, or whether seeing Fitz-Edward +again in company with Mrs. Ashwood renewed the memory of what had +befallen her when they last met, she blushed deeply the moment she +beheld him, and arose from her chair in confusion; then sat down and +took out her work, which she had hastily put up; and trying to recover +herself, grew still more confused, and trembled and blushed again. + +Mrs. Ashwood was in the mean time overwhelming Fitz-Edward with +compliments and kind looks, which he answered with the distant civility +of a slight acquaintance; and taking a chair close to Emmeline, enquired +if she was not well? + +She answered that she was perfectly well; and attempted to introduce +general conversation. But Fitz-Edward was attentive only to her; and +Mrs. Ashwood, extremely piqued at his distant manner, meditated an +excuse to get Emmeline out of the room, in hopes of obtaining more +notice. + +Fitz-Edward, however, having talked apart with Miss Mowbray a short +time, arose and took leave, having by his manner convinced Mrs. Ashwood +of what she reluctantly believed, that some later attachment had +obliterated the impression she had made at their first interview. + +'I never saw such a figure in my life,' cried she, 'as Mr. Fitz-Edward. +Mercy on me!--he is grown _so_ thin, and _so_ sallow!' + +'And _so_ stupid,'interrupted Miss Galton. 'He is in love I fancy.' + +Emmeline blushed again; and Mrs. Ashwood casting a malicious look at +her, said--'Oh! yes--he doubtless is in love. To men of his gay turn you +know it makes no difference, whether a person be actually married or +_engaged_.' + +Emmeline, uncertain of the meaning of this sarcasm, and unwilling to be +provoked to make a tart reply, which she felt herself ready to do, put +up her work and left the room. + +While she went in search of Mrs. Stafford, to enquire after Lady +Adelina, and to relate the conversation that had passed between her and +Fitz-Edward, Mrs. Ashwood and Miss Galton were indulging their natural +malignity. Tho' well apprized of Emmeline's engagement to Delamere, yet +they hesitated not to impute her confusion, and Fitz-Edward's behaviour, +to a passion between them. They believed, that while her elopement with +Delamere had beyond retreat entangled her with him, and while his +fortune and future title tempted her to marry him, her heart was in +possession of Fitz-Edward; and that Delamere was the dupe of his +mistress and his friend. + +This idea, which could not have occurred to a woman who was not herself +capable of all the perfidy it implied, grew immediately familiar with +the imagination of Mrs. Ashwood, and embittered the sense of her own +disappointment. + +Miss Galton, who hated Emmeline more if possible than Mrs. Ashwood, +irritated her suspicions by remarks of her own. She observed 'that it +was very extraordinary Miss Mowbray should walk out so early in a +morning, and so studiously avoid taking any body with her--and that +unless she had appointments to which she desired no witness, it was very +singular she should chuse to ramble about by herself.' + +From these observations, and her evident confusion on seeing him, they +concluded that she had daily assignations with Fitz-Edward. They agreed, +that it would be no more than common justice to inform Mr. Delamere of +their discovery; and this they determined to do as soon as they had +certain proofs to produce, with which they concluded a very little +trouble and attention would furnish them. + +James Crofts, whose success was now indisputable, since of the handsome +Colonel there were no hopes, was let into the secret of their +suspicions; and readily undertook to assist in detecting the intrigue, +for which he assured them he had particular talents. While, therefore, +Mrs. Ashwood, Miss Galton, and James Crofts, were preparing to undermine +the peace and character of the innocent, ingenuous Emmeline, she and +Mrs. Stafford were meditating how to be useful to the unhappy Lady +Adelina. They became every day more interested and more apprehensive for +the fate of that devoted young woman, whose health seemed to be such as +made it very improbable she should survive the birth of her child. Her +spirits, too, were so depressed, that they could not prevail on her to +think of her own safety, or to allow them to make any overtures to her +family; but, in calm and hopeless languor, she seemed resigned to the +horrors of her destiny, and determined to die unlamented and unknown. + +Her elder brother, Lord Westhaven, had returned from abroad almost +immediately after her concealment. His enquiries on his first arrival in +England had only informed him of the embarrassment of Trelawny's +affairs, and the inconvenience to which his sister had consequently been +exposed; and that after staying some time in England, to settle things +as well as she could, she had disappeared, and every body believed was +gone to her husband. His Lordship's acquaintance and marriage with +Augusta Delamere, almost immediately succeeded; but while it was +depending, he was astonished to hear from Lord and Lady Clancarryl that +Lady Adelina had never written to them before her departure. He went in +search of Fitz-Edward; but could never meet him at home or obtain from +his servants any direction where to find him. Fitz-Edward, indeed, +purposely avoided him, and had left no address at his lodgings in town, +or at Tylehurst. + +Lord Westhaven then wrote to Trelawny, but obtained no answer; and +growing daily more alarmed at the uncertainty he was in about Lady +Adelina, he determined to go, as soon as he was married, to Switzerland; +being persuaded that tho' some accident had prevented his receiving her +letters, she had found an asylum there, amongst his mother's relations. + +Fitz-Edward, with anxiety even more poignant, had sought her with as +little success. After the morning when she discharged her lodgings, and +left them in an hackney coach with her maid, he could never, with all +his unwearied researches, discover any traces of her. + +He knew she was not gone to Trelawny; and dreading every thing from her +determined sorrow, he passed his whole time between painful and +fruitless conjectures, and the tormenting apprehension of hearing of +some fatal event. Incessantly reproaching himself for being the betrayer +of his trust, and the ruin of a lovely and amiable woman, he gave +himself up to regret and despondence. The gay Fitz-Edward, so lately the +envy and admiration of the fashionable world, was lost to society, his +friends, and himself. + +He passed much of his time at Tylehurst; because he could there indulge, +without interruption, his melancholy reflections, and only saw Mrs. +Stafford and Emmeline, in whose soft and sensible conversation he found +a transient alleviation of his sorrow--sorrow which now grew too severe +to be longer concealed, and which he resolved to take the earliest +opportunity of acknowledging, in hopes of engaging the pity of his fair +friends--perhaps their assistance in discovering the unhappy fugitive +who caused it. + +From Lady Adelina, they had most carefully concealed, that his residence +was so near the obscure abode she had chosen. Fatal as he had been to +her peace, and conscientiously as she had abstained from naming him +after their first conversation, they knew that she still fondly loved +him, and that her fears for his safety had assisted her sense of +rectitude when she determined to tear herself from him. But were she +again to meet him, they feared she would either relapse into her former +fatal affection, or conquer it by an effort, which in her precarious +state of health might prove immediately fatal. + +The request which Fitz-Edward had made to Emmeline, that he might be +allowed to see her and Mrs. Stafford together, without any other person +being present, they both wished to evade; dreading least they should by +their countenances betray the knowledge they had of his unhappy story, +and the interest they took in it's catastrophe. + +They hoped, therefore, to escape hearing his confession till Lady +Adelina should be removed--and to remove her became indispensibly +necessary, as Emmeline was convinced she was watched in her visits to +the cottage. + +Twice she had met James Crofts within half a quarter of a mile of the +cottage; and at another time discovered, just as she was about to enter +it, that the Miss Ashwoods had followed her almost to the door; which +she therefore forbore to enter. These circumstances made both her and +Mrs. Stafford solicitous to have Lady Adelina placed in greater +security; and, added to Emmeline's uneasiness for her, was the +unpleasant situation in which she found herself. + +Observed with malicious vigilance by Mrs. Ashwood, James Crofts, Miss +Galton, and the two Misses, she felt as awkward as if she really had +some secret of her own to hide; and with all the purity and even heroism +of virtue, learned the uneasy sensation which ever attends mystery and +concealment. The hours which used to pass tranquilly and rationally with +Mrs. Stafford, were now dedicated to people whose conversation made her +no amends; and if she retired to her own room, it failed not to excite +sneers and suspicions. She saw Mrs. Stafford struggling with dejection +which she had no power to dissipate or relieve, and obliged to enter +into frequent parties of what is called pleasure, tho' to her it gave +only fatigue and disgust, to gratify Mrs. Ashwood, who hated all society +but a crowd. James Crofts, indeed, helped to keep her in good humour by +his excessive adulation; and chiefly by assuring her, that by any man of +the least taste, the baby face of Emmeline could be considered only as a +foil to her more mature charms, and that her fine dark eyes eclipsed all +the eyes in the world. He protested too against Emmeline for affecting +knowledge--'It is,' said he, 'a maxim of my father's--and my father is +no bad judge--that for a woman to affect literature is the most horrid +of all absurdities; and for a woman to know any thing of business, is +detestable!' + +Mrs. Ashwood laid by her dictionary, determined for the future to spell +her own way without it. + +Besides the powerful intervention of flattery, James Crofts had another +not less successful method of winning the lady's favour. He told her +that his brother, who had long cherished a passion in which he was at +length likely to be disappointed, was in that case determined never to +marry; that he was in an ill state of health; and if he died without +posterity, the estate and title of his father would descend to himself. + +The elder Crofts, very desirous of seeing a brother established who +might otherwise be burthensome or inconvenient to him, suggested this +finesse; and secured it's belief by writing frequent and melancholy +accounts of his own ill health--an artifice by which he promoted at once +his brother's views and his own. He affected the valetudinarian so +happily, and complained so much of the ill effect that constant +application to business had on his constitution, that nobody doubted of +the reality of his sickness. He took care that Miss Delamere should +receive an account of it, which he knew she would consider as the +consequence of his despairing love; and when he had interested her +vanity and of course her compassion, he contrived to obtain leave of +absence for three months from the duties of his office, in order to go +abroad for the recovery of his health. He hastened to Barege; and soon +found means to re-establish himself in the favour of Miss Delamere; from +which, absence, and large draughts of flattery dispensed with French +adroitness, had a little displaced him. This stratagem put his brother +James on so fair a footing with the widow, that he thought her fortune +would be secured before she could discover it to be only a stratagem, +and that her lover was still likely to continue a younger brother. + +James Crofts seeing the necessity of dispatch, became so importunate, +that Mrs. Ashwood, despairing of Fitz-Edward, and believing she might +not again meet with a man so near a title, for which she had a violent +inclination, was prevailed on to promise she would make him happy as +soon as she returned to her own house. + +It was now the end of June; and Lady Adelina, whose situation grew very +critical, had at length yielded to the entreaties of her two friends, +and agreed to go wherever they thought she could obtain assistance and +concealment in the approaching hour. + +Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline, after long and frequent reflections and +consultations on the subject, concluded that no situation would be so +proper as Bath. In a place resorted to by all sorts of people, less +enquiry is excited than in a provincial town, where strangers are +objects of curiosity to it's idle inhabitants. To Bath, therefore, it +was determined Lady Adelina should go. But when the time of her journey, +and her arrangements there, came to be discussed, she expressed so much +terror least she should be known, so much anguish at leaving those to +whose tender pity she was so greatly indebted, and such melancholy +conviction that she should not survive, that the sensible heart of +Emmeline could not behold without sharing her agonies; nor was Mrs. +Stafford less affected. When they returned home after this interview, +Emmeline was pursued by the image of the poor unhappy Adelina. But to +give, to the wretched, only barren sympathy, was not in her nature, +where more effectual relief was in her power. She thought, that if by +her presence she could alleviate the anguish, and soothe the sorrows of +the fair mourner, perhaps save her character and her life, and be the +means of restoring her to her family, she should perform an action +gratifying to her own heart, and acceptable to heaven. The more she +reflected on it, the more anxious she became to execute it--and she at +length named it to Mrs. Stafford. + +Mrs. Stafford, tho' aware of the numberless objections which might have +been made to such a plan, could not resolve strenuously to oppose it. +She felt infinite compassion for Lady Adelina; but could herself do +little to assist her, as her time was not her own and her absence must +have been accounted for: but Emmeline was liable to no restraint; and +would not only be meritoriously employed in befriending the unhappy, but +would escape from the society at Woodfield, which became every day more +disagreeable to her. These considerations, particularly the benevolent +one of saving an unhappy young woman, over-balanced, in the mind of Mrs. +Stafford, the objection that might be made to her accompanying a person +under the unfortunate and discreditable circumstances of Lady Adelina; +and her heart, too expansive to be closed by the cold hand of prudery +against the sighs of weakness or misfortune, assured her that she was +right. She knew that Emmeline was of a character to pity, but not to +imitate, the erroneous conduct of her friend; and she believed that the +reputation of Lady Adelina Trelawny might be rescued from reproach, +without communicating any part of it's blemish to the spotless purity of +Emmeline Mowbray. + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +As soon as Emmeline had persuaded herself of the propriety of this plan +and obtained Mrs. Stafford's concurrence, she hinted her intentions to +Lady Adelina; who received the intimation with such transports of +gratitude and delight, that Emmeline, confirmed in her resolution, no +longer suffered a doubt of it's propriety to arise; and, with the +participation of Mrs. Stafford only, prepared for her journey, which was +to take place in ten days. + +Mrs. Stafford also employed a person on whom she could rely, to receive +the money due to Lady Adelina from her husband's estate. But of this her +Ladyship demanded only half, leaving the rest for Trelawny. The attorney +in whose hands Trelawny's affairs were placed by Lord Westhaven, was +extremely anxious to discover, from the person employed by Mrs. +Stafford, from whence he obtained the order signed by Lady Adelina; and +obliged him to attend several days before he would pay it, in hopes, by +persuasions or artful questions, to draw the secret from him. He met, at +the attorney's chambers, an officer who had made of him the same +enquiry, and had followed him home, and since frequently importuned +him--intelligence, which convinced Mrs. Stafford that Lady Adelina must +soon be discovered, (as they concluded the officer was Fitz-Edward,) and +made both her and Emmeline hasten the day of her departure. + +About a quarter of a mile from Woodfield, and at the extremity of the +lawn which surrounded it, was a copse in which the accumulated waters of +a trout stream formed a beautiful tho' not extensive piece of water, +shaded on every side by a natural wood. Mrs. Stafford, who had +particular pleasure in the place, had planted flowering shrubs and +caused walks to be cut through it; and on the edge of the water built a +seat of reeds and thatch, which was furnished with a table and a few +garden chairs. Thither Emmeline repaired whenever she could disengage +herself from company. Solitude was to her always a luxury; and +particularly desirable now, when her anxiety for Lady Adelina, and +preparations for their approaching departure, made her wish to avoid the +malicious observations of Mrs. Ashwood, the forward intrusion of her +daughters, and the inquisitive civilities of James Crofts. She had now +only one day to remain at Woodfield, before that fixed for their setting +out; and being altogether unwilling to encounter the fatigue of such an +engagement so immediately previous to her journey, she declined being of +the party to dine at the house of a neighbouring gentleman; who, on the +occasion of his son's coming of age, was to give a ball and _fête +champêtre_ to a very large company. + +Mrs. Ashwood, seeing Emmeline averse, took it into her head to press her +extremely to go with them; and finding she still refused, said--'it was +monstrous rude, and that she was sure no young person would decline +partaking such an entertainment if she had not some _very particular_ +reason.' + +Emmeline, teized and provoked out of her usual calmness, answered--'That +whatever might be her reasons, she was fortunately accountable to nobody +for them.' + +Mrs. Ashwood, provoked in her turn, made some very rude replies, which +Emmeline, not to irritate her farther, left the room without answering; +and as soon as the carriages drove from the door, she dined alone, and +then desiring one of the servants to carry her harp into the +summer-house in the copse, she walked thither with her music books, and +soon lost the little chagrin which Mrs. Ashwood's ill-breeding had given +her. + +Fitz-Edward, who arrived in the country the preceding evening, after +another fruitless search for Lady Adelina, walked over to Woodfield, in +hopes, as it was early in the afternoon, that he might obtain, in the +course of it, some conversation with Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline. On +arriving, he met the servant who had attended Emmeline to the copse, and +was by him directed thither. As he approached the seat, he heard her +singing a plaintive air, which seemed in unison with his heart. She +started at the sight of him--Mrs. Ashwood's suspicions immediately +occurred to her, and at the same moment the real motive which had made +him seek this interview. She blushed, and looked uneasy; but the +innocence and integrity of her heart presently restored her composure, +and when Fitz-Edward asked if she would allow him half an hour of her +time, she answered--'certainly.' + +He sat down by her, dejectedly and in silence. She was about to put +aside her harp, but he desired her to repeat the air she was singing. + +'It is sweetly soothing,' said he, 'and reminds me of happier days when +I first heard it; while you sing it, I may perhaps acquire resolution to +tell you what may oblige you to discard me from your acquaintance. It +does indeed require resolution to hazard such a misfortune.' + +Emmeline, not knowing how to answer, immediately began the air. The +thoughts which agitated her bosom while she sung, made her voice yet +more tender and pathetic. She saw the eyes of Fitz-Edward fill with +tears; and as soon as she ceased he said-- + +'Tell me, Miss Mowbray--what does the man deserve, who being entrusted +with the confidence of a young and beautiful woman--beautiful, even as +Emmeline herself, and as highly accomplished--has betrayed the sacred +trust; and has been the occasion--oh God!--of what misery may I not have +been the occasion! + +'Pardon me,' continued he--'I am afraid my despair frightens you--I will +endeavour to command myself.' + +Emmeline found she could not escape hearing the story, and endeavoured +not to betray by her countenance that she already knew it. + +Fitz-Edward went on-- + +'When first I knew you, I was a decided libertine. Yourself and Mrs. +Stafford, lovely as I thought you both, would have been equally the +object of my designs, if Delamere's passion for you, and the reserved +conduct of Mrs. Stafford, had not made me doubt succeeding with either. +But for your charming friend my heart long retained it's partiality; nor +would it ever have felt for her that pure and disinterested friendship +which is now in regard to her it's only sentiment, had not the object of +my present regret and anguish been thrown in my way. + +'To you, Miss Mowbray, I scruple not to speak of this beloved and +lamented woman; tho' her name is sacred with me, and has never yet been +mentioned united with dishonour. + +'The connection between our families first introduced me to her +acquaintance. In her person she was exquisitely lovely, and her manners +were as enchanting as her form. The sprightly gaiety of unsuspecting +inexperience, was, I thought, sometimes checked by an involuntary +sentiment of regret at the sacrifice she had made, by marrying a man +every way unworthy of her; except by that fortune to which she was +indifferent, and of which he was hastening to divest himself. + +'I had never seen Mr. Trelawny; and knew him for some time only from +report. But when he came to Lough Carryl, my pity for her, encreased in +proportion to the envy and indignation with which I beheld the +insensible and intemperate husband--incapable of feeling for her, any +other sentiment, than what she might equally have inspired in the lowest +of mankind. + +'Her unaffected simplicity; her gentle confidence in my protection +during a voyage in which her ill-assorted mate left her entirely to my +care; made me rather consider her as my sister than as an object of +seduction. I resolved to be the guardian rather than the betrayer of her +honour--and I long kept my resolution.' + +Fitz-Edward then proceeded to relate the circumstances that attended the +ruin of Trelawny's fortune; and that Lady Adelina was left to struggle +with innumerable difficulties, unassisted but by himself, to whom Lord +Clancarryl had delegated the task of treating with Trelawny's sister and +creditors. + +'Her gratitude,' continued he, 'for the little assistance I was able to +give her, was boundless; and as pity had already taught me to love her +with more ardour than her beauty only, captivating as it is, would have +inspired; gratitude led her too easily into tender sentiments for me. I +am not a presuming coxcomb; but she was infinitely too artless to +conceal her partiality; and neither her misfortunes, or her being the +sister of my friend Godolphin, protected her against the libertinism of +my principles.' + +He went on to relate the deep melancholy that seized Lady Adelina; and +his own terror and remorse when he found her one morning gone from her +lodgings, where she had left no direction; and from her proceeding it +was evident she designed to conceal herself from his enquiries. + +'God knows,' pursued he, 'what is now become of her!--perhaps, when most +in need of tenderness and attention, she is thrown destitute and +friendless among strangers, and will perish in indigence and obscurity. +Unused to encounter the slightest hardship, her delicate frame, and +still more sensible mind, will sink under those to which her situation +will expose her--perhaps I shall be doubly a murderer!' + +He stopped, from inability to proceed--Emmeline, in tears, continued +silent. + +Struggling to conquer his emotion and recover his voice, Fitz-Edward at +length continued-- + +'While I was suffering all the misery which my apprehension for her fate +inflicted, her younger brother, William Godolphin, returned from the +West Indies, where he has been three years stationed. I was the first +person he visited in town; but I was not at my lodgings there. Before I +returned from Tylehurst, he had informed himself of all the +circumstances of Trelawny's embarrassments, and his sister's absence. He +found letters from Lord Westhaven, and from my brother, Lord Clancarryl; +who knowing he would about that time return to England, conjured him to +assist in the attempt of discovering Lady Adelina; of whose motives for +concealing herself from her family they were entirely ignorant, while it +filled them with uneasiness and astonishment. As soon as I went back to +London, Godolphin, of whose arrival I was ignorant, came to me. He +embraced me, and thanked me for my friendship and attention to his +unfortunate Adelina--I think if he had held his sword to my heart it +would have hurt me less! + +'He implored me to help his search after his lost sister, and again said +how greatly he was obliged to me--while I, conscious how little I +deserved his gratitude, felt like a coward and an assassin, and shrunk +from the manly confidence of my friend. + +'Since our first meeting, I have seen him several times, and ever with +new anguish. I have loved Godolphin from my earliest remembrance; and +have known him from a boy to have the best heart and the noblest spirit +under heaven. Equally incapable of deserving or bearing dishonour, +Godolphin will behold me with contempt; which tho' I deserve, I cannot +endure. He must call me to an account; and the hope of perishing by his +hand is the only one I now cherish. Yet unable to shock him by divulging +the fatal secret, I have hitherto concealed it, and my concealment he +must impute to motives base, infamous, and pusillanimous. I can bear +such reflections no longer--I will go to town to-morrow, explain his +sister's situation to him, and let him take the only reparation I can +now make him.' + +Emmeline, shuddering at this resolution, could not conceal how greatly +it affected her. + +'Generous and lovely Miss Mowbray! pardon me for having thus moved your +gentle nature; and allow me, since I see you pity me, to request of you +and Mrs. Stafford a favour which will probably be the last trouble the +unhappy Fitz-Edward will give you. + +'It may happen that Lady Adelina may hereafter be discovered--tho' I +know not how to hope it. But if your generous pity should interest you +in the fate of that unhappy, forlorn young woman, your's and Mrs. +Stafford's protection might yet perhaps save her; and such interposition +would be worthy of hearts like yours. As the event of a meeting between +me and Godolphin is uncertain, shall I entreat you, my lovely friend, to +take charge of this paper. It contains a will, by which the child of +Lady Adelina will be entitled to all I die possessed of. It is enough, +if the unfortunate infant survives, to place it above indigence. Lord +Clancarryl will not dispute the disposition of my fortune; and to your +care, and that of Mrs. Stafford, I have left it in trust, and I have +entreated you to befriend the poor little one, who will probably be an +orphan--but desolate and abandoned it will not be, if it's innocence and +unhappiness interest you to grant my request. Delamere will not object +to your goodness being so exerted; and you will not teach it, generous, +gentle as you are! to hold in abhorrence the memory of it's father. This +is all I can now do. Farewell! dearest Miss Mowbray!--Heaven give you +happiness, _ma douce amie!_ Farewell!' + +These last words, in which Fitz-Edward repeated the name by which he was +accustomed to address Emmeline, quite overcame her. He was hastening +away, while, hardly able to speak, she yet made an effort to stop him. +The interview he was about to seek was what Lady Adelina so greatly +dreaded. Yet Emmeline dared not urge to him how fatal it would be to +her; she knew not what to say, least he should discover the secret with +which she was entrusted; but in breathless agitation caught his hand as +he turned to leave her, crying-- + +'Hear me, Fitz-Edward! One moment hear me! Do not go to meet Captain +Godolphin. I conjure, I implore you do not!' + +She found it impossible to proceed. Her eyes were still eagerly fixed on +his face; she still held his hand; while he, supposing her extreme +emotion arose from the compassionate tenderness of her nature, found the +steadiness of his despair softened by the soothing voice of pity, and +throwing himself on his knees, he laid his head on one of the chairs, +and wept like a woman. + +Emmeline, who now hoped to persuade him not to execute the resolution he +had formed, said--'I will take the paper you have given me, Fitz-Edward, +and will most religiously fulfil all your request in it to the utmost +extent of my power. But in return for my giving you this promise, I must +insist'---- + +At this moment James Crofts stood before them. + +Emmeline, shocked and amazed at his appearance, roused Fitz-Edward by a +sudden exclamation. + +He started up, and said fiercely to Crofts--'Well, Sir!--have you any +commands here?' + +'Commands, Sir,' answered Crofts, somewhat alarmed by the tone in which +this question was put--'I have no commands to be sure Sir--but, but, I +came Sir, just to enquire after Miss Mowbray. I did not mean to +intrude.' + +'Then, Sir,' returned the Colonel, 'I beg you will leave us.' + +'Oh! certainly, Sir,' cried Crofts, trying to regain his courage and +assume an air of raillery--'certainly--I would not for the world +interrupt you. My business indeed is not at all material--only a +compliment to Miss Mowbray--your's,' added he sneeringly, 'is, I see, of +more consequence.' + +'Look ye, Mr. Crofts,' sharply answered Fitz-Edward--'You are to make no +impertinent comments. Miss Mowbray is mistress of her actions. She is in +my particular protection on behalf of my friend Delamere, and I shall +consider the slightest failure of respect to her as an insult to me. +Sir, if you have nothing more to say you will be so good as to leave +us.' + +There was something so hostile in the manner in which Fitz-Edward +delivered this speech, that James Crofts, more at home in the cabinet +than the field, thought he might as well avoid another injunction to +depart; and quietly submit to the present, rather than provoke farther +resentment from the formidable soldier. He therefore, looking most +cadaverously, made one of his jerking bows, and said, with something he +intended for a smile-- + +'Well, well, good folks, I'll leave you to your _tête a tête_, and +hasten back to my engagement. Every body regrets Miss Mowbray's absence +from the ball; and the partner that was provided for her is ready to +hang himself.' + +An impatient look, darted from Fitz-Edward, stopped farther effusion of +impertinence, and he only added--'Servant! servant!' and walked away. + +Fitz-Edward, then turning towards Emmeline, saw her pale and faint. + +'Why, my dear Miss Mowbray, do you suffer this man's folly to affect +you? Your looks really terrify me!' + +'Oh! he was sent on purpose,' cried Emmeline.--'Mrs. Ashwood has lately +often hinted to me, that whatever are my engagements to Delamere I was +much more partial to you. She has watched me for some time; and now, on +my refusing to accompany them to the ball, concluded I had an +appointment, and sent Crofts back to see.' + +'If I thought so,' sternly answered Fitz-Edward, 'I would instantly +overtake him, and I believe I could oblige him to secresy.' + +'No, for heaven's sake don't!' said Emmeline--'for heaven's sake do not +think of it! I care not what they conjecture--leave them to their +malice--Crofts is not worth your anger. But Fitz-Edward, let us return +to what we were talking of. Will you promise me to delay going to +London--to delay seeing Mr. Godolphin until--in short, will you give me +your honour to remain at Tylehurst a week, without taking any measures +to inform Godolphin of what you have told me. I will, at the end of that +time, either release you from your promise, or give you unanswerable +reasons why you should relinquish the design of meeting him at all.' + +Fitz-Edward, however amazed at the earnestness she expressed to obtain +this promise, gave it. He had no suspicion of Emmeline's having any +knowledge of Lady Adelina; and accounted for the deep interest she +seemed to take in preventing an interview, by recollecting the universal +tenderness and humanity of her character. He assured her he would not +leave Tylehurst 'till the expiration of the time she had named. He +conjured her not to suffer any impertinence from Crofts on the subject +of their being seen together, but to awe him into silence by resentment. +Emmeline now desired him to leave her. But she still seemed under such +an hurry of spirits, that he insisted on being allowed to attend her to +the door of the house, where, renewing his thanks for the compassionate +attention she had afforded him, and entreating her to compose herself, +he left her. + +Emmeline intending to go to her own room, went first into the drawing +room to deposit her music book. She had hardly done so, when she heard a +man's step, and turning, beheld Crofts open the door, which he +immediately shut after him. + +'I thought, Sir,' said Emmeline, 'you had been gone back to your +company.' + +'No, not yet, my fair Emmeline. I wanted first to beg your pardon for +having disturbed so snug a party. Ah! sly little prude--who would think +that you, who always seem so cold and so cruel, made an excuse only to +stay at home to meet Fitz-Edward? But it is not fair, little dear, that +all your kindness should be for him, while you will scarce give any +other body a civil look. Now I have met with you I swear I'll have a +kiss too.' + +Emmeline, terrified to death at his approaching her with this speech, +flew to the bell, which she rang with so much violence that the rope +broke from the crank. + +'Now,' cried Crofts, 'if nobody hears, you are more than ever in my +power.' + +'Heaven forbid!' shrieked Emmeline, in an agony of fear. 'Let me go, Mr. +Crofts, this moment.' + +She would have rushed towards the door but he stood with his arms +extended before it. + +'You did not run thus--you did not scream thus, when Fitz-Edward, the +fortunate Fitz-Edward, was on his knees before you. Then, you could weep +and sigh too, and look so sweetly on him. But come--you see I know so +much that it will be your interest, little dear, to make me your +friend.' + +'Rather let me apply to fiends and furies for friendship! hateful, +detestable wretch! by what right do you insult and detain me?' + +'Oh! these theatricals are really very sublime!' cried he, seizing both +her hands, which he violently grasped. + +She shrieked aloud, and fruitlessly struggled to break from him, when +the footsteps of somebody near the door obliged him to let her go. She +darted instantly away, and in the hall met one of the maids. + +'Lord, Miss,' cried the servant, 'did you ring? I've been all over the +house to see what bell it was.' + +Emmeline, without answering, flew to her own room. The maid followed +her: but desirous of being left alone, she assured the girl that nothing +was the matter; that she was merely tired by a long walk; and desiring +a glass of water, tried to compose and recollect herself; while Crofts +unobserved returned to the house where the _fête_ was given time enough +to dress and dance with Mrs. Ashwood. + +It was at her desire, that immediately after dinner Crofts had left the +company under pretence of executing a commission with which she easily +furnished him; but his real orders were to discover the motives of +Emmeline's refusal to be of the party. This he executed beyond his +expectation. It was no longer to be doubted that very good intelligence +subsisted between Emmeline and Fitz-Edward, since he had been found on +his knees before her; while she, earnestly yet kindly speaking, hung +over him with tears in her eyes. Knowing that Emmeline was absolutely +engaged to Delamere, he was persuaded that Fitz-Edward was master of her +heart; and that the tears and emotion to which he had been witness, were +occasioned by the impossibility of her giving him her hand. He knew +Fitz-Edward's character too well to suppose he could be insensible of +the lady's kindness; and possessing himself a mind gross and depraved, +he did not hesitate to believe all the ill his own base and illiberal +spirit suggested. + +Tho', interested hypocrite as he was, he made every other passion +subservient to the gratification of his avarice, Crofts had not coldly +beheld the youth and beauty of Emmeline; he had, however, carefully +forborne to shew that he admired her, and would probably never have +betrayed what must ruin him for ever with Mrs. Ashwood, had not the +conviction of her partiality to Fitz-Edward inspired him with the +infamous hope of frightening her into some kindness for himself, by +threatening to betray her stolen interview with her supposed lover. + +The scorn and horror with which Emmeline repulsed him served only to +mortify his self love, and provoke his hatred towards her and the man +whom he believed she favoured; and with the inveterate and cowardly +malignity of which his heart was particularly susceptible, he determined +to do all in his power to ruin them both. + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +Such was the horror and detestation which Emmeline felt for Crofts, that +she could not bear the thoughts of seeing him again. But as she feared +Mrs. Stafford might resent his behaviour, and by that means embroil +herself with the vain and insolent Mrs. Ashwood, with whom she knew +Stafford was obliged to keep on a fair footing, she determined to say as +little as she could of his impertinence to Mrs. Stafford, but to +withdraw from the house without again exposing herself to meet him. As +soon as she saw her the next morning, she related all that had passed +between Fitz-Edward and herself; and after a long consultation they +agreed that to prevent his seeing Godolphin was absolutely necessary; +and that no other means of doing so offered, but Mrs. Stafford's +relating to him the real circumstances and situation of Lady Adelina, as +soon as she could be removed from her present abode and precautions +taken to prevent his discovering her. This, Mrs. Stafford undertook to +do immediately after their departure. It was to take place on the next +day; and Emmeline, with the concurrence of her friend, determined that +she would take no leave of the party at Woodfield: for tho' the +appearance of mystery was extremely disagreeable and distressing to +Emmeline, she knew that notice of her intentions would excite enquiries +and awaken curiosity very difficult to satisfy; and that it was +extremely probable James Crofts might be employed to watch her, and by +that means render abortive all her endeavours to preserve the unhappy +Lady Adelina. + +Relying therefore on the generosity and innocence of her intentions, she +chose rather to leave her own actions open to censure which they did not +deserve, than to risk an investigation which might be fatal to the +interest of her poor friend. She took nothing with her, Mrs. Stafford +undertaking every necessary arrangement about her cloaths--and having at +night taken a tender leave of this beloved and valuable woman, and +promised to write to her constantly and to return as soon as the destiny +of Lady Adelina should be decided, they parted. + +And Emmeline, arising before the dawn of the following morning, set out +alone to Woodbury Forest--a precaution absolutely necessary, to evade +the inquisitive watchfulness of James Crofts. She stole softly down +stairs, before even the servants were stirring, and opening the door +cautiously, felt some degree of terror at being obliged to undertake so +long a walk alone at such an hour. But innocence gave her courage, and +friendly zeal lent her strength. As she walked on, her fears subsided. +She saw the sun rise above the horizon, and her apprehensions were at an +end. + +As no carriage could approach within three quarters of a mile of the +house where Lady Adelina was concealed, they were obliged to walk to the +road where Mrs. Stafford had directed a post chaise to wait for them, +which she had hired at a distant town, where it was unlikely any enquiry +would be made. + +Long disuse, as she had hardly ever left the cottage from the moment of +her entering it, and the extreme weakness to which she was reduced, made +Emmeline greatly fear that Lady Adelina would never be able to reach the +place. With her assistance, and that of her Ladyship's woman, slowly and +faintly she walked thither; and Emmeline saw her happily placed in the +chaise. Every thing had been before settled as to the conveyance of the +servant and baggage, and to engage the secresy of the woman with whom +she had dwelt, by making her silence sufficiently advantageous; and as +they hoped that no traces were left by which they might be followed, the +spirits of the fair travellers seemed somewhat to improve as they +proceeded on their journey.--Emmeline felt her heart elated with the +consciousness of doing good; and from the tender affection and +assistance of such a friend, which could be considered only as the +benevolence of heaven itself, Lady Adelina drew a favourable omen, and +dared entertain a faint hope that her penitence had been accepted. + +They arrived without any accident at Bath, the following day; and +Emmeline, leaving Lady Adelina at the inn, went out immediately to +secure lodgings in a retired part of the town. As soon as it was dark, +Lady Adelina removed thither in a chair; and was announced by Emmeline +to be the wife of a Swiss officer, to be herself of Switzerland, and to +bear the name of Mrs. St. Laure--while she herself, as she was very +little known, continued to pass by her own name in the few transactions +which in their very private way of living required her name to be +repeated. + +When Mrs. Ashwood found that Emmeline had left Woodfield clandestinely +and alone, and that Mrs. Stafford evaded giving any account whither she +was gone, by saying coldly that she was gone to visit a friend in +Surrey whom she formerly knew in Wales, all the suspicions she had +herself harboured, and Miss Galton encouraged, seemed confirmed. James +Crofts had related, not without exaggerations, what he had been witness +to in the copse; and it was no longer doubted but that she was gone with +Fitz-Edward, which at once accounted for her departure and the sudden +and mysterious manner in which it was accomplished. James Crofts had +suspicions that his behaviour had hastened it; but he failed not to +confirm Mrs. Ashwood in her prepossession that her entanglement with +Fitz-Edward was now at a period when it could be no longer +concealed--intelligence which was to be conveyed to Delamere. + +The elder Crofts, who had been some time with Lady Montreville and her +daughter, had named Delamere from time to time in his letters to his +brother. The last, mentioned that he was now with his mother and sister, +who were at Nice, and who purposed returning to England in about three +months. Crofts represented Delamere as still devoted to Emmeline; and as +existing only in the hope of being no longer opposed in his intention of +marrying her in March, when the year which he had promised his father to +wait expired; but that Lady Montreville, as time wore away, grew more +averse to the match, and more desirous of some event which might break +it off. Crofts gave his brother a very favourable account of his +progress with Miss Delamere; and hinted that if he could be fortunate +enough to put an end to Delamere's intended connection, it would so +greatly conciliate the favour of Lady Montreville, that he dared hope +she would no longer oppose his union with her daughter: and when once +they were married, and the prejudices of the mother to an inferior +alliance conquered, he had very little doubt of Lord Montreville's +forgiveness, and of soon regaining his countenance and friendship. + +This account from his brother added another motive to those which +already influenced the malignant and illiberal mind of James Crofts to +injure the lovely orphan, and he determined to give all his assistance +to Mrs. Ashwood in the cruel project of depriving her at once of her +character and her lover. In a consultation which he held on this subject +with his promised bride and Miss Galton, the ladies agreed that it was +perfectly shocking that such a fine young man as Mr. Delamere should be +attached to a woman so little sensible of his value as Emmeline; that it +had long been evident she was to him indifferent, and it was now too +clear that she was partial to another; and that therefore it would be a +meritorious action to acquaint him of her intimacy with Fitz-Edward; and +it could not be doubted but his knowledge of it would, high spirited as +he was, cure him effectually of his ill-placed passion, and restore the +tranquillity of his respectable family. Hiding thus the inveterate envy +and malice of their hearts under this hypocritical pretence, they next +considered how to give the information which was so meritorious. +Anonymous letters were expedients to which Miss Galton had before had +recourse, and to an anonymous letter they determined to commit the +secret of Emmeline's infidelity--while James Crofts, in his letters to +his brother, was to corroborate the intelligence it contained, by +relating as mere matter of news what had actually and evidently +happened, Emmeline's sudden departure from Woodfield. + +Delamere, when he saw his mother out of danger at Barege, had returned +to the neighbourhood of Paris, where he had lingered some time, in hopes +that Emmeline would accede to his request of being allowed to cross the +channel for a few days; but her answer, in which she strongly urged the +hazard he would incur of giving his father a pretence to withdraw _his_ +promise, by violating his own, had obliged him, tho' with infinite +reluctance, to give up the scheme; and being quite indifferent where he +was, if he was still at a distance from her, he had yielded to the +solicitations of Lady Montreville, and rejoined her at Nice. There, he +now remained; while every thing in England seemed to contribute to +assist the designs of those who wished to disengage him from his passion +for Emmeline. + +The day after Emmeline's departure with Lady Adelina, Fitz-Edward went +to Woodfield; and hearing that Miss Mowbray had suddenly left it, was +thrown into the utmost astonishment--astonishment which Mrs. Ashwood and +Miss Galton observed to each other was the finest piece of acting they +had ever seen. + +The whole party were together when he was introduced--a circumstance +Mrs. Stafford would willingly have avoided, as it was absolutely +necessary for her to speak to him alone; and determined to do so, +whatever construction the malignity of her sister-in-law might put upon +it, she said-- + +'I have long promised you, Colonel, a sight of the two pieces of drawing +which Miss Mowbray and I have finished as companions. They are now +framed; and if you will come with me into my dressing-room you shall see +them.' + +As the rest of the company had frequently seen these drawings, there was +no pretence for their following Mrs. Stafford; who, accompanied by the +Colonel, went to her dressing room. + +A conference thus evidently sought by Mrs. Stafford, excited the eager +and painful curiosity of the party in the parlour. + +'Now would I give the world,' cried Mrs. Ashwood, 'to know what is going +forward.' + +'Is it not possible to listen?' enquired Crofts, equal to any meanness +that might gratify the malevolence of another or his own. + +'Yes,' replied Mrs. Ashwood, 'if one could get into the closet next the +dressing-room without being perceived, which can only be done by passing +thro' the nursery. If indeed the nursery maids and children are out, it +is easy enough.' + +'They are out, mama, I assure you,' cried Miss Ashwood, 'for I saw them +myself go across the lawn since I've been at breakfast. Do, pray let us +go and listen--I long of all things to know what my aunt Stafford can +have to say to that sly-looking Colonel.' + +'No, no, child,' said her mother, 'I shall not send you, indeed--but +Crofts, do you think we should be able to make it out?' + +'Egad,' answered he, 'I'll try--for depend upon it the mischief will +out. It will be rare, to have such a pretty tale to tell Mr. Delamere of +his demure-looking little dear.--I'll venture.' + +Mrs. Ashwood then shewing him the way, he went on tip toe up stairs, and +concealing himself in a light closet which was divided from the dressing +room only by lath and plaister, he lent an attentive ear to the dialogue +that was passing. + +It happened, however, that the window near which Mrs. Stafford and +Fitz-Edward were sitting was exactly opposite to that side of the room +to which Crofts' hiding-place communicated; and tho' the room was not +large, yet the distance, the partition, and the low voice in which both +parties spoke, made it impossible for him to distinguish more than +broken sentences. From Mrs. Stafford he heard--'Could not longer be +concealed--in all probability may now remain unknown--the child, I will +myself attend to.' From Fitz-Edward, he could only catch indistinct +sounds; his voice appearing to be lost in his emotion. But he seemed to +be thanking Mrs. Stafford, and lamenting his own unhappiness. His last +speech, in which his powers of utterance were returned, was--'Nothing +can ever erase the impression of your angelic goodness, best and +loveliest of friends!--oh, continue it, I beseech you, to those for whom +only I am solicitous, and forgive all the trouble I have given you!' + +He then hurried away. Mrs. Stafford, after remaining alone a moment as +if to compose herself, went back to the parlour; and Crofts, who thought +he had heard enough, tho' he wished to have heard all, slunk from his +closet and walked into the garden; where being soon afterwards joined by +Mrs. Ashwood and Miss Galton, he, by relating the broken and disjointed +discourse he had been witness to, left not a doubt remaining of the +cause of Emmeline's precipitate retreat from Woodfield. + +And perhaps minds more candid than their's--minds untainted with the +odious and hateful envy which ulcerated their's, might, from the +circumstances that attended her going and Fitz-Edward's behaviour, have +conceived disadvantageous ideas of her conduct. But such was the +uneasiness with which Mrs. Ashwood ever beheld superior merit, and such +the universal delight which Miss Galton took in defamation, that had +none of those circumstances existed, they would with equal malignity +have studied to ruin the reputation of Emmeline; and probably with equal +success--for against such attacks, innocence, however it may console +it's possessor, is too frequently a feeble and inadequate defence! + +While the confederates, exulting in the certainty of Emmeline's ruin, +were manufacturing the letter which was to alarm the jealous and +irascible spirit of Delamere, Fitz-Edward, (from whom Mrs. Stafford, +before she would tell him any thing, had extorted a promise that he +would enquire no farther than what she chose to relate to him,) was +relieved from insupportable anguish by hearing that Lady Adelina was in +safe hands; but he lamented in bitterness of soul the despondency and +affliction to which Mrs. Stafford had told him she entirely resigned +herself. He knew not that Emmeline was with her, whatever he might +suspect; and Mrs. Stafford had protested to him, that if he made any +attempt to discover the residence of Lady Adelina, or persisted in +meeting her brother, she would immediately relinquish all concern in the +affair, and no longer interest herself in what his rashness would +inevitably render desperate. + +He solemnly assured her he would take no measures without her +knowledge; and remained at Tylehurst, secluded from every body, and +waiting in fearful and anxious solicitude to hear of Lady Adelina by +Mrs. Stafford. + +Delamere, (still at Nice with his mother,) who with different sources of +uneasiness thought the days and weeks insupportably long in which he +lived only in the hope of seeing Emmeline at the end of six months, was +roused from his involuntary resignation by the following letter, written +in a hand perfectly unknown to him. + + + 'Sir, + + 'A friend to your worthy and noble family writes this; which is + meant to serve you, and to undeceive you in regard to Miss + Mowbray--who, without any gratitude for the high honour you intend + her, is certainly too partial to another person. She is now gone + from Woodfield to escape observation; and none but Mrs. Stafford is + let into the secret of where she is. You will judge what end it is + to answer; but certainly none that bodes you good. One would have + supposed that the Colonel's being very often her attendant at + Woodfield might have made her stay there agreeable enough; but + perhaps (for I do not aver it) the young lady has some particular + reasons for wishing to have private lodgings. No doubt the Colonel + is a man of gallantry; but his friendship to you is rather more + questionable. The writer of this having very little knowledge of the + parties, can have no other motive than the love of justice, and + being sorry to see deceit and falsehood practised on a young + gentleman who deserves better, and who has a respectful tho' unknown + friend in + + Y. Z.' + + _London, July 22, 17--._ + + +This infamous scroll had no sooner been perused by Delamere, than fury +flashed from his eyes, and anguish seized his heart. But the moment the +suddenness of his passion gave way to reflection, the tumult of his mind +subsided, and he thought it must be an artifice of his mother's to +separate him from Emmeline. The longer he considered her inveterate +antipathy to his marriage, the more he was convinced that this artifice, +unworthy as it was, she was capable of conceiving, and, by means of the +Crofts, executing, if she hoped by it to put an eternal conclusion to +his affection. He at length so entirely adopted this idea, that +determining 'to be revenged and love her better for it,' and to +settle the matter very peremptorily with the Crofts' if they had been +found to interfere, he obtained a tolerable command over his temper and +his features, and joined Lady Montreville and Miss Delamere, whom he +found reading letters which they also had received from England. His +mother asked slightly after his; and, in a few moments, Mr. Crofts +arrived, asking, with his usual assiduity, after the health of Lord +Montreville and that of such friends as usually wrote to her Ladyship? +She answered his enquiries--and then desired to hear what news Sir +Richard or his other correspondents had sent him? + +'My father's letters,' said he, 'contain little more than an order to +purchase some particular sort of wine which he is very circumstantial, +as usual, in telling me how to forward safely. He adds, indeed, that he +can allow my absence no longer than until the 20th of September.'--He +sighed, and looked tenderly at Miss Delamere. + +'I have no other letters,' continued he, 'but one from James.' + +'And does he tell you no news,' asked Lady Montreville? + +'Nothing,' answered Crofts, carelessly, 'but gossip, which I believe +would not entertain your Ladyship.' + +'Oh, why should you fancy that,' returned she--'you know I love to hear +news, tho' about people I never saw or ever wish to see.' + +'James has been at Mr. Stafford's at Woodfield,' said he, 'where your +Ladyship has certainly no acquaintance.' + +'At Woodfield, Sir?' cried Delamere, unable to express his anxiety--'at +Woodfield!--And what does he say of Woodfield?' + +'I don't recollect any thing very particular,' answered Crofts, +carelessly--'I believe I put the letter into my pocket.' He took it out. + +'Read it to us Crofts'--said Miss Delamere. + + + ----'I have lately passed a very agreeable month at Woodfield. + We were a large party in the house. Among other pleasant + circumstances, during my stay there, was a ball and _fête + champêtre_, given by Mr. Conway on his son's coming of age. It was + elegant, and well conducted beyond any entertainment of the sort I + ever saw. There were forty couple, and a great number of very + pretty women; but it was agreed on all hands that Miss Mowbray + would have eclipsed them all, who unluckily declined going. She + left Woodfield a day or two afterwards.' + + +Delamere's countenance changed.--Crofts, as if looking for some other +news in his letter, hesitated, then smiled, and went on.-- + + + 'The gossip Fame has made a match for me with Mrs. Ashwood. I + wish she may be right. In some other of her stories I really think + her wrong, so I will not be the means of their circulation.' + + +'The rest,' said Crofts, putting up the letter, 'is only about my +father's new purchases and other family affairs.' + +Delamere, who, in spite of his suspicions of Crofts' treachery, could +not hear this corroboration of his anonymous letter without a renewal of +all his fears, left the room in doubt, suspence and wretchedness. + +The seeds of jealousy and mistrust thus skilfully sown, could hardly +fail of taking root in an heart so full of sensibility, and a temper so +irritable as his. Again he read over his anonymous letter, and compared +it with the intelligence which seemed accidentally communicated by +Crofts; and with a fearful kind of enquiry compared the date and +circumstances. He dared hardly trust his mind with the import of this +investigation; and found nothing on which to rest his hope, but that it +might be a concerted plan between his mother and Crofts. + +His heart alternately swelling between the indignation such a +supposition created and shrinking with horror from the idea of perfidy +on the part of Emmeline, kept him in such a state of mind that he could +hardly be said to possess his reason. But when he remembered how often +his extreme vivacity had betrayed him into error, and hazarded his +losing for ever all he held valuable on earth, he tried to subdue the +acuteness of his feelings, and to support at least without betraying it, +the anguish which oppressed him, till the next pacquet from England, +when it was possible a letter from Emmeline herself might dissipate his +doubts. Resolutely however resolving to call Crofts to a serious +account, if he found him accessory to a calumny so dark and diabolical. + +When the next post from England arrived, he saw, among the letters which +were delivered to him, one directed by the hand of Emmeline. He flew to +his own room, and with trembling hands broke the seal. + +It was short, and he fancied unusually cold. Towards it's close, she +mentioned that she was going to Bath for a few weeks with a friend, and +as she did not know where she should lodge, thought he had better not +write till she was again fixed at Woodfield. + +That she should go to Bath in July, with a nameless friend, and quit so +abruptly her beloved Mrs. Stafford--that she should apparently wish to +evade his letters, and make her actual residence a secret--were a cloud +of circumstances calculated to persuade him that some mystery involved +her conduct; a mystery which the fatal letter served too evidently to +explain. + +As if fire had been laid to the train of combustibles which had, since +the receipt of it, been accumulating in the bosom of Delamere, his +furious and uncontroulable spirit now burst forth. A temporary delirium +seized him; he stamped round the room, and ran to his pistols, which +fortunately were not charged. The noise he made brought Millefleur into +the room, whom he instantly caught by the collar, and shaking him +violently, cried-- + +'Scoundrel!--why are not these pistols loaded?' + +'_Eh! eh! Monsieur!_' exclaimed Millefleur, almost strangled-'_que +voudriez vous?--vos pistolets!--Mon Dieu! que voudriez vous avec vos +pistolets?_' + +'Shoot _you_ perhaps, you blockhead!' raved Delamere, pushing furiously +from him the trembling valet--then snatching up the pistols, he half +kicked, half pushed him out of the room, and throwing them after him, +ordered him to clean and load them: after which he locked the door, and +threw himself upon the bed. + +The resolution he had made in his cooler moments, never again to yield +to such impetuous transports of passion, was now forgotten. He could not +conquer, he could not even mitigate the tumultuous anguish which had +seized him; but seemed rather to call to his remembrance all that might +justify it's excess. + +He remembered how positively Emmeline had forbidden his returning to +England, tho' all he asked was to be allowed to see her for a few hours. +He recollected her long and invincible coldness; her resolute adherence +to the promise she need not have given; and forgetting all the symptoms +which he had before fondly believed he had discovered of her returning +his affection, he exaggerated every circumstance that indicated +indifference, and magnified them into signs of absolute aversion. + +Tho' he could not forget that Fitz-Edward had assisted him in carrying +Emmeline away, and had on all occasions promoted his interest with her, +that recollection did not at all weaken the probability of his present +attachment; for such was Delamere's opinion of Fitz-Edward's principles, +that he believed he was capable of the most dishonourable views on the +mistress, or even on the wife of his friend. He tortured his imagination +almost to madness, by remembering numberless little incidents, which, +tho' almost unattended to at the time, now seemed to bring the cruellest +conviction of their intelligence--particularly that on the night he had +taken Emmeline from Clapham, Fitz-Edward was found there; tho' neither +his father or himself, who had repeatedly sent to his lodgings, could +either find him at home or get any direction where to meet with him. +Almost all his late letters too had been dated from Tylehurst, where it +was certain he had passed the greatest part of the summer.--Fitz-Edward, +fond of society, and courted by the most brilliant circles, shut himself +up in a country house, distant from all his connections. And to what +could such an extraordinary change be owing, if not to his attachment to +Emmeline Mowbray? + +Irritated by these recollections, he gave himself up to all the dreadful +torments of jealousy--jealousy even to madness; and he felt this +corrosive passion in all it's extravagance. It was violent in proportion +to his love and his pride, and more insupportably painful in proportion +to it's novelty; for except once at Swansea, when he fancied that +Emmeline in her flight was accompanied by Fitz-Edward, he had never felt +it before; however they might serve him as a pretence, Rochely and +Elkerton were both too contemptible to excite it. + +The night approached; and without having regained any share of +composure, he had at length determined to quit Nice the next day, that +his mother and Crofts might not be gratified with the sight of his +despair, and triumph in the detected perfidy of Emmeline. + +Lady Montreville and her daughter were out when the letters arrived; and +he now apprehended that when they returned Millefleur might alarm them +by an account of his frantic behaviour, and that they would guess it to +have been occasioned by his letters from England. Starting up, +therefore, he called the poor fellow to him, who was not yet recovered +from his former terrifying menaces; and who approached, trembling, the +table where Delamere sat; his dress disordered, his eyes flashing fire, +and his lips pale and quivering. + +'Come here, Sir!' sternly cried he. + +Millefleur sprung close to the table. + +'Have you cleaned and loaded my pistols?' + +'_Monsieur--je, je m'occupais--je, je--Monsieur, ils sont----_' + +'Fool, of what are you afraid?--what does the confounded _poltron_ +tremble for?' + +'_Mais Monsieur--c'est que--que--mais Monsieur, je ne scais!_' + +'_Tenez_, Mr. Millefleur!' said Delamere sharply--'Remember what I am +going to say. Something has happened to vex me, and I shall go out +to-morrow for a few days, or perhaps I may go to England. My mother is +to know nothing of it, but what I shall myself tell her; therefore at +your peril speak of what has happened this evening, or of my intentions +for to-morrow. Come up immediately, and put my things into my +portmanteaus, and put my fire arms in order. I shall take you with me. +David need not be prepared till to-morrow. I shall go on horseback and +shall want him also. The least failure on your part of executing these +orders, you will find very inconvenient--you know I will not be trifled +with.' + +Millefleur, frightened to death at the looks and voice of his master, +dared not disobey; and Delamere employing him in putting up his cloaths +till after Lady Montreville came in, was, he thought, secure of his +secresy. He then made an effort, tho' a successless one, to hide the +anguish that devoured him; and went down to supper. He found, that +besides their constant attendant Crofts, his mother and sister were +accompanied by two other English gentlemen, and a French man of fashion +and his sister, who full of the vivacity and gaiety of their country, +kept up a lively conversation with Miss Delamere and the Englishmen. But +Delamere hardly spoke--his eyes were wild and inflamed--his cheeks +flushed--and deep sighs seemed involuntarily to burst from his heart. +Lady Montreville observed him, and then said-- + +'Surely, Frederic, you are not well?' + +'Not very well,' said he; 'but I am otherwise, merely from the +intolerable heat. I have had the head-ache all day.' + +'The head-ache!' exclaimed his mother--'Why then do you not go to bed?' + +'No,' answered he, 'I am better up. Since the heat is abated, I am in +less pain. I will take a walk by the fine moon that I see is rising, and +be back again presently--and to-morrow,' continued he--'to-morrow, I +shall go northward for a month. I cannot stay under this burning +atmosphere.' + +Then desiring the company not to move on his account, he arose from +table and hastened away. + +'Do, my good Crofts,' said Lady Montreville--'do follow Frederic--he +frightens me to death--he is certainly very ill.' + +Crofts hesitated a moment, being in truth afraid to interfere with +Delamere's ramble while he was in a humour so gloomy; but on her +Ladyship's repeating her request, dared not shew his reluctance. He went +out therefore under pretence of following him; while the party present, +seeing Lady Montreville's distress, almost immediately departed. + +Crofts walked on without much desire to fulfill his commission; for +Delamere, whenever he was obliged to associate with him, treated him +generally with coldness, and sometimes rudely. There was, however, very +little probability of his overtaking him; for Delamere had walked or +rather run to a considerable distance from the street where his mother +lived, and then wandering farther into the fields, had thrown himself +upon the grass, and had forgotten every thing but Emmeline--'Emmeline +and Fitz-Edward gone together!--the mistress on whom he had so fondly +doated!--the friend whom he had so implicitly trusted!' These cruel +images, drest in every form most fatal to his peace, tormented him, and +the agony of disappointed passion seemed to have affected his brain. +Deep groans forced their way from his oppressed heart--he cursed his +existence, and seemed resolutely bent, in the gloominess of his despair, +to shake it off and free himself from sufferings so intolerable. + +To the first effusions of his phrenzy, a sullen calm, more alarming, +succeeded. He fixed his eyes on the moon which shone above him, but had +no idea of what he saw, or where he was; his breath was short, his hands +clenched; he seemed as if, having lost the power of complaint, he was +unable to express the pain that convulsed his whole frame. + +While he continued in this situation, a favourite little spaniel of his +mother's, of which he had from a boy been fond, ran up to him and licked +his hands and face. The caresses of an animal he had so long remembered, +touched some chord of the heart that vibrated to softer emotions than +those which had for the last three hours possessed him--he burst into +tears. + +'Felix!' said he, sobbing, 'poor Felix!' + +The dog, rejoicing to be noticed, ran barking round him; and presently +afterwards, with hurried steps, came Miss Delamere, leaning on the arm +of Crofts. + +'My God!' exclaimed she, almost screaming, 'here he is! Oh Frederic, you +have so terrified my mother! and Mr. Crofts has been two hours in search +of you. Had it not been for the dog, we should not now have found you. +Mr. Crofts has returned twice to the house without you.' + +'Mr. Crofts may return then a third time,' said Delamere, 'and cease to +give himself such unnecessary trouble.' + +'But you will come with us, brother?--Surely you will now come home?' + +'At my leisure,' replied he, sternly--'Lady Montreville need be under no +apprehensions about me. I shall be at home presently. But I will not be +importuned! I will not be watched and followed! and above all, I will +not have a governor!' + +So saying, he turned from them and walked another way; while they, +seeing him so impracticable, could only return to report what they had +seen to Lady Montreville. Delamere, however, who had taken another way, +entered the house at the same moment. + +Lady Montreville had strictly questioned Millefleur as to the cause of +his master's disorder; and the poor fellow, who dared not relate the +furious passion into which he had fallen on reading his letter, +trembled, prevaricated, stammered, and looked so white, that her +Ladyship, more alarmed, fancied she knew not what; and full of terror, +had sent out Crofts a second time, and the servants different ways, in +search of her son. At length Crofts returning the second time without +success, Miss Delamere went with him herself; and the dog following her, +led her to her brother. But before their return, Lady Montreville's +apprehensions had arisen to such an height, that a return of her fits +seemed to threaten her, and with difficulty was she brought to her +senses when she saw him before her; and when he, moved by the keenness +of her sorrow at his imaginary danger, assured her, in answer to her +repeated enquiries, that he was merely affected by the heat; that he had +no material complaint, and should be quite well and in his usual spirits +when he returned from the excursion he proposed going upon the next day. +Then, being somewhat appeased, his mother suffered him to retire; and +called her counsellor, Mr. Crofts, to debate whether in such a frame of +mind she ought to allow the absence of Delamere? Crofts advised her by +all means to let him go. He suspected indeed that the anonymous letter +had occasioned all the wild behaviour he had been witness to, and +thought it very likely that Delamere might be going to England. But he +knew that James Crofts and his fair associates were prepared for the +completion of their project if he did; and his absence was, on account +of Crofts' own affairs, particularly desirable. + +For these reasons, he represented to Lady Montreville that opposition +would only irritate and inflame her son, without inducing him to stay. +He departed, therefore, the next morning, without any impediment on the +part of his mother; but was yet undecided whither to go. While Crofts, +no longer thwarted by his observation, or humbled by his haughty +disdain, managed matters so well, that in spite of the pride of noble +blood, in spite of her reluctance to marry a commoner, he conquered and +silenced all the scruples and objections of Miss Delamere; and a young +English clergyman, a friend of his, coming to Nice, as both he and +Crofts declared, _by the meerest accident in the world_, just about that +time, Crofts obtained her consent to a private marriage; and his friend +took especial care that no form might be wanting, to enable him legally +to claim his bride, on their return to England. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Emmeline had now been near a month at Bath, whence she had not written +to Delamere. She had seldom done so oftener than once in six or eight +weeks; and no reason subsisted at present for a more frequent +correspondence. + +Far from having any idea that he would think her temporary removal +extraordinary, she had not attempted to conceal it from him; and of his +jealousy of Fitz-Edward she had not the remotest suspicion. For tho' +Mrs. Ashwood's hints, and the behaviour of James Crofts, had left no +doubt of their ill opinion of her, yet she never supposed them capable +of an attempt to impress the same idea on the mind of Delamere; and had +no notion of the variety of motives which made the whole family of the +Crofts, with which Mrs. Ashwood was now connected, solicitous to +perpetuate the evil by propagating the scandalous story they had +themselves invented. + +Unconscious therefore of the anguish which preyed upon the heart of her +unhappy lover, Emmeline gave her whole attention to Lady Adelina, and +she saw with infinite concern the encreasing weakness of her frame; with +still greater pain she observed, that by suffering her mind to dwell +continually on her unhappy situation, it was no longer able to exert the +powers it possessed; and that, sunk in hopeless despondence, her +intellects were frequently deranged. Amid these alienations of reason, +she was still gentle, amiable and interesting; and as they were yet +short and slight, Emmeline flattered herself, that the opiates which her +physician (in consequence of the restless and anxious nights Lady +Adelina had for some time passed) found it absolutely necessary to +administer, might have partly if not entirely occasioned this alarming +symptom. + +Still, however, the busy imagination of Emmeline perpetually represented +to her impending sorrow, and her terror hourly encreased. She figured to +herself the decided phrenzy, or the death of her poor friend; and unable +to conquer apprehensions which she was yet compelled to conceal, she +lived in a continual effort to appear chearful, and to soothe the +wounded mind of the sufferer, by consolatory conversation; while she +watched her with an attention so sedulous and so painful, that only the +excellence of her heart, which persuaded her she was engaged in a task +truly laudable, could have supported her thro' such anxiety and fatigue. + +She was, however, very desirous that as Mr. Godolphin was now in England +he might be acquainted with his sister's calamitous and precarious +situation; and she gently hinted to Lady Adelina, how great a +probability she thought there was, that such a man as her brother was +represented to be, would in her sorrow and her suffering forget her +error. + +But by the most distant idea of such an interview, she found Lady +Adelina so violently affected, that she dared not again urge it; and was +compelled, in fearful apprehension, to await the hour which would +probably give the fair penitent to that grave, where she seemed to wish +her disgrace and affliction might be forgotten. + +To describe the anxiety of Emmeline when that period arrived, is +impossible; or the mingled emotions of sorrow and satisfaction, pleasure +and pity, with which she beheld the lovely and unfortunate infant whose +birth she had so long desired, yet so greatly dreaded. + +Lady Adelina had, till then, wished to die. She saw her child--and +wished to live.--The physical people who attended her, gave hopes that +she might.--Supported by the tender friendship of Emmeline, and animated +by maternal fondness, she determined to attempt it. + +Emmeline, now full of apprehension, now indulging feeble hopes, prayed +fervently for her recovery; and zealously and indefatigably attended her +with more than her former solicitude. For three days, her hopes +gradually grew stronger; when on the evening of the third, as she was +sitting alone by the side of the bed where Lady Adelina had fallen into +a quiet sleep, she suddenly heard a sort of bustle in the next room; and +before she could rise to put an end to it, a gentleman to whom she was a +stranger, walked hastily into that where she was. On seeing her, he +started and said-- + +'I beg your pardon, Madam--but I was informed that here I might find +Lady Adelina Trelawny.' + +The name of Trelawny, thus suddenly and loudly pronounced, awakened Lady +Adelina. She started up--undrew the curtain--and fixing her eyes with a +look of terrified astonishment on the stranger, she exclaimed, +faintly--'Oh! my brother!--my brother William!' then sunk back on her +pillow, to all appearance lifeless. + +Mr. Godolphin now springing forward, caught the cold and insensible hand +which had opened the curtain; and throwing himself on his knees, cried-- + +'Adelina! my love! are you ill?--have I then terrified and alarmed you? +Speak to me--dear Adelina--speak to me!' + +Emmeline, whose immediate astonishment at his presence had been lost in +terror for his sister, had flown out of the room for the attendants, and +now returning, cried-- + +'You have killed her, Sir!--She is certainly dead!--Oh, my God! the +sudden alarm, the sudden sight of you, has destroyed her!' + +'I am afraid it has!' exclaimed Godolphin wildly, and hardly knowing +what he said--'I am indeed afraid it has! My poor sister--my unhappy, +devoted Adelina!--have I then found you only to destroy you? But +perhaps,' continued he, after a moment's pause, during which +Emmeline and the nurse were chafing the hands and temples of +the dying patient--'perhaps she may recover. Send instantly for +advice--run--fly--let me go myself for assistance.' + +He would now have run out of the room; but Emmeline, whose admirable +presence of mind this sudden scene of terror had not conquered, stopped +him. + +'Stay, Sir,' said she, 'I beseech you, stay. You know not whither to go. +I will instantly send those who do.' + +She then left the room, and ordered a servant to fetch the physician; +for she dreaded least Mr. Godolphin should discover the real name and +quality of the patient to those to whom he might apply; and on returning +to the bed side, where Lady Adelina still lay without any signs of +existence, and by which her brother still knelt in speechless agony, her +fears were again alive, least when the medical gentlemen arrived, his +grief and desperation should betray the secret to them. While her first +apprehension was for the life of her friend, these secondary +considerations were yet extremely alarming--for she knew, that should +Lady Adelina recover, her life would be for ever embittered, if not +again endangered, by the discovery which seemed impending and almost +inevitable. + +The women who were about her having now applied every remedy they could +think of without success, began loudly to lament themselves. Emmeline, +commanding her own anguish, besought them to stifle their's, and not to +give way to fruitless exclamations while there was yet hope, but to +continue their endeavours to recover their lady. Then addressing herself +to Mr. Godolphin, she roused him from the stupor of grief in which he +had fallen, while he gazed with an impassioned and agonizing look on the +pale countenance of his sister. + +'Pardon me, Sir,' said she, 'if I entreat you to go down stairs and +await the arrival of the advice I have sent for. Should my poor friend +recover, your presence may renew and encrease the alarm of her spirits, +and embarrass her returning recollection; and should she not recover, +you had better hear such mournful tidings in any place rather than +this.' + +'Oh! if I _do_ hear them,' answered he, wildly, 'it matters little +where. But I _will_ withdraw, Madam, since you seem to desire it.' + +He had hardly seen Emmeline before. He now turned his eyes mournfully +upon her--'It is, I presume, Miss Mowbray,' said he, 'who thus, with an +angel's tenderness in an angel's form, would spare the sorrows of a +stranger?' + +Emmeline, unable to speak, led the way down to the parlour, and +Godolphin silently followed her. + +'Go back,' said he, tremulously, as soon as they reached the room--'go +back to my sister; your tender assiduity may do more for her than the +people about her. Your voice, your looks, will soothe and tranquillize +her, should she awaken from her long insensibility. Ah! tell her, her +brother came only to rescue her from the misery of her unworthy +lot--Tell her his affection, his brotherly affection, hopes to give her +consolation; and restore her--if it may yet be--to her repose. But go, +dearest Miss Mowbray go!--somebody comes in--perhaps the physician.' + +Emmeline now opening the parlour door, found it to be indeed the +physician she expected; and with a fearful heart she followed him, +informing him, as they went up stairs, that the sudden appearance of +Mrs. St. Laure's brother, whom she had not seen for two or three years, +had thrown her into a fainting fit, from which not all their endeavours +had recovered her. + +He remonstrated vehemently against the extreme indiscretion of such an +interview. Emmeline, who knew not by what strange chain of circumstances +it had been brought about, had nothing to reply. + +So feeble were the appearances of remaining life, that the physician +could pronounce nothing certainly in regard to his patient. He gave, +however, directions to her attendants; but after every application had +been used, all that could be said was, that she was not actually dead. +As soon as the physician had written his prescription and retired, +Emmeline recollected the painful state of suspense in which she had left +Mr. Godolphin, and trying to recover courage to go thro' the painful +scene before her, she went down to him. + +As she opened the door, he met her. + +'I have seen the doctor,' said he, in a broken and hurried voice--'and +from his account I am convinced Adelina is dying.' + +'I hope not,' faintly answered Emmeline. 'There is yet a possibility, +tho' I fear no great probability of her recovery.' + +'My Adelina!' resumed he, walking about the room--'my Adelina! for whose +sake I so anxiously wished to return to England--Gracious God! I am come +too late to assist her! Some strange mystery surely hangs over her! +Long lost to all her friends, I find her here dying! The sight of me, +instead of relieving her sorrow seems to have accelerated her +dissolution! And you, Madam, to whose goodness she appears to be so +greatly indebted--may I ask by what fortunate circumstance, lost and +obscure as she has been, she has acquired such a friend?' + +Emmeline, shuddering at the apprehension of enquiries she found it +impossible to answer, was wholly at a loss how to reply to this. She +knew not of what Mr. Godolphin was informed--of what he was ignorant; +and dreaded to say too much, or to be detected in a false +representation. She therefore, agitated and hesitating, gravely said-- + +'It is not now a time, Sir, to ask any thing relative to Lady Adelina. I +am myself too ill to enter into conversation; and wish, as you have been +yourself greatly affected, that you would now retire, and endeavour to +make yourself as easy as you can. To-morrow may, perhaps, afford us more +chearful prospects--or at least this cruel suspense will be over, and +the dear sufferer at peace.' + +She sobbed, and turned away. Godolphin rising, said in a faultering +voice-- + +'Yes, I will go! since my stay can only encrease the pain of that +generous and sensible heart. I will go--but not to rest!--I cannot rest! +But do you try, most amiable creature! to obtain some repose--Try, I +beseech you, to recover your spirits, which have been so greatly +hurried.' + +He knew not what he said; and was hastening out of the room, when +Emmeline, recollecting how ardently Lady Adelina had desired the +concealment of her name and family, stopped him as he was quitting her. + +'Yet one thing, Captain Godolphin, allow me to entreat of you?' + +'What can I refuse you?' answered he, returning. + +'Only--are you known at Bath?' + +'Probably I may. It is above three years since I was in England, and +much longer since I have been here. But undoubtedly some one or other +will know me.' + +'Then do indulge me in one request. See as few people as you can; and if +you accidentally meet any of your friends, do not say that Lady Adelina +is here.' + +'Not meet any one if I can avoid it!--and if I do, not speak of my +sister! And why is all this?--why this concealment, this +mystery?--why--' + +Emmeline, absolutely overcome, sat down without speaking. Godolphin, +seeing her uneasiness, said-- + +'But I will not distress _you_, Madam, by farther questions. Your +commands shall be sufficient. I will stifle my anxiety and obey you.' +Then bowing respectfully, he added--'To-morrow, at as early an hour as I +dare hope for admittance, I shall be at the door. Heaven bless and +reward the fair and gentle Miss Mowbray--and may it have mercy on my +poor Adelina!'--He sighed deeply, and left the house. + +Lady Adelina, tho' not so entirely insensible, was yet but little +amended. But as what alteration there was, was for the better, Emmeline +endeavoured to recall her own agitated and dissipated spirits. The +extraordinary scene which had just passed, was still present to her +imagination; the last words of Godolphin, still vibrated in her ears. +'Fair and gentle Miss Mowbray!' repeated she. 'He knows my name; yet +seems ignorant of every thing that relates to his sister!' + +Her astonishment at this circumstance was succeeded by reflecting on the +unpleasant task she must have if Mr. Godolphin should again enquire into +her first acquaintance with his sister. To relate to him the melancholy +story she had heard, would, she found, be an undertaking to which she +was wholly unequal; and she was equally averse to the invention of a +plausible falsehood. From this painful apprehension she meditated how to +extricate herself; but the longer she thought of it, the more she +despaired of it. The terrors of such a conversation hourly augmented; +and wholly and for ever to escape from it, she sometimes determined to +write. But from executing that design, was withheld by considering that +if Godolphin was of a fiery and impetuous temper, he would probably, +without reflection or delay, fly to vengeance, and precipitate every +evil which Lady Adelina dreaded. + +After having exhausted every idea on the subject, she could think of +nothing on which her imagination could rest, but to send to Mrs. +Stafford, acquaint her with the danger of Lady Adelina, and conjure her +if possible to come to her. This she knew she would do unless some +singular circumstance in her own family prevented her attention to her +friends. + +Resolved to embrace therefore this hope, she dispatched an hasty billet +by an express to Woodfield; and then betook herself to a bed on the +floor, which she had ordered to be placed by the side of that where Lady +Adelina, in happy tho' dangerous insensibility, still seemed to repose +almost in the arms of death. + +Emmeline could not, however, obtain even a momentary forgetfulness. Tho' +she could not repent her attention to the unhappy Lady Adelina, she was +yet sensible of her indiscretion in having put herself into the +situation she was now in; the cruel, unfeeling world would, she feared, +condemn her; and of it's reflections she could not think without pain. +But her heart, her generous sympathizing heart, more than acquitted--it +repaid her. + +Towards the middle of the night, Lady Adelina, who had made two or three +faint efforts to speak, sighed, and again in faint murmurs attempted to +explain herself. Emmeline started up and eagerly listened; and in a low +whisper heard her ask for her child. + +Emmeline ordered it instantly to be brought; and those eyes which had so +lately seemed closed for ever, were opened in search of this beloved +object: then, as if satisfied in beholding it living and well, they +closed again, while she imprinted a kiss on it's little hand. She then +asked for Emmeline; who, delighted with this apparent amendment, +prevailed on her to take what had been ordered for her. She appeared +still better in a few moments, but was yet extremely languid. + +'I have had a dreadful dream, my Emmeline,' said she, at length--'a long +and dreadful dream! But it is gone--you are here; my poor little boy too +is well; and this alarming vision will I hope haunt me no more.' + +Emmeline, who feared that the dream was indeed a reality, exhorted her +to think only of her recovery; of which, added she cheerfully, we have +no longer any doubt. + +'Comfortable and consoling angel!' sighed Lady Adelina--'your presence +is surely safety. Do not leave me!' + +Emmeline promised not to quit the room; and elate with hopes of her +friend's speedy restoration to health, fell herself into a tranquil and +refreshing slumber. + +On awakening the next morning, she found Lady Adelina much better; but +still, whenever she spoke, dwelling on her supposed dream, and sometimes +talking with that incoherence which had for some weeks before so greatly +alarmed her. Her own dread of meeting Godolphin was by no means +lessened; and to prevent an immediate interview, she dispatched to him +a note. + + + 'Sir, + + 'I am happy in having it in my power to assure you that our dear + patient is much better. But as uninterrupted tranquillity is + absolutely necessary, that, and other considerations, induce me to + beg you will forbear coming hither to day. You may depend on having + hourly intelligence, and that we shall be desirous of the pleasure + of seeing you when the safety of my friend admits it. + + I have the honour to be, Sir, + your most humble servant, + EMMELINE MOWBRAY.' + + _Sept._ 20,17--. + + +To this note, Mr. Godolphin answered-- + + + 'If Miss Mowbray will only allow me to wait on her for one moment + in the parlour, I will not again trespass on her time till I have + her own permission. + + W. G.' + + +This request, Emmeline was obliged, with whatever reluctance, to comply +with. She therefore sent a verbal acquiescence; and repaired to the +bed-side of Lady Adelina, who had asked for her. + +'Will you pardon my folly, my dear Emmeline,' said she languidly--'but I +cannot be easy till I have told you what a strange idea has seized me. I +seemed, last night, I know not at what time, to be suddenly awakened by +a voice which loudly repeated the name of Trelawny. Startled by the +sound, I thought I undrew the curtain, and saw my brother William, who +stood looking angrily on me. I felt greatly terrified; and growing +extremely sick, I lost the vision. But now again it's recollection +harrasses my imagination; and the image of my brother, sterner, and with +a ruder aspect than he was wont to wear, still seems present before me. +Oh! he was accustomed to be all goodness and gentleness, and to love his +poor Adelina. But now he too will throw me from him--he too will detest +and despise me--Or perhaps,' continued she, after a short +pause--'perhaps he is dead. I am not superstitious--but this dream +pursues me.' + +Emmeline, who had hoped that the very terror of this sudden interview +had obliterated it's remembrance, said every thing she thought likely +to quiet her mind, and to persuade her that the uneasy images +represented in her imperfect slumbers were merely the effect of her +weakness and perturbed spirits. + +The impression, however, was too strong to be effaced by arguments. It +still hung heavy on her heart, irritated the fever which had before been +only slight, and deprived her almost entirely of sleep; or if she slept, +she again fancied herself awakened by her brother, angrily repeating the +name of Trelawny. + +Sometimes, starting in terror from these feverish dreams, she called on +her brother to pardon and pity her; sometimes in piercing accents +deplored his death, and sometimes besought him to spare Fitz-Edward. +These incoherences were particularly distressing; as names were often +heard by the attendants which Emmeline hoped to have concealed; and it +was hardly possible longer to deceive the physician and apothecary who +attended her. + +With an uneasy heart, and a countenance pensively expressive of it's +feelings, she went down to receive Captain Godolphin in the parlour. + +'I fear, Miss Mowbray,' said he, as soon as they were seated, 'you will +think me too ready to take advantage of your goodness. But there is that +appearance of candour and compassion about you, that I determined rather +to trust to your goodness for pardon, than to remain longer in a state +of suspense about my sister, which I have already found most +insupportable. In the note you honoured me with to day you say she is +better. Is she then out of danger? Has she proper advice?' + +'She has the best advice, Sir. I cannot, however, say that she is out of +danger, but'--She hesitated, and knew not how to proceed. + +'But--you hope, rather than believe, she will recover,' cried Godolphin +eagerly. + +'I both hope it and believe it. Mr. Godolphin, you yesterday did me the +honour to suppose I had been fortunate enough to be of some service to +Lady Adelina; suffer me to take advantage of a supposition so +flattering, and to claim a sort of right to ask in my turn a favour.' + +'Surely I shall consider it as an honour to receive, and as happiness to +obey, any command of Miss Mowbray's.' + +'Promise me then to observe the same silence in regard to your sister as +I asked of you last night. Trust me with her safety, and believe it +will not be neglected. But you must neither speak of her to others, or +question me about her.' + +'Good God! from whence can arise the necessity for these precautions! +What dreadful obscurity surrounds her! What am I to fear? What am I to +suppose?' + +'You will not, then,' said Emmeline, gravely--'you will not oblige me, +by desisting from all questions 'till this trifling restraint can be +taken off?' + +'I will, I do promise to be guided wholly by you; and to bear, however +difficult it may be, the suspense, the frightful suspense in which I +must remain. Tell me, however, that Adelina is not in immediate danger. +But, but' added he, as if recollecting himself, 'may I not apply for +information on that head to her physician?' + +'Not for the world!' answered Emmeline, with unguarded quickness--'not +for the world!' + +'Not for the world!'--repeated Godolphin, with an accent of +astonishment. 'Heaven and earth! But I have promised to ask nothing--I +must obey--and will now release you, Madam.' + +Godolphin then took his leave; and Emmeline, whose heart had throbbed +violently throughout this dialogue, sat down alone to compose and +recollect herself. She saw, that to keep Godolphin many days ignorant of +the truth would be impossible: and from the eager anxiety of his +questions, she feared that all the horrors Lady Adelina's troubled +imagination had represented would be realized--apprehensions, which +seemed armed with new terror since she had seen and conversed with this +William Godolphin, of whose excellent heart and noble spirit she had +before heard so much both from Lady Adelina and Fitz-Edward, and whose +appearance seemed to confirm the favourable impression those accounts +had given her. + +Godolphin, who was now about five and twenty, had passed the greatest +part of his life at sea. The various climates he had visited had +deprived his complexion of much of it's English freshness; but his face +was animated by dark eyes full of intelligence and spirit; his hair, +generally carelessly dressed, was remarkably fine, and his person tall, +light, and graceful, yet so commanding, that whoever saw him immediately +and involuntarily felt their admiration mingled with respect. His whole +figure was such as brought to the mind ideas of the race of heroes from +which he was descended; his voice was particularly grateful to the ear, +and his address appeared to Emmeline to be a fortunate compound of the +insinuating softness of Fitz-Edward with the fire and vivacity of +Delamere. Of this, however, she could inadequately judge, as he was now +under such depression of spirits: and however pleasing he appeared, +Emmeline, who conceived herself absolutely engaged to Delamere, thought +of him only as the brother of Lady Adelina; yet insensibly she felt +herself more than ever interested for the event of his hearing how +little Fitz-Edward had deserved the warm friendship he had felt for him. +And her thoughts dwelling perpetually on that subject, magnified the +painful circumstances of the approaching éclaircissemen; while her fears +for Lady Adelina's life, who continued to languish in a low fever with +frequent delirium, so harrassed and oppressed her, that her own health +was visibly affected. But without attending to it, she passed all her +hours in anxiously watching the turns of Lady Adelina's disorder; or, +when she could for a moment escape, in giving vent to her full heart by +weeping over the little infant, whose birth, so similar to her own, +seemed to render it to her a more interesting and affecting object. She +lamented the evils to which it might be exposed; tho' of a sex which +would prevent it's encountering the same species of sorrow as that which +had embittered her own life. Of her friendless and desolate situation, +she was never more sensible than now. She felt herself more unhappy than +she had ever yet been; and would probably have sunk under her extreme +uneasiness, had not the arrival of Mrs. Stafford, at the end of three +days, relieved her from many of her fears and apprehensions. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +Mrs. Stafford no sooner heard from Emmeline that Godolphin was yet +ignorant of the true reason of Lady Adelina's concealment, than she saw +the necessity of immediately explaining it; and this task, however +painful, she without hesitation undertook. + +He was therefore summoned to their lodgings by a note from Emmeline, who +on his arrival introduced him to Mrs. Stafford, and left them together; +when, with as much tenderness as possible, and mingling with the +mortifying detail many representations of the necessity there was for +his conquering his resentment, she at length concluded it; watching +anxiously the changes in Godolphin's countenance, which sometimes +expressed only pity and affection for his sister, sometimes rage and +indignation against Fitz-Edward. + +Both the brothers of Lady Adelina had been accustomed to consider her +with peculiar fondness. The unfortunate circumstance of her losing her +mother immediately after her birth, seemed to have given her a +melancholy title to their tenderness; and the resemblance she bore to +that dear mother, whom they both remembered, and on whose memory their +father dwelt with undiminished regret, endeared her to them still more. +To these united claims on the heart and the protection of William +Godolphin, another was added equally forcible, in a letter written by +his father with the trembling hand of anxious solicitude, when he felt +himself dying, and when, looking back with lingering affection on the +children of her whom he hoped soon to rejoin, he saw with anguish his +youngest daughter liable from her situation to deviate into +indiscretion, and surrounded by the numberless dangers which attend on a +young and beautiful woman, whose husband has neither talents to attach +her affections or judgment to direct her actions. Lord Westhaven, +conscious of her hazardous circumstances, and feeling in his last +moments the keenest anguish, in knowing that his mistaken care had +exposed her to them, hoped, by interesting both her brothers to watch +over her, that he should obviate the dangers he apprehended. He had +therefore, in all their conversations, recommended her to his eldest +son; and as he was not happy enough to embrace the younger before he +died, had addressed to him a last letter on the same subject. + +Such were the powerful ties that bound Mr. Godolphin to love and defend +Lady Adelina with more than a brother's fondness. Hastening therefore to +obey the dying injunctions of his father, and in the hope of rendering +the life of this beloved sister, if not happy, at least honourable and +contented, he had heard, that she had clandestinely absented herself +from her family, and after a long search had found her abandoned to +remorse and despair; her reputation blasted; her health ruined; her +intellects disordered; and all by the perfidy of a man, in whom he, from +long friendship, and his sister, from family connection, had placed +unbounded confidence. + +Tho' Godolphin had one of the best tempers in the world--a temper which +the roughness of those among whom he lived had only served to soften and +humanize, and which was immovable by the usual accidents that ruffle +others, yet he had also in a great excess all those keen feelings, which +fill a heart of extreme sensibility; added to a courage, that in the +hour of danger had been proved to be as cool as it was undaunted. Of him +might be said what was the glorious praise of immortal Bayard--that he +was '_sans peur et sans reproche_;'[1] and educated with a high sense of +honour himself, as well as possessing a heart calculated to enjoy, and a +hand to defend, the unblemished dignity of his family, all his passions +were roused and awakened by the injury it had sustained from +Fitz-Edward, and he beheld him as a monster whom it was infamy to +forgive. Hardly therefore had Mrs. Stafford concluded her distressing +recital, than, as if commanding himself by a violent effort, he thanked +her warmly yet incoherently for her unexampled goodness to his sister, +recommended her still to her generous care, and the friendship of Miss +Mowbray, and without any threat against Fitz-Edward, or even a comment +on what he had heard, arose to depart. But Mrs. Stafford, more alarmed +by this determined tho' quiet resentment and by the expression of his +countenance than if he had burst into exclamations and menaces, +perceived that the crisis was now come when he must either be persuaded +to conquer his just resentment, or by giving it way destroy, while he +attempted to revenge, the fame of his sister. + +She besought him therefore to sit down a moment; and when he had done +so, she told him, that if he really thought himself under any +obligations to Miss Mowbray or to her for the services they had been so +fortunate as to render Lady Adelina, his making all they had been doing +ineffectual, would be a most mortifying return; and such must be the +case, if he rashly flew to seek vengeance on Fitz-Edward: 'for that you +have such a design,' continued she, 'I have no doubt; allow me, however, +to suppose that I have, by doing your sister some good offices, acquired +a right to speak of her affairs.' + +'Surely,' answered Mr. Godolphin, 'you have; and surely I must hear with +respect and attention, tho' possibly not with conviction, every opinion +with which you may honour me.' + +She then represented to him, with all the force of reason, how little he +could remedy the evil by hazarding his own life or by taking that of +Fitz-Edward. + +'At present,' continued she, 'the secret is known only to me, Miss +Mowbray, and Lady Adelina's woman; if it is farther exposed, the heirs +of Mr. Trelawny, who are so deeply interested, will undoubtedly take +measures to prove that the infant has no just claim to the estate they +so eagerly expect. Mr. Trelawny's sister has already entertained +suspicions, which the least additional information would give her +grounds to pursue, and the whole affair must then inevitably become +public. Surely this consideration alone should determine you--why then +need I urge others equally evident and equally forcible.' + +Godolphin acknowledged that there was much of truth in the arguments she +used; but denied that any consideration should influence him to forgive +the man who had thus basely and ungenerously betrayed the confidence of +his family. + +'However,' added he again, checking the heat into which he feared a +longer conversation on this subject might betray him--'I have not yet, +Madam, absolutely formed the resolution of which you seem so +apprehensive; and am indeed too cruelly hurt to be able to talk longer +on the subject. Suffer me therefore once more to bid you a good day!' + +But the encreasing gloom of his countenance, and forced calm of his +manner, appeared to be symptoms so unfavourable, that Mrs. Stafford +thought there was no hope of being able to prevent an immediate and +fatal meeting between him and Fitz-Edward but by engaging him in a +promise at least to delay it; this she attempted by the most earnest +arguments, and the most pressing persuasions; but all she could obtain +was an assurance that he would remain at Bath 'till the next day, and +see her again in the evening. + +In the mean time the delirium of Lady Adelina, (which had recurred at +intervals ever since the transient sight she had of her brother) more +frequently, and with more alarming symptoms, returned; and the fever +which had at first threatened the loss of her life, now seemed to be +fixing on her brain, and to menace, by a total deprivation of reason, +reducing her to a condition to which death itself must be preferable. +She still, even in her wildest wanderings, knew Emmeline, and still +caressed her little boy; but much of her time passed in incoherent and +rambling discourse; in which she talked of Fitz-Edward and her brother +William, and held with them both imaginary dialogues. Sometimes she +deprecated the wrath of her elder brother: and then her disordered fancy +ran to the younger; to him from whom she had, in her early life, found +pity and protection in all her little sorrows. + +Mrs. Stafford thought it too hazardous to let her again see her brother, +while her intellects were thus disarranged; as she trembled lest she +should start into actual madness. But it was absolutely necessary to do +something; not only because Mr. Godolphin's impatience made every delay +dangerous, but because it was hardly possible to keep the secret from +the physicians and attendants, who had already heard much more than they +ought to have known. + +She determined, therefore, after consulting with Emmeline, to introduce +Godolphin into the room adjoining to that where Lady Adelina now sat +some hours every day in an easy chair. The affecting insanity of his +unhappy sister, and the mournful and pathetic entreaties she frequently +used, were likely, in the opinion of the fair friends, to effectuate +more than their most earnest persuasions; and prevail on him to drop all +thoughts of that resentment, which could not cure but might encrease her +calamities. + +Mrs. Stafford had heard from him, that he gained information as to the +place of his sister's residence from the mother of Lady Adelina's woman; +who being the reduced widow of a clergyman, resided in the Bishop's +alms-houses at Bromley, where her daughter frequently sent her such +assistance as her own oeconomy, or the bounty of her lady, enabled her +to supply. A few weeks before, she had sent her a note for ten pounds; +and not apprehending that an enquiry would be made of her, had desired +her to acknowledge the receipt of it, and direct to her at Bath, where +she said her lady was with a Miss Mowbray. + +Lady Clancarryl, among many expedients to recover traces of her sister, +had at length recollected this widow, and had desired Mr. Godolphin to +make immediate enquiry of her. + +He had hastened therefore to Bromley, and easily found the poor woman, +who was paralytic and almost childish. Her letters were read for her by +one of her neighbours; a person, who, being present at the arrival of +Mr. Godolphin, immediately found that something was to be got; and +busily put into his hands the very letter which had enclosed the note, +and which contained the direction. + +He eagerly copied the address; and leaving a handsome present for the +use of the old widow, he delayed not a moment to set out for Bath, +where he soon found the house, and where he had enquired for Lady +Adelina Trelawny. + +The servant of the house who opened the door assured him no such person +was there. He supposed that for some reason or other she was denied; and +insisting on being allowed to go up stairs, had entered the room in the +abrupt manner which had so greatly alarmed his sister. + +In hopes of counteracting the fatal effects of the discovery which had +unavoidably followed this interview, Godolphin was, on his return in the +afternoon, introduced into the dining-room, which opened into Lady +Adelina's bed-chamber. The door was a-jar; the partition thin; and Mrs. +Stafford was pretty well assured that the poor patient would be heard +distinctly. Godolphin came in, pale from the conflict of his mind; and +all his features expressed anger and sorrow, with which he seemed vainly +struggling. He bowed, and sat down in silence. + +Mrs. Stafford only was in the room; and as soon as he was seated, said, +in a low voice, yet with forced chearfulness-- + +'Well, Sir, I hope that Miss Mowbray and myself have prevailed on you to +drop at present every other design than the truly generous one of +healing the wounded heart of our fair unfortunate friend.' + +'And shall he who has wounded it,' slowly and sternly replied +Godolphin--'shall he who has wounded it so basely, escape me?' + +At this instant Lady Adelina, who had been some time silent, exclaimed +hastily--'Oh! spare him! my dear brother! and spare your poor Adelina! +who will not trouble--who will not disgrace you long!' + +'Where is she?' said Godolphin, starting--'Good God! what is it I hear?' + +'Your unhappy sister,' answered Mrs. Stafford; 'whom the idea of your +determined vengeance has already driven to distraction.' + +Again Lady Adelina spoke. Her brother listened in breathless anguish. + +'Ah! William!--and are _you_ grown cruel? You, on whom I depended for +pity and protection?' + +'Surely,' said he, 'surely she knows I am here?' + +'No,' answered Mrs. Stafford, 'she knows nothing. But this fear has +incessantly pursued her; and since she saw you she dwells more +frequently on it, tho' her erring memory sometimes wanders to other +objects.' + +'It is very true, my Lord!' cried Lady Adelina, with affected calmness, +her thoughts wavering again towards Lord Westhaven--'It is all very +true! I have deserved all your reproaches! I am ready to make all the +atonement I can! Then you will both of you, my brothers, be +satisfied--for William has told me that if I died he should be content, +for then all might be forgotten.' She ended with a deep sigh; and +Godolphin, wildly starting from his seat, said-- + +'This is too much! you cannot expect me to bear this!--let me go to +her!' + +'Would you go then,' answered Mrs. Stafford, 'to confirm her fears and +to drive her to deeper desperation? If you see her, it must be to soothe +and comfort her; to assure her of your forgiveness, and that you will +bury your resentment against----' + +'Accursed! doubly accursed be the infamous villain who has driven her to +this! And must I bear it tamely! Oh! injured memory of my father!--oh! +my poor, undone sister!' He walked about the room; the tears ran from +his eyes; and Mrs. Stafford, fearing that his hurried step and deep sobs +would be heard by Lady Adelina, determined to bring the scene to a +crisis and not to lose the influence she hoped she had gained on his +mind. She therefore went into the other room, and shutting the door, +advanced with a smile towards the lovely lunatic. + +'What will you say, my dear Adelina, if I bring you the best news you +can possibly hear?' + +'News!' repeated Lady Adelina, looking at her with eyes which too +plainly denoted her unsettled mind--'News!--Ah! dear Madam! I know very +well that all the world is happy but me; and if you are happy, I am very +glad; but as to _me_--Do you indeed think it is reasonable I should part +with him?' + +'With whom?' said Mrs. Stafford. + +'Why, one condition which they insist upon is, that I should give up my +poor little one to them, and never ask to see him again. William was the +most urgent for this--William, who used to be so good, so gentle, so +compassionate to every body! Alas! he is now more cruel and relentless +than the rest!' + +'So far from it,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'your brother William loves you as +much as ever; he will come and tell you so himself if you will only be +composed, and talk less strangely.' + +'To see _me_!' exclaimed she, as if suddenly recovering her +recollection--'Oh! when?--where?--how?' + +But again it forsook her; and she continued-- + +'Ah! he comes perhaps to tell me of the blood he has spilt, and to load +me with reproaches for having obliged him to destroy a friend whom he +once loved. If that is indeed so, why let him come and plunge another +dagger in this poor heart, which has always loved him!' + +She was silent a moment, and then languidly went on-- + +'I thought some time since that I saw him, and Miss Mowbray was with +him; but it was only a dream, for I know he is in Jamaica: and when he +_does_ come home, he will harden his heart against me--he will be my +judge, and sternly will he judge me--he will forget that he is my +brother!' + +'Never! my poor Adelina,' cried Godolphin, rushing into the room, 'never +can I forget that I am your brother--never can I cease to feel for you +compassion and tenderness.' + +He would have taken her in his arms; but struck by the dreadful +alteration that appeared in her face and figure, he stopt short, and +looking at her with silent horror, seemed incapable of uttering what he +felt. + +She knew him; but could neither speak or shed a tear for some moments. +At length, she held out to him her emaciated hand. + +'It is _indeed_ William!' said she. 'He seems, too, very sorry for me. +My dear brother, do you then pardon and pity the poor Adelina?' + +'Both! both!' answered Godolphin, sobbing, and seating himself by her. +He threw his arms round her, and her pale cheek rested on his bosom, +while her eyes were fixed on his face. + +'Stay!' exclaimed she, after a momentary pause, and disengaging herself +suddenly from him--'Stay! I have yet another question, if I dared ask +it! Do you know all? and have you no blood to answer for, on my account? +Will you assure me you will not seek it?' + +'For mercy's sake!' said Mrs. Stafford, 'satisfy her, Mr. +Godolphin--satisfy her at once--you see to what is owing this alienation +of her reason.' + +'No,' reassumed the afflicted Adelina, 'you need not answer me; I see +you cannot--will not forgive----' + +'Name him not, Adelina!' sternly and quickly answered he--'my soul +recoils at his idea! I cannot, I will not promise any thing!' + +At this period, Emmeline, who was unwilling to trust the servants in +such a moment, entered with the infant of Lady Adelina sleeping in her +arms. + +'See,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'a little unfortunate creature, whose +innocence must surely plead forcibly to you: he comes to join our +intreaties to you to spare his mother!' + +Emmeline laid the infant in the lap of Lady Adelina, who was yet unable +to shed a tear. Godolphin beheld it with mingled horror and pity; but +the latter sentiment seemed to predominate; and Emmeline, whose voice +was calculated to go to the heart, began to try it's influence; and +imploring him to be calm, and to promise his sister an eternal oblivion +of the past, she urged every argument that should convince him of it's +necessity, and every motive that could affect his reason or his +compassion. + +He gazed on her with reverence and admiration while she spoke, and +seemed greatly affected by what she said. Animated by the hope of +success, her eyes were lightened up with new brilliancy, and her glowing +cheeks and expressive features became more than ever attractive. A +convulsive laugh from Lady Adelina interrupted her, and drew the +attention of Godolphin entirely to his sister. Emmeline, who saw her +reason again forsaking her, took the sleeping baby from her lap. She had +hardly done so, before, trying to rise from her chair, she shrieked +aloud--for again the image of Fitz-Edward, dying by the hand of her +brother, was before her. + +'See!' cried she, 'see! there he lies!--he is already expiring! yet +William forgives him not! What? would you strike him again? now! while +he is dying?--Go! cruel, cruel brother!' attempting to put Godolphin +from her--'Go!--Oh! touch me not with those polluted hands, they are +stained with human blood!' A convulsive shudder and a deep sigh seemed +to exhaust all her remaining strength, and she fell back in her chair, +pale and faint; and with fixed, unmeaning eyes, appeared no longer +conscious even of the terrors which pursued her. + +But the look of incurable anguish which her features wore; the wild +import of her words; and the sight of the unfortunate child, who seemed +born only to share her wretchedness; could not long be beheld unmoved by +a heart like Godolphin's, which possessed all that tenderness that +distinguishes the truly brave. Again he threw his arms round his sister, +and sobbing, said-- + +'Hear me, Adelina--hear me and be tranquil! I will promise to be guided +by your excellent friends--I will do nothing that shall give pain to +them or to you!' + +'Thank God!' exclaimed Emmeline, 'that you at last hear reason! Remember +this promise is given to us all.' + +'It is,' answered Godolphin; 'but try to make poor Adelina sensible of +it.' She no longer understood any thing; but with her eyes shut, and her +hands clasped in each other, was at least quiet. + +'I cannot bear it!' continued Godolphin--'I must go for a few moments to +recover myself!' He then left the room, desiring Emmeline to comfort and +compose his sister, who soon afterwards asked hastily what was become of +him? + +Emmeline, pleased to find she had a clear recollection of his having +been with her, now told her that he had most solemnly assured them he +would think no more of seeking Fitz-Edward on account of this unhappy +affair. As she seemed still, in fearful apprehension, to doubt the +reality of this promise, Godolphin, who was only in the next room with +Mrs. Stafford, returned, and assured her of his pity, his forbearance +and his forgiveness. + +After some farther efforts on the part of Emmeline, and protestations on +that of Godolphin, tears, which had been long denied to Lady Adelina, +came to her relief. She wept, caressed her infant, and blessed and +thanked her brother and her friends. When capable of recollection, she +knew that towards those whom he had once pardoned, he was incapable of +reproach or unkindness; and her mind, eased of the fears which had so +long harrassed it, seemed to be recovering it's tone. Still, however, +the sense of her own incurable unhappiness, her own irretrievable +unworthiness, and the disgrace of having sullied the honour of her +family, and given pain to such a brother, overwhelmed her with grief and +confusion; while her reason, as it at intervals returned, served only to +shew her the abyss into which she had fallen: and she sometimes even +regretted those hours of forgetfulness, when she possessed not the power +of steady reflection, and when the sad reality was obliterated by wild +and imaginary horrors. + +[Footnote 1: Without fear and without reproach.] + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +Some few days elapsed before there was any great alteration for the +better in Lady Adelina. But the incessant attention of her friends, the +soothing pity of her brother, and the skill of her physician, slowly +conquered the lurking fever which had so long hung about her; and her +intellects, tho' still disordered at times, were more collected, and +gave reason to hope that she would soon entirely recover. + +In the mean time Captain Godolphin communicated to Mrs. Stafford the +resolution he had taken about his sister. He said that she should +renounce for ever all claim on the Trelawny estate, except only the +stipend settled on her as a consideration for the fortune she was to +receive at the death of the dowager Lady Westhaven, and which was only +three hundred a year; a sum which he thought made her but a paltry and +inadequate compensation for having passed two years in the society of +such a man as Trelawny. + +He added, that he had a house in the Isle of Wight (almost all the +patrimony his father had been able to give him,) where, as his ship was +now out of commission, he proposed residing himself; and whither he +should insist upon Lady Adelina's retiring, without any future attempt +to see or correspond with Fitz-Edward. + +As to the child, he asked if Mrs. Stafford would have the goodness to +see that it was taken care of at some cottage in her neighbourhood, +'till he could adjust matters with the Trelawny family, and put an end +to all those fears which might tempt them to enquire into it's birth; +after which he said he would take it to his own house, and call it a son +of his own; a precaution that would throw an obscurity over the truth +which would hardly ever be removed, when none were particularly +interested to remove it. + +These designs he desired Mrs. Stafford to communicate to Lady Adelina; +and as she was obliged to return home in two days, she took the earliest +opportunity of doing so. + +To the conditions her brother offered, Lady Adelina thought herself most +happy to consent. The little boy was immediately baptized by the name of +William Godolphin, and his unfortunate mother now began to flatter +herself that her disastrous history might be concealed even from her +elder brother, Lord Westhaven; of whose indignation and resentment she +had ever the most alarming apprehensions. But while the hope of +escaping them by her brother William's generous compassion, gave to her +heavy sorrows some alleviation, they were renewed with extreme +poignancy, by the approaching separation from her inestimable friends. +Mrs. Stafford could no longer delay her return to her family; and +Emmeline, who now saw Lady Adelina out of danger and in the protection +of her brother, was desirous of accompanying her back to Woodfield. + +Lady Adelina ineffectually tried to bear this early departure with some +degree of fortitude and resolution. Nor was it _her_ heart alone that +felt desolate and unhappy at it's approach--That of her brother, had +received an impression from the mental and personal perfections of +Emmeline, which being at first deep, had soon become indelible; and +ignorant of her engagement, he had indulged it till he found it no +longer possible for him to forbear making her the first object of his +life, and that the value of his existence depended wholly on her. + +Emmeline was yet quite unconscious of this: but Mrs. Stafford had seen +it almost from the first moment of her seeing Godolphin. In their +frequent conversation, she observed that the very name of Emmeline had +the power of fascination; that he was never weary of hearing her +praises; that whenever he thought himself unobserved, his eyes were in +pursuit of her; while fondly gazing on her face, he seemed to drink deep +draughts of intoxicating passion. + +Mrs. Stafford, who knew what ardent and fatal love, such excellence of +person and understanding might produce in a heart susceptible of all +their power, was alarmed for the happiness of this amiable man; and with +regret saw him nourishing an affection which she thought must be +entirely hopeless. + +These apprehensions, every hour's observation encreased. Yet Mrs. +Stafford determined not to communicate them to Emmeline; but to put an +end to the flattering delusion which led on Godolphin to indulge his +passion, by telling him, as soon as possible, of the engagement Emmeline +had formed with Mr. Delamere. + +Accident soon furnished her with an opportunity. While they were all +sitting together after dinner, a packet of letters was brought in, and +among others which were forwarded to Mrs. Stafford from Woodfield, was +one for Emmeline. + +Mrs. Stafford gave it to her, saying--'From France, by the post mark?' + +Emmeline replied that it was. She changed colour as she opened it. + +'From Mr. Delamere?' enquired Mrs. Stafford. + +'No,' answered she, 'it is from Lady Westhaven. Your brother and her +Ladyship are well,' continued she, addressing herself to Mr. Godolphin, +'and are at Paris; where they propose staying 'till Lady Montreville and +Miss Delamere join them as they come to England.' + +'And when are they expected?' said Godolphin. + +'In about a month,' replied Emmeline. 'But Lord and Lady Westhaven do +not propose to return 'till next spring--they only pass a few days all +together at Paris.' + +'And where is Mr. Delamere wandering to?' significantly and smilingly +asked Mrs. Stafford. + +'Lady Westhaven says only,' answered Emmeline, blushing and casting down +her eyes, 'that he has left Lady Montreville, and is, they believe, gone +to Geneva.' + +'However,' reassumed Mrs. Stafford, 'we shall undoubtedly see him in +England in March.' + +Emmeline, in still greater embarrassment, answered two or three other +questions which Godolphin asked her about his brother, and soon after +left the room. + +Godolphin, who saw there was something relative to Delamere with which +he was unacquainted, had a confused idea immediately occur to him of his +attachment: and the pain it gave him was so acute, that he wished at +once to know whether it was well founded. + +'Why does Mr. Delamere certainly return in March?' said he, addressing +himself to Mrs. Stafford, 'rather than with his mother?' + +'To fulfil his engagement,' gravely and coldly replied she. + +'Of what nature is it?' asked he. + +Mrs. Stafford then related the history of Delamere's long and violent +passion for Emmeline; and the reluctant consent he had wrung from Lord +and Lady Montreville, together with the promise obtained from Miss +Mowbray. + +While Mrs. Stafford was making this recital, she saw, by the variations +of Godolphin's countenance, that she had too truly guessed the state of +his heart. Expressive as his features were, it was not in his power to +conceal what he felt in being convinced that he had irrecoverably fixed +his affections on a woman who was the destined wife of another: and +awaking from the soft visions which Hope had offered, to certain +despondence, he found himself too cruelly hurt to be able to continue +the conversation; and after a few faint efforts, which only betrayed his +internal anguish, he hurried away. + +Such, however, was the opinion Mrs. Stafford conceived of his honour and +his understanding, that she had no apprehension that he would attempt +imparting to the heart of Emmeline any portion of that pain with which +his own was penetrated; and she hoped that absence and reflection, +together with the conviction of it's being hopeless, would conquer this +infant passion before it could gather strength wholly to ruin his +repose. + +She was glad that their departure was so near; and hastened it as much +as possible. The short interval was passed in mournful silence on the +part of Godolphin--on that of Lady Adelina, in tears and regret; while +Emmeline, who was herself sensible of great pain in the approaching +parting, struggled to appear chearful; and Mrs. Stafford attempted, tho' +without much success, to reconcile them all to a separation which was +become as necessary as it was inevitable. + +At length the hired coach in which they were to return to Woodfield was +at the door. + +Lady Adelina, unable to speak to either of them, brought her little boy +in her arms, and passionately kissing him, gave him into those of +Emmeline. Then taking a hand of each of her friends, she pressed them to +her throbbing heart, and hastened to conceal the violence of her sorrow +in her own room. + +Godolphin approached to take leave. He kissed the hand of Mrs. Stafford, +and inarticulately expressed his thanks for her goodness to his sister. + +'I know,' continued he, 'I need not recommend to you this poor infant: +the same generosity which prompted you to save his mother, will +effectually plead for him, and secure for him your protection 'till I +can take him to that of his own family. And you, Miss Mowbray,' said he, +turning to Emmeline and taking her hand--'most amiable, loveliest of +human creatures! where shall I find words to thank you as I ought?' + +His emotion was too great for utterance. Emmeline felt it but too +sensibly; and hastening into the coach to hide how much she was herself +affected, she could only say-- + +'All happiness attend you, Sir! Remind Lady Adelina of my hopes of soon +hearing from her.' + +Mrs. Stafford being then seated, and the servant who had been hired to +attend the infant following her, the coach drove from the door. +Godolphin pursued it with his eyes to the end of the street; and then, +as if deprived of all that made life desirable, he gave himself up to +languor and despondence, afraid of examining his own heart, least his +reason should condemn an inclination, which, however hopeless, he could +not resolve to conquer. + +But while he found charms in the indulgence of his unhappy love, he +determined never to disturb the peace of it's object. But rather to +suffer in silence, than to give pain to a heart so generous and sensible +as her's, merely for the melancholy pleasure of knowing that she pitied +him. + +As soon as Lady Adelina could bear the journey, they departed together +to his house in the Isle of Wight; where he left her, and went in search +of Mrs. Bancraft, the sister of Trelawny, of whom he enquired where +Trelawny himself might be found. + +This woman, apprehensive that he meditated a reconciliation between her +brother and his wife, which it was so much her interest to prevent, +refused for some time to give him the information he desired. Having +however at length convinced her that he had no wish to renew a union +which had been productive only of misery to his sister, she told him +that Mr. Trelawny was returned to England, and lived at a house hired in +the name of her husband, a few miles from London. + +There Godolphin sought him; and found the unhappy man sunk into a state +of perpetual and unconscious intoxication; in which Bancraft, the +husband of his sister, encouraged him, foreseeing that it must soon end +in his son's being possessed of an income, to which the meanness of his +own origin, and former condition, made him look forward with anxious +avidity. + +It was difficult to make Trelawny, sinking into idiotism, comprehend +either who Godolphin was, or the purport of his business. But Bancraft, +more alive to his own interest, presently understood, that on condition +of his entering into bonds of separation, Lady Adelina would relinquish +the greater part of her claim on the Trelawny estate; and he undertook +to have the deeds signed as soon as they could be drawn up. In a few +days therefore Godolphin saw Trelawny's part of them compleated; and +returned to Lady Adelina, satisfied in having released her from an +engagement, which, since he had seen Trelawny, had rendered her in his +eyes an object of tenderer pity; and in having acquitted himself +according to his strict sense of honour, by causing her to relinquish +all the advantages Trelawny's fortune offered, except those to which she +had an absolute right. + +This affair being adjusted, he again resigned himself to the mournful +but pleasing contemplations which had occupied him ever since he had +heard of Emmeline's engagement. While Lady Adelina, whose intellects +were now restored, but who was lost in profound melancholy, saw too +evidently the state of her brother's heart; and could not but lament +that his tenderness for her had been the means of involving him in a +passion, which the great merit of it's object, and his own sensibility, +convinced her must be incurable. + +The letters of Emmeline were the only consolation she was capable of +receiving. They gave her favourable accounts of her child, and of the +continued affection of her inestimable friends. Whenever one of these +letters was brought, Godolphin eagerly watched her while she was reading +it; and then, faultering and impatient, asked if all were well; and if +Mr. Delamere was yet returned? She sometimes gave him the letters to +peruse; after which he generally fell into long absence, broken only by +deep drawn and involuntary sighs--symptoms which Lady Adelina knew too +well to doubt of the cause. + +In the mean time Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline visited every day their +innocent charge, who passed for the child of one of Emmeline's friends +gone to the West Indies. Emmeline insensibly grew so fond of him, that +she was uneasy if any accident prevented her daily visit; and her friend +sometimes laughingly reproached her with the robbery little William +committed on her time. + +When they were alone, their conversation frequently turned on Lady +Adelina and her brother. The subject, tho' melancholy, was ever a +favourite with them both; and perhaps the more so because it led them to +mournful reflections--for Mrs. Stafford was unhappy, and Emmeline was +not gay; nor were her spirits greatly heightened by finding that in +spite of herself she thought as much of the brother as the sister, and +with a degree of softness and complacency which could not be favourable +to her happiness. + +When she first discovered in Godolphin those admirable qualities of +heart and understanding which he so eminently possessed, she asked +herself whether she might indulge the admiration they excited without +prejudice to him whom she considered as her husband? And she fancied +that she might safely give him that esteem which his tenderness to his +unhappy sister, the softness of his manners, the elegance of his mind, +and the generosity of his heart, could hardly fail of extorting from the +most indifferent observer. + +But insensibly his idea obtruded itself more frequently on her +imagination; and she determined to attempt to forget him, and no longer +to allow any partiality to rob Delamere of that pure and sincere +attachment with which he would expect her to meet him at the altar. It +was now long since she had heard from him; but she accounted for it by +supposing that he was rambling about, and she knew that letters were +frequently lost. + +It was at this time something more than two years since they had first +met at Mowbray Castle, and in a few weeks Delamere would complete his +twenty-first year--a period to which Lord Montreville had long looked +forward with anxious solicitude. And now he could not but think with +bitterness that his son would not be present to animate the joy of his +dependants at this period; but was kept in another country, in the vain +hope of extinguishing a passion which could not be indulged without +rendering abortive all the pains his Lordship had taken to restore his +family to the eminent rank it had formerly borne in his country. + +To Sir Richard Crofts, his sons had communicated the success of those +plans, by which they had sown, in the irritable mind of Delamere, +jealousy and mistrust of Emmeline; and he failed not to animate and +encourage their endeavours, while he used his power over the mind of +Lord Montreville to limit the bounty and lessen the affection his +Lordship was disposed to shew her as the daughter of his brother. + +She received regularly her quarterly payment, but she received no more; +and instead of hearing, on those occasions, from Lord Montreville +himself, she had twice only a methodical letter from Maddox, the London +steward. + +This might, however, be merely accidental; and Emmeline was far from +supposing that her uncle was estranged from her; nor could she guess +that the malice of Mrs. Ashwood, and the artifices of the Crofts', had +occasioned that estrangement. + +Lord Montreville rather connived at than participated in their +ungenerous proceedings; and as if fearful of trusting his own ideas of +integrity with a plan which so evidently militated against them, he was +determined to take advantage of their endeavours, without enquiring too +minutely into their justice or candour. Sir Richard had assured him that +Mr. Delamere was in a great measure weaned from his attachment; and that +Mr. Crofts was almost sure, that if their meeting could be prevented for +a few months longer, there would be nothing more to fear from this long +and unfortunate prepossession. + +Crofts himself, who had at length torn himself from his bride to pave +the way for his being received by her family as her husband, soon +appeared, and confirmed all this. He told Lord Montreville that Delamere +had conceived suspicions of Emmeline's conduct, (tho' he knew not from +what cause) that had at first excited the most uneasy jealousy, but +which had at length subsided with his love; that he had regained his +spirits; and, when he left his mother and sister, seemed resolved to +make a vigorous effort to expel from his mind a passion he was ashamed +of having so long indulged. + +In saying all this, Crofts rather attended to what his Lordship wished +to hear, than to what was really the truth. He knew that a meeting +between Delamere and Emmeline would probably at once explain all the +unworthy artifices which had been used to divide them, and render those +artifices abortive. He therefore told Lord Montreville, that to prevent +all probability of a relapse, it would be advisable to remove Emmeline +to some place where Delamere could not meet her: and his Lordship, +forgetting at once all the obligations he owed her, thought only of +following this advice. + +Embarrassed, however, himself with public business, he was unable to +give to these domestic politics all the attention which they demanded. +He threw himself more than ever into the power of the Crofts', to whose +policy he left it to contrive the means, between the months of November +and March, of raising an invincible barrier between his son and his +niece. + +Tho' Delamere's being of age encreased the difficulties of this +undertaking, Crofts having no scruples about the methods he was to +pursue, had no doubt of accomplishing his end: and to stimulate his +endeavours, he needed only the particular advantages which would accrue +to himself from the pardon and reception which he hoped to obtain from +Lord Montreville and his family. + +Every engine therefore that ambition, avarice, malice and cunning could +employ, was now put in motion against the character and the peace of the +unprotected and unsuspicious Emmeline. + +In conscious innocence and unsullied purity, she dreamed not that she +had an enemy on earth; for of Mrs. Ashwood, now Mrs. James Crofts, she +only remembered that she had once been obliged to her. The little, +malicious envy which had given her some pain at the time it was shewn, +she now no longer recollected; and tho' she always continued to dislike +James Crofts, yet his impertinence she had forgiven, and had written in +the usual form to congratulate them both on their marriage. + +Of Delamere, she heard nothing; but imputing his silence to his frequent +change of place, she conceived no anger against him on that account; and +still felt herself bound to keep from her mind, as much as possible, the +intrusive image of Godolphin. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +Whatever resolution Emmeline might form to drive from her heart those +dangerous partialities which would be fatal to her repose, she found it +impossible to be accomplished while Lady Adelina's frequent letters +spoke only of the generous tenderness and excellent qualities of her +brother. Of what else, indeed, could she speak, in a solitude where his +goodness made all her consolation and his conversation all her pleasure? +where he dedicated to her all his time, and thought of procuring for her +every alleviation to her retirement which books and domestic amusements +afforded? while he taught her still to respect herself; and by his +unwearied friendship convincing her that she had still much to lose, +made her life receive in her own eyes a value it would otherwise have +lost; and prevented her relapsing into that unhappy state of +self-condemnation which makes the sufferer careless of the future. He +thought, that situated as she was, solitude was her only choice; but to +render it as happy as her circumstances allowed, was his continual care: +and tho' oppressive sorrow still lay heavy on her heart; tho' it still +ached with tenderness and regret towards an object whom she had sworn to +think of, to speak of no more; her gratitude and affection towards her +brother were as lively, as if its acute feelings had never felt the +benumbing hand of despair. + +In the total sequestration from the world in which she lived, she had no +other topic to dwell upon than her brother, and she gave it all its +force. Perfectly acquainted, however, with Emmeline's engagements, she +never ventured to mention the passion which she was too well assured +Godolphin felt; but she still, almost unknown to herself, cherished a +lurking hope that her connection with Delamere might be dissolved, and +that her lovely friend was destined to bless her beloved brother. + +This distant hope was warm enough to animate her pen in his praise; and +Emmeline, tho' every letter she received made on her mind a deeper +impression of the merit of Godolphin, yet found such painful pleasure in +reading them, that she was unhappy if at the usual periods they did not +regularly arrive. + +She tried to persuade herself, that the satisfaction she felt in reading +these letters arose purely from the delight natural to every uncorrupted +mind in contemplating a character honourable to human nature. But +accustomed to examine narrowly her own heart, she could not long impose +upon herself; and notwithstanding all her endeavours to stifle it, she +still found the idea of Godolphin mixing itself with all her thoughts, +and embittering the prospect of her certain marriage with Delamere. + +In the answers Emmeline gave her friend, she related whatever she +thought likely to amuse the fair recluse; gave a regular account of her +little charge; but avoided punctiliously the least mention of +Fitz-Edward. + +Fitz-Edward had received from Mrs. Stafford an account of all that had +passed at Bath, except the pains which had been taken to prevent any +meeting between him and Godolphin. But notwithstanding her cautious +silence on that head, Fitz-Edward, who knew Godolphin well, could hardly +be persuaded not to insist on his taking his chance of depriving him of +a life which he said he had deserved to lose, and could little brook +being supposed to hold on courtesy. Nothing but his consideration for +the unhappy Lady Adelina prevented his pursuing the sanguinary projects +that agitated his mind. To her peace he owed it to conquer them; and +while he was yet struggling against that sense of honour which impelled +him to give Godolphin imaginary reparation, by allowing him an +opportunity of putting an end to _his_ existence or losing his own, his +brother, Lord Clancarryl, wrote to desire his attendance in Ireland on +some family business of importance; a summons, which after some +hesitation, Mrs. Stafford and Miss Mowbray prevailed with him to obey. + +Before he went, his eager and affecting entreaties prevailed on Mrs. +Stafford to let him see his son, whom he embraced with an ardour of +affection of which the fair friends believed so gay and fashionable a +man incapable. + +The errors of Fitz-Edward, however, were not those of the heart. Among +the dissipation of fashion and the indulgences of libertinism, his heart +was still sensible, and his integrity retrievable. He felt, therefore, +with great keenness, the injury he had done Lady Adelina; and desirous +of making all the reparation he could to the infant, he again placed in +the hands of Emmeline, a will by which he made it his heir, and +recommended it to the protection of Godolphin, whom he besought to +consider as his nephew, the son of a man whom he had once loved, and who +had dearly paid for having forfeited all claim to his friendship. When +he was departed, nothing seemed likely to interrupt the tranquillity of +Emmeline but her encreasing apprehensions for Mrs. Stafford and her +children. The derangement of Stafford's affairs, and his wife's +unavailing efforts to ward off the ruin which he seemed obstinately bent +on incurring, were every day more visible: while his capricious and +unreasonable temper, and a strange opinion of his own sagacity, which +would never allow him to own himself in the wrong, made him seek to load +his wife with the blame of those misfortunes which he had voluntarily +sought, and now as obdurately refused to avoid while it was yet in his +power. + +Mrs. Stafford, who saw too plainly that the destruction of their fortune +which she had so long dreaded was now with hasty strides advancing, yet +endeavoured to convince him of his infatuation; but he still improved +his house and garden, still schemed away all the money he could raise or +gain credit for, and still repaid with rudeness and insult her anxious +solicitude to save him. + +In Emmeline, she ever found pity and tenderness; but pity and tenderness +was all she had to bestow. The affairs of Stafford required interest and +money; and Emmeline could command neither. Lord Montreville now took no +other notice of her, than to remit her quarterly stipend by the hands of +his steward; and tho' he had promised to double it, that promise yet +remained unfulfilled. + +It was at this time near the end of November, and the mornings were cold +and gloomy: but Emmeline, however delicate in her frame, had a +constitution which had not, by early and false indulgences, been +unfitted for the duties of life; and to personal inconvenience she was +always indifferent when the service of those she loved engaged her to +brave fatigue or cold. She therefore still continued her morning visit +to Woodbury Forest, where she generally past an hour with little +William; and in his improving features and interesting smiles, loved to +trace his resemblance to his mother. Lady Adelina was very like her +brother; and the little boy was not the less tenderly caressed for the +similitude she saw to them both. + +The appearance of rain had one morning detained her at home later than +usual. She went, however, about eleven o'clock; and was busied in +playing with the infant, who began now to know her, and was therefore +more attractive, when, while she yet held him in her arms, she heard the +woman of the house, who was in the outward room, suddenly +exclaim--'Indeed Sir you cannot go in--pray--I beg your honour!' There +was hardly time for Emmeline to feel surprise at this bustle, before the +door opened, and Delamere stood before her! In his countenance was an +expression compounded of rage, fierceness and despair, which extorted +from Emmeline an involuntary shriek! Unable to arise, she remained +motionless in her chair, clasping the baby to her bosom: Delamere seemed +trying to stifle his anger in contempt; vengeance, disdain, and pride, +were struggling for superiority: while with his eyes sternly turned upon +Emmeline, and smiling indignantly, he exclaimed--'Till I _saw_ this----' +inarticulately and tremulously he spoke--'till I _saw_ this, all the +evidence they brought me was insufficient to cure my blind attachment. +But now--oh! infamy--madness--damnation! It _is_ then possible--It _is_ +then true! But what is it to me? Torn--torn for ever from this outraged +heart--never, never shall this sight blast me again!--But what?' +continued he, speaking with more quickness, 'what? for Fitz-Edward! for +the infamous plunderer of his friend's happiness! However, Madam, on you +I intrude no longer. Oh! lost--lost--wretched!'--He could not go on; but +in the speechless agony of contending passions he leaned his head +against the frame of the door near which he stood, and gazed wildly on +Emmeline; who, pale as death, and trembling like a leaf, still sat +before him unable to recall her scattered spirits. + +He waited a moment, gasping for breath, and as if he had still some +feeble expectation of hearing her speak. But the child which she held in +her arms was like a basilisk to his sight, and made in his opinion all +vindication impossible. Again conviction appeared to drive him to +desperation; and looking in a frantic manner round the room, as if +entirely bereft of reason, he dashed his hands furiously against his +head, and running, or rather flying out of the house, he immediately +disappeared. + +In terror and astonishment, Emmeline remained immovable and speechless. +She almost doubted whether this was any other than a fearful dream, +'till the woman of the house, and the maid who attended on the child, +ran into the room frightened--'Lord! Madam,' cried the woman, 'what is +the matter with the young gentleman?' + +'I know not,' answered Emmeline, faintly--'I know not! Where is he now?' + +'He's run away into the wood again like any mad,' answered the woman. + +'And from whence,' enquired Emmeline, 'did he come?' + +'Why, Miss,' said she, 'I was a going out cross our garden to hang out +my cloaths; so up a comes to the hedge side, an a says--Good woman, pray +be'nt here a lady here as comes from Woodfield? one Miss Mowbray?--I +thought how he looked oddish as 'twere about the eyes; but howsever +thinking no harm, I says yes. So he runs up to the door, and I called to +un, to say as I'd come in and let you know; but before I could get thro' +the wicket, whisk he was in the kitchen; then I tried agin to stop un, +but I were as good try to stop the wind.' + +The agitation and uneasiness of Emmeline encreased rather than subsided. +She looked so pale, and with so much difficulty drew her breath, that +the women were alarmed least she should faint: and one of them persuaded +her to swallow something, while the other ran out to see if the person +who had so terrified her was yet in sight. But no traces of him were +visible: and after a few moments, Emmeline recalling her presence of +mind, and feeling proudly conscious of her own innocence and integrity, +recovered in some degree her spirits and resolution. + +That Delamere should be in England did not greatly astonish tho' it +grieved her; but that he should have conceived such strange suspicions +of her and Fitz-Edward, equally surprised and distressed her; since, +had she an opportunity of undeceiving him, which he did not seem willing +to allow her, she could not relate the truth but by betraying the +confidence of her unfortunate friend, and embittering that life she had +incurred such hazards to preserve. As soon as she had apparently +recovered from the shock of this abrupt intrusion, she was desirous of +returning to Woodfield; anxious to know if Delamere had been there, or +by what means he had been enabled to find her at the cottage in the +forest. The women, who fancied the gentleman they had seen was a lunatic +who might lay in wait to hurt her on her way home, would not suffer her +to set out 'till they had called a woodcutter from the forest to +accompany her. Then, slowly and with difficulty, she returned home; +where she heard from Mrs. Stafford that Delamere had neither been there +or sent thither. This information encreased her wonder and her disquiet. +She related to Mrs. Stafford the distressing interview of the morning; +who, having seen frequent instances of those excesses of which Delamere +was capable, heard the relation with concern and apprehension. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +Some days were passed by Emmeline in painful conjectures on what +measures Delamere would take, and in uncertainty what she ought to do +herself. Sometimes she thought of writing to Lord Montreville: but +against that Mrs. Stafford remonstrated; representing, that as she was +undoubtedly the injured person, in having been insulted by suspicions so +unworthy, she should leave it wholly to Delamere to discover and recant +his error; which, if he refused on cooler reflection to do, she would be +fortunate in escaping from an engagement with a man who had so little +command of his own temper, so little reliance on her principles, as to +be driven on a mere suspicion into rudeness and insult. + +Greatly mortified at finding it possible for Delamere to think so +injuriously of her, and depressed by a thousand uneasy apprehensions, +she yielded implicitly to the counsel of her friend. But of her counsel +and consolation she was now on the point of being deprived: Stafford, +who had been some time in London, sent an express to fetch his wife +thither a few days after the interview between Emmeline and Delamere. +His affairs were now growing desperate: James Crofts demanded immediate +payment of a sum of money belonging to his wife, that was left her by +her father, and which she had 'till now suffered to remain in the hands +of her brother. Stafford had made no provision to pay it: his boundless +profusion had dissipated all the ready money he could command; and this +claim of his sister's, which James Crofts seemed determined to urge, +would he knew be the signal for every other creditor to beset him with +demands he had no means of discharging. + +Tho' Mrs. Stafford had long tho' vainly implored him to stop in his wild +career, and had represented to him all the evils which were now about to +overtake him, she could not see their near approach without an attempt +again to rescue him. And he was accustomed in every difficulty to have +recourse to her; tho' while he felt none, he scorned and even resented +her efforts to keep them at a distance. He now fancied that her +application might prevail on James Crofts to drop a suit he had +commenced against him: she hastily therefore set out for London; leaving +to Emmeline the care of her children; who promised, by the utmost +attention to them, to obviate part of the inconvenience of such a +journey. + +It was unhappily, however, not only inconvenient but fruitless. Mr. and +Mrs. James Crofts were inexorable. The suit was tried; Stafford was +cast; and nothing remained for him but either to pay the money or to be +exposed to the hazard of losing his property and his liberty. His +conduct had so much injured his credit, that to borrow, it was +impossible. Mrs. Stafford attempted therefore to divest herself of part +of her own fortune to assist him with the money: but her trustees were +not to be moved; and nothing but despair seemed darkening round the head +of the unfortunate Stafford. + +Mrs. Stafford saw too evidently that to be in the power of James Crofts, +was to trust to avarice, meanness and malignity; and she trembled to +reflect that her husband was now wholly at his mercy. The additional +motives he had to use that power rigorously she knew not: she was +ignorant that the business had so eagerly been pushed to a crisis, not +merely by the avidity of James Crofts to possess the money, but also by +the directions of Sir Richard, who hoped by this means to drive the +family with whom Emmeline resided to another country; where Delamere +might find access to her so difficult, that he might never have an +opportunity of explaining the cause of his estrangement, or of hearing +her vindication. + +It was now that Mrs. Stafford remembered the frequent offers of service +which she had repeatedly received from Lord Montreville; and to him she +determined to apply. She hoped that he might be induced to influence the +Crofts' family to give Mr. Stafford time, and to desist from the +violence and precipitation with which they pursued him. She even fancied +that his Lordship would be glad of an opportunity so easily to realize +those offers he had so liberally made; and full of these expectations, +she prepared to become a solicitress for favours to a statesman. She +felt humbled and mortified at the cruel necessity that compelled her to +it; but her children's interest conquering her reluctance, she addressed +a letter to Lord Montreville, and received a very polite answer, in +which he desired the honour of seeing her at two o'clock the following +day; an hour, when he said he should be entirely disengaged. She might +as well, however, have attended at his levee; for tho' punctual to the +hour when he was to be disengaged, she found two rooms adjoining to that +where his Lordship was, occupied by a variety of figures; some of whose +faces, were faces of negociation and equality, but more, whose +expression of fearful suspence marked them for those of petitioners and +dependants. Those of the former description were separately called to an +audience; and each, after a longer or shorter stay, retired; while Mrs. +Stafford, tho' with an heart but ill at ease for observation, could not +help fancying she discerned in their looks the success of their +respective treaties. + +As soon as these gentlemen were all departed, Mrs. Stafford, who had +already waited almost three hours, was introduced into the study; where, +with many gracious bows and smiling apologies, Lord Montreville received +her. + +Sir Richard Crofts had that morning warmly represented to his Lordship +the necessity of the Staffords' going abroad and taking Emmeline with +them. Lord Montreville knew that Delamere was returned, and was +embroiled with Emmeline; he was therefore eager enough to follow advice +which appeared so necessary, and to promote any plan which might prevent +a renewal of the attachment. He enquired not into the cause of this +estrangement, satisfied with it's effect; and had secretly determined +to give Mrs. Stafford no assistance in the endeavours she was using to +keep her family from dispersion and distress. + +But statesman as he was, he could not entirely forget that he _once_ +felt as other men; and he could not hear, without some emotion, the +melancholy description that Mrs. Stafford gave of the impending ruin of +her family and all it's fearful consequences: which she did with so much +clear simplicity, yet with so much proper dignity, that he found his +resolution shaken; and recollecting _that he had a conscience_, was +about to ask it by what right he assumed the power of rendering an +innocent family wandering exiles, merely to save himself from a supposed +possible inconvenience. + +But while every lingering principle of goodness and generosity was +rising in the bosom of his Lordship to assist the suit of Mrs. Stafford, +a servant entered hastily and announced the Duke of N----. His Grace of +course waited not in the anti-room, but was immediately introduced. + +Lord Montreville then civilly apologized to Mrs. Stafford for being +unable to conclude the business; adding, that if she would see Sir +Richard Crofts the next day, he would take care it should be settled to +her satisfaction. She withdrew with a heavy heart; and feeling infinite +reluctance in the proposed application to Sir Richard Crofts, she +employed the whole afternoon in attempting to move, in favour of her +husband, some of those friends who had formerly professed the most +unbounded and disinterested friendship for him and his family. + +Of many of these, the doors were shut against her; others affected the +utmost concern, and lamented that their little power and limited +fortunes did not allow them to assist in repairing the misfortunes they +deplored: some told her how long they had foreseen Mr. Stafford's +embarrassments, and how destructive building and scheming were to a +moderate fortune; while others made vague proffers of inadequate +services, which on farther conversation she found they never intended to +perform if unluckily she had accepted their offers. In all, she saw too +plainly that they looked on Mr. Stafford's affairs as desperate; and in +their coldness and studied civility, already felt all the misery and +mortification of reduced circumstances. + +With encreased anguish, she was now compelled to go, on the following +day, to Sir Richard Crofts; whom she knew only from Emmeline's +description. + +He also, in imitation of his patron, had his anti-chamber filled with +soliciting faces. She waited not quite so long, indeed, for an audience, +but with infinitely less patience. At length, however, she was shewn +into the apartment where Sir Richard transacted business. + +Bloated prosperity was in his figure, supercilious scorn in his eyes: he +rose half off his seat, and slightly inclined his head on her entrance. + +'Madam, your servant--please to sit down.' + +'I waited on you, Sir Richard, to--' + +'I beg your pardon, Madam. But as I am perfectly acquainted, and +informed, and aware of the business, there is no occasion or necessity +to give you the trouble to repeat, and dwell upon, and explain it. It is +not, I find, convenient, or suitable, or commodious, for Mr. Stafford to +pay to my son James, who has married his (Mr. Stafford's) sister, that +part, and proportion, and residue, of her fortune, which her father at +his death gave, bequeathed, and left to her.' + +'It is not only inconvenient, Sir,' answered Mrs. Stafford, 'but +impossible, I fear, for him to do it immediately; and this is what I +wished to speak to you upon.' + +'I am aware, and informed, and apprized, Madam, of what you would say. I +am sorry it is as you say so inconvenient, and impracticable, and +impossible. However, Madam, my way in these cases is to go very plainly, +and straitly, and directly to the point; therefore I will chalk out, and +describe, and point out to you a line of conduct, which if you chuse to +follow, and adopt, and pursue, it appears to me that all may be +adjusted, settled, and put to rights.' + +'You will oblige me, Sir Richard, by doing so.' + +'Well then, it is this--As it appears, and is evident, and visible, that +you have not the money in question, you must immediately sell, and +dispose of, and make into money, your house and effects in Dorsetshire, +and after paying, and satisfying, and discharging the debt to my son +James, you must (as I understand your husband is besides deeply in +debt,) withdraw, retire, and remove to France, or to Normandy, or +Switzerland, or some cheap country, 'till your affairs come round, and +are retrieved, and accommodated and adjusted.' + +'This we might have done, Sir Richard, without troubling you with the +present application.' + +'No, Madam, you might _not_. I assure you I have talked, and reasoned, +and argued some time with Mr. James Crofts, before I could induce, and +prevail upon, and dispose him to wait, and remain, and continue unpaid, +until this arrangement and disposition could take place. He wants the +money, Madam, for a particular purpose; and tho' from my heart I grieve, +and lament, and deplore the necessity of the measure, I do assure you, +Madam, nothing else will give you any chance of winding up, compleating, +and terminating the business before us. You will therefore, Madam, +think, and consider, and reflect on it's necessity, and give your final +answer to my son James, who will wait for it only 'till to-morrow +morning.' + +He then rang his bell; and saying he had an appointment with Lord +Montreville, who must already have waited for him, he made a cold bow +and hastened out of the room. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Mrs. Stafford now saw that nothing remained but to follow her husband to +a prison, or prevail on him to go to the Continent while she attempted +anew to settle his affairs. + +Obstinate even in despair, she had the utmost difficulty to convince him +of the necessity of this measure; and would never, perhaps, have done +it, if the more persuasive argument of a writ, taken out by James +Crofts, had not driven him to embrace it rather than go into +confinement. + +Mrs. Stafford with difficulty procured money to furnish him for his +journey, and saw him depart for Dover; while she herself returned to +Emmeline, who had passed the three weeks of her absence in great +uneasiness. No news had been received of Delamere; and she now believed, +that of the promise he had forced from her he meant not to avail +himself; yet did not relinquish it; but in proud and sullen resentment, +disdained even to enquire whether he had justly harboured anger against +her. She wished to have withdrawn a promise she could no longer think of +without pain and regret; but she found Mrs. Stafford so unhappy, that +she could not resolve to oppress her by complaints; and after some +struggles with herself, determined to let the matter take it's course. + +Willingly, however, she consented to accompany her friend to France; +where Mrs. Stafford, at her husband's request, now determined to go with +her family. She had found an opulent tradesman in a neighbouring town, +who engaged, on receiving a mortgage on the estate, and ten per cent. +interest, (which he so managed as to evade the appearance of usury,) to +let her have the money to pay Mr. Crofts, and a farther sum for the +support of her family: and having got a tenant for the house, and +satisfied as many of the clamorous creditors as she could, she prepared, +with a heavy heart, to quit her abode, with Emmeline and her infant +family. + +As it was necessary that little William should be sent to the Isle of +Wight before their departure, Emmeline wrote to fix a day at the +distance of a month, on which she desired Lady Adelina to send some +careful person for him. But ten days before the expiration of that +period, letters came from Mr. Stafford, in which he directed his wife, +who intended to embark at Brighthelmstone and land at Dieppe, to change +her route, and sail from Southampton to Havre. He also desired her to +hasten her journey: and as every thing was now put on the best footing +the time would allow, Mrs. Stafford immediately complied; and with her +own unfortunate family, Emmeline, and little William, (whom they now +meant to carry themselves to Lady Adelina) they left Woodfield. + +The pain of quitting, probably for ever, a favourite abode, which she +feared would at length be torn from her children by the rapacity of the +law, and the fatigue of travelling with infant children, under such +circumstances, almost overcame the resolution and spirits of Mrs. +Stafford. Emmeline, ever reasonable, gentle, and consoling, was her +principal support; and on the evening of the second day they arrived at +Southampton. + +While Emmeline almost forgot in her attention to her friend her own +uncertain and unpleasant state, Delamere remained in Norfolk, where he +had hid himself from the enquiries of his father, and from the +importunities of his mother, who was now, with her eldest daughter, +settled again in Berkley Square. Here he nourished inveterate resentment +against Fitz-Edward: and finding it impossible to forget Emmeline, he +continued to think of her as much as ever, but with indignation, +jealousy and rage. + +He had, immediately on receiving, as he believed, a confirmation of all +those suspicions with which the Crofts' had so artfully inspired him, +resolved to demand satisfaction of Fitz-Edward; and hearing on enquiry +that he was in Ireland, but his return immediately expected, he waited +with eager and restless uneasiness till the person whom he had +commissioned to inform him of his return should send notice that he was +again in London. + +Week after week, however, passed away. He still heard, that tho' +expected hourly, Fitz-Edward arrived not. Time, far from softening the +asperity with which his thoughts dwelt on this supposed rival, seemed +only to irritate and inflame his resentment; and ingenious in tormenting +himself, he now added new anguish to that which corroded his heart, by +supposing that Emmeline, aware of the danger which threatened her lover +from the vengeance of his injured friend, had written to him to prevent +his return. This idea was confirmed, when the agent whom he employed to +watch the return of Fitz-Edward at length informed him that he had +obtained leave of absence from his regiment, now in England, and was to +pass the remainder of the winter with Lord and Lady Clancarryl. + +The fury of his passions seemed to be suspended, while with gloomy +satisfaction he looked forward to a speedy retribution: but now, when no +immediate prospect offered of meeting the author of his calamities, they +tormented him with new violence. Emmeline and Fitz-Edward haunted his +dreams; Emmeline and Fitz-Edward were ever present to his imagination; +he figured to himself his happy rival possessed of the tenderness and +attachment of that gentle and sensible heart. The anguish these images +inflicted affected his health; and while every day, as it passed, +brought nothing to alleviate his despair, he became more and more +convinced that the happiness of his life was blasted for ever; and +growing impatient of life itself, determined to go to Ireland and insist +on an opportunity of losing it, or of taking that of the man who had +made it an insupportable burthen. + +He set out therefore, attended only by Millefleur, and gave Lord +Montreville no notice of his intention 'till he reached Holyhead; from +thence he wrote to his Lordship to say that he had received an +invitation to visit some friends at Dublin, and that he should continue +about a month in Ireland. His pride prompted him to do this; least his +father, on hearing of his absence, should suppose that he was weak +enough to seek a reconciliation with Emmeline, whose name he now never +mentioned, being persuaded that his Lordship knew how ill she had repaid +an affection, which, tho' he could not divest himself of, he was now +ashamed to acknowledge. + +Lord Montreville, happy to find he had really quitted her, was extremely +glad of this seasonable journey; which, as the Crofts' assured him +Emmeline was on the point of leaving England, would, he thought, prevent +his enquiring whither she was gone, and by introducing him into a new +set of acquaintance, turn his thoughts to other objects and perfect his +cure. + +While Delamere then was travelling to Ireland in pursuit of Fitz-Edward, +Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline left Southampton on a visit to Lady Adelina +in the Isle of Wight; being desirous of delivering little William into +the arms of his mother and his uncle. Tho' it was now almost the end of +January, they embarked in an open boat, with the servant who waited on +the child; but being detained 'till almost noon on account of the tide, +it was evening before they reached a village on the shore, three miles +beyond Cowes, where they were to land. + +On arriving there, they found that the house of Captain Godolphin was +situated two miles farther. Mrs. Stafford, ever attentive and +considerate, was afraid that the sight of the child so unexpectedly, +might overpower the spirits of Lady Adelina, and cause speculation among +the servants which it was absolutely necessary to avoid. Emmeline +therefore undertook to walk forward, attended by a boy in the village, +who was to shew her the way, and apprize Lady Adelina of the visitor she +was to expect. + +Pleasure, in spite of herself, glowed in her bosom at the idea of again +meeting Godolphin; tho' she knew not that he had conceived for her the +most pure and ardent passion that was ever inspired by a lovely and +deserving object. + +He had long since found that his heart was irrecoverably gone. But tho' +he struggled not against his passion, he loved too truly to indulge it +at the expence of Emmeline; and had therefore determined to avoid her, +and not to embitter _her_ life with the painful conviction that their +acquaintance had destroyed the happiness of _his_. For this reason he +did not intend going himself to fetch his nephew from Woodbury Forest, +but had given a careful servant directions to go thither in a few days +after that when Emmeline herself prevented the necessity of the journey. + +Her walk lay along the high rocks that bounded the coast; and it was +almost dark before she entered a small lawn surrounded with a +plantation, in which the house of Godolphin was situated. About half an +acre of ground lay between it and the cliff, which was beat by the +swelling waves of the channel. The ground on the other side rose more +suddenly; and a wood which covered the hill behind it, seemed to embosom +the house, and take off that look of bleakness and desolation which +often renders a situation so near the sea unpleasant except in the +warmest months of Summer. A sand walk lead round the lawn. Emmeline +followed it, and it brought her close to the windows of a parlour. They +were still open; she looked in; and saw, by the light of the fire, for +there were no candles in the room, Godolphin sitting alone. He leaned on +a book, which there was not light enough to read; scattered papers lay +round him, and a pen and ink were on the table. + +Emmeline could not forbear looking at him a moment before she approached +the door. She could as little command her curiosity to know on what he +was thus deeply thinking. The boy who was with her ran round to the +kitchen, and sent up a servant to open the door; who immediately +throwing open that of the parlour, said--'A lady, Sir!' + +Godolphin starting from his reverie, arose, and unexpectedly beheld the +subject of it. + +His astonishment at this visit, was such as hardly left him the power to +express the pleasure with which that astonishment was mingled. 'Miss +Mowbray!' exclaimed he--'Is it indeed Miss Mowbray?' + +For a moment he surveyed her in silent extasy, then congratulated +himself upon his unhoped for good fortune; and answering her enquiries +about Lady Adelina, he suddenly seemed to recollect the papers which lay +on the table, hurried them into a drawer, and again returning to +Emmeline, told her how happy he was to see her look so well. He thought +indeed that he had never seen her so infinitely lovely. The sharpness of +the air during her walk had heightened the glow of her complexion; her +eyes betrayed, by their soft and timid glances, the partiality of which +she was hardly yet conscious; she trembled, without knowing why; and +could hardly recover her composure, while Godolphin, who would trust no +other person to deliver the message, ran eagerly up stairs to acquaint +Lady Adelina. 'My sister,' cried he, immediately returning, 'will be +with you instantly; a slight pain in her head has kept her on the bed +almost all day. But to what do we owe the happiness of seeing you here, +when we thought you on the point of sailing for France by another +route?' + +Emmeline then hastily explained the change in their plan; adding, +gravely--'You will have another visitor, who cannot fail of being +welcome both to you and Lady Adelina. Mrs. Stafford stays with him at +the village, while she desired me to come on to prepare you for his +reception, and to know how you will have him introduced?' + +'As _my_ child,' answered Godolphin. 'My servants are already prepared +to expect such an addition to my family. Ever amiable, ever lovely Miss +Mowbray!' continued he, with looks that encreased her confusion--'what +obligation does not our little boy--do we not all owe you?' + +At this moment Lady Adelina, who had been obliged to wait some moments +to recover herself from the joyful surprise into which the news of +Emmeline's arrival had thrown her, ran into the room, and embracing with +transport her lovely friend, sighed; but unable to weep, sat down, and +could only kiss her hands with such wild expressions of rapture, that +Emmeline was alarmed least it should have any ill effect on her +intellects, or on a frame ever extremely delicate; and which now had, +from her having long indulged incurable sorrow, assumed an appearance of +such languor and weakness, that Emmeline with extreme concern looked on +her as on a beautiful shadow whom she probably beheld for the last time. + +She stood a moment pensively gazing on her face. Godolphin said gently +to his sister, who still held the hand of Emmeline--'Adelina, my love, +recollect yourself--you keep Miss Mowbray standing.' + +'What is yet more material,' answered Emmeline, smiling, is, 'that you +keep me from writing a note to Mrs. Stafford, which the boy who waits +here is to take back to her.' + +Godolphin answered that he would go himself to Mrs. Stafford, and +instantly departed; while Emmeline began to talk to Lady Adelina of the +immediate arrival of her child. She at length succeeded in getting her +to speak of him, and to weep extremely; after which, she grew more +composed, and her full heart seemed relieved by talking of her brother. + +Her words, tho' faint, and broken by the emotion she felt, yet forcibly +conveyed to the heart of Emmeline impressions of that uncommon worth +they described. + +'Never,' said she, 'can I be sufficiently grateful to heaven for having +given me such a brother. 'Tis not in words, my Emmeline, to do him +justice! He is all that is noble minded and generous. Tho' from the loss +of his vivacity and charming spirits, I know too well how deeply my +unworthy conduct has wounded him; tho' I know, that by having sullied +the fair name of our family, and otherwise, I have been the unhappy +cause of injuring his peace, yet never has a reproach or an unkind word +escaped him. Pensive, yet always kind; melancholy, and at times visibly +unhappy; yet ever gentle, considerate, and attentive to me; always ready +to blame himself for yielding to that despondence which he cannot +without an effort conquer; trying to alleviate the anguish of my mind by +subduing that which frequently preys on his own; and now burying the +memory of my fault in compassion to my affliction, he adopts my child, +and allows me without a blush to embrace the dear infant, for whom I +dare not otherwise shew the tenderness I feel.' + +Emmeline, affected by this eulogium, to which her heart warmly assented, +was silent. + +'There is,' reassumed Lady Adelina, 'but one being on earth who +resembles him:--it is my Emmeline! If ever two creatures eminently +excelled the rest of their species, it is my friend and my brother!' + +Something throbbed at the heart of Emmeline at these words, into which +she was afraid to enquire: her engagement to Delamere, yet uncancelled, +lay like a weight upon it; and seemed to impress the idea of her doing +wrong while she thus listened to the praises of another; and felt that +she listened with too much pleasure! She asked herself, however, whether +it was possible to be insensible of the merit of Godolphin? Yet +conscious that she had already thought of it too much, she wished to +change the topic of discourse--But Lady Adelina still pursued it. + +'Lord Westhaven,' said she, 'my elder brother, is indeed a most +respectable and excellent man. Equally with my brother William, he +inherits from my father, integrity, generosity and nobleness of mind, +together with a regularity of morals and conduct, unusual in so young a +man even in any rank of life, and remarkable in him, who has passed +almost all his in the army. But he is, tho' not yet thirty, much older +than I am, and has almost always been absent from me; those who know him +better, have told me, that with as many other good qualities as William, +he has less softness of temper; and being almost free from error +himself, makes less allowance for the weakness of others. Such, however, +has been the management of my younger brother, that the elder knows not +the truth of my circumstances--he does not even suspect them. You may +very possibly see him and Lady Westhaven abroad. I know I need not +caution my Emmeline--she will be careful of the peace of her poor +friend.' + +Emmeline soon satisfied Lady Adelina on that head, who then asked when +she heard of Delamere? + +This question Emmeline had foreseen: but having predetermined not to +distress her unfortunate friend, by telling her into what difficulties +her attendance on her and her child had led her, and being shocked to +own herself the subject of suspicions so injurious as those Delamere had +dared to harbour, she calmly answered that Delamere was returned to +England, but that she had seen him only for a few moments. + +'And did he not object,' enquired Lady Adelina, 'to your quitting +England, since he is himself returned to it?' + +Emmeline, who could not directly answer this question, evaded it by +saying-- + +'My absence or my presence you know cannot hasten the period, 'till the +arrival of which our marriage cannot take place--_if_ it ever takes +place at all.' + +'_If_ it ever takes place at all?' repeated Lady Adelina--'Does then any +doubt remain of it?' + +'An affair of that sort,' replied Emmeline, assuming as much unconcern +as she could, 'is always doubtful where so many clashing interests and +opposite wishes are to be reconciled, and where so very young a man as +Mr. Delamere is to decide.' + +'Do you suspect that he wavers then?' very earnestly asked Lady Adelina, +fixing her eyes on the blushing face of Emmeline. + +'I really am not sure,' answered she--'you know my promise, reluctantly +given, was only conditional. I am far from being anxious to anticipate +by firmer engagements the certainty of it's being fulfilled; much better +contented I should be, if he yet took a few years longer to consider of +it. You, Lady Adelina,' continued she, smiling, 'are surely no advocate +for early marriages; and Mrs. Stafford is greatly averse to them. You +must therefore suppose that what my two friends have found inimical to +their happiness, I cannot consider as being likely to constitute mine.' + +This speech had the effect Emmeline intended. It brought back the +thoughts of Lady Adelina from the uncertainties of her friend to her own +actual sorrows. She sighed deeply. + +'You say truly,' said she. '_I_ have no reason to wish those I love may +precipitately form indissoluble engagements; nor _do_ I wish it. Would +to God _I_ had not been the victim of an hasty and unhappy marriage; or +that I had been the _only_ victim. Emmeline,' added she, lowering her +voice, now hardly audible, 'Emmeline, _may_ I ask?--where is--spare me +the repetition of a name I have solemnly vowed never to utter--you +understand me?' + +'I do,' answered Emmeline, gravely. 'He has been in Ireland; but is now +I suppose in London, as the time he told me he should pass there has +long since elapsed. I heard he was to return no more to Tylehurst, and +that Mr. Delamere had given up the house there; but of this I know +nothing from themselves. The person you enquire after, I have seen only +once, and that for half an hour. Mrs. Stafford can tell you more, if you +wish to hear it.' + +'Ah! pardon my wretched weakness, Emmeline! I know I ought to conquer +it! But I cannot help wishing--I cannot help being anxious to hear of +him! Yet would I conceal from every one but you that the recollection of +this unhappy man never a moment leaves me. Tell me, my angelic friend! +for of you I may ask and be forgiven--has he seen his son?' + +'He has; and was extremely affected. But dear Lady Adelina, do not, I +beseech you, enquire into the particulars of the interview. Try, my +beloved friend, to divest yourself of these painful recollections--ah! +try to recover your peace, and preserve your life, for the sake of our +dear little William and those friends who love you.' + +The unhappy Adelina, who notwithstanding all her efforts, was devoured +by an incurable affection for a man whom she had sworn to banish from +her heart for ever, and whose name her brother would not suffer her to +pronounce, now gave way to an agony of passion which she could indulge +only before Emmeline; and so violently was she affected by regret and +despair, that her friend trembled least her reason should again forsake +it's seat. She tried, by soothing and tenderness, to appease this +sudden effusion of grief; and had hardly restored her to some degree of +composure, before Mrs. Stafford entered the room and embraced most +cordially Lady Adelina, while Godolphin followed her with the little boy +in his arms. In contemplating the beauty of his nephew, he had forgotten +the misery of which his birth had been the occasion; for with all the +humanity of a brave man, Godolphin possessed a softness of heart, which +the helpless innocence of the son, and the repentant sorrow of the +mother, melted into more than feminine tenderness. He carried the child +to his sister, and put it into her arms-- + +'Take him, my Adelina!' said he--'take our dear boy: and while you +embrace and bless him, you will feel all you owe to those who have +preserved him.' + +Lady Adelina did indeed feel such complicated sensations that she was +unable to utter a word. She could only press the little boy to her heart +and bedew his face with tears. Her affecting silence and pale +countenance alarmed both Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline; and the former, +willing to give her thoughts a new turn, said-- + +'You do not suppose, my dear friends, that we intend to go back to +Southampton to night? so I hope you will give us some supper and beds in +this hospitable island.' + +Godolphin, who had been too much enchanted to think before, immediately +saw that the meaning of Mrs. Stafford's solicitude was merely to call +the thoughts of his sister from herself to her guests; he seconded +therefore this intention, by desiring Lady Adelina to give proper orders +about the apartments for her friends; and to take _his_ little boy to +that which had been prepared for his reception. The three ladies +therefore withdrew with the child; where Lady Adelina soon recovered +some degree of serenity, and was able to sit at table while they supped. + +Had Mrs. Stafford been before unsuspicious of the passion of Godolphin +for Emmeline, she would have been convinced of it during the course of +this evening. His voice, his countenance, his manner, evidently betrayed +it; and whenever the eyes of Emmeline were turned to any other object, +his were fixed on her face, with looks so expressive of tender +admiration, yet tempered by a kind of hopeless dejection, that the most +uninterested observer could hardly have mistaken his thoughts. + +But it was not her face, however interesting; or her form, however +graceful; that rivetted the chains of Godolphin. He had seen many faces +more regularly beautiful, and many figures equally elegant, with +indifference: he had heard, with coldness, the finest sentiments uttered +by the fairest mouths; and had listened to the brilliant sallies of +fashionable wit, with contempt. In Emmeline, he discovered a native +dignity of soul, an enlarged and generous heart, a comprehensive and +cultivated understanding, a temper at once soft and lively, with morals +the most pure, and manners simple, undesigning and ingenuous. To these +solid perfections, genius had added all the lighter graces; and nature, +a form which, enchanting as it must ever have been, seemed to receive +irresistible charms from the soul by which it was informed. + +All his philosophy could not prevent his being sensible of the +attractions of such a woman; nor was his resolution sufficiently strong +to enable him to struggle against their influence, even when he found he +had nothing to hope. But yielding to the painful delight of loving her, +he persuaded himself that tho' he could not conquer he could conceal it; +and that while she was ignorant of his passion it could be injurious +only to himself. + +His absence and silence during supper was broken only by his natural +politeness. After it concluded, they drew round the fire; and the three +ladies entered into one of those interesting conversations that are so +pleasant where mutual confidence and esteem reign among the party. + +Godolphin continued silent; and insensibly fell into a train of thought +the most dangerous to that appearance of indifference which he believed +he could observe. Looking at Emmeline as she talked to his sister, and +remembering all the friendship she had shewn her, hearing the sound of +her voice and the elegance of her expressions, he began insensibly to +consider how blessed he _might_ have been, had he known her before her +hand was promised and her affections given to the fortunate Delamere. + +'Had it but been _my_ lot!' said he to himself--'had it been _my_ +lot!--ah, what happiness, after the fatigues and dangers of my +profession, to return to this place which I love so much, and to be +received by such a friend--such a mistress--such a wife as she will +make!' He indulged these ideas, 'till absolutely lost in them, he was +unconscious of every thing but their impression, and starting up, he +struck his hands together and cried-- + +'Merciful heaven!--and can it then never be?' + +Alarmed at the suddenness of an exclamation so causeless, Lady Adelina +looked terrified and her friends amazed. + +'What, brother?--what are you speaking of?' enquired she. + +'I beg your pardon,' said Godolphin, instantly recollecting himself, and +blushing for this unguarded sally--'I beg your pardon. I was thinking of +some business I have to settle; but I do not deserve to be forgiven for +suffering my mind in such company to dwell on any thing but the pleasure +I enjoy; and for yielding to a foolish custom I have acquired of +uttering aloud whatever is immediately in my mind; an habit,' added he, +smiling, 'that has grown upon me by living so much alone. Since Lady +Adelina is now fixed with me, I hope I shall cease to speak and think +like an hermit, and be again humanized. Adelina, my love, you look +fatigued.' + +'Ah!' replied she, 'of what fatigue can I be sensible when with those +who I most love and value; and from whom, to-morrow--to-morrow I must +part!' + +'I doubt that extremely,' said Godolphin, trying to carry the +conversation entirely from his own strange behaviour. 'If I have any +skill in the weather, to-morrow will bring a gale of wind, which will +opportunely make prisoners of our two fair friends for another day.' + +'How infinitely,' cried Lady Adelina, 'shall I be obliged to it.' + +The rising of the wind during the whole evening had made Godolphin's +conjecture highly probable. Mrs. Stafford, impatient to return to her +children, whom she never willingly left wholly in the care of servants, +heard it's encreasing violence with regret. Emmeline tried to do so too; +but she could not prevail on herself to lament a circumstance likely to +keep her another day with Lady Adelina and her little boy. She wanted +too to see a little of this beautiful island, of which she had heard so +much; and found several other reasons for wishing to remain, without +allowing herself to suppose that Godolphin had on these wishes the +smallest influence. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +Early the next morning, Emmeline arose; and looking towards the sea, saw +a still encreasing tempest gathering visibly over it. She wandered over +the house; which tho' not large was chearful and elegant, and she +fancied every thing in it bore testimony to the taste and temper of its +master. The garden charmed her still more; surrounded by copse-wood and +ever-greens, and which seemed equally adapted to use and pleasure. The +country behind it, tho' divested of its foliage and verdure, appeared +more beautiful than any she had seen since she left Wales; and with +uncommon avidity she enjoyed, even amid the heavy gloom of an impending +storm, the great and magnificent spectacle afforded by the sea. By +reminding her of her early pleasures at Mowbray Castle, it brought back +a thousand half-obliterated and agreeable, tho' melancholy images to her +mind; while its grandeur gratified her taste for the sublime. + +As she was indulging these contemplations, the wind suddenly blew with +astonishing violence; and before Mrs. Stafford arose, the sea was become +so tempestuous and impracticable, that eagerly as she wished to return +to her children she could not think of braving it. + +Godolphin had seen Emmeline wandering along the cliff, and had +resolutely denied himself the pleasure of joining her; for from what had +passed the evening before, he began to doubt his own power to forbear +speaking to her of the subject that filled his heart. + +They now met at breakfast; and Emmeline was charmed with her walk, tho' +she had been driven from it by the turbulence of the weather, which by +this time had arisen to an hurricane. When their breakfast ended, Mrs. +Stafford followed Lady Adelina, who wanted to consult her on something +that related to the little boy; Godolphin went out to give some orders; +and Emmeline retired to a bow window which looked towards the sea. + +Could she have divested her mind of its apprehensions that what formed +for her a magnificent and sublime scene brought shipwreck and +destruction to many others, she would have been highly pleased with a +sight of the ocean in its present tremendous state. Lost in +contemplating the awful spectacle, she did not see or hear Godolphin; +who imagining she had left the room with his sister, had returned, and +with his arms crossed, and his eyes fixed on her face, stood on the +other side of the window like a statue. + +The gust grew more vehement, and deafened her with it's fury; while the +mountainous waves it had raised, burst thundering against the rocks and +seemed to shake their very foundation. Emmeline, at the picture her +imagination drew of their united powers of desolation, shuddered +involuntarily and sighed. + +'What disturbs Miss Mowbray?' said Godolphin. + +Emmeline, unwilling to acknowledge that she had been so extremely absent +as not to know he was in the room, answered, without expressing her +surprise to see him there--'I was thinking how fatal this storm which we +are contemplating, may be to the fortunes and probably the lives of +thousands.' + +'The gale,' returned Godolphin, 'is heavy, but by no means of such fatal +power as you apprehend. I have been at sea in several infinitely more +violent, and shall probably be in many others.' + +'I hope not,' answered Emmeline, without knowing what she said--'Surely +you do not mean it?' + +'A professional man,' said he, smiling, and flattered by the eagerness +with which she spoke, 'has, you know, no will of his own. I certainly +should not seek danger; but it is not possible in such service as ours +to avoid it.' + +'Why then do you not quit it?' + +'If I intended to give you a high idea of my _prudence_, I should say, +because I am a younger brother. But to speak honestly, that is not my +only motive; my fortune, limited as it is, is enough for all my wishes, +and will probably suffice for any I shall _now_ ever form; but a man of +my age ought not surely to waste in torpid idleness, or trifling +dissipation, time that may be usefully employed. Besides, I love the +profession to which I have been brought up, and, by engaging in which, I +owe a life to my country if ever it should be called for.' + +'God forbid it ever should!' said Emmeline, with quickness; 'for then,' +continued she, hesitating and blushing, 'what would poor Lady Adelina +do? and what would become of my dear little boy?' + +Godolphin, charmed yet pained by this artless expression of sensibility, +and thrown almost off his guard by the idea of not being wholly +indifferent to her, answered mournfully--'To them, indeed, my life may +be of some value; but to myself it is of none. Ah, Miss Mowbray! it +might have been worth preserving had I----But wherefore presume I to +trouble you on a subject so hopeless? I know not what has tempted me to +intrude on your thoughts the incoherences of a mind ill at ease. Pardon +me--and suffer not my folly to deprive me of the happiness of being your +friend, which is all I will ever pretend to.' + +He turned away, and hastened out of the room; leaving Emmeline in such +confusion that it was not 'till Mrs. Stafford came to call her to Lady +Adelina's dressing-room, that she remembered where she was, and the +necessity of recollecting her scattered thoughts. When they met at +dinner, she could not encounter the eyes of Godolphin without the +deepest blushes: Lady Adelina, given wholly up to the idea of their +approaching separation, and Mrs. Stafford, occupied by uneasiness of her +own, did not attend to the singularity of her manner. + +The latter had never beheld such a tempest as was now raging; and she +could not look towards the sea, whose high and foaming billows were +breaking so near them, without shivering at the terrifying recollection, +that in a very few hours her children, all she held dear on earth, would +be exposed to this capricious and furious element. Tho' of the steadiest +resolution in any trial that merely regarded herself, she was a coward +when these dear objects of her fondness were in question; and she could +not help expressing to Mr. Godolphin some part of her apprehensions. + +'As I have gained some credit,' answered he, 'for my sagacity in +foreseeing the gale, I might perhaps as well not hazard the loss of it, +by another prophecy, for which you, Lady Adelina, will not thank me.--It +will be fine, I am afraid, to-morrow.' + +'And the day following we embark for France,' said Mrs. Stafford; 'how +providential that we could not sail yesterday!' + +'Your heart fails you, my dear Mrs. Stafford,' replied Godolphin, 'and I +do not wonder at it. But I will tell you what you shall allow me to do: +I will attend you to-morrow to Southampton, where in the character of a +veteran seaman I will direct your departure, (as the whole pacquet is +yours) according to the appearance of the weather; and to indulge me +still farther, you shall suffer me to see you landed at Havre. Adelina, +I know, will be wretched 'till she hears you are safe on the other side; +and will therefore willingly spare me to bring her such intelligence; +and give me at the same time a fortunate opportunity of being useful to +you.' + +Mrs. Stafford, secretly rejoiced at a proposal which would secure them a +protector and as much safety as depended on human skill, could not +conceal her wish to assent to it; tho' she expressed great reluctance to +give him so much trouble. + +Godolphin then consulted the eyes of Emmeline, which on meeting his were +cast down; but he could not find that they expressed any displeasure at +his offer: he therefore assured Mrs. Stafford that he should consider it +as a pleasurable scheme with a party to whom he was indifferent; 'but +when,' added he, 'it gives me the means of being of the least use to +you, to Miss Mowbray, and your children, I shall find in it not only +pleasure but happiness. Alas! how poorly it will repay the twentieth +part of the obligation we owe you!' + +It was settled therefore that Mr. Godolphin was to cross the channel +with them. Again Emmeline tried to be sorry, and again found herself +incapable of feeling any thing but satisfaction in hearing that he would +be yet longer with them. + +During the rest of the evening, he tried to assume a degree of +chearfulness; and did in some measure feel it in the prospect of this +farther temporary indulgence. + +Lady Adelina, unable to conceal her concern, drooped without any effort +to imitate him; and when they parted for the night, could not help +deploring in terms of piercing regret their approaching separation. + +The assurances Godolphin had given them of a favourable morning were +fulfilled. They found that tho' there was yet a considerable swell, the +wind had subsided entirely, and that they might safely cross to +Southampton. The boat that was to convey them was ready; and Emmeline +could not take leave of Lady Adelina without sharing the anguish which +she could not mitigate. They embraced silently and in tears; and +Emmeline pressed to her heart the little boy, to whom she was tenderly +attached. + +Godolphin was a silent spectator of this melancholy farewel. The +softness of Emmeline's heart was to him her greatest charm, and he could +hardly help repeating, in the words of Louis XIV--'She has so much +sensibility that it must be an exquisite pleasure to be beloved by her!' + +He sighed in remembering that such could not be his happiness; then +wishing to shorten a scene which so violently affected the unsettled +spirits of Lady Adelina, he would have led Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline +away; but Lady Adelina insisted on following them to the shore; smiled +thro' her tears; and promised to behave better. Silently they walked to +the sea-side. Mrs. Stafford hastily embracing her, was handed into the +boat by Godolphin; who then advancing with forced gaiety to Emmeline, +about whom his sister still fondly hung, said--'Come, come, I must have +no more adieus--as if you were never to meet again.' + +'Ah! who can tell,' answered Lady Adelina, 'that we ever shall!' + +Emmeline spoke not; but kissing the hand of her weeping friend, gave her +own to Godolphin; while Lady Adelina, resting on the arm of her woman, +and overwhelmed with sorrow, suffered the boat to depart. + +It rowed swiftly away; favoured by the tide. Lady Adelina remained on +the shore as long as she could distinguish it; and then slowly and +reluctantly returned to solitude and tears: while her two friends, +attended by her brother, landed safely at Southampton, where he busied +himself in settling every thing for their departure the next morning in +the pacquet which they had hired, and which now lay ready to receive +them. + +During their passage to Havre, which was short and prosperous, the +attention of Godolphin was equally divided between Mrs. Stafford, her +children, and Emmeline. But when he assisted the latter to leave the +vessel, he could not forbear pressing her to his heart, while in a deep +sigh he bade adieu to the happiness of being with her; for he concluded +she would not long remain single, and after she was married he +determined never more to trust himself with the dangerous pleasure of +beholding her. + +He had never mentioned the name of Delamere; and knew not that he was +returned to England. Having once been assured of her engagement, he was +unable to enquire into the circumstances of what had destroyed his +happiness. He knew they were to be married in March, and that Delamere +had promised to remain on the Continent 'till that period. He doubted +not, therefore, but that Emmeline, in compliance with the entreaties of +her lover, had consented to accompany Mrs. Stafford to France, and by +her presence to charm away the months that yet intervened; after which +he supposed they would be immediately united. + +Notwithstanding some remarks he had made on the interest she seemed to +take in regard to himself, he imputed it merely to her general +sensibility and to his relationship to Lady Adelina. He supposed that +Delamere possessed her heart; and tho' it was the only possession on +earth that would give him any chance of happiness, he envied this happy +lover without hating him. He could not blame him for loving her, who was +in his own opinion irresistible; nor for having used the opportunity his +good fortune had given him of winning her affections. The longer he +conversed with her, the more he was convinced that Delamere, in being as +he believed master of that heart, was the most fortunate of human +beings. But tho' he had not resolution enough to refuse himself the +melancholy yet pleasing gratification of contemplating perfections which +he thought could never be his, and tho' he could not help sometimes +betraying the fondness which that indulgence hourly encreased, he never +seriously meditated supplanting the happy Delamere. He did not think +that to attempt it was honourable; and his integrity would have +prevented the trial, had he supposed it possible to succeed. + +Mrs. Stafford had at first seen with concern that Godolphin, whom she +sincerely esteemed, was nourishing for her friend a passion which could +only serve to make him unhappy. But she now saw it's progress rather +with pleasure than regret. She was piqued at the groundless jealousy and +rash injustice of Delamere towards Emmeline: and disappointed and +disgusted at Lord Montreville's conduct towards herself; sickening at +the little sincerity of the latter, and doubtful of the temper of the +former, she feared that if the alliance took place, her friend would +find less happiness than splendour: and she looked with partial eyes on +Godolphin; who in morals, manners, and temper, was equally +unexceptionable, and whose fortune, tho' inferior to his birth, was yet +enough for happiness in that style of life which she knew better +calculated for the temper and taste of Emmeline than the parade and +grandeur she might share with Delamere. + +Godolphin had no parents to accept her with disdainful and cold +acquiescence--no sister to treat her with supercilious condescension.--But +all his family, tho' of a rank superior to that of Delamere, would +receive her with transport, and treat her with the respect and affection +she deserved. + +Mrs. Stafford, however, spoke not to Emmeline of this revolution in her +sentiments, but chose rather to let the affair take it's course than to +be in any degree answerable for it's consequences. + +The hour in which Godolphin was to leave them now approached. Unable to +determine on bidding Emmeline farewel, he would still have lingered with +her, and would have gone on with them to Rouen, where Stafford waited +their arrival: but this, Mrs. Stafford was compelled to decline; fearing +least this extraordinary attention in a stranger should induce her +husband to make enquiry into their first acquaintance, and by that means +lead to discoveries which could not fail of being injurious to Lady +Adelina. + +Of all that related to her, he was at present ignorant. He had been +told, that the infant which his wife and Miss Mowbray so often visited, +was the son of an acquaintance of the latter; who being obliged soon +after it's birth to go to the West Indies, had sent it to Bath to +Emmeline, who had undertaken to overlook the nurse to whose care it was +committed. + +Into a circumstance which offered neither a scheme to occupy his mind, +or money to purchase his pleasures, Stafford thought it not then worth +his while farther to enquire; but now, in a country of which he +understood not the language, and detached from his usual pursuits, Mrs. +Stafford knew not what strange suspicions the assiduity of Godolphin +might excite in a head so oddly constructed; and without explaining her +reasons to Godolphin, she said enough to convince him that he must, with +whatever reluctance, leave the lovely travellers at Havre. + +He busied himself, however, in adjusting every thing for the safety of +their journey; and being in the course of their preparations left alone +with Emmeline in a room of the hotel, he could not forbear using the +last opportunity he was likely to have of speaking to her.-- + +'Has Miss Mowbray any commands to Lady Adelina?' + +'My most affectionate love!' answered Emmeline, 'my truest remembrance! +And tell her, that the moment I am settled I will give her an account of +my situation, and of all that happens worth her knowing.' + +'We shall hear then,' said he, forcing a melancholy smile, 'we shall +hear when you meet the fortunate, the happy Mr. Delamere.' + +'Lady Adelina,' blushingly replied Emmeline, 'will certainly know it if +I should meet him; but nothing is at present more improbable.' + +'Tis now,' reassumed Godolphin, 'the last week of +January--February--March--ah! how soon March will come! Tell me, how +long in that month may Adelina direct to Miss Mowbray?' + +'Mr. Delamere, Sir,' said Emmeline, gravely, 'is not now in France.' + +'But may he not immediately return thither from Geneva or any other +place? Is my sister, Lady Westhaven, to be present at the ceremony?' + +'The ceremony,' answered she, half angry and half vexed, 'may perhaps +never take place.' + +The awkwardness of her situation in regard to Delamere arose forcibly to +her mind, and something lay very heavy at her heart. She tried to check +the tears which were filling her eyes, least they should be imputed to a +very different cause; but the effort she made to conquer her feelings +rendered them more acute. She took out a handkerchief to wipe away these +involuntary betrayers of her emotion, and sitting down, audibly sobbed. + +Godolphin had asked these questions, in that sort of desperate +resolution which a person exerts who determines to know, in the hope of +being able to endure, the worst that can befal him. But he was now +shocked at the distress they had occasioned, and unable to bear the +sight of her tears. + +'Pardon me,' cried he, 'pardon me, most lovely, most amiable +Emmeline!--oh! pardon me for having given a moment's pain to that soft +and sensible bosom. Had I suspected that a reference to an event towards +which I supposed you looked forward with pleasure, could thus affect +you, I had not presumed to name it. Whenever it happens,' added he, +after a short pause--'whenever it happens, Delamere will be the most +enviable of human beings: and may you, Madam, be as happy as you are +truly deserving of happiness!' + +He dared not trust his voice with another word: but under pretence of +fetching a glass of water left the room, and having recovered himself, +quickly returned and offered it to Emmeline, again apologizing for +having offended her. + +She took the glass from him; and faintly smiling thro' her tears, said +in the gentlest accents--'I am not offended--I am only low spirited. +Tired by the voyage, and shrinking from the fatigue of a long journey, +yet you talk to me of a journey for life, on which I may never set out +in the company you mention--and still more probably never undertake at +all.' + +The entrance of Mrs. Stafford, who came to entreat some directions from +Godolphin, prevented the continuance of this critical conversation; in +which, whatever the words imported in regard to Delamere, he found but +little hope for himself. He attributed what Emmeline had said to mere +evasion, and her concern to some little accidental neglect on the part +of her lover which had excited her displeasure. Ignorant of the jealousy +Delamere had conceived from the misrepresentation of the Crofts', which +the solicitude of Emmeline for the infant of Lady Adelina had so +immediately matured, he had not the most distant idea of the truth; nor +suspected that the passion of Delamere for Emmeline, which he knew had +within a few weeks been acknowledged without hesitation, and received +with encouragement, was now become to him a source of insupportable +torment; that she had left England without bidding him adieu, or even +informing him that she was gone. + +The two chaises were now ready; and Godolphin having placed in the +first, Mrs. Stafford and her younger children, approached Emmeline to +lead her to the second, in which she was to accompany the elder. He +stopped a moment as they were quitting the room, and said--'I cannot, +Miss Mowbray, bid you adieu till you say you forgive me for the +impertinence of my questions.' + +'For impertinence?' answered Emmeline, giving him her hand--'I cannot +forgive you, because I know not that you have been guilty of it. Before +I go, however, allow me to thank you most sincerely for the protection +you have afforded us.' + +'And not one word,' cried he, 'not one parting good wish to your little +_protegé_--to my poor William?' + +'Ah! I send him a thousand!' answered Emmeline. + +'And one last kiss, which I will carry him.' She suffered him to salute +her; and then he hastily led her to the chaise; and, as he put her in, +said very solemnly--'Let me repeat my wishes, Madam, that wheresoever +you are, you may enjoy felicity--felicity which I shall never again +know; and that Mr. Delamere--the fortunate Delamere--may be as sensible +of your value as----' + +Emmeline, to avoid hearing this sentence concluded, bade the chaise +proceed. It instantly did so with all the velocity a French postillion +could give it; and hardly allowed her to observe the mournful +countenance and desponding air with which Godolphin bowed to her, as +she, waving her hand, again bade him adieu! + +The travellers arrived in due time safe at Rouen; where Mrs. Stafford +found that her husband had been prevented meeting her, by the necessity +he fancied himself under to watch the early nests of his Canary birds, +of which he had now made a large collection, and whose encrease he +attended to with greater solicitude than the arrival of his family. Mrs. +Stafford saw with an eye of hopeless regret a new source of expence and +absurdity opened; but knowing that complaints were more likely to +produce anger and resentment in his mind, than any alteration in his +conduct, she was obliged to conceal her chagrin, and to take possession +of the gloomy chateau which her husband had chosen for her residence, +about six miles from Rouen; while Emmeline, with her usual equality of +temper, tried to reconcile herself to her new abode, and to share and +relieve the fatigue and uneasiness of her friend. She found the activity +she was for this purpose compelled to exert, assuaged and diverted that +pain which she now could no longer hope to conquer, tho' she had not yet +had the courage to ascertain, by a narrow examination of her heart in +regard to Godolphin, that it would be removed no more. + +On the evening after he had bade her adieu, Godolphin embarked in the +pacquet which was on it's departure to England. The weather, tho' cold, +was calm; and he sat down on the deck, where, after they had got a few +leagues from France, all was profoundly quiet. Only the man at the helm +and one sailor were awake on board. The vessel glided thro' the expanse +of water; while the soul of Godolphin fled back to Emmeline, and dwelt +with lingering fondness on the object of all it's affection. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Emmeline having thus quitted England, and Delamere appearing no longer +to think of her, the Crofts', who had brought about an event so +desirable for Lord Montreville, thought it time to claim the reward of +such eminent service. + +Miss Delamere, in meeting Lady Westhaven at Paris, had severely felt all +the difference of their situation; and as she had repented of her +clandestine union almost as soon as she had formed it, the comparison +between her sister's husband and her own had embittered her temper, +never very good, and made her return to England with reluctance; where +she knew that she could not long evade acknowledging her marriage, and +taking the inferior and humiliating name of _Mrs. Crofts_. + +To avoid returning was however not in her power; nor could she prevail +on Crofts to delay a declaration which must be attended with +circumstances, to her most mortifying and unpleasant. But impatient to +demand a daughter of Lord Montreville as his wife, and still more +impatient to receive twelve thousand pounds, which was her's independant +of her father, he would hear of no delay; and the present opportunity of +conciliating Lord and Lady Montreville, was in the opinion of all the +Crofts' family not to be neglected. + +Sir Richard undertook to disclose the affair to Lord Montreville, and to +parry the first effusions of his Lordship's anger by a very common, yet +generally successful stratagem, that of affecting to be angry first, and +drowning by his own clamours the complaints of the party really injured. + +For this purpose, he waited early one morning on Lord Montreville, and +with a countenance where scornful superiority was dismissed for +pusillanimous dejection, he began.-- + +'My Lord--when I reflect and consider and remember the innumerable, +invaluable and extraordinary favours, kindnesses and obligations I owe +your Lordship, my heart bleeds--and I lament and deplore and regret that +it is my lot to announce and declare and discover, what will I fear give +infinite concern and distress and uneasiness to you--and my Lord----' + +'What is all this, Sir Richard?' cried Lord Montreville, hastily +interrupting him.--'Is Delamere married?' + +'Heaven forbid!' answered the hypocritical Crofts.--'Bad, and unwelcome, +and painful as what I have to say is, it does not amount or arise to +that misfortune and calamity.' + +'Whatever it is Sir,' said his Lordship impatiently, 'let me hear it at +once.--Is it a dismission from my office?' + +'Never, I hope!' replied Sir Richard. 'At least, for many years to come, +may this country not know and feel and be sensible of such a loss, +deprivation and defection. My Lord, my present concern is of a very +different nature; and I do assure and protest to your Lordship that no +time nor intreaties nor persuasion will erase and obliterate and wipe +away from my mind, the injury and prejudice the parties have done _me_, +by thus----' + +'Keep me no longer in suspense!' almost angrily cried Lord Montreville. + +'Mr. Crofts, my Lord; Mr. Crofts is, I find, married--' + +'To _my_ daughter, Sir Richard.--Is it not so?' + +'He is indeed, my Lord! and from this moment I disclaim, and renounce +and protest against him; for my Lord----' + +Sir Richard continued his harangue, to which Lord Montreville did not +seem to attend. He was a moment silent, and then said-- + +'I have been more to blame than the parties.--I might have foreseen +this. But I thought Fanny's pride a sufficient defence against an +inferior alliance. Pray Sir, does Lady Montreville know of this +marriage?' + +Sir Richard then related all that his son had told him; interlarding his +account with every circumstance that might induce his Lordship to +believe he was himself entirely ignorant of the intrigue. Lord +Montreville, however, knew too much of mankind in general, and of the +Crofts' in particular, to give implicit credit to this artful recital. +But Sir Richard was now become so necessary to him, and they had so many +secrets in common of great consequence to the political reputation of +both, that he could not determine to break with him. He considered too +that resentment could not unmarry his daughter; that the lineal honours +of his family could not be affected by her marriage; and that he owed +the Crofts' some favour for having counteracted the indiscretion of +Delamere. Determining therefore, after a short struggle, to sacrifice +his pride to his politics, he dismissed Sir Richard with infinitely less +appearance of resentment than he expected; and after long contention +with the furious and irascible pride of his wife, prevailed upon her to +let her daughter depart without her malediction. She would not see +Crofts, or pardon her daughter; protesting that she never could be +reconciled to a child of her's who bore such an appellation as that of +'_Mrs. Crofts_.' Soon afterwards, however, the Marquisate which Lord +Montreville had been so long promised was to be granted him. But his +wife could not bear, that by assuming a title which had belonged to the +Mowbray family, (a point he particularly wished to obtain) he should +drop or render secondary those honours which he derived from _her_ +ancestors. Wearied by her persecution, and accustomed to yield to her +importunity, he at length gratified her, by relinquishing the name he +wished to bear, and taking the title of Marquis of Montreville, while +his son assumed that of Viscount Delamere. This circumstance seemed +more than any other to reconcile Lady Montreville to her eldest +daughter, whose surname she could evade under the more satisfactory +appellation of Lady Frances. She was now therefore admitted to her +mother's presence; Crofts received an haughty and reluctant pardon; and +some degree of tranquillity was restored to the noble house of +Mowbray-Delamere; while the Crofts', more elated and consequential than +before, behaved as if they had inherited and deserved the fortune and +splendor that surrounded them: and the table, the buildings, the +furniture of Sir Richard, vied in expence and magnificence with those of +the most affluent of the nobility. + +Lord Delamere, to whom the acquisition of a title could offer nothing in +mitigation of the anguish inflicted by disappointed love, was now at +Dublin; where, immediately on his arrival, he had enquired for Colonel +Fitz-Edward at the house of his brother, Lord Clancarryl. + +As the family were in the country, and only a servant in it, he could +not for some days obtain the information he wanted. He heard, however, +that Lord Clancarryl was very soon expected, and for his arrival he +determined to wait. In this interval of suspense, he heard from a +correspondent in England, that Miss Mowbray had not only disappeared +from Woodfield, but had actually quitted England; and was gone no one +knew precisely whither; but it was generally supposed to France. + +Tho' he had sworn in bitterness of heart to drive for ever from it this +perfidious and fatal beauty, it seemed as if forgetting his resolution, +he had in this intelligence received a new injury. He still fancied that +she should have told him of her design to quit England, without +recollecting that he had given her no opportunity to speak to him at +all. + +Again he felt his anger towards Fitz-Edward animated almost to madness; +and again impatiently sought to hasten a meeting when he might discuss +with him all the mischief he had sustained. + +Lord Clancarryl coming for a few days to Dublin, found there letters +from Lord Montreville, in which his Lordship bespoke for his son the +acquaintance of the Clancarryl family. Desirous of shewing every +attention to a young man so nearly connected with his wife's family, by +the marriage of her brother, Lord Westhaven, to his youngest sister, and +related also to himself, Lord Clancarryl immediately sought Delamere; +and was surprised to find, that instead of receiving his advances with +warmth or even with politeness, he hardly returned them with common +civility, and seemed to attend to nothing that was said. The first pause +in the conversation, however, Delamere took advantage of to enquire +after Colonel Fitz-Edward. + +'My brother,' answered Lord Clancarryl, 'left us only three days ago.' + +'For London, my Lord?' + +'No; he is gone with two other friends on a kind of pleasurable +tour.--They hired a sloop at Cork to take them to France.' + +'To France!' exclaimed Delamere--'Mr. Fitz-Edward gone to France?' + +'Yes,' replied Lord Clancarryl, somewhat wondering at the surprise +Delamere expressed--'and I promoted the plan as much as I could; for +poor George is, I am afraid, in a bad state of health; his looks and his +spirits are not what they used to be. Chearful company, and this little +tour, may I hope restore them. But how happens it that he knew not, Sir, +of your return? He was persuaded you were still abroad; and expressed +some pleasure at the thoughts of meeting you when you least expected +it.' + +'No, no, my Lord,' cried Delamere, in a voice rendered almost +inarticulate by contending passions--'his hope was not to meet _me_. He +is gone with far other designs.' + +'What designs, Lord Delamere?' gravely asked Lord Clancarryl. + +'My Lord,' answered Delamere, recollecting himself, 'I mean not to +trouble you on this matter. I have some business to adjust with Mr. +Fitz-Edward; and since he is not here, have only to request of your +Lordship information when he returns, or whither a letter may follow +him?' + +'Sir,' returned Lord Clancarryl with great gravity, 'I believe I can +answer for Colonel Fitz-Edward's readiness to settle _any business_ you +may desire to adjust with him; and I wish, since there is _business_ +between ye, that I could name the time when you are likely to meet him. +All, however, I can decidedly say is, that he intends going to Paris, +but that his stay in France will not exceed five or six weeks in the +whole; and that such letters as I may have occasion to send, are to be +addressed to the care of Monsieur de Guisnon, banker, at Paris.' + +Delamere having received this intelligence, took a cold leave; and Lord +Clancarryl, who had before heard much of his impetuous temper and +defective education, was piqued at his distant manner, and returned to +his house in the country without making any farther effort to cultivate +his friendship. + +Debating whether he should follow Fitz-Edward to France or wait his +return to Ireland, Delamere remained, torn with jealousy and distracted +by delay. He was convinced beyond a doubt, that Fitz-Edward had met +Emmeline in France by her own appointment. 'But let them not,' cried +he--'let them not hope to escape me! Let them not suppose I will +relinquish my purpose 'till I have punished their infamy or cease to +feel it!--Oh, Emmeline! Emmeline! is it for this I pursued--for this I +won thee!' + +The violence of those emotions he felt after Lord Clancarryl's +departure, subsided only because he had no one to listen to, no one to +answer him. He determined, as Lord Clancarryl seemed so certain of his +brother's return in the course of six weeks, to wait in Ireland 'till +the end of that period, since there was but little probability of his +meeting him if he pursued him to France. He concluded that wherever +Emmeline was, Fitz-Edward might be found also; but the residence of +Emmeline he knew not, nor could he bear a moment to think that he might +see them together. + +The violence of his resentment, far from declining, seemed to resist all +the checks it's gratification received, and to burn with accumulated +fury. His nights brought only tormenting dreams; his days only a +repetition of unavailing anguish. + +He had several acquaintances among young men of fashion at Dublin. With +them he sometimes associated; and tried to forget his uneasiness in the +pleasures of the table; and sometimes he shunned them entirely, and shut +himself up to indulge his disquiet. + +In the mean time, Lady Clancarryl was extremely mortified at the account +her husband gave her of Delamere's behaviour. She knew that her brother, +Lord Westhaven, would be highly gratified by any attention shewn to the +family of his wife; particularly to a brother to whom Lady Westhaven was +so much attached. She therefore entreated her Lord to overlook +Delamere's petulance, and renew the invitation he had given him to Lough +Carryl. But his Lordship, disgusted with the reception he had before met +with, laughed, and desired her to try whether _her_ civilities would be +more graciously accepted. Lady Clancarryl therefore took the trouble to +go herself to Dublin: where she so pressingly insisted on Delamere's +passing a fortnight with them, that he could not evade the invitation +without declaring his animosity against Fitz-Edward, and his resolution +to demand satisfaction--a declaration which could not fail of rendering +his purpose abortive. He returned, therefore, to Lough Carryl with her +Ladyship; meaning to stay only a few days, and feeling hurt at being +thus compelled to become the inmate of a family into which he might so +soon carry grief and resentment. + +Godolphin, after his return to the Isle of Wight, abandoned himself more +than ever to the indulgence of his passion. He soothed yet encreased his +melancholy by poetry and music; and Lady Adelina for some time +contributed to nourish feelings too much in unison with her own. He now +no longer affected to conceal from her his attachment to her lovely +friend; but to her only it was known. Her voice, and exquisite taste, he +loved to employ in singing the verses he made; and he would sit hours by +her _piano forté_ to hear repeated one of the many sonnets he had +written on her who occupied all his thoughts. + + + SONNET + + When welcome slumber sets my spirit free + Forth to fictitious happiness it flies, + And where Elysian bowers of bliss arise + I seem, my Emmeline--to meet with thee! + + Ah! Fancy then, dissolving human ties, + Gives me the wishes of my soul to see; + Tears of fond pity fill thy softened eyes; + In heavenly harmony--our hearts agree. + + Alas! these joys are mine in dreams alone, + When cruel Reason abdicates her throne! + Her harsh return condemns me to complain + Thro' life unpitied, unrelieved, unknown. + And, as the dear delusions leave my brain, + She bids the truth recur--with aggravated pain. + + +But Lady Adelina herself at length grew uneasy at beholding the progress +of this unhappy passion. His mind seemed to have lost all it's strength, +and to be incapable of making even an effort to shake off an affection +which his honour would not allow him to attempt rendering successful. +His spirits, affected by the listless solitude in which he lived, were +sunk into hopeless despondence; and his sister was every day more +alarmed, not only for his peace but for his life. She therefore tried +to make him determine to quit her, for a short abode in London; but to +do that he absolutely refused. Lord Clancarryl had long pressed him to +go to Ireland: he had not seen his eldest sister for some years; and +ardently wished to embrace her and her children. But Fitz-Edward was at +her house; and to meet Fitz-Edward was impossible. Lady Clancarryl, +deceived by a plausible story, which had been framed to account for Lady +Adelina's absence, was, as well as her Lord, entirely ignorant of the +share Fitz-Edward had in it: they believed it to have been occasioned +solely by her antipathy to Trelawny, and her fear lest her relations +should insist on her again residing with him; and it was necessary that +nothing should be said to undeceive them. + +Godolphin had therefore been obliged to form several excuses to account +for his declining the pressing invitations he received; and he found +that his eldest sister was already much hurt by his apparent neglect. In +one of her last letters, she had mentioned that Fitz-Edward was gone to +France; and Lady Adelina pointed out to Godolphin several passages which +convinced him he had given pain by his long absence to his beloved +Camilla, and prevailed upon him to go to Ireland. He arrived therefore +at Lough Carryl two days after his sister had returned thither with Lord +Delamere. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +Mr. Godolphin was extremely surprised to find, in Ireland, Delamere, the +happy Delamere! who he supposed had long since been with Emmeline, +waiting the fortunate hour that was to unite them for ever. A very few +weeks now remained of the year which he had promised to remain +unmarried; yet instead of his being ready to attend his bride to +England, to claim in the face of the world his father's consent, he was +lingering in another country, where he appeared to have come only to +indulge dejection; for he frequently fled from society, and when he was +in it, forgot himself in gloomy reveries. + +Nobody knew why he came to Ireland, unless to satisfy a curiosity of +which nothing appeared to remain; yet he still continued there; and as +Lord and Lady Clancarryl were now used to his singular humour, they +never enquired into it's cause; while he, flattered by the regard of two +persons so amiable and respectable, suffered not his enmity to +Fitz-Edward to interfere with the satisfaction he sometimes took in +their society; tho' he oftener past the day almost entirely alone. +Godolphin could not repress the anxious curiosity he felt, to know what, +at this period, could separate lovers whose union appeared so certain. +But this curiosity he had no means of satisfying. Lady Clancarryl had +heard nothing of his engagement, or any hint of his approaching +marriage; and tho' he was on all other topics, when he entered at all +into conversation, remarkably open and unguarded, he spoke not, in +company, of any thing that related to himself. + +He seemed, however, to seek a closer intimacy with Godolphin, whose +excellent character he had often heard, and whose appearance and +conversation confirmed all that had been reported in his favour. +Godolphin neither courted him or evaded his advances; but could not help +looking with astonishment on a man, who on the point of being the +husband of the most lovely woman on earth, could saunter in a country +where he appeared to have neither attachments or satisfaction. Sometimes +he almost ventured to hope that their engagement was dissolved: but then +recollecting that Lady Adelina had assured him the promise of Emmeline +was still uncancelled, he checked so flattering an illusion, and +returned again to uncertainty and despondence. + +On the third day after Godolphin's arrival, Delamere, who intended to go +back to Dublin the following morning save one, joined Lady Clancarryl +and her brother in the drawing-room immediately after dinner. + +Godolphin, on account of the expected return of Fitz-Edward, had +determined to make only a short stay at Lough Carryl. He wished to carry +with him to his own house, portraits of his sister and her children; and +was expressing to her this wish--'I should like to have them,' said he, +'in a large miniature; the same size as one I have of Adelina.' + +'Have you then a portrait of Adelina,' enquired Lady Clancarryl, 'and +have not yet shewn it me?' + +'I have,' answered Godolphin; 'but my sister likes not that it should be +seen. It is very like her _now_, but has little resemblance to her +former pictures. This is painted by a young lady, her friend.' He then +took it out of his pocket, and gave it to Lady Clancarryl. + +'And is Adelina so thin and pale,' asked her Ladyship, 'as she is here +represented?' + +'More so,' answered Godolphin. + +'She is then greatly changed.--Yet the eyes and features, and the whole +air of the countenance, I should immediately have acknowledged.' +Continuing to look pensively at the picture, she added, 'Tis charmingly +coloured; and might represent a very lovely and penitent Magdalen. The +black veil, and tearful eye, are beautifully touched. But why did you +indulge her in this melancholy taste?' + +Godolphin, excessively hurt at this, speech, answered mournfully--'Poor +Adelina, you know, has had little reason to be gay.' + +Delamere, who during this conversation seemed lost in his own +reflections, now suddenly advanced, and desired Lady Clancarryl would +favour him with a sight of the picture. He took it to a candle; and +looking steadily on it, was struck with the lightness of the drawing, +which extremely resembled the portraits Emmeline was accustomed to make; +tho' this was more highly finished than any he had yet seen of her's. + +Without being able to account for his idea, since nothing was more +likely than that the drawing of two persons might resemble each other, +he looked at the back of the picture, which was of gold; and in the +centre a small oval crystal contained the words _Em. Mowbray_, in hair, +and under it the name of _Adelina Trelawny_. It was indeed a memorial of +Emmeline's affection to her friend; and the name was in her own hair;--a +circumstance that made it as dear to Godolphin as the likeness it bore +to his sister: and the whole was rendered in his eyes inestimable, by +it's being painted by herself. Delamere, astonished and pained he knew +not why, determined to hear from Godolphin himself the name of the +paintress: returning it to him, he said--'A lady, you say, Sir, drew it. +May I ask her name?' + +Godolphin, now first aware of the indiscretion he had committed, and +flattering himself that the chrystal had not been inspected, answered +with an affectation of pleasantry--'Oh! I believe it is a secret between +my sister and her friend which I have no right to reveal; and to tell +you the truth I teized Adelina to give me the picture, and obtained it +only on condition of not shewing it.' + +Delamere, who had so often sworn to forget her, still fancied he had a +right to be exclusively acquainted with all that related to Emmeline. He +felt himself piqued by this evasion, and answered somewhat quickly--'I +know the drawing, Sir; it is done by Miss Mowbray.' + +Godolphin was then compelled to answer 'that it was.' + +'I envy Miss Mowbray her charming talent,' cried Lady Clancarryl. 'Pray +who is Miss Mowbray?' + +'A relation of Lord Delamere's,' answered Godolphin; 'and a most lovely +and amiable young woman.' + +Delamere, whose varying countenance ill seconded his attempt to appear +indifferent on this subject, now grew pale, now red. + +'Are you acquainted then with Miss Mowbray, Sir?' said he to Godolphin. + +'I have seen her,' replied Godolphin, 'with my sister, Lady Adelina +Trelawny.' + +He then hurried the discourse to some other topic; being unwilling to +answer any other questions that related either to his sister or her +friend. + +But Delamere, whose wounds bled afresh at the name of Emmeline, and who +could not resist enquiring after her of a person who had so lately seen +her, took the earliest opportunity of seeking Godolphin to renew this +discourse. + +They met therefore the following morning in the breakfast parlour; and +Delamere suddenly turning the conversation from the topics of the day, +said--'You are, I find, acquainted with Miss Mowbray. You may perhaps +know that she is not only a relation of mine, but that I _was_ +particularly interested in whatever related to her.' + +Godolphin, whose heart fluttered so as almost to deprive him of speech, +answered very gravely--'I have heard so from Mrs. Stafford.' + +'Then you know, perhaps----But you are undoubtedly well acquainted with +Colonel Fitz-Edward?' + +'Certainly,' replied Godolphin. 'He was one of my most intimate +friends.' + +'Then, Sir,' cried Delamere, losing all temper, 'one of your most +intimate friends is a villain!' + +Godolphin, shocked at an expression which gave him reason to apprehend +Lady Adelina's story was known, answered with great emotion--'You will +be so good, my Lord, as to explain that assertion; which, whatever may +be it's truth, is very extraordinary when made thus abruptly to me.' + +'You are a man of honour, Mr. Godolphin, and I will not conceal from you +the cruel injuries I have sustained from Fitz-Edward, nor that I wait +here only to have an opportunity of telling him that I bear them not +tamely.' He then related, in terms equally warm and bitter, the supposed +alienation of Emmeline's affections by the artifices of Fitz-Edward, +enumerated all the imaginary proofs with which the invidious artifices +of the Crofts' had furnished him, and concluded by asserting, that he +had himself seen, in the arms of Emmeline, a living witness of her ruin, +and the perfidy of his faithless friend. + +To this detail, including as it did the real history of his sister under +the false colours in which the Crofts' had drest it to mislead Delamere +and destroy Emmeline, Godolphin listened with sensations impossible to +be described. He could not hear without horror the character of Emmeline +thus cruelly blasted; yet her vindication he could not undertake without +revealing to a stranger the unhappy story of Lady Adelina, which he had +with infinite difficulty concealed even from his own family. + +The fiery and impatient spirit of Delamere blazing forth in menace and +invective, gave Godolphin time to collect his thoughts; and he almost +immediately determined, whatever it cost him, to clear up the reputation +of Emmeline. + +Tho' he saw, that to explain the whole affair must put the character of +his sister, which he had been so solicitous to preserve, into the power +of an inconsiderate young man, yet he thought he might trust to the +honour and humanity of Delamere to keep the secret; and however +mortifying such a measure appeared, his justice as well as his love +would not allow him to suffer the innocent Emmeline to remain under an +imputation which she had incurred only by her generous and disinterested +attentions to the weakness and misfortunes of another. + +But resolutely as he bore the pain of these reflections, he shrunk from +others with which they were mingled: he foresaw, that as soon as the +jealousy of Delamere was by his information removed; his love, which +seemed to be as passionate as ever, would prompt him to seek a +reconciliation: his repentance would probably be followed by Emmeline's +forgiveness and their immediate union. + +Farewel then for ever to all the hopes he had nourished since his +unexpected meeting with Delamere!--Farewel to every expectation of +happiness for ever! + +But tho' in relinquishing these delightful visions he relinquished all +that gave a value to life, so truly did he love and revere her, that to +have the spotless purity of her name sullied even by a doubt seemed an +insupportable injustice to himself; and his affection was of a nature +too noble to owe it's success to a misrepresentation injurious to it's +object. That the compassion which had saved his sister, should be the +cause of her having suffered from the malicious malice of the Crofts' +and the rash jealousy of Delamere, redoubled all his concern; and he was +so much agitated and hurt, that without farther consideration he was on +the point of relating the truth instantly, had not the entry of Lord +Clancarryl for that time put an end to their discourse: from this +resolution, formed in the integrity of his upright heart, nothing could +long divert him; yet he reflected, as soon as he was alone, on the +violent and ungovernable passions which seemed to render Delamere, +unguided by reason and incapable of hearing it. He was apprehensive that +the discovery, if made to him at Lough Carryl, might influence him to +say or do something that might discover to Lady Clancarryl the unhappy +story of her sister; and he thought it better to delay the explanation +'till he could follow Delamere to Dublin, which he determined to do in a +few days after he left Lough Carryl. + +This interval gave him time to feel all the pain of the sacrifice he was +about to make. Nor could all his strength of mind, and firmness of +honour, prevent his reluctance or cure his anguish. + +He was about to restore to the arms of his rival, the only woman he had +ever really loved; and whom he adored with the most ardent passion, at +the very moment that his honour compelled him to remove the impediments +to her marriage with another. + +Sometimes he thought that he might at least indulge himself in the +melancholy pleasure of relating to her in a letter, what he had done, as +soon as the explanation should be made: but even this gratification he +at length determined to refuse himself. + +'If she loves Delamere,' said he, 'she will perhaps rejoice in the +effect and forget the cause. If she has, as I have sometimes dared to +hope, some friendship and esteem for the less fortunate Godolphin, why +should I wound a heart so full of sensibility by relating the conflicts +of my soul and the passion I have vainly indulged?' + +A latent hope, however, almost unknown, at least unacknowledged, +lingered in his heart. It _was_ possible that Emmeline, resenting the +injurious suspicions and rash accusations of Delamere, might refuse to +fulfil her engagement. But whenever this feeble hope in spite of himself +arose, he remembered her soft and forgiving temper, her strict adherence +to her word on other occasions, and it faded in a conviction that she +would pardon her repentant lover when he threw himself on her mercy; and +not evade a promise so solemnly given, which he learned from Delamere +himself had never been cancelled. + +Delamere now returned to Dublin; and in a few days Godolphin followed +him: but on enquiring at his lodgings, he heard that he was gone out of +town for some days with some of his friends on a party of pleasure. +Godolphin left a letter for him desiring to see him immediately on his +return; and then again resigned himself to the painful delight of +thinking of Emmeline, and to the conscious satisfaction of becoming the +vindicator and protector of her honour even unknown to herself. + +Emmeline, in the mean time, unhappy in the unhappiness of those she +loved, and by no means flattered by the prospect of dependance thro' +life, of which Lord Montreville now made her see all the dreariness and +desolation, by the careless and irregular manner in which even her small +quarterly stipend was remitted to her, yet exerted all her fortitude to +support the spirits of Mrs. Stafford. Calm in the possession of +conscious innocence, and rich in native integrity and nobleness of +nature, she was, tho' far from happy herself, enabled to mitigate the +sorrows of others. Nor was her residence, (otherwise disagreeable and +forlorn enough,) entirely without it's advantages: it afforded her time +and opportunity to render herself perfectly mistress of the language of +the country; of which she had before only a slight knowledge. To the +study of languages, her mind so successfully applied itself, that she +very soon spoke and wrote French with the correctness not only of a +native, but of a native well educated. + +While she thus suffered banishment in consequence of the successful +intrigues of the Crofts' family, they enjoyed all the advantages of +their prosperous duplicity; at least they enjoyed all the satisfaction +that arises from accumulating wealth and an ostentatious display of it. +Sir Richard, by the political knowledge his place afforded him, had been +enabled (by means of trusty agents) to carry on such successful traffic +in the stocks, that he now saw himself possessed of wealth greater than +his most sanguine hopes had ever presented to his imagination. But as +his fortune enlarged, his spirit seemed to contract in regard to every +thing that did not administer to his pride or his appetite. In the +luxuries of the table, his house, his gardens, he expended immense sums; +and the astonished world saw, with envy and indignation, wealth, which +seemed to be ill-gotten, as profusely squandered: but dead to every +generous and truly liberal sentiment, these expences were confined only +to himself; and in regard to others he still nourished the sordid +prejudices and narrow sentiments with which he set out in life--a needy +adventurer, trusting to cunning and industry for scanty and precarious +bread. Mr. Crofts, who had received twelve thousand pounds with his +wife, (whose clandestine marriage had prevented it's being secured in +settlement,) used it, as his father directed, in gaming in the stocks, +with equal avidity and equal success. Lady Frances, in having married +beneath herself, had yet relinquished none of the privileges of high +birth: she played deep, dressed in the extremity of expence, and was +celebrated for the whimsical splendor of her equipages and the +brilliancy of her assemblies. Her husband loved money almost as well as +the fame acquired by these fashionable displays of her Ladyship's taste; +but on the slightest hint of disapprobation, he was awed into silence by +her scornful indignation; and with asperity bade to observe, that tho' +the daughter of the Marquis of Montreville had so far forgotten her rank +as to marry the son of Crofts the attorney, she would allow nobody else +to forget that she was still the daughter of the Marquis of Montreville. + +This right honourable eloquence subdued the plebeian spirit of Crofts; +while he was also compelled to submit patiently, lest Lord Montreville +should be offended and withhold the fortune he farther expected to +receive. Lady Frances therefore pursued the most extravagant career of +dissipation unchecked. She was young, handsome and vain; and saw every +day new occasion to lament having thrown herself away on Crofts: and as +she could not now release herself from him, she seemed determined to +render him at least a fashionable husband. + +Mrs. James Crofts trod as nearly as she could in the footsteps of Lady +Frances; whose name she seemed to take exquisite pleasure in repeating, +tho' it's illustrious possessor scarce deigned to treat her with common +civility; and never on any account admitted her to any thing but her +most private parties, with a few dependants and persons who found the +way to her favour by adulation. Mrs. James Crofts however consoled +herself for the slights she received from Lady Frances, by parading in +all inferior companies with the names of her high and illustrious +relations: and she employed the same tradespeople; laid out with them as +much money; and paid them better than Lady Frances herself.-- + +Her chariot and job horses were discarded for a fashionable coach; her +house at Clapham, for an elegant town residence. She tried to hide the +approaches of age, by rouge; and dress and amusements effectually kept +off the approaches of thought; her husband, slowly yet certainly was +creeping up the hill of preferment; her daughters were certainly growing +more beautiful and accomplished than their mother; and Mrs. James Crofts +fancied she was happy. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +It was now early in May; and in the blooming orchards and extensive +beech woods of Normandy, Emmeline found much to admire and something to +lament. + +The Seine, winding thro' the vale and bringing numberless ships and +vessels to Rouen, surrounded by hills fringed with forests, the property +of the crown, and extending even to that of Arques, formed a rich and +entertaining scene. But however beautiful the outline, the landscape +still appeared ill finished: dark and ruinous hovels, inhabited by +peasants frequently suffering the extremes of poverty; half cultivated +fields, wanting the variegated enclosures that divide the lands in +England; and trees often reduced to bare poles to supply the inhabitants +with fewel, made her recollect with regret the more luxuriant and happy +features of her native country. + +The earth, however, covered with grass and flowers, offered her minute +objects on which she delighted to dwell; but she dared not here wander +as in England far from home: the women of the villages, who in this +country are robust and masculine, often followed her with abuse for +being English; and yet oftener the villagers clattered after her in +their sabots, and addressed her by the name of _la belle Demoiselle +Anglaise_, with a rudeness and familiarity that at once alarmed and +disgusted her. + +The long avenue of fir and beech which led to the _chateau_, and the +_parterre_, _potagerie_, and _verger_[2] behind it, were therefore the +scenes of her morning and evening walks. She felt a pensive pleasure in +retracing the lonely rambles she used to take at the same season at +Mowbray Castle; and memory bringing before her the events of the two +years and an half which had elapsed since she left it, offered nothing +that did not renew her regret at having bid it's solitary shades and +unfrequented rocks adieu! + +The idea of Godolphin still obtruded itself continually on her mind: nor +could all her resolution prevent it's obtruding with pleasure, tho' she +perpetually condemned herself for allowing it to recur to her at all. +Lady Adelina, in her two or three last letters, had not mentioned him +farther than to say he was in Ireland; and Emmeline was ashamed of +suffering her thoughts to dwell on a man, whose preference of her seemed +uncertain and perhaps accidental, since he had neither absolutely +declared himself when present or sought to engage her favour when +absent; and tho' she was now fully persuaded that of Delamere she should +hear no more as a lover, yet while her promise remained in his hands +uncancelled, she fancied herself culpable in indulging a partiality for +another. + +Nor could she reflect on the jealousy which had tortured Delamere, and +the pain he must have suffered in tearing her from his heart, without +mingling with her resentment some degree of pity and sorrow. + +She was one afternoon sitting at an open window of the _chateau_, +revolving in her mind these reflections, when raising her eyes at a +sudden noise, she saw driving along the avenue that led to it, an +English post chaise and four, preceded by a _valet de chambre_, and +followed by two livery servants. + +To those who are driven by misfortune to seek a melancholy asylum in a +foreign country, there is an inconceivable delight in beholding whatever +forcibly brings back to the memory, the comforts and conveniences of +their own: Emmeline, who had for many weeks seen only the boors or the +_curé_ of the village, gazed at English servants and English horses +with as much avidity as if she beheld such an equipage for the first +time. + +Instantly however her wonder was converted into pleasure.--Lady +Westhaven was assisted out of the chaise by a gentleman, whose likeness +to Godolphin convinced the fluttering heart of Emmeline that it was her +Lord; and eagerly enquiring for Miss Mowbray, she was immediately in her +arms. + +As soon as the joy (in which Mrs. Stafford partook,) of this unexpected +meeting had a little subsided, Lady Westhaven related, that hearing by a +letter they had received at Paris from Mr. Godolphin, that Emmeline was +with Mrs. Stafford in or near Rouen, she had entreated Lord Westhaven to +make a journey to see her. + +'And I assure you Emmeline,' added she, 'I had no great difficulty to +persuade him. His own curiosity went as far as my inclination; for he +has long wished to see this dangerous Emmeline; who began by turning the +head of _my_ brother, and now I believe has turned the more sage one of +_his_--for Godolphin's letters have been filled only with your praises.' + +Emmeline, who had changed colour at the beginning of this speech, +blushed more deeply at it's conclusion. Involuntary pleasure penetrated +her heart to hear that Godolphin had praised her. But it was immediately +checked. Lady Westhaven seemed to know nothing of Delamere's desertion; +of the history of Lady Adelina she was undoubtedly ignorant. How could +Emmeline account for one without revealing the other? This reflection +overwhelmed her with confusion, and she hardly heard the affectionate +expressions with which Lady Westhaven testified her satisfaction at +meeting her. + +'I trust, my Lord,' said her Ladyship, 'that the partiality which I +foresee you will feel for my fair cousin for her own sake, will not be a +little encreased by our resemblance.--Tell me, do you think us so very +much alike?' + +'I never,' answered he, 'saw a stronger family likeness between sisters. +Our lovely cousin has somewhat the advantage of you in height.' + +'And in complexion, my Lord, notwithstanding the improvements I have +learned to make to mine in France.' + +'_I_ should not,' answered his Lordship smiling, 'have ventured such a +remark. I was merely going to add that you have the same features as +Miss Mowbray, with darker hair and eyes; if however our charming +Emmeline had a form less attractive, I have heard enough of her to be +convinced that her understanding and her heart justify all that Lord +Delamere or Mr. Godolphin have said of her.' + +Lady Westhaven then expressed her wonder that she had heard nothing of +Delamere for some months.--'And it is most astonishing to me,' said she +to Emmeline, 'that the month of March should elapse without _your_ +hearing of him.' + +The distress of Emmeline now redoubled; and became so evident, that Lady +Westhaven, convinced there was something relative to her brother of +which she was ignorant, desired her to go with her into another room. + +Incapable of falsehood, and detesting concealment, yet equally unwilling +to ruin the reputation of the unhappy Adelina with her brother's wife, +and having no authority to divulge a secret entrusted to her by her +friend, Emmeline now felt the cruellest conflict. All she could +determine was, to tell Lady Westhaven in general terms that Lord +Delamere had undoubtedly altered his intentions with regard to her, and +that the affair was, she believed, entirely and for ever at an end. + +However anxious her Ladyship was to know from what strange cause such a +change of sentiments proceeded, she found Emmeline so extremely hurt +that she forbore at present to press the explanation. Full of concern, +she was returning to the company, having desired Emmeline to remain and +compose herself; when, as she was leaving the room, she said-- + +'But I forgot, my dear Emmeline, to ask you where you first became +acquainted with Mr. Godolphin?' + +Again deep blushes dyed the cheeks of the fair orphan; for this question +led directly to those circumstances she could not relate. + +'I knew him,' answered she, faultering as she spoke, 'at Bath.' + +'And _is_ he,' enquired Lady Westhaven, 'so _very_ charming as his +brother and his family represent him?' + +'He is indeed very agreeable,' replied she--'very much so. Extremely +pleasant in his manner, and in his person very like Lord Westhaven.' + +'He never told us how he first became acquainted with _you_; and to tell +you the truth Emmeline, if I had not thought, indeed known, that you +was engaged to Lord Delamere, I should have thought Godolphin your +lover.' + +This speech did not serve to hasten the composure Emmeline was trying to +regain. She attempted to laugh it off; but succeeded so ill, that Lady +Westhaven rejoined her Lord and Mr. and Mrs. Stafford, full of uneasy +conjectures; and Emmeline, with a still more heavy heart, soon after +followed her. + +The pressing and earnest invitation of Mrs. Stafford, induced her guests +to promise her their company for some days. But Lady Westhaven was so +astonished at her brother's desertion of Emmeline, and so desirous of +accounting for it without finding occasion to impute cruelty and caprice +to him, or imprudence and levity to Emmeline, that she took the earliest +opportunity of asking Mrs. Stafford, with whom she knew Miss Mowbray had +no secrets, to explain to her the cause of an event so contrary to her +expectations. + +Mrs. Stafford had heard from Emmeline the embarrassment into which the +questions of Lady Westhaven had thrown her; and with great difficulty at +length persuaded her, that she owed it to her own character and her own +peace to suffer her Ladyship to be acquainted with the truth: that she +could run no risk in telling her what, for the sake of her Lord (whose +happiness might be disturbed, and whose life hazarded by it's knowledge) +she certainly would not reveal. Besides which motives to secresy, the +gentleness and humanity of Lady Westhaven would, Mrs. Stafford said, be +alone sufficient to secure Lady Adelina from any possible ill +consequences by her being made acquainted with the unhappy story. + +These arguments wrung from Emmeline a reluctant acquiescence: and Mrs. +Stafford related to Lady Westhaven those events which had been followed +by Delamere's jealousy and their separation. + +The love and regard, which on her first knowledge of Emmeline Lady +Westhaven had conceived for her, and which her admirable qualities had +ever since encreased, was now raised to enthusiasm. She knew not (for +Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline were themselves ignorant) of the artful +misrepresentations with which the Crofts' had poisoned the mind of her +brother; and was therefore astonished at his suspicions and grieved at +his rashness. She immediately proposed writing to him; but this design +both her friends besought her for the present to relinquish. Emmeline +assured her that she had so long considered the affair as totally at an +end, that she could not now regret it; or if she felt any regret, it was +merely in resigning the hope of being received into a family of which +Lady Westhaven was a part. Her Ladyship could not however believe that +Emmeline was really indifferent to her brother; and accounted for her +present coldness by supposing her piqued and offended at his behaviour, +for which she had so much reason. + +Anxious therefore to reconcile them, she still continued desirous of +writing to Delamere. And so much did her affectionate heart dwell on the +happiness she should have in re-uniting her brother and her friend, that +only the difficulty which there seemed to be in vindicating Emmeline +without injuring Lady Adelina, withheld her; and she promised to delay +writing 'till means could be found to clear up the reputation of the one +without ruining that of the other. + +Lord Westhaven had, during his stay, learnt from Mrs. Stafford the +circumstances that had driven her and her family abroad; and had heard +them with a sincere wish to alleviate the inconveniences that oppressed +a woman whose manners and conduct convinced him she deserved a better +fate. Unwilling however to hold out to her hopes that he was not sure he +should be able to fulfil, he contented himself with procuring from +Emmeline general information of the state of their affairs, and silently +meditated the noble project of doing good, as soon as it should be in +his power. + +Her children, for whose sake only she seemed to be willing to support +with patience her unfortunate lot, were objects particularly interesting +to Lord Westhaven; and for the boys he thought he might, on his return +to England, assist in providing. To their father, consoling himself in +trifling follies and dirty intrigues for his misfortunes, it seemed more +difficult to be serviceable. + +While these benevolent purposes engaged his attention, Lady Westhaven +reflected with regret on her approaching departure, which must divide +her from Emmeline, whom she seemed now to love with redoubled affection. +His Lordship, ever solicitous to gratify her, proposed that Emmeline +should go with them into Switzerland with the Baron de St. Alpin, his +Lordship's uncle; who, after a life passed in the service of France, now +prepared to retire to his native country. + +The Baron had seen his nephew at Paris. He had embraced with transport +the son of a beloved sister, and insisted on his and Lady Westhaven's +going back with him to his estate in the Païs de Vaud, as soon as he +should have the happiness of being rejoined by his only son, the +Chevalier de Bellozane, who was expected with his regiment from +Martinique. Lord Westhaven, on his first visit to the paternal house of +his mother, had found there only one of her sisters, who, with the +Baron, were the last survivors of a numerous family. He could not +therefore resist his uncle's earnest entreaties to accompany him back; +and Lady Westhaven, who was charmed with the manners of the respectable +veteran and interested by his affection for her Lord, readily consented +to delay her return to England for three months and to cross France once +more to attend him. + +To have Emmeline her companion in such a journey seemed to offer all +that could render it charming. But how could she ask her to quit Mrs. +Stafford, to whom she had been so much obliged; and who, in her present +melancholy solitude, seemed more than ever to need her consolatory +friendship. + +Her Ladyship however ventured to mention it to Emmeline; who answered, +that tho' nothing in the world would give her more pleasure than being +with such friends, she could not, without a breach of duty which it was +impossible to think of, quit Mrs. Stafford, to whom she was bound by +gratitude as well as by affection. + +Lord Westhaven acquiesced in the justice of this objection, but +undertook to remove it by rendering the situation of her friend such as +would make a short absence on both sides more supportable. + +He therefore in his next conversation with Stafford represented the +inconvenience of a house so far from a town, and how much better his +family would be situated nearer the metropolis. He concluded by offering +him a house he had himself hired at St. Germains; which he said he +should be obliged to Mrs. Stafford and her family if they would occupy +'till his return from Switzerland. And that no objection might arise as +to expence, he added, that considering himself as Miss Mowbray's banker, +he had furnished her with five hundred pounds, with which she was +desirous of repaying some part of the many obligations she owed Mr. and +Mrs. Stafford. + +Mrs. Stafford, who saw immediately all the advantages that might arise +to Emmeline from her residence with Lady Westhaven, had on the slightest +hint been warmly an advocate for her going. However reluctant to part +with her, she suffered not her own gratifications to impede the interest +of her fair charge. But she could not prevail on Emmeline to yield to +her entreaties, 'till Lord Westhaven having settled every thing for the +removal of the family to St. Germains, she was convinced that Mrs. +Stafford would be in a pleasant and advantageous situation; and that she +ought, even for the sake of her and her children, whom Lord Westhaven +had so much the power of serving, to yield to an arrangement which would +so much oblige him. + +The _chateau_ they inhabited was ready furnished; their cloaths were +easily removed; and the Staffords and their children set out at the same +time with Lord Westhaven, his wife, and Emmeline; who having seen them +settled at St. Germains greatly to the satisfaction of Mrs. Stafford, +went on to Paris; where, in about a week, they were joined by the Baron +de St. Alpin, and the Chevalier de Bellozane. + +[Footnote 2: Flower garden, kitchen garden, and orchard.] + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The Baron de St. Alpin was a venerable soldier, near sixty, in whom the +natural roughness of his country was polished by a long residence among +the French. He was extremely good humoured and chearful, and +passionately fond of the Chevalier de Bellozane, who was the youngest of +three sons, the two elder of whom had fallen in the field. The military +ardour however of the Baron had not been buried with them; and he still +entrusted the sole survivor of his house, and the last support of his +hopes, in the same service. + +With infinite satisfaction he embraced this beloved son on his return +from Martinique, and with exultation presented him to his nephew, to +Lady Westhaven, and Miss Mowbray. The Baron was indeed persuaded that he +was the most accomplished young man in France, and had no notion that +every body did not behold him with the same eyes. + +Bellozane was tall, well made, and handsome; his face, and yet more, his +figure, bore some resemblance to the Godolphin family; his manners were +elegant, his air military, his vivacity excessive, and he was something +of a coxcomb, but not more than is thought becoming to men of his +profession in France at two and twenty. + +Having lived always in the army or in fashionable circles at Paris, he +had conceived no advantageous ideas of his own country, where he had not +been since his childhood. His father now retiring thither himself, had +obtained a long leave of absence for him that he might go also; but +Bellozane would willingly have dispensed with the journey, which the +Baron pressed with so much vehemence, that he had hardly time to +modernize his appearance after his American campaigns; a point which was +to him of serious importance. + +He had therefore with reluctance looked forward to their journey over +the Alps. But as soon as his father (who had met him at Port L'Orient on +his landing) introduced him at Paris to his English relations and to +Emmeline, the journey seemed not only to have lost it's horrors, but to +become a delightful party of pleasure, and he was happy to make the +fourth in the post-coach in which Lady Westhaven, Emmeline, and her +Ladyship's woman, travelled; Lord Westhaven and the Baron following in a +post-chaise. + +Nothing could exceed the happiness of the Baron, nor the gaiety of his +son. Lord Westhaven and his wife, tho' they talked about it less, were +not less pleased with their friends and their expedition; while Emmeline +appeared restored to her former chearfulness, because she saw that they +wished to see her chearful: but whenever she was a moment alone, +involuntary sighs fled towards England; and when she remembered how far +she must be from Lady Adelina, from little William, in short, from +Godolphin, how could she help thinking of them with concern. + +During the day, however, the Chevalier gave her no time for reflection. +He waited on her with the most assiduous attention, watched her looks to +prevent her slightest wishes, talked to her incessantly, besought her to +teach him English, and told her all he had seen in his travels, and much +that he had done. A Frenchman talks without hesitation of himself, and +the Chevalier was quite a Frenchman. + +Too polite however for exclusive adulation, Lady Westhaven shared all +his flattery; and her real character being now unrepressed by the +severity of her mother, she, all gaiety and good humour, was extremely +amused with the extravagant gallantry of the Chevalier and at +Emmeline's amazement, who having been little used to the manners of the +French, was sometimes alarmed and sometimes vexed at the warmth of his +address and the admiration which he professed towards them both. + +Lady Westhaven assured her that such conversation was so usual that +nobody ever thought of being offended at it; and that Bellozane was +probably so much used to apply the figures of speech, which she thought +so extraordinary, to every woman he saw, that he perhaps knew not +himself, and certainly never thought of, what he was saying. + +Emmeline therefore heard from him repeatedly what would from an +Englishman have been considered as an absolute declaration of love, +without any other answer than seeming inattention, and flying as soon as +possible to some other topic. + +In the progress of their journey these common place speeches and this +desultory gallantry was gradually exchanged for a deportment more +respectful. He besought Emmeline very seriously to give him an +opportunity of speaking to her apart; which she with the utmost +difficulty evaded. His extreme gaiety forsook him--the poor Chevalier +was in love. + +It was in vain he communicated his malady to _la belle cousine_, (as he +usually called Lady Westhaven); _la belle cousine_ only laughed at him, +and told him he had according to his own account been so often in love, +that this additional _penchant_ could not possibly hurt him, and would +merely serve to prevent what he owned he had so much dreaded, being +'_ennuyé a la mort_' at St. Alpin. + +When he found the inexorable Lady Westhaven refused seriously to attend +to him, he applied with new ardour to Emmeline herself; to whom his +importunity began to be distressing, as she foresaw in his addresses +only a repetition of the persecution she had suffered from the fiery and +impetuous Delamere. Still, however, she was often obliged to hear him. +She could hear him only with coldness; which he was far from taking as +discouragement. As she did not love to think _herself engaged_, she +could not use that plea, or even name an engagement which she believed +might now never be claimed by _him_ to whom it was given. All therefore +she could say was, that she had no thoughts of marrying. An answer, +which however frequently repeated, Bellozane determined to think +favourable; and Emmeline knew not how to treat with peremptory rudeness +the cousin of Lord Westhaven and of Captain Godolphin. + +But whatever diminution of her ease and tranquillity she might suffer or +apprehend from the growing attachment of this young man, the journey was +attended with so many pleasant circumstances, that all parties were +desirous that it might be lengthened. + +The extreme eagerness with which the Baron de St. Alpin had wished to +revisit his estate, gave way to the pleasures he found in travelling in +such society; and as Lady Westhaven had never been farther South than +Lyons, and Emmeline had never seen the Southern Provinces at all, it was +determined on their arrival at that city to proceed to the shore of the +Mediterranean before they went into Switzerland. + +It was the finest season of the year and the loveliest weather +imaginable. The party consulted therefore only pleasure on their way. +Sometimes they went no more than a single stage in a day, and employed +the rest in viewing any place in it's neighbourhood worth their +curiosity. They often left their carriages to walk, to saunter, to dine +on the grass on provisions they had brought with them; and whenever a +beautiful view or uncommon scene presented themselves, they stopped to +admire them; and Bellozane drew sketches, which were put into Emmeline's +_port feuille_. + +As they were travelling between Marseilles and Toulon they entered a +road bounded on each side by mountainous rocks, which sometimes +receding, left between them small but richly cultivated vallies; and in +other parts so nearly met each other, as to leave little more room than +sufficed for the carriage to pass; while the turnings of the road were +so angular and abrupt, that it seemed every moment to be carrying them +into the bosom of the rock. Thro' this defile, as it was quite shady, +they agreed to walk. + +In some places huge masses impended over them, of varied form and +colour, without any vegetation but scattered mosses; in others, aromatic +plants and low shrubs; the lavender, the thyme, the rosemary, the +mountain sage, fringed the steep craggs, while a neighbouring aclivity +was shaded with the taller growth of holly, phillyrea, and ever-green +oak; and the next covered with the glowing purple of the Mediterranean +heath. The summits of almost all, crowned with groves of fir, larch, and +pine. + +Emmeline in silent admiration beheld this beautiful and singular scene; +and with the pleasure it gave her, a soft and melancholy sensation was +mingled. She wanted to be alone in this delightful place, or with some +one who could share, who could understand the satisfaction she felt. +She knew nobody but Godolphin who had taste and enthusiasm enough to +enjoy it. + +Insensibly she left Lady Westhaven and the Chevalier behind her; and +passing his Lordship and the Baron, who were deeply engaged in a +discourse about the military operations of the past war, she walked on +with some quickness. Intent on the romantic wildness of the cliffs with +which she was surrounded, and her mind associating with these objects +the idea of him on whom it now perpetually dwelt, she had brought +Godolphin before her, and was imagining what he would have said had he +been with her; with what warmth he would enjoy, with what taste and +spirit point out, the beauty of scenes so enchanting! + +She had now left her companions at some distance; yet as she heard their +voices swell in the breeze along the defile, she felt no apprehension. +In the narrowest part of it, where she saw only steep craggs and the +sky, which their bending tops hardly admitted, she was stopped by a +transparent stream, which bursting suddenly with some violence out of +the rock, is received into a small reservoir of stone and then carried +away in stone channels to a village at some distance. + +While Emmeline stood contemplating this beautiful spring, she beheld, in +an excavation in the rock close to it, two persons sitting on a bench, +which had been rudely cut for the passenger to rest. One of them +appeared to be a man about fifty; he wore a short, light coloured coat, +a waistcoat that had once been of embroidered velvet; from his head, +which was covered first with a red thrum night-cap, and then with a +small hat, bound with tarnished lace, depended an immense _queüe_; his +face, tho' thin and of a mahogena darkness, seemed to express +penetration and good humour; and Emmeline, who had at first been a +little startled, was no longer under alarm; when he, on perceiving her +near the entrance of the cavern, flew nimbly out of it, bowed to the +ground, and pulling off most politely his thrum night-cap, +enquired--'_Si Mademoiselle voudrez bien se reposer?_'[3] + +Emmeline thanked him, and advanced towards the bench; from which a girl +about seventeen, very brown but very pretty, had on her approach arisen, +and put up into a kind of wallet the remains of the provisions they had +been eating, which were only fruit and black bread. As soon as the old +Frenchman perceived that Emmeline intended to sit down, he sprung +before her, brushed down the seat with his cap, and then making several +profound bows, assured '_Mademoiselle qu'elle pourroit s'asseoir sans +incommodité_.'[4] + +The young woman, dressed like the _paisannes_ of the country, was +modestly retiring; but Emmeline desired her to remain; and entering into +conversation with her, found she was the daughter of the assiduous old +Frenchman, and that he was going with her to Toulon in hopes of +procuring her a service. + +The Baron and Lord Westhaven now approached, and laughingly reproached +Emmeline for having deserted them. She told them she was enchanted with +the seat she had found, and should wait there for the Chevalier and Lady +Westhaven. + +'I am only grieved,' said she, 'that I have disturbed from their humble +supper these good people.' + +The two gentlemen then spoke to the old Frenchman; whose countenance had +something of keen intelligence and humble civility which prejudiced both +in his favour. + +'_Je vois bien_,' said he, addressing himself to Lord Westhaven,--'_je +vois bien que j'ai l'honneur de parler a un Milor Anglais_.'[5] + +'_Eh! comment?_' answered his Lordship--'_comment? tu connois donc bien +les Anglais?_'[6] + +'_Oh oui!--j'ai passé a leur service une partie de ma jeunesse.--Ils +sont les meilleur maitres_--'[7] + +'_Parle tu Anglais, mon ami?_'[8] + +'Yes Milor, I speak little English. _Mais_,' continued he, relapsing +into the volubility of his own language--'_Mais il y'a à peu pres dix +neuf ans, depuis que mon maitre--mon pauvre maitre mouroit dans mes +bras; helas!--s'i avoit vecu--car il etoit tout jeun--j'aurois passé ma +vie entiere avec lui--j'aurois retournez avec lui en Angleterre--Ah +c'est un païs charmant que cette Angleterre._'[9] + +'You have been there then?' + +He answered that he had been three times; and should have been happy had +it pleased heaven to have ended his days there. + +'The praise you bestow on our country, my friend,' said Lord Westhaven, +'is worth at least this piece _de six francs_, and the beauty _de cette +jolie enfant_,[10] added he, turning towards the little _paisanne_, 'is +interesting enough to induce me to enquire whether such a gift may not +serve to purchase _quelques petites amplettes a la ville_.'[11] He +presented the young woman with another crown. + +The old Frenchman seemed ready to thank his Lordship with his tears. + +Without solicitation or ceremony, seeing that the gentlemen were +disposed to listen to him, he began to relate his 'short and simple' +story. + +Lady Westhaven and the Chevalier now arrived: but she sat down by +Emmeline, and desired the old man to continue whatever he was saying. + +'He has been praising our country,' said Lord Westhaven, 'and in return +I am willing to hear the history of himself, which he seems very +desirous of relating.' + +'I was in the army,' said he, 'as we all are; till being taken with a +pleurisy at Calais, and rendered long incapable of duty, I got my +discharge, and hired myself as a travelling valet to a _Milor Anglais_. +With him (he was the best master in the world) I lived six years. I went +with him to England when he came to his estate, and five years +afterwards came back with him to France. He met with a misfortune in +losing _une dame tres amiable_, and never was quite well afterwards. To +drive away trouble, _pour se dissiper_, he went among a set of his own +countrymen, and I believe _le chagrin_, and living too freely, gave him +a terrible fever. _Une fievre ardente lui saisit a Milan, ses compagnons +apparemment n'aimoit gueres les malades_;[12] for nobody came near him +except a young surgeon who arrived there by accident, and hearing that +an Englishman of fashion lay ill, charitably visited him. But it was too +late: he had already been eleven days under the hands of an Italian +physician, and when the English gentleman saw him he said he had only a +few hours to live. + +'He sat by him, however. But my poor master was senseless; 'till about +an hour before he died he recovered his recollection. + +'He ordered me to bring him two little boxes, which he always carried +with him, and charged me to go to England with his body, and deliver +those boxes to a person he named. He bade me give one of his watches, +which was a very rich one, to his brother, and told _me_ to keep the +other in memory of my master. + +'Then he spoke to the stranger--"Sir," said he, "since you have the +humanity to interest yourself for a person unknown to you, have the +goodness to see that my servant is suffered to execute what I have +directed, and put your seal on my effects. The money I have about me, my +cloaths, and my common watch, I have given him. He knows what farther I +would have done; I told him on the second day of my illness. +Baptist--you remember----" + +'He tried to say something more; but in a few moments he died in my +arms. + +'With the assistance of the young English surgeon, I arranged every +thing as my master directed. I went with his corps to England, and +received a large present from his brother, whom, however, I did not see, +because he was not in London. Then I returned to France.' + +'Since you loved England so much,' enquired the Baron, '_puisque vous +aimiez tant cet païs pourquoi ne pas y' rester?_'[13] + +'_Ah, Monsieur! j'etois riche; et je brulez de partager mes richesse +avec une jolie fille dont j'etois eperdument amoureux._'[14] + +'_Eh bien?_' + +'I married her, Monsieur; and for above two years we were the happiest +people on earth. But we were very thoughtless. _Je ne scais comment cela +se faisoit, mes espece Anglais, qui je croyais inepuisable se +dissiperent peu a peu, et enfin il falloit songer a quelque provision +pour ma femme et mes deux petites filles._'[15] + +'I returned therefore into the Limosin, of which province I was a +native; but some of my family were dead, and the rest had neither power +or inclination to assist their poor relations. The seigneur of the +village had bought a post at Paris, and was about to quit his chateau. +He heard I was honest; and therefore, tho' he had very little to lose, +he put me into it. I worked in the garden, and raised enough, with the +little wages we had, to keep us. My wife learned to work, and my two +little girls were healthy and happy. + +'_Oui Messieurs, nous etions pauvre a la verité! mais nous etions tres +contents!_[16] 'till about eight months ago; and then an epidemical +distemper broke out in the village, and carried off my wife and my +eldest daughter. + +'_Oh, Therese! et toi ma petite Suzette, je te pleurs; encore amerement +je te pleurs._'[17] + +The poor Frenchman turned away and wept bitterly. + +'_Je scais bien_,' continued he--'_je scais bien qu'il faut s'accoutumer +a les souffrances!_[18] We might still have lived on, Madelon and me, at +our ruinous chateau; but the possessor of it dying, his son sent us +notice that he should pull it down (indeed it must soon have fallen) and +ordered us to quit it. + +'_Ainsi me voila, Messieurs, a cinquante ans, sans pain. Mais pour cela +je ne m'embarrasse pas; si je pourrois bien placer ma pauvre Madelon +tout ira bien!_'[19] + +There was in this relation a touching simplicity which drew tears from +Lady Westhaven and Emmeline. The whole party became interested for the +father and the daughter, who had wept silently while he was relating +their story. + +'Can nothing be done for these poor creatures?' said Lady Westhaven. + +'Certainly we will assist them,' answered her Lord.--'But let us enquire +how we can best do it. _Tu t'appelles?_'[20] continued he, speaking to +the Frenchman. + +'_Baptiste La Fere--mais mon nomme de guerre, et de condition fut +toujours Le Limosin._'[21] + +'_Dites moi donc_,[22] Monsieur Le Limosin,' said his Lordship, 'what +hopes have you of placing your daughter at Toulon?' + +'Alas! Milor, but little. I know nobody there but an old relation of my +poor wife's, who is _Touriere_ at a convent; and if I cannot get a +service for Madelon, I must give the good abbess a little money to take +her till I can do something better for her.' + +'And where do you expect to get money?' + +'_Tenez, mon Seigneur_,' answered he, pulling a watch out of his pocket, +'_ayez la bonté d'examiner cet montre_.[23] It is an English watch. Gold; +and in a gold case. I have been offered a great deal of money for it; +but in all my poverty, in all my distresses, I have contrived to keep it +because it was the last gift of my dear master. But now, my poor Madelon +must be thought of, and if it must be so, I will sell it and pay for her +staying in the convent.' + +'You shall not do that, my friend,' replied Lord Westhaven, still +holding the watch in his hand. + +It had a cypher, H. C. M. and a crest engraved on it. + +'H. C. M,' said his Lordship, 'and the Mowbray crest! Pray what was your +master's name?' + +'_Milor Moubray_,' answered Le Limosin. + +'_Comment? Milor Mowbray?_' + +'_Oui Milor--regardez s'il vous plait. Voila son chiffre, Henri-Charles +Moubray--et voila le cimier du famille._'[24] + +Emmeline, who no longer doubted but this was her father's servant, was +so much affected, that Lady Westhaven, apprehending she would faint, +called for assistance; and the Chevalier, who during this conversation +had attended only to her, snatched up the beechen cup out of which Le +Limosin and Madelon had been drinking, and which still stood on the +ground, and flying with it to the spring, brought it instantly back +filled with water; while Lady Westhaven bathed her temples and held to +her her salts. She soon recovered; and then speaking in a faint voice to +his Lordship, said--'My Lord, this is the servant in whose arms my poor +father expired. Do allow me to intercede with your Lordship for him and +for his daughter; but let him not know, to-night at least, who I am. I +cannot again bear a circumstantial detail about my father.' + +Lord Westhaven now led Le Limosin out of the cave; told him he had +determined, as he had known his master's family, to take him into his +own service, and that Lady Westhaven would provide for his daughter. At +this intelligence the poor fellow grew almost frantic. He would have +thrown himself at the feet of his benefactor had he not been prevented; +then flew back to fetch his Madelon, that she might join in prayers and +benedictions; and hardly could Lord Westhaven persuade him to be +tranquil enough to understand the orders he gave him, which were, to +hire some kind of conveyance at the next village to carry his daughter +to Toulon; where he gave him a direction to find his English benefactor +the next day. + +It was now late; and the party hastened to leave this romantic spot, +which had been marked by so singular a meeting. On their arrival at +Toulon, they equipped, and sent away before them to St. Alpin, Le +Limosin and Madelon, the latter of whom Lady Westhaven took entirely to +wait on Emmeline. + +The soft heart and tender spirits of Emmeline had not yet recovered the +detail she had heard of her father's death. A pensive melancholy hung +over her; which the Chevalier, nothing doubting his own perfections, +hoped was owing to a growing affection for himself. But it had several +sources of which he had no suspicion; and it made the remaining three +weeks of their tour appear tedious to Emmeline; who languished to be at +St. Alpin, where she hoped to find letters from Mrs. Stafford and from +Lady Adelina. She thought it an age since she had heard from the latter; +and secretly but anxiously indulged an hope of meeting a large pacquet, +which might contain some intelligence of Godolphin. + +[Footnote 3: If the young lady would please to sit down.] + +[Footnote 4: That she might sit down without inconvenience.] + +[Footnote 5: I perceive I have the honour to speak to an English +nobleman.] + +[Footnote 6: How? are you then well acquainted with the English?] + +[Footnote 7: I passed part of my youth in their service.----They are +the best masters in the world.] + +[Footnote 8: Do you speak English, my friend?] + +[Footnote 9: It is almost nineteen years, since my master--my poor +master, died in my arms; had he lived, for he was quite a young man, I +should have passed my life with him--I should have returned with him to +England--Ah! that England is a charming country!] + +[Footnote 10: Of this pretty maid.] + +[Footnote 11: Some little necessaries, bargains, at the neighbouring +town.] + +[Footnote 12: A burning fever seized him at Milan; his companions seemed +to have but little affection for the sick.] + +[Footnote 13: Why not stay there?] + +[Footnote 14: Ah, Sir! I was rich, and I longed eagerly to share my +riches with a pretty young woman with whom I was distractedly in love.] + +[Footnote 15: I know not how it happened, my English money, which I +thought inexhaustible, diminished by little and little; and at length it +was necessary to think what I was to do for my wife and my two little +girls.] + +[Footnote 16: Yes, gentlemen, we were indeed poor; but we were very, very +happy!] + +[Footnote 17: Oh! Theresa!--and you, my poor Suzette, I lament +ye!--bitterly I still deplore your loss!] + +[Footnote 18: I know well--I know, that we must learn to suffer!] + +[Footnote 19: So here I am, gentlemen, at fifty years old, without bread +to eat. But it is not that which troubles me--If I could get a +comfortable place for my poor Madelon, all would be well!] + +[Footnote 20: Your name?] + +[Footnote 21: Baptiste La Fere. But the name under which I served as a +soldier and as a servant is Le Limosin.] + +[Footnote 22: Tell me then.] + +[Footnote 23: See, my Lord; have the goodness to look at this watch.] + +[Footnote 24: Yes, my Lord; be so good as to observe. There is his +cypher, H. C. M. and there the family crest.] + + + END OF THE THIRD VOLUME + + + + +VOLUME IV + + + + +CHAPTER I + + +The Chateau de St. Alpin was a gloomy and antique building, but in +habitable repair. The only constant resident in it for some years had +been the Demoiselle de St. Alpin, now about five and forty; whose whole +attention had been given to keeping it in order, and collecting, in the +garden, variety of plants, in which she took singular pleasure. Detached +from the world, and with no other relations than her brother and her +nephews, whom she was seldom likely to see, she found in this innocent +and amusing pursuit a resource against the tedium of life. Her manners, +tho' simple, were mild and engaging; and her heart perfectly good and +benevolent. With her, therefore, Emmeline was extremely pleased; and the +country in which her residence was situated, was so beautiful, that +accustomed to form her ideas of magnificent scenery from the first +impressions that her mind had received in Wales, Emmeline acknowledged +that her eye was here perfectly satisfied. + +With her heart it was far otherwise. On her arrival at St. Alpin, she +found letters from Lady Adelina enclosed in others from Mrs. Stafford. +Lady Adelina gave such an account of her own health as convinced +Emmeline it was not improved since she left England. Of Mr. Godolphin +she only said, that he was returned from Ireland, but had staid with her +only a few hours, and was then obliged to go on business to London, +where his continuance was uncertain. + +Mrs. Stafford gave of herself and her family a more pleasing account. +She said she had hopes that the readjustment of Mr. Stafford's affairs +would soon allow of their return to England; and as it might possibly +happen on very short notice, and before Emmeline could rejoin them, she +had sent, by a family who were travelling to Geneva, and who readily +undertook the care of it, a large box which contained some of her +cloaths and the caskets which belonged to her, which had been long left +at Mrs. Ashwood's after Emmeline's precipitate departure from her house +with Delamere, and which, on Mrs. Ashwood's marriage and removal, she +had sent with a cold note (addressed to Miss Mowbray) to the person who +negociated Mr. Stafford's business in London. + +Their lengthened journey had so much broken in on the time allotted to +their tour, that Lord and Lady Westhaven purposed staying only a month +at St. Alpin. The Baron, who had equal pride and pleasure in the company +of his nephew, endeavoured by every means in his power to make that time +pass agreeably; and felt great satisfaction in shewing to the few +neighbours who were within fifteen miles of his _chateau_, that he had, +in an English nobleman of such rank and merit, so near a relation. + +He had observed very early the growing passion of his son for Miss +Mowbray. He was assured that she returned it; for he never supposed it +possible that any woman could behold the Chevalier with indifference. + +He had heard from Lord Westhaven that Emmeline was the daughter of a man +of fashion, but was by the circumstances of her birth excluded from any +share of his fortune, and entirely dependant on the favour of the +Marquis of Montreville. The old Baron, charmed himself with her person +and her manners, rather approved than opposed the wishes of his son; and +however convenient it might have been to have seen him married to a +woman of fortune, he was disposed to rejoice at his inclining to marry +at all; and convinced that with Emmeline he must be happy, thought he +might dispense with being rich. The Chevalier, confident of success, and +believing that Emmeline had meant by her timid refusals only +encouragement, grew so extremely importunate, that she was sometimes on +the point of declaring to him her real situation. + +But from this she was deterred by the apprehension that he would apply +to Lord Delamere for the relinquishment of her promise; and should he +obtain it, consider himself as having a claim to the hand his Lordship +resigned. + +This was an hope, which whatever his vanity might have suggested, she +never meant to give him; yet she had the mortification to find that all +her rejections, however repeated, were considered by the Chevalier as +words of course. It was in vain she assured him that besides her +disinclination to change her situation by marriage at all, she had other +forcible objections; that she should never think of passing her life +out of England; that not only their country, but their manners, their +ideas on a thousand subjects, so materially differed, as to make every +other reason of her refusal unnecessary. + +When she seriously urged thus much, he usually answered that he would +then reside in England; that he would accommodate his manner of living +to her pleasure; and that as to the ideas which had displeased her, he +would never again offend her with their repetition. + +Emmeline had indeed been extremely hurt and disgusted at that levity of +principle on the most serious subjects which the Chevalier avowed +without reserve, and for which he appeared to value himself. Tho' +brought up a Calvinist, he had as he owned always conformed to the mode +of worship and ceremonies of the Catholics while he was among them; and +usually added, that had he served amid the Turks or the Jews, he should +have done the same, as a matter of great indifference. + +The Baron, whose life had been more active than contemplative, was +unaccustomed to consider these matters deeply. And as every thing +Bellozane advanced had with him great authority, he was struck with his +lively arguments; and whatever might be their solidity, could not help +admiring the wit of the Chevalier, whom he sometimes encouraged to +dispute with Lord Westhaven. The religion of Lord Westhaven was as +steady and unaffected as his morals were excellent; and he entered +willingly into these dialogues with Bellozane, in hopes of convincing +him that infidelity was by no means necessary to the character of a +soldier; and that _he_ was unlikely to serve well the country to which +he belonged, or for which he fought, who began by insulting his God. + +He found however that the young man had imbibed these lessons so early, +and fancied them so much the marks of a superior and penetrating mind, +that he could make no impression by rational argument. Bellozane usually +answered by a sprightly quotation from some French author, and his +Lordship soon declined the conversation, believing that if sickness and +sorrow did not supercede so slow a cure, time at least would convince +him of his folly. + +But such was the effect of this sort of discourse on Emmeline, that had +Bellozane been in other respects unexceptionable, and had her heart been +free from any other impression, she would never have listened to him as +a lover. + +From his own account of himself in other respects, Emmeline had gathered +enough to believe that he was profligate and immoral. But as she could +not appear to detect these errors without allowing him to suppose her +interested in his forsaking them, she generally heard him in silence; +and only when pressed to name her objections stated his loose opinions +as one in her mind very material. + +To this he again repeated, that his opinions he would correct; his +residence should be settled by herself.--'Had she any objection to his +person?' enquired he, as he proudly surveyed it in the long old +fashioned glass which ornamented the _sal a manger_.[25] + +Emmeline, blushing from the conscious recollection of the resemblance it +bore in height and air to that of Godolphin, answered faulteringly--'That +to his person there could be no objection.' + +'To his fortune?' + +'It was undoubtedly more than situated as she was she could expect.' + +'To his family?' + +'It was a family whose alliance must confer honour.' + +'What then?' vehemently continued the Chevalier--'what then, charming +Emmeline, occasions this long reserve, this barbarous coldness? Since +you can form no decided objection; since you have undoubtedly allowed me +to hope; why do you thus cruelly prolong my sufferings? Surely you do +not, you cannot mean finally to refuse and desert me, after having +permitted me so long to speak to you of my passion?' + +'It is with some justice,' gravely and coldly answered Emmeline--'I own +it is with some justice that you impute to me the appearance of +coquetry; because I have listened with too much patience, (tho' +certainly never with approbation,) to your discourse on this subject. +But be assured that whatever I have said, tho' perhaps with insufficient +firmness, I now repeat, in the hope that you will understand it as my +unalterable resolution--The honour you are so obliging as to offer me, I +_never_ can accept; and I beg you will forbear to urge me farther on a +subject to which I never can give any other answer.' + +This dialogue, which happened on the second day of her residence at St. +Alpin, and the first moment he could find her alone, did not seem to +discourage the Chevalier. He observed her narrowly: the country round +St. Alpin, which, as well as the place itself, he thought '_triste et +insupportable_,' seemed to delight and attract her. He saw her not only +enduring but even fond of his aunt and her plants, which were to him, +'_les sujets du monde les plus facheux_.'[26]--His excessive vanity made +him persist in believing that she could not admire such a place but +thro' some latent partiality to it's master; nor seek the company and +esteem of his aunt, but for the sake of her nephew. + +These remarks, and a conviction formed on his own self-love and on the +experience of his Parisian conquests, made him disregard her refusal and +persecute her incessantly with his love. Lord Westhaven saw her +uneasiness; but knew not how to relieve her without offending the Baron +and the Chevalier, or divulging circumstances of which he did not think +himself at liberty without her permission to speak. + +Lady Westhaven, to whom Emmeline was obliged to complain of the +importunity of Bellozane, repeatedly but very fruitlessly remonstrated +with him. What she had at first ridiculed, now gave her pain; and +anxious as she was to reconcile her brother to her friend, from whom she +thought only his warmth of temper and a misunderstanding had divided +him, she wished to shorten as much as possible their stay at St. Alpin. + +Her own situation too made her very anxious to return to England; and +she was impatient to see Lord Delamere, to explain to him all the +mystery of Emmeline's conduct; a detail which she could not venture by +the post, tho' she had written to him from Lyons, intreating him to +suspend all opinion in regard to Miss Mowbray's conduct 'till she should +see him. + +This letter never reached the hands of Lord Delamere, and therefore was +not answered to St. Alpin; whither his sister had desired him to direct, +and where she now grew very uneasy at not hearing from him. + +Le Limosin and his Madelon had arrived at St. Alpin some time before +their noble patrons, with whose goodness they were elated to excess. Le +Limosin himself, assiduous to do every thing for every body, flew about +as if he was but twenty. His particular province was to attend with Lady +Westhaven's English servant on her Ladyship and Miss Mowbray; and +Madelon was directed to wait on the latter as her _fille de chambre_. + +Emmeline, with painful solicitude for which she could hardly account, +wished to hear from Le Limosin those particulars of her father of which +he was so well able to inform her. He had served, too, her mother; whose +name she had hardly ever heard repeated, and of whom, before witnesses, +she dared not enquire. + +Lord Westhaven had not yet explained to him to what he principally owed +the extraordinary kindness he had met with. He knew not that the lady on +whom he had the honour to wait was the daughter of that master to whom +he had been so much obliged. + +The first days that Lord and Lady Westhaven and Emmeline had passed with +the Baron, had been engaged by company or in parties which he made to +shew the views of the surrounding country to his English guests. The +Chevalier never suffered Emmeline to be absent from these excursions, +nor when at home allowed her to be a moment out of his company. If she +sought refuge in the chamber of Mrs. St. Alpin, he followed her; if she +went with her to her plants, thither also came Bellozane; and having +acquired from his aunt's books a few physical and botanical terms, +affected to desire information, which the old Lady, highly pleased with +his desire of improvement in her favourite studies, gave him with great +simplicity. + +Lord Westhaven grew apprehensive that the jaunts of pleasure which the +Baron continued to propose would be too fatigueing for his wife. And as +they were now to go on a visit to one of St. Alpin's old military +friends, who resided at the distance of fifteen miles, and where they +were to remain all night, he prevailed on her to stay at home, where +Emmeline also desired to be left. + +Bellozane, detesting a party which the ladies were not to enliven, made +some efforts to be excused also; but he found his declining to go would +so much chagrin and disappoint his father, that, with whatever +reluctance, he was obliged to set out with him. + +Lady Westhaven, who was a good deal indisposed, went to lie down in her +own room; whither Emmeline attended her, and finding she was disposed to +sleep, left her. Mrs. St. Alpin was busied in her garden; and Emmeline, +delighted with an opportunity of being alone, retired to her room to +write to Mrs. Stafford. She had not proceeded far in her letter, when a +servant informed her that the messenger who had been sent to Geneva for +her box was returned with it. She desired that it might be brought up. +Madelon came to assist her in opening it, and then left her. + +She took out the cloaths and linen, and then the two embroidered +caskets, which she put on the table before her, and gazed at with +melancholy pleasure, as silent memorials of her parents. They brought +also to her mind the recollection of Mrs. Carey, and many of her +infantine pains and pleasures at Mowbray Castle, where she remembered +first to have remarked them in a drawer belonging to that good woman; to +which, tho' it was generally locked, she had occasionally sent her +little charge when she was herself confined to her chair. + +One of them she had began to inspect at Clapham, and perused some of the +letters it contained. They were from her grandmother, Mrs. Mowbray, to +her father; and were filled with reproaches so warm and severe, and such +pointed censures of his conduct in regard to Miss Stavordale, her +mother, to whom one letter yet more bitter was addressed, that after +reading three of them, Emmeline believed that the further inspection of +the casket was likely to produce for her only unavailing regret. + +Still however she would then have continued it, painful as it was, but +was interrupted by the sudden entrance of Lord Montreville, who came to +enquire after his son. The sight of Mr. Mowbray's picture, which she had +taken out, created in the breast of his Lordship a momentary tenderness +for his niece. She had since always worn that picture about her; but the +papers, by which she had been too much affected after that interview +farther to peruse, she had again secured in the caskets; and being +almost immediately afterwards taken by Delamere on her involuntary +journey to Stevenage, from whence she returned no more to Clapham, she +had not since had them in her possession. + +Her mind in this interval had acquired greater strength; and she at +length wished to know those particulars of her mother's fate, into which +she had hitherto forborne thro' timidity to enquire. Being now therefore +alone, and having these repositories once more in her hands, she +resolutely inspected them. + +The first contained about twenty letters. Some were those she had before +seen, and others followed them equally severe. They seemed in sullen +resentment to have been preserved; and Emmeline could not but reflect +with pain on the anger and asperity in which they were written; on the +remorse and uneasiness with which they must have been read. + +The second casket seemed also to hold letters. On opening it, Emmeline +found they were part of the correspondence between her father and mother +during the early part of their acquaintance, when, tho' they sometimes +resided in the same house, the vigilant observation of Mrs. Mowbray very +seldom allowed them to converse. + +Among these, were several pieces of poetry, elegant and affecting. After +having read which, Emmeline imagined she had seen all the box contained, +a few loosely folded papers only remaining; but on opening one of these, +what was her astonishment to find in it two certificates of her mother's +marriage; one under the hand of a Catholic priest, by whom she had been +married immediately on their arrival at Dunkirk; the other signed a few +days before the birth of Emmeline by an English clergyman, who had again +performed the ceremony in the chapel of the English Ambassador at Paris. + +That the memory of her mother should thus be free from reproach; that +the conduct of her father, which had hitherto appeared cruel and unjust, +should be vindicated from every aspersion; and that she should herself +be restored to that place in society from which she seemed to be +excluded for ever; was altogether such unexpected, such incredible +happiness, as made her almost doubtful of the evidence of her senses. +Ignorant as she was of the usual form of such papers, yet the care with +which these seemed to be executed left her little doubt of their +regularity. One other folded paper yet remained unread. Trembling she +opened it. It was written in her father's hand and endorsed + + + MEMORANDUM + + 'The harshness with which my mother and her family have treated + Miss Stavordale, for a supposed crime, has forced her to put herself + under my protection. Miss Stavordale is now my wife; but of this I + shall not inform my family, conceiving myself accountable no longer + to persons capable of so much rashness and injustice. Least any + thing however should happen before I can make a will in due form, I + hereby acknowledge Emmeline Stavordale (now Mowbray) as my wife; and + her child, whether a son or a daughter, heir to my estate. My + brother being possessed of a very large fortune, both by his late + marriage and the gifts of his mother's family, will hardly dispute + the claim of such child to my paternal estate. + + '(This is a duplicate of a paper sent to Francis Williamson, my + steward at Mowbray Castle.) Signed by me at Paris in presence of + two witnesses, this fifteenth of March 17--. + + HENRY CHARLES MOWBRAY. + + Witnessed by + ROBERT WALLACE, + BAPTISTE LA FERE, (dit Le Limosin.)' + + +This, which was of the same date as the last certificate, confirmed +every claim which they both gave Emmeline to her name and fortune. A +change of circumstances so sudden; her apprehensions that the Marquis of +Montreville, who she thought must have long known, should dispute her +legitimacy, and her wonder at the concealment which Mr. Williamson and +Mrs. Carey seemed passively to have suffered; which together with a +thousand other sensations crouded at once into her mind, so greatly +affected her, that feeling herself grow sick, she was obliged to call +Madelon, who being at work in an adjoining room, ran in, and seeing her +lady look extremely pale, and hearing her speak with difficulty, she +threw open the window, fetched her some water, and then without waiting +to see their effects she flew away to call Mrs. St. Alpin; who presently +appeared, followed by her maid carrying a large case which was filled +with bottles of various distillations from every aromatic and pungent +herb her garden or the adjacent mountains afforded. + +Emmeline, hardly knowing what she did, was compelled to swallow a glass +full of one of these cordials; which Mrs. St. Alpin assured her was +'_excellente pour les vapeurs_.'[27] It almost deprived her of breath, +but recalled her astonished spirits; and having with great difficulty +prevailed on her kindly-busy hostess to leave her, she locked up her +papers, and threw herself on the bed; where, having directed Madelon to +draw the curtains and retire, she tried to compose her mind, and to +consider what steps she ought to take in consequence of this +extraordinary discovery. + +[Footnote 25: Dining Room.] + +[Footnote 26: The most wearisome, or to use the cant of the times, the +most _boring_ subjects in the world.] + +[Footnote 27: Excellent for the cure of vapours.] + + + + +CHAPTER II + + +Convinced of the noble and disinterested nature of Lord Westhaven, +Emmeline thought she ought immediately on his return to shew him the +papers she had found, and entreat him to examine, for farther +particulars, Le Limosin, who seemed providentially to have been thrown +in her way on purpose to elucidate her history. + +After having formed this resolution, her mind was at liberty for other +reflections. Delamere returned to it: his unjust suspicions; his haughty +reproaches; his long, indignant anger, which vouchsafed not even to +solicit an explanation; she involuntarily compared with the gentleness, +the generosity of Godolphin; with his candid temper, his warm +affections, his tender heart. And with pain she remembered, that unless +Delamere would relinquish the fatal promise she had given him, she could +not shew the preference which she feared she must ever feel for him. +Sometimes she thought of asking Lord Westhaven to apply to Delamere for +her release. But how could she venture on a measure which might involve, +in such difficulties, Lady Adelina, and engage Lord Westhaven in an +enquiry fatal to his repose and that of his whole family? How could she, +by this application, counteract the wishes of Lady Westhaven, who +anxiously hoped to re-unite her brother and her friend; and who desired +ardently to be in England, that she might explain herself, to Delamere, +all the circumstances that had injured Emmeline in his opinion; which +she thought she could easily do without hazarding any of the evils that +might follow from an inconsiderate disclosure of the occurrences he had +misunderstood. + +Uneasily ruminating on the painful uncertainty of her situation and the +difficulties which every way surrounded her, she continued alone; till +Lady Westhaven, alarmed at hearing she had been ill, sent her woman to +enquire after and know if she might herself come to her? Emmeline, to +relieve at once her friendly solicitude, arose and went to her +apartment; where she made light of her sickness, and endeavoured to +assume as much chearfulness as possible.--'Till she had seen Lord +Westhaven, she determined not to mention to her Ladyship the discovery +of the morning; feeling that there would be great indelicacy in eagerly +divulging to her a secret by which she must tacitly accuse the Marquis +of Montreville of having thus long detained from its legal owner the +Mowbray estate; and of having brought up in indigence and obscurity, the +daughter of his brother, while conscious of her claim to education and +affluence. + +Struggling therefore to subdue the remaining tumult of her spirits, she +rejoined her friend. They passed the afternoon tranquilly with Mrs. St. +Alpin; and about eleven o'clock the following morning, Lord Westhaven, +the Baron, and the Chevalier, returned. + +Emmeline took the earliest opportunity of telling Lord Westhaven that +she wished to speak to him alone. There was no way of escaping from the +Chevalier but by his Lordship's openly declaring that he wanted a +private conference with his fair cousin, whom he led into the garden. +Bellozane, who hoped that his earnest solicitations had prevailed on +Lord Westhaven to befriend his love, was glad to see them walk out +together, while he watched them from a window. + +Emmeline put into her pocket the two certificates and the memorandum +written by her father. Without explanation or comment, she gave them, as +soon as they were at a little distance from the house, to Lord +Westhaven. + +He read them twice over in silence; then looking with astonishment at +Emmeline, he asked her from whence she had these papers? + +'They were enclosed, my Lord,' answered she 'in two little boxes or +caskets which were left to me among other things by my father's nurse; +who becoming the housekeeper at Mowbray Castle, brought me up. They +afterwards long remained at the house of Mrs. James Crofts, with whom +you know I resided; on her removal after her marriage, they were sent, +together with some of my cloaths, to Mrs. Stafford's agent in London; +from whence she lately received them; and having an opportunity of +sending them to Geneva by a family travelling thither, she forwarded +them to me, and I found them yesterday in the trunk brought by the +messenger which you know the Baron sent thither on purpose.' + +Again Lord Westhaven read the papers; and after pausing a moment said-- + +'There is no doubt, there can be none, of the authenticity of these +papers, nor of your consequent claim to the Mowbray estate. Surely,' +added he, again pausing--'surely it is most extraordinary that Lord +Montreville should have suffered the true circumstances of your birth to +remain thus long unexplained. Most cruel! most ungenerous! to possess +himself of a property to which he must know he had no right! Your +father's memorandum says that he had forwarded a duplicate of it to +Francis Williamson; do you know whether that person is yet living?' + +'He is dead, my Lord. He died in consequence of an accident at Mowbray +Castle, where he was many years steward.' + +'He must however have had sufficient time to give Lord Montreville every +information as to his master's marriage, even if his Lordship knew it +not, as he probably did, by other means. Yet from a man of honour--from +Lord Montreville--such conduct is most unworthy. I can hardly conceive +it possible that he should be guilty of such concealment.' + +'Surely, my Lord, it is possible,' said the candid and ingenuous +Emmeline--'surely it _is_ possible that my uncle might, by some +accident, (for which without knowing more we cannot account) have been +kept in ignorance of my mother's real situation. For your satisfaction +and mine, before we say more on this subject, would it not be well to +hear what Le Limosin, who was I suppose present both at my mother's +marriage and at my father's death, has to relate?' + +To this proposal Lord Westhaven agreed. The _sal a compagnie_[28] was +usually vacant at this time of the day. Thither they went together, and +sent for Le Limosin; who loved talking so much that nothing was more +easy than to make him tell all he remembered, and even minutely describe +every scene at which he had been present. + +'Le Limosin,' said Lord Westhaven, as soon as he came into the room, 'I +was much pleased and interested with the account you gave me when I +first met you, of the English master whom you call _Milor Mowbray_. I +know his family well. Tell me, does this picture resemble him?' + +His Lordship shewed him a portrait of Mr. Mowbray which had been drawn +at Paris. + +Le Limosin looked a moment at it--the tears came into his eyes. + +'_O oui--oui, mi Lor!--je me rappelle bien ce portrait!--Ah! quel +resemblance! Quelques mois avant sa mort tel etoit mon pauvre maitre! +Ah!_' added he, giving back, with a sigh, the picture to Lord +Westhaven--'_cela me fend le coeur!_'[29] + +'Now then,' reassumed Lord Westhaven, 'look, Le Limosin, at that.' He +put before him the resemblance of Emmeline's mother, which had been +painted at the same time. + +'_Eh! pardi oui--voila--voila Madame! la charmante femme, dont la perte +couta la vie a mon maitre. Helas!--je m'en souviens bien du jôur que je +vis pour la premiere fois cette aimable dame. Elle n'avoit qu'environ +quatorze a quinze ans. Ah! qu'elle etoit pour lors, gaï, espiegle, +folatre, et si belle!--si belle!_'[30] + +'Tell me,' said Lord Westhaven, 'all you remember of her.' + +'I remember her, my Lord,' said Le Limosin, speaking still in French, 'I +remember her from the first of my going to England with Milor Mowbray. +She lived then with Madame Mowbray; and the servants told me, that being +a distant relation and an orphan, Madame had taken her and intended to +give her a fortune. Milor Mowbray, when he first returned from his +travels, used to live for two or three months together with Madame his +mother; but she was strict and severe, and used frequently to reproach +him with his gaieties--_il etoit un peu libertin Milor, comme sont a +l'ordinaire les jeunes seigneurs de sa nation_.[31] He admired +Mademoiselle Stavordale as a beautiful child, and used to romp with her; +but as she grew older, Madame Mowbray was dissatisfied with him for +taking so much notice of her, and would oblige her to live always up in +Madame's dressing room, so that my master could hardly ever see her. +Madame, however, told my master one day, that tho' Mademoiselle +Stavordale had no fortune, she would not object to his marrying her in a +year or two if he was then in the same mind. But my master was in his +turn offended. He said he would not be dictated to, nor told whether he +should marry or remain single. _Madame etoit forte brusque--elle piquoit +Monsieur par un reponse un peu vive_[32]--and they had a violent +disagreement; in consequence of which he quitted her house, and only +went now and then afterwards to see her quite in form. Some months +afterwards he called me to him; and as I was dressing him he asked me if +I had no female friend among his mother's servants. 'Baptiste,' said he, +'I cannot get the Demoiselle Stavordale out of my head.--_J'aime a la +folie cette fille mais pour le mariage, je ne suis pas trop sur, que je +m'acquitterai bien, en promissant de l'aimer pour la vie.--Je veux aussi +qu'elle m'aime sans que l'interet y'entre pour quelque chose.--Puisque +Madame ma mere s'amuse a me guetter, je voudrois bien la tromper; je +scais que tu est habile--ne pourra tu pas nous menager une petite tete a +tete?[33] 'Milor, je faisois mon possible--et enfin--par la bonté et +l'honeteté--d'une fille qui servoit Madame--je vins heureusement +about--Quelque jours apres--Monsieur enleva la belle Stavordale tant en +depit--qu'en amour._'[34] + +At this recital, Emmeline found herself cruelly hurt; but Lord Westhaven +besought her to command herself, and Le Limosin went on. + +'To avoid the rage and reproaches of Madame Mowbray, which it was likely +would be very loud, my master took Mademoiselle Stavordale immediately +abroad. We landed at Dunkirk; but the young lady was so unhappy at the +step she had taken, _elle pleuroit, elle se desoloit, elle s'abandonna a +le desespoir--enfin, tant elle faisoit_,[35] that Monsieur sent for a +priest, and they were married. Soon afterwards my lady was likely to +bring Monsieur an heir. _Ah! qu'ils etoient pour lors heureux._ But +their happiness was interrupted by the death of my master's mother, +Madame Mowbray, who had never forgiven him, and who disposed of all her +money that was in her own power to his brother. My poor lady took this +sadly to heart. She reproached herself with being the cause of my +master's losing such a fortune. He said he had yet enough; and tried to +console my lady. Still, still it hung on her spirits; and she could not +bear to think that Madame Mowbray, who had brought her up, and had been +kind to her when she had no other friend, should have died in anger with +her. I believe my master was sorry then that he had not reconciled +himself with his mother, as my lady often begged and entreated that he +would; but it was now too late; and he said his brother had used him +unkindly, and had certainly helped to irritate his mother against him; +and he would not write to him tho' my lady often desired and prayed that +he would. As she grew near her time, she was more and more out of +spirits, and my master finding her uneasy because they had not been +married by an English priest, had the ceremony performed again in the +chapel of the English Ambassador. My master could not however make her +forget her concern for the death of his mother; and she was always +melancholy, as if she had foreseen how little a time she had herself to +live. Alas! she brought my master a daughter, and died in three hours!' + +'If I were to live a thousand years,' continued Le Limosin, 'I should +never forget my poor master's distraction when he heard she was dead. It +was with great difficulty that even with the assistance of his English +servants I could prevent his destroying himself in the phrenzy of his +grief. I dared not leave him a moment. He heard nothing we said to him; +he heeded not the questions I asked him about the child; and at last I +was forced to send an express to Mr. Oxenden, his friend, who was at +some distance from Paris. He came; and by the help of another English +gentleman they forced him out of the house while the body of my mistress +was removed to be carried to England. He was so near madness, that his +friends were afraid of his relapsing, even after he grew better, if they +asked him many questions about it. So they gave me orders as to her +funeral; and after about a fortnight he came back to the house where the +child was, attended by his two friends. + +'It was an heart-piercing sight, Milor, to see him weep over the little +baby as it lay in the arms of it's nurse. After some time he called me, +and told me that he should not be easy, unless he was sure his poor +little girl would be taken proper care of; that he had no friend in +France to whom he chose to entrust her; and therefore ordered me to go +with the nurse to England, and directed Therése, my mistress's _fille de +chambre_, to go also, that the child might be well attended. He told me +that he should perhaps quit Paris before I could get back; in which case +he would leave directions where I should follow him. Then he kissed his +little girl, and his two friends tore him away. I immediately proceeded +to England as he directed, with the nurse, and Therése, and we carried +the infant to the Chateau de Mowbray. The French nurse could speak no +English, and could not be prevailed upon to stay above two days. Therése +too longed to get back to France; and we immediately returned to Paris, +where I found a letter from my master, ordering me to follow him into +Italy. + +'At Milan, Milor, I rejoined him. He looked very ill; and complained of +feeling himself indisposed. But still he went out; and I believe drank +too much with his English friends. The third or fourth day after I got +there he came home from a party which he had made out of town with them +about ten o'clock in the morning, and told me he had a violent pain in +his head. He went up into his room. "I am strangely disordered, +Baptiste," said he, as he put his hand to his temples--"perhaps it may +go off; but if it should grow worse, as I am afraid it will, remember +that you take those two little boxes in which I keep my papers, to +England, and deliver them to my steward at Mowbray Castle. I have +already written to him about my daughter." Then almost shrieking with +the acute pain which darted into his head, he cried--"I cannot talk, nor +can I now write to my brother as I think I ought to do about my child. +But send, send for a notary, and when I am a little easier I will +dictate a will." + +'Milor, I sent for the notary, But he waited all day in the anti-room to +no purpose. My poor master was never again easy enough to see him--never +again able to dictate a will. He grew more and more delirious, and +continued to complain of his head, his head! Alas! he did not even know +me, till about an hour before his death.' + +Emmeline, whose tears had almost choaked her during the greatest part of +this narration, now said to Lord Westhaven-- + +'My Lord, do not let him repeat the scene of my father's death; I am not +now able to bear it.' + +'Well, Le Limosin,' said his Lordship, 'this young lady, who is the +daughter of your master; the same whom you helped to carry, an infant, +to Mowbray Castle, will soon have it in her power to reward your +fidelity and attachment to her father.' + +Le Limosin now threw himself on his knees in a transport of joy and +acknowledgment. Lord Westhaven, fearing that his raptures might quite +overcome the disturbed spirits of his fair mistress, desired her to give +him her hand to kiss; which she did, and trying, but ineffectually, to +smile thro' her tears, was led by his Lordship into her own room. He +told her that at present he wished to conceal from Lady Westhaven the +discovery they had made. 'For tho' I am convinced,' added he, 'that for +your sake she will rejoice in it, she will be hurt at the extraordinary +conduct of her father, and harrass herself with conjectures about it and +apologies for it, which I wish to spare her in her present state.' + +Emmeline assured him she would observe a strict silence; and he left her +to give to Le Limosin a charge of secresy. He then retired to his room, +and wrote to Lord Montreville, stating the simple fact, and enclosing +copies of the certificates; and after shewing his letter to Emmeline, +sent it off to England. + +Emmeline now went out to walk, in hopes of recovering her composure and +being able to appear at dinner without betraying by her countenance that +any thing extraordinary had been the subject of her conversation with +Lord Westhaven. The Chevalier, however, was soon at her side. And still +flattering himself that his Lordship had undertaken to plead his cause, +he addressed her with all the confidence of a man sure of success. + +Emmeline was very little disposed to listen to him; and with a greater +appearance of chagrin and impatience than she had yet shewn, repeated to +him her determination not to marry. He still declared himself sure of +her relenting; and added, that unless she had designed finally to hear +him favourably she would never have allowed him so repeatedly to press +his attachment. This speech, which indirectly accused her of coquetry, +encreased her vexation. But the persevering Chevalier was not to be +repressed. He told her that he had projected a party of pleasure on the +lake the next day, in which he intended to include a visit to the Rocks +of Meillerie. + +'It is classic ground, Mademoiselle,' said he, 'and is fitted to love +and despair. Ah! will you not there hear me? Will you still inhumanly +smile; will you still look so gentle, while your heart is harder than +the rocks we shall see--colder than the snow that crowns them!--an heart +on which even the pen of fire which Rousseau held would make no +impression!' + +He held her hands during this rhapsody. She could not therefore +immediately escape. But on the appearance of a servant, who announced +the dinner's being ready, she coldly disengaged herself and went into +the house. + +[Footnote 28: Drawing room.] + +[Footnote 29: O yes, my Lord; I recollect well this picture. What a +likeness! Such, a few months before he died, was my poor master! Alas! +it cuts me to the heart.] + +[Footnote 30: Ah! hah! yes,--there is, sure enough, my Lady. The charming +woman whose loss cost my master his life. Alas! how well I recollect the +first day I saw this amiable lady; she was then only between fourteen +and fifteen; and at that time so gay, so full of frolic and vivacity, +and so very, very pretty!] + +[Footnote 31: He was a little free, my Lord; as the young noblemen of his +country usually are.] + +[Footnote 32: Madame was very hasty; she irritated my master by a sharp +answer.] + +[Footnote 33: I love that girl to madness; but as to marrying her I am +not quite sure I should acquit myself well were I to promise that I +would love her for ever. I desire too that interest may have nothing to +do with her affection for me. As my mother amuses herself with watching +me, I long to deceive her. You are a clever fellow; cannot you contrive +for us a private meeting?] + +[Footnote 34: My Lord, I did my best; and at last by the goodness and +civility of a young woman who waited on Madame, I happily accomplished +it. Some days after which, my master carried off the fair Stavordale, as +much thro' revenge as love.] + +[Footnote 35: She wept, she lamented, she gave herself up to despair.] + + + + +CHAPTER III + + +The agitation she had undergone in the morning, affected both the +spirits and the looks of Emmeline; and when, immediately after dinner, +Bellozane proposed the party of pleasure he had projected for the next +day, Lady Westhaven answered--'As for me I shall on my own account make +no objection, but I cannot equally answer for our fair cousin.--Emmeline, +my love, you seem ill. I cannot imagine, my Lord, what you have been +saying to her?' + +'I have been advising her,' answered Lord Westhaven, 'to go into a +convent; and her looks are merely looks of penitence for all the +mischief she has done. She determines to take the veil, and to do no +more.' + +Emmeline, tho' hardly able to bear even this friendly raillery, turned +it off with a melancholy smile. The party was agreed upon; the Baron +went out to give orders for preparing the provisions they were to take +with them, and the Chevalier to see that the boat was in a proper state +for the expedition and give the boatmen notice. + +Lady Westhaven then began talking of England, and expressed her +astonishment at having heard nothing from thence for above six weeks. +While Lord Westhaven was attempting to account for this failure of +intelligence, which he saw gave his wife more concern than she +expressed, a servant brought in several large pacquets of letters, which +he said the messenger who was usually sent to the post town, had that +moment brought in. + +His Lordship, eagerly surveying the address of each, gave to Emmeline +one for her; which opening, she found came from Mrs. Stafford, and +enclosed another. + + + _St. Germains, June 6._ + + 'My dearest Emmeline will forgive me if I write only a line in the + envelope, to account for the long detention of the enclosed letter. + It has, by some mistake of Mr. La Fosse, been kept at Rouen instead + of being forwarded to St. Germains; and appears to have passed thro' + numberless hands. I hope you will get it safe; tho' my being at + Paris when it _did_ arrive here has made it + yet a week later. By the next post I shall write more fully, and + therefore will now only tell you we are well, and that I am ever, + with the truest attachment, your + + C. STAFFORD.' + + +Emmeline now saw by the seal and the address that the second letter was +from Lord Montreville. It appeared to have been written in great haste; +and as she unfolded it, infinite was her amazement to find, instead of a +remittance, which about this time she expected, the promise she had +given Delamere, torn in two pieces and put into a blank paper. + +The astonishment and agitation she felt at this sight, hardly left her +power to read the letter which she held. + + + _Berkley-Square, May 5, 17--_ + + 'Dear Miss Mowbray, + + 'My son, Lord Delamere, convinced at length of the impropriety of + a marriage so unwelcome to his family, allows me to release you from + the promise which he obtained. I do myself the pleasure to enclose + it, and shall be glad to hear you receive it safe by an early post. + My Lord Delamere assures me that you hold no promise of the like + nature from him. If he is in this matter forgetful, I doubt not but + that you will return it on receipt of this. + + 'Maddox informs me that he shall in a few days forward to you the + payment due: to which I beg leave to add, that if you have occasion + for fifty or an hundred pounds more, during your stay on the + continent, you may draw on Maddox to that amount. With sincere + wishes for your health and happiness, I am, dear Miss Mowbray, your + obedient and faithful humble servant, + + MONTREVILLE.' + + +Tho' joy was, in the heart of Emmeline, the predominant emotion, she yet +felt some degree of pique and resentment involuntarily arise against +Lord Montreville and his son; and tho' the renunciation of the latter +was what she had secretly wished ever since she had discovered the +capricious violence of Delamere and the merit of Godolphin, the cold and +barely civil stile in which his father had acquainted her with it, +seemed at once to shock, mortify, and relieve her. + +After having considered a moment the contents of her own letters, she +cast her eyes towards Lady Westhaven, whose countenance expressed great +emotion; while her Lord, sternly and displeased ran over his, and then +put them into his pocket. + +'What say _your_ letters from England, my fairest cousin?' said he, +advancing and trying to shake off his chagrin. + +'Will you do me the honour to peruse them, my Lord?' said she, half +smiling.--'They will not take you up much time.' + +He read them. 'It is a settled thing then I find. Lady Westhaven, your's +are, I presume, from Berkley-square?' + +'They are,' answered she.--'Never,' and she took out her +handkerchief--'never have I received any less welcome!' + +She gave one from Lady Frances Crofts to his Lordship, in which, with +many details of her own affairs, was this sentence-- + + + 'Before this, you have heard from my father or my mother that + Lord Delamere has entirely recovered the use of his reason, and + accepts of Miss Otley with her immense fortune. This change was + brought about suddenly. It was settled in Norfolk, immediately + after Lord Delamere's return from Ireland. I congratulate you and + Lord W. on an event which I conclude _must_ to _both_ of you be + pleasing. I have seen none of the family for near three weeks, as + they are gone back into Norfolk; only my brother called for a + moment, and seemed to be greatly hurried; by which, as well as from + other circumstances, I conclude that preparations are making for + the wedding immediately.' + + _May 18._ + + +Lady Westhaven, who saw all hopes of being allied to the friend of her +heart for ever at an end--who believed that she had always cherished an +affection for her brother, and who supposed that in consequence of his +desertion she was left in mortifying dependance on Lord Montreville, was +infinitely hurt at this information. The letter from her father to +Emmeline confirmed all her apprehensions. There was a freezing civility +in the style, which gave no hopes of his alleviating by generosity and +kindness the pain which her Ladyship concluded Emmeline must feel; while +Lord Westhaven, knowing that to her whom he thus insulted with the +distant offer of fifty or an hundred pounds, he really was accountable +for the income of an estate of four thousand five hundred a year, for +near nineteen years, and that he still withheld that estate from her, +could hardly contain his indignation even before his wife; whom he +loved too well not to wish to conceal from her the ill opinion he could +not help conceiving of her father. + +Emmeline, who was far from feeling that degree of pain which Lady +Westhaven concluded must penetrate her heart, was yet unwilling to shew +that she actually received with pleasure (tho' somewhat allayed by Lord +Montreville's coldness) an emancipation from her engagement. Of her +partiality to Godolphin, her friend had no idea; for Emmeline, too +conscious of it to be able to converse about him without fearing to +betray herself, had studiously avoided talking of him after their first +meeting; and she now imagined that Lady Westhaven, passionately fond of +her brother as she was, would think her indifference affected thro' +pique; and carried too far, if she did not receive the intelligence of +their eternal separation with some degree of concern. These thoughts +gave her an air of vexation and embarrassment which would have saved her +the trouble of dissimulation had she been an adept in it's practice. +Extremely harrassed and out of spirits before, tears now, in spite of +her internal satisfaction, and perhaps partly arising from it, filled +her eyes; while Lady Westhaven, who was greatly more hurt, exclaimed-- + +'My brother then marries Miss Otley! After all I have heard him say, I +thought it impossible!' + +'He will however, I doubt not, be happy,' answered Emmeline. 'The +satisfaction of having made Lord and Lady Montreville completely happy, +must greatly contribute to his being so himself.' + +'Heaven grant it!' replied Lady Westhaven. 'Poor Frederic! he throws +away an invaluable blessing! Whether he will, in any other, find +consolation, I greatly doubt. But however changed _his_ heart may be, my +dearest Emmeline,' added she, tenderly embracing her, 'I think I can +venture to assure you that those of Lord Westhaven and your Augusta, +will, towards you, ever be the same.' + +Emmeline now wished to put an end to a conversation which Lady Westhaven +seemed hardly able to support; and she languished herself to be alone. +Forcing therefore a smile, tho' the tears still fell from her eyes, she +said--'My dear friends, tho' I expected this long ago, yet I beg you to +consider that being _but_ a woman, and of course vain, my pride is a +little wounded, and I must recollect all your kindnesses, to put me in +good humour again with myself. Do not let the Chevalier follow me; for I +am not disposed to hear any thing this evening, after these sweetest +and most consoling assurances of your inestimable friendship. Therefore +I shall take Madelon with me, and go for a walk.' + +She then left the room, Lady Westhaven not attempting to detain her; and +her Lord, vexed to see his gentle Augusta thus uneasy, remained with +her, pointing out to her the fairest prospects of establishment for her +beloved Emmeline; tho' he thought the present an improper opportunity to +open to her his knowledge of those circumstances in her friend's +fortune, which, without such conspicuous merit, could hardly fail of +obtaining it. + +To go to a great distance from the house, alone, Emmeline had not +courage; to stay near it, subjected her to the intrusion and importunity +of the Chevalier. She therefore determined to take Madelon, whose +presence would be some protection without any interruption to her +thoughts. She had wished, ever since her arrival at St. Alpin, to visit +alone the borders of the lake of Geneva. Madelon, alert and sprightly, +undertook to shew her the pleasantest way, and led her thro' a narrow +path crossing a hill covered with broom and coppice wood, into a dark +and gloomy wood of fir, cypress, and chestnut, that extended to the edge +of the water; from which it was in some places separated by rocks +pointing out into the lake, while in others the trees grew almost in the +water, and dipped their extremities in the limpid waves beneath them. + +Madelon informed Emmeline that this was the place where the servants of +the castle assembled to dance of an holyday, in the shade; and where +boats usually landed that came from the other side of the lake. + +The scene, softened into more pensive beauty by the approach of a warm +and serene evening, had every thing in it that could charm and soothe +the mind of the lovely orphan. But her internal feelings were at this +time too acute to suffer her to attend to outward circumstances. She +wished only for tranquillity and silence, to collect her thoughts; and +bidding Madelon find herself a seat, she went a few yards into the wood, +and sat down on the long grass, where even Madelon might not remark her. + +The events of the two last days appeared to be visions rather than +realities. From being an indigent dependant on the bounty of a relation, +whose caprice or avarice might leave her entirely destitute, she was at +once found to be heiress to an extensive property. From being bound down +to marry, if he pleased, a man for whom she felt only sisterly regard, +and who had thrown her from him in the violence of unreasonable jealousy +and gloomy suspicion, she was now at liberty to indulge the affections +she had so long vainly resisted, and to think, without present +self-accusation, or the danger of future repentance, of Godolphin. In +imagination, she already beheld him avowing that tenderness which he had +before generously struggled to conceal. She saw him, who she believed +would have taken her _without_ fortune, receiving in her estate the +means of bestowing happiness, and the power of indulging his liberal and +noble spirit. She saw the tender, unhappy Adelina, reconciled to life in +contemplating the felicity of her dear William; and Lord Westhaven, to +whom she was so much obliged, glorying in the good fortune of a brother +so deservedly beloved; while still calling her excellent and lovely +friend Augusta by the endearing appellation of sister, she saw her +forget, in the happiness of Godolphin, the concern she had felt for +Delamere. + +From this delicious dream of future bliss, she was awakened somewhat +suddenly by Madelon; who running towards her, told her that a boat, in +which there appeared to be several men, was pointing to land just where +she had been sitting. Emmeline, wearied as she was with the Chevalier's +gallantry, immediately supposed it to be him, and she knew he was out on +the lake. She therefore advanced a step or two to look. It was so nearly +dark that she could only distinguish a man standing in the boat, whose +figure appeared to be that of Bellozane; and taking Madelon by the arm, +she hastily struck into the wood, to avoid him by returning to St. Alpin +before he should perceive her. + +She had hardly walked twenty paces, when she heard the boat put on +shore, and two or three persons leap out of it. Still hoping, however, +to get thro' the wood before Bellozane could overtake her, she almost +ran with Madelon. But somebody seemed to pursue them. Her cloaths were +white; and she knew, that notwithstanding the evening was so far shut +in, and the path obscured by trees, she must yet be distinguished +gliding between their branches. The persons behind gained upon her, and +her pace quickened as her alarm encreased; for she now apprehended +something yet more disagreeable than being overtaken by Bellozane. +Suddenly she heard--'_Arretez, arretez, Mesdames! de grace dites moi si +vous etes de la famille du Baron de St. Alpin?_'[36] + +The first word of this sentence stopped the flying Emmeline, and fixed +her to the spot where she stood. It was the voice of Godolphin--Godolphin +himself was before her! + +The suddenness of his appearance quite overcame her, breathless as she +was before from haste and fear; and finding that to support herself was +impossible, she staggered towards a tree which grew on the edge of the +path, but would have fallen if Godolphin had not caught her in his arms. + +He did this merely from the impulse of his natural gallantry and good +nature. What were his transports, when he found that the fugitive whom +he had undesignedly alarmed by asking a direction to St. Alpin, was his +adored Emmeline; and that the lovely object whose idea, since their +first meeting, had never a moment been absent from it, he now pressed to +his throbbing heart? Instantly terrified, however, to find her +speechless and almost insensible, he ordered the servant who followed +him to run back for some water; and seating her gently on the ground, he +threw himself down by her and supported her; while Madelon, wringing her +hands called on her _aimable_, her _belle maitresse_; and was too much +frightened to give her any assistance. + +Before the man returned with the water, her recollection was restored, +and she said, faintly--'Mr. Godolphin! Is it possible?' + +'Loveliest Miss Mowbray, how thoughtlessly have I alarmed you!--Can you +forgive me?' + +'Ah!' cried she, disengaging herself from his support--'how came you +here, and from whence?' + +Godolphin, without considering, and almost without knowing what he said, +replied--'I come from Lord Delamere.' + +'From Lord Delamere!' exclaimed she, in amazement. 'Is he not in London +then?--is he not married?' + +'No; I overtook him at Besançon; where he lies ill--very ill!' + +'Ill!' repeated Emmeline.--'Ill, and at Besançon!--merciful heaven!' + +She now again relapsed almost into insensibility: for at the mention of +Godolphin's having overtaken him, and having left him ill, a thousand +terrific and frightful images crouded into her mind; but the predominant +idea was, that it was on her account they had met, and that Delamere's +illness was a wound in consequence of that meeting. + +That such an imagination should possess her, Godolphin had no means of +knowing. He therefore very naturally concluded that the violent sorrow +which she expressed, on hearing of Delamere's illness, arose from her +love towards him; and, in such a conclusion, he found the ruin of those +hopes he had of late fondly cherished. + +'Happy, happy Delamere!' said he, sighing to himself.--'Her first +affections were his, and never will any secondary tenderness supersede +that early impression. Alas! his rejection of her, has not been able to +efface it--For me, there is nothing to hope! and while I thus hold her +to my heart, I have lost her for ever! I came not hither, however, +solely on my own account, but rather to save from pain, her and those +she loves. 'Tis not then of myself I am to think.' + +While these reflections passed thro' his mind, he remained silent; and +Emmeline concluded that his silence was owing to the truth of her +conjecture. The grief of Lady Westhaven for her brother, the despair of +Lord Montreville for his son, presented themselves to her mind; and the +contemptuous return of her promise, which a few hours before she thought +of with resentment, was now forgotten in regret for his illness and pity +for his sufferings. + +'Ah!' cried she, trying to rise, 'what shall I say to Lady +Westhaven?--How disclose to her such intelligence as this?' + +'It was to prevent her hearing it abruptly,' said Godolphin, 'that I +came myself, rather than sent by a messenger or a letter, such +distressing information.' + +So strongly had the idea of a duel between them taken possession of the +mind of Emmeline, that she had no courage to ask particulars of his +illness; and shuddering with horror at the supposition that the hand +Godolphin held out to assist her was stained with the blood of the +unfortunate Delamere, she drew her's hastily and almost involuntarily +from him; and taking again Madelon's arm, attempted to hasten towards +home. + +But the scene of anguish and terror which she must there encounter with +Lady Westhaven, the distress and vexation of her Lord, and the misery of +believing that Godolphin had made himself for ever hateful to all her +own family, and that if her cousin died she could never again behold him +but with regret and anguish, were altogether reflections so +overwhelming, and so much more than her harrassed spirits were able to +sustain, that after tottering about fifty yards, she was compelled to +stop, and gasping for breath, to accept the offered assistance of +Godolphin. Strongly prepossessed with the idea of her affection for +Delamere, he languidly and mournfully lent it. He had no longer courage +to speak to her; yet wished to take measures for preventing Lady +Westhaven's being suddenly alarmed by his appearance; and he feared, +that not his appearance only, but his countenance, would tell her that +he came not thither to impart tidings of happiness. + +It was now quite dark; and the slow pace in which only Emmeline could +walk, had not yet carried them through the wood. The agitation of +Emmeline encreased: she wished, yet dreaded to know the particulars of +Delamere's situation; and unable to summons courage to enquire into it, +she proceeded mournfully along, almost borne by Godolphin and Madelon; +who understanding nothing of what had been said, and not knowing who the +gentleman was who had thus frightened her mistress, was herself almost +as much in dismay. + +After a long pause, Emmeline, in faultering accents, asked 'if the +situation of Lord Delamere was absolutely desperate?' + +'I hope and believe not,' said Godolphin. 'When I left him, at least, +there were hopes of a favourable issue.' + +'Ah! wherefore did you leave him? Why not stay at least to see the +event?' + +'Because he so earnestly desired that his sister might know of his +situation, and that I only might acquaint her with it and press her to +go to him.' + +'She will need no entreaties. Poor, poor Delamere!'--sighing deeply, +Emmeline again became silent. + +They were to mount a small hill, which was between the wood they had +left and the grounds immediately surrounding St. Alpin, which was +extremely steep and rugged. Before she reached the top, she was quite +exhausted. + +'I believe,' said she, 'I must again rest before I can proceed.' + +She sat down on a bank formed by the roots of the trees which sustained +the earth, on the edge of the narrow path. + +Godolphin, excessively alarmed at her weakness and dejection, which he +still attributed to the anguish she felt for Delamere, sat by her, +hardly daring to breathe himself, while he listened to her short +respiration, and fancied he heard the violent palpitation of her heart. + +'And how long do you think,' said she, again recurring to Delamere--'how +long may he linger before the event will be known?' + +'I really hope, and I think I am not too sanguine, that the fever will +have left him before we see him again.' + +'The fever!' repeated Emmeline--'has he a fever then?' + +'Yes,' replied Godolphin--'I thought I told you that a fever was his +complaint. But had you not better, my dear Madam, think a little of +yourself! Ill as you appear to be, I see not how you are to get home +unless you will suffer me to go on and procure some kind of conveyance +for you.' + +'I shall do very well,' answered she, 'as I am, if you will only tell me +about Lord Delamere. He has only a fever?' + +'And is it not enough,' said Godolphin. 'Tho', were I Lord Delamere, I +should think an illness that called forth in my favour the charming +sensibility of Miss Mowbray, the happiest event of my life.' + +Having said this, he fell into a profound silence. The certainty of her +affection for Delamere, deprived him of all spirits when he most wanted +to exert them. Yet it was necessary to take some measures for +introducing himself at St. Alpin without alarming Lady Westhaven, and to +consider how he was to account to his brother for Delamere's +estrangement from Emmeline; and while he canvassed these and many other +perplexities, Emmeline, who was relieved from the most distressing of +her apprehensions, and dared not for the world reveal what those +apprehensions had been, in some degree recovered herself; and growing +anxious for Lady Westhaven, said she believed she could now walk home. + +As she was about to arise with an intention to attempt it, they heard +the sound of approaching voices, and almost immediately lights appeared +above the hill, while 'Mademoiselle!--Miss Mowbray!--Madelon!--Madelon!' +was frequently and loudly repeated by the persons who carried them. + +'The Baron and Lord Westhaven,' said Emmeline, 'alarmed at my being out +so late, have sent persons in search of me.' + +Her conjecture was right. In a moment the Chevalier, with a flambeau in +his hand, was before them; who, when he found Emmeline sitting in such +a place, supported by a young man whom he had never before seen, was at +once amazed and displeased. There was no time for explanation. Lord +Westhaven immediately followed him; and after stopping a moment to +consider whether the figure of Godolphin which rose before him was not +an illusion, he flew eagerly into his arms. + +The manly eyes of both the brothers were filled with tears. Lord +Westhaven had not seen Godolphin for four years; and, since their last +parting, they had lost their father. After a short pause, his Lordship +introduced Godolphin to Bellozane; and then taking the cold and +trembling hand of Emmeline, who leaned languidly on Madelon, he said-- + +'And you, my lovely cousin, for whose safety we have been above an hour +in the cruellest alarm, where did you find William, and by what +extraordinary chance are ye here together?' + +Emmeline with great difficulty found voice enough to explain their +accidental meeting. And Bellozane observing her apparent faintness, +said--'you seem, Mademoiselle, to be extremely fatigued. Pray allow me +the honour of giving you my arm.' + +'If you please,' said she, in a low voice. And supposing that Godolphin +would be glad to have some conversation with his brother, she accepted +his assistance and proceeded. + +This preference, however, of Bellozane, Godolphin imputed to her +coldness or dislike towards himself; and so struck was he with the cruel +idea, that it was not without an effort he recollected himself enough to +relate to his brother, as they walked, all that it was necessary for him +to know. Lord Westhaven, anxious for a life so precious to his wife and +her family as was that of Lord Delamere, determined immediately to go to +him. At present it was necessary to reveal as tenderly as possible his +situation to his sister, Lady Westhaven; and first to dissipate the +uneasiness she had suffered from the long absence of Emmeline. + +[Footnote 36: Stay, stay a moment, ladies! Have the goodness to tell me +whether you belong to the family of the Baron de St. Alpin?] + + + + +CHAPTER IV + + +Lord Westhaven first entered the room where his wife was, whose alarming +apprehensions at Emmeline's long stay were by this time extreme. + +'Our Emmeline is returned, my love,' said he, 'and has met with no +accident.' + +Lady Westhaven eagerly embracing her, reproached her tenderly for her +long absence. But then observing how pale she looked, and the fatigue +and oppression she seemed to suffer, her Ladyship said-- + +'Surely you have been frightened--or you are ill? You look so faint!' + +'She is a little surprised,' interrupted Lord Westhaven, seeing her +still unable to answer for herself. 'She has brought us a visitor whom +we did not expect. My brother Godolphin landed just as she was returning +home.' + +At this intelligence Lady Westhaven could express only pleasure. She had +never seen Godolphin, who was now introduced, and received with every +token of regard by her Ladyship, as well as by the Baron and Mrs. St. +Alpin; who beheld with pleasure another son of their sister, and beheld +him an honour to their family. + +Bellozane, however, saw his arrival with less satisfaction. He +remembered that Emmeline had been, as she had told him, well acquainted +with Godolphin in England; and recollected that whenever he had been +spoken of, she had always done justice to his merit, yet rather evaded +than sought the conversation. Her extraordinary agitation on his +arrival, which was such as disabled her from walking home, seemed much +greater than could have been created by the sight of a mere +acquaintance; his figure was so uncommonly handsome, his countenance so +interesting, and his address such a fortunate mixture of dignity and +softness, that Bellozane, vain as he was, could not but acknowledge his +personal merit; and began to fear that the coldness and insensibility of +Emmeline, which he had, till now, supposed perseverance would vanquish, +were less occasioned by her affected blindness to his own perfections, +than by her prepossession in favour of another. + +Whatever internal displeasure this idea of rivalry gave the Chevalier, +he overwhelmed Godolphin with professions of regard and esteem, not the +less warm for being wholly insincere. + +But Godolphin, who saw, in the encreasing dejection of Emmeline, only a +confirmation of her attachment to Delamere, drooped in hopeless +despondence. Emmeline, unable to support herself, retired early to her +room; and Godolphin, complaining of fatigue, was conducted to his by +Bellozane; while Lord Westhaven meditated how to disclose to his wife, +without too much distressing her, the illness of her brother. He +thought, that as she had suffered a good deal of vexation in the course +of the day, as well as terror at Emmeline's absence at so late an hour +in the evening, he would defer till the next morning this unwelcome +intelligence. As soon, however, as she was retired, he communicated to +his uncle and aunt the situation of Lord Delamere, and the necessity +there was for their quitting St. Alpin the next day, to attend him; an +account which they both heard with sincere regret. Mrs. St. Alpin +heartily wished Lord Delamere was with _her_, being persuaded she could +immediately cure him with remedies of her own preparing; while the Baron +expressed his vexation and regret to find the visit of his nephews so +much shortened. + +Lord Westhaven went to his own apartment in great uneasiness. He heard +from his brother, that Lord Delamere, repenting of his renunciation of +Emmeline, was coming to St. Alpin, when illness stopped him at Besançon. +He knew not how to act about her; who, heiress to a large fortune, was +of so much more consequence than she had been hitherto supposed. He had +a long contention in view with Lord Montreville; and was now likely to +be embarrassed with the passion of Delamere, if he recovered, (who would +certainly expect his influence over Emmeline to be exerted to obtain his +pardon); or if the event of his illness should prove fatal, he dreaded +the anguish of Lady Westhaven and the despair of the whole family. + +He was besides hurt at that melancholy and unhappy appearance, so unlike +his former manners, which he had observed in Godolphin; and for which, +ignorant of his passion for Emmeline, he knew not how to account. His +short conversation with him had cleared up no part of the mystery which +he could not but perceive hung about the affairs of Lady Adelina; and he +only knew enough to discover that something remained which it would +probably pain him to know thoroughly. + +The pillow of Emmeline also was strewn with thorns. For tho' the +sharpest of them was removed, by having heard that Delamere was ill +without having suffered from the event of any dispute in which he might +on her account have engaged, she was extremely unhappy that he had, in +pursuit of her, come to France, which she now concluded must be the +case, and sorry for the disquiet which she foresaw must arise from his +indisposition and his love. + +She was sure that Lady Westhaven would immediately fly to her brother. +And in that event how was she herself to act? + +Could she suffer her generous, her tender friend, to whom she was so +much obliged, to encounter alone all the fatigue and anxiety to which +the sickness and danger of this beloved brother would probably expose +her? Yet could she submit to the appearance of seeking a man who had so +lately renounced her for ever, with coldness, contempt, and insult? If +she went not with Lady Westhaven, she had no choice but that of +travelling across France alone, to rejoin Mrs. Stafford; since she could +not remain with propriety a moment at St. Alpin, with the Chevalier de +Bellozane; whose addresses she never meant to encourage, and whose +importunate passion persecuted and distressed her. Godolphin +too!--whither would Godolphin go? Could she go where he was, and conceal +her partiality? or could she, by accompanying him to Besançon, plunge +another dagger in the heart of Delamere, and shew him, not only that he +had lost that portion of her regard he had once possessed, but that all +her love was now given to another. + +That she was most partial to Godolphin, she could no longer attempt to +conceal from herself. The moment her fears that he had met Delamere +hostilely were removed, all her tenderness for him returned with new +force. She again saw all the merit, all the nobleness of his character; +but she still tormented herself with uneasy conjectures as to the cause +of his journey to Switzerland; and wearied herself with considering how +she ought to act, 'till towards morning, when falling, thro' mere +fatigue and lassitude, into a short slumber, she saw multiplied and +exaggerated, in dreams, the dreadful images which had disturbed her +waking; and starting up in terror, determined no more to attempt to +sleep. It was now day break; and wrapping herself in her muslin morning +gown and cloak, she went down into the garden of Mrs. St. Alpin, where, +seated on a bench, under a row of tall walnut trees, which divided it +from the vineyard, she leaned her head against one of them; and lost in +reflections on the strangeness of her fate, and the pain of her +situation, she neither saw or heard any thing around her. + +Godolphin, in the anxiety she had expressed for Delamere, believed he +saw a confirmation of his fears; which had always been that the early +impression he had made on her heart would be immoveable, and that +neither his having renounced her or his rash and heedless temper would +prevent her continuing to love him. Wretched in this idea, he concluded +all hopes of obtaining her regard for ever at an end; while every hour's +experience of his own feelings, whether he thought of or saw her, +convinced him that his love, however desperate, was incurable. +Accustomed to fatigue, all that he had endured the day before could not +restore to him that repose which was driven away by these reflections. +Almost as soon as he saw it was light, he left his room, and with less +interest than he would once have taken in such a survey, wandered over +the antique apartments of the paternal house of his mother. He then went +down into the garden; and musing rather than observing, passed along the +strait walk that went between the walnut trees into the vineyard. At the +end of it he turned, and, in coming again towards the house, saw +Emmeline sitting on the bench beneath them, who had not seen him the +first time he passed her, but who now appeared surprised at his +approach. + +She had not, however, time to rise before he went up to her, and bowing +gravely, enquired how she did after the alarm he had been so unfortunate +as to give her the evening before? + +'I fear,' said he, seating himself by her, 'that Miss Mowbray is yet +indisposed from her late walk and my inconsiderate address to her. I +know not how to forgive myself for my indiscretion, since it has +distressed you.' + +'Such intelligence as I had the misfortune of hearing, Sir, of the +brother of Lady Westhaven--a brother so dear to her--could hardly fail +of affecting me. I should have been concerned had a stranger been so +circumstanced; but when--' + +'Ah! Madam,' interrupted Godolphin, 'you need not repeat all the claims +which give the fortunate Delamere a right to your favour. But do not +suffer yourself, on his account, to be so extremely alarmed. I hope the +danger is by no means so great as to make his recovery hopeless. Since +of those we love, the most minute account is not tedious, and since it +may, perhaps, alleviate your apprehensions for his safety, will you +allow me to relate all I know of his illness! It will engage me, +perhaps, in a detail of our first acquaintance, and carry me back to +circumstances which I would wish to forget; if your gratification was +not in my mind a consideration superior to every other.' + +Emmeline, trembling, yet wishing to hear all, could not refuse. She +bowed in silence; and Godolphin considering that as an assent, reassumed +his discourse. + + * * * * * + +'Soon after I had the happiness of seeing you last, my wish to embrace +Lady Clancarryl and her family (from whose house I had been long obliged +to absent myself because Mr. Fitz-Edward was with them) carried me to +Ireland; and to my astonishment I there met Lord Delamere. + +'The relationship between their families, made my sister anxiously +invite him to Lough Carryl. Thither reluctantly he came; and an accident +informed him that I had the good fortune, by means of Lady Adelina +Trelawny, to be known to you. + +'He did me the honour to shew me particular attention; and the morning +after he found I had the happiness of being acquainted with Miss +Mowbray, he took occasion, when we were alone, to ask me, abruptly, +whether I knew Colonel Fitz-Edward? I answered that I certainly did, by +the connection in our families; and that he was once my most intimate +friend. + +'He then unreservedly, and with vehemence said, that Fitz-Edward was a +villain! Astonished and hurt at an assertion which (how true soever it +might be) I thought alluded to that unhappy affair which I hoped was a +secret, I eagerly asked an explanation. But judge, Miss Mowbray, of the +astonishment, the pain, with which I heard him impute to you the error +of my unfortunate Adelina--when I saw him take out three anonymous +letters, one of which I found had hastened his return from France, +purporting that Fitz-Edward had availed himself of his absence to win +your affections, that he had taken, of those affections, the most +ungenerous advantage, and that on going to a place named (which I +remembered to be the house where my little William was nursed,) he might +himself see an unequivocal proof of your fatal attachment and +Fitz-Edward's perfidy. + +'When I had read these odious letters, and listened to several +circumstances he related, which confirmed in his apprehension the truth +of the assertions they contained, he went on to inform me, that +following this cruel information, he had seen you with the infant in +your arms; had bitterly reproached you, and then had quitted you for +ever!--But as he could not rest without trying to punish the infamous +conduct of Fitz-Edward, he had pursued him to Ireland, where, instead of +finding him, he heard that he was gone to France, undoubtedly to meet +you, by your own appointment; but as Lord Clancarryl still expected him +back, he determined to wait a little longer, in hopes of an opportunity +of discussing with him the subjects of complaint he had related. + +'Tho' I immediately saw what I ought to do, astonishment for a moment +kept me silent, and in that moment we were interrupted. + +'This delay, however unwelcome, gave me time for reflection. Lord +Delamere was to go the same day from Lough Carryl to Dublin. I resolved +to follow him thither, and relate the whole truth; since I would by no +means suffer your generous and exalted friendship for my sister to stain +the lovely purity of a character which only the malice of fiends could +delight in blasting, only the blind and infatuated rashness of jealousy +a moment believe capable of blemish! Many reasons induced me, however, +to delay this necessary explanation 'till I saw him at his own lodgings. +Thither I followed him, two days after he departed from Lough Carryl. +But on enquiring for him, was surprised and mortified to find that he +had received letters from England which had induced him immediately to +return thither, and that he had sailed in the packet for Holyhead the +day after his arrival at Dublin.' + +Emmeline, astonished at the malice which appeared to have been exerted +against her, remained silent; but in such tremor, that it was with +difficulty she continued to hear him. + +'I now, therefore, relinquished all thoughts of returning to the house +of my sister, and followed him by the first conveyance that offered, +greatly apprehending, that if the letters he had received gave him +notice of Fitz-Edward's return to London, my interposition would be too +late to prevent their meeting. I knew the hasty and inconsiderate +Delamere would, without an explanation, so conduct himself towards +Fitz-Edward, that neither his spirit or his profession would permit him +to bear; and that if they met, the consequence must, to one of them, be +fatal. I was impatient too to rescue your name, Madam, from the +unmerited aspersions which it bore. But when I arrived in London, and +hastened to Berkley-Square, I heard that Lord and Lady Montreville, +together with Lady Frances Crofts, her husband, and Lord Delamere, had +gone all together to Audley Hall, immediately after his return from +Ireland. Thither, therefore, I went also.' + +'Generous, considerate Godolphin!' sighed Emmeline to herself. + +'Tho' related, by my brother's marriage, to the family of the Marquis of +Montreville, I was a stranger to every member of it but Lord Delamere. +He was gone to dine out; and in the rest of the family I observed an air +of happiness and triumph, which Lord Montreville informed me was +occasioned by the marriage which was intended soon to take place between +his son and Miss Otley; whose immense fortune, and near relationship to +his mother's family, had made such a marriage particularly desirable. I +was glad to hear he was likely to be happy; but it was not therefore the +less necessary to clear up the error into which he had fallen. On his +coming home, he appeared pleased and surprised to see me; but I saw in +his looks none of that satisfaction which was so evident in those of the +rest of the house. + +'As soon as we were alone, he said to me--"You see me, Mr. Godolphin, at +length taken in the toils. Immediately after leaving Lough Carryl, I +received a letter from a person in London, whom I had employed for that +purpose, which informed me that he heard, at the office of the agent to +Fitz-Edward's regiment, that he was certainly to be in town in a few +days. He named, indeed, the exact time; and I, who imagined that pains +had been taken to keep us from meeting, determined to return to England +instantly, that he might not again avoid me. On reaching London, +however, I found that the intelligence I had received was wholly +unfounded, and originated in the mistake of a clerk in the agent's +office. None knew where Fitz-Edward was, or when he would return; and +though I wrote to enquire at Rouen, where I imagined the residence of +Miss Mowbray might induce him to remain, I have yet had no answer. The +entreaties and tears of my mother prevailed on me to come down hither; +and reckless of what becomes of me, since Emmeline is undoubtedly lost +to me for ever, I have yielded to the remonstrance of my father and the +prayers of my mother, and have consented to marry a woman whom I cannot +love. Let not Fitz-Edward, however, imagine," (vehemently and fiercely +he spoke) "that he is with impunity to escape; and that tho' my +vengeance may be delayed, I can _forgive_ the man who has basely robbed +me of her whom I _could_ love--whom I _did_ love--even to madness!" + +'I own to you, Madam, that when I found this unfortunate young man had +put into his father's hands the promise you had given him, and that it +was returned to you, I felt at once pity for him, and--hope for myself, +which, 'till then, I had never dared to indulge.' + +Godolphin had never been thus explicit before. Pale as death, and +deprived of the power as well as of the inclination to interrupt him, +Emmeline awaited, in breathless silence, the close of this extraordinary +narrative. + +'It was now,' reassumed he, 'my turn to speak. And trusting to his +honour for his silence about my unhappy sister, I revealed to him the +whole truth. I at once cleared your character from unjust blame, and, I +hope, did justice to those exalted virtues to which I owe so much. I +will not shock your gentle and generous bosom with a relation of the +wild phrenzy, the agonies of regret and repentance, into which this +relation threw Lord Delamere. Concerned at the confusion his reproaches +and his anguish had occasioned to the whole family, I lamented that I +could not explain to _them_ what I had said to _him_, which had produced +so sudden a change in his sentiments about you; but to such women as the +Marchioness of Montreville and her daughter, I could not relate the +unhappiness of my poor Adelina; and Delamere steadily refused to tell +them how he became convinced of your innocence, and the wicked arts +which had been used to mislead him; which he openly imputed to the +family of the Crofts', against whom his fiery and vindictive spirit +turned all the rage it had till now cherished against Fitz-Edward. + +'The Marquis, tho' extremely hurt, had yet candour enough to own, that +if I was convinced that the causes of complaint which his son had +against you were ill founded, I had done well in removing them. Yet I +saw that he wished I had been less anxious for the vindication of +innocence; and he beheld, with an uneasy and suspicious eye, what he +thought officious interference in the affairs of his family. I observed, +too, that he believed when the influence that he supposed I had over the +mind of Lord Delamere was removed, he should be able to bring him back +to his engagements with Miss Otley, which had, I found, been hurried on +with the utmost precipitation. The ladies, who had at first overwhelmed +me with civilities, now appeared so angry, that notwithstanding Lord +Delamere's entreaties that I would stay with him till he could determine +how to act, I immediately returned to London; and from thence, after +passing a week with Adelina, whom I had only seen for a few hours since +my return from Ireland, I set out for St. Alpin.' + +'But Lord Delamere, Sir?' said Emmeline, inarticulately. + +'Alas! Madam,' dejectedly continued Godolphin, 'I mean not to entertain +you on what relates to myself; but to hasten to that which I farther +have to say of the fortunate Delamere! I waited a few days at +Southampton for a wind; and then landing at Havre, proceeded to St. +Germains, where Mrs. Stafford's last letters had informed Adelina she +was settled. I knew, too, that you were gone with my brother and Lady +Westhaven to St. Alpin. Mrs. Stafford had only the day before forwarded +to you Lord Montreville's letter, which, by one from his Lordship to +herself, she knew contained the promise you had given Lord Delamere. She +said, that this renunciation would give you no pain. She made me hope +that your heart was not irrevocably his. Ah! why did I suffer such +illusions to lead me on to this conviction! But pray forgive me, lovely +Miss Mowbray! I am still talking of myself. From St. Germains I made as +much haste as possible to Besançon. I rode post; and, just as I got off +my horse at the hotel, was accosted by a French servant, whom I knew +belonged to Lord Delamere. + +'The man expressed great joy at seeing me, and besought me to go with +him to his master, who, he said, had, thro' fatigue and the heat of the +weather, been seized with a fever, and was unable to proceed to St. +Alpin, whither he was going. + +'I was extremely concerned at his journey; and, I hope, not so selfish +as to be unmoved by his illness. I found, indeed, his fever very high, +but greatly irritated and encreased by his impatience. As soon as he saw +me, he told me that he was hurrying to St. Alpin, in hopes of obtaining +your pardon; that he had broke off his engagement with Miss Otley, and +never would return to England till he carried you thither as his wife. + +'"I am now well enough to go on, indeed Godolphin," added he, "and if I +can but see her!----" + +'I was by no means of opinion that he was in a condition to travel. His +fever encreased; after I left him in the evening, he grew delirious; and +Millefleur, terrified, came to call me to him. I sat up with him for +the rest of the night; and being accustomed to attend invariably to the +illness of men on ship board, I thought I might venture, from my +experience, to direct a change in the method which the physician he had +sent for pursued. In a few hours he grew better, and the delirium left +him; but he was then convinced that he was too weak to proceed on his +journey. + +'He knew I was coming hither, and he entreated me to hasten my +departure. "Go, my good friend," said he--"send Augusta to me. She will +bring with her the generous, the forgiving angel, whom my rash folly has +dared to injure! She will behold my penitence; and, if her pardon can be +obtained, it will restore me to life; but if I cannot see them--if I +linger many days longer in suspence, my illness must be fatal!" + +'As I really did not think him in great danger, and saw every proper +care was now taken of him, determined to come on; not only because I +wished to save Lady Westhaven the pain of hearing of his illness by any +other means, but because--' + +He was proceeding, when a deep and convulsive sigh from Emmeline made +him look in her face, from which he had hitherto kept his eyes, (unable +to bear the varying expressions it had shewn of what he thought her +concern for Delamere.) He now beheld her, quite pale, motionless, and to +all appearance lifeless. Her sense of what she owed to the generosity of +Godolphin; her concern for Delamere; and the dread of those contending +passions which she foresaw would embitter her future life, added to the +sleepless night and fatigueing day she had passed, had totally overcome +her. Godolphin flew for assistance. The servants were by this time up, +and ran to her. Among the first of them was Le Limosin, who expressed +infinite anxiety and concern for her, and assiduously exerted himself in +carrying her into the house; where she soon recovered, begged +Godolphin's pardon for the trouble she had given, and was going to her +own room, led by Madelon, when Bellozane suddenly appeared, and offered +his assistance, which Emmeline faintly declining, moved on. + +Godolphin, who could not bear to leave her in such a state, walked +slowly by her, tho' she had refused his arm. The expression of his +countenance, while his eyes were eagerly fixed on her face, would have +informed any one less interested than Bellozane, of what passed in his +heart; and the Chevalier surveyed him with looks of angry observation, +which did not escape Emmeline, ill as she was. On arriving, therefore, +at the foot of the staircase, she besought, in English, Godolphin to +leave her, which he instantly did. She then told the Chevalier that she +would by no means trouble him to attend her farther; and he, satisfied +that no preference was shewn to his cousin, at least in this instance, +bowed, and returned with him into the room where they usually assembled +in a morning, and where they found Lord Westhaven. + + + + +CHAPTER V + + +His Lordship told them that Lady Westhaven had been less alarmed at the +account he had given her of Delamere than he had apprehended; and that +she was preparing to begin their journey towards him immediately after +breakfast. + +'I must send,' continued he, 'Miss Mowbray to her; who is, I understand, +already up and walking.' + +Bellozane then informed his Lordship of what he knew of Emmeline. But +Godolphin was silent: he dared not trust himself with speaking much of +her; he dared not relate her illness, lest the cause of it should be +enquired into. 'Does Miss Mowbray go with my sister?' asked he. + +'That I know not,' replied Lord Westhaven. 'Augusta will very +reluctantly go without her. Yet her situation in regard to Lord Delamere +is such'--He ceased speaking; looked embarrassed; and, soon after, the +Chevalier quitting the room, before whom civility would not allow them +to converse long in English, and to whom his Lordship thought he had no +right to reveal the real situation of Emmeline, while it yet remained +unknown to others, he related to his brother the circumstances of the +discovery that had been made of her birth, and of her consequent claim +to the Mowbray estate. + +Godolphin, who would, from the obscurest indigence, have chosen her in +preference to all other women, heard this account with pleasure, only as +supposing that independance might be grateful to her sensibility, and +affluence favourable to the liberality of her spirit. But the +satisfaction he derived from these reflections, was embittered and +nearly destroyed, when he considered, that her acquiring so large a +fortune would make her alliance eagerly sought by the very persons who +had before scorned and rejected her; and that all the family would unite +in persuading her to forgive Delamere, the more especially as this would +be the only means to keep in it the Mowbray estate, and to preclude the +necessity of refunding the income which had been received for so many +years, and which now amounted to a great sum of money. When the pressing +instances of all her own family, and particularly of Lady Westhaven, +whom she so tenderly loved, were added to the affection he believed she +had invariably felt for Delamere, he thought it impossible that her +pride, however it might have been piqued by the desertion of her lover, +could make any effort against a renewal of her engagement; and his own +hopes, which he had never cherished till he was convinced Delamere had +given her up, and which had been weakened by her apparent affection for +him, were by this last event again so nearly annihilated, that, no +longer conscious he retained any, he fancied himself condemned still to +love, serve, and adore the object of his passion, without making any +effort to secure it's success, or being permitted to appear otherwise +than as her friend. He was vexed that he had been unguardedly explicit, +in telling her that he had ever indulged those hopes at all; since he +now feared it would be the means of depriving her conversation and her +manner, when they were together, of that charming frankness, of which, +tho' it rivetted his chains and encreased his torments, he could not +bear to be deprived. Melancholy and desponding, he continued long silent +after Lord Westhaven ceased speaking. Suddenly, however, awakening from +his reverie, he said--'Does your Lordship think Miss Mowbray _ought_ to +go to meet Lord Delamere?' + +'Upon my word I know not how to advise: my wife is miserable without +her, and fancies the sight of her will immediately restore Delamere. On +the other hand, I believe Emmeline herself will with reluctance take a +step that will perhaps, appear like forcing herself into the notice of a +man from whom she has received an affront which it is hardly in female +nature to forgive.' + +They were now interrupted by Bellozane, who flew about the house in +evident uneasiness and confusion. He did not yet know how Emmeline was +to be disposed of: he saw that Lord Westhaven was himself uncertain of +it; and he had been applying for information to Le Limosin and Madelon, +who had yet received no orders to prepare for her departure. + +While Emmeline had created in the bosoms of others so much anxiety, she +was herself tortured with the cruellest uncertainty. Unable to resolve +how she ought to act, she had yet determined on nothing, when Lady +Westhaven sent for her, who, as soon as she entered the room, said--'My +dear Emmeline, are you not preparing for our journey?' + +'How can I, dearest Madam--how can I, with any propriety, go where Lord +Delamere is? After the separation which has now so decidedly and +irrevocably taken place between us, shall I intrude again on his +Lordship's sight? and solicit a return of that regard with which I most +sincerely wish he had forborne to honour me?' + +'You are piqued, my lovely friend; and I own with great reason. But Mr. +Godolphin has undoubtedly told you that poor Frederic is truly penitent; +that he has taken this journey merely to deprecate your just anger and +to solicit his pardon. Will my Emmeline, generous and gentle as she is +to others, be inexorable only to him? Besides, my sweet coz, pray +consider a moment, what else can you do? You certainly would not wish to +stay here? Surely you would not travel alone to St. Germains. And let me +add my own hopes that you will not quit me now, when poor Frederic's +illness, and my own precarious health, make your company not merely +pleasant but necessary.' + +'That is indeed a consideration which must have great force with me. +When Lady Westhaven commands, how shall I disobey, even tho' to obey be +directly contrary to my judgment and my wishes.' + +'Commands, my dear friend,' very gravely, and with an air of chagrin, +said her Ladyship, 'are neither for me to give or for you to receive. +Certainly if you are so determined against going with me, I must submit. +But I did not indeed think that Emmeline, however the brother may have +offended her, would thus have resented it to the sister.' + +'I should be a monster, Lady Westhaven,' (hardly was she able to +restrain her tears as she spoke,)--'was I a moment capable of forgetting +all I owe you. But do you really think I _ought_ again to put myself in +the way of Lord Delamere--again to renew all the family contention which +his very unfortunate partiality for me has already occasioned; and again +to hazard being repulsed with contempt by the Marquis, and still more +probably by the Marchioness of Montreville. My lot has hitherto been +humble: I have learned to submit to it, if not without regret, at least +with calmness and resignation; yet pardon me if I say, that however +unhappy my fortune, there is still something due to myself; and if I +again make myself liable to the humiliation of being _refused_, I shall +feel that I am degraded in mind, as much as I have been in +circumstances, and lost to that proper pride to which innocence and +rectitude has in the lowest indigence a right, and which cannot be +relinquished but with the loss of virtue.' + +The spirit which Emmeline thought herself obliged to exert, was +immediately lost in softness and in sorrow when she beheld Lady +Westhaven in tears; who, sobbing, said--'Go then, Miss Mowbray!--Go, my +dear Emmeline! (for dear you must ever be to me) leave _me_ to be +unhappy and poor Frederic to die.' + +'Hear me, my dear Madam!' answered she with quickness--'If to _you_ I +can be of the least use, I will hesitate no longer; but let it then be +understood that I go _with_ you, and by no means _to_ Lord Delamere.' + +'It shall be so understood--be assured, my love, it shall! You will not, +then, leave me?--You will see my poor brother?' + +'My best, my dearest friend,' replied Emmeline, collecting all her +fortitude, 'hear me without resentment explain to you at once the real +situation of my heart in regard to Lord Delamere. I feel for him the +truest concern; I feel it for him even to a painful excess; and I have +an affection for him, a sisterly affection for him, which I really +believe is little inferior to your own. But I will not deceive you; nor, +since I am to meet him, will I suffer him to entertain hopes that it is +impossible for me to fulfil. To be considered as the friend, as the +sister of Lord Delamere, is one of the first wishes my heart now +forms--against ever being his wife, I am resolutely determined.' + +'Impossible!--Surely you cannot have made such a resolution?' + +'I have indeed!--Nor will any consideration on earth induce me from that +determination to recede.' + +'And is it anger and resentment only have raised in your heart this +decided enmity to my poor brother? Or is it, that any other----' + +Emmeline, whose colourless cheeks were suffused with a deep blush at +this speech, hastily interrupted it.-- + +'Whatever, dear Lady Westhaven, are my motives for the decision, it is +irrevocable; as Lord Delamere's sister, I shall be honoured, if I am +allowed to consider myself.--As such, if my going with you to Besançon +will give you a day's--an hour's satisfaction, I go.' + +'Get ready then, my love. But indeed, cruel girl, if such is your +resolution it were better to leave you here, than take you only to shew +Lord Delamere all he has lost, while you deprive him of all hopes of +regaining you. But I will yet flatter myself you do not mean all +this.--"At lovers' perjuries they say Jove laughs."--And those of my +fair cousin will be forgiven, should she break her angry vow and receive +her poor penitent. Come, let us hasten to begin our journey to him; for +tho' that dear Godolphin, whom I shall love as long as I live,' (ah! +thought Emmeline, and so shall I) 'assures me he does not think him in +any danger, my heart will sadly ache till I see him myself.' + +Emmeline then left her to put up her cloaths and prepare for a journey +to which she was determined solely by the pressing instances of Lady +Westhaven. To herself she foresaw only uneasiness and embarrassment; and +even found a degree of cruelty in permitting Lord Delamere to feed, by +her consenting to attend him, those hopes to which she now could never +accede, unless by condemning herself to the most wretched of all +lots--that of marrying one man while her love was another's. The late +narrative which she had heard from Godolphin, encreased her affection +for him, and took from her every wish to oppose it's progress; and tho' +she was thus compelled to see Delamere, she determined not to deceive +him, but to tell him ingenuously that he had lost all that tenderness +which her friendship and long acquaintance with him would have induced +her to cherish, had not his own conduct destroyed it-- + +But it was hardly less necessary to own to him part of the truth, than +to conceal the rest. Should he suspect that Godolphin was his rival, and +a rival fondly favoured, she knew that his pride, his jealousy, his +resentment, would hurry him into excesses more dreadful, than any that +had yet followed his impetuous love or his unbridled passions. + +The apprehensions that he must, if they were long together, discover it, +were more severely distressing than any she had yet felt; and she +resolved, both now and when they reached Besançon, to keep the strictest +guard on her words and looks; and to prevent if possible her real +sentiments being known to Delamere, to Lady Westhaven, and to Godolphin +himself. + +So painful and so difficult appeared the dissimulation necessary for +that end; and so contrary did she feel it to her nature, that she was +withheld only by her love to Lady Westhaven from flying to England with +Mrs. Stafford; and should she be restored to her estate, she thought +that the only chance she had of tranquillity would be to hide herself +from Delamere, whom she at once pitied and dreaded, and from Godolphin, +whom she tenderly loved, in the silence and seclusion of Mowbray Castle. + +Her embarrassment and uneasiness were encreased, when, on her joining +Lord and Lady Westhaven, whose carriages and baggage were now ready, she +found that the Chevalier de Bellozane had insisted on escorting them; an +offer which they had no pretence to refuse. On her taking leave of the +Baron, he very warmly and openly recommended his son to her favour; and +Mrs. St. Alpin, who was very fond of her, repeated her wishes that she +would listen to her nephew; and both with unfeigned concern saw their +English visitors depart. Captain Godolphin had a place in his brother's +chaise; Madelon occupied that which on the former journey was filled by +Bellozane in the coach, the Chevalier now proceeding on horseback. + +During the journey, Emmeline was low and dejected; from which she was +sometimes roused by impatient enquiries and fearful apprehensions which +darted into her mind, of what was to happen at the end of it. Every +thing he observed, confirmed Godolphin in his persuasion that her heart +was wholly Delamere's: her behaviour to himself was civil, but even +studiously distant; while the unreserved and ardent addresses of +Bellozane, who made no mystery of his pretensions, she repulsed with yet +more coldness and severity: and tho' towards Lord and Lady Westhaven the +sweetness of her manners was yet preserved, she seemed overwhelmed with +sadness, and her vivacity was quite lost. + +As soon as they reached Besançon, Lord Westhaven directed the carriages +to stop at another hotel, while he went with his brother to that where +Lord Delamere was. At the door, they met Millefleur; who, overjoyed to +see them, related, that since Mr. Godolphin left his master the violence +of his impatience had occasioned a severe relapse, in which, according +to the orders Mr. Godolphin had given, the surgeons had bled and +blistered him; that he was now again better, but very weak; yet so +extremely ungovernable and self-willed, that the French people who +attended him could do nothing with him, and that his English footmen, +and Millefleur himself, were forced to be constantly in his room to +prevent his leaving it or committing some other excess that might again +irritate the fever and bring on alarming symptoms. They hastened to him; +and found not only that his fever still hung on him, tho' with less +violence, but that he was also extremely emaciated; and that only his +youth had supported him thro' so severe an illness, or could now enable +him to struggle with it's effects. + +The moment they entered the room, he enquired after his sister and +Emmeline; and hearing the latter was actually come, he protested he +would instantly go to her. + +Lord Westhaven and Godolphin resolutely opposed so indiscreet a plan: +the former, by his undeviating rectitude of mind and excellent sense, +had acquired a greater ascendant over Delamere than any of his family +had before possessed; and to the latter he thought himself so much +obliged, that he could not refuse to attend to him. He consented +therefore at length to remain where he was; and Lord Westhaven hastened +back to his wife, whom he led immediately to her brother. + +She embraced him with many tears; and was at first greatly shocked at +his altered countenance and reduced figure. But as Lord Westhaven and +Godolphin both assured her there was no longer any danger if he would +consent to be governed, she was soothed into hope of his speedy recovery +and soon became tolerably composed. + +As Lord Westhaven and Godolphin soon left them alone, he began to talk +to his sister of Emmeline. He told her, that when he had been undeceived +by Mr. Godolphin, and the scandalous artifices discovered which had +raised in his mind such injurious suspicions, he had declared to Lord +and Lady Montreville his resolution to proceed no farther in the treaty +which they had hurried on with Miss Otley, and had solicited their +consent, to his renewing and fulfilling that, which he had before +entered into with Miss Mowbray; but that his mother, with more anger and +acrimony than ever, had strongly opposed his wishes; and that his father +had forbidden him, on pain of his everlasting displeasure, ever again to +think of Emmeline. + +After having for some time, he said, combated their inveterate +prejudice, he had left them abruptly, and set out with his three +servants for St. Alpin, (where Godolphin informed him Emmeline was to +be;) when a fever, owing to heat and fatigue, seized and confined him +where he now was. + +'Ah, tell me, my sister, what hopes are there that Emmeline will pardon +me? May I dare enquire whether she is yet to be moved in my favour?' + +Lady Westhaven, who during their journey could perceive no symptoms that +her resolution was likely to give way, dared not feed him with false +hopes; yet unwilling to depress him by saying all she feared, she told +him that Emmeline was greatly and with justice offended; but that all he +could at present do, was to take care of his health. She entreated him +to consider the consequence of another relapse, which might be brought +on by his eagerness and emotion; and then conjuring him to keep all he +knew of Lady Adelina a secret from Lord Westhaven (the necessity of +which he already had heard from Godolphin) she left him and returned to +Emmeline. + +To avoid the importunity of Bellozane, and the melancholy looks of +Godolphin, which affected her with the tenderest sorrow, she had retired +to a bed chamber, where she waited the return of Lady Westhaven with +impatience. + +Her solicitude for Delamere was very great; and her heart greatly +lightened when she found that even his tender and apprehensive sister +did not think him in any immediate danger, and believed that a few days +would put him out of hazard even of a relapse. + +She now again thought, that since Lady Westhaven had nothing to fear for +his life, her presence would be less necessary; and her mind, the longer +it thought of Mowbray Castle, adhering with more fondness to her plan of +flying thither, she considered how she might obtain in a few days Lady +Westhaven's consent to the preliminary measure of quitting Besançon. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + + +While the heiress of Mowbray Castle meditated how to escape thither from +the embarrassed and uneasy situation in which she now was; and while she +fancied that in retirement she might conceal, if she could not conquer, +her affection for Godolphin, (tho' in fact she only languished for an +opportunity of thinking of him perpetually without observation), Lady +Westhaven laid in wait for an occasion to try whether the ruined health +and altered looks of her brother, would not move, in his favour, her +tender and sensible friend. + +While Delamere kept his chamber, Emmeline easily evaded an interview; +but when, after three or four days, he was well enough to leave it, it +was no longer possible for her to escape seeing him. However Godolphin +thought himself obliged to bury in silence his unfortunate passion, he +could not divest himself of that painful curiosity which urged him to +observe the behaviour of Emmeline on their first meeting. Bellozane had +discovered on what footing Lord Delamere had formerly been; and he +dreaded a renewal of that preference she had given her lover, to which +his proud heart could ill bear to submit, tho' he could himself make no +progress in her favour. Tho' Lady Westhaven had entreated her to see +Delamere alone, she had refused; assigning as a reason that as he could +never again be to her any other than a friend, nothing could possibly +pass which her other friends might not hear. Delamere was obliged +therefore to brook the hard conditions of seeing her as an indifferent +person, or not seeing her at all. But tho' she was immoveably determined +against receiving him again as a lover, she had not been able to steel +her heart against his melancholy appearance; his palid countenance, his +emaciated form, extremely affected her. And when he approached her, +bowed with a dejected air, and offered to take her hand--her +haughtiness, her resentment forsook her--she trembling gave it, +expressed in incoherent words her satisfaction at seeing him better, and +betrayed so much emotion, that Godolphin, who with a beating heart +narrowly observed her, saw, as he believed, undoubted proof of her love; +and symptoms of her approaching forgiveness. + +Delamere, who, whenever he was near her, ceased to remember that any +other being existed; would, notwithstanding the presence of so many +witnesses, have implored her pardon and her pity; but the moment he +began to speak on that subject, she told him, with as much resolution as +she could command, that the subject was to her so very disagreeable, as +would oblige her to withdraw if he persisted in introducing it. + +While his looks expressed how greatly he was hurt by her coldness, those +of Godolphin testified equal dejection. For however she might repress +the hopes of his rival by words of refusal and resentment, he thought +her countenance gave more unequivocal intelligence of the real state of +her heart. Bellozane, as proud, as little used to controul and +disappointment, and with more personal vanity than Lord Delamere, beheld +with anger and mortification the pity and regard which Emmeline shewed +for her cousin; and ceasing to be jealous of Godolphin, he saw every +thing to apprehend from the rank, the fortune, the figure of +Delamere--from family connection, which would engage her to listen to +him--from ambition, which his title would gratify--from her tenderness +to Lady Westhaven, and from the return of that affection which she had, +as he supposed, once felt for Lord Delamere himself. + +But the more invincible the obstacles which he saw rising, appeared, the +more satisfaction he thought there would be in conquering them. And to +yield up his pretensions, on the first appearance of a formidable rival, +was contrary to his enterprising spirit and his ideas of that glory, +which he equally coveted in the service of the fair and of the French +King. + +With these sentiments of each other, the restraint and mistrust of every +party impeded general or chearful conversation. Godolphin soon left the +room, to commune with his own uneasy thoughts in a solitary walk; Lord +Westhaven would then have taken out Bellozane, in order to give Lord +Delamere an opportunity of being alone with his sister and Emmeline. But +he was determined not to understand hints on that subject; and when his +Lordship asked him to take an afternoon's walk, found means to refuse +it. Afraid of leaving two such combustible spirits together, Lord +Westhaven, to the great relief of Emmeline, staid with them till +Delamere retired for the night. + +But the behaviour of Bellozane to Emmeline, which was very particular, +as if he wished it to be noticed, had extremely alarmed Delamere; and +whenever they afterwards met, they surveyed each other with such haughty +reserve, and their conversation bordered so nearly on hostility and +defiance, that Emmeline, who expected every hour to see their animosity +blaze out in a challenge, could support her uneasiness about it no +longer; and sending early to speak to Lord Westhaven on the beginning of +the second week of their stay, she represented to him her fears, and +entreated him to prevail on the Chevalier to leave them and return to +St. Alpin. + +'I have attempted it already,' said he; 'but with so little success, +that if I press it any farther I must quarrel with him myself. I know +perfectly well that your fears have too much foundation; and that if we +can neither separate or tranquillise these unquiet spirits, we shall +have some disagreeable affair happen between them. I know nothing that +can be done but your accepting at once your penitent cousin.' + +'No, my Lord,' answered she, with an air of chagrin, 'that I will not +do! I most ardently wish Lord Delamere well, and would do any thing to +make him happy--except sacrificing my own happiness, and acting in +opposition to my conscience.' + +'Why, my dear Emmeline, how is this? You had once, surely, an affection +for Delamere; and his offence against you, however great, admits of +considerable alleviation. Consider all the pains that were taken to +disunite you, and the importunity he suffered from his family. Surely, +when you are convinced of his repentance you should restore him to your +favour; and however you may be superior to considerations of fortune and +rank, yet when they unite in a man otherwise unexceptionable they should +have some weight.' + +'They have none with me, upon my honour, my Lord. And since we have got +upon this topic, I will be very explicit--I am determined on no account +to marry Lord Delamere. But that I may give no room to charge me with +caprice or coquetry (since your Lordship believes I once had so great a +regard for him), or with that unforgiving temper which I see you are +disposed to accuse me of, it is my fixed intention, if I obtain, by your +Lordship's generous interposition, the Mowbray estate, to retire to +Mowbray Castle, and never to marry at all.' + +Lord Westhaven, at the solemnity and gravity with which she pronounced +these words, began to laugh so immoderately, and to treat her resolution +with ridicule so pointed, that he first made her almost angry, and then +obliged her to laugh too. At length, however, she prevailed on him again +to listen to her apprehensions about Delamere and Bellozane. + +'Do not, my Lord, rally me so cruelly; but for Heaven's sake, before it +is too late, prevent any more meetings between these two rash and +turbulent young men. Why should the Chevalier de Bellozane stay here?' + +'Because it is his pleasure. I do assure you seriously, my dear Miss +Mowbray, that I have almost every day since we came hither attempted to +send my fiery cousin back to St. Alpin. But my anxiety has only piqued +him; and he determines more resolutely to stay because he sees my motive +for wishing him gone. He is exactly the character which I have somewhere +seen described by a French poet.--A young man who, + + ----_'leger, impetueux, + De soi meme rempli, jaloux, presomptueux, + Bouillant dans ses passions; cedant a ses caprices; + Pour un peu de valeur, se passoit de tous ses vices._'[37] + +'Yet, among all his faults, poor Bellozane has some good qualities; and +I am really sorry for this strange perseverance in an hopeless pursuit, +because it prevents my asking him to England. I give you my honour, +Emmeline,' continued his Lordship, in a more serious tone, 'that I have +repeatedly represented to him the improbability of his success; but he +answers that you have never positively dismissed him by avowing your +preference to another; that he knows your engagement with Lord Delamere +is dissolved, and that he considers himself at liberty to pursue you +till you have decidedly chosen, or even till you are actually married. +Nay, I doubt whether your being married would make any difference in the +attentions of this eccentric and presuming Frenchman, for I do not +consider Bellozane as a Swiss.' + +'Well, but my dear Lord, if the Chevalier will persist in staying, I +must determine to go. I see not that my remaining here will be attended +with any good effects. It may possibly be the cause of infinite +uneasiness to Lady Westhaven. Do, therefore, prevail upon her to let me +go alone to St. Germains. When I am gone, Lord Delamere will think more +of getting well than of forcing me into a new engagement. He will then +soon be able to travel; and the Chevalier de Bellozane will return +quietly to the Baron.' + +'Why to speak ingenuously, Emmeline, it _does_ appear to me that it were +on every account more proper for you to be in England. Thither I wish +you could hasten, before it will be possible for Lord Delamere, or +indeed for my wife, who must travel slowly, to get thither. I do not +know whether your travelling with us will be strictly proper, on other +accounts; but if it were, it would be rendered uneasy to you by the +company of these two mad headed boys; for Bellozane I am sure intends, +if you accompany us, to go also.' + +'What objection is there then to my setting out immediately for St. +Germains, with Le Limosin and Madelon, if Lady Westhaven would but +consent to it?' + +'I can easily convince her of the necessity of it; but I foresee another +objection that has escaped you.' + +'What is that, my Lord?' + +'That Bellozane will follow you.' + +'Surely he will not attempt it?' + +'Indeed I apprehend he will. I have no manner of influence over him; and +he is here connected with a set of military men, who are the likeliest +people in the world to encourage such an enterprize--and if at last this +Paris should carry off our fair Helen!'-- + +'Nay, but my Lord do not ridicule my distress.' + +'Well then, I will most seriously and gravely counsel you: and my advice +is, that you set out as soon as you can get ready, and that my brother +Godolphin escort you.' + +Emmeline was conscious that she too much wished such an escort; yet +fearing that her preference of him would engage Godolphin in a quarrel +with Bellozane or Lord Delamere, perhaps with both, she answered, while +the deepest blush dyed her cheeks-- + +'No, my Lord, I cannot--I mean not--I should be sorry to give Captain +Godolphin the trouble of such a journey--and I beg you not to think of +it--.' + +'I shall speak to him of it, however.' + +'I beg, my Lord--I intreat that you will not.' + +'Here he is--and we will discuss the matter with him now.' + +Godolphin at this moment entered the room; and Lord Westhaven relating +plainly all Emmeline's fears, and her wishes to put an end to them by +quitting Besançon, added the proposal he had made, that Godolphin should +take care of her till she joined Mrs. Stafford. + +Tho' Godolphin saw in her apprehensions for the safety of Delamere, only +a conviction of her tender regard for him, and considered his own +attachment as every way desperate; yet he could not refuse himself, when +it was thus offered him, the pleasure of being with her--the exquisite +tho' painful delight of being useful to her. He therefore eagerly +expressed the readiness, the happiness, with which he should undertake +so precious a charge. + +Emmeline, fearful of betraying her real sentiments, overacted the civil +coldness with which she thought it necessary to refuse this offer. +Godolphin, mortified and vexed at her manner as much as at her denial, +ceased to press his services; and Lord Westhaven, who wondered what +could be her objection, since of the honour and propriety of Godolphin's +conduct he knew she could not doubt, seemed hurt at her rejection of his +brother's friendly intention of waiting on her; and dropping the +conversation, went away with Godolphin. + +She saw that her conduct inevitably impressed on the mind of the latter +a conviction of her returning regard for Delamere; and she feared that +to Lord Westhaven it might appear to be the effect of vanity and +coquetry. + +'Perhaps he will think me,' said she, 'so vain as to suppose that +Godolphin has also designs, and that therefore I decline his attendance; +and coquet enough to wish for the pursuit of these men, whom I only +affect to shun, and for that reason prefer going alone, to accepting the +protection of his brother. Yet as _I_ know the sentiments of Godolphin, +which it appears Lord Westhaven does not, surely I had better suffer his +ill opinion of me, than encourage Godolphin's hopes; which, till +Delamere can be diverted from prosecuting his unwelcome addresses, will +inevitably involve him in a dispute, and such a dispute as I cannot bear +to think of.' + +Uncertain what to do, another day passed; and on the following morning, +while she waited for Lady Westhaven, she was addressed by Godolphin, who +calmly and gravely enquired if she would honour him with any commands +for England? + +'Are you going then, Sir, before my Lord and Lady?' + +'I am going, Madam, immediately.' + +'By way of Paris?' + +'Yes, Madam, to Havre; whence I shall get the quickest to Southampton, +and to the Isle of Wight. I am uneasy at the entire solitude to which my +absence condemns Adelina.' + +'You have heard no unfavourable news, I hope, of Lady Adelina or your +little boy?' + +'None. But I am impatient to return to them.' + +'As you are going immediately, Sir,' said Emmeline (making an effort to +conquer a pain she felt rising in her bosom) 'I will not detain you by +writing to Lady Adelina. Perhaps--as it is possible--as I hope'-- + +She stopped. Godolphin looked anxious to hear what was possible, what +she hoped. + +'As I shall so soon, so very soon be in England, perhaps we may meet,' +reassumed she, speaking very quick--'possibly I may have the happiness +of seeing her Ladyship and dear little William.' + +'To meet _you_,' replied Godolphin, very solemnly, 'Adelina shall leave +her solitude; for certainly a journey to see her in it will hardly be +undertaken by _Lady Delamere_.' + +He then in the same tone wished her health and happiness till he saw her +again, and left her. + +He was no sooner gone, than she felt disposed to follow him and +apologize for her having so coldly refused his offers of protection. +Pride and timidity prevented her; but they could not stop her tears, +which she was obliged to conceal by hurrying to her own room. Lady +Westhaven soon after sent for her to a late breakfast: she found Lord +Delamere there; but heard that Godolphin was gone. + +Soon after breakfast, Lady Westhaven and her brother, (who could not yet +obtain a clear intermission of the fever which hung about him, and who +continued extremely weak,) went out together for an airing; and Lord +Westhaven, unusually grave, was left reading in the room with Emmeline. + +He laid down his book. 'So,' said he, 'William is flown away from us.' + +It was a topic on which Emmeline did not care to trust her voice. + +'I wish you could have determined to have gone with him.' + +'I wish, my Lord, I could have reconciled it to my ideas of propriety; +since certainly I should have been happy and safe in such an escort; and +since, without any at all, I must, in a day or two, go.' + +'I believe it will be best. Lord Delamere is no better; and Bellozane +has no thought of leaving us entirely, tho' his military friends take up +so much of his time that he is luckily less with Delamere. Lord Delamere +has again, Miss Mowbray, been imploring me to apply to you. He wishes +you only to hear him. He complains that you fly from him, and will not +give him an opportunity of entering on his justification.' + +'I am extremely concerned at Lord Delamere's unhappiness. But I must +repeat that I require of his Lordship no justification; that I most +sincerely forgive him if he supposes he has injured me; but that as to +any proposals such as he once honoured me with, I am absolutely resolved +never to listen to them; and I entreat him to believe that any future +application on the subject must be entirely fruitless.' + +'Poor young man!' said Lord Westhaven. 'However you must consent to see +him alone, and to tell him so yourself; for from me he will not believe +you so very inflexible--so very cruel.' + +'I am inflexible, my Lord, but surely not cruel. The greatest cruelty of +which I could be guilty, either to Lord Delamere or myself, would be to +accept his offers, feeling as I feel, and thinking as I think.' + +'I do not know how we shall get him to England, or what will be done +with him when he is there.' + +'He will do well, my Lord. Doubt it not.' + +'Upon my honour I _do_ doubt it! It is to me astonishing that a young +man so volatile, so high-spirited as Delamere, should be capable of an +attachment at once so violent and so steady.' + +'Steady!--Has your Lordship forgotten Miss Otley?' + +'His wavering then was, you well know, owing to some evil impressions he +had received of you; which, tho' he refuses to tell me the particulars, +he assures me were conveyed and confirmed with so much art, that a more +dispassionate and cooler lover would have believed them without enquiry. +How then can you wonder at _his_ petulant and eager spirit seizing on +probable circumstances, which his jealousy and apprehension immediately +converted into conviction? As soon as he knew these suspicions were +groundless, did he not fly to implore your pardon; and hasten, even at +the hazard of his life, to find and appease you? Such is the present +situation of his mind and of his health, that I very seriously assure +you I doubt whether he will survive your total rejection.' + +Emmeline, unable to answer this speech gravely, without betraying the +very great concern it gave her, assumed a levity she did not feel. + +'Your Lordship,' said she, 'is disposed to think thus, from the warm and +vehement manner in which Lord Delamere is accustomed to express himself. +If he is really unhappy, I am very sorry; but I am persuaded time, and +the more fortunate alliance which he is solicited to form, will effect a +cure. Don't think me unfeeling if I answer your melancholy prophecy in +the words of Rosalind-- + + 'Men have died from time to time, and worms have eat them--but not + for love.' + +She then ran away, and losing all her forced spirits the moment she was +alone, gave way to tears. She fancied they flowed entirely for the +unhappiness of poor Delamere, and for her uncertain situation. But tho' +the former uneasiness deeply affected her sensible heart, many of the +tears she shed were because Godolphin was gone, and she knew not when +she should again see him. + +Godolphin, repining and wretched, pursued his way to Paris. He thought +that Emmeline's coldness and reserve were meant to put an end to any +hopes he might have entertained; and that her reconciliation and +marriage with Lord Delamere must inevitably take place as soon as she +had, by her dissimulated cruelty, punished him for his rashness and his +errors. His daily observation confirmed him in this opinion: he saw, +that in place of her candid and ingenuous manners, a studied conduct was +adopted, which concealed her real sentiments--sentiments which he +concluded to be all in favour of Delamere. And finding that he could not +divest himself of his passion for her, he thought that it was a +weakness, if not a crime, to indulge it in her presence, while it +imposed on himself an insupportable torment; and that, by quitting her, +he should at least conceal his hopeless attachment, and save himself the +misery of seeing her actually married to Lord Delamere. He determined, +therefore, to tear himself away; and to punish himself for the premature +expectations with which he had begun his journey to St. Alpin, by +shutting himself up at East Cliff (his house in the Isle of Wight) and +refusing himself the sight of her, of whom it would be sufficient misery +to think, when she had given herself to her favoured and fortunate +lover. + +Full of these reflections, Godolphin continued his road, intending to +take the passage boat at Havre. But at the hotel he frequented at Paris, +he met a gentleman of his acquaintance who was going the next day to +England by way of Calais; and as he had his own post chaise, and only +his valet with him, he told Godolphin that if he would take a place in +his chaise he would send his servant post. This offer Godolphin +accepted; and altering his original design, went with his friend to +Calais to cross to England. + +[Footnote 37: + + ----Volatile--impetuous-- + Full of himself--jealous--presumptuous-- + Fiery in his passions; yielding to every caprice; + And who believes some courage an apology for all his vices.] + + + + +CHAPTER VII + + +It was now impossible for Emmeline to avoid a conversation with Lord +Delamere, which his sister urged her so earnestly to allow him. +Bellozane was, by the French officers, with whom he principally lived, +engaged out for two days; and Lord and Lady Westhaven easily found an +opportunity to leave Emmeline with Delamere. + +He was no sooner alone in her presence, than he threw himself on his +knees before her--'Will you,' cried he, 'ah! will you still refuse to +hear and to forgive me? Have I offended beyond all hopes of pardon?' + +'No, my Lord.--I do most readily and truly forgive every offence, +whether real or imaginary, that you believe you have committed against +me.' + +'You forgive me--But to what purpose?--Only to plunge me yet deeper into +wretchedness. You forgive me--but you despise, you throw me from you for +ever. Ah! rather continue to be angry, than distract me by a pardon so +cold and careless!' + +'If your Lordship will be calm--if you will rise, and hear me with +temper, I will be very explicit with you; but while you yield to these +extravagant transports, I cannot explain all I wish you to understand; +and must indeed beg to be released from a conversation so painful to me, +and to you so prejudicial.' + +Delamere rose and took a chair. + +'I need not, Sir,' said Emmeline, collecting all her courage, 'recall to +your memory the time so lately passed, when I engaged to become your's, +if at the expiration of a certain period Lord and Lady Montreville +consented, and you still remained disposed to bestow on me the honour of +your name.' + +'What am I to expect,' cried Delamere, eagerly interrupting her--'Ah! +what am I to expect from a preface so cold and cruel? You have indeed no +occasion to recall to my memory those days when I was allowed to look +forward to that happiness, which now, thro' the villainy of others, and +my own madness and ideotism, I have lost. But, Madam, it must not, it +cannot be so easily relinquished! By heaven I will not give you up!--and +if but for a moment I thought----.' + +'You seemed just now, Sir, disposed to hear me with patience. Since, +however, you cannot even for a few minutes forbear these starts of +passion, I really am unequal to the task of staying with you.' + +She would then have hastened away; but Delamere forcibly detaining her, +again protested he would be calm, and again she went on. + +'At that time, I will own to you, that without any prepossession, almost +without a wish either to accept or decline the very high honour you +offered me, I was content to engage myself to be your wife; because you +said such an engagement would make _you_ happy, and because I then knew +not that it would render _me_ otherwise.' + +'Was you even then thus indifferent? Had I no place in your heart, +Madam, when you would have given me your hand?' + +'Yes, Sir--you had then the place I now willingly restore to you. I +esteemed you; I looked upon you with a sisterly affection; and had I +married you, it would have been rather to have made you happy, than +because I had any wish to form other ties than those by which our +relationship and early acquaintance had connected us.' + +'Ah! my angelic Emmeline! it will still make me happy! Let the reasons +which then influenced you, again plead for me; and forget, O! forget all +that has passed since my headlong folly urged me to insult and forsake +you!' + +'Alas! my Lord, that is not in my power! You have cancelled the +engagements that subsisted between us; and, as I understand, have +actually formed others more indissoluble, with a lady of high rank and +of immense fortune--one whose alliance is as anxiously courted by your +family, as mine is despised. Can your Lordship again fly from your +promises? Can you quit at pleasure the affluent and high-born heiress as +you quitted the deserted and solitary orphan?' + +'Cursed, cursed cruelty!' exclaimed Delamere, speaking thro' his shut +teeth--But go on, Madam! I deserve your severity, and must bear your +reproaches! Yet surely you know that but for the machinations of those +execrable Crofts', I should never have acted as I did--you know, that +however destitute of fortune chance had made you, I preferred you to all +those who might have brought me wealth!' + +'I acknowledge your generosity, Sir, and on that head meant not to +reproach. I merely intended to represent to you what you seem to have +forgotten--that were I disposed to restore you the hand you so lately +renounced, you could not take it; since Miss Otley will certainly not +relinquish the claim you have given her to your regard.' + +'You are misinformed.--I am under no engagement to Miss Otley.--I am not +by heaven! by all that is sacred!' + +'Were not all preparations for your marriage in great forwardness, Sir, +when you left England? and must not your consent have been previously +obtained before Lord Montreville would have made them? However, to put +an end to all uncertainty, I must tell you, my Lord, with a sincerity +which will probably be displeasing to you, that my affections--' + +'Are no longer in your own power!' cried he, hastily interrupting +her--'Speak, Madam--is it not so?' + +'I did not say that, Sir. I was going to assure you that I now find it +impossible to command them--impossible to feel for you that preference, +without which I should think myself extremely culpable were I to give +you my hand.' + +'I understand you, Madam! You give that preference to another. The +Chevalier de Bellozane has succeeded to your affections. He has +doubtless made good use of the opportunities he has had to conciliate +your favour; but before he carries his good fortune farther, he must +discuss with me the right by which he pretends to it.' + +'Whether he has or has not a right to pretend to my regard, Sir,' said +Emmeline, with great spirit, 'this causeless jealousy, so immediately +after you have been convinced of the fallacy of your supposition in +regard to another person, convinces me, that had I unfortunately given +you an exclusive claim to my friendship and affection, my whole life +would have been embittered by suspicion, jealousy, and caprice. +Recollect, my Lord, that I have said nothing of the Chevalier de +Bellozane, nor have you the least reason to believe I have for him those +sentiments you are pleased to impute to me.' + +'But can I doubt it!' exclaimed Delamere, rising, and walking about in +an agony--'Can I doubt it, when I have heard you disclaim me for +ever!--when you have told me your affections are no longer in your +power!' + +'No, Sir; my meaning was, what I now repeat--that as my near relation, +as my friend, as the brother of Lady Westhaven, I shall ever esteem and +regard you; but that I cannot command now in your favour those +sentiments which should induce me to accept of you as my husband. What +is past cannot be recalled; and tho' I am most truly concerned to see +you unhappy, my determination is fixed and I must abide by it.' + +'Death and hell!' cried the agonized Delamere--'It is all over then! You +utterly disclaim me, and hardly think it worth while to conceal from me +for whose sake I am disclaimed!' + +Emmeline was terrified to find that he still persisted in imputing her +estrangement from him to her partiality for Bellozane; foreseeing that +he would immediately fly to him, and that all she apprehended must +follow. + +'I beg, I entreat, Lord Delamere, that you will understand that I give +no preference to Mr. de Bellozane. I will not only assure you of that, +but I disclaim all intention of marriage whatever! Suffer me, my Lord, +to entreat that you will endeavour to calm your mind and regain your +health. Reflect on the cruel uncertainty in which you have left the +Marquis and the Marchioness; reflect on the uneasy situation in which +you keep Lord and Lady Westhaven, and on the great injury you do +yourself; and resolutely attempt, in the certainty of succeeding, to +divest yourself of a fatal partiality, which has hitherto produced only +misery to you and to your family.' + +'Oh! most certainly, most certainly!' cried Delamere, almost choaked +with passion--'I shall undoubtedly make all these wise reflections; and +after having gone thro' a proper course of them, shall, possibly, with +great composure, see you in the arms of that presumptuous coxcomb--that +vain, supercilious Frenchman!--that detested Bellozane! No, Madam! no! +you may certainly give yourself to him, but assure yourself I live not +to see it!' + +He flew out of the room at these words, tho' she attempted to stop and +to appease him. Her heart bled at the wounds she had yet thought it +necessary to inflict; and she was at once grieved and terrified at his +menacing and abrupt departure. She immediately went herself after Lord +Westhaven, to intreat him to keep Bellozane and Delamere apart. His +Lordship was much disturbed at what had passed, which Emmeline +faithfully related to him: Bellozane was still out of town; and Lord +Westhaven, who now apprehended that on Delamere's meeting him he would +immediately insult him, said he would consider what could be done to +prevent their seeing each other 'till Delamere became more reasonable. +On enquiry, he found that the Chevalier was certainly engaged with his +companions 'till the next day. He therefore came back to Emmeline about +an hour after he had left her, and told her that he thought it best for +her to set out that afternoon on her way to St. Germains. + +'You will by this means make it difficult for Bellozane to overtake you, +if he should attempt it; and when he sees you have actually fled from +Delamere, he will be little disposed to quarrel with him, and will +perhaps go home. As to Delamere, his sister and I must manage him as +well as we can; which will be the easier, as he is, within this half +hour, gone to bed in a violent access of fever. Indeed, in the +perturbation of mind he now suffers, there is no probability of his +speedy amendment; for as fast as he regains strength, his violent +passions throw his frame again into disorder.--But perhaps when he knows +you are actually in England, he may try to acquire, by keeping himself +quiet, that share of health which alone can enable him to follow you.' + +Emmeline, eagerly embracing this advice, which she found had the +concurrence of Lady Westhaven, prepared instantly for her departure; and +embracing tenderly her two excellent friends, who hoped soon to follow +her, and who had desired her to come to them to reside as soon as they +were settled in London, where they had no house at present, she got into +a chaise, with Madelon, and attended by Le Limosin, who was proudly +elated at being thus '_l'homme de confience_'[38] to Mademoiselle +Mowbray, she left Besançon; her heart deeply impressed with a sense of +Delamere's sufferings, and with an earnest wish for the restoration of +his peace. + +Tho' Godolphin had been gone four days, and went post, so that she knew +he must be at Paris long before her, she could not, as she proceeded on +her journey, help fancying that some accident might have stopped him, +and that she might overtake him. She knew not whether she hoped or +feared such an encounter. But the disappointed air with which she left +every post house where she had occasion to stop for horses, plainly +evinced that she rather desired than dreaded it. She felt all the +absurdity and ridicule of expecting to see him; yet still she looked out +after him; and he was the object she sought when she cast her eyes round +her at the several stages. + +Without overtaking him, or being herself overtaken by Bellozane, she +arrived in safety and in the usual time at Paris, and immediately went +on to St. Germains; Le Limosin being so well acquainted with travelling, +that she had no trouble nor alarm during her journey. + +When she got to St. Germains, she was received with transport by Mrs. +Stafford and her family. She found her about to depart, in two days, for +England, where there was a prospect of settling her husband's affairs; +and she had undertaken to go alone over, in hopes of adjusting them for +his speedy return; while he had agreed to remain with the children 'till +he heard the success of her endeavours. Great was the satisfaction of +Mrs. Stafford to find that Emmeline would accompany her to England; with +yet more pleasure did she peruse those documents which convinced her +that her fair friend went to claim, with an absolute certainty of +success, her large paternal fortune. + +Lord Westhaven had given her a long letter to the Marquis of +Montreville, to whom he desired she would immediately address herself; +and he had also written to an eminent lawyer, his friend, into whose +hands he directed her immediately to put the papers that related to her +birth, and by no means to trust them with any other person. + +With money, also, Lord Westhaven had amply furnished her; and she +proposed taking lodgings in London, 'till she could settle her affairs +with Lord Montreville; and then to go to Mowbray Castle. + +On the second day after her reaching St. Germains, she began her journey +to Calais with Mrs. Stafford, attended by Le Limosin and Madelon. When +they arrived there, they heard that a passage boat would sail about nine +o'clock in the evening; but on sending Le Limosin to speak to the +master, they learned that there were already more cabin passengers than +there was room to accommodate, and that therefore two ladies might find +it inconvenient. + +As the evening, however, was calm, and the wind favourable, and as the +two fair travellers were impatient to be in England, they determined to +go on board. It was near ten o'clock before the vessel got under way; +and before two they were assured they should be at Dover. They therefore +hesitated not to pass that time in chairs on the deck, wrapped in their +cloaks; and would have preferred doing so, to the heat and closeness of +the cabin, had there been room for them in it. + +By eleven o'clock, every thing insensibly grew quiet on board. The +passengers were gone to their beds, the vessel moved calmly, and with +very little wind, over a gently swelling sea; and the silence was only +broken by the waves rising against it's side, or by the steersman, who +now and then spoke to another sailor, that slowly traversed the deck +with measured pace. + +The night was dark; a declining moon only broke thro' the heavy clouds +of the horizon with a feeble and distant light. There was a solemnity in +the scene at once melancholy and pleasing. Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline +both felt it. They were silent; and each lost in her own reflections; +nor did they attend to a slight interruption of the stillness that +reigned on board, made by a passenger who came from below, muffled in a +great coat. He spoke in a low voice to the man at the helm, and then sat +down on the gunwale, with his back towards the ladies; after which all +was again quiet. + +In a few minutes a deep sigh was uttered by this passenger; and then, +after a short pause, the two friends were astonished to hear, in a +voice, low, but extremely expressive, these lines, addressed to Night. + + + SONNET + + I love thee, mournful sober-suited Night, + When the faint Moon, yet lingering in her wane + And veil'd in clouds, with pale uncertain light + Hangs o'er the waters of the restless main. + + In deep depression sunk, the enfeebled mind + Will to the deaf, cold elements complain, + And tell the embosom'd grief, however vain, + To sullen surges and the viewless wind. + + Tho' no repose on thy dark breast I find, + I still enjoy thee--chearless as thou art; + For in thy quiet gloom, the exhausted heart, + Is calm, tho' wretched; hopeless, yet resign'd. + While, to the winds and waves, it's sorrows given, + May reach--tho' lost on earth--the ear of heaven! + + +'Surely,' said Mrs. Stafford in a whisper, 'it is a voice I know.' + +'Surely,' repeated the heart of Emmeline, for she could not speak, 'it +is the voice of Godolphin!' + +'Do you,' reassumed Mrs. Stafford--'do you not recollect the voice?' + +'Yes,' replied Emmeline. 'I think--I believe--I rather fancy it is--Mr. +Godolphin.' + +'Shall I speak to him?' asked Mrs. Stafford, 'or are you disposed to +hear more poetry? He has no notion who are his auditors.' + +'As you please,' said Emmeline. + +Again the person sighed, and repeated with more warmth-- + + + 'And reach, tho' lost on earth--the ear of heaven!' + + +'Yes--if _she_ is happy, they will indeed be heard! Ah! that cruel +_if_--_if_ she is happy! and can I bear to doubt it, yet leave her to +the experiment!' + +There now remained no doubt but that the stranger was Godolphin; and +Emmeline as little hesitated to believe herself the subject of his +thoughts and of his Muse. + +'Why do _you_ not speak to him, Emmeline?' said Mrs. Stafford archly. + +'I cannot, indeed.' + +'I must speak then, myself;' and raising her voice, she said--'Mr. +Godolphin, is it not?' + +'Who is so good as to recollect me?' cried he, rising and looking round +him. It was very dark; but he could just distinguish that two ladies +were there. + +Mrs. Stafford gave him her hand, saying--'Have you then forgotten your +friends?' + +He snatched her hand, and carried it to his lips. + +'There is another hand for you,' said she, pointing to Emmeline--'but +you must be at the trouble of taking it.' + +'That I shall be most delighted to do. But who is it? Surely it cannot +be Miss Mowbray, that allows me such happiness?' + +'Have you, in one little week,' said the faultering Emmeline, 'occasion +to ask that question?' + +'Not now I hear that voice,' answered Godolphin in the most animated +tone--'Not when I hold this lovely hand. But whence comes it that I find +you, Madam, here? or how does it happen that you have left my brother +and sister, and the happy Delamere?' He seemed to have recollected, +after his first transport at meeting her, that he was thus warmly +addressing _her_ who was probably only going to England to prepare for +her union with his rival. + +'Do not be so unreasonable,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'as to expect Miss +Mowbray should answer all these questions. But find a seat; and let us +hear some account of yourself. You have also to make your peace with me +for not seeing me in your way.' + +Godolphin threw himself on the deck at their feet. + +'I find a seat here,' said he, 'which I should prefer to a throne. As to +an account of myself, it is soon given. I met a friend, whose company +induced me to come to Calais rather than travel thro' Normandy; and the +haste he was in made it impossible for me to stop him. Miss Mowbray had +refused to give me any commission for you; and I had nothing to say to +you that would have given you any pleasure. I was, therefore, unwilling +to trouble you merely with a passing enquiry.' + +'But whence comes it that you sail only to-night, if your friend was so +much hurried?' + +'He went four days ago; but I--I was kept--I was detained at Calais.' + +Emmeline felt a strange curiosity to know what could have detained him; +but dared not ask such a question. + +They then talked of Lord and Lady Westhaven. + +'Lord Delamere is, I conclude, much better?' said Godolphin. + +'When I took leave of Lord and Lady Westhaven,' coldly answered +Emmeline, 'I did not think him much better than when we first saw him. +His servant said he was almost as ill as when you, Sir, with friendship +so uncommon, attended him.' + +'Call it not uncommon, Madam!--It was an office I would have performed, +not only for any Englishman in another country, but I hope for any human +being in any country, who had needed it. Should I then allow you to +suppose there was any great merit in my rendering a slight service to +the brother of Lady Westhaven; and who is besides _dear to one_ to whom +_I_ owe obligations so infinite.' + +The stress he laid on these words left Emmeline no doubt of his meaning. +She was, however, vexed and half angry that he persisted in believing +her so entirely attached to Delamere; and, for the first time she had +ventured to think steadily on the subject, meditated how to undeceive +him. Yet when she reflected on the character of Delamere; and remembered +that his father would now claim an authority to controul her +actions--that one would think himself at liberty to call any man to an +account who addressed her, and the other to refuse his consent to any +other marriage than that which would be now so advantageous to the +family--she saw only inquietude to herself, and hazard to the life so +dear to her, should she suffer the passion of Godolphin openly to be +avowed. + +'Is it not remarkable,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'that you should voluntarily +have conducted us to France, and by chance escort us home?' + +'Yes,' answered Godolphin.--'And a chance so fortunate for me I should +think portended some good, was I sanguine, and had I any faith in +omens.' + +'Are you going immediately to London?' + +'Immediately.' + +'And from thence to East Cliff?' + +'I believe I shall be obliged to stay in town a week or ten days.--But +my continuance there shall be longer, if you or Miss Mowbray will employ +me.' + +The night now grew cold; and the dew fell so heavily, that Mrs. Stafford +expressed her apprehensions that Emmeline would find some ill effects +from it, and advised her to go down. + +'Oh! no,' said Godolphin, with uncommon anxiety in his manner--'do not +go down. There are so many passengers in the cabin, and it is so close, +that you will find it extremely disagreeable. It will not now be half an +hour before we see the lights of Dover; and we shall presently be on +shore.' + +Emmeline, who really apprehended little from cold, acquiesced; and they +continued to converse on general topics 'till they landed. + +Godolphin saw them on shore immediately, and attended them to the inn. +He then told them he must go back to see after the baggage, and left +them hastily. They ordered a slight refreshment; and when it was brought +in, Emmeline said--'Shall we not wait for Mr. Godolphin?' + +'The Gentleman is come in, Madam,' said the waiter, 'with another lady, +and is assisting her up stairs. Would you please I should call him?' + +Emmeline felt, without knowing the nature of the sensation, involuntary +curiosity and involuntary uneasiness. + +'No, do not call him,' said Mrs. Stafford--'I suppose he will be here +immediately. But send the French servant to us.' + +Le Limosin attending, she gave him some requisite orders, and then again +enquired for Captain Godolphin. + +Le Limosin answered, that he was gone to assist a lady to her room, who +had been very ill during the passage. + +'Of which nation is she, Le Limosin?' + +'I am ignorant of that, Madam, as I have not heard her speak. _Monsieur +Le Capitaine_ is very sorry for her, and has attended her the whole way, +only the little time he was upon deck.' + +'Is she a young lady?' enquired Mrs. Stafford. + +'Yes, very young and pretty.' + +The curiosity of Mrs. Stafford was now, in spite of herself, awakened. +And the long stay Godolphin made, gave to Emmeline such acute +uneasiness, as she had never felt before. It is extraordinary surely, +said she to herself, that he should be thus anxious about an +acquaintance made in a pacquet boat. + +She grew more and more disturbed at his absence; and was hardly able to +conceal her vexation from Mrs. Stafford, while she was ashamed of +discovering it even to herself. In about ten minutes, which had appeared +to her above an hour, Godolphin came in; apologised, without accounting, +for his stay, and while they made all together a slight repast, enquired +how they intended to proceed to London and at what time. + +On hearing that they thought of setting out about noon, in a chaise, he +proposed their taking a post coach; 'and then,' added he, 'you may +suffer me to occupy the fourth place.' To this Mrs. Stafford willingly +agreed; and Emmeline, glad to find that at least he did not intend +waiting on his pacquet boat acquaintance to London, retired with +somewhat less uneasiness than she had felt on her first hearing that he +had brought such an acquaintance on shore. + +After a few hours sleep, the fair travellers arose to continue their +journey. They heard that Mr. Godolphin had long left his room, and was +at breakfast with the lady whom he had been so careful of the preceding +morning. At this intelligence Emmeline felt all her anxiety revive; and +when he came into the room where they were to speak to them, hardly +could she command herself to answer him without betraying her emotion. + +'Miss Mowbray is fatigued with her voyage,' said he, tenderly +approaching her--'The night air I am afraid has affected her health?' + +'No, Sir;' coldly and faintly answered Emmeline. + +'How is the young lady you was so good as to assist on shore, Sir?' said +Mrs. Stafford. 'I understand she was ill.' + +Godolphin blushed; and replied, with some little embarrassment, 'she is +better, Madam, I thank you.' + +'So,' thought Emmeline, 'he makes then no mystery of having an interest +in this lady.' + +'Are you acquainted with her?' enquired Mrs. Stafford. + +'Yes.' + +Politeness would not admit of another question: yet it was impossible to +help wishing to ask it. Godolphin, however, turned the discourse, and +soon afterwards went out. Emmeline felt ready to cry, yet knew not for +what, and dreaded to ask herself whether she had not admitted into her +heart the tormenting passion of jealousy. + +'Why should I be displeased,' said she. 'Why should I be unhappy? Mr. +Godolphin believes me attached to Delamere, and has ceased to think of +me; wherefore should I lament that he thinks of another; or what right +have I to enquire into his actions--what right have I to blame them?' + +The post coach was now ready. Emmeline, attended by Madelon, Mrs. +Stafford, and Godolphin, got into it, and a lively and animated +conversation was carried on between the two latter. Emmeline, in the +approaching interview with her uncle, and in the wretchedness of +Delamere, which she never ceased to lament, had employment enough for +her thoughts; but in spite of herself they flew perpetually from those +subjects to the acquaintance which Captain Godolphin had brought with +him from Calais. + +[Footnote 38: Confidential servant.] + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + + +When they arrived at Canterbury, the ladies were shewn into a parlour, +where Godolphin did not join them for near half an hour. Emmeline had +accounted for her lowness of spirits by her dread of meeting her uncle +on such terms as they were likely to meet; but Mrs. Stafford knew the +human heart too well to be ignorant that there was another and a +concealed source of that melancholy which overwhelmed her. It was in +vain she had attempted to dissemble. It was, to her friend, evident, +that her compassion, her good wishes, were Delamere's, but that her +heart was wholly Godolphin's, and was now pierced with the poignant +thorns of new-born jealousy and anxious mistrust. + +While they waited together the return of Godolphin, Mrs. Stafford +said--'I fancy that post chaise that passed us about half an hour ago, +contained Mr. Godolphin's _acquaintance_.' + +'Did it? Why do you think so?' + +'Because he looked after it so earnestly; and there seemed to be only a +young woman in it.' + +'I did not observe it indeed,' replied Emmeline, with the appearance of +carelessness. + +'I should like to see her nearer,' continued Mrs. Stafford, with some +archness--'By the glympse I had of her she appeared to be very +handsome.' + +'Do you think she is a French woman?' enquired Emmeline, still affecting +great indifference. + +'No, she appeared to be English. But if you please I will enquire of +him?' + +'I beg you will not,' in an half angry tone, answered Emmeline--'I am +sure it is very immaterial.' + +At this moment Godolphin entered; and with looks of uneasiness +apologized for his long stay. 'I have an awkward embarrassment,' said +he, 'on my hands: a poor young woman, who is wholly a stranger in this +country, and whom I have undertaken to conduct to London; but she is so +ill that I am afraid she is unfit to go on.--Yet how to leave her here I +know not.' + +'Pray, Sir,' said Emmeline, 'do not let us be any restraint to you. If +your presence is necessary to the lady, you had surely better continue +with her, than put her to any inconvenience to go on.' + +Godolphin, who was at once pleased and pained by the quickness with +which she spoke, said--'I will tell you, my dear Miss Mowbray, very +ingenuously, that if I were quite sure the character of this unhappy +young woman is such as may entitle her to your's and Mrs. Stafford's +protection, I should without scruple have asked it. _I_ know,' continued +he, looking distressed, 'how compassionate and good you both are; but I +ought not therefore to hazard improperly taxing such generosity and +sensibility.' + +'Who is this young person, Sir?' asked Mrs. Stafford. + +'If it will not tire you I will tell you. On my arrival at Calais this +day se'nnight, I found all the pacquet boats on the other side, and was +obliged to wait with my friend Cleveland a whole day. As I was +sauntering about the streets after dinner, I passed by an Englishman +whose face I thought I recollected. The man looked confused, and took +off his hat; and I then perfectly remembered him to have been one of the +best sailors I had on board in the West Indies, where he received a +dangerous wound in the arm. + +'I stopped, and asked him by what accident he came to Calais, and why +his appearance was no better; for his honest hard features seemed +pinched with want, his dress was shabby, his person meagre, and his look +dejected. + +'"I am ashamed to tell you, Captain," said he, "how I came hither; but +in short because I could not live at home. You know I got prize money +when I served under your honour. Mayhap I might have managed it better; +but howsomdever 'tis gone, and there's an end on't. So as we are all +turned a drift in the world, some of my ship mates advised me to try a +little matter of smuggling with them, and come over here. I have lived +among these Frenchmen now these two months, and can, to be sure, just +live; but rot 'em, if I could get any thing to do at home, I wouldn't +stay another hour, for I hates 'em all, as your honour very well knows. +A lucky voyage or two will put some money mayhap in my way, with this +smuggling trade; and then I reckons to cross over home once for all, and +so go down to Liverpool to my friends, if any on um be alive yet." + +'I reproved my acquaintance severely for his proceeding, and told him, +that to enable him to go to his friends, I would supply him with money +to buy him cloaths, which I found he principally wanted; being ashamed +to appear among his relations so ill equipped, after having received a +considerable sum in prize money. + +'The poor fellow appeared to be very grateful, and assured me that to +prove his sincerity he would embark in the same pacquet boat. "But Lord, +Captain," added he, "I be'nt the only Englishman who stays in this +rascally country agin their will--your honour remembers Lieutenant +Stornaway, on board your honour's ship?" + +'Aye, to be sure I do.' + +'"Well; he, poor lad, is got into prison here for debt, and there I +reckon he'll die; for nobody that ever gets into one of their confounded +jails in this country, ever gets out again." + +'As I perfectly remembered Stornaway, a gallant and spirited young +Scotsman, I was much hurt at this account, and asked if I could be +admitted to see him. I found it attended with infinite difficulty, and +that I must apply to so many different persons before I could be allowed +to see my unfortunate countryman, that the pacquet boat of the next day +must sail without me. Cleveland therefore departed; and I, with long +attendance on the Commandant and other officers, was at length +introduced into the prison. I will not shock you with a description of +it, nor with the condition in which I found the poor young man; who +seemed to me likely to escape, by death, from the damp and miserable +dungeon where he lay, without necessary food, without air, and without +hope of relief. He related to me his sorrowful and simple tale. He was +brought up to the sea; had no friends able to assist him; and on being +discharged, after the peace, had gone, with what money he received, and +on half pay, to France, in hopes of being able to live at less expence +than in England, and to learn, at the same time, a language so necessary +in his profession. + +'"And for some time," said he, "I did pretty well; till going with one +of my countrymen to see a relation of his, who was (tho' born of Scots +parents) brought up as a pensioner in a convent, and a Catholic, I was +no longer my own master, and tho' I knew that it was almost impossible +for me to support a wife, I yet rashly married, and have made one of the +loveliest young creatures in the world a beggar. + +'"She was totally destitute of fortune; and was afraid her friends, who +were but distant relations, and people of rank in Scotland, would insist +on her taking the veil, as the most certain and easiest means of +providing for her. She had a decided aversion to a monastic life; and +poor as I was, (for I did not attempt to deceive her,) hesitated not to +quit her convent with me, which it was easy enough to do by the +management of her relation, with whom she was allowed to go out. We set +out, therefore, together for England. I had about twenty Louis in my +pocket, which would have carried us thither comfortably: but calamity +overtook us by the way. We travelled in stages and diligences, as we +found cheapest; in one of which I imagine my poor girl caught the +infection of the small pox, with which she fell ill at Amiens. I +attended her with all the agonizing fear of a wretch who sees his only +earthly good on the point of being torn from him for ever; and very, +very ill she was for many days and nights. Yet her lovely face was +spared; and in a month I saw her quite out of danger, but still too weak +to travel. As I spared nothing that could contribute to her ease or her +recovery, my money was dreadfully diminished, and I had barely enough +left to carry me alone to England. But as our credit was yet good, I +purposed our living on it till her strength was somewhat re-established, +and that I would then go to England, get a supply of money, and return +to pay my debts and fetch my wife. + +'"This was the only expedient," said poor Stornaway, "that I could think +of, and perhaps was the very worst I could have adopted; since by this +means we insensibly got into debt, and to creditors the most inexorable. + +'"At the end of three weeks, my wife was tolerably well. I divided with +her the money I had left, and went off in the night to Calais, +flattering myself I should return to her within a fortnight. But so +vigilant were those to whom I owed money, and so active the +_maréchaussés_, that I was pursued, and thrown, without hesitation and +without appeal, into this prison; where my little remaining money, being +all exhausted in fees, to save me from even worse treatment, I have now +lain near six weeks in the situation in which you see me. As to myself," +continued the poor young man, "my life has been a life of hardship, and +I have learned to hold it as nothing; but when I reflect on what must +have been the condition of my Isabel, I own to you, dear Sir, that my +fortitude forsakes me, and the blackest despair takes possession of my +soul." + +'I had but little occasion to deliberate,' said Godolphin, continuing +his narrative--'I had but little occasion to deliberate. I enquired into +the debt. It was a trifle. I blushed to think, that while Englishmen +were daily passing thro' the place in pursuit of pleasure, a gentleman, +an officer of their nation, languished for such a sum in the horrors of +a confinement so dreadful. The debt was easily discharged; and I took +the unhappy Stornaway to my lodgings, from whence he was eagerly flying +to Amiens, when I was called aside by one of the _maréchaussé_, who +desired to speak to me. + +'"Sir," said the man, "you have been generous to me, and I will hazard +telling you a secret. Orders are coming to stop your friend, whom you +have released from prison, for stealing a pensioner out of a convent. +Get him off to England immediately, or he will be taken, and perhaps +confined for life." + +'I hastened Stornaway instantly into a boat, and sent him after a +pacquet which had just sailed, and which I saw him overtake. He conjured +me, in an agony of despair, to enquire for his wife, without whom he +said he could not live, and that rather than attempt it, he would return +and perish in prison. I promised all he desired; and as soon as I was +sure he was safe, I set out post for Amiens, where I found the poor +young woman in a situation to which no words can do justice. She had +parted with almost every thing for her support; and was overwhelmed by +the weight of misfortunes, which, young and inexperienced as she was, +she had neither the means to soften or the fortitude to bear. I brought +her away to Calais, and embarked with her yesterday, having only staid +long enough to furnish her with cloaths, and to recruit her enfeebled +frame after her journey. But sea sickness, added to her former ill state +of health, has reduced her to a condition of deplorable weakness. She +speaks so little English that she is unable to travel alone; and I was +in hopes that by her chaise keeping up with the coach, I might have +assisted her on the road; but she is now so extremely ill that I am +afraid she must remain here.' + +During the first part of this short account, Emmeline, charmed more than +ever with Godolphin, and ashamed of having for a moment entertained a +suspicion to the disadvantage of such a man, sat silent; but at the +conclusion of it, her eyes overflowed with tears; she felt something +that told her she ought to apologize to him for the error she had been +guilty of--tho' of that error he knew nothing; and impelled by an +involuntary impulse, she held out her hand to him.--Dear, generous, +noble-minded Godolphin! was uttered by her heart, but her lips only +echoed, the last word. + +'Godolphin!' said she, 'let us go to this poor young creature--let us +see her ourselves.' + +'Certainly we will,' cried Mrs. Stafford; 'and indeed, Sir, you ought to +have told us before, that we might sooner have offered all the +assistance in our power.' + +'I was afraid,' answered he. 'I knew not whether I might not be deceived +in the character of Mrs. Stornaway; and dared not intrude upon you, lest +it should be found that the object merited not your good offices.' + +'But she is in distress!' said Emmeline--'she is a stranger!--and shall +we hesitate?--' + +Godolphin, who found in the tenderness of her address to him, and in the +approbation her eyes expressed, a reward as sweet as that which the +consciousness of doing good afforded from his own heart; kissed the hand +she had given him, in silence, and then went to enquire if the poor +young woman could see the ladies. She expressed her joy at being so +favoured, and Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline were introduced. + +The compassion they expressed, and the assurances they gave her that she +would meet her husband in London, and that she should stay with them +'till she did, calmed and composed her; and as her illness was merely +owing to fatigue and anxiety, they believed a few hours rest, now her +mind was easier, would restore her. Tho' they were impatient to get on +to London, they yet hesitated not to remain at Canterbury all night, on +the account of this poor stranger. Godolphin, on hearing their +determination, warmly thanked them: the heart of Emmeline was at once +eased of its inquietude, and impressed with a deeper sense than ever of +Godolphin's worth: she gave way, almost for the first time, to her +tenderness and esteem, without attempting to check or conceal her +sentiments; while Mrs. Stafford, who ardently wished to see her in +possession of her estate and married to Godolphin, rejoiced in observing +her to be less reserved; and Godolphin himself, hardly believing the +happiness he possessed real, forgot all his fears of her attachment to +Lord Delamere, and dared again entertain the hopes he had discarded at +Besançon--as he thought, for ever. + +The next day Mrs. Stornaway was so much recovered that they proceeded in +their journey, taking her into the coach with them and directing Madelon +to travel in the chaise, accompanied by her father. They arrived early +in town; and Godolphin, leaving them at an hotel, went in search of +lodgings. He soon found apartments to accommodate them in Bond street; +and thither they immediately went; Mrs. Stafford taking upon herself the +protection of the poor forlorn stranger 'till Godolphin could find her +husband, on whose behalf he immediately intended to apply for a berth on +board some ship in commission. He had given him a direction to his +banker, and bid him there leave an address where he might be found in +London. The next day he brought the transported Stornaway to his wife; +and the gratitude these poor young people expressed to their benefactor, +convinced the fair friends that they had deserved his kindness, and that +there was no deception in the story the Lieutenant had told them about +his wife. Godolphin took a lodging for them in Oxford street; and gave +them money for their support till he could get the young man employed, +which his interest and indefatigable friendship soon accomplished. + +In the mean time he saw Emmeline every day, and every day he rose in her +esteem. Yet still she hesitated to discover to him all she thought of +him; and at times was so reserved and so guarded, that Godolphin knew +not what to believe. He knew she was above the paltry artifice of +coquetry; yet she fearfully avoided being alone with him, and never +allowed him an opportunity of asking whether he had any thing to hope +from time and assiduity. + +'Is he not one of the best creatures in the world?' said Mrs. Stafford, +after he left the room, on the second day of their arrival, to go out in +the service of the Stornaways. + +'Yes.' + +'Yes! and is that all the praise you allow to such a man? Is he not a +perfect character?' + +'As perfect, I suppose, as any of them are.' + +'Ah! Emmeline, you are a little hypocrite. It is impossible you can be +insensible of the merit of Godolphin; and I wonder you are not in more +haste to convince him that you think of him as he deserves.' + +'What would you have me do?' + +'Marry him.' + +'Before I am sure he desires it?' smilingly asked Emmeline. + +'You cannot doubt that, tho' you so anxiously repress every attempt he +makes to explain himself. Shall I tell you what he has said to me? Shall +I tell you what motive carried him to St. Alpin?' + +'No--I had rather not hear any thing about it.' + +'And why not?' + +'Because it is better, for some time, if not for ever, that Godolphin +should be ignorant of those favourable thoughts I may have had of +him--better that I should cease to entertain them.' + +'Why so, pray?' + +'Because I dread the mortified pride and furious jealousy of Lord +Delamere on one hand; and on the other the authority of my uncle, who, +'till I am of age, will probably neither restore my fortune nor consent +to my carrying it out of his family.' + +'For those very reasons you should immediately marry Godolphin. When you +are actually married, Delamere will reconcile himself to the loss of +you. To an inevitable evil, even his haughty and self-willed spirit must +submit. And should Lord Montreville give you any trouble about your +fortune, who can so easily, so properly oblige him to do you justice, as +a man of spirit, of honour, of understanding, who will have a right to +insist upon it.' + +It was impossible to deny so evident a truth. Yet still Emmeline +apprehended the consequence of Delamere's rage and disappointment; and +thought that there would be an indelicacy and an impropriety in +withdrawing herself from the protection of her own family almost as soon +as she could claim it, and that her uncle might make such a step a +pretence for new contention and longer wrath. The result, therefore, of +all her deliberations ended in a determination neither to engage herself +or to marry 'till she was of age; and, 'till then, not even to encourage +any lover whatever. By that time, she hoped that Lord Delamere, wearied +by an hopeless passion, and convinced of her fixed indifference, would +engage in some more successful pursuit. She knew that by that time all +affairs between her and Lord Montreville must be adjusted. If the +affection of Godolphin was, as she hoped, fixed, and founded on his +esteem for her character, he would not love her less at the end of that +period, when she should have the power of giving him her estate +unincumbered with difficulties and unembarrassed by law suits; and +should, she hoped, escape the misery of seeing Delamere's anguish and +despair, on which she could not bear to reflect. + +She ingenuously explained to Mrs. Stafford her reasons for refusing to +receive Godolphin's proposals; in which her friend, tho' she allowed +them to be plausible, by no means acquiesced; still insisting upon it, +that the kindest thing she could do towards Lord Delamere, as well as +the properest in regard to the settlement of her estate, was immediately +to accept Godolphin. But Emmeline was not to be convinced; and all she +could obtain from Mrs. Stafford was an extorted promise, reluctantly +given, that she would not give any advice or encouragement to Godolphin +immediately to press his suit. Emmeline, tho' convinced she was right, +yet doubted whether she had fortitude enough to persist in the conduct +she wished to adopt; if exposed at once to the solicitations of a woman +of whose understanding she had an high opinion, and to the ardent +supplications of the man she loved. + +The day after her arrival in London, she had sent to Berkley-square, +and was informed that Lord Montreville and his family were in Norfolk. + +Thither therefore she wrote, and enclosed the letter she had brought +from Lord Westhaven. Her own was couched in the most modest and dutiful +terms, and that of Lord Westhaven was equally mild and reasonable. But +they gave only disquiet and concern to the ambitious and avaricious +bosom of Lord Montreville. Tho' already tortured by Delamere's absence +and illness, and uncertain whether the object of his long solicitude +would live to reap the advantage of his accumulated fortunes, he could +not think but with pain and reluctance of giving up so large a portion +of his annual income: still more unwilling did he feel to refund the +produce of the estates for so long a period; and in the immediate +emotion of his vexation at receiving Lord Westhaven's first letter, he +had sent for Sir Richard Crofts, who, having at the time of Mr. +Mowbray's death been entrusted with all the papers and deeds which +belonged to him, was the most likely to know whether any were among them +that bore testimony to the marriage of Mr. Mowbray and Miss Stavordale. + +The fact was, that a very little time before he died, his steward, +Williamson, had received the memorandum of which Emmeline had found a +copy; and, on the death of his master, had carried it to Sir Richard +Crofts; Lord Montreville being then in the North of England. Sir Richard +eagerly enquired whether there were any other papers to the like +purport. Williamson replied, he believed not; and very thoughtlessly +left it in his hands. When, a few days afterwards, he called to know in +whose name the business of the Mowbray estate was to be carried on, Sir +Richard (then acting as an attorney, and only entering into life) told +him that every thing was to be considered as the property of Lord +Montreville; because there were many doubts about the marriage of Mr. +Mowbray, and great reason to think that the paper in question was +written merely with a view to pique and perplex his brother, with whom +he was then at variance; but that Lord Montreville would enquire into +the business, and certainly do justice to any claims the infant might +have on the estate. + +Soon after, Williamson applied again to have the paper restored; but +Crofts answered, that he should keep it, by order of Lord Montreville, +tho' it was of no use; his Lordship having obtained undoubted +information that his brother was never married. + +Sir Richard had reflected on the great advantage that would accrue to +his patron from the possession of this estate; to which, besides it's +annual income, several boroughs belonged. He thought it was very +probable that the little girl, then only a few weeks old, and without a +mother or any other than mercenary attendants, might die in her infancy: +if she did not, that Lord Montreville might easily provide for her, and +that it would be doing his friend a great service, and be highly +advantageous to himself, should he conceal the legal claim of the child, +even unknown to her uncle, and put him in immediate possession of his +paternal estate. + +Having again strictly questioned Williamson; repressed his curiosity by +law jargon; and frightened him by threats of his Lord's displeasure if +he made any effort to prove the legitimacy of Emmeline; he very +tranquilly destroyed the paper, and Lord Montreville never knew that +such a paper had existed. + +Williamson, timid and ignorant of every thing beyond his immediate +business, returned in great doubt and uneasiness to Mowbray Castle. When +he received the child and the two caskets, he had questioned the +Frenchman who brought her and heard an absolute confirmation of the +marriage of his master. He then examined the caskets, and found the +certificates. But without money or friends, he knew not how to prosecute +the claim of the orphan against the power and affluence of Lord +Montreville; and after frequent consultations with Mrs. Carey, they +agreed that the safest way would be carefully to secure those papers +till Emmeline was old enough to find friends; for should they attempt +previously to procure justice for her, they might probably lose the +papers which proved her birth, as they had already done that which +Williamson had delivered to Crofts. As long as Williamson lived, he +carefully locked up these caskets. His sudden death prevented him from +taking any steps to establish the claim of his orphan mistress; and that +of Mrs. Carey two years afterwards, involved the whole affair in +obscurity, which made Sir Richard quite easy as to any future discovery. + +But as the aggressor never forgives, Sir Richard had conceived against +Emmeline the most unmanly and malignant hatred, and had invariably +opposed every tendency which he had observed in Lord Montreville to +befriend and assist her, for no other reason but that he had already +irreparably injured her. + +He hoped, that as he had at length divided her from Lord Delamere, and +driven her abroad, she would there marry a foreigner, and be farther +removed than ever from the family, and from any chance of recovering the +property of which he had deprived her: instead of which, she had, in +consequence of going thither, met the very man in whose power it was to +prove the marriage of her mother; and, in Lord Westhaven, had found a +protector too intelligent and too steady to be discouraged by evasion or +chicanery--too powerful and too affluent to be thrown out of the +pursuit, either by the enmity it might raise or the expence it might +demand. + +Nothing could exceed the chagrin of Sir Richard when Lord Montreville +put into his hands the first letter he had on this subject from Lord +Westhaven. Accustomed, however, to command his countenance, he said, +without any apparent emotion, that as no papers in confirmation of the +fact alledged had ever existed among those delivered to him on the death +of Mr. Mowbray, it was probably some forgery that had imposed on Lord +Westhaven. + +'I see not how that can be,' answered Lord Montreville. 'It is not +likely that Emmeline Mowbray could forge such papers, or should even +conceive such an idea.' + +'True, my Lord. But your Lordship forgets and overlooks and passes by +the long abode and continuance and residence she has made with the +Staffords. Mrs. Stafford is, to my certain knowledge and conviction, +artful and designing and intrigueing; a woman, my Lord, who affects and +pretends and presumes to understand and be competent and equal to +business and affairs and concerns with which women should never +interfere or meddle or interest themselves. It is clearly and evidently +and certainly to the interest and advantage and benefit of this woman, +that Miss Mowbray, over whom she has great influence and power and +authority, should be established and fixed and settled in affluence, +rather than remain and abide and continue where nature and justice and +reason have placed her.' + +'I own, Sir Richard, I cannot see the thing in this light. However, to +do nothing rashly, let us consider how to proceed.' + +Sir Richard then advised him by no means to answer Lord Westhaven's +letter, but to wait till he saw his Lordship; as in cases so momentous, +it was, he said, always wrong to give any thing in black and white. In a +few days afterwards he heard out of Norfolk, (for he had come up from +thence to consult with Sir Richard Crofts) that Lord Delamere was ill +at Besançon. His precipitate departure had before given him the most +poignant concern; and now his fears for his life completed the distress +of this unfortunate father. On receiving, however, the second letter +from Lord Westhaven, together with that of Emmeline, his apprehensions +for the life of his son were removed, and left his mind at liberty to +recur again to the impending loss of four thousand five hundred a year, +with the unpleasant accompanyment of being obliged to refund above sixty +thousand pounds. Again Sir Richard Crofts was sent for, and again he +tried to quiet the apprehensions of Lord Montreville. But his attempt to +persuade him that the whole might be a deception originating with the +Staffords, obtained not a moment's attention. He knew Stafford himself +was weak, ignorant, and indolent, and would neither have had sagacity to +think of or courage to execute such a design; and that Mrs. Stafford +should imagine and perform it seemed equally improbable. He was +perfectly aware that Lord Westhaven had a thorough acquaintance with +business, and was of all men on earth the most unlikely to enter warmly +into such an affair, (against the interest too of the family into which +he had married) unless he was very sure of having very good grounds for +his interference. + +But tho' Sir Richard could not prevail on him to disbelieve the whole of +the story, he saw that his Lordship thought with great reluctance of the +necessity he should be under of relinquishing the whole of the fortune. +He now therefore recommended it to him to remain quiet, at least 'till +Lord Westhaven came to England; to send an answer to Miss Mowbray that +meant nothing; and to gain time for farther enquiries. These enquiries +he himself undertook; and leaving Lord Montreville in a political fit of +the gout, he returned from Audley Hall to London, and bent all his +thoughts to the accomplishment of his design; which was, to get the +original papers out of the hands of Emmeline, and to bribe Le Limosin to +go back to France. + +While these things were passing in England, Lord Delamere (whose rage +and indignation at Emmeline's departure the authority of Lord Westhaven +could hardly restrain) had learned from his brother-in-law the real +circumstances of the birth of his cousin, and he heard them with the +greatest satisfaction. He now thought it certain that his father would +press his marriage as eagerly as he had before opposed it; and that so +great an obstacle being removed, and Emmeline wholly in the power of +his family, she would be easily brought to forgive him and to comply +with the united wishes of all her relations. + +In this hope, and being assured by Lord Westhaven that Bellozane was +actually returned into Switzerland without any design of following +Emmeline, (who had been induced, he said, to leave Besançon purely to +avoid him) he consented to attempt attaining a greater command over his +temper, on which the re-establishment of his health depended; and after +about ten days, was able to travel. Lord and Lady Westhaven, therefore, +at the end of that time, slowly began with him their journey to England. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + + +Emmeline had now been almost a week in London; and Mrs. Stafford, with +the assistance of Godolphin, had succeeded so much better than she +expected, in the arrangement of some of those affairs in which she +apprehended the most difficulty, that very little remained for her to do +before she should be enabled to return to France (where her husband was +to sign some papers to secure his safety); and that little depended on +James Crofts, who seemed to be making artificial delay, and trying to +give her all the trouble and perplexity in his power. + +He had, however, another motive than merely to harrass and distress her. +His father had employed him to deal with Le Limosin; well knowing that +there was nothing so base and degrading that he would not undertake +where his interest was in question; and Sir Richard had promised him a +considerable addition to his fortune if he had address enough to prevent +so capital a sum as Emmeline claimed from being deducted from that of +the family to whom his brother was allied; and from whence he had +expectations, which could not but suffer from such a diminution of it's +wealth and interest. + +The tediousness therefore that the Crofts' created promised still to +detain Emmeline in London; and her uncle's letter, which coldly and +hardly with civility deferred any conference on her affairs till the +arrival of Lord Westhaven, convinced her that from his tenderness she +had nothing, from his justice, little to hope. + +Godolphin was very anxious to be allowed personally to apply to him on +the claim of his niece. But this Emmeline positively refused. She would +not even allow Mr. Newton, the lawyer to whom Lord Westhaven had +recommended her, and in whose hands her papers were safely deposited, to +write officially to Lord Montreville; but determined to wait quietly the +return of Lord Westhaven himself, on whom she knew neither the anger of +her uncle, or the artifices of Sir Richard, would make any impression; +while his Lordship's interference could not be imputed to such motives +as might possibly be thought to influence Godolphin, or would it give +her the appearance of proceeding undutifully and harshly against Lord +Montreville, which appearances she might be liable to, should she +hastily institute a suit against him. + +She grew, however, very uneasy at the determined attendance of +Godolphin, whose presence she knew was so necessary to poor Lady +Adelina. She saw that he was anxious about his sister, yet could not +determine to tear himself from _her_; and to insist upon his returning +to Lady Adelina, would be to assume a right, to which, on the footing +they were, she declined pretending. She failed not, however, every day +to represent to him the long solitude in which Lady Adelina had been +left, and to read to him parts of her letters which breathed only sorrow +and depression. Whenever this happened, Godolphin heard her with +concern, and promised to set out the next day; but still something was +to be done for the service of Emmeline, and still he could not bear to +resign the delight he had now so long enjoyed of seeing her every day, +and of indulging those hopes she had tacitly allowed him to entertain. + +Mrs. Stafford, notwithstanding her promise to Emmeline, had not been +able to forbear discovering to him part of the truth. Yet when he +reflected on the advantages Delamere had over him in fortune, in rank, +in the influence his family connection and his former engagement might +give him, he trembled least, if he should be himself absent when Lord +Delamere arrived, her tender and timid spirit would yield to the sorrow +of her lover and the authority of her family; and that almost in despite +of herself, he might lose her for ever. While he yet lingered, and +continued to promise that he would go to the Isle of Wight, the eight +first days of their stay in town glided away. Early in the morning of +the ninth, Godolphin entered the room where Mrs. Stafford and Emmeline +were at breakfast. + +'I must now indeed,' said he, 'lose no time in going to Adelina. I am to +day informed that Mr. Trelawny is dead.' + +'Shall we then see Lady Adelina in town?' eagerly asked Emmeline, who +could not affect any concern at the death of such a man. + +'I apprehend not,' replied Godolphin. 'Whatever business there may be to +settle with the Bancrafts, I am sure will be more proper for me than for +her. To them I must now go, at Putney; and only came to inform you, +Madam,' addressing himself to Mrs. Stafford, 'of the reason of my sudden +absence.' + +'Shall you return again to London, Sir, before you proceed into +Hampshire?' + +'Not unless you or Miss Mowbray will allow me to suppose that to either +of you my return may be in any way serviceable.' + +Mrs. Stafford assured him she had nothing to trouble him upon which +required such immediate attention. Emmeline then attempted to make an +answer of the same kind. But tho' she had for some days wished him to +go, she could not see him on the point of departing without being +sensible of the anguish his absence would occasion her; and instead of +speaking distinctly her thanks, she only murmured something, and was so +near bursting into tears, that fearing to expose herself, she was +hurrying out of the room. + +'No message--no letter--not one kind word,' said he, gently detaining +her, 'to poor Adelina? Nothing to your little _protegé_?' + +'My--love to them both, Sir?' + +'And will you not write to my sister?' + +'By the post,' said Emmeline, struggling to get from him to conceal her +emotion. + +He then kissed her hand, and suffered her to go. While the explanation +Mrs. Stafford gave of her real feelings, elated him to rapture, in which +he departed, protesting that nothing should prevent his return, to +follow the good fortune which he now believed might be his, as soon as +he could adjust his sister's business with her husband's relations. + +Mrs. Stafford recommended it to him to bring Lady Adelina to London with +him, as the affection Emmeline had for her would inevitably give her +great influence. Godolphin, in answer to this advice, only shook his +head; and Mrs. Stafford remained uncertain of his intentions to follow +it. + +A few days now elapsed without any extraordinary occurrence. Emmeline +thought less of the impending restoration of her fortune (for of it's +restoration Mr. Newton assured her he had no doubt), than of him with +whom she hoped to share it. She impatiently longed to hear from Lady +Adelina that he was with her: and sometimes her mind dwelt with painful +solicitude on Lady Westhaven and Delamere, for whose health and safety +she was truly anxious, and of whom she had received no account since her +arrival in London. + +As she was performing the promise she had made to Godolphin of writing +to Lady Adelina by an early post, Le Limosin announced Mr. James Crofts; +who immediately entered the room with his usual jerking and familiar +walk. Emmeline, who incapable as she was of hating any body, yet felt +towards him a disgust almost amounting to hatred, received him with the +coldest reserve, and Mrs. Stafford with no more civility than was +requisite to prevent his alledging her rudeness and impatience as +reasons for not settling the business on which she concluded he came. + +He began with general conversation; and when Mrs. Stafford, impatient to +have done with him, introduced that which went more immediately to the +adjustment of the affair she wished to settle, he told her, that being +extremely unwilling to discuss a matter of business with a _lady_, and +apprehensive of giving offence to one for whom he and his dear Mrs. +Crofts had so sincere a regard, he had determined to leave all the +concerns yet between them to his attorney; a man of strict honour and +probity, to whom he would give her a direction, and to whom it would be +better for _her_ attorney to apply, than that they should themselves +enter on a topic whereon it was probable they might differ. + +Mrs. Stafford, vexed at his dissimulation and finesse, again pressed him +to come to a conclusion without the interference of lawyers. But he +again repeated the set speech he had formed on the occasion; and then +addressing himself to Emmeline, asked smilingly, and affecting an +interest in her welfare, 'whether the information he had received was +true?' + +'What information, Sir?' + +'That Miss Mowbray has the most authentic claim to the estate of her +late father.' + +'It is by no means an established claim, Sir; and such as you must +excuse me if I decline talking of.' + +'I am told you have papers that put it out of dispute. If you would +favour me with a sight of them, perhaps I could give you some insight +into the proceedings you should commence; and I am sure my friendship +and regard would make any service I could do you a real satisfaction to +myself.' + +'I thank you, Sir, for your professions. The papers in question are in +the hands of Mr. Newton of Lincolns Inn. If he will allow you to see +them I have no objection.' + +'You intend then,' said James Crofts, unable entirely to conceal his +chagrin--'you intend to begin a suit with my Lord Montreville?' + +'By no means, Sir. I am persuaded there will be no necessity for it. But +as you have just referred Mrs. Stafford to a lawyer, I must beg leave to +say, that if _you_ have any questions to ask you must apply to mine.' + +James Crofts, quite disconcerted notwithstanding his presumptuous +assurance, was not ready with an answer; and Emmeline, who doubted not +that he was sent by his father to gain what intelligence he could, was +so provoked, that not conceiving herself obliged to preserve the +appearance of civility to a man she despised, she left him in possession +of the room, from whence Mrs. Stafford had a few moments before +departed. He therefore was obliged to withdraw; having found his attempt +to shake the integrity of Le Limosin as fruitless as that he had made to +get sight of the papers. + +He had not long been gone, when a servant brought to Emmeline the +following note.-- + + + 'I have heard you are in town with Mrs. Stafford, and beg leave + to wait on you. Do not, _ma douce amie_, refuse to grant me this + favour. Besides the happiness of seeing you and your friend, I have + another very particular reason for soliciting you to grant such an + indulgence to + + GEORGE FITZ-EDWARD. + + 'I write this from a neighbouring coffee-house, where I expect + your answer.' + + +Emmeline immediately carried this billet to Mrs. Stafford; who told her +there was no reason why she should refuse the request it contained. She +therefore wrote a card of compliment to Colonel Fitz-Edward, signifying +that she should be glad to see him. + +In a few moments Fitz-Edward appeared; and Emmeline, tho' aware of his +arrival, could not receive him without confusion and emotion. Nor could +she without pity behold his altered countenance and manner, so different +from what they were when she first saw the gay and gallant Fitz-Edward +at Mowbray Castle. He began by expressing, with great appearance of +sincerity, his joy at seeing her; enquired after Lord Delamere, and +mentioned his astonishment at what he had heard--that Delamere had so +repeatedly enquired after him, and signified such a wish to see him, yet +had never written to him to explain his business. + +Emmeline, who knew well on what he had so earnestly desired to meet him, +blushed, but did not think it necessary to clear up a subject which +Godolphin's explanation to Delamere had rendered no longer alarming. + +'You know, perhaps,' said Fitz-Edward, 'that Mr. Trelawny is dead.' + +'I do.' + +'And your fair unhappy friend?--May I now--(or is it still a crime,) +enquire after her.' + +'She is, I believe, well,' answered Emmeline, 'and remains at the house +of her brother.' + +'Tell me, Miss Mowbray--will she after a proper time refuse, do you +think, her consent to see me? will _you_, my lovely friend, undertake to +plead for me? will you and Mrs. Stafford, who know with what solicitude +I sought her, with what anguish I deplored her loss, intercede on my +behalf?--you, who know how fondly my heart has been devoted to her from +the moment of our fatal parting?' + +'I can undertake nothing of this kind, Sir. The fate of Lady Adelina +depends, I apprehend, on her brothers. To them I think you should +apply.' + +'And why not to herself? Is she not now at liberty? And when destiny has +at length broken the cruel chains with which she was loaded, will she +voluntarily bind herself with others hardly more supportable? If she +refers me to her brothers, I must despair:--the cold-hearted Lord +Westhaven, the inflexible and rigid Godolphin, will make it a mistaken +point of honour to divide us for ever!' + +'You cannot suppose, Sir, that _I_ shall undertake to influence Lady +Adelina to measures disapproved by her family. I know not that Lord +Westhaven is cold and unfeeling as you describe him: on the contrary, I +believe he unites one of the best heads and warmest hearts. If your +request is proper, you certainly risk nothing by referring it to him.' + +Of Godolphin she spoke not; fearful of betraying to the penetrating and +observing Fitz-Edward how little he answered in her idea the character +of unfeeling and severe. + +'I know not what to do,' said Fitz-Edward. 'Should I address myself to +her brothers without success, I am undone; since I well know that from +their decision there will be no appeal. I cannot live without her, +Emmeline--indeed I cannot; and in the hope only of what has lately +happened, have I dragged on till now a reluctant existence. Once, and +but once, I dared write to her. But her brother returned the letter. She +suffered him cruelly to return it, in a cover in which he informed me, +"that the peace and honour of Lady Adelina Trelawny made it necessary +for her to forget that such a man existed as Colonel Fitz-Edward." +Godolphin,' continued he--'Godolphin may carry this too far; he may +oblige me to remind him that there is more than one way in which his +inexorable punctilio may be satisfied.' + +'Certainly,' cried Emmeline, in great agitation, which she vainly +struggled to conceal, 'there is no method more likely to convince Lady +Adelina of your tenderness for her, than that you hint at; and if you +should be fortunate enough to destroy a brother to whom she owes every +thing, your triumph will be complete.' + +'Prevent then the necessity of my applying to Godolphin by speaking to +Lady Adelina in my favour. Ask her whether she can divest herself of all +regard for me? ask her whether she can condemn me to eternal regret and +despair?' + +'I cannot indeed. I am not likely to see her; and if I were, this is a +subject on which nothing shall induce me to influence her.' + +Mrs. Stafford, who had been detained in another room by a person who +came to her upon business, now joined them; and Fitz-Edward without +hesitation repeated to her what he had been saying to Emmeline. + +'I do not think indeed, Colonel, that Miss Mowbray can interfere; and I +am of her opinion, that as soon as such proposals as you intend to make +are proper, you should address them to her brothers.' + +'Mr. Godolphin, Madam, treats me in a way which only my tenderness, my +love for his sister, induces me to bear. I have met him accidentally, +and he passes rudely by me. I sent a gentleman to him to desire an +amicable interview. He answered, that as we could not meet as friends, +he must be excused from seeing me at all. Had I been as rash, as cruel +as he seems to be, I should then have noticed, in the way it demanded, +such a message: but conscious that I had already injured him, I bore +with his petulance and his asperity. I love Godolphin,' continued +he--'from our boyish days I have loved and respected him. I know the +nobleness of his nature, and I can make great allowances for the +impatience of injured honour. But will he not carry it too far, if now +that his sister is released from her detested marriage he still persists +in dividing us?' + +'You are not sure,' said Mrs. Stafford, 'that he will do so. Have +patience at least till the time is elapsed when you may try the +experiment. In the interim I will consider what ought to be done.' + +'My ever excellent, ever amiable friend!' exclaimed Fitz-Edward +warmly--'how much do I owe you already! Ah! add yet to those obligations +the restoration of Adelina, and I shall be indebted to you for more than +life. As to you, my sweet marble-hearted Emmeline, I heartily pray that +all your coldness both towards me and poor Delamere may be revenged by +your feeling, on behalf of him, all the pain you have inflicted.' + +Alas! thought Emmeline, your wicked wish is already accomplished, tho' +not in favour of poor Delamere. + +Fitz-Edward then obtained permission to wait on them again; tho' Mrs. +Stafford very candidly told him, that after Captain Godolphin came to +town, she begged he would forbear coming in when he heard of his being +there. + +'We will try,' said she, 'to conciliate matters between you, so that ye +may meet in peace; and till then pray forbear to meet at all.' + +Fitz-Edward, flattering himself that Mrs. Stafford would interest +herself for him, and that Emmeline, however reserved, would be rather +his friend than his enemy, departed in rather better spirits; and left +the fair friends to debate on the means of preventing what was very +likely to happen--a difference of the most alarming kind between him and +Godolphin, should the latter persist in refusing him permission to +address, at a proper season, Lady Adelina. + +The long delays that seemed likely to arise before her own business +would be adjusted with Lord Montreville; the fiery and impatient spirits +with which it appeared to be her lot to contend; the vexation to which +she saw Mrs. Stafford subjected by the sordid and cruel conduct of the +Crofts' towards her; and lastly, her encreasing disquietude about +Godolphin, whom she feared to encourage, yet was equally unwilling and +unable to repulse; oppressed her spirits, and made her stay in London +very disagreeable to her. She had never before been in it for more than +a night or two; and at this time of the year (it was the beginning of +October) the melancholy, deserted houses in the fashionable streets, and +the languor that appeared in the countenances of those who were obliged +to be in town, offered no amusement or variety to compensate for the +loss of the pure air she had been accustomed to breathe, or for the +beautiful and interesting landscapes which she remembered to have +enjoyed in Autumn at Mowbray Castle; where she so much languished to be, +that she sometimes thought, if her uncle would resign it and the estate +immediately around, to her, she could be content to leave him in +possession of the rest of that fortune he coveted with so much avidity. + + + + +CHAPTER X + + +A few days longer passed, and Emmeline yet heard nothing of the return +of Lord and Lady Westhaven; a circumstance at which she grew extremely +uneasy. Not only as it gave her reason to fear for the health of Lord +Delamere, for whom she was very anxious; but for that of Lady Westhaven, +whom she so tenderly loved. + +She observed too, with concern, that under pretence of waiting the +arrival of his son and his son in law, Lord Montreville delayed all +advances towards a settlement; and that Mrs. Stafford, wearied by the +duplicity and chicanery of the Crofts', and miserable in being detained +so long from her children, grew quite disheartened, and was prevented +only by her affection for Emmeline from returning to France and +abandoning all hopes of an accommodation which every day seemed more +difficult and more distant. + +The arrival of Lord Westhaven was on her account particularly desirable, +as he had promised Emmeline to make a point of assisting her; and on his +assurances she knew it was safe to rely, since they were neither made to +give himself an air of importance, nor meant to quiet the trouble of +present importunity, by holding out the prospect of future advantage +never thought of more. + +Nothing, however, could be done to hasten this important arrival; and +the fair friends, tho' uneasy and impatient, were obliged to submit. But +from the restlessness of daily suspence, they were roused by two +letters; which brought in it's place only poignant concern. That to Mrs. +Stafford was from her husband; who, tho' he had neither relish for her +conversation nor respect for her virtues, was yet dissatisfied without +her; and even while she was wholly occupied in serving him, tormented +her with murmurs and suspicions. He scrupled not to hint, 'that as she +was with her beloved Miss Mowbray, she forgot her duty to her family; +and that as she had been now gone near a month, he thought it quite long +enough, not only to have done the business she undertook, but to have +enjoyed as much pleasure as was in her situation reasonable. He +therefore expected her to return to France, and supposed that she had +settled every thing to facilitate his coming back to England.' The +unreasonable expectations, and ungrateful suspicions, which this letter +contained, overwhelmed her with mortification. To return without having +finished the business on which she came, would be to expose herself to +insult and reproach; yet to stay longer, without a probability of +succeeding by her stay, would only occasion an aggravation of his ill +humour, and probably a worse reception when she rejoined him. + +The letter to Emmeline was from Lady Adelina, and ran thus.-- + + + _East Cliff, Oct. 16._ + + 'Godolphin, my Emmeline, is at length returned to your unhappy + friend, who has passed many, many melancholy days since he left her. + My dear brother appears not only in better health, but in better + spirits than when he went from hence. Ought I then to repine? when I + see him, and when he tells me that you are well; and that affluence, + and with it, I hope, happiness will be your's? The very name of + happiness and of Adelina should not come in the same page! Ah! never + must they any where meet again. Pardon me for thus recurring to + myself: but the mournful topic will intrude! Unhappy Trelawny! he + had not quite compleated his twenty-fifth year. Tho' I never either + loved or esteemed him, and tho' to my early and hasty marriage I owe + all the misery of my life, his death has something shocking in it. + My weak spirits, which have of late been unusually deranged, are + sadly affected by it. Yet surely in regard to _him_ I have little to + reproach myself. Did he not abandon me to my destiny? did he not + plunge headlong into follies from which he resented even an effort + to save him? Alas! unless I could have given him that understanding + which nature + had denied him, my solicitude must ever have been vain! It is + some alleviation, too, to my concern, to reflect, that as much of + his honour as depended on me, has not, by the breath of public + fame, been sullied. And I try to persuade myself, that since his + life was useful to nobody, and had long been, from intemperance, + burthensome to himself, I should not suffer his death to dwell so + heavily upon me. Yet in spite of every effort to shake off the + melancholy which devours me, it encreases upon me; and to you I may + say, for you will hear and pity me, that there exists not at this + moment so complete a wretch as your Adelina! + + 'To my brother William, all gentle and generous as he is, I cannot + complain. It were ingratitude to let him see how little all his + tenderness avails towards reconciling me to myself; towards healing + the wounds of my depressed spirit, and quieting the murmurs of this + feeble heart. Yet methinks to have a friend, in whose compassionate + bosom I might pour out it's weakness and it's sorrows, would + mitigate the extreme severity of those sufferings which are now more + than I can bear. + + 'Where have I on earth such a friend but in my Emmeline? And will + she refuse to come to me? Ah! wherefore should she refuse it? I + shall be alone; for Godolphin is obliged to go immediately to London + to settle all the business I shall now ever have with the family of + Trelawny, and put it on such a footing as may preclude the necessity + of my ever meeting any of them hereafter. He tells me that your + affairs advance nothing till Lord Westhaven's return; and that our + dear Mrs. Stafford talks of being obliged to go back to her family. + If she must do so, you will not stay in London alone; and where is + your company so fondly desired, where can you have such an + opportunity of exercising your generous goodness, as in coming + hither? Our little boy--do you not long to embrace him? Ah! lovely + as he is, why dare I not indulge all the pleasure and all the pride + I might feel in seeing him; and wherefore must anguish so keen + mingle with tenderness so delicious! + + 'Ah! my friend, come to me, I entreat, I implore you! The reasons + why I cannot see London, are of late multiplied rather than removed, + and I can only have the happiness of embracing you here. Hesitate + not to oblige me then; for I every hour wish more and more ardently + to see you. When I awake from my imperfect slumbers, your presence + is the first desire of my heart: I figure you to myself as I wander + forth on my solitary walks. + + And when I _do_ sleep, the image of my angelic friend, + consolatory and gentle, makes me some amends for visions less + pleasant, that disturb it. + + 'Ah! let me not see you in dreams alone; for above all I want + you--"when I am alone with poor Adelina." Come, O come; and if it be + possible--save me--from myself! + + A.T.' + + +The melancholy tenor of this letter greatly affected Emmeline. She +wished almost as eagerly as her friend to be with her. But how could she +determine to become an inmate at the house of Godolphin, even tho' he +was himself to be absent from it? She communicated, however, Lady +Adelina's request to Mrs. Stafford, who could see no objection to any +plan which might promote the interest of Godolphin. She represented +therefore to Emmeline how very disagreeable it would be to her to be +left alone in town, when she should herself be obliged to leave her, as +must now soon happen. That there was, in fact, no very proper asylum for +her but the house of her uncle, which he seemed not at all disposed to +offer her. But that to Lady Adelina's proposal there could be no +reasonable objection, especially as Godolphin was not to be there. + +Emmeline yet hesitated; till another letter from Stafford, more harsh +and unreasonable than the first, obliged her friend to fix on the +following Thursday for her departure; the absurd impatience of her +husband thus defeating it's own purpose; and Emmeline, partly influenced +by her persuasions, and yet more by her own wishes, determined at length +to fix the same time for beginning her journey to the Isle of Wight. + +There was yet two days to intervene; and Mrs. Stafford was obliged to +employ the first of them in the city, among lawyers and creditors of her +husband. From scenes so irksome she readily allowed Miss Mowbray to +excuse herself; who therefore remained at home, and was engaged in +looking over some poems she had purchased, when she heard a rap at the +door, and the voice of Godolphin on the stairs enquiring of Le Limosin +for Mrs. Stafford. Le Limosin told him that she was from home, but that +Mademoiselle Mowbray was in the dining room. He sent up to know if he +might be admitted. Emmeline had no pretence for refusing him, and +received him with a mixture of confusion and pleasure, which she +ineffectually attempted to hide under the ordinary forms of civility. + +The eyes of Godolphin were animated by the delight of beholding her. But +when she enquired after Lady Adelina, as she almost immediately did, +they assumed a more melancholy expression. + +'Adelina is far from being well,' said he. 'Has she not written to you?' + +'She has.' + +'And has she not preferred a request to you?' + +'Yes.' + +'What answer do you mean to give it? Will you refuse once more to bless +and relieve, by your presence, my unhappy sister?' + +'I do not know,' said Emmeline, deeply blushing, 'that I ought, +(especially without the concurrence of my uncle,) to consent; yet to +contribute to the satisfaction of Lady Adelina--to give _her_ any degree +of happiness--what is there I can refuse?' + +'Adorable, angelic goodness!' eagerly cried Godolphin. 'Best, as well as +loveliest of human creatures! You go then?' + +'I intend beginning my journey on Thursday.' + +'And you will allow me to see you safe thither?' + +'There can surely be no occasion to give you that trouble, Sir,' said +Emmeline apprehensively; 'nor ought you to think of it, since Lady +Adelina's affairs certainly require your attendance in London.' + +'They do; but not so immediately as to prevent my attending you to East +Cliff. If you will suffer me to do that, I promise instantly to return.' + +'No. I go only attended by my servants or go not at all.' + +Godolphin was mortified to find her so determined. And easily +discouraged from those hopes which he had indulged rather from the +flattering prospects offered to him by Mrs. Stafford than presumption +founded on his own remarks, he now again felt all his apprehensions +renewed of her latent affection for Delamere. The acute anguish to which +those ideas exposed him, and their frequent return, determined him now +to attempt knowing at once, whether he had or had not that place in +Emmeline's heart which Mrs. Stafford had assured him he had long +possessed. + +Sitting down near her, therefore, he said, gravely--'As I may not, Miss +Mowbray, soon have again the happiness I now enjoy, will you allow me to +address you on a subject which you must long have known to be nearest +my heart; but on which you have so anxiously avoided every explanation I +have attempted, that I fear intruding too much on your complaisance if I +enter upon it.' + +Emmeline found she could not avoid hearing him; and sat silent, her +heart violently beating. Godolphin went on.-- + +'From the first moment I beheld you, my heart was your's. I attempted, +indeed, at the beginning of our acquaintance--ah! how vainly +attempted!--to conquer a passion which I believed was rendered hopeless +by your prior engagement. While I supposed you the promised wife of Lord +Delamere, I concealed, as well as I was able, my sufferings, and never +offended you with an hint of their severity. Had you married him, I +think I could have carried them in silence to the grave. Those ties, +however, Lord Delamere himself broke; and I then thought myself at +liberty to solicit your favour. It was for that purpose I took the road +to St. Alpin, when the unhappy Delamere stopped me at Besançon. + +'When I afterwards related to you his illness; the sorrow, the lively +and generous sorrow, you expressed for _him_, and the cold and reserved +manner in which you received _me_, made me still believe, that tho' he +had relinquished your hand he yet possessed your heart. I saw it with +anguish, and continued silent. All that passed at Besançon confirmed me +in this opinion. I determined to tear myself away, and again conceal in +solitude a passion, which, while I felt it to be incurable, I feared was +hopeless. Accident, however, detaining me at Calais, again threw me in +your way; and I heard, that far from having renewed your engagement with +Lord Delamere, you had left him to avoid his eager importunity. Dare I +add--that _then_, my pity for him was lost in the hopes I presumed to +form for myself; and studiously as you have avoided giving me an +opportunity of speaking to you, I have yet ventured to flatter myself +that you beheld not with anger or scorn, my ardent, my fond attachment.' + +From the beginning of this speech to it's conclusion, the encreasing +confusion of Emmeline deprived her of all power of answering it. With +deepened blushes, and averted eyes, she at first sought for refuge in +affecting to be intent on the netting she drew from her work box; but +having spoiled a whole row, her trembling hands could no longer go on +with it; and as totally her tongue refused to utter the answer, which, +by the pause he made, she concluded Godolphin expected. After a moment, +however, he went on. + +'I have by no means encouraged visions so delightful, without a severe +alloy of fear and mistrust. Frequently, your coldness, your unkindness, +gives me again to despondence; and every lovely prospect I had suffered +my imagination to draw, is lost in clouds and darkness. Yet I am +convinced you do not _intend_ to torture me; and that from Miss Mowbray +I may expect that candour, that explicit conduct, of which common minds +are incapable. Tell me then, dearest and loveliest Emmeline, may I +venture to hope that tender bosom is not wholly insensible? Will you +hear me with patience, and even with pity?' + +'What, Sir, can I say?' faulteringly asked Emmeline. 'I am in a great +measure dependant, at least for some time, on Lord Montreville; and till +I am of age, have determined to hear nothing on the subject on which you +are pleased to address me.' + +'Admitting it to be so,' answered Godolphin, 'give me but an hope to +live upon till then!' + +'I will not deny, Sir,' said Emmeline still more faintly, 'I will not +deny that my esteem for your character--my--my' + +'Oh! speak!' exclaimed Godolphin eagerly--'speak, and tell me that----' + +At this moment Le Limosin hastily came into the room, and +said--'_Mademoiselle, le Chevalier de Bellozane demande permission de +vous parler._'[39] + +Godolphin, vexed at the interruption, and embarrassed at the arrival of +the Chevalier, said hastily--'You will not see him?' + +'How can I refuse him?' answered she; 'perhaps he comes with some +intelligence of your brother--of my dear Lady Westhaven.' + +By this time the Chevalier was in the room. Emmeline received him with +anxious and confused looks, arising entirely from her apprehensions +about Lady Westhaven and Lord Delamere; but the vanity of Bellozane saw +in it only a struggle between her real sentiments and her affectation of +concealment. She almost instantly, however, enquired after her friends. + +'I left them,' said Bellozane, 'almost as soon as you did, and went +(because I wanted money and my father wanted to see _me_,) back to St. +Alpin, where I staid almost a fortnight; and having obtained a necessary +recruit of cash, I set off for Paris; where (my leave of absence being +to expire in another month) I was forced to make interest to obtain a +longer permission, in order to throw myself, lovely Miss Mowbray, at +your feet, and to pass the winter in the delights of London, which they +tell me I shall like better than Paris.' + +Emmeline, disgusted at his presumption and volatility, enquired if he +knew nothing since of Lord and Lady Westhaven. + +'Oh, yes,' said he, 'I saw them all at Paris, and asked them if they had +any commands to you? But I could get nothing from my good cousin but +sage advice, and from Lady Westhaven only cold looks and half sentences; +and as to poor Delamere, I knew he was too much afraid of my success to +be in a better temper with me than the other two; so we had but little +conversation.' + +'But they are well, Sir?' + +'No; Delamere has been detained all this time by illness, at different +places. He was better when I saw him; but Lady Westhaven was herself +ill, and my cousin was, in looks, the most rueful of the three.' + +'But, Sir, when may they be expected in England?' + +'That I cannot tell. The last time I saw Lord Westhaven was above a week +before I left Paris; and then he said he knew not when his wife would be +well enough to begin their journey, but he hoped within a fortnight.' + +'Good God!' thought Emmeline, 'what can have prevented his writing to me +all this time?' + +Godolphin, after the first compliments passed with the Chevalier, had +been quite silent. He now, however, asked some questions about his +brother; by which he found, that in consequence of endeavouring to +discourage Bellozane's voyage to England, Lord Westhaven had offended +him, and that a coldness had taken place between them. Bellozane had +ceased to consider Godolphin as a rival, when he beheld Lord Delamere in +that light; and was now rather pleased to meet him, knowing that his +introduction into good company would greatly be promoted by means of +such a relation. + +'Do you know,' said the Chevalier, addressing himself to Emmeline, 'that +I have had some trouble, my fair friend, to find you?' + +'And how,' enquired Godolphin, 'did you accomplish it?' + +'Why my Lord Westhaven, to whom I applied at Paris, protested that he +did not know; so remembering the name of le Marquis de Montreville, I +wrote to him to know where I might wait on Mademoiselle Mowbray. +Monseigneur le Marquis being at his country house, did not immediately +answer my letter. At length I had a card from him, which he had the +complaisance to send by a gentleman, un Monsieur--Monsieur _Croff_, who +invited me to his house, and introduced me to Milady _Croff_, his wife, +who is daughter to Milor Montreville. _Mon Dieu! que cette femme la, est +vive, aimable; qu'elle a l'air du monde, et de la bonne compagnie._'[40] + +'You think Lady Frances Crofts, then, handsomer than her sister?' asked +Godolphin. + +'_Mais non--elle n'est pas peut-etre si belle--mais elle a cependant un +certain air. Enfin--je la trouve charmante._'[41] + +Godolphin then continuing to question him, found that the Crofts' had +invited Bellozane with an intention of getting from him the purpose of +his journey, and what his business was with Emmeline; and finding that +it was his gallantry only brought him over, and that he knew nothing of +the late Mr. Mowbray's affairs, had no longer made any attempt to oppose +his seeing her. + +Godolphin, tho' he believed Emmeline not only indifferent but averse to +him, was yet much disquieted at finding she was likely again to be +exposed to his importunities. He trembled least if he discovered her +intentions of going to East Cliff, he should follow her thither; for +which his relationship to Lady Adelina would furnish him with a +pretence; and desirous of getting him away as soon as possible, he asked +if he would dine with him at his lodgings. + +Bellozane answered that he was already engaged to Mr. Crofts'; and then +turning to Emmeline, offered to take her hand; and enquired whether she +had a softer heart than when she left Besançon? + +Emmeline drew away her hand; and very gravely entreated him to say no +more on a subject already so frequently discussed, and on which her +sentiments must ever be the same. Bellozane gaily protested that he had +been too long a soldier to be easily repulsed. That he would wait on her +the next day, and doubted not but he should find her more favourably +disposed. '_Je reviendrai demain vous offrir encore mon hommage. Adieu! +nymphe belle et cruelle. La chaine que je porte fera toute ma +gloire._'[42] He then snatched her hand, which in spite of her efforts he +kissed, and with his usual gaiety went away, accompanied by Godolphin. + +Hardly had Emmeline time to recollect her dissipated spirits after the +warm and serious address of Godolphin, and to feel vexation and disgust +at the presumptuous forwardness of Bellozane, from which she apprehended +much future trouble, before a note was brought from Mrs. Stafford, to +inform her, that after waiting some hours at the house of the attorney +she employed, the people who were to meet her had disappointed her, and +that there was no prospect of her getting her business done till a late +hour in the evening; she therefore desired Emmeline to dine without her, +and not to expect her till ten or eleven at night. + +As it was now between four and five, she ordered up her dinner, and was +sitting down to it alone, when Godolphin again entered the room. +Vexation was marked in his countenance: he seemed hurried; and having +apologized for again interrupting her, tho' he did not account for his +return, he sat down. + +'Surely,' cried Emmeline, alarmed, 'you have heard nothing unpleasant +from France?' + +'Nothing, upon my honour,' answered he. 'The account the Chevalier gives +is indeed far from satisfactory, yet I am persuaded there is nothing +particularly amiss, or we should have heard.' + +'It is that consideration only which has made me tolerably easy. Yet it +is strange I have no letter from Lady Westhaven. Will you dine with me?' +added Emmeline. It was indeed hardly possible to avoid asking him, as Le +Limosin at that moment brought up the dinner. + +'Where is Mrs. Stafford?' said he. + +'Detained in the city.' + +'And you dine alone, and will allow me the happiness of dining with +you?' + +'Certainly,' replied Emmeline, blushing, 'if you will favour me with +your company.' + +Godolphin then placed himself at the end of the table; and in the +pleasure of being with her, thus unmarked by others, and considering her +invitation as an assurance that his declaration of the morning was +favourably received, he forgot the chagrin which hung upon him at his +first entrance, and thought only of the means by which he might +perpetuate the happiness he now possessed. + +Emmeline tried to shake off, in common conversation, her extreme +embarrassment. But when dinner was over, and Le Limosin left the room, +in whose presence she felt a sort of protection, she foresaw that she +must again hear Godolphin, and that it would be almost impossible to +evade answering him. + +She now repented of having asked him to dine with her; then blamed +herself for the reserve and coldness with which she had almost always +treated a man, who, deserving all her affections, had so long possessed +them. + +But the idea of poor Delamere--of his sadness, his despair, arose before +her, and was succeeded by yet more frightful images of the consequences +that might follow his frantic passions. And impressed at once with pity +and terror, she again resolved to keep, if it were possible, the true +state of her heart from the knowledge of Godolphin. + +'I have seldom seen one of my relations with so little pleasure,' said +he, after the servant had withdrawn, 'as I to day met my volatile cousin +de Bellozane. I hoped he would have persecuted you no farther with a +passion to which I think you are not disposed to listen.' + +'I certainly never intend it.' + +'Pardon me then, dearest Miss Mowbray, if I solicit leave to renew the +conversation his abrupt entrance broke off. You had the goodness to say +you had some esteem for my character--Ah! tell me, if on that esteem I +may presume to build those hopes which alone can give value to the rest +of my life?' + +Emmeline, who saw he expected an answer, attempted to speak; but the +half-formed words died away on her lips. It was not thus she was used to +receive the addresses of Delamere: her heart then left her reason and +her resolution at liberty, but now the violence of it's sensations +deprived her of all power of uttering sentiments foreign to it, or +concealing those it really felt. + +Godolphin drew from this charming confusion a favourable omen.--'You +hear me not with anger, lovely Emmeline!' cried he--'You allow me, then, +to hope?' + +'I can only repeat, Sir,' said Emmeline, in a voice hardly audible, +'that until I am of age, I have resolved to hear nothing on this +subject.' + +'And why not? Are you not now nearly as independant as you will be +then?' + +'Alas!' said Emmeline, 'I am indeed!--for my uncle concerns not himself +about me, and it is doubtful whether he will do me even the justice to +acknowledge me.' + +'He must, he shall!' replied Godolphin warmly--'Ah! entrust me with your +interest; let me, in the character of the fortunate man whom you allow +to hope for your favour--let me apply to him for justice.' + +'That any one should make such an application, except Lord Westhaven, is +what I greatly wish to avoid. I shall most reluctantly appeal to the +interference of friends; and still more to that of _law_. The last is, +you know, very uncertain. And instead of the heiress to the estate of my +father, as I have lately been taught to believe myself, I may be found +still to be the poor destitute orphan, so long dependant on the bounty +of my uncle.' + +'And as such,' cried Godolphin, greatly animated, 'you will be dearer to +me than my existence! Yes! Emmeline; whether you are mistress of +thousands, or friendless, portionless and deserted, your power over this +heart is equally absolute--equally fixed! Ah! suffer not any +consideration that relates to the uncertainty of your situation, to +delay a moment the permission you must, you will give me, to avow my +long and ardent passion.' + +'It must not be, Mr. Godolphin!' (and tears filled her eyes as she +spoke) 'Indeed it must not be! It is not now _possible_, at least it is +very _improper_, for me to listen to you. Ah! do not then press it. I +have indeed already suffered you to say too much on such a topic.' + +Godolphin then renewed his warm entreaties that he might be permitted +openly to profess himself her lover: but she still evaded giving way to +them, by declaring that 'till she was of age she would not marry. 'Had I +no other objections,' continued she, 'the singularity of my +circumstances is alone sufficient to determine me. I cannot think of +accepting the honour you offer me, while my very _name_ is in some +degree doubtful; it would, I own, mortify me to take any advantage of +your generosity; and should I fail of obtaining from Lord Montreville +that to which I am now believed to have a claim, his Lordship, irritated +at the attempt, will probably withdraw what he has hitherto allowed +me--scanty support, and occasional protection.' + +'Find protection with your lover, with your husband!' exclaimed he--'And +may that happy husband, that adoring lover, be Godolphin! May Adelina +forget her own calamities in contemplating the felicity of her brother; +and may her beauteous, her benevolent friend, become her sister indeed, +as she has long been the sister of her heart.' + +'You will oblige me, Sir,' said Emmeline, feeling that notwithstanding +all her attempts to conceal it the truth trembled in her eyes and +faultered in her accents--'you will oblige me if you say no more of +this.' + +'I will obey you, if you will only tell me I may hope.' + +'How can I say so, Sir, when so long a time must intervene before I +shall think of fixing myself for life.' + +'Yet surely you know, the generous, the candid Miss Mowbray knows, +whether her devoted Godolphin is agreeable to her, or whether, if every +obstacle which exists in her timid imagination were removed, he would be +judged wholly unworthy of pretending to the honour of her hand?' + +'Certainly not unworthy,' tremblingly said Emmeline. + +'Let me then, thus encouraged, go farther--and ask if I have a place in +your esteem?' + +'Do not ask me--indeed I cannot tell--Nay I beg, I entreat,' added she, +trying to disengage her hands from him, 'that you will desist--do not +force me to leave you.' + +'Ah! talk not, think not of leaving me; think rather of confirming those +fortunate presages I draw from this lovely timidity. I cannot go till I +know your thoughts of me--till I know what place I hold in that soft +bosom.' + +'I think of you as an excellent brother; as a generous and disinterested +friend; for such I have found you; as a man of great good sense, of +noble principles, of exalted honour!' + +'As one then,' said Godolphin, vehemently interrupting her, 'not +unworthy of being entrusted with your happiness; who may hope to be +honoured with a deposit so inestimable, as the confidence and tenderness +of that gentle and generous heart?' + +'I do indeed think very highly of you.--I cannot, if I would, deny it.' + +'And you allow me, then, to go instantly to Lord Montreville?' + +'Oh! no! no!--surely nothing I have said implied such a consent.' + +Godolphin, however, was still pressing; and at length brought her to +confess, with blushes, and even with tears, her early and long +partiality for him, and her resolution either to be his, or die +unmarried. She found, indeed, all attempts to dissimulate, vain: the +reserve she had forced herself to assume, gave way to her natural +frankness; and having once been induced to make such an acknowledgment +of the state of her heart, she determined to have no longer any secrets +concealed from him who was it's master. + +She therefore candidly told him how great was her compassion for Lord +Delamere, and how severe her apprehensions of his rage, resentment and +despair. + +He allowed the force of the first; but as to the other, he would not +suppose it a reason for her delaying her marriage. + +'Poor Delamere,' said he, 'is of a temper which opposition and +difficulty renders more eager and more obstinate. Yet when you are for +ever out of his reach; as the obstacle will become invincible, he must +yield to necessity. While you remain single, he will still hope. The +greatest kindness, therefore, that you can do him, will be to convince +him that he has nothing to expect from you; and put an end at once to +the uncertainty which tortures him.' + +'To drive him to despair? Ah! I know so well the dreadful force of his +passions, and the excesses he is capable of committing when under their +influence, that I dare not, I positively will not, risk it. I love +Delamere as my brother; I love him for the resemblance he is said to +bear to my father. I pity him for the errors which the natural +impetuosity of his temper, inflamed by the unbounded indulgence of his +mother, continually leads him into; and the misfortunes these causes are +so frequently inflicting on him; and should his fatal inclination for +me, be the means of bringing on himself and on his family yet other +miseries, I should never forgive myself; or him by whose means they were +incurred.' + +'From me, at least, you have nothing of that sort to apprehend: I truly +pity Delamere; I feel what it must be to have relinquished the woman he +loves; and to find her lost to his hopes, while his passion is +unabated:--be assured my compassion for him will induce me rather to +soothe his unhappiness than to insult him with an ostentatious display +of my enviable fortune. Yet if you suffer me to believe my attachment +not disagreeable to you, how shall I wholly conceal it? how appear as +not _daring_ to avow that, which is the glory and happiness of my life? +and by your being supposed disengaged and indifferent, see you exposed +to the importunities of an infinite number of suitors, who, however +inconsequential they may be to _you_, will torment _me_. I do not know +that I have much of jealousy in my nature; yet I cannot tell how I shall +bear to see Delamere presuming again on your former friendship for +him.--Even the volatile and thoughtless Bellozane has the power to make +me uneasy, when I see him so persuaded of his own merit, and so +confident of success.' + +'While you assert that you are but little disposed to jealousy, you are +persuading me that you are extremely prone to it. You know Bellozane can +never have the smallest interest in my heart. But as to Delamere, I am +decided against inflaming his irritable passions, by encouraging an +avowed rival, tho' I will do all I can by other means, to discourage +him. The only condition on which I will continue to see you is, that you +appear no otherwise interested about me, than as the favoured friend of +your sister, your brother, and Lady Westhaven. Press me, therefore, no +farther on the subject, and let us now part.' + +'Tell me, first, whether your journey remains fixed for +Thursday?--whether you still hold your generous resolution of going to +Adelina?' + +'I do. But I must insist on going alone.' + +'And if Bellozane should enquire whither you are going? You see nothing +prevents his following you; and to follow you to East Cliff, he will, +you know, have sufficient excuse. Emmeline, I cannot bear it!--there is +a presumption in his manner, which offends and shocks me; and which, +however you may dislike it, it may not always be in your power to +repress!' + +'Surely he need not know that I am going thither.' + +It was now, therefore, agreed between them that if Bellozane called upon +her the next day, as he said he intended, she should be denied to him; +and that early on the following morning, which was Thursday, she should +set out for East Cliff, attended by Madelon and Le Limosin. + +This arrangement was hardly made when Mrs. Stafford returned, weary and +exhausted from the unpleasant party with which she had passed the day. + +With Emmeline's permission (who left the room that she might not hear +it) Godolphin related to Mrs. Stafford the conversation they had held. +It was the only information which had any power to raise her depressed +spirits; and as soon as Emmeline rejoined them, she added her entreaties +to those of Godolphin. They urged her to conquer immediately all those +scruples which divided her from him to whom she had given her heart; and +to put herself into such protection as must at once obviate all the +difficulties she apprehended. But Emmeline still adhered to her +resolution of remaining single, if not 'till she was of age, at least +till her affairs with her uncle were adjusted, and 'till she saw the +unhappy Delamere restored to health and tranquillity. But +notwithstanding this delay, Godolphin, assured of possessing her +affection, left her with an heart which was even oppressed with the +excess of it's own happiness. + +[Footnote 39: The Chevalier is below.] + +[Footnote 40: How lively and agreeable she is--how much she has the air +of a woman of fashion and of the world.] + +[Footnote 41: Not so handsome, perhaps--but there is a something--in +short, I think her charming.] + +[Footnote 42: I shall come again to-morrow to offer my homage. Adieu! +fair, cruel nymph! I place my glory in wearing your chains.] + + + + +CHAPTER XI + + +Emmeline seemed to be happier since she had confessed to Godolphin his +influence over her mind, and since she had made him in some measure the +director of her actions. She hoped that she might conceal her partiality +'till she had nothing to fear from Delamere; at present she was sure he +had no suspicion that Godolphin was his rival; and she flattered +herself, that on his return to England, the conviction of her coldness +would by degrees wean him from his attachment, and that he would learn +to consider her only as his sister. + +These pleasing hopes, however, were insufficient to balance the concern +she felt for Mrs. Stafford; who having long struggled against her +calamities, now seemed on the point of sinking under their pressure, and +of determining to attend, in despondent resignation, the end of her +unmerited sufferings. + +Emmeline attempted to re-animate her, by repeating all the promises of +Lord Westhaven, on whose word she had the most perfect reliance. She +assured her, that the moment her own affairs were settled, her first +care should be the re-establishment of those of her beloved friend. For +some time the oppressed spirits of Mrs. Stafford would only allow her to +answer with her tears these generous assurances. At length she said-- + +'It is to you, my Emmeline, I could perhaps learn to be indebted +without being humbled; for you have an heart which receives while it +confers an obligation. But think what it is for one, born with a right +to affluence and educated in its expectation, with feelings keen from +nature, and made yet keener by refinement, to be compelled, as I have +been, to solicit favours, pecuniary favours, from persons who have no +feeling at all--from the shifting, paltry-spirited James Crofts, +forbearance from the claim of debts; from the callous-hearted and +selfish politician, his father, pity and assistance; from Rochely, who +has no ideas but of getting or saving money, to ask the loan of it! and +to bear with humility a rude refusal. I have endured the brutal +unkindness of hardened avarice, the dirty chicane of law, exercised by +the most contemptible of beings; I have been forced to attempt softening +the tradesman and the mechanic, and to suffer every degree of +humiliation which the insolence of sudden prosperity or the insensible +coolness of the determined money dealer, could inflict. Actual poverty, +I think, I could have better borne; + + + 'I should have found, in some place of my soul, + A drop of patience!' + + +But ineffectual attempts to ward it off by such degradation I can no +longer submit to. While Mr. Stafford, for whom I have encountered it +all, is not only unaffected by the poignant mortifications which torture +me; but receives my efforts to serve him, if successful, only as a +duty--if unsuccessful, he considers my failure as a fault; and loads me +with reproach, with invective, with contempt!--others have, in their +husbands, protectors and friends; mine, not only throws on me the +burthen of affairs which he has himself embroiled, but adds to their +weight by cruelty and oppression. Such complicated and incurable misery +must overwhelm me, and then--what will become of my children?' + +Penetrated with pity and sorrow, Emmeline listened, in tears, to this +strong but too faithful picture of the situation of her unfortunate +friend; and with difficulty said, in a voice of the tenderest pity-- + +'Yet a little patience and surely things will mend. It cannot be very +long, before I shall either be in high affluence or reduced to my former +dependance; perhaps to actual indigence. Of these events, I hope the +former is the most probable: but be it as it may, you and your children +will be equally dear to me.--If I am rich, my house, my fortune shall +be your's--if I am poor, I will live with you, and we will work +together. But for such resources as the pencil or the needle may afford +us, we shall, I think, have no occasion. You, my dear friend, will +continue to exert yourself for your children; Lord Westhaven is greatly +interested for you; and all will yet be well.' + +'I am afraid not,' replied Mrs. Stafford. 'Among the various misfortunes +of life, there are some that admit of no cure; some, which even the +tender and generous friendship of my Emmeline can but palliate. Of that +nature, I fear, are many of mine. My past life has been almost all +bitterness; God only knows what the remainder of it may be, but + + + 'Shadows, clouds, and darkness, rest upon it.' + + +'Ah! give not up your mind to these gloomy thoughts,' said Emmeline. +'Setting aside all hopes I have of being able, without the assistance of +any one, to clear those prospects, I have a firm dependance on Lord +Westhaven, and am sure I shall yet see you happy.' + +'Never, I believe, in this world!' dejectedly answered Mrs. Stafford. +'But why should I distress you, my best Emmeline, with a repetition of +my hopeless sorrows; why cannot I now refrain, as I have hitherto done, +from taxing with my complaints your lively sensibility?' She then began +to talk of their journey for the next day, for which every thing was now +ready. It would have been very agreeable to Emmeline could Mrs. Stafford +have gone by Southampton, and have accompanied her for a few days to +East Cliff; but she said, that besides her suffering so much at sea, +which made the long passage to France very dreadful to her, she had +already, in a letter to her husband, fixed to go by Calais; and as he +might either send or come to meet her on that road, he might be offended +if she took the other: besides these reasons, she had yet another in the +chance the Calais road afforded of meeting Lord and Lady Westhaven. The +two last arguments were unanswerable: Emmeline relinquished the project +of their going together; and they passed the rest of the day in the last +preparations for their separate journeys. In the course of it, Bellozane +called twice, but was not admitted. Godolphin was allowed to sup with +them; and early the next morning came again to see them set out. They +parted on all sides with tears and reluctance--Emmeline, with Madelon +in the chaise with her, and Le Limosin on horseback, took the road to +Southampton, and Mrs. Stafford pursued her melancholy journey to Dover. + +Emmeline arrived at Southampton late the same evening, where she slept; +and the next morning landed on the Isle of Wight. + +It was a clear and mild day, towards the end of October; and she walked, +attended by her servants, to East Cliff. As she approached the door of +Godolphin's house, her heart beat quick; a thousand tender recollections +arose that related to it's beloved master, and some mournful +apprehensions for the fate of it's present lovely and unhappy +inhabitant. + +The maid who had so long waited on Lady Adelina opened the door, and +expressed the utmost delight at seeing Emmeline. 'Ah! dearest Madam!' +said she, 'how good it is in you to come to my lady! Now, I hope, both +her health and her spirits will be better. But the joy of knowing you +are here, will overcome her, unless I inform her of it with caution; for +tho' she rather expected you, I know it will be extreme.' + +Barret then ran to execute this welcome commission, and in a few moments +Lady Adelina, supported by her, walked into the room, holding in her +hand little William, and fell, almost insensible, into the arms of her +friend. + +The expression of her countenance, faded as it was, where a gleam of +exquisite pleasure seemed to lighten up the soft features which had long +sunk under the blighting hand of sorrow; her weeds, forming so striking +a contrast to the fairness of her transparent skin; and the lovely +child, now about fourteen months old, which hung on her arm; made her +altogether appear to Emmeline the most interesting, the most affecting +figure, she had ever seen. Neither of them could speak. Lady Adelina +murmured something, as she fondly pressed Emmeline to her heart; but it +was not till it's oppression was relieved by tears, that she could +distinctly thank her for coming. Emmeline, with equal marks of +tenderness, embraced the mother and caressed the son, whose infantine +beauty would have charmed her had he been the child of a stranger. After +a little, they grew more composed; and Emmeline, while Lady Adelina in +the most melting accents spoke of her brother William, and enquired +tenderly after her elder brother and his wife, had time to contemplate +her lovely but palid face; from which the faint glow of transient +pleasure, the animated vivacity of momentary rapture, was gone; and a +languor so great seemed to hang over her, such pensive and settled +melancholy had taken possession of her features, that Emmeline could +hardly divest herself of the idea of immediate danger; and fancied that +she was come thither only to see the beauteous mourner sink into the +grave. She trembled to think on the consequence which, in such a state +of health, might arise from the conflict she would probably have to +undergo in regard to Fitz-Edward. Emmeline herself dared not name him to +Godolphin in their long conference. It was a subject, on which (however +slightly touched) he had always expressed such painful sensibility, that +she could not resolve to enter upon it with him. Yet she foresaw, that +on Lord Westhaven's arrival either a general explanation must take +place, or that his Lordship would accept, for his sister, the offer of +Fitz-Edward, to which there would be in his eyes, (while he yet remained +ignorant of their former unfortunate acquaintance,) no possible +objection. She supposed that Lord and Lady Clancarryl, equally ignorant +of that error (which had been partly owing to their own confidence in +Fitz-Edward) would press Lady Adelina to accept him; and that Godolphin +must either consent to forgive, and receive him as his brother, or give +such reasons for opposing his alliance with Lady Adelina, as would +probably destroy the peace of his family and the fragile existence of +his sister. Sometimes, she thought that his inflexible honour would +yield, and induce him to bury the past in oblivion. But then she +recollected all the indignation he had but lately expressed against +Fitz-Edward, and doubted, with fearful apprehension, the event. + +The first day passed without that mutual and unreserved confidence being +absolutely established, which the lovely friends longed to repose in +each other. Lady Adelina languished to enquire after, to talk of +Fitz-Edward, yet dared not trust herself with his name; and Emmeline, +tho' well assured that the knowledge of those terms which she was now on +with Godolphin would give infinite pleasure to his sister, yet had not +courage to reveal that truth which her conscious heart secretly enjoyed. +Affected with her friend's depression, and unwilling to keep her up +late, she complained of fatigue soon in the evening, and retired to her +own room. She there dismissed Madelon, and bade her, as soon as Mrs. +Barret came from her lady's apartment, let her know that she desired to +speak to her. + +She wished to enquire of this faithful servant her opinion of her lady's +health. And as soon as she came to her, expressed her fears about it in +terms equally anxious and tender. + +'Ah! Madam,' said Barret, 'all you observe as to my lady is but too +just; and what I go thro' about her, (especially when the Captain is not +here) I am sure no tongue can tell. Sometimes, Ma'am, when I have left +her of a night, and she tells me she is going to bed, I hear her walk +about the room talking; then she goes to the bed (for I have looked +thro' the key hole) where Master Godolphin sleeps, and looks at him, and +bursts into tears and laments herself over him, and again begins to walk +about the room, and speaks as it were to herself; and at other times, +she will open the window, and leaning her head on her two hands, sit and +look at the clouds and the stars; and sighs so deeply, and so often, +that it makes my heart quite ache to hear her. The child was very ill +once with a tooth fever, while the Captain was gone to France; and then +indeed I thought my poor lady would have been quite, quite gone in her +head again; for she talked _so_ wildly of what she would do if he died, +and said such things, as almost frightened me to death. We sent to +Winchester for a physician; and before he could come, for you know, +Ma'am, what a long way 'tis to send, she grew so impatient, and had +terrified herself into such agonies, that when the doctor did come, he +said she was in a great deal the most danger of the two. Thank God, +Master Godolphin soon got well; but it was a long time before my lady +was quite herself again; and since that, Ma'am, she will hardly suffer +Master out of her sight at all; but makes either his own maid or me sit +in the room to attend upon him while she reads or writes. When she walks +out, she generally orders one of us to take him with her; and only goes +out alone after he is in bed of a night. Then, indeed, she stays out +long enough; and tho' you see, Ma'am, how sadly she looks, she never +seems to care at all about her own health, but does things that really +would kill a strong person.' + +'What then does she do?' enquired Emmeline. + +'Why, Ma'am, quite late sometimes of a night, when every body else is +asleep, she will go away by herself perhaps to that wood you see there, +or down to the sea shore; and she orders me to let nobody follow her. +Quite of cold nights this Autumn, when the wind blew, and the sea made a +noise so loud and dismal, she has staid there whole hours by herself; +only I ventured to disobey her so far as to see that no harm came to +her. But three or four times, Ma'am, she remained so long that I +concluded she must catch her death. At last, I bethought me of getting +one of the maids to go and tell her Master was awake; and I have got her +to come in by that means out of the wind and the cold. Then, Ma'am, she +seems to take pleasure in nothing but sorrow and melancholy. The books +she reads are so sad, that sometimes, when her own eyes are tired and +she makes me read them to her, I get quite horrible thoughts in my head. +But my lady, instead of trying, as I do, to shake them off, will go +directly to her music, and play such mournful tunes, that it really +quite overcomes me, as I am at work in another room. At other times she +goes and writes verses about her own unhappiness. How is it possible, +Ma'am, that with such ways of passing her time, my lady, always so +delicate as she was in health, should be well: for my part I only wonder +she is not quite dead.' + +'But how do you know, Barret, that your lady employs herself in writing +verses about her own unhappiness?' + +'Dear, Ma'am, I have found them about every where. When the Captain is +absent, my lady is indifferent where she leaves them. Sometimes four or +five sheets lay open on the table in her little dressing room, and +sometimes upon her music.' + +Emmeline was too certain that such were the occupations of her poor +friend. During the short time they had been together, Lady Adelina had +shewn her some work; and as she took it out of her drawer, she drew out +some papers with it. + +'I do but little work,' said she. 'I find even embroidery does not serve +to call off my thoughts sufficiently from myself. I read a good deal in +books of mere amusement, for of serious application I am incapable; and +here is another specimen of my method of employing myself, which perhaps +you will not think a remedy for melancholy thoughts.' + +She put a written paper into Emmeline's hand, who was about to open it; +but Lady Adelina added, with a pensive smile, 'do not read it now; +rather keep it till you are alone.' + +This paper Emmeline took out to peruse as soon as she had dismissed +Barret. Her heart bled as she ran over this testimony of the anguish and +despondence which preyed on the heart of Lady Adelina. It was an + + + ODE TO DESPAIR + + Thou spectre of terrific mien, + Lord of the hopeless heart and hollow eye, + In whose fierce train each form is seen + That drives sick Reason to insanity! + I woo thee with unusual prayer, + 'Grim visaged, comfortless Despair!' + Approach; in me a willing victim find, + Who seeks thine iron sway--and calls thee kind! + + Ah! hide for ever from my sight + The faithless flatterer Hope--whose pencil, gay, + Portrays some vision of delight, + Then bids the fairy tablet fade away; + While in dire contrast, to mine eyes + Thy phantoms, yet more hideous, rise, + And Memory draws, from Pleasure's wither'd flower, + Corrosives for the heart--of fatal power! + + I bid the traitor Love, adieu! + Who to this fond, believing bosom came, + A guest insidious and untrue, + With Pity's soothing voice--in Friendship's name; + The wounds _he_ gave, nor Time shall cure, + Nor Reason teach me to endure. + And to that breast mild Patience pleads in vain, + Which feels the curse--of meriting it's pain. + + Yet not to me, tremendous power! + Thy worst of spirit-wounding pangs impart, + With which, in dark conviction's hour, + Thou strik'st the guilty unrepentant heart! + But of Illusion long the sport, + That dreary, tranquil gloom I court + Where my past errors I may still deplore + And dream of long-lost happiness no more! + + To thee I give this tortured breast, + Where Hope arises but to foster pain; + Ah! lull it's agonies to rest! + Ah! let me never be deceiv'd again! + But callous, in thy deep repose + Behold, in long array, the woes + Of the dread future, calm and undismay'd, + Till I may claim the hope--that shall not fade! + + +The feelings of a mind which could dictate such an address, appeared to +Emmeline so greatly to be lamented, and so unlikely to be relieved, that +the tender and painful compassion she had ever been sensible of for her +unhappy friend, was if possible augmented. Full of ideas almost as +mournful as those by which they had been inspired, she went to bed, but +not to tranquil sleep. Her spirits, worn by her journey, and oppressed +by her concern for Lady Adelina, were yet busy; and instead of the +uneasy images which had pursued her while she waked, they represented to +her others yet more terrifying. She beheld, in her dreams, Godolphin +wildly seeking vengeance of Fitz-Edward for the death of his sister. +Then, instead of Fitz-Edward, Lord Delamere appeared to be the object of +his wrath, and mutual fury seemed to animate them against the lives of +each other. To them, her uncle, in all the phrenzy of grief and despair, +succeeded; overwhelmed her with reproaches for the loss of his only son, +and tore her violently away from Godolphin, who in vain pursued her. + +These horrid visions returned so often, drest in new forms of terror, +that Emmeline, having long resisted the impression they made upon her, +could at length bear them no longer; but shaking off all disposition to +indulge sleep on such terms, she arose from her bed, and wrapping +herself up in her night gown, went to the window. The dawn did not yet +appear; but she sat down by the window, of which she had opened the +shutter to watch it's welcome approach. + +The morning, for it was between three and four, was mild; the declining +stars were obscured by no cloud, and served to shew dimly the objects in +the garden beneath her. She softly opened the sash; listened to the low, +hollow murmur of the sea; and surveyed the lawn and the hill behind it, +which, by the faint and uncertain light, she could just discern. All +breathed a certain solemn and melancholy stillness calculated to inspire +horror. Emmeline's blood ran cold; yet innocence like her's really fears +nothing if free from the prejudices of superstition. She endeavoured to +conquer the disagreeable sensations she felt, and to shake off the +effects of her dreams; but the silence, and the gloominess of the scene, +assisted but little her efforts, and she cast an eye of solicitude +towards the Eastern horizon, and wished for the return of the sun. + +In this disposition of mind, she was at once amazed and alarmed, by +seeing the figure of a man, tall and thin, wrapped in a long horseman's +coat, as if on purpose to disguise him, force himself out from between +the shrubs which bounded one part of the lawn. He looked not towards the +windows; but with folded arms, and his hat over his eyes, was poring on +the ground, while with slow steps he crossed the lawn and came +immediately under the windows of the house. + +When she first perceived him, she had started back from that where she +sat; but tho' greatly surprized, she could not forbear watching him: on +longer observing his figure, she fancied it was that of a gentleman; and +by his slow walk and manner he did not appear to have any design to +attack the house. Her presence of mind never forsook her unless where +her heart was greatly affected; and she had now courage enough to +determine that she would still continue for some moments to observe him, +and would not alarm the servants till she saw reason to believe he had +ill intentions. She sat therefore quite still; and saw, that instead of +making any attempt to enter the house, he traversed the whole side of it +next the lawn, with a measured and solemn pace, several times; then +stopped a moment, again went to the end, and slowly returned; and having +continued to do so near an hour, he crossed the grass, and disappeared +among the shrubs from whence he had issued. + +Had not Emmeline been very sure that she not only heard his footsteps +distinctly as he passed over a gravel walk in his way, but even heard +him breathe hard and short, as if agitated or fatigued, she would almost +have persuaded herself that it was a phantom raised by her disordered +spirits. The longer she reflected on it, the more incomprehensible it +seemed, that a man should, at such an hour, make such an excursion, +apparently to so little purpose. That it was with a dishonest design +there seemed no likelihood, as he made no effort to force his way into +the house, which he might easily have done; and had he come on a +clandestine visit to any of the servants, he would probably have had +some signal by which his confederates would have been informed of his +approach. But he seemed rather fearful of disturbing the sleeping +inhabitants; his step was slow and light; and on perceiving the first +rays of the morning, he 'started like a guilty thing,' and swiftly +stepped away to his concealment. + +Emmeline continued some time at the window after his disappearance, +believing he might return. But it soon grew quite light: the gardener +appeared at his work; and she was then convinced that he would for that +time come no more. + +So extraordinary a circumstance, however, dwelt on her mind; nor could +she entirely divest herself of alarm. A strange and confused idea that +this visitor might be some one not unknown to her, crossed her mind. His +height answered almost equally to that of Bellozane, Godolphin, and +Fitz-Edward. The latter, indeed, was rather the tallest, and to him she +thought the figure bore the greatest resemblance. Yet he had taken leave +of her ten days before she left London, and told her he was going down +to Mr. Percival's, in Berkshire; where, as he was very anxious to hear +of Lady Adelina, he had desired Mrs. Stafford to write to him; (who had +done so, and had received an answer of thanks dated from thence before +the departure of Emmeline from London). That Fitz-Edward, therefore, +should be the person, seemed improbable; yet it was hardly less so that +a night ruffian should be on foot so long, without any attempt to +execute mischief, or even the appearance of examining how it might be +perpetrated. After long consideration, she determined, that lest the +first conjecture should be true, she would speak to nobody of the +stranger she had seen; but would watch another night, before she either +terrified Lady Adelina with the apprehension of robbers, or gave rise to +conjectures in her and the servants of yet more disquieting tendency. +Having taken this resolution, and argued herself out of all those fears +for her personal safety which might have enfeebled a less rational mind, +she met Lady Adelina at breakfast with her usual ease, and almost with +her usual chearfulness: but she was pale, and her eyes were heavy: Lady +Adelina remarked it with concern; but Emmeline, making light of it, +imputed it intirely to the fatigue of her journey; and when their +breakfast was finished, proposed a walk. To this her friend assented; +and while she went to give some orders, and to fetch the crape veil in +which she usually wrapped herself, (for even her dress partook something +of the mournful cast of her mind), Emmeline, already equipped, went into +the lawn, and saw plainly where the stranger had made his way thro' the +thick shrubs, and where the flexible branches of a young larch were +twisted away, a laurel broken, and that some deciduous trees behind them +had lost all their lower leaves; which, having sustained the first +frosts, fell on the slightest violence. She marked the place with her +eye; and determined to observe whether, if he came again, it was from +thence. + +Emmeline now desired that Madelon might come with them to wait on little +William, rather than his own maid; as she understood English so ill, +that she would be no interruption to their discourse. They then walked +arm in arm together towards the sea; and there Lady Adelina, who now +enjoyed the opportunity she had so long languished for, opened to her +sympathizing friend the sorrows of an heart struggling vainly with a +passion she condemned, and sinking under ineffectual efforts to +vindicate her honour and eradicate her love. + +She knew not that Fitz-Edward had ever written to her. Godolphin, well +acquainted with his hand, had kept the letter from her. She knew not +that he had applied to Emmeline: and tho' she had torn herself from him, +and had vowed never again to write to him, to name him, to hear from +him, she involuntarily felt disposed to accuse him of neglect, of +ingratitude, of cruelty, for having never attempted to write to her or +see her; and added the poignant anguish of jealousy to the dreary +horrors of despair. That Fitz-Edward was for ever lost to her, she +seemed to be convinced; yet that he should forget her, or attach himself +to another, seemed a torment so entirely insupportable, that when her +mind dwelt upon it, as it perpetually did, her reason was inadequate to +the pain it inflicted; and when she touched on that subject, Emmeline +too evidently saw symptoms of that derangement of intellect to which she +had once before been a melancholy witness. + +With a mind thus unsettled, and a heart thus oppressed, the consequences +of touching on the application of Fitz-Edward to herself, might, as +Emmeline believed, have the most alarming effect on Lady Adelina. And +she dared not therefore name it unless she had the concurrence of +Godolphin. She only attempted to soothe and tranquillize her mind, +without giving her those assurances of his undiminished attachment, +which, she thought, might in the event only encrease her anguish, if her +brother remained inflexible. On the other hand, she forbore to +remonstrate with her on the necessity there might be to forget him; +being too well convinced that the arguments which were to enforce that +doctrine, would be useless, and perhaps appear cruel, to a heart so +deeply wounded as was that of the luckless, lovely Adelina. + +But in pouring her sorrows into the bosom of her friend she appeared to +find consolation. The tender pity of Emmeline was a balm to her wounded +mind; and growing more composed, she began to discourse on the singular +discovery Emmeline had made, and to enter with some interest into the +affairs depending between her and the Marquis of Montreville; and by +questions, aided by the natural frankness of Emmeline, at length became +acquainted with the happy prospects, which, tho' distant, opened to +Godolphin. + +This was the only information that seemed to have the power of +suspending for a moment the weight of those afflictions which Lady +Adelina suffered. 'My brother then,' cried she--'my dear Godolphin, will +be happy! And you, my most amiable friend, will constitute, while you +share his felicity. Ah! fortunate, thrice fortunate for ye both, was the +hour of your meeting; for heaven and nature surely designed ye for each +other! Fortunate, too, were those circumstances which divided my +Emmeline from Delamere, before indissoluble bonds enchained you for +ever. Had it been otherwise; had _your_ guardian angel slumbered as +_mine did_; you too, all lovely and deserving as you are, would have +been condemned to the bitterest of all lots, and might have discovered +all the excellence and worth of Godolphin, when your duty and your +honour allowed you no eyes but for Delamere. _Your_ destiny is more +happy--yet not happier than you deserve. Oh! may it quickly be fixed +unalterably; and long, very long, may it endure! So shall your Adelina, +for the little while she drags on a reluctant existence, have something +on which to lean for the alleviation of her sorrows; and when she shall +interrupt your felicity no longer by the sight of cureless calamity, she +will, in full confidence, entrust the sole tie she has on earth, the +dear and innocent victim of her fatal weakness, to the compassionate +bosoms of Godolphin and his Emmeline!' + +The tremulous voice and singular manner in which Lady Adelina uttered +these words, made Emmeline tremble. She now tried to divert the +attention of her poor friend, from dwelling too earnestly either on her +own wretchedness or the promised felicity of her brother: but, as if +exhausted by the mingled emotions of pain and pleasure, she soon +afterwards fell into a deep silence; scarce attending to what was said; +and after a long pause, she suddenly called to Madelon, in whose arms +her little boy had fallen asleep, and looking at him earnestly a moment, +took him from the maid, and carried him towards the house. Emmeline, +more and more convinced of her partial intellectual derangement, +followed her, dreading lest she should see it encrease, without the +power of applying any remedy. Before Lady Adelina reached the gate, +which opened from the cliffs to the lawn, she was fatigued by her lovely +burthen and forced to stop. Emmeline would then have taken him; but she +said 'No!' and sitting down on the ground, held him in her lap, till +Barret, who had seen her from a window, came out and took him from her; +to which, as to a thing usual, she consented, and then walked calmly +home with Emmeline, who, extremely discomposed by the wildness of her +manner, was fearful of again introducing any interesting topic, lest she +should again touch those fine chords which were untuned in the mind of +her unhappy friend; and which seemed occasionally to vibrate with an +acuteness that threatened the ruin of the whole fabric. Barret, who +afterwards came to assist her in dressing, told her, that within the +last six weeks her lady had often been subject to long fits of absence, +sometimes of tears; which generally ended in her snatching the child +eagerly to her, kissing him with the wildest fondness, and that after +having kept him with her some time, and wept extremely, she usually +became rational and composed for the rest of the day. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + + +When Emmeline met Lady Adelina at dinner, she had the satisfaction to +find her quite tranquil and easy. As the afternoon proved uncommonly +fine, and Emmeline was never weary of contemplating the scenery which +surrounded them, she willingly consented to Lady Adelina's proposal of +another ramble; that she might see some beautiful cliffs, a little +farther from the house than she had yet been. There, she was pleased to +find, that her fair friend seemed to call off her mind from it's usual +painful occupations to admire the charms, which on one side a very +lovely country, and on the other an extensive sea view, offered to their +sight. + +'You cannot imagine, my Emmeline,' said she, 'how exquisitely beautiful +the prospect is from the point of these rocks where we stand, in the +midst of summer; now the sun, more distant, gives it a less glowing and +rich lustre, and reflects not his warm rays on the sea, and on the white +cliffs that hang over it. Here it was, that indulging that melancholy +for which I have too much reason, I made, while my brother was absent +last summer, some lines, which, if it was pleasant to repeat one's own +poetry, I would read to you, as descriptive at once of the scene, and +the state of mind in which I surveyed it.' + +Emmeline now earnestly pressing her to gratify the curiosity she had +thus raised, at length prevailed upon her to repeat the following + + + SONNET + + Far on the sands, the low, retiring tide, + In distant murmurs hardly seems to flow, + And o'er the world of waters, blue and wide + The sighing summer wind, forgets to blow. + + As sinks the day star in the rosy West, + The silent wave, with rich reflection glows; + Alas! can tranquil nature give _me_ rest, + Or scenes of beauty, soothe me to repose? + + Can the soft lustre of the sleeping main, + Yon radient heaven; or all creation's charms, + 'Erase the written troubles of the brain,' + Which Memory tortures, and which Guilt alarms? + Or bid a bosom transient quiet prove, + That bleeds with vain remorse, and unextinguish'd love! + + +The 'season and the scene' were brought by this description full on the +mind of Emmeline; yet she almost immediately repented having pressed +Adelina to repeat to her what seemed to have led her again into her +usual tract of sad reflection. She fell, as usual, into one of her +reveries, and as they walked homewards said very little. The rest of the +evening, however, passed in a sort of mournful tranquillity--Adelina +seemed to feel encreasing pleasure as she gazed on her friend; and +remembering all her goodness, reflected on the happiness of her brother. +But this satisfaction was not of that kind which seeks to express itself +in words; and Emmeline, sensible of great anxiety for her and Godolphin, +(who would, she knew, be cruelly hurt by the relapse which he feared +threatened his sister) and busied in no pleasant conjectures about the +person whom she had seen in the lawn, was in no spirits for +conversation. Nor did her thoughts, when they wandered to other objects +from those immediately before her, bring home much to appease her +anxiety. That nothing had yet been heard of Lord and Lady Westhaven, was +extremely disquieting. She knew not that the Marquis of Montreville had +received a letter for her under cover to him; and that having sent it to +Mr. Crofts in another, in order to be forwarded to her, the latter had +exercised his political talents, and supposing it related to her claims +on Lord Montreville, and probably contained instructions for pursuing +them, and that therefore his Lordship would be but little concerned if +it never reached the place of its destination, he had very composedly +put it into the fire; and undertook, should it be enquired for, to +account for it's failure without suffering the name of Lord Montreville +to be called in question. + +The Marquis, tho' his conscience had been so long under the direction of +Sir Richard Crofts that it ought to have acquired insensibility as +callous as his own, yet found it sometimes a very troublesome companion; +and it often spoke to him so severely on the subject of his niece, that +he was more than once on the point of writing to her, to say he was +ready to make her the retribution to which his heart told him she had +the clearest pretensions, and which his fears whispered that a court of +justice would certainly render her. + +These qualms and these fears, would inevitably have produced a +restoration of the Mowbray estate to it's owner, had they not been +counteracted by the influence of the Marchioness of Montreville and Sir +Richard Crofts. The Marchioness, now in declining health, felt all the +inefficacy of riches, and all the fallacy of ambition; yet could she not +determine to relinquish one, or to own that the other had but little +power to confer happiness. That Emmeline Mowbray, whom she had despised +and rejected, should suddenly become heiress to a large fortune, and +that of that fortune her own children should be deprived; that Lord +Westhaven should be the instrument to assist her in this hateful +transition, and should interfere for this obscure orphan, against the +interest of the illustrious family into which he had married; stung her +to the soul, and irritated the natural asperity of her temper, already +soured by the repeated defection of Delamere, and her own continual ill +health, till it was grown insupportable to others, and injurious to +herself; since it aggravated all her complaints, and put it out of the +power of medicine to relieve her. + +Rather than encrease these maladies by opposition, his Lordship was +content to yield to delay. And while her haughtiness and violence +withheld him on one hand from settling with his niece, Sir Richard +assailed him on the other with cool and plausible arguments; and +together they obliged him to have recourse to such expedients as gained +time, without his having much hope that he could finally detain the +property of his late brother from his daughter, who seemed likely to +establish her right to it's possession. + +At once to indulge his avarice and quiet his conscience, he would +willingly have consented to pay her a considerable portion, and to leave +her right to the whole undecided; but of such an accommodation there +seemed no probability, unless he could win over Lord Westhaven to his +interest. He thought, however, that there could be little doubt of his +re-uniting the Mowbray estate with his own, by promoting the marriage +between Emmeline and Lord Delamere, which he had hitherto so strenuously +opposed. But this, he knew, must be the last resort; not only because he +was ashamed so immediately to avow a change of opinion in regard to +Emmeline, which could have happened only from her change of +circumstances, but because the dislike which Lady Montreville had +originally conceived towards her, now amounted to the most determined +and inveterate hatred. + +Bent on conversing fully with Lord Westhaven before he took any measures +whatever either to detain or to restore the estate, the Marquis was +desirous of seeing him immediately on his arrival in England, and to +precede any conversation he might hold with Emmeline. For this reason he +kept back all information that related to his son-in-law's return; and +tho' he knew that the indisposition of Lord Delamere and his sister had +kept Lord Westhaven at Paris almost three weeks, and that they were +travelling only twenty miles a day, from thence to Calais, he had +withheld even this intelligence from the anxious Emmeline. + +Lady Frances Crofts, never feeling any great disposition to filial +piety, and having lost, in the giddy career of dissipation, the little +sensibility she ever possessed, was soon tired of attending on her +mother at Audley Hall. The fretful impatience or irksome lassitude which +devoured a mind without resources, and weary of itself, in the +melancholy gloom of a sick chamber, soon disgusted and fatigued her; she +therefore left Audley Hall in October, and after staying ten days or a +fortnight in Burlington street, where she made an acquaintance with +Bellozane, she went to pass the months that yet intervened before it was +fashionable to appear in London, at a villa near Richmond; which she had +taken in the summer, and fitted up with every ornament luxury could +invent or money purchase. She retired not thither, however, to court the +sylvan deities: a set of friends of both sexes attended her. Bellozane +was very handsome, very lively, very much a man of fashion: Lady +Frances, who thought him no bad addition to her train, invited him also. +Bellozane became the life of the party; and was soon so much at his ease +in the family, and so great a favourite with her Ladyship, at a very +early period of their acquaintance, that only her high rank there +exempted her from those censures, which, in a less elevated condition, +would have fallen on her, from the grave and sagacious personages who +are so good as to take upon them the regulation of the world. + +Crofts, detained by his office in London, heard more than gave him any +pleasure. But like a wise and cautious husband, he forebore to complain. +Besides the fear of his wife, which was no inconsiderable motive to +silence, he had the additional fear of the martial and fierce-looking +French soldier before his eyes; who talked, in very bad English, of such +encounters and exploits as made the cold-blooded politician shudder. + +When, on Friday evenings, after the business of his office was over, he +went down to Richmond, he now always found there this foreign Adonis; +and beheld him with mingled hatred and horror, tho' he concealed both +under the appearance of cringing and servile complaisance. And when Lady +Frances compared the narrow-spirited and mean-looking Crofts, with the +handsome, animated, gallant Bellozane, the poor husband felt all the +disadvantages of the comparison, and as certainly suffered for it. +Scorning to dissimulate with a man whom she thought infinitely too +fortunate in being allied to her on any terms, and superior to the +censures of a world, the greater part of whom she considered as beings +of another species from the daughter of the Marquis of Montreville, her +Ladyship grew every day fonder of the Chevalier, and less solicitous to +conceal her partiality. She found, too, her vanity and inordinate self +love gratified, in believing that this elegant foreigner did justice to +her superior attractions, and had been won by them, from that +inclination for Emmeline which had brought him to England. A conquest +snatched from _her_, whom she had always considered at once with envy +and contempt, was doubly delightful; and Bellozane, with all the +volatility of his adopted country, saw nothing disloyal or improper in +returning the kind attentions of Lady Frances, _en attendant_ the +arrival of Emmeline; with whom he was a good deal piqued for her having +left London so abruptly without informing him whither she was gone. He +still preferred her to every other person; but he was not therefore +insensible to the kindness, or blind to the charms of Lady Frances; who +was really very handsome; and who, with a great portion of the beauty +inherited by the Mowbray family, possessed the Juno-like air as well as +the high spirit of her mother. In aid of these natural advantages, every +refinement of art was exhausted; and by those who preferred it's +dazzling effects to the interesting and graceful simplicity of unadorned +beauty, Lady Frances, dressed for the opera, might have been esteemed +more charming, than Emmeline in her modest muslin night gown; or than +the pensive Madona, which, in her widow's dress, was represented by Lady +Adelina. + +These two friends, after having passed a calm afternoon together, +retired early to their respective apartments. Emmeline, who had a +repeating watch, given her by Lord Westhaven, wound it up carefully; and +having bolted her chamber door, lay down for a few hours; being sure +that the anxiety she felt would awaken her before the return of that on +which the stranger had appeared the preceding night. Fatigue and long +watching closed her eyes; but her slumber was imperfect; and suddenly +awaking at some fancied noise, she pressed her repeater, and found it +was half past three o'clock. + +This was about the time on which the man had appeared the night before; +and tho' she felt some fear, she had yet more curiosity to know whether +he came again. She arose softly, therefore, and went to the window, +which she did not venture to open. But she had no occasion to look +towards the shrubbery to watch the coming of the stranger; he was +already traversing the length of the house, dressed as before; and with +his arms folded, and his head bent towards the ground, he slowly moved +in the same pensive attitude. + +Emmeline, tho' now impressed with deeper astonishment, summoned +resolution narrowly to observe his air and figure. Had not his hat +concealed his face, the obscurity would not have allowed her to examine +his features. But tho' the great coat he wore considerably altered the +outline of his person, she still thought she discerned the form of +Fitz-Edward. His height and his walk confirmed this idea; and the longer +she observed him, the more she was persuaded it was Fitz-Edward himself. +This conviction was not unaccompanied by terror. She wished to speak to +him; and to represent the indiscretion, the madness of his thus risking +the reputation of Lady Adelina; and his own life or that of one of her +brothers; while the very idea of Godolphin's resentment and danger +filled her mind with the most alarming apprehensions. She determined +then to open the window and speak to him: yet if it should not be +Fitz-Edward? At length she had collected the courage necessary; and +knowing that tho' the whole family was yet fast asleep she could easily +rouse them, if the person to whom she spoke should not be known to her, +and gave her any reason for alarm, she was on the point of lifting up +the sash, when the stranger put an end to her deliberations by hastily +walking away to his former covert among the shrubs; and she saw him no +more. + +Emmeline, wearied alike with watchfulness and uneasiness, now went to +bed; having at length determined to keep Barret (on whose silence and +discretion she could rely) with her the next night; and when the Colonel +appeared (for the Colonel she was sure it was) to send her to him, or at +least make her witness to what she should herself say to him from the +window. The anxiety of her mind made her very low on the early part of +the next day; and Lady Adelina was still more so. They dined, however, +early; and as the evening was clear, and they had not been out in the +morning, Lady Adelina proposed their taking a short walk to the top of +the hill behind the house, which commanded a glorious view that Emmeline +had not seen; but as it was cold, they agreed to leave little William at +home. The grounds of Godolphin behind the house, consisted only of a +small paddock, divided from the kitchen garden by a dwarf wall; and the +copse, which partly cloathed the hill, and thro' which a footpath went +to a village about two miles beyond it. The woody ground ceasing about +half way up, opened to a down which commanded the view. They stood +admiring it a few moments; and then Emmeline, who could not for an +instant help reflecting on what she had seen for two nights, felt +something like alarm at being so far from the house. She complained +therefore that it was cold; and the evening (at this season very short) +was already shutting in. + +The wind blew chill and hollow among the half stripped trees, as they +passed thro' the wood; and the dead leaves rustled in the blast. 'Twas +such a night as Ossian might describe. Emmeline recollected the +visionary beings with which his poems abound, and involuntarily she +shuddered. At the gate that opened into the lawn, Lady Adelina stopped +as if she was tired. She was talking of something Godolphin had done; +and Emmeline, who on that subject was never weary of hearing her, turned +round, and they both leaned for a moment against the gate, looking up +the wood walk from which they had just descended. The veil of Lady +Adelina was over her face; but Emmeline, less wrapped up, suddenly saw +the figure which had before visited the garden, descending, in exactly +the same posture, down the pathway, which was rather steep. He seemed +unknowingly to follow it, without looking up; and was soon so near them, +that Emmeline, losing at once her presence of mind, clasped her hands, +and exclaimed--'Good God! who is this?' + +'What?' said Lady Adelina, looking towards him. + +By this time he was within six paces of the gate; and sprung forward at +the very moment that she knew him, and fell senseless on the ground. + +Emmeline, unable to save her, was in a situation but little better. +Fitz-Edward, for it was really himself, knelt down by her, and lifted +her up. But she was without any appearance of life; and he, who had no +intention of rushing thus abruptly into her presence, was too much +agitated to be able to speak. + +'Ah! why would you do this, Sir?' said Emmeline in a tremulous voice. +'What can I do with her?' added she. 'Merciful Heaven, what can be done? +How _could_ you be so cruel, so inconsiderate?' + +'Don't talk to me,' said he--'don't reproach me! I am not able to bear +it! I suffer too much already! Have you no salts? Have you nothing to +give her?' + +Emmeline now with trembling hands searched her pockets for a bottle of +salts which she sometimes carried. She luckily had it; and, in another +pocket, some Hungary water, with which she bathed the temples of her +friend, who still lay apparently dead. + +She remained some moments in that situation; and Emmeline had time to +reflect, which she did with the utmost perturbation, on what would be +the consequence of this interview when she recovered her recollection. +She dreaded lest the sight of Fitz-Edward should totally unsettle her +reason. She dreaded lest Godolphin should know he had clandestinely been +there; and she concluded it were better to persuade him to leave them +before the senses of Lady Adelina returned. + +'How fearfully long she continues in this fainting fit,' cried she, 'and +yet do I dread seeing her recover from it.' + +'You dread it!--and why dread it?' + +'Indeed I do. When her recollection returns, it may yet be worse; you +know not how nearly gone her intellects have at times been, and the +least emotion may render her for ever a lunatic.' + +'It is the cruelty of her brother,' sternly replied Fitz-Edward, 'that +has driven her to this. His rigid conduct has overwhelmed her spirits +and broken her heart. But _now_, since we _have_ met, we part not till I +hear from herself whether she prefers driving _me_ to desperation, or +quitting, in the character I can now offer her, the cold and barbarous +Godolphin.' + +'Do not, ah! pray do not attempt to speak to her now. Let me try to get +her home; and when she is better able to see you, indeed I will send to +you.' + +'Can you then suppose I will leave her? But perhaps she is already gone! +She seems to be dead--quite dead and cold!' + +Nothing but terror now lent Emmeline strength to continue chafing her +temples and her hands. In another moment or two the blood began to +circulate; and soon after, with a deep sigh, Lady Adelina opened her +eyes. + +'For pity's sake,' said Emmeline in a low voice--'for pity's sake do not +speak to her.' Then addressing herself to her, she said--'Lady Adelina, +are you better?' + +'Yes.' + +'Do you think I can assist you home?' + +'She shall not be hurried,' said Fitz-Edward. + +'Ah! save me! save me!' exclaimed she, faintly shrieking--'save me!' and +clasping her arms round Emmeline, she attempted to rise. + +'Am I then grown so hateful to you,' said Fitz-Edward, as he assisted +and supported her--'that for one poor moment you will not allow me to +approach you. Will no penitence, no sufferings obtain your pity?' + +'Take me away, Emmeline!' cried she, in a hurried manner--'ah! take me +quick away! Godolphin will come, he will come indeed.--Let us go +home--go home before he finds us here!' + +'It is as I said!' exclaimed Fitz-Edward: 'her brother has terrified her +into madness. But----' + +Emmeline, now making an effort to escape falling into a condition as +deplorable as was her friend's, said, with some firmness--'Mr. +Fitz-Edward, I must entreat you to say nothing about her brother. It is +a topic of all others least likely to restore her.' + +Adelina still clung to her; and putting away Fitz-Edward with her hand, +laid her head on the shoulder of Emmeline, who said--'I fancy you can +walk. Shall we go towards home?' + +Lady Adelina, without speaking, and still motioning with her hand to +Fitz-Edward to leave her, moved on. But so enfeebled was she, that in +the very attempt she had again nearly fallen; Emmeline being infinitely +too much frightened to lend her much assistance. + +'She cannot walk,' cried Fitz-Edward, 'yet will not let me support her. +Will _you_, Miss Mowbray, accept my arm; perhaps it may enable you to +guide better the faultering steps of your friend.' + +Emmeline thought that at all events it was better to get her into the +house; and therefore taking, in silence, the arm that Fitz-Edward +offered her, she proceeded across the lawn. Lady Adelina appeared to +exert herself. She quickened her pace a little; and they were soon at a +small gate, which opened in a wire fence near the house to keep the +cattle immediately from the windows. Here Emmeline determined to make +another effort on Fitz-Edward to persuade him to leave them. + +'Now,' said she, 'we shall do very well. Had you not better quit us?' + +He seemed disposed to obey; when Mrs. Barret, who had seen them from the +door, where she had been watching the return of her lady, advanced +hastily towards them, and said to Emmeline--'Dear Ma'am, I am so glad +you and my lady are come in! The Captain is quite frightened at your +being out so late.' + +'The Captain!' exclaimed Emmeline. + +'Yes, Ma'am, the Captain has been come in about two minutes; he is but +just seeing Master Godolphin, and then was coming out to meet you.' + +'Take hold of your lady, Barret,' cried Emmeline. Barret ran forward. +But Lady Adelina (whom the terror of her brother's return at such a +moment had again entirely overcome), was already lifeless in the arms of +Fitz-Edward; and Emmeline, whose first idea was to go in and prevent +Godolphin from coming out to meet them, could get no farther than the +door; where, breathless and almost senseless, she was only prevented +from falling by leaning against one of the pillars. + +'Your lady is in a fainting fit, Mrs. Barret,' said Fitz-Edward; 'pray +assist her.' + +The woman at once knew his voice, and saw the situation of her lady; and +terrified both by the one and the other, screamed aloud. Godolphin, +caressing his nephew in the parlour, heard not the shriek; but a footman +who was crossing the hall ran out; and flying by Emmeline, ran to the +group beyond her; where, as Mrs. Barret still wildly called for help for +Lady Adelina, he proposed to Fitz-Edward to carry her ladyship into the +house, which they together immediately did. + +This was what Emmeline most dreaded. But there was no time for +remonstrance. As they passed her at the door, she put her hand upon +Fitz-Edward's arm, and cried--'Oh! stop! for God's sake stop!' + +'Why stop?' said he. 'No! nothing shall now detain me; I am determined, +and _must_ go on!' She saw, indeed, that Godolphin's being in the house +only made him more obstinately bent to enter it. + +The door of the parlour now opened; and Godolphin saw, with astonishment +inexpressible, his sister, to all appearance dead, in the arms of +Fitz-Edward; and Emmeline, as pale and almost as lifeless, following +her; who silently, and with fixed eyes, sat down near the door. + +'What can be the meaning of this?' exclaimed Godolphin. 'Miss +Mowbray!--my Emmeline!--my Adelina!' + +The child, with whom Godolphin had been at play, reached out his little +arms to Lady Adelina, whom they had placed on a sopha. Godolphin sat him +down upon it; and not knowing where to fix his own attention, he looked +wildly, first at his sister, and then at Emmeline; while Fitz-Edward, +totally regardless of him, knelt by the side of Lady Adelina, and +surveyed her and the little boy with an expression impossible to be +described. + +'For mercy's sake tell me,' Godolphin, as he took the cold and trembling +hands of Emmeline in his--'for mercy's sake tell me what all this means? +Is my sister, my poor Adelina dead?' + +'I hope not!' + +'You are yourself almost terrified to death. Your hands tremble. Tell +me, I conjure you tell me, what you have met with, and to what is owing +the extraordinary appearance of Mr. Fitz-Edward here?' + +'That, or any farther enquiry Mr. Godolphin has to make, which may +relate to me,' said Fitz-Edward sternly, 'I shall be ready at any other +time to answer; but now it appears more necessary to attend to this dear +injured creature!' + +'Injured, Sir!' cried Godolphin, turning angrily towards him--'Do you +come hither to tell me your crimes, or to triumph in their consequence?' + +'Oh! for the love of heaven!' said Emmeline, with all the strength she +could collect, 'let this proceed no farther. Consider,' added she, +lowering her voice, 'the servants are in the room. Reflect on the +consequence of what you say.' + +'Let every body but Barret go out,' said Godolphin aloud. + +The child, whose usual hour of going to rest was already past, had crept +up to his mother, heedless of the people who surrounded her, and had +dropped asleep on her bosom. + +'Should I take Master, Sir?' enquired the nursery maid of Godolphin. + +'Leave him!' answered he, fiercely. + +Excess of terror now operated to restore, in some measure, to Emmeline +the presence of mind it had deprived her of. She found it absolutely +necessary to exert herself; and advancing towards Lady Adelina, by whose +side Fitz-Edward still knelt, she took one of her hands--'I hope,' said +she to Barret, your lady is coming to; she is less pale, and her pulse +is returning. Colonel Fitz-Edward, would it not be better for you now to +leave us?' + +'I must first speak to Lady Adelina.' + +'Impossible! you cannot speak to her to-night.' + +'Nor can I leave her, Madam, unless she herself dismisses me.--Leave +her, thus weak and languid, to meet perhaps on my account reproach and +unkindness!' + +'Reproach and unkindness! Mr. Fitz-Edward,' said Godolphin, in a +passionate tone--'Reproach and unkindness! Do me the favour to say from +whom you apprehend she may receive such treatment?' + +'From the cruel and unrelenting brother, who has persisted in wishing +to divide us, even after heaven itself has removed the barrier between +us.' + +'Sir,' replied Godolphin, with a stern calmness--'in this house, and in +Miss Mowbray's presence, _you_ may say any thing with impunity, and _I_ +may bear this language even from the faithless destroyer of my sister.' + +Fitz-Edward now starting from his knees, looked the defiance he was +about to utter, when Lady Adelina drew a deep and loud sigh, and Barret +exclaimed--'For God's sake, gentlemen, do not go on with these high +words. My lady is coming to; but this sort of discourse will throw her +again into her fits worse than ever. Pray let me entreat of you both to +be pacified.' + +'I insist upon it,' said Emmeline, 'that you are calm, or it will not be +in my power to stay. I must leave you, indeed I must, Mr. Godolphin! if +you would not see _me_ expire with terror, and entirely kill your +sister, you must be cool.' She was indeed again deprived nearly of her +breath and recollection by the fear of their instantly flying to +extremities. + +Lady Adelina now opened her eyes and looked round her. But there was +wildness and horror in them; and she seemed rather to see the objects, +than to have any idea of who were with her. + +The child, however, was always present to her. 'My dear boy here?' cried +she, faintly; 'poor fellow, he is asleep!' + +'Shall I take him from you, Ma'am?' asked her woman. + +'Oh! no! I will put him to bed myself.' She then again reposed her head +as if fatigued, and sighed. 'Twas all,' said she, 'long foreseen. But +destiny, they say, must be fulfilled, and fate will have it's way. I +wish I had not been the cause of his death, however.' + +'Of whose death, dear Madam?' said Barret. 'Nobody is dead; nobody +indeed.' + +'Did I not hear him groan, and see him die? did not he tell me, I know +not what, of my Lord Westhaven? I shall remember it all distinctly +to-morrow!' + +She now rested again, profoundly sighing; and Emmeline beckoning to +Fitz-Edward and Godolphin, took them to the other end of the room, where +the arm of the sopha she reclined on concealed them from her view. +'Pray,' said she, addressing herself to them both, 'pray leave her.' +Then recollecting that she dared not trust them together, she +added--'No, don't both go at once. But indeed it is absolutely +necessary to have her kept quite quiet and got to bed as soon as +possible.' + +'I believe it is,' answered Godolphin. 'Poor Adelina! her dreadful +malady is returned.' + +'It is indeed,' said Emmeline. 'I have seen it too evidently approaching +for some days; and this last shock'--she stopped, and repented she had +said so much. + +'Mr. Fitz-Edward,' cried Godolphin, 'will you walk with me into another +room?' + +'Certainly.' + +'Oh! no! no!' exclaimed Emmeline with quickness. + +They were going out together; but taking an arm of each, she eagerly +repeated 'oh! no! no! not together!' + +The imagination of Lady Adelina was now totally disordered. She had +risen; and carrying the child in her arms, walked towards her brother, +who in traversing the apartment with uneasy steps was by this time near +the door; while Fitz-Edward was at the other end of the room, where +Emmeline was trying to persuade him to quit the house. + +Lady Adelina, supported by her maid, and trembling under the weight of +the infant she clasped to her bosom, stepped along as quickly as her +weakness would allow; and putting her hand on Godolphin's arm, she +cried, in a slow and tremulous manner--'Stay, William! I have something +to say to you before you go. Lord Westhaven, you know, is coming; and +you have promised that he shall not kill _me_. I may however die; and I +rather believe I shall; for since this last sight I am strangely ill. +You and Emmeline will take care of my poor boy, will ye not? Had +Fitz-Edward lived--nay do not look so angry, for now he cannot offend +you--had poor Fitz-Edward lived, he would perhaps have taken him. But +now, I must depend on Emmeline, who has promised to be good to him. They +say she will have a great fortune too, and therefore I need not fear +that you will find my child burthensome.' + +'Burthensome!' cried Godolphin. 'Good God, Adelina!' + +'Well! well! be not offended. Only you know, when people come to have a +family of their own, the child of another may be reckoned an +incumbrance. I know that now you love my William dearly; but then, you +know, it will be another thing.' + +'Gracious heaven!' exclaimed Godolphin, 'what can have made her talk in +this manner?' + +'Reason in madness!' said Fitz-Edward, advancing towards her. 'Her son, +however, shall be an incumbrance to nobody.' + +Emmeline now grasping his hand, implored him not to speak to her. Lady +Adelina neither heard or noticed him: but again addressing herself to +her brother, said, with a mournful sigh--'And now, since I have told you +what was upon my mind, I will go put my little boy to bed. Good night to +you, dear William! You and Miss Mowbray will remember!----' She then +walked out of the room, and calmly took the way to her own, attended by +her maid. + +Emmeline, not daring to leave together these two ardent spirits +irritated against each other, remained, trembling, with them; hoping by +her presence to prevent their animosity from blazing forth, and to +prevail upon them to part. They both continued for some time to traverse +the room in gloomy silence. At length Fitz-Edward stopped, and said--'At +what hour to-morrow, Sir, may I have the honour of some conversation +with you?' + +'At whatever hour you please, Sir--the earlier, however, the more +agreeable.' + +'At seven o'clock, Sir, I will be with you.' + +'If you please; at that hour I will be ready to receive your commands.' + +Fitz-Edward then took his hat, and bowing to Emmeline, wished her a good +night, and left the room. Starting from her chair, she followed him into +the hall, and shut the parlour door after her. + +'Fitz-Edward,' cried she, detaining him, and speaking in an half +whisper--'Fitz-Edward, hear me! Do you design to kill me?' + +'To kill you?' replied he. 'No surely.' + +'Then do not go till you have heard me.' + +'It is unpleasant to me to stay in Godolphin's house after what has just +passed. But as you please.' + +She led him into a little breakfast room; and regardless of being +without light, shut the door. + +'Tell me,' said she, 'before I die with terror--tell me with what +intention you come to-morrow?' + +'Simply to have a positive answer from Mr. Godolphin, if he will, +together with his brother, allow me, when the usual mourning is over, to +address their sister with proposals of marriage; which in fact they have +no right to prevent. And if Mr. Godolphin refuses----' + +'What, if he refuses?' + +'I shall take my son into my own care, and wait till Lady Adelina will +herself exert that freedom which is now her's.' + +'Godolphin doats on the child. Nothing, I am persuaded, will induce him +to part with it.' + +'Not part with it? He must, nay he _shall_!' + +'Pray be calm--pray be quiet. Stay yet a few months--a few weeks.' + +'Not a day! Not an hour!' + +'Good God! what _can_ be done? Mischief will inevitably happen!' + +'I am sorry,' replied Fitz-Edward, 'that you are thus made uneasy. But I +cannot recede; and my life has not been pleasant enough lately to make +me very solicitous about the event of my explanation with Mr. Godolphin. +Conscious, however, that he has some reason to complain of me, I do not +wish to increase it. I mean to keep _my_ temper, _if I can_: but if he +suffers _his_ to pass the bounds which one gentleman must observe +towards another, I shall not consider myself as the aggressor, or as +answerable for the consequences.' + +'But why, oh! why would you come hither? Wherefore traverse the garden +of a night, and suffer appearances to be so much against you, and what +is yet worse, against Lady Adelina?' + +'Who told you I have done so--Godolphin?' + +'No. He was, you well know, absent. But I saw you myself; with terror I +saw you, and meditated how to speak to you alone, when our unhappy +meeting in the wood this evening put an end to all my contrivances.' + +'Yet I had no intention of terrifying you, or of abruptly rushing into +the presence of Adelina. It is true, that for some nights past I have +walked under the window where she and my child sleep: for _I_ could not +sleep; and it was a sort of melancholy enjoyment to me to be near the +spot which held all I have dear on earth. As I pass at the ale house +where I lodge as a person hiding in this island from the pursuit of +creditors, my desire of concealment did not appear extraordinary. I have +often lingered among the rocks and copses, and seen Adelina and my child +with you. Last night I came out in the dusk, and was approaching, to +conceal myself near the house, in hopes, that as you love walking late, +and alone, I might have found an opportunity of speaking to you, and of +concerting with _you_ the means of introducing myself to _her_ without +too great an alarm.' + +'Would to heaven you had! But now, since all this has happened, consent +to put off this meeting with Godolphin. Do not meet, at least, +to-morrow! I entreat that you will not!' + +'On all subjects but this,' said he, as he opened the door--'on all +subjects but this, Miss Mowbray knows she may command me. But this is a +point from which I cannot, without infamy, recede; and in which she must +forgive me, if all my veneration and esteem for her goodness and +tenderness does not induce me to desist.' + +He then went into the hall; and by the lamp which burnt there, opened +himself the door into the garden, and hastily walked away. While the +trembling and harrassed Emmeline, finding him inflexible, went back to +Godolphin, with very little hopes that she should, with him, have better +success. + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + + +On entering the room, Emmeline sat down without speaking. + +'How is Adelina, my dearest Miss Mowbray?' + +'I know not.' + +'You have not, then, been with her?' + +'No.' + +'Were it not best to enquire after her?' + +'Certainly. I will go immediately.' + +'But come to me again--I have much to say to you.' + +Emmeline then went up stairs. She found that the composing medicine, +which Barret had been directed to keep always by her, had been liberally +administered; and that her lady was got into bed, and was already +asleep. Barret sat by her. Deep sighs and convulsive catchings marked +the extreme agitation of her spirits after she was no longer conscious +of it herself. With this account Emmeline returned, in great uneasiness, +to Godolphin. + +'I thank Heaven,' said he, 'that she is at least for some moments +insensible of pain! Now, my Emmeline, for surely I may be allowed to say +_my_ Emmeline, sit down and try to compose yourself. I cannot bear to +see you thus pale and trembling.' + +He led her to a seat, and placed himself by her; gazing with extreme +concern on her face, pallid as it was, and expressive only of sorrow and +anxiety. + +'Whence is it,' said she, after a pause of some moments, that I see you +here? Did I not come hither on the assurance you gave me that you would +long be detained in or near London by the business of your sister?' + +'I certainly did say so. But I could not then foresee what happened on +the Sunday after you left London.' + +'Has, then, any thing happened?' + +'The return of Lord and Lady Westhaven, with Lord Delamere.' + +'Are they all well?' + +'Tolerably so. But my brother is very anxious to see Adelina; and +expects _you_ with little less solicitude. He could not think of giving +Lady Westhaven the trouble of such a journey; nor could he now leave her +without being unhappy. I therefore, at his pressing request, came myself +to fetch you both to London.' + +'And do you mean that we should begin our journey to-morrow?' + +'I _meant_ it, certainly, till the events of this evening made me +doubtful how far my sister herself may be in a situation to bear change +of place and variety of objects; or being able, whether she may chuse to +leave to me the direction of her actions.' + +'Ah! impute not to Lady Adelina the meeting with Fitz-Edward; it was +entirely accidental; it's suddenness overcame her, and threw her into +the way in which you saw her.' + +'And what has a man to answer for, who thus comes to insult his victim, +and to rob her of the little tranquillity time may have restored to +her?' + +'Indeed I think you injure poor Fitz-Edward. Fondly attached to your +sister, he has no other wish or hope than to be allowed to address her +when the time of her mourning for Mr. Trelawny is expired. For this +permission he intended to apply to you: but the severity with which you +ever received his advances discouraged him; and he then, in the hope of +hearing that such an application would not be rendered ineffectual by +her own refusal, and languishing to see his son, came hither; not with +any intention of forcing himself abruptly into the presence of Lady +Adelina, but to see _me_ and induce me to intercede with her for an +interview. Accident threw us in his way; your sister fell senseless on +the ground; and when she did recover, endeavoured to avoid him: but she +was too weak to walk home without other assistance than mine, and I was +compelled to accept for her, that which Fitz-Edward offered. On hearing +from Barret that you was returned, the terror which has ever pursued +her, lest you and Fitz-Edward should meet as enemies, again overcame +her, and occasioned the scene you must, with so much astonishment, have +beheld.' + +'Has Adelina had any previous knowledge of the proposals Fitz-Edward +intends to make?' + +'None, I believe, in the world.' + +'Do you know whether they have ever corresponded?' + +'I am convinced they have not.' + +'There are objections, in my mind, _insuperable_ objections, to this +alliance. These, however, I must talk over with the Colonel himself.' + +'Not _hostilely_, I hope. Surely you have too much regard for the +unhappy Adelina, to give way now to any resentment you may have +conceived against him; or if _that_ does not influence you, think of +what _I_ must suffer.' She knew not what she had said; hardly what she +intended to say. + +'Enchanting softness!' exclaimed Godolphin in a transport--'Is then the +safety of Godolphin so dear to that angelic bosom?' + +'You know it but too well. But if _my_ quiet is equally dear to _you_, +promise me that if this meeting to-morrow _must_ take place, you will +receive Fitz-Edward with civility, and hear him with patience. Remember +on how many accounts this is necessary. Remember how many expressions +there are which his profession will not allow him to hear without +resentment, that must end in blood. Your's is _no common_ cause of +enmity; none of those trifling quarrels which daily send modern beaux +into the field. Your characters are both high as military men, and as +gentlemen; and your former intimacy must, I know, impress more deeply on +the mind of each the injury or offence that either suppose they receive. +Be careful then, Godolphin; promise me you will be careful!' + +'Ah! lovely Emmeline! more lovely from this generous tenderness than +from your other exquisite perfections; can I be insensible of the value +of a life for which _you_ interest yourself? and shall I suffer any +other consideration to come in competition with your peace?' + +'You promise me then?' + +'To be calm with Fitz-Edward, I do. And while I remember his offence +(for can I forget while I suffer from it) I will also recollect, that +_you_, who have also suffered on the same account, think him worthy of +compassion; and I will try to conquer, at least to stifle, my +resentment. But what shall we do with Adelina?' + +'That must depend on her situation in the morning. I have greatly +apprehended an unhappy turn in her intellects ever since my first +coming. The death of Trelawny, far from appearing to have relieved her +by removing the impediment to her union with Fitz-Edward, seems rather +to have rendered her more wretched. Continually agitated by contending +passions, she was long unhappy, in the supposition that Fitz-Edward had +obeyed her when she desired him to forget her. Since Trelawny's decease, +as she has more fearlessly allowed her thoughts to dwell on him, she has +suffered all the anxiety of expecting to hear from him, and all the +bitterness of disappointment. And I could plainly perceive, that she was +still debating with herself, whether, if he _did_ apply to her, she +should accept him, or by a violent effort of heroism determine to see +him no more. This conflict is yet to come. Judge whether, in the frame +of mind in which you see her, she is equal to it; and whether any +additional terror for you and for him will not quite undo her. Alas! far +from aggravating, by pursuing your resentment, anguish so poignant, try +rather to soothe her sorrows and assist her determination. And whatever +that determination may be, when it is once made she may perhaps be +restored to health and to tranquillity.' + +'Indeed I will do all you dictate, my loveliest friend! Surely I should +ill deserve the generosity you have shewn to me, were I incapable of +feeling for others, and particularly for my sister. But wherefore that +air of defiance which Mr. Fitz-Edward thought it necessary to assume? He +seemed to come more disposed to _insult_ than to conciliate the family +of Lady Adelina.' + +'Alas! do you make no allowance for the perturbed situation of his mind, +when he saw the woman he adores to all appearance dead, and for the +first time beheld the poor little boy? He looked upon you as one who +desires to tear from him for ever these beloved objects; and forgetting +that he was the aggressor, thought only of the injury which he supposed +you intended.' + +'There is, indeed, some apology for the asperity of his manner; and +perhaps I was in some measure to blame. Generous, candid, considerate +Emmeline! how does your excellent heart teach you to excuse those +weaknesses you do not feel, and to pity and to forgive errors which +your own perfect mind makes it impossible for you to commit! Ah! how +heavily is your tenderness perpetually taxed: _here_, it is suffering +from the sight of Adelina--in town, it will have another object in the +unfortunate Delamere.' + +'Did you not tell me he was in tolerable health?' + +'Alas! what is bodily health when the mind is ill at ease? The anxiety +of Delamere to see you, to hear his destiny from yourself, is uneasy +even to me, who feel my own exquisite happiness in knowing what that +destiny must be. I look with even painful commiseration on this singular +young man. Yet from passions so violent, and obstinacy so invincible, I +must have rejoiced that Miss Mowbray has escaped; even tho' her +preference of the fortunate Godolphin had not rendered his lot the most +happy that a human being can possess.' + +'Since you are so good,' said Emmeline faintly, for she was quite +exhausted, 'to compassionate the situation of mind of Delamere, you +will, I think, see the humanity of concealing from him--that--' She +could find no term that she liked, to express her meaning, and stopped. + +'That he has a fortunate rival?' said Godolphin. 'No, dearest Emmeline, +I hope I am incapable of such a triumph! 'Till poor Delamere is more at +ease, I am content to enjoy the happiness of knowing your favourable +opinion, without wishing, by an insulting display of it, to convince him +he has for ever + + + 'Thrown a pearl away richer than all his tribe!' + + +'Yet I am sure you will think it still more cruel to give him hope. I +will tell you all my weakness. While I see you here, all benignity and +goodness to me, I feel for Lord Delamere infinite pity; but were you to +receive him with your usual sweetness, to give him many of those +enchanting smiles, and to look at him with those soft eyes, as if you +tenderly felt his sorrows, I am not sure whether the most unreasonable +jealousy would not possess me, and whether I should not hate him as much +as I now wish him well.' + +'That were to be indeed unreasonable, and to act very inconsistently +with your natural candour and humanity. I will not think so ill of you +as to believe you. You know I must of course often see Lord Delamere: +but after the avowal you have extorted from me, surely I need not repeat +that I shall see him only as my friend.' + +Godolphin then kissed her hands in rapture; and for a few moments forgot +even his concern for Lady Adelina. Emmeline now wished to break off the +conversation; and he at length allowed her to leave him. After having +enquired of Barret after her mistress, who was happily in a calmer +sleep, she retired to her own room, where she hoped to have a few hours +of repose: but notwithstanding the promises of Godolphin, she felt as +the hour of the morning approached on which he was to meet Fitz-Edward, +that anxiety chased away sleep, and again made her suffer the cruellest +suspense. + +The heart of Godolphin, glowing with the liveliest sense of his own +happiness, yet felt with great keenness the unfortunate situation of his +sister. He began to doubt whether he had any right to perpetuate her +wretchedness; and whether it were not better to leave it to herself to +decide in regard to Fitz-Edward. The delicacy of his honour made him see +an infinity of objections to their marriage, which to common minds might +appear chimerical and romantic. To that part of his own family who were +yet ignorant of her former indiscretion, as he could not urge his +reasons, his opposition of Fitz-Edward must seem capricious and unjust. +Lord Westhaven must therefore either be told that which had hitherto +with so much pains been concealed from him, or he must determine to +refer Fitz-Edward entirely to Lady Adelina herself; and on this, after +long deliberation, he fixed. + +Exactly as the clock struck seven, Fitz-Edward was at the door; and was +introduced into Godolphin's study, who was already up and waiting for +him. Emmeline, still full of apprehension, had arisen before six, and +hearing Lady Adelina was still asleep, had gone down stairs, and waited +with a palpitating heart in the breakfast room. + +She was glad to distinguish, at their first meeting, the usual +salutations of the morning. She listened; but tho' the rest of the house +was profoundly silent, she could not hear their conversation or even the +tone in which it was carried on. It was not, however, loud, and she drew +from thence a favourable omen. Near two hours passed, during which +breakfast was carried in to them; and as the servant passed backwards +and forwards, she heard parts of sentences which assured her that then, +at least, they were conversing on indifferent subjects. + +Now, therefore, the agitation of her spirits began to subside; and she +dared even to hope that this meeting would prove the means of +reconciliation, rather than of producing those fatal effects she had +dreaded. + +In about a quarter of an hour, however, after they had finished their +breakfast, they went out and crossed the lawn together. Then again her +heart failed her; and without knowing exactly what she intended, she +took the little boy, whom the maid had just brought to her, and walked +as quickly as possible after them. Before she could overtake them, they +had reached the gate; and in turning to shut it after him, Godolphin saw +her, and both together came hastily back to meet her. At the same +moment, the child putting out his hands to Godolphin, called him papa! +as he had been used to do; and Fitz-Edward, snatching him up, kissed him +tenderly, while his eyes were filled with tears. + +Godolphin took the hand of Emmeline. 'Why this terror? why this haste?' +said he, observing her to be almost breathless. + +'I thought--I imagined--I was afraid--' answered she, not knowing what +she said. + +'Be not alarmed,' said Godolphin--'We go together as friends.' + +'And Godolphin,' interrupted Fitz-Edward, 'is again the same noble +minded Godolphin I once knew, and have always loved.' + +'Let us say then,' cried Emmeline, 'no more of the past.--Let us look +forward only to the future.' + +'And the happiness of that future, at least as far as it relates to me, +depends, dearest Miss Mowbray, on you.' + +'On me!' + +'Godolphin wishes me not now to see his sister. I have acquiesced. He +wishes me even to refrain from seeing her till she has been six months a +widow. With this, also, I have complied. But as it is not in my power to +remain thus long in a suspence so agonizing as that I now endure, he +allows me to write to her, and refers wholly to herself my hopes and my +despair. Ah! generous, lovely Emmeline! _you_ can influence the mind of +your friend. When she is calm, give her the letter I will send to you; +and if you would save me from a life of lingering anguish to which death +is preferable, procure for me a favourable answer.' + +Emmeline could not refuse a request made by Fitz-Edward which Godolphin +seemed not to oppose. She therefore acquiesced; and saw him, after he +had again tenderly caressed the child, depart with Godolphin, who +desired her to return to the house, in order to await Lady Adelina's +rising; where he would soon join her. With an heart lightened of half +the concern she had felt on this melancholy subject, she now went to the +apartment of her poor friend, who was just awakened from the stupor +rather than the sleep into which the soporifics she had taken had thrown +her. With an heavy and reluctant eye she looked round her, as if +hopeless of seeing the image now always present to her imagination. +Emmeline approached her with the child. She seemed happy to see them; +and desiring her to sit down by the bed side, said--'Tell me truly what +has happened? Have I taken any medicine that has confused my head, or +how happens it that I appear to have been in a long and most uneasy +dream? Wild and half formed images still seem to float before my eyes; +and when I attempt to make them distinct, I am but the more bewildered +and uneasy.' + +'Think not about it, then, till the heaviness you complain of is gone +off.' + +'Tell me, Emmeline, have I really only dreamed, or was a stranger here +yesterday? I thought, that suddenly I saw Fitz-Edward, thin, pale, +emaciated, looking as if he were unhappy; and then, as it has of late +often happened, I lost at once all traces of him; and in his place +Godolphin came, and I know not what else; it is all confusion and +terror!' + +Emmeline now considered a moment; and then concluded that it would be +better to relate distinctly to her, since she now seemed capable of +hearing it, all that had really passed the preceding evening, than to +let her fatigue her mind by conjectures, and enfeeble it by fears. She +therefore gave her a concise detail of what had happened; from the +accidental meeting with Fitz-Edward, to the parting she had herself just +had with him in the garden. She carefully watched the countenance of +Lady Adelina while she was speaking; and saw with pleasure, that tho' +excessively agitated, she melted into tears, and heard, with a calmer +joy than she had dared to hope, the certainty of Fitz-Edward's tender +attachment, and the unhoped for reconciliation between him and her +brother. Having indulged her tears some time, she tenderly pressed the +hand of Emmeline, and said, in a faint voice, that she found herself +unable to rise and meet Godolphin till she had recovered a little more +strength of mind, and that she wished to be left alone. Emmeline, +rejoiced to find her so tranquil, left her, and rejoined Godolphin, who +was by this time returned; and who read, in the animated countenance of +Emmeline, that she had favourable news to relate to him of his sister. + +While they enjoyed together the prospect of Lady Adelina's return to +health and peace, of which they had both despaired, the natural +chearfulness of Emmeline, which anxiety and affection had so long +obscured, seemed in some degree to return; and feeling that she loved +Godolphin better than ever, for that generous placability of spirit he +had shewn to the repentant Fitz-Edward, she no longer attempted to +conceal her tenderness, or withhold her confidence from her deserving +lover. They breakfasted together; and afterwards, as Lady Adelina still +wished to be alone, they walked over the little estate which lay round +the house, and Emmeline allowed him to talk of the improvements he +meditated when she should become it's mistress. The pleasure, however, +which lightened in her eyes, and glowed in her bosom, was checked and +diminished when the image of Delamere, in jealousy and despair, intruded +itself. And she could look forward to no future happiness for herself, +undashed with sorrow, while he remained in a state of mind so +deplorable. When they returned into the house, Barret brought to +Godolphin the following note.-- + + + 'Dearest and most generous Godolphin! I find myself unequal to + the task of _speaking_ on what has passed within these last twenty + four hours. I wish still to see you. But let our conversation turn + wholly on Lord Westhaven, of whom I am anxious to hear; and spare + me, for the present, on the subject which now blinds with tears + your weak but grateful and affectionate + + ADELINA.' + + +Godolphin now assured her, by Emmeline, that he would mention nothing +that should give her a moment's pain, and that she should herself lead +the conversation. + +He soon after went up to her and Emmeline, in her dressing room; and +found her still calm, tho' very low and languid. The name of Fitz-Edward +was carefully avoided. But in the short time they were together, +Godolphin observed that the eyes of Lady Adelina seemed, on the entrance +of any one into the room, fearfully and anxiously to examine whether +they brought the letter she had been taught to expect from Fitz-Edward. +It was easy to see that she deeply meditated on the answer which she +must give; and that she felt an internal struggle, which Godolphin +feared might again unsettle her understanding. She was too faint to sit +up long; and desirous of being left entirely alone, Godolphin had for +the rest of the day the happiness of entertaining Emmeline apart. He +failed not to avail himself of it; and drew from her a confession of her +partiality towards him, even from the first day of their acquaintance; +and long before she dared trust her heart to enquire into the nature of +those sentiments with which it was impressed. + +Late in the evening, a messenger arrived with the expected letter from +Fitz-Edward. To convince Godolphin of the perfect integrity with which +he acted, he sent him a copy of it; adding, that he was then on his road +to London, where he should await, in painful solicitude, the decision of +Lady Adelina. It was determined that Emmeline should give her the letter +the next morning; and that if after reading it she retained the same +languid composure which she had before shewn, they should go in the +evening to Southampton, and from thence proceed the following day to +London, where Lord and Lady Westhaven so anxiously expected their +arrival. + +When Emmeline delivered the letter, Lady Adelina turned pale, and +trembled. She left her to read it; and on returning to her in about half +an hour, Emmeline found her drowned in tears. She seemed altogether +unwilling to speak of the contents of the letter; but assured Emmeline +that she was very well able to undertake the journey her brother +proposed, and she believed it would be rather useful than prejudicial to +her. 'As to the letter,' added she, with a deep sigh, 'it will not for +some days be in my power to answer it.' + +Every thing was, by the diligence of Godolphin, soon prepared for their +departure. Lady Adelina, her little boy, Emmeline and Godolphin, +attended by their servants, went the same evening to Southampton; from +whence they began their journey the next day; and resting one night at +Farnham, arrived early on the following at the house Lord Westhaven had +taken in Grosvenor street. + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + + +The transports with which Lord Westhaven received his sister, were +considerably checked by her melancholy air and faded form. The beauty +and vivacity which she possessed when he last saw her, were quite gone, +tho' she was now only in her twenty second year; and tears and sighs +were the only language by which she could express the pleasure she felt +at again seeing him. Imputing, however, this dejection entirely to her +late unfortunate marriage, his Lordship expressed rather sorrow than +wonder. He admired the little boy, whom he believed to be the son of +Godolphin; and he met Emmeline with that unreserved and generous +kindness he had ever shewn her. + +Lady Westhaven, with the truest pleasure, again embraced the friend of +her heart; and with delight Emmeline met her; but it was soon abated by +the sanguine hopes she expressed that nothing would now long delay the +happiness of Lord Delamere. + +'My Emmeline,' said she, 'will now be indeed my sister! Lord Montreville +and my mother can no longer oppose a marriage so extremely advantageous +to their son. _She_ will forgive them for their long blindness; and +pardoning poor Delamere for the involuntary error into which he was +forced, will constitute the happiness of him and of his family.' + +To this, Emmeline could only answer that she had not the least intention +of marrying. Lady Westhaven laughed at that assertion. And she foresaw a +persecution preparing for her, on behalf of Delamere, which was likely +to give her greater uneasiness than she had yet suffered from any event +of her life. + +Lord Westhaven, as soon as they grew a little composed, took an +opportunity of leaving the rest of the party; and went into his dressing +room, where he sent for Emmeline. + +'Well, my lovely cousin,' said he, when she was seated, 'I have seen +Lord Montreville on your business. I cannot say that his Lordship +received me with pleasure. But some allowances must be made for a man +who loves money, on finding himself obliged to relinquish so large an +estate, and to refund so large a sum as he holds of yours.' + +'I hope, however, you, my Lord, have had no dispute on my account with +the Marquis?' + +'Oh! none in the world. What he _thought_, I had no business to enquire; +what he said, was not much; as he committed the arguments against you to +Sir Richard Crofts, who talked very long, and, as far as I know, very +learnedly. He spoke like a lawyer and a politician. I cut the matter +short, by telling him that I should attend to nothing but from an honest +man and a gentleman.' + +'That was severe, my Lord.' + +'Oh! he did not feel it. Wrapped in his own self-sufficiency, and too +rich to recollect the necessity of being honest, he still persisted in +trying to persuade me that nothing should be done in regard to restoring +your estate 'till all the deeds had been examined; as he had his doubts +whether, allowing your father's marriage to be established, great part +of the landed property is not entailed on the heirs male. In short, he +only seemed desirous of gaining time and giving trouble. But the first, +I was determined not to allow him; and to shorten the second, I took Mr. +Newton with me the next day, and desired Sir Richard, if he could prove +any entail, to produce his proofs. For that, he had an evasion ready--he +had not had _time_ to examine the deeds; which I find are all in his +hands. _We_, however, were better prepared. Mr. Newton produced the +papers that authenticate your birth; he offered to bring a witness who +was present when Mr. Mowbray was married to Miss Stavordale; nay even +the clergyman who performed the ceremony at Paris, and who is found to +be actually living in Westmoreland. The hand writing of your father is +easily proved; and Mr. Newton, summing up briefly all the corroborating +testimonies that exist of your right to the Mowbray estate, concluded by +telling Lord Montreville, that at the end of two days he should wait +upon his Lordship for his determination, whether he would dispute it in +a court of law or settle it amicably with me on behalf of his niece. +Newton then left us; and I desired your uncle to allow me a few moments +private conversation; which, as he could not refuse it, obliged old +Crofts, and that formal blockhead his son, to leave us alone together. I +then represented to him how greatly his character must suffer should the +affair become public. That tho' I believed myself he was really ignorant +of the circumstances which gave you, from the moment of your father's +death, an undoubted claim to the whole of his fortune, yet that the +world will not believe it; but will consider him as a man so cruelly +insatiable, so shamefully unjust, as to take advantage of a defenceless +orphan to accumulate riches he did not want, and had no right to enjoy. +I added, that if notwithstanding he chose to go into court, he must +excuse me if I forgot the near connection I had with him, and appeared +publicly as the assertor of your claim, and of course as his enemy. + +'The Marquis seemed very much hurt at the peremptory style in which I +thought myself obliged to speak. He declined giving any positive answer; +saying, only, that he must consult his wife and his son. What the former +said, I know not; but the latter, generous in his nature, and adoring +_you_, protested to his father that he would himself, as your next +nearest relation, join in the suit against him, if the estate was not +immediately given up. This spirited resolution of Lord Delamere, and the +opinions of several eminent lawyers whom Sir Richard was sent to +consult, at length brought Lord Montreville to a resolution before the +expiration of the two days; and last night I received a letter from him, +to say that he would, on Monday next, account with you, and put you in +possession of your estate; the management of which, however, and the +care of your person, he should reserve to himself 'till you were of +age.' + +'Good God!' exclaimed Emmeline; trembling, 'am I to meet my uncle on +Monday on this business?' + +'Yes; and wherefore are you terrified?' + +'At the idea of his anger--his hatred; and of being compelled to live +with the Marchioness, who always disliked me, and now must detest me.' + +Lord Westhaven then assured her that he would be there to support her +spirits. That her uncle, whatever might be his feelings, would not +express them by rudeness and asperity; but would more probably be +desirous of shewing kindness and seeking reconciliation. Yet that it was +improbable he should propose her residing with Lady Montreville; 'whose +present state of health,' said he, 'makes her incapable of leaving her +room, and for whose life the most serious apprehensions are entertained +by her physicians.' + +Emmeline, thus reassured by Lord Westhaven on that subject, and +extremely glad to hear there would be no necessity for proceedings at +law against her uncle, returned with some chearfulness to the company; +where it was not encreased by the entrance of Lord Delamere, which +happened soon afterwards. + +The very ill state of health indicated by his appearance, extremely hurt +her. Nor was she less affected by his address to her, so expressive of +the deepest anguish and regret. She could not bear to receive him with +haughtiness and coldness; but mildly, and with smiles, returned the +questions he put to her on common subjects. His chagrin seemed to wear +off; and hope, which Emmeline as little wished to give, again reanimated +in some degree his melancholy countenance. + +The next day, and again the next, he came to Lord Westhaven's; but +Emmeline cautiously avoided any conversation with him to which the whole +company were not witnesses. Godolphin too was there: her behaviour to +him was the same; and she would suffer neither to treat her with any +degree of particularity. Godolphin, who knew her reason for being +reserved towards _him_, was content; and Delamere, who suspected not how +dangerous a rival he had, was compelled to remain on the footing only of +a relation; still hoping that time and perseverance might restore him to +the happiness he had lost. + +Monday now arrived, and Emmeline was to wait on her uncle in +Berkley-square. At twelve o'clock Lord Westhaven was ready. Emmeline was +led by him into the coach. They took up Mr. Newton in Lincolns-inn; and +then went to their rendezvous. Emmeline trembled as Lord Westhaven took +her up stairs: she remembered the terror she had once before suffered in +the same house; and when she entered the drawing-room, could hardly +support herself. + +The Marquis, Sir Richard Crofts, his eldest son, and Lord Delamere, with +two stewards and a lawyer, were already there. Lord Montreville coldly +and gravely returned his niece's compliments; Sir Richard malignantly +eyed her from the corners of his eyes, obscured by fat; and Crofts put +on a look of pompous sagacity and consequential knowledge; while Lord +Delamere, who would willingly have parted with the whole of his paternal +fortune rather than with her, seemed eager only to see a business +concluded by which she was to receive benefit. + +The lawyer in a set speech opened the business, and expatiated largely +on Lord Montreville's great generosity. + +Lord Westhaven looked over the accounts: they appeared to have been made +out right. The title deeds of the estate were then produced; the usual +forms gone thro'; and papers signed, which put Emmeline in possession of +them. All passed with much silence and solemnity: Lord Montreville said +very little; and ineffectually struggled to conceal the extreme +reluctance with which he made this resignation. When the business was +completed, Emmeline advanced to kiss the hand of her uncle: he saluted +her; but without any appearance of affection; and coldly enquired how +she intended to dispose of herself? + +'I propose, my Lord, wholly to refer myself to your Lordship as to my +present residence, or any other part of my conduct in which you will +honour me with your advice.' + +'I am sorry, Miss Mowbray, that the ill state of health of the +Marchioness prevents my having the pleasure of your company here. +However my daughter, Lady Westhaven, will of course be happy to have you +remain with her till you have fixed on some plan of life, or till you +are of age.' + +'Not only till Miss Mowbray is of age, my Lord, but ever, both Lady +Westhaven and myself should be gratified by having her with us,' said +Lord Westhaven. + +To this no answer was given; and a long silence ensued. + +Emmeline felt distressed; and at length said--'I believe, my Lord, Lady +Westhaven will expect us.' + +They then rose; and taking a formal leave of the Marquis, were allowed +to leave the room. Lord Delamere, however, took Emmeline's hand, and as +he led her to the coach implored her to indulge him with one moment's +conversation at any hour when they might not be interrupted. But with +great firmness, yet with great sweetness, she told him that she must be +forgiven if she adhered to a resolution she had made to give no audience +on the topic he wished to speak upon, for many months to come. + +'Almost two years!' exclaimed he--'almost two long years must I wait, +without knowing whether, at the end of that time, you will hear and pity +me! Ah! can you, Emmeline, persist in such cruelty?' + +'A good morning to your Lordship,' said she, as she got into the coach. + +'Will you dine with us, Delamere?' asked Lord Westhaven. + +'Yes; and will go home with you now, and dress in Grosvenor street.' He +then gave some orders to his servants, and stepped into the coach. + +'I never was less disposed in my life,' said he, 'to rejoin a party, +than I am to go back to those grave personages up stairs: it is with the +utmost difficulty I command my temper to meet those Crofts' on the most +necessary business. My blood boils, my soul recoils at them!' + +'Pooh, pooh!' cried Lord Westhaven, 'you are always taking unreasonable +aversions. Your blood is always boiling at some body or other. I tell +you, the Crofts' are good necessary, plodding people. Not too refined, +perhaps, in points of honour, nor too strict in those of honesty; but +excellent at the main chance, as you may see by what they have done for +themselves.' + +Delamere then uttered against them a dreadful execration, and went on to +describe the whole family with great severity and with great truth, +'till he at length talked himself into a violent passion; and Lord +Westhaven with difficulty brought him to be calm by the time they had +set down Mr. Newton and stopped at his own door. At the same instant +Lord Westhaven's coach arrived there, a splendid chariot, most elegantly +decorated, came up also. Delamere, struck with its brilliancy, examined +the arms and saw his own: looking into it, he changed countenance, and +said to Lord Westhaven--'Upon my word! Crofts' wife and your Swiss +relation, de Bellozane!' + +'Crofts' wife?' + +'Aye. I mean the woman who was once Fanny Delamere, my sister.' + +'Come, Delamere, forget these heartburnings, and remember that she is +your sister still.' + +'I should be glad to know (if it were worth my while to enquire) what +business Bellozane has with _her_?' + +By this time they were in the house, where Lady Frances and the +Chevalier arrived also. + +Lord Westhaven met them with his usual politeness; but Delamere only +slightly touched his hat to Bellozane, and sternly saluted his sister +with 'your servant, Lady Frances Crofts!' He then passed them, and went +into Lord Westhaven's dressing room; while her Ladyship, regardless of +his displeasure, and affecting the utmost gaity, talked and laughed with +Lord Westhaven as she went up stairs. Emmeline followed them, listening +to the whispered compliments of Bellozane with great coldness; and Lady +Frances, entering with a fashionable flounce the drawing room where her +sister was, cried--'Well child! how are you? I beg your pardon for not +coming to enquire after you sooner: but I have had such crowds of +company at Belleville Lodge, that it was impossible to escape. And +here's this animal here, this relation of your Lord's, really haunts me; +so I was forced at last to bring him with me.' This speech was +accompanied by a significant smile directed to Bellozane. + +Lady Westhaven, checked by such an address from flying into the arms of +her sister, now expressed, without any great warmth, that she was glad +to see her. Something like general conversation was attempted. But Lady +Frances, who hoped to hide, under the affectation of extravagant +spirits, the envy and mortification with which she contemplated the +superior happiness of her sister, soon engrossed the discourse entirely. +She talked only of men of the first rank, or of _beaux esprits_ their +associates, who had been down in parties to Belleville Lodge (the name +she had given to her villa near Richmond); and she repeated compliments +which both the Lords and the wits had made to her figure and her +understanding. When she seemed almost to have exhausted this interesting +topic, Lady Westhaven said, as if merely for the sake of saying +something--'Mr. Crofts has been so obliging as to call here twice since +we came to London; but unluckily was not let in. Pray how does he do?' + +'Mr. Crofts? Oh! I know very little of him. At this time of the year we +never meet. _He_ lives, you know, in Burlington street, and _I_ live at +Belleville; and if he comes thither, as he sometimes does of a Friday or +Saturday, he finds me too much engaged to know whether he is there or +not. I believe, tho', he is very well; and I think the last time I saw +him he was nearly as lively and amusing as he usually is. Don't you +think he was, Bellozane?' + +'_O! assurement oui_,' replied the Chevalier, sneeringly, '_Monsieur +Croff a toujours beaucoup de vivacité_.--_C'est un homme fort amusant ce +Monsieur Croff._'[43] + +Lady Westhaven, disgusted, shocked, and amazed, had no power to take any +share in such a dialogue; and Lady Frances went on. + +'Well! but now I assure you, Augusta, I'm going to be most uncommonly +good; and am coming, tho' 'tis a terrible heavy undertaking, to pass a +whole week, without company, with _mon tres cher Mari_, in +Burlington-street. Nay, I will go still farther, and make a family party +with you to the play, which I generally detest of all things.' + +'That is being really very kind,' said Lady Westhaven. 'But since you +are so tenderly disposed towards your own family, would it not be well +if you were to enquire after my mother? You know, I suppose, how very +ill she is; how much worse 'tis feared she may be?' + +'Yes, I shall certainly call,' replied Lady Frances with the utmost +_sang froid_, 'before I go home. But as to her illness, you are +frightened at nothing: she has only her old complaints.' + +'Her old complaints! And are not they enough? If _I_ were in a situation +to be useful to her; or even as it is, if Lord Westhaven would permit +me, I should certainly think it my duty constantly to attend her.' + +'Probably you might. And it is equally probable that it would be of no +use if you did. She has Brackley, and all her own people about her; and +no more _could_ be done for her, even tho' you were to hazard your +_precious_ life, or if _I_, (who you know would not risk by it that of +an heir to an Earldom) should sacrifice _my_ ease and _my_ friends to +attend her.' + +The unfeeling malignity of this speech was so extremely distressing to +Lady Westhaven, that she could hardly command her tears. + +Lord Westhaven saw her emotion, and said, 'Augusta, my love, your sister +is too brilliant for you. You have not acquired that last polish of high +life, which quite effaces all other feelings; nor will you, perhaps, +ever arrive at it.' + +'God forbid that I ever should!' cried Lady Westhaven, unable to conceal +her indignation. + +'Poor thing!' said Lady Frances, with the most unblushing +assurance--'You have curious ideas of domestic felicity: and it's a +thousand pities, that instead of being what you are, destiny had not +made you the snug, notable wife of a country parson, with three or four +hundred a year--You would have been pure and happy, to drive about in a +one horse chaise, make custards, walk tame about the house, and bring +the good man a baby every year: but really, you are now quite out of +your element.' She then rang the bell for her carriage; which being soon +ready, she gaily wished her sister good day, and the Chevalier handed +her down stairs; where, as she descended, she said, loud enough to be +heard, '_S'il y'a une chose au monde que je deteste plus qu'un notre, +c'est la tristesse d'une societé comme cela_.'[44] The Chevalier assented +with his lips; but his heart and his wishes were fled towards Emmeline. +He was, however, so engaged with her proud and insolent rival, that he +no longer dared openly to avow his predilection for her: and Lady +Frances seemed so sure of the strength of that attachment which was her +disgrace, that she brought him on purpose where Emmeline was, to shew +how little she apprehended his defection. + +Lord Westhaven, after pausing a second, ran down stairs after them; and +just as Bellozane was stepping into the chariot, took him by the arm, +and begged to speak to him for two minutes. + +He apologized to Lady Frances, and they went together into a room; where +Lord Westhaven, with all the warmth which his relationship authorized, +remonstrated against his stay in England; represented the expence and +uneasiness it must occasion to the good old Baron; and above all, +exhorted him to fly immediately from the dangerous society of Lady +Frances Crofts. + +Bellozane received this advice from his cousin with a very ill grace. He +said, that he could not discover why his Lordship assumed an authority +over him, or pretended either to blame his past conduct or dictate his +future. That he came to England a stranger; brought thither by his +honourable passion for Miss Mowbray, which he had a right to pursue; but +that Mr. Godolphin, who was his only relation then in England, had +either from accident or design shewn him very little attention; while +Lady Frances had, with the most winning _honeteté_, invited him to her +house, and supplied the want of _that_ hospitality which his own family +had not afforded him. And that infinitely obliged as he was to her, he +should ill brook any reflection on a woman of honour who was his friend. + +'But my Lord,' added he, 'if your Lordship will allow me to visit here +as Miss Mowbray's favoured lover, I will not only drop the acquaintance +of Lady Frances, but will put myself entirely under your Lordship's +direction.' + +Lord Westhaven, piqued and provoked, answered--'that he had no power +whatever to direct Miss Mowbray; and if he had, should never advise her +to receive him. Be assured, Monsieur le Chevalier, that you have no +chance of ever being acceptable to her, and you must think no more of +her.' + +Bellozane, equally impatient of advice and contradiction, burst from +him; and went back to Lady Frances in a very ill humour. + +Delamere, who had been dressing while his eldest sister remained, now +joined Lady Westhaven and Emmeline in the drawing room. Thither also +came Lady Adelina; who, during the five days they had been in town had +not been well enough till this day to dine below. + +She was now languid and faint, and obliged to retire, as soon as the +cloth was removed, to her own room. Emmeline attended her; and when they +were alone together, she complained of finding herself every day more +indisposed. 'The air of London,' said she, 'is not good for my child: I +cannot help fancying he droops already. And the noise of a house where +there are unavoidably so many visitors, and such a multitude of +servants, is too much for my spirits. As Lord Westhaven is desirous of +my staying in London till my sister Clancarryl arrives, that we may meet +all together after being so many years divided, I will not press my +return to East Cliff; but I wish he would allow me to go to some village +near London, where I may occasionally enjoy solitude and silence; for I +have that upon my heart, Emmeline, that demands both.' + +Emmeline communicated her wish to Godolphin the same evening; who +undertook to settle it with Lord Westhaven as his sister desired; and +the next day Lady Adelina and her little boy removed to Highgate, where +her brother had procured her a handsome lodging; and he, quitting those +he usually occupied in town, went to reside with her. + +After having been there a few days, she sent to Emmeline the following +letter, which she desired might be delivered by her own hand. + + + '_To the Honourable George Fitz-Edward._ + + 'I have thus long forborne to answer your letter, because I have + not 'till now been able to collect that strength of mind which is + necessary, when I am to obey the inexorable duty that tears me from + you for ever! + + 'That you yet _love_ me well enough to solicit my hand, is I own + most soothing and consolatory: but where, Fitz-Edward, is the + Lethean cup, without which you cannot _esteem_ me?--without which, I + cannot esteem myself? No! I am not worthy the honour of being your + wife! It is fit my fault be punished--punished by the cruel + obligation it lays me under of renouncing the man I love! + + 'Fitz-Edward, I will not dissemble! I cannot, if I would! My + affection for you is become a part of my existence, and can end + but in the grave. Under the dread of your infidelity or your + danger, my reason was too weak to support me: now that I have no + longer any apprehensions of either, my reason is returned--it is + returned to shew me all my wretchedness, and to afford me that + light by which I must plunge a dagger into my own bosom. + + 'Had I, however, no objections on my own account, there is one + that on another appears insuperable. Were the marriage you solicit + to take place, and to be followed by a family, could I bear that my + William, the delight and support of my life, should be as an alien + in his father's house, and either appear as the son of Godolphin or + learn to blush for his mother! + + 'We must part, Fitz-Edward! Indeed we must! Or if we are obliged + to meet, do you at least forget that we ever met before. + + 'I know that the daughter of Lord Westhaven, in youth, beauty, and + innocence, would not have been, however portionless, unworthy of + you. But what would you receive in the widow of Trelawny? A mind + unsettled by guilt and sorrow; spirits which have lost all relish + for felicity; a blemished, if not a ruined reputation, a faded + person, and an exhausted heart--exhausted of almost every sentiment + but that so fatally predominant; which now forces me to blot my + paper with tears, as I write this last farewel! + + 'Farewel! most beloved Fitz-Edward!--Ah! try if it be possible to + be happy! Be assured I wish it; even tho' it be necessary for that + end to drive from your memory, for ever, the lost + + ADELINA TRELAWNY.' + + +Emmeline, to whom this letter was sent open, could not but approve the +sentiments it contained, while her heart bled for the pain it must have +cost Lady Adelina, and for that which it must inflict on Fitz-Edward. + +When she had dispatched a note to his lodgings, to name an early hour +the next day for speaking to him, she went down into the drawing room, +where a large party of company were already assembled. Emmeline, to +avoid a particular conversation with Lord Delamere, which he incessantly +solicited, placed herself near one of the card tables; when, at a late +hour of the evening, dressed in the utmost exuberance of fashion, +blazing in jewels and blooming in rouge, entered Mrs. James Crofts, +followed by the two eldest of her daughters; one, drest in the character +of Charlotte in the Sorrows of Werter; and the other, as Emma, the nut +brown maid. Their air and manner were adapted, as they believed, to the +figures of those characters as they appear in the print shops; and their +excessive affectation, together with the gaudy appearance of their mama, +nearly conquered the gravity of Emmeline and of many others of the +company. + +While Mrs. Crofts paid her compliments to Lady Westhaven and Emmeline, +and gave herself all those airs which she believed put her upon an +equality with the circle she was in, the two Misses anxiously watched +the impression which they concluded their charms must make on the +gentlemen present. Their mama had told them that most likely all of them +were Lords, or Lords sons at least; and the girls were not without +hopes, that among them there might be some of that species of men of +quality, whom modern novelists describe as being in the habit of +carrying forcibly away, beautiful young creatures, with whom perchance +they become enamoured, and marrying them in despite of all opposition. +They longed above all things to meet with such adventures, and to be +carried off by a Lord, or a Baronet at least; whose letters afterwards, +to some dear Charles or Harry, could not fail to edify the world. After +Mrs. Crofts had displayed her dress, and convinced the company of her +being quite in a good style of life; and when her daughters had +committed hostilities for near an hour upon the hearts of the gentlemen, +they sailed out in the same state as they entered; nor could all +Emmeline's good humour prevent her smiling at the satyrical remarks made +on them by some of the company; nothing more strongly exciting the +ridicule and contempt of people of real fashion than awkward and +impotent efforts to imitate them. + +The next day, Fitz-Edward attended at the hour Emmeline appointed, and +received from her the letter of Lady Adelina, with a degree of anguish +which gave great pain to Emmeline and Godolphin. Still, however, he was +not quite deprived of hope; but flattered himself that the persuasions +of her sister, Lady Clancarryl (who was now every day expected, with her +husband and family, to pass the rest of the winter in London) added to +those of Lord Westhaven, and the good offices of Emmeline, would +together prevail on Lady Adelina to alter a resolution which rendered +them both wretched. + +Some weeks, however, passed, and she still adhered to it; while the +melancholy conversation which Emmeline frequently had with Fitz-Edward, +and the importunity and unhappiness of Delamere, deprived her of much of +that tranquillity she might otherwise have enjoyed; particularly after +the recovery of Lady Westhaven (who presented her Lord with a son), and +the arrival of Mrs. Stafford and her family from France. + +Lord Westhaven, who held a promise particularly sacred when made to the +unfortunate, had procured for Mr. Stafford a lucrative employment in the +West Indies. Thither he immediately went; and his wife, whose spirits +and health were greatly hurt, was happy to accept the offer Emmeline +made her of going down with her children to Mowbray Castle. The Marquis +of Montreville had presented his niece with the furniture he had sent +thither, being in truth ashamed to charge it; there was therefore every +thing necessary; and there Emmeline intended Mrs. Stafford should reside +'till she should be established in some residence agreeable to her; +which she intended to fix if possible near her own; and she now felt all +the advantages of that fortune, which enabled her to repay the +obligations she owed to her earliest friend. + +[Footnote 43: Oh! certainly, Mr. Crofts is always very sprightly. A most +entertaining personage.] + +[Footnote 44: If there is any thing in the world I utterly detest, 'tis +such dismal society as that.] + + + + +CHAPTER XV + + +The rank, and extensive connections of Lady Westhaven, led her +unavoidably into a good deal of company; but it was among persons as +respectable for their virtues as their station. Emmeline, of course, +often accompanied her: but almost all her mornings, and frequently her +evenings, were dedicated to Lady Adelina; who hardly saw any body but +her, Lady Westhaven, her brothers, and her sister; and never went out +but for the air. + +Godolphin passed with her much of his time: to the love and pity he had +before felt for her, was added veneration and esteem, excited by the +heroism of her conduct. At her lodgings, too, he could see Emmeline +without the restraint they were under in other places. There, he could +talk to her of his love; and there, she consented to hear him. + +Lady Westhaven went constantly every morning to visit her mother, who +had lately been rather better, and whose health her physicians +entertained some hopes of re-establishing. Her own unhappy temper seemed +to be the chief impediment to her recovery; her violent passions, +unsubdued by sickness and disappointment; and her immeasurable pride, +which even the approach of death could not conquer, kept her nerves +continually on the stretch; and allowed her no repose of mind, even when +her bodily sufferings were suspended. That her favourite project of +uniting the only surviving branches of her own family, by the marriage +of Lord Delamere and Miss Otley, was now for ever at an end, was a +perpetual source of murmuring and discontent. And tho' Emmeline had as +splendid a fortune, with a person and a mind infinitely more lovely, her +Ladyship could not yet prevail upon herself to desire, that the name for +which she felt such proud veneration, and the fortune of her own +illustrious ancestors, should be enjoyed, or carried down to posterity +by her, who had become the object of her capricious but inveterate +dislike. + +Emmeline was very glad that the Marchioness thro' prejudice, and her +uncle thro' shame, forbore to persecute her in favour of their son: but +tho' perfectly aware of the antipathy Lady Montreville entertained +towards her, she yet shewed her all the attention she would receive; and +would even constantly have waited on her, had she not expressed more +pain than pleasure in her presence. + +Lady Frances Crofts, by this time fixed in Burlington street for the +winter, called now and then on her mother; but her visits were short and +cold. It unfortunately happened, that the Marchioness, whose amusement +was now almost solely confined to reading the daily prints, had found in +one of them a paragraph evidently pointed at the intimacy subsisting +between Lady Frances and the Chevalier de Bellozane, which had long been +the topic of public scandal. + +Lady Frances called upon her while her mind was under the first +impression of this disgraceful circumstance; and she spoke to her +daughter of her improper attachment to that young foreigner with more +than her usual severity. Lady Frances, far from hearing her remonstrance +with calmness, retorted, with rudeness and asperity, what she termed +unjust reproaches; and asserted her own right to associate with whom she +pleased. The Marchioness grew more enraged, and they parted in great +wrath: in consequence of which, Lady Montreville, in the inconsiderate +excess of her anger, sent for her husband and her son; and exclaiming +with all her natural acrimony against the shameful conduct of Lady +Frances, insisted upon their obliging Crofts to separate his wife from +her dangerous and improper acquaintance, and forcing her immediately +into the country. + +Lord Montreville, who had already heard too much of his daughter's +general light conduct, and her particular partiality to Bellozane, now +saw new evils gathering round him, from which he knew not how to escape. +The fiery and impatient Delamere, already irritated against Bellozane +for his pretensions to Emmeline, broke forth in menace and invective; +and nothing but his father's anguish, and even tears, prevented his +flying directly to him to execute that vengeance which his mother had +dictated. She herself, in the violence of her passion, had overlooked +the consequence of putting this affair into the hands of the +inconsiderate and headlong Delamere; but when she saw him thus inflamed, +terror for _him_, was added to resentment against her daughter; and +altogether produced such an effect on her broken constitution, that in a +few days afterwards her complaints returned with great violence, and all +remedies proving ineffectual, she expired in less than a fortnight. Lady +Westhaven and Emmeline attended on her themselves for the last four or +five days; but she was insensible; and knew neither of them. Delamere, +very fond of his mother, and whose feelings were painfully acute, +suffered for many days the most violent paroxysms of grief; yet it was a +considerable alleviation to reflect that he had not finally been the +cause of her death. Lord Montreville bore it with more composure: and +the softer, tho' deep sorrow of Lady Westhaven, found relief in the +constant and tender attention of her Lord, and the sympathy of Emmeline. + +Lady Frances Crofts, not insensible to remorse, but resolutely stifling +it, affected to hear the news with proper concern, yet as what had been +for many months expected. She sent constantly to enquire after her +father; and the Marquis hoping that while her mind was softened by such +a mournful event his remonstrance might make a deeper impression, +determined to go to her; therefore the day after the remains of the +Marchioness had been carried to the family vault of the Delameres, he +took his chair, and went to Burlington street. + +On entering the house, the servants, who concluded he came to Mr. +Crofts, were taking him into those apartments below which their master +occupied: but his Lordship told them he must speak to their lady. Her +own footman said her Ladyship had given orders to be denied. + +'To her father, puppy?'--said Lord Montreville. 'Where is she?' + +'In her dressing room, my Lord.' + +He then passed alone up stairs--As he went, he heard the voice of +laughter and gaiety, and was more shocked than surprised, when, on +opening the door, he saw Lady Frances in a morning dishabille, and the +Chevalier de Bellozane making her tea. At the entrance of her father +thus unexpectedly, she changed colour; but soon assuming her usual +assured manner, said she was glad to see his Lordship well enough to +come out. + +'Dismiss this young man,' said he sternly. 'I must speak to you alone.' + +'_Va mon ami_,' cried Lady Frances, with the utmost ease, '_pour +quelques moments_.' + +Bellozane left the room; and then Lord Montreville, with paternal +affection, tried to move her. But she had conquered her feelings; and +answered with great calmness--'That conscious of her own innocence, she +was quite indifferent to the opinion of the world. And that tho' she +certainly wished to be upon good terms with her own family, yet if any +part of it chose to think ill of her, they must do so entirely from +prejudice, which it was little worth her while to attempt removing.' + +Lord Montreville, now provoked beyond all endurance, gave way to the +indignation with which he was inflamed, and denounced his malediction +against her, if she did not immediately dismiss Bellozane and regulate +her manner of life. She heard him with the most callous insensibility; +and let him depart without making any attempt to appease his anger or +calm his apprehensions. From her, he went down to Crofts; to whom he +forcibly represented the necessity there was for putting an immediate +stop to the scandal which the conduct of his wife occasioned. +Pusillanimous and mean-spirited, Crofts chose neither to risk his +personal safety with the Chevalier, nor the diminution of his fortune by +attempting to procure a divorce, which would compel him to return what +he loved much better than honour. + +He saw many others do extremely well, and mightily respected, whose +wives were yet gayer than his own; and convinced that while he had money +he should always obtain as much regard as he desired, he rather excused +to Lord Montreville the conduct of Lady Frances than shewed any +disposition to resent it. The Marquis left him with contempt, and +ordered his chair to Lord Westhaven's. As he went, he could not forbear +reflecting on the contrast between his eldest and youngest daughter, and +between his eldest daughter and his niece. He grew extremely anxious for +Lord Delamere's marriage with Emmeline: sure of finding, in her, an +honour to his family, which might console him for his present +misfortunes: and he deeply regretted that infatuation which had blinded +him to her superior merit, and hazarded losing her for ever. Disgusted +already with the Crofts, he remembered that it had been in a great +measure owing to them, and he thought of them only with repentance and +dislike. + +He saw Lord Westhaven alone; and relating to him all that had passed +that morning, besought him to consider what could be done to divide +Bellozane from Lady Frances Crofts. + +Lord Westhaven had seen and heard too much of the intimacy between them. +He was extremely hurt that so near a relation of his own should occasion +such uneasiness in the family of his wife; but as he had not invited him +over, and always discouraged his stay, he had on that head nothing with +which to reproach himself. And all he could now do, was, to promise that +he would speak again to Bellozane, and write to the Baron de St. Alpin, +entreating him to press the return of his son to Switzerland. His +Lordship entered warmly into the apprehensions of Lord Montreville; and +undertook to use all his influence with Delamere to prevent his running +rashly into a quarrel with a young man as passionate and as violent as +himself. + +Lord Montreville then spoke of Emmeline; and expressed his wishes that +the union between her and his son might speedily be accomplished: but on +this subject Lord Westhaven gave him very little hopes. Tho' Emmeline +had done her utmost to conceal even from Lord and Lady Westhaven the +true state of her heart, his Lordship had, in their frequent conferences +on her affairs, clearly perceived what were her sentiments. But since +they were in favour of his brother, he could not think of attempting to +alter them, however sorry for Delamere; and could only determine to +observe an absolute neutrality. + +He did not communicate to the Marquis all he thought, but told him in +general, that Emmeline seemed at present averse to every proposal of +marriage, and firm in the resolution she had made, to remain single +'till she had completed her twenty-first year. Lord Westhaven sent for +Bellozane; who had lately been less frequent in his visits at +Grosvenor-street, and who seemed to resent the coldness with which his +cousins received him, and to have conceived great anger at the reserve +and even aversion with which Emmeline treated him. The servant whom his +Lordship dispatched with a note to Bellozane, returned in about ten +minutes, and said that the Chevalier was gone to Bath. Lord Westhaven +now hoped that for some time the intercourse which had given such +offence, and occasioned such misery, would be at an end: in the +afternoon, however, Crofts came in; and on Lady Westhaven's enquiry +after her sister, he told her that she was going that afternoon to +Speenhamland in her way to Bath. Conduct, so glaringly improper and +unfeeling, a defiance so bold to the opinions of the world and the +common decencies of society, extremely hurt both her Ladyship and her +Lord. The latter, however, found some satisfaction in reflecting that at +least Delamere and Bellozane could not immediately meet. + +Above a month now passed with as much tranquillity as the ardent +supplications of Delamere to Emmeline would admit. Lord and Lady +Clancarryl, with their family, arrived in London to pass the rest of the +winter; and Lady Adelina, insensibly won from her retirement by the +pleasure of meeting at once her sister and her two brothers, seemed to +be in better health, and sometimes in better spirits. As she was now +frequently induced to join these charming family parties, she was +obliged to see Fitz-Edward among them; and he entertained new hopes that +she would at length conquer her scruples and accept his hand: she +carefully, however, avoided all conversation with him but in mixed +company; and Emmeline being continually with her, they were equally +prevented from hearing, with any degree of particularity, Godolphin or +Fitz-Edward. + +The Marchioness of Montreville had now been dead almost two months; and +Lady Westhaven, who from respect to her memory had hitherto forborne to +appear in public, was prevailed upon to go to a new play; for the author +of which, a nobleman, one of her friends, being particularly interested, +he prevailed on all the people of fashion and taste whom he knew to +attend on the third night of it's representation. Lady Westhaven, Lady +Clancarryl, and Emmeline, were by his earnest entreaties induced to be +among them: but as Lord Westhaven, Lord Clancarryl, Godolphin, and +Fitz-Edward, were absent, being gone all together to the seat of the +former, in Kent, for a few days, they foresaw but little pleasure in the +party; and Lady Westhaven expressed even a reluctance for which she knew +not how to account. The eagerness of Lord----to serve his friend at +length over-ruled her objections; his Lordship himself and Lord Delamere +were to attend them; and they were to be joined by some other ladies +there. The stage box had been retained for them; and they proceeded to +the playhouse, where they were hardly seated, before Lady Westhaven saw, +with infinite mortification and alarm, her sister, Lady Frances Crofts, +enter the next box, handed by the Chevalier de Bellozane, and +accompanied by a lady, of fashion indeed, but of very equivocal +character, with whom she had lately contracted a great intimacy. All +attention to the play was now at an end. Incapable of receiving +amusement, Lady Westhaven would instantly have returned home; and +Emmeline, who saw rage and fierceness in the countenance of Lord +Delamere, was equally anxious to do so: but they knew not how to account +for such a wish to their party without making their fears public; and +while they deliberated how to act, the play went on. Lady Frances, as if +quite unconscious of any impropriety in her conduct, spoke to them and +to Delamere. They forced themselves to answer her with civility; but her +brother, turning from her, darted an angry look at Bellozane, and went +to the other side of the house. He from thence watched with indignation +the familiar whispers which passed between her and the Chevalier; and +reflecting on the recent death of his mother, which had been hastened if +not occasioned by this connection; remembering how greatly the +sufferings of her last hours had been embittered by it, and recalling to +his memory a thousand other causes of anger against Bellozane, he heated +his imagination with the review of these injuries, till he raised +himself into an agony of passion, which it was soon impossible for him, +had he been so disposed, to restrain. + +A very few minutes after the play ended, Lady Westhaven, impatient to +get away before her sister, beckoned to Delamere; and finding her +servants ready, told her party she was too much tired to stay the +entertainment, and rose with Emmeline to go. Lord----led her Ladyship, +and Delamere took the hand of Emmeline: the two former walked hastily +thro' the lobby; but as the two latter followed, they were suddenly +stopped by Rochely, who, making one of his solemn bows, advanced close +to Emmeline, and with great composure congratulated her in his usual +slow and monotonous manner, on her late acquisitions; assured her of his +great respect and esteem; and added, that as he understood she would, +when she came of age, be possessed of a large sum of money, he flattered +himself she would allow him to manage it for her, as Lord Montreville at +present did; declaring that nobody could be more attentive to the +interest of his customers. The profound gravity with which, in such a +place, he made such a request; the sordid meanness of spirit, which +could induce a man already so very rich, to solicit custom with the +avidity of a mechanic beginning business; and the uncouth and formal +figure of the person himself; would have excited in Emmeline ridicule as +well as contempt, at any other time: but now, distrest at the delay this +meeting occasioned, she hurried over some answer, she hardly knew what, +and hastened towards the door. Just, however, before they reached it, +Bellozane, with Lady Frances Crofts hanging on his arm, overtook and +passed them: the Chevalier slightly touched his hat to Emmeline; and +Lady Frances, nodding familiarly, said--'Good night! good night!' Lady +Frances and Bellozane went on; and Emmeline, who saw fury in the eyes of +Delamere, now wished as much to linger behind as she had before done to +hurry forward. But Delamere quickening his pace, overtook them as they +descended the steps, and rushed so closely and with so much intended +rudeness by Bellozane, that it was with the utmost difficulty he could +avoid falling and dragging his fair associate with him. The fiery +Frenchman recovering his footing, turned fiercely to Delamere, and +asked, in French, what he meant? Lord Delamere, in the same language, +replied, that he meant to tell him he was a scoundrel! Instantly a +mutual blow was exchanged: the shrieks of Emmeline brought the +sentinels; who, together with the croud which immediately gathered, +forced them from each other. + +Lord----who had taken care of Lady Westhaven to her coach, alarmed at +Emmeline's not joining them, and at the noise he heard, now came back to +see what was the matter. He met her, more dead than alive, coming +towards him, attended by a stranger; and she had just breath enough to +implore him not to think of _her_, but to find Lord Delamere, and try to +prevent the fatal consequence of what had just happened. + +Leaving her to the care of the gentleman he had found her with, who +almost supported her to the coach, his Lordship went forward in quest +of Delamere, whom he met with two or three other gentlemen. Bellozane, +after stating to them the affront he had received, and giving Lord +Delamere a card, had returned back into the lobby with Lady Frances and +her friend; from whence it was supposed he had gone out with them across +the stage, as Lady Frances appeared in great alarm. Lord----now +entreated Delamere to go with him to the coach, where he told him his +sister was in the utmost terror for his safety. But enquiring eagerly +whether Miss Mowbray was safe with her, and hearing she was, he said he +would be in Grosvenor-street to supper, and desired they would go home. +Lord----then very warmly remonstrated on the cruelty of terrifying his +sister, and insisted on his going with him to the coach: but they were +by this time among the croud at the door, where people began to go out +fast; and Delamere, whose passions were now inflamed to a degree of +madness, broke violently away from his Lordship; and rushing into the +street, instantly disappeared. Every attempt which himself, his +servants, or some gentlemen who were witnesses to the transaction, made +to find him, being ineffectual, Lord----now returned to the coach, +where Lady Westhaven was fainting in the arms of Emmeline; who, equally +alarmed, and hardly able to support herself, was trying to assist and +console her. Lord----, instead of returning to his own family, now sent +a footman to desire they would go home without him; and remaining in +Lady Westhaven's carriage, directed it to be driven with the utmost +speed to Grosvenor street. As they went, he attempted to appease the +agonizing fears of them both, by persuading them that they might find +Lord Delamere at home before them; but they knew too well the ferocity +with which he was capable of pursuing his vengeance when it was once +awakened; and arrived at home in such disorder, that neither could +speak.--The coach, however, no sooner stopped than somebody ran out. +They had no power to ask who; but the voice was that of Godolphin; who +finding his brother likely to be detained two days longer, and existing +only while he could see Emmeline every hour, had returned alone to town, +and now waited their arrival from the play. He was astonished at the +situation he found them in, as he assisted them out of the carriage. He +received, however, a brief account of the cause from Lord----; while +Lady Westhaven, a little recovered by the sight of Godolphin and the +hartshorn and water she had taken, found her voice. + +'For God's sake! dear Godolphin, lose not a moment, but go after my +brother. We dread lest he went immediately in search of Bellozane--Oh! +fly! and endeavour to prevent the horrid effects that may be expected +from their meeting!' + +'Pray go!' said Emmeline. 'Pray go instantly!' + +Godolphin needed not entreaty. He took his hat, and ran away directly, +without knowing whither to go. He thought, however, that it was possible +Delamere might go to Berkley square, and send from thence an appointment +to Bellozane. Thither therefore he hastened; but heard that Lord +Delamere had not been at home since he dressed to dine in Grosvenor +street, and that the Marquis was gone to Lord Dornock's, where he was to +stay some days; news, which encreased the alarm of Godolphin, who had +hoped that his influence might be used to prevent the rashness of his +son. He ordered Millefleur, and Delamere's coachman, footmen, and +grooms, to run different ways in search of their master, while he went +himself to the lodgings of Bellozane. Bellozane, he learnt, came from +Bath only that morning, and had dressed at his lodgings, but had not +been there since. + +He now flew to the house of Lady Frances Crofts. Mr. Crofts was gone +down to his father's; and Lady Frances, who had come from Bath the same +day, had dined with her friend, and was to be set down by her carriage +after supper. Eagerly asking the name of this friend, he was directed to +Charlotte street, Oxford street; where on hastening he found Lady +Frances, who was vainly attempting to conquer the terrors that possessed +her. Bellozane, he heard, had procured chairs for her and the lady with +her, at the stage door, and had there wished them a good night, tho' +they had both intreated of him to go home with them. They added, that +they had refused to let him look for their carriage, which was driven +off in the croud, lest he should meet with Delamere; but were greatly +afraid he had gone back to the avenues of the playhouse with that +design. Godolphin, however unpromising his search yet appeared, +determined not to relinquish it. But while he continued running from +place to place, Lady Westhaven and Emmeline sat listening to every noise +and terrifying themselves with conjectures the most dreadful. Almost as +soon as Godolphin was gone, they had conjured Lord----to go on the same +search: but he returned not; and of Godolphin they heard nothing. Even +the late hours when fashionable parties break up, now passed by. Every +coach that approached made them tremble between hope and fear; but it +rolled away to a distance. Another and another passed, and their +dreadful suspence still continued. Emmeline would have persuaded Lady +Westhaven to go to bed; but nothing could induce her to think of it. She +sometimes traversed the room with hurried steps; sometimes sat listening +at the window; and sometimes ran out to the stair case, where all the +servants except those who had been dispatched in pursuit of Lord +Delamere were assembled. + +The streets were now quiet; the watch called a quarter past five; and +convinced that if something fatal had not happened some body would have +returned to them by this time, their terror grew insupportable. A quick +rap was now heard at the door. Emmeline flew to the stairs--'Is it Lord +Delamere?' 'No, Madam,' replied a servant, 'it is Captain Godolphin.' +Afraid of asking, yet unable to bear another moment of suspence, she +flew down part of the stairs. Godolphin, with a countenance paler than +death, caught her in his arms--'Whither would you go?' cried he, +trembling as he spoke. + +'Have you found--Delamere?' + +'I have.' + +'Alive and well?' + +'Alive--but--' + +'Oh! God!--but what?' + +'Wounded, I fear, to death. Keep his sister from knowing it too +suddenly.' + +That was almost impossible. Lady Westhaven had at first sat down in the +drawing room in that breathless agony which precluded the power of +enquiry; then losing her weakness in desperation, she ran down, +determined to know the worst, and was already on the stairs. + +Emmeline, white and faint, leaned on Godolphin--'Where is he, where is +my brother?' cried Lady Westhaven. + +Godolphin beckoned to the servants to assist him in getting her up +stairs. After a moment, they were all in the drawing room. + +'Tell me,' cried she, with an accent and look of despair--'Tell me for I +will know! You have seen my brother; he is killed! I know he is killed!' + +'He is alive,' answered Godolphin, hardly bearing to wound her ears +with such intelligence as he had to deliver--'at least he _was_ alive +when I left him.' + +'_Was_ alive! He is wounded then--and dying!' + +'It were useless and cruel to deceive you. I greatly fear he is.' + +Uttering a faint shriek, Lady Westhaven now sprung towards the door, and +protested she would go to him wherever he was. Emmeline clung about her, +and besought her to be patient--to be pacified. + +'Perhaps,' cried she, 'his situation may not be so desperate. Let us +rather enquire what can be done for him, than indulge the extravagance +of our own despair.' + +'Ah! tell me, then, where?--how?' Lady Westhaven could say no more. +Godolphin thought it best to satisfy her. + +'I will not relate the first part of my search. It was fruitless. At +length I saw a croud before the door of the Bedford. I asked what was +the matter? and heard that two gentlemen had fought a duel, by +candlelight, with swords; that one was killed and the other had escaped. +This was too much like what I expected to hear: I forced my way into the +room. Lord Delamere was bleeding on the ground. Two surgeons were with +him. I cleared the room of all but them, and the necessary attendants. I +saw him carefully conveyed to bed. I left them with him; and came to +tell you. Now I must hasten back to him. I will not flatter you; the +surgeons gave me very little--indeed no hope of his life.' + +'Oh! my father! my father!' exclaimed Lady Westhaven, 'what will become +of him when he hears this?' + +'I would go to him,' said Godolphin, 'but that I must return to poor +Delamere. What little he said was to request that I would stay with +him.' + +'Go then,' said Emmeline--'we must do without you. Let him not miss the +comfort of your presence.' + +'Yes,' answered he, 'I must indeed go.' Emmeline, leaving Lady Westhaven +a moment to her woman, followed him out, and he said to her--'Try, I +conjure you, my Emmeline, to exert yourself for the sake of your poor +friend. Keep her as tranquil as you can; and may ye both acquire +fortitude to bear what is, I fear, inevitable!' + +'Oh! my father!' loudly exclaimed Lady Westhaven, with a dreadful +shriek--'Who shall dare to announce these tidings to you?' + +'Send,' continued Godolphin, 'an express to Lord Montreville. He is at +Lord Dornock's; and dispatch another to my brother. Pray take care of +your own health. It is now impossible for me to stay--the poor +languishing Delamere expects me.' He then ran hastily away; and +Emmeline, struggling with all her power against her own anguish, was +obliged to commit her friend to the care of her servants, while she sat +down to write to Lord Montreville. Her letter contained only two lines. + + + 'My dear Lord, + + 'Your son is very ill. We are much alarmed; and Lady Westhaven + begs you will immediately come hither. Do not go to Berkley-square. + + EMMELINE MOWBRAY.' + _Grosvenor-street, + April 5th._ + + +This note, short as it was, she had the utmost difficulty to make +legible. A servant was sent off with it, who was ordered to answer no +questions; and in another short and incoherent note she told to Lord +Westhaven the melancholy truth, and sent it by express into Kent. + +Having thus obeyed Godolphin as well as she could; she returned to Lady +Westhaven, who could not be prevailed upon to go to bed, but insisted on +being allowed to see her brother. Emmeline, dreadfully terrified by her +obstinacy, now sent for the two physicians who usually attended the +family. One of them had been taken by Godolphin to Delamere; but the +other instantly attended the summons. Every argument he could use +failing entirely of effect, he was obliged to administer to her a +remedy, which soon acting on her fatigued and exhausted spirits, threw +her for a short time into insensibility. While poor Emmeline, who +expected soon the arrival of the unhappy father, and who waited with +torturing anxiety for news from Godolphin, could not even sit down; but +wandered about the house, and walked from room to room, as if change of +place could shorten or lessen her dreadful suspence. + +No news, however, came from Godolphin. But a little before eight +o'clock, the Marquis's chaise stopped at the door. + +He got out; asked faulteringly of the servants for his son. Their looks +imported sad tidings; but they were ordered to profess ignorance, and it +was the excruciating task allotted to Emmeline to inform this wretched +parent that his only son, the pride and support of his life, had +fallen; and what made it still more horrid, by the hand of his +daughter's paramour. Lord Montreville entered the drawing room; and the +wild and pallid looks of his niece struck him with such horror, that he +could only pronounce with trembling lips the name of Delamere: and then +throwing himself into a chair, seemed to expect she should tell him what +he was unable to ask. + +She approached him; but words failed her. + +'Delamere!--my son!' cried he, in a voice hollow and tremulous. + +'He is not dead, my Lord.' + +'Not dead! wherefore is it then that you look thus? Oh! what is it I am +to know?' + +Emmeline then briefly related his situation, as she had heard it from +Godolphin. She had only said, that tho' desperately wounded he yet +lived, when Lord Montreville, gazing on her with eyes that bespoke the +agony of his soul, and seizing her violently by the hand, said--'Come, +then, with me! come to him with me, now, this instant!' + +He then burst out of the room, still taking her with him. She knew not +why he wished her to follow; but went, unequal to resistance or enquiry. + +His chariot was at the door. They both got in, and just as it was +driving away, Millefleur ran up to it. + +'Your master?--your master?--' said Lord Montreville. + +'Ah! my Lord, he is--yet living!' + +'_Yet_ living!' + +'And Captain Godolphin sent me to see if you was come, in hopes that you +might see him.' + +'Go on!' cried Lord Montreville, with a degree of fierceness that made +Emmeline shudder. The horses flew. He continued in dreadful and gloomy +silence, interrupted only by deep groans. Emmeline had no comfort to +offer, and dared not speak to him. At length they arrived at the place. +The servants assisted their lord to leave the chariot. Just as he got +out of it, Dr. Gardner came out; but too much shocked to be able to +speak, he waved his hand to say that all was over; and almost instantly, +Godolphin, with a countenance most expressive of what he felt, came out +to him also. + +'My dear Lord, your going up will be of no use; spare yourself so great +a shock, and suffer me to attend you home.' + +'He is dead then?' + +Deep and mournful silence told him it was so. + +'I will see him, however,' said he, pushing by those who would have +detained him. + +'No, no,' cried Emmeline. 'Pray, my Lord! pray, my dear uncle!' + +'Uncle!' exclaimed he. 'Have I deserved to be your uncle? But I am +punished--dreadfully, dreadfully punished!' + +A croud was now gathering; and Godolphin was compelled to let him +proceed; while he himself approached Emmeline, who was left half dead in +the chariot. + +'Ah! attend not to me!' said she. 'Go, I beg of you, with my poor +uncle!' + +Dreadful was the scene when the miserable father beheld the body of his +son. In that bitter anguish which is incapable of tears, he reproached +himself for the obstinacy with which, even against his own judgment, he +had opposed his marriage with Emmeline.--'Instead of seeing thus my +hopes blasted for ever, I might have grown old among his children and +the children of my brother's daughter! But I drove her to France; and in +consequence of that, the scourge, the dreadful scourge has fallen upon +me! I and my house are low in the dust! Weak and wretched infatuation! +Dreadful sacrifice to vain and empty ambition; Oh! my poor murdered +boy!' Then, after a moment's pause, he turned suddenly to Godolphin, +whose manly countenance was covered with tears. 'Tell me, Sir! did he +not wish to see his misjudging father? did he leave me nothing--not even +his forgiveness?' + +'Lord Delamere,' said Godolphin, 'was wounded in the lungs, and every +effort to speak threatened his immediate dissolution. He expressed a +wish to see you and Miss Mowbray; but said very little else.' + +'I brought her, because I knew he must wish to see her. But he will see +her no more!' A deep and hollow groan now burst from him: his sorrow +began to choak him; and exclamation was at an end; yet struggling a +moment with it, he said quickly to Godolphin--'Do you think he suffered +great pain?' + +'I believe very little, my Lord.' + +'And he had every assistance?' + +'He had instantly every assistance that skill could offer. Two surgeons +of eminence were at supper with company in the house; and they were with +him before I was, which was not ten minutes after the accident. I never +left him afterwards, but to run to Lady Westhaven.' + +'Excellent young man! you will still, I know, remain with him, and do +what _I_ cannot do.' He then paused a moment, and his anguish seemed to +gather strength--while with a look of deep and gloomy despair he +approached the bed; slowly and sternly invoked the vengeance of heaven +on his eldest daughter; and then continued with glazed and motionless +eyes to gaze on the body. From this dreadful torpor it was necessary to +rouse him, and to remove him from the room. The united efforts of +Godolphin and the surgeons, with difficulty effected it. He was however +at length placed in the chariot; and with Emmeline, who was more dead +than alive, was conveyed to Grosvenor-street. Godolphin, dreading the +scene he was to encounter when they got thither, followed them on foot; +and assisted Lord Montreville to his chamber, where he entreated the +servants not to allow him to see Lady Westhaven, till they were both +better able to bear the interview. He then returned to Emmeline; who, +quite overcome by excessive terror and fatigue, had hardly strength to +speak to him; and unable to support herself longer, retired to bed, +where a violent fever seized her; and for near a week she was so +alarmingly ill, that Godolphin, in the wildest distraction, believed he +saw her snatched from him by the inexorable hands of death. Lady Adelina +came to her the evening after Delamere's decease, and never left her bed +side while there was the least appearance of danger; Godolphin continued +whole days in the little dressing room that adjoined to it; and +Fitz-Edward, who insisted on attending him during these hours of +torturing suspence, was unavoidably frequently in the presence of Lady +Adelina, whose every sentiment was for the time absorbed in her fear for +a life so dear to them all. + +At length Emmeline, tho' yet too ill to leave her room, was no longer in +danger; and Lord Westhaven, who returned instantly to town on hearing +the mournful news helped to appease the violent grief of his wife. But +on the more settled and silent anguish of her wretched father, his good +offices made not the least impression. He seemed to abhor all thoughts +of consolation: and when the remains of poor Delamere were carried to be +deposited with those of his mother, he shut himself up in total +darkness, and refused to admit even Lady Westhaven to participate his +sorrows. When she was allowed to pay her duty to him, he conjured her to +keep from him the sight of any of the Crofts', and that she would +prevent even their name being repeated in his presence. With their +visits there was no danger of his Lordship's being offended; for as he +had, in consequence of this family calamity, resigned all the places he +held, Sir Richard and his two sons were already eagerly paying their +court to his successor; and had entered into new views, and formed new +political connections, with an avidity which made them equally forgetful +of their patron's personal afflictions and of that favour to which they +owed their sudden and unmerited elevation. Amidst all the misery which +the guilty and scandalous conduct of his wife had brought upon the +family of his benefactor, the point on which Mr. Crofts felt the most +solicitude, was to know what portion of the Delamere estate was +irrevocably settled in equal divisions on the daughters, if the Marquis +of Montreville died without a son. The physicians now advised Lord +Westhaven to carry the Marquis into the country as soon as possible; +where he might enjoy the solitude he so much desired, without being +excluded from the air, as he was in town, by being confined entirely to +his bed chamber and dressing room. The sight of any of his own seats; +places which he had so lavishly embellished for the residence of him who +was now no more, he could not yet endure; and Lord Westhaven with some +difficulty prevailed upon him to remove to _his_ house in Kent. Thither, +therefore, the Marquis and Lord Westhaven's family removed, at the end +of a fortnight; but Emmeline, tho' pretty well recovered, desired Lady +Westhaven not to insist on her being of the party; being convinced, that +tho' he tried to see her with fortitude, and to behave to her with +tenderness, the sight of her was painful to her uncle, and perpetually +brought to his mind his own fatal misconduct in regard to his son. + +Lady Westhaven yielded reluctantly to her reasons, and departed without +her: but as her health made her immediate departure from London +necessary, she went with Lady Adelina to Highgate; who now remained +there only for the purpose of taking leave of Lord and Lady Clancarryl, +as they were within a fortnight to return to Ireland. + +In this interval, they heard that Lady Frances Crofts, infatuated still +with her passion for Bellozane, had followed him to Paris, whither he +had fled after his fatal encounter with her brother. Bellozane, stung +with guilt, and pursued by remorse, hurried from her with detestation; +and concealing himself in Switzerland, saw her no more. For some time +she continued to live in France in a style the most disgraceful to her +family and herself. Nobody dared name her to her unhappy father. But +Lord Westhaven at length interposed with Crofts, who, influenced by his +authority, and still more by his own desire to lessen her expences, went +over, and found no great difficulty in procuring a _lettre de cachet_, +which confined her during pleasure to a convent. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + + +To fix some plan for her future life, Emmeline now thought absolutely +and immediately necessary. To go to Mowbray Castle seemed the properest +measure she could adopt; and on that she appeared to determine. But tho' +she still meant to adhere to her resolution of remaining single until +she became of age, the tender importunity of her lover, the pressing +entreaties of her friends, and her own wishes to make them happy, were +every hour more powerfully undermining it. Her mind, softened by grief +for the death of poor Delamere, and more fondly attached than ever to +the generous Godolphin; whose noble qualities that unhappy event had +served to call forth anew, was rendered less capable than ever of +resisting his prayers; and Delamere, on whose account her determination +had been originally made, could now no longer suffer by her breaking it. +Still, however, she insisted upon it, that a term little short of what +she had named should elapse before her marriage should take place; as a +compliment to the memory of her unfortunate lover, and to the deep +sorrow of her uncle and Lady Westhaven. + +Here, then, she rested her last defence. And when their encreasing +solicitations obliged her to consent to shorten the term to three +months, Godolphin undertook to make it the particular request of Lord +Montreville and his daughter, that their marriage should take place +within three weeks. Animated by the hopes of hastening the period, he +went himself into Kent; where he pleaded so successfully to Lady +Westhaven, that she not only wrote pressingly to Emmeline, but prevailed +on the Marquis to give him a letter also; in which, after deploring, in +terms expressive of anguish and regret, that unfortunate infatuation +which had eventually robbed him of his son, he told her that he had +very little more now to wish, dead as he was to the world, than to see +her happily married. That the tender attention of the generous Godolphin +to that beloved son, in the last hours of his life, had endeared him to +him above all other men; that his character, connections and conduct +were unexceptionable; and therefore, his Lordship added, that tho' he +did not know that he could himself bear to see it, he wished she would +not hesitate to complete his happiness; observing, that if she thought +it too early after the loss of so near a relation, she might have the +ceremony performed with such privacy, that only the respective families +need know of its celebration. Emmeline, having now no longer a +subterfuge, was obliged to let Godolphin take his own way. He exerted +himself so anxiously to get the deeds completed, that before the end of +three weeks they were finished. Lord and Lady Clancarryl prolonged their +stay on purpose; and they, together with Lady Adelina and Fitz-Edward, +were present at the ceremony. When it was over, Lord and Lady Clancarryl +took an affectionate leave of the bride and bridegroom, and set out for +Ireland, accompanied by Fitz-Edward; who, with the most painful +reluctance tearing himself from Lady Adelina by her express desire, was +yet allowed to carry with him the hope, that at the end of her mourning +she would relent, and accede to the entreaties of all her family. + +Godolphin, his Emmeline, his sister and her little boy, took immediately +afterwards the road to East Cliff. They continued there the months of +May and June; where, about six weeks after their marriage, they were +visited by Lord and Lady Westhaven; the latter having never left her +father 'till then, and being impatient to return to him, tho' she +assured Mrs. Godolphin that he was much calmer and more composed than +they had at first expected. In the filial attention of his youngest +daughter he found all the consolation his misfortunes would admit of on +this side the grave; and Emmeline, who had deeply lamented the lingering +and hopeless anguish to which her uncle was condemned, heard with +satisfaction that resignation was, however slowly, blunting the anguish +he had endured; and that having relinquished for ever all those +ambitious pursuits to which he had sacrificed solid happiness, he +thought only of rewarding the piety and tenderness of his youngest +daughter; and heard of the happiness of his niece with pleasure. When +Lord and Lady Westhaven left East Cliff, Mr. and Mrs. Godolphin and +Lady Adelina went to Mowbray Castle; where Mrs. Stafford received them +with transport, and where they were surrounded by numberless tenants and +dependants, who blessed the hour of it's restoration to it's benevolent +and lovely mistress, as well as that which had given her to a man, who +had a heart as nobly enlarged, and a spirit generously liberal, as her +own. + +The comfortable establishment of Mrs. Stafford at Woodfield, was a point +which Emmeline had much at heart; and Godolphin, who knew it was now +almost her first wish, took his measures with so much success, that it +was soon accomplished. Mrs. Stafford, however, at their united request, +consented to stay with them while they remained at Mowbray Castle; and +Emmeline had the delightful assurances of having made her happy, as well +as of having greatly contributed to the restored tranquillity of Lady +Adelina. + +Mowbray Castle, ever so peculiarly dear to Mrs. Godolphin, and where she +was now blessed with her beloved husband and her charming friends, +brought however to her mind the mournful remembrance of poor Delamere; +and the tears of rapture with which the greatness of her own happiness +sometimes filled her eyes, were mingled with those of sorrow for his +untimely death. She considered him as the victim of his mother's fatal +fondness and his father's ambition: yet that his early death was not +immediately owing to his violent passion for her, was a great +consolation; and with only the one source of regret which his premature +fate occasioned, and which being without remedy yielded inevitably to +time; she saw an infinite deal for which to be grateful, and failed not +to offer her humble acknowledgments to that Providence, who, from +dependance and indigence, had raised her to the highest affluence; given +her, in the tenderest of husbands, the best, the most generous and most +amiable of men; and had bestowed on her the means and the inclination to +deserve, by virtue and beneficence, that heaven, where only she can +enjoy more perfect and lasting felicity. + + + FINIS + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 41646 *** |